Chapter v20c4

“Oh my, how could he do that! He has no shame!”

Lee Jin-Seol exclaimed, her voice filled with indignation.

“Y-you’re right. Gulp!”

Hyo-Ryong, his eyes wide with shock, swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the scene unfolding before them.

“…your eyes!”

“Huh?”

He asked, his attention still elsewhere.

“Close your eyes! Before I gouge them out!”

She threatened, her voice laced with killing intent, her hand forming a claw.

“Y-yes, ma’am! I’ll close them!”

He quickly shut his eyes, fearing for his safety.

* * *

“Well? Now do you see how great I am?”

Lee Si-Geon asked, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. He always felt a surge of pleasure whenever he asserted his dominance.

“You poor thing…”

“W-what?”

Na Ye-Rin’s gaze, unwavering, met his.

“You’re truly a pathetic creature if you can only feel superior by abusing, belittling, and tormenting others.”

“W-what?!”

His face crumpled like a piece of paper.

“I’ll take back what I said earlier.”

She said.

“What do you mean?”

“I said I would fight you with all my might. I’m retracting that statement. You’re not even worth it.”

It was the harshest judgment.

“W-what?!”

He felt a sense of defeat, even though he was clearly in a position of power.

‘What… What is this feeling? I’m winning! I’m the best!’

But the feeling of defeat wouldn’t go away.

She calmly tied her skirt around her thigh, covering the wound. Then she looked at him and said,

“I’ll defeat you without even trying.”

Her eyes were devoid of fear, and his fragile ego shattered.

“Don’t look at me like that!”

He couldn’t stand her indifference, her dismissive gaze.

“I’ll tear you to shreds! Let’s see if you can still look at me like that then!”

* * *

*Purple Cloud Dark Wind.*

*Killing Form.*

*North Wind Slaughter Blade.*

* * *

The threads of energy, woven into a web, surged towards her.

“It’s still incomplete, but…”

She wanted to test something.

* * *

*Dragon Eyes Activation.*

* * *

She unleashed the power of her Dragon Eyes, and a torrent of information flooded her senses. She could see everything, no matter how complex.

* * *

*Cold Frost Jade Spirit Divine Sword.*

*Flying Snow Steps Secret Technique.*

*Dazzling Dance.*

* * *

She moved, her body leaving a flurry of afterimages, like snowflakes scattering in the wind.

“W-what?”

He shouted, his voice filled with panic, as she disappeared from his sight.

“M-Master!”

The O-Gae brothers were the first to spot her. They had been frantically searching for her, and they had caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of their eyes.

“It’s dangerous!”

They weren’t particularly loyal, but they rushed to protect him. They needed him alive if they wanted to benefit from his schemes. But the price they paid was far greater than they had anticipated.

*Slash!*

Her sword flashed, a streak of white light. She had no mercy for a serial rapist.

“Gah!”

A scream pierced the air, followed by a geyser of blood.

“Damn it!”

Yoon Yi-Jeong, seeing his trusted lieutenants fall so easily, quickly unleashed his Wind Demon Blade technique.

* * *

*Wind Demon Blade Technique Secret Technique.*

*Wind Demon Returning Soul.*

* * *

A fierce whirlwind of energy surged towards her. It was far more powerful than the O-Gae brothers’ attack.

But she remained calm. She could see everything, even the slightest movement of the wind. His attack was nothing to her.

She flicked her wrist, her sword dancing in the air, and the whirlwind dissipated, turning into a gentle breeze.

‘T-this is impossible! My blade energy!’

He was shocked. His prized technique had been neutralized by a flick of her wrist. And shock created openings. And openings led to bloodshed.

*Stab!*

Her sword pierced his defenses, grazing his cheek.

“Ugh!”

He rolled on the ground, narrowly dodging a fatal blow.

A blizzard of blood, a whirlwind of crimson, swept through the courtyard. Petals of blood danced in the air. But her white robes remained spotless, not a single drop of blood staining them.

* * *

“She’s strong. Really strong. I never imagined she was this strong…”

Lee Jin-Seol stared at her, her expression awestruck. She was beautiful, cold, and alluring. It was as if her sword dance was drawing her soul in.

“You’re right.”

Hyo-Ryong, who had opened his eyes, agreed, his gaze fixed on the scene.

“Close your eyes again.”

She warned him, her eyes still glued to the fight.

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

He quickly shut his eyes again.

* * *

“Why! Why! Why! Why isn’t it working?!”

Lee Si-Geon shouted, his voice filled with frustration. He had never felt so powerless before.

“Because you’re weaker than ‘him.'”

She replied, her sword dance continuing.

“Him?”

He quickly crossed his arms, forming a defensive stance, weaving a web of silk swords around himself.

“You’re just a fake, a pale imitation of ‘him.'”

He finally realized who she was talking about.

“Bi Ryu-Yeon, that bastard?”

He shouted, his voice strained with anger.

“You admit it?”

He regretted his words as soon as he uttered them.

“Your defense is pathetic!”

She didn’t wait for an answer. She thrust her sword forward, a lightning-fast attack that pierced his defenses and aimed for his throat.

‘I’m done for!’

He shut his eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

“…”

But the pain never came. He cautiously opened his eyes.

Her sword was hovering an inch from his throat.

“I still need to hear your testimony.”

That was why he was still alive.

“I… I… lost?”

And then it happened.

A small, black sphere rolled towards her feet.

‘Is that a bomb?’

Lee Jin-Seol shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

“Unni, dodge!”

She leaped back just as the sphere exploded.

*Boom!*

A blinding flash of light, followed by a deafening roar. She couldn’t see, her ears ringing.

When her vision finally returned, both Yoon Yi-Jeong and Lee Si-Geon were gone. The explosion hadn’t caused any damage. It wasn’t a destructive bomb, but a flashbang, designed to disorient with light and sound.

“They escaped.”

She muttered, her voice quiet.

* * *

“Those bastards escaped! Hyo-Ryong! Hyo-Ryong?”

Lee Jin-Seol, about to call out to him again, turned around, surprised by his silence.

“Hyo… Ryong?”

He was gone. He had vanished without a trace.

‘Did he go after them…?’

She was annoyed that he had left without her, but she was also partly to blame. She had been distracted.

* * *

“What are they up to?”

Lee Si-Geon and Yoon Yi-Jeong stopped running, their escape hampered by the thick smoke from the flashbang.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!”

He shouted, his voice sharp.

A young man, wearing a green headband and carrying two swords on his back, emerged from the smoke.

His eyes widened.

“You… You’re Hyo-Ryong?”

He didn’t answer.

“What are you doing here?”

He was caught off guard.

“I should be asking you that. Why are you here?”

He asked, his eyes cold and sharp, a look that was unfamiliar to those who knew him. One corner of Lee Si-Geon’s mouth twitched.

“You should call me Senior Brother, Junior Brother.”

He said, his voice mocking. He didn’t like his attitude.

“You’re not my Senior Brother.”

“Our Third Young Master is being quite rude. To a fellow student.”

His sarcasm made him bristle.

“I don’t have a cowardly deserter as my Senior Brother.”

He had always disliked him.

“C-cowardly? How dare you call me a cowardly deserter! I was just retreating! Do you think that bitch could even scratch me?”

He shouted, his voice filled with anger.

“She already did.”

He pointed at his cheek.

“What?!”

He touched his cheek and was shocked.

“W-when…?”

There was a long, thin cut on his cheek, blood oozing out.

“You didn’t even notice you were cut.”

He chuckled, enjoying his moment of triumph.

“I’ll ask you again. Why did you do this? There’s no reason for Machun Pavilion to antagonize Cheonmu Academy.”

“I’m not telling you anything. Figure it out yourself.”

“Surely this wasn’t the Pavilion Lord’s decision?”

“Well, who knows?”

He didn’t confirm or deny it.

“Lee Si-Geon!”

He shouted, but he didn’t flinch.

“Hmph, call me Senior Brother, you insolent fool! I’d love to teach you a lesson, but I don’t have time for you right now. I’m busy. I’ll let you off the hook this time, but next time, there will be no mercy.”

He was in a hurry. He didn’t have time to argue with his disrespectful Junior Brother. He needed to get his wound treated.

‘I can’t let this scar my handsome face!’

That was unacceptable.

“I’ve never met anyone who actually kept their promise of a rematch.”

He hadn’t come here to fight. He just wanted to test the waters.

“You’ll see. You’ll see. Oh, and here’s a parting gift. Don’t bother coming back. There’s no place for you here anymore.”

“Shut up!”

He shouted.

“Ahahahaha!”

He laughed and leaped over the wall. Hyo-Ryong didn’t pursue him.

* * *

“How did it go, Hyo-Ryong?”

Lee Jin-Seol asked, her face brightening as she saw him approaching.

“He escaped. I’m sorry.”

He replied dejectedly. His mind was still reeling from the encounter.

“It can’t be helped.”

Her voice was filled with disappointment. She sighed, her hopes dashed. He felt a pang of guilt, seeing her disappointment. He hadn’t tried his best to capture Lee Si-Geon, partly because of his complicated relationship with him.

“Should we leave? We weren’t much help. It’s embarrassing to show our faces.”

They hadn’t been invited. They had been asked to help. But they hadn’t accomplished anything. They had just been spectators, witnesses. He felt ashamed to face Na Ye-Rin, after all his boasting. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.

“You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”

He felt the same way.

And then they heard her voice.

“Where are you going? You can come out now.”

They had missed their chance to slip away.

“Hehe! Sorry, unni! I wasn’t much help. I just watched.”

Lee Jin-Seol said sheepishly, emerging from her hiding place with Hyo-Ryong.

“That was enough. Don’t be discouraged. I needed a witness, just in case. But it’s useless now…”

With Lee Si-Geon gone, everything was meaningless.

“Won’t the Central Plains Merchant Guild cause trouble?”

The daughter of the current Murim Alliance Leader had just trashed their Nanchang branch. It could become a major issue.

“They won’t make a big deal out of it if they have something to hide. They’ll have to explain why Lee Si-Geon was here. And even if they do cause trouble…”

“Even if?”

“I’m prepared.”

Lee Jin-Seol was surprised by her newfound resolve.

‘What changed her?’

Nothing about today’s events made sense.

“I apologize for troubling you, Young Master Hyo.”

“N-no, it’s not a trouble… Don’t mention it…”

He stammered, his gaze fixed on her exposed thigh.

“Don’t look!”

*Stab! Stab!*

Her fingers, sharp as eagle talons, jabbed at his eyes.

“Aaaaaargh!”

His scream echoed through the night.

* * *

“I’m sorry, Ryu-Yeon.”

She lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her clear eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

He asked, his expression bewildered.

“I tried to capture him…”

But she had failed at the last moment. It was a shame.

“…You went yourself?”

She nodded slightly, and he smiled.

“Then it was a success.”

His voice was cheerful. She was speechless. She had failed, and he was still in prison, but how could he be so happy? He seemed unconcerned about his own situation.

“You took action, Ye-Rin. You decided to engage with the world.”

Her decision to pursue the culprit had violated countless rules. It was something she would never have done before.

“That’s true, but…”

It was still a failure.

“It’s okay. There’s no news more welcome to me than that. Compared to that, a small fry like him doesn’t matter. I’ve already taken care of things…”

Her involvement had been unexpected.

“But I wanted to do something for you.”

She blushed slightly, and his face lit up.

*Flash!*

An idea struck him.

“Really? Then that’s perfect. There’s something only you can do.”

“Only I can do? What is it?”

“It’s…”

“…?”

“Food!”

“Food?”

He nodded.

“I want to eat food that you made yourself.”

He said it casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. If any of her admirers were here, they would have fainted.

“W-well…”

She stammered, flustered. She hadn’t expected that.

‘Maybe it would be easier to go after Lee Si-Geon again…’

That was her honest thought.

“I’ve never actually…”

“It’s okay. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? Isn’t it important to have the courage to try new things? You already have the courage, so you’ll be fine. I guarantee it.”

His words were reassuring.

“Do you really think I can do it?”

“Of course! Trust me.”

It was ironic, coming from the least trustworthy person around.

“Then I’ll…”

She muttered, still hesitant.

‘Mission accomplished!’

He smiled to himself.