Chapter v20c23

## The Young Ones Depart

– Swallow Flight

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

Hyo-Ryong asked, his face etched with worry.

“About what?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon replied, his expression nonchalant.

“Are you serious? You’re asking me that?”

Hyo-Ryong couldn’t understand why he was more upset than Bi Ryu-Yeon himself. But he couldn’t hide his anger.

“Are you really, truly okay with this, Ryu-Yeon? You’re the only one staying behind. Once Miss Jin leaves, we won’t see her for at least a year. And most of the people you know are leaving too, aren’t they?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon had been excluded from the envoy to Machun Pavilion.

When the announcement was made – “Due to his disruptive behavior, Bi Ryu-Yeon will be removed from the Machun Pavilion exchange envoy list” – only a few people close to him were surprised. And they were surprised not by the content of the announcement, but by the fact that he had accepted it so readily. They couldn’t believe that the master of schemes and manipulation had done nothing to prevent this.

“Ryong-Ryong, would it make you feel better if I cried and begged you to let me go?”

He asked, tilting his head.

“W-well… no one wants to see that nightmare. But…”

Hyo-Ryong trailed off.

“Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself. This journey won’t be easy.”

“Are you really not going? If you have a plan, we’re ready to help. We’ll join your conspiracy.”

He meant it.

“Conspiracy? What do you take me for? Do I look like someone who’s always plotting something?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon asked, his face feigning innocence. Hyo-Ryong shut his mouth.

“…”

Sometimes, silence was an affirmation.

“I’m fine. Besides, I heard you’re going with that little firecracker. Have a safe trip.”

Hyo-Ryong’s face darkened.

“If we come back alive…”

He was returning to the place where he had grown up, the place where he had lost his brother. Was it okay for him to go back? Would he still be Hyo-Ryong there? Or would he become someone else?

‘Will I be able to come back to them?’

He wasn’t sure.

“By the way, Ryong-Ryong, I have a question.”

Hyo-Ryong felt a sudden sense of unease, as if Bi Ryu-Yeon’s eyes were gleaming behind his long bangs.

“What is it?”

“I’ve been wondering this for a while, but when did you lose your eye?”

Hyo-Ryong flinched and touched his eye patch.

“Ah, this? It’s a long story.”

His eye, injured by Lee Jin-Seol, hadn’t fully healed yet. He shuddered, remembering the moment. He had been lucky to close his eye in time. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster.

“Hmm, that’s suspicious. And your hair is a mess. And there’s a scratch on your right cheek…”

“Gasp! You saw that?”

“You can’t hide it from me, even with your messy hair. Don’t tell me that eye… was that the little firecracker’s doing too?”

Hyo-Ryong, his secret exposed, swayed and remained silent.

“Your silence speaks volumes.”

“Sigh, it’s a long story.”

He had no intention of telling him the whole story. Bi Ryu-Yeon, sensing his reluctance, said,

“Hmm, I’ll have to ask you about it later.”

He looked like he was looking forward to hearing about it.

“There’s no need. Anyway, I should get going. I guess this is goodbye for now. Take care.”

“You should be the one taking care.”

He looked nothing like his usual self.

“I’ll be going then.”

He said goodbye and left. Bi Ryu-Yeon watched him leave, then muttered to himself,

“He’s trying so hard to hide his true self… Is he afraid of going back?”

That was Hyo-Ryong’s problem. He had his own things to do.

“I should start preparing too, shouldn’t I?”

He opened his locker, which was covered in locks, and took out a few items. The last item was in a special safe he had custom-made. It was a small safe, with a thin groove running along its edge and ten thumb-sized holes arranged in a circle on its door, instead of a handle. The holes were also sealed, suggesting a double-layered structure. He pressed a few spots along the groove in a specific order with his fingernail, then inserted his fingers into three of the holes in a specific order.

*Click, click, click, click, click.*

There were sounds of small metal parts clicking into place, and then the safe door slid open. He reached inside and took out the last item. It was a small, faded box. He caressed it gently.

He checked the items carefully, then sat down in front of a mirror. Even the men’s dormitory had a mirror. It wasn’t as fancy as the women’s, but it served its purpose. It was usually used by Mo Yong-Hwi, who suffered from severe OCD, to check for any imperfections in his appearance.

He stared at his reflection for a long time. It was a familiar face, a face that had always been there, but he wasn’t feeling particularly grateful for its presence. He didn’t have much of a relationship with the “me in the mirror.”

“…”

*Swipe!*

He raised his hand and brushed back his long bangs.

A stranger stared back at him. It was his face, but it felt unfamiliar.

“Long time no see, huh?”

The “me in the mirror” smiled.

‘It has been a while. How have you been? I almost forgot what you looked like.’

That was what the me in the mirror seemed to be saying.

“I thought I would never see this face again…”

‘Me too. But life would be boring without a few surprises, wouldn’t it?’

“That’s true.”

He muttered, a faint smile on his lips.

“This is the only way, isn’t it?”

There was no point in delaying any longer. It would be a waste of time, energy, and mental strength.

*Click!*

He opened a drawer and took out a pair of silver scissors.

“I thought I would never use these again…”

He hesitated for a moment, then raised the scissors resolutely.

“Let’s begin, shall we?”

He slowly brought the scissors towards his long bangs.

*Click!*

The blades snapped shut.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Lee Jin-Seol stared at the open box, as if it were a monster about to devour her head, her face creased with worry. She had too many things to pack, and the box was too small. That was the problem. The organizers clearly didn’t understand the complexities of a woman’s packing needs. But rules were rules. They were only allowed to bring one box of luggage, which would be transported by a merchant guild. They could also bring a small backpack for personal items, but that was it. So it was understandable that a young woman in her prime, eager to look her best, would struggle with packing.

‘Mirror, makeup box, perfume pouch, at least ten changes of clothes… socks, shoes, and… and…’

“Aaaaaargh! It’s too small!”

She screamed in frustration.

“…”

Na Ye-Rin, next to her, continued packing silently. Her belongings were mostly white.

Lee Jin-Seol glanced at her, then resumed packing.

“Sigh~”

She sighed, struggling to fit everything into the box.

“It’s a shame, Sister Ye-Rin.”

“What is?”

She replied, her voice indifferent. Lee Jin-Seol sighed again, frustrated by her lack of response.

“Come on! It’s about Master Bi, Master Bi! He’s not coming with us.”

“I see.”

She replied, her voice still indifferent, her hands never stopping.

“Are you just going to keep packing?”

Lee Jin-Seol whined.

“This isn’t a short trip. It’s going to take a few months. It’s understandable that we have a lot of luggage.”

“I know. That’s why we hired a merchant guild to transport our luggage.”

“So pack everything you need. You’ll regret it later if you forget something.”

She said, then resumed packing. Lee Jin-Seol sighed.

‘Is she upset that Master Bi isn’t coming?’

She wasn’t showing it, but her feminine intuition told her that she was.

“What are you doing?”

Na Ye-Rin asked, without looking back.

“N-nothing. I’m just trying to decide what to pack. Ahahaha! I should hurry up and finish packing.”

She forced a laugh and resumed packing. They didn’t speak again until they were finished.

Na Ye-Rin carefully picked up a small, old box. It was faded red, suggesting that it was at least ten years old. The intricate phoenix carving on its surface was also worn down. She caressed it gently.

*Click!*

She opened the box, and two familiar items greeted her. A silver dagger and a beautiful hair ornament, shimmering with seven colors.

“…”

A wave of nostalgia washed over her.

“Sister, what’s that? I’ve never seen it before.”

Lee Jin-Seol asked, peering over her shoulder.

“It’s nothing.”

She replied curtly, closing the box.

“Hmph…”

Lee Jin-Seol pouted, but it was no use.

*Thud!*

Na Ye-Rin closed her luggage box, the last item packed. And then she stood there, waiting. Lee Jin-Seol was still packing. It would take a while. She waited patiently, until Lee Jin-Seol finally finished.

“Phew, I’m done.”

She said, wiping the sweat from her brow. Na Ye-Rin nodded curtly.

“Let’s go.”

She picked up her luggage and walked towards the door.

“Yes, Sister… wait!”

Lee Jin-Seol grabbed her arm. Na Ye-Rin turned around, her eyes filled with questions. Her gaze was reproachful, as if she was asking, “Why are you so slow?”

But Lee Jin-Seol had her reasons. She couldn’t back down now.

“Um…”

She said, gathering her courage. Her sister’s gaze, sharp and unforgiving, intimidated her. She had to be brave.

‘Don’t run away! Don’t run away! Don’t run away!’

She raised her head and pointed.

“You… forgot your sword, Sister.”

What happened next might have been an illusion, a trick of the light in the stuffy room. But Lee Jin-Seol thought she saw a flash of red, like a shard of ice reflecting the setting sun, beneath the waves of her sister’s black hair. She wanted to look again, but Na Ye-Rin’s back was all she could see. She tried to move forward, but Na Ye-Rin blocked her path, without saying a word.

Na Ye-Rin picked up her sword, Bing-Ryeong (Ice Spirit), which had almost been left behind, and left the room, her luggage held effortlessly in her other hand.

“Wait for me, Sister!”

Lee Jin-Seol grabbed her backpack and hurried after her, her voice cheerful, as if relieved to have unloaded a heavy burden.

The world awaited her, ready to expand.

* * *

“…A long and arduous journey awaits you. But success doesn’t lie in wait on the well-trodden path. You have to forge your own path, overcome obstacles, to achieve what others cannot. I believe that you can overcome any hardship. Remember that you are proud disciples of Cheonmu Academy. Don’t disgrace the academy’s name. Compete fairly and honorably. Now, depart!”

Ma Jin-Ga’s long, boring, and unoriginal speech ended, and the Cheonmu Academy envoy left through the open gates, their horses carrying them towards their destination. Bing Geom and Yeomdo led the way, followed by Jin So-Ryeong and Yoo Eun-Seong. Yong Cheon-Myeong, as expected, was the leader of the disciples. Ma Ha-Ryeong was the deputy leader.

The “Iron Maiden” had frowned when she first heard the news, but she had eventually nodded. She had been secretly receiving lessons from her grandfather, but she had decided that it wasn’t time to challenge Yong Cheon-Myeong yet. Her grandfather’s martial arts were too vast and profound to be learned overnight. She needed more time to master them. She would get her revenge on Yong Cheon-Myeong later.

She had also been reluctant to cause her father any distress. He would be heartbroken to see his students bickering. So she had swallowed her pride and agreed to be the deputy leader. She had only given Yong Cheon-Myeong a curt nod when he had said, “I look forward to working with you.” The Vermilion Bird group, led by Namgung-Sang and Jin-Ryeong, followed behind them.