Chapter v13c17

The team was finally assembled.

Namgung Sang and Jin-ryeong were there by default, their only crime being present at the wrong place at the wrong time. Next to them was Noh Hak, dragged along out of necessity. Yoon Jun-ho was also there, his knowledge of the local geography proving invaluable. He seemed to have summoned a surprising amount of courage, considering his usual timid nature.

But the most surprising addition was Yeomdo. The burly, middle-aged man with fiery red hair stood among them, his expression a mixture of reluctance and disbelief.

When Bi Ryu-yeon had suddenly brought Yeomdo to the group, everyone wondered if he had lost his mind. They assumed their plan was doomed.

They were even more baffled when Bi Ryu-yeon explained the situation and claimed that Yeomdo had readily agreed to help. That sour expression couldn’t possibly belong to someone willing to cooperate. Yet, surprisingly, Yeomdo had indeed expressed his willingness to join them. It was understandable that they initially thought it was a joke.

“What time is it?”

“Between 7 and 8 PM.”

Namgung Sang answered Bi Ryu-yeon’s question.

The others couldn’t understand why Namgung Sang was speaking so respectfully to Bi Ryu-yeon, his junior. Jin-ryeong was also using formal language with him. There was definitely a hidden connection between them, a truth that was perhaps better left unknown.

“Hmm, between 7 and 8 PM…”

They had less than six hours left. Time was running out. But Bi Ryu-yeon remained calm.

“Alright! We’ll be back before sunrise!”

He spoke as if they were going for a leisurely stroll. Han Ro wondered if he understood the gravity of the situation.

“Can you move?”

“Of course!”

Han Ro answered Bi Ryu-yeon’s question without hesitation.

“You should rest, old man.”

“I’m fine!”

He protested, but his words lacked conviction as blood continued to drip from his wounds.

The old man’s stubbornness was reckless.

“If That’s what you say!”

Bi Ryu-yeon moved swiftly.

His fingers struck Han Ro’s acupoints.

“W-What…?”

Han Ro collapsed before he could finish his sentence. Namgung Sang quickly caught him and laid him down on the ground.

“I don’t like carrying baggage.”

Bi Ryu-yeon said coldly.

**8 PM, An Open Space on Heavenly Martial Peak, Mount Hua**

There were two paths on Heavenly Martial Peak. One was the path they had taken, passing through the three trials. The other was a wider path, built for transporting goods, guarded by patrols from the Mount Hua Sect and the various alliances. It was impossible to sneak past them.

They had no choice but to find a path used by animals. It was secluded, but treacherous.

‘Can we make it in time using such a path?’

The same question lingered in everyone’s minds.

The woman was there by chance, as always. She was simply working harder than others during their break.

Exceptional beauty, a perfect figure, and outstanding martial arts skills.

But she wasn’t arrogant. Of course, her efforts were hidden from the public eye.

She was perfect, a woman who had everything, but she never boasted. She knew that there were countless people in the world who were more skilled than her.

That night was no different.

But there was an encounter that night, an encounter that would change her destiny.

She loved the vibrant colors of flames, so she often wore red. Her body was always draped in crimson silk, like a phoenix.

Her passion for the sword was boundless. And her swordsmanship was said to be the best among the younger generation of the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion. Even Eun Seol-ran, the Flower Amidst Evil, the strongest of the Four Flowers, was no match for her in terms of pure skill.

The Crimson Sword Maiden, Seok Ryu-ha!

That’s what people called her.

She was flattered by the title, but it didn’t inflate her ego.

She was that kind of woman.

It must have been a coincidence that she was on Bi Ryu-yeon’s descent path.

“Who’s there!”

A clear voice rang out, followed by the clang of a sword being drawn and the flapping of a red robe. Bi Ryu-yeon and his companions stopped in their tracks.

‘Oh no!’

It was an unexpected encounter, a sudden variable that could disrupt their plans.

[What should we do?]

Yeomdo sent a message through sound transmission.

“You are…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Bi Ryu-yeon gave a short signal.

Strike first!

Speed was key in such situations. Yeomdo moved like a whirlwind.

He was incredibly fast.

Seok Ryu-ha had never considered her swordsmanship to be the best in the world. The martial world was vast, and there were countless hidden masters. She knew that there were many people with superior skills. But she was confident that she wouldn’t be easily defeated. Her swordsmanship wasn’t the strongest, but it wasn’t ordinary either. It was extraordinary. And she was always prepared.

She was always ready, like a sharp sword waiting to be drawn from its scabbard!

But she was wrong.

‘Who are they?’

She recognized them. She had seen them entering Red Plum Valley the previous day. She couldn’t remember their names, but she recognized a few faces. Mo Yong-hwi, the Seven Absolute Swords. He was a famous figure in the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion. She had only heard rumors about him, but she had seen him in person the previous day.

And Na Yerin, the Ice Beauty! She could sense the men’s gazes, drawn to her like moths to a flame. There was already a strange tension surrounding her among the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion disciples.

In fact, there was a secret group of Na Yerin admirers within the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion. They were mostly those who had interacted with the Cheonmu Academy disciples on rare occasions. She had heard that the group had grown quite large recently. And she was envious of Na Yerin’s status as the Sword Empress’s disciple. She couldn’t help but feel jealous. Yi Ok-sang, the Sword Empress, was her idol.

And lastly, the most memorable figure.

Gwak Yeong-hui, the Flame Saber!

Gwan Cheol-su, the Ice Sword, one of the Five Great Swordsmen, and Gwak Yeong-hui, the Flame Saber, one of the Five Great Saber Masters, were famous figures, regardless of their faction. She couldn’t help but notice them.

As a swordswoman, she was naturally drawn to the Ice Sword, but the Flame Saber was too unique to ignore.

Crimson flames, crimson hair, crimson clothes!

They looked like father and daughter, judging from their clothes alone. Of course, their faces would reveal the truth, but they were both dressed in eye-catching crimson silk. It was an understandable mistake.

Her first impression of the Flame Saber was that he didn’t seem that strong. He was a stark contrast to the Ice Sword, who was sharp and intimidating.

And then the Flame Saber, who didn’t seem that strong, suddenly blurred before her eyes. She reacted too late.

She only sensed his movement again when he was three steps away from her.

She swung her sword, trying to block his path. But he was faster. He was already inside her guard before her sword could intercept him. You can’t cut someone who’s too far away, but you also can’t cut someone who’s too close.

‘Oh no!’

But she didn’t give up. She drew a dagger from behind her back with her left hand and slashed upwards. The red blade flashed, cutting through the air.

Clang!

But Yeomdo blocked her attack effortlessly, as if he had anticipated it. Her left fist was caught in his strong grip.

“Sorry!”

He struck her acupoints with lightning speed. Her body stiffened, and her sword, which had been pointed at him, fell to the ground.

He caught the falling sword with his left hand and tossed it towards her scabbard.

Shing!

The sword slid into its scabbard perfectly. He did the same with her dagger.

Target neutralized!

It was a clean, efficient move.

Her acupoints were sealed, so she couldn’t speak, only blink her eyes.

Anger, confusion, disbelief.

She was too shocked to think straight.

“Ugh…”

Yeomdo frowned. He was holding a beautiful woman in his arms, but he wasn’t happy about it.

He had neutralized her, but the aftermath was a problem. If she complained later, he would be in trouble.

“What should I do? Should we just leave her here?”

He asked, unsure of what to do.

“How can you be so cruel?”

Bi Ryu-yeon glared at him, his tone reproachful.

“Do you know how cold it is in the mountains at night? My master always said that you shouldn’t leave a beautiful woman out in the cold!”

He sounded like he wouldn’t tolerate such cruelty.

“Then…?”

“We’ll carry her!”

Seok Ryu-ha’s eyes widened. Bi Ryu-yeon added,

“Besides, if we take her with us, she becomes an accomplice. Shared guilt has a way of silencing people.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

He didn’t bother adding, “And it’ll make it harder for her to complain.”

But that wasn’t the only problem. Another problem had followed them unnoticed.

It happened while everyone was focused on Seok Ryu-ha. Yi Jin-seol suddenly realized that someone was standing behind her. At first, she thought it was one of her companions. But then she froze. She could see everyone in the group.

Bi Ryu-yeon, Sister Yerin, Sister Dokgo, Namgung Gong-ja, Sister Jin-ryeong, Master Yeomdo, Noh Hak, Mo Yong Gong-ja, Jang Hong, Yoon Jun-ho, and herself, Yi Jin-seol. She counted them all, and no one was missing. A chill ran down her spine.

‘Eek! A-A ghost?’

She shuddered, goosebumps erupting on her skin.

She was still a young girl. And most girls didn’t like ghosts. They feared them, avoided them, and loathed them. Yi Jin-seol was no different. And she couldn’t deny that their current location was perfect for a ghost sighting. She suddenly felt a strong urge to pee.

‘B-Be brave, Jin-seol!’

She encouraged herself. But she couldn’t bring herself to turn around. It wasn’t her imagination. She could feel a heavy presence looming behind her.

Her tongue felt heavy, her words stuck in her throat. It was a fear that transcended martial arts. She needed more courage to call out to her companions.

“E-Excuse me…”

Her teeth chattered. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

But a few people heard her and looked at her. They saw her pale face, her body trembling, her forehead covered in cold sweat. Their eyes were filled with question marks.

“S-Something’s b-behind me…”

She stammered.

Their gazes shifted slightly. And then they saw it.

Their eyes widened.

Wild, black hair fluttering in the cold mountain wind. Flowing robes. The shadow, standing there like a ghost, was Hyo-ryong.

“H-How did you get here?”

Yi Jin-seol exclaimed, finally turning around, her voice filled with confusion.

They couldn’t take him with them in his current state, not even Bi Ryu-yeon, with his boundless recklessness. So they had left him behind at the lodgings. They thought he would be sleeping. But they were wrong.

He had followed them, unconsciously. And what was even more surprising was that no one had noticed him until now. Of course, they had been distracted by Seok Ryu-ha.

‘Does the body remember martial arts even when the mind is unconscious?’

It was an interesting phenomenon. But the important thing was that they now had another burden to carry.

“What should we do?”

Yi Jin-seol asked, her voice filled with panic.

“It’s too late to turn back!”

Jang Hong said. And even if they took him back, there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t follow them again. They had no choice but to carry this burden with them. They didn’t even have time to argue.

“He followed us this far, so I’m sure he can keep up.”

Bi Ryu-yeon made a decision.

“Let’s take him with us!”

And so began their nighttime mountain trek.