Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 132 - 126 Zhu’s mansion

Chapter 132: 126 Zhu’s mansion

"The Yama Sword is a Magic Artifact passed down from the first generation of the Zhu family," Zhu Shi explained, "Tracing back its origin, it was actually the personal sword of our ancestor Zhu Yi." "The reason this sword’s appearance is almost identical to the Evil Sword used by Luoshan Impermanence is that it was the weapon used by Zhu Yi when he was merely an Impermanence. After Zhu Yi became Impermanence, he continued using this very sword instead of replacing it."

"But, this couldn’t just be an ordinary Evil Sword, could it?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, as its name suggests, the Yama Sword is said to be able to forge Yama."

"Yama?"

"The so-called Yama refers to King Yanluo, who rules the underworld," she said. "Since ancient times, the mortal world has been governed openly by ordinary humans, while demon hunters confront the creatures of weirdness hidden among them. If the former’s world is called the world of light, then the latter belongs to the world of shadows.

"’Luo Mountain’ essentially means the underworld and hell, which is the so-called world of shadows. And King Yanluo refers to Impermanence."

I suddenly understood, yet found it hard to believe, "So, the Yama Sword could potentially forge Impermanence?"

Since Impermanence was on par with Gods, wasn’t the Yama Sword essentially a sword to create Gods? I knew Zhu Shi’s weapon was no ordinary one, but to say it reached such a level, wasn’t that a bit excessive?

"It is said that inside the Yama Sword lies the power of our ancestor Zhu Yi, and anyone recognized by the Yama Sword can unleash that power," Zhu Shi casually mentioned. "However, this is probably just a legend not worth believing. According to countless tests done over the past, there is indeed immense power sealed within the sword, but it comes from the accumulations of power from the second generation to my generation, and it does not contain Zhu Yi’s power.

"After all, the formidable power of Impermanence can’t possibly be contained in a mere Evil Sword. Such false legends have been abundant throughout history, like the Golden Core that can elevate an ordinary person to Impermanance with a single dose, or the Magic Treasures that allow a mere mortal to match Impermanance... Although it’s not good for a Zhu family descendant like myself to say this, the Yama Sword is probably just one of those legends.

"As for everyday use, it’s merely an inconvenient-to-carry Evil Sword. Currently, I can’t draw out its power, so I haven’t mentioned its special traits to you."

Perhaps the Yama Sword really does seal the power of Impermanence internally, and everyone just misjudged it—I’ve seen enough classic battle manga to think this might be how it’s explained.

And to be honest, I think both Zhu Shi and Changan’s "settings" are quite reminiscent of classic battle manga. One is a demon-hunting woman who carries swords, changes outfits every time she fights, and hides her true power during her normal university life; the other is a "Half-demon" who has lost his childhood memories and whose body is infused with Demon Blood.

Thinking back, didn’t Zhu Shi start doing this from her high school or even junior high days? That just made it all the more classic battle manga, making me enviously wish I could time travel and take over her past self.

"Unable to draw out the power?" Mazao, who had been tagging along, voiced his doubts. "But at that time, you did dramatically chant, ’Awaken, Yama...’"

"Stop mentioning that! That was just acting, a chuunibyou line I made up on the spot! You don’t actually need to chant anything to unlock the Yama Sword!" Zhu Shi couldn’t help but blush and interrupt, "I thought the real identity of the Weirdo Maker was Lu Chan at that time, so I planned to use the Yama Sword to bluff him into revealing his hand, making him think I could already utilize the power of the Yama Sword, ready to flip the table. Plus, recently my communication with the Yama Sword has been quite smooth, it at least reacts a bit and stirs up some light to intimidate him..."

"I see." I nodded, "The Weirdo Maker must have known you couldn’t use the Yama Sword yet, but he probably got a bit scared by the light you managed to produce, so he quickly used the black mist to suppress the Yama Sword."

In the end, Zhu Shi’s tactical goal was indeed achieved, as she managed to draw out the information that the black mist could suppress superpowers ahead of time.

As we talked, we caught a taxi to the edge of the city and headed to the Zhu’s mansion, switching to walking nearby. Zhu’s mansion came into view. Meanwhile, Zhu Shi brought up another matter.

"There’s something I need to apologize to you in advance," she said.

I curiously asked, "What is it?"

"Didn’t I tell you before that I would use my family connections to turn you into Outer Path Impermanence?"

"That did come up." Although Lu Youxun had butted in at that time.

"At that time, in order to place you under my family’s wing, I briefly mentioned you to my grandfather, but because I had to help hide your real level, I never told him the full story. However, last night’s fight was too loud, and since I came home carrying my father’s head, I really couldn’t conceal it any longer, so I had to tell my grandfather the real situation," she sighed.

"That’s okay since Lu Youxun already knows my true level," I said. "It wouldn’t make sense only to let Lu Youxun and Extraordinaryism know, but not your own family, right?"

Besides, I would need the Zhu family’s help regarding Mazao’s injury issue in the future. Revealing my details and value in advance should aid in the negotiations. I had a feeling that treating Mazao would be a taxing task, and if I, who would be bringing Mazao along, appeared to be just an ordinary Flame Ability User, the other party would also start to ponder whether helping me was worth it.

We reached the iron gate of the Zhu’s mansion. Zhu Shi didn’t lead us inside directly but rang the doorbell instead. Perhaps walking in unannounced would trigger the defensive Barrier. Thinking of this, I merged my spirit with the surrounding heat, attempting to sense the presence of the mansion’s Barrier.

Upon attempting this, I immediately noticed something odd. Invisible to the naked eye, but once sensed with the spirit, it appeared that I couldn’t clearly see the inside of the mansion.

It wasn’t that something was blocking my view, it felt more like my "sight" couldn’t focus. I’m sure even someone without heat perception could understand my predicament. Just like when you hold your finger in front of your nose and focus on it, the scenery in the distance becomes blurred. The image of the Zhu’s mansion I perceived was like the out-of-focus view of the distance when one pays attention to something nearby.

This was the first time I had encountered such a thing. The barrier around the Zhu’s mansion must have had a function to prevent outsiders from spying, and this phenomenon was the manifestation of that function. I couldn’t help but develop a strong curiosity and a desire to confront it, wanting to refocus my "sight." Of course, I didn’t intend to invade the Zhu family’s privacy, just seeing one meter beyond the iron gate was enough.

Soon, I felt my scattered "sight" rapidly converging, as if about to pierce through the opaque veil in front of me.

Faintly, I seemed to hear something shaking and cracking.

At that moment, a strange, elderly voice came from a distance.

"Can you stop looking further?"

I halted my perception and looked in the direction of the voice. A tall old man was leisurely walking towards me from the right. When Zhu Shi saw him, he respectfully shouted, "Grandfather."

It must be Zhu Shi and Changan’s grandfather. He was dressed in a white, ancient-style robe, his grizzled hair tied at the back of his head, his face old-fashioned, with a goatee on his chin. At first glance, he resembled an old tutor educating scholars in an ancient private school, which instinctively straightened my posture in his presence. I already began addressing him as "Mr." in my mind.

Ironically, Mr. Zhu had caught me red-handed trying to perceive through the barrier. I had neglected to realize that the owner of the barrier might detect an invasion of perception before being captured by my own curiosity and confrontational desires.

"Were you just trying to look beyond the iron gate?"

Mr. Zhu glanced at where my attention had been focused and then gave me a complex look that seemed to contain astonishment.

I did not defend my actions and apologized earnestly, "I’m sorry, I did something impolite."

"It’s okay, I know you meant no harm." He showed no intent of pursuing the matter further and continued, "You’re interested in the barrier itself, aren’t you? But I hope you don’t try to perceive the mansion’s barrier from the outside; otherwise, your gaze might break it."

"A barrier being broken by a gaze?"

Zhu Shi’s reaction was as if he’d heard a language from another world. He glanced at me and then at his own home.

I also found it hard to understand this statement at first. Although I often ignite things with my gaze as a medium, I had never thought that my gaze could indeed destroy something. Perhaps the shaking and cracking noises I heard earlier were from the barrier breaking? That would also explain why my perceptive act was detected.

Mr. Zhu first silently observed me for a while, then said, "You must be Zhuang Cheng. ...Just as my granddaughter described, truly an unfathomable power."

"I am Zhuang Cheng." I nodded, then patted Mazao on the shoulder beside me, "This is Mazao, my friend."

"She is my friend as well," Zhu Shi added.

Mazao glanced at Zhu Shi, then slowly nodded as if agreeing with that definition. In this situation, especially in front of someone’s family, it was hardly appropriate to disagree.

"I am Zhu Ba, Zhu Shi’s grandfather, and currently the Family Head," Mr. Zhu acknowledged with a nod, "I’ve heard of your matter from my granddaughter and know why you are here. Come with me."

As his words fell, the iron gate of the Zhu’s mansion swung open automatically. He led the way inside, followed by Zhu Shi, and then Mazao and I also entered.

Beyond the iron gate was a small garden. After walking through it, we saw the Zhu family’s house. Recalling Zhu Shi’s raincoat and hat when he went on missions, I was thinking if the Zhu house would be a sprawling Chinese-style mansion. In reality, deeply set within the garden, the house was quite modern—a three-storied, spacious Western-style villa. Positioned within the garden, it not only blended well but also seemed apt for a horror movie setting.

Zhu Shi suddenly asked, "Were you just thinking that this place must look like a haunted house from a ghost story at night?"

How did you know... I glanced at Mr. Zhu walking ahead of us but swallowed my thoughts.

What happened next made the place seem even more haunted.

Mr. Zhu led us into the villa and then into one of the rooms.

Inside that room, the head of Zhu Shi’s father was ostentatiously displayed.