Chapter v19c11

## Patrol Duty

– Shift Change (Continued)

“You haven’t experienced your limits yet!”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s words, uttered every time he defeated a challenger, every time he fell and rose again during his training with the Ice Sword, echoed in Namgung-Sang’s ears like a persistent ringing. Would he ever be free of this torment? He doubted it. Once again, he hesitated, his doubts holding him back. He sighed and followed Bi Ryu-Yeon, careful not to step on his shadow.

* * *

The shift change always took place at the main gate guard post. The previous patrol team was already there, waiting for them.

“Ah! Ye-Rin!”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s face brightened as he saw one of the two women waiting at the guard post. Meeting his lover always lifted his spirits.

Na Ye-Rin was beautiful and elegant, regardless of the time of day. But standing there in the moonlight, she seemed ethereal, otherworldly, like a celestial maiden. Her eyes, reflecting the moonlight, were captivating, more beautiful than the stars, more mysterious than the moon.

Na Ye-Rin raised her hand in greeting, then lowered it and bowed gracefully.

“Good evening, Ryu-Yeon!”

She glowed softly, like the moon illuminating the night.

“Hello.”

The woman beside her greeted him.

“Oh! Ah!”

Her cheeks puffed out in annoyance at his blatant double take. It was Jin-Ryeong.

“Ryeong!”

Namgung-Sang’s face lit up as he recognized her.

Even a pouting lover could lift your spirits. And she seemed to cheer up at the sight of him, her cheeks deflating slightly.

“Sang!”

It was a brief greeting, but it was enough for them. Bi Ryu-Yeon ignored them, his attention focused on Na Ye-Rin.

“Ye-Rin, those pesky flies must be bothering you even at night, huh?”

The recent surge in challengers was a headache for the golden armbands. Na Ye-Rin could have requested special treatment due to her status and unique situation, but she had refused.

‘You can’t move forward if you keep avoiding them.’

That was what she had told Ma Jin-Ga when he offered to exempt her from patrol duty.

“No, it’s fine. Nothing happened. It’s nighttime. They should be sleeping.”

Jin-Ryeong’s head tilted in confusion at her calm response. But her mind was screaming.

‘Nothing happened…?’

She couldn’t understand how Na Ye-Rin could say that with a straight face.

Na Ye-Rin had lied. The flies were relentless, day and night, male and female. They were sleep-deprived, their eyes bloodshot, searching for their prey.

The Ice Phoenix Film Protection Squad had tried to assign thirty members to guard her, but she had refused. She had barely managed to complete her patrol in peace, only to be challenged to duels by three men smitten by her beauty, three “shameless” men who had promised to become her lovers if she won, and two men with bloodshot eyes and drool dripping from their mouths. She had gracefully “crushed” them all. And she called that “nothing happened”?

‘Yeah, maybe after all that, she could call it “nothing happened”!’

But her conscience wouldn’t allow her to use that phrase before then.

And what had she said at the time?

“It’s alright. I’m used to it!”

For the first time, Jin-Ryeong suspected that this beautiful woman had lived a more difficult life than she imagined. And she was convinced that Na Ye-Rin was both amazing and terrifying.

‘She’s not an ordinary person…’

She murmured to herself, glancing at Bi Ryu-Yeon.

‘Well, I guess you can’t date a guy like him if you’re ordinary…’

She had to give Na Ye-Rin credit for that.

“Oh, by the way, my master invited us to dinner again.”

“Again?”

It hadn’t been long since their last dinner together.

“Yes. And this time, she wants to have a little ‘exercise’ afterwards.”

“A little exercise…”

He had a feeling it wouldn’t be so little.

“That wasn’t all she said, was it?”

“You’re right. She had something else to say.”

“What was it?”

“She said she’ll just cut down two thousand birds if a thousand isn’t enough, so we should wait a few days.”

It seemed she was still holding a grudge over her “Seabird Thousand Cuts” technique being countered at Mount Hwasan.

It wasn’t exactly a rematch, but she was clearly refining her technique. Or should he call it an upgrade? Either way, it was terrifying to think that she could add more power to an already formidable technique. A technique was a complex sequence of movements, and strengthening it without disrupting its flow was as difficult as planting a flower in solid rock. Even master swordsmen couldn’t do it easily. And she was saying she could do it in a few days…

“It seems her goal is clear.”

To bring him to his knees.

“She hates losing. I’m sure the Sword Saint and Do-Seong know that better than anyone.”

“They must have suffered a lot.”

“Quite a lot.”

Na Ye-Rin smiled, a rare sight.

“It’s a shame, though.”

“What is?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon answered her question.

“Two thousand birds? The seabirds in the South Sea are going to go extinct.”

The Sword Empress was capable of doing just that. She had the power to make yesterday’s common sight into today’s nonexistent sight.

“A sea without birds is a lonely place.”

He added,

“Especially when the sacrifice is in vain.”

Even if she created a technique that could cut down every seabird at once, she wouldn’t succeed. He wouldn’t be defeated. He would never lose.

“My master will be pleased to hear that.”

She would be pleased, in her own way.

“She’ll be happy to have a worthy opponent.”

“That’s an honor.”

The Sword Empress’s sword was pointed at him.

Any normal martial artist would be terrified, their face drained of color. But Bi Ryu-Yeon smiled.

It was always pleasant to be admired by a beautiful woman, regardless of age.

* * *

The shift change was simple.

They received the patrol token from the previous team and signed the patrol log. The only other requirement was to make sure their golden armbands were properly worn, a blatantly malicious procedure.

After the other two couples left, Namgung-Sang asked,

“Eldest Senior Brother?”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you escort Na Ye-Rin? Or at least accompany her? Everyone was fighting for a chance to be on her patrol team.”

A nighttime stroll with the most beautiful woman in the world, bathed in moonlight (even if it was officially patrol duty, the romantic implications were undeniable). It was a dream for any man. There had been a commotion when everyone volunteered to be on Na Ye-Rin’s patrol team. Even those who weren’t on her team could accompany her under the pretense of going out, even if it meant breaking curfew. But Bi Ryu-Yeon had ignored the commotion, calmly counting his money and reading his book. That was what had piqued Namgung-Sang’s curiosity.

“Huh? Why should I?”

He was the one being questioned.

“Well, that’s…”

Namgung-Sang was speechless, his common sense challenged.

“I don’t want to insult her.”

That wasn’t an answer he had expected.

“How is that insulting?”

“Ye-Rin isn’t a child. And her sword is sharp. Even you wouldn’t be able to guarantee victory.”

“That’s true, but…”

She might be overshadowed by her beauty, but she was still a skilled swordswoman. He knew how strong Na Ye-Rin was, even without fighting her. He might even lose.

“But she’s a woman.”

He finally said it. His words were a perfect example of societal norms and stereotypes. But Bi Ryu-Yeon didn’t seem to care.

“Huh? What’s wrong with being a woman? She’s strong. Why should I do something she can do herself? Just because she’s a woman? That’s the kind of behavior even parents should avoid. It only encourages dependence and helplessness.”

“But she’s still a woman…”

Namgung-Sang mumbled.

“Are you a parrot? Or brainwashed? Is that all you can say? You can’t even guarantee victory if you fought her.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon scoffed. But Namgung-Sang, his words hitting home, couldn’t retort.

“Those obsessive stalkers are a nuisance, thinking they can protect her. They’re a hundred times weaker than her. I want to tell them to look in the mirror before they start buzzing around.”

The biological fact of being male didn’t change the social reality of being weak – obviously! – but their delusion was the problem.

“If I accompanied Ye-Rin on patrol, it would mean I don’t trust her. It would mean my subconscious has already decided she’s incompetent. Would Ye-Rin want to be treated like that? And this isn’t a personal matter. It’s official business. If I were Ye-Rin, I would be offended.”

“But… But… Miss Na is a woman, and men should always protect women…”

Namgung-Sang’s voice was weak, his conviction wavering.

“Yes, Ye-Rin is a woman. And I’m a man.”

He was stating the obvious.

“If you believe in equality, then act accordingly. Don’t just talk the talk. Women don’t want to be treated like that either.”

“So you’re saying we shouldn’t protect women? Even if they’re weak? Even if they’re in danger?”

It was a fact that women were more vulnerable than men.

“Are you an idiot? Women aren’t the only ones who are weak. There are plenty of weak men. It’s just that there are relatively more weak women than weak men. You should help someone because they’re weak, not because they’re a woman. Or are you like those hypocrites who are strong against the weak and weak against the strong?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s words were scathing.

“You’re saying we should help women unconditionally just because they’re women? Why don’t you tell that to the Sword Empress?”

“Th-that…”

He might be a bit pathetic, but he wasn’t suicidal. He had to surrender.

“I have no intention of betraying her trust.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon said firmly.

“Don’t just talk about respect. Act on it. Don’t use words as a shield. There’s nothing more cowardly and disgusting than empty words. People think they can get away with anything just by saying the right words. Tsk, tsk.”

Namgung-Sang was speechless.

So Bi Ryu-Yeon decided to ease his worries.

“Gungsang-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Were you part of that commotion?”

“Huh? What commotion?”

Namgung-Sang asked, startled.

“The one where everyone was fighting to be on Ye-Rin’s patrol team.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s tone suggested he already knew the answer.

“D-don’t say such ominous things! I’ll die!”

Namgung-Sang denied it vehemently, his face pale. He might prefer being the main character, but he didn’t want to be the tragic hero who gets killed by his lover. There wouldn’t be a sequel.

Self-preservation was still a virtue, especially when it came to one’s own life.

“Well, I didn’t think you had the guts…”

“O-of course not. You know I’m timid. I’m so timid, I don’t even have a shadow.”

He could see his future clearly.

It might be a way of life, but it wasn’t his style. He couldn’t believe Namgung-Sang was preaching about protecting women when he was so pathetic. A premonition, a strong conviction, flashed through his mind.

‘That guy’s going to be whipped.’