Transmigrating as the Heart Demon of the Ruthless Sword Venerable – Chapter 50
by Little PandaMarriage News (Part 4)
Grand Wedding
Regardless, what came next had little to do with Yu Zhaoming and Tang Wenchun. They were merely disciples representing their sect at the Grand Sect Competition—no matter how outstanding, they hadn’t reached the level where they’d be needed to handle affairs.
So Tang Wenchun enjoyed a rare stretch of leisure since her transmigration. They remained in Xunyang City for the time being, and occasionally Zhan Lun would relay various pieces of news like a gossip ringleader.
Things like the Wuji Sect beginning internal investigations, or how it wasn’t just the Wuji Sect—other sects were also checking whether their own disciples had been ensnared by these evil arts.
“This matter reaches far and wide, and this is only Xunyang City. Who knows how the investigations are going elsewhere. It’s a pity that Thirteenth Young Master and those evil cultivators below Nascent Soul had the body die and the Dao vanish under the Eldest Senior Sister’s Nascent Soul Lightning Tribulation. The one who barely survived had a shattered Sea of Consciousness, so no useful information could be extracted. Though I heard he was wreathed in Demon Qi—perhaps he was one of the Demon Cultivators who infiltrated the city this time. Demon Cultivators and Evil Cultivators mingling together… I fear the world is about to grow restless…”
Zhan Lun looked up, brush still in hand, gazing at Tang Wenchun: “What do you mean by this ‘interface’?”
“You can’t develop everything inside the Myriad Realms Mirror yourselves… build it all yourself. You have to leave some room for others, so everyone can pool their efforts, right? You handle the most basic functions, and then…” Tang Wenchun explained, and Zhan Lun immediately caught on, letting out a few “oh, oh, oh”s before ducking his head to take notes.
“Well said. Just like our cultivation world—only with many sects can we let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend1. Oh, and that image-recording upload feature you mentioned last time—our artisans have already produced a preliminary version. I’ll have one sent to you to try out someday.”
While one side discussed with fervent enthusiasm, the other had fallen into an awkward silence. Not far away, Zhou Yiming and Fu Hua of the Sound Sect sat on opposite sides, both turning to look at Yu Zhaoming: “Fellow Daoist Tang and Fellow Daoist Zhan are chatting about things I can’t understand a single word of. Eldest Senior Sister, do you?”
Yu Zhaoming’s gaze rested on the longsword on the table. She shook her head: “I don’t either.”
“So even the Eldest Senior Sister doesn’t understand…” Zhou Yiming gave a dry laugh. The elders had all gathered in Xunyang City to discuss the aftermath. As disciples, they couldn’t leave just yet, and with nothing to do, they’d been instructed by their elders to gather together and build some rapport.
Yet whenever Zhan Lun and Tang Wenchun got together, they’d start muttering and whispering about things nobody else understood. They couldn’t even get a word in, so they could only cluster around Yu Zhaoming.
But Yu Zhaoming was not one for words, and every time she looked up, her gaze landed on Tang Wenchun. Say there was feeling—she practiced the Emotionless Dao. Say there was no feeling—then why did she keep staring at her shimei!! Zhou Yiming sat to the side feeling thoroughly awkward, desperately chugging water.
Fortunately, there was Fu Hua, who had no concept of awkwardness. She lowered her voice: “Fellow Daoist Tang, since you’re the Young Pavilion Master of Treasure Gathering Pavilion, could you maybe sell me things at a discount? My master’s grand wedding is coming up, and I haven’t picked out a gift yet.”
Zhou Yiming started, asking: “Your master? Yunzhongjun? I haven’t heard anything about Yunzhongjun having a grand wedding.”
Fu Hua laughed: “Even though it was Yunzhongjun who taught me my cultivation arts, I formally apprenticed under Yunzhongjun’s shijie Nüluo. My Martial Uncle refused to take disciples, drawing the elders’ displeasure. So my master stepped forward to take disciples, but my master’s cultivation is only at Golden Core, not yet fully perfected. That’s why it’s my Martial Uncle who teaches us in our master’s place.”
Zhou Yiming scratched his head: “I see… I’ve actually heard of Senior Nüluo’s name… it’s just…”
He paused, suddenly realizing something, and didn’t continue.
Fu Hua, however, laughed without concern: “Just that her reputation isn’t great, right? They all say my master leans on her Martial Uncle. My master’s talent is poor—if not for having a brilliantly gifted shimei, how would she have attained her current position in the Sound Sect, even earning a seat as an elder?”
A look of embarrassment immediately surfaced on Zhou Yiming’s face. He waved his hands: “Those kinds of rumors, um, that—we don’t believe those.”
Fu Hua shrugged: “My master is indeed only at Golden Core cultivation. But I heard from my Martial Uncle that when she was young, she received much help from my master, who spared no effort, and that’s why she has what she has today. What she’s doing for my master now is only right.”
“Ahaha, then their relationship must be really good.” Zhou Yiming laughed a few times. Yu Zhaoming beside him was a tight-lipped one, and Fu Hua was willing to talk about anything—but those were internal sect matters. Was it really his place to gossip about them? How awkward.
Fu Hua, though, didn’t seem to mind: “Good is good, but my master has been avoiding my Martial Uncle lately. She didn’t even tell my Martial Uncle about this wedding—just instructed us few to keep it simple. They’ve been engaged for so many years without being able to marry; I’d actually thought my master had changed her mind…”
Zhou Yiming buried his head in his water. He didn’t want to hear these sect secrets. It felt like Yunzhongjun might appear at any moment to silence them permanently.
Yu Zhaoming heard this. She glanced at Fu Hua’s puzzled expression, but in her heart, she understood exactly what was going on. She simply wasn’t one to meddle in others’ business, so she only said: “Let the elders worry about the elders’ affairs…” She suddenly stood up. Zhou Yiming looked over and saw Tang Wenchun turning her head at just that moment, smiling at Yu Zhaoming.
Zhou Yiming: “…”
That didn’t look like the Emotionless Dao at all!!
Tang Wenchun beamed as she watched Yu Zhaoming walk toward her. She tilted her head up; Yu Zhaoming bent down and took her hand. Then, familiar Spiritual Energy flowed over, slowly filling Tang Wenchun, making her entire body warm and cozy.
An Ice Spirit Root, yet she always brought warmth.
“What were you talking about?” Tang Wenchun asked.
“Nothing important. Just idle chatter.” Yu Zhaoming replied.
Zhan Lun’s gaze fell on her, but she didn’t seem to mind. Tang Wenchun, however, smiled: “I’ve already discussed it with Zhan Lun. When the new version of the Myriad Realms Mirror launches, he’ll give one each to you and me.”
Zhan Lun smiled: “Free of charge.”
With Yu Zhaoming’s martial prowess and Tang Wenchun’s brains, the Sword Sect was bound to flourish in the future. Zhan Lun was naturally happy to build a good relationship now. Yu Zhaoming, hearing this, finally turned her gaze toward Zhan Lun: “Thank you.”
Once the elders finally finished handling Xunyang City’s affairs, it was time for the group to part ways. Zhou Yiming left his contact information. Zhan Lun went without saying—he directly gave the Sword Sect a Heavenly Dao Contract. As for Fu Hua, she gave Tang Wenchun and Yu Zhaoming a wedding invitation.
“Thanks for helping me haggle. This is an invitation to my master’s grand wedding. I hope you’ll do me the honor of attending.”
The little disciple of the Sound Sect smiled happily and waved at the two. Tang Wenchun watched Fu Hua leave quickly, then looked down at the invitation in her hand: “Her master? Who?”
Yu Zhaoming lowered her head slightly: “Senior Nüluo.”
“…Ah? Who??” Tang Wenchun’s jaw nearly dropped, her voice trembling: “Does Yunzhongjun know?”
Yu Zhaoming shook her head: “Most likely not…”
“Hiss…” Tang Wenchun couldn’t help rubbing her arms. “Then maybe we shouldn’t go.”
Yu Zhaoming tilted her head: “Why?”
Tang Wenchun lowered her voice: “She likes Senior Nüluo!”
Yu Zhaoming looked puzzled: “It’s common knowledge that Senior Nüluo’s marriage was arranged by her master while he was still alive. Yunzhongjun never objected back then. Besides, she’s a sect master—she wouldn’t do anything to damage her sect’s reputation.”
Tang Wenchun fell silent for a moment. If Yunzhongjun were just an ordinary cultivator, perhaps that would hold true. But Yunzhongjun was a Heart Demon. A Heart Demon was the embodiment of obsession—and what was Yunzhongjun’s obsession? Even without asking Yunzhongjun, Tang Wenchun thought she could see it. She sighed, but this was something she couldn’t tell Yu Zhaoming.
She lifted her eyes and found Yu Zhaoming watching her. “You and Yunzhongjun…” she began, but her words abruptly stopped. In the end, she only gazed deeply at Tang Wenchun and said nothing more.
Tang Wenchun kept her head down. Since she had awakened, Yu Zhaoming’s attitude toward her seemed to have shifted somewhat. But Tang Wenchun didn’t dislike this change—compared to the Yu Zhaoming of the previous five years, who had grown increasingly cold and distant.
The Yu Zhaoming of now felt like she had gained a touch of humanity.
As if she had separated from the Sword Venerable in the book—the one who was always icy, who always placed the world and the Sword Sect above all else.
Looking at the Yu Zhaoming before her, who would furrow her brow, who would silently channel Spiritual Qi into her, Tang Wenchun felt she liked this version of Yu Zhaoming a little more.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Yu Zhaoming asked.
Tang Wenchun blinked: “Why should I be talking?”
Yu Zhaoming replied evenly: “You don’t like quiet. Whenever people are around, you always want to say something, don’t you?”
Tang Wenchun was taken aback. That was indeed her habit. When she was young, she was always alone, so when there were people around, she’d feel restless inside. To dispel that unease, she’d unconsciously seek out topics to discuss, looking like a social butterfly2 while actually being deeply socially anxious3.
Only when she was alone did she truly relax.
It had been the same with Yu Zhaoming before—she was always talking. But at some point, she’d grown accustomed to Yu Zhaoming’s presence by her side, as if she no longer needed to deliberately open her mouth and rack her brain for topics.
She heard Yu Zhaoming say quietly: “You have so much to say to everyone else. Are you not going to talk to me?”
Tang Wenchun laughed: “We see each other every day, spend all our time together. I don’t even know what to say anymore… Why don’t you start a conversation for once?”
Yu Zhaoming froze. She had long grown accustomed to always having someone chattering nonstop beside her. It never required her to think of anything—she only needed to occasionally respond or chime in. When Tang Wenchun fell silent, apart from finding it a bit too quiet, she also felt a faint sense of dissatisfaction.
Yunzhongjun, Zhan Lun—she could chat with any of them.
Now that Tang Wenchun said this, she suddenly felt at a loss.
Finding a topic…
That seemed even harder than practicing the sword. Her heart seemed to catch in her chest, and she thought to herself that she truly was a dull one.
Yu Zhaoming fell silent. She turned her head and saw Tang Wenchun covering her mouth, stifling a laugh. Her heart instantly relaxed, and she suddenly thought of a topic: “Shizun says she’ll arrange our grand wedding once we return.”
Tang Wenchun’s face went pale with alarm: “Stop, stop! No grand wedding! No grand wedding!!”
Yu Zhaoming thus closed her mouth. She watched Tang Wenchun frantically wiping sweat from her forehead, not understanding why, yet feeling a subtle sense of dissatisfaction: “You don’t want to?”
What did that mean? Was she supposed to answer yes or no? Tang Wenchun looked at Yu Zhaoming in alarm, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Just then, Xuanjiu’s voice came: “So here you are.”
“Shizun!” Tang Wenchun looked toward Xuanjiu as if she’d seen a savior.
Xuanjiu’s expression was unreadable, but Tang Wenchun still thought she looked somewhat weary. She blinked: “Are we heading back to the Sword Sect?”
After being out for so long, Tang Wenchun actually missed the Sword Sect a little. The Sword Sect might be poor, but the shixiong, shidi, shijie, and shimei were all wonderful. There was none of what she’d seen in Xunyang City—the humiliation and exploitation of the weak by the strong, where even if someone caused another’s death, they could brazenly declare it deserved.
Something like what happened with Thirteenth Young Master would never occur there. By comparison, the Sword Sect was like a paradise4.
To have transmigrated as Yu Zhaoming’s Heart Demon and ended up in the Sword Sect—Tang Wenchun felt that was her good fortune.
Hearing this, a hint of nostalgia appeared on Xuanjiu’s face: “You want to go back? I want to go back too… However.” She flipped her hand and shook the invitation she held. “However, the Sound Sect’s Nüluo and Shenfeng Sect’s Shen Feng are having their grand wedding, and we still need to attend the ceremony.”
“Eh?” Tang Wenchun also pulled out an identical invitation. “But didn’t Fu Hua say Senior Nüluo didn’t want too many people to know?”
Xuanjiu paused slightly, glanced at the seal on the invitation, and then revealed a knowing smile: “The Shenfeng Sect has latched onto the Sound Sect, and Nüluo is the Sound Sect Master’s respected shijie—of course they’d publicize it far and wide. This is the perfect opportunity for the Shenfeng Sect to elevate its standing.”
Hearing this, Tang Wenchun glanced at Yu Zhaoming, an ominous premonition passing through her heart.
The author has something to say:
Yunzhongjun: Heh, heheh, heheheheh
Tang Wenchun: …
Yu Zhaoming: Silently learning
Now you know why Yunzhongjun (the Heart Demon) was so powerful back then, right? As for what Nüluo is thinking, there’s more on that later. Actually, Nüluo’s name means dodder5, and her ending was set from the moment she first appeared.
That’s all for now~
Footnotes
- 百花齐放百家争鸣 | baihua qifang baijia zhengming | Originally a classical phrase advocating intellectual pluralism, famously repurposed as a 1956 political slogan encouraging open debate and artistic diversity; here applied to software development and sect competition.
- 社牛 | sheniu | Chinese internet slang combining 'social' with 'cow' (niu, slang for 'awesome'); describes someone aggressively extroverted who thrives on social interaction and effortlessly works any room.
- 社恐 | shekong | Chinese internet slang abbreviating social phobia; used casually to describe socially anxious or introverted tendencies, far milder than the clinical diagnosis it borrows from.
- 世外桃源 | shiwai taoyuan | Literally 'a peach blossom spring beyond the world,' from Tao Yuanming's famous fifth-century fable about a fisherman discovering a hidden utopian village untouched by war; now a standard Chinese metaphor for an idyllic, isolated paradise.
- 菟丝子 | tusizi | A parasitic climbing plant (Cuscuta) that cannot survive without a host, wrapping around and draining nutrients from other plants; in Chinese literary tradition it symbolizes total dependence on another, foreshadowing Nüluo's fate.
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