Book 28 Chapter 19

**Flame's Twins**

―What is one plus one?

"Hyo-jin from Shinmagah, I've heard much of your reputation. Please be gentle."

The fifth Hyo-jin, with her hair styled up by a hairpin embedded with deep amethyst, smiled coldly as she clasped her fists.

"I too have heard much of Shinmagah's reputation. I ask that you be gentle."

Bing-geom replied with a hardened expression.

He found Hyo-jin's smile deeply unsettling. It wasn't like the veiled smiles of Gal-hyo-hye, which hid underlying intent. This was an open display of murderous intent, less a smile and more a sinister threat.

'Do all the women of Shinmagah laugh when they get angry?'

It was enough to spark such a suspicion. However, looking at Hyo-rin, the fourth sister, it didn't seem to be the case.

"You don't have to be gentle. You must always fight with all your might; being gentle is merely insulting your opponent!"

The fourth Hyo-rin, her hair neatly tied back with vermillion silk, said with a frown.

"Hmm, fourth sister is of the same mind as me. I will absolutely not be gentle, so don't worry!"

Yeom-do shouted heartily. He was less perceptive than Bing-geom.

The fourth Hyo-rin stood beside the fifth Hyo-jin. The two women, as beautiful as peonies, stood side-by-side, making them almost indistinguishable except for their hairstyles.

"As you can see, we are twins. It's more comfortable fighting together than alone. How about we pair up and decide the winner with a formation duel?"

At Hyo-rin's suggestion, Yeom-do recoiled in horror.

"A combined attack with this icy blockhead? That's impossible! I'd rather be stabbed to death by fourth sister's sword than join forces with him."

Bing-geom was equally displeased.

"I too dislike cooperating with such an impetuous brute. I would rather fight both sisters alone."

"You two really don't get along."

"Leave us be. Would you want to fight alongside someone like this frozen corpse?"

Yeom-do grumbled.

"That's outrageous. Don't you think someone who'd want to fight with someone as blood-soaked as you is mentally deranged?"

Bing-geom retorted, unable to let it slide.

"What did you say? You're pushing your luck!"

"And what if I keep pushing? Are you going to fight me first?"

"There's no reason I can't."

*Clang!* As Yeom-do drew his saber, Bing-geom drew his sword almost simultaneously.

"It seems you don't even want to fight women like us."

Seeing that the two were about to fight each other, Hyo-jin, unable to stand by, interjected.

"Of course not! But I will absolutely never cooperate with this guy!"

"The same goes for me."

The two turned their backs on each other like children. There was no trace of the renowned masters of the martial world. Hyo-rin, who had been frowning, shook her head and summarized the situation.

"Then let's do this. All four of us fight at once. Those who want to cooperate can, and those who don't, won't. That should be fine with both of you, right?"

"Oh, that's a good idea."

"If it's like that, then fine."

Yeom-do and Bing-geom readily agreed to her proposal.

"So, whether you two join hands or not, we don't need to hold back our combined attack?"

Because the two men slightly underestimated them, the answer came quickly.

"We don't mind. Do as the sisters wish."

Bing-geom answered on behalf of them.

"Hoho, that's excellent."

The fifth Hyo-jin's voice, chilling enough to send a shiver down one's spine, emerged.

"Yes, it's excellent."

The fourth Hyo-rin nodded in agreement. Yeom-do's eyes widened.

"What's so excellent?"

Then the two women answered in unison.

"Because now we can freely slaughter the hypocrites who came to rescue the villains!"

In that instant, Yeom-do and Bing-geom flinched at the murderous intent that erupted from the two women.

"Hmph! To come and rescue that wicked fiend, what shameless scoundrels!"

The fifth Hyo-jin spat out cold venom.

"Hateful righteous path scoundrels! Aren't they all the same, crying for justice with their mouths while resorting to cowardly ambushes?!"

The fourth Hyo-rin's voice also seethed with anger.

Yeom-do and Bing-geom were stunned as the two women, who had been relatively calm just moments before, suddenly became like vengeful demons from hell.

"There must have been some misunderstanding!"

Bing-geom tried to explain, knowing it was futile. Hyo-jin then spat out a sarcastic remark.

"Oh my, you two should just shut up. Go say such nonsense in the afterlife."

"You, you… You're telling us to shut up?! Aren't you being too harsh?!"

Yeom-do protested, sputtering. Then Hyo-rin's eyes sharpened as she looked at Yeom-do.

"What's harsh is your state of mind! Where do you think you are that you dare to crawl in here? This is Wuchang, the front yard of Heukcheonmeng, which my eldest brother meticulously cultivated! How dare you step foot here with your dirty, hypocritical soles! Sister, let's cut off the smelly feet of both of them!"

"……!"

Bing-geom and Yeom-do were so shocked they were speechless.

"Yes, sister! If they want us to shut up, we should cut off their tongues too!"

The fifth Hyo-jin replied with a hearty laugh.

The venomous words, enough to send shivers down one's spine, poured from the mouths of the beautifully featured sisters like a flood, leaving Yeom-do and Bing-geom disoriented.

However, gradually, they too began to tremble with anger. They weren't afraid of the sisters; they had no intention of enduring such insults in silence.

"Both young ladies, please stop. I will not tolerate this any further!"

"Oh my, what will you do if you don't tolerate it? Will you stab us in the back like our elder brother?"

The fifth Hyo-jin retorted sarcastically.

"Such…! We will face you honorably, so please don't worry, esteemed sisters!"

At Bing-geom's cry, the fourth Hyo-rin chuckled and whispered to Hyo-jin.

"Hoho, did you hear that? He says he'll face us honorably."

"Hmph, all righteous path folks are all talk! Be careful of your backs, sister."

Yeom-do exclaimed in disbelief at their words.

"What do you take us for?! I repeat, there are no such cowards in the righteous path!"

"What do we take you for? We've heard of your reputations, Yeom-do and Bing-geom, and admired you. But seeing you bicker like children just now and then groundlessly defending villains, we realized. You are also just those kinds of people! You are also childish hypocrites of the righteous path!"

Although Hyo-jin's words were laced with mockery, they contained a sharp critique.

"That's a different issue. You'll soon find out what we're capable of!"

Further conversation was unnecessary.

"Then, we're going. Attack us without holding back. We'll show you our twin sword dance!"

With Hyo-rin's spirited cry, the twins' combined formation began to unfold.

A combined attack!

A combined attack with Yeom-do, of all people!

Wasn't that unpleasant even to imagine?

What if they didn't engage in such a disgusting act?

They weren't fighting all eight of Shinmagah's esteemed disciples, only two.

The outcome would be decided quickly. The real threat would come later, Bing-geom thought to himself. But his prediction of a quick outcome was greatly mistaken. Not long after the duel with the twins began, Bing-geom had to drastically revise his prediction.

"Hey, Ice Block! Can't you do it properly!"

Yeom-do's discontented telepathic message pierced Bing-geom's ear.

"Says the one who's not doing it properly. You're the one holding back, aren't you?"

He returned the same sentiment.

"Nonsense! I'm always doing it properly!"

"Then why hasn't it been decided after more than thirty exchanges?"

"Do you think I know? It's because you're not doing it properly. I know you're conserving your strength."

"I'll return that same sentiment. How about you use up all your strength except what you need to run away?"

"Hmph! Only if you do it first!"

As always, the conversation returned to square one. During this time, seven or eight exchanges of attacks and defenses had passed. Yet, Bing-geom's thoughts continued.

"Hey, Fireball! Try to match me more. Aren't you being too conspicuous on your own?"

Yeom-do's attacks were too overbearing, tending to be all-out assaults.

"Hmph, don't be ridiculous, Ice Block! Why should I match you? You should match me! The weaker person always matches the stronger."

"Then shouldn't you be matching me?"

"Oh, really. Don't you realize you still think you're the best under the sky, and that it's a delusion?"

"I'll return that sentiment. And at least I think before I act, unlike you."

"What?! Are you calling me an idiot?! Are you done talking, Ice Block?!"

"I'm done. And I don't have anything more to hear."

Perhaps due to their heightened emotions, the two were no longer using telepathy and were openly arguing. If this was the case when they weren't cooperating, it was unimaginable how terrible it would be if they did cooperate.

'But even if that guy is slacking off… this situation is certainly bewildering.'

Bing-geom had to admit it honestly.

While they weren't using their full strength, they weren't fighting gently either. Even without a combined attack, two such peak masters fighting simultaneously was no ordinary feat. Furthermore, their restraint was a strategic judgment.

'The enemy isn't just these two we're fighting right now, so we can't afford to waste our strength carelessly…'

There were still mountains of enemies left to face. Wasting their energy rashly in this situation could lead to a fatal defeat.

Bing-geom didn't expect to win against all the remaining enemies. The opponents were too formidable.

It even made him think, 'I'd rather fight the Four Heavenly Calamities!'

Therefore, he wanted to conserve enough strength to at least escape this situation, or more honestly, to 'run away'.

He had boasted earlier that he would never lose, but if mere loudness could win, no one would suffer. Gucheonhyeonu Muhwa was that difficult an opponent.

'But to think I'd be wasting my internal energy with pointless moves before even meeting that worst-case opponent… Is this the true power of Shinmagah's Eight Esteemed Disciples?'

After that, twenty more exchanges passed, and as they approached fifty, the winner was still undecided. Yeom-do and Bing-geom still couldn't gain the upper hand against the twins.

"What are they doing, sister? They were so loud earlier."

"Hmph, as expected of hypocrites, it's all talk! They can't stop our Twin Formation!"

*Clang, clang, clang, clang!*

As time went on, the power of the fire element in the twins' formation grew stronger.

The more Yeom-do and Bing-geom tried to counter their combined attack, the more momentum the twins' sequential combined attacks gained.

Although Yeom-do and Bing-geom's individual abilities were far superior, they struggled to defeat the twin sisters' sequential combined attacks. In fact, they were being pushed onto the defensive. Bing-geom couldn't help but be surprised. However, for the sake of maintaining their dignity, they couldn't continue to be pushed back like this.

"Then try this, Bingbaekshinjeong (Ice Soul Nail)!"

Seizing an opportunity, Bing-geom unleashed his sword intent and thrust his sword forward.

Bingbaekshinjeong was a technique that sent condensed extreme Yin sword energy like hundreds of ice nails flying.

"Did you think we wouldn't be able to receive it?"

Yeom-do (Flame Palace) Secret Technique (秘傳)

Fire Spirit Sword (火靈神劍) Fifth Style (奧義)

Shield of Crimson Flames [紅炎之盾]

Hyo-rin's fiery sword drew a large circle, creating a shield of fire. However, it seemed insufficient to block all of Bingbaekshinjeong.

"Here's another one!"

Without missing a beat, Hyo-jin created a shield of fire in the same way, merging it with the crimson flame shield Hyo-rin had created.

As the two shields merged, a shield of flames truly befitting the name Crimson Flame Shield was completed. Bing-geom's Bingbaekshinjeong sword strikes were all swallowed by the flames.

Before Bing-geom could even be surprised, Hyo-jin's sword, which had been creating the shield with her sister, shot out with a trail of flame, unleashing a crimson sword light towards Bing-geom.

What a predicament!

Hyo-rin was still focused on defending his sword energy. This meant his sword strike was not yet finished. It was very difficult, hard, and sometimes dangerous to interrupt and recall an initiated sword strike.

Interrupting the flow of Zhenqi midway could cause Qi and blood to flow backward or internal organs to be shaken, resulting in severe internal injuries. It was like trying to stop a snowball rolling down a mountain. However, Hyo-jin's attack was so timely that Bing-geom had to take such a risky measure to recall his sword strike. He hadn't expected any help from Yeom-do in the first place.

*Ta-da-da!*

With the sound of a large bell ringing, Bing-geom retreated three steps consecutively.

"Fool! To suffer such a great predicament from such a minor attack!"

Bing-geom's mind was filled with a cascade of questions, leaving him no energy to retort to Yeom-do's taunt.

'This twin sister's combined attack is truly astonishing. Even if they had practiced their combined formation for a long time, could they achieve this effect? Being twins, it's as if their souls are connected.'

Bing-geom vividly remembered how his sword intent had dispersed as if being sucked into flames.

Honestly, while the individual skills of these sisters were formidable enough to surprise the martial world, they seemed inferior compared to Yeom-do and Bing-geom. Yet, he himself had fallen into a predicament.

"Move aside! Watch how this old man does it."

Yeom-do pushed past Bing-geom and stepped forward, speaking with a haughty voice.

Then, he unleashed his sword intent and attacked the twins' formation head-on with the "Sword Scale Burning" style, one of the seventeen flames of the Crimson Flame. The flaming saber rotated like a coiled snake, flying towards the twins.

Fire Spirit Sword (火靈神劍) Fifth Style (奧義)

Art of Fire Control (治火)

Flowing Fire Stream (移火炎流)

This time, the fifth Hyo-jin stepped forward, her sword with crimson sword energy drawing a circle like a full moon, countering his flaming saber. However, the ferocity of the fire element in her sword seemed insufficient to block Yeom-do's flaming saber. But Hyo-jin didn't receive Yeom-do's blow head-on. She had no intention of doing so in the first place. This move was a type of "Qi Manipulation" that dealt with fire. It was a technique to control the flow of fire without resisting it.

She drew a circle in the same direction as Yeom-do's saber was drawing, as if drawing it inwards, without resisting the direction. The crimson saber was pulled in as if being sucked into the center of a whirlpool.

"Whoa, whoa!"

As the saber was pulled in, Yeom-do's body was also pulled in. Hyo-jin then matched the speed and retreated backward, without resisting the force. Yeom-do, flustered, could only continue to be pulled in.

Fire Palace (炎宮) Secret Technique (秘傳)

Fire Spirit Sword (火靈神劍) Fifth Style (奧義)

Flame Spear Tusk Thrust (炎槍牙突)

*Kuaaaang!*

Taking advantage of the moment Yeom-do and Hyo-jin were facing off, Hyo-rin scattered her sword energy and appropriately struck Yeom-do's entire body.

"Ugh! Damn it! Dammit!"

Yeom-do cursed, recalled his technique, and retreated three steps again, standing beside Bing-geom.

"You were so loud earlier, but the results aren't much to speak of."

Yeom-do had suffered the same fate as Bing-geom had earlier.

"Leave me alone!"

Yeom-do shouted, his face flushed red.

The twins did not miss the openings revealed as they fought.

"Truly pathetic. Instead of encouraging each other, you're busy tripping each other up!"

Their words were filled with mockery.

"Let each of us be a small flame [火]!"

Hyo-rin initiated.

"When together, we can become a large flame [炎]."

Hyo-jin followed.

Then, as if by agreement, they crossed their swords and shouted in unison.

"Soul [火] and soul [火] as one!"

*Hwa-reu-reu-reu-reu!*

From their crossed swords, a fierce flame erupted.

At this moment, the two appeared as one person, not two.

Hyo-rin and Hyo-jin wrapped their swords in flames and attacked simultaneously with perfect timing.

Flame Palace (炎宮) Secret Technique (秘傳)

Blazing Soul Separate Fire Combined Formation (熱魂離火合擊陣)

Blazing Blood (熱血) Fifth Style (奧義)

Dry Hegemony Flame Formation (乾覇炎陣)

*Hwa-reu-reu-reu-reu!*

The two fire energies merged into one, becoming a blazing, giant crimson lotus flame that pressed in on Yeom-do and Bing-geom.

"Huff!"

Yeom-do hastily inhaled and swung his crimson flame, but the fire element within his crimson flame was consumed by the flames of their combined souls. Bing-geom's Bingbaek also failed to generate enough coldness to overcome their flames. If their individual abilities had been even slightly weaker, Yeom-do and Bing-geom would have been engulfed by the dancing flames of the combined attack and turned to ash.

'This is truly strange. How can this be…'

As the scene repeated for the second time, Bing-geom's suspicion grew.

Clearly, Hyo-rin's internal energy was insufficient to counter Bing-geom's sword intent. Hyo-jin's internal energy also seemed insufficient to counter Yeom-do's flaming saber. Yet, their sword strikes were being countered one after another.

'Truly amazing. Adding one to one to create the effect of three…'

Gathering fire and fire to create a large flame! Each other's fire element served as a stepping stone to further enhance the other's fire element. The power of this flame formation far surpassed what they could achieve individually.

'Even though I'm avoiding fatal moves to avoid serious injury, I didn't expect it to be this bad…'

It was evident that they had a strict mother as their master. Moreover, the blood of Mushinma was not ordinary.

'Most importantly, their breathing is perfectly synchronized, like gears turning.'

And what they had, but their opponents lacked.

'Harmony…'

There was no such harmony between Yeom-do and Bing-geom, who growled at each other and attacked as they pleased. All that existed between them was discord. Even now, they were fighting separately because they refused to cooperate.

'Have they already reached the realm of mutual generation and mutual existence through harmony…?'

The fourth Hyo-rin and the fifth Hyo-jin were amplifying each other's power, while Yeom-do and Bing-geom were repelling each other and negating each other's power. Therefore, despite Yeom-do and Bing-geom's superior skills, they couldn't decide the outcome. And moments ago, it had been truly dangerous.

'Is there no other way? Must I resort to lethal moves?'

Bing-geom couldn't help but seriously consider the only way to break this stalemate. They couldn't continue like this.

Bing-geom's gaze subtly shifted towards the silent Gucheonhyeonu.

Shinmagah's Three Great Ladies.

The three mothers who gave birth to and trained Shinmagah's tigers, and the true pillars that practically guarded and maintained Shinmagah. The potential of those three was beyond their comprehension.

'Even if my master is young, she can't defeat that person!'

They had to escape this place as quickly as possible.

'With the skill of these twin sisters, we wouldn't die even if we used our full strength.'

Creating a momentary opening and escaping this disadvantageous situation was the wisest course of action for now. Bing-geom conveyed his thoughts to Yeom-do telepathically.

"So, you mean I attack the fourth sister while you attack the fifth sister? But wouldn't that be a combined attack?"

"That's not it. I just mean we divide our opponents. In other words, don't interfere with each other's opponent and focus on your own. Let's just each take responsibility for our assigned person. How about that?"

"If it's not a combined attack, then… it's fine."

The agreement was brief. Despite their constant bickering, due to their long-standing animosity, they could understand each other's intentions even without lengthy explanations.

"Alright! This time, let's go all out!"

"That's the plan."

*Shivers!* The twin sisters Hyo-rin and Hyo-jin tensed their bodies, feeling a chilling sensation down their spines. Suddenly, the aura of Yeom-do and Bing-geom had completely changed.

*Hwa-reu-reu-reu-reu!*

Yeom-do's sharp saber, extended forward, began to emit a crimson flame like the evening sunset. The flickering flames looked like the breath of a fire dragon.

*Hwi-o-o-o-o-o-o!*

On the other hand, a transparent, shimmering ripple like rainbow-colored silk began to undulate around Bing-geom's blue sword, and below it, a white snowstorm began to swirl. It was reminiscent of the blizzards that raged under the aurora shimmering at the ends of the North Sea.

The twin sisters Hyo-rin and Hyo-jin realized that the techniques about to be unleashed by Yeom-do and Bing-geom were extremely dangerous.

The feeling was not "I must block!" but rather "I must evade!"

If they were hit by both of these techniques simultaneously, their combined formation would likely shatter. At the same time, they realized what had been lacking in their combined formation.

"Be careful! Swords have no eyes!"

A moment of crisis was approaching for the twin sisters.

"Clap!"

Just then, a clapping sound echoed, resonating not only in their eardrums but throughout their entire bodies. The force contained in the clapping sound was so powerful that those with weak internal energy would have fainted from it. Several less-trained Heukcheonmeng warriors knelt down, clutching their ears.

The clapping sound occurred at such a precise moment that the flow of the battle, which had been tilting towards Yeom-do and Bing-geom, was instantly broken.

The technique was scattered by a single clap.

"……?!"

However, since both sides were unable to attack, they all stepped back.

'This can't be!'

Yeom-do and Bing-geom, dumbfounded, turned their gazes towards the person who had clapped.

Gucheonhyeonu still held her hands in front of her chest, her gaze cold yet dignified as she surveyed the scene. With a single clap, she had instantly seized control of the entire battlefield and its momentum. Truly, her presence was overwhelmingly terrifying.

"That's enough!"

She declared. Then, she looked at her two daughters and spoke.

"You look like you've gained something."

At her words, the twins were startled and bowed their heads in apology.

"We, we're sorry, Mother."

To learn something from the shameless individuals who were trying to rescue the murderer of their elder brother…

So they were ashamed of themselves for being momentarily captivated and admiring them. Weren't they the ones who, moments before, had been ready to tear Yeom-do and Bing-geom to pieces?

"There's no need to be sorry. Isn't it the sad instinct of a warrior to sometimes transcend even familial bonds?"

"We're sorry, we were just so relieved after being blocked for so long…"

The fifth Hyo-jin's face turned bright red.

"It wasn't just Hyo-jin's fault. It was the same for me."

The fourth Hyo-rin's face was also the same. Mu-hwa, without looking at them, commanded in an impassive voice.

"Give thanks."

"Yes? Give thanks?"

The eyes of the twin sisters Hyo-rin and Hyo-jin widened like saucers. Gratitude towards their enemies, who were practically their sworn enemies, was an absurd notion.

However, Gucheonhyeonu's eyes were serious. She reprimanded them in a voice as sharp as a frost-covered sword.

"No matter who the opponent is, if you have received a lesson, you must express your gratitude in return. That is the duty of a warrior."

The twins, unable to argue, immediately bowed deeply towards Yeom-do and Bing-geom and exclaimed.

"We thank you for your teachings! Indeed, your saber intent and sword energy are beyond ordinary imagination. Today, we two sisters have truly had our eyes opened!"

This was a perfectly disciplined and dignified greeting, utterly unrecognizable from the ones who had seemed ready to butcher and devour them just moments before.

"You, you flatter us."

"It, it's nothing."

Caught off guard by the sudden change in attitude, Yeom-do and Bing-geom, bewildered, returned the greeting with clasped hands. Although they received unexpected thanks, their hearts were incredibly uneasy.

"That's enough. You two may withdraw."

"Yes, we will obey immediately."

The twin sisters immediately retreated and rejoined the other sisters.

"Do we just withdraw too, Ice Block?"

"Right now, we must withdraw without question."

"I hate to say it, but I wholeheartedly agree."

Seizing the opportunity, Yeom-do and Bing-geom tried to withdraw from the scene. Just then.

"Stop!"

The two, who were gathering their Zhenqi to escape, felt their gathered energy dissipate at her single word and were inwardly horrified.

"Where do you think you're going without saying goodbye?"

As soon as she spoke, Gucheonhyeonu took a step forward.

With that single movement, Yeom-do and Bing-geom flinched.

These two, renowned throughout the martial world, Bing-geom Gwan Cheol-su, who also served as the Grand Martial Arts Department head of Cheonmu Academy and was one of the Ten Swords of the World, and Yeom-do Gwak Yeong-hui, known as the "Burning Dog-like Scoundrel" and one of the Five Great Saber Masters!

At this moment, they were truly intimidated.

By a single woman.