Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Decision
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"...Let's think a little more about leaving Mount Hua."
"Do as you like."
Surprisingly, Ye Socheon's words seemed to work. The Sword Empress said she would hold off on deciding to leave Mount Hua.
'Is that a relief...?'
Her saying she was stepping down from Mount Hua because of a man would cause a massive uproar. Just thinking about the fallout already gave me a headache.
The method felt a bit underhanded, but since it was postponed for now, it was still good news.
And seeing things come this far made me realize anew just how insane I was.
'...How the hell did I even seduce them?'
Poison Phoenix, Sword Empress, Thunderclap Sword.
Marrying three women that no upright faction martial artist could possibly be unaware of—I was starting to feel pretty amazing even to myself.
If others saw this, they'd say I'd saved the country ten times over in a past life...
*Drip drip*
'Marriage life... times three...?'
It was overwhelming.
The pressure was suffocating, like I might die from it.
Of course, I hadn't experienced married life myself, but I'd heard plenty from those around me.
And that... with not one, but three...?
'...Wait a minute. And I have to take care of Master too...'
Right now, she was secluded in training up in the mountains, left alone in that house. But she'd come out eventually, and I couldn't just abandon her.
I knew her survival skills were the absolute worst—she'd somehow managed alone while I was away, but how could I leave her like that?
'But living with Master feels a bit awkward too...'
It was like inviting your parents to live in your newlywed home. The optics were off.
Maybe I should get her a house nearby...?
But would she even agree to leave the mountains?
What if she dismissed all this marriage nonsense, refused permission, and dragged me back into the mountains?
'...Sigh.'
Just thinking about all this ahead of time made one thing clear: my married life would be anything but peaceful.
Three wives. Three.
Their personalities were all different, their bodies too, and I was obviously going to be the one on a short leash. Three of them.
Even just thinking about bedtime: Dang Ayoung had said she'd demand the same amount no matter how many wives I had...
The Sword Empress and Ye Socheon didn't seem as vigorous as her, so even if I cut it way down and combined them, it'd still be about Dang Ayoung's level...
'...'
I might as well just live in bed.
No, this was impossible from the start.
This body might boast superhuman stamina, but even humans have limits.
If I somehow endured, I'd need to spend all day recovering in bed... only to start over at night...
'...Should I run?'
I'd just realized a death sentence had been passed on the rest of my life.
Was this why married men called marriage the grave of life?
The sunlight I'd see before entering that house on our wedding day might be the last I'd ever see.
I never imagined "life's grave" meant something like this.
"...My lord?"
"Y-Yes? Huh?!"
"What's with you? You weren't listening?"
The Sword Empress's voice snapped me back to reality. It looked like they'd been talking without me.
"Uh, uh... I was just thinking about something for a sec."
"Well, that happens. We were just about to talk about why we're here."
"Uh, uh... yeah..."
Right, the reason we came here.
...What was it again?
"...Ugh..."
"...You didn't forget, did you?"
"Hold on... my memory's... Ah!"
I rummaged through my foggy mind and finally remembered.
"The Demonic Cult!"
Oh yeah, that's why we came.
With all the huge stuff from earlier, I'd blanked on it.
"What do you mean? The Demonic Cult?"
"Well, see..."
I explained everything to the Sword Empress, who looked puzzled but furrowed her brow slightly at the mention of the Demonic Cult.
A letter had arrived from the Demonic Cult, requesting that I visit their headquarters.
But contrary to my expectations, she didn't explode in rage like Dang Ayoung. Instead, she wore a serious, contemplative expression.
'I figured she'd flip out like Dang Ayoung.'
I thought she'd absolutely forbid it—the Demonic Cult was the enemy, after all. But she stayed surprisingly calm.
"Hmm..."
"...What should we do?"
"Honestly, I'd never recommend walking into the heart of the Demonic Cult of your own accord... But ironically, because it's them, I'm even more conflicted. If you refuse and they decide to kidnap you, it wouldn't be easy to stop them here."
"...Come on, me? That big a deal...?"
"Humility is good, but you need to recognize your own value. Right now, it's no exaggeration to say you're one of the most valuable people in the martial world. I'm not joking about the kidnapping risk."
"..."
...She's right.
Unlike the fake fortune-tellers all over the Central Plains, I was a proven prophet.
A prophet who could read the future and even find clues to raising one's realm—any group would come running with fire in their eyes.
"If you refuse, the wisest move would be to hole up somewhere safe for a while. We don't know their full strength, after all. Luckily, you have allies nearby: the Tang Clan of Sichuan, Kunlun... or even Mount Hua would work."
"...But Ye Socheon said something..."
"What?"
"That if the Heavenly Demon shows up, there's nothing we can do to stop her... Is that true?"
*Flinch!*
Heavenly Demon.
At that name, the Sword Empress's body began to tremble.
"...Sword Empress?"
"...Hoo. Sorry. Just... old memories."
"...Okay."
The trembling stopped quickly, but I'd clearly seen it.
She didn't answer directly, but that was answer enough.
Even the Sword Empress couldn't stop the Heavenly Demon.
If she made a move, that is.
"...Was that letter from the Heavenly Demon?"
"No... it didn't say who sent it."
"...We can only pray it's not her... But if it turns out she did summon you..."
She trailed off with a deep sigh, her voice listless.
"...You should go."
It was exactly what I'd expected.
"W-Wait. It might not be her. If it's not..."
"...After the current Heavenly Demon defeated the previous one and took her seat, the Demonic Cult has shown strangely little interest in the Central Plains."
"...Huh?"
"You know this much: historically, the Demonic Cult has eyed the Central Plains for ages. They were insanely greedy for talent. Promising young geniuses from the upright factions would fall to demonic arts and defect. Top talents got assassinated, craftsmen kidnapped—it happened all the time."
"...Right?"
"But... strangely, after she rose to power, that interest dropped sharply. We have to account for the chaos with the Blood Cult's war, but... the old Demonic Cult would have used that turmoil to conquer the Central Plains."
*Tremble*
"...Not just capturing the Blood Cult Leader and retreating."
"..."
Even imagining it made a master like the Sword Empress shudder.
No further explanation was needed to grasp how dangerous she was.
"If she's that strong, why hasn't she invaded the Central Plains...?"
"I don't know."
"...You didn't even finish."
"No, actually... I have a guess, but it's not certain."
"What?"
"Back then, when she fought the Blood Cult Leader, I read her emotions."
*Perk*
My ears perked up at the intriguing story.
It piqued my curiosity.
And from the Sword Empress's open lips came...
"...Boredom."
"...Huh?"
"Boredom. Ennui. Disappointment. That was the emotion on her face as she single-handedly butchered the Blood Cult Leader, her executives, and all their grunts in moments."
"..."
Boredom from something that insane?
What kind of person was she?
No, why feel bored in the middle of a fight?
What had she even expected to feel disappointment...?
"...No way."
"...The Blood Cult Leader who crushed me and my comrades was just a mild diversion to her. Or rather, not even that."
"..."
"So, the reason she hasn't invaded the Central Plains is probably..."
...It's not fun.
That was the reason the Central Plains hadn't fallen to the Demonic Cult yet—words that couldn't quite leave the Sword Empress's mouth.
"...So, the Demonic Cult showing no ambition toward the Central Plains must reflect her will. The cult has a strict hierarchy, and all followers obey her commands. For them to send a letter to an outsider means..."
"...We can't rule out the Heavenly Demon's involvement with this letter."
"...Probably."
Even if she didn't send it herself, she at least knew about it.
Which could extend to knowing about me.
"...Then I guess I should go."
"..."
"Like Ye Socheon said... if I refuse and the Heavenly Demon actually shows up... it'd be a disaster."
As I basically made the decision, Dang Ayoung hugged me from the side and patted my back.
"If they imprison you there or something, I'll come rescue you someday no matter what, so just don't think about anyone else and do whatever they say...? Don't resist and get hurt... Even if they ask for the upright factions' weaknesses, just tell them everything..."
"Why are you already assuming I'll be locked up?"
"Still, just in case—keep your cloak on as much as possible... If you absolutely have to take it off, weird women might come at night, so charm them well somehow..."
"Don't say weird stuff."
"Sob... No matter how tainted you get, it's fine with me, so please don't do anything drastic like taking your own life...?"
What image of me was in Dang Ayoung's head to make her worry like that?
The mood felt off, so I glanced at Ye Socheon. She was covering the fainted guide woman with a blanket she'd gotten from somewhere.
"...Aren't you worried about her?"
"...Huh? No."
"..."
Why did she seem so utterly convinced I'd return safely?
Something was nagging at me,
but I deliberately cut off the thought.