1. And in your questioning of all things, have
you ever heard an answer that satisfied you?Copy !req
2. No.Copy !req
3. I've heard countless answers,Copy !req
4. and seen the ends of countless individuals.Copy !req
5. Yet not once was I able
to accept the outcome.Copy !req
6. To my eyes, it seems as if people simply
never realize how futile their actions areCopy !req
7. as they kill and are killed by others.Copy !req
8. Do you think that it's pointless
to fight in the name of loyalty?Copy !req
9. Only those who are masters
speak of the value of loyalty.Copy !req
10. If a servant seeks
motivation for their loyalty,Copy !req
11. it would be no different
than seeking a reward.Copy !req
12. That's not true, selfless loyalty!Copy !req
13. Indeed. It is no different than the actions
of one acting in a purely mercenary fashion.Copy !req
14. Then to act in the name of true loyalty...Copy !req
15. What can I turn to for strength?Copy !req
16. What do you mean?Copy !req
17. My sword is weak because it is pointless.Copy !req
18. You were the one who said that!Copy !req
19. I've lost to my enemies.Copy !req
20. And if my weakness was the cause,Copy !req
21. then you may be right, that I lacked
a strong enough reason for my actions.Copy !req
22. But if seeking a reason for my
loyalty is truly self-serving,Copy !req
23. how else can I make up
for that which I lack?Copy !req
24. You're making a fundamental mistake.Copy !req
25. Why seek power?Copy !req
26. Why pursue victory or results?Copy !req
27. That's...Copy !req
28. Because I seek to serve my lord well.Copy !req
29. Devotion begins with knowing
yourself and your limitations.Copy !req
30. You then try to accomplish that which
you know you can, without fail,Copy !req
31. no matter how meager the result,
and carry on doing so.Copy !req
32. It is in that diligence and sincerity
that loyalty is truly proven.Copy !req
33. You would have me act as a
peon in the name of service?Copy !req
34. As a servant, you should consider
your life to belong to your master.Copy !req
35. If, in your pursuit of accomplishments,Copy !req
36. you expose yourself to danger on
the chance that it may be rewarded,Copy !req
37. that is no different than gambling
with the wealth of your master.Copy !req
38. A far cry from true loyalty.Copy !req
39. If you are seeking meaning or strength,Copy !req
40. it is out of a selfish desire
for compensation, not out of devotion.Copy !req
41. I believe you should re-examine what
it is you desire, with that in mind.Copy !req
42. You're suggesting that I'm just another
in the multitudes you've seen,Copy !req
43. who will live a hollow life of killing
before ultimately being killed?Copy !req
44. If you truly sought to dedicate
yourself in the name of loyalty...Copy !req
45. You would never suffer and
become lost, as I have.Copy !req
46. You would never give thought
to your own purpose or value,Copy !req
47. and simply live your life in
the service of your master.Copy !req
48. That's the sword the woman responsible
for the trouble in town had, yes?Copy !req
49. It is called the Night of Mourning.Copy !req
50. A cursed blade of some regard in Xī Yōu.Copy !req
51. While the battle this afternoon
didn't turn out ideally,Copy !req
52. retrieving this means that we were
able to accomplish a fair deal.Copy !req
53. That being said, as someone with his own
soldiers already, it is of absolutely no use.Copy !req
54. You make it sound as if you would use
such a sword, given the right situation.Copy !req
55. Oh, no, I would never.Copy !req
56. As a fugitive hunter,
I could never debase myselfCopy !req
57. with the use of these
unholy, sorcerous weapons.Copy !req
58. I was simply remarking that it's wonderful
we were able to retrieve it from a criminal.Copy !req
59. The question thenCopy !req
60. is whether or not this is the only mystic
sword in Xiē Yīngluò's possession.Copy !req
61. You suppose there may be others, then?Copy !req
62. It depends on how exactly
the woman was able toCopy !req
63. obtain part of the contents
of the Sorcerous Sword Index.Copy !req
64. But I can think of no reason why,
if she was able to steal one,Copy !req
65. she wouldn't be able to steal others.Copy !req
66. That said, fighting Shāng Bù Huàn would
demand all the resources she had available,Copy !req
67. yet she was only using this
weapon in her battles.Copy !req
68. Which means any other other sword she
might have is either weaker still,Copy !req
69. or possibly too dangerous for her to use.Copy !req
70. I see. As expected of a prestigious
fugitive hunter from Xī Yōu.Copy !req
71. Your insight into such
manners is quite remarkable.Copy !req
72. As it stands, I believe we lack the
means to completely corner Shāng Bù Huàn.Copy !req
73. The wisest course of action
would likely be dealing withCopy !req
74. Xiē Yīngluò and verifying any
other mystic swords in her possession.Copy !req
75. If I may digress a moment...Copy !req
76. Sir Guǐ Niǎo, have you
heard of the Enigmatic Gale?Copy !req
77. Oh, I'm aware of such tall tales
in circulation among the people,Copy !req
78. but I would chalk it up to the ravings
of those in love with random chatter.Copy !req
79. Nothing for you to concern yourself with,
Sir Fugitive Hunter.Copy !req
80. Oh, my... you certainly seem to take the
subject more lightly than the good captain.Copy !req
81. It's my personal opinion that
talk of some elusive master thiefCopy !req
82. would create little more than a
scapegoat for law officersCopy !req
83. incapable of performing their duty.Copy !req
84. Thus, as an itinerant
envoy for the government,Copy !req
85. I consider it to be far
from a laughing matter.Copy !req
86. Oh, I beg your pardon.Copy !req
87. I had no idea it was such a sensitive matter.Copy !req
88. Please, forgive me.Copy !req
89. Oh, it's quite all right. I'd only ask that
you please forget that you ever heardCopy !req
90. of such a shameful matter
from the lawmen of Dōng Li.Copy !req
91. Why exactly did you call me out here?Copy !req
92. Well, it seems your musical friend
and I have certain compatibility problems.Copy !req
93. So I thought if we were to meet,
it'd be best to do so alone.Copy !req
94. Figures you two wouldn't get along.Copy !req
95. I'm impressed that you
handled the Wasteland of SpiritsCopy !req
96. without any trouble.Copy !req
97. We made quite the proficient
dragon hunting team, actually.Copy !req
98. The problem came when the conversation took
a turn for the awkward on the way back.Copy !req
99. It is so hard to deal with
people who talk so little.Copy !req
100. You trying to tell me that if I'd
stop taking the bait and responding,Copy !req
101. you'll stop following me around?Copy !req
102. Yet for all your harsh words,Copy !req
103. you showed up upon receiving my dispatch,Copy !req
104. proving once again how
very interesting you are.Copy !req
105. Well, I never thanked you
for the antidote, I guess.Copy !req
106. Just don't expect me to do you any favors!Copy !req
107. I'm not letting you use this as a chance
to rope me into some nasty crap!Copy !req
108. But of course. What I did was done
for the sake of my own amusement.Copy !req
109. We can leave the matter of
the dragon's horn at that.Copy !req
110. I want to propose a mutually beneficial
deal regarding something else, actually.Copy !req
111. I'd like you to tell me
about Xiào Kuáng Juàn.Copy !req
112. His accomplishments,
insight into his character,Copy !req
113. past conflicts between the
two of you... anything will do.Copy !req
114. It will be information that will go into
the calculations of my next scheme.Copy !req
115. And then you're gonna screw him
over for the fun of it, huh?Copy !req
116. Exactly! He is your enemy, isn't he?Copy !req
117. I can't imagine you'd have any
reason to show him sympathy.Copy !req
118. Yeah. I wouldn't shed any
tears over him getting his.Copy !req
119. He's earned anything you've
got cooked up for him.Copy !req
120. That doesn't mean I have to
help you with your fun, though.Copy !req
121. I had thought that my sabotage of his effortsCopy !req
122. would be beneficial to you.Copy !req
123. That guy's free to dig his own grave.Copy !req
124. I just don't wanna sneak up
behind him and kick him into it.Copy !req
125. Feeling guilty about it
later might spoil a meal.Copy !req
126. And here I thought that such
reminisces would be enoughCopy !req
127. to make the worst swill taste
like the finest wine.Copy !req
128. Let's just say that you and I don't
have the same taste, thankfully.Copy !req
129. He was rather interested in
talking about you, however.Copy !req
130. Even putting aside the obvious lies...Copy !req
131. Is this business of you raiding
the imperial treasury true?Copy !req
132. Yeah, actually.Copy !req
133. The Hù Yìn Shī are supposed to look
after Shén Huì Mó Xiè weapons in Xī Yōu, too.Copy !req
134. But instead the imperial army
got their hands on them,Copy !req
135. and were stupid enough to talk about
using them on the tribes in the south.Copy !req
136. So I took the matter out of their hands.Copy !req
137. That makes sense.Copy !req
138. And I can only applaud your
recklessness at not hesitating toCopy !req
139. make yourself an enemy of the Emperor.Copy !req
140. There's one other matter.Copy !req
141. Xiào Kuáng Juàn seems to think that
in addition to the Night of Mourning,Copy !req
142. Xiē Yīngluò has another
mystic sword in her possession.Copy !req
143. From the look on your face,
it seems he's right.Copy !req
144. If it's all right, would you tell
me what kind of sword is it?Copy !req
145. Your bitter silence tells me
more than any words could say.Copy !req
146. The kind of sword that, in my hands,
could cause a grave disaster...Copy !req
147. Something that dangerous, then?Copy !req
148. It's not about you.Copy !req
149. That sword's the kind of thing that
nobody should get their hands on.Copy !req
150. A sword's power depends on its wielder.Copy !req
151. They are mere tools, not worthy of fear
or worship. Wasn't that what you believed?Copy !req
152. That thing... It's more
like a beast than a sword.Copy !req
153. The kind where you risk your life
to approach it even when caged.Copy !req
154. Hell, you could call it a monster.Copy !req
155. More dangerous than Miè Tiān Hái
and a fire-breathing dragon, then?Copy !req
156. It's on a whole different level.Copy !req
157. No... it's more like a
different type of threat.Copy !req
158. Teaming up with the law had to have
been humiliating for Xiē Yīngluò,Copy !req
159. but she still preferred that to actually
drawing the sword she had with her.Copy !req
160. That said, there's no telling what
she might do if she gets desperate.Copy !req
161. She's injured and she lost the Night of Mourning,
so she's bound to be on edge.Copy !req
162. It must be inconvenient,
worrying more about your foes than yourself.Copy !req
163. I'm not gonna help you set
up Xiào Kuáng Juàn,Copy !req
164. but if you think he's going to
corner Xiē Yīngluò, let me know.Copy !req
165. Even if I have to work with you to do it,
she must be stopped.Copy !req
166. A fair proposal, but the timing is bad.Copy !req
167. More specifically, I suppose
you could say it's too late.Copy !req
168. What?Copy !req
169. The honorable fugitive hunter
has set a dragnet on the roadsCopy !req
170. that headed west this morning.Copy !req
171. He plans to ambush her, anticipating that
she will attempt to return to Xī Yōu.Copy !req
172. Damn it! Couldn't you have
told me that first, fool?Copy !req
173. Well, it seems things have once again
taken a turn for the interesting.Copy !req
174. If I were to die in the name
of duty in this foreign land...Copy !req
175. How would it actually
benefit Lord Míng Huáng?Copy !req
176. Instead, I should endure the shame,
and return with this lone mystic sword.Copy !req
177. And then atone for my failure to
fulfill his mission with death.Copy !req
178. That would be better.Copy !req
179. Xiào Kuáng Juàn! You...!Copy !req
180. Well, I was just thinking...Copy !req
181. Was the Night of Mourning really
the only mystic sword you had?Copy !req
182. If that was the only thing you had obtained
from your assault on Xiān Zhèn Fortress,Copy !req
183. you would never think of
returning empty-handed.Copy !req
184. In your injured state,
you would've risked it all in aCopy !req
185. suicide attack targeting either
myself or Shāng Bù Huàn.Copy !req
186. And that would have saved me the trouble
of searching for you. However...Copy !req
187. If you were to try and slink
back to Xī Yōu quietly,Copy !req
188. it would mean you had something you
feared losing in your possession.Copy !req
189. And my efforts to set an ambush along likely
escape routes has paid off handsomely.Copy !req
190. How low will you stoop?Copy !req
191. You call yourself a man of the law,
yet relish scheming this much?Copy !req
192. Why, of course!Copy !req
193. As an officer of the law,
I stand as its guardian.Copy !req
194. Which means that when
it comes to criminals...Copy !req
195. I'm free to treat them as
cruelly and brutally as I like.Copy !req
196. She's injured. She should pose no
major threat, but don't be careless.Copy !req
197. Hurt her bit by bit, and hound
her until her strength fails!Copy !req
198. Yes, sir!Copy !req
199. Still not drawing it, eh?Copy !req
200. I suppose the sword that you still had
in your possession was too much for you.Copy !req
201. How unfortunate for you.Copy !req
202. Am I going to die in a place like this?Copy !req
203. Yes. You are going to die here.Copy !req
204. Mocked, brutalized, and losing your life
without accomplishing even a single thing.Copy !req
205. A fitting punishment.Copy !req
206. You paid no heed to my warnings,Copy !req
207. and foolishly denied my aid,Copy !req
208. leaving me trapped in this
pathetic bondage. How appropriate.Copy !req
209. But... But you...Copy !req
210. You've seduced countless wielders,
just like this!Copy !req
211. She doesn't even have the strength to
summon her precious poison insects.Copy !req
212. Why, I dare say that the
only insect here now is you.Copy !req
213. One that I can crush at my leisure.Copy !req
214. It's not too late to redeem yourself.Copy !req
215. Take me up. No matter what
threat you find yourself facing,Copy !req
216. with the power of a peerless
mystic sword such as myself,Copy !req
217. you will see your way through.Copy !req
218. Or would you rather fall here? Unable to
demonstrate your loyalty to your master,Copy !req
219. unable to deal any sort
of blow to your sworn foe,Copy !req
220. and leaving not a single trace
of your pitiful existence behind you?Copy !req
221. It will be your choice.Copy !req
222. How long are you going to cling
to that sword you won't even use?Copy !req
223. It's high time you hand it over!Copy !req
224. I...Copy !req
225. Or would you rather I slice your
fingers off one at a time?Copy !req
226. If you make this easier for me, I can
make your death relatively painless.Copy !req
227. I... don't want to die... so pathetically...Copy !req
228. I would not have fought so
hard before now if I did!Copy !req
229. That sword! It can't be...Copy !req
230. You called me an insect?
Laughed and said you would crush me?Copy !req
231. Very well. You will now
see what it feels like...Copy !req
232. To be an insect who is looked
down upon before being crushed!Copy !req
233. Wonderful! Your path to domination begins!Copy !req
234. Let us celebrate now with a feast!Copy !req
235. It's so beautiful...Copy !req
236. What a sword!Copy !req
237. Give it to me! Give the sword to me!Copy !req
238. No, it's mine! Move aside!Copy !req
239. Ah, what sweet nectar!Copy !req
240. Truly, there is nothing better
than the slick caress of blood.Copy !req
241. Power surges through me...Copy !req
242. The lives I take are being poured into me!Copy !req
243. Indeed. This is my gift to you.Copy !req
244. A joy only bestowed upon those who
wield the blade of a conqueror!Copy !req
245. Sweet... The blood is so sweet!Copy !req
246. Each kill makes my mind tingle!Copy !req
247. My chest heaves with happiness!Copy !req
248. A single taste is all it takes...Copy !req
249. You will never even think
of defying me again.Copy !req
250. Give it to me!Copy !req
251. That beautiful sword must be mine!Copy !req
252. Never let me go.Copy !req
253. The pinnacle of pleasure is yours now.Copy !req
254. And thus, all will pursue you.Copy !req
255. They will be compelled to
seek me out, no matter what.Copy !req
256. And it is by evading and cutting down all
those who would contend with youCopy !req
257. that you prove you are
worthy of grasping my hilt.Copy !req
258. Of course!Copy !req
259. As you wish, Seven Blasphemous Deaths!
My beloved!Copy !req
260. We're too late!Copy !req
261. Well, look who it is...Copy !req
262. The brat who sealed me away.Copy !req
263. Seven Blasphemous Deaths!Copy !req
264. You've aged quite a bit since I last saw you.Copy !req
265. I suppose that means a fair amount
of time has passed in this world.Copy !req
266. The depths of humiliation
you've visited on me...Copy !req
267. For each day I have endured,
you have earned a multitude of deaths.Copy !req
268. And you know that, don't you?Copy !req
269. Don't look!Copy !req
270. Even the greatest and most
pure-hearted cannot deny my charms.Copy !req
271. The moment someone new chose to wield meCopy !req
272. was the moment I won!Copy !req
273. You're here to take my
sword too, aren't you?Copy !req
274. Never! It belongs to me!Copy !req
275. What's the matter? Don't look away.Copy !req
276. How exactly will you fight me
if you can't even look at me?Copy !req
277. Even Shāng Bù Huàn cowers
like a kitten before me!Copy !req
278. What a magnificent sword.Copy !req
279. Why did I wait so long to do this?Copy !req
280. Well, my guys, I think we're
in big trouble here.Copy !req
281. The more blood it drains,
the more power that sword gains.Copy !req
282. And if it's already killed all these guys...Copy !req
283. Now, let the lands once again
become a banquet of slaughter!Copy !req
284. I am the Seven Blasphemous Deaths!Copy !req
285. All the lives lost, all the blood shed,Copy !req
286. and all the surging lust that
follows are offerings unto me!Copy !req