Chapter v9c20

When Maha Ryeong became angry, Jegal Gi felt saddened!

Screeeeech!

Expensive sound! It was never a cheap sound.

Some may wonder if there’s a price tag on just a simple, ordinary sound, neither musical nor rhythmic, but nobody would dare object to the fact that this sound was very, very expensive.

Screech!

Screech!

Riiiiip!

The sound of a fabric called silk being forcibly torn apart by an external force was not just an ordinary sound. It was a very expensive sound that ordinary people would seldom have the chance to hear. Because it was the sound of high-quality, expensive silk being torn to shreds by the hands of a woman.

The reason the silk was torn was simple. It was a sacrificial lamb for a woman’s tantrum.

The one indulging in the tantrum by tearing the expensive silk was none other than the leader of the Gun Ung Hoe, the Steel Orchid Maha Ryeong, who was called a hefty figure by Bi Ryu-yeon. Indeed, the level of a leader’s tantrum seemed to be vastly different from that of ordinary people.

If Bi Ryu-yeon had seen it, he would have considered it a story that would not just provoke a fit of rage but could warrant a burial alive. It was unthinkable and should not have happened that the valuable silk was turned into something worthless, torn to pieces over a trivial personal emotion, and reduced in its value to nothing (an item not worth money). It was also a tale that would make Bi Ryu-yeon explode in anger.

“Please endure, Leader!”

Jegal Gi, in charge of the finances for the Gun Ung Hoe, pleaded with the leader. He sincerely wanted to prevent any further financial expenditure under the guise of the leader’s tantrum costs.

“This fool… Bi Ryu-yeon!”

Riiiiip! Rip! Rip!

Another piece of innocent silk lost its value. Jegal Gi felt dizzy thinking of the poor ledger. However, Maha Ryeong didn’t seem to consider his feelings at all and continued her rampage.

“This fool! This fool! This tear-able fool!”

The main culprit who humiliated her in front of everyone! No matter how she vented her frustration using various methods, the annoying visage of Bi Ryu-yeon covering her sight not only didn’t fade away but became more defined. That’s why she was even more furious now.

“Ugh!”

Crash!

Now, perhaps the silk alone was not stimulating enough, as she also smashed to pieces a high-class table made of purple sandalwood in one fell swoop. Splinters scattered in all directions.

“Ugh! What should we even categorize this expense under?”

Jegal Gi mourned the shattered purple sandalwood table, and another worry added to his mind.

“Please stop now.”

A voice echoed softly!

Maha Ryeong’s white hand, which was about to sacrifice another piece of silk, hesitated. She turned her head back. The person who stopped her was very well known to her. Jegal Gi felt as if he had met a savior.

Flash Dragon, Cheon Yajin!!

He was the man who had learned the secret techniques together with Maha Ryeong from her maternal grandfather and the founder of the supreme sword technique of drifting, Saint Ha Hu Sik.

Many in the Gun Ung Hoe considered the strongest in sword technique to be the joint winner of the previous year’s Three Stars Martial Arts Contest, the Storm Sword Ha Yun-myeong. Of course, the sword technique of Ha Yun-myeong, who followed some of the true path of Saint Ha Hu Sik, was extraordinary.

But even his sword could not compare to the sword of Flash Dragon Cheon Yajin!, who had been taught directly by Saint Ha Hu Sik himself. He was also a disciple who Maha Ryeong trusted very much. Her trust in him, who had trained under her grandfather, was absolute.

“I’ll handle this matter!”

At his words, Maha Ryeong’s expression seemed to soften a bit. She thought she could trust Cheon Yajin!.

“Really?”

“Of course, disciple!”

Maha Ryeong gently put down the silk she was holding. Thus, the piece of silk, which was about to be gloriously sacrificed, was saved from its fate and given a chance to become a beautiful garment.

“Phew… Did it survive?”

Jegal Gi sighed in relief that the expenses to be recorded under a severe category were somewhat reduced.

“Will you truly relieve my Han (a grudge or deep-seated resentment)?”

Whether the emotion she felt should be labeled as ‘Han’ was uncertain, but it seemed Maha Ryeong wanted to call it that.

“Of course. That person must be trembling in fear by now. He wouldn’t think he could touch the leader of Gun Ung Hoe, Steel Orchid Maha Ryeong, and get away with it, right?”

“Really?”

“Of course! Trust me.”

Cold-faced man. Flash Dragon Cheon Yajin! nodded and assured her.

“Bi Ryu-yeon…”

Maha Ryeong bit her lower lip hard.

She was feeling very complicated and subtle emotions. Of course, these were feelings that she herself did not recognize. It wasn’t just a simple emotion of hatred.

Bi Ryu-yeon’s outrageous behavior was a tremendous shock to her, who had always been pampered and grown up as a precious child.

Since that day, the importance of Bi Ryu-yeon in her had become too great. Of course, it was a crystallization of malice, hatred, and grudge, with not even a speck of love, friendship, or favor.

The shock made his presence take up an even larger space in Maha Ryeong’s heart. She felt a strange and peculiar emotion, the first time she had ever felt such a shock.

One thing was clear: Bi Ryu-yeon’s presence had made a significant imprint on her heart.

“I can’t forgive! I can never forgive!”

Cold anger silently blossomed in her eyes.

Now the means did not matter. Her emotions were so heightened that the intense feelings were something she had never experienced before.

Not only Maha Ryeong was burning with anger because of Bi Ryu-yeon. Another person! Yong Cheon Myeong, the leader of the Gu Jeong Hoel, who held a position equal to or higher than Maha Ryeong, was also affected.

“That man, was he called Bi Ryu-yeon?”

he wanted to forget, but despite his efforts, Bi Ryu-yeon’s face did not fade from his mind.

The last words Bi Ryu-yeon said to him were imprinted in his memory and refused to let go like a leech.

“I would like to see that your sword is not just a decoration next time.”

The last arrogant words spoken by Bi Ryu-yeon at parting were unforgettable to Yong Cheon Myeong. They were absurd, irritating, and showed a lack of awareness.

“Is it worth my full effort and attention?”

It was not yet time to make a judgment. He knew only that Bi Ryu-yeon was not just a blowhard.

He was a type of person Yong Cheon Myeong had never encountered before, and he was unsure how to deal with him.

Crack!

Yong Cheon Myeong gripped the Green Jade Buddha Sword at his waist with force.

‘This sword can’t possibly be drawn before such a person!’

He had not yet felt the true power of Bi Ryu-yeon.

‘But one thing’s for sure, that fierce lady won’t sit still…’

I can assert that if things continue in silence, she will not be Maha Ryeong, but another monster wearing her guise. Even he, who is recognized by himself and others as having extraordinary intelligence, found the future development unpredictable. Yong Cheon Myeong was particularly displeased with that part.

————————————————-

There is nothing good about being misunderstood in this world. It’s always yourself who gets hurt. However, misunderstandings often arise unintentionally and unwillingly, causing unexpected embarrassment.

“What should I do about this situation?

It was a continuous parade of misunderstandings. The more I thought about it, the more astonishing and ridiculous the barrage of misunderstandings seemed. So now, the misunderstanding has grown so deep it seemed beyond repair.

“This is worrisome.”

Using my brain, which I hadn’t used for a while, gave me quite the headache.

“Damn it!”

Swears burst forth from my mouth involuntarily. I just couldn’t hold them back.

“How am I supposed to resolve this misunderstanding?”

Despite all the pondering, I couldn’t come up with a solution. At times like this, even a dumbhead who had never said such things before would be sorely missed. It felt like I was doing a lifetime’s worth of worrying in one night.

But since the scene had been witnessed…

It was no wonder it caused a misunderstanding, considering he was caught in the middle of the night with another woman, hugging intimately to boot.

And his arms were unmistakably wrapped around Eun Seol-ran, who was wiping away tears, while he himself was sobbing pathetically!

The problem was that this perfect scene was unmistakably witnessed by Lee Jinseol. At that moment, his heart felt like it was sinking.

“Ugh!!! What to do about this situation?”

It was an incredibly vexing situation, but he had to think of a solution. There was no luxury of time to choose and pick among various means and methods.

He was in a hurry. It was as if his rear was already on fire, burning brightly. He desperately needed a game-changing move.

Perhaps at times like this…

“Should I give up everything and pray to the heavens?”

Hope seemed to have packed up and moved away without a trace.

“I’m wronged!”

He felt truly wronged.

Hyo-ryong was wronged. So he wanted to appeal his unfair treatment somehow. But the judge who should listen to his complaint was ignoring him, letting the cold wind blow.

“Hey!”

Next, he intended to call out loudly to ‘the young lady’. It was a chance encounter on the street, at a considerable distance from her. It was an opportunity, and Hyo-ryong wanted to grab it. But in the end, he couldn’t call out to ‘this young lady’. As soon as Lee Jinseol sensed his presence, she quickly hid herself elsewhere.

“Ah…”

Hyo-ryong’s head drooped down.

The first attempt was a failure.

The chance for a second attempt came unexpectedly soon. It was during lunchtime at the Cheonmu Restaurant. As long as a person is born an animal, eating is a necessity.

“Young miss…”

Hyo-ryong couldn’t bring himself to call out ‘Young miss’ again. Lee Jinseol preferred to skip a meal rather than face him. It seemed she was keen on actively utilizing the truth that a person won’t die from missing one meal. But the way she threw down her tray and fled was a bit too much. Hyo-ryong’s heart began to feel increasingly stifled.

To make even the minimal excuses, he had to face her one-on-one. But she wasn’t even giving him that minimal chance.

It was natural for Hyo-ryong’s shoulders to droop.

The people around seemed impatient as if they couldn’t wait to tease him.

“Ts, ts! You’re a terrible person. To have a change of heart while such a cute young lady is around. I’m truly disappointed. Disappointed indeed!”

Namgung Sang spoke as if he knew everything already. Hyo-ryong was curious about how he knew, but he didn’t want to dig his own grave by asking.

However, he felt the need to appeal his unfairness.

“I am wronged.”

“People who are caught on the scene always say that!”

Namgung Sang clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Really, really, I am wronged!”

Hyo-ryong’s face turned into a grimace, but Namgung Sang didn’t seem to want to stop teasing him. For the first time in a while, his status had been elevated from the one being teased to the teaser. It was too precious an opportunity to pass up.

“What can I do about a man being such a pitiable creature…”

Namgung Sang spoke as if he understood everything, but it was no consolation to Hyo-ryong.

“What should I do now?”

The water had already been spilled. There was no way to scoop it back up, so he had to think of a way to draw fresh water. It seemed like Namgung Sang, who had a clear conscience called Jin Ryeong, Who might be of help. But upon closer inspection, she was utterly useless.

“How should I know, with my lack of virtues? The world is a harsh place, full of profound depths and hardships waiting. But no one can walk that path for someone else! That’s impossible for anyone.

“What do you mean? Just tell me what you want to say.”

He spoke sullenly and bluntly, having painfully realized that it was foolish to have any more expectations.

“Eh? Oh, well! Just saying you should work hard. One must solve their own problems. Especially if it’s a deep and complex issue between men and women.”

Namgung Sang trailed off, evading the topic.

“So you turn your back on it like that. I’m disappointed in you, senior!”

“Ah, disappointed when it comes to deep, philosophical, and subtle issues between men and women, no one’s help is of any use. Try to soothe it somehow. I don’t know. I’m overwhelmed with my own problems, how could I possibly have the capacity to help you?”

Namgung Sang skillfully dodged the request with his evasion technique, and Hyo-ryong ended up painfully stepping on his own foot. Along with a feeling of intense despair, he faced only bleak prospects.

‘I feel like crying…’

Given the circumstances, Hyo-ryong had no choice but to seek salvation.