WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 38: Squad Leader (4)

──────

“Waaaaah!”

The training cadets erupted in cheers.

They were going wild for So WoonHwi.

“Did you see that? He stopped his sword right in front of them!”

“That was insane!”

“He really won! Wasn't he supposed to defeat them within a hundred techniques?”

“It seemed like they didn't even exchange a few techniques?”

To the cadets, the Blood Cult's high-rank warriors were terrifying, absolute figures.

Yet the might So WoonHwi had displayed against two high-rank warriors was utterly overwhelming.

His dazzling sword techniques and martial prowess were more than enough to captivate the cadets.

‘Ha...’

Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader Gu SangWoong was left speechless.

This was completely beyond his expectations.

Evil Heaven, the Bizarre Oddity, was famed as a fist master.

Thus, when So WoonHwi said he used a sword, Gu SangWoong had thought he was simply being bold.

Even if he had used fist techniques, Gu SangWoong had been certain that six months of training would not be enough to face the combined attack of two Advanced martial artists.

Yet here they were.

“Hasn't it only been six months since his dantian recovered?”

“I can hardly believe it.”

“There are two possibilities. Either he was an exceptional genius before his dantian was damaged, or the Venerable One created an extraordinary sword style.”

“Was the Venerable One skilled with the sword too? Hah!”

“At his level, would he not be skilled in other arts as well?”

The Squad Leaders could not contain their admiration either.

They focused even more on So WoonHwi's sword style than on his martial prowess.

The sword style he had displayed was that shocking.

“Master...”

Dam YeHwa could not take her eyes off her master's face.

Since Han BaekHa had taken her in as a disciple, this was the first time Dam YeHwa had seen her show such emotion.

‘That man, So WoonHwi...’

She had never expected him to put her in such an awkward position.

She and Han BaekHa had set their goal higher than before as well.

Rather than merely enduring twelve techniques from high-rank warriors, they had aimed to defeat them decisively. Yet So WoonHwi had gone beyond even that.

He had not even exchanged ten techniques against their combined attack.

‘...Ha.’

A sigh escaped her.

Even though she had learned the Blood-Hand Witch's unique martial art, the Blood Jade Hand, she still lacked confidence in facing two Advanced martial artists.

Why was that man making things so difficult for her?

The crease between Blood-Hand Witch Han BaekHa's brows showed no sign of fading.

‘Bizarre Oddity created such a profound sword style?’

Han BaekHa's thoughts became tangled.

Leaving the wager aside, So WoonHwi's sword style was far from ordinary.

Its techniques embodied profound martial principles.

It followed an entirely different path from Evil Heaven's Martial Arts, which maximized external energy and internal energy to draw out the fullest extent of one's abilities.

‘...No. That cannot be.’

She could be certain.

This was absolutely not a Martial Art created by Evil Heaven. It was a sword style created by a Grandmaster-level swordsman.

She stared sharply at Evil Heaven.

Evil Heaven was not looking at her, but at So WoonHwi, wearing a strange smile.

“Heh heh.”

‘To remind me of that Southern Heavenly Swordmaster...’

So WoonHwi's astonishing display reminded him of his battle against the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster.

A battle that would never come again.

* * *

“Wow. You're a Squad Leader now. You've really made it.”

Only after HoYun's thigh had stopped bleeding did the SoDam Sword return and begin making a fuss.

As it said, in front of everyone watching, Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader Gu SangWoong officially declared that I had passed the test for the Squad Leader position.

Since I had settled the match far faster than the allotted hundred techniques, no one could raise an objection.

The two high-rank warriors I had faced also accepted their defeat without complaint.

They had burned with fighting spirit as though facing an enemy, but now they acknowledged me as a fellow swordsman.

[You are more than qualified to be a Squad Leader.]

[I acknowledge it as well. It feels as though I have met a swordsman with great promise.]

They had become much friendlier.

Swordsmen spoke through their swords. Martial artists forged bonds through martial arts.

I finally understood that saying.

Regardless of the forces of justice or evil, they too were martial artists.

-I was worried because you told us not to help, but you did well.

-Still, you need more training in sensing an opponent's ki. If you had not heard the sound of the swords, you would have been struck from behind without being able to do a thing.

The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword gave a cool-headed assessment.

It was right.

I could not deny that it would have been dangerous if I had not had the advantage of hearing swords.

-You're so harsh. We restricted our abilities and still did this well. Shouldn't you praise us?

“Hmm. That is...”

‘No. Southern Heaven is right. I did not achieve my goal.’

I had defeated two Advanced martial artists without using my full strength.

But I had failed to achieve my original goal.

I had wanted to win using only the internal energy in my Lower Dantian and sword art. Yet I had heard the sound of their swords and even used Short Sword techniques.

If I wanted to rise higher, I needed to be strict with myself.

Wasn't that right?

“You brat. You've become more like a martial artist lately.”

“That is a good sign.”

I had thought a great deal over the past six months.

Simply possessing strength and power was an abstract goal.

There was no meaning in merely becoming stronger.

If I was going to hold ambitions as a martial artist, should I not at least dream of becoming one of the Eight Sword Masters of the Central Plains?

Evil Heaven, the Bizarre Oddity, was merely a point I had to pass.

“You have a long way to go.”

That was right.

It was still far away.

But in only a year, had I not become a Squad Leader, something I could never have dreamed of before my regression?

If I kept moving forward, who knew what might happen?

-Hehe. Anyway, I won the bet too. I can learn something from that witch in black.

As the SoDam Sword said, I had won the bet.

Dam YeHwa stepped forward immediately after my match ended.

There was a wager involved, and the unspoken pride between their masters was also at stake, so she had no choice but to apply for the Squad Leader position as well.

But unfortunately, she failed.

Dam YeHwa fought hard, but lost to the high-rank warriors' combined attack after around fifty techniques.

I could not forget the expression on Blood-Hand Witch Han BaekHa's face then.

It went far beyond a mere frown.

-She looks really discouraged.

As the SoDam Sword said, Dam YeHwa hung her head like a criminal.

Seeing her like that...

-Do you feel sorry for her or something?

What was there to feel sorry about?

I merely found it a little unfortunate.

That was all. It was not as though the Blood-Hand Witch would beat her to death for losing a bet.

Evil Heaven would probably do just that.

“Still, that level of achievement in six months is remarkable.”

The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword praised Dam YeHwa.

Her progress in Martial Arts truly was remarkable, so much so that it was hard to believe she had learned for only six months.

Fortunately, she had met the condition of enduring twelve techniques against a high-rank warrior, so she was recognized as a high-rank warrior.

‘The problem is... that brat.’

“Tsk tsk.”

I heard Evil Heaven click his tongue.

His expression was far from pleased.

I understood why he was reacting that way.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

Song JwaBaek's match had already exceeded sixty techniques.

He had stepped forward confidently, claiming he would finish faster than I had, but his ambition had not come true.

“Stupid brat.”

Evil Heaven was completely absorbed in watching him.

In some ways, Song JwaBaek could be called his true personal disciple.

Evil Heaven must have hoped for results comparable to mine, but rather than that, Song JwaBaek was gradually being driven into danger.

“He seems unlucky.”

I agreed with the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword.

After watching my match, the high-rank warriors had become more cautious.

Perhaps because Song JwaBaek was also known as Evil Heaven's disciple, they fought even more carefully while keeping him in check.

As a result, the match dragged on.

“Damn it!”

Song JwaBaek's rough voice reached all the way here.

The pressure to finish quickly kept him from displaying his usual ability.

If he exceeded a hundred techniques, he would lose his chance at the Squad Leader position.

-Then that crazy old man will kill him.

He probably would.

Still, we had grown close over time, so I hoped he would pass, but I had a bad feeling.

It seemed as though he would exceed the limit.

Then it happened.

Pak!

Song JwaBaek grabbed the belt of a high-rank warrior who was trying to widen the distance.

The high-rank warrior, a fist practitioner, threw punch after punch at Song JwaBaek's face. Song JwaBaek endured them by force, then showed remarkable ingenuity.

Whoosh!

He grabbed the belt and hurled the high-rank warrior away.

Straight at the other high-rank warrior rushing toward him.

Caught off guard by the sudden move, the two collided and rolled across the ground.

-At least his size isn't going to waste.

Evil Heaven had trained Song JwaBaek exceptionally well in internal energy too, but especially in external energy.

Even I found it difficult to deal with Song JwaBaek's pure physical strength.

The high-rank warriors who had fallen after colliding tried to get up quickly, but they were already too late.

“Where do you think you're getting up?”

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Song JwaBaek's rapid-fire fist techniques rained down on them.

He must have been furious from being caught in their combined attack, because he showed them no mercy as he struck.

“Stop! Stop!”

In the end, the two high-rank warriors surrendered.

Song JwaBaek raised his fist high as though he were a victorious general.

Yet not a single person cheered.

A swollen eye and blood streaming from both nostrils did not make him look like much of a victor.

Only when he licked the blood reaching his upper lip did he realize it.

“Fuck, a nosebleed.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Evil Heaven clicked his tongue in displeasure as he watched Song JwaBaek.

“What a pathetic fool. You're making a spectacle of yourself.”

Despite being cursed at, Song JwaBaek grinned happily, apparently satisfied to have earned the Squad Leader position.

Well, if he was satisfied, that was fortunate.

[If those bastards hadn't taken turns fighting me while running away, I would've finished much faster than you...]

I just wished he would stop explaining himself to me through sound telepathy.

Now, only Song WooHyun remained.

Evil Heaven spoke irritably to him.

“Hmph! If you do as badly as your damned brother, I'll starve you for days.”

Song WooHyun frowned.

With his bald head and nearly all his eyebrows fallen out, that expression made him look truly fierce.

Song WooHyun nodded and strode toward the front of the platform.

“DoGyeong! Kang ChaeJi.”

Was it because he felt threatened by the fact that two people had already earned Squad Leader positions?

Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader Gu SangWoong changed tactics.

Until now, he had paired swordsmen against swordsmen and fist practitioners against fist practitioners. This time, he called one swordsman and one fist practitioner.

-I think he meant to use two people who both wield weapons, but he made one of them a fist practitioner because he was watching that crazy old man's reaction.

It seemed that way to me too.

It appeared Gu SangWoong did not want all three of us to earn Squad Leader positions.

Evil Heaven frowned in displeasure, then snorted.

He must have trusted Song WooHyun.

“Begin!”

The match began with Gu SangWoong's shout.

As soon as it began, Kang ChaeJi, the fist practitioner, moved behind Song WooHyun.

The swordsman named DoGyeong stood before him.

It seemed that DoGyeong, who used a sword, would lead the attack while Kang ChaeJi sought an opening.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

DoGyeong swung the sword broadly, apparently trying to intimidate Song WooHyun.

Then it happened.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

Song WooHyun suddenly charged straight at DoGyeong.

DoGyeong hurriedly thrust the sword toward Song WooHyun's chest, trying to widen the distance.

But Song WooHyun did not avoid it.

“What is he doing?”

Song JwaBaek shouted in alarm.

Stab!

The sword pierced Song WooHyun's upper chest.

But it did not go in deeply.

I did not know whether DoGyeong had pulled back because Song WooHyun did not evade, or whether Song WooHyun's muscles were simply too thick.

Pak!

Then Song WooHyun grabbed both of DoGyeong's arms.

“You bastard!”

As DoGyeong tried to pull the sword free and escape,

Bang!

Song WooHyun headbutted him.

‘!?’

The attack was so unexpected that even Kang ChaeJi, standing behind them, froze.

Song WooHyun released DoGyeong's arms.

“Eek!”

Kang ChaeJi's face went pale.

The forehead of DoGyeong, a high-rank warrior, had caved inward.

Blood ran down and covered his face.

Thud!

DoGyeong's eyes rolled back as he collapsed facedown onto the ground.

Even I was left speechless by the absurdity of the situation. Then I heard the SoDam Sword click its tongue in my mind.

-...We should not starve that one.

* * *

Song WooHyun passed the test for the Squad Leader position.

He had passed with a single headbutt.

Kang ChaeJi, the high-rank warrior who had been horrified by Song WooHyun's headbutt, surrendered without even trying to fight.

Martial pride meant nothing compared to the fear Song WooHyun inspired.

-I wouldn't fight him either.

Who would want to fight after seeing someone's forehead caved in like that?

Everyone stared at him with fearful eyes.

The person in question merely stood there blankly, staring with an expressionless face.

“Khahahahahaha!”

Evil Heaven was the only one pleased by this outcome.

Thus, the position test concluded amid an unsettled atmosphere.

As soon as the test ended, the Brigade Leaders of each faction who had been watching from behind swarmed toward us.

“Congratulations, Venerable One.”

“You have taught your disciples splendidly.”

This showed the authority carried by the position of a Venerable One.

Whether sincere or merely polite, everyone was busy currying favor with Evil Heaven.

Even without a power base, he commanded this much. What would it be like if Evil Heaven truly built a power base of his own?

“...Congratulations, Venerable One.”

Blood-Hand Witch Han BaekHa also approached with her group to offer her greetings.

Perhaps she had composed herself, for she had returned to her usual expression.

At her greeting, Evil Heaven smiled at her with a smug look.

“Heh heh heh. You have raised your disciple well too.”

He truly was like a crazy old man.

Dam YeHwa had failed to obtain the Squad Leader position, so Han BaekHa must have been displeased. Yet he openly rubbed salt in the wound.

But she did not show the slightest emotional reaction.

Instead, she changed the subject.

“This is the first time I have learned that the Venerable One, a master of fist techniques, also has such deep knowledge of the sword.”

At those words, one of Evil Heaven's eyebrows rose.

He understood Han BaekHa's intent.

‘That does not seem to be your sword style.’

Her eyes seemed to be saying exactly that.

No one else had questioned the sword style, but she appeared certain that Evil Heaven was not its originator.

Had she wanted to get back at him for making her uncomfortable after she lost their wager?

Even so, if Evil Heaven pretended ignorance, there would be nothing she could do.

Then Evil Heaven opened his mouth.

“The Blood-Hand Witch of all people has poor eyesight.”

“What?”

“To think you could not recognize the sword style of the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster.”

‘!!!’

At that unexpected bombshell, not only Blood-Hand Witch Han BaekHa, but even the Brigade Leaders around them were too stunned to speak.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried