Chapter 9 Front Line-1

Chapter 9: Front Line-1

After a night spent busily disposing of the corpse and cleaning up the aftermath, morning dawned once more.

The time had come to part ways with the ronin and head for the front lines.

The ronin, always cheerful, looked deeply gloomy overnight.

It was only natural.

For martial artists who lived by the sword, the death of a comrade was not an uncommon occurrence. Yet, losing a person was never easy for anyone.

Moreover, the void left by the absence of Master Yang, who always kept the atmosphere warm and friendly, and Master Yi, who always played along with him, was undeniable.

“Travel safely, Master Seonwoo. I pray for your good fortune.”

“Thank you. I pray for the health of Masters Jang and Jong as well. And I hope Master Gong builds a happy family.”

After firmly clasping hands with each of them one by one, I finally pulled out three thin booklets I had packed away in my luggage.

I had written them down whenever I could over the past few days.

“I had originally prepared five copies, but I never imagined I would only be able to give them to these three of you.”

“What’s this?”

I answered with a bitter smile as they accepted the books with puzzled looks.

“It’s nothing special, but it should be better than the Six Harmonies Mind Method.”

At that, their eyes, which had been downcast, suddenly widened.

“The Six Harmonies Mind Method? You mean…?”

“Yes, it’s called the Bowon Mind Method.”

“No way, Master!”

Astonished, they hurriedly began flipping through the untitled booklet.

The Bowon Mind Method was not the shoddy mind technique they had just heard about.

It was the mind technique I had mastered in my past life, one that Seolpung Jo-jang had somehow obtained for me.

It was the technique that had elevated me, who had almost no internal energy, to the top-tier realm of the first cycle—meaning the highest level—in less than ten years.

It couldn’t compare to the supreme techniques I was currently mastering, like the Hun Yuan Wu Ji Gong, but if pressed, it was a technique barely scraping by at the top tier.

Naturally, it was incomparable to the third-rate Six Harmonies Mind Technique.

“I’ve also included a few of the Daoist techniques I know at the very end. They’re nothing extraordinary, but they should be helpful.”

As Master Jong and Master Gong stared wide-eyed, frantically flipping through the booklet, Master Jang looked at me with reddened eyes and said.

“Master Sunwoo, why are you doing this? How can we ever repay this kindness…”

Proper internal cultivation techniques were something those without the right background or connections could never obtain, even in a lifetime. I knew well what that meant to them, wandering warriors.

I too had suffered because of it in my past life.

The moment I resolved to give them proper internal cultivation techniques was when I encountered the bandits at Nokhochae last time.

It was seeing them, in a life-threatening situation, push me to safety first while they tried to hold off the enemies.

There were a few like that in my past life too.

Friends who stayed behind to protect their comrades…

Early on at the front lines, my martial arts were weak, so I often became the one needing protection. They sent me away and stayed behind, and most of those comrades I never saw alive again.

But I saw that same spirit in them again.

And these were mere mercenaries hired for money.

No amount of money could ever be more precious than one’s own life. I knew well how most mercenaries behaved in crisis situations.

Usually, they abandon their client and flee first.

But these men didn’t.

Whether it was because of their convictions or because they had grown fond of me, I couldn’t say. But at the very least, I wanted to repay the trust they had shown me.

I gave them a faint smile and said.

“We understood each other and crossed the four lines together—aren’t we friends? Since it’s no longer of use to me, giving it to my friends as a gift is no big deal.”

“…Master.”

Seeing him gaze at me as if he might burst into tears at any moment, I hurriedly added.

“Now, now. I really must be going. If I stay much longer, it’ll take me all day to cross just two mountain passes. Next time we meet, I hope we’ll both be top-tier warriors.”

Then he wiped away the tears streaming down his face and smiled.

“Indeed. I will surely reach the pinnacle of skill and come to see you again, Master. Then we shall drink together in true celebration.”

They clasped hands firmly, then turned without hesitation and began walking away.

Even when I glanced back after walking a good distance, they were still standing there, seeing me off.

My heart felt warm.

What Seolpung Jo-jang had done for me in my past life, I had been able to do for them.

It felt like this alone made life worth living once more.

Then, Qingyan Xiaoze, who had been standing silently beside me, suddenly spoke.

“I’ve never seen a martial artist share their skills with an outsider… Master Sunwoo, you’re quite an unusual person.”

I chuckled softly at her words and replied.

“Since it’s not the Sunwoo family’s martial arts, it shouldn’t matter, right?”

She stared at my face silently for a moment, then murmured something under her breath.

“….”

Not understanding, I asked again.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing. I was just talking to myself.”

Anyway, I figured I should try talking to this peculiar young lady now.

“Miss… Are you truly planning to go to the front lines? Countless monsters roam there, immune to that sword energy you wielded yesterday. You could very well die.”

She had been gazing toward the front lines for a moment, then opened her mouth to reply.

“I thought about it a lot yesterday. But I still think going is the right thing to do.”

It was a bit frustrating.

Seeing her stubbornness despite that made him think she was a young lady who hadn’t quite come to her senses yet.

Frustrated, he asked again.

“Even after seeing that with your own eyes?”

Then, after staring at the power lines for a moment, she finally spoke.

“I don’t understand.”

“Huh?”

“How could fighting those things not be known throughout the martial world?”

“….”

Her words were true.

Most people only knew that many died on the front lines, but they were completely unaware of exactly what things lurked there.

It was all because of the secret oath.

The Martial Alliance made warriors entering the front lines swear an oath never to reveal what they experienced or witnessed there. Along with the threat that if they did speak, a death warrant would be issued.

‘They said it was to prevent chaos in the martial world.’

But we who had been on the front lines ourselves suspected it was probably to hide the Jianchang Sect’s ugly past—one of the Nine Sects—and the Martial Alliance’s shameful defeat.

Of course, even if that were the reason, it didn’t fully explain why they had insisted on the gag order.

She continued speaking.

“If, as Master Sunwoo said, such things appear endlessly on the front lines, doesn’t that mean someone is still fighting them there right now? But if I just turn back here, wouldn’t that mean I’m turning a blind eye to it, knowing full well?”

Though her eyes were hidden, her firm voice alone made it clear.

That she wasn’t simply rushing to the front lines out of some foolish heroism.

“I didn’t train in martial arts because I wanted to live that way. My father didn’t teach me that way either. Master Seonwoo, what do you see in me? Am I a woman? Or am I a warrior?”

Her eyes were hidden, her tone measured, yet her question held not a shred of hesitation. A sigh escaped him.

“Haah.”

She was right.

She was a warrior before she was a woman.

And one who had reached the highest, most elite level.

Even mentally, she seemed far more mature than I was at twenty-one.

To have treated such a warrior like a childish girl… I felt utterly ridiculous and beyond words.

I bowed deeply and apologized to her.

“I misunderstood your firm convictions, young lady. I sincerely apologize, young lady.”

Then, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

It seemed to be the first smile I had seen from her since I had met her.

“I accept your apology. Confucius, you are remarkably refreshing in both acknowledging your mistakes and apologizing.”

Suddenly, I thought her small, plump, crimson lips, now smiling, were incredibly beautiful.

***

“Haah!”

Puff!

“Kyaaah!”

The sword energy, extended two feet, swept across the bare chest of the Miao tribe man.

His chest split open, blood spattering, but he only faltered slightly before charging once more at the young swordsman.

“Back up, Jung-rang!”

“Got it!”

The young swordsman leapt backward, dodging the charging Miao warrior. While the warrior’s gaze was fixed on him, the sword of a woman charging from the side, as if in a relay, sliced through the Miao warrior’s chest once more, which had been slightly cut earlier, and swept past.

Chuuk!

“Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

As the Miao tribe member’s gaze followed the woman who had just passed by, his chest now split even deeper, the sword of the man who had retreated flew like a streak of light and pierced the Miao tribe member’s heart.

Thud!

“Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Though his heart was pierced, the Miao man let out a blood-curdling scream and flailed his arms wildly. But the man who had thrust the sword had already let go of it and swiftly retreated backward.

It was a familiar, well-rehearsed team attack, like gears turning.

The man grinned and said to the woman.

“Got one. Good work, Sonmae.”

“Jeong-rang too.”

The wild dog demon, its heart destroyed, would now gradually slow down and cease moving after about half an hour.

Those who were already dead would now truly die.

The man, who had exchanged a tender glance with the woman called Sonmae, soon looked around.

Throughout the dense jungle, eight comrades were fighting other Gan-gwi in pairs of two.

Confirming none of his companions appeared particularly endangered, the man smiled again at the woman and said.

“Looks like we finished first, huh?”

“I suppose so.”

While keeping an eye on the battle to rush to help if any of their comrades were in danger, the two enjoyed a brief respite in the midst of combat, their hands slipping together.

They had begun their relationship a year ago. For the unmanned soldiers on the front lines, living in isolation from the world and constantly facing death, a relationship with another person was almost the only remaining human act and form of recreation.

Of course, there was the ironclad rule that it must never interfere with combat.

“Did the squad leader go hunt intermediate-level ghosts?”

“Yes, there were about two that were immune to sword energy.”

The man, who had been watching his comrades’ battle intently, flashed a subtle smile toward the woman.

“I hope the squad leader comes back soon. So we can be alone together.”

Just as the woman gave a shy, soft smile at his words,

Something burst out from the nearby bushes.

“Kraha ha ha ha!”

But the man, who hadn’t let his guard down even while talking to the woman, shoved her aside and drew the dagger strapped to his thigh in a flash, swinging it.

“Haah!”

But the weapon of the attacker who had pounced was coated in a crimson glow.

Clang!

It was Qi energy.

The deformed sickle, coated in hardened steel, sliced the dagger clean in half and embedded itself. The man’s expression changed instantly. He discarded the dagger, leaping backward as he shouted.

“Sonmae, run! It’s the Twin-Blade Seven-Fangs!”

But the woman had already been subdued by the monster who had attacked her from behind, who had approached unnoticed.

“Ah! My husband!”

The man’s gaze fixed on the woman, her vital points sealed and held captive, and he hesitated for a moment.

And that brief moment decided the man’s fate.

Thud!

“Gah!”

“Jeong-rang!”

The monster chasing from behind had driven his sickle into the man’s heart.

“Heh heh heh! How dare you turn your back on this old man and let your guard down?”

“Jung-rang!”

“Hehehehe! Is that child your beloved? Worry not. I’ll soon make you forget that worthless creature. Hehehehe!”

Seven monsters had gathered around the woman in an instant.

They were the Blood Sect’s demonic leaders, known as the Twin Scythe Seven Fiends.

They were seven middle-aged brothers wielding deformed double-bladed sickles, three of whom had reached the pinnacle, and four the highest echelon of martial prowess.

“Keeya, look at this bitch, Brother! My mouth is already watering.”

“See? Didn’t I tell you the girls of the Flying Dragon Pavilion were a feast?”

“But Brother, there’s a girl over there too. Are we just grabbing this one?”

One of them pointed, and they saw a woman who had spotted them firing a red signal flare into the air.

Whoosh!

Watching the signal spread red across the sky, Jimaek, the eldest of the Twin Swords and Seven Fiends, said.

“She fired a red signal flare, so the troublesome bastards will be swarming here soon… Still, let’s grab one more bitch.”

“As expected! That’s great, brother!”

“Second and third, follow me!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, brother!”

Immediately, three members of the Twin Swords Seven Fiends leaped toward the woman who had fired the signal flare.

Then, Ma Ye-gyeong, the deputy leader of the 13th Dragon Squadron, shouted to the other squad members.

“Cease fire! Form a defensive formation immediately!”

At her command, the squad members engaged with the Gangeui immediately broke off their attacks and converged in one spot, forming a circular formation.

Their movements were flawless and practiced.

But to the three peak masters of the Twin Blades Seven Fiends, it looked nothing but laughable.

“Khehehehe! Is that all you’ve got?!”

The eldest, Jimaek, unleashed the crimson aura symbolizing a peak master and charged toward them.

Mae Ye-gyeong, a top-tier martial artist, gritted her teeth and shouted.

“Hold on! The squad leader is coming!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The squad members blocked Jimaek’s attack with all their might.

But the blades of the soldiers, unable to withstand the energy, were being deeply gouged.

“We’re here too!”

“Khehehehe!”

Behind them, the two younger brothers of the Twin Blades Seven Fiends were closing in again. Though not as potent as their elder’s, a thin stream of martial energy was emanating from their sickles.

As the four squad members grimaced and gritted their teeth, a whistling sound suddenly echoed from somewhere.

“Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

A long whistle, sounding like a hawk’s cry—the symbol of Mayu Gyeom, the leader of the Four Swordsmen.

“The squad leader!”

“The squad leader’s here!”

The faces of the Sa Squad members brightened instantly. Simultaneously, a handsome young man flew in like a shooting star, accompanied by the long whistle.

“Damn! Jianchang Jianying’s here! What should we do, Brother?!”

The second-in-command asked the eldest, Jimaek, who snorted in response.

“He’s just one guy. I’ll handle him! You lot take care of these bastards!”

Shouting that, the eldest, Jimaek, lunged toward Mayugyeom.

“You little brat, die!”

“Haahhah!”

The two collided mid-air, their crimson and azure energy clashing to create dazzling sparks.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Bang! Bang!

Mayu-gyeom’s skill with the Pointed Blade was astonishing.

Despite being in his twenties, he showed no sign of yielding to Jimaek, the eldest of the infamous Twin Blades Seven Fiends.

And that wasn’t all that appeared.

The fourth brother of the Twin Blades Seven Fiends, who had been chasing after them belatedly, shouted.

“Big brother! There’s another one coming over there!”

From where he pointed, a woman was running at terrifying speed, as if flying through the trees.

Even from a distance, she was strikingly beautiful. The fourth brother shouted, almost screaming.

“That woman! It’s Tang Yueyun! Brother!”

Tang Ye-eun, the third squad leader of the Biyong Thirteen and known as the Tang Family Sword Master, was a renowned beauty throughout Yunnan Province.

The Fourth Brother’s eyes blazed fiercely at the sight of her.

And so did those of the First Brother, Ji Mak, who was fighting against the Spear-Wielding Sword Spirit, Mayu Gyeom.

In truth, the reason they had targeted the Dragon Thirteen so many times was to capture Dang Ye-eun.

Jima shouted while clashing with Mayu Gyeom.

“I’ll handle this bastard! You all go! Just capture that bitch and get the hell out of here!”

His brothers cheered and shouted in response.

“Yes, elder brother!”

Then, carrying only the one woman they had captured earlier over his shoulder, he began to dash toward the direction Dang Yeo-eun was running.