Chapter 26 Confrontation

Chapter 26: Confrontation

“I’m sorry, Team Leader Han Gyoseong.”

“Ah, it’s fine, Miss. Tell Seolpung to bring back some snacks when he returns.”

Originally, Team Seven was scheduled for the afternoon patrol. But because Seolpung and his team members hadn’t returned yet, Yeon Sa-yu had to ask Team One, who were next in line, to take over the patrol.

It was a set rule that if someone failed to return by their shift time while hunting a main target, the next squad would move up their shift to cover.

But even so, going out on duty earlier than scheduled was hardly pleasant.

In that sense, it was fortunate that Team One was next in line after Team Seven.

Han Gyo-seong, the cheerful and easygoing leader of Team 1, to which Na Seo-yu and Seol Pung belonged, smiled kindly and reassured his team members before heading out on patrol.

Cheon Ju-eun, standing beside Na Seo-yu, said to her with a relieved expression,

“I’m glad he took it well. I was a bit worried.”

Naseoyu smiled faintly at those words and replied.

“The First Squad Leader is a good person, you know. Even if he is a bit lazy, has a strong appetite, and suffers from severe forgetfulness.”

Cheon Ju-eun blinked in surprise and asked.

“…Huh? I heard he’s a genius even recognized within the Cheongseong Sect.”

“True. He’s a true genius when it comes to martial arts. Though because of that, he can’t understand ordinary people and ends up hurting them. But he really is a good person. Of course, his world is so strong that Deputy Leader Haewon-unni just suffered and became a nag, but still. He really is a good person, no doubt about it.”

“…Huh?”

As Cheon Ju-eun looked at Bae Jong-gwan with questioning eyes, trying to figure out what was going on from Na Seo-yu’s seemingly loaded words, Na Seo-yu sighed again and said.

“By the way, I guess I have to ask this team leader for the next shift too? This team leader is a bit of a burden though…”

At her words, Cheon Ju-eun asked with a slightly stiff expression.

“You mean Section Chief Lee from the Pointed Sword Dragon Fourth Division, right?”

At that question, Na Se-yu answered her with a slightly worried expression.

“That’s right. If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll go alone. You can wait here, Jueun.”

Cheon Ju-eun, whose father had died in the Blood Sacrifice of the Wuhuang Tomb, hated the disciples of the Spear and Sword Sect just like Bisea-yeong.

That was also why she hadn’t joined Master Jian Ying’s fourth squad when she first entered the Thirteenth Generation.

But Cheon Ju-eun smiled faintly and shook her head.

“It’s fine. They’re still comrades I fight alongside. I can’t just keep hating them forever. As long as it’s not someone like Ju Tae-kyung from our squad, it’s no problem.”

At those words, Na Se-yu smiled approvingly and ruffled her hair.

“Yeah, this squad’s leader, Saguil, is still the most reasonable person among the Jomchang faction. Sure, he’s a bit too cold, which can be a bit off-putting, but that’s just his personality—it’s not like he’s ignoring people or being arrogant or anything.”

Bae Jong-gwan nodded in agreement and added.

“You’re right, Miss Cheon. Even as a man, I find Squad Leader Sagunil truly admirable. He treats everyone with the same cold impartiality—like a well-honed sword.”

“…Doesn’t treating everyone equally coldly mean he has a bad personality?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it. I’m not explaining it well. Squad Leader Sagunil means he treats people fairly without discrimination. Whether their martial prowess is strong or weak, even if they’re from the Jianchang Sect or another martial arts faction.”

Listening to Bae Jong-gwan and Cheon Ju-eun’s conversation, Na Seo-yu sighed quietly to himself.

He was pretending to be fine, asking the other squad leaders to take over the next shift, but inside, he was extremely anxious.

He knew Seolpung’s martial prowess well and didn’t think anything would happen to him.

But this delay in his return was clearly unusual.

Could it be…

As Na Seo-yu secretly clasped her hands together, praying for his and the team members’ safety, someone suddenly addressed her.

“Is Seolpung still not back?”

It was none other than Zhu Taijing, the Sword Master of the Piercing Blade.

He strode toward her with three henchmen trailing behind him, an arrogant look on his face.

Seeing him, Na Se-yu let out a small sigh before replying with an expression that showed no sign of concern.

“Seems he’s running a bit late. I asked Squad Leader Yi to patrol instead.”

At that, Zhu Taijing gave a bitter smile and muttered.

“That’s what I get for messing around…”

As Joo Tae-kyung began speaking, the thugs standing behind him—Ha Mu-jin, Ji Man-geum, and Man Gu-in—also started snickering.

“That pig Sunwoo is probably too scared to face Taekyung, so he’s deliberately not coming, right?”

“He’s got every reason to be. How terrified must he be? He’s probably begging Seolpung right now. ‘Captain, I don’t want to go back. Please spare me.'”

“Wahahaha, that’s hilarious.”

Naseyu, who had been looking at the three of them with pity as they chuckled, spoke up.

“As fellow squad members, shouldn’t you three show a little more sense of belonging? Isn’t worrying about whether something happened to your comrades the basic duty of a human being?”

Ha Moo-jin retorted with a sneer.

“Worry? Why should we? If something happens to Seolpung, Taegyeong will finally become the team leader, right? Isn’t that a better outcome?”

“Exactly. Honestly, it should’ve happened ages ago.”

“Right, right.”

This finally changed the look in Na Se-yu’s eyes.

Where his gaze had been one of pity, it now turned cold as he fixed it upon them.

“Master Ju Tae-kyung as squad leader? Why? It’s unlikely, but if someone must take over after Squad Leader Seol-pung, shouldn’t I be the one?”

“What?!”

“What?! Deputy Leader, how dare you say such a thing!”

Then, Na Se-yu unleashed a powerful aura, pressing down on them.

“Dare? Dare, you say? Dare you lot dare to spout such nonsense at me, the deputy leader?”

Faced with the aura of a top-tier intermediate martial artist, Ha Moo-jin, Ji Man-geum, and Man Gu-in—still merely second-tier—turned pale instantly and could only shut their mouths.

Then, Ju Taekyung stepped forward naturally, absorbing their pressure as he spoke.

“I know full well that you, Miss, are a formidable martial artist. But… aren’t you a bit lacking to be aiming for the position of squad leader?”

Facing him as he spoke with that arrogant expression, Yeo Yu smiled faintly and replied.

“I am lacking, indeed. But is that all you’ve got, Master Ju? You’d have to defeat Master Sunwoojin first. Not that I expect that to happen.”

Her sarcastic tone made Ju Taekyung’s face stiffen.

“How dare that scum think he can be my opponent?”

“Who knows. But from what I can tell, Lord Seonwoojin doesn’t seem to care about facing Lord Ju at all. What was it he said? That it wasn’t particularly important?”

“How dare he!”

As Ju Tae-kyung erupted in fury, Sa Na-yu flashed a sly smile and turned away.

“Well then, good luck, Master Ju.”

But the moment she turned away, her expression froze.

She could sense that Ju Taekyung, who had been at a similar level to her until recently, had advanced a whole stage.

In that state, even if he consumed the elixir, it was doubtful Seon Woo-jin could handle him.

Anxiety was making her heart feel heavy.

As she set out to meet the squad leader, Jianchang Jianlong Saguunil, Yeo Su-yu prayed silently, over and over.

‘Team Leader, please come back soon. I’m so worried.’

***

Even by the time the First Squad returned from their afternoon patrol, Seolpung and his group had not yet returned.

Now, as it was time for the evening patrol, Na Se-yu was seeing off Squad Leader Sa Gun-il and his squad members, who were taking the evening patrol in place of Squad 7.

“Squad Leader Sagunil, take care. I’m sorry for the trouble our squad has caused you.”

The squad leader, Sword Dragon Saguil, who had only silently nodded in response, paused just as he was about to depart. He suddenly turned his head and said to Naseoyu.

“Seolpung is one of the most outstanding warriors I know.”

Startled by the unexpected remark, Sa Neuyu asked with a puzzled expression.

“Huh? What…?”

With that, Sagunil turned away, leaving only one more indifferent remark before departing.

“So don’t worry too much.”

Staring blankly at his retreating back, Na Se-yu chuckled softly at his seemingly indifferent yet thoughtful consideration.

It seemed her expression must have looked rather grim.

Resolving to steel her resolve, she took a deep breath and turned back with a smile to face her team members.

“Alright! Don’t slack off just because the leader’s gone. Let’s practice… Jueun? What’s wrong?”

She suddenly noticed Cheon Ju-eun, her face bright red, covering it with both hands.

Seeing her dazed gaze fixed on Saguunil’s retreating back, Na Se-yu could roughly guess the situation.

With a wry smile, she called out to Cheon Ju-eun again.

“Jueun?! We have to go train!”

“Yes?! Yes! Yes! Unnie!”

The dim-witted Bae Jong-gwan, standing right beside her, was still glancing at Cheon Ju-eun with a look that said he was head over heels for her.

A sigh escaped her involuntarily.

Just then, Joo Tae-kyung approached again.

Na Seo-yu sighed and asked him.

“What is it now, Master Joo?”

Joo Tae-kyung chuckled softly and replied to her.

“At this point, I think it’s getting rather serious. Shouldn’t we tell the Grand Lord and form a search party?”

Na Se-yu smiled brightly at Ju Tae-kyung, who said this with a completely unserious expression, and replied.

“What are you saying? You know better than anyone how ineffective the captain is. It’s only been three days, after all.”

But this time, Joo Tae-kyung also answered with a relaxed expression.

“Not yet? Shouldn’t it be ‘already’? As far as I know, no one has ever disappeared into the jungle for three days and come back alive. They clearly said the location was only a day’s round trip, yet three days… It’s not good to place excessive faith in someone. If you want to be a squad leader, you must sometimes judge situations coldly and accept reality, don’t you think?”

Seeing Ju Taekyung say that with a sneering smile was like looking at a snake.

It felt like he finally understood why his nickname was ‘The Snake-Eyed Sword Devil’.

Na Seo-yu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine just from standing before him.

But regardless, he couldn’t refute what Ju Tae-kyung said.

It was true that no one who had been gone for three days had ever returned alive, and above all, Na Se-yu’s own heart was filled with dread.

But she couldn’t show weakness in front of Joo Tae-kyung. Biting her lip hard to steady her resolve, Na Se-yu stated firmly.

“In the absence of the squad leader, the decision rests with me, the deputy squad leader. We will wait until tomorrow and then take action.”

Joo Tae-kyung chuckled softly in response.

“Is that so? Team Leader Mayu Gyeom seems to have a different opinion. I expect a team leader meeting will be called first tomorrow.”

At those words, Na Se-yu’s expression instantly filled with rage.

“You! Did you dare tell Team Leader Mayu-gyeom about this on your own?!”

But despite Na Seo-yu’s fury, Ju Tae-kyung merely responded with a smooth, nonchalant demeanor.

“I did it for our squad and the Thirteenth Division. The longer this situation drags on, the more damage it causes to other squad members, wouldn’t you agree? It’s best to resolve problems quickly before they escalate.”

“You, really!”

Then someone interjected.

“Exactly. We should have resolved this before it got worse, but I was too indecisive. Jin-i, you were right.”

“It’s good you realized it now. If there’s rotten fruit, you have to pick it out quickly so the other fruit doesn’t rot too.”

Startled by the voice, Na Se-yu and Joo Tae-kyung whipped their heads around.

Then, their expressions diverged sharply.

“Team Leader!”

“Seolpung?!”

There stood four people, looking somewhat weary but otherwise fine, smiling as they turned back.

Na Seo-yu covered her mouth in a look of deep emotion, while Cheon Ju-eun and Bae Jong-gwan ran toward them with bright faces.

“Ahhh!”

“Captain! Sa-young! Jin! Young Lady Cheong!”

“Kyaaah! Captain! Why are you so late?! Seo-yu unni was worried sick!”

Startled by Cheon Ju-eun’s fierce, almost hugging charge, Seol Pung awkwardly stepped back and replied.

“Ah, I-I’m sorry. I was foolishly injured, so I had to be carried by Jin, which made me late.”

Hearing this, Seo Yu, who had been watching with tears welling up, gasped in shock and rushed toward him.

“You’re hurt?! Where?! How bad is it?! Are you okay now?!”

Overwhelmed by her fierce intensity, Seolpung stammered out a reply.

“Ah, I, I sustained some internal injuries, but it’s nothing serious. I’ve already recovered on the way here. And…”

Seolpung stopped there, offering an awkward smile, but his eyes held an unusual softness.

“I’m sorry for coming back late, young lady. And thank you for worrying about me.”

Hearing Seolpung speak so softly for the first time, Seonyu suddenly choked up.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Both Seolpung, who had witnessed her tears, and Seonyu herself, who had just shed them, were startled.

“Ah! Wh-why are tears… No, it’s not because I’m sad.”

“I-I’m sorry. Young Lady. I truly did wrong.”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant.”

While they were both flustered like that, beside them, Joo Tae-kyung, his expression twisted, was speaking to Seon Woo-jin.

“So you did manage to return in time. Let me be clear: even if you carried your squad leader back, it changes nothing. Don’t think I’ll postpone the duel.”

Seon Woo-jin chuckled and retorted.

“Huh? You were here too? Why postpone? I want to finish this quickly and rest. Come on, let’s get this over with. I need a break.”

Infuriated by Seon Woo-jin’s dismissive tone, as if dealing with a bothersome chore, Joo Tae-kyung gripped his sword.

“You bastard, how dare you!”

Seon Woo-jin smiled faintly and said.

“Ah, how about we just do it here? That sounds good too.”

Joo Tae-kyung couldn’t help but pause at Seon Woo-jin’s words.

No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t do that.

This duel had to happen publicly, in front of as many people as possible.

Joo Tae-kyung wanted to crush this insolent brat in front of as many people as possible and flaunt his own prowess.

He wanted to etch into everyone’s minds how he had become a proud, top-tier martial artist, and just how outstanding a talent he truly was.

Grr.

Gritting his teeth and suppressing his rage, Joo Tae-kyung declared.

“Meet me at the sparring grounds in half an hour. I trust you won’t run away.”

“Huh? Run away? Me? Why?”

Ignoring Seon Woo-jin, who stood there with an expression of utter disbelief, Ju Tae-kyung began walking away at a brisk pace.

His first stop was to find Ma Yu-gyeom, the head of the Jomchang faction he served.

He knew Ma Yu-gyeom would know how to escalate the situation.

The anticipation of soon trampling Seonwoo Jin in front of a crowd already made his heart race.

He couldn’t kill the bastard, but he intended to push him to the brink of death.

Thoroughly, as brutally as possible.

He would make him wish he had died instead.

So he’d never be able to breathe in his presence again.

His whole body was already trembling with excitement.

***

As Joo Tae-kyung walked away, Bi Sa-young suddenly asked Seon Woo-jin.

“Jin, are you really okay?”

Seon Woo-jin answered with a bitter smile.

“No, of course not. I’m so exhausted I feel like I might collapse. It’s a huge relief we’re not fighting right now. I need to do some qigong immediately.”

As Seonwoo Jin collapsed on the spot and began his qigong practice, Na Seoyu asked Seolpung with a worried look.

“I sensed today that Ju Tae-kyung’s cultivation has risen another level. Will Master Seonwoo be all right?”

At those words, Seol Pung, Bi Sa-yeong, and Hae Cheong-yeon exchanged glances and smiled faintly.

Bi Sa-yeong declared confidently.

“Just wait and see, young lady. You’ll probably be quite surprised.”

“…Huh?”

Na Seo-yu and Cheon Ju-eun. Bae Jong-gwan merely exchanged puzzled glances.

***

After meditating for half an hour, I finally headed toward the sparring grounds.

As I’d roughly anticipated, quite a crowd had gathered at the sparring ground.

That bastard Joo Tae-kyung must have deliberately gathered people.

All the squad leaders were there to watch, except for Squad Leader Ma Yu-gyeom, of course, and Squad Leader Sa Gun-il, who was out on patrol.

First Squad Leader, the Clear Wind Sword Dragon Han Gyoseong; Third Squad Leader, the Tang Family Sword Peak Tang Yeo-eun…

That bastard probably wanted to humiliate me in front of all those people.

But…

I stared at Joo Tae-kyung, standing at the center of the sparring ground, grinning maliciously.

Seeing the face of the man waiting for me, memories from my past life suddenly surfaced.

The times he had horribly ignored and humiliated me, the times he had constantly picked fights with Squad Leader Seolpung to stir up trouble within the squad, and above all, the scene of Lady Yeon-yu dying because of that bastard came vividly to mind.

A laugh escaped me.

Finally, in this second life, the time had come to repay him for everything.

As I stepped into the sparring ground, he spoke to me with eyes gleaming with delight.

“I won’t kill you. But I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

I could roughly guess what he was thinking.

He probably wanted to kill me, but figured he couldn’t with so many witnesses around.

He chuckled softly and raised a finger, wiggling it at the guy.

“Shut up and come here.”

His face instantly froze stiff, then he grabbed his sword hilt and shouted.

“You bastard! How dare you!”

Then his sword became a beam of light and struck at me.

Shwaaah!

Astounding speed.

It was the thrust of the Pointing Spear, said to pierce even the sun.

The moment that thrust pierced my right chest, my body moved lightly, naturally evading his sword like a flower petal blown by the wind.

His sword was still unsheathed.

“What?!”

Furrowing his brow slightly, he immediately unleashed the chained sword technique.

His sword, spewing a milky-white sword energy, poured down like raindrops falling through the mist.

“Haahh!”

Shwaaah!

But the result was the same.

His Four-Sword Technique was already thoroughly known to me from a past life, and now, neither his energy nor his cultivation level could match mine.

Moreover, since the Zhugui incident, my mastery of the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique had already surpassed that of my previous life.

My body moved as smoothly as if carried by the wind, evading every one of his torrential thrusts with just slight footwork.

A quick glance revealed Bi Sa-yeong’s expression had gone blank.

He seemed moved.

After all, the Heavenly Wind Step, a technique of the Flying Dragon Sect, was nullifying the Four-Sword Technique of the Pointing Blade Sect.

This was my way of thanking Bi Sa-yeong for the elixir.

Despite his relentless offensive, Ju Tae-kyung, unable to land a hit on me, erupted in anger, his face flushed with shame.

“What the hell are you doing?! You plan to keep running away?!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

He still didn’t seem to grasp what it meant that he couldn’t gain the upper hand even against me, who hadn’t drawn my sword.

Or perhaps,

he refused to admit it.

I simply told him.

“Up until now, it was the Heavenly Wind Step of the Flying Sword Sect.”

“…What?”

As he frowned and retorted, I now gripped the sword hilt and laughed savagely.

“And from now on, it’s the Sunwoo Family’s Sunwoo Thirteen Swords.”

“What?”

In that instant, my sword finally became a white dragon, bursting from its scabbard.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Along with the draw, a hazy sword aura spread its wings and swept toward the man.

It was the first technique of the Sunwoo Thirteen Swords: Divine Response Soaring.

“Ugh?!”

Startled, the enemy retreated, attempting to defend.

His laughter deepened.

To retreat before an opponent’s attack? He was even more foolish than expected.

He had opened the path himself, so there was no reason to hesitate.

He immediately connected with the first technique, Shin Eung Piik.

From the unfurled, hazy wings, dozens of sword lights began to pour down like feathers, sparkling as they overwhelmed the bastard.

It was the ultimate sword technique.

The panicked expression on the enemy’s face was clearly visible.

“Huh?!”

Just as the creature frantically swung its sword to defend itself,

Amidst the countless illusory blades, a single sword light shot toward him like a beam of light.

The third strike of the Island Lightning Thirteen Swords—Divine Response.

Joo Taekyung just stared blankly at my sword, stopped right before his throat.

He seemed unable to believe his defeat in just three seconds.

“Th-this… This can’t be…”

I grinned and told him.

“Call me ‘Brother’ from now on, Ju Taekyung.”

It was the moment his face twisted into the most wretched expression I’d ever seen, spanning both his past and present lives.