Soul Summoning Sword

 Chapter 30: Radiance in the Dark Night (5)

The dawn mist wrapped around the mountain path on the outskirts of the Cold Wolf Sect.

Yun Seoha cautiously looked around as she pulled a messenger pigeon from her sleeve.

“Luckily, the Soul Transformation appeared just in time. We can’t waste this chance, can we?”

The tip of her brush moved swiftly across the paper.

「Traces of Soul Transformation discovered. Moving to Amnyupa after investigation.」

Before the ink even dried, Yun Seoha wrote another line. It was bait to distract Sect Leader Un Hojin.

「Movement of the Black Blood Unit confirmed. Reinforcement of the Cold Wolf Sect’s defenses needed.」

The messenger pigeon left her hand and soared into the morning sky. Watching it vanish into the gray mist, Yun Seoha slowly folded her fan. A subtle smile flickered across her lips.

“Well, that bought us some time, didn’t it?”

Yeon Sohye fidgeted nervously with the hilt of her dagger.

“Are you really going to investigate the Black Blood Unit?”

“No.”

Yun Seoha abruptly turned in an unexpected direction. Determination filled her voice.

“We’re heading to Silver Moon Valley.”

Moonlight revealed the steep cliffs, faintly illuminating Silver Moon Valley.

A field of martial artists’ graves stretched before their eyes.

Once, it had been a sacred ground where the masters of the Cold Wolf Sect communed with spirits and trained in resonance. Now, no one visited. It had become nothing but a desolate graveyard.

The collapsing tombstones among the wind-blown weeds told the weight of passing years.

“What are we doing here?”

Gugwi glanced around.

The sight wasn’t unfamiliar. It felt like the underground training hall of Spirit Monument Pavilion had been lifted above ground. Rows of graves resembled the underground chamber.

“First, we’ll avoid the Blue Blood Unit here… and if possible, you’ll need to learn to handle the Spirit Flow Core properly. This place is perfect for passing time. What are you doing? Grip your spear tight.”

Yun Seoha gestured for Gugwi to hold his spear firmly. Then she turned to Yeon Sohye.

“Thicken the mist. We need to completely conceal our presence. The Black Blood Unit’s Soul Transformation still bothers me. Makes me wonder if we should’ve investigated after all. I don’t think we have much time.”

Her warning came low and sharp.

Paaahhhht!

Yeon Sohye’s silver mist spread, wrapping them even more densely. Even the moonlight grew hazy, turning their figures dreamlike.

When the torch was lit, the stillness of Silver Moon Valley deepened.

Gugwi took out the Soul Echo Manual from his robe and opened it. The aged paper carried a faint fragrance. The words shimmered under the candlelight as though alive.

“So this is the famous Soul Echo Manual. Hmph! Honestly, I barely know anything about the Spirit Flow Core myself.”

Yun Seoha’s voice was firm. It wasn’t humility—she truly meant it.

Gugwi inhaled deeply as he gazed at the manual. The writings were sparse, but each word carried profound meaning.

“But I do know what to watch out for.”

Her expression grew serious.

“This manual is poison to an ordinary Soul-Summoner. It’s a foreign artifact beyond their reach. Only you can read it. That makes you its rightful owner. I won’t even try to read it.”

“Ah! Is that so?”

Yeon Sohye glanced at the Soul Echo Manual.

She had seen the manual before. Tried to read and decipher it too—but failed every time.

“If you find parts you can’t understand, ask. We’ll study those sections together.”

Gugwi nodded and tucked the manual back into his robe.

“Then… the way to control the Spirit Flow Core is…?”

“Train.”

“What?”

“Train, no matter what. Haven’t you heard the saying: ‘If you read a book a hundred times, the meaning will reveal itself’? The same applies. Train a hundred, a thousand times. Write it, use it, again and again—you’ll grow proficient. And if something unexpected happens, don’t panic. Accept it as a natural step.”

Yun Seoha turned to Yeon Sohye.

“You, prepare to perform Spirit Union with another grave.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“You need to move forward too. How long will you cling to only So Ryeonghwa?”

“A second spirit?”

Yeon Sohye’s voice trembled with excitement. The dagger in her hand quivered slightly.

“Resonance isn’t gifted for free. This place is perfect—strong inspiration, plenty of spirits. Even if you don’t reach resonance, at least break through to the Fourth Level of Initial Contact. While he wrestles with the Spirit Flow Core, you perform your second Spirit Union.”

Yun Seoha beamed.

Gugwi closed his eyes and entered the Realm of the Threshold.

He didn’t summon Un Serim or General Madal. He entered solely through the power of the Spirit Flow Core.

From the darkness, a wrathful spirit slowly emerged. Its origin was unknown, but its aura was as sharp as a blade.

“Kiaaaahhhh!”

The scream tore through the void, stabbing Gugwi’s eardrums.

“Urgh!”

He instinctively clutched his Dantian.

As he gathered strength… a blue light bloomed from his Dantian and spread throughout his body.

The Spirit Flow Core pulsed rhythmically like a heartbeat. Waves of blue light spread outward, gently enveloping the furious spirit. In that instant, Gugwi felt a sensation he never had before.

Liberation—unrestrained freedom, like running across vast fields with no obstacles.

“This… is this the ultimate realm of Soul-Summoning Arts?!”

Gugwi was in awe.

But the raging spirit charged at him—just as Un Serim once lost control.

Shwik!

Sharp claws slashed through the darkness, grazing Gugwi’s arm.

Pain shot through him as if his arm had been ripped off. Was it real or an illusion? He couldn’t tell. But the pain was real.

“Gugwi!”

Yun Seoha immediately entered the Realm of the Threshold. A soft light radiated from her body, harmonizing with his blue aura and soothing the berserk spirit.

“Calm yourself. Truly feel the power within you. Don’t fear it.”

Her voice echoed through the Realm.

In that moment, realization struck Gugwi.

This was his unique power—not something to fear, but a destiny to embrace.

“This… this is my power.”

The energy in his Dantian gradually steadied. The blue light no longer surged wildly, but flowed calmly.

“The more I use it, the smoother it becomes.”

He murmured, holding firmly to his Dantian, repeating the practice of pacifying the spirit.

Each failure was met with Yun Seoha’s guidance—but gradually, he needed her less.

Moonlight descended on Silver Moon Valley.

Yeon Sohye knelt before the first grave. She placed her hand on the earth, probing for energy.

But the cold soil yielded nothing. The soul had departed long ago.

“An empty grave!”

Disappointment rang in her voice.

Yun Seoha patted her shoulder.

“If they ascended, then it was a blessing for them. Next.”

Her voice was gentle.

The two of them moved on to the next grave.

Two days passed. They checked dozens of graves, but most were empty—only bodies remained.

Yeon Sohye’s anticipation turned into impatience.

On the third day, they finally found a grave imbued with a soul.

“I thought they had all ascended. Hoho!”

Yeon Sohye grew excited and was about to attempt Spirit Contact.

Yun Seoha grabbed her wrist.

“Wait. I need to check first.”

“Why?”

“You’ve lost your reason the moment you thought you could just take it. You’re still only at Spiritual Sensitivity. Can you control two spirits at once?”

“That’s…”

“In your current state, once you synchronize, you won’t be able to reject it. To truly choose a spirit, you need more skill. You need to check if it’s a spirit suited to you. Wait here.”

Yun Seoha entered the Realm of the Threshold.

“It’s a master of blade arts. Its resentment runs deep.”

Moments later, she emerged and spoke gravely.

“So Ryeonghwa’s stealth arts and blade techniques are fundamentally different. A Soul-Summoner should bond with spirits who share similar martial arts.”

She explained calmly.

Yeon Sohye bit her lip.

She knew what Yun Seoha meant. Though she couldn’t yet achieve Resonance by uniting with multiple spirits, conserving energy was crucial. If different martial arts clashed during Spirit Contact, the backlash could severely injure her—sometimes even rupture her meridians.

“Then this spirit isn’t right for me?”

“The choice is yours.”

Yeon Sohye gripped her dagger.

“I’ll give it up. Let’s find another.”

Disappointment flashed across her face.

---

Three more days passed.

“There’s one!”

Yun Seoha’s voice brightened.

In those three days, Yeon Sohye had turned down more than ten spirits. Some of them had been very tempting.

“Swift Wind Wanderer. A master who reigned supreme in the Central Plains a hundred years ago with his movement arts.”

When Yun Seoha spoke, Yeon Sohye felt a strong certainty—*‘This is the one!’*

“Stealth arts and movement arts. It fits well with So Ryeonghwa. Do you want him?”

Yeon Sohye’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes!”

She clenched her fist.

The Spirit Contact began.

She closed her eyes and sank deep into the Realm of the Threshold.

She pressed So Ryeonghwa’s energy deep into her Dantian. The silver aura lay still, hidden.

She expanded her consciousness in search of the Swift Wind Wanderer’s soul.

Suddenly, a violent gale swept through her mind. The willpower of a century-old master crashed down on her.

“Ughhh!”

Yeon Sohye screamed.

The energy of the Swift Wind Wanderer stormed through her Dantian like a tempest. In that instant, So Ryeonghwa resisted. This was completely unexpected—their energies clashed fiercely within the Realm.

The Swift Wind Wanderer tried to enter, while So Ryeonghwa pushed him away.

“Krghhh!”

Yeon Sohye’s body convulsed. Blood dripped from her mouth. Agonizing pain ripped through her Dantian.

“L-Lord!”

She cried out, her consciousness slipping.

Yun Seoha struck like lightning, entering the Realm.

Her Soul-Summoning Arts enveloped Yeon Sohye. A soft light forced its way between the two raging energies.

“Calm yourself, Swift Wind Wanderer.”

Her voice rang through the Realm. At the same time, she erected a barrier to protect Yeon Sohye’s Dantian.

The Swift Wind Wanderer resisted.

Provoked by So Ryeonghwa’s defiance, his century-old resentment exploded. Yeon Sohye’s mind was on the verge of shattering.

Yun Seoha wove a complex hand seal.

“Soul Separation Technique!”

Her light split in two.

One half shielded So Ryeonghwa, the other soothed the Swift Wind Wanderer—like taming a furious beast.

“Hhhk! Hhhff!”

Yeon Sohye gasped, her body drenched in cold sweat.

“I feel like I’m dying…”

She whimpered.

“Endure. Just a little longer.”

Yun Seoha grit her teeth. She too was burning through immense mental strength, sweat dripping from her forehead.

Gradually, the energy of the Swift Wind Wanderer began to calm.

Through Yun Seoha’s skilled mediation, a clear boundary formed between the two spirits.

“Non-interference. So Ryeonghwa remains in his domain. The Swift Wind Wanderer in his own.”

Her voice was soft but firm.

At last, the Spirit Contact was complete.

Yeon Sohye panted heavily. When she opened her eyes, a new light shimmered within them. Two spirits now coexisted harmoniously inside her.

She had broken through the Fourth Level of Spiritual Sensitivity.

So Ryeonghwa’s mental techniques deepened, refining her Silver Spirit Sword Technique with greater precision through speed. At the same time, she gained the Swift Wind Wanderer’s unique movement art—*Thousand Flowing Winds.*

Shhhk!

Yeon Sohye rose and drew her dagger.

Silver mist trailed as she sped through Silver Moon Valley. She moved faster than the wind—freer than the clouds.

Her radiant smile bloomed.

Under the moonlight, her face shone with triumph. It was the joy only one who had returned from the brink of death could know.