Chapter v9c3

– The Era of Hardships

A man whose patience had already reached its limits.

Peng Hyuk Seong, the furious wind.

His sword was now overflowing with a murderous intent.

Was it said that if you exercise patience, you can even avoid murder? A proverb that well expresses the advantage of patience, but right now, he was in no mood to avoid murder, rather he was in a state of explosive anger.

“You bastard! You scum worthy of death! If you don’t want to be miserably torn to pieces, why don’t you just let go right now?”

“Who might you be?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked politely.

“Ah, that’s right! You’re the one who was slashing wildly earlier.”

It was said with a tone that suggested he had only just noticed the person next to him.

“This… This bastard!”

Peng Hyuk Seong’s face showed a dramatic change of color, red and blue. He had never been so ignored in his life.

“Would you mind not interfering?”

Bi Ryu-yeon warned in a quiet voice. The tone was calm, but the power behind it was significant. If Peng Hyuk Seong could not read the atmosphere flowing beneath his words, he would not be able to avoid a setback today.

“You… this bastard! Shut up! With your torn mouth, you still babble so well. I warn you once again. And there will be no further warnings. let go of that disrespectful hand right now!!!”

Peng Hyuk Seong, with his face changing color, was shaking like a trembling tree.

Maha Ryeong’s delicate and beautiful hands, which he was holding, looked like a fierce alley cat. Her resistance was futile.

“Ahhh! You scum will be torn to death!”

By this time, Peng Hyuk Seong’s patience had run out like a well in a drought. He was a man of physical confrontation, not one to fight with his brain. Rational judgment was often thrown away according to his mood.

He deserved an award for the patience he showed today without drawing his sword.

[Charge!]

A voice reached Peng’s ears via psychic transmission. It was Jegal Yu from the Peng family, famous for being the second smartest after Cheon Ki Ryong in the Gun Ung Hoe. He also held the position of deputy commander in the Shin Eung unit.

[Is it really okay?]

He was concerned about the well-being of the leader, who seemed to be immobilized by some magic.

[Don’t worry. I cannot imagine that anyone would dare to harm the leader of the military conference. Aim for that person’s arm. If you do, they won’t be able to move without releasing the leader.]

[Indeed!]

Peng Hyuk Seong’s eyes gleamed with confidence as long as the leader was safe.

“Ahhhh! Furious Tiger Emerges from the Forest!”

Shwoosh!

Like a fierce tiger bursting out of the forest, Peng’s Five Tiger Sword Technique was unleashed with explosive force.

However, soon Jegal Yu, Peng Hyuk Seong, and even Baek Mu-yeong had to reflect that they had underestimated Bi Ryu-yeon by ordinary standards.

Bi Ryu-yeon’s actions were without hesitation.

“Huh!”

“Cough!”

“Huh!”

“Kyaaak!”

People’s eyes bulged out as if they’d been hit by a slingshot.

The reason for the astonished gasps that burst out around them was simple. Bi Ryu-yeon had shoved Maha Ryeong in front of the ‘Furious Tiger Emerges from the Forest,’ a move from the Five Tiger Sword Technique.

Peng Hyuk Seong’s sword was aimed precisely at Bi Ryu-yeon’s arm. He thought that Bi Ryu-yeon would be startled and pull his arm back. But he had underestimated Bi Ryu-yeon too much. Bi Ryu-yeon did pull his hand back, but only because he knew Peng’s sword would sweep past him otherwise. However, Maha Ryeong’s hand was still caught in his. Naturally, Maha Ryeong’s body was exposed right in front of where Peng Hyuk Seong’s sword was directed.

“Ah!”

“Huh!”

“Kkuk!”

Peng Hyuk Seong suddenly let out a cry. It was a bizarre and grotesque sound, far worse than the noise of slaughtering a pig.

He had to throw his whole body to change the direction of his sword swing suddenly.

Kuakwakwakwa!

Peng Hyuk Seong twisted the path of his sword with all his might. He would rather die than be branded a murderer of the leader. If that happened, the rest of his life would be too miserable.

Shick!

His sword’s tip turned sharply just in front of Maha Ryeong’s nose. It was a valiant effort by Peng Hyuk Seong, who was prepared to die. If he had been a little late, her nose would have been about half an inch lower from tomorrow. It would have been a very successful cosmetic surgery.

Kakakakak!

Peng Hyuk Seong’s sword harshly cut through the innocent earth. It was because he couldn’t contain the remaining strength of his sword. The blade must have been tattered.

The energy loaded in the sword with nowhere to go returned to his body, probing his insides.

Ulkuk!

Due to the forced operation of the technique, he seemed to have sustained a light internal injury. It was too much for him to adjust the distance, direction, and strength of his sword quickly in the face of a sudden emergency.

But thanks to Peng’s efforts, Maha Ryeong was safe. However, her face had turned as pale as a corpse.

Bukkum bukkum!

Her pale lips opened and closed like a fish out of water, but no words came out.

Being used as a shield against a dangerously flying blade was something she had never experienced before.

“Heok… heok… heok…”

Peng Hyuk Seong was breathing heavily. His chest was still heaving.

“Je… Jegal Yu! You liar! You said it would be different!”

All the blame was directed at Jegal Yu, who had confidently advised him.

Dozens of eyes widened in shock, now turned to Bi Ryu-yeon, who stood as if nothing had happened. “Mr. Bi, you are a mischievous person!”

Upon hearing Eun Seol-ran’s words, Na Yerin tilted her head. Could it really be simply described as ‘mischievous’? Na Yerin hesitated to answer rashly.

The aftermath of Bi Ryu-yeon’s unexpected action was astonishing. Everyone’s eyes were wide open, and their mouths were gaping. They seemed to have no intention of closing for a while.

“Huff huff huff! You… are you truly a madman?”

Peng gasped for air, barely managing to speak. His energy still hadn’t settled down. It was a bitter price to pay for changing the trajectory of his sword so hastily. A trickle of blood ran down from the corner of his mouth.

“No matter how much nonsense is a personal freedom, what kind of nonsense is this? I am much saner than you.”

“Nonsense! You… you scum should be torn to death…”

It was unbelievable that he actually used Maha Ryeong as a shield. No one would have believed it without seeing it for themselves.

Peng Hyuk Seong nearly exploded with anger. He was so angry that his teeth were grinding. It was a powerful force, enough to wear down all his teeth. His anger was boiling over.

“What kind of irresponsible act is this? Using a woman as a shield? Did you not know the ethics of the martial world?”

Peng Hyuk Seong roared with rage. His face was so pale, it was doubtful whether his soul was still attached. His hands were still shaking.

“You were going to avoid it anyway. It’s a lesson to trust your subordinates and not to act recklessly because of your gender. Aren’t men and women equal? And…”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s words were not yet finished. It seemed he still had something more to say.

“It’s natural to take responsibility for the mistakes of one’s subordinates, isn’t it?”

Such a confident attitude!

At that moment, all Peng Hyuk seong could do was stand there in a daze with a vacant expression. ‘Using Gun Ung Hoe-ju Maha Ryeong, who acted as if there was nothing in this world to fear, as a shield! This man! Is he really in his right mind?’ First of all, Baek Mu-yeong became curious about that. With that, the alliance between Gun Ung Hoe and Bi Ryu-yeon had become an irreconcilable standoff. No, the standoff had actually begun when Maha Ryeong’s cheeks turned red with heat, and from now on, ‘enemy of the heavens’ might be a more accurate expression. Neither side was the type to quietly back down.

‘That prideful young lady won’t just sit still! Then what will our Gu Jeong Hoe do from now on? Will we turn Bi Ryu-yeon into an enemy, or will we embrace and protect them?’ The enemy of my enemy is my friend, but Bi Ryu-yeon’s actions were a bit too much. ‘If things get this big, it becomes a problem… It’s one thing to get involved with Gun Ung Hoe and hurt their pride, but if you rebel against the current organization too much, even Gu Jeong Hoe cannot support you.’ Moreover, Bi Ryu-yeon was not without problems with Gu Jeong Hoe either. There had already been quite serious issues caused.

‘Now what?’ For Baek Mu-yeong, who had glimpsed at least a part of Bi Ryu-yeon’s true nature, it was inevitably a concern. If what he saw then was neither an illusion nor a lie, it seemed necessary to think more carefully. The only thing he could do now was to watch the situation unfold.

‘Damn it! Even ten thousand books are powerless before that person!’ How had he, the supreme strategist of the Hyeongsan faction who manipulated its maneuvers, come to this point? He could only sigh deeply.

“Do you… truly know who I am to do this? Do you think you’ll be safe after doing such a thing?” There was now a deep-seated anger in Maha Ryeong’s voice, who had momentarily served as Bi Ryu-yeon’s shield. Her face had not yet regained its color. It seemed she had taken a significant psychological hit.

“I don’t know.” Bi Ryu-yeon answered without hesitation. He pretended not to know, even though he did.

“And I don’t want to know!”

“What?” Maha Ryeong was genuinely surprised to hear such an absurd response.

‘If only my body could move… I would cut down this wretch in a single stroke…’ Maha Ryeong’s body still had not freed itself from Bi Ryu-yeon’s restraint. That was a source of deep frustration and resentment for her.

“If you want so badly to be remembered, I might deign to remember you from now on. How about it? Should I remember you?” Bi Ryu-yeon asked with a sly smile.

“Well, it’s not too late to get to know you slowly from now on.” Bi Ryu-yeon’s response was completely calm.

“Who… who asked to be remembered by someone like you!” Maha Ryeong shouted back with a flushed face. For her, it was an absolutely absurd situation. Until now, no one had dared to speak to her in such a manner. They were all too afraid for their lives…

‘Is it already too late…’ The onlookers’ common opinion was that the subtle standoff between the two had progressed too far, but since it was a private thought, it did not reach Bi Ryu-yeon’s ears.

“Do you think you can commit such outrageous acts because of your ignorance? The saying goes, ‘Ignorance is bravery,’ but it must have been said about someone like you.” Each of her words was like a steel thorn.

Bi Ryu-yeon really wanted to see her tongue, to see where those thorns were.

“Such a foul-mouthed young lady. And even if I knew your identity, what difference would it make?”

“It would make a lot of difference. For starters, you would kneel before me, pressing your forehead to the floor, apologizing a hundred times.” Maha Ryeong said confidently. To her, that was just everyday life. But what was routine for Maha Ryeong was nothing but a joke to Bi Ryu-yeon.

“Ha! You’re very ambitious in your dreams. No matter the truth, and regardless of your status, nothing changes. Even if you were the emperor’s daughter, the fact that you should apologize and beg me would not change. Do you understand?” Bi Ryu-yeon’s words were resolute. His will had no trace of faltering.

‘This guy is serious!’ Maha Ryeong, who was close enough to engrave every word of Bi Ryu-yeon’s, felt that reality acutely. But still, she could not understand the source of his madness, arrogance, and confidence.

“Oh? Not attacking now?” Bi Ryu-yeon’s sudden question was directed at Peng Hyuk seong. In an instant, Peng Hyuk seong could do nothing but wear a blank expression.

“Ai… How boring. I wanted to test the shield’s usefulness a bit more.” The shield, of course, referred to Maha Ryeong herself.

“Shut up! You bastard!” Peng Hyuk seong exploded. But he couldn’t swing his sword a second time. Because he would suffer the same terrible nightmare again.

“I swear on my name. You! What is your name?” Her eyes blazed with anger. No one liked being treated as a shield once, let alone twice. “They call me Bi Ryu-yeon.”

He was not so weak as to hide his name. And he was always ready to take responsibility for his actions.

“Remember this! Bi Ryu-yeon! I will make sure that you experience the most terrible hell on earth.” Her tongue blazed with the fire of hatred. Her words were chilling to the bone.

“If you can…” Bi Ryu-yeon’s response was full of confidence. An absurd confidence that he would remain unscathed even if the world fell apart. And then he added another annoying remark.

“Go ahead, chubby lady!” Her body shook violently. Blood seeped from her tightly clenched lower lip.

“This… this… this…” Maha Ryeong was so agitated she couldn’t finish her sentence. Her outfit had already been turned inside out numerous times. Anger was surging inside her.

“You! I’ll make sure you can never stretch out your legs and sleep peacefully again!” Maha Ryeong was so agitated she couldn’t finish her sentence. Her outfit had already been turned inside out numerous times. Anger was surging inside her.

But Bi Ryu-yeon’s reaction was indifferent. Shaking his head from side to side, Bi Ryu-yeon said, “Do you want to be my wife or something?”

“What… What nonsense is that?” Maha Ryeong shouted with a flushed face.

“If you don’t plan on it, then don’t worry about whether others stretch out their legs, curl up, or sleep with twisted legs. And you still think threats are a useful tactic? It seems I appeared too easy to you. Whatever way you thought I would fall for something as petty as bluffing or threats, you have seriously misjudged!” Bi Ryu-yeon had never been one to bluff or be threatened. He could guarantee that with his honor.

“You’re really wild, irritable, and vicious like a feral cat!” And she had no manners!

That was Bi Ryu-yeon’s scathing assessment of Gun Ung Hoe ju Maha Ryeong.

Bi Ryu-yeon, who had become a public enemy of many men due to an illegal kiss with Na Yerin, could easily dismiss the grudges of one or two people, or even twenty or thirty, as trivial. So even if one more woman’s grudge and hatred were added, even if that being unleashed the grudge of a dozen people alone, it seemed to make no difference to him.