Book 21 Chapter 20

Fading with the Petals

— King of the Kingdom of Beautiful Explosions (美爆國)

At the very center of the Machaengak Headquarters stood the skyscraper (魔天樓).

A magnificent and imposing eight-story pavilion, reaching a total height of sixteen *kan*, an astonishing ninety-six *cheok*. On its topmost floor, after a long time, four seats were prepared. Around a large circular table, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate over ten people feasting, were chairs as heavy and ornate as thrones, placed in the east, west, north, and south.

As the day waned and the sky turned to a dark, murky hue, a thin crescent moon, like a golden thread, hung in the sky. The four seats were quietly filled, yet the table remained empty, devoid of even a single wine glass or a feast of delicacies. The first to speak was the tall, burly man sitting in the west, polishing his sword with an impassive face.

"So, has the leader on the other side been decided?"

"It seems so, though they say it's temporary."

The man in the south replied, clicking his abacus.

"Temporary?"

The man in the west countered.

"Yes, temporary. Meaning they'll be the leader only for a while. In this case, it's closer to a temporary workaround."

"Who doesn't know that? I'm asking why they chose someone temporary."

The man in the south, still not looking away from his abacus, said,

"Didn't I tell you? A temporary workaround. It means handling sudden matters with makeshift solutions. They probably chose a temporary leader because they lacked time to pick one in a single day."

"Boring talk."

The man in the east sighed, resting his chin on his hand.

"Anything interesting? Ah, boring! Boring! Boring!"

He incessantly lamented his unbearable boredom, but the others paid him no mind. The man in the west asked again,

"So, who is this temporary leader?"

"The result is rather surprising. It wasn't Cangtianlong Yong Cheonmyeong or Cheokokjam Ma Haryeong."

The man in the south continued to manipulate the abacus with his left hand while recording numbers in a ledger with his right. The man in the west asked with surprise,

"Did your prediction miss?"

"Something like that. They say it's the Thunder Sword Dragon Namgung Sang, the third young master of the Namgung family."

"That's a name I've heard recently. The one who is the beloved of Jinryeong of Amiilbong. Is that right?"

The man in the east, who had been yawning habitually,'s eyes briefly sparkled. The other three knew well that it was because a woman, and a beautiful one at that, had been mentioned.

"I doubt if someone of that caliber can face us."

The man in the west grumbled. His tone suggested considerable pent-up feelings.

"Even if it's temporary, since there's a new leader, our Four Heavenly Kings should offer congratulations. Don't you think?"

The man in the east asked, looking at the man in the north.

"Indeed."

The man in the north, who had remained silent until now, replied briefly. His tone suggested it didn't matter much either way.

"Yes, yes, how about a small welcoming party? What do you say? What do you say?"

The man in the east suggested with a playful voice, hoping for applause for his wonderful idea. But the others didn't even bat an eyelid.

Just as the man in the east was contemplating whether to overturn this table, a helping hand unexpectedly extended from the west.

"Good. We must have a welcoming ceremony. I approve."

"I approve too, within the budget."

The man in the south agreed, sorting his abacus. He seemed ready to start budgeting as soon as the words left his mouth.

The man in the north, silent until the end, opened his mouth under the unspoken pressure.

"Very well, then."

"Ahhh, finally decided! As a great favor, I'll handle the notification. And we can exchange greetings. And of course, since we're going, we should introduce him formally, right?"

His enthusiasm went beyond mere passion; he seemed genuinely thrilled.

"Greetings for what? Don't you have ulterior motives?"

The man in the west snapped.

"Ah! What do you mean by that remark? If others hear it, they'll misunderstand my pure heart! Even if I have, on occasion, gleamed with excitement after hearing from an intelligence officer that 'Kukukuku, there are many beautiful women mixed in the delegation, elder brother,' how could that be due to my own selfish desires?! As a man and a great hero, I only strive to complete the noble grand undertaking of 'The Kingdom of Beautiful Explosions (美爆國)'! Please retract your unjust words at once!"

He trembled his shoulders in profound indignation and glared with wide eyes.

"Unjust words? That thing, whether you call it the Kingdom of Beautiful Explosions or the Kingdom of Self-Destruction, is the crystallization of impure and selfish desires."

The man in the west frowned, flicking his sword's edge with his fingertips as if it were worthless. The man in the south shrugged and said,

"Well, in terms of sincerity, it could be seen as pure. Moreover, if pursued earnestly, it's a plan that could lead to a major business, if not a grand undertaking. If you have a plan, tell me anytime. Profit sharing is three to seven, with me getting seven, of course."

"Business! Your worldly remark has inflicted immense damage upon my noble mission and grand undertaking! Ah, how terrible are those who know not beauty!"

Clutching his chest with both hands, the man in the east wailed.

"This is serious."

The man in the west glanced at the man in the east with the look one would give a rabid dog encountered on the street.

"Whatever you do, don't cause a disturbance."

This came from the man in the north, who had been silently observing the situation.

"Naturally! Who am I? 'Ja' (慈) meaning love, and 'Gun' (君) meaning king! I am Ja-gun (慈君)! The king of the Kingdom of Love will never do anything that goes against beauty, so don't worry!"

It seemed he was indeed going to do something.

"Do what's appropriate."

Although he gave such an admonition, no one here believed that Ja-gun would understand the excellent concept of 'appropriateness'.

"Hahaha, then I'll be going!"

With a sudden gust of floral wind, his figure vanished from his seat.

*Swish!*

The man in the south picked up a fallen petal from the ledger with his finger. It was a fresh flower, a vibrant red rose of considerable quality.

"I just hope it's not unnecessarily extravagant. Flower prices are soaring these days."

***

After a long period of silence since arriving at Machaengak, Eun Seollan reappeared in the dining hall. Her face was pale, as if she had been drained of all her energy by a *yogui*.

Na Yerin, who had been sipping tea with Yeon Bi and Lee Jinseol after finishing her meal, quickly stood up and helped the staggering Eun Seollan.

"Are you alright?"

Shake, shake!

Eun Seollan, finding it hard even to answer, just shook her head twice. Even without words, her rough skin and dry hair clearly showed how unwell she had been. When offered a seat, Eun Seollan collapsed onto it.

"Shall I bring more tea?"

Shaking her head with difficulty, Eun Seollan said in a fading voice,

"Food, food first…"

And so, an urgent meal order was launched to rescue the near-death Eun Seollan.

"Be careful."

Eun Seollan, who had silently emptied her third bowl of rice, suddenly spoke. Her face, which had been pale, now had some color. She claimed it was the result of three consecutive all-nighters without proper meals to write up overdue reports, but anyone would have thought she had just escaped from days of confinement.

"Careful? What are you talking about all of a sudden, Seollan unnie?"

Lee Jinseol asked, bewildered.

"I heard that those four had a meeting after a long time. If they're holding a meeting after nearly a year, you'd better be prepared."

While her voice was serious, no one could understand her words. Moreover, trying to have a serious conversation while gripping a spoon tightly and staring at an empty bowl was enough to deflate any tension that might arise.

"Who are those four?"

At Lee Jinseol's question, Eun Seollan finally became aware of the gazes around her.

"The, the Four Heavenly Kings! They are the ones called the Four Heavenly Kings of Machaengak!"

"Four Heavenly Kings?"

"Yes. They are the masters who each oversee one of the four islands in the east, west, north, and south. They are all exceptions, having reached the rank of leader while still students."

"Why should we be careful of them? We haven't done anything wrong, have we?"

"No, that's…"

At the innocent question, Eun Seollan almost fell silent for a moment.

"The fact that they are gathering at this time means they intend to take some action since the delegation has arrived. They will surely make some move soon."

"Use of force…"

Na Yerin murmured thoughtfully.

"In other words, it's to establish dominance."

Yeon Bi, who had been quietly drinking tea, set down her cup and spoke for the first time. She had already introduced herself to Eun Seollan when they were on the ship.

"Yeon So-jeo is right. To them, the delegation is nothing but a nuisance. And if they can make fools out of the talented individuals from Cheonmu Academy, won't they gladly celebrate their victory? From my perspective, I think there are no more suitable and appropriate individuals than you to test their strength."

The latter part of her statement was quite unsettling. Na Yerin took a sip of tea and expressed her feelings.

"It doesn't feel good to be looked down upon."

"There's no helping it. Even a dog acts like a tiger in its own yard, you know?"

Yeon Bi's analogy made Eun Seollan burst into laughter.

"Pfft, I have nothing to say if you put it that way. But you should be careful. Even though they're a bit strange, their skills are real."

That much, at least, was sincere.

"Thank you for taking the trouble to warn us like this. We're from different affiliations, after all…"

Although they weren't adversaries, Eun Seollan and the others were, strictly speaking, in a competitive relationship. Yet, to receive such consideration, she couldn't help but feel grateful.

"It's nothing. We're friends, aren't we? Besides, you helped me before."

Eun Seollan smiled.

"Ah, speaking of which, Na So-jeo, you should be especially careful."

Eun Seollan said with a serious gaze.

"Is it related to the Four Heavenly Kings?"

Eun Seollan sighed deeply and nodded.

"Yes. There's a rather peculiar individual among them. Hmm. All four are peculiar, but he's especially peculiar when it comes to women."

Everyone had a guess at what she meant. Lee Jinseol attempted to confirm.

"Is he perhaps someone who lusts after women?"

There were plenty of such people on the White Path too. Much less here, on the Black Path, where the mask of hypocrisy wasn't even necessary.

"That's probably… not it. It's a little different."

"Probably?"

It was a peculiar expression.

"I can't explain it well. Anyway, just be careful. Be extremely careful. This is a friend's advice. Understand?"

The word 'friend' sounded very warm.

"I understand, I'll be careful. Don't worry."

"Who's worried?"

"Eun So-jeo, thank you."

Beside her, a faint smile formed on Yeon Bi's lips as she watched Yerin's gentle smile.

The emptiness around her was now being filled by good friends.

Eun Seollan's warning began to manifest less than an hour later, that afternoon, in front of Dormitory Thirteen.

The delegates of Cheonmu Academy, who were gathering in front of the dormitory for their afternoon activities, all stopped and listened to an unknown melody that suddenly drifted from somewhere.

"What is this sound?"

"It's music, isn't it?"

"Ah, look over there!"

With a dazzling array of sounds, women in white clothes appeared from somewhere and lined up on both sides. About a dozen of them were all wearing identical outfits, white with red stripes. Moreover, they each held a basket of flowers.

Scattering red petals, the women began to sing in unison.

"Ahhh~ Let them bloom~ The petals of b-b-beauty~!!"

As the chorus, which seemed to lead listeners astray, reached its climax, red petals burst into the air. The storm of petals was so intense that some had to cover their eyes.

Amidst the dazzlingly scattering petals, a man could be seen appearing, his entire body wrapped in petals.

*Ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-bam-ba, ba-ba-bam!*

A loud, unidentifiable music played. It was clearly an intentional production to announce the arrival of the man who appeared, lightly treading on the petals.

'Oh, was this afternoon's activity a collective descent into madness experience?'

Suppressing the nauseating sensation as if he were about to vomit blood, Namgung Sang hastily fumbled through his schedule. While his hands trembled, he tried his best to focus on the schedule, while the rest of his companions stared blankly at the bizarre phenomenon they had never seen at Cheonmu Academy.

When the music stopped, the storm of flowers subsided as if it had been a lie. In the center where the gust had vanished, stood the man. He wore an absurdly ornate outfit, with the entire fabric embroidered like rose petals, in a striking red.

The eyes of the women in the choir looking at him shone with an unnaturally bright gleam. It was a distant, dreamy gaze rather than an intelligent sparkle.

No one spoke, and the man stood like a statue for a while, his face filled with melancholy. However, no one spoke to him.

"Alas! Even though I wait, no one asks my name, how sorrowful!"

The man, who wailed sorrowfully, put a bitter smile on his lips.

"Hoo, I see! I cannot fault the connoisseurs of beauty for being speechless at this perfectly staged, beautiful entrance. But ah, the reproduction of beauty, that is the cruelest of missions!"

He touched his forehead with his right hand, lost in thought. In other words, it seemed he himself had orchestrated this grotesque entrance.

There was another person lost in thought among the Cheonmu Academy side, and that was Hyo Ryong. He had been holding his temples as if his head ached, his head bowed low.

"Why are you like that? By the way, is that guy crazy?"

Jang Hong whispered, looking at Hyo Ryong. Hyo Ryong, who had been lost in thought, was startled and warned him.

"Ah, don't speak such things carelessly…"

*Whoosh!*

Before Hyo Ryong could finish his sentence, two daggers suddenly flew towards Jang Hong's face.

"Gasp!"

Hyo Ryong hastily drew his sword and blocked the two daggers, laden with killing intent. The daggers embedded in his sword's hilt trembled.

"We will not forgive anyone who insults this person!"

"In the name of our Beautiful Explosion Guardian Corps (美爆守護團)!"

Two women at the forefront of the women lined up on both sides shouted simultaneously.

"Are you curious about who this person is?"

The woman on the right spoke, her gaze conveying that it was a virtue any sensible person should possess. Her eyes were distant and quite dangerous.

"If so, we will tell you."

Actually, no one wanted to know.

"This person is handsome, vibrant, skilled in martial arts, and burdened with a great mission, thus harboring the lonely melancholy of one with a heavy heart. He is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and the leader of the Eastern Island, Prince Ja-gun!"

"Kiiiiiiaaaaaaak!"

Screams erupted from the women lined up. It was a different kind of scream than a death rattle. It was astonishing that one could express affection in such a way.

"Really, this is absurd in so many ways."

Despite grumbling, Jang Hong was, in fact, not without admiration. He was certainly extraordinary in that anyone couldn't pull off such a madness.

*Bang!*

Another dagger flew. It was still sharp, but this time Jang Hong easily dealt with it.

"We warned you already."

It was the woman on the left who threw the dagger. Her words were short, but her intention was clear.

"My goodness, it's so fierce."

Indeed, offending the women seemed to be an unwise course of action. Jang Hong lowered his voice further and whispered to Hyo Ryong.

"Is that fellow… perhaps a master of hypnosis?"

He rephrased his question about the identity of that pseudo-religious leader in a more euphemistic way, lest it be overheard. To have daggers thrown twice just for a single complaint was definitely not pleasant, but he didn't want to receive any more.

"His specialty hasn't been revealed yet. He seems to use quite flashy weapons, but surely he wouldn't use flowers as weapons… Perhaps he's an illusionist."

Hyo Ryong had also never seen his true abilities. Jang Hong expressed his doubts via telepathy.

"Rather than an illusionist, he seems like a cult leader?"

Hyo Ryong also replied to Jang Hong via telepathy.

"The effect of confusing the opponent is the same. The difference is that an illusionist targets individuals, while a cult leader hunts the masses."

*Ba-ba-ba-bam!*

Thinking the flow had been broken, the music played again. And again, petals flew colorfully.

"Why is he doing that again?"

"Isn't he starting all over from the beginning?"

"What?!"

Hyo Ryong's prediction was correct. It was fortunate that the chorus was omitted. With a shower of red flowers, Ja-gun readjusted his stance, bowed his head slightly, and closed his eyes, saying,

"I, Ja-gun, sincerely welcome the beautiful flowers who have visited this secluded island of Dongjeong Lake after a long journey. Beauty is ephemeral yet noble. How can I, Ja-gun of the Beautiful Explosion Kingdom, simply overlook you who will brighten this desolate island with that noble light? Therefore, I, Prince Ja-gun of the Beautiful Explosion Kingdom, sincerely, sincerely and fervently welcome you flowers from the White Path!"

He spread his arms wide with exaggerated gestures. Then, he scanned his surroundings like lightning. His ability to search, analyze, and judge the faces of women was unparalleled. He immediately spotted the cold flower of ice, renowned as the most beautiful on the White Path.

He glided forward to Na Yerin and gracefully knelt.

"Ah, a single, cold ice flower! Worry no more. I, Ja-gun, will protect you forever! The kingdom of beauty shall endure forever! Long live the Beautiful Explosions (美爆萬歲)!"

Na Yerin was startled by Ja-gun's sudden action. He was clearly someone she had never seen before.

"Why is this person doing this?"

Yeon Bi asked, bewildered.

"Well, I'm not sure either."

The only thing Na Yerin could be sure of was that all these falling petals were fresh flowers.

"Then I will speak directly!"

Ja-gun stood up abruptly and looked directly into Na Yerin's eyes, speaking with moist eyes.

"Be my lover! The Kingdom of Beautiful Explosions awaits you!"

'What did he just say!'

The Cheonmu Academy men watching from the side simultaneously let out internal screams. They didn't know what the Kingdom of Beautiful Explosions or Kingdom of Seaweed Soup was, but no one failed to understand the preceding words.

"Ah, you don't have to answer! Of course, I already know you won't refuse. Who could refuse such a fated encounter!"

His mind was already wandering in another world.

"Come on, let's go!"

*Grab!*

Ja-gun, who had rushed forward, grabbed Na Yerin's hand. No, he tried to grab it.

"Huh?"

His two surprised eyes widened. The hand he was holding was Yeon Bi's, which was cold and stiff.

"I decline."

Yeon Bi smiled slightly and unforgivingly slapped Ja-gun's cheek.

*Slap!*

A crisp sound echoed across the blue sky. Yeon Bi continued, her eyes cold.

"That is my repayment for your rudeness."

Her tone was chilling.

"Kiiiiiiaaaaaaak! Prince Ja-gun!!"

Screams erupted from the self-proclaimed Beautiful Explosion Guardian Corps. They seemed to have suffered mental trauma seeing Ja-gun's contorted face.

"I-is this possible!"

Ja-gun, clutching his reddened and swollen cheek, stepped back, muttering with a dazed look.

"Even my father never hit me…"

Struggling in the abyss of shock, Ja-gun suddenly's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Yeon Bi's hands.

"Please, marry me!"

"Huh?"

"Gasp!"

"Kyaaah! No!"

Fierce reactions poured out from the delegation and the Machaengak women. Jang Hong and Namgung Sang, who just gaped with their mouths open, were considered relatively calm reactions. Beside Na Yerin, who had turned into a statue, Lee Jinseol watched with a complex expression, astonished.

'Oh no, Yeon So-jeo has surpassed Yerin unnie! Unnie is just a lover, but he proposed to Yeon So-jeo! Ah, no, it's good that this isn't about unnie…? But, but!'

Lee Jinseol wasn't the only one experiencing unnecessary facial spasms. Behind them, some distance away from Yeon Bi's group, was someone trembling with even more severe facial spasms: Gongson Jeolhwi. While not on the same level as Gongson Jeolhwi, the number of men from the Wandering Sect who shared his sentiments and were clenching their fists was by no means small.

Na Yerin, the embodiment of ultimate beauty from Bingbaengbong, was naturally a goddess cherished in the hearts of many. Moreover, the existence of Bilyeon, the notorious villain of the world, could not be overlooked, so they had developed a certain immunity to such matters. It was expected that the Machaengak fellows would approach Bingbaengbong, so the screams were at least a way to process their feelings.

However, Yeon Bi was a different story. As a freshman at Cheonmu Academy, she had joined the delegation immediately. She was a fresh, elegant, and peerless beauty unknown to the scholars of Cheonmu Academy outside the delegation! Furthermore, she possessed beauty and dignity comparable to Na Yerin of Bingbaengbong, and to top it all off, she didn't seem to have a lover!

Some of the male scholars of the delegation were secretly pleased with the fated privilege of spending a year with such a fresh and peerless beauty. The exquisite handling of the so-called Frustrated Prince Gongson Jeolhwi, and Yeon Bi's presence, which amplified the beauty by always being with Na Yerin, were capturing the hearts of these male scholars more and more each day. But now, an odd intruder had invaded this forbidden fortress, so it was no wonder they were clenching their fists in shock.

However, where there is one who leaps, there is one who flies. Among the women of the self-proclaimed Beautiful Explosion Guardian Corps, some girls fainted from shock. They were all fanatical followers of Ja-gun.

Among them, the woman at the forefront gnawed on her sash. The fire of hatred blazed in her eyes. It was the inferno of jealousy.

"Jokes should be told at the appropriate time and place."

Even amidst the atmosphere that had been devastated as if a typhoon had passed, Yeon Bi's reaction was remarkably normal. Her response to the shocking situation was commendable for its composure.

"No, I am sincere. Do you not see these two truly radiant eyes?"

"I don't."

Yeon Bi's words remained cold.

"Cough! Look closely, look closely."

"Please move over there. It's burdensome. And besides…"

"Besides?"

"How long are you going to keep holding on? How rude!"

Yeon Bi flicked her wrist slightly, and Ja-gun spun around once. It was a clean *jin-na-su* technique. However, he was, after all, called one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Ja-gun flipped himself around and landed gracefully on one knee. He was still holding her hand.

'Oh?'

Still, he didn't seem like a mere nobody.

"I am sincere. Think carefully, Yeon So-jeo!"

Then he kissed the back of Yeon Bi's hand.

'Cough!'

For a moment, Yeon Bi felt as if needles were sprouting all over her body. She felt a terrifying sensation, as if she might turn into a chicken, and instinctively shook her hand.

*Thwack!*

Ja-gun, who had received a powerful blow, was pushed back. For an average opponent, it would have been a fatal blow.

"Hahaha! You're shy… Ugh!"

His boast didn't last long.

"Kiiiiiiaaaaaaak! Prince Ja-gun!!"

"Blood… blood…!"

Ja-gun, with a bloody stain on his lips, barely managed to speak.

"It's alright. My beautiful celestial maidens… *cough, cough*!"

He was not alright at all.

"Treat him quickly!"

The woman at the forefront quickly supported Ja-gun and said.

"Then, I'll see you next time, my bride."

With another cough, he vanished spectacularly, enveloped once again in red petals.

"Even in that situation, he doesn't forget the petals."

Yeon Bi said with disbelief, looking at the floor piled high with red petals. In a way, he was truly remarkable.

"Indeed. He's a truly peculiar person."

Na Yerin, having regained her composure, agreed wholeheartedly and then suddenly asked,

"By the way, why did he come here?"

He clearly had a purpose at first, but then seemed to have forgotten it.

"Who knows? I'm not particularly curious."

Yeon Bi replied with a smile. The world is vast, and there are many strange people. If one were to worry about every strange person encountered, there would be no end. She decided to simply put her mind at ease and ignore it. No, she wanted to.

However…

*Grind!*

'Just you wait!'

Because countless gazes were already fixed upon her, Yeon Bi didn't notice a woman hiding behind a tree, burning with fierce jealousy towards her. And she also didn't realize that this would constantly ignite the nerve she wanted to extinguish.

She was Hae-eohwa, the daughter of Hae-eungshin, the head of Heukryong Beonsin of the Janggangsu-chae. She was also the one who threw daggers at Jang Hong twice.

"Why did he really come?"

Namgung Sang sighed, watching the scene where he appeared and disappeared as suddenly as he arrived. The scattered petals were now being trampled by many feet, becoming increasingly unsightly.

"I wish he'd at least clean up after himself!"

It was no different from littering.

"I think it's because of that."

"Hmm?"

Turning his head at the voice from beside him, he saw Yoon Junho approaching with a curious expression. Following his gaze, he looked behind himself and saw a scroll lying at his feet.

"Already…"

Namgung Sang was stunned. Did he leave this here while evading his eyes? Even though he was in a state of confusion, for someone to depart after positioning themselves behind him, the life of a warrior, was unthinkable.

However, it had already happened. For him, who had been chosen as the temporary leader, it was clearly an intention to showcase his skills while simultaneously giving him a scare.

"The enemy is quite capable, aren't they? Right, Young Master Namgung?"

Yeon Bi, who had approached at some point, said to Namgung Sang, who still had a bewildered expression, with a meaningful smile.

The moment he met her radiant smile, Namgung Sang's heart inexplicably sank.

'What… what is this? This chill?'

An inexplicable, instinctive foreboding slowly crept coldly over his burning heart.