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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: 38th Lower Five Gates Leader (2)
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If I had to describe your death, what words should I choose?
"You passed while still holding onto your beauty."
Or perhaps, "You closed your eyes with a smile in your final moments."
Before reuniting with you, I agonized over such thoughts for a long time.
The moment a blade pierced your beautiful chest—the heart that had raced for me, the pulse that seemed it would echo through our lives forever—and I had to witness it with my own eyes.
Your death was nothing more than a loss to me.
What did it matter that you whispered words of love with a smiling face even as death loomed before you?
I could never cherish your death as something beautiful.
It was undoubtedly a memory I wanted to forget, one etched as a lifetime of pain. Yet now, as that memory began to fade, an unbearable sorrow made my hands tremble.
Throughout the recollection of that moment, a fog settled over your face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Lower Five Gates was not an organization of the righteous factions.
It held no reason to participate in the Righteous-Demonic Great War and would even be seen as natural if it sided with the demonic path.
Yet ironically, it was none other than the Lower Five Gates that first learned of the Demonic Cult's movements beyond Qinghai, where even the Beggars' Sect had no presence.
The birth of a new Demonic Cult Leader and the impending invasion that would follow.
Baek Eunhwa, the Lower Five Gates Leader who sensed this fact before anyone else, actively sided with the righteous factions.
She believed it was time for the Lower Five Gates, which had hidden in the shadows since its founding, to step into the light. Ignoring the world's gaze, she sought to prove that the Lower Five Gates was not a filthy sect.
Thus, for five years until the Righteous-Demonic Great War ended, Baek Eunhwa came and went from the Murim Alliance. Her hope that this might lead to the Lower Five Gates being accepted as part of the righteous factions crumbled from the very first meeting.
Baek Eunhwa, who could read people's hearts, witnessed all sorts of ugliness there. They divided ranks and treated the Lower Five Gates as mere errand runners for menial tasks.
The high-ranking members of rigid clans uniformly regarded the Lower Five Gates as nothing more than a minor unorthodox group.
To brush aside the contempt and scorn, the Lower Five Gates did its utmost. But what returned to them was the blade of betrayal.
The moment the war ended, the heads of the Five Great Clans forming the alliance's core sent assassins after Baek Eunhwa. The reason was none other than the Lower Five Gates' abilities proving far more formidable than imagined.
In their bid for the alliance's recognition, they had exerted themselves fully, earning acknowledgment for their prowess—only to ironically become the alliance's target. The clans believed they needed to nip it in the bud before the Lower Five Gates turned into an enemy.
Five division leaders fell to the assassins, and the Lower Five Gates suffered irreparable damage.
Baek Eunhwa survived alone.
She knew that if she died, the Lower Five Gates would end as well. She had to live.
Live on, and sharpen the blade of vengeance.
Baek Eunhwa, who had longed to emerge from the shadows and face the sun, ultimately retreated into even deeper darkness. She concealed herself there, held her breath, and bided her time.
And at last, Baek Eunhwa met a certain man.
A man who, at the same time, had been abandoned by the alliance just like her—a man who would become her blade of vengeance.
The Blood Demon, Yi Sowol.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I gradually unraveled tales of my past life to her.
Including how war would soon erupt between the Demonic Cult and the righteous factions, and how the Lower Five Gates, siding with the righteous, would face betrayal and walk the path of annihilation.
"It's still hard to believe, but it's the truth."
She read that there wasn't a shred of falsehood in my words. Even if I claimed to have regressed from the future, she was likely the only one who could believe it upon hearing it.
"Very well. Then, may I hear your thoughts on the path the Lower Five Gates should take moving forward?"
"That's precisely why I've come here. The Lower Five Gates should stay out of the war and simply inform the Murim Alliance right now that conflict is imminent. Leave the rest to me."
"Might I ask for the specifics of your plan?"
Her expression grew more serious as she quietly met my gaze.
"The Murim Alliance will soon gather the promising youths of each sect for a grand martial tournament called the Dragon Phoenix Tournament. On the surface, it's to foster camaraderie, but in truth, it's to assess the sects' key talents before the war with the Demonic Cult. Leader, have me represent you at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament."
If I could rank high enough at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament to earn a title like Sword Dragon, I'd participate in the war not as a lowly foot soldier, but as a brigade or division leader.
That would broaden my options and grant greater authority.
"Representing at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament concerns the honor of the Lower Five Gates. I know it's presumptuous, but may I test your skills before deciding?"
"Do as you please."
She raised her hand to summon the guard division leader. Despite his white hair marking him as an elder, his aura was extraordinary—a seasoned veteran of the jianghu through and through.
"If you can withstand ten breaths against the guard division leader, I'll acknowledge your prowess and accept your proposal."
Ten breaths.
It sounded simple at first glance, but it was an excessive measure even for gauging a promising youth's skill.
The guard division leader was the undisputed strongest in the Lower Five Gates. Even peak realm masters wouldn't dare challenge him.
A promising youth who could endure ten breaths against such a figure would be among the elite across the world.
"Very well."
But I drew my sword without hesitation. This was a good chance for them to gauge my level anyway.
"I'll yield the first move to you, young hero."
The guard division leader drew his sword and calmly assumed his stance. Though yielding the initiative, there wasn't a hint of carelessness in his demeanor.
"I appreciate the courtesy."
From the start, I channeled my sword force to its limit. Crimson energy surged along the blade, dyeing the surroundings in blood-red hues. Without pause, I lunged forward and swung fiercely.
Blood Heaven Asura Art: Asura Flash.
Clang.
As our blades clashed, his sword was pushed back. In that instant, bewilderment flickered across the guard division leader's face.
'Pushed back by this young one's sword?'
That marked one breath.
He blocked my follow-up strikes with infused sword force. A counterattack came swiftly, and I parried it amid relentless exchanges that left no room to breathe.
In the chaotic melee of clashing assaults, I barely deflected his blade and launched a counter. The division leader hastily retreated to evade.
Five breaths remained.
I could have simply kept distance and focused on defense to buy time, but I aimed for victory.
I charged at him without a moment's hesitation as he fell back.
From low to high, a diagonal slash bore down on him.
Clang.
He blocked with his blade and twisted it to deflect my attack.
Water Ripple Guarding Art: Falling Flow Sword. A technique that rotated the sword like flowing water to redirect assaults and expose openings.
Anyone seeing it for the first time would fail to handle the follow-up and fall.
However, I—who had risen to the leader's seat in my past life—knew every martial art of the Lower Five Gates inside out.
I anticipated his sword path and prepared accordingly. As he swung just as expected, I countered with the same technique.
Water Ripple Guarding Art: Falling Flow Sword.
This time, a gap opened in his form, and I thrust precisely at it.
Clang!
Yet in the next instant, radiant energy erupted from the division leader's outstretched fingertips reflexively, snapping my sword in two.
"...We've already passed ten breaths, haven't we?"
I thought I'd won, but he'd held back without using radiant energy.
"To force radiant energy against a young promising talent— this bout is my defeat."
If this had been a fight to the death, my head would have rolled the moment my sword broke. Though victorious in the duel, a pang of frustration was inevitable.
"I've confirmed your skills sufficiently. As promised, we'll prepare you for the representative spot at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament. Above all, I sincerely thank you for saving the Lower Five Gates from the path of destruction."
Baek Eunhwa rose from her seat, clasped her hands in salute, and bowed deeply with utmost courtesy.
"Through this, the 37th Lower Five Gates Leader, Baek Eunhwa, has received a profound life-saving debt from you, noble one. Following this fateful bond transcending eras, the Lower Five Gates accepts the Azure Righteous Sword Yi Sowol as a sworn brother to share life, death, joy, and sorrow, vowing never to betray this grace."
In the jianghu, upholding the etiquette of a life-saving debt meant offering even one's own life.
I'd expected her to believe me, but I hadn't anticipated such a vow from the head of a sect. Then again, in my past life, she had been meticulous about favors and grudges above all.
"The Azure Righteous Sword Yi Sowol receives the courtesy of the 37th Lower Five Gates Leader, Baek Eunhwa. With this, I repay the life-saving debt from my past life. Henceforth, Yi Sowol, who was the 38th Lower Five Gates Leader, vows to share his life with the Lower Five Gates."
In my past life, she had once saved my life. By rescuing the Lower Five Gates from annihilation in this life, I'd repaid that grace. Now, it was best to forge ahead as equal sworn siblings.
"You are a kind soul."
Her gentle smile felt unfamiliar. By the time we met in my past life, she had devoted everything to vengeance and lost even the ability to smile.
So even you had a time when you carried smiles as you lived.
"But the me from your past life is different from the current me. Repaying that past grace to me now— I have no right to receive it. So please, grant me the chance to repay this priceless favor in kind?"
"Then, in the name of the Lower Five Gates, swear to protect my one and only family."
"Your family...?"
"My younger sister living in Xining, Yi Wolhyang."
Given the events of my past life, it was wise to secure extra insurance.
"I swear it here and now. Even if the Lower Five Gates turns the world against it, we will do everything to safeguard the Azure Righteous Sword Yi Sowol and his sister Yi Wolhyang."
Her unwavering eyes conveyed the weight of those words.
"Thank you. It feels like I've gained a thousand troops."
"It's the least we can do compared to the grace you've bestowed upon us."
Baek Eunhwa's lips curved into another radiant smile.
Was her such warm reception because she had read my goodwill toward her?
Or was it to build ties with a young promising talent who might one day become the world's greatest?
"Are you doubting my sincerity?"
"I still can't even think freely in the leader's presence."
She let out a soft chuckle.
"But please don't doubt it. My feelings are purely personal, toward you as a person. Is it wrong for a sect leader to swear oaths based on private emotions?"
"You've always sought to make the right choices by your own judgment. Now and in the future, you will remain an exemplary leader."
"Those words truly touch my heart."
As far as I knew, among all past leaders, only Baek Eunhwa had pulled the Lower Five Gates—relentless in its shadowy deeds—from the darkness into the light. It wasn't a choice anyone could make.
And now, I finally understood why she had been able to make that choice.
It wasn't just because of your ability to read hearts, but thanks to your warm nature, so well-suited to that smiling face.