Chapter 26
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 10.2
Chapter Title: Blade Lord
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His achievement with the Nine Yang True Scripture had exceeded his expectations, and as a result, the burden on his body had lightened accordingly.
This was the deepened effect of the Nine Yang Aura Merit.
Even so, it was still strange that right after returning from the subjugation, he had holed up in his room and devoted himself solely to this.
Normally, one would first shake off the accumulated fatigue and handle the branch affairs that had been put off. Yet he had set everything else aside to raise his attainment in the Nine Yang True Scripture. There was another reason for that.
'The Blade Lord will come.'
He was absolutely certain of it.
It was because far more protectors from the Black Sword and White Path had returned alive than expected.
If they had simply come to deliver news, one or two would have sufficed.
But for as many as four to abandon revenge and return meant there was some other scheme at play.
"They're probably trying to draw out the Blade Lord."
Mi Bang's loyalty was borderline fanatical.
How had the Blade Lord treated such a man?
If he feared Mi Bang's talents, he would have kept him at arm's length like the current family head. But the arrogant Blade Lord was hardly the type.
On the contrary, he must have kept him close.
'He even bestowed his own name upon him, didn't he?'
Anyone who understood the significance of granting one's name would know that meant at least the affection reserved for a cherished nephew.
So at minimum, he would want to confirm who had killed him and how.
Convinced the Blade Lord was coming, An Hoe hurried to elevate his Nine Yang True Scripture attainment as quickly as possible—even if just by a day.
There was no other reason he had turned to the Nine Yang True Scripture.
It was to increase the number of times he could wield the Demon Sword.
Currently, ten was his limit, but as the Nine Yang Aura Merit deepened, that number would naturally rise.
Having consumed the Mid-Heaven Pill and gained greater attainment than anticipated, An Hoe nodded in satisfaction.
"I should be able to handle more than twenty now."
That meant he could face at least twenty exchanges.
If he pushed himself, even thirty might be possible, so he needed to figure out how to force a retreat within that span.
Unaware of his deliberations the previous night, Song Hwa was simply delighted to see the young master emerge from his room corner, acting as he always did.
From early morning, she had chattered on like a lark, with countless topics.
Tales of the new hires, minor mishaps from mistakes, and stories about the Black Sword and White Path members she had grown close to in the meantime.
An Hoe nodded occasionally, never tiring of her prattle.
He might be just a boy now, but in his previous life, he had lived so long he forgot to count the years.
Before his mind finally shattered, he had passed age one hundred forty. To him, Song Hwa's antics at merely eighteen felt like the playful frolics of a child.
"Hehe."
Only at noon did Song Hwa stick out her tongue and grin sheepishly.
She had finally realized how much she had talked.
An Hoe felt a pang of regret inwardly but said nothing, simply devouring the meal she had prepared.
Watching the young master pack away an enormous amount as usual, Song Hwa suddenly clapped her hands.
"Right! The family head sent a letter."
"A letter?"
"Yes. Manager Wang Sam probably has it now. I'll go get it."
"Thanks, please do."
Song Hwa left the room and soon returned with the letter.
As she peeked curiously at its contents, An Hoe smiled and unfolded it.
A moment later, he put it away and spoke.
"Looks like she's surprised I joined the subjugation force. I should reply."
"Ah, I'll prepare everything."
Wang Sam had likely already informed her he was safe, but An Hoe decided to send his own response.
His mother believed her son was fated for Jami Castle's destiny, so she might wonder if this was part of it too.
Indeed, the letter subtly probed his intentions, so he needed to reassure her it wasn't.
Soon, writing materials were ready, and Song Hwa watched eagerly from the side, inkstone in hand.
She knew the young master she served was an exceptional calligrapher.
'Come to think of it, it's truly amazing.'
There was a saying: "People and writing age together."
Literally, it meant a person and their calligraphy mature in tandem.
It might sound ominous at first, but the reality was different.
To reach true mastery in calligraphy—truly grasping its essence—required years of accumulated practice.
That's why there's the adage, "Boys can write prose, but never masterly script."
Song Hwa had studied calligraphy under her strict father from a very young age, yet she still had many shortcomings.
Naturally, the young master's writing, at an even younger age, should have been lacking too. But astonishingly, the script flowed effortlessly from his brush, brimming with vibrant life as if it danced on the page.
Aesthetically superb, it left her in awe.
Even for her, at a proficient level, judging it was no easy task.
But having grown up watching her father's masterly hand, she could say with some certainty.
'It might even qualify as masterly calligraphy.'
Even if not quite, considering his age, he could ascend to that rank anytime.
Not only was his writing superb, but his speed was phenomenal too.
Despite penning a considerable length, he finished before the ink of the first strokes had dried.
"Wow! How are you so good at calligraphy too? And this script style—I've never seen it before!"
An Hoe scratched his cheek at Song Hwa's words.
It was because of the "never seen before" part.
Truth be told, he hadn't properly learned writing in this world.
His calligraphy teacher was a Physician Immortal forcibly made into an imperial scribe for his talents.
A figure from the 6th Hierarchy of the martial world, his skills were so profound he bore the "Immortal" title, yet his low hierarchy kept him from greater fame.
He could have climbed hierarchies like other warriors, but he chose not to.
He wasn't the fighting type to begin with, and as his moniker suggested, his passion lay in medicine.
In that regard, the empire's accumulated medical knowledge was immense.
With knowledge from various dimensions added to the empire's foundations, it reached an entirely new level.
The Physician Immortal joined the empire to learn it, and the empire recognized his genius by entrusting him with its medical arts.
'I owed him much back then.'
In his early hero days, An Hoe was frail yet recklessly brave, so he frequented the Physician Immortal.
At the time, lamenting his inadequacy compared to other heroes, the Physician Immortal offered guidance—including calligraphy.
He started learning it to steady his mind.
In the process, he mastered styles unknown in his original world: the Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi scripts. What he wrote now was the Wang Xizhi style.
Small wonder Song Hwa was so impressed.
"Ahem. It's dry now. Send this to Mother."
"Yes, got it."
Song Hwa clutched the letter he handed her like a treasure. An Hoe chuckled at her endearing sisterly display.
Late evening, after dinner and circulation training, An Hoe abruptly ended his session.
"Young master."
"Come in."
Black Sword's voice came from outside the door, and An Hoe rose from his bed to reply.
Black Sword entered, face rigidly tense.
An Hoe strapped on his sword belt and asked,
"Has the beacon been lit?"
"Just as you predicted, young master."
"Then let's hurry. White Wolf might be in danger."
"Understood."
White Path soon joined them, and the group shot out of the building like arrows.
In the process, Black Sword and White Path couldn't hide their shock at their lord.
While they stomped heavily to gain speed, their lord glided effortlessly like a bird—his lightness skill on another plane entirely.
But they had little time to gawk; they soon focused on their movement.
In the distance, the promised second beacon flared to life.
An Hoe had predicted that if the Blade Lord moved, White Wolf would be his first target.
From the perspective of those unaware of his existence, it was the obvious choice.
An Hoe had shared his thinking with White Wolf and asked him to draw them in. White Wolf accepted gladly.
It was dangerous, but he owed An Hoe his life, so refusal was out of the question.
Besides, even if he fled, a determined Blade Lord wouldn't lose his trail.
Better for the enigmatic young master An Hoe—who defied understanding—to create an opening.
White Wolf had chosen lodgings on the outskirts, sparsely populated and visible from An Hoe's merchant house. An Hoe wanted a beacon signal upon their arrival.
They agreed on up to three beacons depending on the situation.
The first signaled their arrival; the second, that he was in peril because of them.
The final third meant dire crisis—reserved for when he steeled himself for annihilation.
Yet the second lit soon after the first. An Hoe's heart raced.
Their hideout wasn't far. They arrived in under a quarter-hour.
"Hmm."
An Hoe scanned with his senses and shook his head.
Despite the second beacon, the atmosphere here wasn't as dire as expected.
An Hoe wasn't the only one sensing something off.
Black Sword and White Path felt it too but silently followed him.
Their doubts vanished upon seeing White Wolf by the beacon.
"...Impatient fellow."
White Wolf's condition was poor.
His deeply dejected face alone confirmed severe internal injuries.
Having fought alongside him, Black Sword and White Path grimaced and ground their teeth at his state.
An Hoe addressed them.
"Black Sword, White Path. Escort Master White Wolf and withdraw."
"Understood."
He had planned to assign them the protectors, but if the Blade Lord had already drawn his blade, retreat was wiser.
They soon landed before White Wolf's group. Seeing An Hoe arrive as promised, White Wolf apologized first.
"I should have lit the third beacon. My apologies, benefactor."
The White Wolf before him differed starkly from before.
Hard to believe this broken man was the same who had gripped his sword with primal killing intent against Mi Bang.
It spoke volumes about the terror of the Blade Lord's blade.
"I understand. If anything, I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."
"..."
White Wolf bowed deeply at those words, but An Hoe meant them sincerely.
'It would have been different if he were alone.'
White Wolf led a small force.
If the enemy held his family hostage as leverage, even his fierce momentum would crumble.
An Hoe hadn't witnessed it himself, but otherwise, a man like White Wolf wouldn't break like this.