Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 41: Hidden Resonance (1)

Secret news echoed, resonating across the factions.

Six candles were lit in the main hall of the Cold Wolf Sect.

Un Hojin urgently summoned the Seven Cold Wolves. Only Yun Seoha’s seat remained empty.

“You’ve all heard the report about the battle at Silver Moon Valley, right?”

Un Hojin’s voice rang heavy.

“There are two points of suspicion that made me call you. First, why did the Blood Demon Witch of the Seven Armies appear in Silver Moon Valley? Second, how did Yun Seoha, Gugwi, and Yeon Sohye defeat the Seven Armies?”

The Spirit Summoner Samma leaned forward and spoke.

“I don’t mean to disrespect Chilmae… but objectively speaking, from a Soul-Summoning standpoint, it should be impossible for her to defeat the Seven Armies. Which means, if she did win, something is being hidden.”

The Second Brother Mok Sogang slammed his fist on the table.

“Chilmae definitely left something out of her report. Gugwi… hmm! That bastard must be hiding something.”

The Fourth Brother Gye Unhyeok furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“We all know how skilled Sa Hyeollin is. Even Chilmae alone would have struggled, yet they won with just two Spirit-Sensitives in tow? Hmph! Even after reading the report, all I could call it was a miracle…”

Un Hojin rested his chin on his hand.

“Gugwi… this kid is bothering me. Guun’s son. If we assume he inherited the abilities of the Twelve True Armies, then reaching Spiritual Sensitivity in half a year might be tolerable… but let’s consider this.”

The Sect Leader crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat.

“Let’s say there’s a genius. A genius in the Soul-Summoning Arts. The kind that could crush the likes of us with one hand. One, Gugwi is that kind of genius. Two, Gugwi is just a normal person… well, maybe that’s too harsh. Let’s say he’s a somewhat exceptional genius. But if he’s just that, then there’s got to be something else turning him into a real genius.”

The Senior Brother Cho Hangyeol quietly stroked his chin and said,

“Do you think Gugwi possesses some sort of secret technique or treasure?”

The Fifth Sister So Gyeongun raised a corner of her mouth in a cold smile.

“Then… that would mean Chilmae lied to us. How interesting.”

The Sixth Brother Yeon Mukseong narrowed his eyes and spoke.

“Let’s summon Gugwi immediately. If we bring him to the main sect and interrogate him, the truth will come out, no?”

Un Hojin’s eyes thinned.

“It’s true that Yun Seoha didn’t report everything. Like getting help from Soul Energy, or the cave being so old it collapsed easily… or that the Blood Demon Witch had already been struck once by someone else… Hahaha! She put together quite the plausible story, but it reeks.”

Gye Unhyeok leaned forward.

“I’ll summon him immediately.”

“No. I already summoned Gugwi for a private audience before, but I couldn’t find anything. I’m certain he’s hiding something… but calling him again won’t uncover it. Go find out yourselves. Who’ll go? To Silver Moon Valley.”

Un Hojin leaned both arms on the table and lowered his voice.

“Just so you know… at the heart of this issue…”

The Sect Leader paused and slowly looked around at the Seven Cold Wolves.

“…I think there’s a Spirit Flow Core.”

“What did you say?”

“A Spirit Flow Core?”

Everyone looked shocked. The Spirit Summoner jumped to her feet, and Mok Sogang took a deep breath.

“Seems you’ve all forgotten, but when the Eight Generals escaped the Heavenly Sound Cult, there were rumors they took the Spirit Flow Core and the Soul Echo Manual with them.”

“Those were just rumors though, weren’t they? Despite all our surveillance, we’ve never found any strange traces…”

Gye Unhyeok tilted his head and looked at the Sect Leader.

“When the Eight Generals escaped, the Heavenly Sound Cult Leader dislocated his Dantian, so his Soul-Summoning Arts were only around the third level of Initial Contact. Why didn’t the Heavenly Sound Cult just assassinate someone like that?”

“In the end, they did kill him, didn’t they?”

“They did. And then half a year later, the Spirit Essence Mine was invaded.”

“……”

Silence filled the room.

Something was clearly going on within the Heavenly Sound Cult.

“Go find any clues about the Spirit Flow Core. Who’s going?”

Un Hojin looked over the Seven Cold Wolves one by one. A heavy silence fell over the main hall.

Jin Hoon was kneeling.

The cold chill of the Spirit Essence Mine seeped into his knees, but he couldn’t think of standing up.

Members of the Blue Blood Unit were combing through every corner of the mine.

“Is this really the Spirit Essence Mine?”

A cold voice shot toward Jin Hoon.

“Y-yes. A battle happened here…”

Jin Hoon replied with a flustered expression.

“There are spirit essences, but… not enough to call this a Spirit Essence Mine. It’s just an ordinary mine at best. A Spirit Essence Mine should have clusters of spirit essences gathered together… where did they all go?”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit frowned as he inspected the mine’s walls.

Only the traces of spirit essence accumulated over the years remained, with almost none actually visible.

Jin Hoon reported in a trembling voice.

“I-I believe… I believe the Cold Wolf Sect… released them.”

“Released? Hundreds of years' worth of spirit essence vanished without a trace. So, here’s the question. Who could possibly perform such a feat of Soul-Summoning?”

“O-only the Heavenly Sound Cult Leader.”

Jin Hoon answered with difficulty. Cold sweat gathered on his forehead.

The Blue Blood Captain gave a cold smile.

“But there’s no way the Cult Leader came personally… which means someone else was here. Don’t you think?”

He clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the mine entrance.

“Jin Hoon, is there anything you missed?”

“N-no, nothing.”

“A Soul-Summoner of the Heavenly Sound Cult Leader’s caliber was here… yet left no trace behind. That means it was completely erased.”

Jin Hoon raised his head.

“T-then what are you saying?”

“That someone of that level is within the Cold Wolf Sect. Hah! Or maybe they’re in Silver Moon Valley.”

The Captain’s gaze shifted toward Silver Moon Valley.

“I heard the Seven Armies were taken down by the Seven Cold Wolves in Silver Moon Valley. Hah… interesting things just keep happening.”

He turned around and called out.

“Am Ilho!”

A man in black appeared like a shadow.

“Go back to Silver Moon Valley. I think I made a huge mistake. I shouldn’t have retreated like that. Go and confirm what really happened. And also…”

The Captain whispered into Am Ilho’s ear.

“Keep a close eye on Gugwi. I have a strong feeling… the one who released the spirit essences here was Gugwi.”

Am Ilho nodded and vanished.

Before the morning mist had even cleared, a carrier pigeon soared toward the Heavenly Sound Cult's main base. Bound to its black feathers was a bamboo slip etched with So Taeryeon’s urgent handwriting.

「Battle in Silver Moon Valley involving the Seven Armies, Yun Seoha, Yeon Sohye, and Gugwi. Seven Armies defeated. High likelihood that Gugwi played a major role. Cold Wolf Sect does not know full details. Yun Seoha's group has disappeared.」

On the back of the bamboo slip, something even more shocking was inscribed.

「Confirmed the death of Sa Hyeollin of the Seven Armies. This is logically impossible. With the abilities of Yun Seoha, Gugwi, and Yeon Sohye, they shouldn't be able to defeat the Seven Armies. Something is definitely being hidden. Immediate investigation needed.」

The carrier pigeon spread its wings and disappeared into the clouds.

So Taeryeon stared up at the sky until the black dot was completely out of sight.

“The Seven Armies… lost to those three?”

He murmured with a disbelieving expression.

“With Sa Hyeollin’s level of skill, someone like Yun Seoha should’ve been cut down with a single strike… there’s definitely something else.”

So Taeryeon’s eyes narrowed.

What happened in Silver Moon Valley defied all common sense.

The Blood Spirit Cave was a secret cavern surrounded by Soul-Summoning symbols.

The three of them held their breath. The ancient markings carved into the walls faintly glowed, blocking external detection.

“Let’s hold out here for now.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Gugwi took out the Soul Echo Manual and opened it.

The candlelight flickered, casting shadows over the letters on the paper.

“Looking for something in particular?”

Yeon Sohye asked.

“The method to control the Spirit Flow Core. I had a feeling it might be here…”

“Oh, right. We can check the Soul Echo Manual.”

“But this book won’t reveal its writing unless you’ve reached a certain level. It’s strange, really.”

He spoke as his fingers flipped through the pages—then suddenly stopped.

The words ‘Sealing and Releasing the Spirit Flow Core’ caught his eye.

“Here it is. ‘The Spirit Flow Core is the heart of the Manifest Demon Emperor. If used recklessly, it will consume its master…’ Hmm…”

Gugwi’s face turned pale.

With a trembling voice, he continued reading aloud.

“The power of the Spirit Flow Core is limitless, but its cost is also severe. Each time it is used, the consciousness of the Manifest Demon Emperor awakens, eventually taking complete control of the host. There is no true way to control the Spirit Flow Core. The curse of the Core ends only in death.”

The passage hadn’t been visible before, but now it was.

Yeon Sohye sat down beside Gugwi.

“This… this is dangerous.”

“I didn’t know either. So it means every time I use the Spirit Flow Core, the Manifest Demon Emperor grows stronger, right?”

Gugwi muttered, placing his hand on his chest.

The Spirit Flow Core quivered subtly near his heart.

“Why did Father leave something so dangerous to me?”

Yun Seoha, who had been watching the cave entrance, turned around.

“There must’ve been a reason. He probably figured it was better in your hands than in the Heavenly Sound Cult’s. Maybe he even believed you were the rightful owner of the Spirit Flow Core.”

She pointed to the Soul Echo Manual.

“Is there no other way? Like a method to seal the Spirit Flow Core safely?”

Gugwi flipped through more pages.

His eyes stopped at a line.

“There is! A temporary sealing method… Using Soul Energy, the pulsation of the Spirit Flow Core can be suppressed. However, it is not a complete solution, and the seal may break in moments of strong emotion or danger.”

Yeon Sohye let out a sigh of relief.

“Then we’re safe for now.”

“Not quite.”

Yun Seoha replied with a worried look.

“There will keep being situations where we have to use the Spirit Flow Core. If the battle in Silver Moon Valley becomes known, if it’s revealed that we killed the Seven Armies… whew! Many will come looking for us.”

“You’re right. The Heavenly Sound Cult and the Murim Alliance must be starting to suspect something… Someone from the main sect will probably come soon too, right?”

Yeon Sohye asked.

“Most likely one of the Senior Brothers. Someone capable of subduing us with force, if needed.”

Yun Seoha sighed.

“The most likely is the Spirit Summoner Samma. Because of her freewheeling nature, the Sect Leader entrusts her with secret missions. Or perhaps the Fifth Sister So Gyeongun… since intelligence gathering is her specialty.”

Gugwi closed the Soul Echo Manual.

“Even if it’s temporary, I have to try the sealing method. At this rate, the Spirit Flow Core could spiral out of control at any moment.”

“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

Yeon Sohye asked with concern.

“It will be dangerous… but this current state is more dangerous. The whispering of the Manifest Demon Emperor is becoming clearer.”

Gugwi pressed against his chest. In truth, the pulsation of the Spirit Flow Core was becoming erratic.

Yun Seoha nodded.

“Then I’ll help. I’ll use Soul Separation Technique to stabilize your Soul Energy.”

“Thank you, Lady Yun.”

Gugwi straightened his posture and entered meditation.

Yeon Sohye placed her sword on her lap, ready for any unforeseen danger.

A tense silence filled the Blood Spirit Cave. Outside, the hunt from various factions had already begun.

On a cliff outside Silver Moon Valley, Yun Seoha hid herself and kept watch over the valley. Her presence was completely masked.

As she expected, incompatible forces began to appear one by one.

“Heavenly Sound Cult… Murim Alliance… I knew they'd come. Go, Baek Soryeong!”

Yun Seoha sent Baek Soryeong flying for reconnaissance. The white crow quietly took to the sky to monitor the enemy's movements.

First to arrive were agents from the Heavenly Sound Cult. Three figures in black robes searched the entrance of Silver Moon Valley. Soul Energy flowed from their hands as they examined the cave ruins.

“They’re looking for traces of the Spirit Flow Core.”

Yun Seoha gritted her teeth.

Soon after, agents from the Murim Alliance’s Blue Blood Unit also appeared. Two figures in gray garments approached from a different direction than the Heavenly Sound Cult.

“If they run into each other, there’s going to be a fight…”

Just then, Baek Soryeong returned and landed on Yun Seoha’s shoulder. Urgency was clear in the crow’s eyes.

“What? Someone from the Cold Wolf Sect came too?”

Yun Seoha’s face went pale. Baek Soryeong nodded and pointed west.

“This is… turning into a three-way battle.”

Yun Seoha raised her hand to her eyes and looked into the distance.

She could clearly see the flag of the Cold Wolf Sect.

“The Spirit Flow Core was too powerful. Anyone inspecting the cave will notice right away. We can’t hide it anymore.”

She let out a sigh.

“And now I can’t keep lying in the reports to the Cold Wolf Sect either. So then, what now? We can’t go on like this.”

Yun Seoha stood up from the cliffside.

Deep in the cave, Gugwi was immersed in breathing techniques.

He was attempting to communicate with the Realm of the Threshold. But this time, something else happened. Something expected.

Paang!

A blue light seeped from his chest.

Until now, the energy of the Spirit Flow Core had only been felt from the Dantian. Now, it erupted directly from the heart.

‘I knew it. I figured it would follow me into the Realm of the Threshold. Alright, let’s hear it. If you’ve got something to say.’

At that moment, a whisper came from a place far, far away.

‘Gatekeeper… have you come seeking me…’

It was the voice of the Manifest Demon Emperor. But this time, it was clearer.

‘The time is drawing near…’

Goosebumps spread across Gugwi’s entire body.

“The Spirit Flow Core… was truly dangerous.”

He trembled, clutching his chest with both hands. The resurrection of the Manifest Demon Emperor was becoming reality.

“I really mustn’t use this again. Ever. Whew!”