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42.3% SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody / Chapter 22: The Saint's Dream

章 22: The Saint's Dream

"It's about time now…"

As soon as the Sword Saint spoke, Liu noticed something going on beneath the mountain. His eyes finally left the beauty of sunrise, and his gaze was drawn to the Sect itself.

The shorter cluster of mountains had various wonderful buildings, all of which comprised the Sword Saint Sect, however, there was something he hadn't really noticed until he was now watching from this peak.

A very large portion of tiled ground—completely empty.

It felt odd, like a blank stain on the beauty of the Sect. It existed in the northern area, and it had to cover at least an acre of land.

'So big… yet empty.'

However, Liu soon changed his mind.

Multiple people, mostly young ones, began to seep out of the buildings that littered the Sect. They were most likely the children that inhabited this place, the oldest not being older than fifteen.

They all gathered at the very spot that Liu considered an odd spot, and their numbers slowly increased. Finally… they numbered a little over three hundred.

"These are the children we inhabit. There are exactly four hundred and nine of them, though a good number of them are in closed meditation so they can't appear for the morning activities." The Sword Saint spoke, almost as if she had read Liu's thoughts.

"A-ah, I see." He managed to mutter, watching as they organized themselves into lines and rows. "What exactly are they gathered for?"

The Sword Saint kept her gaze on the children, even though Liu kept alternating is gaze between her and the sight. He was curious, but he also couldn't help looking at her when she spoke.

"Early morning training. It mostly comprises of exercises. They do that for one hour, then they freshen up. Afterward, they eat and then resume their training. Of course, there's time for playing among one another, or simply napping—depending on what they desire."

Liu couldn't believe his ears. This sounded completely different from what he had heard about Sects. Usually, children were worked to the bone to meet up to the standards of a Sect. This was especially true for those who were outsiders, or bought as slaves.

'Only the talented ones get to survive. Or they're used as training fodders for the true heirs of the Sects.'

Compared to that hellish fate, this place seemed like paradise.

"I told you before, didn't I? This Sect is built for the children. It is to groom them, foster their growth, and ensure they develop in the best possible environments. We also make sure to teach them basic education, and guide them in other things."

The Sword Saint told Liu how they had instructors who taught them how to build houses, how to hunt, sew clothes, brew medicines, cook, and many other things. The more he heard, the more Liu became certain that this wasn't exactly a Martial Arts Sect.

It was something else.

"Most of these children were abandoned. Some were on the verge of death, like you. Some even witnessed their parents die before their eyes. They belong to commoner lineages, and they were fated to die before being brought here."

This world was cruel. Every day, countless atrocities were bound to occur, resulting in the deaths and destruction of so many. Liu could recount his own experience, and how his peace-loving village had been pillaged by bandits.

In this unforgiving place, it was beyond astonishing that someone like the Sword Saint existed.

"You met Yisheng, didn't you? And Cu Ren brought you here. Those two came from the same place. It was a village that burned down thanks to a conflict between two warring Sects. It was a wonder how they survived under all that smoke and flames. Yisheng apparently made a concoction that helped them, while Cu Ren protected him from the scorching flames. I managed to save them before they perished and brought them here. Every other person has a similar story."

The more Liu heard, the more his heart bled. He wasn't the only one suffering in this world, that much he already knew. However, now that he had encountered people who had faced such tribulations… he became moved.

'How can those two smile and joke like that? Even after everything…' Perhaps it was time that healed their wounds.

Or maybe, this place was the cause. If this place could cure their pain—and could bring them such fulfillment—then Liu began to wonder about himself.

Would he truly ever be able to recover from the loss he had suffered?

"What about you, Sword Saint?" Liu asked, looking at her once more.

"Me?"

"What happened to you? A-ah, sorry I asked…" What was he thinking? Liu suddenly became flustered, and his cheeks began to heat up again.

"No, it's fine. It's just that not many people ask me what happened. It's been so long, after all." She simply smiled, not thinking too much of it as he had feared she would.

"I grew up close to the sea. My village made a livelihood from fishing. We were a small community, and while we didn't have much… we always did our best to survive." Liu could sense a bittersweet nostalgia coming from her lips as she spoke.

He truly wished the story ended there, and that she continued living in that simple way. Unfortunately, they both knew the harsh truths of this world.

"It was back when the three Pillars were engaged in conflict. The Sky, Earth, and Human Lords respectively waged war against one another. In the end, my village got caught up in it. My parents sacrificed themselves to save me. I was only eight."

Liu's eyes widened at the realization.

At such a young age, she had to encounter such despair. Unlike him, she hadn't been an older person in the body of a child. She was an actual child.

"That's why I want to help these children. I want to teach them how to fight, so they can defend themselves. I want to educate them, teach them how to live peaceful lives, so when they become adults and leave this place… they will fare well."

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[A/N]

This lady is really one of my favorite characters. You just have to admire her ideals.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Please continue to support me. Thank you.


章 23: Fated Bond

The Sword Saint's eyes appeared distant, but her smile was genuine.

The purity of her goals moved Liu. His skepticism vanished, and all he was left with was complete awe. As his respect and affection for the Sword Saint grew, so did his longing to remain with her.

He wanted to see more—to know more—about her.

"So much tragedy occurs in this world every day. It hurts me so much to the point where I can't bear it. And yet, I am too limited to stop it myself. This cycle of pain, misery and death. I am unable to put it to an end."

Hearing this, Liu's chest tightened with resolve, and he clenched his fist in determination. He didn't know about any other person who had heard her story, but for him… he could no longer back down at this point.

"I-I… I want to help! Your goal of stopping this cycle. I want to help you!"

He should have just laughed at her and called her dreams unrealistic. However, after witnessing the beauty of the sunrise, and seeing what she had done for these children, and then hearing about her past, as well as her hope for the future, Liu couldn't do it.

He couldn't resist the allure of her dreams.

"Really? You'll help?" She asked, a smile forming on her face.

"Yes! I'll help you."

"Haha… well, thank you. That brings me relief. Then, Liu, you need to grow up to be healthy and strong."

"Definitely!"

Her smile broadened once she saw him tighten his fist and smile with determination. Liu was absolutely serious.

"We're in this together, okay?"

"Yes, Sword Saint! We're in this together!"

"Ufufufufu." Suddenly letting out a soft chuckle, she closed her eyes for a moment and raised her hand to her lips. "I apologize for that. It's just… Calling me Sword Saint is a bit…"

Liu's cheeks burned even more, and an awkwardness took over him. Still, he had come too far to back down. Seizing his chance, he took a step forward and raised his voice.

"S-so… what should I call you? W-w-what is your name?"

Why was his heart beating so rapidly? Wasn't it just a name?

No, Liu knew it was far more than that.

Getting to know the Sword Saint more than anyone else—calling her by her true name, rather than simply saying 'Master' or 'Sword Saint', had a certain allure to it.

"My name? It's Yui. I'm Yui."

Hearing this, Liu thought the name suited her perfectly. The elegance she exuded was perfect for the name. And so, as his eyes captured her beauty, his lips moved to utter the words he had heard.

"Yui…"

Suddenly, the Sword Saint's expression changed. Her cheeks turned bright red, and tears fell from her eyes.

"A-ah…"

It was the very first time Liu was witnessing this side of her. The Sword Saint—no, Yui—was crying.

"It's been so long since anyone called me that."

Liu felt his heart race. Hearing how he was the first to call her by her name made him feel warm inside. He felt so special—so happy to have been told her name.

"Even when you cry… you're still so beautiful." Once again, he made the mistake of leaking out his thoughts through his lips

"W-well…"

Thanks to his indiscretion, both of them stood opposite each other, their reddened faces sending the right message to each other.

"Thank you, Liu. I haven't smiled like this in a while. I am convinced that our meeting that day was the work of fate."

"I-I'm happy to hear that."

"We share a link in our Souls, thanks to the treatment. Plus, I know your secrets, and you now know mine…" Yui spoke, her tone soft and smooth. "Which is why, after thinking about it for some time, I want to make you an offer."

Right there and there, on the great mountain called Pei Min, they immersed their gaze on each other. The Sword Saint drew closer to Liu, and he did the same.

"Will you be my disciple?"

A disciple was different from any other member of the Sect. They were the personal responsibility of their master. Yui was asking this of Liu—the chance to be the direct responsibility of the Sect Leader.

"Of course, you'll have to call me 'Master' during official times, and in the public. I'll also personally oversee your training and education. You might have to spend a lot more time up here than with your peers. I know it could be difficult, which is why I am aski—"

"YES!"

"Huh? Yes?"

"Yes! I'd gladly be your disciple!" Liu's face was shining much brighter than even the sun. His wide smile threatened to tear his face apart.

"But the inconveniences. Think it through a bit—"

"I don't mind!"

Why would he mind? Wasn't this what he wanted all along? To spend more time with Yui, and to stand by her side? He wanted to help her achieve her dreams—not from the sidelines, but directly beside her.

He didn't know exactly when it happened, but… Yui had become the most precious person to him.

"I desire to be your disciple!" He bowed, for special effect.

He simply mimicked what Cu Ren did the previous day, but it felt off. The fact that Yui was giggling lightly proved that he had gotten it wrong.

It warmed his heart to hear her laugh, regardless.

'Whenever you call my name… whenever you speak… whenever you laugh, or smile, or cry….' Liu's smile brightened as he gazed upon her cheerful countenance.

'... You make me happy.'

"Alright, then. Liu, I henceforth make you my disciple. Done!" Yui snapped her fingers, and voila, he had become hers.

It all felt surreal to him, but he was feeling the embers of hope that he had thought died out after the tragedy he witnessed those months back.

The two of them no longer witnessed the training exercise done by the Sect members, or how the instructors carefully ensured every single child was working hard.

They only looked at each other, locking their pinkies together, as if it was the most natural thing to do. Their smile unchanging, their eyes unfettered, and their hearts racing, they forged a bond that would never be broken.

"Done!" Liu responded.

A bond that would guide his life, and the lives of everyone around him.

And eventually… the same bond that would take him on the path to becoming the strongest.

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[A/N]

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I really like the dynamic between Liu and Yui (Their names seem oddly similar), so I spent these couple of chapters building on it.

In any case, its time to delve further into the story. Please continue to support this book. I appreciate it a lot.

Also… Timeskip incoming.


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