Ch.153Desolate wind

‘This single-edged blade would be useful for subduing someone.’

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!”

“We’re truly grateful!”

The two travelers kept expressing their gratitude to Seo-rin for saving them. They tried to offer monetary compensation by emptying their pockets, but Seo-rin refused. She shifted her gaze toward the group that had joined them belatedly.

“They don’t appear to be reincarnators. They seem to have simply received martial arts training…”

This was something she often encountered during her work with Cheong-ik. Reincarnators would spread their martial arts knowledge to build their forces. Since internal energy cultivation methods involved storing natural energy within one’s body, when a group practiced these methods, the natural environment in the area would rapidly deteriorate, quickly alerting Cheong-ik to their presence.

“What should we do? Interrogate them here?”

“Hmm…”

Seo-rin looked down at the bandits who had collapsed unconscious in response to Theo’s question. In normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have hesitated to proceed with interrogation. However, they needed to return quickly now.

‘If only the vice-captain were well…’

She couldn’t predict how many more days it would take to resolve another problem. Additionally, not knowing the reincarnator’s abilities, she couldn’t recklessly divide their group.

In the end, Seo-rin decided to take only one prisoner.

“We’ll take just one with us. For the rest, we’ll sever their tendons and meridians.”

It was an order from the temporary leader. The Cheong-ik members carried out immediate judgment. They drew their swords to cut the bandits’ tendons and destroyed their dantians, which had been strengthened through internal energy cultivation.

“Arghh…!”

“Aaaagh!”

The bandits who had just regained consciousness screamed in agony. The pain of having tendons severed and dantians destroyed while fully conscious was excruciating. Those who fainted immediately were the fortunate ones.

Seo-rin selected the lightest-looking person among them, tied him up tightly with rope, and loaded him onto a horse like baggage. The bandit, who had passed out from extreme pain, hung limply.

“Let’s move out.”

Seo-rin pulled the reins after mounting her horse. The Cheong-ik group then crossed the border.

While riding along the imperial road, Seo-rin came across peculiar information. Recently, an incredibly effective mana cultivation method was being distributed at very cheap prices.

According to rumors, it was said to be even more powerful than the mana cultivation methods used by noble families.

Later that evening, Seo-rin found a common campsite frequently used by travelers for comfortable sleep. The campsite beside the imperial road was bustling with travelers, making it a place bandits wouldn’t dare to target.

At this campsite, Seo-rin was able to obtain the rumored mana cultivation method. It was easily acquired by giving a few coins to a peddler carrying goods on his back.

“This is…”

It was a crude booklet made of stiff new paper bound together. However, the content inside was genuine. The problem was that it wasn’t a mana cultivation method but an internal energy cultivation technique.

Seo-rin immediately showed the booklet to all Cheong-ik members. Theo and Flora frowned as they realized the gravity of the situation.

“This is being distributed?”

“It’s already out there. You said you got it for just a few coins?”

“Then the merchant who sold this…”

“I already asked.”

Seo-rin shook her head. She had inquired about the source when purchasing it. The merchant said he had bought it at a lower price from a trading company he met beyond the border.

Within the Empire, no one would dare lie to someone representing Cheong-ik.

“Then that guy we brought with us… is he useless now?”

At Theo’s words, Seo-rin’s gaze turned to the bandit crumpled on the cold ground. Having regained consciousness, he flinched when he became the center of attention.

“Perhaps…”

***

The long journey finally ended. Seo-rin was able to lead Cheong-ik back to headquarters. Upon her return, she had to spend busy days immediately. As the temporary leader, she had to personally write the report representing the subjugation team.

‘Vice-Captain Sephiroth… surely he wasn’t aiming for this.’

That couldn’t be possible. Seo-rin shook her head while busily moving her pen.

The Cheong-ik headquarters, which she returned to after quite some time, was unusually quiet. It wasn’t strange for the headquarters to be quiet. Since they were always short-staffed, members frequently went out on missions.

However, this time it was exceptionally quiet. There weren’t even ten members waiting at headquarters. Normally, there should have been at least three times that number, but everyone had gone out on missions.

The unusual quietness of Cheong-ik headquarters was due to the internal energy cultivation methods that had recently begun circulating. The imperial response was swift. They immediately issued an order to all citizens to recall the internal energy methods being distributed in the empire and prohibited their practice.

But it was a meaningless action. The names of the internal energy methods kept changing as they were distributed secretly, and uneducated commoners couldn’t distinguish between internal energy cultivation and mana cultivation methods.

Instead, they saw it as an opportunity for advancement. The easiest way for a commoner to obtain noble status was to join a knightly order. It was a natural progression that the number of people practicing internal energy cultivation methods increased rapidly throughout the empire.

New missions were assigned to some members of the subjugation team who had just returned. These were missions to solve domestic problems rather than foreign ones. Although the mission periods were short, everyone knew:

When they returned after resolving these issues, more missions would be waiting.

Seo-rin, Theo, and Flora were also assigned a new mission. This one was somewhat unusual. Instead of hunting reincarnators, they were to escort and protect the transport of a special item.

***

A week had passed since Seo-rin, Theo, and Flora returned from their mission. The three had to immediately gather supplies and set out on a new mission.

“I was planning to take some leave, why are we so busy?”

“I know. It seems like things have gotten too busy lately. Not just for us. For everyone.”

“I think it’s a ploy by those Union people. The timing is just right, isn’t it? They’re doing this to avoid our attention…”

Theo and Flora continued grumbling as they headed to the post station. As Flora mentioned, it wasn’t just Cheong-ik that was busy. Other knightly orders were also frequently leaving the capital on horseback for various reasons.

“By the way, did anyone get details about this mission? They said we’re transporting some item.”

“I didn’t hear anything, did you?”

Theo asked, and Flora answered. The only one who hadn’t responded was Seo-rin. The two stared at her.

“I don’t know either.”

“Really?”

“That’s strange.”

Seo-rin hadn’t heard any specific details either. She was only told they would be escorting the transport of some item.

“Well, let’s finish quickly and take some leave.”

“Where are you planning to go?”

“I’m thinking of visiting my hometown. I feel it’s about time to see my master…”

As Theo mounted his horse, he subtly glanced at Seo-rin. He hadn’t forgotten the promise they made when joining. Seo-rin had promised to visit his master together with him.

Seo-rin smiled lightly as she caught Theo’s gaze. She didn’t understand before, but now she knew what her promise meant and what Theo was expecting.

‘Someone like Theo…’

He was a good enough man to entrust her sister to after she left. She wasn’t sure how her sister felt, but that was at least Seo-rin’s opinion.

“After this mission. If I have time, I’ll take leave with you.”

“What? Really?”

“Flora should come too. Let’s travel together, the three of us.”

Theo, who had been jumping with joy at Seo-rin’s words, visibly deflated at her follow-up. Seeing his expression, both Seo-rin and Flora laughed simultaneously.

“Let’s go.”

The horses carrying the three sped away from the post station, following the imperial road.

***

The place where the three arrived was the entrance to the Forest of Life, the elven domain. Having been there once before, Seo-rin sat down with her two companions on a large rock nearby.

“So if we wait here, the forest keepers will come to greet us?”

“They’ll be out soon. They’re sensitive enough to have noticed our arrival.”

“Wow… the forest is enormous. Seeing the endless flow of mana, there must be a vast space inside.”

After the three exchanged light conversation for a while, a gentle breeze blew, and the large tree at the forest entrance swayed softly. The elven forest keepers revealed themselves.

More had come out than during her previous visit, suggesting they had strengthened security after the incident. Seo-rin stood up and waved.

The elven forest keepers also recognized Seo-rin. She was a benefactor who had helped them. They couldn’t forget. The forest keepers descended with the wind and approached the three.

“It’s been a while, Lady Seo-rin.”

“Indeed, it has.”

“I am Theo of Cheong-ik.”

“Flora of Cheong-ik.”

When Theo and Flora showed their Cheong-ik badges, the forest keepers nodded. They didn’t invite the three into the forest. Instead, after exchanging signals a few times, a small carriage and five hooded elves on horseback approached from within the forest.

All of them wore hoods and were elven warriors skilled with swords and arrows. Seo-rin could gauge their abilities through the aura they emitted.

‘Quite impressive…’

It was excessive force just to escort a single carriage. This indicated how special the item inside the carriage must be.

There was no further conversation. They simply nodded to each other, and the three people joined the five elves to escort the carriage out of the Forest of Life.

Their destination was the Karma Empire once again.