Book 28 Chapter 18

Impending Danger

—The turbulent currents of fate

Poke!

"Ugh… yeah."

Poke!

"Ugh… yeah!"

Poke! Poke!

The 영령, tossing and turning, opened her eyes halfway after a few futile struggles. Someone was poking her cheek with a finger.

"Ugh… huh? What's going on now, Rin?"

Rubbing her eyes, the 영령 mumbled as she sat up.

"You're awake, older sister."

The one who had been poking her cheek while she was lost in sleep was Na Yerim's white finger, from the same room.

"As expected, this method works best on you, older sister."

Na Yerim smiled softly at her.

"You…!"

The 영령, about to get angry, froze for a moment, her hand on her cheek.

'Why couldn't I wake up?'

Even though she tended to sleep deeply, as a martial artist confident in her skills, her senses weren't so dull as to allow someone to approach her so carelessly.

Yet, she had barely opened her eyes after being poked four times on the cheek…

'Was I this defenseless?'

What if the thing poking her cheek wasn't a finger but a dagger? She would have lost her life instantly.

Even in such a bizarre situation, why did a corner of her heart feel warm?

'And why am I using informal speech again….'

This wasn't the first time, so her resolution not to do it again was in vain as she made the same mistake again.

As the 영령 was about to retort, her body stiffened.

She had just noticed that Na Yerim was standing there fully armed, clad in snow-white martial attire and holding a white sword radiating coldness in her embrace.

"Prepare yourself, older sister."

That statement alone was enough.

Without a word, the 영령 shot up from her spot, threw on her discarded clothes, and picked up the sword placed by her head. It felt strange, as if her body was moving on its own, against her will.

"I'm… ready."

Trying to use polite speech felt incredibly awkward. Na Yerim chuckled at her awkward tone.

"No need to be awkward, just use the speech you normally use, Saja (Senior Disciple)."

Na Yerim said in a soft voice, smiling gently at the 영령, who was frowning at her own awkwardness.

"What is going on…?"

Instead of answering, Na Yerim glanced at the empty air for a moment before looking at the 영령 and saying,

"There's no time. Let's wake up the others quickly."

"Where are you going, Rin?"

But by then, Na Yerim's white hem had already disappeared out the door. The 영령 stood there, lost in thought, covering her mouth with her hand.

"This speech again…"

The more time she spent with Na Yerim, the more she felt her speech becoming strange, and with deep suspicion, the 영령 followed Na Yerim out of the room.

They were currently on the fifth floor of their guest rooms. When the 영령 stepped out, Na Yerim was opening the door to the next room.

That was the room where Jinryeong and Ryu Eunkyung were sleeping.

"Grand Disciple, why are you here so late at night…."

Na Yerim brought a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

Na Yerim whispered a few words into Jinryeong's ear. Then, Jinryeong's eyes widened.

"Do you remember everything I said?"

To Na Yerim's confirming question, Jinryeong nodded twice.

"Everyone needs to move quietly."

Na Yerim's low voice sounded incredibly mystical in the night's darkness. She seemed to shine alone. If even another woman would fall for her, how much more would men?

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

With that, Na Yerim left the room.

She immediately went down the stairs and headed for the restaurant on the second floor. Her movements were as smooth as flowing water, as if she knew everything.

* * *

Gulp.

Yeomdo grumbled as he poured wine into an empty goblet.

"This is truly the worst. Out of all possible drinking companions, why this 'ice block'?"

"I agree. Wine is meant to be drunk to deepen bonds of friendship and enjoy leisure, but having this 'fireball' who can only spew complaints and grievances in a fit of anger as a drinking partner is…."

Binggeom also quietly agreed as he poured wine into his own goblet.

The two, with vastly different personalities and hair colors, also drank different types of alcohol.

Yeomdo drank a potent 'Hwayeolju' that seemed like it would make you breathe fire, while Binggeom drank a clear and transparent 'Bingwolju' like ice. Because of this, the bottles and goblets in front of them were also different.

"It's been a while since I've drunk with an 'ice block' like this."

Yeomdo mumbled, looking down at the large goblet in his hand.

"Your drinking habits are quite bad. I can never forget how you threw up right after your first drink."

"You remember that old incident so well."

Binggeom gave a bitter smile at Yeomdo's grumbling.

"How could I forget? It was right on top of my head. It's one of the top ten worst experiences of my life."

At Binggeom's words, Yeomdo turned his head sharply and said dismissively,

"Hmph, I don't remember."

"That's a typical excuse from someone drunk. I remember it clearly. Who would have thought the red-haired boy who boasted about his drinking prowess would be so weak?"

"Hmph, you were just abnormally strong back then."

"Ah, did I tell you back then that you only drank two glasses, no, one and a half?"

Binggeom still remembered that time precisely. He didn't forget anything. He was the type of person who couldn't easily forget things.

"……."

Yeomdo, who had been staring at his wine glass for a while, suddenly spoke.

"How did we end up like this?"

Binggeom's hand trembled slightly, then he brought the wine glass to his lips as if nothing had happened and downed it.

"Didn't you know? This is how we always were."

"Ah, right. I forgot."

Then, after a moment, Yeomdo spoke again.

"You know what? You're incredibly annoying."

"Fortunately, it's mutual."

The two again drank in silence.

They had been fighting like cats and dogs for twenty years. If it weren't for Biluryeon's unexpected interference, they wouldn't have been entangled like this.

This persistent, bitter enmity was so deeply intertwined that they couldn't even guess where to begin unraveling it.

'As expected, I don't get along with this guy!'

At that moment, when both came to the same conclusion.

"What's the matter? Why so late at night?"

Yeomdo asked, looking towards the stairs. Na Yerim was standing there with Yeongryeong.

"My instincts are strange."

Yeomdo and Binggeom were speechless for a moment at Na Yerim's serious words. However, these were the words of Na Yerim, and no one else. The risk was too high to dismiss her words as mere sleep-talk.

"Danger is approaching."

At Na Yerim's warning, Yeomdo said with a bitter smile,

"Thank you for the warning, but it's already too late."

The many killing intents surrounding the entire inn from afar were also sensed by Na Yerim.

"I wish I had realized sooner, I'm sorry."

Binggeom shook his head.

"It's not your fault."

It was rather surprising that she had noticed and come down like this. It was something beyond the developed senses of a mere martial artist.

"Tch, quite a number."

At Yeomdo's grumbling, Binggeom nodded with a grave expression.

"This many have been mobilized, it means they are confident. Wake up the children, and also Chief Officer Dam who guided us today."

At Binggeom's command, Na Yerim replied in a quiet tone.

"They are already awake."

"What?"

"I came to let you know that we are all ready to fight."

Quietly, but her voice was filled with unwavering conviction.

"You're ready?"

Just then, a man came up to the second floor. It was Chief Officer Dam Hwan of the Shinyongsan Inn, who had hidden them.

"You're already awake?"

Moreover, he was properly dressed.

"One of the ladies in your group woke me up by shaking me. But what's happening…?"

He seemed dazed, as if he hadn't fully woken up yet.

"Who woke you up?"

He pointed a finger towards the stairs. Just then, Jinryeong was coming down, armed.

She wasn't the only one coming down the stairs. The entire rescue team was coming down the stairs, dressed and armed.

"Hoho, this is truly bizarre."

Yeomdo burst into hearty laughter and muttered to himself.

"Jinryeong, did you wake everyone up?"

At Binggeom's question, Jinryeong's face turned red.

"I… I just did as Miss Na told me to, Grand Master."

"You mean Yerim-ie?"

"Yes. Miss Na woke me up a little while ago, told me to quietly wake up all the men and get armed… and to get ready because something will happen soon…"

"Didn't you wonder why you had to do that?"

'Come to think of it…' Jinryeong shook her head.

Binggeom looked at Na Yerim's face with a newfound gaze.

"Yerim, how did you know that Chief Officer Dam was the de facto person in charge of 'this base'?"

The position of inn chief was merely a fake front.

"It was just a hunch."

Na Yerim's answer was simple to the point of being empty. Binggeom didn't laugh.

"You seem to be able to see much more than we can. Was this also a 'hunch'?"

Na Yerim quietly shook her head.

"No. This time, it's 'certainty'."

Since being kidnapped to Macheon Pavilion and freeing herself from the seal with her own power, Na Yerim's 'Dragon's Eye' power had become even stronger.

What used to be limited to personal matters could now be seen from a broader perspective. The fate of organizations formed by individuals, the currents of their destiny, were now somewhat graspable.

A strange certainty grew stronger. A certainty that it would absolutely not be wrong.

Even though her father, Na Baekcheon, was missing, she could still feel at ease because she was certain that her father was still alive under this sky. However, the growing anxiety in the last few days might mean that the factors threatening Na Baekcheon's safety were growing stronger.

Na Yerim's eyes, which answered with unwavering certainty, were as profound as the clear night sky. It was a statement that seemed to make the future a foregone conclusion.

And Binggeom and Yeomdo felt a strange certainty that it would indeed happen.

'What mysterious eyes she has.'

Binggeom thought as he gazed at Na Yerim's black eyes, which gazed back at him without the slightest waver. The coldness that had resided in those two eyes had faded, replaced by a much deeper mystery. She possessed a strange magic that seemed to draw one in just by looking. Her demeanor was mystical, like a shaman reading the stars… As if she could see through everything… He felt a glimpse of power that could even bind the soul.

'It doesn't seem to be in full bloom yet…'

The flower buds were already opening. Binggeom himself couldn't even guess what would happen when those buds fully bloomed.

'My young master definitely has a good eye for women.'

Thanks to her, the rescue team had bought themselves time to prepare for the unexpected and to escape.

"Sorry for waking you up, everyone."

Yeomdo said, looking over the rescue team members.

Although they were tense in enemy territory, they didn't look happy to be surrounded by enemies on the first day they thought they had infiltrated safely. Yeomdo didn't miss the subtle agitation stirring in their hearts.

"For those who might have been thinking of doing something while they were getting a free room, I offer my 'sincere' condolences."

"Nothing of the sort ever happened!"

Yong Cheonmyeong loudly replied, unnecessarily adjusting his disheveled clothes.

"Yes, nothing of the sort happened."

Ma Haryeong also adjusted her hair unnecessarily and said.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. There's no time."

Yeomdo said, glancing at the two. Yong Cheonmyeong and Ma Haryeong's faces immediately turned red.

"What do we do now? Do we fight?"

At Yong Cheonmyeong's question, Binggeom shook his head. With Namgung Sang forcibly taken away by Biluryeon and absent, the center of Cheonggwando naturally leaned towards him temporarily.

"No. We can't waste our strength here."

Fighting in the enemy's backyard was a very unwise choice.

"Chief Officer Dam, we need to use the secret passage."

Then Chief Officer Dam Hwan nodded.

"We'll have to abandon this base too. I suspected something was amiss since this was the only one of the countless bases that was safe, but I didn't expect it to be today. I had relaxed my surveillance to double as security, but it seems we've already been compromised."

Otherwise, the news wouldn't have arrived so late.

"However, the passage is narrow and complicated for this many people to escape at once, so it will take time."

"Don't worry about that, we'll buy you time."

Saying that, Binggeom looked at Yeomdo.

It was a look asking for his intention: 'Are you going to do it or not?'

"Why are you looking at me like that? You're going to do it anyway."

"I asked for your intention, out of respect."

Yeomdo snorted.

"Hmph, respect is hilarious. I can't let you be the only one showing off. I'm going too."

"Then it's decided."

Binggeom's gaze turned to the members of the rescue team again.

"As you now know, this is one of our specially prepared bases. There's an emergency escape route underground. Follow Chief Officer Dam."

"What about the Grand Masters? Aren't you coming with us?"

To Jinryeong's question, Binggeom shook his head.

"No. If we all go together, this inn will be captured in no time. Then the location of the secret passage will be revealed quickly."

That was something they had to avoid. They couldn't let the young flowers that hadn't bloomed yet wither here.

"You mean…?"

At Na Yerim's words, Binggeom nodded.

"That's right. We'll buy you time. While we do that, you escape."

"It's dangerous with just the two of you!"

It was a desperate voice, unlike the always calm Na Yerim.

"Hoho, have you forgotten who we are? Don't worry."

"But… but…."

Na Yerim's complexion wasn't bright.

"My intuition is bad."

At Na Yerim's words, which held the resonance of an ominous prophecy, Yeomdo and Binggeom's faces slightly stiffened, but then relaxed.

"Don't worry, it's just your imagination. There's no guarantee your instincts are always right, is there?"

"If… something happens to the two Grand Masters, who will we trust and rely on?"

"Don't worry. We won't be captured so easily by something like this. If you all escape safely, the two of us can escape on our own. So don't worry."

Then Yeomdo nodded beside him and added,

"Yes, that's right. This level of encirclement is as easy as eating boiled eggs."

They couldn't force them any further, saying they were the ones holding them back.

"Understood. Then please take care."

Na Yerim bowed respectfully, and the others followed suit, bowing and shouting.

"Take care!"

Yeomdo burst into laughter, as if he found it amusing, and said.

"Kwahaha, don't worry. We'll meet again soon! If the worst-case scenario occurs…"

Yeomdo looked at the students he had taught and said.

"Well, it won't happen, but if the worst-case scenario occurs and there's no one to rely on…"

Yeomdo looked at Jinryeong and said in a suggestive tone.

"You know, right?"

Jinryeong nodded and replied.

"I know."

"Then it's fine. Your eldest senior disciple won't let you die."

However, he didn't forget to add one more thing.

"But it's best to avoid such a situation as much as possible. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand perfectly, Grand Master Yeomdo."

"Then it's fine. Leave now."

The rescue team members followed Chief Officer Dam towards the secret passage.

Yeongryeong was about to follow Na Yerim when a voice stopped her.

"Yeongryeong, come with me for a moment."

The person who stopped her was none other than Yeomdo.

"Do you have something to tell me…."

Yeongryeong felt a sense of fear towards this person named Yeomdo, so she asked in a tense voice.

"Protect her."

"What? Protect who?"

The 영령 was bewildered by his cryptic words. To the confused 영령, Yeomdo pointed towards Na Yerim, who hadn't left yet, and said.

"Protect her. If you can't protect her, you'll probably regret it for the rest of your life. I guarantee it. Don't make the same mistake as someone else. You might end up carrying that burden forever."

Yeomdo's face was so serious that she couldn't dare to argue.

"What do you mean…"

She was still Yeongryeong of Monghwasan Manor, not a disciple of Geomgak.

"You'd better remember what I'm saying now. If you don't want to regret it for the rest of your life."

Those words pressed heavily on Yeongryeong's heart.

"It's advice from someone who's experienced it, so you'd do well to heed it. That's all I have to say."

Yeongryeong bowed once and quickly fled from him as if escaping. However, she felt like she wouldn't be able to forget his words.

Yeomdo glanced at Binggeom, who was watching them from a few steps away, and said.

"Shall we go?"

"Let's."

"Let's put on a spectacular show. Hiding isn't my style."

"That's because you're too simple."

"What?! Are you done talking?"

"I still have a mountain of things to say. But if I say it all, we'll have to stay up for days, so I'll stop here."

"As expected, you're a pain in the neck."

"It's mutual. Now that you've finished being angry, shouldn't we go do what we need to? Don't hold me back."

"I wish you wouldn't dampen my mood. I can handle it alone, so why don't you just make ice pops with your fingers and lick them?"

"You're not enough. I can do it alone. Why don't you just stay back and provide some light? It's dark, so that would be perfect."

Their bickering didn't end even as they descended the stairs from the second floor and reached the main entrance.

Son Gwang, the captain of the Black Sky Alliance's patrol, was dumbfounded. Seeing Yeomdo and Binggeom, who were bickering, descend while still seemingly unfazed despite being surrounded, and then not even paying attention to them, was absurd.

"Damn them! How dare they be so relaxed when they're intruders?!"

At that moment, Son Gwang was enraged, and ignoring the orders, he gave the attack command.

"Attack simultaneously and capture the intruders! Killing them is acceptable!"

No matter how skilled the masters were, this was the Black Sky Alliance's territory, the domain of their patrol unit.

With a roar, the first wave of patrol members attacked Yeomdo and Binggeom simultaneously.

And then…

BOOM!

They were thrown back with a deafening explosion. The surrounding air was heated by the sudden burst of heat.

"Heh heh! How dare you!"

Yeomdo snorted, his red hair fluttering in the wind. The heat that had just warmed the air was the 'dogi' he had unleashed.

Son Gwang's face contorted with the unexpectedly strong resistance.

"Second wave attack!"

Immediately, the second wave of the patrol attacked. This time, Binggeom stepped forward and swung his sword.

As a blue sword light, almost transparent, flashed, over twenty swords flew into the sky with a clang.

"Huk!"

At the same time, a chill swept over their bodies, and the second wave of the patrol members knelt on the spot. In front of them, as they knelt, the swords they held fell and were planted like gravestones. Had they moved one step further, those swords would have pierced their 'Baekhoe' points.

"Im-impossible! Just two of them defeated our proud elite patrol! This is such a foolish thing!"

He had to somehow make up for this humiliation. He couldn't face the other captains like this.

"Quick Wind Ten Thousand!"

To support his clearly outmatched subordinates, Son Gwang unleashed the ultimate move of his unique martial art, 'Quick Wind Eight Forms,' and charged towards Yeomdo and Binggeom.

CLANG!

His saber, flying with dozens of shadows, was blocked by a sharp saber that flickered with red fire.

"Who are you trying to kill!"

ROAR!

With a sound like a lion's roar, Son Gwang's saber shattered. He was astonished as his saber, infused with true energy, broke like earthenware. The next moment, invisible 'dark energy' struck his entire body.

"Kuaaaaaaak!"

Unable to withstand the impact, he was also sent flying ten feet away and tumbled.

"You die!"

As Yeomdo, who leaped forward and landed in front of Son Gwang, was about to strike with his flame-like saber.

"Stop!"

Yeomdo's hand stopped abruptly at the sudden sound of a woman's voice.

Yeomdo and Binggeom, quickly withdrawing their hands, turned their heads and looked at the source of the voice.

"I told you to just stall them, but you hurried a bit, Chief Son."

There was an implicit reprimand in those words, but patrol captain Son Gwang couldn't utter a single word in response.

"Thanks to you, the encirclement has weakened considerably. Wouldn't you say so?"

It was none other than Gal Hyo-hye, the Tenth Earth Fairy and third of the Eight Immortals of the Demonic Path, who had turned her gaze towards them and smiled.

Behind her stood five of her sisters, and behind them, Mu Hwa of the Nine Heavens, along with the Three Great Maidens, stood watching.

"We meet again, Constable Guan! Constable Gwak! It seems you've both thrown away those stuffy straw hats. You look more dignified and better this way."

To Gal Hyo-hye's beaming greeting, Binggeom replied with a frown.

"You already saw through our identities?"

Gal Hyo-hye nodded without ceasing her smile.

"Of course. Of course, I knew. Why do you think Mother told us to accompany your group in such haste?"

The smile etched on Gal Hyo-hye's lips sent a chill down Yeomdo and Binggeom's spines.

"…It was to monitor us."

At that moment, Binggeom, who had suddenly realized why Mu Hwa had asked about their destination, hardened his expression. It seemed Gal Hyo-hye had sent him a telepathic message.

"That's right. You might not know, but peak experts can't hide themselves so easily. You two weren't skilled at hiding yourselves. You must have lived lives where you had absolutely no need to do so. Unless you received specialized training in stealth and infiltration, peak experts can be detected by their gait, the movement of a single finger, or even their aura, no matter how well they conceal their intent. However, the difficult part is pretending not to notice even when you do. You probably don't know this, but smiling in front of an enemy's ally is quite agonizing."

As she spoke, the smile on Gal Hyo-hye's face deepened.

"Smiling sword" (소리장도 - literally "sound of sword" behind laughter, meaning hidden malice). There was never a moment in her smile, from the beginning until now, that didn't hide a sword. But until now, she had only been hiding her sharp edge. As that chilling sharpness was revealed without concealment, her smile had a power that sent shivers down the two peak experts.

They said you'd be in big trouble if you mistook a woman's smile on the outside for her smiling on the inside… It seemed this was that kind of situation.

"But why are there only two of you?"

Then Binggeom replied.

"We are still putting our students to sleep."

"Oh, what a caring teacher."

"It's not a compliment I hear often, but I appreciate you saying so."

Gal Hyo-hye said with a smile.

"It would be less troublesome if the others also woke up… I hope it won't be too bothersome."

In other words, she wanted them to surrender willingly.

"Even with her presence, we cannot do that."

Binggeom firmly shook his head.

"It seems Grand Master Binggeom is inviting trouble."

Despite his outwardly firm demeanor, Yeomdo and Binggeom's hearts were anxious. If these women attacked them all at once, it would be very dangerous.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, Binggeom said confidently.

"We both have responsibilities. I apologize for causing trouble. Although this red friend's personality is terrible, he won't be easy to defeat."

Mu Hwa, who had been quietly watching Yeomdo and Binggeom, spoke for the first time.

"You're confident. Have you two become that strong?"

At the Nine Heavens Maiden's single sentence, Yeomdo and Binggeom flinched.

"……."

A minute of silence.

The two stiffened their faces and tried their best not to look at her.

"Haa…"

The Nine Heavens Maiden closed her eyes tightly, and a short sigh escaped her lips.

"When the third said it was the two of you, I was half-believing. I hoped you two wouldn't be obstacles in my path. But it really was you. Since when did you become strong enough to say such insolent things in front of me?"

"……."

"You've already forgotten the teachings from twenty years ago."

As the memories, buried in the darkest and deepest parts of their minds, vividly resurfaced as if they were yesterday, the two stiffened.

"How can we forget that terrible incident?"

Binggeom said in a heavily subdued tone.

"We can't forget it, never!"

Yeomdo spat out, his face contorted.

"And yet, you dare to try and block my path?"

"…We apologize."

Yeomdo and Binggeom said, raising their true energy.

"Then, very well."

At her calmly spoken words, the immense killing intent radiating from her entire body made the two tremble.

'Could it be, this much oppressive power…'

Even peak experts like themselves felt such pressure from mere killing intent…

The terrible memories they had forgotten in the past were starting to resurface with a sting.

The next moment, the Nine Heavens Maiden's eyes, which had been tightly closed, snapped open, and a fierce gaze shot out.

As the two tensed their bodies, preparing for the Nine Heavens Maiden's onslaught.

"Fourth and Fifth! Are you there?"

"Yes, Mother! We are here."

Simultaneous replies came from the rear of the formation.

"I won't need to go out. You twins, test those two!"

"Yes, Mother!"

This reply was also identical.