Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Return
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Tch….
'If only his martial arts had been a bit stronger.'
Se Yeong gazed down at the middle-aged bandit, pierced through the side and now dead.
This bandit's skills were a touch inferior to those of the Blood Ghost Mother.
Had Se Yeong unleashed his full prowess, the man wouldn't have even dreamed of fleeing.
With their leader fallen, the bandits scattered in all directions like beans spilling from an overturned bowl.
"The vice leader has fallen!"
"Run, everyone…!"
But the Heavenly Martial Squad members had no intention of letting them go so easily.
"Pursue them…!"
The man who had felled the bandit leader shouted, and the squad members gave chase.
Thud! Thwack!
Their swords and blades struck the fleeing bandits' backs and severed necks.
Blood sprayed from the gashed backs, and crimson fountains erupted from the slit throats.
Kraaagh…!
Grraaah…!
"Who might you be, young hero?"
The man, about to pursue the bandits, turned and questioned Se Yeong's identity.
"I'm Han Se Yeong of the Elusive Squadron's Tenth Squad. I've brought the rations."
Hearing Se Yeong's reply, he glanced at the distant cart and squad members, nodding approvingly.
"I'm Jegal Sin, captain of the Heavenly Martial Squad. We've got urgent business to handle now, so greetings can wait."
With a quick introduction, the man dashed after his squad toward Fierce Tiger Mountain.
No sooner had the captain vanished than the squad members rushed over.
"Brother."
"Truly impressive, Hero Han."
Yi Cheon Yeong examined the corpse and spoke in astonishment.
"This man was a renowned master known in the martial world as the Life-Seizing Blood Blade."
"Ah… So this was one of the vice leaders of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds."
Se Yeong had heard the title Life-Seizing Blood Blade before.
Rumors claimed he was the second strongest expert among all the green forest bandits.
"What a shame. Such a pity. You could have taken him down, brother…."
Paeng Se Gi seemed deeply regretful that Se Yeong hadn't slain the Life-Seizing Blood Blade himself.
Se Yeong shared the sentiment.
Had he known the bandit's reputation was this fierce, he would have pushed himself to reveal more of his skills.
"Let's hand over the rice and head back."
"Brother, why not join the Heavenly Martial Squad and help subdue the Fierce Tiger Stronghold?"
"Is there someone stronger than this guy up on Fierce Tiger Mountain?"
Yi Cheon Yeong shook his head at Se Yeong's question.
"Probably not."
"Then it's better to return as soon as possible and focus on training our martial arts."
Yi Cheon Yeong agreed with Se Yeong.
Even if they had slain the Life-Seizing Blood Blade, subduing the stronghold would take another four or five days.
"Understood, Hero Han. We'll need to clear the bodies first before handing over the rice."
Yi Cheon Yeong began dragging the scattered corpses to one side.
As he moved, the other squad members followed suit, hauling the bodies away.
"Grab this side."
"What are you doing? Come help over here!"
With the bandits routed, healers from the camp tents rushed out.
They directed the remaining squad members to treat the wounded.
'They even bring healers along—clearly a well-organized unit.'
Se Yeong watched them with genuine admiration.
"Don't just stand there—lend a hand, young hero."
A young healer scolded the idly standing Se Yeong.
Se Yeong chuckled softly and stepped forward to help.
Hahaha…!
As Fierce Tiger Mountain came into view, laughter bubbled unbidden from Namgung Seok's lips.
He had been anxious despite everything, but now victory was all but assured.
Kekeke…!
Hehehehe…!
His laughter set off the squad members, who burst into guffaws.
Sa Sa Un laughed the loudest among them.
"Now the famed sword that even Mountain Beast Blade coveted belongs to Squad Leader."
Haha….
Namgung Seok feigned a stern expression at the flattery.
"How could that famed sword be solely mine? It's the First Squad's prize—we should share it."
"How do you share a single sword? Your contributions were the greatest, so you deserve to be its owner."
There were limits to flattery, but Sa Sa Un knew no such bounds.
'Ugh… that sycophantic bastard.'
The squad members' pleased smiles twisted into grimaces.
Reading the mood, Namgung Seok quickly added,
"My clan's younger uncle has been wanting a fine sword. If the squad allows it, I'll buy it for ten thousand silver taels."
The squad members nodded readily.
"That works."
"Great idea."
They coveted the sword too, but lacked the wealth to casually offer ten thousand silver taels.
Acquiring that sum required family or sect approval, which took time.
The carts laden with rice, liquor, and meat entered the mouth of Fierce Tiger Mountain.
As the Heavenly Martial Squad's tents came into view in the open field, the squad urged the carts onward.
"Halt."
Heavenly Martial Squad warriors emerged to greet the approaching horse-drawn carts.
"The Elusive Squadron's First Squad has brought the rations."
Namgung Seok bowed deeply on behalf of his squad.
Recognizing his face, the squad members waved the carts inside without inspection.
"You've worked hard."
The carts and squad proceeded past the field into the tent encampment.
"What brings Squad Leader Namgung here?"
The Heavenly Martial Squad captain greeted Namgung Seok and his men with a bright smile.
The two had known each other for years and shared a close bond.
"Namgung Seok pays respects to the captain. This time, the First Squad took over the Demon Subduing Squad's duty of transporting rations."
"I see. Well done. Take the rice into that tent over there, and unload the liquor and meat here."
"Understood."
The squad members unloaded the rice sacks into the tent.
Impatient Heavenly Martial Squad members had already lit fires and begun roasting meat from the carts.
Then a large-framed female warrior arrived with her female subordinates.
Namgung Seok's expression stiffened slightly upon recognizing her.
"Greetings, Sister."
The female warrior welcomed him with a beaming smile.
"My adorable little brother is here."
Namgung Seok averted his gaze, clearly uncomfortable facing her.
She pressed,
"Why avoid my eyes?"
"I'm not avoiding you, Sister."
She was Namgung Seok's elder sister by the same father, the Alliance Leader, and basked in his undivided attention.
Pretty-faced but larger than most men, with a fierce temper to match, she remained unmarried.
The Alliance Leader was scouting young Murim Alliance warriors for a suitable son-in-law but had found none to his liking.
'Better she dies an old maid.'
"Uh… so, how goes the battle?"
He tried changing the subject to ease the awkwardness, but the captain's reply caught him off guard.
"The Fierce Tiger Stronghold subjugation is already over. We're planning to withdraw from here soon."
Haha….
"As expected of the Heavenly Martial Squad, the strongest in the world. The green forest bandits got a rude awakening this time—they won't dare challenge you again."
Namgung Seok praised the squad effusively.
But the captain's next words turned his face heavier than stone.
"The Elusive Squadron's Tenth Squad contributed too, so it's not solely our achievement."
"Pardon? What did you just…?"
The squad members unloading rice froze and turned to the captain.
"Did I… hear that right?"
"No way that's possible…."
Disbelief was etched on their faces.
Namgung Seok stared blankly at the captain, stunned.
If the Tenth had helped, that meant they arrived first.
How, when his squad had gone all out to sabotage them?
The squad's heavy silence was broken by laughing squad members.
Kekeke….
"The Tenth Squad arrived three days ago."
"What's with those faces? Did you make a bet with them or something?"
The word "bet" stabbed into the squad members' hearts.
"What's wrong?"
Namgung Seok snapped out of his shock at the captain's question.
"The Tenth Squad… really delivered the rice?"
If they'd arrived that early, they wouldn't have brought rice.
No rice meant the First Squad's victory.
But the captain crushed his hopes.
"They brought it in four carts."
Everything crumbled.
Defeated by the despised Tenth Squad in their contest, the coveted famed sword lost too.
Worse, losing the bet would invite mockery from the other squads.
"Uh… uh…."
Sa Sa Un collapsed to the ground with a guttural moan.
What was he to do now?
Joining that pathetic Tenth Squad was worse than death.
He crawled to Namgung Seok and clung desperately.
"Squad Leader… what about me? You won't send me to the Tenth Squad, right?"
Namgung Seok turned away, shoulders slumped.
Breaking a promise was more dishonorable than defeat.
Paeng Se Gi finished circulating his energy and opened his eyes.
Moments later, Yi Cheon Yeong, Dang Ok Yi, and Hahu Yeon did the same, rising to their feet.
Se Yeong had deliberately taken a longer route, leaving the squad members still wandering nameless hills.
"Shall we go, brother?"
Hardened to it now, they moved without Se Yeong's nagging.
Whoosh….
Se Yeong unleashed his lightness skill first, his figure vanishing into the distance before their eyes.
The squad members poured all their effort into chasing him.
Thud! Tap!
Whipping branches slashed past their faces.
Yet Se Yeong ahead dodged them effortlessly, as if the branches parted on their own.
He changed direction without a single preparatory motion.
Ah….
Even gasping for breath, the squad members couldn't hide their awe.
That sight was always mesmerizing.
It was the realm they aspired to reach.
When Se Yeong halted atop a hill, they stopped too.
"What's wrong, brother?"
"Shh."
Se Yeong silenced Paeng Se Gi with a finger to his lips, then pointed up the hill.
A massive tiger stood atop it, surveying the world majestically.
The squad members watched, entranced.
'Truly magnificent.'
Se Yeong yearned to overlook the world like that tiger.
"B-brother. Shall we hunt it?"
Paeng Se Gi whispered, still staring.
Tigers had no waste: hides fetched high prices, meat was tonic, bones medicinal.
"Have you ever hunted a tiger?"
Paeng Se Gi shook his head.
"Never once."
"Even masters must take extra care when hunting tigers. One slip, and your flesh tears, bones shatter."
Hearing Se Yeong's voice, the tiger turned its head.
Gasp.
The squad members flinched, gripping their weapons.
The tiger glared at Se Yeong briefly before turning and vanishing leisurely.
"Let's go."
How had they arrived first?
The strategist rubbed his throbbing temples.
He hadn't even imagined the Tenth Squad beating the First.
'What on earth were the First Squad doing…?'
Suppressing his boiling frustration, he forced open his mouth.
"Fine. You transported the rice properly, yes?"
Paeng Se Gi replied confidently.
"Feel free to check. We reached Fierce Tiger Mountain before the First Squad."
Hmm….
"…Understood."
The strategist glared at Paeng Se Gi before turning to Se Yeong.
Se Yeong, oblivious or not, was surveying the room.
'The Tenth Squad was always fumbling—no way they suddenly sprouted wings. It must all be this guy's doing.'
Han Se Yeong had led this too.
'He's undeniably exceptional, but it pisses me off for some reason.'
Swallowing his anger, the strategist spoke evenly.
"Dismissed. Go rest."
Se Yeong, still looking around, finally spoke.
"Our Tenth Squad made a bet with the First Squad over this mission."
The strategist scowled and leaned back.
"A bet? What kind?"
"If we lost, we'd give them a famed sword. If we won, they'd send Sa Sa Un to us."