Book 11 Chapter 11

The Reunion of Mo Yong-hwi and Eun Seol-ran

- The Strongest Attack on Earth

"Miss Eun, how did you get here?" Mo Yong-hwi asked, his voice full of suspicion.

"Oh my, what a coincidence!" Eun Seol-ran replied with a bright smile. Her cheerful smile made Mo Yong-hwi, who had asked with a stern face, feel rather awkward. Every time he saw that smile, Mo Yong-hwi doubted if she was truly a woman of the dark path. It also made him reflect that perhaps his previous judgment of the entire dark path as evil had been too narrow-minded.

And crucially, Mo Yong-hwi, the Seven Severing Sword, who was hard to find an equal among his peers, was helplessly weak to that smile. It seemed as if Eun Seol-ran's smile contained a poison that flustered Mo Yong-hwi.

"Coincidence? Really?"

He wanted to shout, 'That's impossible!' but in front of her beaming, even innocent-looking smile, he dared not utter a word.

"What brings you here…?"

It was the same question, but this time it also carried a double meaning: 'Stop joking and answer properly.'

"I received a leave and am currently traveling. When traveling, paths often overlap. Isn't that a great opportunity to make travel companions? I heard Mount Hua is a good travel destination with many scenic spots."

Eun Seol-ran continued to emphasize the 'coincidental meeting.'

"Indeed. There's no journey as enjoyable as one with a like-minded travel companion," the coachman, Jang-no, chimed in.

"No…, could it be…?"

Mo Yong-hwi stammered, unable to think of what to say next. Eun Seol-ran slowly nodded.

"Are you…, are you really thinking of accompanying us?"

Mo Yong-hwi, too flustered, raised his voice.

"Is that not allowed?"

Eun Seol-ran looked at Mo Yong-hwi with a piteous gaze, her obsidian-like eyes welling up with tears. It was one of the most terrifying ultimate techniques in the world: the honey trap. Especially when a top-tier beauty like Eun Seol-ran employed it, the effect was truly tremendous.

"Young Master Mo Yong!"

At her heartbreaking voice that resonated with his soul, Mo Yong-hwi's handsome face turned red like autumn leaves.

Even Mo Yong-hwi, known as a model student, an icicle, or a wooden block, could only kneel before those eyes that shone like a fawn's. His reason and instinct both refused any further refusal.

'Am I…, am I the one who wants to go with her?'

He vehemently shook his head in his mind at the absurd thought that suddenly occurred to him.

"I will ask the master."

It was a complete defeat for the Seven Severing Sword, the foremost young talent in the current martial arts world, the pride of the martial arts community.

'She's quite skilled!' Bilyu-yeon exclaimed, nodding.

"That's great! A pretty lady even comes to cheer you on," Yeon Do teased, making Mo Yong-hwi very awkward.

"That…, that's a misunderstanding."

The young man with the handsome and neat appearance was noticeably flustered.

"What misunderstanding? When the evidence is standing right before your eyes, what misunderstanding is there? Did all the misunderstandings in the world freeze to death?"

Mo Yong-hwi became even more bewildered. He felt as if he were standing on a thorny path; it was an unprecedentedly uncomfortable situation.

"What should we do?" Nam Gung-sang asked Yeon Do on behalf of the flustered Mo Yong-hwi. His gaze conveyed a request for opinion, permission, and agreement. Yeon Do suddenly felt like punching Nam Gung-sang. Why was he pressuring him with his eyes to make a decision?

In other words, wasn't he saying, 'I don't want to be responsible for this, so please make the judgment and take responsibility, Master'? Yeon Do found Nam Gung-sang, who had put him in such a difficult and complex dilemma, extremely annoying. Mo Yong-hwi, who was subtly supporting Nam Gung-sang beside him, was equally displeasing.

However, there were too many eyes around to apply punishment for annoyance. 'I'll get you back for this!' Yeon Do harbored resentment towards Nam Gung-sang. Little did anyone know that the training amount for the Vermilion Bird Squad the next day was doubled because of this. And none of the Vermilion Bird Squad members noticed.

"So, you're saying that this young lady from the dark path, who has business at Mount Hua, wants to travel with us for a safe journey, free from environmental threats?" Yeon Do asked, looking at Mo Yong-hwi.

"That's correct," Mo Yong-hwi nodded.

"So, this young lady from Machon Pavilion wants to go to Mount Hua with us who are going to fight with people from Machon Pavilion?"

"Y-yes." Mo Yong-hwi and Nam Gung-sang's faces stiffened slightly.

'Are you crazy? Are you out of your minds? Are you talking nonsense? Should I tear your mouths apart?' He would have definitely shouted such things without hesitation in his usual manner. But now, various variables were at play. First, Eun Seol-ran was one of the four great beauties of the dark path, possessing a stunning appearance.

'Still, she's a beauty…' He had too many reservations to refuse outright. As a man, he felt an obligation to protect a beautiful woman, based on the most masculine and patriarchal way of thinking. Yeon Do made the most rational and logical decision.

'Yes! What the heck, let's go together! The sky isn't going to fall apart because of it. Yes! It's not a great sin, so why worry your head? Besides, she's so pretty!'

This was a very common and universal theory and reason that applied everywhere, in all times and places. No one would object to this logical and rational explanation.

"Fine! What the heck, I allow it."

"Kyaaak! Master!" Eun Seol-ran rushed and hugged Yeon Do. It was an unexpected spontaneous action.

"No, well…, it's not like you…, you have to…" Yeon Do's embarrassed, awkward, yet shy demeanor was also unexpected. However, he didn't look displeased. In fact, he seemed happy.

"You gold digger!" A low voice from the female guards was heard, but no one paid attention. Or rather, it was more accurate to say it was deliberately ignored. Thus, the group of 54 representatives from the Cheonmu Academy, with the addition of a travel companion and a coachman, increased to 56 people.

"By the way, is that carriage outside yours, Miss?" Bing Geom's seat was near the railing on the second floor of Sunpyeong-ru, offering a clear view of the outside. Unlike Yeon Do, who spoke casually to Eun Seol-ran, Bing Geom, who considered himself dignified, used polite language. After all, Eun Seol-ran was an investigator representing the Heukcheon Alliance. Treating her like a common guard from the outset was absurd. But it seemed Bing Geom was the only one concerned about that fact.

"It's a fine carriage."

"Thank you."

"And the more I see you, the more I consider you a remarkable woman."

"Oh my, what's so remarkable about an ordinary woman like me? Hohoho."

It seemed the usage of the word 'ordinary' had changed significantly these days. Bing Geom glanced at Jang-no, who was sitting in the driver's seat, and said,

"No, that's absolutely not true. How can the owner of a carriage driven by such an extraordinary coachman be ordinary? That's a contradiction in terms."

For a moment, the coachman's body tensed as if recoiling, but Bing Geom, whose gaze was fixed on Eun Seol-ran, didn't seem to notice.

"Oh my, you flatter me. A coachman is only extraordinary in his driving skills. Indeed, finding a coachman as skilled as me is like finding a needle in a haystack. I'm quite lucky. Thanks to that, I'm traveling so comfortably." Eun Seol-ran replied with a smile, without a hint of embarrassment.

"Haha, nowadays, even with the best driving skills, a safe journey is not guaranteed. The times are turbulent, and the martial arts world is dangerous. How can you continue to have a peaceful journey with just driving skills?"

"…" Eun Seol-ran was silent for a moment. Bing Geom was smiling in his own way, but Eun Seol-ran didn't miss the sharp glint in his narrowed eyes. 'As expected of Master Bing Geom!' He was someone who could not be underestimated. She felt the need to be even more cautious.

"You cannot travel by carriage, so you must either leave the carriage or sell it. Otherwise, you cannot accompany us."

"Yes, that's a perfectly valid point, Master!" Eun Seol-ran's answer was without hesitation, as she had intended to do so from the beginning. Yeon Do looked around the room and announced.

"Alright, now that everything seems to be settled, I will absolutely not tolerate anyone disturbing my meal again! Anyone who does will face my wrath!" Having issued the warning, Yeon Do resumed his interrupted chopsticking. Then, others also resumed their interrupted meals.

CRASH! The main door of Sunpyeong-ru burst open with a loud noise. The immense impact momentarily shook the door hinges severely.

"Who insulted the Eight Great Families a moment ago? Where are you? Come out now! I'll teach you a lesson today! Get out here! If you don't kneel and repent a thousand times, you'll regret being alive after today."

A clamorous noise! A young man in black martial arts attire kicked open the door of Sunpyeong-ru and shouted.

"Get out! I, Tang Cheol-ak, the Swift Hand of the Tang family of Sichuan, will fight you."

This young man seemed to be older than the five brats from before. He certainly looked a year or two older.

"…" Due to Yeon Do's stern warning, the inn was enveloped in a strange silence. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Judging by his aura, he seemed more skilled than the five idiots, but one had to choose their battles wisely.

'Tang Sam must have failed to educate his children properly!' Bilyu-yeon clicked his tongue.

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Tang Cheol-ak, a third-year student of Cheonmu Academy from the Tang family of Sichuan, who had looked around in a single breath, realized that something was terribly wrong. Cold eyes were staring at him from all directions. Tang Cheol-ak felt himself shrinking.

Clink! The sound of the red-haired man's chopsticks falling onto the table resounded loudly in the inn.

"Kuaaaah!" Yeon Do's suppressed anger finally exploded in an instant.

"Which ill-bred scoundrel is this! A ruffian who doesn't even know table manners at home! Uwooo!" With Yeon Do's roar, his hand moved like lightning.

'Aaaaah…' In the blinding white light, Tang Cheol-ak's mind went blank, and he couldn't think of anything. Then, he turned into white ash and disappeared without a trace into the air.

Tang Cheol-ak of the Tang family of Sichuan had another companion. Unlike Tang Cheol-ak's forceful charge, his companion, who felt perplexed by the quietness of the inn, decided to venture inside.

"Young Master Tang? Is something wrong? Young Master Tang…, Hoerk!" The young man who followed Tang Cheol-ak in later was horrified by the scene before him. He couldn't understand why Tang Cheol-ak's entire body, who boasted of being a master of hidden weapons, had dozens of holes pierced through his clothes by chopsticks. He also couldn't understand why a large plate, used for holding food in his mouth, was hanging from Tang Cheol-ak's mouth along with the food. And he couldn't comprehend why Tang Cheol-ak's dazed face, fixed to the wall with chopsticks, was bluish and mottled.

However, what he truly couldn't understand was why dozens of cold stares were glaring at him as if they wanted to devour him. He didn't know why his legs, which supported him on the ground, were trembling without his command. Then, someone spoke, as if recognizing him.

"Oh? What are you doing here?" The young man heard a familiar voice amidst the terrifying inferno. Unfortunately, it was a voice he wanted to erase from his memory, a voice he never wanted to hear again.

'Who, who is it?' His instincts fiercely warned him not to turn his head and look at him. But humans are too weak in the face of curiosity. The young man's face, which turned with a smile to see who had greeted him so familiarly, instantly turned pale.

"It's been about two years, hasn't it?" The person who greeted him was none other than Bilyu-yeon. It was a strange coincidence to meet someone he knew in such a faraway place, given Bilyu-yeon's limited social circle.

"Kieeeek!" A scream that shook the inn echoed. Afterward, he couldn't recall anything that happened, no matter how hard he tried to rack his brain. He was Jang Wu-gang, the son of Jang Wu-yang, the National Master of the Eight Sword Formation of the prominent Jungyang Express Company. Nam Gung-sang rushed out and helped him up.

"Hey, what's wrong? Snap out of it! Look at this sweat! Hey! Snap out of it!" Nam Gung-sang's hand, patting his cheek to wake him up, was quite busy. It seemed he had accumulated quite a bit of frustration over the past few days.

Slam, slam! Slap, slap! At this moment, Tang Sam, who had been watching from behind, stepped forward, pushed Nam Gung-sang aside, and looking at Jang Wu-gang's face, said, "His pulse and blood pressure are slowing. You need to snap out of it quickly."

Slam, slam! Tang Sam's expression as he mercilessly slapped Jang Wu-gang's cheek was filled with a strange sense of satisfaction. Then, another member of the Vermilion Bird Squad stepped forward and alternated with Tang Sam.

"This is serious. His pupils are becoming unfocused."

Slap! Slap! Slap! The rest of the representatives, who were watching dumbfounded, wondered how the Vermilion Bird Squad members had become so wicked.

"Hey! Snap out of it! Snap out of it!" Even while being repeatedly slapped, Jang Wu-sang felt no pain.

'Ah…, it's warm.' Jang Wu-sang felt a bright, warm light enveloping him cozily. It was paradise. He desperately wished to live forever in the radiant paradise, feeling this overwhelming happiness. He was happy.

"Huh? He's smiling with his mouth. What should we do?"

"Give him a life-saving pill quickly and administer emergency treatment! Hurry! Hurry!" Something seemed to be touching his body, and various measures were being taken. But to him, all of this felt like an illusion happening in a distant world. His consciousness was increasingly escaping from reality into the unreal world. It was a mental escape to find peace of mind.

'Ah…, how warm…'