Book 17 Chapter 3

The Yardstick of Equal Value

―Pointing with a finger

'Oops, did I go too far?'

Hyeokjung felt a bit awkward. He had touched the deepest wounds etched in the hearts of the two men. Of course, it was largely intentional, but he never intended to squeeze out tears. The atmosphere was such that they might both start crying uncontrollably if left as they were. Witnessing a waterfall of tears streaming from the eyes of a man over forty was not a particularly pleasant experience.

"Come, come, the mood has become too somber. How about a little change of pace?"

"Change of pace, you say…?"

"First, let's see how much you've managed to extract from that friend. It's necessary to know in advance. Huh? Why the long faces? You look like you've eaten something bitter. Are you perhaps reluctant? Ah, you're not refusing? Oh, my apologies. I thought you were being defiant. There's no need to break out in a cold sweat. Is it a bit warm? You say it's fine? Then that's a relief. Be especially mindful of your health during seasonal changes. Beware of colds, too."

Yeomdo and Binggeom didn't even have a chance to express their refusal. Though they were both considered established figures in the martial arts world, in front of Elder Hyeokjung, they were no different from toddlers just learning to walk.

"Ahem, well, since you've both readily agreed, we'll conduct a brief, simple test. So, don't be so nervous. It's nothing much. Do you think I'd fry you, steam you, or stir-fry you? If one intends to teach someone, shouldn't they first understand themselves properly?"

"Teach who? Who are you referring to…?"

"That child. You know, the one who seems to like things extremely clean, who wouldn't tolerate a single speck of dust or a strand of hair. The diligent, germaphobic child. He was probably Jeongcheon's grandson, wasn't he?"

"How did you…?"

Of course, the two knew who he was talking about. Not only that, but they had also been keeping a close eye on him since the semi-finals of the Samsung Daejeon three years prior, after witnessing the 'Galaxy Stream (銀河流) Creation Sword (開闢劍)'s final secret art, Galaxy Beginning (銀河星始), unleashed towards Cheongheun of the Three Swords. Although they both ended up in a mutual destruction and couldn't advance to the finals, giving Bi Ryuyeon an easy victory, there was no doubt about their exceptional ability to handle two different energies. The elder replied nonchalantly.

"Why are you so surprised by just that? By that little bit."

Doubt crept in as to whether their every move was within this elder's palm. No, in fact, they even wondered if this elder was intentionally manipulating their fates, and if they were merely actors performing according to a script written by him.

Hyeokjung paused in thought before continuing.

"Hmm, I do need to conduct a test… and for that, I'll need a yardstick, won't I?"

A yardstick refers to a tool for judging a subject. Without a doubt, to measure a giant statue, a large ruler of appropriate size is needed, and to weigh something heavy, a counterweight of equal value is required.

A knife for slaughtering cattle is needed for cattle, a knife for slaughtering chickens for chickens, and a divine sword capable of piercing dragon scales is needed for slaughtering dragons. Conversely, there's no need to use a divine sword for dragon hunting to slaughter a chicken. That would be a terrible waste.

Gulp!

Yeomdo and Binggeom's bodies stiffened with tension. They swallowed dryly. They had prided themselves on their cultivation, believing they could maintain composure in any situation, yet the unshakable mind they thought they had cultivated had shattered into pieces like glassware dropped from the second floor of a tea house, scattering in all directions, its form lost.

A long-lost sensation began to overwhelm their spirits. The fragments of emotion buried deepest within them, which they thought would never resurface, the clear mirror of their inner selves, was being violently stirred, clouding the water's surface. Its name was 'Fear'.

"Then, shall we try with this for now?"

After a moment of very serious and thoughtful consideration, the elder, with a face that seemed to have given much thought, raised his index finger.

*Ding!*

"What? Just with that?"

The two felt as if a tautly drawn bowstring had suddenly snapped off the bow. The tensed string went slack, and naturally, the arrow didn't fly.

"Just this? I do think it might be a bit much for you, but I can't ignore an old friend's face, can I? We have to consider that friend's feelings. Be grateful it's not your pinky finger."

'Grrr…'

No matter who the opponent was, this was still unacceptable. Although they had a bad relationship with each other, bickering like cats and dogs, there was one thing they commonly agreed upon. This agreement was absolute, transcending all cause, effect, and emotion.

It was the deep-seated pride they held in being the sole disciples of the God of Martial Arts. They had always lived by that pride. Even if they didn't ask, the other party surely thought the same way. When had they ever been treated like this before? They hadn't even received such treatment from Bi Ryuyeon himself.

The elder inquired subtly.

"What, are you dissatisfied?"

"…Yes, we are dissatisfied."

After a brief pause, Yeomdo finally opened his mouth to answer. Even if it was his late master's sworn ally, even if he was one of the two heavens, what was impossible was impossible, and what was unacceptable was unacceptable. At least they weren't so pathetic as to swallow their words, suppressed by authority.

"Even if it's your words, Elder, we cannot agree on that matter. If we two are only capable of being measured by just that tiny index finger, how can we face our Master in heaven?"

Then, Binggeom, who had been silently observing, stepped forward to add his words.

"I have never agreed with or affirmed this friend's words, nor do I have the slightest intention of doing so in the future… but."

"What? You ice block!"

Binggeom raised his hand to stop Yeomdo's outburst. Then he continued his unfinished words.

His tone of voice also changed. His voice, which had been emotionless like a cold gray north wind, began to heat up like a summer heatwave.

"However… it seems I must break that prediction today. Because I now feel the validity in this friend's words. Even after considering it from all angles, it seems this friend, who is usually consumed by emotions and gets worked up, is right. It's truly an unimaginable thing, and I am surprised myself."

"Who's your friend!"

Yeomdo reacted with indignation to the chillingly cringe-worthy expression he would never have used, no matter what. It was surely judged to be the best way to hide his awkward expression.

He thought they would never work together or wield swords side by side, but it seemed his own assumption was wrong.

"Ho ho, it seems your friend didn't just teach you for amusement. He didn't teach his disciples poorly. Good, good! Even if it's half, it becomes one when combined, is that it? I will personally teach you how mistaken your simple addition formula is."

With an arrogant expression, the elder beckoned with his index finger, which jutted out like Mount Tai. The meaning was clear.

"Proving one's worth cannot be done by someone else. If you wish to have your value re-evaluated, then show me. Show me your true worth."

"We were hoping you would!"

The procedures of politely declining and showing modesty were omitted. Neither side had any intention of delaying the start of the main event. Both were surprisingly impatient. All they wanted now was to get straight to the point.

What was needed was action, not words. Just as the world always taught them.

Yeomdo drew his Crimson Flame, and Binggeom drew his Ice White. It was the first time in twenty years that these two had drawn their swords and sabers together against a single opponent. In that sense, it was a monumental day, but such sweet romance did not exist in the minds of the two. What existed was only the fierce, burning fighting spirit like red lava.

Who in the past hundred years has had the honor of directly experiencing both of these legends, hailed as the strongest powerhouses in the martial arts world?

The answer is none.

Now, they would be the first and the last. For one legend had already become a legend and was buried in the heavens.

"You were concerned that this might be insufficient…"

The elder said, holding up his single index finger.

"Insufficient… Is that truly so?"

Thinking it would be faster to show than to tell, the elder, with a natural, effortless movement, pointed at the two. The next moment, before they could even prepare, a terrifying wave of murderous intent surged like a tsunami, engulfing their insignificant existence.

"Gasp!"

Yeomdo and Binggeom couldn't help but be terrified. The finger pointing at them was no longer a finger. A single finger had transformed into something that could no longer be called a finger. They didn't know what to call it, but they were certain it was suppressing them with terrifying power.

'N-no way…?'

Their entire bodies trembled like aspen leaves. Even after entering and exiting an ice stream in mid-winter, it wouldn't be this bad. Their spines chilled. They couldn't move an inch.

Yeomdo's eyes widened. He felt a chilling sensation as if the sharp tip of a blade, capable of slicing through the air itself, was aimed at his brow. His hair stood on end. Death danced at a hair's breadth from him.

Binggeom was no exception. The tip of a sharp sword was aimed at him. It flicked its cold tongue above his Adam's apple, emitting a terrifying murderous aura.

Though the finger directed at them was only one, the sensations they perceived were different. Facing a single situation, two different interpretations and understandings arose. However, these two different perceptions coincided with the most dreadful scenario they envisioned. What was aimed at them, what was binding them, was the fear born within their own hearts.

'Oh, my goodness!'

Only then did the two realize how wrong they had been, how fatally flawed their simple reasoning was. The huge gap in their flawed reasoning.

They had to admit that they had momentarily forgotten what kind of being stood before them. They had attempted to gauge the size of an iceberg by just looking at the tip that emerged above the water, without even tasting its true form. How could they have harbored such extreme thoughts of complacency when faced with a being that could not be measured by their own yardstick… They were too ashamed to lift their heads.

To try to gain an advantage with mere insignificant tools against a being standing before them like Mount Tai. How arrogant and ignorant their actions were! From the beginning, they were not opponents who could play around with mere pieces of iron like sabers and swords. What was suppressing them was not tools like sabers or swords. They intuitively felt that the oppressive pressure weighing down their shoulders was from absolute superiority. The two finally realized this fact only when they stood on the threshold of death. How insignificant they were.

The surroundings were suppressed by a single finger. They had never seen such a large finger. Was this how the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, felt when trapped in the Buddha's palm? At least that monkey peed, so he was better than a human. They, on the other hand, were bound so tightly they couldn't even twitch a finger, frozen like stone statues, motionless. It was a wonder their hearts were still beating. No, perhaps their hearts had stopped from the beginning. Like their breathing. Their being alive might have been an illusion.

They felt like flies, their wings clipped and legs removed, placed on the elder's finger. Helpless, weak, insignificant insects, stripped of all possibilities, unable to even struggle for survival. Perhaps it would be easier to quietly accept their fate.

But…

'Is it truly alright to give up like this? Are you sure you won't regret it?'

Yeomdo and Binggeom asked themselves inwardly. Then, their master's last moments vividly came to mind.

"I have lived a life without regrets. So I hope you do too. If you intend to do something, if you wish to achieve something, never… never give up."

Then their eyes snapped open. Sensation returned to their limbs. They had one advantage.

It was that this sensation was not something unknown.

The overwhelming presence that made their minds dizzy, and the frosty murderous aura emanating from within that presence! It was the same sensation they had experienced dozens, hundreds of times before. Though their vision had been narrow then and they hadn't seen the entirety, it was enough to grasp its overwhelming immensity.

Yes, they had immunity. The resilience gained from past trials was imprinted on their minds and bodies. If they couldn't take even one step forward here, they wouldn't be able to face their master.

"Haaaaap!"

A battle cry like a lion's roar erupted. Within the resounding shout that made the air tremble, they declared the breaking of oppression and freedom.

Finally, they were able to shake off the spiderweb-like chains that had bound them.

*Click!*

Their hands moved.

*Jerk!*

The slight movement that started at the fingertips, passed through the wrists, over the elbows, shook the shoulder muscles, traveled down through the chest, passed the waist, then slapped the thighs, hit the knees, and flowed down the shinbones through the ankles and out through the Yongcheon acupoint.

It was difficult for stillness to turn into motion, but after that, it was a smooth progression. A rolling stone never stops.

"Ho ho, indeed! It wouldn't be interesting if it ended like this. You haven't shown me anything yet. Haven't you?"

* * *

Yun Junho was now acutely aware, through his skin, that the world around him had completely changed from a certain point onwards. The contemptuous glances, mocking words, and petty provocations that always followed him when he walked down the street were now gone. This was all after his survival from the Huashan Pact Branch. Although the Huashan Branch had ended in tragedy, his personality had become much brighter after enduring that ordeal. It was likely because confidence and pride had sprouted within his heart. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, his chest as broad as if it could embrace the earth, the clouded aura in his eyes had cleared, and his gait had become more confident. As his impatience disappeared and he gained composure, he could think positively about everything.

Had he changed, or had the world changed? Perhaps it was because he had changed that the world responded and changed with him.

He had been quite busy lately. He had been assigned to serve an elder. This elder, named Hyeokjung, who was the examiner of the Huashan Branch, was clearly no ordinary figure, as even the terrifying elders Yeomdo and Binggeom were exceedingly cautious in their speech and actions before him. The reason he was hurrying his steps like this now was to go to the lodging where that elder was staying for an errand.

*Knock, knock.*

"I'm here, Master!"

He knocked a few more times, but there was no response from inside. Perhaps he was enjoying a nap, so he knocked again carefully.

*Knock, knock.*

"……"

Still no reaction.

"I'm entering."

Tilting his head, Yun Junho carefully opened the door after saying, "I'm entering." The moment he did, something strange happened. A shiver ran down his spine.

'Huh? Why is this happening?'

He felt a momentary doubt about his body's strange reaction, which was not in sync with his mind, but nothing specific caught his senses. Yun Junho simply pushed the door open.

The elder was inside. He wasn't sleeping. Moreover, Elder Yeomdo and Elder Binggeom were also there.

'They're all here? And Elder Yeom and Bing, too? Then why was there no reaction?'

That wasn't the only strange thing. Despite his entrance, no one paid him any attention.

All three stood in a suffocating silence, offering no words. No one tried to sit down. For a moment, the air felt heavy. But that was all. Other than that, he sensed no particular danger, so Yun Junho inadvertently crossed a line he shouldn't have. The next moment, his foot crossed the threshold.

"Huh?"

For a moment, he couldn't comprehend what had happened to himself. The situation had far surpassed the realm of possibilities he could perceive. All his senses suddenly vanished.

He suddenly couldn't even tell where he was standing. It was as if his sense of space had been completely stripped away by unseen forces. He couldn't be sure if his sense of time was functioning normally. All his senses were jumbled together like pancake batter.

Where am I standing now? What is about to happen to me?

He still didn't know. He was facing a situation he had never experienced before.

Suddenly, his neck grew cold. It was a sensation he had felt before. The touch of a murderous blade on a blood-soaked battlefield, the aura of death. But all he could do was stand there blankly.

"You foolish oaf!"

With a fierce shout, a hand grabbed his nape and yanked him backward with all its might. The rough handling, so intense that he felt like he was suffocating, left him unable to resist.

*Whoosh,* it felt like he had been forcibly pulled out of some barrier. Suddenly, all his senses returned to normal. As his dulled hearing recovered, he heard a scolding voice.

"Hey, you idiot! Do you want to die? Are you out of your mind?"

It was a voice he had heard before. No, it was a voice he had heard so often it was ingrained in his ears. The owner of that ill-tempered voice. There couldn't be multiple people with such impudent voices. That would be bad for society. With a nervous heart, he called out the name of the voice's owner.

"Ryu, Ryuyeon…"

Another change in him was that he now called his comrade by name, not with honorifics. But why was this friend so furious?

"You fool! To get caught in the unseen clash of those who have reached the realm of 'Intent-Formed Murder' (意形殺人), where willpower alone can kill a person, the realm of 'Mind Sword'! What? You thought you weren't in danger because you just stood there doing nothing? Oh, my head! Do you still think that what you see is all there is? Quiet? Standing still? Where? To me, it looks like a powder keg about to explode or a dam cracked during the rainy season! That's 'Stillness in Motion' (靜中動)! Although invisible, at first glance it appears quiet and calm, but behind that tranquility, countless clashes are fiercely repeating! They are currently in a stalemate, with veins bulging on their foreheads, but that's only temporary, and soon it will 'boom!' explode. Do you know what happens if you stand in the middle of that?"

Before Bi Ryuyeon's words were even finished, the tense stalemate, like a tug-of-war, collapsed. The flood of vital energy, which had been forcibly dammed up like a rainy season dam bursting, erupted explosively.

*Screech!*

Invisible, formless sword qi tore apart the furnishings in the spot where Yun Junho was standing. The word 'dissected' was far from adequate. 'Finely pulverized' would be a more accurate description.

Not just where he was standing. All the furnishings in the room were being savagely chopped up in a whirlwind of invisible blades.

If he had stood there, mesmerized, he would have undoubtedly met the same fate and would have been divided into thousands of pieces, finer than pork for stir-fry. With a chilling tremor that froze his heart, Yun Junho finally realized how foolish he had been. Cold blood, sent from his frosty heart, spread through his veins to his entire body. It was so unreal that it took time to truly grasp the fact.

*Thud!*

Yun Junho's legs gave out, and he sank to the floor. He thought he had changed from his past self, but it seemed his cultivation was still far from sufficient.

Before his eyes, a level of mastery that he had never seen, let alone imagined, was clashing.

Under an immense pressure, as if a thousand jin of rock were pressing down, Yeomdo had to suppress a groan.

"N-no way? All our moves are being read."

The elder, with his small stature, who stood before them like Mount Tai, was reading every sign of their intent. It was clear that any technique they employed would be countered. If they weren't counter-attacked, they would be lucky. If the conditions were equal, they might have a chance of winning, but the skill gap between the elder and them was in no way an exaggeration of the difference between heaven and earth. It was foolish to hope for luck with such a skill gap. Binggeom, realizing this fact, remained silent.

"Why are both of you staying silent? And what is that unsightly appearance?"

Hyeokjung said, pointing at the sweat-drenched appearance of the two. Even under such immense pressure, the elder's demeanor remained composed.

"Tsk, tsk, Yin and Yang should harmonize without conflicting with each other… What on earth is this embarrassing spectacle of yours? Aren't you ashamed to be seen by that friend? Yang and Yin, Water and Fire, fighting to advance? Don't you know what harmony is?"

Hyeokjung said, clicking his tongue.

"Can a change that breaks harmony be called a change? If you refuse mutual growth and embrace conflict, how can you speak of change? They should be roots for each other (互爲其根), but when Yin and Yang energies reject each other like you, and you act self-righteously, it only brings disgust to the viewer. That is ugliness itself."

The words, like daggers, pierced their hearts with a chilling sound.

"Seeing you two in this state now, the friend who went first must be truly delighted, truly delighted. To be unable to handle one finger of this old man. He would probably shed tears of joy. Wouldn't he? It seems pointless to continue any further. I think it's best to end it now."

Hyeokjung said with a low sigh.

"Not yet!"

Yeomdo and Binggeom exclaimed simultaneously. Their voices, which usually grumbled at each other, now created a perfect harmony.

"It's not the end yet. Our limits are not here."

Yeomdo and Binggeom decided to forget themselves for a moment. And they decided to surrender themselves to the flow of energy.

"You say it's not the end?"

"It's just the beginning."

Yeomdo and Binggeom replied in unison.

"Ryuyeon, what should we do about that now?"

Yun Junho, who was watching the three-way struggle from a safe distance due to the risk of being caught in the storm of energy just by approaching, asked anxiously. He sought advice because the situation was too overwhelming for him to handle, but there was a problem with the person he was seeking advice from.

"What do we do? We wait until the old men get tired. Well, it will be decided soon. I don't think that old man is that incompetent."

Bi Ryuyeon replied dismissively, as if it were no big deal.

"Can't you stop it?"

Then Bi Ryuyeon let out a scoff of disbelief.

"Stop? How? By going in there? Listen, Yun Junho. That's elegantly called 'voluntary life tax payment.' If you shorten it to four characters, it becomes 'suicide.' Then, what do you think it becomes if you shorten it to three characters?"

"Well… hmm…"

"What else? It's 'a dog's death'!"

It was a firm answer, without a hint of doubt.

"Then what should I do?"

"What do you mean, what should you do? Just sit and watch. Trying to help someone who isn't asking for help is a product of arrogance."

With that, Bi Ryuyeon plunked himself down on the ground and began to leisurely watch the grand battle.

"What are you doing? You sit too!"

With a confident pat on the empty seat next to him, Yun Junho, taken aback, replied, "Uh… okay," and followed suit.

"Is it really okay for us to be like this?"

He had sat down, but his mind still felt uneasy, like a half-sucked inner garment.

"Of course it's okay! Moreover, I have a position."

"Position?"

Yun Junho asked.

"A master has a duty to watch over their disciples' fights with a benevolent gaze."

Bi Ryuyeon replied, puffing out his chest and shoulders.

"Huh? Didn't you say master and disciple in reverse order?"

Yun Junho trailed off.

"Who knows? What do you think?"

*Smirk.* Bi Ryuyeon only gave a meaningful smile and didn't elaborate further.

"Watch carefully!"

Bi Ryuyeon said.

"This is a spectacle you can't even buy with money. It doesn't happen every day. What's more, the best part is that this grand spectacle is free. When you can watch such a great show from a prime seat without paying a single penny, how can you miss such a golden opportunity? You should watch closely too; it will be helpful."

"Uh… okay."

Yun Junho replied in a voice as slow as a crawling ant.

"Tsk, tsk, sit up straighter, spread your chest wide, and open your eyes. Don't confine your mind; expand it broadly. When watching such a spectacle, shouldn't you have that kind of attitude? Even if it's a high-level battle between great masters, if the observer isn't properly prepared, they can't learn anything. So, prepare your mind first. This will be worth it for you. No matter what anyone says, it's a battle between people considered among the ten strongest in the world. It's not an opportunity that comes to just anyone."

Bi Ryuyeon said, looking at Yun Junho.

"In a word, you've seen the 'heart'."

Bi Ryuyeon opened the door to the inpatient ward of the 'Medical Department,' which was responsible for the health and treatment of the Cheonmu Academy, where he himself had been admitted once. At that time, he was a self-proclaimed patient, but now he was a visitor. His two older disciples were hospitalized there. Heo Jun of Ui Yakjeon, who was rumored to specialize in human experimentation as a hobby, was nowhere to be seen. He was likely busy fussing over a patient with a peculiar symptom somewhere else. A doctor he had become acquainted with during his previous hospitalization had tipped him off that Yeomdo and Binggeom, being quite high-ranking individuals at the Cheonmu Academy, were in the special VIP room located further inside. Thanking him, he made his way towards the VIP room. A "No Visitors" sign hanging at the door caught his eye. The other side of the door was enveloped in silence, as if death had settled there. Bi Ryuyeon opened the door without prior notice. The white sign that read "No Visitors" dangled limply.

"How are you feeling?"

"……"

There was no answer. Yeomdo and Binggeom were heavily bandaged all over, but it wasn't to the extent that bloody bandages covered their mouths. Nor was it because the pain from their broken limbs, splinted, made them unable to open their mouths. The two were simply lying on their hospital beds, covered with white sheets, their backs turned to each other. Not exchanging a single word. Heavy silence weighed down on them.

Bi Ryuyeon pulled up a chair and sat down, saying, "The Vice-Chief just mentioned it was a minor internal injury. The external injuries are just scratches. It's a kind of qi depletion phenomenon caused by rapidly consuming internal energy all at once. It's just a simple state of weakness, similar to fainting from anemia. He said you'll be fine if you rest well for about two days."

"What happened to him?"

Yeomdo spoke first. Binggeom's mouth remained frozen.

"Ah, that old man? Right, you two fainted then, so you wouldn't know what happened afterwards. You must have woken up already in bed."

Yeomdo and Binggeom's faces turned red with shame.

"So, what happened?"

Binggeom's mouth finally opened.

"He was energetic."

There were no other words to express it, and there was no reason to hide it.

"That old man is strong, it seems. I knew he wasn't an ordinary old man, but I didn't expect him to put my two elite disciples in such a state. Frankly, it was surprising. What exactly is that old man's identity?"

"……"

Another double silence returned.

"You don't want to talk about it… Is that what you mean?"

"……"

In fact, as much as Bi Ryuyeon was their master, they couldn't carelessly reveal the old man's identity, so they were in quite a difficult situation.

"Well, fine. I have no intention of forcing you to speak. Well, you'll find out eventually. For now, let's just call him an elder of unknown identity. On that note, why are you both so glum?"

"……"

"Did you both eat a beehive… Why are you acting like mute people who have eaten honey? I guess I came here for nothing today. I came because I was worried about my two disciples…"

"We appreciate that."

Yeomdo replied perfunctorily. It was clear he wanted him to leave quickly.

"Alright, alright. I'll leave, I'll leave. I don't know what kind of fun you two will have after I leave, but since you'll be out in two days, lie down comfortably and catch up on what you've missed. Do you ever have time to have such a calm conversation?"

Bi Ryuyeon said, getting up from his chair.

"Who wants to do that with someone like him!"

Yeomdo and Binggeom exclaimed, turning sharply towards each other.

"Don't imitate me!"

The two shouted simultaneously, provoked.

"You're the one!"

Bi Ryuyeon pushed between the two, who were snarling as if they would tear each other apart, and shouted.

"Enough!"

If he let them continue, it would either never end or they would both end up in trouble immediately.

"Oh dear!"

Shaking his head, Bi Ryuyeon couldn't help but say something.

"You're not children. Why are you so bad-tempered and always fighting? Like water and oil? No, is it ice and fire?"

Looking at it that way, their constant bickering and snarling also made sense.

"Still, that was impressive. That last technique? What was its name?"

Bi Ryuyeon recalled the urgent situation at the time when Yeomdo's red saber and Binggeom's blue sword, harmonizing like Yin and Yang, pierced the barrier of energy created by Elder Hyeok and charged towards the elder. For that moment, the two's saber and sword were united with one heart and one mind. Even though they collapsed afterwards. Bi Ryuyeon was asking for the name of that combined technique.

"Ice-Flame Dual Yi Yuan Union Strike (氷炎兩義歸元合擊)!"

"Flame-Ice Dual Yi Yuan Union Strike (炎氷兩義歸元合擊)!"

The name came out of Binggeom and Yeomdo's mouths simultaneously, in two different ways. Their eyes clashed over the gap between the beds, and invisible sparks flew.

"Hmph!"

Yeomdo and Binggeom simultaneously turned their heads away, seeking refuge where they couldn't see each other's faces. Eventually, they ended up with their backs facing each other again.

"Oh dear!"

Bi Ryuyeon, as if defeated by their behavior, which seemed to have caused their mental ages to plummet, shrugged his shoulders as if to support the air with both hands and shook his head.

"You truly are children."