NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15
“Ugh… it’s exhausting…”
Hye-ryeong, who had collapsed on the ground, was gasping for breath.
Without thinking, as her chest moved up and down with her breathing, my eyes turned slightly to the side. For a former soldier, the scene was excessively stimulating.
Spending nearly two years on the battlefield with sweaty men, and then seeing something like this—it cracks your composure. That’s just how it goes.
So please, be a little more aware… phew.
It’s not like she’s wearing this flashy attire by choice, and there’s not much point in me saying something about it. And it’s not something she can easily change either. Still, I stared up at the sky and said,
“Get up. Resting on the ground isn’t good.”
My sanity…
“I know…”
The sound of her brushing off her clothes and standing up reached my ears. Only then did I shift my gaze forward…
“Hye-ryeong, fix your clothes.”
Oh dear, it’s a good thing she’s wrapped in bandages; otherwise, I would’ve been in a tight spot. As I averted my eyes again, the sound of fabric rustling echoed.
“Hehe, all fixed!”
“Alright then, let’s wrap things up at the training ground and head to eat.”
“Yes~”
Hye-ryeong seemed thrilled at the prospect of eating, humming a little tune as she went. From the perspective of a former modern-day person, it was a melody that one might only hear in classical dance. I let the tune pass through one ear while beginning to collect the wooden sword fragments scattered around the training ground.
If wooden sword fragments remain on the training ground floor, they could hurt people coming for practice, so it’s important to diligently clean it up. I gathered all the pieces and set them aside.
They’ll come and take it automatically if I leave it here, I think. Recalling what some servant had once mentioned, I turned around.
“Let’s go.”
“Humid weather really makes you sweat, so today’s meal…”
“…We should bathe first, though.”
Thinking about it, we couldn’t continue like this. I might be fine with just washing my face and hands, but Hye-ryeong… Hye-ryeong seemed to realize her current state, as she bashfully smiled.
“Hehe… I’ll go clean up quickly!”
“Come to my room after you’re done.”
Though I said this, even I wasn’t sure if it sounded right.
Unknowingly, I glanced at Hye-ryeong. She was still smiling brightly at me, as if she hadn’t noticed a thing.
Fortunately, she didn’t seem to suspect anything, so I felt somewhat at ease.
“See you later!”
“Sure, see you.”
We both turned around and walked towards our respective rooms.
After walking for a while, Hye-ryeong’s voice suddenly called out from behind.
“Uncle! Don’t say things like that carelessly!”
Her giggling voice faded into the distance.
“…”
…She’s obviously aware.
—
“I don’t know when the letter sent to Bright Light Branch of Martial Alliance will arrive.”
The Sect Leader of the Hainan Sword Sect, Im Ha Bong, muttered while glancing down at the village visible beyond the window.
His attempt to relieve some of his mounting frustration was in vain, as his tension didn’t ease at all.
After all, merely complaining wouldn’t make the Demonic Sect retreat from attacking the Hainan Sword Sect.
“Perhaps it should’ve arrived by now, shouldn’t it?”
The next Sect Leader, Ha-jin, offered an optimistic response to his leader’s grumbling. However, Im Ha Bong’s expression darkened.
“I’m unsure.”
‘If it reached them safely, that’d be great.’
“Yilsan is fast on his feet. Even if the Demonic Sect were to follow him, he can shake them off quickly.”
“He’s quick on his feet, that’s true.”
The Sect Leader faintly smiled at Ha-jin’s words. Then, as if nothing happened, he gazed out over the clean horizon, lost in thought.
‘To make us the first sacrificial offering in this war…’
The Hainan Sword Sect’s influence was the smallest among the Nine Sects and One Sect.
Their base was a small island, the Island of Hainan, where outsiders rarely came in or out. They lost students who were either killed or forced to quit due to frequent pirate attacks, and with such conditions, their numbers didn’t increase easily.
Thus, the Hainan Sword Sect was treated as a major sect but, in reality, was quite a subtle-sized faction.
Should even the larger sects that were two or three tiers higher fight the Demonic Sect directly, they would need to undergo a few years of isolation to recuperate from the damage. So, how will the Hainan Sword Sect fare?
‘It’s quite difficult.’
If things go wrong, the Hainan Sword Sect could end as ashes during his reign.
‘At least let the sign fall and not the entire sect.’
Though maintaining the sect is important, it’s not more valued than his disciple’s lives. He had already considered abandoning the sect to save his students in the worst-case scenario.
It’s better to lose the sign instead of losing both the sect and students, which could be called an acceptable loss. However, Hainan Island wasn’t home solely to the Sword Sect disciples. Hence, such options weren’t available.
‘I have to somehow stop this.’
The sect warriors and the Residents of Hainan Island… and…
“Phew. Is it right to involve Great Hero Wi in this matter?”
“Though he’s an outsider, he’s a remarkable martial artist.”
“That’s why I worry. We, who must stake our lives to protect our home, but should an outsider like Great Hero Wi be involved?”
He is, after all, an outsider. Just by repelling pirates, he had more than repaid his debt of gratitude. At the very least, he had already helped ensure the survival of the next Sect Leader.
“That’s true.”
A shadow of concern crossed Ha-jin’s face. Although he’d only heard stories, it was the first time he was seeing his usually confident master expressing weakness.
‘The Demonic Sect is truly a formidable force.’
“In that case, Ha-jin. If things fail…”
“Bring Great Hero Wi and Hye-ryeong and flee. Is that what you’re suggesting?”
Ha-jin frowned, guessing his master’s hidden intent. As someone who grew up on this island, the thought of fleeing was psychologically distressing. The same went for Hye-ryeong’s situation.
“Exactly.”
“Aren’t you being too protective of Hye-ryeong? The child knows as much as she should by now.”
“Still, isn’t she too delicate to send into this battlefield? Moreover, I promised my late younger brother that I would guard her with my life.”
‘It’s fine for me to die. But Hye-ryeong…’
Wasn’t she taken in as the youngest disciple for him to protect her close by? Even if the Hainan Sword Sect turned to ashes, he wanted at least to protect Hye-ryeong.
Since he’d been looking after her like a daughter from the time she was a child who hadn’t even begun to talk, this sense of paternal affection only fueled his determination.
“Understood.”
“Now that I feel a bit easier. Ha-jin, as we’re on an island, let’s use this advantage. There’s still hope for victory. Let’s focus on defense, making retreat our last resort.”
“We will win.”
Despite the lack of concrete evidence, those bold words gave their Sect Leader some comfort.
‘The decisive battle isn’t too far away.’
They didn’t know when their enemy would strike.
But through his gut feeling, Sect Leader Im Ha Bong was sure that the Demonic Sect would come soon to annihilate the Hainan Sword Sect.
‘There’s no option but to do our best.’
—
“…and therefore, they are thoroughly preparing.”
“The plan has gone awry.”
The leader of the Black Night Team, Geumcheon Gang, gazed into the distant horizon where the blurry outline of Hainan Island could just be seen, immersed in thought.
‘There was probably a mistake in hiring the pirates.’
He had entrusted the task to those pirates who claimed to be somewhat skilled. Those pirates promised to attack Hainan Island and return safely with the information. But they perished without escaping from the island.
‘Even though the down payment is a loss now, this isn’t the time to dwell on such issues.’
Their goal was the complete annihilation of the Hainan Sword Sect.
Even if the risk increased, they had to accomplish their mission.
That was the only reason the Black Night Team existed after all.
“Leader Geum.”
“Samho. Speak.”
“Will you proceed with the operation as planned?”
“Of course. Though it’s become more difficult… it’s not insurmountable. Haven’t we already considered this scenario?”
“However… not knowing the internal situation, wouldn’t it be better to postpone?”
One of his subordinates, known to be cautious, expressed slight concern. Gang frowned and pressed the issue.
“Samho! Once we’ve started, there’s no stopping midway. At least we have confirmed that the pirates devastated the western port. We must attack now to secure any chance of victory. If we give them time… we won’t make it back to Mount Tian. Understand?”
“I’ve been shortsighted.”
To patiently wait for the perfect moment is wise.
But ultimately, the Black Night Team had no choice but to fulfill their orders.
‘There said to be less than six hundred martial artists, including three-tiered martial artists, in the Hainan Sword Sect. Four hundred elite Black Night Team members should be sufficient to face them.’
Are they not the Black Night Team trained by the Heavenly Demon Sect to specifically counter the Hainan Thirty-six Swords and their techniques—like the destruction form, water combat method, and Hidden Form Technique?
They were created to destroy the sect. A basic advantage definitely lies on their side.
“The Sect Leader, Im Ha Bong, will be countered with sword formations and toxins.”
“Announce to all members. Now is the time for us to reveal ourselves to the world.”
“Understood!”
Samho’s voice reverberated across the cliffside.
Gang observed the scene before him and raised his head to gaze at the sky.
‘The days of living with pent-up hatred are over. Now… a new heaven will open.’
The declaration of the Heavenly Demon Sect, long suppressed, began to ride the sea breeze toward the Hainan Sword Sect.