Chapter 78: Formless Flying Swordsmanship (2)
Several days had passed since the Black Fist Marang incident. The man who had been suspected of being a spy from the Empire was personally executed by the Ten Thousand Swords Master. Whether he truly was an agent of the Empire was never clearly confirmed.
I couldn’t go investigate the truth myself. After all, I was under suspicion as well. Doing anything that might attract further doubt was too dangerous.
Saeorin, Flora, and Theo. The three of us were only able to meet by late lunch. The spacious annex granted to me was always cloaked in silence. It was called Seolhwa Pavilion—a name that sounded grand but meant little.
“Are you sure no one else is around?”
Theo asked as he sat down, glancing around cautiously. I gave a slight nod. I expanded my aura to scan the area, but not even an ant could be sensed.
“How was it? Do you think you could get out?”
I asked. With all of the Ten Thousand Swords Master’s attention focused on her, she couldn’t move freely. She wasn’t physically restrained, but wherever she went, eyes followed. It meant sneaking away was nearly impossible.
“No chance. I can go anywhere within the sect, but if I try to leave, someone immediately tails me.”
“Same here.”
Unlike me, who was heavily restricted, Theo and Flora had relatively more freedom. But even that freedom only applied within the sect. If they tried to go beyond its limits—past the mountain walls carved from stone—surveillance followed immediately.
In short, escaping was no easy task. After hearing this, I let out a long, deep sigh.
“Sorry... because of me…”
I was the one who had refused to run. Blinded by ambition, I had made the wrong choice. A heavy guilt crushed down on my heart.
“No, don’t say that. We agreed with you too, didn’t we?”
“It’s not your fault alone. If you think about it, it’s also on us for not speaking up more strongly back then.”
Flora offered comfort, gently patting my shoulder. Theo, watching quietly, also reached out his hand, but I smoothly slid away across the floor, avoiding his touch.
‘What is she, a cat or something…’
Theo smacked his lips in disappointment.
The three of us spent a long time discussing our options. But no suitable solution came up. One idea was to each head in a different direction to shake off our pursuers, but it was deemed too dangerous and rejected.
In the end, we had no choice but to continue this uneasy existence. And then it happened. I sensed a distinct presence entering my detection range.
I noticed it faster than the others. Just as I stood and opened the door, Theo and Flora also rose to their feet.
“Ah, perfect, you’re all here.”
The one who arrived was a subordinate of the Ten Thousand Swords Master. He wasn’t a Reincarnator.
He was merely one of those the master had taken in after arriving in the Wasteland.
Reincarnators were rare to begin with. Despite many coming after hearing of the master’s renown, over eighty percent of the sect’s population were still ordinary people.
“There is a summons from the Sect Master.”
It was the first official summons. We exchanged wary glances and exited Seolhwa Pavilion.
The destination was the temporary residence of the Ten Thousand Swords Master. We weren’t the only ones summoned. All of the Reincarnators who had been gifted buildings gathered. There were ten in total.
The Ten Thousand Swords Master looked over those assembled and finally spoke.
“It’s already been nearly two months since Ten Thousand Swords Sect established itself here. I’d say I’ve been quite patient.”
When he had first appeared in the Wasteland, he had issued a warning—he would give time for others to come under his command, and if they didn’t, they would face the consequences. This was that warning coming to pass.
But there were always those who wouldn’t believe until they saw for themselves. Especially in a place like the Wasteland, where power decided everything, that tendency was even stronger.
“This is my first order as your Sect Master. Go, and wipe them all out. Those who dared ignore my warning—don’t leave a single one alive.”
His tone was flat, without fluctuation. But the pressure contained within was overwhelming. Those with weaker spirits found it hard to breathe.
Ssshhh—
As he raised his hand, a small dagger floated into the air and began to spin beside him. Watching it, the Ten Thousand Swords Master spoke again.
“To the one who achieves the greatest merit, I shall pass down my Formless Flying Sword Technique.”
A martial art that had entered the realm of divine skill was being offered as a reward. The atmosphere shifted immediately. The master, observing this change, waved his hand.
“Go. Let the name of Ten Thousand Swords Sect thunder across the land.”
It was an official mission outside the sect grounds. A chance for escape had finally appeared. I, Flora, and Theo exchanged glances in a fleeting moment. Our eyes gleamed with shared understanding.
Just as those who had received the order began to file out swiftly, the Ten Thousand Swords Master called out to one person.
“Sera.”
It was the alias I had been using. I had no choice but to stop.
“Yes.”
“I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
What did he mean by that? For a brief moment, I met the master’s gaze, then turned my head. As I walked away slowly, my figure vanished in the blink of an eye.
Left alone, the Ten Thousand Swords Master closed his eyes. Her face still floated before him. That faint smile she had when she was drunk—he couldn’t forget it.
Whirrr—
The dagger spinning above his hand came to a stop. Rising from his seat, he murmured softly.
“What kind of things would she like…”
A total of ten Reincarnators, along with their subordinates or companions, rode out from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
The vast Wasteland stretched before them. The distance between groups was considerable, making horseback travel essential.
At first, all ten Reincarnators galloped in the same direction. But as time passed, they began to subtly part ways, one by one, carefully observing each other.
Only one among them could earn the right to learn the Formless Flying Sword Technique.
Traveling together would only dilute the merit. Naturally, they chose to separate.
It created the perfect opportunity to slip away. Just as I, Theo, and Flora tugged at our reins to turn away, a man approached. Unlike the other Reincarnators, he was alone.
Dojeol Ha-baek. A man carrying an enormous greatsword on his back. He usually kept to himself, so we knew little else about him. As I looked at him suspiciously, Ha-baek opened his mouth.
“There was an order from the Sect Master. He told me never to leave your side.”
I had feared this—and of course, I was right. A watchdog had been assigned. I furrowed my brows and turned my head. This was a command from the Ten Thousand Swords Master. I couldn’t just tell him not to follow.
“Do whatever you want.”
I pulled out the map I had received before the mission. It seemed pointless in the empty Wasteland, but having it was still better than not.
“We’ll head toward that square-shaped rock mountain. They say there’s a major bandit hideout nearby.”
I had no real intention of fighting bandits. I only brought it up to throw off Ha-baek, who was tailing us. Theo and Flora picked up on it right away, simply nodding in response.
As we galloped on, I kept an eye on Ha-baek’s abilities. But there wasn’t much I could discern. His aura was completely concealed.
Not a trace of energy leaked out. There weren’t even rumors about his strength. I couldn’t afford to assume victory.
‘I need to see him fight, even just a little…’
I couldn’t waste this rare chance. Rather than fight him directly, I decided to observe him in battle with another bandit group and make my judgment then.
After riding for quite some time, we arrived at our destination. Beneath the towering, square-shaped rock mountain was a small tent village. But something felt off. There were no signs of people, and one of the large tents had been torn, flapping in the wind.
A dry breeze carried the sharp scent of blood. As Theo looked around, he tilted his head and spoke.
“Did someone beat us here?”
“No way. That’d be a waste of effort.”
I shook my head. That was impossible. Each group had gone in a different direction. No one would have gone out of their way to come here. It would’ve been an inefficient use of their route.
And then it happened. A man stepped out from the torn tent. The moment I recognized his face, it felt as though the world stopped.
So familiar. How could I ever forget? The face of the one who had taken the lives of my tribal brothers.
Hayato.
His jet-black coat fluttered in the wind. Dragging behind him, stained with blood, was a katana.
My heart pounded, and my whole body flushed with heat. A massive fury surged inside me. And yet, in stark contrast, my head grew cold.
The Azure Wings had formed a subjugation squad to eliminate Hayato. Even with the participation of the vice-captain and numerous elite members, they failed. To charge at him now would be suicide.
I let out a deep breath, suppressing the rage within me. Just then, Hayato lifted his head and looked straight at us.
“Oh?”
Step, step—
Upon spotting us, Hayato quickened his pace and started approaching. The three of us read the situation and rested our hands on our swords. Even Ha-baek, sensing the tension, placed his hand on his weapon.
Then, in a flash—Hayato vanished.
“You really shouldn’t draw that.”
The voice came from behind us.
He had gotten behind us. None of us had even noticed the movement. As the four of us turned around, Hayato spoke.
“Hey, do you happen to know where that Ten Thousand Swords guy is? If not… I’ll kill you.”
Sshing—
Despite the warning, someone drew their weapon.
Dojeol Ha-baek. His massive greatsword was unsheathed from his back in a single motion.
KAAANG—!
With a thunderous crash, the two blades collided.