Book 23 Chapter 21

The Mother-in-Law Attack Incident

— A Beauty Lost in Thought

There sat a person by the window, sighing and gazing at the moon, which hung alone in the vast, empty sky.

Did the moon feel lonely, suspended in that hollow expanse? Or was it less lonely because the sun existed? Yet, the sun and moon rarely met. Even when they did, it was only for a fleeting moment that they faced each other. At such times, the moon’s presence would fade, diminished by the sun’s brilliance. Would the moon be less sad then? Perhaps, for in that brief instant, they could confirm each other’s existence. Knowing that at least one person acknowledged it, one person recognized its solitude, must have made it feel less alone.

And for herself, there was Biryu-yeon, and now Yeonbi. Before them, the one who had acknowledged her was her senior, Dok-go Ryeong.

“Ryeong unnie…”

Ever since the incident at Ganghorando where she met Yeongnyeong, Na Yerinn’s mind had been consumed by that single issue. The tournament was nothing compared to this. Perhaps because of this, her face, clouded with worry and concern, was dark. As she sank into melancholy, she exuded a loneliness like dark storm clouds cast upon a beautiful jade statue.

Na Yerinn was bewildered. Why was Yeongnyeong denying her? Why couldn’t she recognize her? Her chest felt heavy, and worries piled up, weighing down her heart, with no way to lessen the burden. Yeonbi desperately wanted to comfort and console Na Yerinn, lost in her thoughts, but ultimately, this was a problem that could not be fundamentally resolved or eradicated until its root cause was addressed. Knowing this, Yeonbi could do very little.

However, for someone who understood the inner workings of things, just being there offered some solace. Carrying worries alone was like bearing a mountain, heavy and painful, so sharing those worries was akin to lifting half of that mountain. Thus, even if the pain persisted, the help was by no means insignificant. But even Yeonbi was now absent for a while due to an errand. Left truly alone, loneliness washed over her like waves, stinging her heart.

Loneliness?

It was a sensation she had never known before. Or rather, she had yearned for more loneliness, more solitude. She had wished to become an isolated island, detached from people, communicating with no one. She had believed that by doing so, she could avoid being hurt. It was a delusion. It was an escape. It was Ryuyeon who taught her that it was an escape. He had shown her the joy of being with others, the joy of communication. He taught her that things grow bigger when shared, and that closeness deepens relationships. But now, he was not here. Yet, she didn’t feel him to be far away. Why did this contradiction in sensation arise? Perhaps it was because of Yeonbi. It was Yeonbi’s presence that had allowed her to momentarily forget the void left by Biryu-yeon. At that moment, she heard a commotion within her senses.

Someone was ascending the stairs swiftly and urgently, crossing the corridor with long strides.

‘Did Yeonbi return?’

Na Yerinn’s dark expression momentarily brightened. Judging by the size of her steps and stride, it was clearly a woman. Not many walked with such confidence and vigor. The unusualness might be due to something that had angered her. Based on the sound, the owner of these footsteps was undoubtedly very angry.

*Bang!*

The door burst open. Na Yerinn, who had turned with a happy face, widened her eyes in shock. It was indeed a face she missed. A face she had longed to see. But it was not a face that should be here.

“Mom’s here!”

Madam Mi, who had flung the door open with no regard, exclaimed. Na Yerinn, too surprised, cried out.

“Ah, Mother?!”

But the surprise didn’t end there. The person who rushed in breathlessly behind her caused Na Yerinn to be surprised yet again.

“Ah, Father?”

The one who shouted, “Wife, let’s go together!” and entered was none other than her father, the leader of the Murim Alliance, Na Baekcheon.

“Ah, how did the two of you get here…?”

Still bewildered, Na Yerinn quickly greeted them and asked. However, Ye-cheong brushed off the greeting, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.

“……?”

Na Yerinn couldn’t help but be perplexed. But her father stood behind her mother, his lips firmly shut. He was waiting for her mother to finish her business. While it was a familiar scene and nothing particularly strange, for Na Yerinn, whose curiosity was mounting by the second, it was frustrating. After a long search, Ye-cheong finally looked directly at Na Yerinn. Her stern gaze was accompanied by a bluish anger in her furrowed brows, which was puzzling.

“Where is that child?”

Ye-cheong asked.

“Mother, who do you mean by ‘that child’? I don’t understand,” Na Yerinn replied respectfully.

“The child who seduced you,” Ye-cheong spat out, her voice tinged with anger.

“Seduced me?”

Na Yerinn, who had no such memory, found Ye-cheong’s anger entirely foreign.

“Already trying to cover for her! There’s no need to cover for a child like that. I mean the child named Yeonbi! That wicked wench who pushed you into the tournament!”

Finally, a curse escaped Ye-cheong’s lips.

“Seduced me? Yeonbi has never done anything like that.”

Na Yerinn was lost, unable to grasp what was happening.

“She didn’t seduce you?”

Ye-cheong’s eyes glinted as she looked at Na Yerinn. Though she loved her daughter deeply, she was much stricter than her father, who was often weak in front of their daughter. Perhaps she felt she had to compensate for her husband’s shortcomings.

“Yes, Mother! You are mistaken. Yeonbi never deceived me. Nor did she seduce me. I willingly offered to help Yeonbi.”

“Why?”

“Because I just wanted to.”

“You just wanted to?”

“Yes!”

“I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!”

Ye-cheong exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously.

“This is no good. I can’t talk to you anymore. Mother needs to speak to that child directly. Where is that child now?”

“She stepped out for a moment on an errand.”

Na Yerinn answered, inwardly praying fervently that Yeonbi would not return for a while. Knowing her mother’s impetuous and sharp personality, she desperately wished the two wouldn’t clash. Moreover, her father, Na Baekcheon, was here. While her father would speak gently to her mother when she was strict with Na Yerinn, saying, “Calm down, let’s listen carefully, Yerinn must have had her reasons,” one couldn’t tell how he would react upon meeting Yeonbi. In fact, he could unleash a fury upon Yeonbi even greater than her mother’s. While she was no match for her mother, her father, Na Baekcheon, was still superior in terms of martial prowess. Therefore, incurring his wrath would not be beneficial for Yeonbi.

But when things start to go wrong, they tend to keep going wrong. Coincidentally, a presence was felt from further down the corridor. She desperately hoped it was a maid working at the inn and not Yeonbi, but it was best to abandon such futile hopes quickly. There was no doubt that these footsteps were Yeonbi’s usual ones. As the sound of footsteps grew closer, Na Yerinn’s heart shrank smaller and smaller. Soon, she could barely breathe.

‘Yeonbi, please don’t come. Go back. It’s dangerous here!’

But it seemed that while she could perceive others’ thoughts, she could not convey her own to them. Na Yerinn found this half-baked ability particularly frustrating today. Fearing that the culprit might escape, Ye-cheong and Na Baekcheon had stopped talking at some point, hidden their presence, and exchanged meaningful glances. They intended to feel the presence of the two and prevent the other party from escaping. At times like this, it was as if they were truly one in spirit, their hands and feet moving in perfect coordination.

‘Please… please…’

*Creeeeak!*

But Na Yerinn’s hopes were in vain, as the inn door opened far too easily. And what entered was none other than…

For some reason, Yeonbi’s complexion was as dark as if something had happened, unlike her usual lively self. She also seemed slightly flustered. She hadn’t looked this flustered since she first arrived at Ganghorando not long ago. However, it didn’t seem to be because of the two guests she was seeing for the first time, which made it even more mysterious.

“Oh ho! Are you the wench who seduced our child?”

Ye-cheong, who immediately identified the suspect, interrogated her.

“Well?”

Yeonbi, already displeased from her master’s outrageous actions, replied rebelliously to Ye-cheong’s rude question.

“What kind of answer is that? Answer clearly!”

Ye-cheong, who detested ambiguity, preferred things to be definitive and had a tomboyish personality. Na Baekcheon, always indecisive when it came to their daughter, was often forced to cower under Ye-cheong’s relentless accusations.

“But you seem to be a first-time visitor. Who are you? Shouldn’t you introduce yourself before asking questions?”

Yeonbi, who always knew what to pick a fight about, retorted. Ye-cheong, suddenly reluctant to reveal her identity, answered in a fierce voice.

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then it seems you’ll never get an answer. How about giving up and leaving?”

With every word Yeonbi spoke, Na Yerinn’s heart pounded, and she flinched. Knowing how immense her mother’s rage could be, and how even her father couldn’t handle it once it erupted, she couldn’t hide her precarious feeling as she watched her mother’s anger rise and Yeonbi seem to be inciting it.

“What if I take the answer by force?”

Ye-cheong asked in a chillingly quiet voice, seemingly calm.

“Pfft, can you?”

Yeonbi replied with a smirk.

‘No, Yeonbi! It’s dangerous!’

Seeing Yeonbi’s provocation, Na Yerinn was startled.

Her mother, Ye-cheong, who had been panting heavily, was now breathing calmly, and her eyes, which had been burning with rage, had cooled to the stillness of a frozen lake. This was a truly dangerous state. Her mother always displayed her anger coldly, rather than hotly.

*Swoosh!*

Ye-cheong’s dao was drawn, emitting a clear, resonant sound like jade beads rolling on a silver tray. The dao, with its slender blade, cast a bluish glint, curving gracefully as if a sliver of the waning moon from the night sky had been attached.

‘Bingwol (Ice Moon)!’

Looking at the beautiful, alluring, and magical blade, Na Yerinn marveled. It was always a beautiful dao. It cast a subtle radiance that seemed to enchant one’s very soul, making it seem almost bewitching. This curved white blade that emitted a cold glint was the Moon-slashing dao, ‘Bingwol,’ which had earned Ye-cheong the title of ‘Bingwolseonja.’ With the cold dao energy emanating from this blade, she had risen to the top position among female martial artists at Macheon Pavilion over twenty years ago. The record she set for the youngest instructor at a young age remained unbroken.

*Rattle!*

As elegantly as butterflies dancing, the slender, sharp curves exuded killing intent, scattering moonlight. Shadows of crescent moons, appearing in a bewildering array of changes, swept over Yeonbi’s entire body.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Yeonbi quickly raised her left hand, the Hyeoncheon Eunrin, to block the incoming moon shadows. It was dao energy imbued with elegant yet sharp intent. Judging that a head-on collision could be dangerous, Yeonbi deliberately avoided it by swinging the Hyeoncheon Eunrin at an angle. The skin of the Hyeoncheon Eunrin was specially treated from the hide of Mukryong Hyulmang, making it incredibly tough and sturdy, so much so that it wouldn’t be scratched by ordinary swords. However, its durability against such sharp and keen sword energy was uncertain. Yet, Na Yerinn felt a sense of awkwardness watching Yeonbi’s movements.

‘Why is her reaction slower than usual? And why only with her left hand?’

As far as Na Yerinn knew, Yeonbi was not left-handed. And Yeonbi’s movements would normally be much smoother. Observing Yeonbi’s movements closely, Na Yerinn finally discovered the cause of her awkwardness. It was that Yeonbi’s right arm was almost immobile, held close to her body like a log. If not for Na Yerinn’s keen eyesight, such a subtle difference might have been easily missed, but it could not escape her eyes.

“Not bad, are you?”

Ye-cheong said without stopping her dao dance, a slight look of surprise on her face. Even if she wasn’t using her full strength, she had never imagined that her dao energy could be blocked so stably.

“You too.”

Although she replied calmly, Yeonbi was quite flustered inwardly. This aunt’s movements were much better than she had expected. In some ways, she might even be stronger than the Black Dragon King. She was managing to block somehow, but it didn’t seem like she was using her full strength. Up to this point, there was no problem, but the next part was the issue. She kept wondering who this person with such dao energy was. And the uncle fidgeting behind her was also a very familiar figure.

“I’m suddenly curious who you are.”

“Now you ask?”

Ye-cheong shouted, continuously swinging Bingwol, pressuring Yeonbi from all sides.

Yeonbi nodded, saying yes.

“Good! Then, if you can block this move, I’ll tell you!”

Ye-cheong’s Bingwol began to emit a cold aura. Na Yerinn recognized it as the initial activation of her mother’s signature technique.

Bingwol Sibido (Twelve Blades of the Ice Moon).

Ultimate Technique (Jeolgi).

Bingwol Nanmu (Rampaging Ice Moon).

The moment the technique was activated, the entire room was covered in thin, sharp moon shadows. Half of it shone coldly like the moon, and the other half was dark like the shadow of the dao. Generally, the shining parts were real attacks, and the shadows were illusory, but since some were a mix of real and illusory, one could not let their guard down.

“Whoa! What do you mean using this all of a sudden? The room is so cramped!”

Despite her surprise, Yeonbi didn’t forget her task and unfurled her umbrella, spinning it rapidly to shield herself.

Hyeoncheon Eunrin (Profound Heaven Silver Scale).

Hwicheon (Heavenly Turn).

Blocked by the wall of the rapidly spinning umbrella, the moon shadows bounced around in all directions. Once it started spinning, the Hyeoncheon showed no signs of stopping. Finally, as the moon set, the black sky also stopped spinning.

“Amazing that you blocked that!”

Ye-cheong said with genuine admiration. Not many people could block this move without a scratch.

“There’s no need to be so surprised. Blocking that put me under a lot of strain too. I almost got my skin scratched.”

As she spoke, Yeonbi’s complexion indeed looked pale. It wasn’t just her left arm; the burst of internal energy throughout her body had triggered her right arm, which she had been suppressing. Because of this, she had to concentrate to suppress her right arm. Honestly, fighting any further was dangerous.

“Shall we stop here? It seems dangerous to fight further?”

Yeonbi answered honestly.

“Are you talking about yourself, or me?”

Ye-cheong asked.

“Well, of course, you.”

Yeonbi answered honestly again.

“Ho ho? You’ve got guts. But I don’t dislike such absurd confidence! Especially from a young girl!”

Ye-cheong, whose competitive spirit was unusually strong, was not about to back down after hearing that.

“Still, you blocked the last move, so you have to keep your promise.”

“What promise? Ah, that promise? You said you’d tell me your identity if I could block this move?”

*Shhhheeee!*

Blocking the cold crescent moon slash that sliced in relentlessly with the Hyeoncheon Eunrin in her left hand, Yeonbi nodded. A faint smile appeared on the middle-aged woman’s face.

“You want to know who I am? Then I’ll tell you.”

After taking a brief breath, Ye-cheong continued.

“I am that child’s mother!”

Yeonbi’s eyes widened.

“Really, Rin?”

While she was undeniably beautiful, her personality was as different as sky and earth from her mother’s, so Yeonbi couldn’t help but seek confirmation from Rin.

“She, she is my mother. I’m sorry, Yeonbi.”

With Na Yerinn’s confirmation, there was no longer any room for doubt.

‘This is awkward. I wasn’t planning to meet her like this…’

She had calculated to meet her in another form, her true form. But it seemed that fate, or perhaps the unfolding of events, had led her to meet Na Yerinn’s mother while she was in Yeonbi’s form. Moreover, she had drawn her sword before any formal introductions… Things had definitely gone awry. And the awkwardness didn’t end there.

“But why has Rin’s mother traveled all this way?”

“I came to find out who deceived our child!”

“I never deceived her.”

Yeonbi replied honestly.

“If you didn’t seduce her, how could our Yerinn have participated in such a tournament?”

“Why are you asking me? I don’t know either.”

Even as they exchanged questions and answers, Ye-cheong continued to draw crescent moon shadows in the air, not ceasing her attacks.

“Then who should I ask?”

“Well, you should ask the person herself, of course.”

Yeonbi answered as if asking why she would ask anything else. When Ye-cheong looked dumbfounded, she kindly added an explanation. As Na Yerinn’s mother, she seemed to intend to treat her more kindly. Of course, whether that intention was understood correctly was another matter.

“I am not the one who holds that answer. So, ask your daughter. Rin has the answer.”

Yeonbi replied smoothly. She showed no sign of being intimidated. Yeonbi, who hadn’t flinched even when the name of the Murim Alliance leader was mentioned, wasn’t about to flinch at the title of Murim Alliance leader’s wife. However, while she hadn’t flinched at the mention of Rin’s father, she did flinch a little at the mention of Rin’s mother. Perhaps she had unconsciously been preparing, anticipating a visit later. However, in such situations, it was usually the father one should be wary of. Generally, a man’s enemy is another man, and a woman’s enemy is another woman.

“Ah, if you keep attacking, it’s going to be difficult for me.”

Yeonbi said gently, as the attacks continued relentlessly. Of course, she didn’t forget to defend herself.

“I’m attacking for that very reason!”

Ye-cheong replied as if it were obvious.

“No, really, it could get difficult, Mother!”

Yeonbi’s face showed genuine distress. Seeing that expression, Na Yerinn felt puzzled.

“What could possibly be difficult? And who are you calling Mother?!”

Ye-cheong retorted, bristling.

“Oh, then how about a son like ‘me’?”

“I won’t accept that!”

Na Baekcheon, who had been watching the confrontation silently, suddenly shouted. A palpable aura of rejection, like dark clouds, emanated from behind him.

“Are you making fun of me?”

*Shake shake!*

Ye-cheong, thinking she was being mocked, accelerated her attacks and became more ferocious.

“Oh, I wasn’t joking. And it’s really difficult.”

Yeonbi finally broke down and complained.

“You keep saying it’s difficult, but what exactly is so difficult?”

Yeonbi said as she dodged two moon shadows flying towards her neck and shoulder.

“Ah, if things go wrong, I might end up hurting you. I don’t want to hurt Rin’s mother.”

Hearing that, Ye-cheong was aghast.

“You, a young girl, are going to hurt me? Me, Bingwolseonja Ye-cheong?”

After blocking the three converging swords one after another, Yeonbi nodded without hesitation.

“I might reach a point where I can’t control myself. Therefore, I can’t guarantee your safety. So please stop. Honestly, I’m at my limit.”

As she was attacked and forced to defend, the suppressed internal energy began to surge explosively, flowing into her right arm, which she had been restraining.

‘It’s too soon?’

It wasn’t yet at a point where she couldn’t control it. But it was progressing too fast. In this state, it was truly dangerous. Yeonbi’s feeling of trying to suppress her raging arm was like trying to hold back a swollen river with her bare body during the monsoon. After the dam broke, Yeonbi herself could not be confident.

“I don’t believe you. If you really can, then try it!”

Ye-cheong, her competitive spirit piqued, did not slow her swordsmanship but instead intensified it. Then, the cold moon shadows, imbued with chilling energy, flew towards Yeonbi like a north wind and snow, intending to slice her to pieces. With her right hand sealed, Yeonbi could only manage to block the approaching Bingwol swords with her left hand. However, she could only block, not attack. She lacked the strength for that. Yeonbi was currently using most of her strength to suppress her right arm. Because of this, her concentration was divided, and she couldn’t use her strength effectively.

‘Damn master! I knew this would happen!’

Even though the Mukryonghwan on her right hand had been released, she couldn’t be entirely happy. If left alone, it would grant immense destructive power for a single use, but there was also a possibility of losing her right arm forever. To do something so reckless… Her master was clearly out of her mind. It was fine that she was out of her mind, but it was a problem that she seemed intent on harming her disciple as well. But it was a done deal, and all Yeonbi could do now was try to prevent this spilled water from flooding.

“Why have you only been using your left hand since earlier? It’s not like your left-hand swordplay is that awkward.”

Indeed, Ye-cheong’s eyes were sharp, and she missed no subtle difference. Therefore, noticing that Yeonbi’s movements were somewhat less smooth, she asked.

“Ah, my honest feeling right now is that I wish I could say I was originally left-handed. But it’s truly unfortunate that I can’t.”

Yeonbi replied with a wry smile. The exchange between the two was still ongoing.

“Then why aren’t you using your right hand? Is it injured?”

Yeonbi shook her head.

“No. If I use it, you’ll get hurt.”

Yeonbi answered honestly.

“Who will get hurt?”

“You, of course.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I can’t accept such nonsense!”

Ye-cheong exclaimed, indignant. As expected, this was how she would react.

“Hurry up and use your right hand! I don’t want to hear that you caught someone who wasn’t at their full strength!”

Her proud and noble pride would not allow such a thing.

“I believe I mentioned it earlier, but I can’t use my right hand. I don’t want to cause trouble. You’ll really get hurt.”

Her words contained genuine sincerity, which only made Ye-cheong more displeased. She stopped her attack and stood still. Yeonbi also naturally maintained her distance and stopped.

“Do you really have no intention of using your right hand?”

Ye-cheong asked in a low tone, slightly bowing her head.

“No.”

Yeonbi’s answer was unwavering. Seeing that her mind wouldn’t change, Ye-cheong finally made a decision.

“Fine! If you insist on not using it, I’ll make you use it by force!”

*Click!*

Ye-cheong held Bingwol vertically in front of her body, placed her left hand on the handle, and manipulated it slightly. With a metallic scraping sound, the single piece split into two moons.

The separated moons. One moon became two crescent blades. Holding one separated crescent blade in each hand, she crossed them. The two moons enveloped Ye-cheong. Her crossed hands fell into stillness.

Holding a piece of a crescent moon in each hand, assuming the stance for her ultimate technique, the owner of the twin moons issued a final, cold warning.

“If you don’t want to die, you’d better show me what your right hand can do.”

Ye-cheong’s gaze, as she issued the warning, was unusual.

‘Oh no, she seems serious.’

In Yeonbi’s view, this seemed considerably dangerous.

“Sigh, this is really not good…”

Yeonbi said with a worried sigh.

“If you insist, I have nothing more to say. You shouldn’t regret it. Ah, I don’t want to hurt you…”

However, Yeonbi never moved the black umbrella to her right hand. Instead, she tensed her whole body and prepared for the attack. She intended to hold out as long as she could.

*Swish!*

Ye-cheong’s feet slid forward like a dancer’s. Her waist, as supple as a willow branch, plunged deeply forward as if stabbing down. Yeonbi, not flustered by this swift change, pushed off the ground and retreated. That was precisely the moment Ye-cheong had been waiting for.

*Rustle!*

Spinning her body like a whirlwind, she slashed upward with the left crescent moon. The right crescent moon followed. Rotating her body diagonally around her spine, she continuously swung the dao. As the sharp, razor-like attack swept towards her face, Yeonbi quickly blocked the distance with the Hyeoncheon Eunrin.

*Clang! Clang, clang, clang!*

The moment the moon and Hyeoncheon Eunrin collided, the crescent moon shattered, and dozens of moon shadows scattered from its fragments.

Bingwol Sibido (Twelve Blades of the Ice Moon).

Final Move (Choiseung).

Ssangwol Ya (Twin Moon Night).

The two moons began to dance in Ye-cheong’s grasp. Dozens of moon clusters, like wind-blown dancers, descended upon Yeonbi’s body. She had reached a level of mastery where she could wield the dao freely, as there was not the slightest disturbance even while executing such complex techniques. Amidst the shadows of the dancing crescent moons, Yeonbi couldn’t help but wear a look of frustration.

She had no idea when these crescent moon fragments, fluttering around her like butterflies, would reveal their fangs and bite her. Moreover, being completely surrounded, there was nowhere to escape.

‘Damn! This time, I might really be cornered…’

Normally, she wouldn’t have come this far, but concealing her identity and having her Mukryonghwan removed from her right hand, Yeonbi was barely able to exert even a quarter of her usual strength while suppressing the wild energy. The moon butterflies stopped moving.

“Yeonbi, that’s really dangerous! Surrender!”

Sensing the immense danger, Na Yerinn exclaimed urgently.

“I can’t stop now that I’ve come this far.”

Yeonbi replied with a smile.

This must be what they called the calm before the storm.

*Charrrr!*

Finally, the ultimate dance of the twin moons began.

Ssangwol Ya (Twin Moon Night).

Final Transformation (Choehu Byeonhwan).

Sibiya (Twelve Nights).

The frozen moon fragments, swept by a strong wind, descended upon Yeonbi like falling petals. Yeonbi was flustered. It wasn't just about being attacked. With one of the four Mukryonghwans released and a considerable amount of time having passed, she couldn’t guarantee she could control her strength properly. If she accidentally injured Rin’s mother, it would be a big problem. She could even kill her. Of course, her right arm wouldn’t be unscathed afterward either. It could truly lead to the worst-case scenario. However, Ye-cheong’s offensive grew more ruthless, and her sword techniques continued relentlessly, making it difficult to even defend.

She had thought Ye-cheong would stop after a while, but unlike her daughter, her mother seemed to have an exceptionally strong competitive spirit and desire to win. The moment one moon split into two, Yeonbi was convinced. This person clearly had little interest in holding back. And then, in the dark night, two moons began to dance.

The moon fragments, split into hundreds, soared into the night sky, surrounding Yeonbi. Escape seemed impossible. And…

‘As expected, my right hand…’

As she thought this, she heard Na Yerinn’s cry, warning her that it was dangerous and she should surrender. But Yeonbi couldn’t stop. She couldn’t surrender. There was nothing to beg forgiveness for. If she apologized, it would be to Rin, and if she was grateful, it would be to Rin. While she could respect her as Rin’s mother, her mother was not Rin. Therefore, she could never surrender.

‘Please don’t die, Mother-in-law!’

Yeonbi finally grasped the Hyeoncheon Eunrin with her right hand.

The power of Ssangwol Ya, the ultimate technique of Bingwol Sibido, was immense. Especially the final transformation, Sibiya, was so dazzling it captivated all five senses. The moon fragments, split into twelve streams, violently assailed Yeonbi’s entire body like a gale.

Yeonbi, readjusting her grip on the Hyeoncheon Eunrin with her right hand, shouted.

“Be careful. I can’t take responsibility if something goes wrong!”

This warning was the best she could do.

*Thump!*

Yeonbi’s right hand pulsed. The forcibly suppressed power was trying to break free and lash out.

*Thump! Thump!*

Yeonbi’s face contorted in pain for a moment.

*Shivers!*

Seeing this, Na Baekcheon felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. Yeonbi’s amber eyes began to blaze with golden light.

*Boom!*

At that moment, something exploded from Yeonbi’s body.

Hyeoncheon Eunrin (Profound Heaven Silver Scale).

Ultimate Move (Oui).

Hyeoncheon Po-wol (Profound Heaven Enveloping Moon).

*Ffffff…!*

Yeonbi’s right hand blurred and vanished, and from it, hundreds of black lightning bolts shot out like meteors. The black night swallowed the faint moonlight in an instant, expanding its domain. The moon fragments, split into twelve streams, were instantly annihilated, and the path they illuminated was painted with a darkness deeper than night itself. It was truly a terrifying technique. It seemed to know only destruction with its black lightning. It was devoid of mercy or consideration, simply destroying its surroundings with pure power.

“Th-this can’t be!”

Ye-cheong stared blankly at the black lightning bolts that were nullifying her ultimate technique. The brief moment felt like an eternity. If it continued like this, the black lightning bolts would mercilessly sweep over Ye-cheong’s entire body. In that case, even Ye-cheong would not be able to escape unscathed.

“Be careful, darling!”

Sensing that the situation was turning dangerous, Na Baekcheon drew his sword and unleashed his sword technique.

*Shhhweeeek!*

His sword technique, known as Jincheol-rebyeokgeom, was as fast as lightning, covering the black lightning bolts from the side.

*Ting, ting, ting, ting!*

Surprisingly, even though he struck from a weaker angle, it was Na Baekcheon’s sword energy that was repelled.

“Th-this can’t be!”

As Na Baekcheon looked bewildered, Na Yerinn leaped between Ye-cheong and the black lightning bolts. She couldn’t let her mother be in great danger.

“No, Rin!”

Suddenly regaining her senses, Yeonbi tried to control the black lightning bolts. The internal energy from her dantian was draining out through her right arm like an ebbing tide. It was as if her right arm was no longer her own, out of control and raging. That power, which had intended to harm the mother of the person she cherished most, was now raging to harm the person she loved most.

“I won’t let you!”

*Thump!*

Yeonbi struck a vital point near her right shoulder with her left hand, twisting the direction of the surging power with all her might.

*Kua-kwak-kwak-kwang!*

The black lightning bolts struck the bare ground. With a terrifying roar, the ground cracked, dust clouds rose like a storm, and a gale blew.

“Kyaak!”

Unable to withstand the aftermath, Ye-cheong was thrown backward. Thanks to Yeonbi’s sacrificial movement, Na Yerinn, who had been pushed out of the attack’s range, let out a desperate scream.

“Mother!”

“Wife!”

Stunned by the unexpected turn of events, Na Baekcheon leaped like a bird and caught Ye-cheong. However, he still had energy left, and to dissipate it, he continued to step backward. Unable to fully release it, he bent his body to protect Ye-cheong and raised his defensive qi.

*Boom!*

As Na Baekcheon’s back, holding Ye-cheong, hit the building wall, cracks spread in all directions, and a deep indentation formed. Two furrows like plowed fields were etched into the ground.

“Are you alright, my dear?”

Ignoring the dust and stones falling from above, Na Baekcheon asked with concern. Looking at her husband, who was looking down at her, Ye-cheong replied.

“Thanks to you catching me, I’m fine. How are you? Are you hurt?”

Her usually cold tone was filled with warm affection. Seeing Ye-cheong on the verge of tears, Na Baekcheon laughed heartily and said.

“Haha, don’t worry. I am the leader of the Murim Alliance, you know. I wouldn’t get hurt by a blow like this.”

“Still, please see a physician later. You are the one who bears the Murim on your shoulders, so you absolutely cannot get hurt. For my sake too. Do you understand?”

Hearing her voice filled with worry, Na Baekcheon couldn’t help but be moved. It was extremely rare to hear such loving and warm words from his wife, which always touched him. A sense of pride rose in his chest.

“Oh, and how is Yerinn?”

Perhaps her husband was more important than her daughter, as Ye-cheong only then remembered the safety of her daughter, Na Yerinn, who had stood in front of Yeonbi.

“Ah, Yerinn is safe, so don’t worry. That child Yeonbi, as she redirected the force, pushed her away, so she’s safe. However, the aftermath reached you, and it was a close call.”

It was clear that if Na Baekcheon hadn’t caught her from behind, she would have been seriously injured.

“Thank you, my dear! For saving me!”

*Smack!*

Ye-cheong, held in Na Baekcheon’s arms, suddenly kissed him on the cheek. Na Baekcheon’s face immediately turned bright red, as if burned, and his expression softened like taffy melting in hot water.

“Mmm-hohohoho! What’s a little thing like that? Of course, I have to rush to your side if you’re in danger, a hundred times, two hundred times! For you, I wouldn’t spare this old body at all.”

Dizzy! Na Baekcheon, his mind in a cloud, spoke both shamelessly and foolishly.

“Hmph, I’m not happy if your body gets hurt. I told you earlier to take care of yourself. Oh, and what happened to that child Yeonbi? Who on earth is she? To possess such powerful martial arts at such a young age…”

“However, it doesn’t seem like she can use it often.”

As he said this, Na Baekcheon pointed to a spot with a solemn expression. There, Yeonbi was kneeling on one knee, clutching her right shoulder, her face contorted in pain. Beside her, Na Yerinn watched with a worried expression. Yeonbi, enduring the pain, had beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“Kuk!”

Yeonbi gritted her teeth, her brow furrowed.

“Yeonbi, are you okay?”

Na Yerinn asked in a worried voice.

“……”

Yeonbi couldn’t answer. The pain was unimaginable. It felt as if every muscle in her arm was tearing apart, and the nerves were burning like fire. It was difficult even to maintain consciousness. It was a miracle that her shoulder wasn’t dislocated or her bones separated. What good was immense power if it could lead to this? She had almost lost her arm forever after using it just once. She truly felt like her arm was being ripped to shreds. It was astonishing that her right arm was still attached. If her meridians were severed, she would never be able to use her arm again. That would mean the end of her life as a martial artist. It was thanks to wearing the Mukryonghwan and training that she had managed to endure. Water overflowing its container could shatter the container.

‘What about my container?’

Yeonbi cautiously sent a signal to her right hand to move a finger. A pain like being pricked by a thousand needles shot through her, but Yeonbi did not lose her will. Sweat poured down her forehead like rain.

*Twitch!*

Finally, there was a signal. The tip of her index finger moved slightly. This meant that although her nerves were damaged, she was safe. Encouraged by her first success, Yeonbi tried to move the rest of her fingers one by one. The pain remained, but they all moved a little.

“Yeonbi…”

Enduring the pain, Yeonbi smiled.

“It seems to be okay. I’ll be fine if I rest a bit.”

“Lies!”

Yeonbi’s exposed arm looked extremely pale and weak. There were also faint bluish bruises visible here and there. But there was no way it was okay.

“I’ll be fine if I rest a bit. But I’ll have to use the umbrella with my left hand for now.”

It seemed like she would need to splint her right arm. What this right arm needed now was absolute rest. If she overused it again, there was a possibility of never being able to use it again.

At that moment, a shadow fell over Yeonbi, who was kneeling. Yeonbi, hiding her pain, looked up at the shadow. There stood Ye-cheong, with a complex expression in her eyes, along with Na Baekcheon. Yeonbi managed a weak smile and said.

“See? I told you it would be dangerous.”

“It was certainly dangerous. I don’t know how many years it’s been since I last felt the terror of death.”

Ye-cheong looked at the person who had rekindled the fear she hadn’t felt in nearly twenty years. Na Baekcheon, who had incurred her wrath, sometimes felt the terror of death, but Ye-cheong had always been strong and confident. Now, faced with the black lightning, Ye-cheong had truly engraved the feeling of genuine fear in her heart.

“But it seems I wasn’t the only one in danger?”

Yeonbi nodded with a bitter smile.

“Is it a double-edged sword?”

“Certainly, in terms of power, it is. It’s not a power I particularly want to use. No, I didn’t want to use it at all.”

“But you look very strained now. I suppose you can consider it a backlash from the unbelievable power you unleashed earlier. I admit defeat. However, my husband is still fine. I can have him subdue you and take Yerinn away.”

Ye-cheong said, her gaze fixed on Yeonbi with unwavering, cold eyes. Yeonbi, disliking being looked down upon, endured the tearing pain and stood up.

“Is it true that you are one in spirit as a couple? Well, it’s true that it might be disadvantageous to fight now. But it won’t be for free.”

Yeonbi looked at Ye-cheong with determined eyes.

“What absurd confidence!”

Who would dare to be so confident in front of Na Baekcheon, the leader of the Murim Alliance, and his wife, Bingwolseonja Ye-cheong? And at that, in such a state of physical exhaustion.

“I hear that often.”

“Are you really not going to give up?”

“Give up? That’s a word I don’t know. What does that mean?”

Yeonbi asked, showing no intention of learning.

“I don’t dislike a defiant girl like you. But I will do what a mother must do.”

Ye-cheong declared. At that moment, Na Yerinn rushed forward, spread her arms wide, and blocked Yeonbi.

“What are you doing, Yerinn?”

Ye-cheong asked in surprise at her daughter’s unexpected actions. She had never rebelled against her parents before. In fact, this couple had been the only reliable beings in Na Yerinn’s world. She had never disobeyed her mother, Ye-cheong, in particular. Na Yerinn shook her head and exclaimed.

“Stop it!”

“Are you saying you’re going to defy your mother’s will?”

Ye-cheong shouted, her voice filled with anger at the unexpected defiance.

“……”

Na Yerinn did not answer. That was an unspoken reply.

“Yerinn, surely you’re not…”

Na Yerinn, her resolve firm, said.

“This time, I cannot obey you. Mother, Father, please forgive your unfilial daughter. I will go to the tournament with Yeonbi. No matter what you say, my decision will not change!”

Na Yerinn stated her will in a clear voice.

“Why!”

Ye-cheong’s furious roar erupted. Why couldn’t she understand her parents’ hearts?

“Yeonbi didn’t seduce me. I chose the tournament myself. I understood everything and made the decision of my own free will. Therefore, I will see my decision through.”

“Are you defying your mother’s command? Are you driving a dagger into the hearts of those who raised you?”

Ye-cheong interrogated, unable to control her escalating emotions.

“Thank you for raising me. However, I am no longer the crying child I was back then. I am an adult now. I will choose my own path.”

“Why are you going to such lengths? Is it because of that child? What is that child to you?”

Ye-cheong shouted, pointing at Yeonbi.

“Yeonbi is my friend! My most precious friend!”

Na Yerinn answered without hesitation.

“Friend?”

“Yes, a friend.”

Ye-cheong’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words. She had never heard her daughter refer to anyone as a precious friend before. She hadn’t known she considered anyone a friend besides her trusted sister Dok-go Ryeong and her playful younger sibling, Lee Jinseol. Just as Ye-cheong was momentarily flustered.

“Father, Mother, please accept my bow.”

Suddenly, Na Yerinn bowed deeply in front of Ye-cheong and Na Baekcheon. Then, without lifting her head, she said.

“Thank you for everything. I will not forget your kindness. However, Ryuyeon told me something. He said that only human parents would try to cage a bird that flies on its own and shackle it. But no matter what kind of parents one has, the greatest filial piety a child can show is to leave the nest and show that they can soar into the high heavens on their own. I have wings that you two have given me. I was able to grow strong wings under your protection. So now, I will leave the nest and fly with my own wings. Please grant me your permission.”

“Will you truly leave the nest? Will you take responsibility for the harsh fate that lies before your path?”

“I have learned that only one’s self can forge one’s own destiny.”

“I knew there would come a day when I would let you fly. But I didn’t think that day would be today.”

A single tear flowed down Ye-cheong’s eyes. Her heart was filled with pain, joy, and loneliness, so she couldn’t tell what emotion she was experiencing.

“It hurts. But if that is your path, you must go your way. How can we, with our parental desires, obscure the blue sky before you? Fly, my daughter. High! Soaring! To places beyond our reach! Beyond the reach of our wings!”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Na Yerinn’s bowed shoulders trembled slightly, and teardrops like crystals trickled down her jade-like cheeks.

This was Na Yerinn’s declaration of independence, her decision to stand alone as a human being, a martial artist, and a woman.

Thus, the girl grew a little more into an adult.