Chapter 67

"If you keep getting angry like that, you'll get wrinkles around your one and only eye. You have to think about your beauty."

Tang Cheol-gi said slyly, without being intimidated by her momentum, which was full of killing intent. In the first place, the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows were not ones to be discouraged by that much. If they were to compile the apology letters they had written so far into a book, it would be a large collection of at least 10 volumes. Besides, the number of mechanisms they had used without permission and broken in the meantime was over dozens. They were those kinds of punks.

"I'll kill you, punk."

A frozen killing intent like the cold snow of the North Sea emanated from her. There was one and only flaw that marred her beautiful appearance. It was the one black eyepatch covering her left eye. She was, peculiarly, one-eyed.

"Who is she?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked Im Seong-jin about the very interesting woman in front of him.

"You don't know? She is the One-Eyed Phoenix, Dokgo-ryeong, one of the most famous women in the academy. She is a peculiar heroine with a contrasting cold heart like a sheet of ice and a fiery personality. If you build up a grudge and make her an enemy, she is one of the worst and most difficult opponents."

"Hmm... but looking at the development of the situation, it seems you've already made her an enemy?"

No matter how he looked at it, it did not seem like a close, friendly relationship. Bi Ryu-yeon's judgment was accurate.

"That's right. The group she hates the most is our Young Lady Lovers' Society. She has concluded that we are the enemy of all women."

Im Seong-jin admitted obediently with a bitter smile. They were on her list of the top five evil enemies to be overthrown.

"Stop throwing a tantrum. If you keep huffing and puffing like that, your chest will jiggle and make the people around you embarrassed. We don't mind, though."

Tang Cheol-gi acted with an excess of what seemed to be recklessness.

"I'll kill you."

She was filled with a thick killing intent.

"Hey, isn't that too much? She's a person to watch out for."

It was like throwing gunpowder into a burning house. It was an act that showed well what recklessness was, but the people around did not feel like praising his novel—and courageous—act.

'That punk, he might be enjoying her reaction. A scary punk.'

In Im Seong-jin's view, seeing him commit such a reckless act of provocation, there was a sufficient possibility of that.

'Seeing how much he likes to put his neck on the chopping block of a crisis, it's not a healthy hobby to be praised for.'

But since he was of the belief not to interfere in other people's hobbies, he did not show his inner thoughts.

"What will happen?"

"I doubt they'll fight. There's nothing to gain from fighting her. As always, it's the thirty-sixth stratagem, running away."

"As always?"

"Well, it's not something that has happened for just a day or two. Don't worry, those punks' mechanism manipulation skills and their skill in running away are top-notch. Besides, we have a policy of not fighting with women and minors under the age of 16."

"Do you fight with the old and weak?"

"Of course. Since most of the masters in the Jianghu are old and weak... no, old and strong, we can't avoid it. There are so many old monsters who get stronger as they get older. There are plenty in our Cheonmu Academy too. So the old are an exception!"

"I see!"

As Im Seong-jin said, the average age of the figures called peak masters in the Jianghu was 52, and the average age of the super masters called the highest peak masters was around 90.

As Cheon So-hae gave a signal to Tang Cheol-gi with his eyes, Tang Cheol-gi, as if he understood, took something out from his bosom and threw something in front of her one and only eye, which looked as if it would draw its sword and swing it at any moment.

Bang!

With the sound of something exploding, a thick cloud of smoke rose and blocked her vision. The smoke was one thing, but the smell was also terrible and irritating, throwing her five senses into further confusion. Her eyes stung and her nose was spicy. It was a truly vicious smoke-and-tear-gas bomb.

"Cough, cough. Is it a smoke bomb...?"

She was flustered, constantly wiping away her trickling tears and uncontrollable runny nose, but it was already too late. The afternoon breeze soon blew away the smoke and the smell spread, but tears were still welling up in her one and only right eye.

The existence of the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows was already gone without a trace.

"Th-those punks... I've been had again."

This was already the fifth time. But she was not one to give up. She was not so merciful as to turn a blind eye to such an evil enemy. Besides, she had an extraordinary persistence. While she was renewing her resolve, Bi Ryu-yeon and his party, knowing that nothing good would come from being next to her, stealthily left the scene. Because they didn't know what kind of trouble they would get into if they were next to such a terrifying woman. There was also the possibility that she would vent her retaliatory anger on them for missing the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows, Tang Cheol-gi and Cheon So-hae. Wishing for the safe return of Tang Cheol-gi and Cheon So-hae from her future pursuit, they left the scene.

Thus, after many twists and turns, Bi Ryu-yeon, Hyo-ryong, Jang Hong, and in a daze, even Yun Jun-ho, had become members of the Young Lady Lovers' Society.

• Emergency Meeting

A total of 8 people were sitting around a huge circular table.
Seeing that they were all emitting an unusual aura,
they were clearly individuals with extraordinary martial arts.

In addition to the 8 people surrounding the expensive round table made of rosewood, which was priced at 22 silver taels, there were 3 seats at the head of the table, and 2 of them were already occupied by their owners. The only empty place was the most splendid chair in the center.

Although it was true that the aura of the 8 people surrounding the purple round table was also unusual, it was somewhat lacking compared to the 2 people occupying the left and right of the empty seat. That's how great the aura of those 2 people was.

The person sitting to the right of the empty seat was a young nobleman in white with a handsome appearance and a cold impression, holding a folding fan in his hand, and the man located to the left of the empty seat was a young man in a blue robe who was strangely carrying 3 swords on his back. The same dragon crest was embroidered on both of their sleeves. It was a sign that both were one of the glorious Nine Dragons.

The two seemed to be leading the meeting now. Although the most important seat was empty, no one there seemed to think that that seat would be filled. That seat was empty, as always. As if waiting for the place to be settled, the young nobleman in white opened his mouth. He had an important matter to inform these 8 people.

"Then let's start the emergency meeting."

The young man in white declared. As soon as his declaration was over, Jeong Ha-gyeong, the First Line Fairy of Mount Hua from the Mount Hua Sect, voiced her curiosity.

"What is the reason for suddenly convening us in an emergency? Strategist."

They were calling the young man in white 'Strategist'. He had been performing the role of a brain in their organization, and as long as there was no one who could perform the job better than him in the future, he would be their strategist.

"Strategist? That's an undeserved title. You can just call me Vice-Leader."

Perhaps because the title of Strategist sounded too grand, the young man in white waved his hand and declined.

"Then, Vice-Leader. I'd like to know the reason for urgently convening us."

"I apologize if it was a sudden thing. Did it interfere with your work by any chance?"

The young man in white bowed his head and expressed his apology. Then she shook her head and showed an expression of it being absurd.

"It's not that. But I just asked out of curiosity, thinking that there must be a suitable reason for summoning us, the Nine Orthodox Eight Swords, so suddenly. How could I dare to do the absurd thing of doubting the ability of Young Master Baek Mu-yeong, the First Genius of Mount Heng, who is one of the Cheonmu Nine Dragons and is even called the brain of the Mount Heng Sect?"

"That's a very reassuring thing to say. Thank you for trusting me so much."

"You're welcome."

Although his words were endlessly gentle and soft, no one could act carelessly in front of him.

The Wisdom Dragon, the First Genius of Mount Heng, Baek Mu-yeong. He was a super-genius produced by the Mount Heng Sect, whose one word was said to change the path of all the disciples of the Mount Heng Sect. Unless one wanted to make their future bleak, he was a person with whom one should never build a wall and keep a distance.

"The reason I have summoned you all like this is because of the countermeasures against 2 men."

Baek Mu-yeong said.

"If it's 2 men... one is surely the Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, Moyong Hwi, and the other is...?"

The Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, Moyong Hwi, was one of the biggest topics that had emerged among them these days, and since he was a person that their Nine Orthodoxies Association was paying the most attention to, he would naturally be one of the 2. Then who was the other one? She was doubtful whether there was another being besides Moyong Hwi that they had to pay attention to. She couldn't get a feel for it at all.

"He is a man named Bi Ryu-yeon."

"Bi Ryu-yeon?"

She had to briefly look through her memory book because she couldn't immediately recall who the person indicated by that name was. Only then could she find out that that name was the same as the name of the person who had won the special selection test of the Ascending Heaven Martial Festival this year.

"Isn't he the one who won the special selection test this year? Was he a person of such a degree as to make even the Vice-Leader pay attention?"

"I'm not sure if he's a person that even the Strategist should pay attention to, but it's clear that he's a punk who has tarnished the honor of our nine sects. If there is no disciplinary action against him, people might look down on us. Especially from the Eight Families Association and the Heroes Association. How can we endure such a humiliation?"

As the name Bi Ryu-yeon was mentioned, Yu Gyu-seon, the Wind Plum Sword from the Mount Hua Sect, whose nerves had become particularly sharp, raised his voice. Since the person who had been hit in the jaw by Bi Ryu-yeon and had suffered a mandibular fracture in the special selection test this year was his junior brother, his anger was natural. The junior brother who had been hit at that time was still living on porridge and water day by day.

"That's right. We have to decide on that punk's treatment quickly for our prestige within the academy to be established. Just in time, their action has ended in failure, so I think now is the opportunity."

Similarly, Yeok Sang-han, the Shattering Sword of the Diancang Sect, who also had a junior brother who had been brutally beaten by Bi Ryu-yeon for the second time—that person's limbs had been twisted in a direction where they could not be bent—also chimed in. Then, as the meeting was about to go slightly off track due to the indignation of the two, there was a need to put it back on track.