Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 12: Unity of Body and Soul (2)

The Sect Leader’s chamber was dim. The candlelight flickered, casting strange shadows on the walls.

Yun Seoha quietly entered and stood before Un Hojin.

Her voice was calm, but tension was apparent.

“You suddenly asked for a report on the third-level Initiates… May I ask the reason?”

“No particular reason. I was just curious. The Soul-Summoners entering the Spirit Keeper Contest this time are all quite exceptional, aren’t they? I’m rather looking forward to it.”

The Sect Leader spoke with a smile.

‘Is it because of Gugwi?’

Yun Seoha had her suspicions.

She spoke calmly.

“There are four Soul-Summoners at the third level for the contest. I inspected them all. The other disciples show little progress… It will take time to go beyond the third level of Initial Contact. But Gugwi…”

She paused. Taking a breath, she blinked.

“He has already completed the third level.”

Un Hojin’s eyes narrowed. His fingers tapped on the desk.

“Evidence?”

Yun Seoha answered calmly.

“Gugwi never said a word about his state… but it’s obvious. His movements, breath, energy… all show signs beyond the third level—he has entered Spiritual Sensitivity.”

Un Hojin stroked his chin.

“Explain in detail.”

Yun Seoha nodded.

“His steps are light as feathers. It’s not something one can do without fully embodying the martial arts of the Owner of the Tomb. The speed at which he opens the Gate of the Realm of the Threshold is also extraordinary. His rituals when communicating with spirits flow as naturally as water…”

“He’s clearly beyond the third level.”

Once the third level was completed, one could fully utilize the martial arts of the Owner of the Tomb. The progress of the tomb’s master was directly inherited, showcasing prowess equal to that of a peak expert.

Un Hojin asked,

“What about his spiritual energy?”

“His breath is calm, and each inhalation sends a subtle ripple from his qi center. It’s stronger than any martial arts I’ve seen. Gugwi… he seems to be in the tomb corridor.”

“You still don’t know who the Owner of the Tomb is?”

“No. He rarely speaks about the soul or martial arts.”

Un Hojin smiled.

“Then what shall we do? Should we promote him to Spiritual Sensitivity?”

Yun Seoha hesitated.

“It’s possible, but there’s an issue of fairness. Progressing too fast invites envy and jealousy from other disciples. Gugwi has already grown at a remarkable rate.”

Un Hojin stroked his chin again. His eyes sparkled under the candlelight.

“Then we’ll leave him at the third level for now, but assign him to the Shadow Moon Unit. I heard he gets along well with Yeon Sohye? Try pairing them up.”

Yun Seoha nodded.

“Is this for real deployment?”

“Exactly.”

Un Hojin’s lips curled upward. His smile was as sharp as a blade.

“If he’s already passed the third level, he should be deployed. And Gugwi’s talent is too valuable to let sit idle. I believe he’ll shine in the Shadow Moon Unit.”

Yun Seoha pressed her lips together.

“Anything else you’re not telling me?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Whether Gugwi is of the Gatekeeper’s bloodline. Or the bloodline of the Eight Generals. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were of the Gatekeeper’s bloodline. But… it seems you haven’t made that judgment yet?”

“You can only know that by performing the Illusory Name Command, but Gugwi has strictly adhered to the standard Soul-Summoning Arts…”

“That’s true. If he doesn’t perform the Illusory Name Command himself, there’s no way to know. He may not even be aware of it. But his progress is abnormally fast. He must be of the Gatekeeper’s bloodline. Heh! Keep a close eye on him.”

“Understood.”

Yun Seoha furrowed her brows.

She knew the ripple effects Gugwi’s rapid growth could cause. But she couldn’t defy the Sect Leader’s decision. She quietly withdrew. As the door closed, the candle flickered.

Yeon Sohye came to fetch Gugwi.

Her footsteps struck the stone floor harshly. Her gaze was cold as ice, and her expression firm.

“I told you not to stand out.”

She snapped the moment she arrived.

Gugwi raised an eyebrow.

“What did I do?”

“You did something. Even if you don’t realize it.”

Yeon Sohye glared at him, her voice edged with sharpness.

Gugwi shrugged.

“How unfair. I was just training in the stone chamber.”

Yeon Sohye scoffed.

“That’s the problem. You did too well. You completed the third level? The other disciples are still struggling there.”

She gestured as she walked ahead.

“Come with me. You’re being assigned to the Shadow Moon Unit. Let’s go.”

“Shadow Moon Unit assignment?”

“It means the days of free meals and lodging are over. From now on, you’ll earn your keep.”

“Phew.”

Gugwi sighed and followed her.

Gravel crunched beneath their feet. The moonlight stretched their shadows long.

Yeon Sohye spoke.

“The Soul Trace Pavilion is a special organization within the Cold Wolf Sect. You could say it’s more like a separate unit than part of the sect’s Soul-Summoners. The upside is that you’re granted access to secret training that normal Soul-Summoners could never dream of. But in return, you take on far more dangerous missions.”

“You said I’m being assigned to the Shadow Moon Unit. What’s the Soul Trace Pavilion?”

“The Soul Trace Pavilion has two divisions: the Pursuit Moon Unit and the Shadow Moon Unit. The Pursuit Moon Unit infiltrates Heavenly Sound Cult territories for special operations. Survival rate? Not even thirty percent. If ten go, you’re lucky if three return. The Shadow Moon Unit monitors and eliminates novice Soul-Summoners in the Central Plains. The two divisions live in separate halls and never cross into each other’s territory.”

Gugwi nodded.

Though her voice was calm, a subtle but stifling tension filled the air.

“So what exactly do I have to do?”

Yeon Sohye stopped walking.

“Everything the Shadow Moon Unit does. If a Soul-Summoner defects or betrays us, we track them down and end it. If a newly sprouted Soul-Summoner gets taken over by a spirit, we eliminate them too. Enough questions. You’ll find out soon.”

As they entered the Shadow Moon Unit’s hall, the air grew heavier. A chilling murderous aura pierced the skin.

Swish! Swish!

Shadows of Soul-Summoners moved in the dark.

Their gazes were as sharp as blades. The stench of death hung in the air.

A chill ran down Gugwi’s spine.

This was a place where life withered. A sinister energy wrapped around the hall. Faint bloodstains remained on the walls. The wind brushed the windows with a low moan.

Yeon Sohye stopped.

“Welcome to the Shadow Moon Unit.”

She looked Gugwi straight in the eyes.

“I’m Yeon Sohye, the Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit. Just call me by name.”

Her voice was low.

“Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit? You’re a captain?”

Gugwi looked at Yeon Sohye in surprise.

“The other members don’t need to know. Who’s here, how many, don’t try to find out. You don’t need to know.”

She glanced around the hall.

“We’re the ones who kill Soul-Summoners. We don’t have friends. You never know who will stab whom. Even if you and I are close, if you're tainted by a spirit, I’ll kill you without hesitation. Same the other way around. We always have to be prepared to kill each other.”

She looked back at Gugwi.

“For now, you and I are a pair. Over there, that’s your quarters.”

She pointed to a dark corner of the hall.

The old door creaked in the wind. Darkness seeped out through the crack.

“Don’t trust anyone here.”

Her voice lowered to a whisper.

Gugwi nodded. His heart pounded rapidly. The chill of the hall pierced to his bones.

The Shadow Moon Unit’s training ground was brutal.

In the darkness, Soul-Summoners swung their blades. The sound of blades slicing air was chilling. The faint stench of blood filled the air.

Yeon Sohye dragged Gugwi to a corner of the training ground. A dagger flashed from her wrist.

“If you hesitate here, you die.”

Swiik!

She threw the dagger.

Gugwi quickly twisted his body. The dagger struck the wall with a sharp clang.

“That was way too sudden!”

Gugwi protested.

Yeon Sohye gave a cold laugh.

“That’s how we greet each other in the Shadow Moon Unit.”

She pulled out another dagger.

“Block it.”

Gugwi gritted his teeth.

Normally, he would use the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit, the martial art of the Owner of the Tomb. But he had promised not to use it. That left only the Cloud Flow Tracking he learned from his father and Flying Swallow Slash of General Madal.

Swiik!

His hand sliced through the air.

The dagger grazed his sleeve.

“Not even close! Give it your all!”

A chilling energy pierced his skin. Yeon Sohye charged forward. Her movements were swift like shadows.

She wanted to test Gugwi’s combat capability.

Gugwi instinctively ducked. Her kick grazed past his head. The stone floor cracked.

“Focus!”

Yeon Sohye shouted. She hurled daggers in rapid succession.

Gugwi rolled to the side. The daggers embedded in the floor, throwing sparks. He got up, panting.

Yeon Sohye smiled.

“Not bad. But you’re slow.”

Gugwi caught his breath and glared at her.

“Is this training or attempted murder?”

“Both.”

Yeon Sohye shrugged. She gestured.

“Again! If someone attacks you like I did, you hit back with everything you’ve got. Even if it kills them, it's fine. Even if it’s intentional, not a mistake. That’s how it works here.”

The training ground was a stage for death.

The world of the Shadow Moon Unit was ruthless. Yeon Sohye gave it her all, and he had to survive.

A burning energy stirred in his qi center. But he suppressed it. It wasn’t time yet. He wasn’t ready to use the internal energy passed down from the Owner of the Tomb.

Swiieek!

A blade sliced through the air in the darkness. The eerie sound of metal echoed like cracking ice.

Yeon Sohye drove Gugwi into a corner of the training ground.

Swiik!

A dagger flashed from her wrist.

Gugwi faced her, trying to regulate his breath. Moonlight scattered coldly across the floor.

Yeon Sohye tilted her head.

“You sure you passed the third level?”

There was a hint of surprise in her voice. Gugwi raised an eyebrow.

“You know I did. Why?”

Yeon Sohye lowered her dagger and crossed her arms.

“Why aren’t you using the martial art of the Owner of the Tomb? All you’re using is Cloud Flow Tracking. You’ve improved, but… it’s not Spirit Union martial arts.”

She stepped closer.

“Training martial arts takes time. Ten years, twenty years of intense training to reach the peak. But Spirit Union martial arts are different. You can become a peak expert instantly. The Shadow Moon Unit needs that kind of fighter.”

Gugwi shrugged as if it was difficult to explain.

“If you were fighting at full strength, I’d be dead. If this is your limit, I can’t send you on missions.”

Swiik!

Yeon Sohye threw a dagger.

Gugwi twisted his body again. The dagger grazed his sleeve and struck the floor.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Say it! Why aren’t you using the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit?”

Her voice sharpened. Then she threw another dagger without pause.

Gugwi rolled aside. The dagger struck the wall with a spark.

As he stood up, he spoke.

“I promised not to use it. With the martial art’s owner.”

“What?”

Yeon Sohye froze in disbelief. Her eyes widened.

“Are you serious?”

Gugwi nodded.

“I won’t be a burden during missions. Don’t worry. As for Spirit Union martial arts, I still have Flying Swallow Slash.”

Yeon Sohye furrowed her brow. She exhaled and whispered low.

“Flying Swallow Slash won’t work. You have to use the Illusory Name Command to activate it. And everyone knows you got martial arts from the tomb. The Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit. You’ve passed the third level, so you should use it—yet you refuse?”

She spoke quickly in a whisper, looking Gugwi straight in the eye.

“Then find another tomb. Find a martial art similar to the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit. You’re of the Gatekeeper’s bloodline, so you can reconnect. You must have Spirit Union martial arts. Absolutely. Get ready.”

Gugwi pressed his lips together.

His heart pounded. Gazes from all around the training ground… the biting killing intent pierced his skin. Eyes that likely belonged to Shadow Moon members were fixed on him.

Yeon Sohye gripped her dagger and smiled.

“Let’s begin again. This time, do it properly.”

She charged forward.