This is a story from the past, in a certain Mount Tai.
It was the middle of a mountain, densely packed with cold, lifeless bodies.
In the center of a chaotic hell where even the righteous and the demons were mixed, Demon Swordswoman Nangong Bia stood alone, sword in hand, looking up at the sky.
[Demon Swordswoman.]
At my call, Nangong Bia slowly turned her gaze.
Perhaps it was due to a single drop of blood on her pale cheek, but she looked particularly alluring.
Her eyes were dark and devoid of any emotion.
When I met her gaze, all I saw was darkness.
[You're the only survivor, did you kill them all?]
The cruel sword marks visible not only among the other martial artists but even among the demons were the work of none other than Nangong Bia's sword.
In the battle that had just taken place, Nangong Bia had killed everyone here, regardless of whether they were enemies or allies.
Seeing this, I spoke.
[We were told time was short, what the hell are you doing?]
At the sound of my voice, Nangong Bia, with her blood-soaked sword, approached me.
Nangong Bia didn't seem to harbor any killing intent, but it was impossible to tell with her, as she never harbored killing intent, no matter the situation.
A person who never showed any emotional fluctuations.
That's why she was a more terrifying swordsman.
Nangong Bia reached me, wiped the blood from her cheek, and said,
[There was nothing here.]
[Of course, you erased everything.]
Flick. Nangong Bia quickly swung her sword to shake off the blood.
A strong wind pressure spread in the direction of the swing.
Shaking off the blood from her sword, Nangong Bia asked me,
[What did the Sect Leader say?]
[He said to bring you, and that you'd probably be acting like a madwoman.]
[Is the last part what you wanted to say?]
[You seem to have the presence of mind to understand.]
Nangong Bia was mad, except for the lack of a flower in her hair, and it was all about the sword.
She shook off the blood from her sword and put it back in its sheath, then started to move.
I sighed as I watched her.
[That's not the way, Demon Swordswoman.]
[...Where?]
[Left.]
[Ah...]
[...That's the right.]
After a few corrections, Nangong Bia found her way.
Despite being a master who had killed hundreds here, she had a naive side.
Her appearance was different from the terrifying swordsmanship she displayed among dozens of martial artists, creating a sense of dissonance.
Demon Swordswoman.
Perhaps this was the most fitting nickname for Nangong Bia.
Nangong Bia, who had been slowly moving, stopped.
[Hey.]
[What?]
[If the Sword Emperor is strong, right?]
[...You're talking nonsense, you're clearly not in your right mind.]
I also stopped walking, thinking she was having strange thoughts, and said firmly,
[Just in case, don't do anything foolish. The Three Respects belong to the Sect Leader.]
[What about the Sword Emperor's sword?]
[Ah... this madwoman.]
I shook my head and moved on.
Feeling that she wasn't following, I turned back and saw Nangong Bia muttering to herself and heading in another direction.
[...]
Should I stop her? I had a fleeting thought.
I picked up a rock from the ground and threw it at Nangong Bia.
I aimed to hit her head.
The rock, flying quickly, split in half near Nangong Bia and fell.
Nangong Bia, who had already drawn her sword, was looking at me.
[Are we going to fight?]
Nangong Bia's expression only showed emotion at this moment.
The pressure she exerted began to press down on me, making my body tingle. I swept my hand across my face and said,
[...That's not the way.]
[...Ah!]
At my words, she immediately sheathed her sword. The pressure that had been enveloping the area also disappeared instantly.
Nangong Bia, who had been walking normally, stopped again.
She looked deep in thought.
[What are you doing?]
[I was thinking.]
[About what?]
[This way doesn't seem to be the right path.]
Nangong Bia spat out these words and leaped in the opposite direction, quickly disappearing from sight. I swept my hand across my face again.
[...That's not the way, you madwoman.]
I managed to reach our destination in less than a day.
Nangong Bia, who had run off, arrived three days later.
******************
At my call, everyone's attention focused on me.
Especially Nangong Bia's gaze was particularly terrifying.
I didn't want to get involved with that madwoman no matter what.
The name Nangong, representing the main family of the Four Great Clans? Beautiful appearance? Those were all meaningless.
Her existence was what mattered.
"...Young Master?"
Wu Lian, who had appeared with a curse, looked flustered.
I wanted to keep my mouth shut, but that was impossible.
In the midst of this, Nangong Bia looked at me and asked,
"Are you the leader of this group?"
Her voice alone made me break out in a cold sweat. Should I answer?
Nangong Bia, seemingly indifferent to my answer, bowed to me.
"I am Nangong Bia of the Nangong Clan. If it's not too much trouble, could you take me to Sichuan...?"
"It's not possible. I'm not going to Sichuan, and it would be a burden."
My firm refusal made everyone's eyes widen.
Nangong Bia tilted her head, perhaps surprised by the unexpected response.
She had probably never been refused when she mentioned the Nangong Clan. But I had my reasons.
"I can't confirm if you're really from the Nangong Clan, and I can't accept an unknown martial artist into our group."
Her blue hair and the Nangong name on her blue martial robe clearly indicated she was from the Nangong Clan, but this was a valid point.
I absolutely wouldn't accept her.
At my refusal, Nangong Bia let out a "Ah..." and nodded.
Then she drew her sword. Wu Lian, seeing this, quickly prepared for battle, but Nangong Bia just stood there with her eyes closed.
For some reason, the familiar sight made me feel uneasy.
'Is this madwoman...?'
Suddenly, the flow of the air changed.
It felt as if I was walking on a sword blade rather than the ground. The air felt like a sword blade.
It was the same aura I had constantly felt from Nangong Bia in my previous life.
Finally, Nangong Bia slowly opened her eyes.
At the same time, a tingling pressure radiated from her entire body.
Wu Lian and the guards, sensing this, simultaneously drew their swords.
Before the swords reached Nangong Bia, the pressure she had been emitting disappeared instantly.
Despite the numerous swords threatening her, Nangong Bia's face remained calm.
Imperial Sword Form.
This was the ultimate technique of the Nangong Clan, briefly displayed by the seemingly frail woman.
"I can't handle this technique well yet, but perhaps this is enough to prove my identity."
Nangong Bia had used such a crude method to prove she was from the Nangong Clan.
In a way, it was a more definitive method.
The martial artists here would likely have been convinced she was a direct descendant of the Nangong Clan.
There was no better way to prove it than the Nangong Clan's ultimate technique.
I nodded at her words and said,
"Truly, it's an overwhelming aura. I don't think I can travel with someone who uses such terrifying martial arts. I'm sorry."
Of course, even if she had proven her identity, it wouldn't change my decision.
******************
Fortunately, I managed to refuse Nangong Bia's request to travel with us and started moving towards Sichuan.
Surprisingly, Nangong Bia didn't say anything about my refusal; she just nodded.
Did I solve one problem?
It felt like I had endured ten years.
'Who would have thought I'd meet this person here?'
The image of her swinging her sword without regard for friend or foe was still vivid in my mind. Why was a direct descendant of the Nangong Clan wandering alone here?
"Ahh... I'm so tired."
The few minutes I just spent with Nangong Bia felt more exhausting than the four days I spent in the carriage.
"Master, Master!"
"Why are you calling me?"
Suddenly, Wei Xuelian, who had been looking out the window, called me.
Wei Xuelian was still looking outside the carriage.
"Someone is following us."
"What is?"
What is following us...
Wei Xuelian's words made a cold thought swirl in my mind.
She confirmed it as if to kill the doubt.
"That pretty lady is following us."
Oh, my God...
I quickly checked outside the carriage and saw Nangong Bia following us from a distance.
'Is she crazy? Was that nod earlier a sign?'
If I don't accept her, she'll just follow?
...I'm going to lose my mind.
I wanted to curse and tell her to stop following, but I didn't have a good reason.
'I even said I'm not going to Sichuan, so why is she following?'
Is she going the same way? That's impossible.
I've never seen that crazy woman take a normal path.
Well, ignore her. Ignoring is the answer.
The problem arose when we set up camp for the night.
We found a suitable spot, built a fire, and prepared to camp. In the distance, I saw