Chirp chirp.
Grrrr.
“Hehe, you little critters should get along!”
Seo Gong was engaged in a staring contest with the bear entity named Seok Woong by Ho Cheon-an.
From Seo Gong’s perspective, Seok Woong’s joining wasn’t all bad.
It was because Seok Woong’s joining marked the end of Ho Cheon-an’s food crisis. Seeing the huge Seok Woong satisfied with a tiny Inner Dan finally gave Ho Cheon-an an idea about the meal portion for entities.
However, it was incredibly inconvenient to travel together.
Seok Woong kept shoving Seo Gong aside, trying to monopolize Ho Cheon-an.
On the other hand, Seok Woong also found Seo Gong displeasing.
It was ludicrous that a mere mouse would try to match it!
How is it still crawling when I’ve left it with a mere mouthful?
Grrrrrr.
Seok Woong bared its teeth menacingly at Seo Gong. Seo Gong also stood his ground, tail stiffened.
Squeak!
What about we actually grow big and have a go?
“Hehe.”
Ho Cheon-an observed the growling entities and clasped his hands together. A colossal energy gathered in his palms that shocked even the carelessly roaring entities.
Rumble rumble rumble!!
With a thunderous boom, it unleashed all at once.
Boom!!
A cave was instantly created in the earth wall that Seo Gong, Seok Woong, and Ho Cheon-an were using as a windbreak. Both Seo Gong and Seok Woong, witnessing the destruction, widened their eyes in shock.
“Let’s get along peacefully.”
The two entities nodded frantically. If they misbehaved, they might get a hole that big in their bodies.
“Well then, now that we have a place to spend the night, let’s sleep together.”
Seo Gong and Seok Woong cuddled up without a word and fell asleep.
* *
Whoosh.
The martial artist’s lightness technique shattered the dawn’s silence.
If someone saw the lightness technique being executed by a female martial artist, they would have been unable to contain their admiration, regardless of age or gender.
Even after stepping on blades of grass, she didn’t drop a single dew droplet, showcasing extreme skills.
Someone knowledgeable about the martial world would have been shocked to see her face.
The best in the female martial world!
Sword Princess Seo I-ryeong!
Seo I-ryeong looked up to confirm the direction she was headed and executed her lightness technique once more.
She recalled the contents of the letter sent by the Martial Forest Alliance.
A catastrophe occurred where the Southern Blood Sect located in Yunnan was destroyed overnight.
Saying the Southern Blood Sect collapsed was truly an extraordinary event, unlike the remnants that could be ignored.
While the remnants that only possessed short-term entities could sneak in and harm Blood Persons with surprising success, the Southern Blood Sect was different.
They had numerous Blood Monsters.
Even though Blood Monsters might be weaker than other entities, their sheer numbers called for a stable force to take down the Southern Blood Sect.
It was commonly accepted that taking down a Blood Monster would require two or three Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists or about six Peak Experts.
Therefore, to take down all the Blood Monsters from the Southern Blood Sect, they’d need dozens of renowned martial artists from the Central Plains, which made the fact that the Southern Blood Sect was obliterated overnight all the more unbelievable.
Thieves or remnants caught up in the Southern Blood Sect’s affairs claimed that an old man named Black Rib single-handedly destroyed it, but no one believed them.
Some said he manipulated Gang-hwan with sorcery.
Others claimed he downed five Blood Monsters in mere days.
The witnesses were sharing unreliable and exaggerated tales that no one could trust.
Survivors’ accounts were so distorted and twisted that it seemed much more credible to assume they had fallen into some trap of necromancy.
The incident surrounding the Southern Blood Sect was indeed a major event in the current martial world, but the peculiarities didn’t stop there.
“The nearby True Blood Sect also collapsed.”
What survivors of the True Blood Sect reported to the Martial Forest Alliance maintained some level of realism.
An old man named Black Rib, who controlled mouse entities, was said to have stolen the bear entity using some kind of trick.
The problem was that if this realistic testimony were true, it could herald a new disaster for the martial world.
One person controlling multiple entities simultaneously.
If someone genuinely possessed such abilities, who in the world could stop them?
Thus, it was essential to verify whether the Black Rib existed as a real person, controlling two entities or potentially more.
If Black Rib was indeed obtaining the Blood Sect’s entities one by one, he would surely pay a visit to the Evil Mountain Blood Sect.
At that time, they could confirm his true identity.
‘If that Black Rib is an evil person…’
I would risk my life to eliminate him for the peace of the martial world.
Seo I-ryeong hardened her resolve as she took her position on a mountain peak overlooking the Evil Mountain Blood Sect, waiting for Black Rib.
Before long, Seo I-ryeong was about to witness the true identity of Black Rib.
Roooooar!!
Squeak!
A gigantic bear and an adequately large mouse appeared, smashing through the front gate of the Evil Mountain Blood Sect effortlessly.
‘Is that him?’
Since the day the Blood Sect stirred, Seo I-ryeong had continued battling against them, and the moment she confirmed the appearance of Black Rib, she let out a low groan.
Riding on an entity!
Since the Blood Ancestor riding the Black Serpent, no one had seen anyone else riding an entity!
While her astonishment continued, the Evil Mountain Blood Sect reacted accordingly.
Perhaps having heard the news from other Blood Sect remnants, a Deer Entity soon leaped forth.
Ignoring whatever was said by the leader of the Evil Mountain Blood Sect, it trotted over and rubbed its face against Ho Cheon-an’s hand.
[Come here. Let’s work together.]
Now even Ho Cheon-an had mastered the blood language.
“Unbelievable…”
Seeing that situation, Seo I-ryeong couldn’t help but mutter. While those currently controlling the entities were remnants of the Blood Sect, it remained unchanged that they had been the ones managing and protecting the entities until now.
Yet, how could they so easily steal entities away like that?
The remnants of the Evil Mountain Blood Sect that had their entity taken down were summarily dispatched. Ho Cheon-an’s hands moved swiftly, and the stones launched from those hands overwhelmed the Blood Persons, crushing their energy centers.
‘Expert…’
Seo I-ryeong gazed at Ho Cheon-an’s swiftly moving hands, feeling despair. Witnessing the hidden weapons effortlessly taking down numerous martial artists confirmed that he was not an easy opponent even without entities.
Yet at the same time, she saw hope in those hands.
Despite knowing it would be much easier to take lives, he made the effort to break their energy centers, proving he valued lives.
What should I do?
After deep contemplation, Seo I-ryeong reached her conclusion and dashed down the mountain to reveal herself before Ho Cheon-an.
Her conclusion was simple.
“I pay my respects. I am honored to be known as the Sword Princess of the Martial World, Seo I-ryeong.”
There was no way to take down someone like Ho Cheon-an normally when they controlled three entities.
So she had to find a way to stay by Ho Cheon-an’s side to either assassinate him or whatever else would work.
If he is a sage, she could ask for help to rectify the chaotic martial world; if he is an evil person, she could use every possible tactic to stop him from plunging the martial world into deeper chaos.
“It’s a pleasure. I am called Ho Cheon-an, this old man.”
Ho Cheon-an…
That name wasn’t in Seo I-ryeong’s memory.
However, if Ho Cheon-an had revealed that his alias was Brain Knife Outcast, Seo I-ryeong might have guessed his identity.
Ho Cheon-an, after defeating Jeong Cheol as Brain Knife Outcast, had vanished from the martial world entirely.
“Why are you here?”
“I came after hearing rumors about you, Elder. I believe your intention is to eliminate the remnants of the Blood Sect, so I wish to follow you to assist in that.”
“Hmm. Are you sure? After all, my companions are not ordinary individuals.”
Chirp!
Roooar.
Seo Gong and Seok Woong were each crying, while the Deer Entity quietly stared at Seo I-ryeong. Swallowing hard at the presence of the three entities, Seo I-ryeong expressed her determination by cupping her fists toward Ho Cheon-an.
“I will endure.”
“Hehe. How could I refuse the company of the esteemed Sword Princess in the martial world? I look forward to working with you.”
Thus began the peculiar journey of Sword Princess Seo I-ryeong and Ho Cheon-an.
* *
“As the day wanes, why don’t we take a rest here?”
“I will follow your wishes.”
After confirming Seo I-ryeong’s decision, Ho Cheon-an patted Seo Gong’s back.
“You little ones, let’s rest and then continue.”
As Ho Cheon-an made a campfire, Seo Gong and Seok Woong, already accustomed to camping with Ho Cheon-an, settled down comfortably, and the Deer Entity, after observing, found a suitable spot near Ho Cheon-an.
Ho Cheon-an retrieved a pot from the luggage strapped to Seo Gong’s back and asked Seo I-ryeong.
“Would you care to join me for a meal?”
Seo I-ryeong hesitated for a moment but then nodded. Although she had packed enough rations, it felt off to eat separately while traveling together.
“I would gratefully accept your offer.”
“If so, let me feed these little ones first and then we’ll eat.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s see… what should I give them today?”
Seo I-ryeong’s eyes widened in surprise when Ho Cheon-an casually opened his bag. A refreshing aroma spread as he rummaged through.
“This one looks good.”
Upon seeing the spirit herb in Ho Cheon-an’s hand, Seo I-ryeong was astounded.
Snow Ginseng!
Judging by its size, it seemed to be at least a hundred years old. If a martial artist took that, they wouldn’t feel a lack of internal energy unless they ascended to a considerable level.
And just like that, Ho Cheon-an threw the precious Snow Ginseng into the air. The trajectory of the spiraling herb led straight to Seo Gong’s mouth.
Chomp!
“Huh!”
Seo I-ryeong involuntarily gasped. How could he just throw that precious Snow Ginseng at an entity? Seo Gong, munching away at the Snow Ginseng, tilted its head in confusion, looking towards Seo I-ryeong.
“Let’s see… that guy’s a deer, so it should be given some grass, right?”
Seo I-ryeong swallowed hard again, staring at another spirit herb that was produced from the bag.
She didn’t know what kind of herb it was, but just seeing it emerge from the bag made her feel its refreshing essence, which seemed to sharpen her mind, suggesting it was perhaps superior to the Snow Ginseng.
The Deer Entity sniffed the spirit herb hanging right in front of its nose while looking cautiously at Ho Cheon-an.
Entities understood the value of spirit herbs better than anyone, so it questioned whether it was okay to eat such a precious item.
“It’s fine. Hehe, well, I won’t be able to give you this every day.”
Perhaps understanding Ho Cheon-an’s jest, the Deer Entity began chewing on the spirit herb.
“Huh!”
Another wave of shock erupted from Seo I-ryeong, but Ho Cheon-an pretended not to hear and looked at Seok Woong.
Grrr.
Seok Woong turned its head, signaling disinterest in the meal.
Ho Cheon-an nodded.
When there’s little to be done, he had stuffed Seo Gong, but looking back, entities had lived at least a hundred years, so they could take care of their own health.
Ho Cheon-an tightened the bag and casually tossed it back among the piles of luggage.
Gulp.
Seo I-ryeong looked at the casually placed bag and swallowed hard.
Surely… everything in that bag isn’t just spirit herbs or spiritual medicines?
It couldn’t be. Right?
While Seo I-ryeong could only guess the contents of the inside of the bag and groaned silently,
Sizzle!
Suddenly, a delicious sound and aroma wafted through the air.
Seo I-ryeong swallowed again, now for a different reason, looking towards Ho Cheon-an.
Sizzle!
On top of the pot held by Ho Cheon-an, the ingredients were dancing. The ingredients, drenched in oil, flashed alluringly when meeting the fire.
Ho Cheon-an skillfully shook the pot while frying the ingredients, simultaneously tossing in various powders and seasonings.
With each added ingredient and seasoning, Seo I-ryeong could faintly perceive the progressive deliciousness of Ho Cheon-an’s dish through her senses.
How could such a simple stir-fry using nothing but a rudimentary fire pit and a pot feel this intense!
“Dig in.”
“Th-thank you.”
As Seo I-ryeong took hold of the dish, she barely regained her composure and turned bright red. Her body was leaning forward, ready to devour the pot immediately.
Seo I-ryeong hastily put a bite of Ho Cheon-an’s dish into her mouth.
It was delicious!
The degree to which every ingredient was cooked was nothing short of perfect. The sweet ones were indeed sweet, and those that should have retained their bite were perfectly tender without losing their texture.
And that wasn’t all.
The way oil had seeped into each ingredient was exceptionally remarkable.
Bland ingredients received an added flavor from the seasoning, while robust ingredients were only coated just enough.
The seasoning and food complemented each other so harmoniously that even as she indulged in just one dish, Seo I-ryeong felt the joy akin to savoring an entire appetizer spread.
Truly, this was a culinary masterpiece!
The overwhelmingly delicious flavor wiped clean every single fine dish she had tasted before.
