Book 27 Chapter 17

The one who commands the wind

—And the new party

"N, no way…"

The delegation from Chunmu Academy, including Yong Cheon-myeong and Ma Ha-ryeong, were so shocked by the sight they had just witnessed that they couldn't even speak properly.

Is this even possible for a human body? Could they be dreaming right now?

Yong Cheon-myeong had a memory of seeing a similar phenomenon before. It was at Hongmaegok, at the Hwasan Branch Meeting, where he was humiliated.

Of course, it wasn't a pillar of water like it was now. It was a pillar of flame that blazed as if to burn the sky. Yong Cheon-myeong could never forget that sight, which was burned into his eyes like a brand.

Later, he was astonished to learn that this feat was accomplished by the hands of only one person.

And he marveled. He was even more impressed when he heard that the person was a young master of similar age to him. However, he never learned the person's true identity in the end. He couldn't help but admire his humility, achieving the great feat of saving everyone who participated in the Hwasan Branch Meeting without seeking recognition.

The nickname given to that person was…

Yong Cheon-myeong's gaze turned to Bi Ryu-yeon's face. Most of the Chunmu Academy delegation followed his gaze towards Bi Ryu-yeon.

Yong Cheon-myeong opened his mouth with a trembling voice. A nickname flowed from it.

"Divine Wind Hero (神風俠)…"

Only then did people realize that the person they called and revered as the Divine Wind Hero was the very person they had mocked as "Good Fortune Strike Gold."

Bi Ryu-yeon, who had been enduring the unexpected cold rain, concealing his sorrow deep within his heart, looked around the quiet surroundings after a long while.

"Why so quiet? Has everyone lost their tongues?"

The deck was submerged in silence due to the shocked people. Everyone was astonished by what had just happened around them.

"Is it all over now?"

Namgung Sang quickly nodded.

"Really?"

Bi Ryu-yeon's body collapsed on the spot.

It was because all his energy had been consumed by using the Wind God technique. As he collapsed, a pale hand reached out from behind and caught him in surprise. The owner of the jade-like hand was none other than Na Ye-rin. Na Ye-rin carefully laid Bi Ryu-yeon, who had collapsed into her arms, on the floor.

"Ryu-yeon, are you okay?"

A voice full of concern softly echoed in his ears.

Ah, it's soft.

Ah, it's cozy.

A subtle and soft fragrance tickled his nose.

The touch of soft, flowing silk tickled his cheek.

He found himself lying with his head in Na Ye-rin's lap.

He tried to look at her face, but he couldn't see it clearly.

His eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, pressing down on his vision.

Blink, blink. Nod, nod.

Overwhelming sleepiness poured down with fatigue.

Before he could even fully savor the accomplishment of successfully executing the Wind God technique, sleep was stealing his consciousness.

He was surprised that he still had consciousness after using the Wind God technique.

'Is it because I succeeded in subduing the Left Water Dragon?'

But even that level of achievement wouldn't be enough to block this sleepiness. He was sleepy. Terribly sleepy.

'Is it all over now?'

There would be no more pursuit, right?

So, he could finally sleep with peace of mind, right?

Whether he slept with peace of mind or not, he intended to sleep anyway…

*Bang! Bang!*

At that moment, accompanied by an explosion that sounded like an auditory hallucination from afar, a small boat flew towards them at the speed of wind. The boat wasn't moving on the lake but was almost skipping on the surface like a skipping stone.

On board were a silver-haired young man and a slender-looking boy, who were the captain of the Sixth Unit, Mu-myeong, and the vice-captain, the Swift Sword Boy, Jang So-ok.

*Clang!*

Dozens of swords were pointed at Mu-myeong.

Bi Ryu-yeon, who was forced to regain his senses due to the urgent situation, couldn't help but laugh as soon as he opened his eyes.

'What to do?'

Bi Ryu-yeon knew well that even if they attacked him as a group, they couldn't match him. But he couldn't just let himself be captured either. One thing was certain: he had no strength left to fight.

To face the most terrifying enemy in such a situation.

*Sip!*

Even the great Bi Ryu-yeon couldn't help but feel trapped in a dilemma.

"What are you guys doing? Drawing your weapons so menacingly? Put them away quickly."

Mu-myeong didn't seem to understand their actions. Bi Ryu-yeon's group also didn't understand Mu-myeong's actions.

"…"

Bi Ryu-yeon sat up from Na Ye-rin's embrace and couldn't help but scoff and ask again.

"What do you mean? Weren't you here to capture us?"

"No, why would I do such a thing?"

"Because you're a captain of the Thirteen Units of Machaeon."

At this moment, they must have received an order to hunt them down from Machaeon Pavilion. Therefore, as a captain of Machaeon Pavilion, he should have the duty to kill or capture them on sight.

"Ah, don't worry about that. I'm on vacation right now."

"Vacation?"

He wasn't sure if that was a problem that could be solved by such a thing, but it seemed to be the end of it for Mu-myeong.

"Yeah, on vacation. It's my first vacation in a hundred years."

If his memory served him right, it was also a vacation he had hardly used in the past hundred years.

"N, no way! Are you serious about what you said earlier?! No, putting that aside, you haven't even submitted a leave request yet!"

Jang So-ok, who had been nervously standing beside him with a pale face, interjected in shock.

"I did. A leave request. With paid leave. You saw it too, So-ok?"

Upon hearing that, Jang So-ok's face turned pale for a moment.

"No way, just in case I'm asking, are you talking about that… 'scrap of paper' you just carelessly threw on the Chief's desk, Captain?"

"Uh, that."

Mu-myeong nodded obediently.

"I submitted two, one for you and one for me. I did well, right?"

Jang So-ok's head drooped so much it looked like it might snap off.

"What did you write on it?"

"Well…"

A look of utter misery slowly began to spread across Jang So-ok's face. It was a misery bordering on despair. What could have made this boy sink into such a miserable state?

He remembered. He remembered what Mu-myeong had scrawled on that scrap of paper.

Mu-myeong: Taking extended leave with paid leave. Do not look for me.

Jang So-ok: Following him. Same as above.

After scribbling those two lines, he had just thrown it away and rushed over. Moreover, the vacation spot was right next to the intruders who had infiltrated Machaeon Pavilion, which was incredibly surprising. What's more, a bigger problem remained. Although he claimed to have submitted a leave request, it hadn't been approved yet.

'Will that leave request even be approved?'

Regardless of whether So-ok was tearing his hair out, Bi Ryu-yeon continued his question.

"Congratulations on your long-awaited paid leave. But why are you on this boat? Wouldn't it be better to take a different boat if you were going on vacation?"

"No, why would I take a different boat?"

"Why? Of course, you should, your destination is different!"

"Don't worry. Our destinations are the same."

"……?"

What the heck was this guy rambling about? Bi Ryu-yeon was so tired right now that he was dozing off, so he couldn't think clearly. But a vague sense of foreboding plagued him.

"I intend to spend my vacation with you."

Mu-myeong said, looking straight at Bi Ryu-yeon.

His eyes seemed to say, 'Especially with you.'

"It's your vacation, isn't it? Thank you, but we'll decline. We'll drop you off at the nearest proper pier, so please change your destination at your leisure."

"No, you don't have to decline. Everywhere else is boring. My interest is solely in you."

"That's not a very pleasant confession. I'm not into men."

"It doesn't matter how you feel. What matters is how I feel."

"……"

It was an attitude that didn't care how Bi Ryu-yeon felt. It was a refreshingly hellish feeling to be on the receiving end of such treatment. This person seemed to be quite self-centered, not losing to him.

"What do you want?"

To Bi Ryu-yeon's question, Mu-myeong answered without hesitation.

"A duel (勝負) with you!"

Na Ye-rin surrounded Bi Ryu-yeon with a slightly wary gaze. Bi Ryu-yeon's head began to ache more and more.

"Why are you so obsessed with a duel? You don't seem like the type to be obsessed with such things."

Mu-myeong had a detached air about him. The outcome of a duel didn't seem that important to him.

"A duel with you has meaning. I have a strange feeling that it will make me complete."

For Mu-myeong, he had no intention of letting go of the only clue he had to his lost memories.

'He won't get off even if I ask him to, will he?'

He wished he would get off now, but he didn't seem to have any intention of jumping into the middle of Dongting Lake. On the other hand, they lacked the strength to force him off the boat.

"For that reason, I'll be by your side for a while, so don't talk nonsense."

The conversation ended there.

"It seems I've got a strange lump attached to me…"

A sigh that was unlike Bi Ryu-yeon's escaped his lips. He had a feeling that the lump wouldn't fall off as easily as he thought.

"Then, Ye-rin… I'll take a short nap."

"Yes, sleep well, Ryu-yeon."

Bi Ryu-yeon laid his head on Na Ye-rin's lap again and fell asleep. Having expended so much energy, he could no longer resist the overwhelming sleepiness. For now, he had to be satisfied with the fact that Mu-myeong's presence didn't seem to be an immediate threat.

"It looks like it's going to be a long vacation."

Mu-myeong shouted with his chest puffed out, watching the receding fog.

His lips were filled with a smile of anticipation for the days ahead.

On the other hand, on the faces of Namgung Sang and the others, who had finally lowered their guard, only vigilance floated.