1.
Just past the hour of Zi (midnight).
The village was burning.
“The Demonic Sect… it’s an attack by the Demonic Sect!”
“Damn those Demonic Sect bastards… why target an innocent village…!”
What began as a small spark quickly escalated into a raging inferno, engulfing the entire village. For the boy, Yun-ung, who had been trapped deep within the Blood Sect for so long, it was the first time in years that he saw the light of day.
So bright.
He hadn’t seen sunlight in over a decade. In truth, he had been confined to a basement since birth, and the dim glow of a single candle was the only source of light he had ever known.
He stumbled forward, taking tentative steps.
Those who had guarded him under strict watch lay dead, scattered across the floor. Instinctively, Yun-ung searched for any sign of life.
And then he found it.
Ah.
A girl, ablaze with fire.
She appeared to be about his age and stood calmly in the middle of the inferno, her eyes scanning him with an unnervingly detached gaze.
The girl murmured to herself.
“You’re still alive.”
“…”
“Will you come back later for revenge? Is that how these new events usually unfold? …Curious, should I just leave you be?”
He couldn’t understand her.
But his frail body, worn down from years of mistreatment, could endure no longer. Yun-ung collapsed, unconscious, standing before the beautiful girl.
That was the end.
For those who enjoy martial arts games, there are three warnings I wish to give.
First, exclude demonic martial arts from your acquisition list. If you absolutely cannot, keep them strictly secret.
Second, don’t join as the adopted daughter of a Heavenly Demon just because it seems fun.
And the third, the ultimate one:
[Name: Pengdori]
[Class: Lesser Heavenly Demon (Evil Alignment)]
[The ‘Peng’ clan does not exist in the martial world, so the system has corrected the name to Hebei Peng.]
Pick a nickname as if it were for a real person.
Honestly, all three of these rules felt unfair. When I started the game, I named my character on a whim after seeing the sticker on my desk. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have to live with this name for the rest of my life. If I had, I would have chosen something cooler.
I didn’t even learn this demonic martial art.
Zzzt—zzzt!
Electric currents sparked from my hands as I activated the skill.
This was [Heavenly Demon Trust Martial], a fusion of [Heavenly Demon Divine Skill] and [Thunder Demon Martial], both purchased during my beginner days (each 599,000 won, synthesis cost separate), capable of imbuing a sword with electricity.
I had been drawn purely by the thrill of looking cool while mercilessly tearing hearts apart.
Honestly, how could anyone resist a lightsaber…?
Of course, this is just a game.
Choosing evil alignment or committing in-game murders doesn’t make one a psychopath. I simply enjoyed a bit of reckless, exhilarating gameplay.
…But I never expected to become possessed.
And of all accounts, it had to be the one where I was a recognized martial world prodigy—the heir apparent of the Heavenly Demon.
“Peng Xiaoxie!”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for escorting me this far. Here is your reward.”
At the mention of money, I immediately snapped out of my flashback. The man, dressed in fine unbleached clothing, handed me a reasonably heavy pouch.
He was the leader of a well-known caravan. This time, I had accompanied him to Shanxi Province for a protection assignment.
“Your skill crossing the mountains was remarkable, Xiaoxie. At your age, already reaching peak martial mastery.”
“It was nothing impressive. You flatter me too much.”
“Hah! Excessive modesty is worse than arrogance, you know.”
I forced a small smile.
The character I now inhabited was sixteen. Nearly a year had passed since arriving in the martial world, so I would turn seventeen in a month.
But that was only my character’s age. Before the possession, I was twenty-eight. Introducing myself as sixteen felt… embarrassing.
“Anyway, do you have any scheduled assignments next? If not, perhaps I could officially hire you for our caravan…”
“Apologies.”
I politely declined his offer. Not because of prior engagements, but because lingering too long in one place might attract my adoptive mother from my pre-possession life.
“Child, where are you off to?”
“Me? I… I am here to teach the ignorant people of Central Plains the greatness of the True Sect, Mother.”
“I see. Go on then.”
I recalled my adoptive mother, who had pressed her crimson-eyed face close to mine immediately after the possession. Charming as she looked, I had impulsively clicked ‘Yes’ to become her adopted daughter—yet reality was a sewer. I should have escaped while it was still just a game.
Getting entranced by the character design, I hadn’t anticipated the consequences after possession. Now, even claiming a casual excuse to go out seemed risky.
If I get caught, imprisonment by the Demonic Sect is guaranteed.
Unlike romance fantasy where a Northern Duke imprisons the emperor, being dragged away by a Heavenly Demon adoptive mother in a martial world game? There’s no excuse for that! I genuinely hated it…
“Hmph, is that so? Then it cannot be helped. But whenever you come to Shanxi, bring this token and visit our caravan.”
“I shall gratefully accept it.”
I took the token from the caravan leader and parted ways. Despite spending months in the Central Plains, it was my first time in Shanxi due to the vast territory.
Nothing much to see anyway.
Shanxi has long been the edge of the Central Plains, bordering Inner Mongolia. Compared to the inner regions, the atmosphere is stricter… or so the caravan leader said.
Where did all my nearly ten million won in game knowledge go? Honestly, I focused on rankings and combat power, not memorizing place names or regional features. The only memory I had was that the Jinzhou clan was based in Shanxi.
Historical accuracy? I had no clue. Until mid-game, I even thought the Volcano Sect used flame swords. Maybe they were from a volcano, who knows. For reference, the volcano in this game only has pine trees, and the Sichuan faction doesn’t actually have three thousand members.
What a shame.
“Jian Suoyi! Any seats available?”
“Coming right up!”
I entered a large inn in Shanxi City, shaking off trivial thoughts.
A boy with a prominent mole on his nose, Jian Suoyi, scurried over. Quickly surveying me, he asked politely,
“What will you have?”
“It’s my first time in Shanxi. What’s the most famous dish here?”
“Ah, a traveler, I see.”
He seemed satisfied with my answer.
I was wearing a Mo Yu Jing robe, treated with black oil to resist water. A person wandering around in such attire with a sword at their waist was almost certainly a martial artist.
I said “almost” because aristocratic youths sometimes pretend to be masters. They are easy to spot—well-nourished, tall, and refined-looking. Jian Suoyi probably assumed I was one of these, and explained politely:
“In Shanxi, hand-cut noodles are most famous. The edges are thin, resembling willow leaves, while the inner part is thick. The more you chew, the more aroma develops. They’re considered one of the five great noodle dishes of the Central Plains.”
“Interesting.”
“Ah, if you go upstairs, you can order dishes. From there, the view of Mount Wudai is splendid, preferred by distinguished guests.”
I tapped my index finger. Apparently, I was mistaken for a noble lady, but in reality, I was just a street rat. My only possession was the coin pouch I had just received from the caravan leader.
…In the game, I had been rich.
Recalling the luxurious gold reserves in the Demonic Sect made me feel a little down. Since I had no intention of walking back, that money didn’t exist.
“Just one hand-cut noodle, please.”
“Right away! One hand-cut noodle!”
I waited briefly. Soon, Jian Suoyi brought a steaming bowl of hand-cut noodles. True to the description, the noodles were uneven, leaf-like, and freshly cut.
How long has it been since I had warm food!
During escort duties, we mostly hiked, eating hardtack or preserved food. Soup or fresh noodles were rare treasures.
I picked up my chopsticks, took a big bite of the steaming noodles—
Something feels off.
It wasn’t just paranoia. Inns in the Central Plains historically served more as battlegrounds than places to rest or eat.
My intuition was correct.
“Ugh?!”
“You! How dare you touch the Yeon family! Pay the price!”
“Damn… ugh!”
A man fell directly onto my noodles. Another man, about thirty, raised a gleaming sword, shouting:
“Step aside, young lady, if you value your life. I have business with that man.”
One might call it rude, but this was fairly polite for a martial artist. My looks probably earned me some leniency; swords and all, I was still treated like a young lady rather than a wandering ronin.
“…I’d prefer at least a brief explanation before being told to step aside.”
“If you are from Shanxi, surely you know the Yeon family? That man dared to harm them.”
“Lies!”
The man who fell into my noodles yelled furiously,
“I was just passing by! Framing me, as expected of a cruel Yeon family guard!”
“Hah? I know you belong to the Jin family. The Jin are conspiring to steal the Yeon heirlooms, so we can’t just let you wander freely.”
“What…?”
They suddenly barged in, talking in their own language. Familiar, but still messy.
This was the martial world—complexly tangled with grudges.
Even merely passing through could spark immediate duels, parents’ enemies, masters’ enemies—it was like the night sky full of stars. Nothing unusual here.
Forget the noodles.
Better not to get involved. I sighed and quietly left the inn.
Tch… wasted money.
This is why I hate the martial world. And the Central Plains.
I longed for the safety of home, free from blade threats.
Where should I eat, though?
I had to eat something despite giving up the noodles. Street food options were scarce, and I considered asking locals about a decent tavern nearby.
Thump.
A heavy sound, followed by a corpse falling from the roof. Reflexively, I drew my sword.
On the roof?
Looking up, I saw a gender-unknown martial artist vanish quickly. I scanned around and approached the man.
Sure enough, checking his pulse confirmed death—instantly pierced through the heart.
The sword he carried bore the character ‘Yeon’.
Sensing trouble, I rose from my seat.
Then:
“Found her! That woman!”
“To dare kill the Yeon family guard in the middle of the street… you must be ready!”
“Ah.”
Damn. I had been framed.
