novelraw Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
“Eating well really seems to be important. I feel like my strength has returned just from a good meal.”
When Seo Mugyeom spoke while rubbing his stomach, Pyo Inhaeng nodded.
“You’re right. That’s exactly why I never skimp on food expenses.”
As they chatted, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from outside. The person who came in was Won Jirim.
“Division Leader, the First Division has requested support.”
He looked at Seo Mugyeom but seemed to be in too much of a hurry to greet him properly and delivered his message directly to the division leader.
“Support request? From the First Division?”
Pyo Inhaeng stood up as he asked that. Then he went to strap on his sword, but made an awkward face.
The auxiliary sword remained, but his main sword had been damaged during the sparring.
“Vice Division Leader, lend me your sword. I should head to the division leader, right?”
“Yes, I believe that’s best.”
Won Jirim must have been curious about what happened to Pyo Inhaeng’s sword, but didn’t ask and handed over his own.
“Follow me, Seo Mugyeom. It’s a good thing we just had a solid meal.”
He hurried, wondering if he’d have time to circulate his qi.
Seo Mugyeom trailed quickly behind, and Won Jirim followed and spoke in haste.
“I heard something went wrong during one of the First Division’s missions. It sounds like they’ve already suffered many casualties. Are you taking Seo Mugyeom with you?”
Then Pyo Inhaeng gave Won Jirim a sharp once-over and snapped.
“Then what, Vice Division Leader? Are you telling me to go there and die?”
“Division Leader, do you think they would’ve urgently requested help if taking Seo Mugyeom would change the outcome?”
“So what? Is Seo Mugyeom’s life precious and mine is expendable? Don’t talk nonsense. Seo Mugyeom, what are you doing? Hurry up and follow me!”
Seo Mugyeom gave Won Jirim an awkward smile that said he was sorry and thankful, then chased after Pyo Inhaeng.
Won Jirim felt uneasy about letting them go just like that, so he followed for a while before stopping.
He realized that what he said may have come off as upsetting to the division leader. Still, wasn’t it better for one to be hurt rather than both?
‘He’s not taking Seo Mugyeom because he thinks they’ll win with him, right? Especially since the support request came from the First Division of all places.’
If it hadn’t been said that there were casualties, Won Jirim might have thought they deserved it. The warriors of the First Division had been insufferably arrogant.
They looked down on everyone and treated the Tenth Division like dirt under their feet. And now they were asking for support?
‘What kind of opponent are they facing that it came to this?’
He couldn’t imagine anything easily.
‘Seo Mugyeom has to come back safely.’
As for the division leader, he’d surely know how to protect himself. If the situation got too bad, he’d even fake an injury to retreat. But Seo Mugyeom might not be good at pulling back in the middle of a fight, and that worried him.
‘The Division Leader brought him, so he’ll take responsibility, right?’
While Won Jirim was lost in worry, Seo Mugyeom was filled with anticipation.
His heart pounded at the thought of participating in a First Division mission. If the First Division failed and had to ask for help, didn’t that mean he might get to face a Gwei?
‘Right. If I can gain enlightenment and become a Blood Demon, I’ll return to the Tenth Division. Then I can keep sparring with the Division Leader. Maybe I’ll even surpass Cheon Gyeong.’
As he thought that, they arrived at the First Division’s quarters.
Seo Mugyeom followed Pyo Inhaeng, feeling the curious stares of many people.
There were wounded loaded onto carriages and wagons, and on one wagon lay several corpses, covered except for their feet.
“...”
Seo Mugyeom realized that the situation was far more serious than he had imagined.
Seeing the corpses brought back memories of when they’d been decimated by the Suppression Army—he could still hear the screams and smell the blood vividly.
‘Right. Unless I become a Blood Demon, I can’t avoid that fate. No one else should become one. It’s best if someone like me, who knows how things could unfold, becomes the Blood Demon.’
Seo Mugyeom’s resolve grew clearer. And with that clarity came the determination to face death if he must.
Pyo Inhaeng also looked grim after seeing the corpses and injured as he headed to the First Division Leader’s office.
Normally, several people would be guarding the entrance, but today there was only one.
It seemed they were short on hands after the sudden surge in casualties.
The guard seemed to have been expecting Pyo Inhaeng and bowed his head.
“The Division Leader is waiting inside.”
Pyo Inhaeng nodded and went in.
Seo Mugyeom was about to wait outside, but Pyo Inhaeng signaled with his head.
“Follow me.”
“Division Leader Pyo, our Division Leader only wants to meet with you.”
The warrior standing at the door spoke, but Pyo Inhaeng ignored him and walked on.
“That’s what you think. Doesn’t he need my help?”
Seo Mugyeom saw the cold stare from the First Division warrior at the door, but Pyo Inhaeng’s command was more important. If he obeyed this man and disregarded his own division leader’s order, it would undermine Pyo Inhaeng’s authority.
Seo Mugyeom raised his chin and followed Pyo Inhaeng.
Things were urgent—this wasn’t the time for power struggles.
When Pyo Inhaeng entered with Seo Mugyeom, the First Division Leader looked at Seo Mugyeom oddly. But the situation must have been pressing, because he started talking right away.
“There was a mission entrusted to the First Division. Every single participant was one of our own. That alone should tell you how serious this is.”
“Just tell me where we need to go. Aren’t warriors of the Divine Martial Sect still dying as we speak?”
Then the First Division Leader chuckled and nodded.
“Behind the east market, on the guesthouse street. The place with inns lined up and courtesan houses in between. Behind that are several single-room houses.”
At that, Pyo Inhaeng turned around.
He figured that just reaching there would be enough to find where the fighting was happening.
“The owner of that manor turned out to be the leader of an assassin group. Seems he brought in reinforcements after realizing we discovered his identity.”
As Pyo Inhaeng left without hearing the rest, the First Division Leader stood up and followed him to explain.
Seo Mugyeom bowed to him and followed Pyo Inhaeng.
Outside, two horses had been prepared.
“Please, Division Leader Pyo. Please save our comrades.”
The person holding the reins pleaded earnestly.
As they began galloping, Seo Mugyeom thought he had never seen a First Division warrior speak like that to someone from another division. In fact, he had hardly ever heard of the First Division failing a mission. Except for shortly after he joined the Guardian Ten Division.
‘So this is that event.’
Seo Mugyeom recalled the incident when the First Division suffered major losses.
Around this time, an assassin organization had attempted to assassinate key figures of the Divine Martial Sect. Each time, their bodyguards had managed to stop them, yet the assassination attempts didn’t cease.
Eventually, the Sect Leader discussed with the First Division Leader of the Guardian Ten Division and decided to strike the assassin organization. But the enemy brought in allies and escalated things.
They had known from the beginning that the First Division warriors were pursuing them and fled to a remote location. The First Division warriors, unaware, chased them and fell into a trap. By the time they realized it, they were surrounded by assassins and viciously attacked.
There was a reason Seo Mugyeom hadn’t remembered the incident clearly. The First Division had an especially strong sense of pride and was extremely cautious to keep the story from spreading.
Other stories often circulated word of mouth, so he could recall some, but not this one due to that secrecy.
If this was indeed the event he had heard about, it would be hard for him to guarantee his own survival.
“Division Leader.”
Seo Mugyeom wanted to tell him. But all he could say was that danger was lurking there, and most of what he knew couldn’t be spoken aloud. In any case, Pyo Inhaeng would already know the situation was dangerous, so there was nothing more to say.
Pyo Inhaeng looked at him, but Seo Mugyeom just gave an awkward smile and mumbled.
“Be safe.”
Pyo Inhaeng looked slightly incredulous, then chuckled and nodded.
“You too, Seo Mugyeom. You be safe too.”
From then on, they rode non-stop toward the place where the incident had occurred.
Even before arriving, they could hear weapons clashing.
“Seo Mugyeom, your safety is the most important. Even if others are dying next to you, if it looks dangerous, turn your head. That’s the most important rule.”
Pyo Inhaeng said, then dashed ahead.
Seo Mugyeom couldn’t follow that order. Here, he was supposed to come close to death.
Fortunately, Pyo Inhaeng ran fast enough that Seo Mugyeom couldn’t see him. If they had been close together, it would have greatly restricted Seo Mugyeom’s actions, so this was a huge relief for him.
Where Seo Mugyeom ran to, three First Division warriors were surrounded by assassins and under one-sided attack. They turned at the sound of approaching hooves, wondering if reinforcements had come from the Guardian Ten Division.
But when they saw only Division Leader Pyo Inhaeng and an unfamiliar face on horseback, they fell into despair. Then Pyo Inhaeng left for another direction, leaving only Seo Mugyeom behind, and they gave up all hope.
They thought the Guardian Ten Division had abandoned them and resumed swinging their swords.
Seo Mugyeom threw himself at them.
The assassins briefly wondered who the sudden newcomer was but figured they’d just kill everyone anyway.
Seo Mugyeom swung his sword at them. His movements were so fast that the assassins’ strikes were blocked effortlessly. He deflected their blades and, within a single breath, thrust his sword into their gaps and pulled it out.
The First Division warriors, who had expected nothing from Seo Mugyeom, all stared in shock.