Chapter 233: Battlefront. (3)

Left alone in the barracks, Biyeonsum.

The murmuring sounds from outside, or

amidst an unknown atmosphere, he still held tension within him.

It had been about an hour since Gujeolyeop had left.

And still, no one had come to the barracks.

‘…Is it okay for me to just be here like this?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he wondered if it was right for him to be here like this.

If it had been Maeng, he would have probably thrown me into a hastily made prison cell, saying I needed to have my identity verified.

In a way, it couldn’t be helped but feel like sloppy work.

He worried something might go wrong if he just stayed here.

If someone else discovered a complete stranger like him just hanging around.

It could lead to trouble.

As he continued to fidget nervously.

Srrrruk.

Someone entered the barracks where Biyeonsum was.

Perhaps because the gap widened as someone entered.

He felt a chill mixed with the air, maybe because the wind blew.

It was almost summer, yet there was a chill.

Had his senses dulled from being too tense?

“Hmm?”

The person who entered the barracks showed a subtle reaction upon seeing Biyeonsum.

The problem was Biyeonsum, who was facing the person who entered.

“Uh… Uh huh?”

The person who entered the barracks was a woman, and moreover, an incredible beauty.

Not to mention her fair, milky-white skin.

Her silky black hair, and even her sky-blue eyes that seemed like they were embedded with jewels.

She was a beauty whose mere presence made his heart tremble.

Furthermore, Biyeonsum knew who this woman was.

He had a memory of seeing her from afar.

“…Seol, Snow Phoenix…?”

“Who might you be?”

Snow Phoenix Moyong Hi-ah.

It was definitely her.

He remembered seeing her from afar at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering held last year.

As a man, there was no way he could forget such a beautiful person.

“Ah… I, I am.”

Why Snow Phoenix was here.

He should have thought about that first, but.

Biyeonsum, whose brain had short-circuited at the fact that he was conversing with the renowned Snow Phoenix, couldn’t even speak properly.

And Moyong Hi-ah, watching Biyeonsum, tidied her hair slightly and asked again.

“Perhaps, are you the one brought by Yeolhyeopgeom?”

“Ah… Ahh. Yes! That’s right. I, I am Biyeonsum.”

“Oh dear, seems like he brought another one. You must have it tough.”

“No… it’s, it’s not tough.”

“Then, where did Yeolhyeopgeom, who brought you, go?”

As if uninterested in the name he painstakingly introduced himself with.

Moyong Hi-ah, with a face as cold as ice, only threw questions at Biyeonsum.

“…He, he said he was bringing someone and then disappeared.”

“Leaving you here?”

“Yes….”

“…Honestly.”

Moyong Hi-ah, lost in thought at Biyeonsum’s answer.

Touched her lips with her pretty fingertips.

The sight was so captivating that Biyeonsum had to calm his pounding heart.

Snow Phoenix, as if finished thinking, spoke to Biyeonsum.

“Follow me.”

“Huh?”

“It feels uneasy leaving you here. And I had to go anyway. So, follow me.”

“Ah, I understand!”

He wondered if he was allowed to leave, but.

He couldn’t dare disobey Snow Phoenix’s words.

It somehow felt that way.

Moyong Hi-ah left the barracks.

Biyeonsum, who quickly followed her out, felt like he was dreaming.

‘Walking with Snow Phoenix….’

To be strolling through the forest with the famous Snow Phoenix.

Although he had been abandoned by his comrades and ended up in this dangerous forest.

Just meeting Snow Phoenix made all his worries disappear.

He carefully entered the forest with Snow Phoenix.

At first, Biyeonsum felt good just being with Snow Phoenix.

But soon, he felt a sense of strangeness.

‘Why… can’t I hear any sounds?’

The basic sounds that should be heard in a forest, or.

Even the slightest presence couldn’t be felt.

Snow Phoenix must surely be feeling this strangeness too, yet.

She simply crossed the forest as if she were accustomed to it.

How much time had passed?

After passing a few trees and reaching a slightly wider area, Biyeonsum.

“Hooop…!”

Had to gasp in disbelief at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Because the corpses of the blue monsters they had encountered on the plains were scattered all around.

Their numbers were too vast to count.

Moreover, they looked like they hadn’t been dead for long.

The appearance of the monsters, seemingly burned or torn apart alive.

Was enough to make Biyeonsum, who had experienced real combat a few times, flinch.

They were that gruesome.

Biyeonsum glanced to see if Snow Phoenix was perhaps startled.

But Snow Phoenix merely walked past, seemingly unfazed.

“It seems like… maybe a demonic gate opened.”

Biyeonsum tried to make conversation in an awkward tone.

But Snow Phoenix acted as if she heard nothing, showing no sign of concern.

Feeling awkward, Biyeonsum shut his mouth and followed Snow Phoenix again.

Trying his best to ignore the scattered monster corpses around them.

‘…Who on earth did this….’

Each and every one of them was a blue monster.

Biyeonsum could also handle blue monsters, but.

He couldn’t possibly face such an immense number.

‘Did multiple people handle this?’

That was the only way he could see it.

How could anyone possibly handle this many alone?

Even Yeolhyeopgeom, who had saved him.

Or even Mujin, the peak martial artist standing guard earlier.

They wouldn’t be able to handle this many alone.

How much further did they walk?

Snow Phoenix, who had been walking for a while, stopped first.

Biyeonsum soon stopped following her.

And then.

“…Huh… Huh….”

Biyeonsum collapsed onto the ground, unable to believe the absurd sight before his eyes.

“Wh… What… is this…?”

At first, he thought it was a small hill.

Too small to be a mountain, too big to be a hill.

He had thought it was just an ordinary hill one might see while passing by.

But.

Upon confirming its true nature, Biyeonsum sank to the ground and trembled.

What formed that hill was, all of it, monsters.

He finally understood why he couldn’t feel the presence of monsters the deeper they went.

Because all the fierce monsters of this forest lay dead, forming the hill.

And at the very top of that hill, he saw someone of unknown identity sitting.

Someone sitting cross-legged, resting their chin on their hand, observing the ground.

His face couldn’t be seen clearly due to the encroaching darkness, but.

He could see red eyes blinking.

“I told you last time.”

At the voice coming from atop the hill.

Biyeonsum flinched.

Because the voice sounded younger than expected.

Too deep to be a boy, too thin to be a young man.

Somewhere in between.

“Why do you bring a burden with you every time you go out?”

The man’s words, which seemed to contain all the annoyance and irritation in the world.

Were directed at someone.

Wondering who he was talking to, Biyeonsum looked around.

On the ground across the hill, someone was kneeling with their hands raised high towards the sky.

It was the same way Biyeonsum’s grandfather used to scold him when he was a seven-year-old snot-nosed kid.

“…Huh?”

Biyeonsum’s eyes widened as he saw the person being punished like that.

And for good reason, it was Yeolhyeopgeom Gujeolyeop, who had saved him, being punished.

If there was any difference from Biyeonsum’s childhood.

It was that he was holding an incredibly large rock, sourced from somewhere, while being punished.

That Yeolhyeopgeom Gujeolyeop….

Gujeolyeop, who had shown his presence by emitting sword energy.

Was standing there being punished in a rather unsightly manner.

“What the….”

“I’m here.”

Just as Biyeonsum couldn’t properly comprehend the situation.

Snow Phoenix, ignoring Gujeolyeop completely, spoke to the person on the hill.

It was a very quiet voice, but perhaps it was heard.

The chilling red eyes turned this way.

Biyeonsum trembled upon meeting the gaze.

But Snow Phoenix seemed unfazed.

Moreover.

He felt a vitality that hadn’t been there earlier.

“You know it’s almost mealtime, right? If you’re done with work, let’s go together quickly.”

“Did you come to pick me up?”

“Because the Young Master wasn’t coming.”

Biyeonsum had to be surprised.

Because Snow Phoenix’s usually cold voice contained a hint of laughter.

“…Hmm.”

Thump.

The small sound of landing.

When Biyeonsum turned his head towards the sound.

Someone was already standing there.

From when he descended the hill to coming here.

Biyeonsum hadn’t noticed a single movement he made.

“Put it down.”

KUNG!

As soon as the words were spoken, Gujeolyeop dropped the rock he was holding.

Tsk.

Seeing Gujeolyeop like that, he even clicked his tongue, as if displeased.

Biyeonsum, unable to understand any of the unfolding situation.

Checked the face of the person casually observing the surroundings.

“…Ah?”

His appearance was closer to a young man than a boy.

The young man, wearing red martial attire and pushing back his hair.

Had a characteristic fierce gaze and brows furrowed as if displeased with everything in the world.

It meant he had an impression that was hard to meet for long.

And Biyeonsum knew someone who looked like that.

Because it was the boy whose face had remained etched in a corner of Biyeonsum’s heart since the last martial arts tournament.

No, perhaps now a young man.

“Jin… Ryong?”

At the words Biyeonsum uttered unconsciously.

The young man, Gu Yangcheon, shifted his gaze and looked at Biyeonsum.

“What, punk?”

At the growling voice, Biyeonsum thought.

‘Right, it must be a dream.’

Somehow.

Snow Phoenix on the front line, Jin Ryong too.

Peak martial artists standing guard.

He thought it was strange.

Wasn’t it too unrealistic?

“Haha, maybe I haven’t slept enough, my head seems to have gone strange.”

Biyeonsum nodded with conviction.

Thud.

He promptly lost consciousness and collapsed onto the ground.

“What’s with this crazy bastard?”

Gu Yangcheon just stared at Biyeonsum, looking utterly bewildered.