Episode 51

At dawn the next day, our squad swiftly set off from the Thirteenth Unit. Our destination lay to the northwest, where the Twelfth Unit was stationed.

Our pace was incredibly fast.

Even the lowest-ranked warrior among us, Cheon Ju-eun, had surpassed the entry-level first rank, and our specialty was the new martial technique we wielded.

In fact, judging by our mastery of this technique alone, our squad might have ranked among the top handful across the entire front line.

After running a few shi-jin along the treetops, as if on a morning training run, we soon caught sight of the Twelfth Unit’s barracks.

There, a member of the Twelfth Unit was waiting and relayed orders to head toward Xianwei in Yunnan Province.

It seemed the Twelfth Unit’s leader had already pursued the Giant Demon Horse northward to Xianwei, at the northeastern edge of Yunnan.

As we dashed swiftly through the trees, Cheon Ju-eun asked anxiously, “Do you think we can catch the Giant Demon Horse? They say it’s a monster with over ninety years of internal energy!”

Having over ninety years of internal energy meant it was on the verge of breaking the century mark—the pinnacle of martial prowess.

Even Feng Yang, the official top master of the Thirteenth Unit, and our squad leader Han Gyo-seong hadn’t yet surpassed the eighty-year threshold, so Cheon Ju-eun’s concern was understandable.

But Bi Sa-young answered cheerfully, “Don’t worry, Cheon! We have Squad Leader Seol Pung, who once faced off against the Bloodthirsty Demon Horse, Ji Gwang-ok—a true monster at the peak of power! And with the combined strength of the three best squads, we’ll definitely be able to catch it!”

Cheon Ju-eun’s face brightened slightly at that, and then Bae Jong-gwan spoke up in a booming voice.

“Don’t worry at all, Cheon! Even if the squad leader isn’t here, I, Bae Jong-gwan, will risk my life to protect you!”

Why was it always us who had to feel embarrassed…

To say something like that with such sincerity—he really was something else.

We cleared our throats awkwardly and looked away, while Cheon Ju-eun gave a sheepish smile and replied, “Ah, thank you, Lord Bae.”

I caught a glimpse of Cheon Ju-eun’s slightly uncomfortable expression and shook my head.

Tsk, what a fool. How could he be so clueless about a woman’s feelings?

I don’t know much about women myself, but even I could tell that wasn’t the way to win her heart.

I felt sorry for him.

Honestly, I thought the only way to get Cheon Ju-eun’s attention might be to risk one’s life—but it didn’t seem like this mission would give him that chance.

Of course, as Bi Sa-young said, we had a squad leader who had even shared the battlefield with the Bloodthirsty Demon Horse.

Still, if an actual battle broke out, who knew what unexpected dangers might arise?

It was bound to be a risky situation.

But…

“I already know how this will end.”

Thanks to memories from my past life, I already knew the outcome of this mission.

We wouldn’t be able to chase down the Giant Demon Horse to the end—we’d have to turn back.

So, in truth, I was treating this mission like a picnic.

After running a few more shi-jin, we arrived at Xianwei, near the border between Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

At the entrance to Xianwei, we spotted the Twelfth Unit’s leader, Jeung Ak-do-gaek Man Jong-im, waiting with a squad in tow.

Known as the “Demon Slayer” for his deep hatred of the cult of demons and evil sects, he was a stern-looking middle-aged warrior with sharp eyes and a stubbornly set mouth.

“Seol Pung, leader of the Thirteenth Unit’s Seventh Squad, and six others. Are you Man Jong-im, leader of the Twelfth Unit?” Seol Pung asked politely with a smile.

Man Jong-im scanned us with a piercing gaze and replied, “Seventh Squad? Seol Pung? Not the Azure Wind Sword Dragon of the First Squad or the Spear Dragon of the Second? And why only seven members?”

His tone was sharp and interrogative from the start.

We hadn’t expected such a cold reception—not that we expected a warm welcome either.

Slightly taken aback, Seol Pung answered, “Feng Yang, the leader of the Thirteenth Unit, judged us the most suitable for this mission. Though we’re only seven, all of us have surpassed the first rank. There’s no need to worry.”

A squad composed entirely of first-rank or higher warriors was objectively impressive.

But apparently, it wasn’t enough for Man Jong-im.

Without commenting further, he continued to glare at us with displeasure.

“I’ve never heard of Seol Pung. Which sect do you belong to?”

His question was extremely rude, but our squad leader tried to defuse it with a gentle smile.

“I’ve mastered the family’s martial arts. I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose more.”

Man Jong-im glared at him and pressed on.

“You refuse to say? Surely not because you’re from some rogue sect?”

Seol Pung and the rest of us exchanged incredulous looks.

It was rare but not unheard of for warriors from rogue sects to serve on the front lines.

After all, our own squad leader and Cheon Ju-eun were from such backgrounds.

But to be insulted so bluntly like that…

Seol Pung’s face hardened as he replied shortly, “I’m not from the orthodox sect.”

Man Jong-im’s face twisted in anger, and he shouted, “What?! Feng Yang, you dare send me scum from rogue sects? On such an important mission?!”

It seemed this mission had been doomed from the start.

Having to work alongside such a narrow-minded, rude man made me shake my head in frustration.

Bi Sa-young muttered under his breath, “They say you only realize spring after the flowers fall. Now I see Feng Yang was a fairy after all.”

True enough, but I didn’t need to compare Feng Yang to a fairy to feel annoyed.

Our squad leader was being insulted over a mission we wouldn’t even be able to complete—and I was about to suggest we turn back when suddenly ten men came rushing toward us from the opposite direction like a gust of wind.

“The First Squad of the Eleventh Unit, led by Je Won-young, has just arrived! Looks like we’re the last ones! Sorry about that! Hahaha!”

The man was broad-shouldered with a hearty voice.

And I already knew his name.

Je Won-young, the Spear Dragon of the Eleventh Unit, was a famous warrior, second only to the Spear Dragon of the Second Unit among the Spear Sect disciples.

To my surprise, Man Jong-im’s expression changed completely when he saw Je Won-young—his face lit up with genuine satisfaction.

“Oh! The Spear Dragon! As expected of Lord Yoon! You’ve sent a truly capable man!”

Man Jong-im’s open praise made us chuckle bitterly once more.

So, apparently, we weren’t considered truly capable.

“Welcome! You must have had a hard journey!”

Man Jong-im greeted Je Won-young warmly, exchanging hearty greetings.

Je Won-young laughed heartily and then glanced at us.

“Are these folks… from the Thirteenth Unit?”

Man Jong-im immediately frowned and said, “Yes. We requested an urgent dispatch, and this is all they sent…”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Je Won-young looked at Seol Pung with surprise and asked, “Are you, by any chance, Seol Pung, leader of the Thirteenth Unit’s Seventh Squad?”

There was no malice in his tone.

If anything, it was filled with an inexplicable friendliness.

Seol Pung nodded in confusion.

“That’s right.”

Je Won-young laughed heartily and approached him.

“Ha ha ha! Finally, we meet! I’ve heard about you through the letters from the Spear Dragon of the Second Unit! I was so curious about the warrior who joined the Thirteenth Unit, said to be even better than Han Gyo-seong, the Azure Wind Sword Dragon! I even considered transferring to the Thirteenth Unit myself! If it weren’t for that Mayu-gyeom fellow, I might have done it! Ha ha ha!”

Apparently, Je Won-young was close enough to correspond with the leader of the Second Unit.

It was surprising that the taciturn leader had a friend he communicated with by letter—and that friend was so different in personality.

Je Won-young was a manly man with a good impression, never coming across as arrogant.

He reminded me somewhat of Myeong Sa-hyeon, the recently deceased deputy leader of the Third Unit.

With a friendly gleam in his eyes, he continued.

“I also heard about your new nickname, ‘Gale Flying Dragon’! To act so boldly against the massive Black Elephant Sect—I truly admire you! I regret not having met you sooner! When I heard the Thirteenth Unit was sending reinforcements, I hoped it might be you. Now my wish has come true! Ha ha ha! Oh, are Bi Cheon Heuk-rang, Sun Woo-jin, and the Gale Wind Flying Eagle, Bi Sa-young, here as well?”

He even knew my name and Bi Sa-young’s.

We awkwardly confirmed our identities, and he greeted us warmly and boisterously before turning back to Man Jong-im with an apology.

“Ah, my apologies, Lord Man Jong-im. I got a bit carried away meeting people I’ve long admired. Please forgive me.”

Man Jong-im nodded and glanced at us with a complicated expression.

I had a pretty good idea what was on his mind, so I smirked and said to Seol Pung, “Leader, it seems the Twelfth Unit’s leader isn’t too fond of us. Maybe we should head back.”

Bi Sa-young laughed and agreed.

“Right, leader. What use are scum like us? Returning might be the best way to help the Twelfth Unit leader.”

Je Won-young looked at us with a puzzled expression and asked—

“What are you saying? Just by looking, it seems all the members except Seolpung Jo Jang have already surpassed the first-class level. So why would the Twelve Great Masters dislike you all? And what do you mean by calling them ‘riffraff’?”

When he looked at him with eyes full of suspicion, Manjongim cleared his throat and replied.

“Hmm, hmm. There must be some misunderstanding. In such a critical situation, there’s no way we’d send them back so hastily.”

Then he quickly began explaining the situation.

We exchanged glances and smirked, deciding to let it slide for now.

“Three days ago, Georyeokma Jeo Ungwon, along with nine subordinates, ambushed and slaughtered the patrol team of the Fifth Squad of the Twelve Great Masters, killing all but two female members, whom they abducted. We sounded the alarm and gave chase, but tracking them proved difficult. So we split up by squads to pursue them separately. Unfortunately, the squad sweeping the northeast direction was attacked as well. We only learned of this in the evening. That squad was wiped out entirely, except for one female member’s body, which was missing.”

If what he said was true, two squads of the Twelve Great Masters—about twenty people—had been wiped out overnight.

No wonder his nerves were so frayed.

Jeowonyeong let out a low whistle and asked, “Any survivors at all?”

Manjongim sighed deeply before answering.

“Only one managed to survive, barely. But with an arm and a leg severed, it’s unlikely they’ll ever fight as a warrior again.”

We fell silent, our faces heavy with sympathy.

Two squads wiped out—there was no need to ask how grim the mood among the Twelve Great Masters must be.

Manjongim’s eyes blazed as he continued.

“I will never let those bastards live. I’m determined to catch them and take revenge. I need your help.”

Suddenly, Cheongyeon Sojeo asked, “If there’s a survivor, you must have some idea of the enemy’s strength, right?”

Manjongim’s expression darkened as he replied.

“According to him, besides Georyeokma Jeo Ungwon, there were three peak-level warriors and seven top-tier first-class mages.”

“!”

“!”

We couldn’t help but be shocked by his words.

Not only a Georyeokma with over ninety years of experience but also three peak masters and seven elite first-class mages.

That kind of force could easily wipe out a medium-sized sect on their own.

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that only two squads were wiped out, not more.

As we murmured among ourselves, the leader of the Twelve Great Masters spoke with fiery eyes.

“Of course, the enemy’s strength is formidable. But as righteous warriors, I believe none of you would hesitate to risk your lives to eliminate the Blood Sect’s mages.”

We exchanged glances again.

He had just said they weren’t righteous warriors.

Every word he spoke seemed to chip away at any goodwill.

I almost wanted to ask if we could just leave since we weren’t righteous warriors.

And it seemed Biseayeong was about to do just that.

“Well then…!”

Before Biseayeong could say more, the squad leader stepped forward and answered for him.

“We have no intention of leaving. Please continue.”

Jeowonyeong nodded in agreement, and Manjongim broke into a satisfied laugh.

“Ha ha ha! That’s the spirit of the Biryong squad! A true righteous warrior would naturally…”

Before he could finish, Cheongyeon Sojeo cut him off coldly.

“So where are they now? Have they entered Seonwi? Are you still tracking their trail?”

Her timely intervention was impeccable.

That was Cheongyeon Sojeo for you.

Manjongim frowned, clearly annoyed at being interrupted, but given the urgency, he cleared his throat and answered.

“Hmm, hmm. We followed their trail and arrived at Seonwi yesterday. But at the entrance, their trail vanished completely. Judging by the direction, it seems they went deeper inside. We tried to inquire around, but strangely, no one inside has reported seeing them.”

Cheongyeon Sojeo responded coolly.

“So you lost them.”

Manjongim snapped back angrily.

“Not lost—just taking a breather! They’ll have to wait for you to join up anyway! Where else would they go? They must still be inside Seonwi! So from now on, we’ll search every inch!”

But Cheongyeon Sojeo remained calm and pressed on.

“What about the possibility they’ve already slipped out toward Gujuseong or Sacheon Province? Do you have any reason to be sure they stayed inside Seonwi? Why assume they only went inward?”

Manjongim’s face finally showed genuine surprise. It seemed he hadn’t considered that.

“W-what nonsense is that?! If Georyeokma had gone to Gujuseong, there’d be rumors! He’s been famous since the last Great Blood Battle—there’s no way no one would notice his movements!”

“Is it possible that Georyeokma entered Seonwi without anyone noticing? Especially since it’s close to the front lines and has far more information on the Blood Sect’s mages than other regions?”

“W-well…”

Manjongim was at a loss for words. Cheongyeon Sojeo sighed softly and shook her head.

Though she didn’t say it outright, her expression clearly conveyed how ridiculous she found the situation.

Before Manjongim, his face flushed with frustration, could shout something, she cut in.

“Have you contacted Haomun?”

“Haomun? How dare you…! What? Haomun?”

“Yes, Haomun. If they went inside Seonwi, the Haomun branch there would know.”

“Haomun? I wouldn’t know their branch. Only Haomun disciples know that…”

Cheongyeon Sojeo interrupted firmly.

“Then let’s start there.”

Without hesitation, she began walking.

Suppressing our smiles, we followed her, with Jeowonyeong leading his squad behind us.

He then leaned close behind me and whispered, “Is that Sojeo from Haomun?”

I shook my head with a smile, and he whistled in admiration.

“Phew, what an impressive Sojeo.”

Glancing back, I saw Manjongim, even more flushed and agitated than before, finally leading the Twelve Great Masters’ squads in pursuit behind us.