Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Unstable State
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"The Sword Empress isn't doing well?!"
"Ah, calm down. It's not like her life's hanging by a thread or she's got some deadly illness."
"...Well, that's a relief, at least."
She placed a hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief upon hearing it wasn't the worst-case scenario.
A flood of grim possibilities had raced through her mind in that instant, making the relief all the more profound.
Maybe it was my reaction that prompted her to ask,
"...You two are that close?"
I flinched.
"O-Of course we are! H-How could I not worry about my benefactor after everything she did for me?!"
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. I mean, she just seemed strong enough, had a decent personality, and our goals aligned, so I figured I'd tag along. I had no idea she was the Sword Empress. And then she ended up saving my skin multiple times after that."
I met Dang Ayoung's suspiciously narrowed eyes and widened mine innocently, sparkling with sincerity.
As if you'd doubt me after that.
"...Ahem. Now that you mention it, I think you did say something like that."
Dang Ayoung cleared her throat awkwardly and averted her gaze.
"S-So, what exactly do you mean by 'not doing well'? If her life's not in danger and it's not a serious illness..."
"Well... she's just a bit mentally unstable?"
"...That doesn't sound okay at all!"
"Eh, as long as it's not a physical ailment, she's fine."
"Mental issues are way harder to fix than physical ones!"
It was common sense to someone from Earth like me, but considering this world's medical standards, the opposite might actually hold true.
There was no modern medicine here, after all.
"But for a martial artist of the Sword Empress's caliber to be mentally unstable... isn't that dangerous?"
While I mulled that over, Dang Ayoung spoke up cautiously.
"Her mental state should be just about perfected at this point, so the fact that something like this could even happen is bizarre. If it has happened, though, it's no small matter."
"...Hah. Yeah, no kidding."
Yeo So-cheon sighed, shooting me what felt like a brief glare.
...Did I imagine that?
"You might not get it, but a martial artist's mind is far more resilient than an ordinary person's. The higher the realm, the more enlightenment they gain and the more they temper themselves, building an inner world that's even tougher. So for someone at the Sword Empress's or my level to have mental issues? That's not normal at all."
"I know that much!"
"Your blank look made me think you were clueless. Color me surprised."
"Why are you suddenly insulting me..."
"Anyway, the Sword Empress being mentally unstable means she could slip into qi deviation if things go wrong."
"...!"
Dang Ayoung and I both swallowed hard at Yeo So-cheon's words.
We knew exactly what qi deviation entailed.
"So... she'll... die?"
"Usually, yeah. If she's lucky, she might survive as a broken shell, body and mind ruined. If not... she'll go berserk."
"..."
"The first two are preferable. The last one's the real problem."
I'd heard stories like that before.
Martial artists in qi deviation sometimes rampaged out of control, killing or injuring countless people.
It typically happened when they were consumed by inner demons or gained flawed enlightenment. Even if flawed, they had still achieved some insight, making them far stronger than usual.
And if that happened to the Sword Empress...
A chill ran down my spine.
"Th-That'd be a disaster."
"You get it now?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Then let's hurry. Who knows what might happen to her in the meantime."
With that, Yeo So-cheon grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
Her movement was so natural I couldn't resist, letting her drag me until—
"H-Hold on! Don't sneakily hold his hand!"
I slammed into Dang Ayoung's body as she hugged me from behind.
Her soft breasts pressed against the back of my head and cheek, and I couldn't help but think—even now—what a luxurious sensation it was.
"...This is why tall girls are..."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Let's just go. We've wasted enough time on nonsense."
We didn't know what had soured Yeo So-cheon's mood, but Dang Ayoung and I hurried after her retreating figure toward Mount Hua.
.
.
.
"Confirmed. Lady Thunderclap Sword, Faceless Golden Ghost, and..."
"Poison Phoenix here!"
"Yes. Poison... Wait, does Poison Phoenix have a token too?"
"I-I'll vouch for her!"
"...Understood. I'll guide you to the Sword Empress."
We showed our tokens from the Sword Empress to the stern-faced woman and were granted passage.
"Ugh... I'm kinda famous out in the world..."
"Th-This is Mount Hua. The Taoists here probably don't care about worldly affairs."
"I never imagined I'd end up needing your vouch to get into somewhere..."
"Ahaha... Blame the young master."
I gently comforted the downcast Dang Ayoung as we followed the woman.
"Seems like just yesterday you showed up with that letter of introduction, asking me to help you open a shop..."
"That was two years ago already."
"Back then, I thought you were some mysterious guy. Hiding your face with that unheard-of sorcery, actually passing the 'test' I threw at you. And your voice was so androgynous, I couldn't even tell if you were a guy or a girl."
"...Yeah, that happened."
Hearing it now, it felt like ancient history.
"Better late than never, but what was your first impression of me?"
"...My first impression?"
"Yeah."
It had been two years since we met, and now we were lovers. A perfectly natural question.
"Hmm... Honestly? I was thinking marriage from the moment we met."
"Pfft!"
"N-No, not like that! Hold on. Don't think I'm some easy girl."
"Cough... Cough..."
Her answer caught me so off guard I choked and hacked for a good while.
"Y-You're more romantic than I thought."
"No, listen. It wasn't love at first sight or anything. I was thinking political marriage, or bringing you in as an in-law."
"Ah..."
That made sense.
For a clan like the Tang Family of Sichuan—not a sect, but a family—incorporating talented men or women through arranged marriages had kept them going for centuries. It was natural for Dang Ayoung to think that way.
"Back then, I prioritized the family over my own happiness. A guy who could read the future with high accuracy? Snagging you would've been a bargain."
"I see."
"...Did that hurt your feelings? Sounding so calculating?"
"Nah, not really."
I wasn't some rigid romantic who believed 'love must be pure, no other factors allowed.'
"And it's not like that now, right?"
Besides, I knew the feelings she gave me now held no such calculations.
"I know better than anyone what kind of emotions you have for me now. No reason to feel bad."
I thought I'd handled that smoothly, but...
"..."
She trembled.
"...Young miss?"
"Huuuuuh..."
Dang Ayoung covered her face with her hands and let out a massive sigh.
And that's when instinct kicked in.
She was aroused.
"How do you always say the cutest things..."
"Uh... Young miss, calm down. We're outside, and there's someone ahead."
"I know. Not like I can do anything here on Mount Hua anyway. I'm cooling off."
...She would've if we weren't on Mount Hua?
"If this were just a marketplace, I'd drag you into an alley..."
"..."
Even outdoors wasn't safe anymore.
Looking at Dang Ayoung—who seemed hornier the more I indulged her—I glanced nervously at the two walking ahead.
Thankfully, they were far enough not to hear.
She froze mid-thought, and the woman leading us suddenly stopped, turning back.
"I get that you're close, but please restrain yourselves on Mount Hua grounds."
She glared down at us coldly.
"Ahem. Young folks, am I right?"
Yeo So-cheon coughed awkwardly beside her.
"No one's around on the path to the Sword Empress's quarters, but this is a mountain of ascetics suppressing their youthful vigor for cultivation. Fine in the secular world, but show some restraint here."
"...Yes, ma'am."
"Sorry..."
We deflated.
Dang Ayoung looked just as glum as I felt, both of us shuffling dejectedly after the woman. Noticing our state, perhaps—
"...That aside, you two make a fine pair. I wish you a long and happy life together."
"Pfft!"
"Wh-What?!"
"Huh?!"
Her sudden words made me choke again. Yeo So-cheon panicked, while Dang Ayoung's eyes sparkled.
"R-Really? We look good together? For real?"
"H-Hold on! What are you saying?! How could that rude girl possibly suit him?! I'm way bet—"
"...Lady Thunderclap Sword?"
"—ter suited for them! Not that I have any interest or involvement in their relationship."
"...Got it."
The atmosphere turned chaotic with rapid-fire chatter as we delved deeper, until finally,
"We're here. This is where she resides."
we arrived at the Sword Empress's quarters.
"I'll announce you first. Enter once she responds..."
Bam!
"Hey, Sword Empress! I brought the guy you've been waiting for—get out here!"
"..."
Yeo So-cheon flung the door open without knocking.
"...Aren't you gonna say something for that?"
"She's a comrade-in-arms who fought back-to-back with me. This is hardly rude."
"Don't make me wait a whole hour in bed again like last time!"
"...You waited an hour last time?"
"Ahem."
She clearly didn't want to wait that long again.
We cautiously followed Yeo So-cheon inside and quickly spotted the Sword Empress.
She sat cross-legged in the center of the spacious room, eyes closed.
Her lids slowly parted, revealing those blue eyes.
It had been a while, but something felt off compared to before.
Not the clear, serene blue I'd known, but a murky hue.
"Ah..."
Her voice sounded listless as she rose.
"This dream again..."
She approached us slowly.
Right up to me.
"If it's a dream anyway..."
Thud!
By the time I realized what was happening, my world had flipped.
"...I can do as I please, right?"
The Sword Empress was straddling me atop my body.