Chapter 3

* * *

The man in the black hood turned and pointed inward. The black-robed guards who had been blocking the path tightly parted to the sides.

Yihua followed the man into the split path.

There was not a hint of fear or hesitation on her face.

The black-robed guards, instead, looked tense as they watched her, intimidated by her unflinching demeanor.

The man led Yihua to the pavilion located deepest within the Black Cloud Sect.

The door of the pavilion was wide open, as if welcoming her.

At the foot of the stairs leading up to the pavilion, the man stepped aside and bowed.

It was a gesture indicating that his guidance ended there.

Yihua ascended the stairs, leaving him behind.

The subordinates of the Black Cloud Sect, who had been following her, gathered densely at the bottom of the stairs.

Upon entering the main hall, Yihua found the patriarch and elders of the Black Cloud Sect all seated, waiting for her.

The patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect was seated at the far end of the main hall.

Yihua walked to the center of the main hall and bowed to the patriarch.

"I, Yihua, the young leader of Huolou, pay my respects to the patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect."

The patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect smiled kindly, as if looking at a cute child.

"I didn't expect the famous young leader of Huolou to be such a young woman."

"The patriarch's reputation surpasses the rumors, which is truly astonishing."

"Hehe, the young leader of Huolou is so polite..."

His eyes suddenly turned cold.

"Why are you so arrogant, young leader?"

"..."

Yihua used her senses to gauge the number of black-robed guards.

The patriarch and eight elders, about 150 subordinates.

This was the same as in her previous life.

Due to the Blood Demon's threats, the Black Cloud Sect, which had become a public enemy of Huashan and Shaolin, was eager to kill Yihua when she arrived.

Even if they handed over the item, they believed that killing the young leader would be necessary to vent their anger, so they were fully prepared.

In her previous life, a bloody battle actually took place, and Yihua killed half of them.

"I will apologize for the patriarch's rudeness."

Winning a battle once, and winning it again, is not difficult, but Yihua took a step back.

She wanted to avoid unnecessary sacrifices and waste.

"Please calm down."

"Such empty apologies are unnecessary."

"If you visit Huolou in the future, I will treat you so that you won't feel disappointed."

"Do you see us as mere beggars with nothing to offer?"

Yihua's gaze lowered.

A thick aura of killing intent was rising from the patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect. It seemed he had no intention of ending things peacefully.

"I hope the patriarch does not make a foolish choice."

"Do you, the young leader, feel afraid?"

"Many of your subordinates will lose their lives."

"The young leader will also have to pay with her life."

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Except for the patriarch, the elders and black-robed guards all drew their swords.

It seemed they were determined to repeat the events of her previous life.

"I have clearly given you a chance."

Swoosh—

Yihua instantly drew her sword.

The warm atmosphere from a moment ago vanished, replaced by a tense silence.

Yihua slowly looked around.

'In this situation, it's best to take only the necessary lives.'

"Since it seems to be to my disadvantage, I will consider your yielding the first move."

"What?"

Whirl— Slash—!

"Kuh—!"

Yihua's sword instantly cut through the upper body of one of the Black Cloud Sect's elders. The elder fell forward with a final scream.

Before his body even hit the ground, Yihua moved to her next target.

"Stop her!"

The patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect shouted belatedly, but Yihua's sword was faster.

"Kya—!"

With a sharp sound of metal piercing flesh, another elder fell.

Yihua's eyes, now gripping her sword, flashed sharply.

'In my previous life, I gave the Black Cloud Sect the first move.'

Even then, she won.

This time, she took the first move out of curiosity.

'What choice will the patriarch make?'

The patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect seemed to find it hard to believe that two of his elders had been taken down without even a chance to fight.

As he stood there, still trying to grasp the situation, he met Yihua's gaze and shouted in surprise.

"K, kill her! Hurry!"

"Yaaaah!"

"Dieee!"

At the patriarch's command, the black-robed guards rushed at Yihua.

Yihua's figure moved like a shadow among them.

"Kuh—!"

"Keh—!"

With every move she made, screams erupted.

'W, what...!'

The patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect was flustered.

Did he underestimate her as a child? No.

The patriarch, elders, and guards were all using their senses to watch her.

Yet, they couldn't even see her move. The same was true now.

Elders and division leaders were all falling with a single strike. The ordinary subordinates were no match.

'She's a monster...!'

Could she be a high-level expert who has returned from the dead?

If not, how could such a young child reach this level? Does this even make sense?!

He knew the Huolou had a bad reputation, but for the young leader to be this powerful was beyond his expectations.

If this continued, not only would the young leader be killed, but the Black Cloud Sect itself might be erased.

"Stop!"

At the patriarch's command, the black-robed guards halted their movements.

Yihua, who was about to cut the neck of a black-robed guard rushing at her, also stopped in her tracks.

'The patriarch's judgment was faster than in my previous life.'

Thanks to this, more black-robed guards survived compared to her previous life.

Yihua looked at the patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect, dispassionately wiping the blood from her sword.

The patriarch was shocked by her expression, which remained unchanged despite being covered in blood.

'She is not an ordinary child!'

She must be a high-level expert who has returned from the dead...!

"Young leader!"

The patriarch of the Black Cloud Sect bowed to Yihua.

"Please sheathe your sword!"

At the same time, the black-robed guards dropped their weapons and fell to the ground.

Yihua stood in the center.

The sound of weapons falling sharply echoed in the pavilion for a moment. As the sound faded, the patriarch's voice was heard.

"Please forgive this foolish old man's mistake. I will... hand over the item."

* * *

Under the dim moonlight, Yihua looked at the small bag in her hand.

Despite being wrapped in several layers, a mysterious aura was emanating from the bag. It was indeed the aura of a miraculous medicine, as praised by Shaolin.

'With this, I can expel the blood qi I possess.'

Yihua put the bag in her bosom and moved quickly.

To perform the qi circulation and meditation to expel the blood qi, she needed to find a suitable place where no one would interfere.

If she made a mistake during the qi circulation and meditation, her qi and blood could twist, leading to a state of demonic possession. She was carefully searching the surroundings as she moved.

'...'

Yihua lowered her gaze and looked behind her.

Rustle— Rustle—

Someone was following her.

As soon as she left the Black Cloud Sect's territory, the person openly revealed their presence, effectively announcing their existence.

A small clearing appeared as she emerged from the dense trees.

Under the soft moonlight, Yihua's black hair and sharp eyes gleamed.

She focused on a shadow among the trees.

A powerful aura, beyond her ability to gauge, was emanating from that spot.

'Who is it?'

Yihua's face tensed.

In her previous life, no one had followed her, so her tension was at its peak.

She raised her senses to prepare for a sudden attack.

"Ouch!"

A middle-aged man stumbled and fell, his foot caught on a tree trunk.

He was wearing a black robe, the collar of which was decorated with elaborate blue embroidery.

His roughly trimmed beard was dark, and his robe was loosely draped, giving him a somewhat sloppy appearance.

However, Yihua's expression hardened upon recognizing the man.

She knew the identity hidden behind his sloppiness.

'Feng Leishen...?'

The man was from the Nangong family.

One of the top three experts among the Nangong, and the leader of the Secret Wind Sword Corps (秘风剑党), Shemu Guang.

Known as Feng Leishen for his speed like the wind and destructive power like thunder, he was the only non-Nangong blood member of the Nangong leadership.

"Hehe. Not drawing your sword, you're quite clever, kid."

Shemu Guang chuckled and scratched his chin.

His smile was reassuring, but the vast aura he was emitting made the hairs on Yihua's body stand on end.

"Who are you, kid?"

Shemu Guang pointed at Yihua with a casual nod.

"Think carefully before you answer, kid. I'm deciding whether to kill you or let you live based on your answer."

His words, spoken with a smile, were incredibly threatening. His eyes were sharp like a sword, staring at her.

Yihua pondered her response.

Shemu Guang was the leader of a secret organization of the Nangong.

While he was known as Feng Leishen, the fact that he was part of the Nangong family was not widely known.

If she mentioned the Nangong family in front of him, she might be suspected as a spy.

'In that case...'

Yihua made a fist salute.

"I, Xue Hua, a junior in the martial world, pay my respects to the esteemed senior."