Book 13 Chapter 19

Hyoryong's Awakening

Late Chusi (around 0300) Hwapyongjang Rear Garden

Anyone can make a mistake.

Yeomdo is human. Therefore, Yeomdo can also make a mistake.

So Yeomdo looked at Biryuyeon. It meant, please judge whether I was mistaken or not. But Biryuyeon seemed to be thinking the same thing. He glanced in another direction.

Everyone else flinched and froze as they looked at the two old men.

Nayerin, who was much more trustworthy than Biryuyeon, agreed. Moyonghwi also agreed. Everyone who was on Mudang Mountain that day was here. Things had become troublesome.

'Damn it! Why are those old geezers here!'

Only Dokgo Ryeong, Seok Ryuhah, Nokhak, and Ogae, who were not present that day, were bewildered, not knowing what was going on.

But it seemed they were not the only ones who were flustered; the other side seemed to be in the same boat.

"T-This can't be…"

"How could they be here…"

The voices of the two old men trembled severely, as if they had made a pact. They were wearing masks, but there was no mistaking them.

The lighthearted feeling of wanting to do some light exercise before drinking was gone, vanished somewhere. Instead, their hearts became heavy as lead. The faces of the two old men had turned pale, as if they had seen a ghost.

The nightmare had manifested.

The nightmare that had tormented them every night had now appeared before their eyes with a tangible form.

Homicide, rage, fear, confusion, dread.

Tens of thousands of thoughts tangled their minds. It was the same even when surrounded by dozens of subordinates armed with weapons.

Should they all shout to charge, or should they all shout to flee…

But "he" was here. There was only one choice.

'Were there any members of the Twin Arrow Corps who returned alive from Mudang Mountain that day?'

The two old men thought for a moment.

The answer was 'none'.

The figures of the two people were reflected in Hyoryong's unfocused retinas. The figures of those two people were something he could never forget. A shadow etched so vividly in his retinas and heart along with the death of one person.

Thump, thump, thump!

At that moment, Hyoryong's heart began to beat rapidly. The beat of his heart grew louder and faster.

'A-ryong, A-ryong, A-ryong…'

The voice of the person he missed echoed in the abyss where he had been sleeping.

Brother!

In that instant, what happened on Mudang Mountain that day flashed in his mind. A person's laughter, the sword that struck down towards that laughter, death, and blood!

The face of the sword's owner, who had brought about that death, was himself.

Clang!

At that moment, the giant shell surrounding Hyoryong shattered. Another Hyoryong, curled up within, opened its eyes. The darkness that had obscured his retinas peeled away, and his vision brightened. A furious roar erupted from his throat.

"Heaven and Earth Twin Arrows!! Brother's enemy!"

Without anyone being able to stop him, Hyoryong drew his twin swords and charged towards Cheonsal of the Twin Arrows. Dozens of swords surrounded him, but he didn't care. In his eyes, only the figures of the Heaven and Earth Twin Arrows were visible.

"That madman!"

Yeomdo exclaimed. "Screams erupted from Lee Jinseol's mouth.

Swords screamed and clashed fiercely.

Hyoryong's solo charge was certainly reckless. But there was an element of surprise. Moreover, his sword, burning with rage, exerted an unimaginable force.

Driven back by that unimaginable force, Cheonsal retreated repeatedly. His subordinates, who had been supporting Cheonsal, parted to the left and right, creating a path. Jisal, surprised by the sudden turn of events, didn't even have time to intervene. He hadn't expected it to be so sudden and aggressive.

Cheonsal had to retreat five paces before he could regain his footing. Hyoryong, perhaps thinking one sword was not enough, crossed his twin swords to pressure him. However, Cheonsal withstood the force with just his left hand.

When they were in a standoff, Hyoryong had no choice but to stop in the midst of the enemy ranks. This meant he had become an ideal target to be surrounded and devoured by wolves flashing their swords.

"Hyoryong!"

Lee Jinseol drew her twin swords and rushed forward.

"Seol-ah!"

Dokgo Ryeong shouted urgently and chased after her. As someone else tried to follow, Yeomdo's roar erupted.

"No one else move!"

A deafening shout that echoed in their ears!

"This guy and that guy!"

Yet, he himself chased after the two who had gone ahead. He had a duty to protect the three people in front.

Slap!

Yeomdo's right hand struck Hyoryong's cheek.

With Lee Jinseol's short cry of pain, Hyoryong's head was violently turned to one side. A trickle of blood ran down from his lips.

Lee Jinseol tried to rush forward, but Dokgo Ryeong stopped her from behind.

"Where did you learn such reckless charging? Are you tired of living?"

Yeomdo shouted in an enraged voice. No matter how much he lost his reason in anger, to throw away his life like that…

"Who did you get permission from to charge? Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Yeomdo's anger did not subside. He didn't seem to care if others were watching or if enemies were surrounding them. Lee Jinseol, watching, was now almost in tears.

"Do you even realize how much danger you have put so many people in with your irresponsible actions?"

"……"

"You almost killed Jinseol!"

At that moment, Hyoryong lifted his head and glared at Yeomdo.

"Th-That…"

However, Yeomdo's gaze was exceedingly cold.

"Why? Do you want to say no? Do you think it's unfair?"

"N-No."

A strained voice escaped his lips.

"Why? Are you tired of life? Empty? Do you not want to live anymore? Shall I kill you so it's less troublesome?"

"Mas- Master!"

Lee Jinseol, watching from the side, cried out, choked with tears. She seemed to pity Hyoryong, who stood dejected and silent like a mute.

"…So- Sorry."

Hyoryong replied, his head bowed, unable to lift it. Then, a heavy hand rested on his shoulder. He lifted his head to see the owner of that hand was Yeomdo. The intensity he had shown just moments before had vanished as if washed away, and his face was remarkably calm.

A quiet and benevolent voice flowed from Yeomdo's lips.

"Are you a little calmer now?"

Hyoryong, who had been silently holding his left cheek and lowering his head, replied in a small voice.

"Yes… I'm sorry!"

His voice was completely deflated. Then, Yeomdo's rough hand patted his shoulder. It was as if he was saying it was okay.

"Congratulations on waking from your long slumber."

"Th-Thank you."

His voice was choked. A single, sparkling tear rolled down his cheek and fell to the ground.

Lee Jinseol, looking at him, also had tears welling up in her eyes.

"You damn burning brat! You should be tending the hearth at home, why are you here!"

The fat old man Jisal shouted.

"H-How did you know?"

Yeomdo asked, bewildered. He seemed more astonished that his identity had been revealed than that he had been insulted.

"Do you think I'm blind? Did you really think a mere mask could hide the fact that you're covered in blood for everyone to see so clearly!"

Jisal roared once more.

'Indeed!'

The entire rescue team nodded inwardly.

Indeed, his red hair was conspicuous even in the torchlight of this late night. Furthermore, his clothes were still all red, his red sash, and the sword he carried was also a sleek design not easily seen in the Central Plains, with the entire scabbard, including the handle, being red.

"Tsk, I slipped up!"

Yeomdo scratched the back of his head, the culprit responsible for his exposure. It was an attitude of 'it's spilled milk, there's nothing I can do.'

"Go first!"

Yeomdo said.

"But…"

"Go! It won't take long anyway. But it seems these creditors are persistent! I'm telling you to go because I don't know how long it will take."

He spoke towards Moyonghwi, but his gaze did not leave the two old men, Cheonji Ssals.

[Go! And wait for us at the Beggars' Sect's Western Branch! If you don't come, take refuge at the Huashan Sect!]

Yeomdo's secret transmission echoed in Moyonghwi's eardrums.

"Master!"

Moyonghwi's gaze turned to Yeomdo.

"It's just a possibility, a possibility! Of course, I wouldn't lose to those old geezers! It's 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. I won't lose this time either!"

Yeomdo said with a calm and confident voice. Then he shouted again.

"What are you dawdling for! Hurry up and go! And make sure you keep it!"

"Yes!"

Yeomdo raised his Hongyeom (Red Flame Sword). As he circulated his Hwaryeong Divine Skill, his beloved sword transformed into flames and burned fiercely. A terrifying heat radiated from the Hongyeom.

"Run!"

The flickering pillar of flame fell. At that moment, a wave of fire engulfed the warriors guarding the right door. Sparks flew, screams erupted, and a path surrounded by a wall of flames was created.

Moyonghwi, carrying Eun Seollan on his back, shot through the opened passage of flames.

Only after confirming Moyonghwi had safely retreated did Yeomdo turn around. Then, he sent a secret transmission to Biryuyeon.

[Is this okay?]

Biryuyeon nodded slightly. That was it, not a single additional word.

'What in the world is he up to?'

Ah, never mind! Yeomdo decided, and turned his gaze back to the Cheonji Ssals. It was much simpler and clearer to think about this.

"Well then, let's settle some old debts on this side too!"