Chapter 119: Making a New Companion (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 119: Making a New Companion (3)
The Thousand-Year Snow Blossom Fruit was a legendary tree said to grow only on snowy mountains, bearing fruit once every millennium. It was a rare elixir of such renown that an ordinary person who consumed it would live a long life without so much as a cold until the day they died. For a martial artist, it was a miracle medicine that could boost their internal energy by two jiazi.
However, its true value lay in its efficacy as a specific cure for those suffering from severed meridians, far outweighing its other effects.
The fruit was also notoriously sensitive to heat; the moment it left the frigid environment of the snowy mountains, it would spoil and rot.
‘So that’s why they’re traveling with the masters of the Ice Palace. They need those skilled in the Ice Soul Divine Skill or the Cold Yin Divine Skill to constantly infuse the fruit with chilling energy. If that’s the case, one of the warriors of the Ice Soul Divine Martial Team must be carrying it. Igaryeo, the "Jeom Binghwa," wouldn't be able to hold it since she practices the Blazing Fire Divine Art.’
While I was lost in thought, a shout erupted from outside.
“Who goes there!”
As the carriage lurched to a halt, I stepped outside.
“What? What are those things?”
I was stunned by the sight of the warriors swarming the area like a black cloud.
‘Did the Beggar Sect mobilize an entire division or something?’
The thought crossed my mind because warriors were packed into every corner of the road ahead. There had to be at least five hundred of them.
Even if they were a ragtag bunch, I couldn't ignore the fact that they were armed with bows and spears.
“How dare you block our path! Do you have any idea who we are? Out of the way!”
The military officer shouted with considerable dignity, but the men surrounding us only responded with sneers.
“Dead men sure talk loud.”
The officer shouted again.
“We are the soldiers of the Commander! Withdraw now if you do not wish to be branded rebels!”
“Does being the Commander’s man mean a blade won't pierce your gut?”
“Which group do you belong to!”
One of the men replied, “We’re just ronin. We don’t have any grand names.”
Despite his words, they had the air of men who had undergone systematic training. It meant they had all practiced under a single sect. They were undoubtedly a coalition of the Black Path, the first to jump at a chance like this.
“Hand over the elixir, and we’ll leave quietly. If you don’t, we’ll have no choice but to kill you and take it. This is your last chance. Give us the elixir.”
A man who appeared to be the leader threatened us loudly. Danyeong bit her lip firmly, her expression one of pure indignation.
“Little sister, you might need to steel yourself this time. This could turn into a bloodbath, so keep your wits about you.”
At Jeom Binghwa’s grim warning, Danyeong nodded.
“Sister, I am the daughter of a military commander. I’ve learned more than a few martial arts myself.”
A look of grim determination settled on Danyeong’s face. Even so, I knew she would likely tremble with fear the moment she actually saw blood.
“Lady Dan, it might be better for you to stay inside the carriage.”
Danyeong shook her head at my suggestion.
“No. I will fight as well. I refuse to lose to such lawless thugs.”
Seeing her firm resolve, I didn't press the matter further. The military officers surrounded Danyeong to protect her.
The Ice Soul Divine Martial Team also formed a circular formation, placing one person in the center. Normally, Jeom Binghwa should have been in that central position to command, but a different woman stood there instead.
‘That woman is the one carrying the Thousand-Year Snow Blossom Fruit.’
That was why the Ice Soul Divine Martial Team had formed their array around her.
I turned to the Blood Wind Squad.
“Their martial arts are inferior to ours, but their numbers are vast. The longer this drags on, the more disadvantaged we’ll be. We must break their spirit as quickly as possible and force them to retreat.”
The Black Path bastards were the type to tuck tail and run the moment they felt the tide turning against them. Right now, they were only attacking because they thought they could overwhelm us with their superior numbers.
I decided to strike before they could make the first move.
Why was I, someone who usually avoided the spotlight, stepping forward like this? Think about it. If there were masters stronger than me present, I’d have no reason to lead. But why should I be humble in front of these second-raters?
I needed a scene to make myself stand out, and I figured this was the perfect moment. No matter how much I looked around, I didn't see any true masters. This was my chance to perform brilliantly and show everyone what I was made of.
“Blood Wind Squad, protect each other as you charge! Strike the leaders in the rear!”
“Let’s go!”
The Blood Wind Squad followed my command with their bodies.
“Aaaargh!”
The Seven Heroes leading the charge cut down the enemies' throats without mercy. As expected, the Seven Heroes excelled at this kind of brutal, messy brawl.
As we advanced with overwhelming martial force, the enemy began to grow fearful.
“Don’t back down! Strike!”
No matter how much they were urged from the rear, those already suppressed by our momentum couldn't bring themselves to attack easily.
The Blood Wind Squad, having endured the hellish training of the Stone Chamber, didn't waver for a second. Since the core of their training had been real combat, they fought with perfect coordination even in this chaos, responding appropriately to every threat.
Jeok Yeong swung his sword by my side. Under his blade, the Black Path warriors fell like autumn leaves.
“Strike the leaders directly!”
However, as we neared the leaders, the Seven Heroes were halted in their tracks. Even if the local Black Path groups were a ragtag bunch, there were still some experts mixed among them. About ten such experts were now engaged in a fierce struggle with the Seven Heroes, stalling our advance.
If this continued, we would be completely surrounded and in grave danger.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
As expected, the moment we were delayed, archers began raining arrows down upon us.
“Gah!”
Not only our side, but the Black Path coalition warriors were also struck by the arrows and fell.
“Brother Jeok, block the arrows.”
Jeok Yeong stepped forward, intercepting dozens of arrows with his sword. As a golden light flashed from his blade, the arrows were sliced in two and fell helplessly to the ground.
Stunned by such martial prowess, the archers forgot to fire and simply stared at Jeok Yeong in a daze.
This was the chance to sweep them away.
The distance between the Black Path experts blocking the Seven Heroes and the leaders was about twenty feet. There was only one way to instill true terror into these hundreds of warriors.
The Scattering Light Red Sun Flash was a technique I truly didn't want to use on humans. But if we delayed any longer, we would be overwhelmed by their numbers.
I lunged forward and unleashed the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.
As I executed the form to gather the Whirling Elastic Path in my wrist, the energy radiated outward, threatening the surrounding warriors.
“It’s Sword Qi! Get back!”
The warriors who drew too close were struck by the Elastic Path, dying with agonizing screams.
“Block him!”
The leader saw me and barked orders at his experts. The experts who had been fighting the Seven Heroes rushed toward me.
At that moment, I channeled the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash into my Ghostly Sword and launched it.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The Ghostly Sword, imbued with the force of the Whirling Elastic Path, tore through the heads and torsos of the Black Path warriors. After piercing through the bodies of four men, the Ghostly Sword transfixed the forehead of the coalition leader himself before soaring into the air.
I deliberately made the blood-stained Ghostly Sword spiral upward into the sky.
“How can this be!”
“It’s Manipulating Sword with Qi!”
Then, someone among them recognized me and screamed.
“It’s the New Dragon of Sichuan!”
“What? The New Dragon of Sichuan who slaughtered the Blood Lamas?”
As a murmur rippled through the Black Path warriors, I flicked my wrist, causing the Ghostly Sword to circle around us.
“Withdraw! If you do not leave now, none of you will escape death!”
As I unleashed a Lion’s Roar, the Black Path warriors flinched and began to stumble backward.
“Those are the members of the Invincible Demon Subjugation Group who wiped out the masters of the Demonic Cult League!”
“Why didn't anyone tell us the New Dragon of Sichuan was here? They said it was just regular government troops!”
“The masters of the Ice Palace are there too!”
The numerous warriors who had ambushed the carriage were now facing certain death at the hands of the government soldiers and the Ice Soul Divine Martial Team.
“We’re going to die for nothing if we stay!”
Finally recognizing the Ice Palace masters and our group, the Black Path warriors began to retreat like a ebbing tide. Without their leader, they were nothing but a disorganized mob.
“We are the Blood Wind Squad of the New Dragon of Sichuan! If you return, we will not let you leave alive!”
The Seven Heroes, suddenly caught up in the excitement, shouted out. It was an incredibly childish thing to say, but it was effective against the coalition warriors.
Watching the Blood Wind Squad panting heavily, my heart ached. Did they really want to kill people like this?
When one learns martial arts, the goal is to become a master, not a murderer. But as one becomes a master, there are times when killing becomes unavoidable. Just like now.
This was the Murim, and this was the life of a warrior.
When they fought the Iron Blood Demon Group or the Demonic Cult League, they probably didn't think of it as murder. Since those enemies were stronger than them, they fought with the mindset of defending themselves.
But now, because the Blood Wind Squad’s skills were far superior to these warriors, it felt like a massacre. Having once been weaklings themselves, they felt a heavy sense of conflict.
If I felt this way, how could they not?
“A warrior does not regret his sword.”
I repeated the words Elder Third Rate had once told me. These were words meant not just for the Blood Wind Squad, but for myself as well.
The Blood Wind Squad’s breathing gradually slowed. It meant their hearts were finding peace.
I let out a long sigh.
*
Blood Flame Blade Mun Gang let out a long sigh as he looked down at the battlefield where Eo Ja-seo and the Black Path coalition had fought.
“Should we strike now?”
“No. There are too many eyes. No matter how reckless we may be, if we draw the ire of the Commander, it will be difficult to operate in Sichuan. We must strike when there are no other witnesses.”
Butterfly Killing Fan Wi Se-gun spoke as he looked down at Eo Ja-seo.
“Then I will scout for a location with fewer eyes,” Mun Gang said, and Wi Se-gun nodded.
“However, he is not an easy opponent.”
Mun Gang grew wary after witnessing Eo Ja-seo’s martial prowess. In his thirty years in the Murim, he had never seen a sword technique that could pierce through four experts and take the head of a leader like that. He even considered the possibility that he himself might be no match for Eo Ja-seo.
‘Only the Sixth Overlord would be a match for him.’
“Even so, there are only one or two masters. For our Heavenly Wind Squad, someone like Eo Ja-seo is no problem.”
Mun Gang turned to look at the fifty or so warriors lined up at the bottom of the hill. The Heavenly Wind Squad, which Wi Se-gun took great pride in, was the premier martial unit of the Divine Light Sect. More importantly, they were the ones who had trained the Ghost Pursuit Squad of the Demonic Cult League.
Every single one of them possessed skills at the first-rate level or higher; they were a force capable of defeating the elites of the Nine Great Sects.
‘True, the Heavenly Wind Squad would have no trouble.’
Wi Se-gun’s rage reached the heavens as his plans were thwarted by Eo Ja-seo. He had intended to use the Heavenly Wind Squad to ambush Eo Ja-seo on his way back to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress and take his revenge.
But just as they were about to attack, the brat had joined up with the Commander’s daughter.
At that moment, Blood Flame Blade couldn't help but admire Eo Ja-seo’s cunning. From his perspective, it seemed Eo Ja-seo had anticipated another attack after the ambush by the Demonic Cult League. No matter how powerful the Divine Light Sect was, there was nothing to be gained from openly attacking the Commander’s daughter.
While they were debating what to do, they had captured a few Black Path experts lingering around the carriage and discovered why they were following it. They had learned there was an elixir in the carriage and leaked the information to the local Black Path groups, inciting them to form a coalition.
They had hoped to finish off Eo Ja-seo without lifting a finger, but the Black Path thugs were blinded by greed and attacked recklessly without a plan, ruining everything.
“Today is not the only day. I will surely kill Eo Ja-seo before he enters Junggang!” Wi Se-gun said quietly, glaring at Eo Ja-seo.
*
We left that place and resumed our journey. After traveling for another full day, we stopped at a prefecture and entered a tavern.
“Welcome!”
The waiter started to greet us reflexively but recoiled in horror at the sight of the blood covering our bodies. He looked at us closely before speaking.
“Could it be? Are you the New Dragon of Sichuan and the Blood Wind Squad?”
“We are. What of it?”
The fifth of the Seven Heroes replied, and the waiter began to make a fuss.
“Wow! It really is you! I wondered if it might be. You’re the Blood Wind Squad that defeated a thousand Black Path experts!”
Unbeknownst to us, the news of our battle with the Black Path coalition had already spread throughout the Sichuan region. Curiously, while our battles against true masters were less known, this fight against underlings had been exaggerated as it spread. The fleeing Black Path warriors had scattered and embellished the rumors.
To justify their defeat, they had no choice but to glorify us. The weaker the warrior, the more they tended to do so.
Under the guidance of the fussing waiter, we sat down at a table.
“Why are you so quiet? Is something bothering you?” Jeok Yeong asked me as soon as he sat down.
Yes, something was bothering me. How could not a single one of you notice?
During the fight with the Black Path coalition, I had shuddered at a thick killing intent that felt like it was choking me. That killing intent hadn't come from the coalition warriors; it had come from the hill to our left. It was remarkably similar to the aura of the Ghost Pursuit Squad, but far more intense. I knew then that the masters of the Divine Light Sect had arrived.
My internal energy from the Circulating Dantian allowed me to sense such auras all too clearly.
If they were stronger than the Ghost Pursuit Squad, there was only one place they could have come from.
Therefore, I had to devise a plan. Swords alone wouldn't be enough to deal with such monsters.
First, I called over one of the military officers and Owoong, the swiftest of the Seven Heroes.