Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Awakening and Scolding
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"..."
Number 20 roused herself with a rustle. The sunlight leaking through the window stung her eyes.
She shifted her body slightly. There wasn't a single spot that didn't ache, so she wondered if she should stay in bed longer---but in the end, she quietly got to her feet.
Early morning.
Dew clung to the tips of the leaves. After a quick wash, Number 20 ran into the young servant bustling about.
They had exchanged names by now. Late as it was, she had learned his name was Jo Il.
"L-Lord! You mustn't move yet!"
"I'm hungry."
"I'll bring it to your bed! Hurry back! Patients need rest!"
The hands pushing at her back weren't unpleasant. But once the young servant left, she sneaked out of the room again.
A light stroll. The sunlight itself felt wonderful. The slightly chilly breeze seemed to awaken her body, which had been confined to the room.
She unconsciously reached for her sword with her uninjured arm and gave a wry smile.
Habit.
Damn.
Did this idiot really get crippled?
When she returned to her room, the young servant was fidgeting anxiously with her meal in hand. The moment she opened the door, a barrage of nagging flew at her.
"L-Lord! The physician said you must absolutely rest!"
"A short walk is fine. But is this just porridge?"
She craved meat. Grilled meat, not raw.
The young servant shook his head firmly.
"The physician said no meat for the time being. Only grains."
"...Ugh."
After a simple meal, she wiped herself down with a warmed towel. Her wounds still throbbed, but she wasn't completely immobile.
The visiting physician marveled.
"The Nine Thousand Blood Demon Art is truly a peculiar technique. Recovery is so swift. Was it designed that way from the start, or is it just a side effect...? Still, your energy passages are unstable. Keep your hands off your sword for now. Mess it up, and you could fall into Qi Deviation."
"I'll be careful."
"Good to see you're reasonable. Your usual Reversion Pill. Take it at Mao Hour, just like always."
After applying a few needles, she grabbed the physician who was about to leave.
"How's 'that one' doing?"
"Hmm... Different physician in charge, you see. Not sure."
The physician departed. Number 20 quietly rose from her seat.
Meals came regularly. Attendants tended to her needs.
An unexpected paradise. But her mind wasn't at ease.
She wanted to check on Number 30's condition. Even after ten days, he still hadn't risen from his bed.
"Miss. You can't go in."
But every time she tried, she was blocked. The faces of those coming and going from inside were all grim.
She'd heard he was improving, but she couldn't believe it. The last sight of him had been close to a corpse.
A rag of a body. Cold skin without a single intact spot.
He had clung to the Soul-Exiting Sword alone for so long, his eyes unblinking as he repeated his fading breaths.
Could you even call that... alive?
Extreme Purity Name arrived and said,
"Miss. He'll pull through. My master said his life is out of danger for now. I heard the treatment is showing progress."
"...Saving his life isn't enough."
Hadn't she seen how much joy he took in swinging his sword?
To Number 20, Number 30 and his sword were like inseparable brothers.
Just keeping him alive wasn't sufficient.
Who knew what might happen if you pried him from his sword.
She wanted to help somehow...
"...You think of him as more than just a comrade, Miss."
"Wh-what?! What nonsense is that?! He's just a comrade, exactly!"
"Is that so? Then that's for the best."
Extreme Purity Name smiled.
"I'll ask my master separately if there's any way to help. Even if we were caught in the scheme too, our fault remains. Let me apologize once more, Miss."
"Enough. These things don't happen just once or twice in the cult's internals. Extreme Purity Name."
"You can call me by name, Miss. Or... I'd be grateful if you did."
"That's a bit much. Aren't we getting oddly chummy, considering? We should keep our distance."
"......"
Number 20 stamped her feet in frustration. It was the night of the eleventh day she had been watching the door to Number 30's room.
At dawn, people suddenly rushed into his room.
"Wh-what's happening?!"
"He's awake!"
"......!"
Number 20 ran without a care for appearances.
...
"...Quiet... All... back... off..."
A voice reached her. I moved my fingertips.
My body felt strange. It wouldn't obey. Something reflected in my eyes.
My ears rang dully. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
No pain.
---Thousand Tribulations had stopped.
"...Can you... hear...? Try... speaking..."
Someone was talking. But the light in front blocked my view.
Where was this?
I was clearly with... the Soul-Exiting Sword...
"...Kuh?!"
Suddenly, sensation flooded back. Thousand Tribulations let out a faint scream.
My fingertips twitched into motion. Something was inside them. Veins and innards. An endless chain of bone-chilling cold that drove me mad.
My body convulsed. At the same time, something erupted from my mouth.
"Uwaaaaack!!!"
Blood.
Putrid blood poured from my mouth in streams.
"Kyaa... ah...!"
"What... respond...!"
"Step... back...!"
Voices still came in fragments. Pinned by countless hands, I groped to the side.
Where was this? What was I doing?
Who are you? What are you trying to do to me?
"Get... away...!"
I shoved. I felt the person touching my body collapse in an instant.
I staggered to my feet. Leaning against the wall, I steadied my crumbling body.
My vision was hazy. I still couldn't see well.
I have to fight.
Fight and win. It can't be too late yet.
Move your hand. Thrust.
Struggle to the very last...!
"Stop."
My outstretched fist was blocked.
Someone gently enveloped me.
"Kid."
The voice tickled my ear.
"Wanna die? Shall I really bury you? Huh? Cut it out. You know I've been pulling all-nighters for days because of you?"
".......?"
"The fight's over, so behave. Ha. What a pain. Always dragging me into these messes..."
I blinked.
From the body that had vomited rotten blood, Thousand Tribulations began to stir slowly. The chill settled in my bones remained, but sensation was returning.
The voices I heard grew clear as well.
"If it weren't for me, you'd be dead there. And that's not all? I'm basically your savior now. So behave. You owe me for all this."
My wandering focus sharpened. I confirmed I was being held by someone.
Purple hair. More disheveled than the last image I recalled, with an utterly fatigued complexion.
I desperately remembered.
Her words.
"...Four Blood Corps...?"
"That's right. Four Blood Corps. Kid."
My nose was pinched sharply.
"I'm a distant senior to you. So stay put, alright? Cause one more scene, and I'll toss you outside."
"......."
In the colors that returned in an instant, I realized I was inside a building.
She released me. I staggered backward.
The room was packed with people. Glimpses of Sima Ak and Number 20.
Since everyone was staring at me, I asked,
"...Did we win?"
"...You damn bastard."
Sima Ak laughed.
"Yeah. We won. Thanks to you, kid."
With those words, tension drained from my body. I slid down the wall and let out a sigh.
Thousand Tribulations wailed. Amid that sound, I felt the body-crushing pain return.
But it was oddly welcome.
As if it were telling me I could still wield a sword.
...
I heard the story. The rather tangled mess of events had been unraveled by the arrival of Four Blood Corps Myo Ye-rin.
"The Heavenly Evil Sect is under investigation now. Spreading false rumors, deliberately obstructing the Sima Clan, trying to devour us just like with the deceased Pursuing Righteousness Sentinelit's all coming to light. With Four Blood Corps controlling the situation, the Soul-Exiting Sword and his disciple Extreme Purity Name are both here. Detained in a remote building. Formally, of course."
Sima Ak shrugged.
"The name Four Blood Corps carries real weight. She shows up once, and everything's turned upside down everywhere."
"How did you summon her?"
"Money. Paid the Sima Clan's entire yearly budget. A gamble, but she arrived right on time. Partly thanks to the entry logs she brought. She figured it was worth looking into, so she came herself. Worth sending messenger birds everywhere. We turned every branch near the village upside down."
"Quit calling her 'that bitch'."
Number 20's condition was off. One eye covered in bandages, her splinted left arm dangling with every movement.
"Number 20. Those wounds..."
"Wounds of glory. You know? I beat Extreme Purity Name. Smashed the Soul-Exiting Sword's disciple head-on, bam---! Impressive, right? See me in a new light?"
"They say you were crawling on the ground when Four Blood Corps found you."
"Will you shut it? Anyway, no need to worry about the injuries. Heard they'll all heal cleanly."
Everything in the Sima Clan was running smoothly again. But separately, my body's state was somewhat strange.
Thousand Tribulations had shrunk back again. An unidentified energy mixed in my dantian as well.
Ice fragments.
Because I ingested the spirit pill left by Ice White Snow?
I tried circulating my inner energy, but it wouldn't flow properly. Chills ran through me as if my meridians were frozen solid.
No way...
Had my body been ruined?
When I visited Four Blood Corps Myo Ye-rin, she scoffed.
"Don't talk nonsense. You know how hard I worked to keep you from breaking?"
"So I'm fine?"
"Just keep running the Nine Thousand Blood Demon Art steadily. Until the Grand Leader arrives."
"The Grand Leader..."
"Heavenly Blood Demonic Fiend. Your superior. I reported what happened, and he's coming himself. Guess you're pretty precious. Who'd believe the Heavenly Blood Demonic Fiend traveling for a person...? Anyway, I'm busy. Pulled all-nighters because of you, now handling work too. Stay holed up in your room. Don't come."
One Demon.
She arrived seven days after I regained consciousness. The moment she got there, she strode into the estate and raised her hand.
She smacked the back of my head flat-out.
"This bastard never listens to a damn word!"
I rubbed my throbbing head.
I'd thought she'd mix in a little praise for holding out against the Soul-Exiting Sword...
But straight to scolding.
"...My only crime was working hard."
"Again! Look at those puffed cheeks! Is that your situation?!"
"In the world... the real One Demon lady...?! Pa-paper?! Anyone got paper?! I want a signature...!"
One Demon shoved Number 20, whose eyes sparkled, and grabbed my nape.
"Myo Ye-rin. Control all outsiders. Keep them out of this room."
"What're you planning?"
"Examine and fix you up. How many times did I tell you not to eat that..."
One Demon growled.
"And you ate it anyway? You'll drop dead after it's all over. See if you don't."
"...Then what's the point of fixing me?"
I grumbled pointlessly and took another smack to the head.
Number 20 sensed the mood and slipped the paper into her pocket.
"Number 30 is the type who quietly earns himself a beating."
"......"
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