I Became a Witch in a World Full of Urban Legends

“Could you go back first?”

Hearing Lu Yibei’s request, Jiangli peeked at the broken sword on the ground, and after brief deliberation, nodded, “Alright.”

“Wait, what?” the Witch replied, stunned. “You… agreed? Just like that? You don’t want to take a look at it yourself or something?”

Originally, Yibei thought that she would have to suffer a lecture from her troublesome superior after requesting to do things herself.

Never in a million years would she predict that her superior would just agree without much thought to it.

There must be something wrong with Jiangli! There is no way she would allow the two of us to get along that easily! Not even an argument? Really?!

She’s plotting something! I know it!

In her state of confusion, she felt a little uncomfortable.

Jiangli rolled her eyes, “What? Would you rather have me tag along with you? I know what you are – even if I wanted to intervene, you will most definitely start spewing garbage out of your mouth to distract me, and then, at the right moment, you will vanish without a single trace. Am I right?”

“What the- don’t act like you know me! If you keep this up, I might think that you have a crush on me!” Yibei blurted out, teasing.Jiangli tilted her head and rolled her eyes once again, “You’re overthinking it. I already have someone I fancy.”

What the fuck?! This is big news, people! This monster-hunting emotionless machine is able to… fall in love?! Not buying it!

Her nosy soul within her body became restless. If it weren’t for her wanting to die on the hill of keeping her identity ‘secret’, she would have dragged Jiangli over to the side and interrogated all night long on this person’s information – their social security number, their address, their household registration…

As the Witch was deep in thought, Jiangli interrupted, “Alright. Have you decided on where to go to try these things?”

“Ah. Wouldn’t it be fine to just find a place with nobody around?”

Jiangli blinked, looking at the Witch as if she was a fool, and shook her head, “No, absolutely not. There are strict procedures in place when testing out new and unknown psychic items.”

Of course, Yibei wouldn’t know what unpredictable consequences would occur if she would simply test the psychic items out. However, Jiangli, who has been working under the Night Division for several years, knows very well what would happen.

A few years ago, when she first joined the Night Division, she had the opportunity of seeing a Calamity-level psychic item that resembles a matchlock gun stowed away in the Night Division headquarters.

According to the Operator who introduced the item, the Wanggongchang Explosion had slight relations to this psychic item. The Night Division suspects that the person using it wasn’t aware of what it could do, and utilized the weapon in a reckless way.

Jiangli has no objection to her subordinate testing out these new psychic items she had harvested, but out of the abundance of caution, the Witch must now be allowed to act without a care in the world.

Shifting her tone to a more serious one, Jiangli spoke, “You can’t just find any random place to test them out, but if you haven’t thought of a suitable location yet, I can recommend a place to you.”

“Where?”

Wordlessly, Jiangli stood up and patted the dust off herself. Then, she spoke, “Wait here a moment. I’ll take you there.”

…

Ten minutes later, on a road leading to the outskirts of Huacheng, a matte-black sports bike that was carrying two girls could be seen speeding under the guiding orange street lights.

And on the back seat of the motorcycle, Yibei held onto Jiangli’s slender waist as she wore Jiangli’s own cat-eared helmet.

She could smell a faint fragrance inside the sealed space of the helmet.

It smelled pleasant, and it is exactly the same scent that could be smelled from time-to-time whenever Jiangli’s hair shifts in the air.

At Yibei’s big ‘ol age, she has never held a girl’s hand before, so where has she seen this scene before?

Ever since they left the river side all the way to their destination, she was in a state of confusion. A bunch of messy and unrealistic fantasies clouded her mind, including the type of fantasies that could land you in jail. Shew as silent the entire ride – rare, but peculiar.

By the time the Witch came back to her senses, Jiangli had already parked her bike by the ruins of Flower & Sunshine Resorts.

“We’re here. Are you going to let me go, or…?”

“Oh! My bad!” Yibei blurted out, withdrawing her hands from Jiangli’s waist.

After they got off the bike, the Witch took off Jiangli’s helmet, and immediately, her face morphed as soon as she saw the charred land and the remaining structure of the building that resembled the burnt skeletons of giants.

What the… why did she bring me here?

Did she get enough of this stupid little game we were playing? Did she go, “I’ve had it! I’ll bring the prime suspect down to the crime scene!”

She felt uneasy, and almost jumped out off her skin when Jiangli turned her around to look directly into her eyes. She was shocked, and almost confessed on the spot in hopes of getting a more lenient sentence.

“A while ago, a very, very scary urban legend was born here, which caused a great deal of damage. All residents within a radius of 5km have been evacuated. Due to the urban legend’s residual psychic energy fluctuations, not even urban legends lurk here anymore.”

“So,” Jiangli continued. “You can do whatever you want here without the worry of hurting anybody innocent.”

Thank god! It seems like she doesn’t know yet! Plus! The way I look right now is very different from what I looked like back then…

Seeing the Witch’s hesitant eyes and rare silence, Jiangli thought that she was waiting for her to leave, but felt awkward trying to ask for it. Hence, she got on her bike, tied up her long blonde hair, and rode over to her, “I’ll be leaving first. Contact me when you’re done.”

After she spoke, she gradually disappeared from the Witch’s field of vision, alongside the fading hums of an engine.

Watching Jiangli leave, Yibei felt that there was something different about the Jiangli before everything started, or even the Jiangli when this resort was burnt down to the bone.

But what exactly is different about her?

She didn’t have an answer.

“Tsk. Who cares about her? I don’t care what she becomes – nothing to do with me!” she announced, plopping her guitar bag on the ground as she retrieved the ancient sword from it. Inspecting it, she murmured to herself, “Right. The most important thing now is to inspect this sword.”

“What did you call me, you little shit? I’ll have you calling me your daddy in a bit!”

She placed the ancient sword on a fully-scorched rock, and used her phone’s flashlight to carefully examine the ancient sword that she ‘paid’ for using her two ancestral kitchen knives.

The design of the sword is similar to what you may find as an early design of a bronze sword – it is shaped like a willow leaf engraved with complex patterns. A faint design of firelight could be seen flowing between the complex patterns, but due to the sword being broken, its full design cannot be seen.

Strangely enough, what caught her eye was how an ancient sword possessed a guard, or a ‘handle.’

However, this ancient sword, despite its olden appearance, had a unique ring-shaped guard – so precisely made as if it was made using a modern machine.

“Wait,” she suddenly thought of something serious. “No way. Is this a fucking fake?”

She hurriedly picked the ancient sword up and gently patted it, whispering, “Uh, hello? Are you in there, sword-spirit-or-whatever? You got guests!”

“Shit, that didn’t work – I am the Bone of my Sword, Steel is my Body and Fire is my Blood!”

“My baby, my baby, turn around!”

“Bankai!”

…

Seems like the passwords uttered were wrong, and the sword remains silent.

The more she shouted, the more anxious she became upon seeing the sword’s non-response.

I lost so much just to get you – who cares if I lost everything? At least put in some work!

In a fit of rage, she growled, “Who’s your daddy?!” and launched a fireball towards the sword.

The fireball that was shaped like a basin whizzed towards the sword. When it was less than a meter away from the blade, the fireball abruptly stopped for about two seconds. Then, as if the air surrounding the sword had awakened, a strong wind blew, stirring up a pale cyclone on the sword’s epicenter.

The Witch was unable to open her eyes due to the soot and ash that was scattered across the air. Covering her mouth and nose, she could hear bells and drums beyond the ash.

The exact bells and drums you would hear in a sacred ritual – majestic, rich; it pounds at one’s heart as it cleanses the soul.

Soon, everything fell silent.

Carefully, she brought her hands down from her jaw, then glanced in shock at the undamaged broken sword that was hit by a fireball that was amplified by about thirty times its original power.

Did it… eat my spell?

Looking at the ground surrounding the ancient sword, it revealed the color of the original soil after cleansing the surrounding charred ground. She shook her head, rejecting the first thought that came to her mind.

No. It didn’t swallow my spell… it’s more like… it purified it. Cleansed it.

Yes! Seems like I didn’t actually lose anything. If anything, I gained a small profit!

She walked over to the sword as she was deep in thought, and was just about to pick it up when something happened.

A pure light, like a clear spring in the mountains, began radiating off the sword. Its pure steel majesty burst power out from it, radiating in all directions.

The light grew more and more intense, tearing through the darkness as it announced the arrival of its own light.

The light was like a rushing torrent, carrying an indomitable force that is attempting to purify and remake everything in its path.

The Witch couldn’t dodge in time, and was instantly enveloped by the sword’s light. Flopping on the ground, she felt her eyes heat up as the strange light swallowed her up, leaving her in the darkness.

…

Like countless times in the past, she felt herself being shattered into countless pieces, as if she was gas being spread out. All she could feel within the unknown murmurs was her sinking deeper into her mind.

Suddenly, her back touched something cold and hard, and she found herself back on the familiar rooftop.

Opening her eyes, she was stunned. Although the familiar sky was still heavily polluted, it was a dirty grey-blue. However, she found it much better compared to last time, where the sky was on the brink of collapsing on itself, heralding the arrival of the end of the world.

“Hey, coach! I’m back! What’s going on this time? Care to explain?”

Shouting at the top of her lungs, the Witch sat up, and looked around for the mysterious girl who she suspects as another ‘her.’ However, she was greeted with something beyond her expectations.

On the rooftop, the rusty water tank collapsed with a loud ‘gong’, and a gentle breeze stirred up the debris on the ground, causing it to dance. However, she wasn’t greeted with the mysterious girl – instead, she was greeted by a man who donned a black-colored robe. He carried a box on his back where his long braids rested. He resembled somebody from the Qing Dynasty, and his back was facing her, though a sword was visible in his hands.

And the sword was the full, undamaged, unbroken, ancient sword.

A silver gleam flowed down the ancient sword – wherever the gleam landed, it would transform into blossoming lotus flowers, or into flying cranes, or into fluffy clouds, imbuing one with purity.

…Okay. What the hell? First, you got rid of me, and now, you bring a creepy old man to come greet me?! Shouldn’t you be in your grave by now?!

As she complained in her heart while backing away as quietly as possible, the man turned around, as if he had noticed something.

Studying the man’s features, her pupils shrank immediately, and her body shivered due to the intensity of emotions flooding within her.

This face… is so familiar. I recognize that face from anywhere – I’ve seen it every day for the past dozens of years.

And the man looked exactly like her father, Lu Ming.

Oh, it’s over for me, isn’t it? That ancient sword must’ve sent me along my merry way – otherwise, how else would I be able to see my dad’s ghost?! This must be the underworld!

Wait, the Night Division Records state that there is no such thing as an ‘Underworld’ or ‘Hades’ in this world.

Just as she was fighting with her own thoughts, and the yappings of her mind coming in like a massive flood, the man who resembled her father walked over and cupped his hand on hers.

“Greetings, young lady. I am known as Clear. May I ask for your name, please?”

…does he… not know me?

Right. I look like this now. There’s no way my father would recognize my current form now.

Also, what did he say his name was? Whatever! Something’s wrong with him!

“Vaccaria.”

“Ah, isn’t that…” Clear scratched his cheek, thinking to himself: Isn’t that a traditional medicine known to promote blood circulation, stimulates menstruation, and relieves carbuncle? Why would there be anyone with a name like this?

However, he remained mindful of the girl’s family. He felt that it was awkward to ask her about her name.

“…a wonderful name, Miss Vaccaria,” Clear complimented. He took a few steps forward, and sat down cross-legged a short distance away from Yibei.

Throughout their conversation, she kept looking at both the man who bore a strong resemblance to her father and the ancient sword in his hand.

Noticing her gaze, Clear chuckled, “Young lady, you seem interested in this sword of mine.”

She didn’t dare to speak, but nodded instead, as if she was a chicken pecking at its food.

To be honest, she was afraid of her father once, and true to her luck, the man in front of her had the exact same face as her own father.

I’m scared, okay?!

“I have inherited this sword from my master’s sect, and it is known as the Spirit of Karma. Pity that…” as Clear spoke, his eyes dimmed slightly before he shook his head. “It is not important. It does not matter if I mention it.”

“Speaking of which,” he continued. “I am unclear of something, so I was hoping that you would be able to clarify it to me.”

“What is it?”

“What you’re seeing now…” he pointed to himself. “…is a residual image of mine. I left an image of me in the sword as my final blessing to future generations. However, I was wondering how the sword ended up in your hands.”

As Clear spoke, his expression did not budge, but she could see his eyes turn cold. It was a subtle change, but the Witch could feel that his temperament had suddenly changed from a weak scholar, to a swordsman who could kill in just a single swipe of the blade.

“Ah, uh… you see…”

Hesitating, she could see Clear getting closer and closer out of the corner of her eye. She gritted her teeth and blurted out, “Ancestral inheritance, yes! I inherited this sword!”

“Oh?” Clear narrowed his eyes, and looked at the Witch up and down. “Does your husband’s surname start with a ‘Lu’, perchance?”

The Witch was silent for a moment. She felt as if she had just caught some important information, but didn’t want to confirm it with him. All she could muster up was a mere, “Yes. How did you know?”

Hearing her answer, Clear’s brows relaxed, and the cold aura of death surrounding him disappeared. A wry smile appeared on his face as he sighed, “Then, it is right. However, I am unsure of what your husband’s full name is.”

“Yibei. Lu Yibei.”

“What?” he frowned upon hearing this. “What about this ‘Lu Yibei’’s father’s name?”

“Lu Ming?”

“No. That can’t be right…” Clear muttered. “What about Lu Ming’s father?”

“Lu Bayi?” as she spoke, he saw Clear frowning again, so she decided to interrupt him. “And Bayi’s father is Lu Yuebo. Any further, and I’m all out of names for you.”

“Yes! That’s the one! Lu Yuebo! That is my son!”

After Clear finished speaking, an awkward silence permeated between the two of them, followed closely by…

“You are my great-great-great-grand-father/-son’s wife!”

Clear was elated. My great-great-great-grandson’s wife is so beautiful. How wonderful! How capable! As expected of my own lineage!

Meanwhile, in Lu Yibei’s mind…

This whole time I was talking about making the sword call me daddy, and turns out, he’s my great-great-great-granddaddy. Great. And I am the grandson in question.

How embarrassing! If I tell him now that I’m Lu Yibei, he might just clean me up with that sword of his!

Clear sat closer amidst Yibei’s thoughts, and asked, “Young lady, allow me this question – how many kitchen knives has this sword been cast into? Was this sword not Lu Yibei’s? How did it get into your hands? Did something happen at home?”

“Indeed. My husband has unfortunately passed away.”

Okay. That’s it, I’ll never lie again. (That’s my one-time limit!)

You know the old saying – you need more lies to cover up your previous lies! Also! Did I really just say that I passed away? What kind of stupid fucking behavior am I on to curse myself to death when I’m still very alive!

As she was deep in thought, she placed her face over her forehead, not wanting to look at Clear’s expression anymore as she waited for his response.

“I see. Are you pregnant?”

?!

TRANSLATOR NOTES:

NOTICE: IF YOU ARE SUBSCRIBED TO MY KO-FI, I IMPLORE YOU TO UNSUBSCRIBE NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE TIPS!

Hello! Unfortunately, I got some bad news, and this might be the last translated chapter in a while. I have finals and internship coming up, and if you know anything about the audit sector, it’s that I am going to be slaving away in the corporate world working 8am-10pm (unfortunate, but that is the norm here – imagine how shocked I was hearing this from my future superior!).

I didn’t want to go AWOL so I thought that it’d be good to inform all of you now rather than keep you waiting for a potential update, so this is an open offer for somebody else to pick the web-novel up. All of you may send in translation requests to your favorite translation sites so that this story can live on (though if this story gets MTL’d or poorly-AI-translated I might just forcibly take the wheel again…)! I personally have been translating this over the years as a fan of the story and I deeply adore the tiny community this story has gathered, though I am currently and for the foreseeable future (until, say, late May) occupied with busier things in life.

Thank you to all the regular commenters, readers, and lurkers. This project was incredibly fun while it lasted over the years with Witchbei’s adventures, and I hope to see this story be able to live on in future translations. Who knows! If nobody comes to pick this up by late of May, I will be take up translating this again! And… if you’d like to talk, you know where to find me! 🙂

(P.S., again, if you’re subscribed to my Ko-Fi, I would advise you to unsubscribe immediately. Thank you for your support over the last few months!)

Yours sincerely,

Bread.