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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cyno
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‘There’s not enough information.’
A woman walked briskly, her tied-back brown hair swaying behind her. She was a striking girl with dazzlingly blue eyes.
‘This won’t do… This can’t go on… I have to uncover who framed my brother…’
Her name was Namgung Soso.
Once, she had been one of the Seven Flowers and a prodigy of the Hangsan Sword Sect—a warrior in her own right. Though now, she had cast it all aside, stepping forward solely as someone’s younger sister.
‘If not here, then Namgung Bin is my last lead. I must find evidence here, no matter what.’
A metallic tang of blood rose in her mouth.
The past few months had been grueling. She had crushed the bandits of Nokrimchae blocking her path, crossed the Yangtze, and obliterated two outposts of the Janggangsu Rochae. The internal injuries from those battles lingered.
But she had no time to rest.
‘Brother…’
She had to apologize to her brother, Namgung Cheolbin, as soon as possible—by bringing her the head of the one who orchestrated this.
Logically, she didn’t need to. Even if she did, the detached Namgung Cheolbin she once knew wouldn’t care. But if she didn’t push herself like this, she wouldn’t be able to endure the guilt, the regret, the self-loathing.
If she didn’t do something, she’d hang herself from the rafters right then and there.
She deeply regretted the harsh words she’d spat at Namgung Cheolbin. And she regretted how, despite always chasing after him, she had coldly pushed him away when the moment came.
Tap.
Soso stepped into a towering building—the residence of the Martial Alliance Leader, the Sword Sovereign, the strongest force in the Central Plains martial world.
Though mocked as a puppet leader by the elders, her status was undeniable. The lavish estate reeked of wasted wealth to Soso’s eyes.
‘Stay unseen.’
Using the stealth techniques she’d learned to tail Cheolbin during the Jeonghyeol War, she crept along the walls and ceiling into the inner quarters. Guards and servants milled about, but none noticed her.
Her skills were sharp, but the real reason was her innate killing aura—a presence honed for assassination, making her undetectable.
‘The inner quarters are empty. Then the leader must be…’
The office.
Soso clung upside-down to the ceiling, biting her stray hair. When strands still obscured her vision, she closed her eyes and relied on her senses.
Unexpectedly, she found the Sword Sovereign immediately—thanks to the furious shouting inside.
“Are you brainless!? What were you thinking, not bringing that!?”
“S-Sorry…! But last time, you said I didn’t need to…!”
“What? Are you calling me a liar!?”
“N-No…! I’m sorry…!”
A kneeling maid clutched her reddened cheek as the Sword Sovereign berated her. This was her daily routine—venting her frustrations on servants, though she ensured silence outside these walls.
‘The Sword Sovereign… still the same as ever.’
Soso sighed, shaking her head.
‘Even during the war, she was incompetent. Now she’s worse, bullying subordinates.’
A vein throbbed on Soso’s forehead as she recalled the Sword Sovereign’s role in slandering the Sword Saint.
‘Calm down. Don’t let emotions cloud you.’
She was the only one left alive who had spread those rumors.
‘This is my chance. I’ll extract answers from her.’
At first, Soso suspected the Sword Sovereign framed Cheolbin—but she wasn’t smart enough for that. Nor did she have capable subordinates. The skilled warriors who once supported her, like Baek Youngdae, had vanished without a trace.
“Get out! Stand outside with your hands up!”
“B-But it’s the middle of winter…! You’re joking, right…?”
“Do I look like I’m joking!?”
“Ugh… S-Sorry…”
The maid stumbled out, sobbing. Once the door shut, Soso drew a dagger and crept toward the Sword Sovereign like a spider.
Her heart pounded.
‘A little closer… Just a bit more…’
“Honestly, why do I even keep useless people around? Whining about the cold—pathetic!”
Unaware, the Sword Sovereign ranted.
Soso moved smoothly, dagger in one hand, the other gripping the ceiling.
But she overlooked one thing.
“By the way…”
No matter how foolish, how dull, how much of a puppet leader she was—
“What are you? An assassin here to kill me?”
“…!”
The Twelve Supreme Masters were still the Twelve Supreme Masters.
The strongest twelve in the Central Plains, second only to the Five Peaks.
Even with her killing aura, Soso—a mere Seven Flower—stood no chance hiding from one.
—
### “Doesn’t seem like it. I don’t sense killing intent.”
Soso froze mid-movement.
The hunter had become the hunted.
“Then let’s see the face of the fool who dared target me.”
“…!”
The Sword Sovereign turned leisurely, her expression shifting to confusion upon seeing Soso.
“Huh? You’re… Bihwa? No, not Bihwa?”
Her tone changed instantly.
“Bihwa, why are you here…? Shouldn’t you be at the Seven Flowers Tournament?”
Then she noticed the weapon in Soso’s hand.
“…First, I have some questions.”
“I ask the questions here. What is this?”
“….”
Soso frowned. Her plan had failed.
Bang—!
In a flash, she kicked off the ceiling and fled.
“…!”
An impossible angle for most, but Soso’s epithet wasn’t Flying Flower for nothing. In lightness arts, she was among the best in the world.
Whoosh—!
None inside noticed her escape—except one.
“…What’s her deal?”
The Sword Sovereign watched the retreating figure, then grabbed a sword from the wall.
Whoooooosh—!
She launched herself after Soso, covering dozens of feet in a single leap, accelerating with each step.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Soso was fast, but only within the realm of Peak Masters. Against a Transcendent Master, she was a kitten playing tricks.
“Hmm, was this your goal?”
Half an hour later, Soso was cornered on a mountain far from the residence.
The Sword Sovereign blocked her path.
“Luring me here?”
Soso showed no panic.
“…Luring?”
“First, answer me. Your life depends on it.”
Soso drew her sword, dagger in the other hand—ready to fight.
“Have you lost your mind? I know you’re skilled, but I didn’t earn the title Sword Sovereign for nothing.”
“Enough. Why did you frame the Sword Saint? What did you gain?”
“Hmm… What if I said I don’t remember? It was months ago.”
“Then words won’t suffice.”
“I’d like to answer, but I can’t… Keuk!”
Slash—!
Soso blurred, reappearing behind the Sword Sovereign.
The Sovereign swung blindly, but Soso ducked and stabbed upward—a flawless strike aimed at her ribs.
Clang—!
Against anyone else, it would’ve landed.
Crack—!
The Sword Sovereign blocked with her sword, then punched Soso square in the face.
Wham—!
Soso’s head snapped back, but she stood firm.
“Y-You tanked that!?”
The Sovereign’s eyes widened.
“Haap!”
Seizing the opening, Soso slashed at her blind spot.
‘Damn it! Can’t dodge!’
The Sword Sovereign braced herself.
‘If I must, I’ll trade flesh for bone!’
She resolved to take the hit and counter—
“Heaven’s Endless River—!”
A single stroke carrying thirty-six slashes engulfed Soso.
Her response?
“…!”
A suicidal counterattack.
Knowing her energy was insufficient, she channeled all her life force into one thrust.
Boom—!
Slash—!
The two strikes collided.
Soso was sent flying, her body riddled with thirty-six wounds, blood soaking her torn clothes.
“Keugh…!”
“Haa… Haa… Since when were you so stubborn?”
The Sword Sovereign, meanwhile, bore only a single gash across her chest—thanks to Soso’s killing aura.
Still, it was no minor wound.
“Stubborn? I’m just persistent.”
‘Outwardly, at least.’
“Huh? Wait… Why does my dantian sting…? Ugh!?”
“I fought for mutual destruction. You’re the reckless one.”
“Cough! Gahk!!”
The Sword Sovereign’s wound glowed purple.
“Poison…! A righteous warrior using poison! Have you no shame!?”
“Shame? I’m used to it.”
During the war, Soso had learned every dirty trick to survive—including Mountain Hollow Poison, despised by orthodox sects.
But she didn’t care.
“Divine Severance Powder—the expensive, fast-acting kind.”
“Y-You little…!”
“Ten breaths left. I’ve got more.”
Swish—!
Ignoring her own injuries, Soso charged again.
The poisoned Sovereign’s reflexes were dulled.
She closed her eyes, relying on her senses—
Thud—!
“…!”
A fatal miscalculation.
Fwoosh—!
Soso scattered a cloud of powder mid-strike.
Sizzle—!
The Sovereign’s skin smoked upon contact, especially where the powder seeped into her wound.
“Gyaaaaah!!”
Agony like never before.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Blinded and senseless, she couldn’t evade Soso’s pressure-point strikes.
“Guh… Ugh…!”
Paralyzed, the Sword Sovereign collapsed.
Soso bandaged her own wounds hastily—no time for proper treatment.
“Now, let’s talk.”
She released the Sovereign’s sealed pressure points.
But…
“Why did you frame the Sword Saint? Speak.”
“….”
“Who ordered you? Was Namgung Bin involved?”
“….”
“I’ll cut off fingers one by one! Speak!”
“…!”
The Sword Sovereign couldn’t answer.
“You—! Why stay silent!? I freed your pressure points!”
Even when Soso grabbed her collar, she remained mute.
“You want me to bleed you? Fine. I wasn’t planning to spare you anyway.”
Slice! Slice!
Limbs were severed, yet her lips stayed sealed.
As if bound by something.
“…! ………!!”
Her pupils darted wildly, breath erratic—clearly in pain, but unable to speak.
Soso, familiar with Blood Cult curses, understood.
“A curse? Bound to silence by your master?”
The Sovereign’s bloodshot eyes jerked up and down—yes.
Then—
Pop!
Her eyeballs burst, spewing blood and fluid.
“…………!!!!!”
“Damn it… A curse indeed.”
The Blood Cult specialized in curses—controlling corpses, rituals. Their mystic arts had once terrorized the martial world.
Crack.
Soso’s face twisted in fury.
Her only lead was useless.
Even killing the Sovereign wouldn’t break the curse.
‘Then…’
Her hand tightened around the dagger.
The blinded, powerless Sovereign flinched at the cold steel against her face—but couldn’t resist.
Skritch—
“…!!!!!”
A soundless scream.
“My status limits what I can uncover…”
The dagger continued its work.
“…But yours won’t. As the Martial Alliance Leader, you’ll open doors for me.”
“…!!!!!!”
Soon, the Sovereign’s face was fully peeled away.
She had already died from blood loss and shock.
Unfazed, Soso pressed the flayed skin to her own face, adjusting it.
“Stretch the nose a bit… Forehead’s wider—I’ll cover it with hair. Where was that tannery for human leather…?”
A grotesque sight: a beautiful young woman fitting another’s face like a mask.
“It’s fine… This is just the beginning. As the leader, the mastermind will come to me. Or I’ll find them. Better than my current status.”
Obsession had long overridden reason.
“Just the mastermind… Just bring their head to Brother… Apologize… He’ll forgive me…”
Her mind, frayed from life-and-death struggles, teetered between delusion and despair.
“W-What if he doesn’t…? Do I need another plan…? No… Brother is kind… He’ll forgive me…”
But the human heart clings to hope, even false hope.
“He has to… I’ll beg with the mastermind’s head… He has to…”
She didn’t realize this self-deception would only hasten her collapse.
“I wish that day would come soon… Sitting with Brother again, eating together… Hehe…”
Just like the old days with the Sword Saint, Namgung Cheolbin.
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[Your Text Here]
Christ, I knew she was a bit crazy, but I didn’t know we had fucking wuxia Buffalo Bill out here.