Chapter 102

• Old Master! Don't you think Great Senior Brother is being too reckless?"

Hyeonun asked, looking at Yeomdo, who was watching the match with them. It seemed that carrying the ink zither seemed reckless at a glance. Among the things they had seen and learned from their master during the Mount Emei joint training, there was not a single thing, not a single line, not a single word about sound arts. If one were to insist that there was, it was to the extent of saying, 'If you want to be stylish, isn't the zither the best?'.

But this time, despite the connection of a suspicious great senior brother who was said to have inherited the ultimate techniques from that master, he had gone out with a zither that was not in the genealogy of the sect's martial arts. To think he would show off his sound arts... he couldn't help but be secretly worried.

"Great Senior Brother has other ultimate techniques... Won't the zither get in the way of using his fists?"

It seemed that the Three Dog Days Beating Fist Method was truly frightening, as Hyeonun was still firmly believing that Bi Ryu-yeon's true ultimate technique was the fist. No, not only Hyeonun, but all the members of the Vermilion Bird Squad thought so.

But Yeomdo's reaction was a bit unexpected for Hyeonun.

"Hmph! What kind of monster is that punk to lose here! Don't have any useless expectations and just watch carefully!"

Even though he couldn't hear him, it was Yeomdo, who was calling Bi Ryu-yeon, who was his master, a punk. For him, it was a kind of venting. Like a child.

If Bi Ryu-yeon were to be beaten, that would also be a satisfying spectacle to watch, but it was even more unimaginable that that monster of unknown identity would lose here. Yeomdo's judgment was that no matter how much heavenly luck a punk had obtained, he could not dare to defeat him.

Who in the world could wipe away the confident smile on that face!

Dung, dung, dung!

With the sound of the drum that announced the start, Bi Ryu-yeon's first official duel was about to begin.

"How reckless!"

It was Na Ye-rin's first comment after seeing Bi Ryu-yeon step onto the duel stage with the ink zither. She was still trying to ignore the stinging arrows of gazes.

"Right?"

Dokgo-ryeong also immediately expressed her agreement. No matter how much she thought about it, the action of that first-year junior punk could only be described as reckless. He had brought out the most unsuitable thing for a duel competition.

"A zither, not his true ultimate technique... how unexpected!"

"Then do you mean you know what that punk's true ultimate technique is, junior sister?"

How could she, who had no interest in men at all, know the martial arts system of a first-year greenhorn? Besides, she wouldn't have had a chance to make contact...

"I don't know what it is, but I'm sure it's not sound arts."

The one move that had defeated the Swift Wind Sword Dragon, Wi Ji-cheon, was definitely not sound arts. She was the one who had witnessed that one move right in front of her eyes.

"It's an act that ignores this competition too much! He'll lose, right?"

It was a naturally inferred result. Not only her, but most of the people gathered here would have the same thought.

"Let's just wait and see. It will be difficult to win, but it's even harder to think that he will lose."

"Junior sister, you're not being yourself. Aren't you overestimating him too much? A punk like that!"

She quietly shook her head. Dokgo-ryeong could not help but continue to be puzzled. To defend the skills of such a worthless punk was not like her junior sister.

'Is it the confidence that he can win even while hiding his secret ultimate technique? Then he's a really reckless person.'

Na Ye-rin's thoughts were also somewhat similar to others. If he was an opponent who would be eliminated in the first round anyway, it would be a matter of not needing to see any more. But she was one of the few people in the Cheonmu Academy who had seen even a part of Bi Ryu-yeon's skills.

Because in her opinion, the Swift Wind Sword Dragon, Wi Ji-cheon, was definitely not a person who would be defeated in the first round.

Except for the buzzing sound of astonishment and the stinging gazes of the men that were focused on her, which made Dokgo-ryeong's brow furrow, Dokgo-ryeong's prediction was roughly correct. It had already been a year and a half since she had been with her junior sister, and it was time to get used to it, but it was a bundle of men's gazes that she still could not get used to.

The reaction of the audience to Bi Ryu-yeon was as expected. The number one beauty of Cheonmu, the Ice Soul Phoenix, Na Ye-rin, who rarely moved and rarely showed her face at any event, whether it was a duel or anything else, had moved. And she had shown her face at the match of an unknown, nameless greenhorn.

The men were astonished. Soon, they began to burn their whole bodies with the terrible flames of jealousy. And so, there was no one left around who wished for Bi Ryu-yeon's victory. Except for a very small number...

But there was one thing that Dokgo-ryeong's prediction was wrong. It was the attitude of the person concerned, Bi Ryu-yeon.

Despite the stinging glares of the spectators and the gazes burning with envy and jealousy, Bi Ryu-yeon, who was standing in the center of it all, was extremely calm. He was so calm and triumphant that even Dokgo-ryeong, who was watching, was puzzled.

Besides, Bi Ryu-yeon had once again committed a surprising act in front of her eyes. He had acknowledged Na Ye-rin in the duel ground, where almost all the students of the Cheonmu Academy were gathered. Dokgo-ryeong was puzzled that he had committed such an act, knowing that it was an act that would turn more than half of the men belonging to the Cheonmu Academy into his enemies.

"Miss Na! I knew you would come!"

Bi Ryu-yeon showed a broad smile and even waved his hand. Did Bi Ryu-yeon even know what the price of that was? For a first-year greenhorn to acknowledge their idol was something that would buy the public's anger. And it had resulted in the formation of dozens of groups of jealousy.

They would never forgive Bi Ryu-yeon. Besides, the members of Na Ye-rin's personal guard, who knew roughly what Bi Ryu-yeon had done in the past, were even more enraged and ran wild.

"Booooo! Die!"

"Hey! Cut off that punk's head with one sword strike!"

The atmosphere of the audience became more and more fierce, and the sound of jeers also became louder. It was all jeers, envious glares, and killing intent that were poured on Bi Ryu-yeon personally.

"There are a lot of fools here!"

It was Bi Ryu-yeon's one-word impression after glancing at the frenzied audience as if looking at a cow or a chicken. Among the participants of the Three Sages Martial Festival, there would of course be her followers who admired Na Ye-rin.

Bi Ryu-yeon's first opponent, the Hainan Sect's Fast Illusion Sword, Dan Pyeong, was just one of them. He was shooting sparks from his eyes. Bi Ryu-yeon did not know, and had no intention of knowing, but he was also a member of the Ice Phoenix Flower Guard and one of Na Ye-rin's followers.

Judging from his state, it seemed that not even a pig's tail's worth of the thread of reason was left in him.

Dung, dung, dung!

"Begin!"

The blue flag went down, and with the drum signal that announced the start of the match, the opponent rushed in, swinging a sword full of killing intent without any mercy. From the beginning, he had unfolded the fast sword killing move, which corresponded to the ultimate technique. The sword of the Hainan Sect was fast, and its change was based on the secret plan of the illusion sword, which was bizarre and unpredictable. Dan Pyeong's appearance now clearly showed his will to show the essence of the Hainan Sect, the South Sea 36 Swords, with all his might and without leaving anything out.

It was a look as if he were determined to kill him. Indeed, in the eyes of the people, his speed was well-deserved.

'Huh?'

Only then did Bi Ryu-yeon realize that he had made a mistake for the first time in a while. But it was a little too late to regret it now.

• The Harmony of the Moonlit Night

The beautiful sound of a jade flute, riding the evening wind,
resounded faintly, as if playing with the moonlight.
It was a beautiful sound that seemed to touch the heartstrings of the listener.

But, the middle-aged man who was now approaching as if drawn by the sound of the jade flute, the man whom the people had named the Mount Hua Flying Heavenly Eagle, Mun Il-gi, knew well that this sound was quite different from usual. The sound, which had always been calm and quiet, was sounding unusually urgent and unstable today. And Mun Il-gi also guessed the reason for that with a certain degree of accuracy.

As he reached the source of the sound, Mun Il-gi was soon able to find the target he had aimed for. As expected, she was here. He once again praised his sharp judgment repeatedly.

The face, which was faintly bathed in the moonlight, was so beautiful that it naturally drew out admiration. Who could find the traces of a forty-year-old age in that beautiful appearance, and call her an old lady? If there were such a punk, he was about to run over and break his leg right away.

Mun Il-gi stood quietly and listened, so as not to disturb her performance. She was now releasing the anger and rage buried in her heart through the jade flute, through the melody. To disturb her here was a very great rudeness, and to provoke a person who was holding anger in their heart was not a good thing for him either. In times like this, it was a wise action to just watch her endlessly.

Her melody became more and more intense and fierce. It was a melody of a feeling that even he was hearing for the first time. It would be a proof that her heart was also agitated with it. He, who was an outsider to melody, also knew well that the melody represented her heart.

For a while, a stability like a calm wave after a storm returned to the melody, which had felt the fierceness reminiscent of a small boat that had met a strong storm. And finally, the sound subsided, and she quietly took the jade flute from her mouth. Mun Il-gi, who had been entranced by her melody as if he were possessed, was able to come to his senses only after her melody had ended.

'As expected of a person who inherits the lineage of the Sound Immortal!'

It was a melody that was admirable whenever he heard it.

As if she had felt his presence, she turned her head and looked at him. As if it were not a very welcome face, her beautiful face frowned slightly. Seeing her face like that, who could carelessly say that she was a 40-year-old old lady? Unless they wanted their mouth to be crushed...

The one who spoke first was Mun Il-gi.

"Your melody was disturbed. Is there something that hurt your heart? It's been a long time since I've seen the fairy play the jade flute so roughly and violently. It seems like a sight to see in five years."

"You seem to be refreshed. Was it that enjoyable? Of course it would have been fun. Did I look good to you? I'm glad you had a good eyeful!"

She shouted nervously like a poisoned female cat. From this afternoon, she had been reluctant to meet people because her face was hot. So she had found this place, where no one came, and was soothing her heart by playing the jade flute. In the midst of that, this man had managed to find her. But she was still not in the mood to talk to others.

"Hahaha, it seems you are really angry. Well, isn't the jade flute also used for hitting or stabbing! I don't think there's a reason to be so upset about that. Please calm your heart and release your anger."

Mun Il-gi said with a hearty laugh.

"Do you think I can calm down now! How can you tell me to be patient after seeing such a miserable sight?"

The Heavenly Sound Fairy, Hong Ran, who had been listening to the words he was saying, which were doubtful whether they were a comfort, but were a comfort in his own way, suddenly screamed.

"You'll make my liver drop."

Mun Il-gi said a word with a flinching expression. But judging from his facial expression, he did not seem to be very surprised.

"If it's going to drop, let it drop. Who would care about a liver that is so weak from being soaked in alcohol?"

Hong Ran retorted venomously like a poisoned viper. It seemed she was quite upset. In this case, for Old Master Mun, who had come to soothe her mood, it was no different from the difficulty of the forty-eight caves of the Shaolin Temple in the deep mountains.

"This, this is too much! Still, it is a precious organ to me. Aren't you thinking too much about the matter of that child named Bi Ryu-yeon?"

No matter what he heard from her, Mun Il-gi was in a position to soothe her somehow.

"Too much? The reputation of the Sound Sect and my name have plummeted to the ground in one morning, do you think I can just stay still? Ah~, the seven-hundred-year history of the Sound Sect... I'm so ashamed, how can I dare to face the faces of my ancestors..."

A torrent of curses, which did not suit her smooth mouth at all, poured out. Even she could not understand why she was in such a bad mood. It was all because of that punk.

There was no way that Mun Il-gi's words would enter the ears of Hong Ran, who firmly believed that the name of the noble Sound Sect had plummeted to the ground because of Bi Ryu-yeon today. Thinking that, the Heavenly Sound Fairy's face turned red as her anger surged even more.

Mun Il-gi's comfort had rather brought about a counter-effect. Her face began to show a variety of color changes, turning red and blue. It was not because of Mun Il-gi. It was because as she faced Mun Il-gi's slick face, that day, that time, came to her mind again.

As that face came to her mind, she could not control the anger that surged once again and the fire that boiled in her heart.

How could she forget! That day, that time, when the entire Sound Sect had felt like a laughingstock...! The outrageous thing that had happened in broad daylight, in front of hundreds of people!

"But didn't he win! You could even say he did well. It's better than losing!"

In fact, it didn't matter to Mun Il-gi whether Bi Ryu-yeon won or lost. No, considering the insolent attitude he had shown in his class, he was on the side of thinking that he deserved to lose. But he could say this because his interest was not on Bi Ryu-yeon's side now.

He, who was in his mid-40s, still had no wife. He was a so-called old bachelor. And Hong Ran, despite being over forty, also had no husband. To put it harshly, she was a so-called old maid. Perhaps the influence of her sect was a big reason.

If one could say that it was a natural providence of nature for an old bachelor to become interested in an old maid, then Mun Il-gi's coming here was also an action according to the providence of nature.

"I... I can never accept that kind of fighting method!"

Hong Ran said, trembling.

"I would rather have lost cleanly and neatly than that kind of fight, that kind of victory, I can never accept it. I have no face to show the ancestors of the Sound Sect."

Her words were firm. She thought it would be more comfortable to commit suicide by biting a knife, or to make him commit suicide, than to accept such an unsightly fight.

Today, Bi Ryu-yeon had reduced not only herself but also the entire Sound Sect to a laughingstock. It did not matter at all whether his affiliation, his lineage, was the Sound Sect or not.

If one were to pick the sect with the fewest disciples among the Murim lineages, the first one that could be picked would be the Sound Sect. But while its power was weak, the Sound Sect was a place that was more lofty, had a stronger pride, and also had a higher sense of unity than any other place. But to have such a fight with an instrument that represented the Sound Sect. If he had at least swung the jade flute like a sword, she wouldn't even say anything...

But..., but...

The more she thought about the events of that day, the more she could not stop the sighs that escaped on their own.

That day! Even if only her own face were at stake, she would have been angry and resentful, but how could she forget the events of that day, when, if one were to interpret it broadly, the entire Sound Sect had been turned into a laughingstock and a mockery? It was a shocking incident that she could not forget even if a bag of dirt were to enter her eyes.

After this afternoon, that day was actually this afternoon. Since then, she had been so embarrassed that she could not even lift her head properly whenever she stood in front of people.

Although he was not a direct disciple who inherited the sect's path and secret traditions, the reality that she could not deny the fact that he was a disciple who had passed through her hands was resentful.

At that time, when the signs were strange from the beginning, she should have stopped him by any means necessary, but the fact that she had not done so had remained as a lifelong regret and was tormenting her like this! Even if she regretted it now, it was a prescription after death, and there was no way to stop it realistically, but the human heart was so mysterious that it could not easily submit to reality. It was a great regret.

The beginning of the incident was very ordinary.