Chapter v16c21

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself now?” Young Master Bi pressed, his voice sharp. The crowd’s initial curiosity had morphed into suspicion and hostility. Their gazes were cold and unforgiving. Bi Ryu-yeon, feeling incredibly wronged, had plenty to say.

*”That’s the one I lost before!” No one would believe that, would they?*

Even he found his own desperate excuse pathetic. He couldn’t expect others to believe a flimsy excuse that he wouldn’t believe himself. Only a kind-hearted fool would fall for such a thing.

“Of course not! Who would believe such an obvious lie?”

*Yeah, you’re right…* He couldn’t deny it, even though he didn’t want to admit it. Sometimes, an exaggerated lie seemed more believable than a simple truth. Truth was often like air, unnoticed until it was gone.

“But I’m not the only one who lost their token. Those silver-masked figures could have easily planted it on me. They knock people out and then slip a random token into their hand. It’s a simple trick. It’s more plausible than me, someone with no motive, committing murder, don’t you think?”

Bi Ryu-yeon said, his voice cold, looking around the crowd. Some flinched, remembering their encounters with the silver-masked figures. Some even seemed to agree with him. But Young Master Bi remained unfazed. He shook his head firmly.

“No, you’re wrong. You weren’t attacked by them. The only people who lost their tokens were those who were knocked unconscious!”

“That’s right! He’s right! How could he have lost his token if he wasn’t even defeated?”

The few who had been wavering sided with Young Master Bi.

“Is it such a great honor to be knocked unconscious and then spared? Is it something to be proud of, to have your token stolen instead of your life?”

Bi Ryu-yeon scoffed. He wasn’t wrong, but his words only fueled the fire. The hostility towards him tripled. Jang Hong and Hyo-ryong facepalmed. He had just alienated the few who were still sympathetic to him. Now, it seemed impossible for anyone to believe he was innocent.

*This is bad…*

Jang Hong thought, his body tense. The situation was spiraling out of control.

“It seems like they believe me more than you.”

Bi Ryu-yeon looked up, his eyes scanning the crowd. They were all staring at him with suspicion and hostility. Only Na Yerin’s gaze offered him any comfort. And thankfully, none of the Vermillion Bird Division members seemed to believe Young Master Bi’s accusations. If they had fallen for such a simple trick, he would have made them train until they dropped. But first, he had to clear his name…

A wall of suspicion had been erected between him and the crowd. Perhaps Young Master Bi didn’t even care if he was guilty or not. His goal was simply to sow seeds of doubt. And those seeds, fueled by their existing prejudices and grievances, had quickly blossomed into full-blown accusations. Those spineless, mindless fools…

*Is this what they call bullying?*

He thought, amused. He wasn’t the type to play the victim. He was still optimistic. He wouldn’t be defeated so easily. And he wasn’t going to waste his time blaming those fools.

*Young Master Bi…*

He was a formidable opponent.

“If no one believes me, there’s no point in staying here! But I’ll clear my name!”

A surge of determination, long dormant, awakened within him. He pointed his finger at Young Master Bi.

“I’m warning you. You’ll regret this!”

He turned and walked away, ignoring the cold stares of his former comrades.

“Wait! Stop! Are you crazy? You can’t just leave!”

Six men blocked his path, their weapons drawn, their faces filled with killing intent. They wouldn’t let the culprit escape. One of them shouted, “Surrender! We’ll make you confess!”

Bi Ryu-yeon stopped, his shoulders slumped, his head bowed. His voice, low and quiet, was unlike his usual cheerful tone.

“Are you… trying to stop me?”

“Of course!”

They roared, enraged. A low chuckle answered their fury.

“Heh heh heh, I’m in a very bad mood. It’s been a while since I’ve been this angry. So I’m warning you, if you don’t want to get hurt… step aside.”

His voice was quiet, but then it rose, filled with power.

“Do you really think you can stop me?!”

A wave of killing intent, as powerful as a flood, erupted from him, engulfing the six men. They froze, their bodies stiff. They recognized this feeling. It was the same feeling they had felt when they faced the silver-masked figures. A chilling fear, a paralyzing terror.

Bi Ryu-yeon, his face still dark, walked past them. They didn’t move.

*If we move, we die!*

That was the thought that ran through their minds.

*It’s her…*

The most likely suspect was Gyo-ok, the Blood Heart Orchid.

She was young, beautiful, and alluring, with a voluptuous figure that could make any man drool. It was hard to imagine her committing such a heinous crime. But he didn’t blame them for their lack of imagination. It was easier for them to accuse him, a man of unknown origins and dubious character, a rebel who challenged authority and defied social norms. And they had a seemingly convincing piece of evidence.

They were addicted to the sweet taste of authority, their minds softened by years of privilege and obedience. They were used to following the crowd, their eyes blind to the truth. He had no expectations of them.

*Where should I go now? Is the game over?*

He left them behind, his direction uncertain. He soon realized that someone was blocking his path. He looked up and saw Na Yerin.

“Where are you going?”

She greeted him with a rare smile.

“Are you waiting for me? Or is this goodbye?”

“You’re wrong. We’re going together. You can’t go alone. We’re comrades.”

“We?”

Several figures emerged from the bushes. Jang Hong, Yoon Jun-ho, Hyo-ryong, Yi Jin-seol (she was probably there because of Hyo-ryong, but he let it slide!), and even Mo Yong Hwi. They looked a bit embarrassed. Jang Hong spoke for them.

“We believe you! We’re coming with you.”

Mo Yong Hwi, who wasn’t even in his group, was joining them.

“There’s no benefit to following me. You’ll be ostracized by the others. And you’re not even in my group. You might lose your chance to win.”

“The majority isn’t always right. History decides what’s right, not the crowd. And we’ve already lost our chance to win. Those silver-masked figures took most of our tokens. We can’t even place without getting them back.”

Jang Hong replied.

“Anyway, you’re in a tough spot this time. It won’t be easy to clear your name.”

Jang Hong clicked his tongue. He was different from those fools. He was a man of loyalty and compassion, a man who could shed tears over Han Yu’s “Eulogy for My Nephew.”

It was said that those who didn’t shed tears after reading Zhuge Liang’s “Memorial on the Northern Expedition” weren’t loyal, those who didn’t shed tears after reading Li Mi’s “Memorial to the Throne” weren’t filial, and those who didn’t shed tears after reading Han Yu’s “Eulogy for My Nephew” lacked brotherly love.

Jang Hong believed that his friend, Bi Ryu-yeon, wasn’t diligent enough to commit such a troublesome crime.

“Damn it… They really got me this time! I was careless!”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to clear my name. It doesn’t suit me. I’ll leave that to someone more deserving.”

“How? It won’t be easy. It’s not about proving your innocence, it’s about making them believe you. You’ve made too many enemies! And they’re all wary of you after that duel with the Sword Empress… They’re just waiting for you to slip up. You’ll be torn to shreds if you’re not careful.”

“Those fools won’t listen to reason. They’ll just twist everything to fit their narrative. I have to show them the truth.”

“How?”

“I’m going to start with the most likely suspects.”

“You mean them?”

“Yes, the silver-masked figures. They’re the most suspicious.”

“That’s true, but… how are you going to find them?”

“I have a way.”

Bi Ryu-yeon replied confidently.

“…?”

“I left a thread.”

“A thread?”

“Yes, a thread! It’ll lead me to them, no matter where they are!”

He smiled, raising his index finger. A thin, silver thread, shimmering faintly, extended from his fingertip.

“Alright, friends, let’s go!”

“Yeah!”

They cheered and set off, following their own path, guided by their own convictions. They had no regrets, their trust in each other unshakeable. The setting sun bathed them in a warm glow. And…

They never returned before the end of the Earth Trial.