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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Humanity has always lived by challenging. Fire was created to challenge darkness, clothes were made to challenge the cold.
To challenge the harshness of the outside world, humans built homes, and to combat the limitations of individual strength, they formed groups to face the world together.
Thus, humanity has always challenged and conquered.
And in that process, death, an unwanted reward, inevitably followed.
Therefore, for those who dared to challenge, a strong individual was a desired companion, and a master like Hongryeon was someone they couldn’t help but welcome with open arms.
Even if it was the Moonjeong Sect, their rivals.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Once again, Hongryeon proved herself. Blood-soaked Sonachals, Nachals, and even the Yaksha, who led them from the deepest part of the secret realm, all fell before her sword.
The girl with flowing black hair and a form-fitting outfit that accentuated her curves bowed her head to the woman with fiery red hair, wiping away the dark, viscous fluid.
To Hongryeon, the senior disciple of the Hongseong Sect, known in the martial world as the Sunset Sword.
“Don’t mention it.”
Hongryeon’s reply was indifferent. But her reaction wasn’t strange. After all, the raiding party that cleared this secret realm, the party she led, was none other than the Moonjeong Sect, the eternal rivals of the Hongseong Sect.
Moreover, it was Chae-ryeon, the daughter of the Sect Master who opposed her own master, the Sword Saint.
Even though she had been asked to join by the Moonjeong Sect, who promised rewards, she couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions.
“Didn’t the Moonjeong Sect have anyone else?”
“It felt a bit awkward to call my sister.”
Chae-ryeon shrugged and stuck out her tongue. Hearing her words, Hongryeon thought of Chae-jin, Chae-ryeon’s elder sister and the senior disciple of the Moonjeong Sect.
“…Tsk.”
And she shook her head. It was understandable. Whenever she was working at the Martial Alliance, Chae-jin would appear out of nowhere, demanding a spar, so there was no way she would feel good about it.
And it wasn’t like she could just agree to spar with her either. Despite her usually airheaded behavior, which made her wonder if Chae-jin was really the senior disciple of the Moonjeong Sect, the moment she held a sword, she transformed into a completely different martial artist.
Every time they sparred, Hongryeon was completely drained, so she had no desire to fight her pointlessly.
“Ahaha… my sister can be a bit much, right?”
“A martial artist should respect martial arts and possess a fighting spirit… but she’s a bit…”
“I understand.”
Chae-ryeon smiled and walked forward step by step. She retrieved the chest containing the secret realm’s rewards and opened it, revealing three items inside.
One was a strangely shaped root. A mix of blue and red, it emitted a pleasant aroma that tickled her nose.
Hongryeon knew that this was the Blue-Red Root, an elixir that slightly increased internal energy and greatly helped in purifying the body of impurities.
One was a fist-sized orb. An orb that emitted light on its own.
It was a Nightluminescent Pearl. An orb of this size would fetch at least ten gold coins.
And the last one was a mineral. It reflected the light of the Nightluminescent Pearl, emitting a dazzling glow.
It was Sky Iron, also known as meteoric iron.
If this Sky Iron was used to forge a weapon, it could create a weapon comparable to a special treasure.
All of these items were valuable treasures that would fetch at least ten gold coins if sold.
Chae-ryeon smiled and offered the chest.
“As promised, you can choose one.”
It was Chae-ryeon who researched the location of this secret realm, met the requirements to challenge it,
And sent several scouting parties to investigate the traps and trials within.
Hongryeon knew that Chae-ryeon was paying a heavy price just by offering her one of the rewards.
“Oh my? I thought you would choose the Nightluminescent Pearl.”
Hongryeon scoffed at her teasing smile. It was true that the Hongseong Sect was poorer compared to the Moonjeong Sect.
But that didn’t mean she had to choose money.
“I need to raise our youngest.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Chae-ryeon’s delicate eyebrows twitched slightly.
Taking care of the youngest.
It was an unimaginable concept in the Moonjeong Sect.
Of course, it wasn’t like the inner disciples of the Moonjeong Sect were on such bad terms that they would try to kill each other.
But they were all competing to become the next Sect Master, the successor to their father.
So, who would raise who?
They were all busy fending for themselves.
But the Hongseong Sect was different.
They weren’t blood-related, but they considered each other sisters and always looked out for one another.
From the perspective of the Moonjeong Sect, which valued competition, it might have seemed like child’s play, but she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy sometimes.
“I wish my sister was as calm and collected as Miss Hong. Thinking about how she’s been provoking strong martial artists for months, trying to complete the incomplete Heavenly Demon Divine Art from the Demonic Sect, I don’t know when our father might be attacked. Why can’t she just stay quietly at the Moonjeong Sect instead of running around at a time like this… Sigh.”
It seemed like she had a lot on her mind. Seeing her emotions pour out in her complaints, Hongryeon smiled, a smile charming enough to momentarily captivate even Chae-ryeon.
“I can’t imagine Moonlight Blade being so tame as to be confined.”
“Ahaha, right?”
Chae-ryeon chuckled and nodded, closing the chest. It was time to part ways now that their business was done.
“Are you heading back right away?”
“I should.”
Hongryeon put the Blue-Red Root wrapped in paper into her bag.
“My girls are waiting for me.”
“Okay. Good work. Here, I added a little extra.”
The clinking sound was pleasing to the ear. Hongryeon opened the money pouch Chae-ryeon gave her. Inside were two gold coins.
It was an additional reward she received in exchange for giving Chae-ryeon the horns and claws of the Yaksha she had defeated.
Honestly, it was a bit of a waste, but the Hongseong Sect currently lacked the resources and skills to process them.
It was a shame. If they could use them, they could make better equipment for her junior sisters.
Swallowing the bitter taste in her mouth, Hongryeon shook her head.
She shouldn’t dwell on what they didn’t have.
They had to live by utilizing what they did have.
“Then, let’s meet again next time.”
“Hehe, yes.”
After bidding farewell to Chae-ryeon, Hongryeon headed towards Seomhwa Village.
Encountering the Yaksha was unexpected, but it wasn’t a bad thing for Hongryeon.
After all, she earned an unexpected income from it.
With this, she could pay off the debt and even buy a new sword for her junior sisters.
So, on her way back, she stopped by a city not far from Seomhwa Village and purchased various items from the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild there.
A new sword, hidden weapons, sweet candies, erotic novels for Ryuhyeon, who would deny it vehemently but would secretly read them, and alcohol for her master.
And…
“…Did I buy this for nothing?”
Hongryeon shook her head. It wasn’t for nothing.
After all, Yu Wol’s help was crucial in allowing her to enter the secret realm this time. Thanks to his credit, she was able to focus on clearing the secret realm without having to take on other jobs.
Thinking of him, a strange tingling sensation spread through Hongryeon’s chest. Savoring that peculiar feeling that brought a smile to her face, she peeked inside her bag.
What was inside her bag was a smoking pipe.
A type of pipe for those who smoked tobacco.
It was designed by the Divine Doctor, who claimed that smoking tobacco with this pipe would be less harmful to the body.
Hongryeon recalled her previous encounter with Yu Wol. She had definitely smelled a faint scent of tobacco from him.
Bitter and slightly tickling her nose.
The scent of a mature man who had seen the world.
Just thinking about it made her chest tingle again.
“…I should visit the Martial Alliance soon.”
Considering the nature of the Hongseong Divine Art, which was influenced by emotions, it would be wise to prepare for such strange symptoms.
Although she would have to fulfill a request from the Martial Alliance to receive treatment and medicine from the Divine Doctor,
It would be worth it.
As she ran towards Seomhwa Village, lost in thought, she spotted something strange on the outskirts of the village.
What’s that?
There were men who didn’t seem like villagers of Seomhwa Village, emanating the stench of the battlefield.
She was drawn to them as if in a trance, watching them move towards a specific location.
And,
She overheard their conversation, carried by the wind.
“Who are we supposed to capture this time?”
“According to the client, the most important targets are the magistrate at the Seomhwa Village government office, that old village headman, and… a guy named Yu Wol. And if we have time, we’re supposed to wreak havoc in the village.”
“What are they going to do with them?”
“Who knows? I don’t know the details… but it’s not a bad deal, right? Especially that guy Yu Wol, they say he’s quite rich. Maybe we can get some scraps…”
“Hehehe, they say he’s loaded. How about we grab him and raid his inn? Hehe. Anyway, if we cause enough chaos there, the Hongseong Sect will be thrown into disarray…”
After hearing the dozens of men in black clothes plotting and snickering,
She grabbed her greatsword without hesitation.
They were enemies.
There was no need to show mercy.
The Ominous Star, slumbering within her dantian, surged through her meridians like a wild horse. As the overflowing destructive power settled within her,
-Crack!!
One of the men in black had his head crushed. The others, startled by the sudden appearance of the greatsword, looked around in shock, but…
The red Ominous Star had already descended upon them, ready to destroy everything.
Nothing remained intact in the wake of the destructive star.
All dead or on the verge of death.
Hongryeon approached a man whose arm had been completely severed.
“Gasp… H-help… M-monster… Monsteerr…!”
“Who are you? You mentioned being hired, right? Who ordered you to target Seomhwa Village and the Hongseong Sect?”
“Ugh… Ah… Ah…”
She placed her hand on his dantian, riddled with fear. Her internal energy, imbued with the Hongseong Divine Art, pierced through his dantian. As he foamed at the mouth from the excruciating pain, he finally managed to utter a single word.
“D-Demo…nic…”
The Demonic Sect.
A formidable enemy that sought to disrupt the empire.
Why was their name mentioned here? And why were they appearing in Seomhwa Village?
Hongryeon swung her greatsword, severing his head, and then ran swiftly.
Like a star falling to earth for judgment, she became a star.
Shattering everything in her path, she dashed straight into Seomhwa Village. The village was already in chaos.
Fortunately, she encountered someone who could explain the situation as soon as she entered the village.
Seeing her, kneeling and gasping for breath in front of two fallen men in black, Hongryeon shouted urgently,
“Lee Seo-jeong!!”
“Senior Sister…!! You’re here!! Quickly, go to the village headman’s house!! They’re being attacked…!”
“…I understand. But are you okay?”
“I’m fine! It’s nothing serious!”
“…Okay. Be careful.”
Hongryeon ruffled her hair and ran swiftly. On her way to the village headman’s house, she stopped in her tracks unconsciously.
“Oh?! Isn’t that Sunset Sword?!”
It was in front of the inn. The only inn in Seomhwa Village, located in the same building as the store.
Was it a coincidence that his face came to mind?
Just as Hongryeon was about to ask urgently, one of the waiters shouted,
“The owner went to the village headman’s house with Miss Sayoon!”
“…Thank you for telling me.”
Hongryeon nodded and tossed her bag to him. It contained gifts for her junior sisters. As soon as the waiter received it and nodded, she used Light Footwork.
Faster. I need to get there faster.
She spotted a few corpses along the way, but fortunately, they were just the men in black she had seen earlier.
There were no bodies of villagers or her junior sisters.
But that didn’t stop her heart from pounding in her chest.
The fury of the Ominous Star surged within her.
As the horrific emotions of anxiety and rage threatened to awaken the evil spirit within the Hongseong Divine Art,
She saw them.
The woman in black,
The wielder of the sinister demonic Qi,
The target of that demonic Qi’s gaze.
And,
The man with a stoic expression,
Stepping forward to protect her junior sisters, Sayoon and Yoohee.
The one who, despite lacking the internal energy of the trained disciples, was stepping forward simply because he was an adult.
The moment she saw that, Hongryeon swung her greatsword.
As the wielder of the demonic Qi tumbled to the ground from the impact, she grinned.
“I wondered what crazy bastards were lurking outside Seomhwa Village… I’m glad I finished them off quickly and came running.”
She meant it. If she had been even a moment later, her junior sisters might have been seriously injured.
…And, and…
She ignored the tingling sensation that urged her to follow him and smiled contentedly.
Then, she casually brushed back her hair, which had become sticky with the blood of the men she had slain, and tied it up.
“Innkeeper Yu, I hope I’m not too late.”
The mature man, emanating his unique, bitter scent of tobacco, smiled calmly.
“You’re right on time.”
That’s a relief.
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