Book 21 Chapter 9
**The Roaring Ogre Face (鬼面), the Screaming Yi Jin-seol**
― **Opening the Gate (開門)**
“Kyaaaaaat!”
Several women shrieked upon seeing the giant ogre face, its eyes glinting like bloodthirsty beasts.
An ogre face spitting fire was undoubtedly more impactful at night than during the day. Moreover, in the pitch-black midnight, the ghostly aura would be amplified several times over.
The ogre's face, seemingly dripping with blood, looked as if it would spew fire at any moment. The instant that thought crossed their minds,
*Fwaaaaroooosh!*
With a wave of intense heat, flames, laden with warmth, erupted from the ogre’s maw.
“Phew, this is quite something! Quite something!”
While everyone else took a step back, one person advanced. It was Yeon-bi.
“Miss Yeon!”
“Yeon-bi!”
Urgent voices called out, but Yeon-bi paid them no mind. She waved her hand reassuringly, her gaze fixed on the ogre face. The light of the flames shimmered in her left eye, sparkling with curiosity.
“This is truly fascinating.”
She leaned towards the inferno, seemingly unfazed by the heat. She maintained a safe distance to avoid her hair and clothes catching fire, but her mind was preoccupied with the mechanism rather than the danger of being burned.
“It’s alright, Rin, you come here too.”
Yeon-bi beckoned to Na Ye-rin.
“It’s spewing flames like a fountain. Hehe. Isn’t it cute?”
“Cute?”
Ye-rin, just in case, looked up at the colossal, demon-shaped gate again. The evil spirit’s face, with its terrifying eyes, seemed to glare down at her. It was decidedly not cute.
“I find it rather grotesque.”
It was a cautious rebuttal. However, Yeon-bi was already busy examining various parts of the gate.
“Ah! Is this cast iron mixed with other metals? Hmmm, can these flames be repurposed as siege weapons in an emergency…?”
The more she looked, the more delighted she became. The rest of the group stared blankly at Yeon-bi, falling into a peculiar sense of unease. It was akin to taking a delicate beauty to a market stall to buy a fancy hairpin, only for her to suddenly engage in a heated debate with a man selling axes about the quality of the blades, and then test out an axe by chopping firewood.
“Is it… fun?”
Na Ye-rin asked.
“Isn’t it fun for you, Rin? I don’t know who made it, but it’s ingenious. I’ve never seen such an elaborate prank.”
“It certainly has a malicious intent…”
“How much did they want to scare people to put in so much effort? In a way, they are truly diligent.”
Na Ye-rin questioned Yeon-bi, her voice filled with clear doubt at Yeon-bi’s exclamations of admiration.
“Are you saying this gate was made with that intention?”
“Of course! Otherwise, why would it be so unnecessarily ostentatious? They probably even planned for us to arrive at night to enhance the dramatic effect. Well, now that we’ve seen the performance, I think we should go inside.”
As Yeon-bi finished speaking, the captain loudly shouted towards the small ogre-faced devices that protruded from either side of the gate.
“Open the Gate (開門)!”
*Creeeeeeeeak!*
*Grrrrrrrg!*
With a heavy sound, the ogre faces split in half, and the gate opened. The astonishing sight that unfolded before them left the delegates wide-eyed.
“Well, well! I didn’t expect such a fervent welcome. Wouldn’t you agree, Gong-sang?”
Hyun-un muttered with a bitter smile.
“Don’t these people sleep?”
Namgung-sang’s expression wasn’t much better. Jin-ryeong, standing beside him, clutched his arm tightly.
“Oh my…”
Yeon-bi whispered her impression softly.
“This is quite a grand spectacle.”
Hundreds of fully armed warriors stood at attention like soldiers on either side. Tens of bonfires blazed at regular intervals between them. The formidable warriors were divided, forming a formation along the central path the delegation had to traverse.
No one was smiling, and no one dared to speak. Only a heavy silence pressed down on them. It was difficult to discern whether it was a display of strict discipline or a posture of readiness, guarding against an enemy.
As they approached the central path, the delegates braced themselves. It was an ominous road where metal skewers could suddenly fly from any direction.
“Why are they so hostile, Jang Hyung?”
Yoon Jun-ho asked Jang Hong in a low voice as they cautiously walked down the central path.
It was clearly a welcoming reception, yet no one wore a joyful expression. They glared at the delegates as if they were snarling beasts.
“Perhaps it’s due to lack of sleep? They must have forced these kids out of bed in the middle of the night.”
It was a rather interesting analysis.
“Indeed, that seems to be the case.”
Yoon Jun-ho was convinced.
*Thump thump!*
Amidst the fierce gazes, only the hollow sound of footsteps echoed on the stone floor. Simply walking down the central path felt as if their minds and bodies were being crushed by the overwhelming aura emanating from all sides.
Some members of the delegation fidgeted, itching to draw their weapons. It was understandable. When the sharp edge of hostility pricked at their backs and fronts indiscriminably, it was impossible not to become edgy. In such a situation, one had to suppress their instincts as warriors with all their might to avoid drawing their swords.
“Calm down, Gong-sang. If you draw first, you lose.”
The implication was not to provide an excuse for the enemy.
“I know, I know.”
He was gritting his teeth, enduring the urge. If he gave in to the provocation, he would be giving them the justification to attack and deal with the delegation. Such a disaster had to be avoided at all costs.
‘Damn it. Does this road even have an end?’
It felt as if an uncanny formation had been set up.
Still, they couldn't cause trouble from the outset. They gritted their teeth and walked down the central path with discipline. Everyone shared the sentiment that such attention was entirely unwelcome.
However, even amidst the oppressive hostility, there was one person who seemed as relaxed as if she were on a spring outing: Yeon-bi. Yeon-bi held her black umbrella neatly folded and walked with a serene expression. Wherever Yeon-bi and Na Ye-rin passed, the hostility seemed to lessen slightly.
At the end of the central path lay a wide open space, a plaza. A tall platform, made from carefully cut large stones, stood there. Only one person stood upon it. Though torches blazed on either side, their face was obscured by shadow. Yet, their mere presence exuded an immense power.
‘Who could possess such a powerful aura?’
Mo Yong-hwi felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine the moment he caught a glimpse of the figure’s shadow.
‘What is this feeling…’
Even at the Heavenly Martial Academy, where numerous masters gathered, he had never felt such an aura. It wasn’t merely strong; it was a presence that approached like a colossal danger.
“Welcome to Macheon Pavilion. I am the Pavilion Master of Macheon Pavilion. I will be brief. We have no need for the weak. Remember, once you have crossed the ogre gate and set foot here, you are no exception. The strong prey on the weak! That is the only law that governs this dark path. I wish you all a safe return.”
After a short but intense speech, the Pavilion Master turned and disappeared. The platform was too high, and it was nighttime, making it impossible to confirm his face.
“So that person is the rumored Macheon Pavilion Master.”
Jin So-ryeong’s voice was laced with tension. Her instincts as a martial artist were blaring a loud warning.
“Indeed, impressive.”
Yoo Eun-seong, the best swordsman of Jeomchang, muttered, rubbing his forearm as if he still had goosebumps.
“Hmph, acting all high and mighty.”
The voice of sarcasm belonged to Yeom-do. Given his personality, he couldn’t possibly be pleased with such treatment.
“We must not let our guard down. We are in the heart of enemy territory. Do not forget why we are here.”
Bing-geom said, cautiously observing their surroundings. The weighty responsibility of protecting the disciples of the Heavenly Martial Academy rested on the shoulders of these four.
“Don’t worry! We haven’t forgotten!”
“Then, cool your heads. If you get too excited, you’ll achieve nothing. You’ll be dead meat.”
“To go this far, it feels like we’ve walked right into a tiger’s mouth.”
Jang Hong quipped with a joke.
“Will it be alright from now on?”
Yoon Jun-ho, seemingly anxious, kept glancing around nervously.
“Don’t be too intimidated. At least pretend to be strong. The moment you are ignored, you’ll be cut down. This is a jungle, a wild world.”
“……”
Hyo-ryong remained silent. He hadn’t uttered a single word since disembarking the ship. A flicker of pain crossed his face.
Not everyone had a gloomy expression. There were rare exceptions, faces still radiating joy.
“It seems we’ll have many occasions to use umbrellas from now on.”
Yeon-bi remarked, looking at the platform now shrouded in darkness. It was a cryptic statement.
After the Macheon Pavilion Master disappeared, the delegation was left in the plaza for a while without any further explanation. Perhaps it was due to the drastic change in environment. Some were already whispering to their neighbors, complaining of indigestion and headaches. Some gnawed on their fingernails. The situation itself exerted immense pressure.
Just as people were about to descend into chaos, two individuals approached the delegation. A man and a woman, who bore a striking resemblance not only in their attire but also in their faces. What was peculiar was that both wore armbands with a black cross emblazoned on their left forearms.
“Greetings, I am Heuk-il of the Black Cross Society. Hmm…”
The man, with a somewhat haggard appearance, suddenly flipped through a book he held in one hand while delivering his greeting. He then began to read in a monotonous voice.
“Our Black Cross Society is an official service organization of Macheon Pavilion, finding joy in sharing and peace. We sincerely welcome you, who have visited to share in peaceful mutual exchange and the beauty of learning. The sun shines brightly, the bald head shines… C, cough.”
As the delegation stood frozen like pillars of salt, Heuk-il turned to the smiling woman beside him and said,
“…Heuk-wol, is this you again?”
“Hehehe, I told you not to rely on text for greetings. Now, everyone, this is Heuk-wol, the refreshing and beautiful younger sister of the Black Cross Society’s famous twins! Last night, a mountain spirit appeared in my dream and said that honored guests would arrive from across the distant sea, and you are exactly that! Honored guests, please take care of us!”
The woman, who introduced herself as Heuk-wol, greeted them with a cheerful face and even waved her hand.
“……”
The delegates were now completely lost in a state of confusion, listening to the greetings of the twin siblings. As Heuk-il sighed and Heuk-wol continued to wave enthusiastically, a murmuring began to spread among the group.
“The Black Cross Society?”
“Sharing and peace are joy?”
“That man’s tone is the same whether he’s reading a book or not. Even when he’s angry, it’s like a hypnotic tone!”
“Miss Heuk-wol is certainly cheerful, but a mountain spirit from Dongting Lake? No, more importantly, did we come from across the sea?”
The pair, both individually and as siblings, were undeniably suspicious.
“Anyway, it is our great honor to be your guides starting today! If you have any questions, please, please ask them anytime.”
Once Heuk-wol roughly concluded her greeting, Heuk-il, with an expression that was either relieved or exasperated, turned back to the delegation.
“First, we will guide you to the dormitory. Four people per room. Gentlemen, please follow this way. Room assignments are…”
Heuk-il, without looking back, flapped his book pages again and strode forward. It was as if he was saying, ‘Follow if you want, or don’t.’
The dormitory assignments had already been completed. The supervisors had made the decisions with their full authority. Of course, due to his personality, Yeom-do was not the type to handle such trivial matters, and Bing-geom, due to his status, also wasn’t suited for it. Consequently, the task fell to Jin So-ryeong and Yoo Eun-seong. Yoo Eun-seong could complete such administrative work in an instant with Jin So-ryeong. Thus, the personnel and room assignments were finalized before they even arrived at Macheon Pavilion.
However, the result caused one person to erupt in a scream.
“Kiyaaaaaaak! Nooooooo!”
The scream was so loud that everyone nearby had to cover their ears.
“What, what was that! An attack!”
Quite a few were caught off guard, but fortunately, it was not an attack.
“Unnieeee! Whyyyy!”
The scream continued.
The source of the scream that made people cover their ears was Yi Jin-seol. Tears welled up in her doe-like eyes. Yi Jin-seol desperately reached out towards the fading illusion of Na Ye-rin, but her hand never reached it.
“A pity.”
Unlike Yi Jin-seol, who writhed in pain while screaming, Na Ye-rin’s demeanor was calm.
“No! Why am I not in the same room as Unnie? This is absurd. It’s someone’s trickery. A conspiracy. A wicked conspiracy to separate Unnie and me. I can never accept such an unfairness! Of course, I can’t!”
She cried out in genuine indignation.
“No matter how much you protest, I don’t think the elders will change it. There are good people in your room, aren’t there?”
Na Ye-rin tried to soothe Yi Jin-seol, who was throwing a tantrum like a child. However, Yi Jin-seol still couldn’t accept it. Or rather, she didn’t want to.
Her beloved sister, Na Ye-rin, was in a room with a woman named Yeon-bi, whose origins were unknown, and two novices, Cheol-ok-jam Ma-ryeong and Yu-ran. Yi Jin-seol was outraged that Yeon-bi was in a room without her.
The intention behind this room assignment was to group the new students together as much as possible and assign their respective examiners as mentors to look after them. However, since Yeon-bi’s examiner was Namgung-sang, a man, Ma-ryeong took on that responsibility instead. Yi Jin-seol insisted that she would mentor Yeon-bi in place of Ma-ryeong, but her request was rejected.
“We cannot entrust a new student to someone who cannot even control their own emotions.”
Those were Yoo Eun-seong’s words. She had little room for rebuttal.
“Well, well.”
Yeon-bi couldn’t help but let out a wry smile at the room assignment results.
“Even for me, this is a bit… problematic.”
“Why? Yeon-bi. Are you troubled by something?”
Na Ye-rin asked, sensing Yeon-bi’s slight bewilderment.
“No, it’s just that things are going a little too well…”
“Huh?”
Na Ye-rin asked, confused.
“It means I’ll need more equanimity from now on. I should remind myself of the meaning of ‘form is emptiness, emptiness is form’ (色卽是空空卽是色) every day.”
“……”
As expected, Na Ye-rin didn’t understand at all. However, Yeon-bi seemed to be enjoying herself in her own way. Na Ye-rin was content with that.