Transmigrating as the Heart Demon of the Ruthless Sword Venerable – Chapter 47
by Little PandaMarriage News (Part 1)
I Actually Thought About It Too
Tang Wenchun drifted and sank through the darkness, struggling to regain her senses.
She knew she had “come back to life” again. Just as written in the novel, before Yu Zhaoming questioned the Great Dao and reached Crossing Tribulation, no matter how many times she was killed, she would resurrect—unable to be truly killed by Yu Zhaoming.
Only this time, the sensation was different from every previous occasion. Her eyes felt as heavy as if they’d been pasted over with glue, and her body had become peculiarly sluggish. Tang Wenchun needed to expend far greater effort just to circulate spiritual qi through herself, clearing her meridians over and over to make herself a little more comfortable.
Why was this happening?
Before Tang Wenchun could figure it out, a stream of spiritual energy pressed gently against her and slipped into her body. This energy shared the same origin as her own, yet was far gentler and more fluid, pushing open her blocked meridians and letting her sense her surroundings once more.
For instance… she seemed to be lying in a soft embrace.
“Awake?” Yu Zhaoming’s voice came from above, close enough that Tang Wenchun could almost feel her breath falling on her cheek.
Tang Wenchun’s eyes snapped open, only to see Yu Zhaoming’s chin. The other woman’s palm rested against her back, spiritual energy flowing ceaselessly from where their bodies touched. Tang Wenchun’s gaze shifted and met Yu Zhaoming’s downturned eyes.
Those eyes were the same as always… no, compared to that usual placidity, there seemed to be something more—a hint of scrutiny, or perhaps inquiry…
Remembering what had happened before she lost consciousness, Tang Wenchun bowed her head in guilt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”
“…” The silence from above lasted long enough to make Tang Wenchun’s heart pound. After a while, she heard Yu Zhaoming sigh. “You wake up, and that’s what you want to say to me?”
Tang Wenchun looked up, face full of surprise. “You’re not angry with me?”
Yu Zhaoming’s gaze rested on her face. “You have your own will, and everyone wants to live. There’s nothing to be angry about.”
Her voice was flat, as if this were a trivial matter of no consequence. Tang Wenchun opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. She thought Yu Zhaoming was simply too considerate, which only made her feel guiltier.
Tang Wenchun gave a sheepish laugh. “So, have you reached Nascent Soul already?”
“Mm.” Yu Zhaoming responded lightly. “We’ve both reached Nascent Soul.”
“Really!” Tang Wenchun chuckled. The feeling of lying flat was truly something else. She felt strength returning to her body, sat up straight, patted herself down, then pinched Yu Zhaoming’s arm, muttering, “I don’t feel any different… ah…”
Tang Wenchun looked up and realized the surrounding scenery had changed. The distant green mountain had fully revealed its silhouette—something seemed to be hidden atop its lofty summit—and the small courtyard from before had shown its true form. This was actually a village. But the village held no people or animals, making it feel rather desolate.
The scenery was beautiful, but…
“So pastoral.” Tang Wenchun said, standing up and taking a few steps. Behind her, Yu Zhaoming followed quietly at her side, as always. Tang Wenchun had long grown accustomed to Yu Zhaoming’s companionship and noticed nothing different.
“Do you like it?” Yu Zhaoming asked.
Tang Wenchun nodded, then shook her head. She pointed at the small courtyard. “It’s a bit too desolate. Look at that big tree—the branches are thick with leaves. It’d be perfect for a swing.”
The moment her words fell, a swaying swing appeared precisely where she had pointed. Tang Wenchun froze and turned to look at Yu Zhaoming. Yu Zhaoming was already looking back at her. “Want to play on it?”
Tang Wenchun stared. She hadn’t expected that a casual remark would make Yu Zhaoming actually conjure a swing for her. Yu Zhaoming had always followed her before, but never like this—never with what seemed like a gesture of appeasement.
Tang Wenchun avoided Yu Zhaoming’s gaze, shook her head, and hastily changed the subject. “What’s happening now? What about Wuji Sect’s Thirteenth Young Master? And our duel?”
Yu Zhaoming looked at Tang Wenchun. She first glanced at the swing hanging to the side, watching it sway alone, before turning her face back. “They’re talking outside. You can take a look.”
“Oh, oh…” Tang Wenchun responded, sneaking another glance at Yu Zhaoming. Seeing no reaction, she told herself she was overthinking things. Then she waved her hand, manifesting the view of the outside world.
There were many people outside, and the room’s decoration was quite luxurious. Tang Wenchun didn’t recognize this place, but she spotted several familiar faces. Yunzhongjun, Zhan Lun, the Medicine Valley disciple Zhou Yiming from before, and their Shizun, Xuanjiu.
“Ah, Shizun is here too… Huh, why are you sitting?”
The cultivation world revered cultivation base and observed strict hierarchy by seniority. Zhan Lun and Zhou Yiming were both standing—how was Yu Zhaoming the only one seated?
“I’m already a Nascent Soul cultivator. Naturally, I’m entitled to a seat.” Yu Zhaoming answered. Though she meant no boast, among this gathering, it was enough to showcase her brilliance.
Tang Wenchun immediately broke into a happy smile. “Yu Zhaoming, you’re amazing!”
A breakthrough wasn’t merely a simple stacking of cultivation base. An unshakable Dao Heart, and even the means to withstand lightning tribulation—any one of these could snap a cultivator’s ascension dream in half. Yet Yu Zhaoming, not yet thirty years old, had already reached the Nascent Soul realm.
She was already the undisputed foremost talent of the Sword Sect’s younger generation.
And Tang Wenchun knew that in the future, she would become the foremost talent of the entire Sword Sect—the foremost talent of the entire cultivation world. Under her protection, the cultivation world would enjoy many years of peace and stability.
Yu Zhaoming watched Tang Wenchun’s expression. She was genuinely happy for her—just like that final sword strike she had aimed at herself, so pure and sincere.
Why?
Yu Zhaoming thought, her heart seeming to twitch faintly.
What did any of this actually benefit Tang Wenchun?
Yu Zhaoming thought, her gaze falling on Tang Wenchun’s face. Tang Wenchun’s complexion was somewhat pale, not as rosy as before. The transfer of cultivation and spiritual energy had ultimately caused damage to the heart demon, yet she didn’t seem to mind at all.
Why?
Yu Zhaoming thought. Her heart demon seemed to her an eternal enigma—she could never fathom what she was thinking.
“…Have you finished discussing or not?! I still have a little disciple whose life or death is unknown. This old lady doesn’t have that much time to waste here with you!!” Xuanjiu’s voice suddenly rang out, shattering the tranquility within the Sea of Consciousness.
Tang Wenchun looked up. She saw Xuanjiu stand up, her hand no longer holding the long smoking pipe she usually carried. The pipe had transformed into its true form as a slender sword. Xuanjiu’s beautiful face was full of irritation and impatience. Turning, she studied her silent eldest disciple for a moment, then lowered her voice. “Zhaoming, come with me. I have something to ask you.”
“Ah, True Person Yaoxing, please wait. This matter…” someone behind called out urgently.
Xuanjiu paused briefly. “I will report this to Sect Master shige, and he will naturally send someone to replace me. My little disciple’s fate is unknown, so please forgive me.”
Her voice contained barely suppressed fury. If the sect’s Soul Tablet hadn’t shown that Tang Wenchun was still alive, she would have torn Xunyang City apart already. But even so, her little disciple’s Soul Tablet had weakened to the point of barely sustaining itself. She had been frantic with worry, suppressing her anger and waiting for days—only to find herself doing nothing but wrangling every day.
Xuanjiu’s expression was ugly, and the Wuji Sect across from her looked no better. They had thought investigating the ghost market would be a minor matter, but it had ended up entangling every sect—and the ones causing trouble in Xunyang City were their own Wuji Sect disciples.
Only, that disciple had been cleanly struck down by Yu Zhaoming’s Nascent Soul Lightning Tribulation. Though they were in the wrong, they felt it was the disciple’s personal behavior, and since his body had already died and his Dao had vanished, they genuinely didn’t want to shoulder more blame.
Yunzhongjun, however, let out a light laugh. “Someone finally got a disciple with extraordinary talent—not something those misshapen melons and split dates1 can compare to.”
At these words, the Wuji Sect members’ faces immediately darkened. Someone said, “Yunzhongjun, what do you mean by that? As the protector, you should be the one responsible for Little Friend Tang’s disappearance…”
Yunzhongjun ignored them entirely. She came to Xuanjiu’s side, her gaze sweeping over the silently standing Yu Zhaoming. “Don’t worry. That Little Friend Tang is blessed by heaven2. Nothing will happen to her.”
Xuanjiu knew Yunzhongjun’s personality had become eccentric since her last seclusion, but the words were on her side, after all. She managed a faint smile and said, “Thank you, Yunzhongjun, for speaking up…” Her heart was anxious, so she didn’t say more, only hurrying away.
Yunzhongjun watched Xuanjiu’s retreating back, then turned to face the Wuji Sect members. “Let’s talk. These matters aren’t something children can handle anymore. Things that happened right under the Wuji Sect’s nose—you’ll have to give us an explanation, won’t you?”
The Wuji Sect members exchanged glances, visibly displeased, but ultimately had no recourse.
Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Tang Wenchun looked at Yu Zhaoming, hesitating. “So what do we do now?”
Yu Zhaoming gave an affirmative murmur. “I’ll find an excuse to leave, then you come out, and we go back. We’ll say you were injured. How about that?”
Tang Wenchun thought it over and over, and could only agree.
The two were still discussing when Xuanjiu suddenly stopped in her tracks. She turned to look at Yu Zhaoming, her expression grave. “Zhaoming, tell me—how exactly did you obtain the opportunity to advance to the Nascent Soul realm?”
Yu Zhaoming faltered. She looked at Xuanjiu.
Xuanjiu’s brow furrowed deeply. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Did it have something to do with Wenchun?”
Yu Zhaoming’s breath caught, her pupils dilating slightly. Though her face still showed little expression, such subtle tells couldn’t escape Xuanjiu. Xuanjiu’s heart sank. She looked at Yu Zhaoming, her hand tightening into a fist.
The thing she had feared most had come to pass.
She had always believed Yu Zhaoming was a good child. Though she worried about Yu Zhaoming’s path, she never thought she would actually do anything to Tang Wenchun. But over these past few days, seeing those young people who went astray in pursuit of greater cultivation, her heart had gradually wavered.
What had once been a casual question was now reality.
Xuanjiu suppressed the grief and fury in her heart. “Wenchun… is she still alive?”
Yu Zhaoming lowered her head. “Alive.”
Xuanjiu nodded. “Bring her to see me. As for you, Zhaoming.” She looked at her disciple. “Cultivation is important, but it’s having a heart and feelings that makes one human. If you would harm your own fellow disciple to raise your cultivation, then who could ever restrain you in the future? If you knew that sacrificing everyone in the world could bring you to ascension, would you slaughter them all?”
“You’ve truly… disappointed me. After we return, report yourself to the Disciplinary Hall.”
Yu Zhaoming bowed her head and answered yes. Xuanjiu turned and walked away with heavy steps.
Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Tang Wenchun gasped, her spiritual consciousness about to project outward. Yu Zhaoming grabbed hold of her. “What are you doing?”
“I need to explain! I did this myself—what does it have to do with you?” Tang Wenchun said, frowning. “You can even tolerate a heart demon. Shizun shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
Yu Zhaoming looked at Tang Wenchun. She was silent for a moment before saying, “How do you know that even though I never acted on it, I had once thought about it?”
Tang Wenchun’s eyes went wide.
The author has something to say:
Tang Wenchun: To think you, with those thick eyebrows and big eyes3, actually wanted to kill me?!
Xuanjiu: To think my disciple really did slay her spouse to prove the Dao after all
Yu Zhaoming: …
Footnotes
- 歪瓜裂枣 | wai gua lie zao | Literally 'misshapen melons and split dates' — a colloquial Chinese idiom for defective or inferior goods; used here by Yunzhongjun to mock Wuji Sect's corrupt and mediocre disciples as unworthy comparisons.
- 吉人天相 | ji ren tian xiang | A classical Chinese idiom meaning 'the virtuous are protected by heaven's blessing'; expresses the belief that worthy, fortunate individuals are shielded from harm by cosmic forces.
- 浓眉大眼 | nong mei da yan | Literally 'thick eyebrows and big eyes' — a Chinese pop-culture meme originating from the image of honest, upright characters in revolutionary films; used humorously when a seemingly respectable person does something unexpected or treacherous.
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