The outside of the pyramid was unchanged—silent stone and shifting light.
Then, as before, the pyramid flared alive. A beam of gold burst from its peak and struck the arena floor with a thunderous impact, dust and smoke curling into the air.
When the haze cleared, a tall man stepped out, his coat whipping lightly in the wind and a great black sword resting across his back.
Dracule Mihawk—Yun Che's alter ego—had returned.
"That was tempting," he muttered to himself, brushing a bit of dust from his sleeve. "Shame I couldn't bring her with me."
The formation had reverted him to Mihawk's guise the instant he was ejected from the pyramid—his presence still needed to match the one who had entered. Jasmine's soul had hidden itself again, the system correcting the interference from Xuyi's ancient spells.
He scanned the arena. Everything was exactly as before: the collapsed stones, the silent air—and Chu Yueli, lying near the pedestal where he had left her.
The pedestal was dim now, its runes fading like dying embers. The tomb's purpose was complete.
Mihawk sighed, crouched beside her, and kindled a small bonfire with a flick of flame from his fingertips. "You earned a rest," he said quietly, more to himself than to her.
================
Two hours later
A soft groan broke the silence. "Hnnnn…"
Chu Yueli stirred, her silver-brown hair spilling across her shoulder as she pushed herself upright. Her violet eyes blinked open, hazy with fatigue.
"Where… am I?"
The last thing she remembered was the battle above—the elder's crushing power, the flash of light—and then nothing.
"You're awake."
Her head turned. The swordsman sat by the fire, his golden eyes gleaming in the glow. The same calm, unreadable man who had pulled her from death's edge. His enormous sword leaned against the faded pedestal beside him.
"Mihawk…" she breathed, half-relieved, half-uneasy.
He gave a small nod. "Don't move too quickly. You burned through most of your strength back there. I had to intervene before you hurt yourself."
"Intervene…?" she echoed blankly.
"You were out of control," he said, still in that cool, level tone. "Took quite a bit of energy to calm you down."
The meaning of his words twisted somewhere between her confusion and imagination. Her face went bright red.
Calm me down? Energy?
Her thoughts spun wild. Wait—what does that mean?! Did I—did he—?!
She clutched her cloak tightly around her shoulders, eyes wide, the heat in her cheeks nearly matching the fire. No way… I would've noticed! Wouldn't I? Then again—why can't I remember anything?
Mihawk raised an eyebrow. "What are you flustered about?"
"N-Nothing!" she blurted, voice jumping an octave higher than usual. She turned away, pretending to warm her hands by the fire while silently wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
Chu Yueli's heart was a storm of confusion and embarrassment. He's so calm, she thought, stealing glances at the stoic swordsman sitting by the fire. Even after… after that?!
He hadn't run. He hadn't stammered or panicked like a guilty man. Instead, he sat there, brewing tea like nothing happened. In her mind, that could only mean one thing—he had accepted responsibility for his actions.
Her face turned crimson. Then he's really prepared to shoulder it?
Gathering all the courage she had left, Chu Yueli pressed her hands together, turned toward him, and stammered,
"Did we… um… are you intending to take responsibility for making me like this?"
Yun Che froze mid-pour, his hand hovering above the teapot.
Responsibility?
For a few long seconds, the words didn't register. Then they did—and his mind nearly short-circuited.
"What are you talking about?" he said, finally setting the pot down. "You were possessed by some kind of spirit in this place. You attacked me out of nowhere, so I knocked you out before you hurt yourself. You've been unconscious since then."
Her eyes widened. "Eh?"
She blinked rapidly, her entire thought process grinding to a halt. Slowly—very slowly—her realization dawned. She discreetly checked herself, then covered her face in mortified silence.
Oh heavens… I imagined the whole thing?!
Her shoulders slumped. So I attacked him and he just—blocked me? Effortlessly?
A strange, traitorous feeling crept up her chest. Why do I feel disappointed?
Her mind screamed at itself, WHY AM I DISAPPOINTED?!
Across the fire, Yun Che sighed quietly. He could practically hear the mental chaos brewing behind that blushing face. What in the world is she thinking about now?
To ease the awkward silence, he picked up the tray beside him. "Here. Tea."
Chu Yueli blinked as a cup was placed in her hands. "T–Thank you…"
He poured his own and leaned back against a stone pillar. "I made some food too while waiting. You should eat something. You lost a lot of energy."
She took a cautious sip of the tea—and froze.
The aroma was delicate yet rich. The taste—smooth, calming, slightly floral—was unlike anything she'd ever had.
"This…" she murmured, eyes widening. "This tea is incredible."
"I never knew you had these spectacular skills," Chu Yueli said, still half-incredulous as she set down her cup.
"It's just basic necessity," Yun Che replied with a faint shrug. "When you've lived long enough on your own, you learn to cook or starve. I did what I had to do."
"I see…" she murmured.
For some reason, his simple answer struck deeper than she expected. A man like him, she thought, so composed, so impossibly strong… and yet he worries whether someone else has eaten.
Her eyes softened. A ruthless swordsman with a caring hand — it was a contrast she hadn't thought possible.
And as that thought lingered, another followed quietly, unbidden: He'd make a perfect husband.
She froze mid-sip.What in the world am I thinking?
Heat rose to her face. She turned away, pretending to adjust her robes, but the flutter in her chest refused to settle. Then, as quickly as it came, her mood dimmed — the image of her disciple and the man she'd once torn apart flashing through her mind.
I don't deserve to think like this, she told herself. Not after what I did. After what I took from them.
Her expression faltered.
"You went quiet all of a sudden," Yun Che said, noticing her stillness.
"Eh—no… it's nothing," she stammered, forcing a smile. "Just… some thoughts."
"I see," he said simply, then reached into his coat. "Anyway. I have something for you."
"For me?"
He held out a small porcelain bottle — its seal marked with the faint glow of a golden rune. "Medicine. Pills to stabilize your profound veins. Your strength jumped too fast after the fight, and if you don't balance it now, you might not be able to break through again later."
"My strength?" she repeated, confused.
"Check it," he said, taking another sip of tea.
Chu Yueli closed her eyes and sent her consciousness inward, tracing the flow of profound energy through her meridians. For a few moments, she felt nothing unusual — then the current deepened, expanded, roared.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Peak… peak of the Emperor Profound Realm?!?" she gasped. Her pulse quickened. "How—how could this be?"
Her mind reeled. Just days ago she had barely touched the threshold of the Tyrant Profound Realm. Now her power felt like a surging ocean. Even elder sister… even the mother… I've surpassed them all.
This kind of leap should have taken decades — generations even. And yet here she stood, trembling, her aura brighter than ever.
She sat there, stunned, lost in the revelation, until—
Snap. Snap.
Two fingers clicked in front of her face.
"Oi," Yun Che said, brow arched. "You done calculating yet?"
She blinked rapidly, snapping back to reality. "I—I… how did you—?!"
He smirked, the faintest edge of amusement tugging at his lips. "Trade secret. Let's just say, I had to undo the mess that old man left behind in your veins. You were on the verge of burning your core out. I stabilized it, redirected the overflow, and… well." He gestured casually toward her. "Here we are."
"You make it sound so simple," she muttered, still dazed.
"For me, it was," he said. "For anyone else, you'd be ashes right now."
Chu Yueli didn't know whether to feel scolded or grateful. In the end, all she could do was bow her head slightly. "Thank you… Mihawk."
He waved her off. "Save the gratitude. Just promise me you won't swing your sword at strangers possessed by artifacts again."
Her lips quirked despite herself. "I'll… try."
"Good."
For a long moment, neither spoke. The fire crackled softly between them, its light dancing across their faces — hers filled with quiet wonder, his calm and unreadable as ever.
Then Yun Che rose, brushing the dust from his coat. "Rest while you can. We'll head below soon. The Moon Empress's vault won't open itself."
Chu Yueli looked up at him, her heart still unsteady. A man like him really is beyond comprehension, she thought, watching his silhouette against the firelight. But perhaps… that's exactly why I can't look away.
"Mihawk… how did…"
"The spirit inside the arena tampered with your body," he said evenly. "It forcefully drew in the surrounding energy and condensed it into your profound core. That's why your strength jumped straight to the Emperor Profound Realm. But when I knocked you out, the spirit left you, and I destroyed it."
He paused, watching her eyes widen slightly before continuing. "The problem was, it left traces of that tampering in your meridians. So, I had to stabilize them. The pills I gave you are 'Stabilization Pills.' You may have the strength of an Emperor, but your profound veins are still structured like someone at the peak of the Sky Profound Realm. You're strong—but your foundation isn't balanced yet. Compared to your sister, who's trained to harmonize her energy for months, you're still unfamiliar with your own power."
Chu Yueli listened in silence, every word sinking deep. What he said made perfect sense. She could feel the power surging inside her, but it felt wild—untamed, like a beast straining against its leash.
"The pill," he added, "will widen your meridians, harden your core, and let you use your strength properly. Otherwise, this so-called breakthrough would cripple your future growth."
Her breath hitched as she realized what that meant. He… gave me something priceless, she thought, looking at the small porcelain bottle in her hands.
And more than that—the man before her had noticed everything wrong with her cultivation and corrected it without hesitation.
Her eyes flicked back to him, still calm, still collected. He knocked me out, treated me, stabilized my energy, and even made tea? Just who exactly is he?
"Mihawk," she finally said softly, "can I ask a question?"
He looked up from the fire. "Hm?"
"Just who are you?"
He exhaled quietly, leaning back against the stone. "Someone who's learned enough to survive. That's all. Is it wrong to help a friend in need?"
"Friend…" she repeated under her breath, her lips curling into a faint smile. "I see."
Her gaze lingered on him. "Still, to have knocked me out when I was that strong… you must've used some profound suppressing treasure. No one should be able to do that barehanded."
His golden eyes met hers, sharp and unflinching. "Do you really want to know?"
Her heartbeat quickened. "If… if you don't mind telling me."
He let the silence stretch for a few seconds before answering. "My strength right now is still at the Peak of the Sky Profound Realm. The selection didn't lie."
She blinked, utterly confused. "That's… impossible. You can't—"
"But," he interrupted smoothly, "if I fight seriously, my power reaches the peak of the Mortal Realm itself."
The words hit her like thunder.
Her mind went blank for a moment. She stared, her lips parting slightly. "Y-You mean… you can fight on par with a Monarch?"
He gave a single nod, unbothered. "Roughly. Give or take a few mountains."
She didn't even know how to respond. Her thoughts were in chaos. A man at the Sky Profound Realm… fighting like a Monarch? The gap between those realms was supposed to be insurmountable. And yet he said it so casually, as if it were just another fact of life.
Her pulse raced as she studied him again—the relaxed posture, the calm tone, the quiet confidence that radiated more threat than any unleashed aura.
So this is what true power feels like, she thought, awe creeping into her voice.
"…You're unbelievable," she whispered.
"I get that a lot," he replied dryly, reaching for the teapot again.
For a while, there was only silence—the soft crackle of the fire, the scent of tea in the air, and the unspoken realization that the man before her was far beyond anything she had ever imagined.
No wonder he could toy with the elders like children, tear apart that colossal beast, slice through devastating techniques—and even split the very heavens themselves.
Chu Yueli's thoughts trembled. He wasn't even serious during that tournament…
Before she could gather herself, Mihawk's calm voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Knowing this is already more than most should. I trust you can keep it a secret."
Then he looked up—those sharp golden eyes locking onto hers, glowing faintly in the firelight.
It was like being caught in the gaze of a predator that had no need to hunt. Her breath hitched. "O–of course… I can… keep it… I can even… s–swear an oath if you want."
He chuckled softly. "There's no need to go that far. It doesn't matter to me. I was only kidding."
Yueli blinked. A joke…? For a man who could slice mountains in half and face Monarchs without breaking stride, to joke at a time like this… she didn't know whether to laugh or faint.
When he straightened, Yoru vanished from the pedestal and reappeared across his back in a flicker of light. That effortless movement alone told her how deep his power ran.
"Come," he said, adjusting his coat. "I found the treasure vault. It'd be a waste to leave it behind."
"Treasure vault?" she asked, rising quickly. "You haven't explored it yet?"
He shook his head, a faint smile touching his lips. "No. I was waiting for you."
Her heart fluttered despite herself. He waited… for me?
"I only took a few things earlier," he continued, then turned toward her, lifting his left hand. "Also—raise your hand for me."
She obeyed instinctively. "Ah—hnn…"
The next moment, warmth flooded her arm. His Spirit Force surged through her body like liquid sunlight, weaving into her meridians, unlocking gates she didn't know existed. She could feel it—every blocked entrance opening, every dormant vein awakening with gentle precision.
Then came a pulse deep within her chest—soft, divine, and endless.
Her breath caught. "This is…"
"The Heavenly God Spiritual Veins," he said matter-of-factly. "Consider it a gift—for accompanying me this far."
She could only stare at him. He just… gave me this? Something so rare that entire sects would go to war for a chance at it—handed to her as casually as one might offer tea.
Her mind raced back to her sister's words—the mysterious senior who once appeared out of nowhere to grant her the same gift. The similarities were uncanny.
"Mihawk…" she whispered. "Are you… the senior my sister mentioned?"
He met her gaze quietly, then gave a small shake of his head. "Yueli, this world is much larger than it seems. Do you really think I'm the only one who knows such methods? There are countless others—hidden far beyond what this continent has ever seen."
His tone was calm, but his eyes carried that distant, knowing gleam—the kind of look that said he'd walked places she couldn't imagine.
"I… see." Her voice was soft, almost trembling. "Then, you're my fortuitous encounter after all. Thank you… thank you so much."
Yueli's eyes lingered on him — not with reverence, but with warmth. The cold disciple of Frozen Cloud had melted. Whatever it was she felt stirring in her chest, she could no longer deny it.This wasn't mere admiration. It was something deeper — frighteningly so.
For years she'd been taught that attachment was weakness, that warmth clouded the clarity of one's heart. But right now, that warmth was her clarity. It made her feel alive.
Her pulse quickened. So this is what it means… to be human again.
"It's nothing," Mihawk said, turning away. "Just return to your sister — and cherish her forever. That's all the thanks I need."
The tone was calm, almost detached. But behind it, she sensed something else — the faintest shadow of someone who had long since accepted loneliness as his companion.
"Let's go."
He started toward the edge of the arena, each footstep echoing faintly against the ancient stone.
Yueli watched him for a moment longer before exhaling slowly. Her heart still raced, and yet a small, peaceful smile touched her lips.
So this is him… she thought. The man who can heal, teach, and destroy with equal ease. A blade without arrogance. A storm with a gentle heart.
She turned her focus inward and swallowed the pill he had given her. A ripple of profound energy coursed through her body — slow at first, then steady and warm. Her breathing adjusted to the rhythm of her veins, every pulse aligning perfectly with the subtle hum of new power blooming within.
==================
Yun Che prowled across the cracked arena floor, eyes narrowing as he ran his hand along the stone. The only hint Xuyi had left was a single line: "It lies beneath the arena." But she never said how to reach it.
He sighed, crouching low. "Underneath the arena, huh? That narrows it down to the entire ground."
"So, find anything?"
Jasmine's voice came from behind him—clear, teasing, and fresh. Yun Che turned to see her standing there in a short-skirted kimono, her sandals clicking lightly against the stone. Even in her soul form, she looked as if she'd just stepped out of a summer festival.
"New outfit?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Smells like you bathed in cherry blossoms."
She flicked her sleeve with faint pride. "Even a soul can appreciate cleanliness. Now answer the question."
He scratched his head, chuckling. "Nothing yet. I kind of… forgot to ask her how to open it."
Jasmine stared at him, deadpan. "…You spent hours talking to the Moon Empress, but forgot to ask where the door is?"
Yun Che gave her an awkward grin. "In my defense, she was glowing and emotional, okay?"
"Unbelievable," she muttered, rubbing her temples.
"Anyway," he said quickly, straightening up, "Eagle Vision's not going to help us much—wait…"
He paused, suddenly smirking at his own realization.
"What?" Jasmine asked suspiciously.
"Eagle Vision doesn't just highlight enemies—it shows intent. Traces of the creator's will embedded into objects. If Xuyi built a vault, she would've left her intent somewhere to protect it."
Jasmine blinked, then smiled faintly. "So basically, we're looking for a ghost's fingerprints?"
"Exactly."
Without another word, he activated his Eagle Vision. The world around him shifted—color fading to muted greys and silvers, with faint streaks of golden light marking pathways of hidden energy. The arena glowed with scattered residual intents, but one shimmer immediately drew his attention.
"There…" He pointed toward the massive pedestal at the center. "Underneath."
Jasmine followed his gaze, activating her own vision. "You're kidding… she hid the mechanism under the pedestal? That's devious even by your standards."
"Xuyi really didn't want visitors," Yun Che murmured, crouching beside the base. He pressed his palm against the faintly glowing sigil hidden just behind the stone crest. "Let's see what happens when we knock."
The moment his energy pulsed through the mark, a deep click echoed through the arena. Then another. And another.
A chain reaction rippled through the stone.
Across the platform, runes flared to life one by one, spinning like gears in an ancient clockwork. Even Chu Yueli, who was still seated in meditation a short distance away, jolted awake as the floor rumbled beneath her.
"What's happening?!" she cried, leaping to her feet just as cracks raced across the arena's surface.
"Relax," Yun Che called out. "You're just in time for the grand reveal."
The arena split apart with a thunderous grind, leaving only a small circular platform around the pedestal. The rest of the floor folded away like opening petals, revealing a dark chasm yawning beneath them.
Chu Yueli immediately darted to his side, grabbing the edge of the pedestal for balance. "You found it?! The treasure vault?"
He grinned. "Kind of. It was under my nose the whole time."
The platform shuddered once, then began to sink smoothly into the abyss below, stone and light intertwining as ancient machinery awakened for the first time in a thousand years.
Jasmine looked down, her kimono fluttering in the rising updraft. "An elevator. The Moon Empress built an elevator."
Yun Che smirked. "When it comes to the Isu, ancient tech is just Tuesday."
Slowly, the world above faded into darkness as the circular lift carried them down. Light crystals embedded along the shaft began to glow.
Chu Yueli stared in awe.
As the platform descended deeper, the air grew colder, tinged with faint traces of moonlight energy.
Then, with a final echoing thud, they reached the bottom.
Before them stood a vast corridor lined with ancient statues—each one a reflection of Huan Xuyi in different eras of her life. At the far end, a sealed gate of silver-blue crystal pulsed faintly, as though waiting for someone's touch.
Yun Che's lips curved into a calm, determined smile. "Looks like we found her vault."
The smell of old, sealed air burst out as the massive doorway parted. A wave of dust rolled through the chamber, followed by a faint, cold breeze that carried the scent of metal, age, and moonlight.
Then—one by one—the ancient Isu linings embedded across the walls flickered to life, tracing intricate paths of gold and silver light that illuminated the vast hall.
When the chamber finally revealed itself, even Jasmine paused midair.
Weapons of every shape and origin gleamed under the resurrected light—halberds, glaives, and swords forged from metals unknown to this era. Racks of ornate armor, lined with crystals that pulsed faintly with dormant power, stood like silent sentinels. Between them, mountains of profound coins glimmered like stars, and scrolls filled with long-forgotten arts rested within transparent cases.
Each artifact hummed faintly, whispering the echoes of a thousand battles and countless hands that once wielded them.
Chu Yueli stepped forward, eyes wide, her breath caught between awe and disbelief.
"Incredible… So many profound treasures," she murmured. "If the whole continent saw this room, they'd tear each other apart for even a handful."
She turned slowly, overwhelmed by the scale of it all. "These… these could raise sects, empires—no, entire dynasties."
Jasmine gave a small, unimpressed huff, her crimson eyes darting lazily across the room. "Hmph. All of these are trash. The Realm of the Gods overflows with weapons that make these look like garden tools."
And with that, she drifted off, inspecting shelves out of idle curiosity.
Yun Che, on the other hand, simply stood still—his hands tucked into his coat pockets, gaze calm.
To anyone else, this chamber would've been paradise. But to him, it was just a relic of another age.
He could see the patterns, the structure, the old Isu design embedded into some of the metalwork. None of it mattered. With Vibramantium infusion, he could craft equipment beyond anything in this vault. Even his simplest creations could eclipse these so-called treasures.
He scanned the room slowly, his spiritual sense extending like a tide. Vibramantium… that's what I'm here for. Xuyi had mentioned a shard she retrieved—a meteor fragment. If he could find it, it might hold the purest material this world had ever seen.
As he walked, his boots echoed lightly on the polished stone floor. Chu Yueli trailed behind, her steps hesitant, her expression… quiet.
Yun Che finally spoke, his tone even. "Anything interest you?"
She looked up at him, blinking once before her gaze swept over the rows of treasures again.
If it were before—before the fight, before the near-death, before seeing him face the impossible—her eyes would have gleamed with greed like any cultivator's. But now, everything felt different.
She gazed at the endless racks, then at her own hands. "No… actually," she said softly, "all I want is to get out of here."
Yun Che raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"I thought treasures were what mattered," she continued. "But when I was fighting that spirit… I realized how meaningless they are. I already had something precious once. But I threw it away chasing strength."
Her tone softened, tinged with guilt. "Now, I just want to go back… and find it again."
"Your sister. Isn't it?"
"Hnnn, part of it actually." Chu Yueli's lips curved faintly. "Moreover, you gave me something much more than a treasure — my life. You saved me twice, helped me stabilize my cultivation, and brought me to a level I never dreamed of. Isn't that enough for me to feel grateful?"
Her tone was calm, but the light in her eyes was unmistakable — genuine warmth, a rare sight for someone from Frozen Cloud.
Yun Che glanced at her, faintly smiling. This Chu Yueli's nothing like the one I remember reading about, he thought. Looks like even a cold heart can thaw when it brushes death.
"You really are something," he said aloud. "At least take something from this place. It'd be a waste to leave empty-handed."
"I'll… try to find something suitable." She nodded, then followed his stride deeper into the glowing vault.
Their footsteps echoed softly across the pristine floor. The walls hummed faintly as if aware of their presence.
Then —
==============
[Ding… System scan complete.]
==============
Yun Che blinked as the familiar notification chimed in his mind.
==============
[Detected: 435 Rare Items, 4 Legendary Items, and 1 Cursed Item. Recommendation: Collect all cultivation resources for duplication into System Shop.]
===============
He smirked. "Well, more candy for the girls. Maybe something to help Little Fairy's next breakthrough — and the others too." His eyes drifted across the chamber. "But four legendary items and a cursed one, huh? Sounds interesting."
================
[Ding… Clarification: Rare items are equivalent to Tyrant Profound rank artifacts. To mortals, these are priceless treasures. To the system, they are 'rare' tier.]
"Just 'rare'?" He sighed. "No wonder Jasmine called them trash."
================
[System ranking follows this structure: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Legendary, Unique, Immortal, Divine, and Celestial Tier.]
=================
"Right, straight out of every RPG ever made," he muttered dryly. "So these so-called priceless treasures are basically loot drops."
=================
[Affirmative. However, the Legendary-tier items once belonged to the Moon Empress. They carry residual energy of a Monarch-level cultivator.]
=================
He raised an eyebrow. "Her personal gear, huh? Not bad."
=================
[Host's weapon 'Yoru' was also forged from the Legendary-class item 'Dragon Fault.' It has since evolved into a Unique-class weapon.]
=================
"So, Yoru's Unique-tier…" He smirked. "What about my other Zanpakutōs?"
=================
[Zanpakutō are classified as Celestial-Spirit items — highest among all weapon tiers. Each one possesses an independent consciousness born of a Shinigami's soul.]
=================
He let out a soft chuckle. "Well, no shit. Even gods fear them. Good to know I've got a few of those lying around."
His gaze swept across the rows of relics again. Legendary or not, most of this stuff will just end up as raw material.
But the mention of legendary armaments sparked another idea — one that carried his thoughts to the women waiting for him.
Cang Yue… when she fully masters the Mirror of the Moon technique, she'll need something that can channel its energy perfectly. A blade wouldn't suit her style… something graceful, fluid — like the moon itself.
Then another image surfaced in his mind — Mio, still weaponless but overflowing with potential.
She'll need something unique too. Maybe a staff, or dual chakrams. Something divine, elegant… but deadly.
With the Blueprint Mode unlocked, he could reconstruct any design from memory — and forge it with the materials here. His lips curved into a faint, thoughtful grin.
Following the system's guidance, Yun Che made his way toward the weapon section of the vault. Rows upon rows of blades lined the walls, gleaming faintly under the pale Isu light. Swords, halberds, hammers, and spears—each one radiated a proud aura of power that would've driven any sect master to madness.
But Yun Che's gaze remained flat.
To him, they were relics—just artifacts of an age long past. The system had already classified them as "rare" items. To mortals, these were priceless. To the system, they were nothing but ordinary loot.
Chu Yueli followed him silently, her eyes unable to stop drinking in the brilliance of the collection. Every weapon felt alive, humming faintly as if longing to be wielded again. Yet the man in front of her… didn't even flinch. He passed by halberds that could split mountains, ignored a spear that glowed with the essence of lightning, and dismissed an armor rack adorned with shimmering scales that could repel Monarchs' attacks.
What kind of person looks at all this and feels nothing? she thought, bewildered.
He didn't even glance back. "If these were the best she had, then she was being humble," Yun Che muttered under his breath. "Xuyi must've taken half the continent's armories before she settled down here."
He trailed his hand along one of the racks, dust rising under his fingers. "She must've been a monster back then."
She was, Yueli thought silently. The realization sent a chill through her.
Then the system chimed in.
================
[Ding… System scan complete. Legendary items detected at the far end of the weapon vault.]
================
Yun Che followed the guidance, stepping past glittering weapons that would've been holy relics to anyone else. The further he went, the less polished the shelves became, until he arrived at the very end—a dim corner where the light barely reached.
What he found there stopped him for a moment.
Three old swords lay half-buried beneath a layer of dust. No shine, no aura, no divine glow. Just three weathered relics that looked like they'd seen too many wars and too few hands.
He picked one up. The blade was chipped, the hilt missing entirely. It looked so frail it might snap if swung too hard.
The second sword was darker—its blade carved from an almost obsidian-like material. It felt heavier, colder, like holding a piece of night itself.
The third was massive and rusted, its edge dulled by time but still radiating a strange pressure, as if daring anyone unworthy to touch it.
"…A set of old swords?" Yun Che muttered, brow twitching.
=================
[Ding… Affirmative. These swords once belonged to the Moon Empress, Huan Xuyi. Forged personally by her using the knowledge she gained from the Apple of Eden, they were among the first Isu-forged hybrid weapons on the Profound Sky Continent.]
[Despite deterioration, the structure remains intact. The swords can serve as base materials to forge a Unique-class weapon. They contain residual design code linked to Isu energy manipulation.]
==================
Yun Che gave them a few experimental swings. The weight and balance were off, but the feeling was… familiar. The blades hummed faintly to his touch. Even broken, they responded like sleeping beasts stirring after centuries of slumber.
"Heh. Not bad, old girl," he murmured under his breath. "You had taste."
Each sword felt distinct—one light as a feather, one heavy with power, one perfectly balanced between both. Speed, control, and destruction. She forged a trinity.
Ideas clicked into place. He could already see it: new blueprints forming in his mind, three weapons reborn from these relics. For Cang Yue's lunar grace, Mio's divine ferocity… and perhaps one for himself.
"The base structure's good," he murmured, examining the Isu engravings faintly etched beneath the rust. "Durable, responsive, even after all this time."
He stowed the trio into his inventory with a flick of his wrist. "Yeah. These will do nicely."
Chu Yueli, who had been watching him quietly, finally spoke. "Mihawk… you chose those swords as your treasures?"
Her voice was a mix of confusion and disbelief. Out of all the magnificent weapons here, he had chosen three corroded relics that any sect disciple would've discarded without a second thought.
Yun Che looked over his shoulder, expression calm as ever. "I'm a craftsman," he said simply. "These blades might look worthless, but their cores are purer than anything in this room. With the right hands, they can become something greater."
He turned slightly, eyes half-lidded. "A weapon's worth isn't decided by its shine, but by the will behind it."
Yueli froze, his words cutting deeper than she expected. For a moment, she thought he wasn't just talking about swords.
"I see…" she whispered.
But inside, her thoughts raced. He can tell quality at a glance. He can forge weapons stronger than anything in this vault… no wonder his sword is said to split the heavens themselves.
Her eyes softened. What kind of man are you, Mihawk…?
Yun Che's gaze lingered on the empty rack where the swords had rested. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Rest well, Xuyi," he murmured. "Your legacy won't rust anymore."
"Do you find any swords to your liking? "His voice, calm but edged with quiet curiosity, pulled Yueli from her thoughts.
She turned, startled, then shook her head with a faint, regretful smile. "Ah… no. All of these swords are too tempting. If I took even one outside, the entire continent would start fighting over it. Besides," she sighed softly, "they might be treasures, but none of them feel… right."
Her words were true. The racks around them gleamed with the weapons of giants—greatswords and halberds larger than her body, war-axes, glaives, twin-blades. Beautiful, yes, but too heavy, too violent, too distant from her graceful fighting style.
Yun Che studied her for a moment. "Then," he said casually, "why don't I craft something for you?"
"Eh?" Yueli blinked, completely taken off guard. "You… would make a weapon for me?"
He shrugged lightly. "You lost your sword, didn't you? And none of these are suitable for you. It'd be a waste to leave you empty-handed. It'll just take some time."
Her heart stuttered. "I—I couldn't possibly trouble you like that—"
"It's fine." His tone left no room for argument.
"…Then," she said softly, her face blooming with color, "I'll be waiting."
The simple words held more meaning than she realized. A weapon forged for her, by him—it didn't matter if it was common or divine. To her, it would be priceless, because it carried his intent.
Yun Che turned away before she saw the small smirk on his face. "Women," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in amusement.
Leaving her to her flustered thoughts, he headed deeper into the vault. The system's faint hum guided him again—not to weapons this time, but to armor.
==================
[Ding… Target: Legendary-rank defensive artifact detected.]
==================
He ignored the shining suits of armor that radiated profound light and instead walked to a quiet corner where a single folded robe lay untouched atop a pedestal.
It looked ordinary.
Old silk, faintly worn. A soft cream color that had faded over centuries.
He reached out, brushing his fingers across the fabric. It felt like any other robe—light, delicate, fragile.
"…You've got to be kidding me." He frowned. "Did the system just prank me again?"
But the moment he let a thread of Radiant Saint Force flow through his fingertips, the robe came alive.
Isu markings flared across its surface in lines of gold and silver light, spreading like veins of energy through the silk. The fabric shimmered—half cloth, half luminous circuitry. The design itself shifted subtly, forming patterns of moonlight and starlight, as if the garment remembered the touch of its maker.
Yun Che let out a low whistle. "Holy hell… this really is a legendary item."
=====================
[Ding… Identified: The Moon Empress's Celestial Raiment. Designed for energy synchronization with the Apple of Eden. Function: Auto-repair, energy conduction, and defense absorption. Status: Dormant.]
=====================
He folded the robe carefully and stored it in his inventory. "So even her clothes were divine tech. No wonder she called herself the Moon Empress."
Behind him, Chu Yueli watched quietly. He'd chosen—of all things—a simple robe over the radiant armors that could've made empires kneel.
He really doesn't care about appearances, she thought, warmth flooding her chest again. He just… knows.
By the time he finished, his mind was already turning over plans. The old swords would serve as the base for the blades he intended for Cang Yue and Mio. This robe's materials might help him craft a defensive outfit for the girls—or even serve as inspiration for Qingyue's next cultivation attire.
If Little Fairy finds out I made something for the others first, he mused wryly, she'll nag me to death.
Just as he was cataloging materials in his mind, a familiar voice drifted beside him.
"So, find anything?"
Jasmine appeared, her crimson hair glinting faintly under the light. She crossed her arms, studying the vault with detached curiosity.
"I found something worth taking," he said, not bothering to elaborate.
She raised an eyebrow. "You? Finding something worthwhile among all this trash?"
"Kind of," he replied, lips curling faintly. "I can't give Cang Yue or Mio my Zanpakutōs. But I can forge weapons worthy of them. Mio's still weaponless, Retsu keeps her blade sealed unless necessary, and Cang Yue…" He trailed off, remembering her old, chipped sword. "She deserves something better."
Jasmine tilted her head, her voice softening slightly. "So you're forging weapons for your women now?"
"Someone's got to do it," he said with a smirk. "And I can't think of a better craftsman than me."
Her eyes glinted with amusement. "At least your arrogance is consistent."
He chuckled. "You love it."
She rolled her eyes. "Hardly."
Still, the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her words.
"Oh? Why the sudden interest in crafting swords?" Jasmine asked, her tone light but curious.
"Well, Xuyi left something behind for Cang Yue," Yun Che said, turning the Apple's faint golden reflection in his palm. "And I've got special arts prepared for her to cultivate. The system got an upgrade feature from the Apple—so why not make use of it?"
"Upgrade?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "It has another feature now?"
"Yeah." He smirked faintly. "Blueprint mode. I can recreate anything from my previous worlds—modern weapons, armor, even tech. The system builds a schematic for me, and I just need the right materials to forge it."
Jasmine groaned softly, rubbing her temple. "I've run out of energy to be surprised by you. Typical. Of course the Apple gave you another godlike toy."
He chuckled. "Basically, I can build whatever I want. The only catch is… finding materials good enough to match the blueprint."
"Hmph." She crossed her arms. "Knowing you, that's the fun part."
"Exactly." He grinned. "Anyway, what about you? Find anything that caught your eye?"
"If you mean this pile of garbage," she said dryly, glancing over the treasures lining the walls, "no. But there is one thing I'm curious about. It's over there, in the materials section."
Yun Che's expression sharpened slightly. "Then you must mean the item the system mentioned. I was heading that way too."
"Item?" Jasmine tilted her head. "Whatever it is, it's radiating killing intent. Like something alive."
The two made their way to the far end of the vault, where shelves rose like walls stacked with minerals, ingots, and unrefined ores. The smell of old metal filled the air—a blend of rust, dust, and something faintly electric.
If a blacksmith saw this place, they'd probably drop dead from joy.
Yun Che's eyes went wide, a grin spreading across his face. "Damn… look at all this!"
Jasmine frowned, watching him light up like a kid in a candy store. "It's just metal."
"'Just metal'? Are you kidding me, toots?" He pointed excitedly. "There's cobalt, iron—wait, is that chromium?—and over there, aluminum! And—holy hell—is that tungsten?! She even stockpiled alloys! I wonder if celerium exists in this world?"
Jasmine raised both hands. "Stop! I don't understand a single word you just said. Just… say it's rare metal and move on."
He laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Fine. In short? These are treasures for a craftsman. Maybe I'll use them to make weapons for fun. Or—ooh—Qingyue could use a new one too…"
Jasmine sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Focus, idiot. You can drool over your toys later. We're here for that cursed item."
"Right, right…" He cleared his throat, tone dropping as he composed himself. "According to the system, it's nearby. But it's not just any cursed item—it's got traces of… bloodlust."
"Bloodlust, huh?" Jasmine murmured, her eyes narrowing. "That explains it. I could feel it from here. It's faint, but old—older than Xuyi herself."
They followed the pulsing, oppressive aura deeper into the section, until they reached a corner where the air felt heavy.
There, sitting on a low pedestal beside a chunk of dark-blue metal, was a small red orb—no larger than a man's fist. It pulsed faintly, like a heart trying to remember how to beat.
The light was dim, but the air around it… burned.
Yun Che's eyes narrowed. "That's the one."
He could feel it even without the system's prompt—an instinctive, primal sense that whatever this thing was, it wasn't meant to exist.
Beside it, resting in a sealed containment case, was the object he'd been searching for since he entered the vault: a black-gold ore streaked with living light. The Vibramantium meteorite—untouched, unrefined, and humming with potential.
But his focus stayed on the red orb.
It wasn't merely glowing—it was bleeding.
A faint, crimson mist curled from its surface, dissipating in the air like evaporating blood. The moment Yun Che stepped closer, the hair on his neck stood on end.
Chu Yueli followed behind him silently, her footsteps light against the stone floor. But the moment her eyes fell upon the orb resting on the pedestal, something inside her twisted.
A surge of killing intent—hot, wild, uncontrollable—rose in her chest like a wave. Her breath quickened, and for a terrifying heartbeat, her hand reached instinctively toward her sword.
What… what is this urge?
But then—she took one step closer to Mihawk.
And the bloodlust vanished.
Like mist before sunlight, the madness drained from her, replaced by an uncanny calm. She stared at his back, eyes widening in quiet disbelief. He's… suppressing it just by standing there.
"What in the world is that?" she asked softly, curiosity and fear warring in her tone.
Before he could answer, the system's voice echoed in Yun Che's mind.
============
[Ding…. Host has discovered: The Orb of Bloodlust.]
[Description: A cursed relic born of sacrifice and slaughter. During the Moon Empress's reign, a dark sect used it to trade blood for power. The orb amplifies strength in exchange for life essence, spreading chaos wherever it exists. Huan Xuyi annihilated the sect and sealed the orb within her vault.]
[Status: Cursed.]
[Note: Host may use the orb as a forging core for weapon creation.]
===============
Yun Che tilted his head slightly, the faint reflection of the orb's glow flickering in his golden eyes. "Well… looks like we found our 'cursed treasure.'"
Jasmine circled around it, arms crossed, her soul form shimmering faintly against the red light. "This is it? I expected something… grander. It doesn't even feel half as sinister as Retsu when she's annoyed."
"Hnn." Yun Che smirked faintly. "The system says I can use it as a base for forging a sword. And I think I already know which one…"
He paused mid-thought as Yueli's voice, soft and melodic, broke the silence.
"Mihawk? What is that thing, truly?"
He turned the orb slightly, its crimson surface reflecting her eyes. "The Orb of Bloodlust," he said simply. "It trades power for blood. The more you kill, the stronger you become. That's why the Moon Empress locked it away—too dangerous for anyone to touch."
"Heavens…" Yueli whispered. "Such a thing should not exist."
"Treasure?" he scoffed. "No. It's a parasite. It feeds on the weak and tempts the strong. I'd call it a curse, not a gift."
She nodded quickly. "Then we should seal it again. If it ever reaches the outside world, the slaughter it causes will never end. I can feel its pull even now."
"You felt it because you stood apart," Yun Che said calmly, examining the orb. "But you noticed it stopped when you came closer to me."
She blinked, realizing it only now. "You… negated it?"
"It's just bloodlust." His tone was casual—almost amused. "I've lived with worse."
He extended his hand, lifting the orb from its pedestal. It throbbed in his grip, radiating waves of invisible pressure, as if testing him—like a predator baring its fangs.
Yun Che's eyes gleamed. "Trying to bite me, huh?"
Then he grinned, a sharp glint of challenge flashing across his face. "Let's see what happens if I bite back."
Without warning, he released a fraction of his own killing intent.
A dense, suffocating pressure filled the chamber. The air trembled. The Orb of Bloodlust began to vibrate violently in his palm, spinning faster and faster until it broke free of his grasp.
"Mihawk—!" Yueli shouted, stepping back instinctively.
"Stay calm." His voice was unshaken.
The orb floated midair, trembling violently.
Bzzzt… bzzzt… bzzzt…
The entire chamber flickered with crimson light before—
BOOM.
A muffled explosion rocked the vault, a burst of scarlet mist expanding outward before quickly dissipating.
When the smoke cleared, the orb hovered back down, falling gently into Yun Che's hand.
It was no longer red.
The once-glowing surface had turned a dark, glassy black—like obsidian polished under moonlight. And the bloodlust that once radiated from it was gone.
Completely gone.
The room was silent. Too silent.
Even Jasmine—who had seen divine wars—stared with mild disbelief.
=========
"Did I just break it?"
Jasmine folded her arms, hovering near the now-quiet orb. "What did you do, exactly?"
"I don't know," Yun Che said, tilting his head. "I poured a little of my bloodlust into it, and the thing just… went quiet."
"Maybe it got scared." Jasmine shrugged. "Your killing intent's thicker than Retsu's. I'd be terrified too."
"So," he said dryly, "it tried to dominate me, but I scared the living hell out of it instead? Makes sense."
The orb, now dark and still, rested harmlessly in his palm. Chu Yueli came closer, her expression caught between curiosity and disbelief. "This is the cursed treasure? But… the moment you touched it, the aura disappeared. It's as if it surrendered."
Yun Che turned the orb slightly, watching its dull surface reflect the vault's light. "Maybe it did. Either way, I'm keeping it. Good material for forging."
He stored it in his inventory with a casual flick of his wrist.
Turning to the shelves of metal surrounding them, he asked, "You don't mind if I keep all this?"
Chu Yueli blinked, momentarily distracted by his tone — so matter-of-fact, as if asking permission to pick wildflowers rather than seize a king's ransom. "Hnnn, feel free. These materials are too conspicuous. If I bring them back, my sect would drown me in questions. It's better you take them."
"Understood."
He raised his hand, and a swirling black vortex bloomed above his palm — silent, smooth, and impossibly deep.
In an instant, the shelves emptied. Every metal, ore, and ingot — including the chunk of Vibramantium meteorite — vanished into the singularity. Not even dust remained.
The entire process took seconds.
Chu Yueli could only gape, her lips parting slightly. "That… that was…"
"Convenient," he said simply, brushing off his hands as if he'd merely packed a lunch.
Jasmine sighed, utterly unimpressed.
"Ahh… hnnn…" Yueli nodded hastily, choosing silence over further bewilderment. At this point, she wasn't even sure if he had limits. No wonder he didn't wear spatial rings — he didn't need them.
They moved on.
The resource section stretched before them like a garden of treasures — rows of herbs, glowing crystals, and jars of refined essence. Chu Yueli couldn't help but slow her pace, her senses overwhelmed by the dense, rich aura in the air.
But Yun Che… looked bored.
He walked past ancient pills that could make sect masters kneel, and rare elixirs that could restore crippled veins — barely glancing at them. Occasionally, he picked one of each, storing them with detached precision.
To Yueli, it looked absurd. "You're not taking all of them?" she finally asked.
He shook his head. "The system can duplicate samples and add them to the shop. No point hoarding them. Besides," he said, flicking a jade bottle aside, "these are full of impurities."
Yueli blinked, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
She examined a pill she'd just taken — one of the finest her sect would kill to possess — and realized it paled in comparison to the ones he'd casually brewed for her earlier. He can appraise them without even touching them…
The thought slipped out before she could stop herself. "Mihawk… are you an alchemist?"
"Hnn. Why?"
Her eyes widened. "So you're a cultivator, a craftsman, and an alchemist? Even our sect's elders can't do that. You can identify pills just by looking at them!"
He smiled faintly, shrugging. "Basic survival skill."
"Basic—?" She almost choked.
The deeper they went, the quieter Chu Yueli became.
She had long accepted that Mihawk was the strongest swordsman in the empire. But now, after everything she had seen… the way he bent cursed treasures to silence, devoured vaults whole, and created artifacts that defied logic… she swallowed hard and came to a humbling conclusion.
This man wasn't just the strongest in the empire. He was the Strongest Swordsman in the World.
And though the realization should have frightened her — it didn't. Instead, it filled her heart with something warm, something she hadn't felt in years: admiration.
They passed rows of profound coins, dusty scrolls, and forbidden techniques without a second glance. Yun Che ignored them entirely; he already possessed resources that made these trinkets irrelevant. Chu Yueli didn't care for them either. The Seven Fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard each had their own stores of cultivation treasures — and besides, her journey here had already given her more than she ever imagined.
When they finally reached the end of the vault, the corridor opened into a smaller hexagonal chamber. It was unlike the others — more refined, humming faintly with energy. Isu linings etched the walls in symmetrical spirals, glowing softly with bluish-white light. The atmosphere reminded Yun Che of an ancient vault beneath a holy city from his old world — serene, otherworldly, timeless.
And there it was: the final teleportation formation.
The runic circle was faint, almost invisible to the naked eye, but his heightened senses saw it clearly — a web of golden sigils intertwined in the floor, dormant but waiting. Xuyi's last safeguard. Only one person could use this formation; the other would be sent back to the surface.
Yun Che stopped just before stepping in, his gaze sweeping across the chamber. Something tugged at his conscience. He looked back at the vault — now dim and silent, holding the last remnants of Huan Xuyi's life's work.
He couldn't just leave it to fade into dust.
"...No," he murmured. "This isn't how it ends."
Chu Yueli blinked as he lifted his hand. A familiar hum filled the air — low, resonant, impossible to describe.
Then, a swirling black void opened above his palm.
In an instant, every last weapon, armor, scroll, and resource in the chamber was pulled into the black hole. The treasures that had once glittered like stars were gone, devoured by darkness, leaving the chamber pristine and bare — as if time itself had wiped it clean.
The void collapsed silently, and in its place, a small, flower-shaped ring floated in the air. It looked old, simple, and harmless — nothing like the limitless spatial ring it truly was.
Yun Che caught it gently, turning it between his fingers. A faint smile curved his lips."Well," he said to himself, "one ring to rule them all… sort of."
From somewhere unseen, Jasmine's voice whispered in amusement. "You just had to say that."
He ignored her teasing and turned toward Chu Yueli.
"Yueli," he said softly, taking her hand before she could react. His touch was warm — startlingly gentle for a man so feared.
"Eh—?" she gasped, frozen as he slid the ring onto her finger.
"Keep it," he said. "I have no use for those treasures. But it'd be a shame to let them rot here forever."
Her lips parted slightly. "M-Mihawk, this is… too much. If anyone ever found out I had something like this, they'd hunt me across the continent. My Asgard, my sister—everyone I know would be in danger."
"Relax." His voice was calm, reassuring. "Only you and I can access it. Even if someone steals it, they won't be able to open or destroy it. You can keep it, or hide it somewhere safe. It's your choice."
Chu Yueli looked down at the ring resting on her hand. Despite its simplicity, it felt impossibly heavy — not from power, but meaning.
She could feel the warmth of his intent in it — a gesture of trust, of gratitude, of something deeper she couldn't quite name.
"…You trust me with this?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling just enough for him to hear.
Yun Che's gaze softened. "I wouldn't give it to you otherwise."
Her heart skipped. Words caught in her throat — so she just smiled faintly, a soft and genuine one that she hadn't worn in years.
Behind Yun Che, unseen, Jasmine crossed her arms with a small smirk. "Hmph. Giving rings to women again, are we? You're really consistent."
Yun Che's lips twitched slightly, though he didn't answer. Instead, he turned toward the teleportation formation, golden eyes reflecting its glow.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
Chu Yueli nodded, still staring at the ring — unaware that, to him, that small act had already marked her as someone precious.
A single tear slipped from Chu Yueli's eyes before she even realized it.
She quickly wiped it away, shaking her hand as if denying it ever happened, but the motion drew Yun Che's attention. He tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes narrowing in quiet curiosity.
"I… Mihawk…" Her voice trembled. "Why are you so kind to me? You even trust me with this—" she raised her hand, showing the ring glinting faintly under the Isu light, "—this mountain of treasure.
"I'm just someone who crossed your path. You saved me from death, elevated my cultivation, gave me the chance to stand beside my sister again, gifted me resources I could never repay, and now…" Her voice cracked, eyes glistening. "Now you're willing to craft a weapon just for me—and hand me everything in this vault.
"Why?" Her breath hitched. "Why would you do all of that for someone like me? I'm… a nobody to you."
He looked at her for a long moment. To him, those acts weren't anything special — they were just the natural choices of someone who could do what was right. But to her, they were everything.
He sighed inwardly, rubbing the back of his neck before answering in his usual, maddeningly calm tone.
"Giggle… You're interesting," he said simply. "And I took a liking to you."
"E-ehh??" Her entire body froze. That same response. Twice now. The same teasing, simple line — and yet, hearing it again made her heartbeat stumble. He did all of that… because he likes me?
Her mind spiraled at the thought, her face turning crimson.
But Yun Che continued, his voice dropping to a gentler tone — almost warm. "Who knows what kind of person you really are? You came into this tomb not for wealth or glory, but to find a way to fight beside your sister. Even when death stared you in the face, you didn't give up.
"You had every reason to be greedy, yet your eyes never wavered. You knew your limits — and still, you chose to step forward. Anyone with that kind of resolve… is worthy of my help."
His words echoed in the quiet chamber, steady and sincere.
Inside his head, the other voice — the cheekier one — grinned wide. Heh… yours truly really is one smooth-ass motherf—
"Hmph." Jasmine's unseen voice cut in dryly from the air. "Look at you and your silver tongue. I'm sure the real Mihawk never sounded like that."
Yun Che smirked faintly but didn't respond.
Chu Yueli's heart fluttered so wildly it almost hurt. She wanted to speak — to thank him, to say something, anything — but the words tangled on her tongue. The heat in her cheeks refused to fade.
She lowered her head, clutching the spatial ring in her hand as if it were a lifeline. The faint warmth it carried — his warmth — made her chest tighten.
Her thoughts were a blur. Why does it feel so different when he looks at me like that? Why do I feel… safe?
She shouldn't. Feelings like these were forbidden in her sect.
And yet, as she stood there beside him — surrounded by the fading light of a thousand-year legacy — she realized she didn't care.
If defying her sect's law meant keeping this feeling just a little longer…
Then maybe, just this once, she was willing to be selfish.
"I think it's about time I give you this."
Yun Che lifted his hand, and in a flash of blue light, a sword materialized — long, slender, and breathtakingly beautiful.
This was no ordinary sword.
The blade gleamed faintly under the Isu light, the upper half a sleek, obsidian black while the lower half shimmered silver-white. Its hilt was wrapped in deep azure, decorated with an intricate five-petaled flower pattern that glowed faintly as if alive. The sheath mirrored the same artistry — half rough and dark blue, half smooth and white, streaked with delicate flowery engravings.
Chu Yueli's breath caught. The weapon radiated elegance and lethal precision in equal measure — beautiful and deadly, like the wind itself.
"This is one of the famous Meitō from my homeland," Yun Che said, his voice steady but carrying the faint pride of a craftsman. "I reforged it into a stronger form — fit for your use. You've lost your sword, so… think of this as a replacement."
"Meitō…?" She repeated softly, tasting the foreign word.
"It means 'Named Sword' in your language," he explained with a faint smile. "Each one carries its own legend — and this one, I've named Tachikaze."
"Tachikaze…" She whispered the name, unfamiliar yet melodic. "What does it mean?"
He looked at her, golden eyes glinting. "Severing Wind."
The name alone made her shiver. It was simple… yet it embodied her perfectly. Swift, graceful, and untouchable.
"Take care of it," he said, extending the sword toward her, the blade glinting faintly between them.
Chu Yueli's hands trembled as she reached out. When her fingers brushed the sheath, a pulse of profound energy surged through her — clean, sharp, and pure. The moment she grasped the sword fully, the world seemed to quiet around her.
It was light — impossibly light — yet she could feel the endless strength sleeping within.
Her heart swelled. He gave me… this?
She looked down at the weapon in her arms — a treasure from a faraway world, reforged by the strongest swordsman she had ever known — and her chest tightened. Gratitude, disbelief, and something deeper all welled up at once.
She wanted to speak, but her throat constricted. Instead, she hugged the sword close, her voice soft as silk."Thank you… thank you…"
Her tone was tender, almost trembling — a quiet vow wrapped in gratitude.
Unseen behind them, Jasmine folded her arms with a small huff. "Hmph. To think you'd hand over one of your prized swords so casually. You really do trust her."
Yun Che only smiled faintly. "Like I said… she's not greedy, not ambitious. Everything she did here was for her sister, not herself. She reminds me of Little Fairy. She deserves something like this."
He glanced at the katana, admiring its craftsmanship one last time. "Though, powerful as it may be, it's just a Grade Sword."
"Grade sword?" Jasmine arched a brow.
"In my world, they're called Wazamono. Powerful weapons by mortal standards," he said, tone calm and instructional. "But no matter how fine, they'll never match the might of a Zanpakutō. A Wazamono is mortal steel… a Zanpakutō is divine will."
He paused for a beat, then smiled faintly. "I'll tell you more about them later. For now…"
He turned back to Chu Yueli.
Before she could react, he reached out and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. The warmth of his touch startled her — enough that her breath hitched.
She looked up at him, her violet eyes wide, shimmering under the vault's fading light. Her blush deepened, spreading across her cheeks like the first bloom of dawn.
The air between them grew still — the kind of stillness that spoke louder than words.
For a long, quiet heartbeat, neither moved.
Then Yun Che smiled softly — the faint, almost imperceptible smile that carried more sincerity than any vow.
"Use it well, Yueli."
She swallowed, clutching Tachikaze closer to her chest. "I will…" she whispered, her voice trembling — not from fear, but from emotion.
In her heart, she silently added the words she didn't dare say aloud.
And I'll treasure the man who gave it to me, too.
Instead of doing what she expected—perhaps stepping into the formation with her, or saying something dramatic—Yun Che did something simple.
Something utterly human.
Push.
His hand pressed lightly against her shoulder.
Caught off guard, Chu Yueli stumbled forward, her balance slipping for the first time in years. She never let her guard down—not for anyone—but she had the moment it came to him.
Before she could even recover her footing, her step landed squarely inside the invisible circle etched into the floor.
The runes ignited instantly.
Brilliant golden light spiraled upward, forming a barrier around her, locking her inside.
"M-Mihawk?!" Her voice quivered as she turned toward him, bewildered. "What—what did you—?"
The air trembled. The chamber groaned. Cracks split across the ancient stone walls as the entire vault began to quake violently, dust raining down from above. The once-silent hall of the Moon Empress was now roaring with its own impending demise.
And amidst the chaos, Yun Che stood calm and steady beyond the glowing wall of the formation, watching her with those unshakable golden eyes.
"The formation only allows one person through," he said evenly, his voice almost drowned out by the rumbling. "Once it activates, this entire place collapses. You'll be teleported far from Gao Ling City… somewhere safe."
Her heart sank.
"No… no!" Chu Yueli slammed her palms against the barrier. Sparks flew, but the barrier didn't so much as ripple. She poured her strength into it—her profound energy, her new power, her soul—but the formation didn't even acknowledge her struggle.
"Why… why me?!" she cried, voice breaking. "Why couldn't it be you?"
He smiled faintly, though his eyes softened with something she'd never seen before — sorrow.
"If I'd told you," he said quietly, "you would never have stepped inside."
He took a slow breath as another thunderous crack split the ceiling behind him. "You still have someone waiting for you. Your sister is probably searching for you right now. You should go back to her."
"Mihawk, no…! We can fight together! Escape together!"
He shook his head once, calm and resolute.
"It's either you or me," he said simply. "And I've chosen you."
A long pause. Dust and stone rained around him, the light from the runes reflecting faintly in his eyes.
"The path of a Great Swordsman," he said with quiet pride, "is never obscured by the shadows of the weak. I'll survive. I always do."
Her tears streamed freely now. Her voice trembled so hard it barely carried over the sound of collapsing stone.
"Mihawk… please! Don't do this! We—we could—"
He smiled then. Not cold. Not distant. But gentle — the kind of smile meant to be remembered.
"Yueli," he said softly, "the time we shared in this tomb was brief… but it was enough. Take care of Tachikaze. It'll listen to your heart better than it ever would mine. And if fate allows…"
He raised two fingers in a casual salute — his silhouette framed by the collapsing vault.
"…till our paths cross again."
Her scream tore through the air.
"MIHAWK!!!"
The formation's light burst upward, swallowing her in a blinding flash.
Her vision dissolved — his figure the last thing she saw, still standing tall as the world crumbled around him.
Then, in an instant, she was gone.
The light faded. The chamber fell silent for a brief heartbeat… before a second array flared to life beneath Yun Che's feet.
The rumbling of the collapsing vault echoed in the distance. Dust drifted through the fading golden light as Yun Che stood at the edge of the teleportation formation, hands casually resting behind his head like he hadn't just risked his life for someone else.
Jasmine materialized beside him, her crimson aura soft but her tone sharp. She crossed her arms, one brow arching.
"Smooth… real smooth," she muttered, shaking her head. "You really have a talent for talking your way into women's hearts, don't you?"
Yun Che smirked faintly, his eyes still on the fading light where Chu Yueli had vanished. "Hey, it was either me or her. Besides, I've got Retsu and the others waiting for me up top — not to mention a mountain of experience points waiting to be devoured. I'm not about to get teleported halfway across the empire just to start over."
Jasmine rolled her eyes so hard it was audible. "Be that as it may, do you even realize what you just did? You practically threw yourself into a collapsing deathtrap for her. You know — the same kind of self-sacrifice that got you killed last time."
He tilted his head slightly, lips curling into a lazy grin. "Maybe. But between me and her? Better she walked out alive. It was the right call."
"'The right call,'" Jasmine echoed dryly, floating around him. "You really don't understand women, do you?"
Yun Che chuckled, not even bothering to defend himself. "Probably not. One of my many flaws."
She gave an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Flaw? More like a curse. You do something noble, and suddenly—bam—another woman's heart belongs to you. Do you even realize you just forged another lifelong bond without noticing?"
He blinked once, as if that hadn't even occurred to him."Well," he said with a small shrug, "doing the right thing tends to have side effects."
"Side effects," Jasmine muttered under her breath, staring at him like he was an incurable idiot. "One day, all those 'side effects' are going to show up on your doorstep, and I'll just sit back and laugh."
"Maybe soon," he said, stepping toward the glowing array. "Maybe never."
He looked up at the collapsing vault one last time — at the crumbling stone, the fading light of the Isu runes, and the silent emptiness left behind by Huan Xuyi's legacy.
"This place… it's done its part," he said quietly. "Best to let it rest."
Jasmine hovered beside him, her expression softening just slightly. "You really can't help but shoulder everything, can you?"
He smiled, calm and sure, his voice low as the formation began to hum beneath his feet."Guess that's what being me means."
As Jasmine's form flickered and faded, retreating into his inner realm, Yun Che gave one last glance at the dying vault.
Then, with a steady step, he entered the teleportation light.
The formation surged, swallowing his silhouette whole.
Behind him, the vault of the Moon Empress finally collapsed — a thousand years of history vanishing into silence, leaving nothing but dust and echoes.