Chapter 117
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The New Blood's Resolve
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Taegok Sub-Branch Training Ground.
Seol Hwa-un stood before the new warriors, calmly explaining the current situation.
“……!”
The recruits, who had been eyeing him curiously upon his sudden appearance, turned pale by the time he finished speaking.
“Th-then…….”
“Does that mean every unorthodox faction in Shanxi Province is converging here?”
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
“That’s right.”
For these men, who had just become North Sea Ice Palace warriors and were immersed in the thrill of learning new martial arts, the news hit like a bolt from the blue.
“N-No way!”
“I thought we’d finally seized our chance to rise in the world!”
“Damn it! No wonder it felt too good to be true!”
Seol Hwa-un simply watched quietly as the new warriors grew agitated.
Dong Ho-won, who had come with him, was the one fidgeting restlessly.
‘What’s the plan? Why just stand there and watch?’
Once the commotion among the recruits died down, Seol Hwa-un spoke.
“As fresh recruits to our palace, I understand your dismay.”
“……!”
“But aren’t we murim folk destined to live at the edge of a blade? Crisis can strike anywhere, anytime, whether here or elsewhere.”
Seol Hwa-un paused briefly before continuing.
“I myself faced countless perils on the journey from the Central Plains. Yet I don’t see this as a dire threat. Why? Because our palace is strong.”
His tone was so matter-of-fact that the recruits’ eyes shifted subtly.
“I won’t force you. I’ll waive all penalties for leaving. If you’re afraid, depart this very spot.”
“……!”
“However, you’ll never become palace warriors again. Those who stay and defend the Taegok Sub-Branch to the end—I pledge on my name that they’ll receive fitting rewards.”
Seol Hwa-un turned away without hesitation, leaving his final words behind.
“You have half a shichen to decide.”
Dong Ho-won hurried after him, glancing back as he spoke.
“Young Palace Lord, is this truly alright?”
Seol Hwa-un’s expression, calm until now, unexpectedly grew a touch heavier.
“No choice. They haven’t had time to grow into true palace warriors. It’d be wrong to demand sacrifice when their hearts aren’t yet committed to our palace.”
“Hmm. A shame. These recruits were hard-won.”
“If they choose to stay for the palace and survive this battle…… it could turn misfortune into fortune, forging them into genuine palace warriors.”
“I wonder how many will remain…….”
Most were ronin; expecting loyalty from them was a stretch.
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile.
“We can only hope for as many as possible.”
Once Seol Hwa-un’s figure had fully vanished, murmurs arose among the once-silent recruits.
“Phew.”
“The Young Palace Lord’s words do stir me a bit…… but I still think we should leave?”
“Exactly. Nothing’s more precious than life.”
“Hmm…….”
Surprisingly, some intended to stay.
“I’m staying. Life’s short—might as well go out in a blaze of glory.”
“Me too. North Heaven Dragon…… I feel like following him will lead to something great.”
But those determined to leave vastly outnumbered them.
That was when it happened.
“You cowards!”
The recruits’ faces changed at the shout. Not because of the words, but because the voice was familiar.
“N-No way?”
“That voice……!”
Jeok Rang-do appeared before them.
“Wh-why is Jeok Rang-do here……!”
The recruits were unaware he had become a North Sea Ice Palace warrior.
It was his own request.
Ashamed to show himself before them until he could stand tall, he had hidden from the other recruits.
But the situation had changed.
“That’s right, it’s me. Truth is, I’m a North Sea Ice Palace warrior just like you.”
“……!”
“Surprised, huh? I opposed the palace as a spy, yet the Young Palace Lord accepted even someone like me. He’s a man of true magnanimity.”
Jeok Rang-do addressed the warriors around him.
“Whether days or years, we’re all North Sea Ice Palace warriors together.”
“…….”
“In our short time here, you’ve felt it too—the atmosphere of the North Sea Ice Palace.”
Any sect inevitably had some hazing for new recruits.
Especially since they’d quietly looked down on and discriminated against the North Sea Ice Palace.
But the palace warriors were different. They treated equals as equals, with no discrimination.
They were far more likely to help newcomers adjust.
For ronin accustomed to subtle prejudice across regions, it was a startling revelation.
“I see this as our opportunity.”
Jeok Rang-do’s eyes gleamed.
“If we fight to the end as North Sea Ice Palace warriors in this battle, we can become true members.”
He declared it firmly.
“I won’t regret dying here. In my eyes, the North Sea Ice Palace is worth it.”
“……!”
Jeok Rang-do’s words reverberated deeply in the recruits’ hearts.
Half a shichen later, Seol Hwa-un returned to the training ground with Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi.
Dong Ho-won’s eyes widened.
“Y-Young Palace Lord! This is……!”
Incredibly, not a single recruit had left; they had all stayed.
One of them spoke with resolute expression.
“Young Palace Lord, we’ve decided to become true North Sea Ice Palace warriors.”
“Indeed, Young Palace Lord. Lead us.”
Seol Hwa-un spotted Jeok Rang-do standing to the side and surmised what had happened.
‘Whew, we’ve gained a finer talent than expected.’
He slowly opened his mouth.
“Thank you all for staying. Truth be told, in battle, you’re the most likely to fall first.”
“…….”
“But our palace doesn’t treat its warriors as expendable fodder. I promise to do everything to ensure you survive. Therefore.”
Seol Hwa-un pointed to Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won as he continued.
“No telling how much time we have left, but until then, you’ll learn joint strike arts from these two.”
“Joint strike arts?”
“Starting now?”
In truth, joint formations generally required extensive time to synchronize.
The recruits’ bewilderment was understandable.
Over time sparring against Seol Hwa-un, Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won had refined their dual harmony formation into the completed ‘Five Elements Harmony Formation.’
In the process, they’d devised a ‘Two Elements Harmony Formation’ for efficient use by just two people in short order.
Synchronizing two was far simpler than five.
Having developed and perfected these formations, Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won were ideal instructors.
Especially since the original dual formation was for two.
Dong Ho-won raised his voice.
“It’s not as hard as you think, so don’t worry. For now, pair up two at a time with your closest match in spirit!”
* * *
Blood Evil Gang.
An unorthodox faction based in Yangquan, Shanxi Province—a fairly large one.
At present, some three hundred of its elite warriors marched along the official road toward Taiyuan.
At the forefront rode the Blood Evil Gang Leader, Chief Officer, and Young Gang Leader on horseback.
The Young Gang Leader, a youth in his mid-twenties, asked.
“Father, aren’t we moving too slowly?”
The robust middle-aged Blood Evil Gang Leader smirked slyly.
“What’s the rush?”
“Pardon?”
“No matter how urgent, we can’t arrive before the Black Refinement Sect. We’d paint perfect targets on our backs for the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“Ah!”
“In that vein, it’s best to arrive after the Black Refinement Sect and other unorthodox groups have settled in. That’s the safest timing.”
“But if we’re too late and incur the Blood Radiance Sword Marshal’s wrath……!”
The Blood Evil Gang Leader shook his head.
“That’s why we’re heading via Taiyuan, isn’t it? We can say we were scouting the Shanxi Sword Sect’s movements—they’ll understand.”
The Young Gang Leader nodded.
“As expected, you’ve thought it all through. But…….”
“What now?”
“Didn’t you say the three northern Shanxi unorthodox factions headed north to keep the Shanxi Sword Sect in check?”
The Blood Evil Gang Leader feigned innocence.
“Did I? That’s news to me.”
“……Pardon?”
The Young Gang Leader looked dumbfounded. He distinctly remembered hearing it at the pre-departure meeting with everyone present.
“Did you hear that, Chief Officer?”
At the Gang Leader’s question, the Chief Officer shook his head in genuine confusion.
“First I’ve heard of it. We should verify, but…… time’s short, so shouldn’t we head straight to Taiyuan first?”
“Exactly.”
Only then did the Young Gang Leader grasp their ploy.
‘Ah, pretending ignorance, huh.’
Claiming they’d missed the news in their haste to obey the urgent summons would make it hard for even the Blood Radiance Sword Marshal to press them.
“This war is as good as won. No matter how formidable the North Heaven Dragon, can he stand against all of Shanxi’s unorthodox factions plus the Blood Radiance Sword Marshal?”
“You’re right, Father.”
“We might even hit the Shanxi Sword Sect while we’re at it. Once the North Sea Ice Palace is driven out, the real scramble for Shanxi’s interests among the unorthodox will begin.”
The Young Gang Leader followed up.
“So we must preserve our strength for that, yes.”
“Hahaha, precisely.”
This wasn’t unique to the Blood Evil Gang; all participating unorthodox factions shared similar calculations.
And it became an unexpected vulnerability the North Sea Ice Palace could exploit.
The Blood Evil Gang Leader’s leisurely expression, leading from the front, suddenly changed.
“Hm?”
Some uncanny sensation prickled at him.
‘What’s this?’
As he reined in his horse, the Chief Officer asked.
“Gang Leader, what’s wrong?”
“Well…….”
The Blood Evil Gang Leader turned to reply when—
Boom!
The ground ahead suddenly swelled and erupted, a figure bursting forth.
“……!”
It was the Yi Sword Brigade Leader.
“For daring to target our palace, atone with your death.”
Terrifying sword qi erupted from his blade tip.
Shuuuaaaak!
“Wha—?!”
The startled Blood Evil Gang Leader belatedly unleashed his palm force, but the sword qi sliced through his hand and severed his neck.
Slash!!
As the Gang Leader’s head flew into the air, belated cries of alarm erupted here and there.
“Gasp!”
“A-ambush!”
Amid the Blood Evil Gang warriors’ chaos, the Yi Sword Brigade Leader landed and muttered.
“The Strategist’s predictions are uncanny, as always.”
It was Yu Gong-seon who had anticipated the Blood Evil Gang’s route and ordered the ambush here.
The Yi Sword Brigade Leader raised his voice.
“Wipe out every last Blood Evil Gang scum!”
At his command, sixty Yi Sword Brigade members appeared and charged at the Blood Evil Gang warriors.