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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Cyno
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“……!”
The sound of beasts.
Hearing animal noises in a cave isn’t unusual.
Especially in winter—it wouldn’t be strange to find a hibernating bear or something similar.
But something feels off.
My heart pounds violently, the sensation vivid and unsettling.
I’ve felt this before.
‘That’s no bear……!’
The feeling of becoming prey.
Danger. I need to get out of here.
I have to extinguish the fire and leave this cave as quietly and quickly as possible.
“Grrrr…….”
Whether the owners of those eerie sounds will let me go unscathed remains to be seen.
Creak, creak—
A cold breath brushes against the back of my neck. I didn’t even hear them approach.
A grim memory flashes through my mind.
The day the Sword Venerable, Daoist Venerable, and Water Venerable visited the Namgung Family.
“They only found talismans and jiangshi—traces of the Blood Cult—in caves near Xi’an and Sichuan.”
That was the news they brought.
‘Don’t tell me… are these really jiangshi?!’
Praying I’m wrong, I slowly turn my head.
“Grrrr……!”
The sight that greets me is the one I dreaded most.
Three pale corpses, their faces powdered white, with eerie talismans plastered on their foreheads.
……Jiangshi.
“GWAHHK!!”
“Damn it!”
I roll violently to the side, barely escaping the jiangshi’s lunge. The spot where I stood a second ago is now swarmed by the creatures.
Lazy Donkey Rolls Over—a move most martial artists consider disgraceful, but I have no choice.
“KRRAAAH!!”
The jiangshi charge again. Normally, jiangshi can’t bend their joints, but these things move with grotesque, unnatural flexibility, as if they’re some kind of flying jiangshi.
“Tch……!”
Whoosh!
I barely manage to dodge, but in my haste, I’ve backed myself deeper into the cave.
If this keeps up, I’ll be cornered.
I have to break through.
Shhk—
I grip the dagger I used earlier to prepare the chicken.
“KRRAAAH!!”
The jiangshi charge again, their movements bestial.
The sharp fangs protruding from their mouths make it clear—if they get me, I’ll be torn to shreds.
Focus.
I may be prey right now, but I can still turn the tables.
These aren’t the Assassin. If the Twelve Supreme Masters defeated them, so can I.
I am the One-Armed King—a top-tier assassin of the Bloody Fangs and former leader of the Martial Alliance’s First Unit.
I won’t let my one remaining life be taken by mere jiangshi.
Thud-thud-thud!
The jiangshi lunge for the left side of my neck—exactly where I let them aim.
The moment they’re close enough, I’ll crush them with my trump card, Bone and Flesh Scattered to the Wind.
“GRAAAH!!”
Good. Just a little closer.
With a dagger instead of a full sword, I only need them within three steps.
“SKREEEAAAH!!”
Now!
CRACK—!
……Huh?
CRUNCH! CRACK-CRACK!
W-Wait, why isn’t the technique activating……?
CRASH—!
Ah.
I don’t have a right arm.
Too focused on the dagger, I forgot the most crucial thing.
By the time I realize, it’s too late.
“Guh… Gahhk……!”
My throat tears open, my legs give out.
Cold metal invades my body. My mind goes numb.
“GRK… GRK—!”
I still have to deliver the Assassin’s message to my lord…
I have to warn him—if he provokes the Sword Saint too much, the Assassin’s retaliation will be severe…
“Grrrr……!”
My thoughts grow hazy.
A strange, primal urge takes over.
“GRRRR……!”
I don’t know anymore.
All I can think about is sinking my teeth into fresh, living flesh.
***
Seven Blossoms War
Perhaps because of the weight behind the names Jade Blossom and Sword Blossom…
What was supposed to be a quiet spar in the backyard had somehow turned into a public spectacle, drawing dozens of spectators.
This wasn’t ideal for Byurak.
Jin Gayoung’s axe techniques—her Moonlight Axe—were essentially her secret weapon.
Since none of the other Seven Blossoms expected the Sword Blossom to wield an axe, exploiting that gap was Byurak’s strategy for the upcoming tournament.
But now, with this public spar, everyone would know.
Byurak frowned.
“Relax. It’s just a practice match—why so tense?”
Jin Gayoung, stretching casually, nudged him with a whisper.
“The others will prepare countermeasures once they see your Moonlight Axe.”
“Pfft. Didn’t you say it? ‘Don’t focus on the fish—look at the ocean.’”
“…Ah.”
“So what if I lose the Seven Blossoms War? This is a chance to test my Moonlight Axe against the legendary Okhwa.”
“…….”
‘I told her to see the bigger picture… yet here I am, narrowing my own vision.’
He realized, somewhat sheepishly, that he’d let his competitive instincts take over.
When it came to Jin Gayoung, his emotions always ran high.
“I’m heading out. Watch me closely, okay?”
Hoisting her massive axe over her shoulder, Jin Gayoung strode confidently into the center of the crowd.
Facing her, Okhwa held a slender sword—a stark contrast to the heavy Moonlight Axe.
The spectators had already formed a wide circle around them.
“Kunlun, Jade Blossom.”
“Jincheon, Sword Blossom.”
They exchanged the customary bow of martial artists.
– Ho ho! So my Moonlight Axe finally sees the light of day!
‘Let’s see if she gets crushed first.’
– Brat, must you always undermine me?
‘You do the same to me, don’t you?’
While Jin Wuyong and Byurak bickered silently, Okhwa assumed the opening stance of the Taixu Dragon-Slaying Sword Technique, flicking her wrist.
“I’ll give you three free strikes. Come at me.”
Offering three free attacks against a heavy weapon like the Moonlight Axe was no small concession—but since it was Okhwa, no one questioned it.
“I’ll take you up on that!”
Jin Gayoung accepted eagerly, a competitive grin spreading across her face as she stepped forward.
She knew better than anyone the Moonlight Axe’s weakness—its slow, wide swings. Okhwa’s offer put her at ease.
– Tch, don’t tell me she’s getting careless just because of that?
‘She’s not that type.’
– True. She’s my descendant, after all—she’ll handle it.
‘I’m the one who trained her.’
– You keep claiming credit! All you did was tweak my techniques!
‘The ones I improved beyond your original Frozen Flame Moon.’
– …Gah, you’re insufferable.
Despite the distraction of Namgung Sua and Yoo So-eun’s appearance, Byurak quickly refocused on Jin Gayoung.
It helped that he’d mentally distanced himself from the Namgung Family.
“Hmph!”
Whoosh—THUD!
Jin Gayoung began spinning her axe with centrifugal force, drawing gasps from the crowd.
“Whoa, I doubted her because she uses an axe, but she’s actually good?”
“How is her tiny body generating that much force? How deep is her internal energy?”
“Tsk, this guy’s never held an axe. You don’t muscle a great moon axe—it’s all technique.”
“Even so, size matters. Swinging that monster can’t be easy for someone barely over five feet.”
Some were impressed by her unexpected skill.
Others dismissed her outright.
“She abandoned the sword—the king of all weapons—for an axe? How immature.”
“Let her be. Coming from a no-name family, she’ll cling to anything.”
“I heard she defeated Bi Hwa, but I guess Bi Hwa just fought stupidly.”
Jin Gayoung ignored them, focusing on building momentum—but Byurak’s eye twitched as if he were the one being insulted.
His gaze snapped toward the voices.
Two women stood there—one in a robe embroidered with plum blossoms (clearly from Huashan), the other in an Ami Sect robe with “Ami” boldly written across it.
White Blossom of Huashan and Snow Blossom of Ami.
Even these prideful Seven Blossoms had come to spectate.
Others watched just as intently.
“Pay attention. She may be your opponent.”
“Can the Taiyi Wisdom Sword counter such a heavy weapon?”
“Light or heavy, victory favors the more enlightened.”
Heavenly Blossom of Wudang, analyzing Jin Gayoung alongside the Heavenly Venerable.
“A great moon axe… My poison arts might pair well against it.”
“Don’t underestimate her. There’s a reason the Sword Blossom abandoned the sword.”
“Ugh, what do you take me for? I’m not that stupid.”
Poison Blossom of the Sichuan Tang Family, watching with keen interest.
And then—the two who caught Byurak’s attention most.
“Mom, what do you think? That unnie might be my opponent. Not just her—all the Blossoms here.”
“…Just don’t get hurt. That’s all I care about.”
Namgung Sua (Thunder Blossom) and Yoo So-eun.
– Well, well. Never thought I’d see my son-in-law’s wife like this.
‘Sigh…….’
– Why the sigh? Uncomfortable?
‘Not uncomfortable. Just… awkward.’
– What did you even do wrong to be this tense?
‘It’s not guilt. Yoo So-eun and I just… weren’t on good terms.’
Adjusting his White Daoist mask, Byurak forced his attention back to Jin Gayoung.
She had built enough momentum to swing her axe multiple times per second, standing before Okhwa like a storm.
The wind pressure alone sent the spectators’ hair flying.
– Whirlwind Moon Cleave! To see this technique again!
‘Aren’t you getting too excited?’
– You wouldn’t understand. This is a historic moment!
With a throw-like motion, Jin Gayoung brought her axe down in a vertical slash.
“Whirlwind Moon Cleave!”
Okhwa, true to her word, didn’t counter—instead, she raised her sword horizontally to block.
A straightforward defense, devoid of any special techniques.
CRASH—!!
The collision of Jin Gayoung’s internal energy, centrifugal force, and the axe’s weight against Okhwa’s slender blade sent a shockwave of silence through the crowd.
“……!”
The reason for their astonishment wasn’t just the deafening noise.
“Her sword…?”
Okhwa’s blade had chipped.
Slightly, but undeniably.
She hadn’t used any special techniques or even her full internal energy—but leaving a mark on Okhwa’s sword was no small feat.
She was Okhwa—one of the strongest in the current martial world.
Yet an eighteen-year-old girl had done it.
No matter how heavy the weapon, that shouldn’t have been possible.
“Hehe, two more strikes left!”
While Okhwa stood stunned, Jin Gayoung retrieved her axe and swung again.
This time, instead of a vertical slash, she aimed horizontally—as if to bisect Okhwa at the waist.
Byurak couldn’t suppress a smile as he murmured to Jin Wuyong.
‘As expected of a prodigy.’
– Kuhaha! That’s my descendant for you!
‘And my disciple.’
– You keep calling her that! All you did was tweak my techniques!
‘Even you admitted my version surpassed your original Frozen Flame Moon.’
– …Gah, you’re impossible.
Though briefly distracted by Namgung Sua and Yoo So-eun, Byurak quickly refocused on Jin Gayoung, swelling with pride.
It helped that he’d mentally distanced himself from the Namgung Family.
“Heaven-Earth Moon Severance!”
‘Where do you even come up with these technique names? Aren’t they a bit… cringe?’
– Says the guy who named his sword style Imperial Swordplay.
‘Even so, Heaven-Earth? No human can sever heaven and earth.’
– Says the guy who isn’t even human.
During Jin Gayoung’s second strike, the crowd fell completely silent.
Partly due to the first strike’s impact—but mostly because the sheer weight behind this one was visible to the naked eye.
The property of heaviness was something none of the Seven Blossoms (except those from the Namgung Family) possessed, making it all the more striking.
Swish—
Okhwa’s response this time was different.
She still didn’t counter (keeping her promise), but she used Kunlun’s fluid, yielding swordsmanship to redirect the axe’s force.
Jin Gayoung stumbled comically off-balance—but then…
CRASH—!!
The deflected axe struck the ground, shattering the stone tiles with terrifying force.
The crowd was too stunned to speak.
Even White Blossom and Snow Blossom, who had been sneering earlier, gulped unconsciously.
“Oops, only one strike left!”
“……!”
Okhwa’s pupils dilated.
Her eyes mirrored the Heavenly Venerable’s—filled with exhilaration.
“Hup!”
Thud—!
Jin Gayoung yanked her axe free from the rubble and hefted it again.
Every eye followed her movements.
She was no longer a joke—she had everyone’s undivided attention.
– Wait, what technique is she even using now?
‘…I didn’t teach her that.’
– Is this just my bloodline? She’s completely unpredictable… What’s she planning?
‘She’s not a troublemaker like you. She won’t do anything reckless.’
Byurak said this firmly, a silent warning to Jin Wuyong not to speak ill of his disciple.
But then—
WHOOSH—!
When Jin Gayoung finally swung, even he doubted his eyes.
Because her target wasn’t Okhwa.
“KYAAAH!”
“W-What the—?!”
CRASH-BOOM—!!
White Blossom and Snow Blossom shrieked, covering their faces as the massive axe hurtled toward them.
At the last second, Jin Gayoung stopped it—just three inches from their heads—holding it with one trembling hand.
A chilling smile—the kind often called a “murder grin”—spread across her face.
“Oops. My axe slipped.”
As White Blossom and Snow Blossom started yelling about insanity, Jin Gayoung continued cheerfully.
“Sometimes… I just lose control like this, you know?”
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