Chapter 47

Zhongnan Sect (終南派) – A Taoist sect belonging to the Nine Great Clans, known for its heavy and solemn swords. They possess the “Thirty-Six Sword Techniques of the World,” which allows them to perfectly slash, thrust, and block in thirty-six directions.

Qingsheng Sect (靑城派) – Another Taoist sect of the Nine Great Clans, inheriting the teachings of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect from the Three Kingdoms era. They wield the “Azure Cloud and Crimson Sunset Sword Technique,” a dual-sword style that combines the soft, flowing attacks of the Azure Cloud with the slow, encroaching strikes of the Crimson Sunset.

Sichuan Tang Family (四川唐家) – One of the Five Great Families, skilled in poison and assassination. Originally part of the Evil Faction, they later switched to the Righteous Faction. They are known for their “Heavenly Petal Rain,” a technique that rains down countless hidden weapons like a flurry of flower petals.

Namgung Family (南宮世家) – Another of the Five Great Families, specializing in swordsmanship. Their techniques emphasize overwhelming and crushing their opponents with strong and heavy swords. They possess the “Boundless Sky Sword Technique” and the ultimate move, “Emperor’s Sword Form,” which dominates space like a king.

…It seems I’ve been heavily influenced by my master.

The late-stage disciples walking around are like walking martial arts manuals. They look like treasure goblins. Naturally, I start estimating their worth.

Of course, I’m not crazy enough to attack these famous Righteous Faction disciples out of nowhere. I just watch and enjoy. It’s like window shopping.

Still, if I get the chance, I’d love to learn techniques like “Heavenly Petal Rain” or “Emperor’s Sword Form.”

Personally, I wonder what would happen if I used “Heavenly Petal Rain” with explosive pellets instead of hidden weapons. And “Emperor’s Sword Form” just sounds cool. I want to learn it.

The king of swords~ The sword princess!!

As Mantian leisurely sipped his tea, an assassin from the Kill Curtain, hiding on the second floor, frowned.

“What’s that guy up to?”

“Probably just a wandering idler. Don’t mind him.”

It was definitely a new face. Not a late-stage disciple from any famous Righteous Faction.

…But there was something oddly familiar about him that made the assassin uneasy.

Looking at that annoyingly friendly idler, the assassin’s old wound from when he lost his right eye to the Sima Family’s leader began to throb.

The assassin stroked his chin, studying Mantian’s face intently. Across from him, a sly, fox-like man with narrow eyes also showed interest.

“Do you know him? He seems to have already drunk the tea. Should I lift the curse?”

“No. It’s probably just my imagination. By the way, what poison did you use in that tea? Even the Tang Family’s daughter didn’t notice.”

The fox-like man, Hyeonho the Curse Merchant, smiled warmly and replied, “It’s not poison, but a curse called the ‘Life-Picking Technique,’ which turns resentment into a food curse. Even someone skilled in poison like the Tang Family’s daughter wouldn’t notice.”

“A curse… I suppose that’s why you’re called the Curse Merchant, but it’s still hard to believe.”

Hyeonho chuckled softly, his laughter eerily reminiscent of a fox’s cry. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just a bit of dark magic that martial artists love.”

“Then I’ll pay you more. Can’t you use that impressive curse to kill Namgung’s young master without anyone noticing?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t sell curses that kill people. It accumulates too much karma.”

The assassin wasn’t serious anyway. Tonight, they just needed to incapacitate Namgung’s Sword Dragon and the other late-stage disciples. That was the deal between the Kill Curtain and the Curse Merchant.

Honestly, even this much was already overkill. There was no extra money to give to this shady guy.

The one-eyed assassin thought this as he looked down at the troublesome target, Namgung Sososo, quietly sipping tea in the inn below.

***

Blinking, I stared at an unfamiliar ceiling.

Tired from the journey and needing to leave for the Jiegal Family at dawn, I had gone to bed early. But now I was wide awake.

I tried closing my eyes to fall back asleep, but my mind was too sharp. Sleep wouldn’t come.

Reluctantly, I got up to check the time.

It was around midnight, the perfect time for a night stroll.

A limited-time pleasure only available before the invention of light bulbs.

I threw on a coat and wandered out to the inn’s backyard to gaze at the starry sky.

There, under the moonlight, I saw someone practicing their sword.

A petite figure that would fit snugly in an embrace, silver hair glowing softly in the moonlight.

It was none other than the self-proclaimed cross-dressing girl, Namgung Sososo.

“……”

I knew it was rude to stare, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Her sword, glowing blue, cut through the darkness like a galaxy.

…It was an incredibly beautiful sword dance.

I had seen the Namgung Family’s sword techniques before, performed by my master when I was young.

It was an impressive style, exuding the dignity of an emperor with every move, but I never thought of it as beautiful.

…But Sososo’s sword was beautiful.

Heavy and strong, yet noble and delicate.

No other thoughts came to mind. I was speechless. My brain felt like it was melting.

I just stood there, dumbfounded, watching the sword princess dance under the moonlight.

‧

‧

‧

The first thing Sososo saw after finishing her practice was a pair of greedy, beast-like eyes sparkling in the darkness.

“…I thought you were asleep.”

“I woke up strangely. Thanks to that, I got to see something good.”

At Mantian’s sly smile, Sososo sheathed her sword and replied, “My skills are still lacking.”

“It’s like showing off in front of a cocoon, but I once had the chance to see the Namgung sword techniques before.”

Step-step-

Roughly, impatiently, greedily, he closed the distance. He looked like a hungry wolf or tiger descending from the mountains.

Sososo looked up at Mantian, who was now right in front of her. Up close, the difference in their sizes was even more apparent.

“…What do you want to say?”

The greedy beast’s starry eyes licked Sososo’s delicate body with a sticky gaze, savoring her.

And under Mantian’s intense gaze, Sososo’s body began to heat up.

Her face turned red, her breathing quickened, and rough breaths escaped her lips.

“Haah… Haah…”

‘Why is my body… suddenly like this?’

At 1 a.m., the disease demon planted in her body awoke, as per the contract.

As the heat gnawed at her body, her consciousness began to fade. Sososo instinctively realized.

Someone had set a trap to kill her. If so, the others were in danger too.

With blurred vision, Sososo looked up at Mantian. Though a stranger, she couldn’t let him die because of her.

This was solely the Namgung Family’s problem. She had to warn him to run away now.

“Ru…”

But her wish didn’t come true.

Weakened by the disease demon’s attack, Sososo collapsed into Mantian’s arms.

‘What? Why did she collapse?’

Caught off guard, Mantian looked down at Sososo, now nestled in his arms, with a bewildered expression.

She was burning up like a fireball.

Illnesses usually have a process, but for someone who was just dancing with a sword to suddenly collapse like this… It was baffling.

But he couldn’t leave a sick person outside. Mantian sighed, hoisted Sososo onto his shoulder, and headed back to the inn.

Originally, he had planned to subtly propose a trade, like exchanging Pokémon, offering the “Emperor’s Sword Form” for the “Dog Chasing Stick Technique.”

Guess I’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.