Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"Two gold coins, half for you."

The shopkeeper patted his chest.

"This is equivalent to what you earn pulling a cart all year round."

"Alright, people die for money, birds die for food, let's do it!"

The driver steeled himself and agreed.

.........

now

A small village in the desert

"Su Chang, you stay at home. I have some business to attend to in Li City."

In a simple courtyard, Cheng Ling Shuang took out some silver from her pocket and handed it to the girl in front of her.

"Huh? Master, isn't that place extremely dangerous?"

Li Sushang was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked.

"What are you afraid of? Do you think anything will happen to your teacher?"

Cheng Ling Shuang pursed her lips and said.

"No, I mean, I want to go too."

Li Sushang's eyes lit up.

"No, your skills aren't up to par yet."

Cheng Ling Shuang refused without even thinking.

"Practice your skills diligently at home. Your teacher has important business to attend to."

"What important business could Master possibly have to offer?"

Li Sushang looked incredulous.

"...Are you looking for a beating?"

Cheng Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow.

"No, no, no, how could I dare? Master, may you have a safe journey!"

.........

离城

This is a town located in the desert, and it is territory under the jurisdiction of the Whale Gang.

Although the Giant Whale Gang is not one of the six major sects, it is still a sect with a small reputation in the martial arts world.

More than 20 years ago, this gang produced a man nicknamed "Hate That Cannot Be Filled," Cui Yuanpeng, who quickly rose to fame in the underworld.

(This person actually exists; he appears in the official comic short story "Cloud Ink Sword Heart".)

Unfortunately, he and Li Meng'an of Ziyang Mountain were defeated and killed when they challenged Yan Shilu, who was known as the second best martial artist in the world at the time, at Wangshan.

After their defeat and death, Yan Shilu was killed by Lin Chaoyu, the chief disciple of Taixu, which ironically enhanced the reputation of "Light Dust Sword" Lin Chaoyu.

As fate would have it, after Yan Shilu died, the Immortal Chiyuan set fire to Wangshan and brought back three girls from there, all of whom were exceptionally talented.

The three were Jiang Wanxi, Jiang Wanru, and Cheng Lingshuang, so for Cheng Lingshuang, there was a slight connection with this sect.

However, Cheng Ling Shuang had no recollection of this forced relationship unless the Giant Whale Gang had brought it up themselves.

This time, the Giant Whale Gang insisted that she attend some kind of ceremony, which Cheng Ling Shuang had absolutely no interest in.

However, the person who came brought a stack of silver notes and knelt down to beg Cheng Ling Shuang to accept them, saying that if the fifth disciple of Tai Xu could grace the Giant Whale Gang with his presence, the entire gang would be grateful.

The man showered her with flattery, and Cheng Ling Shuang, not being good with words, couldn't resist his advances and reluctantly agreed.

"..."

Sitting in the carriage, Cheng Ling Shuang stared blankly at the rolling yellow sand outside, lost in thought.

The driver glanced at her somewhat guiltily. This girl was really quite cunning. Everyone knew that she was closest to the city, yet she insisted on going into the lion's den.

Although he wanted to remind them, he remembered the warning the Giant Whale Gang had given him, so he could only sigh and drive obediently.

.........

离城

"As expected, Taixu's fifth disciple is indeed naive and agreed so easily."

Cui Yuanhai, the leader of the Giant Whale Gang, rubbed his hands together.

"I can finally avenge the insult Ma Fei Ma gave me before!"

"Master, but she's the disciple of the Crimson Kite Immortal, this..."

The old manager next to him smiled bitterly, thinking to himself, if you want revenge, go find Ma Feima, why are you looking for his senior sister?

"Immortals have all ascended to heaven, why would they care about worldly affairs? If they did care, they wouldn't let that jinx Ma Feima run rampant!"

Cui Yuanhai snorted coldly.

"Although I don't know how strong this girl is, I'm sure she's not as strong as Ma Feima, who is currently the 'Number One in the World.' I'll kill this girl and let Ma Feima know that our Giant Whale Gang is not to be trifled with!"

"...But if Ma Feima retaliates afterward, he still has the Taixu Sword Sect behind him, and we can't disregard Sect Leader Lin's face."

The old butler was still somewhat guilty.

"It's because of the Taixu Sword Sect that we don't have to worry about Ma Feima's retaliation!"

Cui Yuanhai waved his hand.

"The Taixu Sword Sect was founded by immortals. How can we abandon the code of the martial world? Ma Fei Ma insulted me first, so it is justified for me to kill his senior sister!"

Don't worry, this girl is also a disciple of an immortal. We can't confront her head-on. Just do as I instructed before and prepare properly!

"……Yes."

Seeing this, the old butler stopped trying to persuade him, sighed, and left to make the arrangements.

……

now

Leaving the city gate

"Yes, the scenery here is truly exceptional..."

Otto stood at the entrance, looking the city up and down.

"But I'm supposed to be going to Mount Taixu, right? This doesn't even look like a mountain. Buddy, you..."

Otto turned his head, wanting to ask the driver why he couldn't see the mountain, but found nothing behind him.

Only in the distance, the yellow sand stretches endlessly, and the faint sounds of carriages and horses can be heard.

"........."

..............................

P.S. Ma Feima and Lin Chaoyu are indeed a couple, according to the content of "The Legend of the Broken Sword in China", but Ma Feima actually likes Su Mei.

Although the setting is based on the Record of Broken Swords, the plot will be somewhat changed.

Chapter Five Otto: You Chinese have no martial ethics!

"This gentleman..."

"who are you?"

"I am Otto Apocalypse..."

"Damn it, it's a Rakshasa demon! Brothers, beat him up!"

"Wait! Brave warrior, let's talk this out!"

"Pah! What's there to talk to you about! Beat him up!"

"Brothers, let's go!"

"Kill this Rakshasa demon!"

.........

Cheng Ling Shuang was walking down the street when suddenly a golden retriever flew out from a nearby shop and was about to collide with her.

Cheng Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow, pointed her finger, and tried to stop the man. Logically speaking, the force should have been enough...

However, this is on the premise that the golden retriever doesn't have that heavy coffin in his hands.

"boom!"

The next second, Otto and Cheng Ling Shuang flew out together and crashed into the restaurant next door, instantly sending tables and chairs flying everywhere.

"Boss, it looks like we just bumped into someone!"

"Oh ho, there's an unlucky guy along with him."

"No, that looks like a woman... I hope she won't get killed."

"Huh? Um... I hope it's not some kind of small..."

Before the bald man, who was called the boss, could finish speaking, a table flew over and smashed him into the air, knocking him unconscious instantly.

On the opposite side, a white-haired woman was carrying a golden retriever and his coffin in one hand, and gripping a broken corner of a table in the other.

Upon closer inspection, the woman was indeed in a sorry state. Not only had her hairpin fallen off, but her hairstyle was a mess, two streams of blood were flowing down her nose, and her entire face was covered in red marks.

"What amazing skills, heroine!"

Otto, holding his coffin, offered this dry compliment.

He shouldn't have been in such a sorry state, but the other party attacked too suddenly, and he was thrown out before he could react. He only had time to hold onto his coffin tightly, afraid that it would be affected.

"Carrying a coffin in broad daylight? Are you trying to die?!"

Cheng Ling Shuang was so angry her nose almost crooked. She couldn't even see the coffin from her vantage point, yet she'd ended up being used as a cushion by this blond-haired dog.