Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: An Unintended Training Session
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ju Seung secretly followed Neung Un-bi, merely observing.
In the meantime, he wrote down everything he saw and reported it to his superiors. The reply came back.
The Third Young Master’s training. He was currently conducting a live combat drill against the warriors who formed the security perimeter.
Ju Seung was inwardly impressed.
Such stealth and lightness skills at his age? And where on earth did he learn such techniques?
He had never seen martial arts like these in the Demonic Cult.
But he was the Cult Leader’s disciple. His talent was undeniable, and he’d heard the young master was a hard worker, having secluded himself in the training hall for ten days straight.
Wasn’t he also the one who didn’t shy away from crazy antics, like pretending to be a Taoist master?
What was the problem with someone like that learning a few martial arts others didn't know?
No, for the arduous battles that lay ahead, knowing martial arts that others were unaware of was a much greater advantage.
In any case, he had been ordered to actively cooperate with the Third Young Master’s training by increasing the intensity of the security perimeter. So, Ju Seung slowly began to tighten the cordon.
He even sent signals to the warriors in the perimeter that Neung Un-bi had already passed, drawing them in.
Nearly a thousand warriors formed layer upon layer of a defensive wall, centered around Neung Un-bi.
Now, what will you do?
He was curious.
How would he respond to the security perimeter closing in on him? No, perhaps he wouldn't even notice. Being skilled in martial arts didn't necessarily mean one’s ability to sense energy was also superior.
That was the realm of training. Without separate practice… huh?
Just as Ju Seung was lost in thought, Neung Un-bi, who had been moving as cautiously as a cat in the night, suddenly revealed himself.
And then, he broke into a sprint.
With a *bang*, dirt kicked up from his feet, and Neung Un-bi shot forward like a cannonball toward the security cordon in front of him.
But his direction was peculiar. He was running toward the weakest point in the vicinity.
Could it be that he sensed the cordon tightening and chose a direct confrontation? Did he read the weak point in that brief moment?
“Ha!”
An exclamation escaped him involuntarily.
When did he ever train in sensing presences?
But there was no time to be surprised.
Revealing himself meant he was no longer hiding. In other words, following his training in lightness skills and stealth, he had begun the next phase.
Then of course, I must help him! As a subordinate, with all my might!
“Black Leopard Squad! Flank them! Block the front!”
The moment Ju Seung shouted, the two squad leaders of the Black Leopard Squad who were beside him shot forward.
“What? What the?!”
Neung Un-bi, who had been running toward the cordon, was startled by the two warriors who suddenly appeared.
What are these guys now?
The two appeared from the left and right in an arc, attacking him.
Their momentum was formidable.
Realizing they were of a different caliber than the ones who had simply blocked his path, Neung Un-bi quickly changed his target.
*Swish!*
He evaded the horizontal strike from the left, a swing of a sheathed sword, by launching his body into the air and twisting like a top. He then parried the vertical slash from the man on the right with the back of his hand.
*Clang!*
As he parried the scabbard, Neung Un-bi followed the twist of his body with a kick that slammed into the back of the head of the man on the left, then changed direction.
*Crack!*
Ju Seung exclaimed in admiration at the sight of Neung Un-bi incorporating both offense and defense into a single motion.
But the attack wasn't over.
It was his turn!
Ju Seung, who had approached Neung Un-bi’s rear at the same time he sent his subordinates, thrust forward the hand he had drawn back.
“Son of a bitch!”
Neung Un-bi, spotting him late, crossed his arms while still suspended in mid-air.
*Thwack!*
With a dull impact, Neung Un-bi’s body was forcefully pushed back.
“Ha! Well, I’ll be…”
A look of disbelief appeared on Ju Seung’s face.
He deflected the attack in that situation?
No, it wasn't a deflection.
It was a technique of borrowing the opponent’s strength to counterattack.
Neung Un-bi had used the force of Ju Seung’s blow to leap over the security cordon that had been blocking his path.
It was incredible improvisation. That wasn’t something that could be taught. To display such ingenuity in that split second was almost instinctual.
“…Talent. Is this what they call innate talent?”
Despite the failure of his attack, what formed on Ju Seung’s lips was not annoyance but a pleasant smile.
Perhaps he had come to serve a truly great master.
If so, he couldn't show a poor performance as a subordinate! He would mobilize all his forces so the young master could train even more diligently!
“Overlap the circular formation with a square formation! The rear guard will immediately flank and reinforce the line!”
At Ju Seung’s excited shout, the security cordon began to move organically, following the fleeing(?) Neung Un-bi.
Of course, for Neung Un-bi, who had been rejoicing that he was almost at the valley, it was hell.
He had just managed to escape, but thanks to that bastard’s shout, the defensive line before him had transformed into a thick wall.
“Damn it!”
The look in Neung Un-bi’s eyes was anything but kind as he glanced back at Ju Seung chasing him.
No, what the hell? Where did that thing suddenly pop out from!
The valley is right there! Just a hundred more paces to go!
But he had no choice but to change direction.
There were just too damn many of them!
Neung Un-bi ran with all his might along the defensive line that was rapidly forming in front of him.
The number of men was fixed, after all.
Since warriors were being deployed to block his path, some other area must have been weakened.
Yes, the left flank is weak.
Before the defensive line could catch up to him.
“Black Leopard Squad! Seal the left flank!”
“…”
An order that seemed to have perfectly grasped Neung Un-bi’s intentions was given, and dozens of men clad in black moved to block the path he needed to take.
Ah, that son of a bitch!
In the end, Neung Un-bi had to swallow his tears and run in the opposite direction of the valley.
What else could he do?
His escape route was blocked, so he would first lure them toward him and then look for an opening.
*Tap!*
The decision was immediately followed by action.
Leaping off a tree in front of him, Neung Un-bi threw himself through the snow-laden branches.
*Crash!*
He paid no mind to the branches scratching his face and body.
What was important now was to use the dense branches and the piled-up snow to escape the man’s line of sight.
*Snap! Swish!*
At the same time, he broke off branches, imbued them with his energy, and shot them in all directions.
It was to confuse their pursuit. To make them uncertain of where he was going.
“That way! The mountain! He’s going against the mountain! After him!”
“…”
At Ju Seung’s shout, Neung Un-bi felt as if the sky was falling.
That damn bastard saw it again.
Are you nocturnal? Why the hell are your night eyes so damn good!
Neung Un-bi had to run and run again to escape the relentless pursuit.
Whenever he thought this was the way, they would come and block him. Whenever he thought that was the way, they would timely increase the thickness of the defensive wall.
There were also several clashes from time to time.
If he had his way, he would have liked to contribute to world peace by taking the heads of a few of the weaker ones, but that was out of the question.
What crime had they committed?
They were merely being faithful to the orders from their superiors.
Death must always be preceded by a commensurate crime.
“Third Young Master!”
“…”
Ugh, how did that annoying bastard get here again?
He was no ordinary fellow. A head-on fight would surely result in defeat.
But one thing was certain, the man could never kill him…
*Swoosh!*
“Huk!”
Neung Un-bi, who had been charging toward Ju Seung’s blade as if daring him to kill him, hastily leaned his upper body back.
The tip of the sword grazed past his neck by a mere inch.
“I… I almost died…”
Neung Un-bi, instinctively rubbing his neck, stared at the warrior, Ju Seung, whose eyes glowed with a chilling light.
“To think you dodged that, you are truly amazing! This subordinate will respond with his utmost effort!”
Ju Seung, his eyes gleaming with a fierce blue light, attacked again.
You, you bastard… are you really trying to kill me? Don’t you know I’m the Cult Leader’s third disciple?!
But Ju Seung’s eyes were sincere, and he was truly giving it his all.
Could this guy be? An assassin planted by the opposing faction to kill him?
It was possible. According to Neung Un-bi’s memories, he had experienced countless assassination attempts.
There was no guarantee that such a person hadn’t been planted in the Snow Mountain Manor, and that man had surely seized the perfect opportunity now.
“What a goddamn life!”
Neung Un-bi fled without a moment to look back.
With his utmost effort, with all his might.
He had to survive, didn’t he!
* * *
“Pant, pant…”
He was out of breath.
As the chase wore on, his internal energy was depleted and his body grew weary. In the distance, the shy sun was beginning to paint the eastern sky red.
Damn it, has it been that long already?
I was so busy being chased, I didn’t even realize time was passing… huh?
Come to think of it, haven’t I experienced this situation before?
An enemy chasing me as if herding a tiger.
A tightening encirclement, no matter how hard I try to escape.
That disgusting feeling, like being a moth caught in a spider’s web.
This was definitely the same as what led to my death in the past…
“Was… was it the Heavenly Net and Earthly Web?”
Though he muttered the question to himself, the conclusion was already drawn.
There was no slaughter like last time because they weren't using lethal force, but he was certain.
The Heavenly Net and Earthly Web, a formation said to never let its captured prey escape.
“You crazy bastards!”
What kind of security perimeter is configured like a Heavenly Net and Earthly Web?
Do you have nothing better to do? Aren’t you guys supposed to be the ones guarding the northern borders of the Demonic Cult!
Neung Un-bi felt like splitting open the head of whatever bastard came up with such a delightful idea to see what was inside.
As he cursed, the sun rose, and the darkness lost its power. With his hiding places gone, Neung Un-bi’s long escape came to an end.
Exhausted, Neung Un-bi finally stopped, and soon, an immense number of warriors surrounded him.
He no longer had the strength to run.
“My lord!”
“…?”
As Neung Un-bi’s arms hung limply, a familiar voice called out.
It was Wang Cheon.
He had hoped the man wouldn't come, but what had he been doing all night to only show up now?
Do you know how hard it was for me? These guys were hunting me like a tiger…
“Third Young Master.”
“…”
Appearing after him were Seon Hwa-yeon and the vassals of the Snow Mountain Manor.
Perhaps because they were getting on in years, they didn't seem to need their morning sleep.
Seeing them all gathered like this, they were surely here to reprimand him. They were probably about to unleash a storm of scolding, asking why he kept doing useless things.
Though no one died during the clashes, he had injured quite a few in his attempts to thin their numbers, so an interrogation about that would surely follow.
But what could he do? It was his own fault for not being able to escape.
Based on past experience, he would have to let it in one ear and out the other, simply saying, “Yes, yes…”
Surely they wouldn't tattle to the Cult Leader after he had just pledged his loyalty and all that?
Steeling himself inwardly, Neung Un-bi wore a sullen expression and greeted Seon Hwa-yeon.
“Matriarch, about that…”
“Hahaha! Was the training to your satisfaction?”
“What, the training… pardon?”
“Truly remarkable.”
“…?”
What is this? Praise instead of a scolding?
And what did she mean by training?
Taken aback by the unexpected situation, Neung Un-bi tilted his head and looked around.
Somehow, everyone’s expression seemed… proud.
“I never imagined you would last the entire night against the Black Leopard Squad and two other warrior units.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Well, of course, I have a lot of experience in this sort of thing. In the past, I used to run away after causing trouble… no, something was strange.
“It is a truly fine training method. Lasting as long as possible against a large number of opponents… This seems like it will be quite effective for training. I think we can adopt this method for training the manor’s warriors in the future.”
“…”
Don’t tell me, that’s what you all thought?
Neung Un-bi, having roughly grasped the situation, stared blankly at Seon Hwa-yeon.
“Leader of the Black Leopard Squad, what are you doing? Come forward and greet him at once!”
As Neung Un-bi silently blinked his eyes, Seon Hwa-yeon shouted, looking to one side.
A single warrior stepped forward.
It was him.
The bastard who had commanded the men, blocking his path at every turn, the one who had swung his sword as if to kill him.
I have to tell them.
That his identity is that of an assassin, planted by a faction that opposes me…
“This… this assassin bast…”
“Ju Seung, Leader of the Black Leopard Squad, greets the Third Young Master!”
“…Hmm?”
As Ju Seung knelt, Seon Hwa-yeon smiled brightly and said.
“From now on, he will guard you at the main estate alongside Guard Captain Wang Cheon.”
“I was ordered to assist in your training with all my might, and I unavoidably committed a discourtesy. However, I was truly impressed by the Third Young Master’s martial prowess, which held us off despite my best efforts. I will serve you with utmost loyalty from now on!”
“…”
Neung Un-bi looked down at the vigorously shouting Ju Seung with a dumbfounded expression.
Ah, so he wasn’t an assassin? It was to help with… training?
So that’s why he gave it his all.
That damn Demonic Cult warrior…
Anyway, it seems these guys don’t have an ounce of flexibility. He could have just gone easy on me…
Neung Un-bi, who had been quietly looking down at the bowing Ju Seung, eventually let out a deep sigh.
Right, what fault is it of yours?
I understand. From his perspective, he was just doing his best as ordered.
Weren’t warriors of the cult beings who just did as they were told?
“Ju Seung, you said?”
“Yes, Third Young Master!”
“I will remember your name.”
“…!”
Though his voice sounded as if he were gritting his teeth in anger, Ju Seung couldn’t hide his emotion…
“Ugh! Uh, Third Young Master, your grip on my shoulder is a bit too tight…”
Despite being steeped in profound fatigue, Neung Un-bi smiled as he gripped Ju Seung’s shoulder so tightly his fingertips turned white.
Shut up, you damn leech!
Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?
Help with training, my ass.
If people weren’t around, I would’ve decked you already!
Just you wait. I will definitely get my revenge for today.
…In any case, the first escape attempt: a failure.