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Chapter 27




EP.27 Demon Sword Empress (4)
Demon Sword Empress (4)
It has been two more days since I started this uncomfortable journey with Nangong Bia.
We will soon arrive at the village we planned to visit.
After resting there, we will head towards the Tang family.
It feels like we will arrive much more safely than I expected for the trip to Sichuan.
Apart from the day I met Nangong Bia, we encountered a few monsters, but I didn't see anything that could be a real threat.
It was a trip to Sichuan that lasted nearly ten days.
However, it was just that the duration was long and a bit boring; there were no real issues.
“Sigh….”
But there was one big problem.
I kept wiping my face with my hand at the sight that made me sigh just by looking at it.
“Sister, look! It’s a hamster!”
“...Yeah.”
“Have you ever eaten a hamster, Sister?”
“Yeah… Yeah? No, I haven’t.”
By the time I noticed, Weixia had gotten out of the carriage and was sticking right next to Nangong Bia, who was slowly following behind, chatting away.
Most of the time, it was Weixia doing the talking and Nangong Bia giving short answers, but Nangong Bia didn’t seem to mind and was walking at Weixia’s pace.
Weixia, with a blank expression, would grab Nangong Bia’s collar when she tried to veer off into strange paths.
“...Why are they so close?”
I kept telling Weixia not to approach strangers, but she kept approaching Nangong Bia, saying she looked pitiful. What exactly was so pitiful about her?
Should I have scolded her at least once?
“Tsk.”
It didn’t seem like anything good would come of it.
I never imagined I’d see them getting along like this.
“Wu Lian.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“How much longer… are you very tired? Why do you look so pale?”
“No, I’m fine.”
...Fine? Your face is so dark, you look like you’re about to die from exhaustion.
The reason Wu Lian looked like she was about to die from exhaustion was none other than Nangong Bia.
On the first night when Nangong Bia insisted on camping far away, she suddenly approached Wu Lian and challenged her to a sparring match.
Wu Lian refused without any hesitation.
“I am the Young Master’s bodyguard. I can’t focus on anything else right now. I’m sorry.”
Nangong Bia nodded at the polite refusal but kept watching Wu Lian with a look of obsession.
More accurately, she was watching Wu Lian’s sword.
Eventually, Wu Lian, who had been tormented by her gaze until dawn, looked quite exhausted.
It’s not like a first-rate martial artist like Wu Lian would be this tired just from not sleeping for a night. It must have been mentally exhausting.
‘That crazy person was already like this from the start.’
Guangnian, who would draw his sword at the slightest interest in a skilled swordsman, regardless of the consequences.
No wonder finding the traces of the Sword Emperor and Sword Sage was the most frequent activity in his previous life.
While she doesn’t draw her sword recklessly now, from what I can see, she’s still just as crazy.
She seems a bit less crazy now because Weixia is sticking to her side, chirping like a sparrow, but I can still see her looking at Wu Lian’s sword just now.
...Actually, does Weixia know about that?
‘No, that’s impossible.’
What could Weixia know?
It’s impossible. Since they sticking together doesn’t seem to be a bad thing for now, I decided to stay quiet.
We will part ways once we reach the village. And I won’t get involved.
Thinking that, I closed my eyes for a moment. I thought I’d take a short nap.
Maybe it’s because we’ve been camping and training for several days, but I fell asleep quickly.
How long had it been?
Wu Lian’s voice came from outside.
“Young Master, we can see our destination.”
We finally arrived at the village after seven weeks of leaving Shanxi.
*
I stretched my sore body and got out of the carriage.
Since we can reach the Tang family in about a day from here, we need to rest to recover from the journey.
I’d rather just pass through and rest when we arrive, but since the Tang family will send people to greet us, we need to present ourselves properly.
The formalities of a prestigious family are just so troublesome.
“There might not be any rooms.”
“We can find one quickly.”
It’s always inconvenient to find lodging in such situations.
Not only are we a large group, but this is a region where the name of a family doesn’t carry much weight.
Weixia, who was looking around, suddenly tugged on Nangong Bia’s collar, who was standing there blankly.
“Sister! There’s someone wearing the same clothes as you!”
“...Ah.”
Following Weixia’s words, both Nangong Bia and I looked in the direction she was pointing.
Unlike Nangong Bia’s dusty and torn martial uniform from her rough travels, the clean blue martial uniform and the name Nangong written at the bottom belonged to someone from the Nangong family.
They were clearly martial artists from the Nangong family, the most prestigious family representing the orthodox noble families of Anhui.
Just as we noticed them, they also noticed us and looked surprised.
Suddenly, someone ran towards Nangong Bia.
“Sister…!?”
A boy around my age.
Apart from his blunt personality, Nangong Bia, who looks so cold that no one would dare approach her, could have been a boy.
Nangong Bia slightly waved her hand at the sight of the boy.
“Hello… Tianzun.”
“Where did you disappear to, Sister?! Do you know how many people were looking for you?”
“Sorry… I got lost.”
Nangong Bia’s words made Nangong Tianzun cover his forehead with his hand.
“I told you to tie yourself with a rope and come, didn’t I?”
...A rope?
Tie a person with a rope like a dog…?
‘But for someone as directionally challenged as her, it might make sense…’
Nangong Bia replied.
“...That’s a bit embarrassing. No matter what.”
“Yes, so you disappeared within a day of starting the journey? You said you wouldn’t get lost this time, Sister.”
“...Sorry.”
Nangong Bia lowered her head at Nangong Tianzun’s cold words.
Only then did he notice us watching and quickly bowed.
“I am Nangong Tianzun of the Nangong family.”
Indeed, this boy is Leijian (Thunder Sword).
A boy who would later be known as one of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, the most outstanding figures in the current generation.
So, he’s probably….
“Gujia family’s Ouyang… Oujieye.”
I quickly changed my name, remembering what I had told Nangong Bia.
At my question, Nangong Tianzun’s face turned slightly red. It’s a bit annoying to see a handsome guy blush.
“...I am flattered to be called that.”
Though he was embarrassed, his tone was full of pride and confidence.
Wulong Sanfeng (Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes).
In the Central Plains, they are called the most outstanding eight people among the current generation.
Among them is my eldest sister, Jianfeng Ouxixian.
Nangong Tianzun, who is two years older than me.
I don’t remember clearly, but that’s probably the case.
Feeling a strange gaze, I looked to the side.
Weixia was staring at me with wide eyes.
Probably because I changed my name.
“...?”
I gave her a subtle sign to be quiet, with question marks floating above my head.
She seemed to get the hint and closed her mouth.
Nangong Tianzun asked me.
“So, you are from the Gu family. If I may ask, how did you end up traveling with my sister?”
She suddenly appeared with a horde of monsters and followed me, claiming she was lost.
“I just happened to meet her when she was lost and traveled with her for a while.”
I had to phrase it carefully.
Nangong Bia, who was listening, opened her eyes wide.
If only she had eaten some buns today, she might have kept her mouth shut.
But she finally spoke.
“No… we weren’t traveling together….”
“Nangong, it was nice meeting you. Be careful not to get lost next time.”
I didn’t let her finish.
Nangong Tianzun, watching this, smiled slightly and said.
“Thank you for taking care of my sister… Are you attending the Tang Pingzhanhui?”
“Yes, I am….”
As I confirmed, Nangong Bia flinched.
Was it because she said she wasn’t going to Sichuan? But what can I do, I didn’t want to go.
“Then, have you found a place to stay? We don’t have anything to offer, but the inn we’re staying at has many rooms. Since we are also heading to the Tang family for the Tang Pingzhanhui, why don’t you come with us?”
They seem to have rented the entire building. Nangong Tianzun smiled kindly and invited me.
‘...No, I don’t want to get involved with that crazy person.’
I had no intention of accepting. I didn’t want to get involved any further.
I could guess that Nangong Bia was heading to Sichuan for the Tang Pingzhanhui.
But why bring two blood relatives?
Both Leijian and Nangong Bia are direct descendants of the family head. Why did they come all the way here?
‘That doesn’t matter. I’m done here.’
I had a purpose, and I needed to part ways with Nangong Bia here. I’m sure we can find a place to stay.
Just then, Wu Lian approached me, having found a place to stay. I immediately declined Nangong Tianzun’s offer.
“Thank you, but we will find another place to stay….”
“Master… There are no vacant rooms around. Should we look for a valley to camp in…?”
“...I was going to, but since you insist, I’ll have to. Thank you, Nangong Xiaoxia.”
...Damn life.
*
I briefly thought about just sleeping in the carriage if we couldn’t find a place to stay.
But the servants who came with us would be a problem.
To be honest, this is partly an excuse, and the truth is that I’m also a bit tired of camping.
Nangong Tianzun disappeared with Nangong Bia after showing us to the inn.
Nangong Bia, who looked more dejected than usual after being scolded, seemed even more pitiful.
But it’s her karma, so I ignored it.
What puzzled me was their relationship.
At first glance, they don’t seem to have a bad sibling relationship.
Thinking of the Demon Sword Empress from my past life, I couldn’t help but wonder.
The first thing the Demon Sword Empress did as a demon was to lead hundreds of demons to wipe the Nangong family off the map.
She gained a notorious reputation by killing everyone, from the family head to the elders and even the servants.
What does this current scene mean?
I never had a proper conversation with Nangong Bia in my past life.
The same goes for the other demons.
We all became demons for our own purposes and crawled under the Heavenly Demon, without any sense of camaraderie.
Therefore, I don’t know Nangong Bia’s background, and I’m not particularly curious.
I was a bit tired, so I got up to rest in the room.
I had to go upstairs, so I started climbing the stairs, but Nangong Bia, who had gone up earlier, was coming down.
“...Ah.”
Nangong Bia, who met my eyes, bowed politely. I was quite surprised by this.
What’s going on? Ignoring my surprise, Nangong Bia spoke.
“Thank you for showing me the way. Gu Xiaoxia.”
“...You followed me unilaterally.”
“Thank you. I hope to see you again.”
No, I don’t want to see you again.
Nangong Bia, who looked more dejected than usual after being scolded, passed by me.
Just as I was about to go up, Nangong Tianzun was looking at me.
I wanted to thank him for the room and bowed again.
“Ah, Nangong Xiaoxia….”
But Nangong Tianzun, without listening to me, passed by, tapping my shoulder.
Tap!
Then, a voice came from a step below.
“...Know your place.”
Nangong Tianzun’s voice was different from the warm one earlier. It was much colder.
“I thought I could let it slide once, but you don’t know your place. Don’t you dare talk to my sister.”
I could even feel a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
“I’ll let it slide this time, but if I see this again, I’ll cut off your head immediately.”
Nangong Tianzun said this and followed Nangong Bia up the stairs.
Seeing this, I nodded rather than getting angry.
It was actually a relief.
‘...They’re all crazy bastards, after all.’
I thought he was a bit more normal, but I’ve never seen a normal person among the Nangong family in my past life.
It seems this one is no different.
At that moment, my resolve to never get involved with these crazy people became even stronger.