Ch.56Chapter 56 – Three Phoenixes (1)

When women make a name for themselves at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, they’re given titles with the character “Phoenix” (鳳).

Normally, only one person would emerge victorious from the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, but special rules were applied for this competition.

“This is the first time all three of us are being celebrated together, isn’t it? Come on, you can get closer.”

“I’m delighted! We may have fought among ourselves before, but now we’ve reconciled and joined forces for our master!”

“…Yet I fought the hardest.”

Azazel, Verdandi, and Bi-wol were on stage conversing with each other, while I stood a step back, observing the scene.

To be honest, the result was far from what I had expected.

Even though they learned martial arts under me, Verdandi and Azazel had an absolute lack of time.

Being able to grasp the essence of martial arts and apply it immediately in such a short period is the result of innate talent and effort. After all, martial arts are perfected through countless repetitions.

“Master! Please come over here too!”

“Are you talking to me?”

Verdandi gestured toward me standing at a distance. As if to counter her, Bi-wol silently approached me and linked her arm with mine.

“Yes, indeed. We could only reach this stage thanks to your grace, Master. How could you miss such an occasion?”

A soft yet firm sensation brushed against my arm. Seeing my flustered expression, Bi-wol slightly raised the corner of her mouth, displaying a confident attitude.

While I was still bewildered by Bi-wol’s sudden physical contact, I felt someone embracing my other arm.

“Brother, wasn’t it my performance that secured our victory in the end? Please praise me.”

As if competing with Bi-wol, the person who had linked arms with me was Azazel. She went even further, rubbing her head against my shoulder as if asking to be patted.

Her rose-pink hair fluttered, releasing a soft fragrance. My eyes widened momentarily at the scent, something unavailable in this martial world.

“Master? Why are you looking at another woman instead of me?”

“Ah, no… it’s just the fragrance…”

“Hehe, what’s wrong? Am I too pretty that you’re at a loss for words?”

Just as I tried to explain myself, Azazel deliberately cut me off. Their grip on my arms tightened, and I could feel the already close body parts pressing even more firmly against me.

“This vicious wolf of a woman…”

“All you do is show jealousy. Do you think Brother would like someone like that?”

Azazel firmly declared to Bi-wol. It felt strange to see the two final bosses from the original novel fighting over me.

“What did you say…?”

“I’m saying that if you want Brother all to yourself, perhaps you should work on your aegyo and supportive abilities.”

Now even the Saintess was lecturing the Heavenly Demon, who should be stronger than anyone.

I found Azazel’s sudden change in attitude awkward.

After all, just days ago she had been snarling like an orphaned kitten, unable to forget Kang Si-woo, but now she was acting like a completely domesticated cat.

“…You have a point. If one’s abilities are exceptionally superior, Master would have no reason to look elsewhere.”

Bi-wol nodded, surprisingly accepting Azazel’s opinion. It seemed they hadn’t fought and reconciled again while I was away.

Remembering how I had barely managed to stop Bi-wol and Azazel from pulling each other’s hair last time sent shivers down my spine.

“That’s right. Fighting is meaningless. We must cooperate to defeat that wicked woman.”

While making this serious statement, Azazel took a step forward. I wondered who this “wicked woman” they were referring to might be.

‘Could they be talking about Seol-hwa?’

She’s like a mother figure to them. She was also my ex-girlfriend, and someone I had promised to marry in the real world.

As if seeing through my thoughts, Azazel glared at Bing-seol-hwa, who was sitting in the audience seats in the distance, clapping her hands.

“You mean Bing-seol-hwa?”

“Yes. We need to join forces to separate that woman from your side, Brother. That monster favored by the Outer Gods.”

With such obvious hints, it would be strange not to understand. Bi-wol and Kim Hyul, Verdandi and Sieg-hardt had even talked before their matches.

I sighed deeply, wondering how I would eventually tell them the truth. To anyone looking, Seol-hwa and I would appear like siblings sharing the same blood.

Both of us, descendants of the North Sea Ice Palace, with identical snow-white hair and blue eyes. Contrary to this reality, I would have to tell them about my past life, that she was my ex-girlfriend, and about the novel.

‘…Can I do this well?’

While I was worrying, my feet had already stepped onto the stage. Bi-wol and Azazel had pulled me up with pure strength.

“Let me join too!”

With Verdandi embracing me from behind, I ended up in the ridiculous position of walking onto the stage with three disciples clinging to me.

To an uninformed observer, it would simply look like a close relationship between master and disciples. It might appear as if they were yielding their victory in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament to me.

“The Dragon Phoenix Tournament finals that heated up the Central Plains! Finally, we have our winners!”

Cheon Cheon-mu, serving as the commentator, used his sound techniques to congratulate me and my disciples in a loud voice to the other martial artists.

Originally, I expected to be called a madman who would do anything for victory by taking disciples from the West.

“Please give a round of applause to the disciples of the Ice Dragon Fate Sect, who have demonstrated that even third-rate martial arts can reach higher realms…!”

It seemed that teaching Verdandi and Azazel the Six Harmonies Sword Technique and Six Harmonies Fist had earned the recognition of other martial artists.

In this world, although the West and the Central Plains were aware of each other’s existence, there wasn’t enough exchange to truly understand one another.

In fact, ki and mana only differ in form, while their uses and applications are quite similar.

Loud cheers and applause erupted from all around, directed at us.

“Now, the Alliance Leader will personally bestow the Phoenix titles to the three winners!”

Go Tae-ho, a character I had created in the original novel “Diamond Fist King,” was originally supposed to be killed by Bi-wol, the Heavenly Demon.

Who would have thought he would end up personally giving Bi-wol a title? Life is indeed full of surprises.

“…Everyone did well. Especially the two young ladies who seem to have come from the West.”

Go Tae-ho spoke while looking at Verdandi and Azazel with amazement. He was probably pleased that children from the West had won using martial arts rather than magic.

The Dragon Phoenix Tournament was also an event dedicated to testing the skills of younger practitioners and fostering the next generation. Such competitions encouraged sects and families to properly train their disciples.

“Aren’t you going to praise me?”

Bi-wol, not wanting to be outdone by the other disciples, questioned the Alliance Leader directly.

“Ah, of course, the young lady named Bi-wol also worked hard. After all, you defeated the legendary Indestructible Diamond.”

Only then did Go Tae-ho laugh and praise Bi-wol. She was already a famous figure known to everyone in the Central Plains martial world, so it wasn’t unreasonable that he had forgotten to mention her.

“I would like to bestow the titles of Little Sword Phoenix, Little Plum Phoenix, and Little Heavenly Fist Phoenix. Would that be acceptable?”

Go Tae-ho spoke while looking at Bi-wol, Verdandi, and Azazel in turn. The titles bestowed directly by the Martial Alliance Leader had the prefix “Little” (小).

It seemed inappropriate to immediately give Dragon or Phoenix titles since this was a competition among younger practitioners, not a major event like the Orthodox-Demonic War.

“Hehe, now I can stand one step closer to Master’s position.”

“…I don’t know what a phoenix is, but if it pairs with Master, I’m happy!”

Bi-wol’s face bloomed with a smile as she muttered that things were finally right, while Verdandi nodded vigorously and raised both arms high into the air.

“Brother, this is an achievement we all worked hard for. Please be a little happier.”

Noticing my slightly disappointed expression at the “Little” prefix, Azazel took my hands in hers and spoke softly.

As the warmth of her hands traveled up mine, creating a ticklish feeling—

“Well then, I’d like each of you to share a few words.”

Go Tae-ho cleared his throat and approached me, signaling for me to say something. Such attention was necessary for future Dragon Phoenix Tournaments.

“This victory was achieved thanks to our Master who cared for and guided us. He taught us that even with third-rate martial arts, the ultimate realm of martial prowess is achieved through endless practice and effort.”

Bi-wol was the first to speak. Having accomplished the feat of defeating Kim Hyul using the Three Talents Swordsmanship, confidence radiated from her face.

“This was my first time learning martial arts, and it’s really fun! I now understand that even if a sword technique is considered weak, there’s something amazing at its pinnacle!”

Verdandi spoke next. She had used the Mount Hua Sect’s Six Harmonies Swordsmanship to reach the realm where plum blossoms bloom on the sword energy.

If the leader of the Mount Hua Sect had seen this, he would have offered a fortune to take her away, but I had no intention of letting Verdandi go.

“We all live with insecurities in one corner of our hearts. We can’t erase negative feelings like worry, sadness, and jealousy… but my Master taught me that there comes a time when we must face them directly.”

For the first time, the word “Master” came from Azazel’s mouth. She usually called me “Brother.”

“…Therefore, this victory would have been impossible without my Master.”

With a devout appearance befitting her title as Saintess, she even put her hands together in prayer, showing what seemed like genuine faith.

“You have good disciples, Bing-yeon.”

“…They’re more than I deserve.”

The Alliance Leader smiled contentedly, patting my back in encouragement.

“Well then, I should present the prize.”

Simultaneously, an ornate box appeared. Decorated with gold and shells to display its value, its identity was:

“…The promised 10,000-Year Ultimate Blood Treasure.”

The medicinal elixir I had considered my last hope to fix my constitution—

The 10,000-Year Ultimate Blood Treasure, formed as earth essence slowly dissolves over ten thousand years under high temperature and pressure.