Book 25 Chapter 13

The Nightmare Reappears

-A Creaking Wound

She was afraid.

She hadn't been this afraid since that night nine years ago. The old wound, thought to be healed, was creaking open. Through the gap, an unbearable terror leaked out, corrupting her mind. It felt as if thousands, tens of thousands of centipedes were invading her soul.

Her hands and feet froze, her tongue stiffened. She couldn't even utter a single word.

I've trained so hard, shedding blood and sweat… Was all my training up to now in vain?

Simply by the presence of that being before her eyes, she was seized by terror.

She tried to summon her internal energy in a fit of desperation, but it wouldn't move. A sense of helplessness, as if her body were empty, washed over her. Hadn't she strived so hard to shake off that nightmare?

"Are you afraid?"

Na Yerim shook her head fiercely, as if to deny it. But her hands, clenched so tight they were turning bluish, and her pale complexion were impossible to hide. Despite her efforts to suppress, restrain, and endure, her body trembled faintly, as if it hadn't forgotten the wound and terror of the past. Seeing this, the man in red clothes smiled with satisfaction.

"Good! Very good!"

His eyes, as he looked at Na Yerim trembling like a small, rain-soaked bird, filled with pleasure and excitement.

'What a sweet pleasure this is…'

A dazzlingly bloomed, pure white beauty, incomparable to nine years ago, and within it, spreading black terror.

"Hehehe, it is truly delightful to see an opponent who feels fear and dread towards themselves. Because it allows me to confirm my own strength. It allows me to confirm, more than anything, that I stand in the position of a master. Tremble more, cower more. Won't you make me happier by dropping that small, snow-white puppet? I can't stand it any longer, waiting to hear the song of your despairing fear. Struggle more, before me."

Na Yerim snapped back to her senses at the madness-filled voice.

*Clench!*

Her trembling suddenly stopped. She realized that the more she feared, the more he rejoiced. He wanted her to fall into terror and tremble even more. He wanted her to wail in despair, just like that stormy night nine years ago.

Na Yerim looked at him with sharp, rage-filled eyes. Her gaze, which had been avoiding his just moments before, now met his directly. Her body no longer trembled.

*Drip, drip.*

Drops of blood, like crimson jade, flowed down the corner of Na Yerim's mouth. She had bitten her tongue to expel the trembling and fear from her body.

"Tsk tsk. What violent behavior for a young lady."

Na Yerim's eyes spoke clearly. She was shouting that if he tried anything foolish, if he dared to harm her, she would bite her tongue immediately.

Seocheon lightly clicked his tongue.

"Well, fine. Watching you struggle desperately is another form of entertainment. But you don't need to be so wary. It hasn't even begun yet. Hehehe."

"What do you mean by that?"

Na Yerim spoke for the first time. Remaining silent could also be interpreted as her fearing him.

He chuckled lightly and said,

"Hehe, what do you think? I'll be generous and tell you. It means that the kind of thing you're thinking of won't happen right now."

Na Yerim's face turned slightly red. But she quickly regained her composure.

"How can I believe you?"

A cruel, greedy smile slowly spread across Seocheon's lips like a potent poison. A dark flame of cruel, twisted desire blazed in his eyes. Just by feeling that immense, twisted desire up close, Na Yerim felt nauseous and her body stiffened. Even though her internal energy was sealed, her senses were still functioning normally. But in this case, that fact acted as a deadly poison to her. To feel his malice so directly was the same as being exposed to a potent venom. For her, who was undefiled, it was too fatal.

"Hehehehe. I shall make a prophecy."

He seemed to derive great pleasure from toying with this trembling woman.

"You will strip yourself before me and prostrate yourself in submission! And you will pledge to become my servant and obey me."

Na Yerim's face flushed with shame in an instant, then exploded.

"Are you toying with me? Such a thing will never happen, never! Even if it means my life is cut short! Such a thing will not happen."

He was unfazed by Na Yerim's vehement denial.

"Hehehe. Is that so? You are spirited now, but what about later? Will you still maintain such a brazen and arrogant attitude then? It is a delightful amusement to watch someone's steadfast will crumble."

"You will never break my will. My soul will never surrender to you."

Heh, Seocheon laughed. The dark flame flickering in his eyes intensified.

"We shall see. I will bring you despair. Endless despair! Your comrades and younger siblings will die one by one, and your mother will be violated before your eyes. And your utterly hateful, hypocritical father will be torn into a thousand pieces by my hand and die a gruesome death. Hahahaha! Will you still be so arrogant and spirited then? I am eager to see how far your weak soul can endure that despair. Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Upon hearing his madness-filled declaration, Na Yerim's face turned ashen as if made of wax. Her heart felt frozen. A chilling cold enveloped her entire body.

'He's crazy. He really is crazy.'

That's why his words were sincere. He truly intended to do it. And he probably possessed the power to do so. For the past ten years, he had been a vengeful spirit blinded by revenge. That cruel demon had been preparing for ten years to destroy those who hated him and had cast him out. It would surely not be a light matter. Especially now, when she was far from the territory of the Cheonmang Alliance.

'He's serious. He really intends to do it!'

That twisted, dark madness took on a clear form in her eyes. It was already a monstrous beast. That beast was now trying to devour and destroy her precious things.

'I have to stop him somehow!'

Her heart grew anxious.

'But how?'

What could she do in this captive state? She was practically a hostage right now. Far from stopping the situation, she could worsen it.

Na Yerim quietly placed her tongue between her neatly aligned teeth.

'If I'm here, I'll just be a burden to everyone.'

The most dangerous weapon right now could be herself. If she became a fatal weakness, leading to an irreversible event, she didn't think she could bear it.

'If I die like this…'

At least she wouldn't become a weapon. She slowly increased the pressure of her teeth.

"…"

But she couldn't bite through in the end. It was because the face of Bi Ryuyeon, who came to mind at the last moment, stopped her. That face seemed to tell her not to give up.

'I still want to live!'

She wanted to meet Bi Ryuyeon again alive.

'I still have things to do. Things I want to do. I can't collapse here! Ryuyeon always said it. Don't give up! Don't cast away all possibilities in your world. Grasp those possibilities until the very end. The impossible exists to become possible. So, let's not give up. Let's trust him. Let's trust my proud parents. And let's trust my friend Yeonbi.'

The faces of Yeonbi and Bi Ryuyeon simultaneously came to mind. Then, somehow, she felt strength. She began to sharpen her weakening will again.

'I can't lose here. I can't show weakness here. If I do, I'll only make him happier. I must not do that!'

Na Yerim lifted her bowed head sharply.

"Then I shall make a prophecy as well."

"Interesting. Let's hear it."

"He will surely come to save me. And he will never lose to someone like you. He will save me just like he saved me from terror in Hwangmadong. Your insignificant prophecy will be shattered by his hand."

As she heard her prophecy, a menacing smile spread across his lips. His eyes glittered with madness.

"Him? You mean that braggart brat named Bi Ryuyeon? I heard he caused trouble and couldn't even come to Macheongak? Will he run hundreds of miles from Cheonmu Academy to save you? It will take at least a month, won't it? Do you think you can stay intact until then? Hahahaha! What a funny joke."

"No, you don't know Ryuyeon! Breaking common sense is his specialty. He will appear this time too, breaking your common sense. And it's not just him. There's Yeonbi. There's Jinseol too. And many others. The colleagues from Cheonmu Academy will also never stand idly by your atrocities."

All she could do now was trust her colleagues.

"Did you think I would bother with such insignificant nobodies? To defeat me, you'd need at least one of the Cheonmu Samsung, not those nobodies. That would make a story, wouldn't it?"

"And there are Father and Mother. They will never forgive you!"

When Na Baekcheon's name was mentioned, a flash of menace glinted in his eyes.

"Heh, even that righteous hypocritical leader of the Murim Alliance is no longer my enemy."

He boasted in an extremely arrogant tone.

"Father will never lose to a mere ruffian like you."

*Slap!*

He slapped her across the cheek. Na Yerim's head snapped to the side. Her skin, as white as melted pearls, turned red. He slowly turned her head back and gently began to stroke her cheek with his left hand. Then, in a very affectionate voice, he said,

"You should choose your words more carefully, my dear niece. You should consider your situation a little more. You wouldn't want to be dragged around like a dog, would you? My patience is as vast as the sea, but don't test its limits too much. I detest that. Understand?"

Every time his hand brushed against her cheek, it felt like a snake licking her skin, sending shivers down her spine. But now, she could do nothing. This made her furious. Rage boiled within her. Anger welled up.

"I will let you bear my child. Be happy. You will raise my successor. And later, you will become the mother of the next ruler of the martial world. Consider it an honor. Hahaha. Hahaha!"

He threw his head back and burst into laughter.

"It will never happen as you wish!"

Na Yerim shouted, her will unbroken.

"Let's see whose prophecy comes true, yours or mine. That will also be an interesting amusement. But first, I must punish you for being rude to your master."

His hand slowly caressed Na Yerim's pale cheek once more, then slid down past her chin, along her exposed white neck. Just as his hand was about to go past her collarbone, a loud bell sound echoed from afar. Seocheon's movement stopped abruptly.

"This sound…"

It was clearly an emergency bell. And a top-tier emergency at that. There was no mistaking it.

"Faster than I expected."

He hesitated for a moment and removed his hand.

"Alas, there is still plenty of time. I have no intention of rushing to taste everything. That would be a terrible waste. Such exquisite delicacies before my eyes! If I devour them all at once, I may feel momentary joy, but that sweetness and ecstasy will be too short-lived! It is truly regrettable."

Such a thing was unacceptable to him. It was an opportunity seized after nine years. He had to use it fully. Even to maximize its value, he decided to hold back for now.

"Slowly, slowly, peeling away one layer at a time, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head, I will savor every bit of you. There is still plenty of time. So, I will not be impatient. I will not fret. To pass the time, I will deal with your friends. Seeing your heart filled with despair, tears overflowing in those jewel-like eyes, will also be a spectacular sight."

Just imagining it sent a tingling thrill down his spine. Ah, how he longed to see that sight as soon as possible.

"I will remove everything you hold dear, one by one. I am already ecstatic thinking of the pain that will be etched into your heart with each removal. I want to see it soon. See you writhe in pain. See you tremble in anger and glare at me with hateful eyes. In the end, your pride and will will crumble like a sandcastle. Then, you will kneel before me and bow your head. And in the end, your body and mind will be entirely mine! Hahahaha, Hahahaha!"

His laughter echoed resoundingly throughout the room. He soothed the dark desires raging within him, waiting for the moment to taste the ultimate delicacy. To savor the ultimate gourmet, one must also have the patience to endure and wait. He was perfectly willing to endure it.

"I am already looking forward to that moment. Now, shall we begin the hunt?"

Only after his figure disappeared beyond the door a moment later could Na Yerim finally exhale the breath she had been holding. Her legs and body went limp. Perhaps due to the immense mental strain, her throat felt parched, and her body heavy. The sheer malice made her feel like vomiting. She felt like collapsing. Her long-held will felt like it was crumbling like a sandcastle.

'Dark, frightening, terrifying…'

The viscous, cruel smile on his lips and his piercing, serpentine eyes were sharp and chilling, as if they intended to dissect her entirely.

The beast named fear was slowly suffocating her. Like a beast tearing off pieces of flesh, it was gnawing away at Na Yerim's innocent soul, bit by bit. Could she endure this nightmarish terror? She wasn't sure. To prevent her mind from collapsing, Na Yerim curled up and hugged herself.

"Ryuyeon…"

She called his name, but no answer returned.

This was hell.

* * *

"As expected, he has no intention of letting us go easily."

Jang Hong's premonition proved correct. It was unlikely that only those two were guarding the main gate. Over thirty guards blocked their path. However, Bi Ryuyeon had no intention of subduing the main gate.

"Let's finish this quickly and go."

"Okay!"

A number slightly more than double theirs couldn't block their path. Bi Ryuyeon didn't step forward directly, just made a slight gesture with his chin. With that small gesture, the Jujakdan members understood what they had to do.

Excluding Namgung Sang and Jin Ryeong, who were still injured, four members of the Jujakdan stepped forward. Namgung Sansan and Hyeonun took the lead, with Noh Hak and Dang Sam supporting from behind. There was confidence that they didn't need to deploy everyone.

The Thunderclap Sword Technique unfolded from Namgung Sansan's hand, the Wudang's Mysterious Sword from Hyeonun's, the Beggar's Sect's Staff Technique from Noh Hak's, and the Dang Family's assassination techniques from Dang Sam's. Their skills, further honed by Bi Ryuyeon, now contained immense power.

The guards, with their mediocre skills, were no match for them. The fact that there wasn't a single death was proof of this. It would have been impossible without an overwhelming difference in skill.

"H-How can this be… The guard force was annihilated by only four people…"

They seemed unable to believe that nearly thirty guards had been subdued in the blink of an eye by just four people. However, in the midst of this, one of the guards completed his mission. That was to alert the entire Macheongak of the intruders' presence.

*Ding ding ding ding! Ding ding ding ding ding!*

The urgently ringing emergency bell carried on the wind throughout Macheongak. As expected, they wouldn't let them go quietly.

How long had it been since an emergency bell rang here? Macheongak, which had not experienced any situations worthy of an emergency in a long time, today rang a top-tier emergency bell after more than a decade. The fact that such a situation could not be prevented, the very fact that the bell rang, was already a humiliation for Macheongak. The strongest latent power in the dark path, the giant of Macheongak, had awakened. And the giant would now consider its response. However, there was no sign of agitation on Bi Ryuyeon's face as he walked forward. It was different from composure. It was…

"Ryuyeon, wait a moment!"

Jang Hong called out to Bi Ryuyeon. Bi Ryuyeon, without stopping his walk, replied,

"Why?"

He meant that if they had something to say, they should say it without stopping.

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"On purpose? What?"

"Don't play dumb. This commotion. It's strange. Knowing that the emergency bell would ring, you just let it happen. It's not like you. And that expressionless face of yours now. That's not composure. It's not that you're expressionless because you're composed."

"Then?"

"It's because you're expressionless because the situation unfolded according to your plan. In other words, everything was within your calculations. Am I wrong?"

"Yes."

Bi Ryuyeon readily admitted it.

"What is the reason? Why cause such a large commotion? There must have been ways to enter quietly, but this has only complicated matters."

"To protect Yerim."

Bi Ryuyeon's words were short but carried heavy meaning.

"To protect Lady Na? From what?"

This time, Bi Ryuyeon retorted with a sharp tone.

"Surely you're not calmly thinking that that bastard won't do anything to her?"

"Th-That's…"

Na Yerim had already fallen into the enemy's hands. And she was beautiful.

"I know what kind of person he is. He's someone who will stop at nothing, no matter how vile. His very existence is a harm to Yerim. He is someone who deserves to be eliminated from this world. Just the fact that he is close to her now drives me mad. I have to get him away from her somehow. He must not be near her! He cannot defile her!"

"What does that have to do with this commotion, Ryuyeon?"

Hyorong still seemed not to understand. However, Jang Hong seemed to have caught on.

'Could it be, he thought that far…'

Bi Ryuyeon continued,

"He must be a high-ranking official of Macheongak!"

Bi Ryuyeon said in a clear voice.

"What do you mean…"

Jang Hong interrupted Hyorong's bewildered speech.

"I'll explain the rest. In other words, it's like this. How many years has it been since an incident of this magnitude occurred?"

"Well, it wouldn't have happened in at least ten years, right?"

Except for one incident. And that was an internal problem, not an external invasion.

"Yes. In other words, this means it's an unprecedented emergency. It means the high-ranking officials cannot afford to be idle."

Now Hyorong was starting to understand.

"So, you're saying that to keep those high-ranking officials busy?"

"Yes. I think he's at least a captain-level or higher. He's old, and his martial arts skill wouldn't be lower than that. Otherwise, he'd have little authority and limited actions. I think he's either one of the thirteen captains of Macheongak or the Macheongakju."

"No way…"

Hyorong seemed reluctant to believe Bi Ryuyeon's deduction.

"However, I haven't heard of the Macheongakju changing in the last hundred years. That means…"

Jang Hong chimed in,

"He must definitely be one of the thirteen captains of Macheongak!"

"How can you be so sure? Of course, the thirteen captains of Macheongak are strong. But high-ranking officials aren't just the Macheongakju. There are also protectors and the Elder Council."

"No, I think he's one of the thirteen captains."

"Why?"

"Because only the captains can freely build their own forces within Macheongak. He is someone who has always dreamed of revenge against Na Baekcheon, the leader of the Murim Alliance. It's hard to believe that such a person would have done nothing for the past nine years without building his own forces."

"But what if that's not the case?"

"Then we'll have to go after the rest of the Elder Council or the protectors one by one."

"Isn't that too reckless?"

"There is another reliable indicator."

"What is it?"

"Instinct."

"Instinct?"

"Yes, my gut feeling tells me it's one of them. That damn one-armed bastard."

"One-armed?"

"Yes, he's one-armed. So, I'll find him easily when I see him. Whether he's one of the thirteen captains or a member of the Elder Council. We've already annihilated the guard force, and with this much commotion, wouldn't everyone convene an emergency meeting? If anyone doesn't attend, they'll be the most suspicious ones."

He needed to shake things up significantly to broaden his scope of action. He couldn't give the enemy any room to act otherwise. Binding the evil wretch's attention here, to themselves, was Bi Ryuyeon's objective. He needed to buy time.

"But Ryuyeon, that's a bit strange."

"What is?"

"There's no one among the thirteen captains of Macheongak who is one-armed."

Jang Hong's expression became very surprised. And when he thought about it again, he hadn't heard any information about a one-armed master among the thirteen captains of Macheongak. And the same was true for the Elder Council. However, Bi Ryuyeon didn't seem bothered at all.

"Of course. Because he is one-armed, yet not one-armed."

"What does that mean?"

Jang Hong found Bi Ryuyeon's words like a riddle, not easily understood.

"You'll know when you see him directly."