Chapter 268
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Starved for Three Days
Three days before the Summer Combat Festival.
Han Seol-bing nodded.
"Now's the perfect time."
Ha Mu-baek looked at her at the murmur.
"What?"
"Did you know the lord of this mountain was a black leopard?"
"Ah."
He knew exactly what she meant.
Last year.
The seventh squad of the Fierce Dragon Corps had caught it by chance.
"It's been a year. Don't you think a new mountain lord has taken over?"
"Why bring that one up?"
Han Seol-bing smiled brightly at Ha Mu-baek's question.
"We have to face it head-on. To feel the killing intent of a life-or-death battle."
"Hmm."
It made sense.
The seventh squad of the Fierce Dragon Corps, too.
Their exposure to the black leopard's killing intent during that fight had helped them at the Summer Combat Festival.
Han Seol-bing had already made up her mind.
When she heard from the Fierce Dragon Corps' seventh squad about what happened last year.
She decided to pit the Wa Dragon Corps against an opponent on the black leopard's level.
"Do you know where the mountain lord is?"
"I've got it tracked down."
"Then that place?"
Han Seol-bing nodded at Ha Mu-baek's question.
There was a formation array spread out on Mokran Mountain.
Whether it was one Han Seol-bing had deployed with all her power, even Ha Mu-baek had only sensed its existence—he couldn't tell what was inside.
If he really wanted to know, he could've approached close enough, but it wasn't impossible to figure out. Still, he hadn't bothered.
Because he figured Han Seol-bing had her reasons for setting it up.
Who would've thought she had caught the mountain lord and locked it away there.
"Must be pretty starved by now."
"I did toss in some feed occasionally..."
"Did?"
"But I cut it off three days ago."
Ha Mu-baek stared at Han Seol-bing.
"Wh-what for?"
"You're ruthless. Both of you."
Han Seol-bing bristled at his words.
"Who'd you learn that from?"
Ha Mu-baek averted his gaze slightly at her retort.
Unaware of the instructors' conversation.
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets were focused on their spars with the Hidden Dragon Corps cadets.
After receiving Ha Mu-baek's Probing Pressure Point.
Their skills had improved dramatically.
It was inevitable.
With smoother internal energy flow and more power infused into their swords.
Their movements had quickened accordingly.
"It's working well."
Han Seol-bing commented on the sight.
"Of course. What kind of technique do you think it is?"
Yeui Gae Jeong Dae-beop.
A reform great method performed in the form of the Probing Pressure Point passed down in his sect.
"True enough."
Han Seol-bing nodded readily.
"So, when are we going?"
"After lunch?"
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets, oblivious to the ordeal awaiting them, enjoyed a hearty lunch.
They had grown quite accustomed to hunting by now and had caught plenty of game.
After the meal, they even finished their meditation.
"Now for the final training."
At Han Seol-bing's words, various expressions crossed the Wa Dragon Corps cadets' faces.
Joy at finally ending this grueling training.
Tension over the impending Summer Combat Festival.
Anxiety and worry over whether they could pull it off.
As if reading their tangled emotions, Han Seol-bing spoke.
"Finish this training safely, and you'll have more confidence for the Summer Combat Festival. Follow me."
As Han Seol-bing turned.
"Hold up."
Ha Mu-baek stopped them.
Then he fixed his gaze on the Wa Dragon Corps cadets.
In that instant.
A chilling, terrifying aura suddenly enveloped their bodies.
It felt like their heads would roll any second, their bodies locked rigid, unable to twitch.
Th-this is...
Eun Hwa-ryang muttered blankly.
"Killing intent. You need to experience it once."
Ha Mu-baek said calmly, then turned away.
"Go on then."
With that, Ha Mu-baek lay down on the cloth hammock strung between trees.
Perfect shade and a cool breeze.
Ideal for a post-meal nap.
Han Seol-bing chuckled at the sight and stepped forward.
Clueless, the cadets followed her.
Deep into Mokran Mountain they went.
"Uh... this place?"
A familiar terrain.
Yeon Ha-min noticed it first.
"Huh?"
At her murmur, Baek Ri-pyeong and Dan Mok Un-roe recognized it too.
Even Nak Woo-jin and Dang Jin-san.
It was that place.
The clearing where they had clashed with Namgung Ji-hu.
Returning here after a year.
As old emotions threatened to resurface, the cadets spotted the formation array.
Their gazes naturally turned to Han Seol-bing.
Why set up an array here?
It looked deeply suspicious and ominous.
"Let's go in."
She said, casually adjusting the formation.
Opening the sealed gate that kept everyone out.
She led the way in, followed by the Fierce Dragon Corps cadets, and finally the Wa Dragon Corps cadets.
Those who just entered the formation widened their eyes.
A massive blood-red wolf with savage eyes and drooling saliva glared at them.
"Great Blood Wolf. The lord of this mountain. I didn't expect a beast like this to take over. One this strong should've been on a bigger peak."
"B-but?"
Na Jung-cheon's voice trembled.
The Blood Wolf just kept drooling.
It didn't charge.
As if it knew it couldn't invade their spot.
"You're lucky. Getting to fight something this strong."
"Wh-who?"
Eun Hwa-ryang asked.
All eyes turned to the five.
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets, receiving gazes from Han Seol-bing and the Fierce Dragon Corps' seventh squad.
They looked at the Blood Wolf with fear-filled eyes.
Even without charging, its killing intent prickled their skin.
'Ah, this is why...'
Now they understood Ha Mu-baek's actions earlier.
"This is a safe zone protected by the formation, so we're fine."
As expected.
That was why the Blood Wolf wasn't moving.
"Now you all have to go out there."
With that, Han Seol-bing stepped back. The Fierce Dragon Corps cadets moved astutely.
As a gap opened between them and the Wa Dragon Corps cadets.
The formation shifted.
"In about half a ban (roughly four minutes), it'll open toward the Blood Wolf. Get ready."
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets paled at Han Seol-bing's words.
Dang Jin-san clicked his tongue at the sight.
"Wasn't talking about the black leopard after all..."
They had stumbled into theirs purely by accident.
But these guys were deliberately put here by their instructor.
Feeling oddly sorry, since they had a hand in creating this setup.
Time flew by.
As the five trembled, they steadied their hearts.
Formed their sword formation.
Thanks to Ha Mu-baek's unexpected consideration.
Before coming here.
The killing intent he had unleashed.
Without that, they'd still be out of it.
It was just a moment.
But having experienced it once, they could face it more steadily.
Soon.
The time Han Seol-bing mentioned passed.
Did the Blood Wolf sense the formation's change?
"Grrrrr."
It growled low and began moving slowly.
Gleaming eyes.
The look of a predator with prey right in front of it.
"Ah, that thing's been starved for three days."
Han Seol-bing said as if she'd just remembered.
No time to heed words from behind.
The five focused entirely on the Blood Wolf.
Han Seol-bing nodded in satisfaction.
"Instructor, you're really cruel."
Dang Jin-san quipped at the sight.
"Why? Want to try? I'll catch you a tiger."
"N-no, thanks."
Dang Jin-san waved his hands frantically.
The tiger Han Seol-bing offered wouldn't be ordinary.
The Blood Wolf and Wa Dragon Corps eyed each other warily.
Ravenous, the Blood Wolf didn't charge recklessly.
Circling slowly, sizing up its prey.
Ready to pounce and tear into any opening.
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed dryly.
The standoff wasn't brief.
But it didn't drag on either.
The Blood Wolf was too hungry for that.
"GRRRAAARRGH!"
With a massive roar, the Blood Wolf charged the Wa Dragon Corps cadets.
Yeong Hu-in and Im Dae-chi stepped forward, crossing swords to block.
The steadiest and bravest pair took frontline defense.
Thus, they held firm against the Blood Wolf's charge without budging.
"Yelp."
The blade bit into the Blood Wolf's hide.
But not deeply.
Its skin was that tough.
It felt the pain and leaped back with a whine.
Sim Cheol-san pursued, thrusting his sword.
Thanks to glimpsing something from Heavenly Sword Sect techniques, he had the strongest sword power among the five.
He led the offense.
Followed swiftly by Eun Hwa-ryang and Na Jung-cheon's attacks.
Skilled in footwork and agile, they handled auxiliary strikes as needed.
They were quick on their feet too.
True enough, they darted around, exploiting gaps in the Blood Wolf.
The Graceful Dragon Sword Formation flowed organically.
Once battle began, they moved fiercely, as if fear had never gripped them.
The Blood Wolf, oozing killing intent, lunged at the Wa Dragon Corps cadets.
Its tough hide as a shield, relentless assaults.
They rolled on the ground, scattered everywhere.
Regrouped for counterattacks.
A fierce melee ensued.
The Fierce Dragon Corps cadets watched intently.
One thing was clear.
They were better than when they faced the black leopard.
At this level.
They'd beat the Wa Dragon Corps first squad.
Hadn't they themselves beaten the Hidden Dragon Corps first squad?
"Not cruel. Considerate."
Yeon Ha-min said calmly, watching the fight.
Han Seol-bing's question.
"Obviously. After three days starved, it can't be at full strength."
Yeon Ha-min chuckled.
Yes.
The intent behind starving it three days.
Partly to make it fiercer.
But also to weaken it to a level the Wa Dragon Corps could handle.
Wolves hunt in packs by nature.
The Great Blood Wolf was a lone outlier, defying instinct.
Thus, incredibly strong.
She trusted the Wa Dragon Corps' skills.
But with the Summer Combat Festival in three days.
Injuries in this experiential fight would be disastrous.
She had accounted for everything.
The battle grew fiercer.
The more wounds, the wilder the Blood Wolf became.
"Ugh."
Yeong Hu-in flinched at the savage killing intent and got scratched by a claw.
"Focus!"
Han Seol-bing bellowed.
Her right hand gripped her sword hilt. Ready to jump in anytime.
Na Jung-cheon stepped forward to aid the staggering Yeong Hu-in, while Sim Cheol-san struck at the Blood Wolf's flank.
In that moment.
The Blood Wolf changed tactics.
Judging it couldn't win this way.
Ignoring the flank attack, it charged straight ahead.
Its fangs closed in on Na Jung-cheon's face.
Hot breath and beastly stench.
And killing intent.
All surging in at once.
Pfshk!
Eun Hwa-ryang's fist, already under the Blood Wolf, smashed its jaw.
The Blood Wolf's jaws snapped shut.
Then.
"Aim for the eye!"
Im Dae-chi shouted, stabbing the left eye.
Up close, his sword plunged in.
"RAAARGH!"
In agony, the Blood Wolf screamed, mouth gaping wide.
Its front paw slashed wildly.
In that instant.
Na Jung-cheon's eyes, briefly frozen by sudden killing intent, saw the gaping maw again.
This time different.
Not a death charge.
A pain-screeching mouth.
Throat exposed.
"Die!"
Na Jung-cheon thrust into the throat.
Not tough hide there.
The blade pierced clean through.
The Blood Wolf shuddered violently.
Blood poured from its throat.
Na Jung-cheon's right hand soaked in its blood.
Still, he drove the sword deeper.
Moments later.
The Blood Wolf stopped moving.
Dead on the spot.
"Hoo."
Only then did Na Jung-cheon slump, exhaling.
The others collapsed one by one.
Legs too shaky to stand.
"Well done."
Han Seol-bing approached with a pleased smile.
"Thought I was dead, Instructor."
Im Dae-chi said dazedly.
"No way. Wouldn't let that happen."
Han Seol-bing's sword-gripping palm was slick with sweat.
She wiped it discreetly on her hem, unnoticed.
"Real combat will be worse. Sure, the Summer Combat Festival is a sparring tournament. But this experience will help you overcome stronger foes' pressure."
The Fierce Dragon Corps' seventh squad nodded at Han Seol-bing's words.
Having been through it themselves.
"Good. Rest today and tomorrow."
She said, checking Yeong Hu-in's wound.
Luckily not deep.
A bit of golden sore balm and proper care, no issue for the festival.
"Fuck. Finally done with that goddamn training."
Byeok I-gyeom grumbled while groping a courtesan.
Just thinking about it was nightmare fuel.
"All because of those sons of bitches."
Tak Mu-jeon's eyes gleamed with murder.
Recalling the humiliations and sufferings they'd endured, he'd chew them up and still not be satisfied.
His hand was inside the courtesan's top.
It had been maddening training.
But they had grown that much stronger.
Enough to smash the Wa Dragon Corps' twentieth squad in one go.
But that wasn't enough to vent their rage.
"Gotta crush the Fierce Dragon Corps bastards too."
Cheol Ryeong growled.
"Obviously."
"Kill 'em all."
Gong Gu-pae and Hwa Bo-myeong radiated killing intent too.
It was the night two days before the Summer Combat Festival.