Chapter v20c1

## Lamentation

– And Rain

*Whooooosh!*

The rain poured down, as if the heavens had opened. The mournful cries of grief, like the relentless rain, tore at the heart, a symphony of sorrow that echoed through the heavens and the earth. It was as if the sky was weeping, and the earth was lamenting in response. And from somewhere, a heart-wrenching wail pierced through the downpour, emanating from the secluded mourning hall of Cheonmu Academy.

“No, Sang! Don’t leave me!”

A young woman, clad in white mourning robes, clung to a black coffin, her cries echoing through the hall. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision.

“Miss Jin! Miss Jin! Please calm down!”

Hyun-Woon, his fists clenched, forced the words out, his voice strained with grief.

“Jin-Ryeong! Calm down, please! Calm down!”

Namgung San-San, a fellow Seven Phoenixes member, dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, trying to comfort the distraught Jin-Ryeong.

But their efforts were futile. Jin-Ryeong clung to the coffin, her eyes bloodshot from crying, her face pale and drawn from her sobs. Tears continued to flow like a breached dam.

“Ugh…”

The Vermilion Bird group members, lined up at a distance, watched the scene with somber expressions. Some bit their lips, others clenched their fists, their knuckles white. A few dug their nails into their thighs, trying to contain their grief.

* * *

“This is troublesome.”

Cheong-Heun said, shaking his head.

“You’re right. This is a headache.”

Baek Moo-Young agreed.

“I didn’t expect it to turn out like this…”

The situation couldn’t have been more complicated. And their duty, in the midst of this tragedy, was to perform an autopsy. They had to pry the grieving woman away from the coffin, open it, and examine the body.

But the Vermilion Bird group, clad in white robes and white headbands, like Jin-Ryeong, weren’t going to allow that. They couldn’t even mention the autopsy. The glares they were receiving were too intimidating. They might be brave, but they weren’t suicidal.

“Cheong-Heun, do you think you can defeat Miss Jin?”

“Why me?”

He asked, his expression reluctant.

“Who else here can face her?”

“You can. You’re one of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes too. Why are you dragging me into this? I’m not good with women. And Miss Jin isn’t the same person she was three years ago! I can’t guarantee a victory without injuries. And Hyun-Woon, the Flowing Cloud Sword, is there too. If he joins in, I’ll be outnumbered. He might always be smiling, but his sword isn’t as gentle as his face.”

“So… we can’t do it without bloodshed?”

The Vermilion Bird group’s stance was clear. They wouldn’t allow the desecration of the deceased. They had tried to reason with them, explaining that the law allowed autopsies in such cases, but it was useless. They were determined to resist. And Jin-Ryeong, who had just lost her lover, was inconsolable. She wouldn’t let anyone near the coffin.

“What should we do, Scholar?”

Cheong-Heun asked Baek Moo-Young, who was deep in thought. It was his job to come up with a plan. But he was drawing a blank.

“What can we do?”

His rhetorical question was devoid of any thought. He couldn’t think of a solution.

“Should we force our way in?”

Negotiation was clearly out of the question. Their options were limited. He shook his head.

“No, we can’t force our way in. The atmosphere in the academy is already tense, and public opinion is sympathetic towards them. It would be unwise to cause a conflict over the body. We’ll be labeled as villains.”

“Aren’t you already a villain?”

Cheong-Heun asked, his eyes wide with mock surprise.

“Thank you!”

Baek Moo-Young’s sincere gratitude flustered him.

“W-what are you thanking me for?”

“For saving my life.”

“When did I save your life? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Haven’t you heard the saying ‘A warrior dies for someone who recognizes their worth’?”

“Of course I have.”

He vaguely remembered reading it somewhere in Sima Qian’s ‘Records of the Grand Historian.’

“Exactly. That means there’s no need to die for someone who doesn’t recognize your worth. I’m so grateful that I don’t have to die for you! I’ve just earned myself another life.”

“…”

“What’s wrong? You look troubled.”

“Let’s… go back.”

Cheong-Heun gave up and turned around. There was no point in arguing.

He walked away, satisfied.

* * *

The academy was in an uproar.

Namgung-Sang, the Lightning Blade Dragon, a direct descendant of the Namgung Family, one of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, the Unit Leader of the Vermilion Bird group, and a promising future leader of Cheonmu Academy, was dead. The impact was immense.

He had not only elevated the Vermilion Bird group, once considered the weakest of the four units, to the top of the Four Guardian Beasts Units, but he had also led them to consecutive victories in several competitions. And that wasn’t all. He had led the Vermilion Bird group, still students, on successful missions against powerful bandit groups like the Heavenly Dragon Stronghold, forcing the Green Forest to revise their rankings several times. And he had never hesitated to face his enemies head-on. He had been a key player in the recent Hwasan Convention.

Some even claimed that he was the only one who could defeat Yong Cheon-Myeong, the Shining Star of Shaolin, the leader of the Nine Stars Society. He had become a legend, not just among the new students, but among all those who aspired to enter the academy. His followers were growing in number. He had reached a level of prestige far beyond what he had achieved three years ago.

He was a real expert, someone people could relate to, unlike Bi Ryu-Yeon, whose skills seemed otherworldly and unsettling.

That was why no one had expected him to be killed by a “fledgling hunter” who preyed on weaklings. They were all shocked, as if they had been hit on the head with a hammer.

The news spread like wildfire. It was the only topic of conversation. No one needed to be told. They were all eager to discuss it.

* * *

While Cheonmu Academy was reeling from Namgung-Sang’s death, Jang-Hong visited Bi Ryu-Yeon discreetly. No one was paying attention to him now. They were too busy obsessing over Namgung-Sang’s death.

“It seems like things went well.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon said as soon as he saw Jang-Hong.

“Huh? Well?”

Jang-Hong was puzzled by his mind-reading abilities.

“How can you be so sure? I haven’t said anything yet.”

“Do you really need to say it out loud? There are so many people in this world who can’t even understand words. And you’re still relying on such a flimsy tool? Tsk, tsk, tsk! And besides, it’s written all over your face.”

“Written all over my face? What do you think my face is, a notepad?”

It was an insult to someone like Jang-Hong, who had been trained to conceal his emotions.

“I’m glad you’re aware of that.”

“W-what?!”

He might have been letting his guard down, but he didn’t enjoy being called out like that.

“What about my face?”

He asked, already preparing a rebuttal.

“Hmm… You look like a kid who just burned down a house playing with fire.”

He was speechless.

“I guess I’m right. Good.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon said casually.

“Good? This is a disaster! I honestly didn’t expect it to blow up like this. I was just trying to start a small fire, but it’s spread like wildfire in a windstorm. I don’t know how to contain it.”

“That’s why it’s good. Your reputation has grown.”

He said calmly.

“Grown? It’s become a mess! A huge mess! The entire academy is in chaos!”

“It’s better to have a bad reputation than no reputation at all. We need to make a big scene to let the villains know what we’re up to. The bigger the scene, the better. If we’re going to start a fire, we might as well make it a big one so they can see it from afar, right?”

“That’s true, but… I’m worried we’ll burn ourselves down before they even arrive.”

“If they’re not capable enough, then they’ll be reduced to ashes.”

“You’re cold, Ryu-Yeon.”

“You’re just realizing that now? You’re slow, old man.”

“Ahem, anyway, I feel bad for Gungsang.”

“It’s a rare experience. He should be grateful. Don’t feel bad.”

Jang-Hong was speechless.

“Just to make sure I heard you correctly… You’re saying that dying is a special experience?”

“No!”

He shook his head.

“Then…?”

“Dying and coming back to life!”

Jang-Hong stumbled, but he quickly regained his balance.

“Wow, Gungsang actually agreed to that? To throw his life away for a friend like you?”

He was being sarcastic.

“Of course! It’s all thanks to my charisma!”

If Namgung-Sang was here, he would have coughed up blood and drowned in it.

“Charisma? Isn’t that the first thing you lost? Since when did you gain the ability to create something out of nothing?”

“Well…?”

He ignored his skeptical gaze.

Jang-Hong sighed, defeated.

“Sigh! Fine, fine. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m sure you have some leverage over him.”

That was the limit of his deduction skills.

“What about the authorities?”

Jang-Hong scratched his head.

“Well… That’s causing another problem. There’s been a complication…”

“A complication? What kind of complication?”

“Some people are demanding an autopsy. They’re from the No Resentment Unit. They’re claiming it’s a necessary procedure. The problem is, they’re right. They’re just doing their job.”

“And?”

“They’re currently in a standoff. Miss Jin is refusing to hand over the body.”

“Hmm, that’s going to be noisy.”

He doubted anyone could persuade Jin-Ryeong. He was still calm.

“What are we going to do, Ryu-Yeon? This is a huge mess!”

Jang-Hong asked, his voice worried.

“It’s good. Even in this cold, dark prison, I can feel the heat! It’s exceeding my expectations!”

“You’re so calm about this… Damn it, you never cease to amaze me.”

“Hehehe, admire me all you want.”

He said smugly.

“But I’m still worried about the aftermath… I don’t know if this will end well…”

“They say all you gain with age are wrinkles and worries. Don’t worry. It’s still quiet outside, so I guess everything’s fine.”

The mastermind behind the incident was nonchalant.

“Ryu-Yeon, I have a question.”

Jang-Hong asked.

“One question. Ask away.”

“Where… did you hide the body? The coffin…”

“Is empty?”

“Yes! It’s not just an insult to the dead, but there’s nothing in there to even be insulted!”

It was true. The coffin Jin-Ryeong and Hyun-Woon were guarding was empty.

“Don’t worry! I asked a friend to take care of it.”

“Do I look like I’m not worried? Where is it? You can tell me.”

“That’s your second question, right? I only prepared one answer, and I’m out of stock…”

It was a clear refusal.

“Ryu-Yeon! Come on, we’re friends!”

He was startled by his protest.

“Don’t say things that could be misinterpreted! We’re not friends! We’re nothing! Don’t ruin my reputation! And besides, you’re not my type!”

He said firmly.

“That hurts! We’re bound by a strong friendship! Just tell me!”

“You should have asked your question properly the first time. Then you would have gotten your answer. You asked a bad question, so you got a bad answer. Consider this a free lesson.”

He refused to discuss it any further.

“Tsk, fine, fine!”

He knew it would cost him a fortune to get him to talk again.

“I’m broke, so I’ll be going now. Tell me next time.”

“I’ll think about it if you come back with a full wallet.”

He waved goodbye. Jang-Hong stopped walking and turned around.

“You cheapskate!”

He smiled.

“You flatter me!”

* * *

“Are you… okay, Miss Jin?”

Hyun-Woon asked, his expression concerned, a white handkerchief in his hand.

“Waaah! What should I do, Hyun-Woon? My tears won’t stop!”

She complained, her eyes red and swollen. He flinched and instinctively took a step back.

“Tsk, tsk, you look nothing like the Emei Goddess. Even a bee sting wouldn’t have caused this much swelling. What did you use?”

“This!”

She held up the handkerchief she had been using to wipe her tears. There was a small pouch inside.

“What’s that?”

“Sniff… Chili powder… Sniff… and chopped onions. Sniff.”

“Gah!”

He winced. He couldn’t even imagine the pain.

“It must have been… effective.”

“Sniff, sniff… That’s why… I’m still suffering. Sniff, sniff.”

“Who told you to do such a cruel and horrible thing?”

“Sniff… Who else…? Sniff, sniff… There’s only one person… Sniff!”

He nodded knowingly.

“It was… Eldest Senior Brother, wasn’t it…?”

“Sniff! Yes! Sniff.”

She nodded, her voice filled with indignation.

“I was a fool to listen to him. Sniff.”

“But it was effective, wasn’t it? We all had a hard time holding back our laughter. Look at my hand.”

He showed her his hand, which was covered in deep scratches and red welts.

“You must have had a hard time. Sniff, sniff!”

“I did. Everyone else has something like this too. On their lips, their thighs, somewhere.”

“But is anyone worse than me?”

He thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“No!”