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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Chapter 3
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The man in the black hood turned around and gestured inside. Immediately, the Heugunbang members, who had been blocking the path densely, parted to both sides with a *whoosh*.
Ilhwa followed the man and stepped onto the cleared path.
There was not a trace of fear or hesitation on her face.
It was the Heugunbang members who, instead, watched her with tension, intimidated by her unwavering presence.
The man led Ilhwa to the deepest building within the Heugunbang's compound.
The building's doors were wide open, as if to welcome her.
At the foot of the stairs leading up to the building, the man stepped aside and bowed.
It was a gesture that implied his guidance ended there.
Ilhwa left him behind and ascended the stairs.
The Heugunbang subordinates who had been following her gathered densely at the foot of the stairs.
Upon entering the main hall, the Heugunbang Leader and all the elders were seated, waiting for her.
The Heugunbang Leader sat at the innermost part of the hall.
Ilhwa walked into the center of the hall and bowed respectfully to the Heugunbang Leader.
“Ilhwa, Soruju of Hwaoru, greets the Heugunbang Leader.”
The Heugunbang Leader wore a benevolent smile, as if looking at a cute child.
“I never imagined that the renowned Soruju of Hwaoru would be such a young martial artist.”
“The Heugunbang Leader's presence far surpasses the rumors; it is simply astonishing.”
“Haha, the Soruju of Hwaoru is so respectful, yet…”
His eyes instantly turned cold.
“Why is the Hwaoru Leader so unreasonable?”
“…”
Ilhwa used her aura sense to count the number of Heugunbang members gathered.
The Heugunbang Leader and eight elders, plus roughly one hundred and fifty subordinates.
It was the same in her previous life.
Due to Hyeolma's threats, the Heugunbang, having become enemies of the Hwasan Sect and Shaolin Temple, had been grinding their teeth, eager to kill Ilhwa when she visited.
They were fully prepared, believing that even if they handed over the item, they needed to kill at least the Soruju to appease their anger.
In her previous life, a bloody battle had indeed broken out, and Ilhwa had killed half of them.
“I apologize on behalf of the Hwaoru Leader for their disrespect.”
Winning a battle she had already won once would not be difficult, but Ilhwa took a step back.
She wanted to avoid unnecessary sacrifices and attrition.
“Please, put aside your anger.”
“Such empty apologies are not needed.”
“If you visit Hwaoru in the future, we will treat you so you won't be disappointed.”
“Do you see us as beggars with nothing now?”
Ilhwa's gaze lowered.
A thick killing intent had already begun to emanate from the Heugunbang Leader. It seemed he had no intention of ending things amicably.
“I hope the Heugunbang Leader does not make a foolish choice.”
“Is the young Soruju frightened?”
“Many of your subordinates will lose their lives.”
“You, too, Soruju, will have to give up your life.”
*Swish, swish, swish.*
The elders and Heugunbang members, excluding the Leader, simultaneously drew their swords.
It seemed they were determined to repeat the events of her previous life.
“I clearly gave you a chance.”
*Swish—*
Ilhwa instantly drew her sword.
The amicable atmosphere from moments before had vanished without a trace, replaced by a taut tension.
Ilhwa slowly looked around.
‘Since it’s come to this, it’s best to take only the necessary lives.’
“Since it seems disadvantageous for me, I’ll take it that you concede the first move.”
“What did you say?”
*Whirl— Slash!*
“Urgh!”
Ilhwa's sword instantly cut across the upper body of one of the Heugunbang elders. The Heugunbang elder collapsed forward with a dying scream.
Before his body even hit the ground, Ilhwa immediately moved towards her next target.
“Stop her!”
The Heugunbang Leader shouted belatedly, but Ilhwa's sword was a step faster.
“Aargh!”
With the sound of a sharp blade tearing through flesh, another elder fell.
Behind the falling elder, Ilhwa's eyes, as she readjusted her grip on her sword, gleamed sharply.
‘In my previous life, I allowed the Heugunbang the first move.’
Still, she had won.
This time, she had gone in first simply because she was curious.
‘What choice will the Heugunbang Leader make?’
The Heugunbang Leader seemed unable to believe the situation, where two elders had fallen without even being able to react.
He, who had been standing by, dumbfounded, trying to grasp the situation, flinched and shouted when his eyes met Ilhwa's.
“K-Kill her! Now!”
“Aaaah!”
“Dieee!”
At the Heugunbang Leader's shout, the Heugunbang members all charged towards Ilhwa.
Ilhwa's body moved like a shadow among the charging figures.
“Ugh—!”
“Cough!”
Every time she moved, screams erupted without fail from various places.
‘W-What the…!’
The Heugunbang Leader was flustered.
Had he underestimated her because she was a child? No.
The Leader, the elders, and all the members had raised their aura sense and were watching her intently.
Yet, they hadn't even seen her move. It was the same now.
Elders and branch leaders alike were all collapsing with a single strike. Ordinary subordinates were not even worth mentioning.
‘She’s a monster…!’
Could she be an expert who had undergone Reversion to Infancy?
If not, how could such a young child reach such a realm?! Was this even possible?!
He knew that Hwaoru's notoriety was extremely high, but for the Soruju's martial prowess to be this great? This far exceeded his expectations.
At this rate, far from killing the Soruju, the Heugunbang itself would be wiped off the map overnight.
“Stop!”
At the Heugunbang Leader's shout, the Heugunbang members all halted their movements.
Ilhwa, who had been about to cut the throat of a Heugunbang member charging at her, also froze in that very stance.
‘The Leader's judgment was faster than in my previous life.’
Thanks to that, more Heugunbang members survived than in her previous life.
Ilhwa casually flicked the blood from her sword and looked at the Heugunbang Leader.
The Heugunbang Leader was terrified by her appearance, covered in blood but with no change in her expression.
‘She is truly no ordinary child!’
She must be an expert who had undergone Reversion to Infancy…!
“Soruju!”
The Heugunbang Leader bowed respectfully to Ilhwa.
“Please, put away your sword!”
At the same time, the Heugunbang members threw down their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground.
Ilhwa stood at the center of them.
The sharp clang of weapons hitting the floor echoed inside the building for a moment. As the sounds subsided, the Heugunbang Leader's voice was heard.
“Please forgive this foolish old man's mistake. I… will give you the item.”
* * *
Under the dim moonlight, Ilhwa gazed at the small pouch in her hand.
Even though it was wrapped in several layers, a profound aura emanated from within the pouch. Indeed, it was the aura befitting a spiritual medicine, hailed as the pride of Shaolin Temple.
‘This should be enough to expel the blood energy I possess.’
Ilhwa placed the pouch inside her robe and quickly moved again.
To perform Ungijo-sik to expel the blood energy, she needed to choose a suitable location where no one would interfere.
It was a time when she was moving cautiously, searching her surroundings, as a mistake during Ungijo-sik could twist her qi and blood, leading to Juhwaimma.
‘…’
Ilhwa lowered her gaze and looked behind her.
*Rustle— Rustle, rustle—*
Someone was following her.
The fact that they blatantly revealed their presence the moment she left the Heugunbang's territory was tantamount to announcing their existence.
As she emerged from between the dense trees, a small clearing bathed in moonlight appeared.
Ilhwa stopped there.
Under the soft moonlight, Ilhwa's black hair and sharp eyes gleamed.
Ilhwa stared at a spot in the shadows between the trees.
From there, a powerful aura flowed, one that Ilhwa's martial prowess could not gauge.
‘Who is it?’
Ilhwa's face hardened with tension.
In her previous life, no one had pursued her, so her tension was at its peak.
At that very moment, as she raised her aura sense to prepare for a sudden attack,
“Oops!”
A middle-aged man stumbled over a tree root and tumbled out, revealing himself.
The man was wearing a black robe, the collar of which was adorned with elaborate blue embroidery.
His roughly trimmed beard was dark, and his robe was loosely tied, making him seem somewhat unkempt.
However, Ilhwa's expression tightened even further when she recognized the man's identity.
She knew his true identity hidden behind his slovenly appearance.
‘Pungnoesin…?’
The man was, surprisingly, a person from the Namgung clan.
Among the Namgung people, he was one of the top three experts and the leader of the Bipunggeomdae, the Namgung Clan Leader's direct martial force: Seop Mugwang.
Known by the moniker Pungnoesin, meaning "Wind and Thunder God," for his swiftness like the wind and destructiveness like thunder, he was the only one among the Namgung leadership who was not of Namgung blood.
“Heh heh. You didn't draw your sword. You’re quite a clever little one.”
Seop Mugwang chuckled, scratching his chin.
Though his smile was a relief, the vast aura he blatantly emitted made all the hairs on her body stand on end.
“You, little one, what is your identity?”
Seop Mugwang lightly gestured at Ilhwa with his chin.
“Think carefully before you answer, little one. I'm contemplating whether to kill you or let you live, depending on your answer.”
His words, spoken with a smile, were utterly menacing. His eyes watched her like sharp blades.
Ilhwa deliberated her answer.
Seop Mugwang was the leader of a secret Namgung organization.
While he was famously known as Pungnoesin to the outside world, the fact that he was affiliated with the Namgung clan was not widely known.
To carelessly mention the Namgung clan in front of him would lead to suspicion of being a spy.
‘In that case…’
Ilhwa performed a Pokwon towards him.
“Seolhwa, a junior of the martial world, greets the esteemed senior.”
