Book 27 Chapter 9

The fight starts now.

—The Eye of Life and Death

The Eye of Life and Death.

It is said to be a pupil passed down like a legend, an eye that pierces through life and death. It is said that only those who have witnessed countless lives and deaths, millions, no, tens of millions and beyond, can obtain it, an eye that sees through all and penetrates the essence.

This was not an eye born with from birth. It is said that by crossing the crossroads of life and death thousands, tens of thousands of times, emptying the body at the brink of life and death and making the mind into nothingness, one can attain an eye that can face the essence of things, free from all concepts. An eye that only those who have attained enlightenment, transcending life and death, can obtain.

"No, that can't be."

Biryuyeon immediately denied his own speculation. That was something out of ancient legends. Yet, while denying it with his head, Biryuyeon could not take his eyes off Myeong-an.

Myeong-an's eyes were very peculiar. His deep, clear eyes seemed to gaze into an endless void. It felt as if all phenomena would be deconstructed by his unfathomably deep pupils.

Those who possess the Eye of Life and Death know no fear. This is because they have witnessed countless deaths with their eyes and crossed the boundary between life and death. To those who have attained the Eye of Life and Death, death was merely a phenomenon.

"I can't estimate him."

This was the most bothersome point as he faced Myeong-an. His capabilities were unreadable. The first thing Biryuyeon learned from his master was to properly gauge the opponent's capabilities.

In other words, estimating!

After all, a martial arts contest is a battle of strength against strength. Backgrounds might be convenient when acting in the martial world, but they are of little help in the moment of actual combat. This is especially true in a one-on-one duel. Only the sweat he has shed and the experience he has accumulated remain as truth.

Therefore, it was best to first estimate and understand the opponent.

Of course, the reason for estimating in Biryeomun was not to have an option to escape if the enemy was stronger. It was to defeat the opponent with the minimum cost by using the most efficient and appropriate techniques. But this Myeong-an, his capabilities were unestimable. Therefore, he had no idea how to fight, what level of power to use, or how much to use.

He couldn't even tell if the man was strong or weak. Nor did he feel any fear. Meeting an object he couldn't judge, his mind seemed to halt its movement. It was the first time he had felt this way since his master.

"That alone is enough reason to be cautious."

Biryuyeon let his arms drop naturally to his sides. At first glance, it might look like he was giving up the fight, but this was actually Biryuyeon's preparatory stance to go all out. When he couldn't figure something out, the only way was to give it his all. That was the safest path.

Myeong-an was satisfied.

In fact, killing all the intruders here would have been no big deal for him. It didn't matter much to him whether they lived or died. No, life and death themselves held no particular meaning for him. Life and death were simply part of the natural phenomena he had transcended. The only thing he had not yet transcended was 'memory.'

Therefore, the only thing that could pique his interest here was the duel with Biryuyeon, who had taken the woman he was holding away from him. And the technique he had shown at the end…

"What on earth was that technique?"

For some reason, the lightning-like technique he had just seen kept lingering in Myeong-an's mind, bothering him. A martial art that made him use both his arms. A unique martial art, so much so that he wondered if such a thing existed in the martial world. A martial art he had never seen in a hundred years. Yet, why did it seem familiar?

He wanted to know more, much more.

To do that, he needed to fight more.

Who was it that said that shock therapy was needed to recall memories? There was someone who said that once. He thought it was a doctor from the Fourth Division, but he wasn't sure if it was Bulrakguchuk.

So, when a strong person appeared, he would fight them. It wasn't bad to experience some shock, was it? However, it hadn't been very effective until now. Because winning was a given. But today, a human who slightly exceeded his predictions had appeared. Moreover, he had taken away what he wanted to protect…

That point stimulated his interest, which was rarely stirred.

"Be careful, Ryuyeon! Never let your guard down! Give it your all, your all!"

Hyoryong was trembling and looked quite anxious. Biryuyeon had never seen Hyoryong tremble like this before.

Hyoryong was burdened with worry. He had no intention of hiding his fear. To suddenly face the person he absolutely didn't want to meet and wanted to avoid was just bad luck. This was because the person before him was Bul-sa-sin Myeong-an, the captain of the Sixth Division. The monster of immortality from the Thirteen Divisions of Macheon, no, who had been there since the beginning of Macheon Pavilion.

Still, what could he do, now that they had met? There was no other way. The only things he could count on were Myeong-an's "fierceness" and "forgetfulness."

Before fighting, Biryuyeon had one question he couldn't help but ask.

"Why me, of all people?"

Why did he want to fight so much? Life and death seemed to hold no meaning for him, let alone money or fame.

"The other children are still not good enough. They are still far too immature to be my opponent."

Myeong-an had watched many students appear and disappear. Among them were those worth paying attention to, and those he couldn't bear to watch. Of course, he had also seen those hailed as geniuses by others.

"How many children do you think I've seen in my time as captain of this division?"

"Well, I'd say a heck of a lot."

"Yes, many were praised as geniuses. Geniuses usually appeared about once every four to five years. In extreme cases, there were those called geniuses or rare talents every year. But among them, very few etched their names in the martial world. Countless geniuses eventually became dullards and disappeared. They were erased from people's memories."

"That's truly unfortunate."

"Right, and it was most unfortunate that none of them caught my eye."

Though his statement was arguably arrogant, there was no pretense in Myeong-an's calm tone.

"But you are a bit different. You're not shining the brightest yet, but you still catch my eye like this."

"You talk as if you know a lot about me?"

While retorting, he inwardly flinched.

'Not shining the brightest yet… Does he know I'm not at my best?'

Indeed, he was an opponent who could not be taken lightly.

"That's impossible. I don't even know who I am, let alone you."

Biryuyeon frowned. What kind of riddle was this? He didn't want to have a pleasant conversation with a suspicious old man in this situation, but since he couldn't estimate him, he couldn't just charge in. In such cases, it was best to respond moderately and probe the opponent.

"What kind of riddle is that?"

"Do you remember your parents' faces?"

"Of course, I do."

"And the place you were born and grew up?"

"Yes. It was a village where everyone called me a genius."

"What about the person who taught you? Do you remember them?"

"I wish I could forget, but unfortunately, I remember. It's like I can't forget even if I want to."

Biryuyeon grumbled.

"Then you are lucky."

"You mean you misspoke the unlucky one."

Remembering his master vividly didn't feel particularly lucky. Come to think of it, if it weren't for his master, he might not have participated in the 500,000 yang competition, and this might not have happened. Getting caught on the martial world's radar was a mistake from the start.

"What do you think 'me' is?"

Myeong-an suddenly asked.

"Me? Why 'me' all of a sudden?"

Biryuyeon countered. It was a rather sudden question to ask before a fight.

"It's an important question. What makes a person know that they are themselves? There's no real basis, is there? It's not like this is 'me'."

"Pfft, you don't even know that?"

"Yes, I still don't know who I am. I've tried to know for decades, but it was all in vain."

"Do you have amnesia? Otherwise, you couldn't not know!"

Biryuyeon replied with an expression of utter disbelief.

"How did you know? That's right, I have what's called 'amnesia.' And it's severe. Therefore, memories of the past do not exist for me."

He had just said it as a guess, but hearing that it was true, even Biryuyeon was surprised.

"You really have amnesia?"

Myeong-an nodded. In fact, his story was so famous that everyone within Macheon Pavilion knew it. To add to that, a significant number, no, most people suspected that the cause of his memory loss was not amnesia but dementia. Some even spread rumors that it was a side effect of eating roasted dog meat that had foamed at the mouth and convulsed on the ground long ago.

"I have none of those memories. The faces and names of my parents, the village where I grew up, the master who taught me martial arts, even my name."

That was why his name was Myeong-an. Because he had no name, his name was 'Myeong-an (Unknown).'

He had used this name for a very long time. However, even after that distant time had passed, he was still a nameless person, Myeong-an. He still hadn't found his name, and therefore, he was wandering to find his name.

"Since when did you lose your memory?"

"Hmm… well, it seems to be about a hundred years ago."

"Hoho, you're joking."

Biryuyeon said, giving a thumbs up.

"I wish I were joking."

But unfortunately, it wasn't a joke.

"Do you know what it feels like to lose your sense of self?"

Biryuyeon shook his head.

"I don't know, I've never lost it since I became mature."

This remark caused outrage among some, but no one openly protested.

"It's… like standing on a platform with nothing to step on. Of course, I've accumulated new memories over a hundred years… But a tree without roots is not a tree in the end. Such a tree cannot bear fruit. Because it has already forgotten what it should bear."

"Like seedless fruit isn't fruit?"

"That's just being a eunuch."

Myeong-an replied curtly.

"Anyway, I have spent a hundred years searching for who I am. But I still haven't found it."

"You've searched for a hundred years and haven't found it? It's that simple?"

"Simple?"

Myeong-an retorted with a look that said if it were that simple, he wouldn't have wasted a hundred years.

"You don't know that? What I define as me is me."

Biryuyeon said it as if it were common sense.

"What I define as me is me?"

"Of course. Before being someone's son, someone's father, or someone's brother, it's deciding to live as someone and living that way. That's me."

Thrown into this world without any purpose, isn't it only oneself who can give meaning to that meaningless life?

"Isn't life originally started from a blank slate? Meaning can be made as you live."

"What if one can't become that person? Why, if one lacks the ability to become the person they want to be?"

"In that case, the effort to become that person would be that person."

"What I define as me…"

Myeong-an pondered for a moment and retorted.

"That definition is based on one's own experiences, right? That means it relies on memory."

"You could say that."

"As expected, I think I can only move forward after I know who I am and what I am. In order to define what I want to do and what I will become. Above all, something within me is tormenting me every day to find 'me,' to fully reclaim my incomplete self, and that's proof."

Seeing Myeong-an nod his head with a serious expression, Biryuyeon couldn't help but chuckle.

"Then you've gone back to the very beginning, haven't you? So, how are you going to find out who you are?"

"Actually, there's only one thing left for me, who has lost my memory. It's martial arts. Although I haven't been able to identify which sect's or whose martial arts my martial arts are, martial arts are the only clue for me, and that's why I want to fight strong people."

"Does fighting bring back memories?"

"Well, it's like, their strength feels like it could awaken something within me. But recently, there haven't been any opponents who give me that inspiration. So I was just sleeping, but today I met you. I have a good feeling about you. I feel stimulated just by facing you like this."

"My taste is normal, so please refrain from falling for me."

"Hahaha, you're an amusing friend. Don't worry. I'm extremely normal. If anything, the girl I met a moment ago is more my type than you."

Biryuyeon's smile froze for a moment.

"I can't just overlook what you just said. Give up. That person already has someone. Oh, and you don't think I went all out just now, do you?"

The implication was that he would eliminate anyone who dared to harbor useless thoughts with full power.

"That's good. I haven't gone all out either."

Swish, Myeong-an raised his left arm. On it was a dark, inky bracelet. The word '봉 (Seal)' was embossed on the bracelet.

"No way…"

Biryuyeon was startled to see the bracelet.

He had a memory of seeing something similar. Of course, he had. Something similar had always been on his wrists and ankles since his early teens. His eyes quickly turned to Myeong-an's right arm and both ankles.

"…!"

They were there. Without a doubt, there were bracelets and anklets on his right wrist and both ankles.

"These are my favorite bracelets and anklets. I've been wearing them for so long that they've become a part of my body. For some reason, people call them 'Bongshin-hwan (Sealing Ring).' I didn't feel much need for them, so I haven't taken them off for decades, but I think it might be okay to take one off for you."

"D-Captain, are you really going to take it off?"

Jang So-ok, his face pale, cried out in horror.

"Why? Can't I?"

Myeong-an blinked and asked back.

"The Elder strictly forbade you from taking it off without permission!"

The role of the Sixth Division's vice-captain was to prevent him from trying to take it off by any means necessary.

"If So-ok just closes his eyes, no one will know."

It was another request to turn a blind eye.

"The captain of the Fourth Division is watching you with his eyes wide open right there!"

So-ok, thinking he was at a disadvantage alone, tried to involve Bulrakguchuk.

"I'm not looking."

Bulrakguchuk was completely focused on treating Na Yerin, as if he hadn't heard anything. He was clearly deliberately ignoring it. He was pretending not to see even though he saw, and not to hear even though he heard. It was a mystery why he was so obediently following the words of this damn captain for Myeong-an, this grumpy madman.

"So, So-ok, you'll close your eyes too, right?"

Myeong-an's eyes said, 'Surrender obediently, you've already lost.'

"Cough, but I have my duty as vice-captain…"

He made a final attempt to resist.

"So-ok is my adjutant in the Sixth Division, not an adjutant of Macheon Pavilion."

"Th-that's true, but…"

Jang So-ok's deliberation was evident on his face. Then, an idea came to mind.

"What if I say no?"

Then Myeong-an smiled.

"In that case, there's nothing I can do. I'll have to defeat So-ok by force and do what I want."

It was as if he was saying, 'Why ask for something so obvious?'

"As expected…"

Jang So-ok's shoulders slumped.

This person never listened to anyone… He was the type of person who did what he wanted regardless of others. Moreover, due to his terrifying career, there was almost no one who could touch him except for the Pavilion Master of Macheon, and even he didn't listen well. Just a moment ago, didn't he even call the Pavilion Master of Macheon without the honorific 'nim'? It was the forgetful captain's habit to always say he forgot. However, he sometimes harbored the suspicion that he pretended to forget even when he remembered.

"Do as you please, do as you please. Since you're going to do as you please anyway."

Jang So-ok declared his surrender with a deep sigh. Everything was easier if you gave up.

When the former vice-captain handed him the vice-captain position, he said,

"Hey, So-ok. Do you know the first thing you need to learn when you become the vice-captain of the Sixth Division? It's how to give up. Give up. It's easier to give up. It's like me, I don't even have a hole in my stomach."

It wasn't for nothing.

"Ugh, my stomach…"

Jang So-ok clutched his stomach and groaned. It seemed there was no doubt that he was the unluckiest and most pathetic vice-captain among the thirteen vice-captains of Macheon.

"Well, I have your permission…"

Myeong-an raised his left arm, seemingly delighted. Then he shouted briefly.

"Bongshin-hwan release!"

Clank!

With the sound of metal, the bracelet on Myeong-an's left hand was released. And it naturally fell to the ground.

Boom!

At that moment, it felt like an earthquake.

Those who looked at where the dark Bongshin-hwan fell were speechless. A huge crack had formed on the bluestone floor, centered around where the Bongshin-hwan had fallen.

"Ahem, ahem."

Myeong-an flexed and unflexed his left hand a few times. As usual, he didn't quite remember when he had taken it off, but it was certainly old.

Myeong-an clenched and unclenched his left fist and smiled at Biryuyeon.

"Well then, shall we begin?"

Thump!

At that moment, Biryuyeon's heart sank. Biryuyeon was more bewildered than surprised by this unfamiliar sensation.

'What is this sensation? Why am I feeling this sensation in front of that person?'

It wasn't a sensation he had never felt before. It was a familiar sensation, just like when he saw that mysterious Bongshin-hwan. But he hadn't expected to feel it from someone else.

'That's impossible…'

Why was he feeling a sensation he only occasionally felt from his master, from this silver-haired man? He didn't seem particularly imposing at first glance.

Of course, he wasn't a fool who judged a person's strength by their appearance. His mention of "at first glance" included aura. And he could gauge the aura that person was hiding and make an estimate. The basics of fighting are knowing yourself and knowing others. Only then can you win before the fight even begins.

Until now, he had prided himself on accurately measuring it. And through that measurement, he had always made accurate estimates. But he had met an opponent who not only couldn't be estimated but also couldn't be measured.

This person was unmeasurable. No, his limits couldn't be defined.

Truly,

Immeasurable (無量)!

That fact made him infinitely anxious. His mind, which had always maintained a calm state, was subtly wavering.

His state of 'bright mirror, still water' was being disturbed.

This Myeong-an possessed something that disturbed his mind, which hadn't been troubled even when facing the Three Stars of Heaven's Dance.

"First strike! Here I come!"

The unknown being launched his first attack towards him.