059
059
" Of course."
In the morning, fresh from a bath and thoroughly cleansed, I found myself facing the woman before me with two swords raised.
"So that is what 'one round' meant to you?"
"What did you think it meant?"
"I assumed it would be a warm, intimate affair between a man and a woman, conducted in some secluded, quiet place."
"Then your assumption is correct. This is inside the Unmarried Betrothal Nine Palaces Formation. No one can enter except one who can break the formation."
She was doing this on purpose. She understood perfectly well that I had been making a sexual innuendo, yet without batting an eye, she feigned ignorance and gestured around us with both arms. I tightened my grip on the two swords, my eyes gradually reddening.
"Little Princess. Do you dare to challenge the Sky-Soaring Lust Demon to a duel?"
"If it is said you are stronger than even the Flying Heaven Three Demons, then would you not be more than qualified to be my master and teach me?"
"I am always willing to do things that benefit my juniors."
"Then I entrust myself to your devoted and sincere instruction. Senior."
She didn't give an inch. Feeling needlessly irritated, I steadied my breathing.
'She's coming.'
BOOOOM--!!
A massive explosion sent a cloud of dust billowing around me. The Little Princess raised her head toward the sky, and dark energy rippled over her clenched fists.
'Her Heavenly Demon Divine Art has already reached that level!'
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art, composed of seven stars in total, had already reached the fifth star. She certainly lived up to the epithet Heukdo Je-il-hwa, having stolen the title of flower from Ma-hwa.
Her martial level was at the mid-Peak Realm. But what stood out even more than the demonic energy that made my skin tingle was her seemingly limitless talent.
'She's already this strong. If she grows further from here, just how high can she climb?'
The Little Princess had already far surpassed the martial prowess the Eldest Prince possessed at age twenty. Everyone would feel what I just felt upon seeing her full power: that if she continued growing like this, the next Heavenly Demon would be Lee Si-a.
"Now I see why the Eldest Prince fears you."
"That is precisely why he keeps me in check. Even though I am more than twelve years his junior."
"He was born twelve years earlier, yet in just three years, you'll catch up to his current realm. It's only natural he'd be jealous of you."
The Little Princess merely lifted the corners of her lips, saying nothing. For someone with her coldly rational and intellectual nature, the Eldest Prince was the only person who could make her reveal her emotions so intensely.
"Consider me an enemy sent by the Eldest Prince."
"!!"
Hostility. It flared instantly into fierce killing intent aimed straight at me. In the Little Princess's eyes, the Eldest Prince had committed sins so severe that chewing him to bits would not be enough.
"The Sword Demon who died on Wudang Mountain was the only one among the neutral Ten Demons who showed consideration for my martial arts."
"You mean the old man who was said to have contracted smallpox."
"Yes. Resolving his past ties with the Wudang Sect Leader and departing was surely a good thing for him... but I lost the one opponent I could test my martial arts against."
"Aside from the Sword Demon, who else could offer instruction against the Little Princess's full power? Who else uses orthodox martial arts that leave neither themselves nor their opponent injured? Heh."
The Little Princess's eyebrows twitched minutely. I raised the two swords diagonally before my eyes, crossing them.
"The Sky-Soaring Lust Demon will be your opponent from now on. What martial art do you desire?"
"...Is that true? You mean you can create any opponent I wish?"
"That is correct. However, I myself shall be that enemy."
So that she would not misunderstand, I executed several martial forms. From the Plum Blossom Sword Art to the Jade Maiden Sword, and even the Three Demonic Swords Art of the Demonic Cult—I perfectly replicated them all.
"Tell me whatever realm you desire for your opponent. Though I am limited by my body, so I cannot grant absurd requests. For example, a Profound Realm Beggar Sect master."
Among beggars, none had reached the Profound Realm. Well, there had been one, but the Blood Cult Leader had weeded them out because they were deeply objectionable to her discerning eye. In my memories, the martial arts of Beggar Sect masters peaked at the Supreme Peak Realm.
"The more unusual the sect, the harder it is to simulate. I lack the specimen."
"I don't know what you mean, but I can roughly see the nature of the Sky-Soaring Lust Demon's martial talent. Do you possess the talent to mimic your opponent's martial arts?"
"Mimic? Kheuh. Not quite."
Clank. I let the swords drop back to my sides. At the same time, two floating swords beside me began to spin round and round.
"Come at me. Let me show you this is no mimicry."
"...Your true identity is beginning to pique my curiosity more and more."
The Little Princess raised both fists to eye level. Her fighting spirit, burning against the impenetrable wall of the Taiji Wisdom Sword that she had challenged but never surpassed, was fierce enough to tear my whole body to shreds.
"Could it be that you are the one who transmitted the Taiji Wisdom Sword to the Taiji Flower?"
Just as I expected. The Little Princess had deduced my connection to the Taiji Wisdom Sword from only a few clues. In a way, it was obvious, since I wielded the lost Taiji Wisdom Sword better than even the Taiji Flower.
"Don't tell me you are a Wudang—"
"I am not a Wudang Taoist. Though I did impersonate a disciple of the Divine Doctor using Wudang martial arts to escape a momentary crisis."
I did not hide the truth from the Little Princess. The two swords suspended in the air executed the Taiji Sword and the Duality Sword respectively.
"...What level do you want? A Peak Expert who has mastered the Taiji Sword? Or a Supreme Peak master who wields the Duality Sword to its utmost? Or perhaps... Heaven Beyond Heaven?"
"Ha. Are you saying there is another who has reached a realm even higher than that of the Taiji Flower?"
"Why, of course! His name is Mu-bung."
"What kind of wordplay is this."
Since my only worthy rival is myself, that makes me my own mortal enemy. The Little Princess frowned, but I had not lied.
"First, come at me. Then you will feel it."
Wobble, wobble. I shook the two swords floating in the air, provoking her.
"That there is another sky above the sky."
"...I never understood why my father does it every time, but now I understand a little."
The Little Princess opened her mouth, her eyes bursting with crimson light.
"Such insolence!!"
The moment a sharp electric jolt shot up my spine, I received the Little Princess's attack with the Taiji Wisdom Sword.
* * *
"Master, it is Jeongjo."
"Enter."
Deep within Mount Emei, a beautiful woman entered the private chamber where the Sect Leader lived and bowed deeply. The woman who had challenged the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering but unfortunately been defeated, Abbess Jeongjo, kept her head lowered and did not straighten her back.
"Raise your head."
"......."
"Quickly."
Abbess Jeongjo slowly raised her head. The Lust-Exorcising Abbess slammed her fist onto the desk at the sight of the glossy sheen on her disciple's lips.
"What is that!"
"I... applied... an oil balm."
"Why? Did it supposedly enhance your martial arts?"
"......."
Abbess Jeongjo shook her head. But even in the face of the Lust-Exorcising Abbess's wrathful voice and furrowed brow, Abbess Jeongjo did not flinch.
"The Divine Doctor's disciple told me. That applying oil to the lips can prevent chapping. Especially in winter, when lips crack easily, it protects them and promotes vitality...."
"Silence! It is not to protect your lips, but to make yourself more appealing to men, is it not?!"
"......."
At the Lust-Exorcising Abbess's bellow, Abbess Jeongjo finally bowed her head deeply. The master had instantly seen through her disciple's true intentions.
"How could I not know? I raised you like a daughter. Did you think I would not know that you became a woman at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?"
"Ma-Master! That's not—"
"I am not rebuking you for becoming a woman! It is that you must not be swayed by lust! Absolutely never, never!"
Even a trace of monstrous qi seeped into the Lust-Exorcising Abbess's voice as she cried out, grabbing Abbess Jeongjo by the shoulders. Ultimately, Abbess Jeongjo nodded with difficulty, then barely managed to voice the reason for her visit.
"Since a while ago, a strange energy has been emanating from the Reclining Dragon Sword of the Twin Old Eagle Swords."
"What?"
Abbess Jeongjo thrust forward the thick scabbard at her waist. The bulky scabbard, ill-matched with the hilt protruding from it, seemed like a prison confining the sword. The Lust-Exorcising Abbess swallowed hard as she slowly drew the sword engraved with dragon motifs from its sheath.
"Th-This is...!!"
Woooong.
The sword was trembling. Could the Lust-Exorcising Abbess be trembling from hand tremors? Such a thing was impossible, even if the sky split open.
"Is the sword... crying because it has found its master?"
In an instant, the sword blade began to glow softly. The radiant golden dragon engraved upon the blade lay across the steel, stretching as if poised to ascend toward the heavens. The Lust-Exorcising Abbess opened her mouth in pure wonder at the majestic light filling her vision.
"Oh, ohhh...!!"
"Master, what has happened?"
"I do not know either. But ordinarily, in such a case..."
Clack!
The Lust-Exorcising Abbess shut the scabbard with a rough exhalation.
"It is when the sword's owner has appeared."
"That... can't be possible, can it?"
"That is why I said I do not know. Typically, in these situations—"
"Master, are you within?"
Another woman's voice came from outside the door. They welcomed the guest, whose voice was familiar—it was Abbess Jeongja, another disciple of the same generation as Abbess Jeongjo.
"Senior Sister Jeongjo, you were here as well."
"Junior Sister Jeongja, what brings you...?"
"I came because the lay disciples heard a disquieting rumor in the marketplace. Well...."
Abbess Jeongja spoke with a stiff expression.
"They say a person claiming to be a descendant of Emperor Shaolie has appeared."
The Reclining Dragon Sword continued to tremble violently.
* * *
Clang, clang!
A fist strike shot forward. Four swords simultaneously drew semicircles, deflecting the fist's trajectory. The Duality Sword blocked attacks from below on both sides at once, while a sword in the air instead launched a counterattack with a form from the Taecheong Sword Method.
"Tch!"
The Little Princess twisted her neck to dodge the attack. The 'enemy' had executed a strike that would cause instant death even on a graze, without any restraint.
"Don't worry about getting hurt. Even if you die, I'll bring you back to life."
The opponent, wearing an insufferable grin, did not stop the assault. He deliberately released one sword from his hand, executing sword arts through Sword Control Art, while three flying swords began to execute a combined attack technique.
"The Three Powers Formation with Sword Control Art?!"
"Executing all Wudang martial arts through Sword Control Art. That is the true essence of the Taiji Wisdom Sword."
"Kk!"
The Little Princess planted one foot in place and spun her body horizontally. She thrust the Heavenly Demon Divine Fist and executed the Heavenly Demon Divine Kick toward the sword paths slashing at her from three directions. It felt like a one-against-three battle against the three swords attacking relentlessly from all sides.
"Taa-at!"
The Little Princess pushed off the floor with one foot and leaped high into the air. The three swords soared after her as if chasing her rising figure, and she spread her arms wide like a crane, radiating demonic energy downward.
Flutter.
With a light step, she landed one foot upon the tips of the three swords. Normally, the blades should have pierced through, but the Little Princess severed the will that filled the swords with the immense demonic energy gathered in her foot.
Then, using the swords as stepping stones, she leaped even higher. Twisting her body sideways in the void, the Little Princess stretched one leg straight downward.
"Heavenly Demon Rupture Kick!"
"As expected of the Young Heavenly Demon! The heir to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art should chant the Heavenly Demon's name while calling out her techniques!"
The Little Princess bit her lip and released demonic energy behind her back. Her descending toes, plummeting like a ray of light along with gravity, aimed for the head of her opponent, the Sky-Soaring Lust Demon.
"You use fatal strikes without hesitation! Then let me show you!"
Whoooo.
In an instant, a golden energy erupted from the Sky-Soaring Lust Demon's entire body. Her heart sank at the sight of his internal energy physically manifesting.
'But I cannot stop the attack!'
"Haaaat!"
The Little Princess pushed her internal energy to its limit. She heard something faintly crumbling away but pointedly ignored it, concentrating her full power and every ounce of demonic energy into her toes.
"Do you know? I originally brought these two swords not for the Taiji Wisdom Sword. They are to show you the martial art of Emperor Shaolie."
"No...!"
"Behold. This is the true Paewang's Sword!"
Shing! The two swords crossed as if cleaving the sky.
"Crouching Dragon Ascends to Heaven!!"
The Little Princess's whole body trembled at the massive golden dragon surging from below. The dragon flashed its emerald eyes and opened its maw wide, as if to devour her.
But the Little Princess did not stop. Concentrating her entire spirit into her toes, she broke through the dragon's fangs, pierced its throat, and advanced toward the opponent lurking behind it.
"The Heavenly Demon does not lose!"
"A correct statement."
A voice rang in her ear. The Little Princess instantly went rigid at the movement that had already occupied the space behind her.
"For how can one lose to oneself?"
"What do you mean—"
"However, you are still weak, Little Princess."
Poke.
The Sky-Soaring Lust Demon grabbed the Little Princess's buttocks.
"Mm! They're as soft and springy as peaches!"
Wham.
The Little Princess swung her elbow backward and struck the Lust Demon's solar plexus. But the Lust Demon blocked the elbow with a sword blade held horizontally, flashing gold.
"Little Princess. From now on, in place of your life..."
Squeeze. Fondle, fondle.
"I shall target your rear. Kkhahahaha!!"
"Y-You... Lust Demon!!"
Fondle, fondle, fondle, fondle.
That day, the Little Princess lost her life seventeen times to the Heavenly Dragon Emperor Twin High Sword.