Hebei (1)

97. Hebei (1)

—Hahahahaha! Sword-Self Unity? You're telling me a martial artist on the verge of Martial Aura has only just attained Sword-Self Unity?—

Moon Immortal circled around me, sneering.

—That's enough, Moon Immortal. Big or small, enlightenment is a precious experience for a martial artist.—

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Flame Emperor chided Moon Immortal in a voice that sounded oddly proud.

I was so embarrassed I wanted to die. They'd been mocking Son Yeong for attaining enlightenment in the middle of sex, and it turned out the first experience in my life had also happened during sex with her. The even more mortifying part was that when enlightenment struck, we should have immediately stopped and at least sat in full lotus, but for some reason we drove the Yin-Yang Art all the way up to the Fifth Stage and finished the sex no matter what. Because of that, Son Yeong's screams had woken the other disciples, and Master and Jeong-hyang, who came running belatedly, had seen us exactly like that.

Our master. Her preparedness was something else. Worried her disciples might be in danger, she'd carefully brought along ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sword housing the Four Heroes. Thanks to that, the teasing multiplied several times over.

Enlightenment was a cheat level-up, but it was also an incredibly dangerous situation. Normally, doing something like this would lead to the obvious result of Qi Deviation or death. But what was truly ridiculous was that, entirely separate from our individual internal arts being amplified by enlightenment, the Yin-Yang Art began circulating energy on its own as long as we kept having ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sex, protecting our vital acupoints. By a stroke of tremendous luck, nothing had happened.

"No fair, Junior Brother. Let me attain enlightenment next time too."

While I felt mortified enough to die, Jeong-hyang was making a sulky face.

"Do you think I can control that?"

"You're the man, so try your best. We may be three wives on good terms, but small differences like this create huge rifts later on."

Master, whose desire for martial arts was now sprouting vigorously, spoke up with a face that clearly said she thought it was a waste.

I mean, try my best because I'm the man? I appreciate the acknowledgment, but what do you think I am, the Martial God?

"Senior Sister Son, are your legs all right?"

Cho-ryeong looked at Son Yeong with a worried face. To Cho-ryeong, we'd roughly covered it up by saying Son Yeong and I had gotten hurt during a sparring match. Sooner or later, Cho-ryeong would start sprouting up just as fast, so hiding something like this was only going to get harder. Under Cho-ryeong's worried gaze, Son Yeong drew her sword and closed her eyes. Slowly, a yellow energy coalesced along the tip of her blade.

"Whoa! It's Sword Qi! Now Senior Sister Son is an expert too!"

Cho-ryeong cried out in startled delight. Son Yeong, who had been at the peak of the third-class martial realm, had finally entered the ranks of a second-class expert capable of projecting Sword Qi. And in my case... hmm. How to put it. It was definitely not Blazing Fire Qi, but dozens of strands of crimson energy, far too thin to be called Flame Aura, covered my sword.

—A little regrettable, but it's a relief. There's only a little bit further to go now.—

—What is this?—

—It is the precursor stage to Martial Aura. In the past, it was also called Sword Threads. Going forward, imbuing this sharpness with a strong, vigorous energy is the path to Martial Aura.—

The gap between second-class and first-class was simply too wide. It was said that across the entire martial world, whether Orthodox or Unorthodox, the number of first-class masters who could use Martial Aura did not exceed a thousand. There were no first-class masters at all in Jilin. And in Liaoning, only Murong Hyeok-jung, Murong Sang, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and the fourteen Murong elders, only those fifteen, possessed the ability. The three Murong siblings would probably reach the first-class level if another ten years or so passed. That was how rare first-class masters were. And I had gotten right up to the door of first-class in a single moment of enlightenment? This world really was one where you couldn't do anything without luck and talent.

—Reverend, you worked hard. From now on, whenever Son Yeong encounters a wall, soothe her properly. And hurry and find one more woman, even if she's the Medicine Immortal's disciple. You need to complete that Bedchamber Art—the Yin-Yang Art or whatever it is. If Son Yeong resolves an enlightenment and accumulates a little internal energy every time she has sex, she will become a martial artist worthy of the name Moon Immortal.—

Moon Immortal, who'd been mocking me just moments ago, started speaking amicably the moment she saw Son Yeong's Sword Qi. Naturally, an angry Geo Am spoke up.

—Damn it, Yeongmok. Are you not being too unfair? At this rate, the gap between Cho-ryeong and Son Yeong will only widen. Let me borrow your body starting today. I'm poor with words, so I'll have to demonstrate the Mount Tai Strike through your body to teach Cho-ryeong.—

—That is also a good method. Yeongmok, you reached this realm far too quickly. Your swordsmanship is severely lacking compared with your internal energy. Advancing is important, but this is also a crucial time to look back. Try to contain Heosan's Taiji and Geo Am's Heavy Sword within your own sword. We will provisionally suspend training in the Solar Sword Art.—

My will was never considered within the Four Heroes' plans. Just what kind of martial artist was I going to become?

"All right. Let's pack up again and get moving now. No one caught a cold, right?"

Our master, whose sect leader mode and kindergarten teacher mode had somehow gotten weirdly mixed together, tidied up the chaotic atmosphere. After washing the pots at the stream and brushing the dust and dirt off each other's clothes, Yeongsan Sect set off once more. The simple act of walking in the morning, training outdoors in the afternoon, and chattering happily in a camping-like mood at night was enough to make them all laugh with happiness.

To be honest, I was a little happy too. Did the difference between someone whose footsteps halt in despair and someone who walks forward really feel this different? In my last life, I'd been crushed by family circumstances. In this life, crushed by my poor talent and the grueling competition with Dan-yeong, I'd lived by coolly packaging away the despair I felt as a martial artist, but now I clearly knew. I had been a person whose feet had stopped in despair, just like them.

Like that, we arrived at the next village, reserved a luxurious inn, and heartily enjoyed our rest. Diligent training and lavish rest. Master's plan had originally been a thoughtless remark thrown out while riding the high of our very first victory, but it was more efficient than expected, and it made Yeongsan Sect's atmosphere, already good, several times better. At the second village, we had no encounter like the one with Ji-gyu. On the first day, everyone had free time; on the second day, the whole group went on an outing to a nearby lake. And on the final day, we all visited an old Daoist temple together to offer prayers to the Primordial Heavenly Worthy, and then we once more headed for Henan.

Perhaps outdoor training was better than a simple training hall. On a sloped mountain path, not a flat and hard floor, everyone was not a little startled at first. On the second day, we even experienced slippery footing on top of piled-up snow. In the end, we, myself included, were all still chicks even while learning peerless martial arts.

Just like that, the time that combined training and travel flew by in the blink of an eye, and I finally left Liaoning for the very first time since I was born and arrived in Hebei.

"Wow! It's Hebei. This is the first time I've come this far."

Even though nothing in particular had changed, Master was moved, as if everything were brand new.

"Master. You know what? They say there are lots of beauties in Hebei. I'll have to pay close attention so Junior Brother doesn't get bewitched."

At Jeong-hyang's words, Lee Eun-ha spoke as if she found it absurd.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister Jeong. Whether in Liaoning or Hebei, there cannot be anyone in the world more beautiful than you."

"How would Junior Sister Lee know that? This is her first time in Hebei too."

"Senior Sister, did you forget? I came alone from Joseon to Liaoning at an age even younger than Junior Sister Cho. I'm someone who's been not only to Hebei and Beijing, but all the way to Shandong."

"I've seen only Jilin and Liaoning myself, but I have never once laid eyes on a beauty who surpasses Senior Sister Jeong."

Son Yeong spoke quietly.

"Saying things like that will lead to big trouble. This isn't Liaoning. I hear that in the martial world, the Four Flowers of the martial world really are stunningly beautiful people."

The Four Flowers of the martial world.

Emei's Seo Ok. Un So-jeong of the Iron Strike Sect. The Demonic Cult's Red Lotus Emperor. And the Medical Immortal, Ma Seong-eun. Every one of them had a formidable background, so this couldn't have been a simple beauty contest. Their sects were far too powerful for that.

At that moment, a group of martial artists approached from behind. Even at a single glance, their discipline was excellent. Ranks and files precisely aligned in a way you'd only expect to see in a twenty-first-century military. And sharp sabers worn at their waists.

"Pardon me. I am Peng Gang of the Hebei Peng Clan. May I ask, where do you hail from?"

The young martial artist was neat and polite, but he scrutinized us carefully without relaxing his vigilance.

"I am Yeongmok of the Liaoning Yeongsan Sect."

I stepped forward and greeted them first, before Master could say anything. I'd have to explain it to Master later. Unless the visitor was a sect leader or clan head, Master shouldn't be the one greeting first.

"Yeongsan Sect? My knowledge is limited; I've never even heard of a sect in neighboring Liaoning by that name."

Of course he would be hearing it for the first time. The polite martial artist instantly began looking down on me slightly, even as he maintained his vigilance.

"This is my first time in Hebei, but I have long been well-acquainted with the renowned name of the Hebei Peng Clan. However, Young Hero Peng, for what business have you come?"

At the address "Young Hero Peng," his eyebrow twitched. Strangely, if you call a woman "Young Lady," she likes it even if she's older, but if you call a man "Young Hero," he gets pissed off for no reason.

Fuck. Of course you're a young hero. Did you think you were some great hero?

"As you are well aware, Hebei is the Peng Clan's territory. We are patrolling like this to monitor any movements of the Unorthodox Faction that might try to engage in suspicious acts using the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering as cover."

Look at this bastard. Since when was all of Hebei your territory? Damn Jjangkkae bastards. Their land was disgustingly vast, yet insisting that all of it belonged to them seemed to be a tradition even in the fifteenth century.

"Yeongsan Sect is a sect whose name is not yet known in the martial world, but I can assure you that it is an orthodox faction with a long tradition in Liaoning. If you have your doubts, please inquire with the hegemon of Liaoning, the Murong Clan."

If the Murong Clan's berserk button was the Nangong, then the Peng Clan's berserk button was the Murong Clan. Unlike the Peng Clan, who were always at each other's throats with the Jinju Eon Clan in Hebei, the Murong Clan was the ruler of Liaoning recognized by everyone and a neighboring rival power. There was no way they would look upon them favorably.

"Perish the thought. I am not suspicious. Besides, the Peng Clan is not so incompetent as to borrow strength from the Murong over every little problem like this. You said you are Daoist Yeongmok? Are the beautiful ladies behind you your junior sisters, Daoist?"

"No. This person is my master, and the Sect Leader of Yeongsan Sect. And the rest are all my senior sisters."

"Pfft! Senior sisters? Even that little girl over there? And a sect leader, you say? Truly, a sect just like little girls!"

The one called Peng Gang now began to openly sneer. To be honest, I had expected an encounter like this.

"Peng Gang! Watch your mouth. Judging only by outer appearances and letting your guard down is a mistake only made by a novice of the martial world. Do you not feel their internal energy? Even that tiny child is not below the direct line of the Peng Clan."

Right at the moment I was about to subtly reach for my sword, a middle-aged man quietly stepped forward.

"I understand, Uncle. That's exactly why they are more suspicious. I've never heard of a sect where even such young girls possessed such profound martial arts. And look at this woman. She is a nation-toppling beauty who would put even Seo Ok to shame—perfect for a honey trap. Such a suspicious woman, here on Hebei soil?

"Uncle, it's obvious. They are surely spies from the Unorthodox Faction."

Peng Gang was pointing his finger at Master and Jeong-hyang and spouting bullshit.

"I think the same. However, their martial skill is no falsehood, so you must not let your guard down."

At the middle-aged man's single statement, the Peng Clan martial artists each assumed their stances. They looked to be about fifteen in number.

"Young Hero Peng. Draw your weapon."

"What? You dare attempt to fight the Peng Clan? Do you mock the great Hebei Peng Clan under heaven? You appear to have some petty skills, but your arrogance is astonishing!"

Peng Gang laughed loudly and drew his saber. Now who exactly was the arrogant one?

"Fight me? Have you lost your mind? Hey. This is a duel. I'm going to blow your head off."

I drew my sword and wreathed it in Sword Threads. As dozens of crimson threads enveloped the blade, the Peng Clan martial artists' expressions hardened.

"Draw that sword. I told you clearly."

With my final warning, I thrust my sword at him with an opening form of the Solar Sword Art. Flustered, he wrapped his saber in Saber Qi and tried to block my sword. When his Saber Qi collided with my Sword Threads, he staggered far backward, and my following strikes shattered his Saber Qi. The terror of the Solar Sword Art lay in its ferocity, as mighty as the Mount Tai Strike, while it flowed without end like the Moonlit Divine Sword. My third thrust cut his blade like tofu. I launched the finishing blow to take his arm, but a dazzling light blocked my vision.

"Gang!"

The uncle from earlier. He'd been watching his nephew's disgraceful display and finally interposed himself between our swords by forming Saber Aura.

"Wow. So Hebei is different from Liaoning, I see? People interrupt duels here too? Is Hebei originally like that? Or is it just the Peng Clan?"

"You dare wag that tongue with Sword Aura that is not even complete?!"

What he said was not wrong. Right now, my Sword Threads clashing against his Saber Aura was gradually losing its light, and sooner or later, my sword would also be cut like tofu just like Peng Gang's saber had been. But I had known that fact from the very beginning. I had known from the start that the level of the Peng Clan martial artists was a cut above our Yeongsan Sect, and that this middle-aged man, even if he wasn't among the Top Hundred Masters, was a first-class master who could form Saber Aura. That didn't change anything. My thinking still hadn't changed. I wasn't a martial artist; I was a Daoist. If my martial arts were lacking, I could just use Taoist arts. An adult had stepped into a children's fight, so the correct answer was for me to call an adult of my own.

The moment Heosan's soul entered my body, his gentle Taiji deflected even Saber Aura. It was absurdly unfair. Sword Threads could never defeat Saber Aura in a direct contest of force, but when I only needed to redirect it, the minimum required to keep my sword intact was enough. Then the Flame Emperor and Geo Am attacked. Under a bombardment like two blasts of Martial Aura, the middle-aged man retreated in distress, parried several blows, lost his balance, and fell. Peng Clan warriors tried to help him, but Moon Immortal's dazzling swordwork filled the entire space between us. They could not approach, and no one moved, as though their legs had frozen.

"I've gotten a good look at the Peng Clan's martial arts. So now, let's finish this. The duel."

I picked up the sword he'd dropped on the ground and deliberately approached Peng Gang slowly. With even the option of running away completely suppressed, he was simply trembling, his hands and feet shaking, having even forgotten to breathe.

Across both my previous life and this one, I was probably wearing the most wicked smile I had ever made.