Chapter v17c20

“…So, what should we do?”

Namgung-Sang asked Jin-Ryeong, his face etched with worry and anxiety. Shouldn’t he be racking his own brain instead of relying on others? What a pathetic sight. If loving such a man was a sin, then she was guilty. Jin-Ryeong sighed inwardly, adding another to her endless collection of sighs.

“Well…”

Did he think asking his girlfriend would magically conjure a solution?

She should have dumped this pathetic man a long time ago… It was her fault for still clinging to this relationship.

“H-how can I become stronger?”

It was a rather pathetic motivation for seeking strength, but this wasn’t the time to worry about appearances.

Namgung-Sang, finally grasping the gravity of the situation, albeit a bit late, fell into deep contemplation. His anxious fidgeting and scattered thoughts, as he desperately searched for a solution, were almost endearing.

The Emei Goddess, Jin So-Ryeong’s standards were undoubtedly high. If he failed to meet them, he would be rejected at best, and at worst, he shuddered to imagine, he might even face death. That was a scenario he desperately wanted to avoid. What should he do? What should he do? What…

“Maybe I should ask Senior Brother… Gah!”

Namgung-Sang gasped as he realized the implications of his thoughtless words, born from a tangled mess of anxieties. His entire body was instantly drenched in cold sweat. The little color that remained on his face drained away in an instant. The mental blow was that severe. Past nightmares surged through the broken dam of his memory, erupting violently from the depths of his buried memories.

“Did you mean that, Sang?”

Jin-Ryeong stared at him with wide, horrified eyes. Her voice trembled slightly. She was touched. Touched by the fact that Namgung-Sang was willing to risk his life (!) for her, facing such a terrifying ordeal (!). Tears welled up in her eyes.

“N-no. Of course not. Even if I’m desperate, I wouldn’t go that far…”

He found her tearful gaze a bit overwhelming, but he couldn’t just grab her hand.

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

Namgung-Sang muttered to himself, as if in a daze. The shock of his momentary lapse in judgment, the realization of his grave mistake, had calmed him down.

“I guess I was panicking. I said something I shouldn’t have. That’s not a path a human should take. You know that, right, Ryeong?”

“I don’t know!”

Jin-Ryeong’s answer was cold.

Namgung-Sang silently berated himself for his weakness and foolishness.

‘How pathetic! I let my mind wander and almost stepped into the realm of chaos!’

“So you’re giving up? You’re going to give up when there’s a way forward? Am I that insignificant to you?”

“Th-that…”

Namgung-Sang was speechless. He beat his chest in frustration, blaming himself.

‘Oh my god! I must have been out of my mind. How could I even think of such a horrible solution? Now is the time to set aside such unrealistic solutions and focus on what I can do!’

Salvation wasn’t only found in hell. There had to be a ray of hope shining down on him, even in this life. If the heavens weren’t indifferent.

‘If I train under Senior Brother…’

He didn’t want to admit it, but he would definitely become stronger. He could guarantee that much. He was certain. His senior brother possessed the “kindness” (?) to use any means necessary to achieve that goal.

A shiver ran down his spine as he imagined that terrifying and electrifying “kindness.”

“But wouldn’t you die before you even meet my aunt?”

He desperately wanted to avoid that scenario.

“You hate it that much?”

Jin-Ryeong asked.

“Of course!”

Namgung-Sang clenched his fists and spat out the words that had been weighing on his heart.

“It’s unbelievable that you would even suggest that, knowing Senior Brother’s twisted and messed up personality! It’s madness! Asking Senior Brother for help!”

His body trembled violently with anger. Even if he spoke until his tongue was severed and his jawbone disintegrated, he wouldn’t be able to express the full extent of his frustration.

“He’s fiercer than a lion, more cunning than a fox, more venomous than a viper, obsessed with money, gambles like it’s breathing, and I’m sure he spends every waking moment thinking of new ways to torment us! Yes! I’m sure of it! He’s not human! Calling that monster human is an insult to humanity!”

“Hmm!”

It was common for a man to smile. It usually meant something good had happened. But if a simple smile could change someone’s fate, it was worth examining its meaning. Especially if the owner of the smile had long bangs covering their eyes.

“So that’s what you think. That hurts my feelings a little.”

The world often moved in ways that defied individual will.

Bi Ryu-Yeon, the young man who had been listening to their conversation, knew this well. If asked where he had started listening, he would say from the moment they opened the letter. If asked where he was, he would say above their heads. If asked if he was eavesdropping, he would vehemently deny it.

He was there first. Whether his presence was fate or coincidence was unknown. He had simply thought it was a nice day for a nap. And this was one of his favorite napping spots.

The perfect amount of sunlight, not too bright, the tranquility that wouldn’t disturb his slumber, the sound of the wind and the rustling leaves pleasing to his ears, and complete privacy.

The top of the Moon Shadow Pavilion was an ideal place for a leisurely afternoon nap. It was actually Namgung-Sang and Jin-Ryeong who had woken the sleeping lion. If they had known, they would have regretted their blunder.

Yes, Bi Ryu-Yeon had heard everything.

From where? From the beginning! Until when? Until the end!

As the saying goes, walls have ears. Namgung-Sang and Jin-Ryeong had underestimated the world.

They had been playing right under the nose of the god of calamity.

“Tsk, tsk, there’s no need to be ashamed. I’m always willing to help if you ask.”

His voice wouldn’t reach them, even though he was right above them, because he had erected a soundproof barrier using his Qi. So he could mutter to his heart’s content.

“It seems I have to step in again.”

He couldn’t let his beloved disciple and junior brother face such a dark fate! He couldn’t bear the thought of them failing someone’s test miserably. He was willing to endure a little inconvenience to prevent that. It would be a bit troublesome, but he couldn’t be ignored, could he?

He had to be recognized, even if it cost him his life (!). The thought of being seen as someone who had raised such a weakling sent shivers down his spine.

Smirk!

“Good, this is getting interesting.”

Calamity smiled ominously.

Bi Ryu-Yeon began to brainstorm, formulating various plans in his head.

“But if I only focus on Gungsang, wouldn’t the others get jealous and accuse me of favoritism?”

That would be another problem.

Being popular was always a pain, Bi Ryu-Yeon sighed.

He had been too lenient with them lately, so it was time to be a bit stricter. He had been feeling the need to train them after being slightly disappointed by their performance at the Hwasan Convention. This was a good opportunity.

At that moment, all sixteen members of the Vermilion Bird group, including Namgung-Sang and Jin-Ryeong, shuddered, feeling an inexplicable chill.

“What’s wrong, Sang? You suddenly shivered.”

“Nothing. I just felt a chill.”

“Actually, I felt it too. It felt like a cold wave ran down my spine.”

It wasn’t a good sign.

“I hope it’s nothing…”

Sometimes, the body’s intuition was more accurate than reason. But it was too late. An arrow, once released, wouldn’t return to the bow before hitting its target.

Especially when it came to someone like Bi Ryu-Yeon. If he saw an arrow faltering mid-flight, he would mercilessly whip its tail.

Of course, Jin-Ryeong agreed with his assessment of Bi Ryu-Yeon. But there was no other option. They both knew it. But he kept trying to avoid the inevitable, the path with no visible end.

“So you’re scared?”

Jin-Ryeong asked sharply, rebuking him.

“No, but…”

No man wanted to admit to being a coward in front of his beloved.

“Tell me honestly, Namgung-Sang! Don’t avoid me. And don’t avoid yourself!”

‘Avoiding…’

Her words pierced his heart like a dagger. He could no longer deny the truth he had been trying to ignore.

“Yes… I’m scared.”

Namgung-Sang said, his head bowed.

“I’m… scared of Senior Brother. When I’m with him, the world I know keeps crumbling, and it terrifies me. I don’t want to admit that the world I knew was a world full of lies. I don’t want to admit that I’m a pathetic human, clinging to that world, wanting to stay there.”

Jin-Ryeong silently approached him, opened her arms, and embraced him tightly. She patted his back as he cried.

“It’s okay. Don’t be scared. I’m scared of Senior Brother too. I’m scared of his obsession with pushing human limits, his relentless pursuit of improvement. But we can’t go back to the way things were. We can’t afford to be complacent, even if we want to. We’ve already lost our safe haven. We can’t stay children forever. So let’s move forward together. I’ll be by your side.”

Her words were a warm comfort, healing his heart. He was lucky to have met such a woman.

“You really mean it, Ryeong?”

“Of course, Sang!”

“Having fun, are we?”

“Yes… we are… huh?”

Namgung-Sang blinked, confused, and looked at Jin-Ryeong. She was shaking her head, her face pale. Perhaps she was lamenting her fate, becoming a widow before even getting married.

Did he rise from the ground? Did he fall from the sky? A man suddenly appeared before them. A face they both knew too well.

The man, his mouth uncovered by his bangs, spoke.

“Thank you for the colorful assessment and honest feedback, Gungsang. It’s been very helpful.”

“Gasp!”

Namgung-Sang and Jin-Ryeong felt their hearts sink. Their tears dried up instantly. Where did he come from? They hadn’t sensed his presence.

And how was it helpful? A terrifying thought crossed their minds.

‘Come to think of it… what happened to No-Hak…?’

An unpleasant memory resurfaced. The two clung to each other, frozen in fear.