Chapter 106

The gathering was held in a clearing deep within the forest.

By the time the Sword Saint and I arrived, the other team members had nearly finished setting everything up.

In the clearing stood large round tables made from thick tree trunks, surrounded by small round stools carved from smaller logs.

At the center, a roaring bonfire blazed, over which skewers of medium-sized wild boar, several rabbits, pheasants, and fish were roasting, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma.

As I approached the wooden table to set down my bowl and chopsticks, Bisa-yeong suddenly spotted me and called out loudly.

“Hey, you! Why are you so slow? You’re even younger than me, and you’re just dawdling! Ah, Sword Saint! Welcome!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at how she snapped at me but then immediately bowed sharply to the Sword Saint.

Glancing over the table setting, I teased her.

“Why are you acting like you did all the work? From what I see, you probably just moved some bowls and chopsticks. That big wooden table? Looks like Cheong-yeon Sojeo made it. And the chairs…”

Before I could finish, Cheon Ju-eun Sojeo, who was grilling meat with Bae Jong-gwan, raised her hand cutely and called out.

“That was me! I made them!”

I smiled warmly and praised her.

“Well done, Cheon Sojeo. The chairs are adorable.”

She beamed and poked her cheek with her finger, asking sweetly,

“Like me?”

Caught off guard by her sudden charm, I stammered before managing to reply.

“Y-yes. Cute, just like you. Ahem, ahem.”

“That’s not an answer! You paused way too long!”

“Cheon Sojeo, you’re a hundred times cuter than those chairs!”

I decided to ignore her protests and Jong-gwan’s following confession.

Turning back to Bisa-yeong, I asked,

“So, Mangwoon is handling the drinks, right? And judging by the boar, it’s not your handiwork. The rabbits and fish don’t look like your catch either. Whose work is this?”

Caught off guard, she stammered.

“Y-you noticed? That sneaky one. The boar and rabbits were caught by Yawonhyang Sojeo. But I did catch those pheasants! I threw my hidden blade to take them down!”

“Oh, really? Good job then. Well done.”

“You little—! Are you mocking me? You didn’t help at all!”

Bisa-yeong snapped angrily, but I smiled slyly and replied confidently.

“Hmph, didn’t help? I brought the Sword Saint with me.”

“Th-then…”

She glanced nervously at the Sword Saint and, grinding her teeth, reluctantly nodded.

“Y-yeah, that’s important.”

I laughed at her groveling, then asked again.

“But does Yawonhyang Sojeo really go hunting? I thought she’d find that kind of thing annoying.”

“Oh, she took Jong-gwan with her. After the hunt, she had him bring back the game. From what I heard, her ‘river whip’ technique is no joke. It moves like a black dragon, wrapping around or piercing prey like a spear.”

“Wow, really?”

She was known as a top female warrior in Sapa, so it made sense she was that skilled.

I nodded and scanned the area.

“Where are the team leader and Cheong-yeon Sojeo? They’re not here yet.”

“The leader is meditating after taking his elixir. He took a large dose at once, so it’s taking a while.”

“Oh, I see.”

I remembered the leader hadn’t taken any elixir after crossing the wall. He’d gone straight to scout the Iron Ghost and then to the Outpost, so no time to take it earlier.

It seemed he was following the Sword Saint’s advice to push himself harder in combat.

“And Cheong-yeon Sojeo?”

“She came earlier, made the table, then went back to the Fourth Squad. She said she’d return in time for the gathering.”

Hmm.

I hadn’t had a chance to talk with her since returning. In fact, I hadn’t even seen her much, since she kept going back to the Fourth Squad.

It was strange—how could we, from the same Thirteen Squads, barely cross paths like this?

It was a relief she seemed to be settling in well, but honestly, I felt a pang of disappointment.

She was my closest friend in this life, the one who’d joined the Flying Dragon Squad with me and always stuck by my side.

I regretted not having a chance to talk with her before heading to the Outpost.

Soon after, just as the food was nearly ready, the leader and Cheong-yeon Sojeo arrived.

At last, we could begin the feast.

“To the endless growth and success of the Seven Team members of the Flying Dragon Thirteen!”

“To that!”

With the Sword Saint’s toast, we all clinked our cups.

“Wow! The wild boar melts in my mouth! Jong-gwan! Cheon Sojeo! Your skills are amazing!”

“Ahem! I put some effort into it!”

“Ah, the wine tastes like honey! Incredible!”

“That’s because it’s made with real honey. That’s why it tastes so sweet.”

“Oh, is that so?”

The feast was lively.

It didn’t feel like a farewell party for anyone leaving the Seven Team, but more like a joyful meal among family—eating, laughing, and chatting as if nothing would ever change, as if we’d keep gathering like this forever.

After filling our stomachs, we entertained each other by showing off our talents.

“Music is a must at a drinking party.”

Yawonhyang Sojeo said in a languid voice, surprising us all with her unexpected skill on the seven-string zither.

Cheon Sojeo, caught up in the excitement, stepped forward.

“I’ll sing then!”

She began singing sweetly while wielding a Hwandudaedo sword, performing a graceful dance.

“Cheon Sojeo! You look like a fairy!”

Bae Jong-gwan seemed almost entranced by her singing and dancing.

Next up was me.

With the alcohol warming my spirits and surrounded by family, I felt no embarrassment.

“Then I’ll show you my transformation technique!”

“Huh? Transformation?!”

“Seonwoo Gongja, you can use magic too?!”

Confidently, I demonstrated by using the Bone Reduction Skill to shrink my skeleton.

I’d shown this to Bisa-yeong and Jong-gwan before, but for the others, it was a first, and their eyes widened in amazement.

“Behold, I transform into a dwarf!”

I shouted and shrank my height.

Crack!

“Wow! You really got smaller! Seonwoo Gongja, that’s amazing!”

“Hahaha! As expected of my… talents!”

Encouraged by their reaction, I moved on to the next stage.

“Now, I transform into a child!”

Crack!

This time, I reduced my build to that of a young kid.

The team burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! What kind of kid has muscles like that?!”

“Ew! It’s creepy seeing an old face on such a small body!”

“Ha ha ha! This is hilarious!”

The grand finale of my transformation show was the Sword Saint, who was now fully energized.

“Alright! After such a rare spectacle, I can’t just sit still! I’ll show you my secret skill!”

“Ohhh! Sword Saint!”

We cheered loudly.

Cheong-yeon Sojeo lowered her head shyly, but the Sword Saint didn’t seem to notice.

“Iyeop!”

With a playful shout, the Sword Saint pointed a finger skyward.

We all gasped in shock.

The Sword Saint’s sword, resting on the table, suddenly flew up, following the direction of his finger.

“Whoa!”

“C-could it be?!”

At first, we were skeptical, but as the sword soared and darted through the air like a bird, following the Sword Saint’s finger, we couldn’t help but scream in astonishment.

“Wow!”

“Is that the Flying Sword Technique?!”

“Is that really possible? In real life?!”

“Incredible!”

The amazement didn’t end there.

Feeling pleased by our cheers, the Sword Saint leapt up and mounted the flying sword.

He soared through the sky, riding the blade—just like in the legends.

We erupted into thunderous applause.

“Wow! Sword Saint!”

“You’re the best, sir!”

“Absolutely amazing!”

As our cheers died down, the Sword Saint landed.

“The energy consumption is too great to show this for long. How was it?”

“Incredible, sir!”

“You looked like an immortal!”

There was no way it was just ‘incredible’—it was the most astonishing thing any of us had ever seen.

After that, the alcohol took hold, and we naturally split into small groups of two or three to chat.

I wanted to talk with Cheong-yeon Sojeo, so I looked her way, but she was deep in conversation with Cheon Ju-eun Sojeo and Yawonhyang Sojeo—three women chatting together, leaving no room for me to join.

“Hmm.”

I felt a bit bitter.

Maybe today, too, I wouldn’t get a chance to talk with her.

Suddenly, a thought struck me.

“So this is how quickly people drift apart.”

It was bitter and hollow to realize that even talking with her had become this difficult.

There was a time when I even entertained the thought that maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be me, Sojeo, but her with whom I’d end up.

Back then, being human myself, I couldn’t deny that I once felt something more than friendship toward Cheongyeon Sojeo—someone who was always by my side and with whom I communicated better than anyone else.

At least, that was true until I found out she was the daughter of the Sword Saint and possessed a beauty that could be called unparalleled in the world.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

‘After that, I felt utterly pathetic for having entertained such thoughts, even for a moment, about such a perfect woman.’

Of course, the biggest reason was that I was Sojeo, but regardless, after that, I tried to cast aside all personal feelings and simply be a good friend to her.

Yet, seeing how difficult it is now even to approach her, it seems my efforts were lacking.

Just then, Seolpung Jo-jang suddenly approached me, raising his cup.

“Jin, you’ve worked hard under this inadequate leader. Thanks to you, I can hardly believe that starting tomorrow, you’ll be part of another squad.”

I smiled wryly in response.

“Another squad? I’m forever a member of the Seventh Squad. I’ll keep showing up for dawn training and evening sparring, so don’t even think about sending me away. And if it weren’t for you, Jo-jang, I’d still be nothing but a pig, not a man. If I’ve done anything right, it’s all thanks to you.”

There wasn’t a trace of falsehood in my words.

My parents may have given me life, but it was Jo-jang who forged me into the warrior I am.

That was a debt I could never repay in a lifetime.

“By the way, Jo-jang, are you perhaps hesitating about using ‘that’ in front of the Sword Saint?”

He hesitated for a moment at my question, then nodded.

“You really can’t be fooled. Yes, that’s right. The Sword Saint is certainly trustworthy, but I’m still debating whether it’s right to reveal ‘that’ to him.”

‘That’ referred to the red-eyed martial art Seolpung Jo-jang used—the technique that allowed him to wield power a level or two above his usual strength.

If Jo-jang was to give his all in a duel, he had to use it.

Not using it would be like hiding his true ability.

But the problem was that using it risked exposing his identity.

Especially with the Sword Saint, I was certain he’d notice.

From the moment I heard the Sword Saint’s words beside Jo-jang earlier, I had suspected he’d be wrestling with this dilemma.

And as expected, I was right.

“Jo-jang, just my opinion, but if, as the Sword Saint said, you need to give your all to break through this wall, then maybe now is the best chance. That’s how I see it.”

“…Now, you say?”

“Yes. Meeting an opponent strong enough to require ‘that,’ and among them, someone you can still trust—that’s a rare and difficult thing. It might even be your last chance.”

“Hmm…”

“So, even if you’re reluctant, I think it’s better to take this risk just this once.”

Jo-jang fell into deep thought after hearing me.

It wouldn’t be an easy choice, but I already had a feeling what he would decide.

---

Ha Cheongyeon glanced sideways at Seon Woojin, who was having a serious conversation with Seolpung Jo-jang, his eyes barely visible beneath his hair.

‘Letting my hair down really helps in moments like this.’

Seeing Seon Woojin again after so long was, frustratingly, a relief.

I thought that putting some distance between us would calm my heart, but it had no effect at all.

For the past few days, Ha Cheongyeon had been tormented by deep self-loathing.

She was angry that Seon Woojin had gone to save Na Seoyu, and impulsively switching to the Fourth Squad had felt so pathetic and shameful.

A decision made purely on emotion—she doubted if that was really herself.

But after calming down, she decided maybe it was for the best.

Being apart from Seon Woojin might help her regain her self-esteem and rational judgment.

‘But then…’

The feeling that she had returned to her old self over the past few days vanished the moment she saw his face again.

He was still incredibly attractive.

Watching him perform the Chukgolgong in front of others was endearing, and now, with that serious expression, he looked impressive.

If she let her guard down even a little, her gaze would drift back to him.

She couldn’t look away.

Though it was her own heart and body, it felt as if she’d been bewitched by a blood pact, utterly beyond control.

She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

‘Get a grip, Ha Cheongyeon. Regain your composure.’

She tried to think rationally.

The fact that Seon Woojin could talk so casually with Seolpung Jo-jang meant he probably hadn’t confessed to Na Seoyu yet.

If he had, their relationship wouldn’t be so natural.

So, Seon Woojin was still unaware of Na Seoyu’s feelings for Seolpung, and staying by his side would only lead to repeated bruises to her pride.

It seemed wiser to keep her distance for now.

To protect her true self, and to wait for another chance later.

Having reached her conclusion, Ha Cheongyeon stood up.

“Having had a few drinks after such a long time, I’m quite tired. I’ll head out first.”

The squad members all looked at her in surprise.

“Ah, Sojeo Ha, you’re leaving already?”

“Unnie, are you really that tired? I wanted to talk more…”

“Sorry, I think I’m pushing myself too hard.”

Though they looked disappointed, when she answered firmly, no one tried to stop her.

Then, Ha Woonbaek, the Sword Saint, who had been chatting happily with Bi Sayoung and Bae Jonggwan, reluctantly stood up with a look of regret.

“You must be very tired. I’ll see you home.”

As Ha Cheongyeon left the gathering, she took one last look at Seon Woojin sitting among the others.

His eyes, filled with the same regret as the rest, met hers.

That regret—just the disappointment of a comrade leaving early—only made her heart ache all the more.