Chapter 231: Battlefront (1)
The land lay filled with nothing but withered old trees upon spoiled earth.
The sky was clear without a cloud in sight, yet…
Along with the surrounding Qi, that sky felt grim and heavy.
…Damn it.
Bi Yeonsum, the sole surviving member of the Bi Yi Sect and its esteemed Young Lord, thought to himself.
He resented his fate, caught up in this mess of a situation.
Grrrr!
With a beastly roar, sharp claws lunged toward him.
Thud!!
Reacting quickly, Bi Yeonsum rolled on the ground, barely dodging the demon’s attack.
Although his body tumbled awkwardly, he managed to evade the strike.
Of course, the danger was far from over.
…Shit…!
He had been warned about the perils of the battlefront since childhood.
However, the reality was far more intense than he had imagined.
Green Demons were abundant, and even those rare Blue-Grade Demons were plentiful.
For some reason, even the mindless demons roamed in packs, which made things worse.
ROAAAAR!
A Blue-Grade Demon, resembling a tiger, let out a chilling howl.
Maybe it was this that attracted even more demons from afar.
…What should I do?
Gnashing his teeth, Bi Yeonsum surveyed his surroundings, but escaping from this open area was hardly an option.
How did it come to this?
Fuck…!
To save his collapsing sect, he had walked willingly into the Alliance half a year ago.
When he was assigned to the frontlines, Bi Yeonsum thought it was a decent spot for his age and talents.
The battlefront was a place where many from noble families visited according to the Alliance’s orders; he thought he could build some connections there.
However…
The reality of the frontlines was far worse than he’d ever expected.
Instead of allies, all he found was a land choked with rotting demons threatening to overrun the place.
If only I had known…
Regret came rushing in a bit too late.
If he had known how it would turn out…
He would have stayed in his sect, focusing on training instead.
Boom!
“Keugh!”
Bi Yeonsum stumbled backward, failing to properly fend off the demon’s attack.
If there had been just one or two, he could have blocked them easily.
But the sheer number of approaching demons was overwhelming.
Rolling on the ground again, he desperately scrambled to his feet.
Growl…
Already, the demon stood right before him, its breath foul, and drool dripping from its mouth.
The predatory gaze of the beast sent chills down his spine.
“This fucking…!”
At this moment of life and death…
Bi Yeonsum thought of his comrades from the Alliance who had abandoned him.
No way, screw that! Comrades? They were nothing but filthy trash!
How could they act like that with the proud title of the Orthodox Sects attached to them?
It’s my fault for trusting those bastards.
Or, at the very least, he should have listened to the initial caution.
He recalled the words of the man overseeing the martial artists when he first arrived at the front—
“Don’t go too deep. That’s not our territory.”
“It’s managed by ‘them.’”
If only he’d taken those warnings seriously back then.
Now, regrettably, that was all he could think about.
Ignoring the wisdom of his grandfather, who warned him that the outside world was dangerous and to not easily place trust in others, this was his greatest sin.
As the demon approached, Bi Yeonsum pondered these thoughts.
Just as the demon opened its mouth to consume his head, he shut his eyes tightly, overwhelmed by the putrid stench and sharp teeth.
Slash-!
Then came a brutal sound, and Bi Yeonsum sensed something wasn’t right.
Drip, drip…
“Ptui!”
An unknown liquid splattered across his face, making him cough uncontrollably as he rubbed his eyes to see.
“…!”
Staring in shock at the scene before him, Bi Yeonsum couldn’t help but drop his jaw.
All the demons that had surrounded him lay dead, their throats slit.
Even the one that had threatened to devour him now lay lifeless alongside the others.
W-What is this…?
As Bi Yeonsum began to look around in confusion…
Wooong…
A faint sound brushed past his ears.
It was a sound he recognized from his grandfather, the Lord of the Bi Yi Sect, during his lessons.
Sword Resonance.
It was proof that a swordsman had become one with their sword; a sign of remarkable skill.
Bi Yeonsum hastily turned towards the source of the sound.
There stood an unfamiliar young man, lowering his sword, looking straight at Bi Yeonsum.
His expression conveyed clear displeasure.
Amidst the corpses of the dismembered demons and the blood pooling beneath them…
The young man knelt, tidying up the scene, paying no mind to the dazed Bi Yeonsum.
He removed the valuable parts like fangs, claws, and eyeballs, casually piling them in one corner.
Left as they were, it was likely that someone from the Murim Alliance would show up to clean up the mess or that other demons would come to scavenge.
After hastily sorting things out, the young man began to head off, and Bi Yeonsum, limping, decided to follow.
The young man hadn’t told him to keep up, but Bi Yeonsum had no choice.
He couldn’t survive in this wretched place with his half-broken body.
The problem was…
“B-Brother…! Just a moment!”
Despite his frantic calls, the young man didn’t stop.
“Brother! Please, wait a second!”
Finally, after many attempts, he halted and turned to Bi Yeonsum.
“…!”
At last seeing the young man’s face, Bi Yeonsum had to swallow back his surprise.
…He’s handsome.
In his earlier haste, he hadn’t noticed, but the young guy was exceptionally good-looking.
Yet…
Why does he look familiar…?
His face felt oddly recognizable.
The young man, with his brow furrowed deeply, questioned Bi Yeonsum.
“Why are you following me?”
“That… um, if I remain here, I’m just going to end up dead…”
Hearing this pathetic excuse, the young man’s frown deepened even further.
“Aren’t you a member of the Alliance?”
“…Yes.”
The attire Bi Yeonsum wore was unmistakably the martial outfit issued by the Alliance, as was the sword at his waist.
There was no mistaking it.
“Then shouldn’t you be heading back to them? Why are you lingering behind me?”
“…”
Bi Yeonsum couldn’t find the words to respond.
He couldn’t reveal that his comrades had deserted him.
Nor could he admit that his own folly had thrust him into this predicament for not paying attention to his superior’s advice.
His meager pride held him back from speaking.
Perhaps the young man sensed something amiss as he observed Bi Yeonsum’s silence.
With a heavy sigh, he resumed walking.
However, there was a slight change.
This time, his pace had slowed a bit, as if silently inviting Bi Yeonsum to follow him.
During this strange moment, the young man muttered under his breath.
“Why does trouble always find me when I’m on reconnaissance?”
“…Huh?”
“It’s nothing. Forget about it. Ah, I’ll probably catch hell when I get back.”
Ugh…
The young man rubbed his forehead, evidently bothered.
“Uh… Brother.”
“Why are you calling for me?”
“Are you sure you’re not part of the Alliance?”
“Can’t you tell? Absolutely not.”
“Then, perhaps, are you aligned with the Orthodox Sects…?”
“If you keep pestering me with questions, I might ditch you.”
His stern tone made Bi Yeonsum shut his mouth tightly.
Meanwhile, his mind raced with myriad thoughts.
What’s his affiliation…?
Looking at him, it was quite ambiguous.
The battlefront was where multiple factions rotated, and currently, the Hwangbo Clan held sway over it.
But he found it difficult to view the young man as a martial artist from the Hwangbo Clan.
With the absence of robust Qi typically associated with the Hwangbo family—at the very least, he didn’t appear to be one of them.
Plus, the dude can produce Sword Resonance…
That made everything even more perplexing.
If someone could manage Sword Resonance at such a young age, they must be a renowned and exceptional prodigy.
At the very least, Bi Yeonsum couldn’t recall knowing anyone like him.
…I’ve definitely seen that outfit somewhere.
The deep red martial outfit—he was certain he had seen it before.
When was it again?
He definitely had a memory of it…
“Let me make this clear.”
“What?”
“If you’re going to keep following me, don’t do anything unnecessary.”
“…What do you mean?”
Was it a threat?
Bi Yeonsum briefly scrutinized the young man’s expression, wondering if it was a momentary act of intimidation.
But it seemed otherwise.
Is the place we’re heading really that dangerous?
Venturing into an unknown destination made Bi Yeonsum uneasy; noticing this discomfort, the young man added:
“The advice is for my sake, not yours, so do keep it in mind.”
“For your sake?”
“…I can already see myself being beaten for bringing along another oddball.”
“…Huh?”
Getting beaten…? By whom?
“Crap…. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve told you not to follow me.”
“B-Brother?”
“I just want you to wish you’d altogether disappeared somewhere else.”
Despite the ongoing harsh words from the young man, Bi Yeonsum had no recourse but to follow.
Thus, trembling in this bizarre situation, he trailed after the young man.
They passed over dried land, and, before long, a forest came into sight.
That place is…
It was somewhere Bi Yeonsum recognized.
The most hazardous section on the battlefront wasn’t the plains where he almost met his end, but rather that very forest itself.
Plus, the warning from his superior about not delving too deep had clearly referenced that forest.
“Uh, Brother…”
“What is it now?”
“Is that where Brother is stationed?”
“That’s correct.”
The young man answered dismissively, as if annoyed by the question, and quickened his pace.
Due to the earlier encounter, Bi Yeonsum found his legs stiff and struggled to keep up.
…That place is…
It was managed by ‘them’—a topic of which he had never had the opportunity to inquire with his superior.
There simply hadn’t been time for it.
“B-Brother.”
…Haaa.
Perhaps tired of his incessant calling, the young man let out a heavy, irritated sigh.
Noticing this exasperation, Bi Yeonsum flinched.
But he couldn’t shy away from asking.
“It’s nothing significant; I am Bi Yeonsum from the Bi Yi Sect. If it’s not too rude, may I ask for Brother’s name…!”
“Ah.”
Had he not even said his name before?
The young man seemed to realize this, nodding slightly.
“Gu Jeolyub.”
It was a swift introduction.
But perhaps feeling it was lacking, he added.
“…Gu Jeolyub of the Gu Clan.”
There was hesitation in his demeanor, as if reluctant to provide more.
As Gu Jeolyub turned away with disinterest, Bi Yeonsum was left in shock.
…The Sword of Heroic Flame?
To his surprise, Gu Jeolyub was someone Bi Yeonsum recognized.
The Sword of Heroic Flame, Gu Jeolyub.
Though not widely celebrated in the Central Plains, he was a name gradually spreading throughout the battlefront and its vicinity.
He was a figure getting noticed for both his handsome appearance and skilled swordsmanship.
The title “Sword of Heroic Flame” began to circulate around half a year ago, just as Bi Yeonsum had joined the Alliance at the frontlines.
“A young hero who tended to fallen martial artists lone on the battlefront.”
That was the perception of him.
Although dying as a martial artist on the frontlines was commonplace, such incidents had decreased notably over the past half-year.
They even joked that if luck smiled upon you, the Sword of Heroic Flame might swoop in to save your life.
He’s far younger than I’d expected.
That was why Bi Yeonsum hadn’t thought the Sword of Heroic Flame could be a peer.
Bi Yeonsum pondered these thoughts while observing Gu Jeolyub.
But even so…
The Sword Resonance he had heard, while subtle and not resonating deep, was surprisingly distinct.
Bi Yeumsum still struggled to manifest Sword Qi, let alone Sword Resonance.
…It’s been a year since then.
Last year, Bi Yeonsum had partaken in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament with the help of his grandfather.
That moment had been the turning point for him, from a state of arrogance to hitting rock bottom.
Bi Yeonsum reminisced about last year’s martial arts tournament.
He had sworn to win, only to face a boy in the arena.
The boy seemed fierce, with a volatile temperament, appearing much younger than Bi Yeonsum.
He had felt guilty for having to stomp on such a youthful child.
But…
I was completely unaware of my position.
The match began…
And with just one brief exchange, the outcome was decided.
One exchange.
Not only was that single clash with the boy beyond Bi Yeonsum’s understanding, but he also lost consciousness on the tournament floor.
Bi Yeonsum whispered the title assigned to that boy during his recollection.
The True Dragon.
The True Dragon, Gu Yangcheon.
The name of a martial artist who had shown no particular activity over the past year, leading many to wonder about his whereabouts.
Having observed his overwhelming talent and capability during the martial arts tournament, many expected him to burgeon into an extraordinary Master.
There are far too many geniuses in the world.
Bi Yeonsum once thought he stood among such individuals, but after meeting Gu Yangcheon, that perception collapsed.
It was time for him to cognize his true standing in the world.
…Now that I think about it, that Brother shares the same surname.
The Gu Clan.
It was a name that resonated with familiarity.
The Sword of Heroic Flame claimed to be a member of the Gu Clan; could they be part of the same family?
…Possibly brothers? Though they too differed vastly in appearance.
Though their eyes seem a bit similar…
It was too much of a stretch to assume that the True Dragon could be the younger brother of the Sword of Heroic Flame.
Wouldn’t a younger brother, looking so different from his older sibling, present a peculiar discrepancy?
“…Did you mention you were Brother Bi?”
Gu Jeolyub’s unexpected question startled Bi Yeonsum.
“Ah, yes. I am Bi Yeonsum.”
“Understood. We’re almost there.”
At Gu Jeolyub’s assertion, Bi Yeonsum glanced ahead.
So far, nothing but trees and rocks filled his gaze.
The forest seemed considerably safer than anticipated.
Contrary to the threats that lurked therein, said to be crawling with demons and cloaked in foul Qi…
To Bi Yeonsum, the forest appeared safer than the open plains.
However, unbeknownst to Bi Yeonsum,
Gu Jeolyub was meticulously regulating his Qi to ensure they only traversed the safest path.
Glancing back at Bi Yeonsum trailing behind him, Gu Jeolyub continued to narrate.
“First, we’ll reach a safe area, then I’ll send word back to the Alliance.”
“Ah, I’m so sorry for the trouble… I can’t thank you enough for this….”
“…Yes, you should indeed be thankful.”
“Excuse me?”
“Thanks to you, it seems I’ll be rolling around on the dirt a bit longer than anticipated.”
Grind.
A sound of teeth grinding echoed ahead.
It certainly appeared to have come from the Sword of Heroic Flame.
He surely must have misheard, right?
“Now, let’s go over a few precautionary measures.”
“Precautionary matters… you say?”
“Yes. These are vital.”
I’m scared shitless.
Was it about the nature of the demons, or just how dangerous the forest was?
Having heard plenty about it, he instinctively swallowed hard.
Without delay, Gu Jeolyub began conveying instructions to Bi Yeonsum with a serious expression.
“No matter what you hear, don’t make a fuss. Keep quiet while eating. In particular, if you see someone consuming dumplings, don’t even think about bothering them.”
“What? I’m sorry, but…. What on Earth are you saying?”
“The words I’m saying right now could dictate whether you live or die. So please, don’t interrupt and take this to heart. This is genuinely vital.”
“A-Ah, yes.”
“Additionally, he may seem to have a terrible disposition; when that nature shines through, steer clear of him. If you catch his eye, presume yourself dead and give up on life.”
…
“And finally, although this is unlikely to happen, if you ever have questions, ensure to inquire when he’s accompanied by a woman. Preferably a woman with blue eyes or white-blue hair.”
“Huh? A woman?”
“When that happens, he exhibits some restraint. Trust me; that’s the most valuable advice I can give you.”
What was going on?
This felt like an absurd joke.
Nevertheless, Bi Yeonsum wouldn’t dare to speak out against Gu Jeolyub’s words.
After all, there was too much sincerity in Gu Jeolyub’s demeanor to dismiss it as mere jest.
Despite how bizarre these instructions might seem…
Bi Yeonsum quickly grasped just how critical they were.
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