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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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The Zhongnan Sect – A Daoist sect belonging to the Nine Orthodox Sects, known for their heavy swords and dignified, powerful swordsmanship. They possessed the Thirty-Six Sword Techniques of Heaven, a style that encompassed thirty-six different sword movements, covering all angles of attack and defense.
The Qingcheng Sect – A Daoist sect belonging to the Nine Orthodox Sects, said to have inherited the teachings of the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice from the Three Kingdoms era. They possessed the Green Cloud Crimson Sunset Sword Technique, a dual sword style that combined the flowing, gentle Green Cloud Sword with the encroaching, heavy Crimson Sunset Sword.
The Sichuan Tang Family – One of the Five Great Families, renowned for their mastery of poisons and hidden weapons. Originally a demonic sect, they had later joined the orthodox factions. The Darkness of the Martial World. They possessed the Myriad Flowers Falling from the Sky technique, a hidden weapon technique that rained down countless projectiles upon the enemy from all directions.
The Nangong Family – One of the Five Great Families, renowned for their swordsmanship. Their style emphasized powerful, overwhelming sword techniques, utilizing both heavy and strong swords. They possessed the Boundless Azure Sky Sword Technique, an overwhelming sword style that pressured and dominated opponents, and the King’s Sword, a finishing move that controlled the very space around them.
It seemed… his master’s influence was rubbing off on him.
He saw the young martial artists not as people, but as walking martial arts manuals, treasure goblins ripe for the picking. He instinctively began to assess their value.
Of course, he wouldn’t be so foolish as to attack promising young disciples of renowned orthodox sects. He was simply admiring them, window shopping, so to speak.
Still, if the opportunity presented itself, he wouldn’t mind learning the Myriad Flowers Falling from the Sky technique or the King’s Sword.
He wondered what would happen if he used exploding projectiles instead of ordinary hidden weapons for the Myriad Flowers Falling from the Sky technique. And the King’s Sword? The name alone was cool. He had to learn it.
The King of Swords… truly regal!
As Mancheon leisurely sipped his tea, lost in thought,
an assassin of the Murderous Curtain, observing the young martial artists from a hidden vantage point on the second floor, frowned.
“Who’s that?”
“Just a passing dandy, I presume. Nothing to worry about.”
He had never seen the man before. He wasn’t a disciple of any of the renowned orthodox sects.
But… there was something familiar about his face that bothered him.
Looking at the carefree dandy, his overly friendly demeanor, he felt a phantom pain in his right eye socket, lost years ago to the previous head of the Sima family.
As the assassin rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, studying Mancheon’s face, the fox-like man with narrow eyes seated across from him also expressed interest.
“Do you know him? He’s already had his tea. Shall I administer the antidote?”
“No. It’s probably nothing. More importantly, what kind of poison did you use in the tea that even a daughter of the Tang Family hasn’t noticed?”
The narrow-eyed man, Xuan Hu, the Curse Merchant, smiled pleasantly and answered.
“It’s not a poison, but a curse, a parasitic curse imbued with resentment and disguised as food. Even a daughter of the Tang Family, renowned for their mastery of poisons, wouldn’t be able to detect it.”
“A curse… you’re called the Curse Merchant for a reason, I suppose, but it’s still a difficult concept to grasp.”
Xuan Hu chuckled softly, a chilling sound reminiscent of a fox’s cry.
“Think of it as… a form of dark sorcery, the kind favored by martial artists.”
“Then I’ll pay you more. Use your powerful sorcery to eliminate the Nangong brat. Quietly. Discreetly.”
He hadn’t been serious. Their agreement was to incapacitate Nangong Xiaoshao and the other young martial artists for the night. That was the deal between the Murderous Curtain and the Curse Merchant.
He had already paid a hefty sum for this service. There were no additional funds for such… unconventional requests.
The one-eyed assassin looked down at Nangong Xiaoshao, his target, who was quietly sipping tea on the first floor.
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He blinked, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.
He had gone to bed early, exhausted from the journey, as they were scheduled to depart for the Jegal Estate at dawn, but he had woken up.
He closed his eyes, trying to go back to sleep, but he was too well-rested, his mind alert and awake.
He sat up and checked the time.
It was the third watch (11 PM – 1 AM), a little past midnight. A good time for a nighttime stroll.
A fleeting pleasure, to be enjoyed only before the invention of electric lights.
He threw on a robe and strolled out into the inn’s courtyard, hoping to admire the starlit sky, when he saw a figure practicing sword forms in the moonlight.
A small frame that would fit perfectly in his embrace, grey hair shimmering softly in the moonlight.
Nangong Xiaoshao, the self-proclaimed man who looked undeniably like a beautiful young woman.
“…….”
He knew it was rude to stare, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Xiaoshao.
The blade, glowing faintly blue, danced in the darkness, tracing patterns like the Milky Way across the sky.
It was… a beautiful dance.
He had seen his master perform the Nangong family’s sword techniques when he was younger.
Each movement was precise, powerful, exuding a regal aura that commanded respect and instilled awe.
Yes, it was a powerful, impressive sword style, but he hadn’t considered it beautiful.
But Xiaoshao’s performance… was beautiful.
Powerful and strong, yet graceful and melancholic.
He couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. He felt… bewitched.
He simply stared, mesmerized by the sword dancer in the moonlight.
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As Xiaoshao finished practicing and sheathed his sword, his calm grey eyes met the gleaming, predatory gaze of a figure lurking in the shadows.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“I couldn’t seem to stay asleep. I enjoyed the show, though.”
Xiaoshao sheathed his sword and replied to Mancheon’s teasing smile,
“My skills are still lacking.”
“Forgive my bluntness, but I once had the opportunity to witness the Nangong sword style.”
Tap, tap.
He closed the distance between them, his movements eager, almost predatory, like a hungry wolf or tiger descending from the mountains.
Xiaoshao looked up at Mancheon, now standing close, the difference in their height even more pronounced at this proximity.
“What is it you wish to say?”
Mancheon’s gaze, like that of a hungry beast, its eyes gleaming like stars, swept over Xiaoshao’s slender frame, a possessive, appraising look.
And Xiaoshao’s body responded to the intensity of his gaze, a warmth spreading through him.
His cheeks flushed, his breath hitched in his throat, a gasp escaping his lips.
“Haah… haah…”
‘What’s… what’s happening to me?’
It was 1 AM. The curse, planted within him as per the agreement, awakened.
As his consciousness faded, consumed by the burning fever, Xiaoshao instinctively realized he had been trapped, targeted for assassination. And if he was in danger, so were the others.
He looked up at Mancheon through his blurred vision. He didn’t know who this man was, but he couldn’t allow him to die because of him.
This was a matter concerning the Nangong Family alone. He had to warn him, to tell him to escape.
“Ru…”
But he couldn’t.
His strength rapidly fading under the curse’s influence, Xiaoshao collapsed into Mancheon’s arms.
‘What? Why did he suddenly faint?’
Mancheon looked down at Xiaoshao, now cradled in his arms, his face covered by mask of confusion.
He felt Xiaoshao’s forehead. It was burning hot.
Even illnesses had their own progression. For someone who had been perfectly healthy just moments ago, dancing with a sword, to suddenly collapse with a high fever… it didn’t make sense.
But he couldn’t just leave a sick person outside. He sighed and hoisted Xiaoshao onto his back, heading back towards the inn.
He had been planning to subtly suggest a trade, exchanging the King’s Sword for the Dog Beating Staff Technique,
but it seemed he would have to wait for another opportunity.
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Put him in to your room and make sure if he is a man or the opposite. Things making me curious tf 🥹
Thanks Teot!