Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

"Blood realm?"

Zhuge Sa explained in an irritated tone.

"I don't know who set it up, but they sealed off an entire region of the blood realm with a barrier and directly connected it to the present world. So passing through this passage is like spatial translocation—you'll end up in some random corner of the Central Plains."

"I'm not quite following..."

"It's tricky, so I'll explain it once. Simply put, they folded space and stitched it together. It's a different principle from your Flying Dragon Peak."

"Hmm."

Whoosh!

I stepped into the passage, and after just a few strides, I found myself inside a pitch-black building. All around, the 'guests' who had arrived before me were lounging in comfortable seats or on chairs here and there, watching the stage. Because of that, I had no clue what kind of place this was or where in the Central Plains it connected to.

The slaves came in all varieties—men, women, young, old, no discrimination. As I scanned the place in curiosity, a short, hunched old man approached, rubbing his hands together.

"Heh heh... I see you have an invitation. If I may ask, your name...?"

I replied with the alias I'd been given, in a flat tone.

"Shangguan Zheng."

The old man looked surprised.

"Oh ho... A noble scion of the illustrious Shangguan family. Then, please, this way to the VIP seats..."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

As the name Shangguan Zheng echoed, I felt the 'guests' around me glancing over. Every one of them had come prepared with masks, hiding their faces. Even so, some looked shocked or flustered. Of course, I was wearing a mask too, so no worries about being recognized.

'Why this reaction?'

It felt like I'd instantly drawn all eyes. I sat in the premium seat with a displeased expression, and Zhuge Sa chuckled in my head.

[The Shangguan clan is a prestigious house tracing back to the legendary eccentric Shangguan Wan'er. In terms of history, they rival the Han family. The Leader really hooked you up with an impressive identity.]

'Damn it! This is an infiltration mission—why give me such a flashy alias...?'

Half-naked beauties sidled up beside me, groping at my body, but I waved them off.

"Who knows? Maybe that's just what you think."

"What?"

I growled at Zhuge Sa, who played innocent.

[The auction's about to start. Focus.]

Soon enough, without any fanfare, the first slave was led onto the auction stage. The sight of her made my breath catch.

"...!!"

The robes of the Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang!

The Mount Hua disciple, who looked to be in her twenties, was a woman. Shackles clanked on her wrists and ankles as she stood there, mouth agape like she was in a daze. I quickly probed her qi—she definitely had the internal energy befitting a disciple of a prestigious sect, which puzzled me.

'With that level of cultivation, how hasn't she escaped...?'

The masked auctioneer climbed onto the stage and bellowed.

"The Mount Hua Sect's rising star, Flower Glory Sword Sa Yu-hee! It took quite the effort to capture this one. Once counted among the realm's great beauties, we at the organizers guarantee her collector's value! We beseech your discerning bids."

One of the seated guests called out loudly.

"A martial arts expert? That's scary! What if she escapes and attacks her master?"

"Hahaha, a valid concern! We've trained Sa Yu-hee thoroughly up to this very day with that in mind."

The auctioneer laughed heartily, then leaned in and whispered something in Sa Yu-hee's ear. She shuddered violently and began to sob. Then, out of nowhere, she started stripping, drawing gasps from the crowd.

"Ooh!"

Naked now, Sa Yu-hee crawled on all fours across the stage to the skeptical guest and began... something. From the guest's satisfied grin, it was obvious what was happening under the table.

Pathetic. It was like watching a third-rate erotic novel unfold.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Madness."

The place reeked of collective insanity. How could Flower Glory Sword Sa Yu-hee, a first-class prodigy of one of the Nine Great Sects, perform such depraved acts on a mere command? But the guests, infected by the madness, cheered and started bidding on subsequent 'items,' making all sorts of demands.

The trades weren't limited to sex slaves. Even martial experts appeared as lots, sold off as bodyguards. There were father-son pairs or mother-daughter duos sold separately, exotic foreigners not uncommon. Heart-wrenching screams echoed as husbands and wives were torn apart forever.

Selling slaves was inhumane enough, but the 'guests' buying them like commodities seemed even less human.

"Uwaaaah!"

"Grab that one!"

When slaves resisted, waiting warriors rushed in, severing limbs or heads with ruthless precision. Their skills were impressive.

"..."

Pitiful. But I couldn't botch the mission by rashly trying to save them.

I kept my cool amid the frenzy, calmly observing the dealings. The auction had been going for nearly two hours, and since I hadn't bid on anything, the short old man from earlier approached again.

"Hee hee... No items to your liking, sir?"

I replied curtly, feigning gruffness.

"I'm here for something rare. Mount Hua prodigies, foreigners, golden-haired Westerners, Kunlun elders, offspring of ex-officials... None of that interests me. Is this the best your market has to offer?"

The old man's eyes gleamed.

"You have refined tastes, sir... Even our regulars are thrilled with today's lots. So, what are you seeking?"

"The most expensive and precious!"

I stated firmly, subtly probing.

"Bring me something one-of-a-kind. Price is no object."

Time to go all in.

Buying run-of-the-mill goods wouldn't flush out the organizers. But me splurging on the priciest rarities would surely reveal ties to the Wind God Ryu or the imperial palace. Plus, it wasn't my money, so why not? The old man groaned.

"Just a moment..."

He vanished somewhere for about fifteen minutes, then returned beaming.

"We have just the thing. Follow me, please."

"Good. Can you satisfy me?"

"Absolutely."

I followed him out of the auction hall. I realized there were at least six such venues running simultaneously in this heavily enclosed space—not quite a forest, more like a sealed compound.

As I trailed the old man, unease crept in.

'Where's that damn accomplice?'

The accomplice was already infiltrated into the slave market and supposed to tail me naturally upon spotting me. So they should be following right now. But even with my senses heightened, I detected no sign of them.

Finally, the old man led me into the deepest building, and I followed. He ushered me into a room divided by a glass wall from a dark chamber. Suspecting a trap, I glanced at him, but he waved it off.

"No harm will come to you, sir. Please, take your time admiring..."

"I don't trust it. What's to stop you from locking me in there?"

"Er... It's far too precious. We can't show it without your agreement to our terms."

"Fine, then come in with me."

"Uh... Very well."

The sour-faced old man entered the dark chamber with me and sat. Light shone through the glass, illuminating a tearful beauty.

"Hic... sob..."

Her features were stunning, her beauty refined and elegant. Though not quite on par with the peerless stunners I'd known, she wore luxurious robes hinting at noble birth. She just wept silently.

"That woman..."

"You don't recognize her? I thought a young master Shangguan Zheng would..."

He thought Shangguan Zheng would know?

Puzzled, I heard Zhuge Sa in my mind.

[It's Dawn Star Princess.]

"What?!"

[I've seen her in the palace. Daughter of the current emperor's fifth consort, enfeoffed as princess at thirteen. They said she'd grow into a beauty.]

"Definitely the princess?"

"No doubt."

I felt dumbfounded.

A princess!

That meant imperial blood, the most exalted among all clans. Women's status was low, but princesses transcended that—often wed to kings or lords. A consort's daughter becoming princess was rare, but she was undeniably noble.

Clearing my throat, I said,

"Could she be... Dawn Star Princess?"

"Indeed! As expected of a Shangguan heir—you knew at a glance."

"How is a princess in a slave market...?"

Flustered, I asked, and the old man chuckled.

"Her husband, Lord Glory Ash of Henan, made a grave error and faced the emperor's wrath. To settle it, he offered his wife. Now a fake sits at his side—we hold the real one."

"..."

An imperial kinsman selling his own wife?!

Pretending shock, I said,

"This... this is too much. Taking an imperial princess as my slave? Who knows what trouble that could bring. I can't do risky deals like this."

"Heh heh... Her collector's value is unmatched... Truth be told, we fended off other interested guests just to show her to you..."

"Really?"

"Yes. Some wanted her to bear their heirs."

Actual madmen who wanted a princess as a slave!

I was stunned but kept my composure.

"I'm not after women."

"Er... You should have said so from the start."

"Got any weapons or artifacts?"

The old man pondered, then replied.

"Of course, but now we need your promise."

"What promise?"

He glanced at the princess beyond the glass.

"The princess is top secret. How could we trust a first-time guest like young master Shangguan Zheng? But we want loyal patrons, so no gags or threats. Thus, you must promise to buy the next item we show you."

I scowled.

"Strong-arming me?"

"No, no. What if you walk after seeing it? It's a matter of honor—you must buy. We'll show as many as needed until you're satisfied..."

"..."

Classic back-alley haggler's trick. Seemed fair, but you'd likely get fleeced. Normally I'd refuse even at swordpoint, but with my real goal, I hesitated theatrically before agreeing.

"...Fine."

"Then we'll continue with the next item."

He signaled, and men entered to lead the princess away. Moments later, a sword brimming with radiant energy appeared on a stand beyond the glass. My eyebrows twitched.

"A famed sword?"

"Yes. No ordinary one."

The old man chuckled.

"That quiet, deep blue sheen... It chooses its master—the finest blade. Its name: Zhanlu."

"...!!"

Zhanlu!

Among the world's famed swords, it was legendary, forged by Master Ou Yazi. Famous as a king's sword—fit only for royalty, said to conquer the realm.

"That's no ordinary blade!"

With eons of martial refinement and my divine eyes opening, I could tell. Its aura outclassed normal longswords. If truly Zhanlu, it rivaled the Dragon Abyss I'd seen in the Han family—a peerless treasure.

"That one..."

My warrior's greed nearly made me blurt out. But Zhuge Sa cut in.

[No! How long you gonna window-shop?]

"What."

[The princess or Zhanlu aren't the point. There's only one thing you demand here.]

"Which is?"

[Listen well. It's...]

His words made me bite my lip.

'This bastard talks like a dog, but he's always right...'

Better follow his ploy.

Ahem, I said,

"This won't do. I want something else."

"Hm... Like what...?"

"Are you really this dense?"

At my next words, the old man's eyes bulged.

"Bring out a demonic path scripture or demonic artifact. That's what I came for."

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