WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ Damned Transmigration ◈

Chapter 94: Reward 4

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Haryeong did not choose a Dang Family martial art.

"Though I never learned them completely, I did train in the Dang Family's martial arts."

For hidden weapons, she had Merciless Killing Flow. She had also secretly learned Myriad Heavenly Flower Rain by watching others practice it. Her inner cultivation method was the Vast Spirit Returning Origin Art.

"I only learned about half the formulas for each of them, but I thought it would be better to obtain an entirely superior martial art than to get the latter halves of those formulas now."

It was true that Merciless Killing Flow was the Dang Family's representative hidden weapon art. Yet there was a catch to that word, representative.

It meant Merciless Killing Flow was a martial art that most Dang Family martial artists knew how to use. Of course, the Dang Family occupied the upper ranks of the enormous sect known as Salmun, so there were not actually that many Dang Family martial artists. Still, since most members of the family could learn and use it, it was not a particularly high-grade art.

Looking at it another way, Haryeong had not even been permitted to properly learn Merciless Killing Flow, which most Dang Family martial artists could learn.

The Vast Spirit Returning Origin Art was likewise considered a basic cultivation method by the Dang Family.

"Isn't the Poison Blood Divine Art a fairly good martial art?"

That was true in the game, but Haryeong shook her head.

"There are too many things required to learn the Poison Blood Divine Art."

That martial art formed a Poison Core in the dantian, turning one's inner power itself into poison. It caused poison to flow through the body's channels in place of blood and inner power, transforming its practitioner into a Poison Human.

The Dang Family was known for hidden weapons and poison. It possessed every kind of poison accumulated throughout its history. From the moment one began learning the Poison Blood Divine Art, one had to steadily ingest poison at every stage to form a Poison Core in the dantian.

In other words, it was a martial art practically impossible for an outsider to learn. Even if someone somehow obtained the manual and began learning the Poison Blood Divine Art, it would be meaningless if they could not acquire the necessary poisons.

"The Heavenly Maiden's Secret Art is simply too low-grade. We have a chance to obtain a divine art or ultimate technique. Choosing the Heavenly Maiden's Secret Art just because it is a Dang Family martial art would be foolish."

The Scripture of Reversing Taiji Intent.

The martial art Haryeong had chosen did not exist in the game, and Yuri had never heard of it either.

It was a martial art centered on Intent Poison, created by a martial artist from a hundred years ago known as the Heavenly Killing Poison Physician. It was more than worthy of being called a divine art or ultimate technique.

That was also why it was so difficult. Until one reached a certain level, its power as a poison art could not be expected. The very requirement of properly using Intent meant one had to reach at least the sixth tier, and even reaching the sixth tier did not mean one could immediately use Intent Poison.

Still, once someone could turn Intent into poison and control it through the Scripture of Reversing Taiji Intent, they could break through the protective force aura and poison their target through will alone.

"Intent Poison cannot even be used until I reach that level, but this martial art cannot be compared to my incomplete Vast Spirit Returning Origin Art. The very way it circulates inner power is on a different level."

That was how Haryeong explained it, but there was a fairly fatal problem with calling it a poison art while being unable to properly handle poison. Yuri did not know the detailed formulas, but based on her explanation alone, the Scripture of Reversing Taiji Intent seemed like an incomplete martial art.

It did not handle real poison, only Intent Poison. If she did not focus solely on Intent Poison and instead added a genuine Dang Family poison art to gain control over Poison Qi, Haryeong's martial prowess would surely make great progress. As long as she continued to harbor goodwill and remain his companion, Haryeong growing stronger was not bad for Yuri at all.

'So I need to resolve the Dang Family's problems somehow.'

Looking on the bright side, it was fortunate that Haryeong had not chosen the Poison Blood Divine Art.

In the game, the Poison Blood Divine Art was a unique skill.

The current head of the Dang Family was the Dark King, but killing the Poison King, the Dang Family head in the game, caused an epic poison art skill to drop. If Yuri's guess was right and Haryeong was the current family head's illegitimate daughter, with the standing to claim legitimacy within the Dang Family, then she might be able to inherit that epic skill once the family's affairs were properly settled.

"I'll lock myself in my room for a few days to begin training in the Scripture of Reversing Taiji Intent, so even if you miss me, Yuri, please restrain yourself."

"All right."

"Even if you can't bear it and knock on my door, I won't open it for you."

"I won't knock."

"If you force the door open or climb through my window in the dead of night, then I'll..."

"That won't happen, so don't worry."

After exchanging their usual pointless banter, they returned to their rooms.

His body had not fully recovered yet, but he could at least sit quietly and regulate his breathing or meditate.

'Banner of Reversing the Death Realm.'

He focused on it as a test, but the red banner did not appear. Just as he had felt the first time, the banner did not manifest under normal circumstances. It only appeared when he had reached the Death Realm and death was close at hand.

'Wouldn't using this make the Sect of War track me down?'

That had worried him even when he first chose the Banner of Reversing the Death Realm, but it was still better than failing to overcome the Death Realm and dying. Yuri put aside his thoughts about the banner that would not even appear, then focused on the Heavenly Art of Annihilating Evil and Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death.

* * *

Three days passed. Yuri did not leave his room for those three days, and he only exchanged pointless conversations with Estor when Estor came to visit. There was no need to leave anyway, since the servants brought him anything he needed.

"I can't believe you really didn't even knock on my door."

Haryeong grumbled when she came to see him after three days.

"You told me not to."

"Since when were you so good at listening?"

"I don't think I've ever not listened to you."

Three days was too short for Yuri to feel anything like the joy of reunion, so he did not feel much of anything.

"Did your initiation go well?"

"It was so difficult that I struggled, but yes."

There was no visible change. Yet Yuri's sensitive perception of mana vaguely sensed that Haryeong's qi had changed qualitatively.

'No, it's still changing.'

That was likely why he could perceive it.

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations."

Estor, who had been standing there blankly, said the same thing. Haryeong nodded with her usual expressionless face, then stared at Yuri.

"I'd like to congratulate you as well, but I can't tell what has changed with you, Yuri."

"As it happens, I needed your help, Haryeong."

"Are you really going to do it?"

Estor grumbled with a sickened expression. If Haryeong had not come today, Estor would have had to do what Yuri was about to ask her to do.

"What kind of help could you possibly need?"

Haryeong tilted her head, but after hearing his answer, she openly frowned at Yuri.

"Are you a crazy bastard?"

"It would be better if you did it instead of Estor."

"That... does seem likely. If insane Yuri wants it, I'll do it, but... are you sure this is all right?"

"Yes."

"Understood."

She did not look particularly willing, but it was not a request she found revolting enough to refuse.

Haryeong stepped far back, holding a dagger in each hand with a serious expression.

"I'm asking again, are you truly sure about this?"

"Just a moment."

In the middle of the spacious room, Yuri nodded with his eyes closed and a thick cloth wrapped over them. Three days of rest had left him able to move without too much strain.

"I don't think this is all right."

Standing near Haryeong, Estor muttered with an anxious look. Even to him, this looked less like training and more like madness.

"It's not like I'll die."

"Just as Yuri said. Do you think I would throw daggers at Yuri with the intention of killing him?"

"Please put a little intention to kill into it."

"What does a little intention to kill even mean?"

"Wanting to kill me, but not actually wanting me to die..."

"Yuri. Put your hand over your heart and slowly consider what you just said. Does that make any sense?"

"Just throw them however you see fit."

With his eyes closed and the cloth around them, Yuri could see nothing but pitch-black darkness. He slowly took deep breaths, then activated Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death.

Bzzzt...

He heard the sound from within his body. An invisible web of lightning qi spread out from Yuri. It extended no farther than one meter, the greatest distance he could fully control. Once he was ready, Yuri nodded.

"You may begin..."

Haryeong did not wait for him to finish. She threw the daggers. Their edges had not even been blunted. They were sharp enough to kill a person as they rushed toward Yuri.

The daggers touched the edge of the lightning qi web. The lightning qi itself could not slow them down, hold them, or alter their trajectories. Still, Yuri thought that once Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death reached a higher level, it might be possible to impose such restrictions.

That was still impossible for now. All he could do with his current Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death was read the movements of daggers that entered his domain. The range was only one meter. Considering the daggers' speed, it was almost no range at all, but Yuri moved the instant they touched his lightning qi. The lightning qi he spread outside was itself a line of nerves connected to his body.

Papapapap!

Ten daggers rushed at him. Haryeong had thrown them precisely at his body, even predicting his evasion routes, yet not one struck him. Yuri even caught several daggers aimed at points that seemed impossible to evade.

"Wow."

He caught four daggers and avoided six. Haryeong let out a sincere exclamation of admiration, while Estor stared in shock with his mouth wide open. Yuri had taken only a few steps to avoid that many daggers.

"Hm..."

Yuri raised the cloth from his eyes, looked around, and frowned. He had dodged what needed to be dodged and caught what needed to be caught, but the result was far less satisfying than he had expected.

He had wanted to catch every one of them. Yet he had failed to catch all the daggers thrown at once. He was also dissatisfied that he had moved far more than expected. The problem was not the web he had spread around him. His body's reaction was simply too slow.

'I tried not to focus on it, but I think I still used my hearing.'

Even if he did not want to hear it, he could hear the sound of the daggers cutting through the air. If he relied on his other senses, he did not think he could train his lightning qi alone. Should he focus more on the lightning qi in his body and maximize his reflexes? But that would make the web less precise...

'I've got a long way to go.'

His training in Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death was still lacking.

"This time, I'll cover my ears too."

"I, I'll try as well."

Estor, who had been watching with his mouth hanging open, hurried over.

"You? It'll be difficult..."

"I am Estor Orsia, the Sword Dragon."

"So what..."

"I believe in myself."

Since he insisted, Yuri stepped aside for him.

"Just close your eyes... Don't cover them with cloth."

"I think that would be better too."

Estor, who had said he believed in himself, considered it for a moment before nodding.

"If I cover them with something like that, I'll only become more conscious of it and fail to focus."

After saying that, Estor even drew his sword.

"Why are you holding a sword?"

"I'm a swordsman, not an unarmed fighter. Having a sword in my hand puts me at ease."

"Fine."

Haryeong once again held daggers in both hands. Yuri, who had been watching, also accepted several daggers from Haryeong. Estor stood in the middle of the room, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

Soon, the daggers were thrown.

Crash!

A much louder sound rang out than when Yuri had done it. Instead of dodging the daggers, Estor swung his sword at maximum speed and knocked them away.

"...Hm."

Estor cautiously opened his eyes and looked around. A few daggers had grazed him and cut his clothes, but none had cut his skin. In the end, he had not been hit.

The room around him was a disaster, though. The windows had shattered, and furniture throughout the room had been broken by the daggers he had knocked aside.

"Didn't you peek?"

"It looked to me as if you opened your eyes partway through."

Estor did not answer right away. He sheathed his sword, then slowly crouched down and began picking up the daggers embedded around the room.

"We shouldn't do this indoors."

"I asked if you peeked."

"I'm not used to swinging a sword with my eyes closed, so I did it without realizing."

"This was all Estor's doing."

"Yuri did some of it too."

"I didn't knock them flying everywhere like you."

Perhaps because of the loud noise, there was a knock at the door.

"What is..."

The servant who entered after receiving permission froze stiffly. Seeing the room, where nothing but the finest things had existed, now reduced to a wreck nearly made their mind go blank.

"I will compensate you."

The wealthy Estor stood tall and answered as if he had done nothing wrong. The servant moved their lips for a moment, then cleared their throat and shook their head.

"I-I will report this to the family head first. Also, you have visitors."

"If they are visitors, they must be guests of the Mabeld Family. Why are they here for us?"

"They are priests from the Sect of War and the Sect of the Anvil."

Yuri's expression stiffened slightly at that answer. It was news he had been waiting for, but he still did not know whether it was good or bad.

"Understood."

"I will guide you to the reception room. As for this room..."

The servant looked over the wrecked room once more and gave an awkward smile.

"We will prepare a new room for you."

He ended up moving rooms again without meaning to. The first time had been because Lacey threw up. This time, it was because Estor had knocked daggers in every direction.

'It's not my fault.'

In the first-floor reception room, Alnair, the family head, was waiting with Elleia, his guard, and two clergymen.

'A woman?'

No, a man? The clergyman wearing gray robes had such a delicate appearance that Yuri briefly wondered, but the slightly protruding Adam's apple and rough hands that did not match his face made it clear that he was a man.

The man beside him wore crimson robes. He was a huge man with a square face and fierce eyes. Both clergymen gave Yuri and Haryeong a slight nod when they entered.

"I am Pound Dned of the Sect of War."

"I am Allen Surface of the Sect of the Anvil."

As soon as the introductions ended, Alnair rose from his chair.

"Now that the guests are here, there's no reason for me to remain, correct?"

"Do you truly have no intention of yielding the items?"

Pound asked, his eyes flashing. Alnair frowned and looked down at him.

"I don't particularly enjoy repeating myself."

"But, Head of the Mabeld Family, those items..."

"Your Sect of War offered no help when the incident happened four days ago. I can understand you shambling in after everything is over to annoy me, but isn't it too much to covet the items too?"

"The reason the Sect of War could not intervene in the incident four days ago is because this city has no temple of the Sect of War. It was the Mabeld Family that prevented us from establishing one, was it not?"

"So what?"

Pound was left speechless by Alnair's retort.

"If it's so difficult, build a temple outside the city. How much has the Mabeld Family donated over the years? You can't even manage that? I think the donations made in my own generation could build a small city."

"..."

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm already displeased that only an ordinary clergyman like you came. Why? Are all the high-ranking clergy too busy throwing themselves into the Vernoc dispute?"

"Head of the Mabeld Family, do not insult me."

"Who is insulting whom? In my city, in my home, you arrogantly demanded that I hand over items. Isn't that an insult to me?"

As the mood suddenly turned hostile, Yuri quietly watched the exchange. Based on what they were saying, the items they mentioned seemed to be Agwi's lost possessions.

"The inspection results found no problems, correct? You were the one who collected the blood and flesh, saying that was enough to pursue him. Demanding the items as well crosses the line."

"..."

"The hunter has the right to the prey. If you keep spewing nonsense, hm, what should I do? The only thing I can do is reduce my donations."

Pound's face turned pale at Alnair's mocking words. He moved his lips, then let out a deep sigh and nodded.

"Very well. I cannot represent the will of the Sect of War, but I will no longer demand that Agwi's items be handed over."

"Don't hedge. Even if the high priest of the Sect of War comes, my decision won't change."

"Your words are entirely correct."

Allen, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

"To begin with, some of Agwi's possessions are Divine Relics crafted by our Sect of the Anvil. The Sect of the Anvil has no intention of claiming ownership of those items, so it is unpleasant to hear the Sect of War demand that they be handed over."

"Why did Divine Relics from your sect end up with Agwi in the first place?"

"How would I know? More than half of our sect's Divine Relics are outside the sect."

"That's not something to boast about."

"It is unfortunate that there are Divine Relics of the Sect of the Anvil among Agwi's possessions, but it is not something we deserve to be mocked for. That wicked man likely killed their original owners and stole the Divine Relics. Besides, we only gave our works to people who possessed the qualifications. That is the will of the God of Blacksmiths we serve."

Pound's eyebrow twitched at the calm reply.

"You gave your works to people with the qualifications? Allen Surface. Are you saying that Chuk-sin-doo, that insane transmigrator, had the qualifications in your eyes?"

"Was the Martial Apex Venerable not qualified enough?"

"The problem is that he's a transmigrator, a transmigrator!"

"What does Chuk-sin-doo being a transmigrator have to do with my crafting an armament for him? And it was your Sect of War that left that transmigrator unchecked from the very beginning."

Alnair seemed uninterested in that conversation, because he left the room midway through it. Watching the two argue after calling them here, Yuri felt as if the inside of his chest was being scraped raw.

"Excuse me."

Yuri finally spoke up. He frowned deeply and glared at Pound and Allen.

"If you're only going to argue among yourselves, why did you call us here?"

"Ah, I apologize."

Allen immediately turned to Yuri and bowed his head.

"The reason we wished to see you, Yuri, was to hand Agwi's possessions over to you."

"Tch."

Pound openly clicked his tongue, but perhaps because of Alnair's warning, he only glared at Yuri and did not demand that the ownership of the items be transferred.

"As an envoy of the Sect of War, I came to hear the details of the incident four days ago."

"I already prepared a written report about what happened there."

"I have reviewed it, but this is a matter that needs to be heard directly. After all, your opponent was one of the Evil God's saints. And the report was not particularly detailed, was it?"

"Hm..."

"So please, tell me in detail what happened within the Pseudo-Sacred Domain, how Agwi used miracles, and what Agwi said as well."

It was a natural request. Yuri sat across from Pound and cleared his throat.

"Are you saying Agwi was one of the culprits behind the Raspion Family tragedy?"

Allen's voice rose partway through Yuri's account. He distorted his handsome face into a deep frown and muttered.

"That is... surprising. As far as I know, the perpetrators of that incident had not yet been identified."

"To be precise, there had been more than enough circumstantial evidence that the culprits were the Sect of Chaos. The question was who within the Sect of Chaos had done it."

Pound's eyes turned cold.

"According to information gathered by the Sect of War, the Raspion Family's swordsmanship was highly regarded among transmigrators. That sudden tragedy must have been aimed at obtaining Raspion swordsmanship. Perhaps Agwi himself is a transmigrator. Cloud Dragon, did Agwi say anything about being a transmigrator?"

"He did not."

Yuri was inwardly convinced that Agwi was a transmigrator, but Agwi himself had never admitted it. Yuri had no desire to make unnecessary remarks and become a target of suspicion.

"Hm..."

After hearing everything, Pound studied Yuri for a moment. The account itself was no different from the written report, but hearing the details gave him a clearer understanding of Agwi's abilities.

'They endured five minutes against such a monster...?'

According to the rumors, those two were at the fifth tier.

Two fifth-tier fighters could not possibly stall a saint of the Evil God. The report said Agwi had been arrogant, but by Pound's standards, the fact that fifth-tier fighters had endured a saint-level expert toying with them was already absurd.

That meant the two before him were exceptional. The Sect of War had already reached that conclusion, but after hearing Yuri's story, Pound had no choice but to agree. He had been told to see and hear for himself before deciding whether to make the offer, but there was no reason not to invite people with that much skill.

"Though we heard the saint escaped, the Sect of War judges that Agwi has effectively lost the power of a saint because he fled by using Gears."

Pound wore a solemn expression as he looked at Yuri and Haryeong.

"Cloud Dragon, Dark Blossom. You have made a great contribution to eradicating the Evil God and its servants from this world."

It sounded as though he was about to offer them something.

Yuri waited for Pound to continue.

"You have earned the honor of becoming our brothers and sisters."

"What?"

"I invite you to the Grand Temple of the Sect of War in Union."

From Pound's perspective, this might even be for the best. He had failed to receive Agwi's possessions. He was too afraid of the Mabeld Family head's warning to take the items by force.

Then why not bring Cloud Dragon, the rightful owner of those items, to the Sect of War?

"..."

For Yuri, it was a gift he could not welcome.

Footnotes:

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