Chapter 66: Fallen Dragon
Chapter 66
Fallen Dragon
The Martial Alliance—the sole dominant power in Kaifeng.
Among the sprawling grounds of its inner and outer fortresses, which location occupied the largest area?
It wasn't the Alliance Leader's residence, nor the halls where the elders dwelled.
It was the countless training grounds scattered throughout.
Seven elite martial units.
Twenty lower-tier martial units.
Combined, the training grounds used by the warriors of all twenty-seven martial units formed the largest space.
And that wasn't even counting the specialized training grounds reserved for the Alliance Leader's personal forces and other unique units.
The sheer scale and might of the Martial Alliance's military power needed no further explanation.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
"Raise your sword properly!"
"If you thrust your spear like that, you'll die instantly!"
"My apologies!"
No matter which training ground one visited, the relentless clashing of blades and shouts of exertion echoed ceaselessly.
The Martial Alliance was, at its core, a gathering of martial artists.
Unless they were on missions, most members were engrossed in training.
Though, admittedly, many nowadays trained not for righteousness but for personal advancement.
Yet, among the many training grounds always bustling with warriors, there was one peculiar exception.
A training ground assigned to the outermost, secluded corner of the outer fortress.
Here, only a single martial artist trained alone.
Huff... huff...
The swordsman swinging a blade worn down from overuse appeared well past thirty.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes—evidence of sleepless nights—yet they couldn't obscure the beauty of his face, reminiscent of Song Yu[1].
But the reason he monopolized this space wasn't due to his looks or any special treatment from the Alliance.
Clang!
Screech!
It was because the horrific, ear-splitting noise he produced had driven every other warrior away.
The man was fiercely striking his sword against a massive boulder placed at the center of the training ground.
Yet, no matter how hard he swung, the stone—known as Kunwu Stone[2]—remained unscathed.
"Ugh, it's as unbearable as ever."
"If you want to carve stone, become a stonemason. Why cause such a ruckus here?"
"My thoughts exactly."
Warriors from other units passing through the connecting corridors shook their heads as they watched the pitiful spectacle.
Their gazes were filled with nothing but contempt.
"Isn't this useless training going on its seventh year now? What kind of madness is this?"
"Exactly. Stuck at the same level for seven years, just doing this."
"Tch. What a waste of the deputy commander position."
The Greedy Wolf Unit.
The lowest-ranked among the Martial Alliance's seven elite martial units.
Shockingly, the mysterious man held the position of deputy commander within it.
Though his rank was higher than the warriors mocking him—mere foot soldiers—none envied him.
"Honestly, how does someone like him even hold that position? The Alliance's practically pushing him out, yet he stubbornly clings on."
"Keh, if he steps down, he'd have to return to his sect. How humiliating would that be?"
"Greedy Wolf Unit? More like the Poverty Wolf Unit."
Poverty Wolf Unit.
A mocking play on words, replacing "greed" (貪) with "poverty" (貧).
In recent times, not a single warrior in the Martial Alliance regarded the Greedy Wolf Unit as an elite force.
It had become a dumping ground—a "graveyard"—for those discarded or left behind by other units.
"Honestly. How did the 'Sword Dragon' of the previous generation end up like this?"
"What a disgrace to the name 'Mount Hua' attached to his title."
"Ugh, my ears are killing me. Let's get out of here."
As the jeering crowd dispersed, the swordsman quietly ceased his training.
"...The mockery grows harsher by the day."
The Mount Hua Sword Dragon—no, now called the Fallen Dragon—Tao Yitian of the Mount Hua Sect, forced a bitter smile.
It was truly astonishing.
The warriors mocking him had been dozens of zhang away[3].
To hear them so clearly, one would need at least the pinnacle of martial arts.
If he had already reached such heights at his age, there was no reason for him to be scorned.
But then—
[Chase them down now!]
"!!"
[Slit their throats and slaughter them horribly!!]
A furious voice, dripping with murderous intent, suddenly echoed in Tao Yitian's ears.
The terrifying voice of a demonic presence—
And shockingly, it was...
[We can kill them all if we unleash the power we've been hiding!]
[Stab them and drink the spurting blood!]
[They insulted a warrior's honor! Kill them all!]
—his own voice.
Gritting his teeth, Tao Yitian resisted the phantom whispers.
Clang!!
Screech!!
He resumed striking the Kunwu Stone with his sword.
This was why he swung his blade—to suppress these murderous impulses.
Ignoring the blood dripping from his torn palms, horrific memories surged unbidden in his mind.
-Kkh... No. Please, no...
-M-Master... Why... Why did I...
A bloodstained sword in his own hand.
His master, clutching a severed arm, writhing in agony before him.
-...Listen well, Yitian.
Seven years ago, the day he returned to his sect after completing a secret mission for the Alliance—
Tao Yitian committed the unforgivable sin of attacking his master.
Yet, despite his injuries, his master embraced him and revealed a truth hidden for decades:
-...You were born under the Heavenly Killing Star.
The Heavenly Killing Star.
The most malignant among the 108 malevolent stars[4].
A cursed fate that destined its bearer to become a bloodthirsty killer, wielding terrifying power.
The Frost Demon Emperor.
The Beast Calamity Demon.
The Bloodspear Phantom.
Throughout martial history, those born under this star inevitably became peerless demons.
And now, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect—himself—bore this cursed fate.
Unbelievable, yet his master's words were true.
His father, a martial artist, had recognized the ominous energy within his infant son's dantian and brought him to Mount Hua.
In ancient times, now nearly forgotten—
The martial world had made a pact upon confirming the Heavenly Killing Star's nature:
Kill its bearer on sight.
This applied even to the Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Orthodox Sects.
His master should have ended his life—
-Giggle.
-...!
But upon seeing the child's smiling eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Instead, he took Tao Yitian as his disciple and secretly sought the help of the Divine Maiden Sect's leader, the Nine Heavens Fairy, to seal the star's power.
But this was only a temporary measure.
The seal, meant to hold until age twenty, barely lasted until twenty-six.
At twenty-seven, the Heavenly Killing Star erupted.
Fueled by years of suppressed rage, it lashed out more brutally than ever—
Leaving an indelible scar on his master's left arm.
Since that day, Tao Yitian had returned to the Martial Alliance—
And never trained properly again.
No, he couldn't.
Huu...
As his blade neared complete ruin, the phantom voice faded.
Just as Tao Yitian nearly collapsed from exhaustion—
Tweet.
A clear birdsong chimed in his ears.
Feeling his mind clear slightly, he turned to see—
A small sparrow perched on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Little Phoenix. Your brother's calmed down now."
The sparrow, Little Phoenix, had flown into his life years ago and stayed by his side ever since.
Whenever he wasn't swinging his sword, it rested on his shoulder.
Unconsciously, Tao Yitian had come to regard it as a younger sibling.
Tweet.
As the sparrow nuzzled his head worriedly, Tao Yitian reached to pet it—
"Damn, now I get it."
"!!"
A voice suddenly spoke right beside him.
Startled, Tao Yitian whirled around—
"No wonder the blade's ruined, with this nonsense."
An uninvited guest stood there, ignoring him entirely as he examined the Kunwu Stone.
A man in shabby attire unbefitting the Alliance, with an unfamiliar face.
'...Even in my exhausted state—'
Slipping past his awareness like this wasn't something an ordinary person could do.
As Tao Yitian's initial shock settled into wariness—
"Who might you—"
"Hey, you!"
"Y-Yes?"
"Aren't you ashamed?!"
"......?"
Stunned by the audacious scolding, Tao Yitian could only blink in confusion.
Even as a disgraced figure, no one had ever openly berated him like this.
The stranger continued without pause.
"Aren't you ashamed before the blacksmiths?!"
"??"
Blacksmiths?
Belatedly, Tao Yitian noticed the familiar sword strapped to the stranger's back.
The plum blossom engraving on its hilt—
Ah.
It was the practice sword his sect had sent for repairs.
So this wasn't a madman, but a new blacksmith returning his weapon.
Clearly, the man had no idea who he was.
This outer training ground was meant for the lowest-tier units.
Their status wasn't much higher than that of the blacksmiths.
Tao Yitian composed himself.
A righteous martial artist wouldn't lose his temper over a civilian's mistake.
"Brother, please calm your—"
"Did you piss off the Alliance or something? What, sacrificing swords to rob their treasury?!"
"This is from my sect—"
"What?!"
"M-My apologies."
Overwhelmed by the stranger's intensity, Tao Yitian apologized reflexively—
Then immediately felt indignant.
True, he'd ruined countless blades, but his sect regularly sent replacements.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to argue.
After a prolonged scolding, the blacksmith finally sighed deeply.
Huu...
"Fine. A job's a job..."
Whoosh.
The blacksmith handed over the sword from his back.
As Tao Yitian stared blankly, the man snapped:
"What? Take it before I change my mind."
"Th-Thank you."
Phew. Finally.
Tao Yitian sighed in relief—
Hmm?
But only briefly.
Upon inspecting the sword, his expression twisted.
"...Young brother. This sword feels... odd."
The repaired blade felt wrong.
The balance was off—unnaturally so.
"Tch. That damn Sword Demon was being picky."
Ahem.
"Give it here."
When Tao Yitian extended the sword, the blacksmith shook his head.
"Not the sword. Your hand."
"...My hand?"
Inhale.
"Y-Yes."
Bewildered, Tao Yitian offered his hand.
But the blacksmith didn't take it.
...!
Instead, his piercing gaze studied Tao Yitian's palm with terrifying focus—
Whoosh.
Then gestured for the sword again.
This time, Tao Yitian handed it over.
The blacksmith strode to a spot, placed the sword atop the Kunwu Stone as if it were an anvil—
And pulled something from his robe.
...Thread?
Wrapping a single silk thread around his fingers, the blacksmith began sharpening the blade.
Tao Yitian had never seen such a method—
Swish!
Swiish!
Yet the rhythmic sound, as beautiful as Little Phoenix's song, accompanied the blade's transformation.
...Beautiful.
It was mesmerizing—an entirely new experience.
Moments later—
Huu.
The surreal interlude ended.
Clack.
The blacksmith—no, Tang Se-woon—handed back the sword without hesitation.
What...!!
Tao Yitian's pupils dilated in shock.
The Sichuan Overlord—
Translator's Notes:
[1] Song Yu: A famous poet from the Warring States period, renowned for his beauty and literary talent.
[2] Kunwu Stone: A legendary indestructible stone in Chinese mythology, often associated with sword-making.
[3] Dozen of zhang away: One zhang ≈ 3.3 meters, so dozens of zhang would be over 30 meters.
[4] 108 malevolent stars: A reference to the 108 Stars of Destiny in Water Margin, though here it's reimagined as malevolent celestial influences.