Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: A Talent Bordering on Disaster
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A talent that defies explanation.
Even though I was born with the Heavenly Martial Sacred Body, granting me superhuman and transcendent abilities, Cheon Yeoseol's talent surpassed the very limits of what I imagined talent could be.
'I have to interpret and analyze the incantations to comprehend martial arts, but Yeoseol just understands them by looking.'
I could state it with absolute certainty.
'It's a world-shaking talent. If others found out, they'd stop at nothing to claim her.'
That thought made me convinced that the Demonic Cult or Blood Cult members appearing in Hefei were connected to Cheon Yeoseol.
'They could pour all their martial arts into one body—hers—and perfect them. In ten years, she'd be an invincible absolute powerhouse with no equal under heaven.'
I realized it wasn't just the Demonic Cult or Blood Cult I needed to watch out for—not even the orthodox martial world could be trusted.
'With talent like this, the Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, and even the Murim Alliance wouldn't leave her alone.'
Suddenly, I worried that I'd not gained a cute little sister, but shouldered a massive catastrophe instead.
Her talent was so overwhelming that it dragged worries out of me I wouldn't normally have.
I glanced around cautiously.
What if someone had seen this?
Fortunately, it was time to prepare the evening meal, so the estate workers were all busy with their tasks.
"Yeoseol, let's go inside."
I took Yeoseol by the hand and led her back to the room.
"Huh? But I wanna play with this stick more."
She was swinging the stick in the forms of the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique.
I snatched the stick from her, crouched down, and met her eyes.
"Yeoseol, listen to me carefully. You always do what big brother says, right?"
"Yeah. I listen to big brother."
"Good. From now on, don't swing sticks where people are—except when big brother tells you to. Can you do that?"
"Hmm..."
She puffed out her cheeks, full of dissatisfaction.
"If you're good, I'll buy you noodles."
"Then buy them for me every day."
I knew she loved to eat, so I bargained with food.
"Remember those smelly people who tried to take you before?"
"Yeah. The poop-eaters. Their mouths stank too."
"Right, right. If you don't listen, the poop-eaters will take you away."
"Really? Then no way."
"Only swing the stick when I say it's okay. Got it?"
I handed her some snacks from the room, and she grinned ear to ear.
"Got it."
For now, this was how I had to instill some caution in her.
I wanted to verify her talent one more time to be sure.
"Yeoseol, this time big brother's telling you to, so it's okay to swing the stick. Watch me swing first, then copy when I say."
"Okaay."
She stuffed a handful of snacks in her mouth and crunched away.
I unleashed the 24 Plum Blossom Sword Techniques.
Infusing power and speed, I executed five forms in an instant.
'Not it?'
No plum blossoms appeared as I'd hoped.
'Either I'm missing something, or the incantations are incomplete.'
As I pondered why no plum blossoms bloomed, I noticed the room filled with a floral scent and looked up.
'Did someone put a vase of flowers in here?'
Glancing around, I spotted Yeoseol demonstrating the 24 Plum Blossom Sword Techniques with her stick.
Transparent spiritual energy poured from her stick—not quite sword aura, but something else.
'It's close to natural qi.'
Natural qi was visibly drawn toward her body, confirming it.
The good news was that this natural qi was a form of spiritual power, invisible to anyone but someone like me.
The floral scent originated from the tip of her stick.
'Unbelievable. Even seeing it, I can hardly believe my eyes.'
Even in the Mount Hua Sect, only a handful of experts could bloom plum blossoms or their fragrance with the 24 Plum Blossom Sword Techniques.
She casually achieved a realm that only the most advanced elders in swordsmanship could reach.
I realized that if she fell into the hands of evildoers, no martial artist in the world could oppose her.
"Haa."
Deep, long sigh escaped me upon that realization.
"Where on earth did you come from?"
I muttered absentmindedly.
Yeoseol answered.
"Dunno. Woke up in some cave. Was hungry, so I left."
"...And?"
"Hmm, found a wooden house in the mountains and got some clothes there."
"And?"
"Followed a yummy smell down the mountain?"
"Yeoseol, anything weird in that cave?"
Until now, I'd avoided asking about her past to spare her any shock.
But since she brought up waking in the cave, I voiced my curiosity.
"Hmm, there was something white and cold in the cave. It was stuck to my body too."
I realized this was a major clue.
'White and cold.'
Racking my brain, I deduced one possibility.
'From her description, it's likely ice crystal. And if it was on her body, she might have emerged from there.'
A chill ran through me as I thought.
'No way.'
I stared at her piercingly.
'Could Yeoseol be the North Sea Ice Palace's Ice Sacred Body?'
Only then did I understand the faint chill emanating from her body.
Few in the world knew of the Ice Sacred Body.
Probably just the Murim Alliance leadership, heads of the Nine Great Sects, and Five Great Families.
As I pondered, my thigh grew heavy. Looking down, Cheon Yeoseol had fallen asleep using it as a pillow.
Snacks dotted her mouth.
I wiped her mouth and laid her on the bed.
She must have exhausted herself using natural qi to that extent.
"Big brother. Hehe, yummy."
Dreaming of food, she murmured in her sleep.
Unable to express the strange emotions stirring in me, I gazed at her for a moment.
'This little girl appeared out of nowhere one day. Felt sorry for her, like a rabbit that'd get eaten by street cats if left alone, so I brought her home temporarily. Turns out she's a girl with world-shaking talent. Talent that might redefine martial arts theory.'
I didn't think she could live an ordinary life.
Those born with such overwhelming talent always paid a corresponding price.
I stroked her head.
She burrowed deeper into my abdomen.
"The problem is, I'm not sure I can protect you."
Until now, I'd pursued the Seven Stars Seven Origins to extend my lifespan.
Never considered using the power for anything else.
Even with transcendent abilities, I planned to live as a scholar.
But I realized that to protect Cheon Yeoseol, I needed to cultivate strength—even without living as a martial artist.
If someone demanded her, could I hand her over without resistance?
Especially knowing exactly how they'd use her.
'Then it's decided. Even to prepare for when her secret leaks.'
Though born with the Heavenly Martial Sacred Body, I'd never thought to actively build power.
Now, I needed to awaken to the fact.
I didn't need to become a martial artist, but the time for power had come.
"Huh? Who's this old guy?"
"Ho ho, little one, who are you? I don't think I've seen you before."
"Hmm, shouldn't I be the one asking you that? You answer the one who asked first."
Nangong Hak stared in bewilderment at the bold girl's words, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, you're right. That's proper. This old man is the master of this house."
"Oh, house master? So you're here to collect rent from big brother?"
"Rent? Hahaha, who's your big brother?"
"My big brother's Cheon Taesan."
Nangong Hak smiled, realizing the brazen girl was Scholar Cheon's little sister.
'Did Scholar Cheon have such a young sister?'
His investigation hadn't turned up that info.
But there she was, coming from Cheon Taesan's room, so he had to believe it.
"Little one, what's your name?"
"I'm Cheon Yeoseol. What's your name, old guy?"
Nangong Hak chuckled.
Her innocent ignorance made her rudeness endearing rather than offensive; it even brought a smile to his face.
"This old man's name is Nangong Hak."
"Hmm, I heard at the market the Nangong Family's the strongest in the world. So you're the strongest old guy ever?"
"Ho ho ho, thanks, but there are many stronger than me."
"Figured. You're smaller than the noodle vendor uncle on the street. Wait—old guy, what's your deal with that thug over there?"
"Thug? Hahaha, I'm that thug's father."
"Oh? That thug needs some education. No manners, no etiquette, talks all rude."
"Is that so? Guess I need to give him a good scolding."
"Yeah, looks like he missed out on family training."
"Ho ho ho. That's on me as the father."
"Right. You need to reflect, old guy."
I came out after washing my face and overheard them, panicking.
"Family Head, what brings you here? To see the Young Master?"
"I came to see Scholar Cheon briefly."
Cheon Yeoseol looked at me.
"Big brother, he said old people's knees hurt. Sit and talk. Old guy's struggling."
Stifling a laugh at the absurdity, I bowed to Nangong Hak.
"My apologies, Family Head. Yeoseol's my cousin's daughter. She lost her memory in an accident on her way to see me. Her personality's changed a bit too. She used to be polite, but seems she's forgotten her manners."
"Really? That explains it. A scholar's family should raise her properly. But seeing your sister reminded me of raising kids, so it didn't bother me."
"Yeoseol, go inside. There are dumplings in the room."
She nodded, then made a cute pout at Nangong Hak.
"Old guy, don't bully big brother just 'cause you're the house master. They say you know the father by the son. I'll be watching."
I had to apologize again.
"She lost her memory and wandered the streets all day, picking up market talk. My apologies, Family Head."
As she even clenched her little fist, Nangong Hak laughed heartily, and I shook my head.
"Hahaha, what an utterly adorable child."
Nangong Hak grinned broadly for the first time in a while.
He muttered.
"In all my life, this is the cutest little creature I've met."
Despite her rudeness—which could offend anyone—Nangong Hak doted on Yeoseol, leaving me flustered.
Even with amnesia, treating everyone like this was dangerous. I resolved to start her education today.
There was plenty to teach.
Cautioning her against revealing power carelessly, basic etiquette in dealing with people—it would take a lot of time.