Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Value of a Word - 9
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Humans have always lived by challenging the world. They created fire to defy the darkness and made clothes to combat the cold.
They built homes to face the harsh wilderness and formed sects to battle the world when fighting alone proved too difficult.
Thus, humans have always challenged and seized what they desired.
And in that process, death—the inevitable companion—was always an unwanted reward.
That was why the strong were coveted companions for any challenger, and a master like Hongryeon was someone anyone would welcome with open arms.
Even if they were from Full Moon Pavilion, rivals to Crimson Star Sect.
"You've had a hard time."
This time too, Hongryeon had proven herself. The blood-soaked Evil Yaks and their kin, led by the yaksha that had claimed the deepest part of the Secret Realm—all had fallen before her sword.
The girl in a form-fitting outfit that highlighted her jet-black hair and stunning figure bowed her head to the red-haired woman wiping away the dark red fluids.
Hongryeon, senior disciple of Crimson Star Sect and a master known in the martial world as the Falling Sun Sword.
"No big deal."
Hongryeon's response was curt. But that reaction wasn't strange. After all, the one who had assembled the breakthrough team for this Secret Realm—and taken command as leader—was none other than Full Moon Pavilion, Crimson Star Sect's eternal rival.
Chaeryeon, no less—the daughter of the Sword Saint's rival disciple.
No matter that Full Moon Pavilion had offered rewards and requested her company, Hongryeon couldn't help feeling a bit off about it.
"Was Full Moon Pavilion short on people?"
"Calling my sister felt a bit much."
Chaeryeon shrugged and flicked out her red tongue. At her words, Hongryeon thought of Chaeryeon’s sister, Full Moon Pavilion's senior disciple and the Moonlight Sword, Chaejin.
"...Tch."
She shook her head. It was only natural for her. Whenever they crossed paths at the Martial Alliance, Chaejin would show up out of nowhere, itching for a spar, causing a huge fuss. No wonder she dreaded it.
But sparring with her was awkward too. Chaejin’s usual demeanor was so wild it made you question if she really was Full Moon Pavilion's senior disciple—but the moment she gripped her sword, she transformed into a different person.
Every time they clashed, it drained her completely. She had zero desire to fight pointlessly.
"Ahaha... My sister's a bit like that, huh?"
"A martial artist should revere the martial way and harbor a spirit of struggle... but she's a little much."
"I get it."
Chaeryeon smiled brightly and took a step forward. She retrieved the chest holding the Secret Realm's rewards, opened it, and offered the three items inside.
One was a strangely shaped root. A blue-and-red mingled herb emitting a nose-tickling, pleasant aroma.
Hongryeon knew it well: the spirit medicine Blue-Red Herb, which boosted internal energy slightly upon consumption and greatly purged bodily impurities.
Another was a fist-sized orb that glowed on its own.
A Night-Luminous Pearl. At that size, it would fetch at least ten gold taels.
And the last was ore. It reflected the pearl's light, shimmering brilliantly.
Cloud Iron, called the iron of the heavens.
Processing that into a weapon would yield something on par with a noble's fine armament.
All treasures worth at least ten gold taels on the market.
Chaeryeon smiled and held out the chest.
"As promised, one is yours."
She had scouted the Secret Realm's location, secured the qualifications to challenge it, and sent scouting parties multiple times to investigate its traps and trials.
Hongryeon knew full well that yielding even one reward was a hefty price for Chaeryeon.
"Oh? I thought you'd pick the Night-Luminous Pearl."
Hongryeon snorted at Chaeryeon's sly smile. True, compared to Full Moon Pavilion, Crimson Star Sect was poor.
But that didn't mean she had to choose money.
"Gotta raise our little sister."
"...Ah. Right."
Chaeryeon's delicate brows twitched slightly.
Taking care of the youngest.
Unimaginable in Full Moon Pavilion.
Of course, the inner disciples there didn't go as far as stabbing each other over it.
But they were all rivals competing to become the Pavilion Lord's successor, the disciple's heir.
Who had time to raise whom?
They could barely look after themselves.
Crimson Star Sect was different.
Blood aside, they treated each other like real sisters and always looked out for one another.
From the perspective of competition-driven Full Moon Pavilion, it might seem like child's play—but sometimes, seeing it made them envious.
"If only Chaejin were as composed as you, Senior Hong. She's been poking at strong foes lately, claiming she'll perfect that half-baked Heavenly Demon Divine Art from the Demonic Cult. Who knows when she'll drag trouble to Father's doorstep? She just won't stay put in Full Moon Pavilion... Ugh."
She must have a lot pent up. Hongryeon smirked at the emotion in her grumbling, and Chaeryeon flashed a stunning smile that almost tempted her for a moment.
"Can't imagine the Moonlight Sword that tame and bound."
"Ahaha. True, right?"
Chaeryeon giggled and nodded, then closed the chest. Business done—it was time to part.
"Heading back right away?"
"Yeah."
Hongryeon tucked the paper-wrapped Blue-Red Herb into her bag.
"The kids are waiting."
"Sure thing. Good work. Oh, and this—I added a bit more."
The clinking sound was pleasing. Hongryeon opened the money pouch Chaeryeon handed her. Inside: two gold taels.
Extra payment for the yaksha's horn and claws she'd handed over.
It was a shame—they didn't have the skills or funds at Crimson Star Sect to process them right now.
A pity. She could've made better gear for her sisters with those.
She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and shook her head.
No use regretting what you don't have.
Make do with what you got.
"See you next time."
"Hehe. Yeah."
With that, Hongryeon bid Chaeryeon farewell and headed for Island Flower Village.
Fighting a yaksha had been unexpected, but not bad for her.
She'd scored this surprise haul, after all.
Enough to pay off her tab and buy her sisters new swords.
On the way back, she stopped in a city not far from Island Flower Village and shopped at the Blue Society Merchant Guild.
New swords, hidden weapons, sweet candies, spring novels for Ryuhyeon (who swore she didn't want them but devoured them anyway), liquor for her master.
And...
"...Did I buy this for nothing?"
Hongryeon shook her head. No, probably not.
Yuwol's help had been crucial in tackling the Secret Realm. His credit let her focus without side jobs.
Thinking of him made her chest itch again. Savoring that oddly smile-inducing feeling, she peeked into her bag.
Inside: a smoke pipe.
A tube for smoking tobacco.
Devised by the Divine Physician—it was supposedly less harmful to the body.
Hongryeon recalled meeting Yuwol before. She had faintly smelled tobacco on him.
Bitter, nose-tickling.
The scent of an adult who knew the world.
That thought made her chest itch anew.
"...Guess I should visit the Martial Alliance soon."
Considering how Crimson Star Divine Art reacted to emotions, she needed to prepare for these odd feelings.
Even if it meant taking Martial Alliance requests for his checkup and medicine.
His treatments were worth it.
With that in mind, as she raced toward Island Flower Village, she spotted something odd outside the village.
What the hell is that?
Men who didn't look like villagers, reeking of the battlefield.
Hongryeon followed them, drawn like a moth to flame, as they cackled by the roadside and moved somewhere.
And then.
At their gathering spot, voices carried on the wind.
"Who's the target this time?"
"Client said the big ones are the county magistrate in Island Flower Village's office, that old village head... and grabbing this guy named Yuwol. Then, if time allows, turn the village upside down."
"What do they want with them?"
"Dunno the details... but not bad. Especially that Yuwol—supposed to be loaded. Squeeze him for some scraps at least..."
"Kekeke. Heard he's rich. Grab him and raid his inn too? Heh. Wreck the place proper, and Crimson Star Sect'll be in chaos..."
Hearing dozens of black-clad men snickering, she gripped her greatsword without hesitation.
They were enemies.
No mercy needed.
The ferocious spirit dormant in her dantian raced through her meridians like mad words. As the surging destructive power settled in her body—
-Kwachak!!
One black-clad man's head exploded. The startled group looked toward the sudden greatsword, but—
The red ferocious star had already taken its place, ready to destroy everything.
Nothing remained intact where the Star of Destruction passed.
All dead or dying.
Hongryeon approached a man missing an arm.
"Hah... Hiiik... M-monster... Monsteeer...!"
"Who are you? You mentioned a client—who's pulling the strings to mess with Island Flower Village and Crimson Star Sect?"
"Ugh... Ah... Ahh..."
She placed her hand on his terrified dantian. Crimson Star Divine Art's energy pierced it, wracking him with agony until he spat foam and finally uttered one word.
"D-Demonic... Cult..."
Demonic Cult.
The empire's chaos-mongers.
Why did their name come up here? Why target Island Flower Village?
Hongryeon decapitated him with a swing and bolted.
Like a star plummeting to earth for judgment, Hongryeon became a star.
Smashing all obstacles in a straight line, she entered Island Flower Village amid growing chaos.
Luckily, she immediately found someone to explain: a woman slumped, panting, before two fallen black-clad men.
"Yuseojeong!!"
"Senior Sister...! You're here!! Hurry—to the village head's house!! They're attacking there too...!"
"...Got it. You okay?"
"This much is fine!"
"...Alright. Still, be careful."
Hongryeon ruffled her hair fondly and dashed off. Midway to the village head's, her steps faltered unconsciously.
"Ah?! Is that the Falling Sun Sword?!"
It was the inn, in the same building as the merchant guild—Island Flower Village's only one.
Was it coincidence that his face came to mind?
As Hongryeon urgently started to ask, a page boy shouted.
"The boss went to the village head's with little sister Sa!"
"...Thanks."
Hongryeon nodded, tossed him her bag of sisters' gifts, and the boy nodded back. She then unleashed her lightness skill.
Faster. Even faster.
She passed a few corpses en route—thankfully, just the black-clad men from before.
No villagers or sisters.
But her heart pounded relentlessly.
The ferocious spirit's rage boiled over.
As anxiety and fury fueled Crimson Star Divine Art to summon the ferocious god amid that horrific emotion—
She saw it.
The black-clad man.
Owner of the sinister demonic energy.
The one he glared at.
And.
Her stoic-faced sisters.
The man stepping forward to shield Sayoon and Yuhee.
No real internal energy despite some training, stepping up just because he was the adult.
Hongryeon swung her greatsword the instant she saw.
The demonic energy's owner tumbled, and she grinned fiercely.
"Wondered what the crazy bastards lurking outside Island Flower Village were up to... Good thing I hurried."
She meant it. One step later, and her sisters might've been hurt bad.
...And, and.
Ignoring the nagging itch to follow, she smiled in satisfaction.
She swept back her sticky, blood-matted hair like wiping off the slain foes' blood, and tied it up.
"Innkeeper Yu. I wasn't too late, right?"
The adult with his signature bitter tobacco scent chuckled leisurely in reply.
"Perfect timing."
That was a relief.