Chapter 93

Even now, Bi Ryu-yeon was not afraid at all and was rather carrying out a provocation. But had the provocation gone too far? It seemed that Ha Se-in could not just leave as he was.

"But I'll have to show you a little taste of a lesson."

Ha Se-in finally drew his sword. How quick-tempered... Those watching were worried whether his already drawn sword would go back in quietly without sucking blood. They, who were around, could not guarantee whether the killing intent that was exploding from his body would subside without eating blood.

A blue sword ki flickered and formed on his Iron Flying Dragon. His beloved sword, full of killing intent, struck Bi Ryu-yeon without any mercy. Bi Ryu-yeon did not move and just stood within range. Perhaps because he had a history of eating a tiger's liver in the past, he showed no signs of fear at all. The end of the disciplinary sword strike that Ha Se-in had unfolded was futile. Whether a sword ki had formed or not, whether its sharp edge was sharp or not, the result ended with the futile fact that it was caught by Bi Ryu-yeon's right hand.

"B... Bare-handed Blade Catch!"

Literally, it was a god-like technique of catching a flying blade with bare hands, a high-level technique that even a peak master could not dare to imitate. For a first-year student to perform such a technique, which even masters did not unfold carelessly because of the high probability of failure, so casually! The three members of the Azure Dragon Squad were astonished.

"You... who are you?"

Ha Se-in asked with his eyes wide open, as if he did not want to believe the shameful situation where his strike had been blocked by a nameless first-year junior punk. But Bi Ryu-yeon's answer was extremely arrogant.

"What do you need to know that for? Seeing your eyes, it seems you can't believe this situation. Are you trying to say you went easy on me?"

It was a statement that pierced Ha Se-in's trembling heart to the core.

"You are truly arrogant."

Force was once again put into Ha Se-in's hand, which was holding his beloved sword, the Iron Flying Dragon. It seemed he wanted to say that it was not the end yet. But Gang Yu-ran, Je Gi-il, and he had no more time to delay.

"Young Hero Ha, we have no more time to delay. We have to go."

Gang Yu-ran said in an almost pleading tone.

"Don't think this is the end!"

As if his anger had not yet subsided, Ha Se-in turned his body roughly and walked away with long strides, and the Light-Splitting Sword, Je Gi-il, also followed him.

Gang Yu-ran, who was about to follow Ha Se-in, looked at Bi Ryu-yeon and said a word.

"You really have no fear."

"Fear? I don't have it in my body, so I don't know what it is. If you happen to know, will you teach me?"

Bi Ryu-yeon calmly received Gang Yu-ran's words with a smile. To Gang Yu-ran, such an appearance of Bi Ryu-yeon just looked annoying.

"It's good to have spirit at a young age, but that spirit and vigor can bring disaster upon oneself if one is not careful. This is a piece of advice as a senior."

But even at Gang Yu-ran's warning, Bi Ryu-yeon just smiled faintly. It was Bi Ryu-yeon who was practicing the four-character idioms of 'wind blowing in a horse's ear' and 'reading scriptures to a cow's ear' in person. Gang Yu-ran spoke again in a sharp tone.

"I don't know which Old Master you are under, but it seems that being careful with your behavior will be helpful for your future life in the academy. Next time, I will absolutely not forgive such rudeness as a senior."

She might have wanted to give a sharp reprimand to a junior who didn't know any better. But today, she had chosen the wrong opponent. For the target of her advice to be Bi Ryu-yeon... It was the worst choice.

"I have no memory of being rude today, but if I ever happen to commit rudeness in the future, I will keep that in mind."

Gang Yu-ran's brow furrowed slightly, but since she also had no time, she soon turned her body and followed Ha Se-in. As they disappeared from sight, Bi Ryu-yeon's smiling face quietly hardened.

'They're lucky, those punks...'

For a moment, he had considered crushing the face of the rude Ha Se-in, but his final conclusion was that he could not carelessly take away his disciples' meal from the position of a master. As expected, he was intoxicated by the delusion that he was an excellent master who knew how to think of his disciples. But as he kept thinking about it, he suddenly became angry.

'No, to have reached a draw with just those unlucky punks. To not even be able to win against those weak punks?'

At this rate, it seemed that nothing would work out.

"These idiotic punks. Their mental state has rotted away just because I haven't seen them for a few months! It seems that for the rearmament of their weak minds, this body will have to step up, even though it's troublesome. I can't let it be like this. Hehehe..."

The monologue that Bi Ryu-yeon muttered lowly at the end was so small that Hyo-ryong, Jang Hong, Moyong Hwi, and others who were next to him could not hear it at all. Only the smile that was getting thicker on Bi Ryu-yeon's lips looked ominous.

The arrow of an innocent anger flew towards the Vermilion Bird Squad out of nowhere and was stuck squarely. For the Vermilion Bird Squad, it was unfair and dumbfounding, but there was nowhere to complain. What power did they have? If they were told to do it, they had to do it. It was a moment when dark clouds were once again gathering thickly before the fate of the Vermilion Bird Squad.

'That's right. Seeing that he's so heated up that he's red, it must be a little hot. Then should I do him a favor and cool him down...'

Of course, Ha Se-in, who had already moved far from Bi Ryu-yeon's sight, was engulfed in the heat of anger to the point where sweat was forming inside his clothes. For Bi Ryu-yeon to be concerned about the degree of Ha Se-in's body temperature rise and the corresponding increase in his discomfort index could be said to be excessive interference. But it seemed that Bi Ryu-yeon did not want to stop.

A moment later, with a mischievous smile, Bi Ryu-yeon's right index finger was bent inwards. The part where the end of the Thunder Spirit Thread, which was hanging on the tip of his finger, was connected was none other than Ha Se-in's belt. His belt was an object that performed the very important and heavy duty of preventing his pants from slipping down unsightly and revealing something unsightly. If that were to suddenly break... I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

It would be very cool. How could it not be cool when the ventilation was so good from all sides? It would be a little embarrassing, but wasn't it the cold, hard law of the world that if you gain one, you have to lose one? That's right, no matter how much he had left the prey for his disciples, it was absolutely not Bi Ryu-yeon who would send them back quietly.

"Kekeke!"

As if the mere imagination made him laugh, Bi Ryu-yeon let out a strange laugh for a while.

'One, two, three!'

Bi Ryu-yeon slowly counted to three in his mind. The moment the sound of 'three' ended!

"Kyaaaaaak!"

From the other side of the corridor, a familiar woman's scream was heard, echoing with a violent noise.

The gazes of Moyong Hwi and Hyo-ryong's party all turned towards the direction where the scream had come from. Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong looked at each other in puzzlement, but they could not come to a conclusion right away. Because they could not predict at all what had happened in the unseen space on the other side of the corridor. Why was there a woman's scream in the Cheonmu Academy, which was so safe that it would be a shame to be second in the Jianghu? Besides, if their ears were not wrong, the woman's scream that had just vibrated the air was undoubtedly that of the Azure Dragon Squad's One Fragrance One Sword Woman, Gang Yu-ran. But they could not even guess the cause of the scream. Only Bi Ryu-yeon was clutching his stomach and bursting with laughter.

Next to him, who was bursting with laughter, stood Moyong Hwi, still with a cold expression.

"What's all this commotion?"

At that moment, a dignified voice suddenly rang out in the hall.

The complexions of everyone who looked at the old man with the air of a Taoist immortal, who was the owner of the voice, changed. And then all the disciples who were around bowed their heads, showing the utmost courtesy and respect they could. The old man with the air of an immortal, whose white beard that came down to his solar plexus and white eyebrows that were like fallen snow were very impressive. The person who was emitting a dignity that was hard to approach from his whole body was none other than the Sword Revered, Gongson Il-chwi. He had witnessed the commotion on his way to the official residence with his three attendants. It was a very coincidental thing. Gongson Il-chwi's gaze slowly swept through the hall. Under his gaze, no one dared to lift their heads carelessly. Jang Hong forcibly pressed down Bi Ryu-yeon's stiff waist from the side.

Gongson Il-chwi's gaze turned around the hall and finally stopped at Moyong Hwi, who was next to Bi Ryu-yeon. A strange light flowed from Gongson Il-chwi's eyes. And the bitter memory of the past, which he had thought he had forgotten, came to his mind and made a corner of his heart feel faint.

'Jeong-cheon...'

The face he was staring at was as similar as a mold to the face of Moyong Jeong-cheon, who had once shaken the Jianghu with him. Not only that, but the ki he possessed also seemed to surpass that of him in his younger days.

A strange emotion raised its head in Gongson Il-chwi's heart.

"What is your name?"

"I, Moyong Hwi of the Moyong family, humbly greet the Sword Revered, Gongson Il-chwi, the head of the academy."

At the words 'Moyong family', Gongson Il-chwi's feelings were renewed. But it was by no means a pleasant feeling. No one noticed that his face had faintly frowned when Moyong Hwi had introduced himself.

"You are Jeong-cheon's grandson?"

"That is correct."

In the current Jianghu, one of the few people who could carelessly call the Sword Saint, Moyong Jeong-cheon's name was none other than Gongson Il-chwi.

"What on earth is this commotion?"

Gongson Il-chwi asked sharply, as if scolding.

"What?"

For the innocent Moyong Hwi, who had nothing to do with this commotion, he was just bewildered.

The Sword Revered, Gongson Il-chwi! Even for him, who was said to be a master who had already entered the realm of the Sword Immortal, there was a dark shadow cast on his heart. He was once praised as the Sword King's Talent along with Moyong Jeong-cheon, who was called the Divine Sword Hero, and had received all the glory and the admiration and respect of the people in one body. His status, which was the envy of everyone in the world, had been split from Moyong Jeong-cheon by a difference as great as heaven and earth in one moment.

Although he had built up numerous achievements, as if competing with the Divine Sword Hero, Moyong Jeong-cheon, against the Heavenly Calamity Spirit, and had spread his skill throughout the world, when the Heavenly Calamity Spirit had disappeared from this world, all that was left for him was the scornful and contemptuous gazes of those around him.

He, who was once evaluated as being on par with Moyong Jeong-cheon, had not only failed to rise to the ranks of the Three Sages of Cheonmu with that much skill, but had also been pushed to the back of the line in the distribution of rewards. The reason was only one: he had not been able to participate in the final great battle called the Heavenly Calamity Annihilation due to an injury. At that time, when everyone had fought against the Heavenly Calamity Blood God, Wi Cheon-mu, with their lives on the line, there was no way the gazes of those around him, who had not been able to participate due to an injury, would be favorable. Whether his injury was real or not did not matter. The only important thing was the fact that Gongson Il-chwi was not there that day.

No one knew the reason why he had suddenly been injured. There were even rumors circulating in a corner of the Murim that he had been scared of the great battle and had faked an illness. But his injury was real. When he, whose skill was as lofty as his arrogant personality, had suddenly returned, tattered and with wounds as thin as a spider's web all over his body, who could have believed that fact? Besides, it was even more unbelievable because the place where he had been injured was within the sphere of influence of the Mount Emei, one of the nine great sects. But no one could open the mouth of him, who was tightly wrapped in white bandages and was keeping his mouth shut. Also, no one dared to open their mouth carelessly at his seriousness.

Thus, although the reason was unknown, he had become a body that could not fight for a while. And without waiting for his complete recovery, the great battle for the life and death of the Murim had finally taken place. His heart, as he sent his comrades to their deaths while lying in bed, was just bitter.

He had prayed for the safe return of his comrades, worrying in his sickbed. Although his friends had been seriously injured, they had returned safely without dying, but there was nothing that came back to him. The glory of the Three Sages of Cheonmu had gone to the three friends who had survived by fighting against the Blood God, Wi Cheon-mu, and there was no glory left for Gongson Il-chwi, who had had to guard his sickbed. For some reason, since no one from the nine great sects had been included in the Three Sages of Cheonmu, the criticism that went to him, who was a direct disciple of the Wudang Sect and was expected to be the best talent of the nine sects, was even greater.

Most of that criticism was from the side of the nine great sects. It was a moment when the reputation he had built up had become a bubble overnight. The arrows of criticism that were poured on him were so severe that it was impossible to block them all. At that moment, his friendship with Moyong Jeong-cheon and his other two friends had turned into hatred, and his respect had turned into loathing. Because the one who had caused him to be bedridden right before the great battle was none other than Moyong Jeong-cheon. Although it was not a direct cause, it was enough for Gongson Il-chwi. Although he did not show it on the outside, the hatred that was deeply engraved in his heart was not small. The wound he had received at that time was that great.

After the great battle with the Heavenly Calamity Spirit, Gongson Il-chwi had once again devoted himself to the practice of martial arts with a renewed determination. He could not just sit down like this. To close the gap that had opened up with his three friends, he had to put in three or four times more effort than others. And when he had come out of his thousand-day closed-door training, he had jumped into the chaotic Jianghu after the Heavenly Calamity Annihilation and had begun to pacify the Jianghu with a stern sword ki. It was said that for the remnants of the Heavenly Calamity Spirit and the Black Path unorthodox sects, there was nothing more frightening than Gongson Il-chwi's sword at that time. At that time, since the Three Sages of Cheonmu had stopped their activities in the Jianghu because the wounds they had received during the Heavenly Calamity Annihilation had not yet healed, there was no one to block his path.

His reputation had once again soared to the sky, and the title of Sword Revered was also obtained at that time. And so, his fame had also risen sharply, but it had not surpassed the fame of the three friends who had fought against the Heavenly Calamity Blood God, Wi Cheon-mu, who was called the ultimate terror. When he, who had reigned over the world as the terror of terrors and had washed the Jianghu in blood, had disappeared, all the rest had looked like small fry in the eyes of the people of the Jianghu. And so, the Three Sages of Cheonmu had not become the Four Sages and had remained as the Three Sages. Gongson Il-chwi's disappointment at that time was imaginable.

Now, who would dare to criticize and curse him, but a hundred years was a short time to shake off the hatred that was deeply engraved in his heart. Seeing that Gongson Il-chwi's complexion was not bright and he could not hide his displeasure, it seemed that the grudge of the past still remained, although it had been much diluted. So, there was no way his impression of Moyong Hwi would be good. He resembled his old friend too much.

But Moyong Hwi, who knew nothing, just treated him with the utmost courtesy and politeness, as if he were treating a respected elder of his sect.

"Did you not hear my words?"

Gongson Il-chwi once again questioned Moyong Hwi sharply. At his sudden words, Moyong Hwi could not figure out how to cope.

"I... I do not know what your instructions are."

Gongson Il-chwi's elegant, snow-white eyebrows twitched.

"Did you not hear me ask why there was such a commotion?"

As befitting his fame and position, Gongson Il-chwi's every word was imbued with a stern dignity, and it had the power to subtly intimidate people.

"It seems there was a simple friction with a senior from the Azure Dragon Squad for a moment."

Moyong Hwi answered only what he had seen and knew.

"Are you saying that a child from the Azure Dragon Squad picked a fight with you, who are a much younger junior? Do you think that makes sense?"

Gongson Il-chwi's words became more and more angry.

"No, sir."

Moyong Hwi was inwardly unfair. Because there was no reason for him, who was just a spectator, to be scolded by Gongson Il-chwi. Wasn't the party to the incident Bi Ryu-yeon, who was still perfectly fine even after seeing a senior? If one were to look into it, it was all Bi Ryu-yeon's responsibility that a fight had broken out. But since a cowardly act like making excuses was far from Moyong Hwi's integrity, he did not want to get out of this predicament by making a few excuses.

'It must have been a simple misunderstanding...'

As a pitch-black junior, he could not dare to talk back to the Sword Revered, Gongson Il-chwi, who stood side by side with the Sword Saint, Moyong Jeong-cheon, the martial artist he respected the most in the world and his grandfather, in his presence.

"I will forgive you this once, for the sake of your grandfather. But do not let such an unpleasant incident happen in front of me again. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Moyong Hwi, whose heart was uncomfortable with the injustice, answered with his head bowed.

"Jeong-cheon had a talent for raising his own name, but it seems he lacked the talent for nurturing his successors."

For a moment, something hot surged up from the depths of Moyong Hwi's heart, which had been as cold as a glacier. He didn't care if he was insulted, but he could not stand it when the insult dragged in his most beloved and respected grandfather, even for him, who was famous for being calm.

"Please wait a moment."

Gongson Il-chwi's gaze, who had turned his body as coldly as the winter wind and was on his way, turned back to Moyong Hwi.

"Do you still have something to say to this old man?"

Gongson Il-chwi, who had received Moyong Hwi's bold gaze head-on, looked at him with a strange gaze.

"That is correct. Please do not drag my grandfather into my own mistake. He is a person who is incomparably stronger and wiser than the likes of me. I do not think that is a courtesy to him."

"Courtesy? Are you daring to talk about courtesy to this old man now?"

A stern, fiery reprimand fell from Gongson Il-chwi's mouth. Moyong Hwi's action, which could be interpreted as rebellion if it were to be exaggerated in the eyes of others on the Jianghu path, was an extremely bold act.