The full sails heralded a smooth voyage.
Traveling from Jiangsu Province to Sichuan Province was akin to crossing the Central Plains from the far east to the far west. Although traveling by boat was faster than by land, this was not a vessel powered by a 21st-century internal combustion engine, so they had to spend a considerable amount of time on the water.
It could have been a tedious itinerary, but Jin Cheonhee taught his younger brother, Sama Hyeon, a few martial arts forms that were easy to learn, and Sama Hyeon, in turn, taught his brother hidden weapon techniques. When that got a little boring, they talked about the current flow of capital in the Central Plains, the luxury goods popular among high-ranking officials, and rumors about various martial artists.
From time to time, Sama Hyeon would pluck his bipa, and Jin Cheonhee would impart some of the martial principles of the Seven Demonic Zither to him. The funny thing was, while imparting such martial knowledge, Jin Cheonhee himself was strumming a bipa for the first time.
“So you’re saying you did all that with your vocal cords?”
“It worked.”
“Huh, imagine that.”
Dir-ing—
Jin Cheonhee plucked Sama Hyeon’s bipa with his finger as he replied.
“You learn fast, don’t you?”
“I’ve already mastered the theory. The problem is that this is my first time actually plucking the strings.”
“And that’s why you can produce a sound like this from the get-go. But your posture is clumsy because it’s your first time.”
Sama Hyeon clicked his tongue as if finding the situation absurd, then pulled something out from the bottom of the boat. It was a seven-stringed zither.
“Can you do this one, too?”
“Mm, the martial art was originally based on the seven-stringed zither. This will probably be more comfortable.”
Jin Cheonhee placed the zither on the table and plucked a string with his fingertip.
Diri-ring—
The sound of the zither, imbued with internal energy, vibrated through the air. Since there was no killing intent, it was still just a sound. But if the one playing the zither put their mind to it, it would become a formidable sound art. After plucking it a few more times, Jin Cheonhee furrowed his brow. “Actually doing it, my voice is easier.”
“It’s usually the other way around, brother.”
“I know, but…”
As if responding to Jin Cheonhee’s zither, Sama Hyeon began to play his bipa. In time with the mournful sound of the instrument, Sama Hyeon spoke. “Care for a duet, Gaga?”
“That stupid ‘Gaga’ name.”
Even as he said it, Jin Cheonhee diligently plucked the strings in time with Sama Hyeon’s melody. This time, it was a pure tune, not imbued with internal energy. He was certainly a fast learner. Perhaps it was because he already knew the theory.
The boat glided across the river. In the silence, two stringed instruments created a song, each with its own timbre. It was a poem by Li Bai.
Drinking Together in the Mountains[1]
We drink together, two of us, as mountain flowers bloom, One cup, one cup, and again one cup. I am drunk and wish to sleep, so you may go now. If you think of me tomorrow, come again with your zither.
It was a poem by Li Bai, so it was filled with the charm of liquor and the joy of meeting someone. It also happened to mention a zither. They had just had a reunion after a long time. They hadn’t planned it at all, but the melody came out so naturally, perhaps because it perfectly mirrored their situation.
Jin Cheonhee effortlessly created a rhythm to match Sama Hyeon’s bipa. If Sama Hyeon played a high note, Jin Cheonhee played a low string; if Sama Hyeon produced a low melody, Jin Cheonhee would gently vibrate a high string to match.
He’s following along well.
He might not look it, but Sama Hyeon had mastered the bipa while living on the streets as a Beijing Opera performer in his youth. It was amazing to him that his brother could follow along so well. Suddenly, Sama Hyeon noticed that his brother’s eyes were tinged with a blue light. It seemed he had fallen into a state of selflessness[2], so deep in concentration that he wasn’t even aware he was using the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique while plucking the strings. He was enjoying this moment, beginning to grasp the martial knowledge of the Seven Demonic Zither.
Countless martial artists heard the performance of the two men. Sama Hyeon, looking joyful, recited the lines of the poem in time with the melody, and Jin Cheonhee plucked the seven-stringed zither to match his brother’s song.
Not a single martial artist spoke a word until the song was over. The two of them, unaware of their audience, joyfully researched the mysteries of sound art.
As expected, it was Jin Cheonhee who spoke first. “Wow, I think I can improve the Seven Demonic Zither even more.”
Sound arts were esoteric enough as it was. Jin Cheonhee had disassembled that esoteric art and pulled out a new principle that was ripe for application.
Sama Hyeon strummed a string and asked, “You’re going to teach me, too, right~?”
“Of course. Whose little brother do you think you are?”
Jin Cheonhee deliberately put on an evil face and gave an exaggerated, wide grin. At the expression that promised some grand mischief, Sama Hyeon couldn’t help but laugh along.
Da-dang—
He ended up plucking the wrong string, but it was fun, so it was fine. That was the end of the melody. It was a good night, a good voyage.
***
How long had they been on the boat? Finally, the party arrived in Sichuan Province. As they were disembarking, they saw an unexpected person.
“Fufufufu. Have you finally arrived? My fated adversary!”
She was wearing a mask, but Jin Cheonhee knew who she was just from her voice.
Tang Ah. The winner of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, the child who had cultivated a Black Flame Dragon in her heart while mastering the powerful poison arts of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Now, no longer a child but a mature woman, she stood in a fatal pose with a fatal mask, spewing fatal lines.
My god, to think the word ‘fatal’ would fit three times in one description!
For a moment, Jin Cheonhee wondered if it was the year 1999. In that era, children and adults alike were… c.r.a.z.y. (Bang!). There were various academic explanations and theories as to why, but to put it simply, it was a combination of the sentiment of witnessing the end of a century and the strange anticipation that the world might end in 1999. There was also the introspection on why our minds had become so desolate when human civilization had developed to such an advanced degree. A resistance against modern civilization. Narcissism… and so on. The only saving grace was that there was no SNS or smartphones back then.
Seeing Tang Ah, who had brought the sensibilities of that era with her, Jin Cheonhee grew worried.
Hasn’t her cringey phase ended yet?
Suddenly, he felt that her aura had changed. This was something he could sense because he was in the same realm, because he had seen her in the past, and because he had gotten a glimpse of the Tang Clan’s martial arts.
Don’t tell me… the Transformation Realm?
That was too fast. Wasn’t even Namgoong Yeon of the Namgoong Clan, who would become the Iron Blood Sword Queen in the future, still far from the Transformation Realm? This speed was comparable to Namgoong Woon or even himself, who had used a cheat key, and in some ways, it might even be a little faster.
Has there ever been… someone with this kind of speed in the Tang Clan before?
Could it be that her madness (?) was related to this speed?
Wait a minute. If that’s the case, then Tang Ah might be… on the same level as my master in terms of speed?
There was a precedent. That precedent was his master, the Divine Doctor White Dragon himself. He knew that Tang Ah was considered the most talented genius in the history of the Tang Clan. But to be on par with his master… really…?
“What are you thinking about, my adversary!”
Flinch.
Tang Ah had erased her presence and naturally entered Jin Cheonhee’s range. The way she moved, like a shadow, was proof that she had completely mastered the Tang Clan’s footwork.
Jin Cheonhee hurriedly introduced Tang Ah to Sama Hyeon. “Uh… Hyeon-ah, this is Miss Tang Ah, known as the Poison Dragon of the Tang Clan.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Tang. I am Sama Hyeon, the Head of the Silver Hall of the Golden Blood Chamber.”
“Miss Tang, this is my younger brother, Sama Hyeon.”
At that, Tang Ah immediately said, “The Golden Blood Chamber! Minions of the Golden King!”
Such incredible rudeness upon their first meeting! The guards on either side of Tang Ah flusteredly made hand signals at Sama Hyeon. It seemed to be a message asking him to forgive her, that she didn’t mean it. If they had been from the same martial sect or family, they could have responded with a duel, but their opponent was the fourth-in-command of the martial world’s bank, no, its subprime lender. The martial artists were at a loss as to how to handle this political, rather than martial, situation.
Just then, Sama Hyeon said nonchalantly, “A minion is correct~ Right now, I’m a minion captured by this brother of mine~”
Sama Hyeon’s eyes narrowed. As he smiled playfully like a fox, Tang Ah’s excitement seemed to deflate, and she clicked her tongue. “Tsk, seeing as you’re such a petty person, you must be a minion! However, you are truly my fated adversary! To have a minion of the Golden Blood Chamber as your brother! Well done!”
“…Tang Ah. What am I going to do with you.”
He was sure he had heard before that she was getting back to normal. What on earth had happened to this girl?
From beneath her mask, Tang Ah let out a “Kwahahaha!”, perfectly recreating the laugh of what she imagined a demon lord to be.
‘Not long ago… I met the Heavenly Demon, Tang Ah.’
Tang Ah didn’t know true evil. The darkness she imagined had a naive corner to it, a corner that sought righteousness. But the darkness that the Heavenly Demon exuded—that, and only that, was real. The Heavenly Demon did not show off; she only killed. She did not speak; she only killed. The Heavenly Demon, who walked like a well-fed tiger in plain clothes with a sword hanging casually at her waist, was the one who had drowned the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains in blood. She was a deep darkness, a madness, something beyond good and evil. She was truly a devourer of life.
It was a relief that Tang Ah did not know true evil. Thinking that, he found that he didn’t dislike this version of Tang Ah either.
Jin Cheonhee took out a snack to give to Tang Ah. “I made some pumpkin taffy, want some? And I also have some chilled honey candy made with fruit.” He had brought them all, nicely chilled with his cold yin energy.
“Hmph. How amusing, my adversary! Do you think you can bribe me with something so trivial?”
However, he saw that her gaze was fixed on the snacks he had taken out.
She still loves to eat.
Even after reaching the Transformation Realm, Tang Ah was still wild.
***
Following Tang Ah’s guidance, they arrived at the Tang Clan estate.
“Oho, so you prefer to be called the Blood Whip Queen, Miss Tang~?”
“That is correct. The term ‘Miss’ is a title I am not qualified to receive. To one such as I, who is consumed by blood and darkness, such a white word… urgh…”
…Jin Cheonhee was genuinely worried about Tang Ah, but was it right for him to be worried about a kid who had reached the Transformation Realm at her age? He wondered if it was the same as a commoner worrying about a celebrity.
Regardless, Sama Hyeon and Tang Ah were hitting it off splendidly. “Okay~ Then I’ll call you Blood Whip Queen~”
“O… kay?”
“It’s a word my brother uses often.”
Did I use it often? It seemed to have become a habit without me realizing it.