Chapter v9c23

“Have you clearly memorized it?”

“Yes, Master! Sob sob sob”

Tears fell from the eyes of the two people. Currently, both of them were sobbing.

“Search for someone who can unite Yeombak and Binghon , the Positive and the Negative ! The Divine Red and the Ice Sword will guide the way. That person will be the talent who can unify the Taeguk. Search for the one with the energy of the star, Seongshin !”

It was the master’s last will and advice.

“The talent of Taeguk! If you find that talent, work together to unify the Taeguk! I believe in you. I pray from the underworld that the future of the martial world will emerge from your hands. Our fate ends here!”

Despite being covered in fine, web-like wounds all over his body, the master did not show any disarray while sitting. However, he was fully aware of how much life he had left. Yeomdo and Bing Geom both shed tears. They couldn’t contain their overwhelming sorrow.

“Master! Please tell us who the enemy is! We will surely avenge you.”

“Tell us the enemy!”

Yeomdo and Bing Geom both cried out in unison. However, their master, the Taeguk Divine Warrior Muhin Hyukweolrin, who was a figure in the martial world during the Heavenly Tribulation Bloodbath, merely smiled quietly and shook his head.

“That is not for you to concern yourselves with. In this duel, I have no regrets. If there was any regret, it would only be not winning the duel. It’s beyond your capability! Do not harbor any other thoughts until you find the talent of Taeguk and achieve its unification!”

“Master! Please tell us the enemy!”

Once again, Yeomdo and Bing Geom pleaded with the Divine Warrior. However, the Taeguk Divine Warrior did not budge.

“It’s too heavy a burden for you! I cannot leave passing such a heavy burden onto you. Instead, take care of Hyuk sooun, that child. I believe that child will decide her own fate, but I hope you can help her.”

“Yes, Master!”

Endless tears poured from the eyes of the two.

“Everyone dies someday! From the moment one becomes a warrior and takes up a sword, one is already prepared. Do not be too sad. Now, I entrust my legacy to you.”

And then, the Divine Warrior closed his eyes quietly, leaving his glorious name brilliantly in the history of the martial world. It was the moment when a giant of the martial world became a shooting star, falling. However, his name would become a legend and live on forever.

“Master..”

Bing Geom placed his left hand to his chest. It was an object he had not separated from his body since that moment. It was an object as precious as life itself, shared with Yeomdo. An object that must be protected with their lives.

Bing Geom’s gaze, reminiscing about the past for a moment, returned to reality.

Ice Sword Gwan Cheol Soo vs. Bi Ryu Yeon

Days were filled with repeated challenges and disputes.

It had become so tiresome that sighs came first.

“Take this! Enemy!”

“Again?”

The indifferent response of Bi Ryu Yeon! It felt chronic, as this was not the first or second time.

Wham!

A loud clash and the attacker lay sprawled out like a corpse, his body swollen blue. The situation always ended like that.

Lately, too many were targeting Bi Ryu Yeon. There were times when the assailants’ operating hours overlapped, not just once or twice. There were also many misunderstandings, and near accidents occurred.

One day, two people, both dreaming of attacking Bi Ryu Yeon at the same time, stood in front of his dormitory window. Without even thinking of entering, they mistook each other for thieves and ended up fighting and falling. Fortunately, they avoided serious injury, but it was not a light wound to laugh off.

Every day, Bi Ryu Yeon’s locker was stuffed full of duel invitations, it was ripped, burned, and buried. and Bi Ryu Yeon dismissed all of them with a snort, paying them no mind.

“Are you insulting us? Draw your sword now! It’s a duel!”

Even if they shouted loudly, it was like a soundless outcry, an echo that didn’t return. There was nothing more miserable.

Bi Ryu Yeon had only one thing to say.

“I don’t get involved in things that don’t make money. Unprofitable labor, uncompensated labor, is the evil of the martial world.”

It was Bi Ryu Yeon’s unwavering stance.

“If you want to fight me, put up a large sum as a duel fee. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.”

Bi Ryu Yeon had no intention of accepting a duel that would result in financial loss, breaking school rules, or losing points—though there was no reputation left to lose.

“Oh, and if you want to fight me, at least have the skill to beat Master Yeomd! Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting money! Of course, that’s fine by me!”

“What???”

It was a statement that could confound anyone who heard it, the epitome of universal madness. But those who rashly attacked and got crushed by Bi Ryu Yeon couldn’t find the words to retort and had to leave with swollen faces.

And so, Bi Ryu Yeon’s words, “Pay to fight!”, spread throughout the academy. And the rumor that one shouldn’t dare challenge him without the skill to beat Yeomdo, along with the demand for money, spread quickly throughout the academy.

The rumor was so absurd and outrageous that it was hard to believe. Hence, Bi Ryu Yeon remained an enigma. Everyone shook their heads at its true intent.

However, the rumors didn’t die down. As outrageous as the content was, it spread more and more, eventually reaching the ears of Ice Sword Gwan Cheol Soo, a sworn enemy of Yeomdo and an inseparable rival.

Others might have scoffed at the rumor and treated Bi Ryu Yeon as a madman, pointing fingers behind his back, but Ice Sword couldn’t dismiss the rumor as mere hearsay.

Although he didn’t like Yeomdo as a person, any disgrace to his honor could affect him too, because they were recognized rivals by themselves and others. So, if there was a false rumor tarnishing the rival’s honor, it was unpleasant but necessary to deal with. He didn’t want to be lumped together unfairly.

“Master!”

Ice Sword recalled the face of his greatly respected master, a Martial God who was revered. To Ice Sword, his master was so great that he couldn’t even follow in his footsteps. Being chosen as his disciple was the greatest honor and fortune of his life. It was only regrettable that he couldn’t fully live up to the master’s teachings. But lately, there was a strange rumor circulating in the academy.

It was the ridiculous rumor that Bi Ryu Yeon had beaten Yeomdo.

Yeomdo Kwak Young-hee!

A name that would never be forgotten until death. Once a fellow student and friend, they were now fated rivals. The final showdown between them had not yet happened. The gap in their skills was not yet wide enough to conclude.

Flame and Ice! It was a study of extremes.

It was impossible for two people with similar skills to have a complete showdown. They had not yet faced each other head-on, but they were opponents who must eventually settle the score. But the rumor that Yeomdo had lost to a nobody was not pleasing to Ice Sword.

Bi Ryu Yeon…………..

Certainly, it was a name he had heard before. Wherever that name was, it was always at the center of trouble. There was never a time when his name was mentioned without a commotion. If ever, it was only for having disgracefully made it to the winner of the Samsung Muje.

“Still, I should check it out.”

The rumor that Yeomdo, a rival and eternal competitor, had been defeated was unpleasant for Ice Sword too. Therefore, he felt the need to suppress the rumor.

“Huh! If the rumor is true, then perhaps that person is indeed the talent who can unite the Taeguk.”

But he soon shook his head.

“Huh! As if that could be true.”

For 20 years, not a single clue had been found. It was laughable that the talent of Taeguk would suddenly appear now. But

“Maybe it’s worth testing………….”

Finally, Ice Sword began to move.

——————————————–

“Is it true that if you pay a duel fee, you can fight?”

Bi Ryu Yeon, who was usually escorting Eun Seol-ran and attempting to converse with Na Yerin, turned her head at the voice from behind.

“Ah! Of course.”

Bi Ryu Yeon couldn’t finish his sentence. It was certainly someone he had met before, and the image was clearly etched in his memory. The unique silvery-blue eyebrows and beard, along with the blue-tinged hair, reminded one of cold ice sculptures.

‘Ice cube!'(TLN: dude ice cube is black )He was definitely someone familiar. Bi Ryu Yeon spoke without a hint of panic.

“It seems I’ve seen you somewhere before! If my memory serves me correctly.”

Bi Ryu Yeon smiled faintly. Finally, recovering from their shock, Na Yerin and Mo Yong-hwi shouted out.

“Grand Master!”

A presence that naturally brought to mind a cold northern blizzard! With a face as cold as ice! The person who had stopped Bi Ryu Yeon to talk about a duel fee was none other than the Grand Master of Cheonmu Academy, Ice Sword Gwan Cheol Soo.

“Would you allow it?”

“As you wish! But to fight someone like the Grand Master, the risk is too great to be compensated with money.”

“Is that a refusal?”

“Not at all. I have no objections if the conditions are right.”

“Conditions?”

“Yes! Conditions!”

Bi Ryu Yeon nodded with a smile.

“Do you realize that if I command it, you must cross swords with me without question?”

It was a voice as chilling as slicing through flesh.

“I suppose so?”

“Sorry, but you have no right to refuse me. And yet you speak of conditions?”

“Yes! Of course!”

Bi Ryu Yeon answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Ryu Yeon!”

“Mr. Bi!”

“Young Master Bi!”

Eun Seol-ran, Mo Yong-hwi, and Na Yerin called out to Bi Ryu Yeon at the same time. They wanted to stop what seemed to be his reckless behavior at any cost. However, Bi Ryu Yeon acted as if he had momentarily detached his ears from his body, pretending not to hear.

Bi Ryu Yeon’s resolute response silenced Ice Sword.

His silence was the kind that could freeze the world. A formidable aura emanated from his body, enough to make everyone around shiver.

And finally, the frozen lips of Ice Sword parted.

“Shall we hear it?”

It was a cold statement, like the North Sea’s ice and snow, but it was a clear acceptance.

“Money won’t do… How about this proposal?”

Bi Ryu Yeon put forth a suggestion.

“Speak up!”

“If I happen to win, you grant me two favors later on.”

“Do you really think you can beat me?”

Ice Sword found it ludicrous to negotiate conditions for winning, not just for fighting.

“That’s why I said ‘if.’ The whims of the heavens are so unpredictable, you never know with the affairs of this world.”

Bi Ryu Yeon seemed overly confident, to the astonishment of those around. Everyone watching was appalled by Bi Ryu Yeon’s audacious behavior.(TLN: i am confused like didn’t they see him wreck a freaking battalion solo ??)

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep. But if it’s a favor I can grant, I will!”

That was a word of acceptance. Ice Sword had accepted Bi Ryu Yeon’s conditions.

“That’s sufficient.”

Bi Ryu Yeon nodded. With that, the negotiation was concluded.

“So when shall we do it?”

Bi Ryu Yeon asked.

“Right now!”

There was no hesitation in Ice Sword’s reply.