Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Tending to the Ghost Swords
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I drew out the Ghost Swords and meticulously maintained them.
I wiped down their weary bodies completely. Not only had they readily amplified the qi I sent out on my behalf, but they had even drawn in a portion of nature's energy to support me of their own accord.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I owed my current position entirely to them. It felt like I had received a great favor. And so, I took the time and effort to slowly clean each sword.
Ghost Sword White Night was somewhat cold, yet soft.
Ghost Sword Black Lord was wild, yet incredibly warm.
Two swords with opposing temperaments. Since they were Ghost Swords with enough ego to possess their own awareness, I slowly expressed my gratitude in a way they could feel.
Yin Xue-lan, who had been watching, clicked her tongue.
"Anyone seeing this would think they were your lovers."
"Something like that."
"What?"
"They helped me, so shouldn't I cherish them in return?"
"...Don't you worry someone might misunderstand?"
"I have no intention of hiding my feelings. The Ghost Swords have only ever aided me on my journey, so I can't help but hold them dear. Better they misunderstand than not."
The Blood Wind Robe, reduced to rags, was slowly regenerating on its own. The divine relic, torn to shreds in every direction, had regained its form before long, its color shifting back from red to black.
And what of the Blood Sword? Even after such a brutal melee and swinging it without infusing inner energy at the end, not a single chip marred its edge. That was the significance of it being personally reinforced by the unparalleled master swordsmith of the world.
I meticulously tended to everything I possessed. Then, suddenly aware of prying eyes, I glanced beyond the closed tent flap.
"What are you all doing outside?"
"They say your face is scary?"
"Pardon?"
"We're used to seeing you like this, so it's fine for us, but your disciples are different, aren't they? It must've been their first time seeing you that way. Gu Hwa-rin too... and Su-ryeon and Il-ho? Seems even those kids find it a bit hard to approach you now."
Voices erupted from beyond the closed tent flap.
"N-No, it's not like that!"
"Master! It's a misunderstanding! It's just... well, kind of... um...!"
"Th-That's right! It's awe we're feeling! Isn't it, little sister?!"
"Y-Yes! It's awe...!"
"...It was a first for me too. Last time we fought together, I was focused on other things."
"......."
I pulled aside the cloth covering the entrance and looked down at their flinching gazes.
"Did I startle you all that much?"
"......"
They nodded in unison. Beyond them, I sensed countless more glances furtively watching me from afar.
It had been like this ever since returning to the fortress. There were no cheers or songs of praise for me. Nor was I met with fear or terror.
Everyone simply kept their distance. Not completely apart, but hovering nearby, merely observing me.
Heavy gazes. There were so many that I could feel them even huddled inside the tent.
"...I'm sorry if I frightened you. But I had no choice. It was the perfect opportunity to minimize casualties while tempering my swords."
"...You turned the battlefield... into a training ground? What kind of mad..."
"I had to do something mad. With the near-certainty that I'd subdued the Righteous Faction's Greatest Sword... I needed a blade that could surpass him, even if it meant pushing myself."
"But slaughtering doesn't automatically elevate your martial arts, does it?"
"It does for me. My techniques are a bit unique."
"......."
Gu Hwa-rin asked, trembling.
"Did... it hurt?"
"It did."
I didn't mix in any lies. Claiming they hadn't hurt would be a complete fabrication.
"But I endured it."
"How...?"
"I've always been good at enduring since long ago."
"......."
"Anyway, no need to worry. Escaping the battlefield doesn't mean I've changed. My sword will never turn on you all. So, don't be so scared."
The group exchanged glances before rushing back to me.
"Th-That's not it! Master!"
"It's because you're really that strong... It felt like glimpsing an unreachable sky...!"
"W-We're impressed! Truly! But that... immortal body of yours, what is...?"
"No way we'd worry about that!"
"It's like respect for witnessing something awe-inspiring... Hmm... Like seeing a transcendent realm expert unleash. For this girl, it was a chance to reflect on my own martial arts."
"......."
My eyes met Il-ho's. She glanced around cautiously before whispering through the cloth over her mouth.
"I-I know you're not that kind of person..."
Even the most tight-lipped one reassuring me like that eased my worries. Only then could I manage a faint smile.
"I was a little concerned. With all the blood caked on... I thought you might be frightened."
"......."
"Thanks for saying otherwise. I'd appreciate it if you treated me like before."
The slight commotion came to an end. After listening to my excited disciples chatter away, I returned to the privacy of my tent.
The four from the Demonic Cult sighed in relief. Yin Xue-lan narrowed her eyes as if bringing up the topic belatedly.
"I thought I knew your level... but I was way off. When did you reach that height? I can't even fathom crossing swords with you now."
"You're too kind."
"Kind? You mentioned the Fourfold Unity, right? Using four energies as one. Fine, fire and ice qi make sense. But how did you manage not to use demonic qi and blood qi?"
"I did use them."
"What? How? I didn't see anything."
I picked up a Ghost Sword again and slowly stroked its surface.
"I pondered it on Mount Hua. How to properly wield the Transforming Sword that the First Demon taught me. And why my Formless Battle Aura lacked a distinct form."
"...And?"
"In that process, I fortunately realized I already knew the answer. Once I realized I already knew it, applying it became even freer. That's when I grasped that I could unite the four energies into one-or split the unified four back apart."
"I follow that far... but how does that connect to your answer now?"
"And through the Ghost Swords, I learned I could convert one split energy into another."
".......?"
I explained simply.
"In other words... demonic qi and blood qi, yin qi and yang qi. I can now freely convert between these differing energies' properties whenever I wish, in any form I desire. The pinnacle of the Transforming Sword's freedom in mutable properties... something like that."
".......? That's possible?"
"Not on my own, of course. It's only feasible because of these two. Unfortunately, conversion to demonic qi remains impossible. The one Ghost Sword I haven't drawn denies me that..."
I glanced at the final Ghost Sword, which hadn't been unsheathed even once since coming to me.
Ghost Sword, Nine Deaths.
I wonder when the day will come to draw this one.
Pushing aside the small question, I concluded.
"Anyway, I convert blood qi with my own power alone, while borrowing the Ghost Swords' strength for yin and yang qi to alter my inner energy's properties. That's the Transforming Sword Soul Harmony Four Forms-one of the two sword techniques I comprehended on Mount Hua."
"...What a monster..."
"Are divine relics really that incredible? No, they definitely live up to their Ghost Sword names... Wow... It's like giving wings to a beast..."
"So cool!"
"Then what's the other one?"
The other one.
That was something I mastered alongside properly learning Formless Battle Aura.
"The seventh form of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art."
"...Seventh...? What's that?"
"It's..."
Something words couldn't convey.
The pinnacle of battle aura martial arts. A technique intertwined with my own Formless Battle Aura.
I brushed off the explanation with a laugh.
"Hard to put into words. I'll show you later."
"Looking forward to it?"
"Of course. Senior Xue-lan, keep your expectations high."
Just as I thought to wrap up and rest, the Earth Dragon Commander called me aside.
"...Red Hero. You're... even greater than I imagined. Just one question. Did you come of your own accord? Or were you sent?"
"I was sent."
"The Murim Alliance Leader's check, huh. Figures. They must've decided they couldn't keep someone like you under them. The Murim Alliance cast you aside..."
The Earth Dragon Commander swept a hand over his face.
But the next moment, unable to hide his slyly rising lips, he broke into a wide grin.
"I never dreamed you'd single-handedly stall that massive army! Haha! What fortune! The Heavenly Dragon Society's fortune! I hear once this is over, the Murim Alliance will formally retire you... How about joining the Heavenly Dragon Society? If Red Hero joins us, I'll back you openly!"
"I'm fine."
"Plenty of time, think it over! Heh heh... Anyway, thanks to the time Red Hero bought us, our main force is heading here. The enemy's momentum is broken too. They'll flounder for a while, dithering on whether to breach this place or not."
The Earth Dragon Commander probed slyly.
"By the way... that undying body of yours-what is it? Did you eat some rare treasure? Or possess a divine relic...?"
"Something like that. But its healing devours inner energy, so it's not infinite. I was teetering between life and death just earlier."
"A supreme warrior with supreme divine relics! You know what they're calling Red Hero outside?"
"...What?"
"The word 'Ink Saint' is getting overshadowed by rumors among the soldiers. Plenty are captivated by the tip of your sword. They say your freely shifting, inscrutable four swords mean we need to expand the Four Saints to five-and they're calling you the Mixed Origin Four Swords. I agree to some extent. A great one like you reduced to the plain name 'Ink Saint'... No way, unacceptable! Mixed Origin Four Swords Red Cloud! What a splendid moniker!"
The Earth Dragon Commander, huffing excitedly and thrusting his hand high, grabbed mine and swung it around.
With eyes burning like fire, he vowed firmly.
"But once is enough for that kind of experience. Watching Red Hero's back stirred forgotten emotions. Entrusting the gates to an outsider-not even one of the Heavenly Dragon Society... Utterly shameful. Next time, I'll join the fray myself! The Heavenly Dragon Society's fifteen hundred warriors will fight alongside you! Let's sweep away the Righteous Faction remnants together! Red Hero!"
"...A-Ah... Understood...?"
"To dream of the top again in my twilight years... Red Hero's sword is truly astonishing! A blade that revives forgotten dreams! I'll show you a sword worthy of it! Looking forward to the war now... I've gone properly mad! But it's not bad! Haha! Back in my day, you see...!"
The exhilarated Earth Dragon Commander launched into tales of his past. I listened quietly.
Even venturing out late at night, I could sense the fervor drifting through the allied camp. Soldiers on guard duty who met my eyes approached hesitantly.
"R-Red Hero...!"
"Yes?"
"It's an honor to fight on the same battlefield!"
Such words poured in daily. During supply times, my rations were piled higher than others'.
A reflexive thank-you elicited identical responses like parrots.
"The honor is mine!"
As if I were some living god.
Day by day, the distance with the soldiers shrank. Replying politely to their constant approaches, some men even sparkled openly.
"Such skill, and so humble too!"
"Is there another warrior like him in the world...?"
It was overwhelming. I requested they treat me like anyone else, but they refused with fervor.
"How could we treat Red Hero like just anyone!"
"I won't!"
"E-Eat more! Even my share!"
"......."
Su-a, who had been trailing me persistently, puffed out her chest proudly instead.
"My dad's this amazing!"
"Su-a, even you, stop..."
"Everyone, three cheers!"
"......."
Meanwhile, the enemy's formation shifted ceaselessly.
As if mirroring their rattled emotions, their camp wavered-some packing gear as if to withdraw any moment, others raising voices in apparent internal strife.
But that too proved temporary. Eventually, they solidified into a single formation.
"...Looks like they're steeling themselves for a desperate push."
I saw the enemy, who had pulled back, advancing their forces once more.
As if determined to end it decisively this time.