Chapter Four: The Swordmaster Child Who Loves Being Tickled

Jiang Wan was speechless. Did that sound like an insult?

Wait, no. She had just reached the first level of Qi Refining, and this system was already demanding she defeat the Sword Venerable? Was it out of its mind? She didn't want this "Innate Sword Embryo" if it meant certain death! That man was the Sword Venerable, wielder of the Demon-Slaying Sword. At her current size—no bigger than a bean—wouldn't she just be asking to be sliced in half? And to defeat him? Or let him go?

Absolutely not. She couldn't do it.

With this thought, she tried to slide down from True Monarch Leng Feng’s arms. "Daddy, I don't want to go anymore. I want to go home and find Mommy."

Yes, better to go home to Mommy. That was the Sword Venerable! In all the cultivation novels she had read, sword cultivators were cold-blooded killing machines; they certainly wouldn't show mercy to a little sprout like her.

Sensing her sudden reluctance, Leng Feng patiently coaxed her, then leaped into the air, landing at the entrance of the great hall. "Be good, Wanwan. You are the daughter of True Monarch Leng Feng. Don't be afraid; show them your aura."

Jiang Wan reconsidered. That was true. The system said she was a villainous supporting character. Following the logic that "a disaster lasts for a thousand years," she should at least be good for three thousand, right?

Taking her father’s hand, she walked into the hall. On one side sat an old man with a white beard, his aura restrained within his white robes, looking like an ordinary elder. Beside him sat a boy about her age, his face stoic, with a flying sword strapped to his back that was a head taller than he was. It was obvious who the eldest disciple of the Sword Sect was.

When the white-bearded elder saw the father and daughter, he immediately broke into a smile. "Hahaha! I heard that the Master of the Myriad Talisman Sect had found his daughter. This must be her? Not bad, not bad at all. I feel she has an affinity with our Myriad Sword Sect. Why not let her come to us to practice the sword?"

True Monarch Leng Feng sat in the seat of honor and had someone bring a small stool for Jiang Wan. As she sat obediently, she heard her father say, "True Monarch Bitter Sword, do not joke. Although my daughter’s spiritual root aptitude is average, her comprehension is extremely high. At such a young age, she has already drawn Qi into her body. With such talent, she is naturally better suited for the path of talismans. You sword cultivators have it too rough; I couldn't bear for my daughter to suffer like that!"

True Monarch Bitter Sword shook his head. He had sensed a remnant of Great Dao Sword Intent on the little girl. It didn't make sense—she was barely four years old; that shouldn't be possible! But he didn't want to miss out on a talent. He took out a flying sword and handed it over. "Very well. Since we are meeting for the first time, I have nothing better to offer. Please, accept this Flying Flower Sword for the little girl."

Seeing a gift, Jiang Wan’s eyes lit up, and she looked toward her father. Could he give her a hint?

True Monarch Leng Feng smiled faintly and nodded. "Since True Monarch Bitter Sword is giving it to you, you may accept it." He then produced a sword talisman and said, "A gift in return. This sword talisman is for your fine disciple."

True Monarch Bitter Sword nodded, smiling as he let his disciple accept it. Then, his eyes twinkled. "What a coincidence, my eldest disciple also just reached the first level of Qi Refining today. Why don't we let them have a friendly sparring match?"

True Monarch Leng Feng cursed silently, *Sword cultivators, as expected.* They wanted to fight everywhere they went, even sparing no mercy for a three-year-old. "I think we should skip it. What could two children like them possibly spar about?"

Jiang Wan immediately raised her little hand. "Daddy, Wanwan wants to try."

The little brat opposite her was the future eldest disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect? He looked to be only three or four, just like her. Wasn't this just someone handing her equipment? She didn't believe that as an adult soul in a child's body, she couldn't bully a little kid.

Before her father could agree, she scurried off on her short legs toward the boy, Dongchen. *Future genius eldest disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect, let Big Sister come and give you a good lesson!*

*Thump!* She lunged straight at him, tackling him and pinning him beneath her.

Little Dongchen hadn't expected to be tackled by the seemingly frail and cute girl. He fell, and as he tried to get up, Jiang Wan wouldn't let him. "Little brother, admit defeat and I'll let you up."

Little Dongchen kept his face stoic. His master had told him that as long as he had a breath left, he must never admit defeat. "No!"

Jiang Wan climbed on top of his waist, grabbed his wrists, and pinned them above his head. "Then I won't let you up. Admit defeat and I'll let you go!"

Little Dongchen pursed his lips, his chubby face set in a stubborn expression. "No!"

He struggled to flip over, and the two little bundles rolled around the hall like gourds. However, the heavy sword on Dongchen’s back hindered him, and he was pinned beneath Jiang Wan once more.

Jiang Wan held his wrists with one hand. "Admit defeat or not?" This kid was stubborn; she had to break his spirit while he was still young.

Dongchen remained defiant. "No!"

Jiang Wan: "Fine, you asked for this." She reached out and began tickling his armpits. She didn't believe any child could resist being tickled.

"Ah! You... hahahaha... ah, hahahaha, hahahaha!"

"Admit defeat? If you don't, I'll keep tickling."

Little Dongchen’s stoic face was now flushed red with laughter; he finally looked like a child his age. "No... admit... hahahaha!"

Up on the dais, True Monarch Leng Feng, who had wanted to intervene when his daughter charged, now watched the two children with a face full of smiles.

"Let go of Brother Dongchen!"

Jiang Yao rushed in on her short legs. Seeing the future Sword Venerable Dongchen being sat upon and molested by the arch-villain Jiang Wan, she was consumed by intense fury. With her memories of a past life, her cultivation had progressed twice as fast. Having just drawn Qi into her body, she heard that the Myriad Sword Sect had arrived and immediately thought of the future Sword Venerable.

In her past life, when Jiang Wan killed her, Sword Venerable Dongchen was still alive and had even forged the peerless Demon-Slaying Sword. She regretted never seeing him strike Jiang Wan down. In this life, she had rushed over to build a relationship with him, only to see this scene. Enraged, she charged over and shoved Jiang Wan.

Jiang Wan, still sitting on Dongchen, frowned as Jiang Yao pushed her. Was this little girl’s brain broken? But then, an idea struck her. She let herself be pushed to the ground, wiped away tears, and cried, "Oh! *Sniff, sniff...* Brother Dongchen, you brought a helper? You can't accept losing? You're a cheater! Fine, I'll let you win this time."

It was a childish move, but seeing how the little boy refused to admit defeat, he certainly wouldn't agree with her. As she sat on the floor crying, she saw Dongchen stand up, purse his lips, and set his face back into a stoic expression. He glanced at Jiang Yao, then at the crying Jiang Wan.

"I am a man, upright and honorable. I don't need help, and I don't need you to let me win. You won this round. We will spar again next time, and I will definitely defeat you fair and square!"

*What kind of kid is this?* Jiang Wan thought. *And that bit about "fair and square"—I felt that jab, thank you very much.*

[You have easily defeated Sword Venerable Dongchen, not even giving him the chance to draw his sword.]
[Task complete. Reward: Innate Sword Embryo.]
[Host, please find a quiet place to fuse with the Sword Embryo, forge your physique, and increase your physical strength.]

Jiang Wan felt as if she had grasped the secret: Sword Intent to forge the soul, and the Sword Embryo to forge the body.

Thinking of this, she sobbed and tried to stand up, but a pair of small hands came to support her. Dongchen looked panicked, helping her up with a soft, bewildered voice. "Don't cry, please don't cry. How about I let you touch my big sword? It’s really amazing."