Chapter 14

"Master, Master."

A clear, beautiful voice gently vibrated through the dense forest. But no matter how many times she called, there was no answer. The forest behind the training center was so dense with trees that all light was blocked by the deep green foliage. Only faint light that seeped through the leaves managed to squeeze through small gaps. Moreover, as evening was approaching, the forest was bound to be even darker. At that moment, she felt someone's presence behind her delicate back.

"Who... Master?"

The presence seemed to flinch for a moment upon hearing Jin Ryeong's voice, then soon responded. But the voice was completely unexpected to Jin Ryeong.

"Miss... Miss Jin?"

The figure's voice was audibly trembling. It sounded like someone who was forcibly calming a pounding heart and barely managing to speak.

"Who... Oh my, Young Master Namgung?"

Jin Ryeong, finally recognizing the owner of the voice, exclaimed in surprise. She couldn't help but be surprised, as she had never imagined meeting him at such an unexpected time in such an unexpected place.

"Miss... Miss Jin. What brings you here? What business could someone like Miss Jin have in such a remote place..."

Namgung Sang, who had approached Jin Ryeong, asked cautiously, stammering. Perhaps due to his nervousness, his words were quite disjointed. Indeed, Namgung Sang was currently barely holding back the feeling that his breath was catching in his throat and his heart was pounding so hard it was about to explode. He was gripped by a sense of crisis that if he let his guard down even a little, he would die instantly from a heart rupture. Whether she knew his feelings or not, her beautiful voice, which further increased his heart rate, was heard.

"I'm here because Master called me..."

"Ah, I... I, too, came because Master called me. B-but I can't see where he is. He said he had something important to talk about."

"He sent me a letter with the same content. He could have just told me directly... I can't guess Master's intentions, seeing as he sent a letter to Young Master Namgung as well."

"Who... who could possibly grasp Master's intentions?"

"Heh, that's true."

Her slight smile was like adding fuel to the fire of Namgung Sang's already precarious heart.

As the two were surrounded by suspicion and pondering, they suddenly heard a rustling sound from behind them. Then, a fierce killing intent enveloped the two of them. A swarm of needle-like killing intent stimulated their nerves. Namgung Sang could feel his heart, which had been on the verge of exploding, instantly return to its normal state. Thanks to that, he had saved his life, but he had an ominous feeling that he was now in another life-threatening crisis. Namgung Sang and Jin Ryeong turned around to identify the source of the killing intent. In this fog of killing intent, such an action was extremely dangerous, but there was no other alternative. And there, it was.

The momentum of riding a tiger! Before the eyes of the two, a huge, pure white being that should be called the king of beasts appeared.

Huge, sharp claws that seemed capable of tearing all living things in this world to shreds; eyes that shone coldly like green jade and seemed to overwhelm all lower beings; a huge body whose mere shadow could cover the earth and create a wide shade; it was a white tiger whose body length alone seemed to be a good 4.5 meters.

The white tiger was exuding a pure white killing intent and glaring as if to overwhelm everything in front of it. With the eyes of a hunter who has found its prey... The two couldn't help but be tense. Moreover, since the king of beasts seemed to have a considerable appetite at the moment, their tension could only be greater.

'Ugh? What's this uninvited guest's appearance? My plan, my plan that I painstakingly stayed up all night to create, must not be disrupted. You brat, you'll pay for my plan. My time and money, the mental and physical fatigue from using my brain. To turn all of that into nothing in an instant. I cannot forgive this kitten.'

In that moment, due to the sudden appearance of an unexpected variable that caused a complete change in the path of his plan, Bi Ryu-yeon couldn't help but worry. Bi Ryu-yeon's brain screamed from the sudden overuse. But the conclusion was quickly reached. What to do, even if he stomped his feet and worried, there was no particularly good solution, so he decided to set aside the second stage and just watch silently for the first stage.

It was also true that he had the thought, 'They're the rising stars of the martial world, the prodigies of Cheonmu, the rising suns, so they won't die, right?' He tentatively decided to trust in Namgung Sang's abilities for now.

However, this one was no ordinary creature. It was a real deal that looked 2-3 times bigger than an ordinary white tiger. Its body length was a whopping 4.5 meters, and its standing height was nearly 1.5 meters, a huge creature with a build that would make you meet its eyes if you stood in front of it. It really seemed to prove the saying that the class is different.

In an instant, the white tiger, which was confronting the two, seemed to have made a decision and launched its body to execute its decision.

"Kuaaaang!"

The phrase 'like a flying tiger' was probably created to describe a situation like this. It was truly an attack that fit the description 'like a flying tiger' so well. Even a flying bird would not have been able to close the distance between them so quickly.

"It's dangerous!"

With that unoriginal shout, Namgung Sang tackled Jin Ryeong. Of course, this was not an act done because Namgung Sang had a certain appetite for Jin Ryeong and wanted to gobble her up. Nor was it launched with the grim determination of, 'If I don't make a move at a time like this, when will I?'

In this moment, the only thought in Namgung Sang's mind was that he had to live. In normal times, he could have easily dodged it. But still, he was the third son of the prestigious Namgung family of the martial world, and he was one of the chosen Nine Dragons, called a prodigy among prodigies even at the Cheonmu Academy, which was called the best in the martial world. No matter how much of a king of the mountains a tiger was, it was still an animal. He was not the owner of such clumsy skills that he couldn't handle one such animal.

However, there was an unexpected variable here. That's right, the bodies of the two were not in their normal state as usual. When they tried to move their bodies nimbly to avoid the white tiger, the two couldn't help but hesitate for a moment. Because they couldn't move their bodies as they wished. The immense weight of the ink rings, shackled to their ankles and wrists like a curse, was the reason that bound the two like a village totem pole. Unlike usual, the two had not yet properly adapted to the weight of these ink rings. Moreover, Jin Ryeong was a woman, who was naturally weaker than a man. Of course, the movement with the ink rings was not solely dependent on strength, but in a state where she was bound to be weaker than a man, there was nothing she could do.

A wind carrying killing intent brushed past Namgung Sang's ear like a wingbeat. A wound was made on Namgung Sang's cheek by the mane of the wind, and through it, the physiological action of bleeding began. Namgung Sang's back was drenched in a cold sweat, and an unknown shiver ran over it.

The white tiger, feeling puzzled that its first attack had been in vain, landed magnificently on the ground and immediately turned and charged at the two like a ray of light. An instantaneous change of direction upon landing, and a smooth connecting motion of a leap like light; if it had been an ordinary person, it would have been absolutely impossible to dodge such an attack. However, no matter how restricted his body was, Namgung Sang was a martial artist who surpassed the category of an ordinary person, and moreover, since the beloved Miss Jin was by his side now, he couldn't just be defeated so futilely.

With a split-second judgment, Namgung Sang tackled Jin Ryeong and pressed her to the ground. In that moment, along with a chilling energy transmitted through his back, a lightning-like impact struck his body. He felt the hot pain of fire. The white tiger's claws had raked across his back. Blood began to pour out from the four claw marks. Fortunately, it was not a life-threatening wound, but if his prostrate body had been even a little higher, or if his bending down had been even slightly later, Namgung Sang would have been just crossing the threshold of the afterlife by now.

Although the wound was stinging, Namgung Sang clenched his teeth. He couldn't show a weak side to Miss Jin Ryeong while pressing her down.

'Pressing down...?'

In that moment, Namgung Sang could suddenly realize the situation that the current situation had created. The breath of the Jin Ryeong he so adored, along with her face dyed the color of a peach blossom, was right in front of Namgung Sang's nose. Jin Ryeong's warm breath tickled the tip of his nose. A shock as if his breath was catching in his throat struck his whole body fiercely. He almost thought he would die of a heart attack without even fighting the white tiger, so one can easily guess the extent of his embarrassment and shame.

To look at the current situation more vividly, the delicate, beautiful girl Jin Ryeong was pinned under the shy, naive swordsman Namgung Sang, and Namgung Sang was on top, pressing down on her four limbs in a very dangerous-looking manner. Their faces were so close they seemed about to touch.

In this moment, it didn't matter that a white tiger was growling behind him as if to take his life. What Namgung Sang was feeling now was only an unknown warmth, a softness felt through his chest, and Jin Ryeong's hot breath that made his eyebrows tremble. Wasn't a dreamlike moment just like this?

Jin Ryeong's cheeks were dyed the color of a peach blossom, but Namgung Sang did not have the slightest gentlemanly thought of, 'Shouldn't I move away?' How could such a thought come to him when his mind was as blank as a white sheet of paper? He was holding her, forced to do so to save the beautiful and noble Miss Jin from the white tiger, with all his body, mind, and life, so only the self-rationalization that as long as the white tiger didn't disappear, he had to hold and protect Miss Jin forever, swirled in his mind. It was by no means just because he liked the strange fragrance of Miss Jin that seeped into his nose, or because he was intoxicated by the somehow warm and soft, unidentified feeling felt through his chest.

The sword, Namgung Sang's first love was the sword. In his childhood at the age of three, when he knew nothing, the blue coldness and sharpness of the sword he saw then were deeply embedded in the young Namgung Sang's mind and would not be erased. When he was officially allowed to learn the sword at the age of five, how happy he was to receive his own sword. With a young heart, he had practiced with his first love, the sword, without rest.

By the age of ten, his skills had already begun to stand out, and he received intensive swordsmanship lessons under the attention of the family elders. And he leisurely passed the difficult entrance exam of the Cheonmu Academy, making the adults around him nod their heads. It was a splendid achievement for the three brothers, following his older brother Namgung Jin, who was seven years older and had passed first, and his second older brother Namgung U, who was three years older than him. And, among the first-year students of the Cheonmu Academy, he became one of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, who held the title of the best, surpassing his other peers. It was no exaggeration to say that there had been almost no obstacles in his life so far.

Now, to him, another sword had appeared. It was a sword that was not held in his hand, but a sword he desperately wished to hold. But that sword seemed so lovely and sacred that it felt difficult to obtain. This time, the sword had the charm to fascinate many people with its beautiful, warm, and noble appearance. That sword was sharper and much more dangerous than the sword he had held at the age of five. The most frightening thing about that sword was that it was sharp and dangerous enough to wound even his own heart. This time too, the sword was sucking in all of him. The name of that sword was Jin Ryeong.

"Oh, look at him. Goodness me! Hah, it's not even funny. Have you ever seen such a damn wolf-like guy? He put on all sorts of airs, pretending to be a true gentleman, but his substance is nothing special. Turns out he was a guy who was raising dozens of wolves along with snakes."

Bi Ryu-yeon instantly judged the current situation and made a decision at once. He couldn't bear to watch any longer. Then, what should he do to break this situation? Bi Ryu-yeon established a rational and effective course of action, decided to put it into practice immediately, and did so right away. It was an amazing display of action.

Judging that there was nothing more to see, Bi Ryu-yeon leaped down from the tree. The spot where he landed was where the third son of the Namgung family, Sang, and Jin Ryeong, a direct disciple of the Emei Sect, which was located on the famous Mount Emei, one of the four great sects of the nine great sects that were the pillars of the martial world, were embracing each other, fallen.

In front of them, a white tiger, for which the figurative expression 'as big as a house' would be a perfect fit, had its maw wide open and was preparing to eat. In an instant, a streak of silver flash flew from Bi Ryu-yeon's right sleeve and was sucked into the white tiger's maw in an instant. A flash of light, a moment of silence, and a roar!

"Kuaaa-heong!"

And, a death.

'Is this the end?' Namgung Sang and Jin Ryeong must have thought. With a single roar that shook the mountain so terrifyingly and desperately, the white tiger slowly laid its huge body on the ground. It was a moment where the king of beasts, who had reigned as the fear of all people and all beasts, was fated to be sold expensively as a rich man's chair cover or a top-grade wall hanging, a moment where fate and fate crossed. And it was also a moment where the two escaped the fate of becoming the beast's food.

"Hey, get up, get up."

Bi Ryu-yeon kicked Namgung Sang's butt, who was holding Jin Ryeong so tightly as if to crush her, with the tip of his foot.

"Who... who... Ah!"

Namgung Sang, who was still wandering at the crossroads of heaven and hell. The startled Namgung Sang shot up as if bounced.

"Ah, so, this is..."

It was Namgung Sang, his face as red as the midsummer sun, stammering and earnestly searching for an excuse. But seeing that the red shame on his face did not disappear, it seemed he had not yet thought of a good solution to the current situation. Jin Ryeong's face was also red. If it weren't, that would be even stranger. Jin Ryeong, with a face full of shame and dyed the color of a peach blossom, managed to speak to Namgung Sang.

"Th-thank you for saving me, Young Master Namgung."

"Don't... don't mention it... It's only natural for Miss Jin. A life like this is nothing for Miss Jin."

"Hmm, a natural thing? What natural thing? You mean the thing where you held Ryeong-ah so tightly as if to crush her and rolled on the ground? Or do you mean the thing where you pressed down on Ryeong-ah from above? I have no idea what that natural thing of yours is."

"Ma-Master!"

The two shouted simultaneously with faces so red they looked like they were about to burst.

"Ryeong-ah, you don't seem to grasp the current situation well, but the one who saved your beautiful 18-year-old life like a flower is not the moping great hero who is always moping and rolled on the ground holding you so tightly as if to crush you, but the cool master who is here. Make sure you don't turn away from the truth due to a momentary mistake."

It was Bi Ryu-yeon, who had forgotten his original purpose for calling the two.

"Ah, yes. Thank you for saving me, Master."

Jin Ryeong, as if she had finally understood the situation, hurriedly bowed her head to express her gratitude.

"Hahaha, yes. That's right, yes, indeed."

"Thank you for the grace of saving me, Master."

Namgung Sang also cupped his hands and expressed his gratitude.

"Ahem, that's enough, that's enough. What thanks... By the way, great hero Sang!"

Bi Ryu-yeon said with a slightly sarcastic tone, waving his hand. His eyes had turned slightly sinister and were directed at Namgung Sang.

"You must have had a good time today. But looking at your face, you still seem to have regrets? But don't lick your lips too much. There will be other opportunities in the future. A man is one who doesn't miss that opportunity, that moment, and seizes it. Hahaha!"

"Ma-Master!"

Namgung Sang was so surprised that he shouted as if screaming with a flushed red face. Jin Ryeong, next to him, was so embarrassed that she just bowed her head with a flushed red face, not knowing what to do.

"Hahaha, then, I'll be going..."

Bi Ryu-yeon, who had started this whole thing saying he would set the two up, had completely thrown his original purpose into the well of oblivion and instead only caused trouble, gave a simple greeting, leaped up, and leisurely disappeared into the forest. Only the sound of his laughter, getting farther and farther away, remained, echoing in the ears of the two.