Chapter 42: Sword Phoenix (2)

Sword Phoenix (劍鳳) (2)

One of the Three Lords of the World, the Fallen Lord (敗尊), said it himself.

He said that this was the Age of Shooting Stars (流星).

It was a statement born from the fact that geniuses of the century were appearing one after another, like stars piercing the sky and falling to the ground.

This is truly an absurd era.

There are so many talented individuals that outstanding geniuses become skilled individuals (秀才).

Skilled individuals become mediocre talents (凡才).

It was an era where mediocre talents became dull talents (鈍才).

How absurd this era is.

From the perspective of the Central Plains (中原), it could be seen as the most brilliant era, as it’s a time when many outstanding martial artists are produced, but…

For me, it was not.

‘I was born in the wrong era.’

Words I heard countless times.

‘It’s not that I lack talent… it’s just rather peculiar.’

Words I heard thousands of times.

‘Compared to my sisters, I’m quite lacking.’

Words I heard tens of thousands of times.

I, who was clueless about my standing, was probably quite enraged around this time.

Because I alone was not a star amidst the crowd of stars pouring down upon the world.

At that time, I blamed the world’s absurdity.

Because others shone far too brightly to blame my own lineage.

However, conversely to my inability to become a star.

Brighter stars are bound to exist even among the countless stars.

Namgung’s (南宮) Thunder Dragon (雷龍) was like that.

Dang’s (唐門) Poisonous Phoenix (毒鳳) was like that.

Hwasan’s (華山) Sword Dragon (劍龍) is quiet for now, but before long, it will bloom plum blossoms from its sword’s tip.

It won’t be long until Wudang’s (武當) Sleeping Dragon (潛龍) awakens from its slumber.

Among the countless young martial artists, those who claimed the positions of Dragon (龍) and Phoenix (鳳) through talent and effort are precisely the stars of this current era.

It’s a trend that has become almost certain: if the future number one under heaven (天下第一人) emerges, it will be from among them.

Sword Phoenix (劍鳳) was a woman who was particularly brilliant even among them.

The Top Young Talent (第一後期指數).

The one who exuded a uniquely remarkable presence amidst the stirring dragons.

At the point when Peng Ujin (彭宇鎭), known as the Divine Dragon (神龍), received the position of Young Master of the Peng (彭) Family and stepped down from the ranks of young talents.

The position of Top Young Talent naturally went to Sword Phoenix.

Surprisingly, no one raised any objection.

It meant that they, who were full of arrogance and confidence, did not express even the slightest objection.

It also signified how outstanding Sword Phoenix’s standing was.

That’s why I hated her.

I hated that she possessed talent that was unapproachable, even though we were children of the same father.

I hated that wherever I went, Sword Phoenix’s name was attached before mine.

To me, Sword Phoenix was like a wall I couldn’t overcome, no matter what I tried.

And like a vast ocean I couldn’t cross, no matter how much I rowed.

That’s why I hated it.

She was so far ahead, too distant and difficult to reach, that I always wanted to run away.

After lamenting inwardly like that for a long time, another thought occurred.

‘Is this the real reason?’

The answer didn’t come to mind.

Because I already knew without needing to recall.

‘…Actually, the biggest problem is…’

Even if I clumsily attached and elaborated on reasons for hating her.

I actually knew.

Even if I made so many reasons and tried to find justifications for hating her.

Ultimately, because I couldn’t hate her.

That’s what I hated.

Until now, it was definitely like that…

“Brother.”

“…Mm.”

“Huh? Nuh-uh!?”

“Y-yes. Y-yes, Noenim (누님)…”

“Right, that’s right. Brother, your hands are going down again. Hold them up properly.”

“…Yes.”

As my arms, trembling slightly, lowered little by little, I raised them straight up towards the sky again and thought.

‘…Hate her? Bullshit. I feel like I can hate you fucking hard right now.’

It seemed like I could do it easily now.

…You wicked bitch.

---

The escape plan I intended to execute as soon as I heard the news was thwarted far too easily.

Because Elder Yi (李長老), who was standing there, grabbed me.

“Where are you going?”

“Ijangro-nim, could you perhaps turn a blind eye just this once?”

“What are you talking about? It’s not just the engagement, your Noenim has arrived!”

“Yes, one is already overwhelming, and now there are two reasons, so naturally, I’m running away!”

“…I simply cannot comprehend. Your Noenim has come home after several months, yet you intend to leave without even seeing her face.”

“Who knows what I’ll face if I see her…? I’ll be holed up in the mountains for the next few months, so please don’t look for me.”

“…Did you eat something wrong in Sichuan (四川)? Why are you acting so erratically? You’re making me want to knock you unconscious.”

At Elder Yi’s chilling words, I paused my movement for a moment.

This crazy old geezer…!

Of all things, being grabbed by the nape of my neck meant I couldn’t escape, no matter what I did.

Even though my abilities had grown, it was still a futile matter in front of Elder Yi.

Even so, my eyes were scanning for an escape route, and my mind was racing with how to get away.

Then, I felt a presence I absolutely hated sensing.

‘This way… They’re coming this way…!!’

They said she was in the head family’s quarters…!

Rendering Elder Yi’s words moot, I could clearly feel the approaching presence coming from afar.

It was because my increased Nine Flames Wheel Technique (九炎火輪功) was involuntarily resonating with the familiar presence.

As the presence drew nearer, my body grew hot.

‘Damn, what kind of presence is this.’

The presence is overwhelming.

Seriously, are they perhaps clad in flames?

How can a human approach while openly releasing such intensity?

‘At least try to conceal it…!’

That lunatic wasn’t concealing their presence at all, as if intending to melt everything around them.

Under the immense presence, Elder Yi dropped me onto the ground with a thud.

Because there was no point in trying to escape now anyway.

No sooner had I thought that.

Someone landed lightly in front of my quarters, crossing the main gate.

I took deep breaths repeatedly, observing the intruder who had appeared.

Contrary to the aura enveloping her body, she had a considerably slender frame.

Her long black hair, flowing down her back, held a slight reddish hue, and her eyes were a deep crimson.

This was evidence that the Nine Flames Wheel Technique had surpassed the 5th star.

It meant she had become a martial artist capable of gaining renown as a powerhouse in the Central Plains.

She had inherited the fierce eyes characteristic of the Gu (具家) family bloodline, but along with her aura and distinct features, she presented a formidable beauty.

If my second Noenim, Gu Yeonseo (具延瑞), had a relatively gentle impression.

That terrifying person was the spitting image of our father.

The fluttering red robe, stirred by her surging aura, bore a magnificent tiger embroidered in gold thread.

That was precisely the robe worn by the commander of the Gu family’s Sword Brigade (劍隊).

The woman looked at me for a moment, then swept her hair back with her hand.

Only then did the oppressive heat vanish.

As I finally exhaled the breath I’d been holding, the woman’s crimson lips parted simultaneously.

“Brother.”

Her voice, with a slightly low tone for a woman and unwavering, carried a sense of gravitas.

“Brother.”

“Huh…?”

“If you see your Noenim, you should greet her first.”

“….”

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

What should I say? My mind raced through hundreds of possibilities in the span of a split second.

Then, I finally managed to speak.

“Hello…?”

“….”

There was no answer.

She merely gave a slight nod.

As she seemed displeased about something, I tried adding more.

“H…ello?”

Nod.

As if my words had finally pleased her, she nodded her head as if she’d been waiting.

‘…This is driving me insane.’

Sword Phoenix, Gu Huibi (具姬妃).

My first Noenim, whom I hadn’t seen in years.

What should I say? Should I say she looks the same?

Gu Huibi was looking down at me with blazing eyes.

‘…Why is she looking down at me?’

Really? Our heights should be roughly similar.

Come to think of it, before I knew it, I was kneeling.

“…?”

….Huh?

Could it be that I knelt down instinctively?

Surprisingly, the fear ingrained in my body made me do it.

“I like how quick you are to act.”

Gu Huibi seemed pleased with my reaction and grinned.

…Her smile was terrifying.

“You should raise your hands too.”

“…Huh? Why my hands?”

“Aren’t you?”

At those words, my hands shot up.

This too was beyond my control.

Fucking early training….

“Brother.”

“…Mm.”

“Huh? Nuh-uh!?”

“Y-yes. Y-yes, Noenim…”

“Right, that’s right. Brother, your hands are going down again. Hold them up properly.”

“…Yes.”

Why is she acting crazy right after we haven’t seen each other for so long?

Trying to signal for help, I glanced at Elder Yi, but he was looking at me with a pleased expression instead.

“Your sibling bond is still strong.”

“…Does this look good to you?”

“Hahahaha!”

Gu Huibi tossed me aside – me, who had started being punished without even knowing why – and paid her respects to Elder Yi.

“It’s nice to see you after so long, Ijangro-nim.”

“Yes, Huibi, have you been well?”

“I’m always the same, of course.”

“Always the same? I have heard often that you are fulfilling your role properly as the commander of the Sword Brigade.”

“It’s because the members all work so hard.”

Elder Yi and Gu Huibi exchanged pleasantries and greetings, laughing heartily.

It was all fine and good, but…

Must my arms remain like this?

‘…Me, at my damn age…’

I was trembling uncontrollably.

Not because holding my arms was tiring, but from sheer humiliation.

…Truly.

“This is too much…!”

I couldn’t stand it anymore.

Considering I had regressed, being manipulated like this made no sense.

Finally unable to stand it, I lowered my arms to argue with Gu Huibi.

“How old am I now…!?”

“Put them up again.”

“Yes.”

Fuck…….

Gu Huibi stepped away from Elder Yi and came closer, meeting my gaze.

Gu Huibi’s eyes, dyed red from her cultivation technique, evoked both mystery and fear.

“Brother.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

“That I tried to run away when my Noenim arrived…?”

“…Did you try to run away?”

Shit… That wasn’t it.

As I cleared my throat nervously and tried to look away, Gu Huibi poked my cheek with her finger, turning my head back.

What the hell is it? What did I do wrong to be scolded like this?

They say people get smarter when facing a crisis; another reason popped into my head.

“…Is it perhaps because of my second Noenim?”

“Yeonseo?”

“Yes, if it’s because I slapped Yeonseo Noenim…”

“Yeonseo was slapped by you?”

…Huh, this doesn’t seem right either?

For some reason, it felt like I was confessing things one by one.

But strangely enough, Gu Huibi looked rather nonchalant about this particular confession.

Why is she acting so nonchalant when her brother was slapped?

“Strange. Yeonseo didn’t seem like the type to get hit by you.”

“If that’s not it either, why are you doing this to me, Noenim?”

Perhaps my words had displeased her, as Gu Huibi glared at me with fierce eyes.

The energy slowly creeping out bit by bit sent tingles through me.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“You’re getting engaged again, aren’t you?”

“…What?”

I must have looked incredibly stupid without realizing it.

What did I just hear?

Did I hear that correctly?

I’m sure she said engagement… what does the engagement have to do with me being scolded right now?

Seemingly ignoring my confusion, Gu Huibi continued speaking.

“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“I only found out today…?”

Even if I had known about it beforehand, why would I have needed to tell Gu Huibi about the engagement?

…No, wait. Am I really being scolded right now for that?

“Are you angry about that right now?”

“Of course, I’m angry about that! You’re getting engaged again without your Noenim’s permission!?”

“What the hell are you saying! Noenim, have you lost your mind!?”

I was so dumbfounded I let out a hollow laugh.

Did she get drunk early? What kind of bizarre nonsense is she spouting!

As I retorted indignantly and shouted, Gu Huibi’s brow furrowed.

That was the expression she made when she was truly angry.

Uh, this seems a bit dangerous…?

Whoosh!

Sure enough, heat poured out of Gu Huibi’s body.

Seeing the fluttering robe accompanying the heat, I could tell how much power she contained within her body.

‘…Looks like I’m screwed?’

The instinct of a younger brother who grew up getting beaten was screaming at me.

To bang my head right now.

My rational mind said.

It’s too late anyway.

‘You crazy bastard… then what am I supposed to do?’

As I was stealthily moving, thinking maybe I should try escaping even now, Gu Huibi’s fierce voice cut through the air.

“Crazy? Because I’m letting you off easy, you’re saying things you shouldn’t….”

“Young Master (도련님)…?”

In that moment, an unexpected voice interjected.

Gu Huibi’s aura, which had been blazing as if about to explode, vanished in an instant.

Turning towards where the voice came from, I saw Wi Seora (尉雪兒) holding a bowl of warm dumplings and looking at me.

“Wh-what…”

Looking at Wi Seora, I felt a chill and looked back towards Gu Huibi.

Gu Huibi’s blazing eyes, which had been fixed on me, were now directed at Wi Seora.