Chapter 382: Plum Emperor Sword – Part 2
"You know, I've been thinking."
While Miaomiao had been meditating, circulating the newly acquired Dragon Metal Qi through his 108? meridians, he opened his eyes and looked at Nero.
"Can you teleport me back to Siren City now? I think I've mastered most of the things you taught me. If I can rest in my city and sleep for a day, my condition will be 100 times better than staying in this cave."
Miaomiao had been worrying sick about his wives and the city as Wei Yuan had been texting him, reporting the current ongoing siege battle and the results.
Just now, Wei Yuan had reported that Ding Bu and the unknown youth almost killed each other, but they got captured by the intimidating 9th-stage supreme archer.
Now that the city had lost the plot armor of an OP protagonist, Miaomiao could no longer sit still.
Nero glanced at Miaomiao and sat straight. Then, he closed his eyes, peeking at Siren City with his sense.
"I don't see the necessity of transferring you right now. The city is pretty much safe and secure."
"Safe? Are you sure?"
"I can see that your enemies are fighting among themselves. Let me eavesdrop on their conversation a bit. It's getting interesting…"
"… If possible, share me some info, please."
Nero grinned as he concentrated on listening to Yuan Shaoqing and Liu Xuande's conversation for a moment. Suddenly, he widened his eyes and stood up.
The dragon looked flustered as if he was nervous.
"Oh, never mind. We don't need to teleport you any time soon."
"What's wrong, master?"
"I sense an immortal coming down from a higher realm. He's heading directly to Siren City. Let's wait and see what he is planning to do."
"An immortal?"
…
= Siren City =
Kang Yan stood in front of the floating sword, innocently looking at it. She scratched her cheek, wondering what the sword was talking about.
"Your partner, who?"
'Don't play dumb! Are you Ling Tianlong's wife, hidden daughter, or his mother!?'
"Now, that's rude. I might not be a virgin, but I'm not a mother! Also, who the fuck is Ling Tianlong?"
'Huh?'
Plum Blossom Sword floated around Kang Yan, inspecting her. Curious by her strange compatibility, Kang Dongfan sent a strand of Life Qi to check her physique from the outside.
She was too strange. Her aura seemed familiar but odd at the same time.
'Girl.'
"What now?"
'What's your name?'
"Kang Yan."
'K-Kang what!?'
For the first time, the sword stuttered and faltered.
"Say, I've been wanting to ask you for a while. Are you somehow my relative? I don't remember having a family since I was born. I don't know if I happen to have a super-strong family somewhere or I might be an abandoned child."
'W-What!? T-Then, how old are you?'
"You're being rude. Well, I don't exactly remember my birthday, but I should be about 19 this year… maybe?"
'W-Was your birthplace somewhere around Mountain Goose City? Like… a small village with a crane statue?'
"Yeah. How did you know?"
'T-T-Then, how did you get that name?'
"A caretaker said that someone left a jade pendant on me with my name on it when I was a baby."
'…'
"HEY! You haven't answered my questions yet!"
Plum Emperor Sword faltered and floated backward as if it was shocked. After regaining his bearing, he floated closer to Kang Yan to check her again.
This time, it abruptly sliced the tip of her index finger to draw her blood, after which he extracted a drop of blood to the blade.
For several minutes, Kang Dongfang hovered in silence, sending all his Qi to the drop of blood.
Everyone in Siren City managed to catch their breath and evacuated nearby beastmen and non-combat monks away, leaving only Fogan, Ju Shoufen, and Jia Wenhe behind to assist Kang Yan.
Just like that, Kang Yan became Siren City's last hope as she was the only one who might be able to tame this sword.
After patiently waiting for 30 minutes, Kang Dongfang finally stopped inspecting the drop of blood.
'I'll be damn… Is this my karma? Is this my punishment for my sins?'
"What's wrong?"
'N-Nothing. Say, child. Are you interested in sword arts?'
"Of course! I've been practicing my sword skills every day! There was never a day I slacked!"
'I see… How about your… cultivation technique. Are you satisfied with your current progress? Do you have any problem during your cultivation?'
"To be honest, I find my techniques lackluster. My cultivation base has been staying at the 5th-stage for several months now, but I can't get the right inspiration or source of power to form two or three more advanced element crystals. I need at least three advanced element continents in my dantian before I can solidify one dao. You see, I have already come up with three daos that I want to nurture. That means I need at least three advanced element crystals and element continents to support the core pillars."
'… Wow.'
Kang Dongfang was astounded by the thorough preparation and foundation that Kang Yan had been building. She was so talented, unlike him when he was a mortal.
'Umm, child.'
"Yes?"
'Do you happen to have a soul-bound weapon or a heaven-grade weapon yet?'
"No. But actually, there are many weapons that my husband has transferred to the armory. I haven't checked them yet since I was too busy training."
'Really!? You haven't gotten one?'
Kang Dongfang flew around Kang Yan in delight. The threatening aura from the sword was long gone. Instead, he emitted the sweet scent of plum flowers in the air, reflecting his elated feeling.
'Child, do you want to form a pact with me? If you give me your Blood Essence, I'll teach you everything I know! My cultivation technique, my sword techniques, my dao comprehension, my knowledge, my Soul Qi, and Soul Essence will be yours! I'll give you everything, and I shall make you the strongest sword master of the God Realm! Even Kunwu and Samsara will be jealous of your sword dao!'
Kang Yan frowned as she found the sword suspicious, "But my husband said my blood essence is precious. I can't give it to a stranger, especially a sketchy talking weapon I don't know."
'You can trust me! Our encounter is fated! Please, form a pact with me! I'll break the pact with Ling Tianlong and take care of the backlashes. Just… let me be your soul-bound weapon, so I can continue protecting you and making up for the past mistakes!'
For some reason, Kang Dongfang's voice seemed sad and anxious.
The sorrowful voice of this soul troubled Kang Yan. She didn't want to talk with him anymore, so her expression distorted.
Kang Dongfang could read her mind like a book. Yet, it persisted in stalking her.
'Please! Child, let me be your soul-bound weapon. Let me atone for my sin!'
"What did you do?"
'I-I-I can't tell.'
"If you can't even tell me, how the hell would I know?! How can I trust you if you are keeping secrets?"
'B-But I just want to be by your side! Please believe in me!'
"No. You harmed my friends and my family. You helped our enemy attacking our peaceful town. We don't want you here."
'…'
Despite being chased away, Kang Dongfang didn't give up. However, he couldn't come up with the right words to persuade Kang Yan.
…
Meanwhile, Ju Shoufen sensed something amiss with Kang Yan's one-sided talk. She consulted with her daughter's soul in her fan.
"Hu'er, can you hear what that sword is saying?"
'Actually, I can hear it loud and clear.'
"What are they talking about?"
'I think… the soul of that sword is Kang Yan's relative, precisely her father or grandfather. He might have abandoned her when she was born, and he is regretting it now.'
"Hoh?"
Ju Shoufen smirked as she started to get a general idea of what had transpired here, "Is that guy under a curse or a restriction by karma? Sun Crow always taught me to be wary of my karma and avoid harming innocent people since it can come back and haunt me when I become a dao god. Did he mention something like that?"
'He DID slip that he is cursed and is related to some kind of karmic punishment. I think you're right.'
"Hohoh?"
Ju Shoufen rubbed her hands and took a sip of spring water, getting ready to confront the immortal-grade sword, aka a former dao god, who was cursed by his sins.
"Little Yan," Ju Shoufen patted the girl's back.
"Ah, Elder Sister Shoufen. Are you alright? I saw you getting blasted by this evil sword!"
Ju Shoufen bitterly smiled and glanced at hovering Plum Emperor Sword, who seemed dejected by the remark.
"I think you should listen to the sword and give it a chance."
Hearing that this loli, who acted like Kang Yan's elder sister, encouraged the girl to listen to him, Kang Dongfang was delighted. It instinctively manifested a few plum flowers, showing its bright mood.
"But I don't want to. This stupid sword harmed us, but now, it wants to steal my precious blood essence to form a pact with it. I don't trust this talking sword!"
The plum flowers withered. Kang Dongfang sulked again.
Ju Shoufen faintly smiled and held Kang Yan's hands, "We're alright. No one has died. Yan'er, don't forget that we're blessed with Miaomiao's spring water and his hard-working effort. He always taught us to treasure people's feelings, especially our family members. So… give him a chance, okay?"
Ju Shoufen chose a roundabout way to hint at Kang Yan so that she could reconcile with the spirit within the sword.
The loli was already aware that the spirit might be Kang Yan's relative or her parent. Yet, she respected Kang Dongfang's decision by not disclosing his status to the girl.
Still, the hint should be enough for Kang Yan to figure it out.
Kang Dongfang slightly waved the sword, nodding at Ju Shoufen. He tried to convince his precious girl once more.
'I swear by my dao oath that I will never harm you, your friends, your family, or anyone that you cherish. Please… believe in me… Yan'er.'
Kang Dongfang made a blunder by caller Kang Yan with the ['er] suffix. Normally, only family members or seniors could call her [Yan'er].
Kang Yan frowned, not liking the sword. Yet, her instinct cried that she should believe in Kang Dongfang.
"Okay. I'll believe in you for once. Now, tell me. Who are you exactly!? Why are you trying to be so nice to me without asking anything in return?"
Kang Dongfang sounded like he was about to cry, 'I'm so sorry, Yan'er. I can't tell you what had happened to me or what our relationship is. But I promise you. Once my curse is lifted, I'll reveal everything.'
"Fine. I'll extract my blood essence. Oh, make sure you cancel whatever your relationship with our enemy. I don't like that guy… what's his name? Ling Tianlong?"
'Ah, I shall cancel the pact with Ling Tianlong immediately! Stand back, child. I'm going to get punished for violating my oath. It's gonna hurt, and it might harm people near me.'
"…"
…
= Unknown Dimension =
While Zhou Gongjin had been floating in the unknown dimension, he had a dream. He dreamed about the events in his previous life when he had confronted Ling Tianlong and his allies.
Although Ling Tianlong was arrogant, self-centered, and rude, he had many subordinates and friends. When Gan Ning and others had launched an ambush and managed to injure Ling Tianlong, the latter's friends always showed up to save him.
Zhou Gongjin dreamed of a certain red-haired girl, who always accompanied his nemesis.
She was rumored to be Ling Tianlong's woman!
One day, Zhou Gongjin managed to capture the girl. He and Huang Gongfu interrogated her to extract the information about Ling Tianlong and her background.
"I heard you were a remnant of Poseidon Spa House of Xu Clan. Why are you working with Ling Tianlong? His friend, Xie Tian, is the one who destroyed your sect and killed your friends."
The red-haired girl laughed, mocking Zhou Gongjin, "You know nothing. Even if you know, you can't change my mind. Now, kill me!"
Zhou Gongjin was confused about how this red-haired girl, Kang Yan, was so obstinate in following Ling Tianlong around.
"We're not going to kill you. Instead, we want to free you from whatever Ling Tianlong and Xie Tian have used on you. You see, we're here to save you. It's Ling Tianlong and Xie Tian who are your true enemy."
"As I said! You know nothing! Xie Tian rescued me from those evil women, and Ling Tianlong is my father's savior! Why should I work with you to harm my benefactors!?"
It was a pity that he had failed to convince her as her bond with Ling Tianlong was too strong. After all, her sword techniques, Plum Blossom Sword, resembled Ling Tianlong's techniques as if she had the same mentor. She could have been useful had she imparted her swordsmanship to them.
That day, Zhou Gongjin and Huang Gongfu failed to extract valuable information other than her vague relationship with her father, whom Ling Tianlong had saved.
As they had no use for the girl anymore, they transferred Kang Yan to Wu Guotai, planning to let Sun Wentai's wife be the one to execute the girlfriend of their nemesis, avenging for Sun Wentai.
The dream abruptly ended as Zhou Gongjin didn't know what had happened to Kang Yan afterward. However, the Jiangdong White Tiger Sect was besieged the day after by Ling Tianlong, and Sun Bofu was killed on the same day.
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