Into the Scent of the Sword (3)
Jong Cheon-rak revealed a secret he had never spoken of before.
“You must be aware that the Demon Cult has been resurrected.”
“There are signs pointing to that.”
Gal Sa-ryang cautiously noted that it wasn’t a confirmed fact.
“No, it’s certain.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“One of the high-ranking members of the Demon Cult has expressed a desire to defect to us.”
Gal Sa-ryang was taken aback.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know either. But it’s clear they’re someone of significant standing within the cult. Now do you see why I couldn’t abandon this mission?”
“Even if that’s true, if they’re attacking us, it means they’ve already discovered our plan to meet with him. He’s likely dead by now.”
“That’s not the case. He promised to deactivate the powerful barrier around the Sword Forest at the appointed time so we can enter. We must hurry and bring him back before it’s too late.”
“How can you trust his word?”
“He sent undeniable proof of his identity as a cult member.”
“Did you see this proof?”
“The leader saw it. That’s why this order was given.”
“Ah!”
Like Gal Sa-ryang, I realized this was a perfect trap.
With a mission like this, no matter what happens, we have to be there at the appointed time. Even if attacked, there’s no turning back. We have to push forward, even if it means rushing recklessly.
Whoever set this trap knew what they were doing. The cult has someone as clever as Gal Sa-ryang.
“If the Demon Cult resurfaces, countless lives will be lost. If we can rescue him, we can wipe out the cult and prevent a war. Our mission is of utmost importance.”
For Jong Cheon-rak, whose loyalty to the martial alliance and determination to protect the martial world was unwavering, this was the perfect bait. It was a deception. The Demon Cult had not resurrected.
“From yesterday until tomorrow, for three days, the barrier around the Sword Forest will be lifted for exactly one hour at dusk.”
“Going without a plan is dangerous.”
“I won’t turn back. If you intend to persuade me otherwise, don’t waste your time.”
Gal Sa-ryang glanced at me, seeking my opinion with his eyes. I nodded, indicating that I agreed with his decision.
If the decision won’t change, it’s best to move quickly.
Gal Sa-ryang spoke to Jong Cheon-rak.
“Let’s go.”
It wasn’t my suggestion that led to this decision. Gal Sa-ryang intended to follow Jong Cheon-rak’s plan, but he asked for my opinion to give me face.
“Very well!”
Jong Cheon-rak called his subordinates and gave them a few instructions.
We were too far from the nearest martial alliance branch to expect reinforcements. Besides, Jong Cheon-rak didn’t seem to want any.
I took something from my pouch and handed it to Gal Sa-ryang.
“Please wear this.”
It was a heart protector, a small, portable piece of armor designed to shield the heart.
“Where did you get this?”
“I had it with me.”
I had bought this heart protector during the Golden Festival in the marketplace. It was only two thousand nyang, quite cheap for such an item, but it was well-made for the price.
It wouldn’t stop a true master’s attack, but it might deflect a stray blade.
“You should wear it. You’re the one who’ll be fighting.”
“No, you should wear it, Commander. That way, I can fight with peace of mind.”
I was already wearing something far superior—a special silk wristband made from the fishing line of the Southern Sea Fisherman.
“Are you sure?”
“At least on this matter, please follow my advice.”
Gal Sa-ryang looked at me. Though he tried to hide it, I could sense he was touched.
“Alright.”
He put on the heart protector. I placed it over his heart myself.
I’ll get you something even better later.
For now, I couldn’t afford to give him anything more valuable. Even if I had armor, I couldn’t just hand over something worth tens of thousands of nyang.
The warriors watched as I fastened the heart protector for him. They seemed a bit envious—not of the protector itself, but of having someone to put it on for them.
“How does it feel? Comfortable?”
“Very good.”
“I’m glad. Please keep it on until you return from the mission.”
“I will.”
At that moment, Gal Sa-ryang felt a strange sensation. He thought he was the one protecting the young warrior, but since the journey began, he felt a reassuring sense of being cared for by him.
Jong Cheon-rak, ready to depart, led the way.
“Hurry up!”
An old man stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant forest from a low hill. It was the place where the Heavenly Bow Squad had just begun their journey.
“Even with the shield, you failed?”
“Yes.”
The middle-aged man standing behind him hung his head in shame.
“I suppose it happens. What about our losses?”
“Fifty dead, twenty seriously injured.”
“And how many of theirs did we take down?”
“None… we didn’t kill a single one.”
The old man turned his head slightly, his sharp aura making the middle-aged man shrink like a turtle.
“How is that possible?”
He had to answer carefully. A wrong word could cost him his life. The old man was terrifying.
Yes, how could that be?
He had pondered this question many times, driving his subordinates hard to find an answer.
Failure was possible. After all, they were up against the elite Heavenly Bow Squad of the martial alliance.
But how could they not kill even one?
The answer he found was this:
“The commander accompanying them is Gal Sa-ryang.”
“So? Did Gal Sa-ryang abandon his command to become a peerless master?”
The old man’s cold retort made the middle-aged man bow his head deeply.
“I’m sorry.”
The old man turned back to the distant scenery.
“Finish it by today.”
“Understood.”
The middle-aged man leaped away, feeling a sense of relief.
He knew this was his last chance.
“If I fail this time, I’m dead.”
Swoosh!
The middle-aged man’s sword strike was infused with a lifetime of skill.
“I can kill him!”
A chaotic battle ensued, and he lost dozens more of his men. They had prepared thoroughly for a fight against the Heavenly Bow Squad, devising various ways to counter their archery.
But for some reason, none of it worked.
At first, he mentioned Gal Sa-ryang’s presence as an excuse, but it seemed more and more likely that it was indeed because of him.
Regardless, he managed to get close to Jong Cheon-rak by sacrificing even more of his men.
“If I can just kill him!”
If he could kill Jong Cheon-rak, he could wipe out the rest. At least he would survive. Though the loss of his men was great, he could still achieve today’s goal.
Jong Cheon-rak drew his sword to block the attack.
A thrill crossed the middle-aged man’s face. He had managed to evade and deflect the powerful arrows and get right in front of Jong Cheon-rak.
How could a master of archery block with a sword what he couldn’t with arrows?
As if to prove his point, a member of the Heavenly Bow Squad shouted a warning.
“If you could block it by being careful, it wouldn’t be the Black Hand Sword.”
The man was the Black Hand Sword, once one of the most renowned mercenary masters. He had abandoned his identity and joined the old man seven years ago.
Just as the Black Hand Sword was about to pierce Jong Cheon-rak’s heart…
Shing! Clang!
A dagger flew from somewhere, deflecting his sword.
Given the force and the powerful energy behind his strike, the dagger should have been knocked away. A mere flying dagger shouldn’t have been able to interfere with his attack.
But a searing pain shot through his wrist, and his sword veered off course.
Thud!
The sword meant for Jong Cheon-rak’s heart pierced his right arm instead.
The person who had thrown the dagger was now rushing toward him.
He drew his sword to strike back, but the opponent was much faster than he had anticipated.
Swoosh! Slash!
That was the last sound the Black Hand Sword heard, and the last sensation was something unpleasant slicing through his neck. It didn’t hurt at all.
Thud.
I, who had beheaded the man, shouted to Jong Cheon-rak.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Jong Cheon-rak nodded, staunching the blood from his arm.
I didn’t have time to check on him further. Another member of the Heavenly Bow Squad was in danger.
I leaped toward him.
Swoosh!
Thud!
The chest of the man who was about to strike the squad member split open under my sword.
The squad member, now safe, resumed firing arrows.
Ping! Ping!
The attackers fell, struck by arrows.
I threw more daggers.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
A man approaching Gal Sa-ryang fell, his body twisting as he hit the ground.
Gal Sa-ryang looked at me in surprise, but I had no time to acknowledge his grateful gaze.
I shouted with all my internal energy.
“Their leader is dead! The leader is dead!”
The shout had an effect. The attackers’ momentum faltered, and as I cut down a few more, they began to retreat.
The frenzied attack that had lasted for what felt like an eternity finally ended.
“Take care of the wounded!”
Regrettably, two members of the Heavenly Bow Squad had died. They were caught off guard at the start of the fight, and I couldn’t save them.
Eight were injured, three of them seriously.
I administered medicine for internal injuries and applied ointment for external wounds. Everyone was deeply moved by my willingness to use the expensive remedies I had been saving.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, we would have been in serious trouble,” Jong Cheon-rak expressed his gratitude.
I humbly downplayed his praise, but he was right. If I hadn’t been darting around, orchestrating the fight, not a single member of the Cheongungdan would have survived the relentless and powerful assault. Everyone knew this, and their attitudes toward me had become noticeably more respectful and friendly.
Naturally, Galsaryang was unharmed. Even amidst the chaos, I prioritized his safety above all else.
“We need to get out of here,” Galsaryang suggested.
Jong Cheon-rak agreed. “Let’s do that.”
We gathered the injured and moved on, eventually reaching Geomhyangrim safely. According to Jong Cheon-rak, there should have been a formation here that would only be lifted at a specific time. But there was no formation, nor anyone to greet us.
It became clear that this mission was a setup to kill Jong Cheon-rak. Galsaryang chuckled softly, realizing that Sima Cheon intended to eliminate him as well. Of course, Sima Cheon would later feign ignorance if confronted.
But Galsaryang knew better. Sima Cheon, despite his incompetence, had an uncanny sense of intuition. It was certain he intended to get rid of Galsaryang too.
Jong Cheon-rak, on the other hand, wore a more serious expression. “What on earth is going on?”
“We’ve been deceived.”
“Deceived?”
How could he not grasp the terrifying implication of those words?
“Their goal is to kill us.”
“Why would they want to kill us?”
“Because you, the leader of the Cheongungdan, are the only one who can oppose the will of the Alliance Leader.”
“I can’t believe the Alliance Leader would want to kill me for that reason.”
“You must believe it.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m here.”
Jong Cheon-rak flinched. He and the former chief strategist, Galsaryang, were indeed thorns in the Alliance Leader’s side. But to go so far as to eliminate them… it meant Ma Bong-gi was truly the worst kind of villain.
“Since we’re here, let’s go to the rendezvous point and see for ourselves.”
Jong Cheon-rak clung to hope until the end. Galsaryang agreed to the suggestion without protest.
“Let’s do that.”
With the injured, we couldn’t turn back immediately. Whether we moved forward or retreated, it made little difference.
We entered Geomhyangrim, a vast forest with treacherous paths that could easily lead one astray. Cautiously, we made our way toward its center.
At the heart of Geomhyangrim stood Saengsaru, the sacred site of the Blood Heaven Sect. It was known to house the sect’s holy relics, though few knew the details beyond Galsaryang and me.
We had been here long ago, and Galsaryang remembered the way precisely. Even with my improved memory, the complex forest paths were confusing, but Galsaryang navigated them flawlessly. His intelligence was truly unmatched.
We supported the injured and followed Galsaryang’s lead. After walking for some time, we finally saw the silhouette of a seven-story pagoda in the distance.
It was Saengsaru, one of the three great sacred sites of the Blood Heaven Sect.