Reverend insanity: Rotten to the core

The sun rose from east as usual, unaware of it's imminent destruction three million years in the future.

Malenia woke up and walked downstairs to have breakfast with her family. Walking downstairs, Malenia bent her body down to avoid bumping her head.

Houses were built with average humans in mind so Malenia's height of two meters and a half made moving around the house difficult needing to bend down to go through doorways or walk down stairs.

Sitting at the dining table, Malenia silently had her breakfast of bland bread and goat milk.

Her father coughed lightly as he began to speak, "Hong Hui, isn't it time you settled down and had a family of your own?"

Malenia looked down at her father with her golden yellow eyes making him slightly squirm in his seat involuntarily, Unlike Malenia, her parents were completely ordinary mortals and couldn't help but feel intimidated when facing her large body.

Malenia's cold expression disappeared as she showed a soft smile, "I agree with father's words, but Hong Hui doesn't have any suitors."

Hearing Malenia's words, her father sighed, men had an innate attraction to delicate women who made the instinct to protect them rise up but facing his daughter who was taller and stronger than most men such instincts would be put out like pouring a bucket of water on a candle flame.

"Ling Zhu has a son who has yet to marry, he is very hardworking and honest, I'll speak to him about it." Malenia's father spoke.

"Then I'll leave it up to father." Malenia replied and her father nodded with a satisfied smile at his daughter's obedience.

Truthfully, whether her father wanted to marry her to Ling Zhu or to Star constellation, Malenia couldn't care less. She would be leaving this place soon anyways.

*****

The merchant caravan arrived at the Shen clan every year at summer time and a large festival would be held to celebrate their arrival.

New market stalls and stores opened and the streets of the Shen clan were full of activity as both Gu masters and mortals curiously browsed through each shop's inventory.

Malenia walked through the streets of the newly set up market as she looked for a familiar face, if she was unlucky, the person she was looking for had died from the dangerous life in the merchant caravan and her chance of finding a sword would sink to rock bottom.

Luckily that wasn't the case and Malenia soon found her target. Standing behind a small stall counter, a wrinkly old woman with hair the colour of ash propped her chin up on the counter in boredom as she disinterestedly looked around at the passing crowd.

Her eyes stopped at Malenia's figure before they lit up and she stood up as Malenia approached the stall.

"I am honoured to see you once again, Lady Xue." In an inconspicuous corner of the market, Malenia and the old woman sat Infront of eachother as Malenia bowed her head slightly in respect, though with her height she was still looking down at the old woman.

The woman infront of her was the one who held the final tool Malenia needed before starting her journey, not only that, she was a rank one Gu master with the backing of the merchant caravan while she was only a mortal, showing her the utmost respect was a necessity.

"Heh heh, little girl, no need for formalities, this is our third meeting after a long time we could be said to be old friends." The old woman said with a calculating smile.

"Being considered lady Xue's friend, this humble mortal girl is deeply honoured." Although the old woman said that there was no need for formalities, Malenia bowed her head even deeper.

Shaking her arm dismissively, Old lady Xue spoke, "That aside, you must be curious about your previous request."

Opening her palm, Malenia saw a small yellow toad on the old woman's palm, the toad croaked a few times before stretching open it's mouth to unreal proportions as it spat out a long black box that sat on the old woman's lap.

Opening the box towards Malenia, Malenia's eyes shined and she couldn't stop her heartbeat from quickening as she looked at the dull gold blade of the single edged sword.

Malenia felt the sword calling out to her as she reached forward towards it before being stopped by the Old woman's words, "Forged from yellow gold by a master craftsman and applied with the affects of Sharp edge Gu, this sword is a one of one, capable of even harming a hundred beast king, honestly if not for the low demand for weapons like this by Gu masters you wouldn't even dream of being able to purchase such a high quality product for a mere one hundred primeval stones."

Malenia couldn't help but nod, just the use of a Gu worm on the sword raised it's value exponentially. Carefully reaching into her clothes, Malenia took out a large bag of primeval stones and handed it to the old woman.

The old woman took the bag and glanced inside before allowing the small yellow toad to swallow it but she didn't hand Malenia the sword and instead stared at Malenia in silence for a few moments.

Just as Malenia was wondering if the old woman would go back on their deal and try to rob her, the old woman finally spoke.

"Although as a merchant, it isn't my place to ask of my client what they intend to do with the goods I sell them, but I just can't help but wonder what you want to do with this sword."

Malenia spoke, giving the half hearted reason she gave the old woman so many times before, "I want to pass it on as a family heirloom."

The old woman looked at Malenia deeply and Malenia could feel a small formless pressure on her shoulders which she disregarded.

Malenia had no intention of revealing her plans to anyone.