Chapter – 01
Just after midnight (the Hour of the Rat).
The village burned.
“The Demonic Cult! It’s an attack from the Demonic Cult!”
“Damn those Demonic Cult bastards, why attack a peaceful village…?!”
A small spark quickly turned into a massive inferno that swallowed the entire settlement. Thanks to that, the boy who had been kept in the deepest part of the Blood Cult, Un-yeong, was finally able to see the light of the world after a long time.
Bright.
It had already been more than ten years since he had last seen sunlight.
In truth, he had been locked in a basement practically since birth, and aside from a small candle, he had never seen any other source of light.
He staggered forward.
Those who had been guarding him under strict surveillance were now lying dead on the ground. Instinctively, Un-yeong searched for any sign of life.
And then he found it.
Ah.
A girl burning in the flames.
The child, who appeared to be around his age, stood upright in the middle of the fire. Her dry eyes scanned him.
The girl muttered:
“You’re alive.”
“……”
“Will you come back later for revenge? Is that how new events get triggered? …I wonder if I should just let you live.”
He couldn’t understand what she was saying.
But his body, weakened from years of abuse, could no longer endure. Still facing the beautiful girl, Un-yeong lost consciousness and collapsed.
And that was the end.
There are three warnings I would like to give to anyone who likes martial arts games.
First, exclude demonic arts from your obtainable skills. If you absolutely can’t avoid them, at least keep them completely secret.
Second, don’t become the adopted daughter of the Heavenly Demon just because it looks fun.
And finally, the most important third:
[Name: Peng Dori]
[Class: Lesser Heavenly Demon (Evil alignment)]
[Since no “Peng” clan exists in the martial world, the system automatically changes your family to the Hebei Peng Clan.]
Choose a nickname that sounds like a real person’s name.
Honestly, all three of these feel unfair. When I first started the game, I just picked the name absent-mindedly after looking at a character sticker on my desk.
I never imagined I would have to live my entire life with that name.
If I had known, I would have picked something cooler.
And it’s not like I even learned demonic arts like they say.
Crackle—!
Blue electricity sparked from both my hands as I activated my lightning technique.
This was the Heavenly Demon Divine Lightning Art, which I created by combining the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Lightning Demonic Art (each costing 599,000 won, fusion fee not included). It even lets me imbue my sword with lightning attributes.
I only chose it because it looked cool, and I worked hard grinding by devouring enemies’ hearts.
Honestly, how could anyone resist a lightsaber?
Of course, that was just in the game.
Just because someone chooses an evil alignment or kills in a game doesn’t mean they’re a psychopath. I just enjoyed a slightly thrilling, reckless playstyle.
…I just didn’t expect to transmigrate into it.
And of all characters, it had to be my account—the one known as a public enemy of the martial world and the future Heavenly Demon.
“Young Hero Peng!”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for escorting me this far. Here is your payment.”
The moment money was mentioned, I immediately stopped reminiscing. The well-dressed man handed me a fairly heavy pouch.
He was a unit leader from a famous escort agency.
I had accompanied him to Shanxi Province on a protection contract.
“Crossing the mountains would have been difficult without you. To think someone your age is already a peak-level expert.”
“My skills are nothing special. You praise me too much.”
“Hah! Excessive humility is worse than none at all.”
I gave an awkward smile.
This body’s age is sixteen.
It’s already been nearly a year since I fell into this martial world, so in another month I’ll technically be seventeen.
But that’s just the character’s age. Before transmigrating, I was twenty-eight. Calling myself sixteen feels embarrassing.
“Anyway, do you have plans after this? If not, perhaps you’d consider joining our escort agency permanently—”
“I’m sorry.”
I refused cleanly.
Not because I had plans.
But if I stayed in one place too long, this body’s adoptive mother might find me.
“Child, where are you going?”
“Me? I’m going to spread the greatness of our Holy Cult to these uncivilized Central Plains people, Mother.”
“I see. Go then.”
I remembered her blood-red eyes staring right into mine right after I transmigrated.
She was beautiful, and I had quickly clicked “Accept” on the adoption offer because of that. Reality, however, was hell. I should have run away while it was still just a game.
I got dazzled by the character design and now I’m paying for it.
Even my current “travel” is basically running away from home, and it’s starting to feel dangerous.
If I get caught, I’m definitely getting locked up in the Demonic Cult.
If this were a romance fantasy and I got imprisoned by a northern duke or emperor, maybe it wouldn’t feel so unfair. But getting dragged back by the Heavenly Demon’s adoptive mother in a martial arts world?
Nobody wants that. Seriously.
“Hm, I see. Then it can’t be helped. But if you ever come to Shanxi again, bring this token and visit our company.”
“I will gratefully accept.”
After receiving his token, I parted ways with him.
Although I had spent several months traveling the Central Plains, Shanxi was new to me.
Not like there’s much to see anyway.
Shanxi lies on the edge of the Central Plains, bordering Inner Mongolia. Because of that, the atmosphere is stricter compared to the inner regions.
…Or at least that’s what the escort leader told me.
What happened to the game knowledge I spent nearly ten million won on?
Honestly, when you play games, you focus on rankings and combat power. Who memorizes regional geography?
The only thing I vaguely remembered was that the Jin Family had a base here.
Historical accuracy?
I don’t know anything about that.
I even thought the Mount Hua Sect used fire swords until halfway through the story. I thought maybe they lived on a volcano.
For reference, Mount Hua in this game only has pine trees, and the Sichuan Tang Clan does not have four thousand members.
What a disappointment.
“Waiter! Is there a seat here?”
“Coming!”
With idle thoughts drifting through my mind, I entered a large inn in Shanxi.
A young waiter with a large mole on his nose ran over. After quickly examining my appearance, he asked politely:
“What would you like?”
“This is my first time in Shanxi. What’s the most famous dish here?”
“Ah, you’re a traveler.”
He seemed to understand.
I was currently wearing a black oil-treated martial outfit.
Anyone dressed like this with a sword at their waist was almost certainly a martial artist.
Almost—because sometimes noble youths liked to cosplay as warriors.
You could always tell them apart.
They looked too well-fed and polished.
In other words, pretty boys.
The waiter probably assumed I was one of them. He spoke warmly:
“If you ask about Shanxi, the most famous dish is definitely Dao-xiao noodles. They’re cut with a knife to resemble willow leaves—thin at the edges and thick in the middle. The more you chew, the more flavor comes out. It’s one of the five great noodle dishes of the Central Plains.”
“Oh?”
“If you go upstairs, you can order proper dishes too. From there you can see Mount Wutai clearly, so distinguished guests prefer it.”
I tapped my finger thoughtfully.
He must have mistaken me for a noble young lady, but in reality I’m broke. All I have is the money pouch I just received.
…I used to be rich in the game.
Thinking about the luxurious treasury back at the Demonic Cult made me depressed. Since I had no intention of going back there, I might as well consider that money gone.
“Just give me one bowl of Dao-xiao noodles.”
“Yes! One Dao-xiao noodles!”
After a short wait—
Soon the waiter brought out a steaming bowl. True to his description, the uneven noodles looked like leaves.
How long has it been since I had warm food?!
While working escort jobs, I usually ate dry rations while traveling through mountains.
Hot soup was precious.
I picked up my chopsticks and took a big bite.
And the moment I did—
This feels ominous.
It wasn’t just a random feeling.
After all, inns in the Central Plains are more famous for fights than for food and lodging.
And as expected—
“Aaagh?!”
“You dare interfere with the Yeon Family?! You’ll pay for that!”
“Damn… cough!”
A man suddenly fell right into my noodles. Another man in his thirties chased him in, raising his sword.
“Miss, step aside if you don’t want to get hurt. I have business with that man.”
It might sound rude, but for martial artists this was actually fairly polite.
Probably because my face looks pretty. Even though I carry a sword, many people still see me as a young lady rather than a wanderer.
“Well… before telling me to move, shouldn’t you at least explain the situation?”
“If you’re from Shanxi, you know the Yeon Family. That man caused them harm.”
“That’s a lie!”
The man face-down in my noodles shouted:
“I was just passing by! You’re framing me, just like a vicious Yeon guard would!”
“Hah! You’re obviously from the Geum Family. The Geum Family is plotting after stealing a Yeon heirloom. I can’t just let suspicious people walk away.”
“What…?”
They just barged in and started talking about things only they understand.
Well, I’m used to this.
The martial world is always tangled in grudges.
People draw swords over family vendettas all the time. It’s nothing special.
Maybe I should just forget the noodles.
Better than getting dragged into trouble.
I sighed and quietly left the inn.
“Tch. Waste of money.”
This is why I hate the martial world.
And the Central Plains.
I suddenly missed my old world where nobody tried to stab you.
So… where do I eat now?
Even if I gave up on those noodles, I still needed food.
I considered asking locals about a good tavern nearby.
Thud.
A corpse suddenly fell from a rooftop.
Startled, I instinctively drew my sword.
Someone on the roof?
Looking up, I saw a martial artist of unclear gender quickly disappear.
I checked the body.
Dead. A clean stab through the heart.
The sword beside him had the character Yeon engraved on it.
I immediately sensed trouble and stood up.
Just then—
“Found her! It’s that woman!”
“To kill a Yeon guard in broad daylight… you’ve got guts. Are you prepared for the consequences?”
“Ah.”
Great.
I’ve been framed.
