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Chapter 542: Sword Demon

The Gu Clan, protectors of Mount Shan.

A breeze whispered through the mountains.

Spring wind shook the flowers, carrying them gently through the flower-laden woods.

When the wind caressed once, petals danced in the air.

It appeared tranquil, yet within it lay undeniable strength.

The wind continued to sweep across the forest, surging toward the peak.

As I climbed to the top, a vibrant field of blossoms came into view.

The odd thing was that the wind did not blow in one direction; instead, it swirled around a central point.

In the center of the field, the wind wrapped around someone.

A woman stood there.

She was a blonde beauty.

With hair that sparkled even in daylight and skin so pale it almost seemed transparent.

Her nose was sharp, and her lightly tinted lips resembled petals.

An appearance that seemed to condense and encapsulate the very essence of beauty.

The woman, appearing so out of this world, stood with her eyes closed, feeling the wind.

“…Huu…”

At the sound of her breath released softly, the wind stirred.

The speed of the wind quickened and steadied, and sensing this, the woman moved her hand.

Though there was nothing in her grasp, her posture suggested she was holding onto something.

Suuuu.

Slowly, her arm rose.

Just as the woman was about to swing her hand into the void—

A shudder.

“…!”

The woman’s brow furrowed slightly.

Whoosh-! Bang-!

The gusting wind vanished with a thundering noise.

In an instant, the surroundings fell silent.

The woman turned, opening her eyes that shone with golden light, and let out a soft sigh.

“Ha….”

Her sigh was filled with regret.

Once again, she had failed in her endeavor.

“It seems I cannot achieve my will.”

A voice suddenly called, causing the blonde woman, Wi Seol-Ah, to turn her head.

In that direction stood an elder, hands clasped behind his back.

Dressed in neatly arranged martial robes, with hair pulled back properly.

With sharp eyes and piercing blue pupils, it was easy to deduce he was a martial artist.

Seeing the elder appear, Wi Seol-Ah didn’t show surprise but rather offered a light bow.

“Greetings, Heavenly Lord.”

The elder was none other than the Heavenly Lord, one of the Three Eminent Beings, famed as the sky of the Nangong Clan.

The Heavenly Lord gestured at Wi Seol-Ah with a smile.

“Forgive me for interrupting.”

“No, it’s fine. I was just about to stop.”

Wi Seol-Ah’s words drew a slight smile from the Heavenly Lord.

“It’s not easy, is it?”

“…”

“Indeed, it will not be. That is only natural.”

As the Heavenly Lord spoke, he took a step closer to Wi Seol-Ah.

“First, do not rush. Just discovering a clue is quite the remarkable achievement.”

“…That is thanks to your guidance, Elder.”

“Flattering words, but it is not so. I merely offered you small advice. It is solely your strength that has captured this.”

“…”

At the Heavenly Lord’s words, Wi Seol-Ah smiled softly, lowering her head slightly.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all, ah.”

As the Heavenly Lord continued speaking, he suddenly recalled something and addressed Wi Seol-Ah.

“I came to find you because the Gu Clan Leader is looking for you.”

“…!”

Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes widened at the Heavenly Lord’s words.

“I will descend immediately.”

“Very well. Good work.”

“I’ll see you next time.”

After a respectful bow, Wi Seol-Ah leaped slightly and vanished from her spot.

As Wi Seol-Ah’s figure disappeared, the Heavenly Lord gently stroked his beard.

“…Hmm.”

The Heavenly Lord recalled the wind that Wi Seol-Ah had summoned.

It was swift yet heavy.

Not a natural breeze, but one conjured solely by Wi Seol-Ah’s strength.

Not to mention, it wasn’t a wind created using any bets.

So, the Heavenly Lord swallowed his surprise internally.

“That young child already….”

Has she reached the Realm of the Heart already?

The Heavenly Lord felt a mix of wonder at this incredible situation.

Having only imparted a few pieces of advice.

With such little guidance, that girl was already forging a sword within her heart.

Is that why?

A strange sentiment began to swell within the Heavenly Lord’s heart.

A deep emotion he wished to ignore.

At that moment.

“Are you envious?”

“…”

At the voice that came from behind, the Heavenly Lord exhaled softly. Turning around, he noticed someone sitting on a rock nearby.

A young man with black hair dressed in dark martial robes.

The Heavenly Lord spoke to him.

“It’s nothing of the sort.”

“Anyone can see the envy in your eyes, so stop faking it.”

“…”

The young man, known as Pejon, one of the Three Eminent Beings, took a swig from the drink in his hand and spoke to the Heavenly Lord.

“I understand the desire to pick up such a precious gem lying on the ground. But temper your desires. That child is not in your domain.”

With just a few words of advice, a domain was established.

Finding the clue to the Heart Sword within it.

At merely twenty years of age.

The Heavenly Lord had discovered what many hadn’t even found well into their forties.

From the perspective of someone with the same Sword Mastery, it was natural to feel both jealousy and envy.

Hearing Pejon’s words, the Heavenly Lord smiled bitterly.

“…I know. Don’t worry, I know well enough not to overreach.”

As the Heavenly Lord spoke in an almost drenched tone, Pejon furrowed his brow slightly.

“See, this is what I mean. It’s hard to adjust. The quality of the drink has dropped dramatically.”

He found it dull that the Elder acknowledged the change so easily.

That rude and annoying man had transformed in such a way over the years.

Even after a few years, Pejon still couldn’t adjust to this situation.

“Tsk, I wonder what the Gu Clan Leader has done to you.”

“I’m always grateful to the Gu Clan Leader.”

“Ha.”

As Pejon grimaced at the Heavenly Lord’s kind-hearted tone, he threw away the drink bottle in his hand.

Signifying he no longer wanted to drink.

“Are you really going senile? I genuinely worry for you.”

“Does it look that way to you? If this is senility, I’d rather this be the case.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

The Heavenly Lord wouldn’t have refused to teach the successor of the Sword Sovereign, would he?

Pejon bit back the words he almost blurted out.

It seemed futile to say such things at this moment.

So, he decided to change the subject entirely.

“If you’re going to share your compassion, it’d be better to offer it to your own children instead, wouldn’t it?”

The man who lived to the utmost with the Nangong Clan had taken this long to regain clarity.

Yet, he focused no attention on his own kin.

Pejon’s puzzlement only grew.

In response, the Heavenly Lord stated, “That’s not something you should be saying to me.”

“…”

Upon hearing the Heavenly Lord’s words, Pejon fell silent.

It was true.

Pejon also hadn’t shown much interest in his own blood, the Bi Clan members.

Sensing this, the Heavenly Lord kept a smile on his face.

“At least, I have no plans of accepting a child from a rival clan as a disciple.”

“Tsk.”

Pejon clicked his tongue at the Heavenly Lord’s statement.

It meant he was questioning why someone would take in the offspring of another family as a disciple.

“You still talk quite well. Elder.”

“Ha ha.”

As the Heavenly Lord laughed, Pejon pulled out a letter from his cloak and tossed it toward him.

The Heavenly Lord caught it with ease, gazing at Pejon with a curious expression.

“What’s this?”

“This was brought to me by the attendant child this morning. It seems the Wudang Sword Master is planning something.”

Snapping it open and spreading it, the first character showed the emblem of the Martial Alliance.

Followed by the lines that were written.

– Shinryong Martial Arts Tournament Commencement.

“…”

Upon reading that, a smile spread across the Heavenly Lord’s lips.

“The Sword Master…she is…?”

“Even if her intentions are trivial, it seems it might be entertaining.”

“…”

“It feels like it’s been ages since there was something to enjoy. In that case….”

Pejon said with a smile.

“Should I send that one there as well?”

“…!”

At Pejon’s words, the Heavenly Lord looked at him in astonishment.

“Bi Ju, that young one.”

“Even if I say not to go, he’d still want to go.”

Heh heh.

Pejon laughed as if he found it amusing. The Heavenly Lord’s expression became complicated.

“Is it really alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“Can that child…. be sent out now?”

For some reason, he was filled with concerns.

Not exactly worried about the individual, but rather about the world.

Should that child be allowed to face the world?

would the world show him mercy?

It felt like that.

Understanding this, Pejon wore a bewildered expression.

“Why would you treat someone else’s disciple like that?”

“…Um.”

“Besides, he’s a brat who doesn’t heed my words in the first place. Just because I say not to go doesn’t mean he would listen.”

Crack—!

As Pejon spoke, he suddenly clenched his fist tightly.

“Look here. He’s already left without a word.”

Where did he say he was going? To Guangdong.

He decided to head there right away, disregarding the training he still had to complete.

The next morning, he vanished without anyone noticing.

Leaving behind just a note saying he’d be back soon.

“That’s why I sent a letter along with him.”

The note he handed to the Heavenly Lord was also sent to his disciple.

“That way, whether he heads home or to Hanam, he’ll get there easily.”

That way, meeting would be easy. After that.

‘It feels like it’s time to solidify things a bit.’

A kind exchange between teacher and disciple was expected.

The problem was.

‘These days, that doesn’t seem to work as well.’

Unlike before, the disciple’s body was becoming harder to discipline.

“Nevertheless, it doesn’t concern you much.”

Pejon tried to push the mixed feelings of anger and joy aside.

“Besides, he can do whatever mischief he wants now.”

“What do you mean by that?”

As the Heavenly Lord questioned, Pejon smiled.

“I think he should be alright now.”

Pejon regarded the Heavenly Lord with his characteristic dark eyes.

“Now, he won’t end up getting beaten wherever he goes.”

“…”

“I’ve made sure of that.”

Having full confidence in his voice, the Heavenly Lord felt a slight chill run down his spine.

He knew just how much of a monster Pejon had created.

In a forest within the Guangdong region.

“Well, achoo!”

Just when I was busy, a sneeze escaped.

“Ugh, curses.”

Raising my hand to wipe my nose, some mucus stuck to it.

It felt a bit nasty, and I frowned as I wiped it on my clothes.

Am I catching a cold?

“Not likely.”

I was not the kind of person to catch colds, so I wasn’t worried about that.

It felt like my ears were tickling.

“Is someone cursing me?”

That thought crossed my mind involuntarily.

The problem was…

“Who is it?”

With so many people who could curse me, I had no idea who it was.

“Well, someone is probably doing it.”

In truth, I didn’t care much.

After all, it’s not like one or two curses would kill me, so I had no interest.

Of course, if done to my face, I would’ve smashed a few teeth, but since I couldn’t see them right now, it didn’t matter.

After all, what was really important at the moment was not that.

I looked up at the sky.

Raising my gaze high, the red-tinged sky caught my eye.

It was quite a bizarre sight for a night sky.

“Hmm….”

No matter how I look at it, it’s that.

Biting into a piece of deer meat, I noticed a reaction from beside me.

– Growl.

Tolly, who was lying down as if trying to sleep, bared his teeth.

It seemed he was salivating at the sight.

Seeing that, I asked, “Are you hungry?”

– Growl.

As he responded affirmatively, a slight headache crept in.

“Don’t you get full no matter how much you eat? This is seriously poor value.”

He had been eating everything in sight on our way here, yet he was still saying he was hungry?

– Growl….

Seeing the way he sulked after I scolded him, I let out an exasperated sigh.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue at him seeing as it felt pointless to say anything.

What could I do when he was hungry?

“Fine, good vibes and all that.”

After swallowing the piece of meat, I raised myself.

Tolly did the same, getting up alongside me.

Then, with a thud, the sound of earth stirring echoed as his body began to grow larger.

Once he expanded, he became immensely huge.

This space wasn’t small at all, yet he perfectly filled it up.

‘What’s amusing is that he hasn’t reached his full size yet.’

If he wanted to, he could have grown even bigger. It was just that he needed to conceal his size for now.

It seemed having fed him so much over time had its risks.

With each passing day, his size had increased, but now he could no longer grow at will.

‘It’s not just because of food.’

Of course, his body didn’t grow from eating alone.

If I had to pinpoint the source, it would likely be…

‘The strength within me has grown stronger.’

It’s what I logically thought, despite my assumptions.

The power I possessed steadily increased, making Tolly’s size also expand.

‘Maybe that’s why it now takes more energy to shrink him down.’

For some reason, the technique of body transformation became harder to apply as his size increased.

I could still hide it, as long as Tolly could utilize the body transformation technique.

However, as his size grew, the energy consumed became overwhelming.

Even worse.

“Now his appetite has increased too.”

– Growl?

“You eat like a pig, you know that?”

He surely understood me, but he only fluffed his fur as if to ignore me.

Was he getting more brazen as time goes by?

“Ha…”

Suppressing a sigh about to escape, I gave him a light shove.

As a result.

Growl!

He bounced up vigorously, roaring fiercely as he leaped from the ground.

Boom-!

His massive frame shot up, and dust spread in all directions.

Tolly’s gaze fixated on the center of the red sky.

With my approval, he joyfully grinned.

I said, “Keep it down. We can’t be loud. Don’t wreck everything like last time.”

– Growl.

He nodded as if he understood, but I didn’t completely trust him.

There had been prior incidents where he had gone overboard.

When he had just hatched from the Demon Stone, he was a shy and adorable creature.

Yet, he felt more feral as time passed.

‘Is it hitting adolescence or something?’

I wondered if demons went through such phases, but nothing else came to mind.

Suddenly, Tolly vanished from view, and as I was about to finish my meal…

“Hmm?”

I felt a presence approaching from afar.

Seven individuals?

“Hmm.”

Feeling intrigued, I expanded my energy perception.

The sensation spread from my feet to envelop the surrounding forest.

Suddenly, individuals rushing towards me came into focus. Upon closer inspection, they appeared to be….

‘Martial Alliance members.’

I couldn’t help but smirk.

This worked out perfectly.

“Just when I thought finding them might be tricky.”

If memory served me correctly, there were members of the alliance active around this time of year.

Having business in Guangdong, I intended to check in while I was here.

‘It took longer than expected to find them.’

At this point, they shouldn’t still be wandering around Guangdong.

Time was slipping away unnecessarily.

Given the circumstance, I felt amused as I gazed towards the approaching presence.

“Shall I ask them a question or two?”

With that thought in mind, I moved forward.

There was no need to rush.

After all, it seemed our destinations were the same.

 

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