To be honest, Hongryeon wasn’t fond of Chaejin. There were several reasons for this, but the most prominent one lately was that Chaejin kept sticking to her side and subtly tempting her.
But still.
“Hah!”
One thing she could trust was Chaejin’s skill.
Chaejin’s blade, wrapped in white porcelain, sliced through the claws of Cheolho.
The force behind her attack was not something to be underestimated.
No one knew that better than Hongryeon.
“To the left!!”
“I know!!”
As she sliced through Cheolho’s massive front paw, he stumbled. Seizing the moment, Hongryeon gripped her greatsword tightly with both hands.
Hongseong Divine Art Greatsword Technique.
Destruction.
A red aura burst forth from the greatsword, propelling the force behind her strike.
At the same time, Cheolho’s left paw, which met the blow, shattered and flew away.
She could see Cheolho’s head dropping as his leg, which had been as solid as iron, crumbled.
Watching this, Hongryeon thought.
The disciple of Moonjeong and her rival.
Leaving personal feelings aside, she could trust a woman who liked the same man as she did.
“Target the head!!”
“I’m aware!!”
“Hah!!”
With a battle cry, Chaejin soared, her blade descending. In that moment, the white and silver moon unfolded. As the moon split, Cheolho’s head was cleaved halfway, revealing a red core inside.
She couldn’t miss it.
– Kuuuuung!!
The energy of the Hongseong Divine Art exploded forth. Simultaneously, Hongryeon jumped, swinging down the greatsword she held with both hands.
An attack embodying the emphasis on strength characteristic of the Hongseong Divine Art.
Hongseong Divine Art Greatsword Technique.
Meteor Strike.
Though still an incomplete technique, the power behind it was more formidable than any other technique Hongryeon could wield, and thus, the exposed core of Cheolho couldn’t withstand her attack.
– Chjeok…
As the core shattered, Cheolho’s body began to crumble.
Hongryeon hopped down and stole a glance at Chaejin.
They had defeated the enemy, but there was no time to celebrate.
The battle was still ongoing, and two more Cheolhos remained.
However, the remaining Cheolhos were significantly smaller than the one they had just faced.
They could each handle one without issue.
And so, the two rivals pivoted as if their earlier cooperation had been a lie, sprinting toward their respective Cheolhos.
Watching Chaejin move away, Hongryeon thought.
Though she might not like her, she trusted her.
Just as Chaejin loved Yu Wol, her desire to protect Seomhwa Village would surely be as strong.
It was clear she would fight to protect everyone in this battle.
Charging toward the rampaging Cheolho, Chaejin thought.
Ugh, she’s really the worst.
It annoyed her that Hongryeon always seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, easily gaining everyone’s recognition while feeling like a false older sister to all of Hongseongmun’s disciples.
And what frustrated her the most was that she had met him first and could approach him without a second thought.
The cold-headed inspector of the Murim Alliance, Hongryeon, showing such a side?
Ugh.
Chaejin scoffed as she watched Hongryeon start to confront Cheolho from a distance.
“To take what you desire.”
With that, she launched herself back into the fray, her movements a deadly dance amidst the chaos around them. The battlefield was alive with the sounds of clashing steel and agonizing cries, but for Chaeran and Sayoon, it was a stage for their artistry.
Sayoon, heart racing, found herself inspired. “Yeah, let’s chase after those dreams!”
“Exactly!” Chaeran winked, effortlessly dodging another attack and retaliating with a flourish.
As the Iron Blood Clan members fell around them, every strike they executed became a potential stepping stone to greatness. They were fierce but also playful, joy mingling with the thrill of combat.
“Watch your back, rookie!” Chaeran called out, delivering a swift kick to an approaching enemy.
Sayoon grunted, parrying a blow, feeling the pressure of the various expectations upon her. But this was their moment! Igniting her spirit, she shouted, “Fire up the Hongseong Divine Art!”
The name echoed, resonating with confidence, as the two charged together, ready to claim victory, glory, and any delicious snacks they could snag afterward.
“Where you are doesn’t matter. What matters is…”
“That’s right. What matters is…”
Sayoon’s sword moves like a dance. Next to her, Chaeran’s technique unfolds brilliantly, taking down enemies one by one.
Even amid the screams and bloodshed, the movements of the two beautiful girls didn’t cease.
“Because we’re winning.”
“Because we’re protecting.”
The two who spoke simultaneously looked at each other.
And unknowingly, they both smirked while thinking at the same time.
“I like you.”
“How about a drink after the fight?”
“Uh… I can’t drink yet.”
“They say you learn about alcohol from adults. I’m a bit older, you know.”
-Chaeyaeng!!
-Chaeyaeng!!
Having never coordinated before, Sayoon and Chaeran naturally worked in sync, bouncing back and cutting down the attackers.
Then, Chaeran grinned.
“I’ll treat you to a drink at the inn. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
They must win this fight.
To protect Seomhwa Village.
To protect the inn.
To protect Yu Wol, who always helps them.
As the will to protect someone began to resonate with Hongseong Divine Art, Chaeran smiled at the strengthened Sayoon.
“And one more thing.”
-Chwaaaak!!
Facing two attacking martial artists, Chaeran swung her technique, and Sayoon swung her sword. When their attackers couldn’t withstand their strikes and fell bleeding, Chaeran cheerfully said,
“Want to be friends? Let’s go out into the martial world together later. You haven’t even gone on your first outing yet, right? I can help; I know a lot of places.”
“During my first outing, Senior Sister Hongryeon and Senior Disciple Yoohee were supposed to go with me…”
“Oh, really? Then let’s just say that’s the case. Hehe. What do you think about having a friendship ceremony or something? Should we ask Innkeeper Yu Wol for help later?”
“Do we have to do things like that to be friends?”
“Well, it might be okay not to, but it’d be nice to do it~. It’s a happy day because we’re making friends, right? Wouldn’t it be nice to be acknowledged by the people we want to protect?”
With a smile, she swiftly joined the Moonlight Squad.
Upon hearing the name Yu Wol, Sayoon couldn’t help but smile.
The person who always forcibly handed out snacks like rice cakes, mooncakes, or skewers every time they went on patrol, always caring for them like a ‘Mister’ waiting in that village.
That’s why Sayoon reminded herself again of the reason she must win this fight.
.
.
.
“Yahaaap!!”
If they were at the same level, the soldiers would have the advantage in a battle against martial artists.
The military uses military weapons and has no hesitation using armor and shields.
The presence or absence of heavy iron armor significantly reduces damage, so martial artists must have at least a two-to-one advantage to overpower heavily armed soldiers.
And the gathered subordinates of Samagun at this place believed that they were at least three times stronger than the soldiers of Seomhwa Village.
But why were they unable to overcome them?”
“You bastards!!”
There were a few reasons.
The first was the three leaders guiding the troops.
The local leader commanding the army had a sharp command and a keen analysis of the battlefield.
Whenever he felt things were unfavorable, he would order the soldiers on the barricade to rain arrows and bolts down, causing the troops’ morale to drop each time.
The second reason was that old geezer who used magic and the military officer wielding a spear like a ghost.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say they were martial artists of the highest caliber, looking after the soldiers while demolishing the subordinates of the Samagun.
This made it difficult to organize the formation, let alone achieve victory.
And the last reason.
“Die!!”
He had finally caught a chance to take down a soldier.
The coldly smirking subordinate of Samagun, known as Cheonhaonbido, launched his sickle at a young soldier.
He thought he could take out the soldier and exploit the gap to attack the soldiers’ formation.
Just as Cheonhaonbido was smiling at that thought, his sickle was deflected by a thread-thin red aura and went flying off.
“…Damn it…”
They were being pushed back for the third time.
And the biggest reason.
It was because of that one woman over there—facing Samagun and the Dark Ones alone while dominating the battlefield with a level of martial prowess comparable to that of Yoo Hyo-jin.
With a stoic expression, she wielded her great sword, relinquishing attacks in places she felt were dangerous, like a ghost, to intervene.
He had heard she was strong, but he never imagined she would seize control of the battlefield to protect the soldiers like this.
Cheonhaonbido ground his teeth at the immense power created by that single superhuman.
At least it was a relief that there were many holding her back? The Sword Saint was only rescuing the endangered soldiers and the Hongseong clan, not making additional attacks. Probably to defend herself against those attacking her or to retaliate.
Seeing that, Samagun and his subordinates could only erupt in frustration.
The defensively strategic swordsmanship displayed by the Sword Saint seemed as if she was trying to protect everyone all by herself.
“Damn it!! Attack the soldiers!! Kill the Hongseong clan members!!”
If that’s the case, they needed to shake the Sword Saint’s focus.
If they couldn’t take her down now, the opportunity would be lost.
One giant iron fortress had already fallen, and the remaining two were also crumbling.
Wasn’t the Hongseong clan and Moonjeong’s members coming in to support the Sword Saint increasingly?
With Samagun’s intense shout, the movement of the bandits was beginning to change.
Hearing that, the Sword Saint sighed and swung her great sword.
With a thunderous sound, the Gold Spear that Cheolhyeol Master had fired off was engulfed by the sword energy she had created and disintegrated, while subsequent attacks from the Cheolhyeol members were neutralized by her extended aura.
“Graaah! You damn bitch!!”
Once again, the Samagun’s attack was blocked, and he roared in anger.
Not pleased with that sight, the Sword Saint tightened her grip on the sword’s handle.
Perhaps it would be easier to fight if she ignored her surroundings.
Fighting based on her anger towards them might make it easier.
But she shook her head.
She couldn’t overlook the deaths of her comrades just to alleviate her anger and irritation.
“Dieee!!”
Evading the frothing-at-the-mouth attack from the Samagun and kicking him away, she suppressed her rising rage.
Recalling that person she had worked hard to protect so desperately.
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