Chapter 159
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Formation Wager
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As So Hye-ran was heading back to her lodging, she suddenly grew curious about what Seol Hwa-un was up to.
She dawdled along, sneaking glances at him repeatedly.
“……!”
When Seol Hwa-un drew his sword, So Hye-ran’s eyes changed.
‘A sword? Come to think of it, I heard the North Heavenly Dragon knows how to wield one too.’
But she didn’t believe his swordsmanship was on a high level.
‘He’s already so strong with fists—swordplay on top of that? No way, that’s ridiculous.’
She figured it was just basic sword techniques, as the son of the Ice Emperor.
But that notion was quickly revised the moment she saw his stance with the sword in hand.
‘No way……!’
As a renowned Plum Blossom Sword Expert representing Mount Hua Sect—one of the top swordswomen—she could gauge his level just from the posture.
‘Is this even possible?’
Had she not experienced his fist techniques in the plaza before, she would have immediately pegged him as a peak-level swordsman.
Peeking at someone else’s training was taboo, but unable to contain her curiosity, So Hye-ran pretended to slowly head to her lodging while keeping her eyes fixed on Seol Hwa-un.
‘What sword style will he use?’
She was mildly shocked by the Snow Flower Heavenly Flow Sword he demonstrated next.
‘Incredible!’
True, Jin Pyo had broken through it, but So Hye-ran knew.
Seol Hwa-un had held back considerably.
Since it was from the same lineage as her Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, she could tell right away.
‘Just how skilled is the North Heavenly Dragon’s swordsmanship?’
To resolve her doubts properly, So Hye-ran approached Seol Hwa-un directly.
“……Could I also request some swordsmanship guidance?”
But Seol Hwa-un shook his head right away.
“No.”
So Hye-ran doubted her own ears for a moment.
“……Pardon? What did you say?”
“I said no.”
“You did it for that kid…… no, that young man, so why not me? You even lent him the training ground!”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes flashed.
“How strange. I lent the training ground out of pure goodwill, didn’t I?”
“……!”
She didn’t know his true intent, but at least in her eyes, his tone seemed like a veiled threat: ‘If that’s how you want to play it, I’ll drag up that incident from three years ago myself.’
‘Ugh!’
In the end, she had no choice but to back down.
‘So…… infuriating!’
Back at her lodging, So Hye-ran let out a scream.
“Aaaagh!”
The Vermilion Bird Unit members resting nearby looked at her in surprise.
“……?”
Her eyes narrowed at them.
“What are you staring at?”
“……!”
The startled unit members quickly turned their heads away, ignoring her.
‘I’m still the Vermilion Bird Unit leader of the Martial Alliance!’
What irked her most was how he fussed over that junior Jin Pyo while treating her like an eyesore.
‘Should I just say no to lending the training ground now? No, that’s too petty. I need some justification…….’
Just then, an idea flashed in her mind.
‘Aha! There was a simple way, and here I was overthinking it.’
“Vice Leader Jang!”
At her call, a tall, lanky man hurried over.
“Yes, Leader! You called?”
Vermilion Bird Unit Vice Leader Jang Ho-hyeong.
He had once vied for the top spot in Mount Chungnam Sect but now contentedly served as vice leader.
Despite the enmity between Mount Hua and Mount Chungnam, he showed unwavering loyalty to So Hye-ran.
She looked at him and said,
“Vice Leader, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Pardon? Tell you what……?”
She furrowed her brows.
“You don’t know?”
Jang Ho-hyeong’s pupils trembled slightly.
“W-Well…….”
“You idiot! I mean our training.”
“Training? Ah, that training?”
He pretended to know, but he had no clue.
‘Damn it! What the hell is she talking about?’
“Yeah. Our Vermilion Bird Unit’s group formation training—wasn’t it today?”
“Y-Yes! Today…… Huh?”
Jang Ho-hyeong’s face went blank as he chimed in.
‘This crazy leader! Who does group training during the Dragon-Phoenix Conference?’
But he couldn’t voice that.
“It’s today, right?”
“……Yes, it is.”
Only then did So Hye-ran smile faintly.
“Right, right. It was today. You should’ve reminded me if I forgot.”
Jang Ho-hyeong felt wronged but forced a smile and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It happens.”
With that, So Hye-ran suddenly raised her voice.
“Attention, all!”
“……!”
“Everyone except those on duty—assemble at the training ground!”
“……!”
The unit members’ eyes went wide.
But she shouted mercilessly again.
“Move out!”
Thud thud thud!
Knowing her temperament all too well, they had no choice but to rush out, gritting their teeth.
‘Why is the leader acting up all of a sudden?!’
They shot puzzled looks at Jang Ho-hyeong as they ran, but what could he do if he didn’t know either?
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un, who had been watching Jin Pyo’s training, tilted his head at the sudden appearance of the Vermilion Bird Unit members.
‘Hm?’
Just then, So Hye-ran approached.
“Oh dear, how embarrassing. I forgot our unit had training today.”
“…….”
“Sorry about this. It has to be today.”
Seol Hwa-un replied calmly.
“……If that’s the case, no helping it.”
He stared at her quietly. The corner of her mouth twitched.
‘She’s being petty, huh? Fine, if that’s how she wants it…….’
“Group training, eh. Mind if I ask what kind?”
“Hm? Oh, formation training.”
So Hye-ran said proudly.
“Especially our defensive Wing Formation—it’s the pride of the Vermilion Bird Unit. No martial unit among the Four Great Units has ever breached it.”
“Ho, sounds intriguing.”
Seol Hwa-un smiled and continued.
“Then how about a simple wager with me?”
“Huh?”
“My guard unit happens to be here at the Martial Alliance. Small in number, but all elite experts. Let’s pit them against your Vermilion Bird Unit’s defensive formation.”
“……!”
“My guards will break through your defense. If they succeed, let me use the training ground freely.”
“And if they fail?”
“Then I’ll grant whatever the Vermilion Bird Unit leader wants. Sword guidance or anything.”
A smile spread across So Hye-ran’s face.
“Perfect. I accept the wager.”
Seol Hwa-un’s smile deepened.
“Wager set.”
So Hye-ran raised her voice.
“Vice Leader!”
Jang Ho-hyeong, standing a bit away, rushed over.
“Yes, Leader. You called?”
“You heard?”
“Ah, yes.”
Their voices hadn’t been quiet, so most Vermilion Bird Unit members had caught the wager details.
“What are you waiting for? Get ready.”
“Yes, Leader!”
Under Jang Ho-hyeong’s command, the unit members swiftly formed up on the training ground.
“By the way, where’s your guard unit, Fortress Lord?”
At So Hye-ran’s question, Seol Hwa-un raised his hand in signal.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
In an instant, twenty-seven North Dragon Guard members appeared.
They usually kept a distance to avoid hindering his movements, which was why So Hye-ran hadn’t noticed them.
“……!”
So Hye-ran’s expression hardened upon seeing the North Dragon Guard.
‘……Those are just a guard unit?’
She doubted her eyes. Each one’s aura matched that of a mid-sized force’s leader.
‘Impossible…….’
The standout was the North Dragon Guard leader at the forefront.
‘I couldn’t guarantee victory against him!’
So Hye-ran was dumbfounded. She’d never imagined such a guard unit existed.
‘I’ve been had!’
Frowning, she glared at Seol Hwa-un.
“North Heavenly Fortress Lord, these men…….”
“You’re not thinking of backing out now, are you?”
So Hye-ran replied stiffly.
“……Of course not. But I’ll join the formation too.”
“As a unit leader, that’s only natural.”
With a resolute expression, she walked toward the Vermilion Bird Unit, which had formed a long defensive line in three-rank vertical columns.
‘Stay calm. We’re the Vermilion Bird Unit. They’re impressive, but we outnumber them.’
Excluding duty and standby shifts, the unit had over four hundred. No reason to lose.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un turned to the North Dragon Guard leader with a smile.
“You heard the wager?”
“Yes.”
“Will you use the prepared formation?”
The North Dragon Guard leader glanced at the Vermilion Bird Unit and said,
“It’d be a waste to show it against them. It’s just practice, right?”
“Then…….”
“We’ll brute-force through.”
Seol Hwa-un nodded with a smile.
“Don’t overdo it. It’s just a wager.”
“Saying that makes it more pressuring.”
“Hahaha.”
Meanwhile, So Hye-ran, at the center of the formation, shouted with a serious face.
“Everyone, stay sharp! Anyone who lets them through will regret ever joining the Vermilion Bird Unit!”
The unit members involuntarily swallowed hard.
“Gulp!”
Her infamous foul temper heightened the tension, beyond their skills.
The opponents looked tough, but that wasn’t the point.
‘We block them with our lives!’
Whether the Vermilion Bird Unit was ready or not, the North Dragon Guard leader stepped forward and ordered,
“All members, charge for breakthrough. I’ll take the unit leader.”
“Understood!”
“Charge!”
With the shout, the North Dragon Guard leader dashed ahead. His members followed in perfect unison.
Every movement was flawless.
“……!”
Spotting it, the Vermilion Bird Unit realized they weren’t pushovers and quickly drew swords, confidence blooming on their faces.
They thought they couldn’t lose if they stayed vigilant.
And rightly so—the approaching North Dragon Guard was in a single rank, spread wide. Their own three-rank formation, honed over years, could deliver over twice the efficiency.
‘We won’t be breached.’
Meanwhile, the North Dragon Guard charged unarmed, defenseless.
“……?”
The Vermilion Bird Unit hesitated.
‘Too many openings.’
‘Should we thrust first?’
‘Strike preemptively?’
A defensive formation’s basics were purely defense—block attacks with ironclad walls. Their Wing Formation was no different.
Finally, the North Dragon Guard entered sword range. One unit member couldn’t resist and thrust out.
Slash!
So Hye-ran spotted him late.
“You fool! What are you doing!”
Formations demand consistency. If one moves, neighbors must support.
With no choice, So Hye-ran thrust at the oncoming North Dragon Guard leader.
‘Something feels off…….’
The other unit members reluctantly followed suit.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
At that moment, the North Dragon Guard leader’s mouth corner quirked up.
‘Hm?’
And in that instant.
A pure white light burst from the North Dragon Guard leader’s waist.
Shwaaaa!