Book 15 Chapter 5

The very last of the last.

The honor of being the first to start among the last runners went to Grand Prince Bi. He was the last runner for Group 1. The person who handed him the baton was Ma Geum Ik Chu Myung. With a face as stoic as his master, he handed over the token, and Bi, who received it, also ran off with a face devoid of emotion, as if all feeling had vanished.

The second to start was Yong Chun Myung of Group 2. He ran off without any complaints to Ma Hwa Ryung, who handed him the relay baton (which had to be directly handed to the opponent) with a resentful face. The third was Bi Cheon Ryong Qing Heun, the Three Severities Sword of Gu Jeong Hoi. He was in Group 5, and the person who passed him the baton was Moon Jeol Ji Ryong Baek Moo Young of the same Hoi.

The fourth was a stranger. However, he overheard others whispering that he was the Heavenly Pavilion’s Sacred Hall Outer Sword ‘An Nak Gin’. He had seen the name listed at the Hua Yin Prefecture Appraisal Fair. He was a competitor. O Bi Wan, whose name was listed alongside his, was, fatefully, in the same Group 7. Still, he was surprisingly a decent fellow. For a man with that face and physique, he was a very peculiar human who loved animals.

The fifth and sixth started. Both of these were people he had seen before. They belonged to a group called the Seven Warriors of the Heavenly Pavilion, or whatever it was.

‘They actually thought of putting someone like this as the last runner.’

He wanted to dissect the mental state of the humans in that group, regardless of which group it was. They were probably not normal. Their master was not themselves. Their master was someone else, and that master had, unfortunately, already started first in this final leg. Would a dog trained to this extent really try to bite its master… It would be a miracle if he didn’t bite someone else’s leg with bared teeth.

‘I wish they had at least put up a ‘Beware of Fierce Dogs’ sign…’

He could see the seventh runner approaching from afar. Behind him, he saw the eighth human furiously pursuing. All of them looked exhausted. It was a stark contrast to the four who had come before. But nowhere was there the sight of Yoon Jun Ho, who was supposed to hand him the relay baton.

“This guy, did something happen to him…”

The summit of Ok Ryeo Peak was already bathed in the crimson of twilight. Night was approaching.

Bi Ryu Yeon crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and waited silently.

It was an undeniable fact that something had happened midway. However, according to the rules, falling more than three lengths from the final starting line incurred a penalty. Ten people had already started from here. There were eleven groups, so he was the last person remaining here.

“Hmph, that guy’s not coming! It’s useless to wait!”

The one who scoffed and shouted sharply was Ma Hwa Ryung of Cheol Ok Jam. It seemed she still harbored some feelings towards Bi Ryu Yeon.

“What are you talking about?”

To Bi Ryu Yeon’s question, she replied with a triumphant smile.

“That guy, his name was probably Yoon Jun Ho, right? Famous as the idiot of Hua Shan? He rolled down Ok Ryeo Peak in grand fashion earlier? He’s probably reached the entrance of Ok Ryeo Peak by now? Hohahaha!”

Ma Hwa Ryung burst into loud laughter as if she were dying of joy. After a moment of silence, Bi Ryu Yeon’s lips quietly opened.

“Did you do it?”

His voice was low and calm.

At that moment, Ma Hwa Ryung felt her heart sink. Her body stiffened for a moment. She froze as if caught in a net woven from threads of ice pulled from the north wind. She felt a chilling sensation as if an ice spear had pierced her heart.

“Ah, no! D-did I… do something so cowardly? The mighty Cheol Ok Jam Ma Hwa Ryung!”

Her tongue seemed frozen as her words came out haltingly. Her instincts were moving her body against her will. This further fueled her hatred for Bi Ryu Yeon. But now, she couldn’t even get angry properly. Her instincts were loudly warning her that it was not good to provoke him further.

What in the world was this Bi Ryu Yeon? Why did the mighty Cheol Ok Jam Ma Hwa Ryung have to endure such humiliation? The more she thought about it, the more furious she became.

Bi Ryu Yeon, without paying any attention to the colorful changes on her face, gazed down at Ok Ryeo Peak. He was angry again that he felt ignored.

“Aren’t you going to give up now?”

“……”

Bi Ryu Yeon did not answer.

“It’s too late. Even if you start now, you’ll only reconfirm your last place.”

“……”

Again, Bi Ryu Yeon did not answer. He acted as if she were mere air, paying her no mind.

“He’s not coming anymore! Give up!”

Her voice became irritable. However, Bi Ryu Yeon ignored her and said,

“No, he’s coming!”

He pointed to a spot on the hill with his finger. From where his gaze lingered, a human shadow appeared. The shadow was limping, desperately approaching this way.

“N-no way!”

Ma Hwa Ryung blurted out words that reaffirmed the truth through denial.

“Heh-heck, heh-heh… I… I was a bit late, wasn’t I?”

His body was a mess. His clothes were torn in places and stained with dirt. His hair was disheveled like a straw doll. There were abrasions from scratches all over. He had clearly tumbled badly. His leg seemed injured too, as he was limping. Yet, he hadn’t given up and had come this far. Despite being bruised all over, he forced a smile and held out the relay baton.

“Heh-heh… Always… I… I’m always like this…”

Tears welled up in Yoon Jun Ho’s smiling eyes. He clearly tried to hold them back, but the flood of tears had already breached the dam of his eye sockets.

“I… I’m disappointed, if only I had run properly, if only I were stronger… to be foolishly taken in by their schemes…”

“Their schemes?”

“Those… those… Heavenly Pavilion Seven Warriors…”

‘Ho ho, so that’s how it is?’

A cold smile flickered across Bi Ryu Yeon’s lips. It was a silent smile as cold as ice.

Bi Ryu Yeon quietly looked at Yoon Jun Ho’s face, who was still sobbing and trembling with frustration. Then, he quietly reached out and patted his shoulder.

“……?!”

Yoon Jun Ho looked up at Bi Ryu Yeon. His face, hidden by his bangs except for his mouth, made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Bi Ryu Yeon took the relay baton from the bewildered Yoon Jun Ho and said in a firm voice,

“Jun Ho, you’re wrong!”

“Heh-heh… A-am I just hopeless after all?”

There were no more tears to shed. Then, Bi Ryu Yeon shook his head and continued,

“You said you were late earlier, didn’t you? No, you weren’t late. You came at just the right time. Have you ever seen a master playing Go against an amateur? Wouldn’t it be proper to give him a few points as a handicap? So don’t worry. I’ll prove that you weren’t late from now on.”

“Ryu… Yeon…”

He didn’t seem like the Bi Ryu Yeon he knew. He felt like an alien being from another world. Seeing that smile, he somehow felt a surge of strength.

“P-please!”

Yoon Jun Ho straightened his posture, performed a fist-and-palm salute, and shouted with all his might. The dejected look from earlier had vanished from his entire body. Bi Ryu Yeon responded with a fist-and-palm salute and said with a voice full of determination,

“Leave it to me, frie·nd!”

Night was now beginning. It was a good time for the god of revenge to visit.

“Hold this for a moment!”

Saying so, Bi Ryu Yeon unbuckled the two Black Dragon Rings he wore on his legs. Even in this state, he didn’t seem to have any intention of letting go of what he held in his hands.

He moved his legs lightly, as if playing.

“It feels light and good after so long.”

A path was drawn in his mind. His spirit guided him to the path he had to take. He felt nature through his five senses. The moment Bi Ryu Yeon’s eyes gleamed, his body vanished. It was a movement like a storm.

Yoon Jun Ho blankly followed the trajectory of his disappearance. Then, he took a deep breath through his nose and shouted, as if to expel all the air stored in his lungs,

“Be sure to win…! Frie·nd!”

From afar, it felt like Bi Ryu Yeon had waved his hand.

The two, Jong Ri Chu of Chil Ryeon Chang and Do Chu Woon of Sa Gal Geom Pyeon, recognized his presence as they were about to ascend Nak An Bong, more frequently called Cheon Mu Bong now.

The sun had long since hidden its body below the black horizon. It was now the domain of night, ruled by Yin, and they were running, relying on the faint stars and moon.

He appeared unexpectedly, like a ghost, and approached rapidly. Jong Ri Chu enhanced his inner sight and glanced back, piercing the darkness to confirm the face of the approaching person. The person kindly came within five paces, making the contours of his face easier to discern through the dimness of the night.

For the two of them, this was an unnecessary kindness, and thus, not at all appreciated.

It was Bi Ryu Yeon, the human who had evaded their seven attacks like a loach.

“Hey, hello!”

Bi Ryu Yeon raised his hand in greeting. The two of them ignored the greeting. A muttering voice could be heard from behind saying, ‘He’s not very polite.’ So he decided to give them the reply they wanted. Not in the way they wanted, perhaps.

Jong Ri Chu and Do Chu Woon looked at each other, confirming that they were thinking the same thing. Strategic alliances are not only beneficial when facing a blank sheet of paper.

“Separate!”

To stop Bi Ryu Yeon’s approach, they crushed rocks with their stepping feet and swept their hands to knock down trees.

The broken stones rolled down the steep slope, pressing against Bi Ryu Yeon’s face, and the fallen trees formed a barrier, blocking his path. But he dodged the barrage of stones by shaking his head and twisting his body, and ran over the falling trees, using them as stepping stones. His body was supple enough to dodge the rolling stones, and he was swift and light enough to not be hindered by the falling trees. Even that was enough of a threat to Jong Ri Chu and Do Chu Woon.

“Persistent! What do we do, Chu?”

“We cannot forgive anyone who blocks the path of the young master.”

It seemed they would be caught up soon. Even though their movement speed was fast enough that an ordinary person couldn’t follow, Bi Ryu Yeon’s speed far surpassed theirs. It was a terrifying speed.

Surely the Grand Prince wouldn’t be overtaken by someone like this, but it was best to eliminate the source of trouble beforehand.

“It’s night now. Climbing a mountain at night is very dangerous. Accidents can happen sometimes!”

At Jong Ri Chu’s words, Do Chu Woon’s eyes flashed, and he grabbed the hilt of the sword at his waist. Jong Ri Chu was seen unhooking one of the seven spears slung across his back.

They met each other’s eyes again, exchanged a look of opportune timing, and then compromised once more. The moment their consciousnesses connected through a silent signal, a single word came out of two mouths simultaneously.

“Die!”

Bi Ryu Yeon, who had made two of the Heavenly Pavilion Seven Warriors into scraps, increased his speed again. He stepped on the wind, leaped over high hills, and sprang down steep cliffs. Even the natural terrain forbidden to humans had to create new shortcuts under his feet.

He overtook five people in succession—they didn’t even realize they were being overtaken—and after delivering the gift of retribution to two, he again made Bi Cheon Ryong Qing Heun utter a brief exclamation.

“Huh?”

By the time Qing Heun sensed the anomaly, Bi Ryu Yeon’s body had already moved far away, and a moment later, he could see a few familiar faces within his sight. It was Yong Chun Myung, the leader of Gu Jeong Hoi, said to be the best among the Nine Dragons.

“Who is it?”

Yong Chun Myung sensed a new presence intruding into his range of perception.

The being that had been behind him until a moment ago was Qing Heun. Of course, Qing Heun was from Gu Jeong Hoi, but he was not the type to deliberately lose in such a competition. Yong Chun Myung also had no intention of asking for such a disgraceful act. Only when they couldn’t win even by giving their all could his value as the Hoi leader be recognized. Therefore, Qing Heun had chased with all his might, and he had also tried his best to keep him at bay. Of course, he had also not neglected to pursue the man who was currently the only one ahead of him, Grand Prince Bi.

Grand Prince Bi…

He was more astounding than imagined. Ever since departing Ok Ryeo Peak, he had continuously tried to narrow the distance with him, but he had never gotten close enough to overtake. The distance between him and himself had not widened, but it had not narrowed either. So, for now, he was focusing on maintaining the distance and watching for an opportunity.

However, he had to turn his attention back to his rear. A new presence had intruded into the space between Qing Heun and himself. This meant someone had overtaken the Unrivaled of Gu Jeong Hoi. Yong Chun Myung, knowing Qing Heun’s extraordinary speed well, couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘Who in the world is it?’

But it was impossible to pay more attention. Despite his speed not dropping at all, the presence was greedily devouring the distance between him and himself, closing in.

It felt like a great wind was blowing from behind him towards him. He had no choice but to unleash some of the inner energy he had saved for the final showdown and use it to double his speed.

‘He must have fallen off by now…’ he thought, but then he exclaimed, ‘Gasp!’ The presence was now closer to him while he was feeling relieved. Finally, Yong Chun Myung, unable to bear his curiosity, turned his head and discovered an unexpected presence there.

‘Bi Ryu Yeon!’

His eyes widened in surprise.

Yong Chun Myung tried to shake off Bi Ryu Yeon somehow. He burned the inner energy stored in his still full dan tian, infused strength into his muscles, and cut through the middle of the night like a meteor.

But Bi Ryu Yeon was not to be outdone. When Yong Chun Myung doubled his speed, he also doubled his, and when he tripled it, he tripled it.

Yong Chun Myung felt he had to get rid of this leech clinging to his back no matter what. If he couldn’t, not only would his reputation as Hoi leader be at stake, but he didn’t know what harsh words he would hear from Ma Hwa Ryung, who had handed him the relay baton. He wanted to avoid that at all costs. So he racked his brain to devise a clever plan.

What he chose was to deliberately provoke Bi Ryu Yeon’s competitive spirit and lure him into rough terrain. He thought it would be more difficult for him to endure in rough and rugged terrain. But that was a mistake. Yong Chun Myung himself ended up suffering. Bi Ryu Yeon, with movements so agile that even a thousand-year-old monkey couldn’t follow, flew over jutting rocks and valleys, as if his feet had wings. And it was right above his head!

Finally, Bi Ryu Yeon had overtaken Yong Chun Myung.

‘Only one person left!’

Bi Ryu Yeon looked up. Beyond the rocky hills, the moon rose, and cheers began to erupt.

Torches burning here and there on the mountaintop, the finish line.

“Damn it!”

He had forgotten. It was an uncharacteristic mistake for Bi Ryu Yeon. He had been too focused on his duel with Yong Chun Myung and hadn’t considered the remaining distance.

The distance between them was still far, and the finish line was too close for Bi. Bi Ryu Yeon’s heart began to race. Now, Bi would reach the finish line with just a little more effort. At this point, he wished his opponent would be careless, but he showed no such signs and flew towards his glory at maximum speed.

The cheers grew louder and louder. Most of them came from individuals belonging to the Heavenly Pavilion, but Bi Ryu Yeon didn’t have the composure to notice.

He had made a firm promise with Yoon Jun Ho, and once he made a promise, he had to keep it.

‘Run! Run! Run!’

The opponent was already close to the finish line. No matter how fast he was, it was impossible.

‘Impossible? Me? Impossible?’

He had never thought such a thing before.

‘Am I crazy now? I told Jun Ho not to set limits for himself, and yet I’m having such thoughts?’

Suddenly, his mind cooled as if splashed with ice water.

He absolutely could not give up. If he gave up here, everything would be over. He would be betraying his own principles. Who would believe him if he didn’t believe in himself? One who gives up on himself is first abandoned by heaven.

Believe! Believe in me! Believe in the sweat you’ve poured and the strength you’ve cultivated. You can do it. You can do it.

Nothing is impossible for you. Your body has not yet reached its limit. Manifest infinity with your body. Believe! Believe!

I am faster than the wind. I am faster than light. My will conquers time.

My body, faster than light, cuts through time and crosses space to exist ‘now’ over there.

That is ‘I’!

At that moment, the world began to warp. He couldn’t tell if the world was warping or if his senses were warping. But one thing was certain: a change had come.

‘W-what is this sensation?’

For a moment, Bi Ryu Yeon felt an intense sensation as if his body was decomposing into the most minute units of existence and being transferred.

‘What is this?’

In the indescribable sensation, he experienced a peculiar feeling as if his minutely divided existence was being sucked towards a single point over there. It pulled him in with a dark vortex-like suction that swallowed light, time, and stars. Light and time were sucked in with him towards that point.

Light and sound vanished, and silence descended.

Eventually, a great cheer erupted across the volcano.

“That’s too bad…”

Na Ye Rin, who quietly approached him, comforted him. A bitter smile formed on Bi Ryu Yeon’s lips as he sat on a rock.

“Don’t be discouraged, Ryu Yeon! That look doesn’t suit you.”

At her words, he looked back at himself. Sitting in a dim place was something a penniless person might do.

“Indeed, it might not be like me…”

Still, the anger didn’t subside easily.

“I definitely won. Those foolish judges…”

He knew. He knew he had momentarily overtaken him and entered. But the judges did not believe the reality that unfolded before their eyes—it had happened so instantaneously. Or, rather, it would be more accurate to say they hadn’t perceived it at that moment. Both of them had passed the finish line in that lost moment of perception.

He had thought they couldn’t possibly catch up, but at some point, two people had entered together. It was no wonder the judges were flustered. Starting with some arguments among a few rule enforcers, a lengthy discussion ensued. The problem was that no one had managed to capture the moment of arrival, and because of that, the discussion heated up and dragged on.

And finally, the verdict came out.

Both Bi and Bi Ryu Yeon were recognized as joint first place. It was a decision made through compromise, not truth.

When the verdict came out, Bi Ryu Yeon first asked another party before the rule enforcers,

“Your name was Bi, wasn’t it? What about you?”

“What?”

“I’m asking what you think about the outcome of this competition. Don’t you have anything to say?”

After a moment of silence, his thought wheels spinning in his head, Grand Prince Bi said,

“…I accept the judges’ ruling.”

His voice lacked any discernible inflection. However, a trace of hesitation seemed to reside at least three or four levels deep in his consciousness.

“Even if it is unjust?”

Bi Ryu Yeon asked again, and Bi replied,

“Even if it is unjust.”

His voice was devoid of all emotion. Bi Ryu Yeon’s lips curved slightly upwards.

“Even if it is deceiving yourself?”

“……”

Bi sculpted silence on the polished marble with an invisible chisel.

“I accept the judges’ ruling. I have no complaints.”

Breaking the monument of silence he had sculpted with a hammer, Bi mechanically repeated what he had said earlier. This time, it was Bi Ryu Yeon’s turn to build a temple of silence. But he didn’t seem to have any intention of building one.

“Is that so? I thought you were a bit more proud… Your pride seems to be only that much. Fine, if you say so, then I’ll take it as such. I don’t know how much your heart can accept this matter, but! You won’t forget today’s events for your entire life, will you? If you’re okay with that, then go ahead. Live your life carrying the sense of defeat from today!”

Bi Ryu Yeon said in a cold voice, with a bluish gleam of detachment.

And those words were etched into Bi’s resentful mind, echoing in his ears for a long time.