Chapter 75: The Lord of Ten Thousand Blades (5)
“This isn’t good. We need to leave immediately,” Flora said firmly.
“I agree with Flora,” Theo added. “That guy isn’t someone we can handle. At the very least, Kanok would need to be here for us to even stand a chance.”
Both of them turned to me as they spoke. We were in a secluded spot, far from prying eyes, where it was safe to mention our real names and identities.
Their words were practical. The Lord of Ten Thousand Blades was not someone the three of us could deal with.
Even if we fought with all our strength, we probably wouldn’t last a single second. Logically, leaving this place as soon as possible was the right decision.
But it felt like a shame. We hadn’t been exposed yet, so couldn’t we stay a little longer? Through that brief duel, I had acquired four martial arts principles.
The Formless Flying Blade Technique was at an introductory level, but it was a solid foundation. The path forward stretched clearly before me, almost tangible.
If only I could press further. If the owner of that sword had been a little more talented, what else could I have learned? My mind buzzed as martial arts principles swirled and tangled together, driven by newfound inspiration.
“What a shame,” I muttered unconsciously.
“What? A shame?” Theo’s incredulous voice snapped me back to reality. He let out a hollow laugh, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. Realizing what I’d just said, I quickly shook my head.
“I agree. We should leave today—if we can.”
I turned my gaze to the tightly shut door in front of us. The room smelled of fresh construction, and I could hear someone approaching from the other side.
Strong, but not nearly as overwhelming as the Lord of Ten Thousand Blades. It had to be one of his subordinates.
Knock, knock.
As I moved toward the door, I spoke to Theo and Flora. “It looks like leaving won’t be an option just yet.”
The door creaked open, revealing one of the Lord of Ten Thousand Blades’ subordinates. He delivered his message.
“The Lord requests your presence. A banquet is being prepared, and he has asked that you attend without fail.”
A banquet in the wasteland, where resources were scarce? Just how much money was he pouring into this? The implications were clear—his financial backing was extraordinary. Another piece of valuable information to tuck away.
After all, this was a group conducting large-scale construction in the wilderness. Without continuous support from the Midas Merchant Guild, such an operation would have been impossible. The connection between the two groups would need further investigation.
“Do we have to go now?”
The casual tone slipped from my mouth naturally. The subordinate’s eyebrows twitched, but he nodded stiffly.
“Yes. The Lord has ordered me not to return until all three of you have arrived.”
I turned back to Theo and Flora. Their eyes met mine, and they both nodded in silent agreement. There was no way newly inducted members of this group could refuse an invitation from its leader.
The three of us followed the subordinate as he led us to the banquet.
***
The claim of a banquet wasn’t an exaggeration. Food was everywhere, from massive barrels of liquor to carts piled high with fruits and fresh meat, the kind rarely seen in the wastelands.
Every cart bore the seal of the Midas Merchant Guild.
“They must’ve spent a fortune on this…” Flora murmured.
The banquet was set in a circular hall, hastily built but sturdy. The ground had been leveled, supports erected, and a roof added with evident speed and manpower.
The seat I was shown to was near the center, to the right of the Lord’s main seat. Theo and Flora were placed in nearby seats.
“Well then, I’ll leave you to it,” the subordinate said before withdrawing.
The Lord of Ten Thousand Blades hadn’t arrived yet, but the atmosphere was already festive.
People were eating and drinking freely, filling the hall with a lively energy. I calmly endured the glances directed my way and picked up a cup of wine.
“This smells good,” I said to no one in particular.
What are we even doing here?
A soft whisper came from behind me—Flora’s voice. What were we doing? Surviving. That was all. With no chance to escape, we could only adapt. For now, we weren’t in immediate danger. No one here suspected we were Azure Wing operatives.
As long as we didn’t make any mistakes, this precarious balancing act could last.
“We don’t really have a choice, do we?” I replied.
You’re insane…
Maybe. I nodded slightly and took another sip of wine. The strong alcohol burned my throat, spreading warmth through my body as a rich grape aroma followed.
A low hum escaped my nose—this was potent stuff. Drink enough of it, and I’d probably pass out without even realizing it.
“Are you the Lord of Ten Thousand Blades’ woman?”
The voice belonged to a stranger—a young woman who had approached without me noticing. She was perhaps a few years older than Theo.
Meeting her gaze over my cup, I said, “The Lord of Ten Thousand Blades’ woman? Are you speaking to me?”
“Who else would I be talking to? You’re the one sitting in that seat.”
I felt a sharp surge of tension behind me. Theo’s hand had instinctively gone to his sword, faint arcs of lightning crackling along its edge. Was he offended on my behalf?
The sentiment wasn’t unwelcome. Smiling faintly, I raised a hand to calm him. “Easy, Theo.”
“Sae…ra…” he muttered under his breath.
I ignored him and continued sipping my wine. The soft clink of my cup punctuated the silence as the woman glared at me.
“So… you’ve sold yourself to him, have you?”
I stood slowly. My silvery hair, shimmering in the firelight, seemed to flare up as I rose.
“Your words are vulgar,” I said, tilting my head as I regarded her.
There was a faint hint of jealousy in her gaze. Did she want this seat? Was she infatuated with the Lord of Ten Thousand Blades? I couldn’t understand, nor did I care to.
“Do you want this seat? To stand by his side?”
I had struck a nerve. Her mouth snapped shut, her previous boldness gone. If she liked him so much, why didn’t she go confess her feelings instead of antagonizing me?
“You little—”
“And you’re old,” I interrupted.
Pfft—!
Laughter burst out from someone nearby.
Saeorin’s sharp retort drew laughter from all corners of the banquet hall. Some snickered quietly, while others erupted into full-blown guffaws. One unfortunate soul even spat out the food they’d been chewing.
That was the signal.
The woman who had insulted me shot to her feet, her face flushed with rage. The table near her was overturned, sending food and drink scattering across the floor.
Such a shallow temperament. It had taken only a single jab for her to lose control.
I rose from my seat calmly, not forgetting to finish the drink in my hand. The cup was empty. Without hesitation, I reached for a nearby bottle.
What are you doing…?
Flora’s worried voice floated over. I waved her off lightly. It was fine. I wasn’t going to lose. My instincts, honed through countless encounters in the wild, whispered confidently to me:
This was a fight I could not lose.
While the enraged woman thrashed about, overturning everything in her path, I remained composed.
Lightly hopping over the debris, I moved to the center of the banquet hall and planted myself there.
Looking directly at her, I spoke.
“Your crude behavior is unbecoming, old woman. Come here—I’ll teach you some manners.”
I said it casually, tilting the bottle of wine to my lips. The strong liquor gurgled audibly as it poured into my mouth. A bit spilled, trickling down my neck and along my collarbone, glinting in the moonlight like liquid silver.
Is she drunk…?
This is insane…
I could hear Theo and Flora whispering behind me, their concern palpable. A small smile tugged at my lips.
Drunk? Hardly.
As a warrior of the White Frost Tribe, it was a matter of pride to drink all day and still remain clear-headed. No amount of alcohol from this banquet would dull my senses.
As I glanced toward the woman, who still hadn’t made a move, I wondered if she was physically unwell. Maybe her old age was taking a toll on her joints.
“Are you having trouble with your joints? Is that why you’re not coming?” I asked, feigning genuine concern.
That was all it took.
With a sharp burst of energy, the woman’s figure shot forward, leaping into the moonlight as she descended toward me. Her internal energy flowed smoothly, her movements sharp and controlled.
“I won’t go easy on you,” she snarled.
Shhhk—
Her blade slid free of its sheath, revealing a thin, flexible sword. It didn’t extend in a straight line but swayed gently, the blade weaving with the wind.
A whip sword.
I’d never seen one used in person before.
But it didn’t matter.
I drew my White Dragon Sword. The pristine white blade shimmered, a crimson streak running along its edge as if eager for battle.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but my body felt loose, my muscles pleasantly relaxed. My movements flowed effortlessly. Even the moonlight above seemed to energize me, as though it were urging me forward.
Sshhhhhh—
She struck first. The blade cut through the air, its trajectory unpredictable. It curved and twisted like a serpent, riding the wind toward me.
It wasn’t a strike I could meet head-on. Deflecting it was the better option.
Moving as though swaying drunkenly, I staggered a single step back. Her blade whistled past my face, close enough to feel the wind it carried. Every strike seemed to aim for my face.
Was she jealous of my appearance? How pitiful. If one couldn’t have beauty, they could at least strive for grace.
Her relentless attacks interrupted my musings. I kept stepping back, observing the movements of her wrist.
It was remarkable—she didn’t need to move much at all. A subtle flick of her wrist sent the blade curling and lashing with an almost serpentine rhythm.
Then, without warning, the tempo shifted. Her attacks sped up, the timing thrown off just enough to force my hand.
Clang!
I was compelled to parry.
Whirl—
The moment our blades met, her flexible sword twisted unnaturally, its body coiling around mine.
‘This could get bad.’
I let go of my sword immediately. The White Dragon Sword flew upward, spinning as her blade whipped past it, trying to seize it.
Whoosh!
I evaded her follow-up strikes, leaping back gracefully. My body spun in the air, the movement fluid and deliberate, like a dancer in mid-performance.
I landed atop one of the large columns that supported the banquet hall. The moonlight bathed me as I stood tall, extending a hand.
A faint blue glow emanated from my body, spreading outward and enveloping the entire hall.
At that moment, the White Dragon Sword, which had been flung away, floated back into the air. It hovered for a brief moment before flying toward me, positioning itself just behind my back.
And then I understood.
‘So this is how it’s done.’
I let my body relax completely. My balance didn’t waver. The mana flowing through me created a gentle breeze that held me aloft, as if cradling me.
Standing on the narrow column, I began to spin. My movements were graceful, almost like a dance.
As my hand swept through the air, I pointed downward.
The moonlight responded.
BOOM!