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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The heavy atmosphere in the room felt strange.
It was unusual. Lately, the mood had been pleasant, but whenever they gathered like this in the past, the air had always been thick with tension.
Someone once said that humans grow accustomed to happiness. The tranquil atmosphere of the past few days had sharpened into a blade, and Hongryeon felt an unsettling unease.
“There are forces targeting Hongseong Mun…”
It was Ryuhyeon who spoke, her voice low and grave. She nodded slowly, her expression serious, then glanced at Sayun.
It wasn’t that they hadn’t received such letters before.
Threats, enticements, or propositions. There were always those who sought to exploit them, to use the perceived vulnerability of Hongseongmun for their own gain.
But was this letter the same?
“The credibility of this letter…”
Sayun’s violet eyes, usually bright and clear, were clouded with worry. She remained silent, her lips tightly pressed together, but Hongryeon could read her unspoken words.
Trust.
Hongseongmun’s beloved youngest disciple trusted this letter, and the one who sent it.
And so did the Sword Saint.
“What are your thoughts?”
the Sword Saint was strong, but inexperienced in matters like this. That meant Hongryeon was usually the one who made the decisions.
And it seemed like this time would be no different.
Hongryeon reached for the letter, her gaze intense as she reread the words etched onto the paper.
Her heart, which had been dormant for so long,
Her heart, the heart of a warrior who wielded the Sunset Blade, the blade that brought down the sun, flickered back to life.
She set the letter down,
Then, pulling a leather cord from her pocket, she tied her hair back, her expression resolute.
“It’s difficult to dismiss this as a fabrication.”
Despite Hongryeon’s confirmation of the letter’s credibility, Sayun’s face remained clouded with worry.
It was understandable. If the letter was to be trusted, it meant there were those who were plotting against Hongseongmun.
To Sayun, Hongseongmun was her home, her family, the very source of her happiness.
It was only natural for her to be worried.
“The letters ‘Uncle’ sent us have always been well-intentioned. Considering that… it’s unlikely that he’s trying to manipulate us. And…”
This ‘Uncle,’ a figure unknown even to Hongryeon, possessed knowledge of a secret within Hongseongmun. And he had shared that knowledge with Sayun, without asking for anything in return.
Taking that into account, this letter had to be a genuine expression of concern for Sayun, for Hongseongmun.
“What if he’s using even that to his advantage?”
Ryuhyeon’s sharp question made Sayun grip her clothes tightly. But it was a question that needed to be asked.
the Sword Saint and Hongryeon didn’t fault Ryuhyeon for playing the devil’s advocate. They understood that her bluntness stemmed from a place of concern.
It was necessary to consider all possibilities.
“I haven’t met him personally, so I can’t be certain… but I believe that possibility is low,” Hongryeon said.
“I see.”
If Hongryeon had reached that conclusion, then that was that. Ryuhyeon nodded. Hongryeon tapped the letter lightly with her finger, then spoke.
“He says that the group targeting Hongseongmun is called the Iron Blood Clan. Master, have you ever heard of them?”
the Sword Saint shook her head. She had killed countless enemies during her time in the Murim.
But she had never encountered this Iron Blood Clan.
“Then let’s move on. If they attack, where would they strike?”
“Uncle mentioned it in the letter.”
“That’s not enough. If they’re not fools, they’ll simply choose a different route if we reinforce that location, wouldn’t they?”
As Hongryeon spoke, tapping the letter, Sayun raised her hand and pointed at the map hanging on the wall.
“I overheard something while on patrol. A large number of soldiers were dispatched to Seomhwachon village. They’re conducting training exercises and have established positions here, here, and here.”
The soldiers had blocked off the main road leading to Seomhwachon, the path leading up Mount Hongryeon, and a few other strategic locations, designating them as training grounds.
Hongryeon, who was hearing this for the first time, looked at Ryuhyeon for clarification.
“The magistrate received reinforcements after the Demonic Cult’s attack. Apparently, Innkeeper Yoo was instrumental in securing those reinforcements and ensuring their swift deployment.”
No one in their right mind would attempt to break through a line of soldiers.
They could, of course, choose to clash with the authorities, but that seemed unlikely. They wouldn’t want to risk attracting unnecessary attention while targeting Hongseongmun.
That narrowed down the potential attack routes considerably.
Hongryeon marked the map, then continued,
“That’s good news. Can we set up formations within the sect? We should at least prepare an illusion formation to counter a surprise attack. Do we have the necessary materials?”
“We can activate one for a short period.”
“There’s also the possibility of them utilizing the spirits residing in Mount Hongryeon,” the Sword Saint noted.
She was right. Mount Hongryeon was home to numerous spirits and entities, drawn to the strong spiritual energy emanating from the sect.
They could easily be manipulated, their loyalty easily bought.
They reviewed the letter, devised countermeasures, and analyzed the feasibility of each proposed strategy.
The meeting continued late into the night.
Finally, as they were wrapping up, Hongryeon sighed and asked,
“One last thing. What is the most important thing the Iron Blood Clan would need to eliminate?”
Hongryeon, Ryuhyeon, and Sayun…
All three turned their heads simultaneously, their gazes settling on the Sword Saint. The Sword Master smiled wryly, understanding their unspoken question.
Yes. The first obstacle the Iron Blood Clan would need to remove was her, the Sword Master.
So how could they achieve that?
“My disciples.”
Hongryeon’s words were short and to the point.
the Sword Saint was one of the strongest warriors in the world, easily within the top ten.
She might be lacking in other areas, but when it came to martial arts, she was unmatched.
She cherished Hongseongmun, and her disciples. Therefore, taking her disciples hostage would be an effective way to neutralize her.
It might even be the only way to defeat her.
“For now, everyone except for Hongryeon, Ryuhyeon, and Hyunhwi will remain within the sect. No exceptions.”
“Ugh…”
They couldn’t confine all their disciples to the sect.
Someone had to tend to the medicinal herb garden, gather the thousand-day plum blossoms for their incense pouches, collect wild herbs and fruits, and hunt for food.
But in their current situation, it was a necessary precaution.
Hongryeon looked at Ryuhyeon, who had let out a groan of protest. Ryuhyeon calmly explained the situation.
But to her surprise, Hongryeon’s face brightened.
“It seems like we can at least secure our food supply. Innkeeper Yoo offered us something.”
Hongryeon recounted her conversation with Yoo Wol.
He had mentioned receiving a new product from the Cheonghoe Merchant Group, a special type of food pill that could sustain a person for an extended period.
Ryuhyeon, ever the skeptic, was about to voice her concerns.
But Hongryeon shook her head, and Ryuhyeon chuckled wryly.
Even she had to admit, Innkeeper Yoo seemed like a genuinely good person, someone who wouldn’t betray them.
Even the Sword Saint treated him with respect.
So Ryuhyeon dismissed the possibility of him tampering with their food.
“Then maybe we can use this to lure them in.”
Hongryeon glanced at the last part of the letter.
Her ‘Uncle’ seemed to have anticipated this possibility. He had mentioned using the food pills to induce a state of vulnerability and launching a counterattack.
“Hmm, but would they even attack if we’re this well-prepared?”
The best time to strike was when your enemy was weak. And this wasn’t a sparring match; this was a life-or-death struggle.
“I’m not sure. But their goal, according to Uncle, is to destabilize the spiritual energy of Mount Hongryeon. They won’t give up so easily. And if they don’t attack… well, it’ll just be a false alarm.”
“Let’s hope for the best.”
But everyone in that room knew, deep down, that this was far from over.
.
.
.
Under the cold, pale moonlight, a middle-aged man with a hardened expression stood amidst a scene of carnage.
Bodies of monstrous creatures littered the ground, their forms twisted and grotesque.
He stood before a beast with an elongated snout and sharp, tiger-like fangs. It was the only one still alive, barely clinging to life.
The beast, a creature that hated all living things, a devourer of humans, trembled before the man, despite being much larger than him.
Its fear was understandable. It had witnessed its companions being torn apart, slaughtered by this man.
-Grrrr…
A low growl rumbled in its throat. Fight or flight. The beast, driven by primal instinct, charged, ignoring its fear.
-Swish!
A long, watery blade materialized in the man’s hand.
The beast was cleaved in two.
Blood and flesh splattered, staining the ground crimson.
The man, having eliminated all the monsters in the area, plunged his blade into the earth.
The blood and flesh of the slain beast, along with the remains of its companions, swirled around the blade, drawn towards it like metal filings to a magnet.
He held out a canteen as his watery blade, now stained a deep black, absorbed the last vestiges of life from the decaying flesh.
The blade flowed into the canteen, and he turned to the woman who had quietly approached him. She had a sharp, cunning face.
“Joyo, are you ready?”
“…Yes. Yang Sang Goon Ja, Goyumi is already in motion. She’ll poison Hongseongmun within a few days. Though I’m not sure she’s capable of…”
“She’s one of my best. Do you doubt my judgment?”
“Of course not. It’s just… they’ve reinforced Seomhwachon village with additional troops after that incident with the Demonic Cult. Perhaps we should delay…”
“Delay? Are you suggesting we entrust this to someone else? Or are you trying to steal the credit for yourself by involving her? Like you always do?”
The woman, Joyo, flinched at his accusatory tone, her shoulders trembling.
His distrust was palpable.
“Go Hwadang and Ju Kyungdae will arrive at the rendezvous point as planned. Did you receive their confirmation? Did they say they could make it on time?”
“Yes. They assured me there wouldn’t be any problems. And…”
She continued, voicing a series of doubts and concerns. The man, tired of her endless negativity, finally snapped.
This woman, forced upon him by his rival, had done nothing but obstruct and undermine him ever since she had arrived.
“Joyo. You always have something negative to say. If it wasn’t for the agreement I have with that bitch, I would have ripped your head off by now.”
“Eep!”
“Are your constant criticisms a reflection of your master, the Iron-Blooded Sovereign will?”
Sim Manyeo Joyo.
She had achieved notoriety by slaughtering hundreds of innocent civilians to fuel her martial arts training. But she could only cower before the man, the Iron-Blooded Chief, his voice laced with rage.
He had hit a nerve.
Her master, the Iron-Blooded Chief, desired his downfall, hoping that he would fail and be forced to submit. That was why she had been assigned to him, a thorn in his side.
The only reason she was still alive, despite him knowing her true intentions, was because of a secret agreement he had made with her master.
But if she pushed him too far, he would make good on his threat.
To survive, she had to submit, to grovel.
“No! Of course not! How could I possibly…! Everything you do is for the sake of the Iron Blood Clan. How could I ever…”
She bowed repeatedly, her forehead hitting the ground, begging for his forgiveness. She could feel his gaze on her, cold and disdainful.
But she couldn’t say anything. She could only beg for his mercy.
He turned away from her, his gaze settling on his loyal subordinates.
He raised a hand.
“We will crush Hongseongmun, unleash the power of the Spirit Mountain, and establish the Iron Blood Clan as the dominant force in the Murim.”
“Ooooooh!!”
Cheers and roars of approval echoed through the night.
Excitement, anticipation for the future.
the Iron-Blooded Chief ignored Joyo, who was biting her lip, her body trembling with suppressed rage.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Dozens of figures clad in black followed him.
Joyo scrambled to her feet, rushing to catch up.
And so…
The Iron Blood Clan began its march toward Mount Hongryeon,
Unaware of what awaited them.
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