Book 15 Chapter 3

Declaration of War

-Enter! The rival of love(?)!

Gyook was not pleased with this mission.

Why did she, Gyook, one of the Sky-Devouring Seven and one of the Four Flowers of the Dark Path, have to investigate a man so insignificant and of unknown origins?

Was she only worth that much?

Her pride was deeply wounded. However, the master's command was absolute, and the choices for a servant were limited to the point of being singular.

'Such a pathetic, inexperienced brat won't take more than half a day!'

She was confident she could uncover not only his hidden personal history but also the trivial details of his ancestors for three generations.

Gyook's martial arts were outstanding among the disciples of the Sky-Devouring Pavilion, but she possessed an even more fearsome weapon. It was her beauty, which had earned her the title of one of the Four Flowers of the Dark Path. Moreover, she had learned from her master, Honghwaseonja Okgyogyo, the leader of the Thousand Courtesan League, how to use her beauty in the most effective and deadly way, and had honed it to this very moment.

No man could tear his eyes away from her smile, like a warm spring breeze, and her voluptuous, willow-branch-like figure. Her smile was a strong wind that stirred and churned the lake of young disciples' hearts. It was rare, even to a few, to maintain their composure while receiving that smile and gaze. She had always conquered the hearts of countless men without much effort. She didn't even need to use her ultimate weapon.

Because of this, she had confidently predicted victory for this mission.

However, it did not take long for Hyulsimran Gyook to realize her judgment was wrong.

The simplest, most difficult, and best way to captivate someone is to impress them with the light of one's pure, unique charm.

In other words, 'love at first sight!' falls into this category.

People in love at first sight need no reason. They just like them! They might attach abstract reasons like past life karma or destiny, but in reality, they are drawn to the other person by an unknown cause. Abstract reasons have the advantage of not needing explanation because they are generally impossible to explain with logical grounds. Therefore, they are easy to insist upon and easy to force.

On the other hand, there is the argument that if you can give a reason, it's not 'love.' It is a contradiction in terms to use earthly reasons to explain metaphysical matters.

After all, the world is meaningless. In this world devoid of meaning, only oneself can give it meaning. If you decide you just like someone, they become the best in the world (though the best in the world tends to change as one's mind changes).

At any rate, there are thousands of reasons and tens of thousands of tastes for why people fall for each other. However, there are not a few common denominators.

Among them, the most certain common criterion, without a doubt, is beauty. Humans instinctively desire the beautiful and reject the ugly. There are various philosophical reasons for this, but it is unnecessary to discuss them here when talking about love between men and women.

The problem is, 'What criteria should be used to call something beautiful?' Honestly, you can say there are as many criteria as there are people. Nevertheless, the reason why these criteria are not entirely random and have some commonality is that humans are very easily and greatly influenced by the society and organizations they live in.

For example, someone living in a village that considers a long neck beautiful will think a woman with an excessively long neck is a beauty, but to someone living in a village that considers a short neck beautiful, she is the ugliest person there is.

Therefore, human beauty is a very unreliable standard, changing ceaselessly as one moves away from the country, or even just the region. Still, within the same country, there is a general, universal standard of beauty, and the martial arts world is the same.

A person who satisfies this universal aesthetic standard of the world they belong to is called beautiful. In other words, the majority determines worldly beauty.

Determining beauty by majority… It could be said to be a truly absurd matter.

And the Thousand Courtesan League, to which Hyulsimran Gyook belongs, is an organization that cultivates women who satisfy this universal aesthetic standard more easily and effectively. The problem is that their efforts are focused only on outward appearance, not inner self…

Among them, she can be said to be one of the Thousand Courtesan League's finest masterpieces. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been chosen as one of the Four Flowers of the Dark Path.

The most important thing to make someone fall in love at first sight is the first meeting. The key here is how many good illusions you can implant in the other person.

So, she met him armed with the best gaze and smile.

"Oh my, Young Master Bi! Hello! It's nice to meet you. I am Gyook, from the Sky-Devouring Pavilion."

With a bright smile, Gyook focused all the light of her charm into one spot.

Several people in the same group as Bi Ryuyeon looked at her with surprised eyes. Why another beauty for that Bi Ryuyeon! Na Yerim alone was mysterious enough! Their faces, using every muscle, were shouting, 'This is a scam!'

Bi Ryuyeon, also bewildered, was momentarily speechless, gazing at Gyook's face.

'Hmph, easy!'

Was he speechless from being so moved? She was convinced this attack was a great success.

However, that was an early judgment.

"Ah! I was wondering who it was. You're the rude young lady who scattered 108 needles at me without notice before. What brings you here?"

'Tsk! Rude!'

This was an unexpected situation even for her.

'I forgot!'

Bi Ryuyeon and Gyook had already had a very bad first meeting.

'I forgot about that… And this man… How does he know the number of needles he threw then? Could it be?!'

She quickly dismissed the assumption she had made.

'No way… It can't be! This man can't possibly have such insight!'

People so easily disregard their intuition. Even though they should trust it the most!

Instead of excluding what they should trust the most, they easily believe and follow the words of others whom they should be suspicious and cautious of – a contradictory behavior that could be called very human.

'In any case, I have to get through this hurdle…'

She couldn't retreat like this. So, for now, she decided to smile.

"Ahahaha! That's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! I didn't intend to at all, it was just… an accident, an accident!"

Her attempt to gloss over it should be commended. However, it only made the atmosphere a mess. There was no way she could captivate a man with such a foolish appearance.

"Hmm… An accident…"

"Yes, an accident! Ahahaha!"

"An accident… Well, let's just say that for now!"

'What do you mean, 'for now,' you jerk!' she wanted to shout, but she barely suppressed the urge. It seemed a bad impression was deeply ingrained in his mind.

Moreover, even with a bad impression, was there someone who could so easily dismiss her smile… Shouldn't he have shown a little agitation or joy! So, Gyook was even more flustered.

'Could it be this guy… is impotent?'

It was not unreasonable for her to think so.

Just then.

"Who is this person, Ryuyeon?"

A quiet but heart-stirring, mysterious voice.

The gazes that had been focused on Gyook all turned in unison to one spot. There stood a person dressed in pristine white, like freshly fallen snow, with an elegant posture like a crane.

'Bingbaekbong Na Yerim!'

Gyook swallowed a gasp.

Indeed, an extraordinary beauty. Though she was a woman, she had to admit she was attractive.

"Ah, Yerim! It's nothing. She's the one who threw needles at me before and came to apologize this time."

'N-Nothing…'

These were insulting words she rarely received. She wanted to shout to his face, 'That's not it, you idiot!' but she suppressed it internally.

"Ah… Ah, yes! I suppose I should apologize for what happened back then."

Gyook said, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Na Yerim's indifferent gaze fell upon Gyook. The moment their eyes met, Gyook felt as if she were being sucked into those pupils. The profound light in them seemed to be dissecting her very heart.

Finally regaining her composure, Gyook quickly turned her head. She felt that looking any longer might lead to something big.

'But this idiot is this close with Na Yerim, the number one beauty of Baekdo?'

It wasn't just a casual acquaintance. Though it might not be visible to ordinary people, there was some emotional exchange between the two.

'No doubt! These two! There's something!'

It might have been a nascent, beginner-level exchange. But her expert eyes couldn't be fooled. Her highly trained instincts told her through several subtle signs that only she could recognize.

In her world too, 'Bingbaekbong Na Yerim' was famous for her aversion to men. So, some women said her beauty was merely for decoration, but she realized today that it was just jealousy and envy. Meeting her in person, she was indeed worthy of her reputation.

It surpassed mere outward beauty. It was!

It would be a lie to say she wasn't jealous. And it seemed clear that Na Yerim would be the biggest obstacle to her plan.

The saying that two suns cannot rise simultaneously was not just for men.

'But… even the most outstanding beauty has a weakness!'

That would be the turning point.

"Then, I'll see you next time! We'll be seeing each other often from now on!"

"Often?"

Bi Ryuyeon tilted his head. Gyook was momentarily at a loss.

"Oh? Didn't you know?"

"Know what?"

Despite Bi Ryuyeon's question, Gyook looked at Na Yerim and said clearly, as if declaring:

"I'm in the same 7th group from now on! Please take care of me!"

Then she smiled sweetly.

"Is that so?"

Bi Ryuyeon asked Hyoryong, turning to him. He hadn't confirmed it properly, as he wasn't particularly interested in anyone other than Na Yerim. His friend sighed and nodded.

Witnessing this behavior, Gyook couldn't shake off the feeling of being completely ignored. Never before had her existence been treated so lightly. She felt her dormant fighting spirit ignite fiercely.

"Th-then, I'll see you around!"

After saying goodbye, Gyook fled the scene as if escaping. If she stayed any longer, her suppressed anger might explode. She felt she couldn't control herself if she continued the test of her patience limits. Her brave decision to stop the test just before her reason exploded was commendable.

However, Gyook, who had expended too much energy on that courageous decision, had no strength left to pay attention elsewhere. In the end, she was caught up in unexpected situations and made a tactical retreat without achieving any results.

That's all fine, but…

"So… why did that person come?"

Na Yerim shook her head at Bi Ryuyeon's question. She herself wanted to know the reason.

“…She's a strange person!”

Looking at Gyook's retreating back as she hurried away, Bi Ryuyeon quietly expressed his impression. It was the worst impression Gyook had ever received, by far.

Na Yerim nodded quietly as if she agreed. However, she didn't take her eyes off Gyook's retreating figure, continuing to gaze at her.

Clang!

The jade teacup, thrown carelessly, shattered on the floor.

The hand that had thrown the teacup a moment ago was trembling. Thin wrists, long, slender fingers. It was a woman's hand.

The milky white skin, shining as if polished, the perfectly manicured fingers and nails – these delicate hands testified to the meticulous care they received.

'Do not spare time and effort in cultivating one's beauty!'

That was the principle of Hyulsimran Gyook, the owner of this hand, and the highest rule of the Thousand Courtesan League.

"A mistake unlike myself!"

Gyook muttered, biting her pomegranate-red lips.

It was devastating. And shameful. The first stage had ended in a complete failure.

"I didn't expect such an interference…"

The most crucial information was missing.

"I never imagined she would be so close to Na Yerim, the rumored 'Ice Princess' of Bingbaekbong…"

It wasn't a mere acquaintance's feeling. But it wasn't yet a lover's feeling either. Because Na Yerim's disposition was close to an ice sculpture, she couldn't accurately read the degree of emotional exchange, but she knew for sure it was unusual.

"But even that proud Bingbaekbong Na Yerim isn't perfect! She has weaknesses too!"

Due to this incident, seducing Bi Ryuyeon became the same as surpassing Na Yerim for her. If Na Yerim herself heard it, she would undoubtedly say that making such a unilateral decision was a nuisance, but Gyook's resolve was firm. The person who would be drawn in was no longer in her consideration.

"Just you wait, Bi Ryuyeon! I will absolutely make you kneel beneath my skirt!"

Whether that oath would be fulfilled remained to be seen.

"Should I go… or not…?"

"Or give up here?"

Dokgoryeong complained, cursing her luck that always leaned towards great misfortune, wondering why a lottery that satisfied everyone wasn't invented yet. She looked unusually restless.

The team draw itself was the root of the problem. Just as there is light, there is shadow; while some rejoiced like braggarts about their team assignments, others were greatly dismayed.

Her god was still unfair to her.

"This is unfair! Why can't we change the team assignments arbitrarily?"

Isn't there always at least one person who makes you think, 'I absolutely do not want to be in the same group as this person!'? Shouldn't the organizers naturally consider such people? This could be considered negligence on the part of the organizers.

However, her plea was immediately rejected by the governors in charge of the tournament.

"It is precisely with such people that you must strive to improve your relationship. This tournament is designed to facilitate that process. Once a team is set, it cannot be changed under any circumstances. Or would you prefer to forfeit this Volcanic Branch Gathering?"

The world, with a probability of over 50%, was a mischievous entity that flowed in the direction one did not wish. Dokgoryeong had no choice but to answer 'No.'

Having been forced to join the same team as someone she absolutely did not want to be with, Dokgoryeong, like any person in such a situation, looked at his face with a very bewildered expression. Their gazes met in the air.

"I've seen you before."

The Grand Prince Bi said in a voice devoid of any emotion. Several of the Sky-Devouring Seven stood beside him. It seemed they were in the same group. Dokgoryeong's voice wouldn't come out.

"Could it be the 1st group?"

To the Grand Prince Bi's short question, Dokgoryeong nodded instead of answering. She wished someone would tell her this was a dream.

Bi's expression changed rapidly once, then returned to its original state.

"Welcome. This seems to be the second time we're meeting."

A toneless voice. An inflection that did not instill any credibility in the content.

"Th-that's right."

"Let's do our best."

With a face still showing a hint of displeasure, Dokgoryeong reluctantly nodded. He swore he would never participate in any lottery again…