If I managed to unsheathe my blade, you'd all be sushi by now

Shen Wu woke up in the dimly lit cave, the sound of raindrops echoing faintly from outside. He blinked, trying to orient himself as he gazed up at the cave roof. Sitting up slowly against the cool stone wall, he reached out and tentatively touched his chest where the pain from his broken ribs should have been. To his astonishment, there was no sensation of injury—no ache, no discomfort.

Confused, Shen Wu's brow furrowed as he removed his clothes and examined his body. There were no bruises, no cuts—nothing to indicate the injuries he had sustained. He gingerly touched his face, recalling the deep slash from the wolf attack over a month ago. Yet, there was no scar, no trace of the wound.

"Am I dead then?" Shen Wu mused aloud, his voice echoing slightly in the cave. However, as he looked around the cavern and took in his surroundings, he quickly dismissed the idea. "Probably not..."

Suddenly, memories of the events leading up to his current situation flooded back into his mind. Shen Wu clenched his fists reflexively, only to be startled by the unexpected strength he felt coursing through his limbs.

"Dayum, where did this come from?" Shen Wu muttered to himself in surprise. Curious and intrigued by his newfound strength, he decided to test it out. With a few quick movements, he began shadow boxing, each punch swift and powerful, creating a distinct whip-like sound in the enclosed space.

After a few moments, Shen Wu halted his movements, still processing the newfound strength. "Can't have myself catch a cold," he remarked wryly, chuckling softly as he pulled his clothes back on, then sitting back down.

As he sat there pondering, Shen Wu couldn't help but wonder about the strange egg he had encountered in the void. "Does this strength have anything to do with that weird egg?" he wondered aloud, his thoughts racing with possibilities.

As Shen Wu was lost in thought, he failed to notice the robed figure standing a few meters away, holding a flickering candle. Startled by the voice, he sprang to his feet, instinctively unsheathing his blade and stepping back.

"Why is there a child all the way out here?" the robed woman inquired in a feminine voice, her tone gentle but curious.

Shen Wu, on guard, pointed his blade at the woman and warned, "Don't take another step or I'll have no choice but to harm you."

With a soft giggle, the woman continued to approach, unfazed by his threat. "You have his scent on you," she remarked casually.

Ignoring her words, Shen Wu remained wary, his gaze narrowed as he observed the woman. It dawned on him that he might be overreacting. She seemed harmless enough. Reluctantly, he sheathed his blade and offered a sheepish apology. "Oops, my bad."

The woman chuckled softly at his response. "My, my, how could you threaten a defenseless woman such as myself?" she teased, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

Realizing his mistake, Shen Wu felt a flush of embarrassment heat his cheeks. "Uh, sorry about that," he muttered, feeling slightly foolish.

To his surprise, the woman's demeanor remained friendly as she extended an invitation. "No problem, sweetheart. Perhaps would you like to have some tea with me?" she suggested with a warm smile.

Shen Wu's agreement to the woman's offer was met with a warm smile. "Yeah, sure," he replied, following her deeper into the cave. As they ventured further, Shen Wu couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Looking back, he saw only darkness, the cave twisting and turning like a labyrinth.

Suddenly curious about the woman's earlier comment, Shen Wu decided to ask. "Hey, what did you mean by I had 'his' scent on me?" he inquired, intrigued by the mysterious reference.

The woman giggled lightly before responding, "The Blood Demon, who else could I be talking about, my dear?" Shen Wu's confusion deepened. He was about to ask for clarification when an image of Master Gu, surrounded by a crimson aura, flashed in his mind. Without fully understanding why, he found himself blurting out, "Are you talking about Master Gu?"

The woman halted in her tracks, turning to face Shen Wu with a curious expression. "Oh, 'Master'... how interesting," she remarked cryptically. "But that does explain the scent you have." With a gentle smile, she reached out and brushed her hand against Shen Wu's cheek, leaving him perplexed and questioning the bizarre turn of events. "What the heck is going on?" he wondered inwardly, unsure how to interpret the woman's actions.

The woman peered into Shen Wu's eyes, her gaze probing his inner thoughts. "You seem confused, why so?" she inquired softly. Shen Wu, caught off guard by her perceptiveness, momentarily wondered how she had discerned his inner turmoil. Nevertheless, he decided to address her questions.

"Well, first, why are you stroking my cheek?" Shen Wu began, his confusion evident. "And second, how is it that you know what Master Gu smells like?"

The woman's smile remained gentle as she withdrew her hand from Shen Wu's face. "Well, my dear, to answer your first question, it's because you're his disciple. So, you're like a son to me," she explained. Shen Wu's confusion deepened. "How so?" he pressed further.

The woman's smile widened. "That's because your Master is my husband. That should answer all your questions," she replied matter-of-factly. Shen Wu's expression turned blank as he processed this revelation. "So, are you like divorced? Because Master Gu never mentioned anything about having a wife," he asked, seeking clarification.

Undeterred, the woman continued to walk, and Shen Wu followed suit. "Not at all, we're still married," she replied cheerfully. Shen Wu couldn't help but blurt out, "Damn, what a bastard."

Master Gu's wife chuckled at Shen Wu's candid remark. "Don't think too badly about him. I'm his weakness, hence why I'm in this cave," she explained, shedding some light on their unusual circumstances.

Shen Wu listened attentively to Miss Gu's explanation, his mind grappling with the complexities of Master Gu's past and their current predicament. After a moment of contemplation, he mustered the courage to ask, "So... what should I call you?"

Miss Gu, still wearing her warm smile, replied, "You can call me whatever you want, dear."

As they continued walking, Shen Wu pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Can I call you Miss Gu?"

"Of course, dear," she responded with a gentle nod.

After a brief pause, Shen Wu delved into another question, his curiosity unabated. "Miss Gu... why are you Master Gu's weakness?"

Miss Gu let out a sigh, her expression momentarily pained. "Because I'm weak, and as you know, being weak is taken personally in Murim," she explained. Shen Wu furrowed his brows, processing her words. "But Master Gu can easily kill an elder of the War God sect, so he's like strong, right?" he countered, seeking further clarification.

Miss Gu smiled softly at Shen Wu's observation. "Yes, he is," she affirmed. "But sadly, since he used to be the Blood Demon who slaughtered thousands, people aren't fond of him. And even worse, he's a traitor in the Blood Demon cult, so even the demonic faction chases after him."

Shen Wu nodded, his expression reflecting a mixture of pain and confusion. Miss Gu, sensing his inner turmoil, gently placed her hand on his head and began to stroke his hair. The warmth of her touch enveloped Shen Wu, calming his restless thoughts. A sense of peace washed over him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in years.

"Thank you," Shen Wu said, his voice soft but sincere, a genuine smile gracing his lips.

Miss Gu returned his smile warmly. "No problem, dear," she replied, her affectionate gesture offering solace in the midst of uncertainty.

[25 Minutes Later]

Shen Wu and Miss Gu walked until a bright light could be seen at the end of the tunnel. As they approached, they entered a huge cave opening, revealing a picturesque scene: a small river flowing gently, trees swaying in the breeze, grass and flowers covering the ground, and a grand abode perched atop a hill.

"Wow, how could this place exist in a cave?" Shen Wu exclaimed, marveling at the serene beauty around him.

Miss Gu chuckled softly. "My husband spent five years creating this place as a marriage gift for me," she explained, her eyes sparkling with fond memories.

Shen Wu laughed in amazement. "I guess he's not as much of an asshole as I thought," he admitted, feeling a newfound respect for Master Gu's thoughtful gesture.

But their moment of tranquility was interrupted when two tall men clad in black robes with red symbols suddenly appeared in front of them. Shen Wu instinctively stepped in front of Miss Gu, ready to defend her, but one of the men swiftly restrained him, preventing him from unsheathing his blade. Despite Shen Wu's efforts to break free, the man held firm.

Sensing Shen Wu's tension, Miss Gu intervened, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, dear. These are my guards," she reassured him, her voice calm and soothing.

Shen Wu looked back at Miss Gu, surprised but relieved. "Okay then, lucky guys. If I managed to unsheathe my blade, you'd all be sushi by now," he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

As Shen Wu relaxed his hand, the man released his grip. The one with a scar on his face knelt on one knee, placing a fist on his chest in a respectful gesture. "I welcome the lady home," he said with solemn reverence, his words carrying a sense of duty and loyalty. The other man mirrored his actions, acknowledging Miss Gu's return with equal respect.