Book 24 Chapter 6

Kind Jinryeong

- A Battle of Wind and Thunder

"To think I would come to love something other than my sword!"

For Jinryeong, it was a miracle. She never dreamed she would fall in love with a man. In the past, like most girls, she considered men to be dirty and useless beings. She couldn't understand the psychology of other girls who liked such barbarians who only knew how to fight, engage in violence, and boast of their strength.

"I am ordinary, and they are strange!"

She firmly believed that. But one day, she woke up to find she too had someone she loved. If miracles are what happen when the impossible occurs, then this was definitely a miracle. The man's name was Namgung Sang.

She was happy.

For the first time, she knew how happy it was to love someone. She was grateful to him for showing her this. He did not hesitate to fight her respected and revered aunt for her sake. To do this, he even endured the rigorous and terrible special training of his grand elder brother with a joyful (!) heart. They all dreaded that training, fearing death, yet he endured it for her. She was touched.

And he won.

It was the greatest gift he could give her. By overcoming the biggest hurdle, only one process remained. She believed that she, and he, both knew it. When would that day come? Jinryeong waited with a pounding heart for that day to arrive suddenly, in happiness.

But one day, her happiness shattered into pieces beyond the door that burst open. A scene unfolded before her that she thought she would never see. Unable to believe her eyes, Jinryeong quickly closed the door and turned away. What was he about to do? She didn't want to know. What about her waiting until now? Was he thinking even a speck about it now?

The happiness that had filled her heart drained away like the receding tide, and betrayal rushed in like a tidal wave.

Like most women, she vowed revenge.

In Jinryeong's eyes, the half-undressed clothes, the scattered silver hair, the revealed white shoulders, and the face of a man holding that clothing still flickered.

Gritting her teeth!

"I won't let you go, never."

Jinryeong fought like a demon. Great warriors, lured by the enormous sum of three hundred thousand nyang, stood in her way, but they could not withstand the sword of Ami, who had become a demonic sword. Even her aunt, the goddess Ami, Jin Solryeong, was astonished by her fearsome aura.

"I can't understand what's going on. That child is now wielding a sword like a Rakshasa heading for revenge."

However, Jin Solryeong was not suitable as an advisor at this moment. She too was a novice in such matters. And because she was a novice, Yu Eunseong, the foremost sword of the Wudang, who was suffering in silence, shook his head and added,

"For whatever reason, whoever they are, they are truly pitiful. To be the target of that terrifying sword."

Who was it, the pitiful one who touched what they shouldn't have? Whoever it was, it was probably a man. Whoever it was, their future seemed truly arduous. But fortunately, Jinryeong was not alone. She had colleagues and friends. Especially Maharyeong was now very enthusiastic about this matter and actively agreed.

"That's right. There's no need to let them off. Don't let them off. Men need to be taught a lesson. I'll cheer you on."

Perhaps due to sympathizing with a woman's resentment? The two were now on good terms. However, Jinryeong was currently in a very unfriendly state. So much so that she couldn't even properly accept her colleague's support.

"Miss Ma, be careful too. All men are wolves. All wolves… I want to eat wolf meat."

While Jinryeong herself was starving for wolf meat, Maharyeong was still doing well with Yong Cheonmyeong. Maharyeong knew it, and Jinryeong knew it. That's why it was even sadder. There was no one who could understand her feelings right now.

"Are you okay, Jinryeong? You look unwell."

Namgung Sansan asked in a cautious tone. She, too, had been deeply betrayed by her younger brother and decided to help Jinryeong in her punishment.

"Of course, I'm fine. I'm fine… I'm fine. This is nothing."

In truth, Jinryeong wasn't seeking understanding now. All she desired was revenge. Namgung Sansan's heart ached at her friend's appearance.

'Sang, you fool! You idiot!'

Namgung Sansan's tentative conclusion was that this situation was entirely caused by her shameless younger brother. Therefore, if she, as an older sister (even though they were twins!), did not punish him, the world's justice would not be set right. This was the match against Namgung Sang. The moment of the decisive battle to finally settle the accumulated resentment had arrived.

"I want to be kind. So, please get rid of me kindly."

A resolute will flickered in Jinryeong's eyes, and a suffocatingly dense killing intent emanated from her entire body, overflowing in all directions.

"Let's all be kind."

* * *

'Why?'

Namgung Sang couldn't understand. He couldn't comprehend why things had become so terribly twisted, no matter how hard he tried. And he suspected he would never understand. Or rather, frankly, he didn't even want to understand.

'I haven't done anything wrong, why?'

However, he was about to face a match for qualification in the semifinals, a match within the quarterfinals. Namgung Sang desperately needed the prize money of fifty thousand nyang to compensate for the money he lost gambling on the Jianghu Isle, and to do that, he absolutely had to finish in the top three in this tournament. With that wish, he even named his team 'Usury Liquidation'. Yet, fate cruelly placed not just anyone, but his most beloved lover, Jinryeong and her team 'Early Summer Frost', in his path like a mountain. The wings of burning anger were still flaring behind her, constantly flickering. It was clear with just a glance that she had no intention of backing down.

'You won't pass here peacefully unless you step over me!' she seemed to convey, and he wasn't the only one feeling that unspoken pressure. She was here to collect a debt of the heart, not a debt of cash.

'Why did things get so twisted? Why?'

Once again, the question fixed in a corner of his mind resurfaced, but again, he couldn't understand.

"Tsk tsk, why did you have to cheat like that?"

Yong Cheonmyeong, standing beside him, sighed and shook his head. The resentment felt even from dozens of paces away from the opposing camp. Moreover, while it was understandable that Namgung Sansan had a personal relationship, it was even more frightening that Maharyeong, with whom they had a bad relationship, was also lending a hand.

"Wh-who, who said I cheated?"

Namgung Sang stammered in agitation. He was already bothered by misunderstandings, and now his senior was provoking him right beside him; how could he maintain his composure? But Yong Cheonmyeong, as if he knew his thoughts, calmly said,

"It's you."

Yong Cheonmyeong's finger pointed precisely at Namgung Sang's heart. Namgung Sang's heart sank, and he shouted,

"I-it's a misunderstanding! Nothing happened, really, nothing!"

But Yong Cheonmyeong didn't seem convinced.

"Well, perhaps nothing happened then. But who knows? If someone hadn't barged in and opened the door 'with a bang!' then, who knows what might have happened? Can you guarantee that nothing happened then either? At that time, your posture left no room for excuses. Even Buddha said that if the mind is stirred, it is as if the act has already been done. Amitabha. Did you really not stir?"

His last words, annoyingly imitating a pseudo-Shaolin lay disciple, made him even more enraged. Furthermore, the constant emphasis on the word 'stirred' was clearly intended to tease him.

"Th-that's a stretch! Don't ask such strange questions. How do you know if my hand would have gone up or down then? You haven't been inside my mind, have you?"

"I can tell from experience! In such situations, most men's hands go down. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, Amitabha."

Yong Cheonmyeong chanted the Buddha's name softly, performing a respectful bow.

"Stop talking about form, form, form! I'm truly wronged. Besides, what does form is emptiness have to do with this form? Don't ruin good words by misusing them."

Of course, he didn't say that it had no relation and was completely different in meaning, but it was significant enough to be a source of teasing.

"But in reality, your words are not working on Miss Jin at all, are they?"

"Th-that's true, but…"

When he was hit so directly in his sore spot, he had nothing to say. But he didn't want to admit it just like that.

"And you talk about experience, experience. Aren't you also a virgin, Senior Yong? You're not persuasive."

Hearing that, Ryu Eunkyung, who had been silent, flushed crimson. Yong Cheonmyeong was no different.

"Wh-who, who are you calling a virgin? An-and what if I am a virgin? I-I am a disciple of Shaolin. It is natural to shun worldly desires."

Namgung Sang's eyes widened at his unexpectedly flustered reaction.

"You really… are a virgin."

It had actually been just a guess.

"Is that bad! What about you? Could it be that you…"

At that, Namgung Sang's face also flushed crimson.

"It's a secret."

He stammered. Then, both fell silent. They both realized that continuing the conversation would be digging their own graves. It took some time for the awkward atmosphere to dissipate. Yong Cheonmyeong spoke first again.

"You're intimidated by Miss Jin right now. I don't know if you can win this fight in your current state of mind."

"We must win. We have to repay the gambling debt. If we can't achieve the wish of usury liquidation, we're finished. Never mind me, but are you confident you can beat Miss Ma? You lost to her once before, didn't you?"

Perhaps due to the desire for revenge? Namgung Sang touched Yong Cheonmyeong's sore spot.

"Th-that's…"

Yong Cheonmyeong also seemed to have nothing to say about that matter. No matter what anyone said, it was a match with a clear winner and loser, and he had gained something precious instead of losing the match. Therefore, he had no regrets about it. However, since there was no room for excuses, the conversation between the two was interrupted again. After what felt like an eternity, Yong Cheonmyeong spoke first.

"Can we win?"

What came out of his mouth was a question, not a certainty. But Namgung Sang also had no certainty.

"Well… honestly, I don't have confidence."

Ryu Eunkyung, as the instigator of the incident, stood still without uttering a word. In any case, there was no escape from this fight. If so, they had to face it, whether they liked it or not.

'Should I say it or not?'

Namgung Sang pondered for a moment.

It could potentially tarnish Ryu Eunkyung's honor. But he couldn't *not* say it. The first participant in this match was Ryu Eunkyung. And from his feeling, her opponent was only one person.

"Miss Ryu's opponent will likely be Sansan."

"Her surname is also Namgung? Do you know her?"

"She is my twin sibling."

At that, Ryu Eunkyung was surprised for a moment.

"Concede."

After a moment of thought, Namgung Sang said what he wanted to say.

"Why? Because she's my sibling?"

Namgung Sang shook his head.

"Excuse me, but with your current skill, it will be difficult to defeat Sansan."

Namgung Sang said coldly.

"You said that the outcome of a match is only known by fighting. If I lose, I can at least tire her out."

Ryu Eunkyung replied without backing down.

"You could get hurt. She's always been the one who's worst at holding back. Besides, if Miss Ryu concedes, Sansan will also concede."

"How can you be sure of that?"

"We've lived together for over twenty years, we're siblings. I can tell that much. So, concede. No one will blame you. This match was originally a problem for me and Jinryeong to solve."

Of course, the one who caused the problem was Ryu Eunkyung standing in front of him.

"…"

Ryu Eunkyung looked back and forth between Namgung Sang and Namgung Sansan without any response. Then her gaze fixed on Namgung Sansan's face. Perhaps it was because they were twins? There were indeed many similarities between the two. Then her gaze moved slightly to the right. Jinryeong stood there. She was looking at the situation with fierce eyes, arms crossed. As if Ryu Eunkyung herself was not even in her sight, Jinryeong's gaze was fixed on Namgung Sang. Ryu Eunkyung's gaze returned to Namgung Sang.

"No."

Her unexpected answer blurted out. It was so unexpected coming from Ryu Eunkyung, who was always obedient and apologetic.

"I'll be back."

After quickly saying goodbye, she quickly walked away. In the center of the arena, Namgung Sansan was already waiting.

"Why didn't you?"

The first words from Namgung Sansan were a sudden question.

"What?"

Ryu Eunkyung, standing opposite, asked in bewilderment.

"Concede. I told you to."

She said with certainty.

"How did you know…"

Ryu Eunkyung, surprised, asked back.

"I can tell that much. Because…"

"Because you're twins?"

Ryu Eunkyung retorted.

"Right."

Namgung Sansan answered readily. She had always been the type to say whatever she pleased. Especially after being influenced by her grand elder brother, her condition worsened. However, her casual way of speaking was so natural that Ryu Eunkyung, hearing it, didn't feel particularly offended. It seemed to stem from her surprisingly easygoing personality. Moreover, she felt a strong liking for Namgung Sang because he was the sibling of the person who had offered her help.

"You're close siblings, aren't you?"

Although her mother was her biological mother, she always favored her younger brother, so there was an unbridgeable gap between her and her younger brother. Perhaps that gap would never be filled, for life.

Namgung Sansan burst into laughter, finding it amusing.

"If you say that to that guy, he'll throw up!"

"Is it that funny?"

Still clutching her stomach, tears welling up, Namgung Sansan nodded.

"Yes, incredibly!"

Ryu Eunkyung couldn't understand what could make her laugh so hard her back bent. Namgung Sansan, having barely calmed her laughter, straightened her posture. The lightheartedness from before was gone, replaced by a subtle aura emanating from her entire body. That energy quietly pressed upon Ryu Eunkyung. Ryu Eunkyung, tense, swallowed dryly.

'Is this the skill of one of the Seven Peaks of Cheonmu Academy? Then that Jinryeong person is also at this level or higher!'

She couldn't imagine winning at all. The skill didn't seem to belong to someone her age.

"As a reward for making me laugh, I'll offer you again. Concede."

It was indeed a tempting offer. Ryu Eunkyung's mind, which had boasted loudly, wavered slightly. But she also had her own pride.

"No."

Ryu Eunkyung's answer remained unchanged.

"You're surprisingly stubborn?"

"This is the first time I've heard that. My master often tells me to be more confident, saying I'm always negative and timid."

Come to think of it, her habit of always interpreting every situation negatively was not in effect now.

"You'll be hearing that more often from now on."

Namgung Sansan said with a confident tone.

Clang!

"Then I have no choice."

Namgung Sansan quietly drew her sword.

"Be careful. That guy, Sang, gets beaten by me about once in three times."

Namgung Sansan warned. Ryu Eunkyung tensed. It was definitely not an empty threat. Just by looking at her standing with her sword drawn, she could tell. She was strong. And incredibly natural. There was no tension whatsoever. It was almost as if she was being disregarded. But that wasn't the case. Whether she was natural because she was strong, or strong because she was natural, she couldn't tell.

*Screech!*

Ryu Eunkyung also drew her sword. The sword rang with a sound like clear drops of water.

Though it was a short time, her sword had grown considerably in the past few days. Especially through intense practical combat, she had absorbed a significant portion of the sword techniques she had only known in form. She had grown. She even felt like she should be grateful to the person who had given her such a forceful command.

"You should be careful too."

As wind rose around Ryu Eunkyung's body, her silver hair danced and fluttered.

"Interesting."

Namgung Sansan grinned like a mischievous child who had found a fun toy.

Flick! Whoosh!

It looked like a slight movement of her wrist, but Sansan's sword flew towards her opponent like a whip. There was no special technique. Namgung Sansan's sword was thinner and lighter than Namgung Sang's, but it was much faster. At first, the speed of the sword, which could be blocked or dodged, gradually increased with each repetition. It was difficult to read the airflow due to the extreme speed of the attacks. However, Ryu Eunkyung did not allow any effective hits. With minimal movement, she evaded the onslaught of attacks. Without clashing swords or counter-attacking, she merely evaded. After swinging her sword three times without any success, Sansan stopped and tilted her head.

"How did you read it? The trajectory of my sword?"

"Through the wind."

Ryu Eunkyung answered briefly.

"That's an interesting ability."

Namgung Sansan seemed quite intrigued.

"All movements vibrate the air. Your movements are no exception."

It was a honed talent rather than a technique. She could move the air around her body to assist her movements or read her opponent's energy.

"Hmm, the movement of air… does that mean moving faster than the wind?"

At those words, Ryu Eunkyung exclaimed in surprise.

"That's impossible."

At the word "impossible," Namgung Sansan chuckled.

"You shouldn't say that in front of our grand elder brother."

"Why?"

"He'll make you experience hell. He likes to experiment by removing the 'im' from 'impossible' and turning it into 'possible' through hellish experiences."

She was not particularly interested in Namgung Sansan's grand elder brother, whom she had never met.

"What do you want to say?"

Namgung Sansan already knew what she wanted to say.

"Possible, a sword faster than the wind. That's what I wanted to say."

She was now saying she would wield her sword faster than the wind.

"Is that possible?"

"I told you, impossible exists to become possible. Our grand elder brother often says that."

As a descendant of the Namgung family, Namgung Sansan had also learned the family's unique Thunderclap Sword Technique. However, this Thunderclap Sword Technique was too fierce, emphasizing speed and power, and was not very suitable for women. If learned in the same way, women would inevitably fall behind men. This was an inherent problem, not discrimination.

But there was no need to despair just because it was different. Namgung Sansan did not falter due to the difference. Even if her strength was less than a man's, she had other advantages. Moreover, she had talent and keen observation. Instead of sacrificing power, she maximized speed. When one couldn't catch two rabbits, catching just one was better than starving completely. Once one mastered a technique to catch one completely, when another appeared before her eyes soon after, she wouldn't just stare blankly. Thus, her thunderclap, though thin in width, became as sharp and fast as a razor blade. It was capable of cutting falling hair and slicing suspended paper into dozens of pieces without creating any wind.

Ryu Eunkyung certainly possessed a level of skill far superior to others her age. However, such talented individuals were not rare at Cheonmu Academy. Furthermore, she and her friends had a different number of experiences thanks to someone unbelievable, someone who defied human common sense, the 'Grand Elder Brother.' If asked how many experiences, all of the Suzaku squad, including her, would answer in unison:

'Number of hell experiences!'

And they were ready to reveal to all what they had retrieved from the depths of hell at any time. As the thin sword blade vibrated fiercely, it let out a loud cry. But outwardly, her sword blade showed no sign of movement. A thread-like flash cut through the air.

No wind was felt.

Swoosh!

A few strands of thin silver hair fell to the ground in the stillness.

"How? Wasn't I right?"

Namgung Sansan said with a smile. Ryu Eunkyung couldn't utter a word. The chill of the sword blade, which had unexpectedly appeared at her neck, sent a chilling sensation through her thin skin.

"I lost."

"Yes, I lost."

"Will you surrender?"

"I will surrender."

Namgung Sang nodded, witnessing a scene that unfolded as expected.

"Did you expect this to happen?"

Yong Cheonmyeong asked in a nonchalant tone.

"Yes, the matchup was too unfavorable. It might have been better if Miss Ryu's opponent had been Miss Ma."

Though that might have led to a different kind of problematic situation.

"Well then, you should move aside now, right? It's not good for others to butt in when lovers are talking. Besides…"

"Besides?"

"Wise people don't go near marital disputes."

"Marital disputes? Are those two already married?"

Ryu Eunkyung asked in surprise. Namgung Sansan gave a wry smile as if to say, "Is that possible?" Then she replied,

"No. But it will likely happen soon, probably."

She omitted the part that it would only happen if Sang could survive this fight.

"Well, it wouldn't matter even if they were married."

Ryu Eunkyung muttered in a barely audible voice.

"What did you say?"

"No, it was just a monologue. Oh, what is the name of this technique?"

Looking at the sword that had cut through her wind barrier, Ryu Eunkyung asked.

"It doesn't have one yet."

This was a sword technique achieved not through the subtlety or versatility of the technique itself, but solely through Namgung Sansan's persistent training. Therefore, the technique did not yet have a name.

"Can I name it?"

"Hmm… okay."

"The sword that cut through the wind came like lightning, so how about 'Cutting Wind Flashing Thunder' (절풍섬뢰)?"

"Lightning flashing like cutting wind… It lacks a bit of elegance and is too masculine, but it's not a bad name. Thank you."

"Next time, I'll show you wind that cannot be cut even by a sword as fast as lightning."

It was an active stance that couldn't be seen in Ryu Eunkyung until now. Through this fight, some new will seemed to have arisen within her heart.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Then, after a moment of thought, she looked at Ryu Eunkyung again and said,

"Oh, speaking of which, I have one more thing to say?"

"What is it? Please tell me."

"You had good skills, and it was fun. How about it? Joining Cheonmu Academy?"

"M-me, Cheonmu Academy?"

Ryu Eunkyung, who had never expected such a proposal, widened her eyes and asked back.

"Yes, with your talent, you can definitely get in. Although you have to stay there for four years."

"Four years?"

"Of course, it's a dormitory system. Why, is it too long? Though four years may seem long, it passes quickly. You can visit home twice a year during holidays."

Visiting home? That was unnecessary. The part that made this offer so attractive to her was something else.

"No, too short! Ten years would be fine. I won't go back to that house again. Not until no one can look down on me!"

Ryu Eunkyung declared.

"Are you sure?"

Hearing that question, Ryu Eunkyung realized what she had been lacking. It was decisiveness to cut through her hesitation.

"Are you sure? Of course. I'm going to be independent now."

After all, she had nowhere to return to now. If so, as someone said, she could just be independent.

She was now a full-fledged adult. If she set her mind to it, she could live alone.

'Why didn't I think of this until now?'

When one contemplates a method, a solution emerges. How regrettable that was.

"The moment has finally arrived."

Jinryeong said, leaping to her feet. Determination flashed in her eyes.

"Can you win?"

Namgung Sansan asked. At this moment, she was not Namgung Sang's twin sibling, but Jinryeong's best friend. And she was cheering for her friend as a friend.

"Of course! My sword will prove it!"

Jinryeong replied in a tone without a hint of hesitation. Her anger had not subsided; rather, it was burning even stronger.

At that moment, the same question was being exchanged on the opposite side.

"Can you win?"

Yong Cheonmyeong asked in a quiet voice.

"If Senior had gone easy on Ling'er, I might have won."

Namgung Sang said with a slight hint of resentment.

"Do you really want me to have done that?"

Yong Cheonmyeong asked, looking directly into Namgung Sang's eyes. It was a silent indication to answer without hiding anything. After a moment of thought, Namgung Sang shook his head.

"No, perhaps it would have hurt more if you had."

"If you know that, you shouldn't say that, should you?"

"I'm sorry, Senior. But honestly, I'm scared to go out there."

He had no sense of what to do once he went out. Winning the fight wouldn't end this matter. This wasn't a problem that could be solved by suppressing it with force. Frankly, he didn't have the confidence to do so either. That's why he felt more frustrated.

After a moment of silence at his honest words, Yong Cheonmyeong spoke heavily.

"Um… actually, I'm scared too."

Then, he annoyingly added something he didn't have to.

"Don't die."

Namgung Sang sighed and replied.

"It's not comforting at all."

And later, he would realize that this fight certainly couldn't be solved by force. However, without force, the danger of dying in the blink of an eye lurked.

The air, which had settled as coldly as frost in early summer, felt terribly heavy.

"That's the legendary 'Duel of Lovers,' a great bloody battle passed down from ancient times. How exciting."

Yeonbi seemed to find the scene more interesting than terrifying. She seemed curious how a snowball rolled down a snowy mountain had swollen. To Na Yerim's question, "Is that so interesting?" Yeonbi answered without hesitation, "Of course!"

"Until now, that legendary bloody battle only happened between strangers, so it felt like someone else's business. As a result, side effects occurred. It didn't feel real. But since it's happening between people I know well this time, it feels real. I can empathize more. Who will win? My heart is pounding."

Yeonbi said with an excited and intriguing voice.

"I've always wondered who would win if those two fought. Today, I'll finally know the answer. But won't the fun be diminished if I know who wins in advance?"

"That's a valid point. But it's the instinct of warriors to try and analyze even when they know."

Na Yerim replied.

"Their skills are evenly matched. No, objectively speaking, Captain Goong Sang has a slight edge. But… Lin, you know well that objective physical strength isn't always the deciding factor of victory, right?"

A match is like a living thing that changes according to various variables.

"So, you mean it's unknowable?"

Yeonbi scratched her cheek again and pondered for a moment.

"Well. Perhaps the one with the stronger heart will win."

If so, the victor was already decided. Namgung Sang, standing before Jinryeong, was dejected like a prisoner being escorted to the execution ground.