Chapter 101

Sometimes, unbelievable things happen in the world,
surprising people.
At those times, people either admire or curse
the world's capriciousness and absurdity.
In that context, for the academy students, Bi Ryu-yeon's advance to the finals of the Three Sages Grand Battle
was something that should rightly be called a trick of the gods.

• The Wings of the Azure Sky

"Oh, what a falcon with a peculiar feather color.
Was there a falcon with the color of the azure sky like that in our academy?"

The one who had let out the exclamation was a woman,
and unfortunately, an eyepatch was worn over the woman's left eye.

But even with the eyepatch, her beauty was not hidden and rather created a unique atmosphere. She was none other than the One-Eyed Phoenix, Dokgo-ryeong.

She had seen hundreds of falcons soaring into the sky and riding the wind until now, but today was the first time she had seen the flight of such a peculiar-looking falcon. The dignity of its spread wings was like that of the king of the sky.

"I'm also seeing that falcon for the first time. If it were a falcon with such a distinctive feature, there's no way it wouldn't have caught my eye."

Na Ye-rin also nodded her head as if in agreement with Dokgo-ryeong's words.

"Azure Wing! Could that be the famous Eastern Goshawk? It's been a long time since I've seen a falcon that cuts through the azure sky with such high pride."

It was Dokgo-ryeong, whose smile was naturally formed at the refreshing wing beats of the Goshawk. Seeing the falcon's flight that cut through the wind refreshingly, her mood seemed to improve as well.

"Oh? It seems that falcon's destination is you, junior sister! It seems to be flying this way."

Na Ye-rin's gaze was also confirming that fact. The falcon, which had been flying as if stirring the azure sky, had turned its wings and was heading this way.

For a moment, Dokgo-ryeong's beautiful brow furrowed slightly.

'Who could it be?'

Since it was a falcon she was seeing for the first time, she could not know who its owner was. An unknown person anyway. Who was it this time? It was her earnest wish that they would please stop. She was even tired of it now.

"Is that also that?"

Dokgo-ryeong muttered to herself, as if she had a guess. She had wondered if it was, and as expected, her gaze, which was a mixture of 'who is doing such a useless, futile effort again' and 'how pitiful', went beyond the falcon and was directed at the falcon's owner. To that owner whose name she could not even know...

"You, your name is Uroe-mae."

Na Ye-rin said with a rare, slight smile. For some reason, this punk, who had only been fierce, was also quiet in front of Na Ye-rin. Rather, it was sitting on her left hand's leather arm guard proudly and with dignity, as if showing off.

The reason why Na Ye-rin had come to know the name of the falcon with blue feathers was because its name was kindly written in the letter tied to the falcon's ankle. But the rest of the contents made her fall into thought.

It was an unexpected thing. The owner of the falcon was someone she also knew well.

Although they had only met twice until now, it was the very person who had imprinted a stronger impression on her mind than anyone else. And he was also the person who had stolen her precious lips. He was a person she could not forget even if she tried.

"Are you thinking of going?"

Although she was thinking, 'Of course she won't go', Dokgo-ryeong confirmed her heart once more. Her junior sister had received thousands of letters from men, but she had never once granted the request written in them. It was her role to always refuse coldly.

But Dokgo-ryeong's eyes widened. Her junior sister had nodded her head. It was an unexpected result. It was the first time.

"It's a matter related to me. I have to go."

If it weren't for her, Bi Ryu-yeon would not have participated in the Three Sages Martial Festival. On the one hand, she also had a desire to know what kind of skill he had to have boasted so much in front of her.

What she wanted to know now was Bi Ryu-yeon's level of martial arts. For her, who was marking Bi Ryu-yeon as a suspect for the intruder of the Baekhyang-gwan, who had slipped past her using an unknown method, there was a reason to see his skills.

"If that's what you think, junior sister, then I can't help it."

Dokgo-ryeong also reluctantly agreed. Because if she went, it was no different from saying that Dokgo-ryeong herself would also go.

"But if it becomes known that you are going to watch that punk's duel, many men will light the fire of jealousy in their two eyes! Well, that might be unexpectedly fun. I can see that Bi Ryu-yeon punk's flustered face in my eyes!"

It was Dokgo-ryeong, whose smile was slightly showing, as if a quite watchable scene would be produced. To see the smile of the One-Eyed Phoenix, who was also called the Iron-Blooded Woman, was as difficult as picking a star from the sky. But by her junior sister, Na Ye-rin's side, she could see her smile relatively often. Since the other person never smiled, she had no choice but to smile. Because her junior sister had a more severe smile deficiency than her. And Dokgo-ryeong was convinced that the reason for that was all because of those damn, wolf-like male punks. Therefore, her perception of men was even worse.

Once she had decided to go, Dokgo-ryeong herself had to accompany her. Because the responsibility of guarding her junior sister from the evil hands of the wolves was on her shoulders and her sword.

As long as there were beast-like men wherever she went, she could never be at ease about Na Ye-rin's safety. Although there was a group called the Ice Phoenix Flower Guard, Dokgo-ryeong did not particularly trust them. There was a limit to what one could believe, how could she trust a group of beast-like men! Therefore, her distrust of men was not getting better, but was rather getting deeper.

Her junior sister, Na Ye-rin, was also the same in that respect.

But it might have been better not to see it. In the world, there are often things that are better not to see than to see. Bi Ryu-yeon's first match! It was the kind of thing that could not be called a duel when judged by her standards.

• Bi Ryu-yeon's First Official Match

Bi Ryu-yeon was shaking his head from side to side, looking for something diligently.

"Is there something you're looking for?"

Namgung Sang, who was standing next to him, asked politely.

Now, Bi Ryu-yeon's care had been entirely passed on to Namgung Sang.

"I'm waiting."

Bi Ryu-yeon said in an excited voice. It was a face like a child's.

"For whom?"

"Miss Na Ye-rin!"

"Whaaat?"

Not only Namgung Sang, but also the gazes of all the members of the Vermilion Bird Squad were fixed on Bi Ryu-yeon.

If Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong had been here, it would not have been an exception, but they were now sitting on the opposite side. Because they could not yet reveal his relationship with the Vermilion Bird Squad to others.

"Hahahaha! You're joking, right?"

Why did he say such a thing, knowing he would be hit? Namgung Sang was taken aback. The punishment was immediately inflicted.

Ttaak!

A cheerful sound rang out, using Namgung Sang's back of the head as an instrument.

"Do you think I, this great senior brother, am a person who would tell a trivial lie? Shall I go through the steps of checking whether your two eyes are properly set, and whether there is anything wrong with your eyesight?"

It was a very threatening tone, a gaze that said, 'Rebel if you dare'. It was full of the meaning that he would crush him if he did...

Namgung Sang's courage chilled. Because he knew well that he was the kind of person who could definitely do it if he said he would.

Namgung Sang waved his hand and said.

"N..., no! I'm not. How could that be! I believe in and follow the great senior brother more than anyone else. Hahaha! How could I dare to question the words of the great senior brother! Who is it? The person who dares to question the words of the great senior brother!"

Namgung Sang was looking around fiercely, as if he were not such a person at all, and as if he would definitely find and expose such a person if there were one. Of course, it was a lie. It was Namgung Sang, who had improved a lot in flattery and slickness, unlike in the old days.

"Is that so? You'd better not forget that heart!"

Bi Ryu-yeon smiled faintly and showed a satisfied smile. And then he patted Namgung Sang's back. Only then could Namgung Sang let out a sigh of relief.

"But how can you be so sure that she will come? That young lady is famous for being immovable, not moving carelessly."

"I sent a letter!"

Bi Ryu-yeon said in a tone as if it were nothing. It was a tone that said, 'Why are you asking something so obvious?'.

He was so confident and sure that for a moment, even Namgung Sang, who was listening, thought it would really happen. But he soon shook his head vigorously.

"A letter? Are you that sure with just that? As far as I know, the letters delivered to Miss Na Ye-rin in a day are over dozens. Will she really come?"

The conclusion was, of course, very skeptical. There was no way such a thing would happen! It was Namgung Sang, who had already come to his own conclusion.

"I got a reply too!"

"What? N... no way..."

Namgung Sang shouted, as if he could not believe it. He had never heard a story of a man who had received a reply from the Ice Soul Phoenix, Na Ye-rin, in any rumor. Wasn't that why she was being called the impregnable ice castle? A question even popped up in his head, wondering if it was a forged letter.

At that moment, a big commotion arose behind his back. The agitation of the people could be felt on his skin. Why were exclamations and cheers bursting out from here and there? The back of his head tingled.

At that moment, Bi Ryu-yeon pointed behind his back with his finger and said, as if to show off.

"See! She came! I was right!"

"Aww, no way... Huk!"

Namgung Sang, who had turned his head with a 'no way' thought, a 'it must be a joke' feeling, and a praiseworthy mindset of 'I should pretend to be deceived since he's my great senior brother', had gasped. The figure of the Ice Soul Phoenix, Na Ye-rin, had really come into his eyes.

A beauty that made one breathless, a beauty that seemed not of this world. The sharp and cold reason contained within it. A mysterious fragrance that strangely excited a person's heart!

The men who were sitting on the edge all stood up at once and were competing to make way for her. The crowd, which had been clumped together, split into two. It meant, 'Please go to the front seat and watch comfortably'. Na Ye-rin slightly bowed her head and then walked leisurely on the path they had made.

The men, while showing a reverent expression, did not forget to steal glances at her. If it weren't for a time like this, when would they be able to see her up close? The men who had gathered here today had hit the jackpot. The members of the Ice Phoenix Flower Guard were standing at the front, opening the way. They were the kind of people who would take care of things on their own, even if she did not say or ask for it.

She was in a position to avoid places where people were gathered even more because of these burdensome things. As such, her watching this time was a very exceptional and shocking thing.

The gazes of the numerous men, which she could not help but be conscious of even if she tried not to, made her feel complicated.

"Don't stare so blankly with your soul taken away. She'll wear out."

Bi Ryu-yeon warned Namgung Sang, who was not even moving, with his gaze fixed. Bi Ryu-yeon kindly did not forget another warning.

"Besides, if you keep doing that, Ryeong won't leave you alone. Shouldn't you also worry about the threat to your well-being? You're a martial artist, you know! You're too lacking in attention."

Only then did Namgung Sang, who had flinched and realized his own state, turn his head to look for Jin Ryeong. He had hoped she would not be around, but unfortunately, she was there. Besides, wasn't she staring at him intently!

'Ugh! Huk!'

Somehow, her gaze was unusual. Looking at her face, it seemed she was very sulky and severely offended. Had something gone wrong? Namgung Sang had no choice but to tremble like a mouse in front of a venomous snake at her fierce gaze. His heart sank, and cold sweat flowed down his back.

"Hmph!"

Namgung Sang reflected on his mistake with a heart of regret. Vowing to be absolutely careful from now on, and resenting the great senior brother who was the cause of this situation, he had no choice but to grin with a servile smile.

Because it felt like the only breakthrough and refuge left for him now.

"Hehe..., ah, Miss Jin... I mean... this is, uh..."

"Hmph!"

Jin Ryeong, as if she were completely sulking, turned her head away and ignored her fool, Namgung Sang, thereby delivering a powerful blow to his heart. It was Namgung Sang, who was only sighing deeply. It was a pathetic appearance that suited his name.

"Oh, my fate."

As if not knowing Namgung Sang's piercing resentment, the sky was just annoyingly clear and high.