Chapter 177 Formation of the Blood Sect Expeditionary Force – Part 2

Chapter 177: Formation of the Blood Sect Expeditionary Force – Part 2

Seolpung, Biseoyoung, Yayunhyang, and Dakam had arrived at the meeting place long ago and were waiting for Seonwoojin.

But as the appointed time passed without Sun Woo-jin showing up, Ya Yun-hyang suddenly spoke up.

“He’s late.”

Bi Sa-yeong chuckled softly in response.

“When Jin is late, there’s always a good reason.”

After staring at Bi Sa-yeong for a moment, Ya Un-hyang spoke again.

“I’ve never seen you trust someone else like that before, Master.”

Biseyang shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“Well, it’s only natural. I bet you’ll feel the same way after rolling around with that guy a few times.”

Seolpung, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly interjected.

He had regained his composure after deciding to storm the Blood Sect and hearing Seon Woo-jin’s plan.

And that was a trait shared by all workers on the front lines.

Having lost countless comrades, they vowed revenge but did not dwell on sorrow for long.

They knew full well that the true way to honor the dead was not to wallow in sorrow, but to live the rest of their lives more joyfully—to live for them as well. That was the wise thing to do.

So despite the death of the Sword Saint and the abduction of their comrades, they had now regained their original cheerful atmosphere.

Moreover, knowing their comrades were still alive and that a chance to rescue them remained, they couldn’t help but feel even more energetic than usual.

Seolpung smiled faintly as he spoke to Biseoyoung and Yayunhyang.

“I’ve gotten quite used to that title now. You two look like proper brother and sister to me now, don’t you?”

At his words, Yawunxiang smiled faintly with her characteristic languid gaze, and Biyang also gave an awkward smile.

***

It had been about a week since Ya Yunxiang had come to find Bi Saying.

Just before that, the two had sparred, and in that sparring match, Bi Sayeong had defeated Ya Yunxiang with a technique as swift as the wind.

Then, finding Bi Sa-yeong drinking water, Ya Yun-hyang blurted out without preamble:

‘I thought I was pretty confident in my divine techniques, but you’re simply impossible to handle. Looks like I’ll have to learn some of those divine techniques to beat you.’

Her unexpected remark made Bi Sa-yeong blink in surprise.

“…Huh?”

Then she stated bluntly.

‘The Heavenly Wind Divine Technique. Teach it to me too.’

Bisaeng couldn’t help but spit out the water he was drinking at that absurd request.

‘Pfft!’

Bisaeng was utterly dumbfounded.

He had, of course, passed down the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique to Seon Woo-jin, Bae Jong-gwan, and Cheon Ju-eun.

But weren’t they already friends he could trust with his life?

But for Youn-hyang—someone I’d only just met, who was hardly sociable and with whom I’d barely exchanged a word—to make such a request of me.

It was utterly absurd.

Bisa Yeong asked her with a look of utter bewilderment.

‘Did you perhaps entrust it to me? Why on earth should I teach you the most precious secret technique of our Biyong Sect?’

Ya Yunxiang replied with her characteristic languid expression.

‘Isn’t it good for everyone when I grow stronger? The stronger my comrades become, the safer we all will be.’

“Hmph!”

Biseyeong let out a hollow laugh.

Of course, what he said was true.

But if that meant we had to teach each other everything we knew, then shouldn’t all the techniques on the front lines be shared?

He now retorted, his expression suddenly hardening.

‘What kind of nonsense is that…!’

But Yawunhyang wasn’t finished.

In a languid tone, yet with a serious gaze, she said to Bi Sa-yeong:

‘I’m not just asking you to teach me. If you teach me the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique, I’ll become a disciple of the Flying Sect too.’

Biseyoung, who had been about to scream at those words, paused for a moment.

“…What?”

Then, with a rare seriousness in her eyes, Yawunxiang looked straight at him and repeated her words.

‘I will become a disciple of the Biyong Sect. From now on, I will tell everyone that Yawunxiang of the Blood Pledge Sect is a disciple of the Biyong Sect. And I swear I will do my utmost for the revival of the Biyong Sect.’

It was something he never could have imagined hearing.

Speechless, Bi Sa-yeong couldn’t find the words for a moment, his mouth just opening and closing.

That Ya Yunxiang wants to become a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect?

And she’ll strive for the revival of the Biyong Sect?

That proposal was something Biseaeng truly never could have imagined.

He had already taught the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique to Seon Woo-jin, Bae Jong-gwan, and Cheon Ju-eun, but he hadn’t even expected that much from them.

Yet, unexpectedly, she was declaring she would become a true disciple of the Biyong Sect…

But after a moment of flustered surprise, Bi Sa-yeong frowned again and said.

‘Does that even make sense? You must have your own master, young lady! How could you join the Biseong Sect without your master’s permission…?!’

Yet, even to that, Yawunxiang answered without hesitation.

‘I have no master, Sir. What I’ve mastered is the art of household martial arts, and my parents passed away long ago. So whichever sect I join is entirely up to me.’

At that, Bi Sa-yeong was once again at a loss for words.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally managed to speak again.

‘Ah, even so, to join our Biyong Sect with such a lighthearted attitude is a bit…’

But Yawunxiang’s gaze, which always seemed languid, now appeared anything but lighthearted.

She spoke with a piercing gaze.

‘This is no light matter. I consider the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique the supreme divine technique, and I believe it is the martial skill absolutely necessary for me to ascend to the next level. And I have already heard about the situation at the Secret Sect. So, if you accept me as a disciple of the Secret Sect this time, I too will do my utmost to rebuild the main sect.’

At those words, Bi Sayeong’s heart sank.

The main sect… you say?

Biseaeng, whose spirit had already been slightly crushed by the claim that the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique was the supreme divine technique, could no longer hold on when she heard the word ‘canonical text’ pass her lips, and her heart completely collapsed.

To call the Secret Sect the main text…

It was beyond what she could bear.

Come to think of it, it made sense.

After all, to revive the Bi Sect, recruiting outstanding talents was necessary.

And if she, who had earned the title ‘Blood Master’ in the martial world, was sincere, wouldn’t that be the ultimate recruitment?

Bisa Yeong had recently received news that his last master had passed away.

So now, as the senior disciple who had become the most senior elder of the non-clan members, there was absolutely no reason to refuse this matter.

And while he still didn’t know much about her, at least from what he’d observed so far, she seemed like a unique person, but not someone who would lightly break her word, right?

Therefore, this was something worth considering positively.

For these reasons, having roughly made up his mind, Bi Sa-yeong cleared his throat and spoke to her once more.

Hmm, hmm. Well, if you insist that much, I suppose I could accept you into the Biyong Sect. After all, as the senior disciple and the sect’s most senior elder, I am certainly in a position to do so. But! If Young Lady Ya joins our Flying Sword Sect, you must be prepared to sacrifice your life for the sect! Furthermore, you must treat me, the sect’s eldest senior, with the utmost respect as your senior brother! Can you truly do that, Young Lady Ya?”

At that, Ya Yunxiang slowly, yet without hesitation, knelt down on the spot.

Then she addressed Bi Sayeong.

‘Sister Ya Yunxiang greets the senior brother.’

That sight left a deep impression on Biseyoung’s mind.

Her actions, without any hesitation.

The peculiar allure radiating from the beautiful woman.

Bisaeng found himself involuntarily swallowing hard.

His face was inexplicably flushed.

***

A moment later, Seon Woo-jin arrived with Hong Hae-ah and Jung Chil.

At that, Biseoyoung’s expression suddenly twisted in annoyance as he shouted.

“You bastard! Can’t you walk any faster?!”

Seon Woo-jin laughed and replied.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I was busy recruiting another reliable backup. You’ve been waiting a long time, Team Leader? Sorry to you too, Young Master. Dakam, I’m sorry too.”

“Reliable backup?”

At Seonwoojin’s words, Biseaeyoung frowned slightly and looked at Hong Hae-a Jeungchil.

After all, Zeng Chil’s slight build didn’t exactly scream “reliable.”

Zeng Chi immediately scowled and shouted at him.

“When a junior sees a senior, shouldn’t you bow respectfully first?! Where do you think you are, glaring like that?! Is that how your sect teaches respect for seniors?!”

At those words, Biseyoung instantly realized her mistake.

He realized he had committed an act of rudeness without even knowing it.

But to apologize readily felt like overreacting to Jeong Chil’s words.

Moreover, bringing up the matter of the sect was definitely crossing the line.

What’s more, the recently recruited disciple was watching right beside him.

Having recently become the sect’s most senior elder after the last remaining senior disciple passed away, he couldn’t possibly show himself apologizing meekly to someone who had insulted the sect’s founder.

Bi Sayeong glared and shouted back.

“How the hell should I know if that old geezer is a senior or not?! You want to be treated like a senior, yet you go and insult a junior’s family name out of nowhere?!”

At those words, Jeong Chil also realized his mistake.

Throughout his life, Jeong Chil had often faced dismissive glances based solely on his appearance.

That’s why he’d reacted so strongly to Bi Sa-yeong’s expression this time—he himself realized mentioning the sect was going too far.

But he was not the type to apologize just because he was wrong.

He snorted derisively and shouted again.

“What’s the point of mentioning your sect?! I guarantee you, even if your master stood before me, he wouldn’t have uttered a peep! If you don’t believe me, ask your master who Hong Hae-a Jeungchil is!”

At that, Bi Sa-yeong’s expression twisted completely.

He clenched his teeth and replied.

“…Our master is deceased.”

At that, Zengchi was taken aback.

Even someone as reckless as Zengchi couldn’t push things that far when told his master was dead.

He retorted with a flustered look.

“…What? What?”

“Didn’t you hear me?! Our master has passed away!”

Then Jeong-chil spoke again in a subdued voice.

“Then… then even the Four Hundred or the Four Disciples…”

“They’re all gone! Both the fourth master and the fourth disciple! Even the last remaining fourth disciple passed away not long ago! I am the highest-ranking elder left in our sect! Is that satisfying now?!”

“No, that…”

Zengchi’s momentum was now completely shattered.

To think that such a young man, without a single elder left in the sect, was managing to run the entire school… Where on earth had such a pitiful creature been living?

No matter how reckless Jeong Chil was, he didn’t have the heart to bully someone like that.

Then Jeong Chil, unable to find anything else to say, glanced at Seon Woo-jin as if seeking help.

Seonwoo Jin sighed inwardly and stepped in to mediate between them.

“Now, now. This gentleman is Senior Hong Hae-ah, Zeng Qil. He’s a famed, peerless master who retired about ten years ago. He surely didn’t mean to insult your sect, the Flying Sword Sect, with those words. Calm down, Sayoung.”

“Hmph!”

But Sa-young snorted in disdain, turning away from him as if she had no intention of calming down.

Upon hearing that he was a disciple of the Feather Sect, Jeong Chil recalled what kind of place it was and spoke up to placate him in his own way.

“Oh! So you’re a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect? I’ve heard plenty of rumors about that sect possessing outstanding divine techniques!”

Up to that point, it seemed like a perfectly decent attempt.

After all, Bi Sayeong, his mood slightly lifted by the praise of his sect, glanced at Zeng Qil.

But Zengchi didn’t stop there.

“Alright, fine! Since you say the elders of the sect aren’t here, I’ll make an exception and teach you some divine techniques! This is your chance to learn from this Hong Hae-a, the venerable elder! How does that sound?!”

It was clear he meant it as an apology in his own way.

But upon hearing those words, Bi Sayeong could only let out a hollow laugh, his face utterly dumbfounded.

“Ha!”

Seon Woo-jin, standing beside him, also closed his eyes tightly.

His expression seemed to scream, Why on earth did you say that?

Zhengchi, who had extended an olive branch in response to that unexpected reaction, was now utterly offended.

“What, what is this, you brat?! That look just now?! How dare you make such a face when this venerable Hong Hae-ah Jeong Chil himself is offering to personally instruct you in the divine arts!”

Biseoyoung retorted with a sly grin.

“You say you’ll teach me divine techniques? Do you even have the skill for that, Senior?”

“What, what?! You insolent brat?!”

Seonwoojin, standing nearby, shook his head in disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Biseoyoung taunted Jeongchil with a mocking expression.

“Very well. Then how about we have a duel of divine arts? If I lose, I’ll kneel obediently and receive your teachings. But if Senior No loses… Yes! If Senior No loses, he becomes my master’s younger brother. From now on, I’ll call him ‘Master No.’ What do you say?”

Not demanding he become his younger brother was already generous enough for Bi Sa-yeong, but Jeong Chil couldn’t possibly appreciate that consideration.

He erupted like a volcano, bellowing.

“You bastard! I’ll make you kneel before me this instant! A man’s word is his bond!”

“Of course, it’s a matter of honor.”

“Alright! Let’s do it right now! What should we do?!”

“How about we head over to that big tree you can see way over there, take a shot, and then come right back here? What do you say?”

“Whatever it is, I don’t care! Let’s do it now!”

The two men now stared at Seonwoo Jin with eyes blazing fiercely.

It seemed they were signaling him to start.

Seonwoo Jin suddenly felt a deep wave of fatigue wash over him. But he raised his right hand and said.

“Alright, when I count to three and lower this arm, that’s your start. One, two, three!”

In that instant, the two vanished like two streaks of lightning.

Crack!

Crack!

True to their specialty in divine arts, their speed was so swift they appeared only as two streaks of light.

And after a mere instant, the two returned to their original positions in the blink of an eye.

And surprisingly, the first one to return was Biseyoung.

“Arrived!”

Bisaeng shouted as he passed by Seonwoojin.

Then, a split second later, Jeong Chil shouted.

“That’s cheating!”

At that, Biseaeng flared up.

“What are you talking about?! A foul?!”

“You bastard, didn’t your hand miss that tree?!”

“What? What did you say?! That’s utter nonsense! I clearly just brushed against it!”

“No! No! I saw it clearly! He pretended to touch it lightly but didn’t actually touch it!”

“You damn old fool?! You lost the bet and now you’re pulling this nonsense?!”

“Hmph! I saw it clearly! So let’s do it again fairly!”

“I clearly won! Why do you want to do it again?!”

“Because you clearly didn’t win, that’s why we’re doing it again!”

Seon Woo-jin let out a deep sigh.

“Haahhh…”

Seolpung also looked at Seonwoojin with an extremely weary expression.

It seemed to imply, “When can we leave?”

But Seon Woo-jin merely shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

This was the state of the first Blood Sect expeditionary force formed since the Great Blood War over a decade ago. It was nothing short of disheartening.