Chapter v14c8

**The Two Most Terrifying Disasters in the World!**

“Huff… Huff… Huff…”

“Pant… Pant… Pant…”

“Are you snails? Run!”

Yeomdo shouted, urging his companions forward.

Thirteen brave souls, on a mission to rescue a damsel in distress.

They were racing against time and a seemingly endless mountain.

Unfortunately, Wild Goose Peak was the highest of the Five Peaks of Mount Hua. It wasn’t called Wild Goose Peak for nothing. Geese literally died from exhaustion trying to fly over it. And they were already exhausted from their previous battle.

But there was no time to rest. They could barely imagine the luxury of sitting down.

Time was running out.

“Run!”

Bi Ryu-yeon shouted, and they surged forward, their internal energy fueling their lightness skills, as they raced towards Wild Goose Peak.

They ran until the cold night air chilled them to the bone. They were out of breath, their lungs burning, but they couldn’t stop. The terrain grew steeper and more barren, the signs of life fading.

Dawn was approaching.

It was almost 5 AM, time for the morning roll call.

“Huff… Huff… Huff…”

They reached their destination, exhausted. They had scaled a mountain that would take an ordinary person a full day to climb in just one hour. Even with their strong internal and external energy, they were at their limits.

Their legs trembled, sweat dripping from their bodies. Some of the weaker ones were seeing stars.

“Hurry up!”

The morning roll call was about to begin. They had to be at the training grounds, acting as if nothing had happened. And then,

“Hold it right there!”

They froze, their heads snapping towards the source of the voice.

‘Oh no!’

Some of them paled, especially Yoon Jun-ho, who was known for his timidity.

A striking figure, clad in a black and white robe, stood before them.

It was one of the three Law Enforcers.

And there was another…

Bi Ryu-yeon’s gaze fixed on the unwelcome presence, his face contorted in a grimace. There was a smug smile on the man’s face, a smile that irritated him.

‘Wi Ji-cheon…’

What was that slacker doing here?

‘Could it be… the rat from last night?’

Rustle!

Bi Ryu-yeon’s ears twitched.

“What is it?”

Han Ro asked, his body covered in blood. They had been discussing how to rescue Eun Seol-ran, and the old man was eager to get going.

“It’s nothing. Just a rat.”

He dismissed it, turning his attention back to the matter at hand.

‘That was an uncharacteristic mistake…’

He made a mental note to be more vigilant in the future.

It was clear what had happened. Wi Ji-cheon, that snake, had reported them. And he had even shown his face. What audacity! Bi Ryu-yeon felt a surge of anger. He would have to teach that traitor a lesson.

A tense silence fell over the group.

No one dared to speak.

“Who is that woman?”

The white-haired Law Enforcer asked, his voice accusatory. He was old, but his back was straight, his eyes sharp and clear.

Five Black Lines!

He was the highest-ranking of the three, judging by the five black stripes on his right sleeve. The other two had three stripes each.

“…”

They were speechless. What could they say?

The silence stretched on, their hearts pounding, their chests tightening.

“…”

What should they say? Should they tell the truth? They hadn’t kidnapped the woman. They had only broken the rules by leaving the Red Plum Valley.

They were torn, their minds racing. And then,

“She’s a lost traveler!”

Bi Ryu-yeon said, his voice calm and confident.

‘What a ridiculous excuse…!’

They all thought the same thing. Who would believe that?

And then Mo Yong-hwi stepped forward, standing beside Bi Ryu-yeon. He was known for his honesty and his aversion to lies. He was so upright that he was nicknamed “Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes.” He spoke, his voice hesitant,

“She’s a lost traveler.”

Coming from him, it sounded believable. The unconscious woman suddenly looked like a helpless victim, lost and alone in the mountains.

“Tsk, they’re discriminating against me!”

Bi Ryu-yeon grumbled under his breath.

Mo Yong-hwi’s reputation for honesty was well-known throughout the martial world. He was as steadfast as a rock, his principles unwavering.

And then another figure joined them. It was Na Yerin.

She moved silently, her steps as graceful and ethereal as a celestial maiden walking on clouds. All eyes were on her, drawn to her beauty. Wi Ji-cheon’s eyes flashed with envy, admiration, and desire.

Her eyes, as deep and mysterious as the night sky, seemed to pierce their souls.

Thump!

Their hearts skipped a beat.

The rising sun cast a golden halo on her dark hair, crowning her with light. A hush fell over the crowd.

She spoke, her voice soft and clear,

“She’s a lost traveler.”

Her voice, like a gentle melody, a refreshing rain shower, resonated with a strange power, as if her words were imbued with a mystical force.

They would have believed anything she said, even if she claimed that the moon was square, the swan was black, or the crow was white. Her beauty and her voice held them captive.

And they all thought the same thing.

‘Yes, she’s a poor, lost traveler! We have to help her. It’s our duty. How unfortunate that such a beautiful young lady should be stranded in these remote mountains! We can’t just leave her here!’

Even Wi Gang, the Law Enforcer with Five Black Lines, was convinced.

Namgung Sang, Jin-ryeong, and Yeomdo chimed in, their voices echoing each other’s.

“That’s right. She’s a lost traveler. Surely you’re not going to abandon her?”

The pressure of public opinion was overwhelming.

The three Law Enforcers huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

‘What are they thinking?’

Bi Ryu-yeon and his companions couldn’t take their eyes off them. The discussion ended quickly.

“Excuse me, Miss! You’re Seok Ryu-ha, the Crimson Sword Maiden, one of the participants in the Heavenly Demons Pavilion, correct?”

Wi Gang asked politely.

“Yes, that’s correct!”

Seok Ryu-ha replied, bowing respectfully.

Wi Gang had targeted Seok Ryu-ha from the start. Everyone was surprised, including Seok Ryu-ha herself. The Law Enforcers seemed to know her identity, even though they had only arrived a week ago.

“Miss Seok, I have one question. You’re the only one here who’s not affiliated with them. If you agree with their story, then we’ll accept it as the truth. Is this woman really a lost traveler?”

Bi Ryu-yeon and his companions tensed.

They had forgotten that Seok Ryu-ha was their rival, a disciple of the Heavnly Demons Pavilion. And she had been forced to accompany them on this mission. She was a victim, in a way. If she revealed the truth, all their efforts would be wasted.

They watched her, their hearts pounding, as her expression flickered with indecision.

Her lips parted.

“…Yes! She’s a lost traveler. I was there, so I know it’s true!”

She nodded slightly, and they all sighed in relief. But they weren’t out of the woods yet. The three Law Enforcers were more persistent than they had expected.

“But I have another question.”

“What is it?”

Oh, the fragility of trust! Bi Ryu-yeon lamented inwardly.

“It’s nothing special. What kind of trouble was she in? How did she end up lost on the summit of Heavenly Martial Peak? I’m just curious.”

They wouldn’t be satisfied until they got a proper explanation. They wanted to know where they had found the “lost traveler.” And they called it “nothing special”…

‘Damn it! I didn’t think that far ahead…’

Yeomdo was in trouble.

And then Bi Ryu-yeon spoke, his voice loud and clear,

“She was attacked by a tiger!”

“A tiger?”

Wi Gang tilted his head, his expression still skeptical. Bi Ryu-yeon nodded.

“Yes. She’s a victim of one of the two most terrifying disasters in the world.”

His voice was grave.

“She doesn’t seem to be seriously injured.”

“Appearances can be deceiving. You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“You’re right. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

Wi Gang seemed to agree.

“So what disaster did she encounter?”

“A tiger attack!”

“A… tiger attack?”

They all frowned, but Bi Ryu-yeon nodded confidently.

“You mean a tiger, as in the animal?”

He nodded again.

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

‘That’s a ridiculous excuse…’

No one in their right mind would believe such a far-fetched story. Not without proof.

The Law Enforcers were clearly thinking the same thing.

“A tiger attack… That’s hard to believe. I’ve lived here for over fifty years, and I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Their skepticism was evident. It was a natural reaction.

Bi Ryu-yeon was digging his own grave.

“Do you have any proof?”

Wi Gang asked the dreaded question.

‘We’re doomed! It’s over!’

They all screamed inwardly.

‘You idiot! You’re finished!’

Wi Ji-cheon, watching Bi Ryu-yeon’s self-destruction, smiled inwardly. But Bi Ryu-yeon’s answer surprised them all.

“Of course!”

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

‘How?’

“Master!”

Bi Ryu-yeon called out, without turning around. Who was he calling?

“I’m here!”

A figure emerged from the bushes. It was Binggeom. Their jaws dropped, their eyes bulging.

“Ice Cube, you…”

Yeomdo started to ask, “What are you doing here?” but Bi Ryu-yeon elbowed him in the ribs, silencing him.

They weren’t just surprised to see Binggeom. It was what he was carrying on his shoulder that shocked them. It was so large that it dragged on the ground. But Binggeom didn’t seem to be struggling, a testament to his strength.

It was a tiger. A huge tiger, its massive paws large enough to crush a bear with a single blow.

“Good work,” Bi Ryu-yeon said with a smile.

“It was nothing.”

Binggeom replied casually. But anyone who dared to say that to his face would be dead meat. It was no easy feat to hunt down a tiger in the middle of the night. Binggeom looked like he had been through hell, his clothes torn and dirty, his usually pristine appearance gone.

“I-Impossible…”

They were all stunned, both the Law Enforcers and the eleven members of the rescue team, plus Seok Ryu-ha. How was this possible?

Yeomdo had a feeling he knew how.

The others seemed to agree, their gazes shifting to Bi Ryu-yeon.

‘How?’

Thump!

Binggeom dropped the tiger at the feet of the three Law Enforcers, a triumphant grin on his face. He recalled Bi Ryu-yeon’s words from the previous night.

“There’s something I need you to do while we’re gone.”

“A request?”

“I might need something.”

“What is it?”

He had said it casually, as if he didn’t care about the effort involved.

“A tiger.”

* * *

Two days later, a fire, suspected to be arson, broke out at a manor in Huayin County, destroying the entire building. Fortunately, the wind was calm, so the fire didn’t spread to neighboring buildings. But there were many casualties. Hundreds of workers fought the blaze for twelve hours, finally extinguishing it in the early hours of the next morning.