All My Murim Noonas Are Obsessed With Me!-Chapter 95: This World’s Saintess (2)

[Protagonist’s POV]

I wasn’t sure if it fit perfectly, but it seemed close enough to Sword Empress’s description. Still, it wasn’t immediately useful, so I shelved it and pressed on.

"Do you know anything she likes or dislikes?"

"Likes or dislikes?"

"Yes. I think our fates are tied through the heavens, so we’ll likely meet again..."

"Hmm..." Sword Empress paused, her brow furrowing in thought before she continued. "I’m not sure about that, but I do have one piece of information that might help."

"Oh? What’s that?"

"Have you ever heard of the Shadowless Thief?"

The Shadowless Thief—a hero who’d shone during the war against the Blood Cult twenty years ago, only to be branded a public enemy of the martial world shortly after. A true eccentric who’d swung between extremes in an instant.

"I’ve heard of him," I said. "After the war, he stole treasures and secret manuals from various sects and families, earning himself that title..."

"Exactly. But that wasn’t all he took. He stole from us too."

My jaw dropped.

"He had the guts to steal from her?"

"What... did he take?" I asked, stunned.

"Our prized weapons—our beloved blades. And he did it the very day after the war ended, right after the Heavenly Demon killed the Blood Cult Leader."

"I thought he was just a thief, but he’s a master thief!"

"You let that slide?" I asked incredulously.

"What could we do? Even if we were hailed as heroes, he was a hero too—a thief of divine skill. We didn’t have the ability to chase him down. Besides, back then, everyone was too distracted by the sudden appearance of the Heavenly Demon to care. After witnessing that overwhelming power, what martial artist would fixate on their weapon?"

It was almost impressive. To seize that moment and make off with their gear—he was something else.

"But Yeo So-cheon was different," Sword Empress continued. "While the rest of us sighed and gave up after realizing he’d taken our weapons, she... well, she erupted with curses so vile I can hardly repeat them. She swore she’d tear him limb from limb if she ever caught him—and that was her tamest threat."

"...She must’ve really loved that sword," I mused.

"Likely so. Even among martial artists, it’s rare to find someone who sleeps clutching their blade."

"Hmm..."

I wasn’t sure how to use it yet, but it was solid intel—something I might be able to leverage later.

"There’s a funny story from after that too. Want to hear it?" Sword Empress added.

"There’s more?"

"Oh, it’s quite entertaining."

She began recounting the tale.

"When Yeo So-cheon realized the Shadowless Thief had taken her beloved sword, she started off in denial."

"No way. Even if that lunatic’s crazy, he wouldn’t pull something like this now, right? It’s just a prank. He’ll bring it back soon."

Step one: Denial.

"Then, once it sank in that it was real, she exploded."

"Arghhh!! That bastard!! Just wait ’til I catch him!!! I don’t care if he’s a comrade—I’ll make sure he can’t even lift a spoon!!! I’ll carve him up and scatter his bones in a flowerbed!!"

Step two: Rage.

It felt oddly familiar.

"Does she try bargaining next?" I asked.

"No, she broke down crying."

"...Huh?"

"She sobbed right there, not caring who was around. Between wails, she’d shout into the air that she’d forgive him if he came back, begging him to return. It was quite a sight."

"Ha... haha..."

It was unexpected, but now that I thought about it, when I’d teased her before, her eyes had welled up too. Beneath her cold exterior, she might be a crybaby.

Either way, it was another tidbit I could use next time we met.

++++

Time passed, and we finally arrived in Shaanxi.

Creak.

"Wow... How long has it been since I was last here?" I muttered, stepping off the carriage and glancing around the city where my fortune-telling shop was located.

When I’d left, I hadn’t expected to be gone this long, but months had slipped by unexpectedly.

"I hope my shop’s still standing... and Dang Ah-young too..."

Technically, it was her shop—I was just renting it. If anything happened to her, I’d be finished too. We’d agreed to exchange letters occasionally, but who could’ve predicted I’d end up flung so far away?

"I hope they’re both okay..."

As I debated whether to check on the shop or Dang Ah-young first, wondering where she’d be at this hour, Sword Mistress’s voice broke my thoughts.

"I suppose this is where we part for now."

Her tone was calm, almost restrained, as if she were holding something back.

"You’re really leaving?" I asked.

"You have your duties here, and I have mine. This place must feel like home to you, after all."

"That’s... true."

Still, after traveling together and growing close, the thought of parting left a pang of regret. But she was right—we couldn’t stay joined at the hip forever. I was just a humble fortune-teller, while she was the Sword Empress of the Huashan Sect. The gap between us was undeniable.

That we’d stuck together this long was a miracle in itself.

"I might need her help later when I approach Yeo So-cheon, but for now..."

After such a long absence, I just wanted to check in and rest. My mind had been weighed down lately.

"We’ll meet again, right?" I asked.

"...You want to see me again?"

"Of course! I owe you so much, Sword—er, Lady Shin. I’ve still got debts to repay."

I almost called her "Sword Mistress" out of habit but switched to her name, mindful of the crowd around us.

"Debts, huh..."

For a moment, a crack appeared in her composed expression, as if she’d been suppressing her feelings.

"...Take this," she said, handing me a wooden plaque.

"What’s this?"

"Think of it as a token of our connection. If you ever need me, bring it to Huashan. I’ll let them know in advance."

"Oh..."

It was a rare item—a proof of ties to the Sword Empress of Huashan. Depending on how I used it, it could open a lot of doors.

"What if I misuse it?" I teased, half-joking.

"Go ahead and use it however you like."

"...Huh?"

"As long as you don’t commit crimes or harm the innocent, I don’t mind. I know you’re not that kind of person."

"Uh..."

Her trust caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless.