Chapter 64

The festive atmosphere still lingers in the mountains overlooking Jeoseokhyeon.

“Do we really need to waste time here? Let’s hurry and grab that brat Sososo’s head and get the Dog Chasing Stick Technique,” Tang Wu, the Third Elder of the Ilwol God Sect, irritably said to the beautiful woman beside him, the Seventh Elder, Ma Yang.

Ma Yang, with an enigmatic smile, drew the treasured sword from her waist.

“Hoho… Since it’s a village close to the Martial Alliance, there might be troublemakers. We need to set the stage before we enter,” she said, her slender fingers caressing the ornate scabbard engraved with a dragon swimming in a river.

“Go wild, Longyuan,” she whispered, her red lips parting as she released the troublemaker.

Kiring! Kiring!

The dragon, responding to its master’s call, leaped out of the scabbard, dancing joyfully with a cheerful roar.

Tang Wu inwardly marveled at the sight of the legendary sword, Longyuan, one of the three famous swords once owned by Xiang Yu.

“Longyuan, one of the Ten Thousand Swords,” he thought.

Though it couldn’t be perfectly controlled like true Qi-controlled swordsmanship, it had the advantage of flying on its own, consuming no internal energy, and blocking attacks unnoticed by its master.

Moreover, Longyuan’s abilities didn’t end at just flying freely.

“Releasing Longyuan in a village famous for its hot springs and underground streams…” Tang Wu teased, watching Longyuan fly towards Jeoseokhyeon like a fish to water.

“Old hag, do you have a grudge against that village? Or did you get dumped by a man today?” he joked.

Ma Yang’s face, usually calm with a mysterious smile, hardened.

“I warn you… call me ‘old hag’ one more time…” she said, her beautiful eyes, reminiscent of black pearls, filling with dark intent.

“I’ll kill you.”

“Alright, alright, my bad. So, calm down,” Tang Wu quickly apologized, stepping back.

Ma Yang’s expression softened as she looked towards Jeoseokhyeon.

“And one more correction, I prefer cute girls over men,” she said, thinking of her adorable junior sister with shimmering golden hair, a beauty that never faded.

***

Wang Miaoyang couldn’t comprehend the current situation.

She had rushed to the inn where Sima Mantian was staying after hearing of the chaos, only to find the walls smashed and her disciple limping towards her.

“Lift me up! Higher! Higher!” Sima Mantian grabbed Wang Miaoyang’s slender waist and lifted her above his head, leaving her dangling like a cat.

“…What are you doing?” Wang Miaoyang asked, confused.

Sima Mantian smiled confidently. “I’ve mastered the Frost Breaking Palm! Praise me!”

“…Praise you?!” Wang Miaoyang’s face turned red. Though it wasn’t a strange request, the way Sima Mantian looked at her with shining, expectant eyes was… embarrassing.

As Wang Miaoyang hesitated, Sima Mantian’s expression fell.

Seeing this, Wang Miaoyang sighed and reached out to gently pat his head, but at that moment…

An attack began.

“The evil dragon has revived!” Screams echoed through the village.

***

It was literally a water dragon.

Kwagagaga-!!

As they hurried outside, they saw water pillars shaped like dragons rising from the hot springs, smashing the village.

“Wait! To perform such water techniques where there’s water…!” Wang Miaoyang exclaimed.

Gohohoh-!!

The thick, long body of the water dragon charged towards them.

“How do we fight something without form…?” Sima Mantian wondered.

“If you want to live, roll on the ground like a cute baby seal!” a voice called from behind.

Without hesitation, Sima Mantian rolled on the ground.

<Ice White Divine Palm>

A white storm froze the water dragon, turning it into an ice block.

“Hoho! Did you underestimate me because I’m a water dragon? You’re water, and I’m ice that freezes water!” Seol Wonhwa, the Snow Phoenix, stepped forward, smiling confidently.

As she laughed, another water dragon charged, but…

Gohohoh-!!

It was futile.

Sososo swiftly cut through the dragon’s head with a chilling strike, freezing it into pieces.

“Sima Gongzi, are you alright? Are you hurt?” Sososo hurriedly checked on Sima Mantian.

“I’m fine, thanks to you. And…” Sima Mantian turned to Wolhwa. “Thank you for your help, Wolhwa Xiaojie.”

Wolhwa’s eyes widened in surprise before she smiled again. “Hoho~ Remember the favor I’ve done for you! Engrave it in your blood!”

Engrave it in your bones, maybe… blood would just flow away…

But her cheerful smile was cute, so Sima Mantian let it slide.

“Sima Gongzi, it seems these water dragons can’t move once frozen,” Sososo said.

Indeed, the frozen water dragons lay motionless on the ground.

…Well, how many creatures can move while frozen, anyway?

At least we found their weakness.

The problem was, I only had physical skills and couldn’t deal elemental damage. But I couldn’t just stand by, so I hurriedly approached my master for advice.

“Master, what can we do if we can’t use ice techniques?”

“……”

No answer came.

“Master…?”

“This… could it be… here…” Wang Miaoyang frowned, suddenly turning her head as if searching for something.

“A sword! Find the flying sword! That’s the culprit!”

Though confused by the sudden command, a disciple must trust their master.

“What does it look like?”

Wang Miaoyang’s serious face showed no hesitation. Sima Mantian, usually playful, now looked earnest, making her feel strangely reassured.

Clearly weak… clearly a novice… yet somehow dependable.