Chapter v16c15

*The Five Elements Trial: Final Trial, the Earth Trial*

“Finally, the last trial.” Bi Ryu-yeon said, stretching. It was a beautiful morning, the air crisp and clean. Beside him, Hyo-ryong mimicked his movements.

Being a role model was a tiring job.

“Many groups didn’t score well in the Water and Fire Trial. We were able to make up for the points we lost in the Metal Gate Trial. If we take first place in this trial, we have a good chance of winning the entire Mount Hua Sword Conference!”

There was going to be a speech and briefing at the central training ground before the final trial. Bi Ryu-yeon joined his teammates and headed towards the ground, which was already crowded with people. Elder Hyuk, a familiar face, was standing on the platform. The participants were lining up in front of their designated groups.

Once everyone was assembled, Elder Hyuk began his speech.

“As you all know, this is the final trial. I’m proud of all of you for making it this far without any major incidents. I apologize for the unusual order of the trials, but please don’t blame us. This trial takes a long time, so we had no choice but to schedule it last. It was a necessary decision.”

How long could it possibly take? Elder Hyuk’s words, coming from the leader of the Heavenly Law, were enough to raise doubts. The crowd murmured.

“Now, let me explain the rules and procedures of the Earth Trial.”

The participants listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word. According to Elder Hyuk, this trial was their chance to turn the tables, to achieve a dramatic comeback. But it was also a challenging trial.

“You have to survive in the wilderness for fourteen days. That’s the main rule. There are no other rules, so to speak. But each group has to secure their own shelter. We won’t be providing any beds. However, as a special service, we’ll provide each of you with a blanket. You’re also responsible for your own food. Hunting, gathering, it’s all up to you. Secure your own food and water. You can make pottery if you want. And there are rumors of dangerous beasts in the area where the Earth Trial will take place. Someone caught a tiger recently. There have also been reports of tiger attacks. Be careful. There are also wolves, and some people have even seen bears. You’ll have to face all kinds of unexpected threats: thunder, lightning, heavy rain, landslides, wind. There will be no help. You can only rely on your teammates. Trust each other, work together, and I hope you all make it through this trial safely.”

Elder Hyuk paused, looking around the crowd, then continued.

“How you survive will be an important factor in our evaluation. And each group will receive a Heavenly Law Token from the Law Enforcer standing in front of you.”

He pulled out a wooden token, about the size of a name tag, from his pocket.

“This token has your group number, your name, and the Heavenly Law Seal, which verifies its authenticity. Keep this token safe for the next two weeks. Losing it will result in disqualification. It’s a safety measure, in case of emergencies!”

The crowd murmured again.

“Now, let’s begin the final trial of the Five Elements Trial, the Earth Trial. Each group will be escorted to a different location by their designated Law Enforcer. The eleven groups will be tested in different environments. Group 1, please depart first. The other groups will depart at thirty-minute intervals.”

“Group 1, please depart.”

The nine members of Group 1, led by Young Master Bi, followed their Law Enforcer. Bi Ryu-yeon watched them from a distance. He waved, and Gyo-ok, the Blood Heart Orchid, standing beside him, bowed politely to Young Master Bi, wishing him luck. Young Master Bi nodded curtly, his gaze meeting Bi Ryu-yeon’s. His eyes were cold and indifferent.

“We’ll be waiting. Don’t expect it to be easy.”

Was it a challenge? A provocation? The Seven Stars of the Heavenly Demon were shocked that Young Master Bi had acknowledged Bi Ryu-yeon. Did that foolish-looking man deserve his attention?

“We’ll see.”

First Trial, Wooden Gate Trial: Group 1 victory. Second Trial, Metal Gate Trial: Group 2 victory, Groups 1 and 7 disqualified. Third Trial, Water and Fire Trial: Group 7 victory, Group 1 second place.

Currently, five groups were competing for the lead: Young Master Bi’s Group 1, Yong Cheon-myeong and Ma Ha-ryeong’s Group 2, Mo Yong Hwi and Im Seong-jin’s Group 3, Bi Ryu-yeon’s Group 7, and Group 11, which was mainly composed of Heavenly Demon Pavilion disciples. And the final battle would take place in the Earth Trial, the final trial of the Five Elements Trial.

They were only allowed to take their weapons, one blanket per person, a set of cutlery, and a flint. They couldn’t take anything else from the Red Plum Valley. Even pots and pans had to be acquired on their own. However, they were allowed to bring their personal belongings.

The trial began. Or rather, it was more of an ordeal than a trial.

Most of them had little experience living in the wilderness. Even those who had trained in mountain sects had lived in a human society, with human comforts. They had roofs over their heads, blankets to keep them warm, and most importantly, food.

And now, they were suddenly thrown into the wild. At first, they were lost, unsure of what to do.

To their surprise, it was Bi Ryu-yeon who guided them. He knew how to survive in the wilderness. He wasn’t fazed by being thrown into the mountains. In fact, he seemed to thrive in this environment. He became resourceful and skilled.

They found the cave by accident. Na Yerin stumbled upon it while gathering firewood near a stream, just before nightfall. It was a large, deep cave, hidden behind a thicket of bushes. It was a stroke of luck. And it seemed to be unoccupied.

“This is perfect. We don’t have to build a shelter.” Bi Ryu-yeon said, praising Na Yerin for her discovery. Shelter, water, and food were the three essentials for survival. They would have had to build a shelter if they hadn’t found the cave.

“Let’s set up camp here!”

Everyone agreed. They gathered branches and leaves to camouflage the entrance. There was no need to attract unwanted attention.

They had secured shelter and water. Two out of three essentials down.

“What about food?” Na Yerin asked, her voice laced with worry. This was a new experience for her.

“We’ll hunt. And we’ll look for edible plants and fruits.”

“Hunt?”

“Don’t worry. I have a reliable ally!”

“An ally?”

Bi Ryu-yeon smiled.

“Whew!”

He whistled sharply.

A magnificent blue falcon swooped down from the sky and landed on his arm. It was his hunting falcon, Thunderclap.

“Oh, it’s been a while. You brought him with you? Most people left their falcons behind.”

Bi Ryu-yeon nodded. “Yerin might not know this, but he’s a very skilled hunter.”

Thunderclap was a very intelligent falcon. That was why Bi Ryu-yeon had brought him, while everyone else had left their falcons at the Academy. There were many falcons at the Heavenly Martial Academy, but few were as skilled at hunting as Thunderclap. He was also an excellent guide, always able to find prey with his keen eyesight.

“Are we going hunting now?”

“No, there’s one more thing we need to do.”

“What is it?”

“We need to prepare for the greatest threat!”

“The greatest threat? What is that?”

Bi Ryu-yeon answered without hesitation.

“Humans!”

The mountains were deep, the forests dense. The watchers were far away, the knives close at hand. Prey, unaware of the dangers of the world, roamed freely… It was a perfect opportunity to eliminate the competition and win. It was a thought that crossed everyone’s mind. And among those who had the will and the ambition to act on it were the Three Evils, a notorious group of thugs.

Even in the rough and tumble world of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, they were considered troublemakers. They were young, but their actions were as vicious as any seasoned villain. It was rare to find three such individuals in one place. That was why they were called the Three Evils. The Three Evils of the Heavenly Demon. They were shunned and feared even within their own sect.

It wasn’t easy to commit crimes within the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, where the most talented disciples of the Black Path gathered. Those who lacked the skill were quickly eliminated. But the Three Evils had maintained their notoriety for over three years. It was a testament to their skill and ruthlessness. They had been chosen as representatives for the Mount Hua Sword Conference because of their strength, not their character. They had been randomly assigned to the same group, and they were eager to strengthen their bond. The Earth Trial was the perfect environment for them to unleash their violence, cowardice, and depravity.

The only rule was survival. And survival required hunting. So they began to hunt humans. And their first prey had just appeared. One of them was a beautiful woman, so stunning that even these beasts were mesmerized. Her icy beauty and hidden allure inflamed their lust. The long-haired man beside her didn’t seem very strong. But then, he looked up and spoke, his voice directed at their hiding place.

“Hey, you three up in the tree, why don’t you come down?”

The long-haired man was surprisingly perceptive. He had sensed their presence. But they weren’t afraid.

“Heh heh heh, you noticed us!”

It was rumored that they were opium addicts. Their constricted pupils and wide, white eyes lent credence to the rumors. They were said to have “four white eyes,” meaning that the whites of their eyes were visible on all sides.

Their eyes were bloodshot, their lips thin and cruel, saliva dripping from their mouths.

One of them licked his blade.

“I can’t wait to see some blood. Heh heh heh!”

His gaze, more repulsive than a snake’s, slithered over Na Yerin. He panted like a dog in heat. It was best not to imagine what was going on in his mind.

“What group are you from?”

“Heh heh heh, you want to know? We’re the Death Squad.”

“We’re the three who will show you hell. You’ve heard of the Three Evils of the Heavenly Demon, haven’t you?”

“No, I haven’t. I don’t have time for such trivial matters.” Bi Ryu-yeon replied coldly.

His dismissive tone enraged them.

“We’ll make you suffer! We’ll hang you upside down from a tree for a day, and when you’re screaming in agony, we’ll gut you alive, skin you, and then finally, we’ll cut off your head!”

It was a chilling threat, spoken with a gleeful madness.

“Do your best.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we’ll spare the woman! She has to serve us! Heh heh heh heh!”

Their eyes gleamed with lust. Na Yerin shuddered, disgusted. It was a visceral reaction, beyond the realm of martial arts.

“You’ve sealed your fate.” Bi Ryu-yeon said, his voice as cold as winter.