Chapter 29: Ill Fate and Fated Ties (4)

They buried Cheong-hae’s master. Everyone sat around the bonfire in silence. The image of Cheong-hae sobbing in front of his master’s grave was still vivid in their minds.

Their gazes were fixed on the wild boar roasting over the fire. As the meat began to cook, Il-gwang swallowed hard. The delicious aroma of the roasting meat was enough to drive them mad. Having eaten nothing all day, their hunger was severe.

So-so broke the quiet, turning to Cheong-hae. “Uncle Cheong-hae, are you okay?”

Cheong-hae’s eyes were swollen from crying, but a gentle smile touched his face.

“Yes. Thank you for comforting me, So-so.”

So-so leaned her head against Cheong-hae’s shoulder, then looked over at Il-gwang. Sensing her gaze, the giant squinted at her.

“What is it?”

“I’m hungry~.”

“Right. The butcher’s work is always my job,” Il-gwang grunted.

He grabbed the roasted wild boar and began ripping the meat apart with his bare hands, looking like a wild bandit. The meat was scalding hot, but to a martial artist with internal energy, such heat was a minor inconvenience.

Juice glistened on the succulent meat of the wild boar leg. It was roasted to perfection, making everyone’s mouth water. Il-gwang wrapped a strip of clean bark around the bone and handed it to So-so.

“Here! Eat until your stomach explodes!”

“Hehe. Thank you, Uncle Il-gwang!”

It was impossible not to smile at her bright face and dimples. Il-gwang tore off the remaining portions and handed them to the others. Hyeon-jeong stood to the side, looking awkward and hesitant.

“Your name is Hyeon-jeong, right? Here, have some, Junior Brother!”

Surprised to have a roasted leg pushed into his hands, Hyeon-jeong let out a dry laugh. Before he knew it, he had been designated as Il-gwang’s younger brother. Although they hadn’t compared ages, the giant did look slightly older than him.

“T-Thank you.”

“Why are you speaking so formally to your older brother?”

“T-Thank you, Big Brother.”

In the past, Hyeon-jeong would have chosen death over such humiliation. But things were different now. His pride had already evaporated at the Hwayang Inn in Hanzhong.

Hyeon-jeong began tearing into the meat hungrily. His appetite was surprisingly fierce. The others paused, watching him in silence.

Realizing they were staring, Hyeon-jeong flushed with embarrassment, his mouth still full.

“A-Apologies. I haven’t eaten a single bite in two days…”

It was understandable. He had spent the last two days running for his life through the mountains of Mount Hua; it would have been stranger if he weren’t starving.

“Senior Brother, where will you go now?” Cheong-hae asked.

Hyeon-jeong swallowed his food before replying. “I do not know. Now that the main sect has been destroyed, the secular disciples will likely disband. I have no desire to join the other disciples at the Martial Alliance.”

The Mount Hua Sect disciples stationed at the Martial Alliance were notoriously arrogant. Just as Hyeon-jeong had once looked down on Cheong-hae, those elite disciples had always treated Hyeon-jeong like garbage.

Feeling a twinge of sympathy for him, So-mu spoke up.

“If you have nowhere else to go, you can join us. We are only common soldiers, but it is enough to make a decent living.”

Hyeon-jeong hesitated briefly, but his decision was quick. Although their relationship had started on bad terms, fate worked in mysterious ways. He had no home left, and these men had saved his life.

“May I truly join you?”

Il-gwang slapped his back, nearly knocking the wind out of him. “Of course! From now on, just trust your big brother. Don’t go getting yourself beaten up again.”

“Yes…” Hyeon-jeong mumbled.

Though they would need General Jang-yang’s formal approval, a warrior who could manifest sword qi was a valuable asset that would be welcomed with open arms.

And so, their eventful day drew to a close.

***

The five days of leave passed in the blink of an eye.

As So-mu had predicted, General Jang-yang welcomed Hyeon-jeong’s addition to the unit with enthusiasm. An expert capable of manifesting sword qi was a crucial addition to their military strength.

However, there was one detail Jang-yang still remained unaware of: the other members of the Wolf Fang Squad were also mastering the manifestation of sword qi one by one.

Inside the Wolf Fang Squad’s barracks, Hyeon-jeong sat quietly in a corner, still feeling out of place. Whenever Cheong-hae spoke to him, he looked deeply grateful.

Perhaps finding his awkwardness pitiable, So-so waddled over and squatted down right in front of him.

“Uncle Hyeon-jeong!”

“Yes?”

“Eat this.”

She held out a single dumpling in her tiny hand.

It was a cold, slightly squished dumpling. She had likely received it from someone while wandering around the camp and kept it as a secret snack.

“T-Thank you…”

Hyeon-jeong took a bite, fighting back the sudden warmth that rushed to his eyes.

So-so watched him eat, her large eyes wide with curiosity. For some reason, a wave of sorrow washed over him.

He was being pitied by a child. He had never imagined he would find himself in such a position.

“Uncle Hyeon-jeong, are you crying?”

“N-No… It’s just very delicious.”

Eating the dumpling in silence, Hyeon-jeong wished to give her something in return. But he had nothing to his name. He was a penniless refugee who had fled his sect like a dog.

Then, he remembered something. He reached into his personal belongings chest and pulled out a small booklet.

“Here, So-so. I want you to have this.”

It was a manual.

One Hundred and Eight Styles of the Gale-Force Sword.

It was the ultimate swift sword technique of the Mount Hua Sect, designed specifically for women. Composed of one hundred and eight forms, it was named for its tempestuous speed.

In terms of raw martial value, it was a treasure that ranked among the best of the Mount Hua Sect. Martial artists throughout the jianghu would gladly risk their lives to obtain it. It was a ridiculously valuable return gift for a single dumpling.

Yet, Hyeon-jeong felt no hesitation or regret.

‘It is a useless book to me now.’

Taking the booklet, So-so threw her arms around his neck.

“Hehe. Thank you, Uncle Hyeon-jeong!”

She had no idea what the book was; she was simply happy to receive a gift.

Opening the booklet, she saw illustrations of a figure performing various sword stances, accompanied by columns of text she couldn’t comprehend. Recognizing it as a martial manual, she tilted her head in confusion.

She scurried over to her father, who was sitting cross-legged, and climbed onto his lap. She pressed the manual into his hands.

“Father! What is this?”

“Hmm… Let me see.”

Curious, So-mu began turning the pages.

‘A brilliant sword technique. It is perfect for So-so. However, because it focuses entirely on speed, its effectiveness would be halved against a master who has achieved true enlightenment. Still, if I introduce a few variations, it will become a technique with very few rivals.’

After analyzing the manual for about a quarter of an hour, he spoke softly.

“Since Uncle Hyeon-jeong gave it to you, shall we try learning it?”

“Yes!”

So-so cheered, thrilled at the prospect of learning a new technique.

Following her father to the training ground, they spotted Il-gwang. Although there was no scheduled training today, he was practicing alone, throwing powerful punches into the empty air. He was practicing the Mountain-Cleaving Fist he had taken from the assassin.

“Uncle Il-gwang, what are you doing?”

“Ah, So-so! I’m practicing my ultimate secret technique. Impressive, isn’t it?”

Every time Il-gwang threw a punch, a sharp crack like a bolt of lightning echoed through the air. He had never taken to swordplay, but this fist technique suited his constitution perfectly. His desire to practice burned fiercely. Although it would take time to master, even his basic forms carried enough destructive power to shatter boulders.

So-so’s enthusiasm for martial arts was no less than his.

“Whoa! Your hands make a noise! Teach me later, Uncle!”

“Of course!”

Leaving the giant to his training, So-mu and his daughter walked to a quiet corner of the field.

“Sit down and watch for a moment.”

So-so squatted down, resting her chin on her hands as she watched him. So-mu held his sword over his shoulder and closed his eyes, visualizing the forms of the One Hundred and Eight Styles of the Gale-Force Sword. He began modifying the movements in his mind, introducing variations to refine the technique.

‘It was designed strictly for the physical limitations of women. A man attempting it would not only fail to manifest its true power, but would struggle to even replicate the movements.’

But such rules did not apply to a Sword Saint.

So-mu’s blade began to move. His movements were slow, allowing So-so to see every detail.

The blade rose from below, tracing a graceful curve before snapping into a straight thrust. Stepping forward with his left foot, his body tilted as he executed a series of swift strikes in every direction.

Pivoting on his right foot, his blade swept across the earth before slicing upward to cleave the sky.

His forms flowed seamlessly into one another. The hundred and eight forms connected in a display that looked less like combat and more like a beautiful sword dance, as if a heavenly maiden had descended to perform.

Then, his speed exploded. Having mapped the forms with his body, he began to execute them in earnest.

The terrifying aspect of the Gale-Force Sword was that its speed increased with every form. So-mu’s movements accelerated, his blade whipping through the air with a deafening screech. A breath later, his figure blurred, vanishing from sight. As his speed reached its peak, a howling wind erupted, kicking up a dust storm around him.

Having completed the forms, So-mu came to a halt, falling into thought.

‘Though it does not suit my personal style, its power is undeniable.’

His own signature art was the Talhon Sword Technique, a high-level style that required deep enlightenment. But the forms of the Gale-Force Sword were straightforward, and with his guidance, So-so would have no trouble mastering them.

So-so jumped to her feet, holding her blunt practice sword. The norigae So-mu had bought for her dangled from the pommel.

“I want to try too!”

To her, martial arts was a grand game. Seeing such a spectacular display had filled her with eagerness.

“Alright, follow my lead, So-so.”

Stepping back with his left foot, So-mu extended his sword forward. Facing him, So-so mirrored his stance.

“Yah!”

And so, their practice of the Gale-Force Sword began in earnest.