Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Recluse Expert Makes an Appearance (1)
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-Shwoooaaak!!!
Something gleaming white streaked past the side of my head.
Since it was aimed at the Zhuge Family, I could tell exactly what it was.
"That's a Magistrate Brush."
Magistrate Brush.
The term for an iron brush used as a weapon.
One mainly wielded by the Zhuge Family, who reeked of scholarly airs.
It seemed even in this half-baked martial world, there was a line they ambiguously upheld.
Or perhaps the Zhuge Family's sharp minds kept things from falling completely apart.
'They're coming at me in earnest.'
The Zhuge Family was putting up a proper show.
A grin tugged at my lips.
What good was it if the Zhuge Family treated me like some evil faction scum?
I didn't like the Blood Cult.
They massacred countless innocents and clung on with filthy tenacity.
I ground my teeth and let out a slow breath.
Energy seemed to flood into my body.
It felt like every meridian was opening up.
Probably my blood vessels clearing.
Blindly forcing internal energy and expanding the dantian often led to qi deviation, or so they said.
But right now, this felt incredibly natural and welcoming.
Like reuniting with an old friend.
"All of nature is my homeland, my friend. How could I not be happy... wouldn't you agree?"
I smiled and asked the Zhuge Family head, wondering if we might have a bit of common ground.
His response?
"What business have I with evil faction trash?"
"......"
How utterly vulgar.
"Trying to mock this lord with your demonic sorcery...!!!"
He seemed genuinely furious.
To bear the Zhuge name yet lose all reason and rampage like this.
Me stepping on his daughter's stomach with my left foot apparently wasn't much of an excuse.
"Taking a man's daughter hostage—what vile, contemptible thinking, just like evil faction trash. What's the point of living like that?"
"Hah."
He really had a foul mouth.
Of course, hearing that, I just smirked.
"...Why the smile?"
The Snow Python found my reaction odd and asked why I was grinning.
Before kindly answering, I gripped my sword.
-Woooong......
A hum resonated from behind my head.
'...Flying sword control.'
Descriptions abounded of how flying sword control demanded immense calculations.
Freely manipulating a sword detached from your hand like an extension of your body took tremendous effort.
Even if it was a lighter Magistrate Brush instead of a sword, easier to maneuver.
The calculations would still be just as grueling.
As a family specializing in projectile arts, the Zhuge pinnacle was apparently flying sword control.
With a gentle smile, I promptly readied the Wudang sword forms.
"Take this."
I advanced, channeling yin and yang energies in perfect opposition.
Not aggressive, but...
-Clang!!!
"...!!!"
"Enough to knock that floating brush of yours to the ground."
That sufficed.
The sword strikes accelerated with each linked form.
The chaotic blend of dual energies became unpredictable, and every defense against the Magistrate Brush only...
-Fwoooosh!!!
...made the strikes faster.
Mix in the subtleties of Cloud-Stepping Stride, and...
"...!!!"
I could close in on the target in an instant.
Hyun-deok couldn't contain his boiling rage.
What parent could stay sane seeing their daughter crushed under the Blood Ghost's foot, bleeding?
He knew full well he couldn't maintain reason.
So instead, he made the most rational choice possible.
A preemptive strike. Zhuge arts specialized in projectile techniques.
With brilliant minds finely controlling internal energy to wield flying sword arts masterfully.
Mingling illusions with countless feints to overwhelm foes utterly—that was Zhuge martial prowess.
Losing reason now, the answer was overwhelming volume. Hyun-deok immediately scattered every Magistrate Brush he had into the air.
And that became the worst blunder, binding his feet as they turned back on him.
Wudang's Taiji Sword wasn't fast.
Yet it couldn't be called slow either.
The Taiji Sword didn't seek victory.
-Clang!!!
"...!!!"
One of dozens of flying Magistrate Brushes clashed with the wooden sword, sparking as it fell to the ground.
And before Hyun-deok's eyes stood the Blood Ghost, steadily gaining power.
Her eyes and hair glowed red.
The mad grin from before was gone from her face.
The flow was...
-Clang!!!
...shifting.
Even illusions were quickly nullified by Taiji's motions.
The Blood Ghost closed her eyes, drawing a circle.
As if harboring no intent to attack.
Yet with clear purpose.
-Clang!!!
With each step, she stole the flow.
Space folded, stretched at will.
Calculations overwhelmed him.
But surrender was too soon, so Hyun-deok kept retreating to widen the gap.
Heavenly Mechanism Bewildering Step.
Predicting foes' steps, moving off-beat to seize all flow.
A lightness skill worthy of the world's best title.
Yet...
-Slash!!!
His robes tore under the blade, signaling it was already too late for Hyun-deok.
'Slashed with a wooden sword...?'
Ha-yeon's Taiji had just reached completion.
"What a pity."
Her expression now serene, unlike before.
Retreating, Hyun-deok realized it was over and stared at the wooden sword.
No sword aura cloaked it—just an ordinary wooden blade.
Inconceivable that it had repelled his full-force Magistrate Brushes with sparks.
Yet the sword was light yet heavy.
Like the sun, it arced powerfully from above his head, leaving black-and-white energy in its wake.
Everything after flowed like water.
Hyun-deok raised his iron fan for minimal defense, but...
The languid, leisurely Taiji had already seized total control.
The Blood Ghost merely traced lines where her hand led.
Like water flowing.
As if fated from the start.
Yin and yang crossed; the sword wheeled once.
Space warped chaotically, drawing all in.
Nothing was untouched by the blade.
Nothing escaped unscathed.
When Hyun-deok regained his senses, every predicted flow lay severed, shattered, twisted.
The initial poised demeanor was gone.
Before his eyes stood...
"Is this truly the Blood Ghost's swordsmanship?"
...a girl radiating murderous intent, perfectly tracing Taiji's yin and yang on the ground.
The sword never touched Hyun-deok.
Merely brushed by the girl's... no, the expert's aura.
'...That sword.'
And the sword he'd never seen before, Hyun-deok...
"...is beau...tiful."
...called beautiful as he vomited blood.
"......"
"Making him cough up blood—was that part of the plan?"
...The plan had worked perfectly.
Of course, I was truly angry at the Zhuge Family head.
But that didn't mean I wanted to beat him this badly.
That was the reason for constant provocation.
Wudang swords dominated flow.
Deflecting foes' power, gradually shining brighter.
No, I figured since he used flying sword control, he'd at least counterattack.
"He took Taiji Sword to such extremes he unleashed Taiji Insight Sword outright—why wouldn't it be weird if he blocked it?!"
"Quiet."
"Flawless, though."
I nodded and stroked the Snow Python's head with a finger.
'...Cold.'
Slightly chilly, but not unpleasant.
"Haa... haa......"
The Zhuge Family head panted, blood trickling from his mouth and eyes.
The backlash from taking Taiji Insight Sword head-on seemed severe.
Though only aura had interfered with him.
'The gap in realms is terrifying.'
With such an overwhelming difference in skill...
He lost, but he'd fought well.
As I wondered whether to pat the uncle's head—well past his forties, at least—and praise him...
"...Pl-please spare my daughter... I don't know what offense we gave to you, immortal one, to incur your wrath, but......"
The family head pleaded pathetically in a hoarse whisper.
'You know damn well—calling me evil faction trash.'
Seriously debating flicking his forehead for still not realizing his sin, I leveled the wooden sword at him.
"Want to pass out for a bit?"
"......"
"Your little lady there is just sleeping."
His eyes flew wide at my words.
"Ah... ahh......"
"...I stepped on her a bit, but since I'm so light, she'll be fine."
I flashed an awkward toothy grin at the family head.
'...Should I carry them home?'
As I considered escorting the now seemingly receptive head home myself...
"Father...!!!"
A sturdy young man's voice rang from the bamboo grove.
A youth around twenty, pupils trembling as he stared here.
Looking at him, I asked the head,
"That young hero your son too?"
The head nodded.
As I started to say okay...
"Mi-Miss! Introduce yourself first! Before you hit him!!!"
The Snow Python yelled via telepathy from inside my clothes, so I frowned and greeted the young Zhuge heir.
"I am Seo Ha-yeon of the righteous sects!!! Just so you know, red eyes and hair or not, I'm no Blood Ghost or Blood Demon—rest easy!"
This should do.
I'd wiped the family head's blood from my face as best I could and belatedly flashed a friendly smile.
"Miss, where's your foot... right now?"
"Ah......"
"Urgh......"
Out of habit, I was firmly pressing down on the Zhuge daughter’s head.
And as expected.
"Y-You evil faction scum, daring to touch my father and little sister...!!!"
"Hah... you must not value your life."
The young heir's head caved in nicely too.
The Zhuges here seemed a bit dim.
"...Family head, lead the way. I'll escort you home."
With the heir's blood from his cracked head smearing my cheek, I grinned.
Thus, I took down the head, heir, and renowned daughter of one of the Five Great Families.
Achievement unlocked: triple crown.
Successfully debuting in the martial world as a recluse expert emerging from hiding for some reason.