Chapter 51 Dispatch-1

Chapter 51: Dispatch-1

The next day at dawn, our team members quickly departed from the Thirteenth Division. Our destination lay northwest, where the Twelfth Division was stationed.

The team members moved at a blistering pace.

Even Cheon Ju-eun, who had the lowest cultivation base, had surpassed the initial stage of cultivation, and divine techniques were practically our team’s specialty.

In terms of divine techniques alone, we might have been one of the top teams on the entire front line.

Running through the trees for about an hour, as if training at dawn, we soon caught sight of the Twelfth Division’s camp.

And there, he received word from the Twelfth Division waiting for him to head toward Xunwei in Yunnan Province.

The Twelve Commanders had apparently pursued the Giant Demon Horse all the way north to Xunwei, the northeastern tip of Yunnan Province.

Darting swiftly through the treetops, Lady Tian Zhu Yin asked.

“Can we really capture the Giant Demon?! They say it’s a monster with over ninety years of cultivation?!”

Having cultivated for over ninety years meant he was now standing at the threshold of the hundred-year barrier, the pinnacle of mastery.

Even Feng Yang Dazhu, the official supreme master of the Thirteenth Generation, and Zhao Zhang of the Han Sect hadn’t yet surpassed the eighty-year barrier, so it was only natural that Lady Tian Zhu Yin was worried.

But Biseyeong replied with a cheerful laugh.

“Don’t worry, Miss Cheon! We have Squad Leader Seolpung, who even fought against the Bloodthirsty Demon General Jigwangok, a true monster of the highest order! Moreover, the most outstanding squads from the three divisions will gather to launch a combined attack, so we should be able to capture him easily!”

As Lady Cheon Ju-eun’s face brightened slightly at his words, Bae Jong-gwan also spoke in a booming voice.

“Absolutely no need to worry, Young Lady Tian! Even without a squad leader, this Bae Jong-gwan will stake my life to protect your safety!”

Why must the shame be ours…?

To actually say something like that with a straight face—he really was something else.

We cleared our throats and turned away from him, while Princess Cheonju-eun gave an awkward smile and replied.

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Bae Gongja.”

I caught a glimpse of Lady 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 heart?

I didn’t know much about women either, but at least that didn’t seem right.

I felt sorry for the guy.

I suppose I’d have to risk my very life to catch Lady Cheon’s attention, but it didn’t seem like this mission would offer such an opportunity.

Of course, that was partly because, as Biseaeng had said, there was a squad leader who could even exchange blows with the Bloodthirsty Demon Army.

But even so, it was only natural that if actual combat broke out, no one could predict what unexpected situations might arise.

A sufficiently dangerous situation could easily arise.

But…

‘I already know the outcome.’

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

That we would ultimately fail to pursue the giant beast to the end and turn back.

So I was actually thinking of this mission as a picnic.

After riding for several more hours, we arrived at Xunwei, located near the border between Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

And at the entrance to Xunyi, we also discovered that the Twelfth Patriarch of the Twelve Great Masters, Zeng Yue Da Ke, Wan Zhong Yin, was waiting for us, accompanied by one squad.

He was a middle-aged warrior who appeared extremely rigid, with a stern gaze and a stubbornly closed mouth. His intense hatred for the followers of the Way of the Sword and the Way of the Demon earned him the nickname “Demon-Hating Warrior.”

“It is the Thirteenth Division, Seventh Squad Leader Seolpung and six others. Are you the Twelfth Lord of the Ten Thousand Clans?”

Sellpung, the squad leader, asked respectfully with a smile.

He then scanned us with a sharp gaze and retorted.

“Seventh Squad? Seolpung? Not the Blue Wind Sword Dragon of the First Squad or the Piercing Spear Sword Dragon of the Second Squad? And why only seven members?”

His tone was sharp and accusatory from the very first word.

I hadn’t expected hospitality, but it was an unexpectedly sharp reaction.

Slightly flustered, Squad Leader Seolpung replied.

“Lord Pungyang, the Great Lord Pung, judged us to be the most suitable for this task. And while we are only seven in number, we are all martial artists who have surpassed the realm of first-rate. There is no need for concern.”

Objectively speaking, a team composed entirely of martial artists above the first-rate level was quite astonishing.

But apparently, it wasn’t surprising to the Twelfth Lord of the Ten Thousand Clans.

He asked that without mentioning it at all, still glaring with displeasure.

“I’ve never heard the name Seolpung. Where is your sect?”

It was an extremely rude response, but the squad leader tried to brush it off with a gentle smile once more.

“I trained in the Gajeon martial arts. I cannot elaborate further. My apologies.”

Man Jong-im glared at Jo Jang and asked again.

“You can’t say? Surely it’s not because you’re some worthless scum from the heretical sect?”

Captain Seolpung, and indeed all of us, now looked at him with utterly bewildered expressions.

It was rare for Sapa warriors to serve on the front lines, but it wasn’t unheard of.

Take our squad, for instance—wasn’t the squad leader and Lady Cheon Ju-eun both from the Sapa?

But to insult someone like that out of the blue?

The squad leader answered curtly with a stern expression.

“We are not from the orthodox faction.”

At that, Man Jong-im’s face twisted, and he soon shouted in an angry voice.

“What?! Pungyang—he dared send me a bunch of lowly scum from the heretical sect?! For this crucial mission?!”

It seemed this mission was doomed from the start.

To have to work alongside such a narrow-minded and rude man.

Her head shook violently.

Biseyeong suddenly muttered.

“They say you only know it was spring after the flowers have fallen. Only now do I realize that Lord Pung was a celestial maiden.”

It was true, but even without comparing her to Lady Feng, it was deeply unpleasant.

Just as I was about to tell the squad leader we should turn back, feeling offended that he had to endure humiliation over a mission we couldn’t even pursue anyway,

Suddenly, ten men were running toward us like the wind from the opposite direction we had come.

“Team Leader Je Won-young of Team Eleven, along with nine other team members, has just arrived! Looks like we’re the last ones here! Sorry about that! Hahaha!”

He was a man with a sturdy build and a booming voice.

And he was also a man whose name I had already heard.

Zhenchang Sword Saint Zhe Yuanying was a renowned martial artist, ranked second only to Zhenchang Sword Dragon Sijunyi among the disciples of the Zhenchang Sect.

Then, surprisingly, a satisfied smile unlike any I had seen before spread across the face of the Twelfth Patriarch, Man Jong-im, upon seeing him.

“Oh! Sword Saint of the Spear! As expected of Grand Master Yun! You sent us a proper talent!”

At Man Jong-im’s blunt words, we couldn’t help but laugh hollowly once more.

So it seems they wanted to say we weren’t proper talent.

“Welcome! You must have had a rough journey getting here!”

Man Jong-im welcomed Je Won-young with hospitality we’d never experienced before, greeting him warmly.

Je Won-yeong laughed heartily as he greeted Man Jong-im, then looked over at us.

“And these gentlemen… Could it be you’re from the Thirteenth Generation?”

Man Jong-im immediately frowned and addressed us.

“Yes. I requested an urgent dispatch, and this is the best they could send…”

But Man Jong-im couldn’t finish his sentence.

Je Won-yeong had turned to address Sergeant Seolpung with a look of surprise.

“Are you by any chance the leader of the Seventh Division of the Thirteenth Regiment?”

There was no trace of malice in his tone.

No, rather than malice, an inexplicable goodwill was strongly felt.

The squad leader nodded with a puzzled look.

“That’s correct.”

Then he burst into hearty laughter and rushed toward the squad leader.

“Wahahaha! At last we meet! I heard about you through Saguil’s letters! A warrior even more outstanding than the Blue Wind Sword Dragon, Han Gyoseong, had joined the Thirteenth Division—how curious I was! I was so curious I even considered transferring to the Thirteenth Division myself! If it weren’t for that bastard Mayu Gyeom, I truly would have transferred! Wahahahaha!”

He must have been quite close to Squad Leader Sagunil, exchanging letters with him.

It was somewhat surprising that the taciturn Squad Leader Sagunil had a friend he communicated with through letters, and that this friend was someone with such a different disposition.

He was a man with a very good impression, manly in demeanor yet not at all arrogant.

It even reminded him of the late Third Squad Deputy Leader Myeong Sahyeon, who had passed away not long ago.

He continued speaking with eyes full of admiration.

I’ve heard all about how you earned the nickname “Whirlwind Dragon” this time! To strike fearlessly against a formidable force like the Black Pavilion—I was truly impressed! I even regretted not having befriended Brother Seol earlier! I’d hoped when I heard envoys were coming from the Thirteenth Sect this time, and now this Je Won-yeong finally gets his wish! Hahahaha! Ah, might Young Masters Sun Woo-jin, the Heaven-Defying Black Wolf, and Bi Sa-yeong, the Whirlwind-Swift Thunder, also be here?”

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

After we awkwardly revealed our identities, he greeted me and Biseyoung with a cheerful smile, chatting animatedly before turning back to Manjong and apologizing.

“Ah, my apologies, Your Highness. I’ve always admired you so much that my excitement got the better of me. I beg your forgiveness.”

At his polite apology, Manjong-im nodded and glanced at us.

Somehow, his expression seemed troubled.

Guessing roughly what he was feeling, I chuckled softly and said to the squad leader.

“Team Leader, since the Twelfth Patriarch doesn’t seem particularly fond of us, shouldn’t we return now?”

Bisa-yeong also chuckled in agreement.

“You’re right, Captain. What use are we worthless scum like us? Wouldn’t turning back be the best way to help the Twelfth Lord?”

Je Won-young looked puzzled and asked.

“What do you mean? Even at a glance, it seems all the squad members except Squad Leader Seolpung have already surpassed the first-rate realm. Why would the Twelve Great Lords not favor you? And ‘scoundrels’? What on earth does that mean?”

As he stared back with eyes full of suspicion, Man Jong-im cleared his throat and replied.

Hmm, hmm. Seems there was a misunderstanding. Ordering a return in such an urgent situation? That’s impossible.

Then he hurriedly began explaining the situation.

We exchanged a wry smile and decided to let it slide for now.

Three days ago, the mighty warrior Jue Yong-won led nine subordinates on patrol and slaughtered the members of the Twelfth Division’s Fifth Squad, kidnapping two female squad members. We sounded the emergency alarm and rushed in pursuit, but their trail was hard to follow. So we split into teams to chase them separately. Then this team, sweeping the northeast direction, fell victim too. We only learned of it at evening. This team was also wiped out entirely, with only one female guard missing.”

If that was true, it meant that two groups of twelve, about twenty people, had been wiped out overnight.

His heightened nerves were somewhat understandable.

Je Won-young let out a low groan and asked.

“Not a single survivor?”

Man Jong-im sighed deeply and replied.

“Barely one managed to survive. But with one arm and one leg severed, it’ll be difficult for him to live as a warrior from now on.”

We fell silent, our expressions filled with sorrow.

With two squads wiped out, we could easily imagine the mood at the Twelve Generations without needing to ask.

Manjong-im continued with a burning gaze.

“I absolutely cannot let those bastards live. I intend to capture them and take revenge. So lend me your strength.”

Suddenly, Lady Cheongyeon asked.

“If there are survivors, we should have a grasp of the enemy’s strength, right?”

Man Jong-im answered with a heavy expression.

“If what he said is true, besides the mighty demon Jue Yong-won, there were three peak-level demons and seven top-tier elite demons.”

“!”

“!”

His words left us utterly stunned.

Not only did they possess a colossal force cultivated over ninety years, but they also had three peak masters and even seven top-tier experts.

That level of strength alone was enough to wipe out most small to medium-sized sects cleanly.

Perhaps it was fortunate that only two groups were annihilated, rather than two entire groups being wiped out.

As we murmured in disbelief, the Twelve Great Masters spoke with a look of fury.

“Of course, the enemy’s strength is formidable. But as righteous martial artists, I trust none of us would hesitate to sacrifice our lives to eliminate the Blood Sect’s demonic leader.”

At his words, we exchanged glances for a moment.

Even though he’d just said he wasn’t a faction member.

With every word he spoke, he couldn’t help but make people lose their fondness for him.

Suddenly, I felt an urge to ask if he could just leave since he wasn’t a righteous martial artist.

And it seemed Biseaeng was actually going to do just that.

“Then…!”

Before Bi Sa-yeong could finish his sentence, the squad leader stepped in and answered for him.

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

Je Won-yeong nodded as well, and Man Jong-im burst into a delighted smile.

“Hahahaha! That’s just like the members of the Flying Dragon Corps! Any proper martial artist of a righteous sect would naturally…!”

Just as he was about to say something else, Lady Cheongyeon cut him off with a question.

“So where are they? Did they enter the Heavenly Realm? Are you still tracking their trail?”

It couldn’t have been a more timely intervention.

It was Lady Cheongyeon, after all.

Man Jong-im frowned, clearly displeased that his words had been cut off.

But perhaps because the matter was urgent, he cleared his throat and answered first.

“Hmm, hmm. We followed their trail and arrived at the mountain pass yesterday. But right at the entrance here, the trail vanished without a trace. Judging by the direction, they must have gone deeper into the pass. We tried asking around, but strangely enough, we couldn’t find anyone who had seen them inside.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Cheongyeon spoke coldly.

“So you mean you let them slip away.”

At that, he flared up and shouted.

“It wasn’t so much that I missed them as that I took a moment to regroup! After all, I’d have to wait to join up with you lot anyway! Where else would they go?! They’d still be within the fortress walls, wouldn’t they?! Then we just need to search every nook and cranny from now on!”

But Young Master Qingyan asked again in his usual cold voice.

“What about the probability they’ve already slipped off toward Guizhou or Sichuan? Is there any reason you’re so certain they didn’t? Why do you only assume they went inside the fort?”

At Lady Qingyan’s question, Man Jong-im finally looked flustered. It seemed he hadn’t considered that possibility at all.

“What?! Does that even make sense?! If the Demon Lord entered Guizhou Province, there’s no way it wouldn’t have caused a stir! The Demon Lord has been notorious since the last Blood War—there’s no way there wouldn’t be any rumors about his movements…!”

“How could there be no rumors if the Demon Lord entered the capital? Especially since it’s close to the front lines, where information about the Blood Cult’s demons should be far more abundant than in other regions?”

“W-well…”

Finally, when Manjong-im couldn’t answer, Young Master Qingyan let out a small sigh and shook his head.

Though she couldn’t quite put it into words, her expression clearly conveyed utter disappointment.

Then, before Manjong-im could shout something with her face flushed red and blue, she asked him first.

“Have you made contact with Hao Moon?”

“How dare you…! Wha—what? Hao Gate?”

“Yes, Hao Gate. If they entered the inner sanctum, wouldn’t the Hao Gate branch there know about it?”

“Hao Gate? How could I possibly know their branch? The Hao Gate branch is something only Hao Gate disciples can know…”

Then, Miss Qingyan cut him off and said firmly.

“Then let’s start there.”

Without hesitation, she began to walk.

Our team members followed her, stifling their laughter, and behind them, Je Won-young led his own team members in pursuit.

Then he drew close behind me and whispered,

“Is that young lady perhaps from Hao Wen?”

When I shook my head with a laugh, he whistled in admiration.

“Wow, she’s quite the young lady.”

Glancing back, I saw Man Jong-im, flushed even redder than before, finally leading the Twelve Division members in pursuit.