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"I feel like I'm dying."
After the plum blossom scent faded and my senses returned, I shuddered at the crushing pain wracking my body.
"Ugh, I should've just used the Heavenly Demon's Nine Swords and killed him, duel be damned."
It was my fault that my ankle was ruined from forcing a martial technique beyond my level, and it was my fault that my internal energy ran dry from deliberately pushing multiple techniques. Still, I couldn't suppress the irrational rage I felt toward the Sword Immortal who had done this to me.
"Wow... a first-rate."
I gathered the remaining energy in my ankle and went to the dead Sword Immortal. He had died with a smile. So much blood had already poured out that it no longer flowed, pooling thickly around him.
Maybe what I'd thought was plum blossom scent had been the Sword Immortal's bloody fragrance. I bowed my head briefly toward his severed arm.
"I hope you succeed in ascension and continue your martial journey up there."
If there is an immortal realm, and if countless predecessors have already ascended to immortality, then surely it teems with immortals who would enjoy crossing swords and debating with this Sword Immortal.
Whoosh.
I drew my remaining energy and ignited the Sword Immortal's body with the Zhongli Divine Fire Well. Burning the dead is a misguided practice reserved only for plague victims in the Central Plains, but I believed the divine qi within the Zhongli Divine Fire Well would carry the Sword Immortal's soul to heaven.
This place is Mount Tai, one of the Five Great Mountains.
Not the highest, but still one of the mountains closest to the heavens.
"Make sure you ascend and never come back down. If you do come back, come back as a woman."
Only those who know can understand how maddening it is to turn someone obsessed with the sword, obsessed with martial arts—someone who insists they're a martial artist, not a woman—into a woman. Is there anything as alluring as making a being wholly devoted to one thing change their heart and draw them to you?
"Well, that doesn't mean I'll take a man-turned-woman as my concubine."
They say food that looks good tastes good, but knowing the true ingredients inside makes me want to refuse.
No matter how appetizing a steamed bun looks, if you know it's stuffed full of minced meat and peppers spicier than Sichuan, you'd hesitate to reach for it.
I am a follower of the yin-yang principle. Absorbing Yin to Nourish Yang is enough to turn yin into yang. If I drink what I believed was yin energy only to discover it's fundamentally yang energy, I'd only harm myself.
Whoom.
The Sword Immortal's body burned away completely. The Zhongli Divine Fire Well consumed every last bit of flesh remaining on earth, leaving not even bones, and sent it all to the heavens.
"...Ah, one arm."
Except the arm I cut off. I glanced around for where the arm deflected by my sword had rolled. I'd struck while stepping on empty air, following the trajectory where the Sword Immortal had leaped, and—
"Tch."
Beyond the ridge, it had fallen into a precipice shrouded in cloud and mist, revealing nothing below.
"What a waste, the Flying Smoke Sword."
Like my Silver Rainbow Sword, it was one of Mount Hua's three treasured blades. Now one had vanished. Unlike the Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix Swords, it didn't emit a distinctive aura, so going down to search for it would surely be a hellish ordeal.
'I did get the Silver Rainbow Sword, so it's fine.'
I'd obtained my original goal, the Silver Rainbow Sword, so I decided to be content with that. Too much time had passed to search for the missing arm, and Sagong Hee would certainly be worrying about my disappearance.
Perhaps my absence had already caused trouble. To recover my internal energy quickly, I raised my hands high toward the sky.
"Heavens, grant me strength!"
The internal energy art I'm cultivating is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Conveniently, the sun had not yet set. Solar energy can be absorbed more easily the closer one is to its source. As you climb higher, the mountain grows colder, yet paradoxically, the energy of the sky and sun is easiest to obtain in the coldest places.
If I circulate the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, I can recover my energy faster. I was about to begin in earnest when a strange sensation prickled my qi sense.
"...Huh?"
Ssshhh.
The plum blossom scent I thought had vanished brushed my nose again. Until now, I had been operating mainly on orthodox internal energy. Only now, as I circulated the demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, did I swallow hard at the abundant, pure yang energy filling my surroundings.
"...Wow, leaving me a gift like this as you go."
Was this the Sword Immortal's last trace left behind as he ascended? The fragrance of plum blossoms, the energy of the Violet Mist Divine Art, lingered thickly around.
Mount Hua's martial arts are distinctly divided into yin and yang. Just as they have the Jade Maiden Divine Art reserved for female disciples, the sect is male-centric with many techniques and internal energy arts optimized for cultivating yang energy.
The Violet Mist Divine Art is among the top five methods for absorbing yang energy in all of Murim.
If I had made Mount Hua's martial arts my foundation, I would have ranked the Violet Mist Divine Art as the greatest.
'Even without the formula, I can absorb it using the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.'
I spread my arms wide and lifted my head. It was clearly different from the standard Full Lotus Position, but I drew in a deep breath as if savoring nature's breeze.
Ssshhh.
The power of the Violet Mist Divine Art slowly seeped into my body. Normally, even the Heavenly Demon Divine Art wouldn't be able to draw in its energy, but this yang energy resembled its master.
— You've defeated me, so take it freely! Hahaha!
Slip.
The plum blossom fragrance rapidly accumulated within me. As it permeated my whole body and boldly settled in my dantian, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art momentarily floundered, nearly overflowing in surprise.
"...Haaah."
But the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is the strongest heart method of the Demonic Cult. As if its pride were wounded by being momentarily pushed aside by Mount Hua's energy, it began to voraciously absorb the Violet Mist Divine Art in earnest.
"Mm, with this, I'll have enough internal energy to use the Body Transformation Art—"
Crackle, crackle-crack.
"......."
The color drained from my face as I saw the violet energy crackling around me. Thanks to the Extreme Yang Energy, my wounds had healed quickly and I'd recovered enough internal energy to return to my pre-fight state—but this peculiar phenomenon that appeared whenever I operated the Heavenly Demon Divine Art made my hands and feet tremble.
"Th-that damn Sword Immortal..."
Fizzle.
I couldn't erase the violet energy swirling around me.
...Unless I deliberately released my internal energy.
— Hahaha! If the sword qi wielded by the best in Murim is Mount Hua's sword qi, then doesn't that make Mount Hua the best in the Central Plains! Hahahahahaha!!
"......."
* * *
Mount Hua is not the only sect in Shaanxi.
In the vast region of Shaanxi, Mount Hua has earned great renown as the representative orthodox faction, but there is also the Zhongnan Sect, one of the Nine Sects and One Gang, situated in central Shaanxi.
— Zhongnan? Isn't that the fallback choice for those who couldn't get into Mount Hua?
...Zhongnan suffers the stigma of being relatively inferior to Mount Hua. To the point that some even suggest removing it from the Nine Sects and One Gang, as the sect's influence is not large.
However, the Zhongnan Sect enjoys great popularity among the people of Shaanxi, especially Xi'an.
— Even so, thanks to Zhongnan, there aren't any ruffians running wild in Xi'an!
This is because the Zhongnan Sect contributes greatly to the great city of Xi'an.
Unlike Mount Hua, located in a corner of Shaanxi geographically closer to Shanxi or Henan, the Zhongnan Sect sits on Zhongnan Mountain not far from Xi'an, the largest city in Shaanxi.
It's not as high as Mount Hua, but its proximity to Xi'an means that a horse at a full gallop can reach it in less than half a watch. That is, if trouble arises in Xi'an, Zhongnan's warriors can rush out and respond in ample time. Zhongnan actively uses this geographical advantage and the unstable times to begin openly displaying its might.
"Citizens of Xi'an, rest assured! If any Sex Demon dares run rampant in Xi'an, Zhongnan will not stand idly by!"
The Senior Disciple of the Zhongnan Sect and one of the Nine Dragons and Six Phoenixes, Enduring Dragon Yuk Byeong-gun, proclaimed with a booming voice before the crowd.
"Trust in Zhongnan! Shaanxi is safe!"
"Aren't they worse than Mount Hua?"
"Still, it's better than nothing. Isn't that young man one of the Nine Dragons?"
"Huh? Zhongnan has a Nine Dragon? I didn't know."
He could hear the murmuring crowd. As a proud member of the Nine Dragons, Yuk Byeong-gun's blood boiled with suppressed rage, but he channeled that fury into an even louder cry.
"Xi'an is safe!! No Sex Demon, no demonic practitioner will dare set foot in Xi'an!"
"Ohh... is that so?"
A seductive voice rang out from somewhere. Feeling the overwhelming energy behind him, Yuk Byeong-gun drew his sword.
Kyaaaak!!
When one of the Nine Dragons drew his sword, the people gathered in the square began to panic one by one. A martial artist drawing a sword before ordinary folk was extremely discourteous, but Yuk Byeong-gun drew his blade against the pressure this woman emanated.
Mighty sword qi. Overwhelming presence. A spirit like a great tiger.
And a stunning beauty that captured everyone's gaze throughout Shaanxi.
She couldn't be called young, but the appearance of a beautiful middle-aged woman who must have stirred many men's hearts in her youth halted everyone who'd been about to flee in surprise.
"I agree, newcomer. I cannot forgive any Sex Demon running wild. As a fellow martial artist."
"...Who are you!"
"Me? Demonic Sword Consort."
The woman, Demonic Sword Consort, openly revealed her identity. That a demonic practitioner would boldly enter Xi'an and announce herself shocked the people, yet they were curious.
"Demonic Sword Consort... that's the former Sword Demon! What business does a former Ten Demon of the Demonic Cult have in Shaanxi?!"
"Oh my, calling me a former thing hurts my feelings. I came all this way to help, you know."
Chuckling, Demonic Sword Consort approached Yuk Byeong-gun. As the Enduring Dragon, he stood his ground and did not retreat, but he couldn't help swallowing nervously.
As a twenty-five-year-old who had just entered the Peak realm, he could not withstand the pressure of a demonic expert who had far surpassed Peak or even beyond. His gaze, meant to focus on her sword, kept drifting to the formidable expanse revealed between the folds of Demonic Sword Consort's robes.
"Heh, I'm still in active service after all. Everyone, calm down. I am here to help you."
Demonic Sword Consort stepped into Yuk Byeong-gun's space and patted his shoulder. As if a senior were indulging a cute junior, his tension eased.
"You say a Sex Demon is on the loose? Heh-heh, as a former 'Sword Demon,' I cannot allow such crude beings to bear the name 'ma'."
Thud!
Demonic Sword Consort planted her sword into the ground. The moment its dark steel blade pierced the earth, the ground split in a cross-shape, and enormous fissures spread around her.
"To those who falsely claim the title of Demon, the Sword Demon declares—!! If you call yourself a Sex Demon, don't touch innocent civilians—come and ravage me instead!!"
Everyone swallowed hard at Demonic Sword Consort's declaration. A cry that defied all common sense in the Central Plains, and all were entranced by her voice.
"This woman will wait here for three months! If you defeat me with the sword, you may have me as you please!!"
Demonic Sword Consort laid a trap, using her own body as bait to catch the Sex Demon. At her audacity, the people of Xi'an burst into applauds without realizing it.
"Come, Sex Demons! Don't defile weak women—confront me openly and win me with the sword!"
"Wow..."
From now on, anyone who touched ordinary civilians wouldn't be a Sex Demon, but merely a pathetic pervert who preyed on the weak.
"What use is distinguishing black and white when slaying evil! Sex Demons, this Demonic Sword Consort will deal with you!!"
Waaaahhh!!
Amid the applauding crowd, a giant with a thick mustache and a handsome young man in a wide-brimmed hat stared intently at the Demonic Sword Consort.
* * *
"You're late..."
After winning a splendid victory against two Maehwa Swordwomen, Sagong Hee returned to her room, where she spent the time anxiously fidgeting alone.
He'd said it wouldn't take too long, but the fact that he hadn't come even as the sun set and the moon began to rise was somewhat problematic.
"When will he come..."
Sagong Hee paced around the room, unable to stay still. Without ever considering that others might see her like a puppy waiting for its master's return, she simply wished for him to come back quickly.
"Excuse me, Taiji Flower."
A female disciple of Mount Hua carefully asked from outside the door.
"The two Maehwa Swordwomen would like to discuss today's match and invite you to dine together. Would you care to?"
"I'm not hungry. ...No, I want to rest today, so please leave me be."
She responded somewhat coldly before quickly adjusting her answer, but her will was conveyed to the disciple.
"...Heh, yes, I understand. I will relay your words."
Oddly, the female disciple left looking pleased. Sagong Hee felt her anger rising at all these strange people coming to find her when the one she was waiting for wouldn't show.
Creeeak.
The window opened. Only one person would enter through the window, not the door.
Whether she should call him master or disciple depended on what he'd say, but Sagong Hee greeted him with a joyful face.
"You've come."
"Sorry I'm late."
"......Huh?"
"...Does it look weird after all?"
He wasn't in the form of a child, nor a boy. Seeing him grown tall into a heart-fluttering, handsome young man, Sagong Hee was startled.
"Who did you transform into this time?"
"......I didn't transform; I grew. Agh, I'll explain later."
He, Sky-Soaring Lust Demon, entered the room with a face filled with genuine irritation.
"I want to rest. Lie down on the bed."
"Yes, yes."
She lay down straight on the bed as he said. He immediately parted her clothes to the sides and buried his face in her chest.
"......."
"......M-my lord?"
He fell asleep. Sagong Hee rolled her eyes left and right, utterly at a loss as to what to do with him collapsed on top of her.
"Uh, uhm...!"
He seemed terribly tired. She shouldn't wake him. What if someone came in? Should she cover him? Where had he exerted so much strength? All kinds of thoughts muddled Sagong Hee's mind.
"......."
Whatever happens, happens. Sagong Hee wrapped her arms tightly around her master, who slept with his face buried in her chest, and closed her eyes. Tonight, she felt she might actually fall into a deep sleep.
"...Uh, uhm."
...If only his member wasn't so boldly positioned right there.
"I-I mustn't wake him...!!"
As her body gradually heated up, Sagong Hee fell into confusion.