‘A Yokai sword…’
The world refers to a masterfully crafted sword as a treasured sword. It was said that making a treasured sword required good-quality iron, the skills of an expert craftsman, and a thousand times training.
The sword born through this would become famous when used by a warrior. There were many such treasured swords in Murim, but among them were strange swords called Yokai Swords.
These were ghost swords or yokai swords that contained strange and chaotic qi.
There were many hidden tales of how such swords were born. Among them, the most credible example was the tale of the Sword of Wu Gan.
-What is that?
It was a blade that came from masters during times of war.
Gan Jan and Makya were a couple that were blacksmiths, a rarity even among those.
The king, who possessed black iron, asked these two to make him a sword. However, for some reason, the iron that was bequeathed to them did not melt even after three years.
The king became enraged and demanded that the sword be made with the lives of the couple’s family as ransom.
-They must have rushed it.
The couple then sought advice from the Great Elder, Gu Yaja.
Gu Yaja told them that black iron could not melt unless blood and flesh from a living human were used. Upon hearing this, the wife, Makya, died on the spot.
Curiously, however, the black iron melted and became liquid shortly after.
Gan Jang, filled with resentment after losing his wife through her sacrifice, cut off his hair, shed his blood, and fused his fingernails alongside the sword. He then placed them in a furnace and instructed 300 young women to work on it.
The two swords made in this way were then named after the couple.
-Why is it called a Yokai Sword?
It was said that anyone who wielded these swords lived short lives. Wounds inflicted by them also didn’t recover until death.
Those who knew the truth called these swords Yokai Swords instead of treasured swords.
-The Blood Demon Sword is exactly the same?
-You seem to have complaints, little one?
-What!
As Short Sword said, the Blood Demon Sword was also a Yokai Sword. It was also made through the Blood Demon’s hate and anger.
‘Do you hear them, Iron Sword?’
-I don’t hear anything. It seems like the talisman is blocking it.
-Damned talismans
The Blood Demon Sword, who had been sealed by talismans, was nervous.
I looked at the sword placed in the chest and asked,
“Where did you get it from?”
“I don’t feel like I am under any obligation to tell you.”
Well.
He was right.
However, only five swords were known as Yokai Swords in the Central Plains.
One was the Blood Demon Sword of the Blood Sect. Another was the Murdering Sword, rumored to be possessed by one of the Four Great Evils. The other three were the subject of rumors; even I, who had lived this life once already, didn’t know of them.
“You said you could handle it just fine, but why are you showing me a Yokai Sword?”
Yokai Swords were dangerous.
Even I was almost eaten away by the resentment within the Blood Demon Sword once before.
In response to this, Prince Kyung said.
“I am looking for someone who can wield this sword.”
I see.
This sword was beyond what ordinary people could wield. Even most Murim people could not hold it. Even those warriors who had crossed the wall and understood the sword like the back of their hand wouldn’t touch this.
“Is there no such person in the royal palace?”
“The Third Great Elder who protects the Emperor only moves by my father’s orders. Even if I am a prince, I cannot make them move.”
‘The Third Great Elder?’
Was there such a position in the imperial family?
Perhaps this person was a kind of hidden power for the imperial family. While I was curious, I knew that asking further would give him more leverage.
“So you are asking me to try?”
“Actually, I wanted to ask someone from the Eight Great Warriors to try to subdue this sword. Many eyes are watching me right now.”
It did indeed seem to be the case.
Many eyes were watching him, and meeting someone from the Eight Great Warriors would not be easy.
-The Murim Alliance is friendly with the government, though?
It wasn’t about the government but more so about the first prince.
Prince Kyung could not be hasty in asking for aid since an elder of Wudang was the first prince’s tutor. He would likely end up being caught if he tried to contact them.
“My request is simple. If you can subdue this Yokai Sword, I will gladly grant you any request you desire.”
I looked at him. So if I subdued this Yokai Sword, I would have any request fulfilled.
Was this sword important enough to deal with constant spying from the two princes?
Then, I should at least try and increase some of my benefits.
“Now. Will you try?”
“…This time, it seems the benefits are less on my part.”
“What?”
“Subduing a Yokai Sword could cost me my life. I am sure the prince is aware of this.”
He snorted after he heard my words.
“So, what do you want?”
I smiled at this.
“It’s just a small benefit.”
“I was told that you are the leader of the Blood Sect. Yet, now that I’ve seen you, you seem to be closer to a merchant.”
“It’s a job where I have to take some risks. Therefore, you would inevitably need to give me some niceties.”
Now, how would he react?
Prince Kyung stared at me and opened his mouth.
“You are insane. What do you want?”
“If the Murim Alliance tries to pressure our sect by making the government move again, you will stop it. If you tell me that this could happen, then I will make an attempt.”
“You are asking the government to stay uninvolved with matters of the Murim.”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I will accept it.”
The prince had accepted the deal.
“First, please formally write down a contract.”
“… you are so thorough.”
One of his eyebrows rose up. It seemed that he was a little offended.
My opponent was a man who deceived everyone and became Emperor.
Who could predict how things would turn out?
Snap!
With a snap of his fingers, the man holding the chest ran back inside and returned with a pen, ink, and paper.
The prince shook his head as he wrote down the contract. The words matched the exact terms of our transaction.
Thud!
Prince Kyung even placed his own seal and handed over the contract to me.
As I saw the last phrase of the contract, I snorted in amusement.
[If things go awry and he loses his life, it is entirely the responsibility of the Blood Sect’s Leader.]
That was what he wrote.
He was definitely not an easy opponent.
-I feel anxious. Is this fine?
Looking at this contract, it seemed that quite a few people had lost their lives trying to subdue this Yokai Sword.
Still, I have a secret weapon.
The Big Dipper constellation on my hand.
“Now, try to subdue the Yokai sword.”
With these words, Prince Kyung withdrew from the immediate proximity.
He stepped back to a distance of more than five feet in case any danger came when I took up the sword.
That’s nice. Now, should I try?
I took off the many talismans that were attached to the chest. I could hear strange sounds every time I took off a talisman.
-….
There were still many of them attached.
Brr!
“Uh?”
The moment I removed the last talisman, the chest began to shake.
This wasn’t a normal Yokai Sword.
Just like the first time I saw the Blood Demon Sword, there was a sense of anxiety.
I slowly grabbed the top of the chest and opened it. Once I completely removed the cover, the sword covered with talismans became visible starting from its sheath.
At that moment.
-Kyaaaak!!
“Kuk!”
A deafening scream pierced my ears. The sound was so loud that I almost felt my ears were torn apart.
I closed my left eye and opened my mid dantian. I could barely endure because I used my innate qi to protect my ears.
-Its Yokai nature is very strong, Wonwhi.
Iron Sword gave me this warning. Blood Demon Sword simply laughed sarcastically, as if he found this ridiculous.
That’s right. I have endured the Blood Demon Sword, and that would need to do.
Pak!
I grabbed the talisman-covered sword sheath. The moment I grabbed it, I felt a strong sensation.
The talismans were the only things protecting me. The moment I pulled the sword, there was no way of knowing what would happen.
Prince Kyung and his subordinates were unable to take their eyes off me.
“Phew.”
As I caught my breath, I quickly drew the sword.
Srng!
With a clear sound, a sword with a unique pattern on the side of its blade appeared.
It resembled the Blood Demon Sword, but looking at this sword, I could feel it was renowned.
-Better.
At that moment, I heard a woman’s soft voice.
The voice of the Yokai Sword?
I thought that I should attempt to talk to her.
But then something unbelievable happened.
‘…!?’
A shockingly beautiful woman wearing flowing clothes appeared in front of my eyes. It was no exaggeration to say that she was close to being naked.
What was this?
-What is it?
-Wonhwi?
Short Sword and Iron Sword asked me.
‘You cannot see her?’
-What are you talking about?
-What are you looking at? Wonhwi?
It seemed like they couldn’t see anything. I then looked at Prince Kyung.
I wondered if this apparition was only visible to me, but even they had closed their eyes and covered their ears.
They seemed to know what was happening.
At that moment, the beauty spoke again.
-Better.
A dream-like voice.
-Better.
What a beautiful voice.
Every time I heard her voice, it felt like I was sinking into a daze.
An unparalleled beauty, dressed in clothing to show off her voluptuous breasts, was slowly walking towards me seductively.
-It is nice here. Come into my arms and hold me.
She approached me with her arms wide open as my eyes began to feel heavy.
-Yah! Wonhwi!
At that moment, Short Sword’s scream filled my head and woke my brain.
This was the voice of a beauty that could captivate people’s hearts.
“Phew.”
Warm qi spread through my body as I used the Xing Ming technique, and the thoughts burrowing into my head disappeared.
-Come to me. Do you not wish to embrace me?
The beauty shifted her top to the side and attempted to seduce me.
‘Stop.’
Her breasts were half-exposed, so I looked away and stepped back. The beauty frowned at this and tried to seduce me once more.
Shhh!
The beauty lifted the hem of her skirts, showed her thighs, and said seductively.
-Come. Do you not want to touch my legs?
I held out my hand to stop her from coming closer and shouted internally.
‘I am telling you to stop. There is something I want.’
The beauty, who had been walking at me with a seductive expression, stopped and then spoke stiffly.
-Man, am I not beautiful?
‘I am not interested in seductions.’
I said this strongly as the woman sighed and mumbled.
-You must be a eunuch.
‘…?!’
