Chapter v11c12

**Reunion**

A sharp knife flashed in the air. Something, presumably flesh or meat, was being brutally dissected under the blade. The wielder of the knife showed no mercy.

Swish!

Thud!

Slice!

Once, twice, thrice, four times… who knows how many cuts followed.

A deep, vivid red!

Blood flowed like a river from the gashes. Innards spilled out in a heap.

A cruel smile appeared on the face of the monstrous man wielding the knife. He reached out and viciously ripped out the protruding innards.

“Hehehe!”

The monster licked the red blood off his hand with a sickening grin. It was a horrific sight.

Whoosh!

The flames roared fiercely.

“Ten servings of five-spice pork belly are ready!”

The voice of the cook called out, and the waiter scurried over with the dish.

“Why is it so late? Are you planning to bring it after we starve to death?”

Yeomdo complained loudly. There were still forty more servings to be delivered. The kitchen was a battle zone trying to fulfill the massive order.

“Heh heh… I’m sorry, sir! Coming right up!”

The waiter bowed repeatedly, frozen by Yeomdo’s menacing aura. For an ordinary person to face the gaze of a master like Yeomdo was absurd.

He was lucky he didn’t wet himself.

This wasn’t just any ordinary inn. Upon entering Samyang City, they had inquired about and arrived at the best inn in the city. This was no third-rate establishment where leaks caused flooding during rainy days. This was a proper first-class inn.

The Shunping Inn!

The well-funded Cheonmu Academy delegation decided to spend the night here. They had just received their food, thanks in part to Yeomdo’s impatient urging.

“Where’s Ryu Yeon?”

Yeomdo looked around the nearly empty dining hall, tilting his head.

“He went out for a walk around town.”

Hyo Ryong, sitting with Mo Yong Hwi and Jang Hong, answered.

“Tsk, probably chasing after Yerin again.”

Yeomdo muttered.

‘She is still avoiding people.’

It was unlikely that Na Yerin had left the group to sightsee. She seemed to be uncomfortable being around so many people. No matter how many fellow disciples they were, Na Yerin intentionally avoided crowded places. Yeomdo found this convenient, especially during meal times. He was tired of seeing his disciples stare at Na Yerin and spill their food on their clothes.

“Hwi! Sang! Go find him. Hopefully, he’s not causing any trouble.”

Yeomdo knew that was a futile hope.

“Yes!”

Mo Yong Hwi and Namgung Sang immediately got up and left.

“I’ll go with you.”

Shortly after the two men left, Wi Ji Cheon, unable to sit still, jumped to his feet. He couldn’t bear the thought of them being alone together. His head was swirling with all sorts of fantasies.

“Why you?”

Yeomdo asked with a bored expression.

“Because…”

Yeomdo cut him off.

“Don’t worry about it. Sit down.”

His tone allowed no refusal. Wi Ji Cheon reluctantly sat back down, a pout forming on his face. His inner monologue was undoubtedly filled with curses directed at Yeomdo. Yeomdo didn’t care.

“Why are there so many individual trips these days? Come on, let’s eat!”

Yeomdo said curtly and began to eat quickly.

* * *

“Avoiding me again.”

Na Yerin’s elegant steps came to a halt.

“Yerin, why are you avoiding me? You’ve been noticeably keeping your distance since we left the Phantom Demon Cave. What’s the reason?”

Na Yerin turned to look at Bi Ryu Yeon. Her face was covered with a thin white veil to avoid unwanted attention. Without it, countless men would try to approach her. However, the veil was as pointless as using one hand to cover the sun. Her beauty was too radiant to be concealed.

As he approached Na Yerin, Bi Ryu Yeon reached out to take her wrist. With the instincts of a martial artist, Na Yerin dodged his hand and grabbed his wrist instead, using a capturing technique. Bi Ryu Yeon had no intention of actually grabbing her wrist, but Na Yerin hadn’t realized yet that she had fallen into his trap.

Despite having his wrist held by a celestial beauty, Bi Ryu Yeon put on a dejected expression.

“Sob, sob, sob, Yerin, what should I do?”

“…?”

Na Yerin couldn’t understand why he was putting on such a dramatic act.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sob, sob, sob, I’m as good as married now.”

Na Yerin was still confused.

“What do you mean?”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s sobs intensified, as if he were consumed by despair.

“I let another woman grab my wrist while I wasn’t paying attention. My purity is ruined. How can I marry anyone else now?”

Na Yerin looked puzzled at his dramatic sobbing.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard of a man losing his chastity for having his wrist held by a woman. I have heard of women losing their purity if their wrist is held by a man, but…”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s sobbing abruptly stopped at her question.

“What? Don’t you know? Men and women should be equal! We should share the responsibility! It’s unfair if only men suffer the consequences!”

Suddenly, Bi Ryu Yeon’s voice became strong and assertive, as if he had never been sobbing. He then smiled and added,

“So, you have to take responsibility.”

Na Yerin couldn’t help but chuckle at his bold words.

“You’re truly a unique person.”

The tension had dissipated with her laughter, and the awkwardness faded.

“Now, tell me what’s bothering you. Remember, you’re responsible for me.”

Bi Ryu Yeon insisted on the responsibility part. Na Yerin felt that she might be able to speak now.

“Ryu Yeon…, I’m afraid.”

She spoke at last in a soft voice.

“What are you afraid of?”

The illusions from the Phantom Demon Cave had triggered a past nightmare that she had tried to forget. Her misandry was resurfacing. She hadn’t realized it while she was trapped in the darkness with Bi Ryu Yeon, but after leaving and encountering various men who bothered her, she became keenly aware of it. That’s why she had been avoiding Bi Ryu Yeon. She had also become more sensitive to people’s gazes and found it difficult to be in crowds. Additionally, there was one more reason why Na Yerin was avoiding Bi Ryu Yeon.

“I feel like I’m not myself when I’m with you. I become someone completely different. It’s hard to maintain my composure. It feels like it’s not really me, and I’m afraid of that.”

Although half of Na Yerin’s face was hidden behind the veil, it couldn’t completely conceal her beauty. Her eyes, deep as the night sky, were captivating. Only Bi Ryu Yeon could gaze into them directly without flinching. Everyone else quickly averted their eyes, feeling as if their thoughts were being exposed, which was the truth.

Her expression was grim. It was clear that she had been struggling with these feelings for a long time.

“I think that other side is also part of who you are,” said Bi Ryu Yeon without hesitation. “I like you just as you are. Changing doesn’t mean you’re not yourself. Wouldn’t it be boring if you never changed throughout your entire life? And don’t worry about being different from others. There’s no need to conform. It’s just boring! Change is natural. Don’t try to resist it.”

These were words no one had ever said to her.

“And I’m satisfied that you called me by my name today. Just remember that you’re responsible for me.”

Bi Ryu Yeon smiled faintly. Na Yerin felt a warm feeling in her chest. He continued.

“Don’t worry and don’t suffer alone. You’re not alone. I’m here to share your burden. I give you permission. You deserve to be the happiest person in the world.”

“Ryu Yeon…!”

His words were like a magic spell, resonating deep within her heart. They felt like the warmth of spring sunshine. Na Yerin felt the winter snow in her heart melting away. A warm rain fell on the desert of her heart, nurturing new sprouts of life in the barren wasteland of her emotions. It was an entirely new and mysterious feeling for her, like the frozen river of her heart thawing under the spring sun.

“Don’t worry. Just tell me. I’ll make any worry disappear in a blink of an eye, no matter what it is. Even if it’s the Jade Emperor or the King of Hell, I’ll take care of them. It’s not a big deal!”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s words were terrifying, yet he spoke them with a bright, innocent smile. His confidence was so overwhelming that even Na Yerin was stunned.

‘There’s no need to obliterate them,’ she thought, but she couldn’t bring herself to oppose his burning determination. A graceful smile appeared on her lips.

“You’re smiling.”

Na Yerin unconsciously touched her mouth.

‘Am I?’

She was indeed smiling. Once again, she had acted without realizing it.

‘Why does this always happen when I’m with him?’

It was another mystery she needed to solve. A silent river flowed between them, making the atmosphere awkward. Bi Ryu Yeon felt the need to change the subject.

“What are you doing? Please step aside!”

A beautiful voice, like the tinkling of chimes, caught their attention. They looked towards the source of the voice. There was a commotion in the middle of the broad street.

It was a voice he had heard before.

‘Who is it?’

“Come on, let’s have tea and chat. Why are you refusing?”

“What are you doing? Let go of me!”

A woman struggled against a man who was trying to grab her wrist. Her refusal was clear, but the men ignored her as if their ears were clogged with wax.

“Why are you pulling away? I’m not trying to harm you. There’s no need to be afraid. We’re not bad people!”

It was a cliché often used by villains. Another man chimed in.

“We are descendants of the Eight Great Martial Families. You have nothing to fear from us. Why don’t we have tea and chat?”

Their lineage wasn’t a guarantee of good intentions. They seemed to be severely mistaken.

“Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you!”

These were the words often spoken by rapists and criminals. If they meant what they said, the world wouldn’t be so dangerous.

“Please, sirs, stop it. You’re making my lady uncomfortable.”

The woman’s driver stepped forward, trying to intervene.

“Stay out of this! How dare you!”

A young man in white silk clothes shouted at the driver, his gaze condescending. ‘How dare a lowlife like you interfere?’ It was the look of someone who hadn’t learned to respect others. The driver’s face, initially startled, hardened, and his eyes flashed with a cold glint.

“What? Are you going to attack me?”

The young man in white flinched, realizing his mistake. He felt an inexplicable sense of unease. The driver took a step forward, emitting a chilling aura, but the woman stopped him with her hand. She shook her head, and the driver looked at her with a questioning gaze. However, she was firm in her decision.

She had spotted familiar faces.

Na Yerin’s brow furrowed slightly. A group of men was harassing a woman. Judging by their appearance, they were not ordinary thugs. Their expensive-looking swords clearly indicated that they were martial artists. The luxurious silk clothes they wore revealed that they came from wealthy families.

“From their attire, it seems they are from martial families. Yet, they are behaving so rudely…”

Na Yerin frowned.

‘What? No… no way!’

Seeing her frown, Bi Ryu Yeon became enraged. He remembered his earlier promise:

‘I’ll obliterate them, no matter if it’s the Jade Emperor or the King of Hell.’

He hadn’t expected to act on it so soon. Bi Ryu Yeon was apparently serious about his promise. He strode forward.

“Get your filthy hands off her. You’re bothering her!”

“Who are you?”

It was a villainous line so overused that it had lost any sense of originality.

“What? Milady?”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise (although no one could see it). Na Yerin was equally surprised. They hadn’t expected to meet this person here.

“Oh!”

The beautiful voice from earlier, the voice of the woman embroiled in this unfortunate situation, brightened when she spotted them.

“Ryu Yeon, Yerin!”

It was Eun Seol Ran, the Flower amidst Evil.