Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Shanxi Sword Sect in Peril
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Seol Hwa-un's group headed south at an astonishing speed.
It was thanks to the Ice Blood Horses raised by the North Sea Ice Palace. These were a breed created by crossing the Eastern Overwinter Horses with the Western Cold Blood Horses, larger than ordinary steeds and far superior in stamina.
The Ice White Cavalry Unit, considered the North Sea Ice Palace's strongest armed force, rode these very Ice Blood Horses.
Of course, they hadn't started out that fast.
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won, who were riding horses for the first time, could barely cling on and didn't know what to do.
At that moment, Seol Hwa-un spoke up.
"The thighs are the most important at first. Squeeze with all your strength to find stability. Lean forward and feel the horse's movements as much as possible. You'll get the knack soon."
"……!"
They did as Seol Hwa-un instructed. Being prodigies with exceptional senses, they quickly adapted to horsemanship.
But the friction pain in their thighs was unavoidable.
"Endure the pain. Once the skin peels off a few times and calluses form, it'll be fine."
Dong Ho-won grimaced and asked.
"H-How many times?"
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
"You'll see."
Horsemanship was no issue for him, having ridden countless times in his previous life. However, with his changed body, he felt the pain too.
Yet Seol Hwa-un showed no sign of it, closing his eyes and feeling the wind.
'Yes, this is the feeling.'
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won, riding alongside him, felt puzzled.
'How does the Young Palace Lord know horsemanship so well?'
'His posture is too stable.'
To accommodate the three first-time riders, the North Wind Brigade moved slowly ahead on purpose, with only the North Wind Brigade Leader positioned at the very rear of the group.
Thus, he overheard their entire conversation.
'Amazing. How does the Young Palace Lord know such advanced horsemanship...? And that composure?'
He even seemed superior to the North Wind Brigade riding ahead.
The North Wind Brigade Leader had heard rumors about Seol Hwa-un but, due to frequent external missions, had rarely observed him up close.
'The rumors seem at least partially true.'
But what surprised the North Wind Brigade Leader wasn't over yet.
The path from the North Sea to the Central Plains stretched across vast grasslands. When night fell, they had no choice but to camp.
Seol Hwa-un took the initiative in preparations, and his skills were no joke.
Gathering firewood, starting a fire, selecting the campsite—everything was done with veteran expertise.
Impressed, the North Wind Brigade Leader asked how he knew all this, and Seol Hwa-un brushed it off by saying he'd read about it in books.
Of course, it was a lie. It came from his previous life's youthful days filled with countless encampments.
As time passed and Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won grew accustomed to riding, their travel speed increased dramatically.
Half a month after departing the Ice Palace.
Seol Hwa-un's group finally reached the entrance to Shanxi Province. They were all in simple attire with bundles on their backs.
Regretfully, they sent the Ice Blood Horses back. They were too conspicuous and unsuited to the Central Plains climate.
Seol Hwa-un murmured with a wistful gaze.
"......It's been a long time."
"Pardon?"
He shook his head at Dong Ho-won's question.
"Nothing. Let's go."
Seol Hwa-un walked on, lost in thought.
'Shanxi Province...... I wonder how much it's changed.'
* * *
Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.
The provincial capital and the most bustling city in Shanxi.
By the time Seol Hwa-un's group arrived in Taiyuan, night had already fallen.
With no choice, they looked around for an inn to stay the night.
'It's much larger than when I visited in my previous life. But......'
This was still the outskirts of Taiyuan, yet there were strangely few people about, and the atmosphere felt bleak. Most inns and shops were shuttered.
Seol Hwa-un's eyebrow twitched.
"Something must be wrong."
Just then, a sharp metallic clang reached his ears.
Chae—aeng.
"......?!"
It was so distant that Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won trailing behind him seemed not to hear it.
"Hold."
Seol Hwa-un stopped, and they looked at him quizzically.
"Young Palace Lord?"
"Quiet."
Focusing his hearing, he faintly caught screams mixed in.
'This is......'
With no time for deep thought, Seol Hwa-un kicked off the ground.
Taat!
"Ah!"
"Young Palace Lord, where are you going?"
But no reply came. With no choice, they unleashed their lightness skills to chase his silhouette.
'What in the world?'
'Ugh, too fast.'
They barely kept up with Seol Hwa-un's figure.
The North Wind Brigade moved to follow, but a transmission reached the North Wind Brigade Leader.
[Have the North Wind Brigade wait here for now.]
It was to avoid unintended chaos if too many people rushed in.
"......"
After a brief hesitation, the North Wind Brigade Leader said.
"Everyone, stand by."
"Understood!"
Soon, his figure also vanished after Seol Hwa-un.
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un, who had swiftly left Taiyuan, finally halted at an open lot.
Chae-chae-chang!
"Kraaak!"
That was the source of the noise.
Over a dozen warriors in red martial robes were surrounded and under attack by men who clearly looked like bandits.
The attackers' warriors seemed slightly stronger in martial arts, but vastly outnumbered, they were falling one by one.
Despite more bandits down, over forty remained.
It seemed only a matter of time before the enemy warriors were annihilated.
"Don't give up until the end!"
A young man who appeared to be their leader shouted encouragement, but the situation didn't change.
Seol Hwa-un recognized them at a glance.
'Those robes...... Shanxi Sword Sect?'
The Shanxi Sword Sect was one of the top three sects in Shanxi Province. Not comparable to the Nine Great Sects, but still sizable.
Yet the bandits attacking such a sect were no ordinary foes. Not quite on the Shanxi Sword Sect warriors' level, but all trained in martial arts.
Naturally, a name came to Seol Hwa-un's mind.
'Green Forest Eighteen Bandits?'
Even when Seol Hwa-un was Martial Alliance Leader in his past life, they had refused to join the righteous alliance.
Despite his offer to overlook their past crimes, the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits had stubbornly refused.
'Back then, they harmed the common folk as much as the Outer Realm Evil Forces......'
He had long planned to subjugate them, but as scattered, hidden forest bandits, total annihilation was difficult, so they were deprioritized.
'After suppressing the Outer Realm Evil Forces, I planned to root you out.'
He hadn't returned to do it, though.
A bandit who seemed their leader shouted.
"Attack all at once! One hand can't fend off ten!"
"Keurk!"
Another Shanxi Sword Sect warrior fell. Flames shot from the young man's eyes.
"Chang Ho! You bastards!"
He suddenly burst from the group, unleashing flashy swordsmanship.
"Eyaap!"
Shu-shu-shu-shuk!
"Kuh!"
"Ugh!"
Two bandits recoiled, wounded. But that was it. Pouring out full power left him full of openings.
"You dare, without fear!"
Paat!
A broadsword slashed his shoulder, blood spraying.
"Ugh!"
The Shanxi Sword Sect warriors cried out in alarm.
"Vice Sect Leader!"
"Kahaha, perfect timing for this thorn in my side. Beat him!"
Countless axes and blades rained down on the young man's head.
'Ah...... I have to protect the sect......'
Sensing his end, the young man squeezed his eyes shut.
At that instant.
Chae-chae-chae-chang!
The weapons aimed at him were all deflected.
"......?"
Cautiously opening his eyes, he saw a man's back.
"Who......?"
The man didn't turn, asking.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes."
"Shanxi Sword Sect. Right?"
"Yes. I'm the Vice Sect Leader, Jin Pyo......"
"These are Green Forest Eighteen Bandits, I presume?"
Jin Pyo nodded frantically.
"I see."
The man was Seol Hwa-un.
'Daring to come near the city for slaughter!'
Meanwhile, the bandits stared at the suddenly appeared Seol Hwa-un in bewilderment.
"Who the hell are you!"
"Doesn't matter."
Seol Hwa-un's eyes changed. Pure white qi gathered in his hand.
Sususu.
The surrounding temperature plunged sharply.
Jin Pyo behind him shivered from the sudden chill.
'W-What is this?'
In that moment, Seol Hwa-un extended his hand. A fountain of pure white palm force erupted.
Paaaaat!
Jjeojeojeok!
The bandits engulfed in the palm force turned into ice chunks without a chance to react.
It was the Ice White Divine Palm, revealed in the Central Plains after so long.
"Gasp!"
"W-What is this?"
Seeing five comrades as ice statues, the bandits hesitated and fell back.
Jin Pyo couldn't close his gaping mouth.
'Incredible yin cold technique!'
No one recognized the Ice White Divine Palm, except one: Jo Bung, Vice Leader of the Ghost King寨 among the bandits.
"N-No way, Ice White Divine Palm?!"
His pupils shook.
'A North Sea Ice Palace expert? Where did he come from?!'
"You know it well."
Seol Hwa-un now extended both hands sideways.
Shu-shu-shu-shu-shuk!
Six ice rings radiating pure white light shot out in all directions. Ice Ring Finger.
Peo-peo-peo-peok!
"Keurk!"
"Kek!"
The bandits collapsed with brows pierced, unable to react. All their heads frozen solid.
"I-Impossible!"
Seol Hwa-un had felled eleven bandits in just two moves.
'Not an ordinary guy.'
Jo Bung, thinking quickly, bellowed.
"What are you doing! He's just one! Everyone, charge together!"
Unlike common rabble, they were different. The bandits, hesitating at Seol Hwa-un's prowess, snapped to at Jo Bung's shout and rushed him.
"Die!"
"Foolish."
Pure white light frosted over Seol Hwa-un's fist.
'No need for Broad Cold Fist.'
Shuaaaak!
Cha-ang!
Kwang!
Dda-ang!
Kwa-ang!
No special techniques. Just fast, powerful punches.
Incredibly, each strike shattered two or three bandit weapons before landing.
"Guk!"
"Keuk!"
Even hardened bandits flinched at the domineering fist art that destroyed weapons.
"Impossible!"
"H-High expert!"
As they faltered, Seol Hwa-un leaped into their midst without pause.
Kwa-kwang!
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
"Kraaak!"
"Kek!"
Bandits struck by his fists flew as bloody pulps. Truly, no one could stand against him.
In mere breaths, over thirty bandits lay defeated.
"......"
Yet Seol Hwa-un's breathing remained steady. Without the bandits' blood on him, you'd think he was just passing by.
A furrow creased his brow.
'The leader-looking one fled.'
Jo Bung, who had shouted to attack, had slipped away unnoticed.
"Th-That's an incredible master......!"
The Shanxi Sword Sect warriors gaped.
Seol Hwa-un, spotting Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won who had followed and stood stunned by his display, shouted.
"Don't just stand there—treat the injured Shanxi Sword Sect warriors."
"Ah...... Yes!"
Dazed, they pulled out golden sore medicine from their pouches.
'Shanxi Sword Sect?'
'Why should we help them......'
Hard to comprehend, but they couldn't defy Seol Hwa-un's order.
'Ah!'
Finally coming to, Jin Pyo bowed deeply to Seol Hwa-un.
"Th-Thank you for saving us, great hero!"
Though he looked younger, Jin Pyo unhesitatingly called him great hero.
"Isn't helping those in crisis natural? Especially against lawless bandits......"
But Jin Pyo's reaction to his words was odd. Suddenly, he knelt before Seol Hwa-un.
"Great hero!"
"Hm?"
"Impudently, I beg you. Please save our Shanxi Sword Sect!"