Book 16 Chapter 24

Epilogue

A corner of the black ruins.

Two people, contrasting in red and blue, stood side by side.

However, both were so scorched by fire and covered in ash that they were almost uniformly dark.

They stared blankly at the desolate land. For now, they had survived. But it was the first time that being alive felt so shameful and painful.

"Pathetic. Truly pathetic. I never imagined I'd be this pathetic…"

Yeomdo grumbled. Ah, he truly hated himself.

"Yes, that's right. You are pathetic."

Binggeom said with sunken eyes. It was a talent to always pick out the words that would grate on Yeomdo the most.

"You bastard, what did you say…!"

Yeomdo flared up in anger, but had to suppress it. That friend was not the unlucky 'ice-breaker' he knew. He was trembling. Furthermore, his clenched fists, so tight they could shatter, dripped blood like falling raindrops. Red blood also seeped from the corners of his clenched lips.

"Hey… ice-breaker…?"

He had always been infuriatingly indifferent. Binggeom, a man of impenetrable coldness, unshakeable composure, and opposite nature to him, which always led to conflict, had never shown such writhing in agony and suppressing pain.

"It's my responsibility. I caused meaningless sacrifices. I have no face to see the children who died. It's all my fault. As the Grand Martial Arts Master of Cheonmu Academy, as their supervising elder, and as the chief responsible person for the Hwasan Branch delegation, I failed to fulfill all my responsibilities. The deaths of those children are all my fault. You can laugh at me, Yeomdo. I allow it this time. How can someone who failed to fulfill their duty, who made an irreversible mistake, have the audacity to make excuses? Laugh all you want."

As expected, the casualties were unavoidable. There were also seriously injured. Several students who couldn't escape the fire were engulfed and died or were severely injured in the flame formation known as the 'Hwaryong Myeolgeop Daejin' (Dragon Fire Annihilation Great Formation).

Three dead, thirteen seriously injured, twenty-five lightly injured… The weight and meaning of these numbers pressed down on his heart. Of course, it could have been a situation where everyone was annihilated. So, this much damage could be considered a blessing. However, the weight of three lives was never lessened by the fact that there were only three.

Suddenly, Yeomdo felt so angry his stomach churned. He couldn't bear to watch such a pathetic sight. Besides, hadn't he also shared responsibility and come this far? Though sometimes forgotten, he too was a Martial Arts Master of Cheonmu Academy. And he was one of the students' supervisors.

"You… you idiot! How is it only your fault? Do you think you're that amazing? Don't delude yourself. You weren't the only supervising elder! I was a supervising elder too! Then what is this? Why did things turn out this way, huh? Don't try to bear everything alone! You're not that amazing! I have the right to share the responsibility! No, I'm superior to you, so I should bear more responsibility. Right? What's with that dejected look like a drowned rat? It doesn't suit you at all! Ugh, it's infuriating!"

Yeomdo rained down on Binggeom like a shower. Binggeom looked at Yeomdo's face for a moment, then his expression softened, and he said something Yeomdo had never heard before. The moment he heard it, Yeomdo's face turned dumbfounded. Stunned by the shock, Yeomdo asked,

"…What? What did you just say? Did I hear wrong? Thank… you, did you say?"

Binggeom's expression quickly returned to its usual stiff and cold demeanor. It was a miracle, but perhaps he was feeling embarrassed inside.

"I won't say it twice! Forget it. It was an auditory hallucination!"

His voice was so cold it was off-putting. Yeomdo seemed to find this more believable.

"R-right? There's no way you would say something embarrassing like thank… you, or whatever it was?"

As expected… there's no way he would say something like that. Yeomdo felt relieved inside. Such an unnatural event wouldn't happen. He thought that after a series of exhausting events, it was understandable, but… this kind of joke-like situation was too much. He must be sleep-deprived. But such a creepy hallucination… hearing such cheesy words would make him too scared to sleep properly at night. He figured he should just lie down somewhere and try to sleep. However, it might be good to double-check before then. Today is indeed an exhausting day.

As if unaware of Yeomdo's dilemma, for Binggeom, this was an opportunity while that burning scoundrel was doing something foolish. He quickly decided to change the subject.

"That doesn't matter! It seems like the time has come! The time our Master predicted… the resurrection of the nightmare… I have a feeling it's needed."

Yeomdo's expression turned serious again. This was as important as the verification process.

"That thing?"

Binggeom nodded.

"Yes, it seems like the time has come for the mirror, which was once split into two, to become one again!"

"The Heaven and Earth Creation Divine Mirror… the Master's final, ultimate secret art… his last work…"

"We need to find the successor."

At Binggeom's words, Yeomdo nodded with a grim expression. It was the first sign of agreement he had shown. It was also the moment when the wills of the two people, who had been as distant as water and fire, became one. Finally, the mirror that had been separated for twenty years, the half-vision, was about to be reunited.

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

Though these two always bickered, they had never forgotten their Master's last wish.

"Two people come to mind. One is unlucky, and the other is dependable."

"What a coincidence. The same for me."

"However, one of them… that damn Master might not need something like this. I doubt they'll even learn it properly. They'll surely avoid it because it's troublesome. It's a legendary martial art, though…"

It was a legend known only to the two of them. But the one who left it behind was already a legend. Taegeuk Shingun Mushin Hyuk Wolrin… there was no one in the martial world who didn't know that name.

"How about focusing on the other one? The elder's guarantee is also there…"

"That's better. It's much better to focus on the one with potential than the one without. Moreover, that mysterious technique that 'that person' showed just now, it wasn't a human technique. Perhaps they won't even need something like this."

Even after witnessing it with his own eyes just now, he still couldn't believe it. That divine power was clearly not something a human could possess. Just recalling it sent shivers down his spine. It was the same for Yeomdo.

"Hey, ice-breaker… After seeing something like that earlier… I'm suddenly getting a bad feeling…"

"What is it?"

"I wonder if the two of us can ever escape the shackles of being the Master's disciples? I have a really bad feeling that if we're not careful, we might never be able to escape."

Yeomdo's face looked truly serious.

"D-don't have such ominous thoughts. I'm afraid it might come true."

Binggeom replied with a trembling voice.

The old man's eyes, as he gazed at the burnt Hongmae Valley, were filled with bitterness and desolate anger. It was his fault. He thought so. He was the one who oversaw and governed everything. However, he had shown a gap. As he had feared, the enemies had not missed the opportunity and had exploited it.

If he and the Three Stars of Cheonmu had fallen into this trap and died, what would have become of the martial world afterward? The last restraint that suppressed their rise would disappear in an instant.

He never imagined they would have recovered their strength to this extent… He knew their core forces were still intact, but he never imagined they would have infiltrated Cheonmu Peak, the very heart of the martial world. He should have stopped it before it came to this. But he failed. It was his mistake, failing to see one step ahead of the enemy. It was a sin. The whip of self-reproach lashed at his heart. He had broken his promise with his friend. He was ashamed and humiliated. What was the point of being a martial arts myth and a legend of the martial world? What was the use of having the power to fight a hundred thousand men? Now they would rise again. A beacon had been lit to awaken the descendants of the heavenly tribulation. The great evil that had been slumbering had opened its eyes. New power was needed to confront that evil.

The battles ahead would not be easy. The one fortunate thing was that hope still remained. Hope in the name of youth.

"They're finally here."

Hyukjung spoke without looking back. He knew who had arrived without needing to turn. He had been anticipating this moment.

"Have you made up your mind now?"

Hyukjung turned and spoke. It was Moyong Hwi. His face was filled with firm resolve, and his eyes burned with fighting spirit. His previous indecision had vanished without a trace.

"That's a good look. You seem to have stopped wavering! Is your wandering over?"

"Yes, Elder! I have found the path I must take. I will not waver again."

The handsome young man replied respectfully. His path was now clear. The sacrifices made to reach this point were great. He had to train his immature self further.

"They say that the best time to start is when you think it's too late. I don't believe the time and sacrifices you spent finding your path were in vain. It's not something to be criticized. Criticism is for those who spend an immense amount of time and make great sacrifices, yet still fail to discover their path."

He had landed a direct blow. It was a critical hit that was not to be underestimated. However, he could not let his fighting spirit be crushed and collapse here. That would mean the end.

Moyong Hwi also had a goal that he had to achieve.

"I have realized more keenly than ever through this opportunity how immature I am. And… there are two people I want to win against no matter what."

"Two people?"

"Yes, one is a friend I want to win against no matter what, and the other is an enemy I must win against, I cannot afford to lose. I cannot forgive that person."

Hyukjung nodded.

"Alright, you'll have to be prepared from now on. It's a legendary martial art, after all, so it won't be easy."

"Yes, Elder."

Moyong Hwi's voice was filled with unwavering determination.

"Why did you save me?"

Dokgo Ryung glared at the man with her venomous, one eye.

"Just a simple whim."

The man with an iron will, the Great Prince Bi, replied in a cold voice. However, even he couldn't turn just one person into ashes. So he saved her. It seemed that a piece of his human heart remained, even though he thought he had completely abandoned it. It was laughable.

"I hate you!"

Dokgo Ryung shouted in a vicious voice.

"That's natural. You have every right to hate me."

Bi replied. Dokgo Ryung's face contorted with shock.

"Y-you really are… you're him."

For a moment, her lost left eye ached as if it had been branded with a hot iron. The nightmarish voice that echoed on the day of the torrential rain seemed to resound in her ears again.

The Great Prince remained silent.

"But why? Why did you save me? You killed me once then, so why did you save me this time?"

Dokgo Ryung cried out desperately. Her voice was almost on the verge of tears.

"I don't know either. But one thing is for sure, it's not out of guilt from back then."

Now he had fully admitted it to himself. That he was the one who had taken her one eye.

"You are truly cruel…"

Dokgo Ryung said in a cold voice.

"What do you intend to do with me now? Are you going to take my remaining right eye too? If so, fine! Hurry up and take it! Take it!"

She was now wailing.

"I won't. The dirty feeling from back then is enough with once. I just saved you because I felt like it. But I cannot let you go right now. I still have things to do."

"I will definitely kill you!"

Dokgo Ryung's one eye flashed with hatred.

"If you ever can, feel free to try!"

The Great Prince Bi, the man once known as Eunmyeong (Hidden Name), replied.

When he first set foot here, the valley was filled with noble red plum blossoms that bloomed out of season and lush green leaves that stretched high and wide. Clear, blue jade water dripped from the three sheer cliffs that surrounded it like a folding screen, and white mist blurred the boundary between the mortal and immortal realms.

Flowers, trees, butterflies, bees, birds - not one thing failed to enjoy nature's bounty, and they melted even the coldest hearts with their rich fragrance and fresh cries.

He marveled, wondering if this was truly the real world, and worried if he had mistakenly stepped into a paradise, whether the time-lost sword hilt would rot, or if his sword would rust.

But what of the celestial realm that had gathered the gems of autumn? The red flowers had turned black, and the green trees, instead of singing of life, had become firewood for burning people. In this place swept by the dragon's fiery paw, no trace of life could be felt, only a profound sorrow that made one want to wail.

Who, from where, received the qualification to commit such a heinous act? Humans are also a part of nature, and how could they destroy a part of themselves when they cannot live apart from nature?

Destroying nature is self-harm, and only humans can do such things without a second thought.

"Nothing remains… only black ash, like the dark soil left after the inferno of fire… Can the Hwasan Kyuyak Association be held here again, Ryuyeon?"

Charred rafters, unrecognizable door panels, shattered roofs, smoke still rising, the bitter smell of ash carried by the wind that covered the sky, the pungent smell of incense and the yellow dust… Death had brutally intruded upon the place where life had flourished.

The Hongmae Valley, where red plum blossoms bloomed forgetting the seasons, had now turned gray. The color of ash. A despairing gray that seemed to have lost all hope. The dying screams of the trees, flowers, insects, animals, and nature still echoed in her ears. Tears threatened to fall.

Bilyuyeon gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder and softly stroked her hair by her ear.

"Don't worry. That Bi fellow spoke at least one true word."

Perhaps it was because he had slept soundly, or perhaps it was because he had rested his head on a beautiful woman's lap, but his voice had regained its vigor.

"……?"

Was there something left in this terrible despair?

"A phoenix is reborn from the ashes!"

Bilyuyeon said with a wide smile. There was no shadow of despair on his face, which shone brightly like the sun. Perhaps influenced by him, or perhaps resonating with his shining heart, Na Yerinn felt a little more at ease.

"It's not over yet. It's just the beginning. Since we can still walk on our own two feet, the ones who did this will pay the price. Hope is not dead yet. It's just taking a brief rest to be reborn. The harbinger of that resurrection is the human heart. As long as the heart is not broken, neither humans nor hope will be broken."

Bilyuyeon said, clenching his fist.

"There's still a lot we have to repay. I can't sleep if I'm in debt."

"That's right. We can't just be in debt, can we? We have to repay it a hundredfold!"

Na Yerinn mustered her strength and gave a slight smile.

"No! A thousandfold! The interest compounds and compounds, making it expensive!"

Bilyuyeon replied with an equally bright smile.