Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 17: Abyssal Resonance (2)

Pitch-black dawn cloaked the Cold Wolf Sect.

“Gahk!”

In front of the eastern gate of the Cold Wolf Sect, a Soul-Summoner, drenched in blood, knelt on the ground. He was the last survivor of the Pursuit Moon Unit. Each drop of blood falling from his lips formed a small pool on the stone floor.

“Sec... Sect Leader...”

His voice trembled. The aura of death clung to him.

“It’s the Pursuit Moon Unit!”

“Hurry inside! The wounds are severe!”

The guards were shocked and rushed to help.

But the Soul-Summoner clutched the sleeve of one guard who tried to move him onto a stretcher. With his last strength, he spoke.

“Heavenly Sound Cult… one of the Twelve True Armies… the Spirit Essence Mine…”

As soon as he spat out the final words, he vomited blood and collapsed forward. Having bled profusely and run non-stop for days, his body had long surpassed its limits.

Un Hojin looked down at the Soul-Summoner’s corpse.

“Mm!”

A groan escaped his lips, and his fist clenched tightly.

All four members of the Pursuit Moon Unit had sacrificed their lives for this one piece of information.

“The Twelve True Armies…”

His murmur cut through the dawn air.

The wind picked up. A cold gust from the north swept through the entire Cold Wolf Sect. As if foretelling doom.

Moments later, seven dark figures darted out from the Sect Leader’s office.

The first shadow headed eastward, toward the residence of Gye Unhyeok, the Crimson Cloud Sword Spirit, first of the Seven Cold Wolves. The second flew toward the western pavilion, home of Muk Sogang, the Black Moon Spear Spirit…

The same message reached all members of the Seven Cold Wolves: Wi Ryeongso the Clear Void Gentleman, Cho Hangyeol the White Snow Fist Spirit, So Gyeongun the Silver Wind Whip Spirit, Yeon Mukseong the Black Cloud Finger Spirit, and Yun Seoha the Silver Spirit Orb.

“Proceed to the conference hall immediately.”

Within moments, all seven had gathered in the hall.

The Seven Cold Wolves.

They were the sect leader’s direct elders, Soul-Summoners powerful enough to rival the Twelve True Armies.

Un Hojin said nothing and simply stared out the window until all were seated.

A heavy silence blanketed the room.

Reunited after a long time, the Seven Cold Wolves didn’t even exchange greetings. The urgent summons left no doubt—a grave matter was at hand.

“The Pursuit Moon Unit we dispatched… has been wiped out.”

A weighty opening statement.

“All four gave their lives to deliver one piece of intel. One of the Twelve True Armies of the Heavenly Sound Cult is targeting the Spirit Essence Mine.”

Gye Unhyeok tapped the table with his fingers.

Tap, tap, tap.

The rhythmic sound heightened the tension.

“If one of the Twelve True Armies is personally taking action…”

Muk Sogang began, then paused. Everyone already understood. The Twelve True Armies answered directly to the Heavenly Sound Cult Leader. They were the elite. If one was moving, it meant the Cult Leader’s will was behind it.

Yun Seoha unfolded her fan.

Flap.

“There must be a pressing reason they need the Spirit Essence Mine now.”

So Gyeongun slapped his knee.

“Those bastards… Haha! The Spirit Essence Mine produces creatures usable only within the Realm of the Threshold. Either they’ve found a path to the Manifest Demon Emperor… or discovered a new use for the mine’s power.”

Un Hojin nodded.

“Either way, we must stop them. If the Spirit Essence Mine falls into their hands…”

Silence followed. All understood what was at stake.

Muk Sogang stepped forward.

“I’ll handle this mission. I don’t know which of the Twelve is coming… but regardless, we can’t let them take the Spirit Essence Mine.”

“Very well.”

Un Hojin answered without hesitation.

As the Seven Cold Wolves rose to leave, the Sect Leader spoke as if recalling something.

“Changyeong. When you go… take Yeon Sohye and Gugwi with you.”

Muk Sogang’s brows rose.

“I can take the Shadow Moon Unit Captain without issue, but…”

He stopped and looked at Un Hojin.

“Haven’t you heard about Gugwi?”

“I have. From the initial state, he surpassed Initial Contact in just six months and reached Spiritual Sensitivity. He was placed in the Shadow Moon Unit… But taking someone like that into a real fight…”

“He could be a burden. Especially since we’re facing one of the Twelve True Armies. You won’t have the luxury of watching over someone else.”

Un Hojin spoke bluntly, then smiled—a mysterious smile.

“But… Gugwi has stabilized his Third Level of Initial Contact possession. He’s ready for real combat. And what I’m curious about… is how he’ll react when he encounters the Spirit Essence Mine.”

“I don’t understand what you mean…?”

“Guun of the Eight Generals smuggled something out when he escaped the Heavenly Sound Cult. Everyone keeps quiet, but you must suspect one of those items was the Spirit Flow Core.”

“Ah!”

Muk Sogang raised his hand and smacked his forehead as if something clicked.

“If we throw Gugwi into the Spirit Essence Mine… at the very least, we’ll know whether he’s connected to the Spirit Flow Core.”

“You think Gugwi is related to the Spirit Flow Core?”

Muk Sogang referred to the Sect Leader as “brother.”

“I don’t know. But if Guun took it, he must have hidden it somewhere. It’s not something you can just destroy, right? Haha! Take Gugwi and observe him carefully. Something’s bound to happen.”

No one objected further.

From the corner of the conference room, Jin Hoon held his breath as he observed everything.

Though he was present as a Murim Alliance inspector, he lacked the authority to speak during a meeting of the Sect Leader and the Seven Cold Wolves.

But a strange glint flickered in his eyes.

‘They’re sending Gugwi?’

He smirked inwardly.

‘Against the Twelve True Armies… This is going to be entertaining.’

---

At the same time, in the Shadow Moon Unit’s training hall within the Cold Wolf Sect, black mist danced through the air.

Whoosh!

A stream of soul energy shot from Gugwi’s fingertips, cutting through the air.

The mist transformed into the shape of an eagle, then scattered again.

“Nice.”

Yeon Sohye clapped.

“You’re stabilizing well now.”

Gugwi caught his breath and lowered his hand. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

“But it’s still not enough. You’re still exuding General Madal’s energy. If you want to disguise yourself as a different martial artist, you need to be much more fluid… When there’s a chance, summon another tomb spirit. You need to craft a martial art you can fully use. Something that doesn’t stand out like General Madal’s techniques…”

Yeon Sohye suddenly stopped speaking. Her eyes trembled. She seemed to sense something ominous.

“What is it?”

Gugwi stepped closer and asked.

“Your first fight is approaching.”

Yeon Sohye’s voice shook. Her sharpened intuition as a Soul-Summoner was warning her.

“First fight?”

“One where your life is on the line.”

Gugwi’s expression hardened. He sensed something serious in her tone.

At that moment, clapping echoed from the entrance of the training hall.

Clap, clap, clap.

Slowly, mockingly.

Jin Hoon revealed himself. A triumphant smile spread across his face.

“Touching.”

He walked closer as he spoke.

“Taking such tender care of your subordinate, how impressive. I guess your intuition sharpens when you train together? Even predicting that he's being dragged to his death.”

“What are you talking about?”

Gugwi frowned.

Jin Hoon chuckled. A cold laugh.

“You’ll find out soon. If you survive this time… haha! I’ll even recognize you as a rival. I mean, I’ll fight you with all I’ve got—though that’s no reason to be happy. Either way, you’re walking into death.”

He said no more. He simply stood there. But his eyes said enough.

Yeon Sohye clenched her fist.

She instinctively knew Jin Hoon was aware of something. That something was unfolding.

---

Night deepened.

Gugwi focused on training alone in his quarters. Regulating his breath and circulating his inner energy. He had to master Cloud Flow Tracking, the technique his father had taught him.

But suddenly… he felt an unfamiliar energy in his dantian.

It wasn’t warmth. Nor was it heat. It was a contradictory sensation—cold as ice and hot as flame.

‘What…?’

He opened his eyes.

A faint blue glow shimmered near his dantian.

‘A mysterious light.’

It wasn’t a visible light, yet… it resembled starlight, or perhaps a pearl deep in the ocean.

‘What is this?’

A wave of unease swept over him. He had never experienced anything like this before. No one had told him about it, and no secret manual described it. This was completely new.

The glow grew stronger. Then suddenly vanished.

Gugwi hurriedly stopped his breathing technique and sprang up. His heart pounded as if he’d run for a thousand li.

---

The next morning, Gugwi went to see Yeon Sohye.

“Captain.”

“What brings you here so early?”

She was brewing tea. A gentle fragrance filled the air.

“What is the Spirit Flow Core?”

For a moment, Yeon Sohye was so startled that she dropped her teacup.

Clatter! Crash!

The broken pieces scattered across the floor.

Yeon Sohye’s eyes flashed. Surprise, confusion, and some realization passed over her face.

“You know something about the Spirit Flow Core?”

Her voice trembled.

“A little.”

“Doesn’t seem like just a little. Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

Gugwi bit his lip. He was unsure whether to speak. But Yeon Sohye knew he carried the Gatekeeper’s blood. She was the one who kept that secret.

“My father… inside my body…”

At that moment, Yeon Sohye guessed the rest. In a flash, she leapt forward and covered Gugwi’s mouth.

“Shh!”

She quickly looked around. After confirming they were alone, she whispered,

“Don’t tell anyone. Ever.”

“Why?”

“This is even more important than the fact that you’re a Gatekeeper’s bloodline. If you say anything, you’ll die. Without a doubt. The Heavenly Sound Cult must not know. Nor the Cold Wolf Sect. And especially not the Murim Alliance. Got it?”

Yeon Sohye’s mind was racing.

If Guun had taken the Spirit Flow Core when he defected from the Heavenly Sound Cult… and it was now inside Gugwi’s body…

‘Impossible…’

But there was no other explanation.

The strange phenomena Gugwi had displayed, the uniqueness during his possession phase, and now his question about the Spirit Flow Core.

“Gugwi, let me ask you one thing.”

Her tone grew serious.

“Did you see a strange light in your body? A blue glow?”

Gugwi nodded in surprise.

“How did you know?”

“Whew…”

Yeon Sohye sighed. Now she was sure.

“The Spirit Flow Core… is the key to reaching the King of Spirits, the Manifest Demon Emperor. It’s also the bridge into the deepest part of the Realm of the Threshold.”

She placed a hand on Gugwi’s shoulder.

“If the Spirit Flow Core is really inside you, you could become unimaginably powerful. But…”

“But?”

“You’ll be in unimaginable danger too. Every Soul-Summoner in the world will hunt you.”

Gugwi’s face turned pale.

---

That evening, a messenger came to Yeon Sohye.

“Shadow Moon Unit Yeon Sohye and Gugwi. You are ordered to guard the Spirit Essence Mine.”

The messenger’s voice was cold.

“Prepare immediately and depart at dawn.”

After the messenger disappeared, Yeon Sohye’s eyes turned icy.

‘The Sect Leader is behind this. If it’s the Spirit Essence Mine… could it be… the Spirit Flow Core and the Spirit Essence Mine interact.’

Everything clicked into place. The Sect Leader wanted to see whether the lost Spirit Flow Core was inside Gugwi.

She entered her room and shut the door.

‘The one leading this mission is Muk Sogang of the Seven Cold Wolves. Ranked third in the Cold Wolf Sect. The opponent is from the Twelve True Armies. That means a real life-or-death battle. With my or Gugwi’s Soul-Summoning Arts…’

Yeon Sohye cut off her thoughts.

This wasn’t a mission suited for someone newly awakened to Soul-Summoning, not for a Third Level Initial Contact or First Level Spiritual Sensitivity. Even for herself, at Third Level Sensitivity, it was overwhelming. A perfect situation to die.

‘To the Sect Leader, Gugwi’s life is just… haah!’

Yeon Sohye let out a long sigh.