Book 29 Chapter 6

Fly high in the storm!

—Unbending wingbeats

"Six seconds have passed."

Naye-rin, who had dodged the shimmering silver spear, which drew a large silver arc like a whip, swung horizontally before changing to vertical and stabbing down, landed softly on the ground like falling snow and reported in a quiet voice. Despite having dodged fierce spear thrusts several times, she surprisingly hadn't broken a single bead of sweat.

"What? Already?"

Gyeo-hyo looked at Gyeo-min with a gaze that said, "Is that a lie?"

"Six seconds have passed."

Gyeo-min answered without mercy, her eyes seeming to shout.

—You incompetent fool!

It felt like she hadn't even swung it a few times, and yet more than half the time had passed? Gyeo-hyo couldn't believe it. Naye-rin was so quiet and graceful in her dodges that it felt like they were miles away from the intensity she considered a fight, so it didn't even feel like they were fighting. That's probably why she didn't feel like they had exchanged many techniques.

'But even so, it's already the sixth second? That means there are only four more left!'

If she had counterattacked, she might have already won decisively, but by just dodging left and right, it was even more difficult to end the match in one go. Confused whether to be angry or to laugh, Gyeo-hyo asked in a slightly bewildered voice.

"Hey, you, Nayerin, have you ever learned this spear technique before?"

"They don't teach spears at Geomgak."

A perfectly sensible answer returned.

"Lies. Then how do you know the changes so well? It's like you're reading the next move in advance."

Naye-rin replied calmly to Gyeo-hyo's words, full of disbelief.

"This spear technique is my first time today. It's just…"

"Just?"

"It's just… visible."

"……"

For a martial artist, having their moves be so visible was a great dishonor and humiliation. However, after a long silence, Gyeo-hyo didn't explode in anger but burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahahaha! This is fun, so fun! I thought Geomgak's escape techniques were incredibly developed!"

"I was taught that it is more in accordance with the martial principle (武理) to understand the flow and evade with one's body rather than to block the flow with brute force."

"Oh ho, look at that. With such a pretty face, you can even insult people? Well, a woman in the martial world needs that kind of spirit to navigate this rough world."

Instead of being angry, she seemed to consider it commendable. Naye-rin was a little taken aback by Gyeo-hyo's surprisingly cheerful remark.

"Alright. You still have your seconds left, so let's go again!"

Just then, a cheerful cheer came from behind Gyeo-hyo.

"Wow, pretty older sister, don't get hurt! Don't lose to the tall one… Ugh!"

Gyeo-hyo, who had just assumed her stance, stumbled for a moment. Gyeo-hyo, who turned around with a stiff face, finally saw Hyo-myo, who had been hit on the head by Gyeo-min and was looking teary-eyed, and asked with a stiff smile.

"Maknae, just in case I'm asking, the pretty older sister you just mentioned is me, right?"

Then, the youngest, Hyo-myo, widened her eyes and retorted.

"…Who are you?"

A blow more powerful than any she had received so far struck Gyeo-hyo's heart like a dagger.

"Maknae, you… I'll deal with you later!"

"Boo hoo! I already got hit by my sixth older sister, so I'm good!"

Thinking that no one who threatens to "deal with you later" is scary, Hyo-myo stuck out her tongue and said. She looked so tension-free that she seemed to be on an outing.

"Ahem, o-okay. You said you could see my spear moves just now, right? Let's see if you can see this one too!"

As if she wanted to pretend the previous events never happened, Gyeo-hyo coughed repeatedly and spoke to Naye-rin. Because of that maknae kid, instead of establishing the reputation of the Shinma family, the whole mood was ruined.

"I am ready."

She said "come whenever you're ready," so there was no need to hesitate. In fact, it was what Gyeo-hyo wanted.

"Then I won't hold back!"

Tziring tziring tziring!

Three silver bells rang, emitting clear bell sounds, and at the same time, the silver spear shot out like a beam of light.

Swift Wind Silver Flash Spear (疾風銀閃槍)

Secret Technique (秘技)

Nine-Coil Spear (九連槍)

It looked like a single casual swing, but the spear made nine afterimages and flew towards Naye-rin. The changes didn't end with the afterimages. The thrusts that created the afterimages were repeated consecutively. Nine streams of silver light intersected, weaving a net of silver spear shadows.

This technique, the Nine-Coil Spear, was a truly terrifying technique that performed a one-strike thrust that created nine spear shadows, nine consecutive times, for a total of eighty-one thrusts. This dense and formidable consecutive thrust attack was difficult to evade, even for a master of movement techniques.

However, as Naye-rin lifted her feet off the ground and deployed her Snow-Flying Step (飛雪步), her body transformed into a white blizzard, dancing through the space where the silver spear shadows crossed chaotically without any restraint. It was truly an elusive and miraculous movement, like a swirling blizzard.

"Good! That's a splendid footwork!"

Seeing the illusion of a blizzard created like an afterimage hiding Naye-rin's figure, Gyeo-hyo exclaimed in admiration.

"Then try to receive this one!"

Gyeo-hyo stretched her left hand forward and pulled her right hand, holding the silver spear, far back. The silver spear was pulled back with immense force, like an arrow nocked on a bowstring. A terrifying aura began to emanate from Gyeo-hyo's entire body, as if she were a taut bowstring pulled back.

Wheeeeee!

With a rough sound, the wind began to be sucked towards her and began to rotate noisily, wrapped around the tip of the silver spear. In that moment, a triumphant smile formed on Gyeo-hyo's lips.

"This blizzard! I'll clean you all up at once! Hup!"

Swift Wind Silver Flash Spear (疾風銀閃槍) Ultimate Technique (奧義)

Silver Wind Light Shadow Chaos Dance (銀風光影亂舞)

Swaaaaaaaeak!

Paah!

With a sound that seemed to tear through the wind, the silver spear shot forward. Along with a dazzling silver flash, a gust of wind swept through, instantly blowing away the blizzard that was sweeping in all directions.

As the blizzard vanished as if washed away, Naye-rin, who had hidden herself within the illusion of the wind, was clearly revealed. Naye-rin was surprised that her Snow-Flying Step (飛雪步) had been nullified by a single thrust.

"To link the Absorb Technique (吸訣) and the Repel Technique (彈訣) in a double formation to create a storm… No, you've even subtly added the Spiral Technique (螺旋訣) and the Warrior's Scenery (戰士境)."

Hearing that, a look of shock flashed in Gyeo-hyo's eyes.

"To grasp the essence of my unique secret technique, Swift Wind Spear Scenery (疾風槍景), in one go! What kind of damn person are you?"

'Frightening insight not befitting her age! I must re-evaluate this child.'

Ultimately, she was an enemy who had to be killed, but Gyeo-hyo couldn't help but admire her exceptional skill.

"But now, the blizzard can no longer hide you. Why don't you just accept your fate and get caught?"

In fact, Gyeo-hyo felt that Naye-rin's beauty and talent were a waste. The very existence of such talent among the women of the martial world could be considered a blessing for the female martial arts community. However, it seemed the martial world could no longer enjoy that blessing.

"Accepting fate…"

Naye-rin mumbled quietly, a faint smile on her lips for some reason.

"What's so funny?"

Gyeo-hyo asked with a puzzled expression.

"Well… if it were someone I know, they would say this. That destiny is something you carve out for yourself. So, don't entrust your destiny to others, cultivate your strength, and never give up."

"And then?"

Gyeo-hyo's voice, which asked back, was stiff. However, Naye-rin's voice, which had already made up her mind, showed no trace of wavering. All that could be found within it was determination.

"In the past, I lived cursing my fate endlessly, but nothing changed. There was someone who told me that curses couldn't change anything. That destiny must be changed with one's own hands! Therefore, I will change my destiny with my own hands, my own strength, not only now but also in the future!"

Naye-rin's pupils shone like a night sky filled with countless stars. The Dragon Eyes (龍眼), having evolved to a higher level, had been unleashed.

"Excellent. But don't think that mere determination can block my Swift Wind Thrusts!"

Gyeo-hyo cautiously pulled her silver spear back and assumed a thrusting stance again. To let go of such an opponent would be disrespectful to them.

'I'll put my heart into this blow!'

Gyeo-hyo's eyes began to shine intensely.

Wheeeeee!

What was loaded into her right hand, pulled back, was not the silver spear but the wind itself, wrapped around the silver spear. Moreover, it was a vortex of a much more powerful swift wind than before.

"Even if you understand the principle, can you really block this?"

Gyeo-hyo's words could be summarized as follows:

—Block it if you can.

It was as if she were issuing a challenge.

Whoooooooosh!

The swift wind wrapped around the silver spear swirled and began to shimmer silver. The power was incomparable to before. However, not a trace of fear flickered in Naye-rin's eyes. Instead, what shone there was the determination to fight head-on and strong will.

Facing the spear scenery that pressed down on her entire body like a strong wind, even though it hadn't been unleashed yet, Naye-rin shouted.

"That much wind cannot break my sword. Disciples of Geomgak train their wings in the storms of the South Sea!"

Gyeo-hyo retorted back.

"Okay! Let's see how strong your wings are!"

Shouting with great spirit, Gyeo-hyo mercilessly thrust her silver spear, wrapped in silver swift wind, forward.

Swift Wind Silver Flash Spear (疾風銀閃槍)

Secret Ultimate Technique (秘奧義)

Silver Fang (銀牙) Swift Wind Fang (疾風牙)

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

A fierce storm surged towards Naye-rin's sword, intending to break and shatter it. Instead of dodging, Naye-rin sprang off the ground like a bird taking flight in the storm and threw herself into the swift wind.

Geomgak (劍閣) Secret Transmission (秘傳)

Movement Technique (身法) Ultimate Technique (奧義)

Storm Flight (暴風飛翔) Flying Swan Piercing Clouds (飛鴻貫雲)

In the South Sea, instead of snow, storms frequently raged. To live in the South Sea meant that storms were an unavoidable part of the natural cycle.

It was only natural for storms to blow. Since one couldn't ask nature to stop the storms, those living in the South Sea had to cultivate the strength to endure those storms themselves.

In the midst of a raging storm.

To fly solo in the fiercely blowing storm that uprooted trees and even blew away houses, flapping one's wings. To overcome the storm and fly up. That was the trial to receive the four wings, Sa-ik Bi-hong, which were conferred to candidates for the successor of Geomgak.

Geomgak called this grueling test Storm Flight (暴風飛翔).

It meant that only those with wings that would not break even in a storm could become the successor of Geomgak.

Naye-rin underwent that test with her senior, Dokgo-ryeong. And now, the insignia of Sa-ik Bi-hong adorned Naye-rin's chest. It was proof that she had splendidly overcome that trial with Dokgo-ryeong.

Pah!

As the Silver Fang (銀牙) Swift Wind Fang (疾風牙) and Naye-rin's wingbeats collided explosively, gusts of wind raged in all directions.

And a moment later.

"…!"

"What the hell…!"

The silver spear, which had been raging and summoning the swift wind, stopped abruptly as if it had never done so before. At the same time, the raging storm quickly subsided.

"What in the world…"

Gyeo-hyo couldn't believe it as she looked at her right shoulder.

At some point, a single leaf had been embedded there.

'In that swift wind?'

If that were true, it was a truly terrifying move of Plucking Leaf Flight (摘葉飛翔).

At that moment, Gyeo-hyo was completely captivated by the single leaf that had flown through the strong wind and embedded itself in her shoulder. And that action created a huge opening.

It was a hole too large for Naye-rin's Dragon Eyes (龍眼) to miss.

Her wings, strengthened by overcoming the trial, flapped with all their might. Although one wing was bloody from resisting the Swift Wind Scenery (疾風景), it did not break.

With her sleeves torn to shreds by the fierce wind and her sword clutched tightly in her bloody right hand, Naye-rin leaped over another storm and rained down a chilling sword energy towards Gyeo-hyo.

Cold Frost Jade Spirit Divine Sword (寒霜玉靈神劍)

Sword Energy (劍氣) Ultimate Technique (奧義)

Ice Soul Phoenix Dance (氷魄鳳舞) Chaotic Wings (亂翼)

The sword dances.

Naye-rin's beloved sword, Bing-ru, dances. Like a phoenix soaring, it flapped its wings, dancing a cold, white dance like a swirling frost wind. The white sword energy spouting from the tip of the sword became a giant Ice Soul Phoenix, spreading its stern, icy wings wide open.

As Naye-rin began her sword dance, spreading her ice wings wide in the clear night sky, Gyeo-hyo involuntarily burst into admiration.

"What a beautiful sword dance!"

Chaeaeaeaeaeang!

Silver Fang (銀牙) Swift Wind Fang (疾風牙)'s killing blow!

As the stance was large and the power was great, if the technique was broken, the caster would be left defenseless, which was its drawback.

"Damn it!"

Gyeo-hyo, who had cried out too grandly, couldn't handle the remaining strength and let out a rough sound as she couldn't fully retract her silver dragon spear. Naye-rin seized this moment.

"I will take this match!"

White sword energy shot out from Naye-rin's sword as she leaped.

"Wait a moment!"

Swoosh!

Just then, a shadow suddenly appeared, blocking Gyeo-hyo's path, and lightly blew on the black flute she held to her lips.

"……!"

Peeleelee!

As a flute sound with a long resonance cut through the air, an invisible melody canceled out Naye-rin's pure white sword energy.

"Sixth Older Sister! Why did you interfere!"

Gyeo-hyo irritably yelled at Hyo-min, who had come to her aid in a crisis.

"Even if you're Min Unni, I won't forgive you for insulting my fight!"

Gyeo-min quietly said as she looked back at her seething younger sister.

"I didn't insult your fight."

"You didn't?"

Gyeo-hyo tilted her head. If Gyeo-min said she didn't, then she didn't. But then, why?

"Esteemed elder, have you visited? If you have, would you kindly show yourself?"

Despite Gyeo-min's clear voice, the surroundings remained silent.

"What's wrong, Min Unni?"

"There is another person."

Gyeo-min answered with a grim face.

"Where?"

Gyeo-hyo asked back with a surprised expression.

"I don't know."

That answer surprised Gyeo-hyo again. Among the sisters, Gyeo-min's detection ability was outstanding. The fact that she couldn't find them meant that the opponent was a formidable master.

"The one who wounded you with a leaf, which is most easily played with by the wind, even in that storm. They are definitely not an ordinary person."

"That's true, of course."

At first, she thought it was Naye-rin's doing, but it didn't make sense. Her right sleeve was torn, so she must have been struggling just to resist her swift wind scenery. She clearly didn't have time to leisurely throw leaves.

"If they are two on that side, is it shameful for us to be two on this side?"

"Th-that's true…"

Moreover, they hid and ambushed. Even if Gyeo-min intervened, it would never be considered a cowardly act. Gyeo-hyo twisted her body. She felt apologetic for yelling at her older sister without preamble.

"Haven't I always told you, Chil-mae, that you are too hasty? When will you ever behave properly?"

"Sorry."

Gyeo-hyo bowed her head low.

"You are injured, so step back for a moment. I will handle the remaining two techniques."

"This is just a scratch."

She said it as if being impaled in the shoulder was of no consequence.

"Do as I say."

Meeting Gyeo-min's gaze, Gyeo-hyo realized her older sister had another intention. She was trying to lure out the helper hiding in the darkness by using Naye-rin.

"Alright. It's a shame, but I'll leave the remaining two techniques to you, Unni."

Gyeo-min nodded and took a step forward.

The problem was how to draw out the other one who was hiding. Gyeo-min had an idea about that.

"Further fighting is meaningless. How about it, will you simply give up and surrender? …Even if I say that, you won't give up, will you?"

While quietly urging surrender, Gyeo-min's senses were spread out in all directions.

"I'm sorry, but my answer is still 'impossible.' Moreover, the sky seems to be helping me. I can't let that help go to waste."

Naye-rin's answer was unwavering.

"I knew it. Your 'voice' now has no tremor. If you refuse good advice and prefer punishment, then there's nothing I can do. Then, listen to my performance!"

Gyeo-min brought the black jade flute to her lips with a cold expression and thought.

'If that child is in danger, she won't stand idly by.'

Gyeo-min slowly breathed into the black flute.

Heavenly Sound Divine Demon Melody (天音神魔旋律)

Ultimate Technique (奧義)

Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音)

The breath she blew out turned into music and echoed.

As the flute sound began to resonate, Naye-rin suddenly stiffened and became unable to move. It felt like an invisible net of sound had captured her.

This flute sound, imbued with the power to suppress the spirit, seemed to affect only her, not others.

"Wh-what is this…"

'Sound is something that spreads in all directions, but to gather that sound and concentrate the effect of sonic energy on just one person…'

Just that alone showed how great a master of sonic arts Gyeo-min was. Her head began to ache as if it would crack. She tried to resist by raising her internal energy, but it felt like a futile struggle. The faint flute sound emanating from the black jade flute was eroding her spirit.

'Don't lose your mind, Naye-rin! Snap out of it! If your mind collapses, everything collapses.'

Protecting her vital meridians with her internal energy, Naye-rin tried to steady her dazed mind. Then, a strange light flashed in Gyeo-min's eyes.

'That child, still maintaining her sanity and enduring like this while listening to my Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音)! Her mental fortitude at such a young age is astonishing!'

Gyeo-min was frankly impressed.

'Then…'

Gyeo-min's fingers moved more brilliantly over the black jade flute. The qi (氣) carried by the sound became even stronger, producing a powerful tone.

"Aargh!"

Naye-rin's body swayed like a reed in the wind, struck by a shock that felt like her vital meridians were twisting all at once.

'I have to deploy a qi barrier (氣幕) quickly to block the sound…'

However, she couldn't properly manipulate her internal energy in the torrential downpour of sound.

'I clearly learned sonic arts from Teacher Hong-ran, a master of sonic arts at Cheonmu Academy… about how to deal with sonic masters… the true horror of a sonic master…'

She had clearly learned that one should never yield the first move to a sonic master, that one must seize the initiative by any means necessary, and that a preemptive strike was the most important thing.

She had learned it, but… she couldn't use it.

Her lack of experience fighting actual sonic masters had been her downfall. Naye-rin's hand, holding the ice spirit sword (빙령), began to tremble.

Her hand was trying to let go of the sword, regardless of her will.

'No! Stop!'

Naye-rin commanded in her mind. The insight she gained when she was kidnapped by Seo-cheon and subjected to a sealing ritual came into play at this moment. Her opening hand closed tightly again.

"……!!"

Seeing that, Gyeo-min was surprised. She had expected resistance, but she hadn't expected her to directly defy the command to drop her sword, issued through the Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音), and grip it tightly again.

However, it was difficult to move any further.

'Move, please! Move, my body! My arms! My sword!'

Naye-rin continued to command her own body.

Her pupils began to shine like stars.

Deeply, deeply.

Slowly, little by little, Naye-rin's body began to move.

It moved, but she couldn't break free completely, so her movements were slow.

However, it was enough to shock the two women.

"How is this possible! To move while listening to Sixth Older Sister's Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音)!"

Gyeo-hyo, who had been watching silently without intervening, perhaps out of trust in her sixth sister, let out a scream of shock.

Gyeo-min, who was playing the Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音), was also surprised. However, since she was playing the flute at the moment, she couldn't shout loudly. But the melody faltered slightly. For Hyo-min, who never made mistakes, it was a mistake so significant that it felt humiliating.

'I have to break this Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音) somehow!'

Naye-rin's current appearance was like a butterfly struggling to break free from a spider's web.

"Ah, no… if it goes on like this…"

Hyo-myo stamped her feet, perhaps pitying her appearance. It seemed to hurt her heart just to see a beautiful woman in pain right in front of her. However, there was nothing she could do to help. Just then, the black cat sitting on Hyo-myo's shoulder raised its right paw and tickled Hyo-myo's right ear. The sensitive senses of the black snow cat (흑설묘) had detected something hidden in the bushes to her right.

'That…'

In that moment, Hyo-myo's eyes flashed sharply.

'Is this the end? No, don't give up, Naye-rin! Don't give up!'

Naye-rin was barely holding on, putting all her strength into her knees that were about to collapse. She no longer had enough strength to break free from the spider web.

Just then.

Ka-ang!

A loud roar erupted from one side of the forest. The sound was so loud it made her ears ring.

"Damn it. So that's where you are!"

Gyeo-hyo, who had been retreating, thrust her silver spear towards the bushes on the right. Under Gyeo-min's covert instructions, while she was pushing Naye-rin, Hyo-hyo was monitoring suspicious movements in the surroundings and was ready to strike at any time. Therefore, her attack was swift and powerful.

Pong! Pong! Pong!

Three consecutive thrusts resembling white flashes. Then, a black figure shot out from the bushes and ran straight towards Naye-rin.

"Ryeong Unni!"

In that moment, Naye-rin's face overflowed with joy. The one who had saved her in her moment of crisis by making a roaring sound was none other than Yeong-ryeong.

'Could it have been Ryeong Unni who saved me earlier too?'

"Where do you think you're going!"

However, Gyeo-myo, who had already noticed, quickly leaped towards the two of them.

"Don't interfere!"

Yeong-ryeong extended her hand to grab Naye-rin. However, what she grabbed was not Naye-rin but Gyeo-myo's left wrist.

"Kyaaak, I've been caught by an eyepatch auntie! Scary~!"

While screaming, Gyeo-myo, without hesitation, extended her right hand towards Yeong-ryeong. Then, Yeong-ryeong blocked that attack with one arm and skillfully twisted Gyeo-myo's left elbow joint.

"Maknae! Get out quickly!"

Worried that her maknae might be captured, Gyeo-hyo lunged with her silver spear towards Yeong-ryeong. However, out of fear of her maknae getting involved, she couldn't exert her full strength, so the power was significantly reduced.

Yeong-ryeong, still holding onto the grabbed arm's pulse, circled behind Gyeo-myo. Then, the tip of the silver spear, flying towards Yeong-ryeong, ended up pointing towards Gyeo-myo.

"Oh no!"

Gyeo-hyo, terrified, quickly retracted her spear scenery. However, due to its immense basic power, she failed to withdraw all the accumulated energy at once.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaak!"

Gyeo-hyo's heart sank at the scream that erupted from her maknae.

"A-are you okay, Maknae?"

"I'm not okay! You strong, tall older sister!"

Gyeo-myo, who had narrowly avoided becoming a skewer, yelled irritably, shaking her right arm.

"Phew, you seem to be okay."

Gyeo-min, who had been equally surprised, let out a sigh of relief. Although a little blood was visible from her right arm as she shook it, she didn't seem to be seriously injured given how lively she was.

"I said I'm not okay! Do you think bleeding from these delicate jade-like hands is okay in your eyes? More importantly, I'm being held captive right now!"

Yeong-ryeong, with her arm twisted in her left hand, was pointing her sword in her right hand at Hyo-myo's neck. Gyeo-myo had become a captive in the blink of an eye.

"Release your hand at once!"

As Gyeo-hyo lunged forward with her spear, Yeong-ryeong shouted.

"Don't move!"

With a shout that reverberated through the air, Gyeo-hyo and Gyeo-min, who had been about to move towards their maknae, stopped in their tracks. If they made a mistake, their maknae could get hurt.

"Are you okay?"

Yeong-ryeong, her gaze still fixed forward and locked with Gyeo-hyo's, asked Naye-rin in a gruff voice.

"Yes, I'm okay."

"Really?"

That was the end of Yeong-ryeong's reaction.

"But Ryeong Unni, why did you come back? To such a dangerous place!"

Naye-rin's tone was unusually reproachful, showing how surprised she was. However, Yeong-ryeong replied dismissively.

"Don't be mistaken! I didn't come to save you, I just came to find something you forgot!"

***

About three days ago.

"Huh? Where's Na Soje?"

Geum Yeong-ho, who had been running with his plump flesh jiggling, shouted as he noticed Naye-rin had disappeared, looking around.

"No way! We were definitely together!"

Yeong-ryeong, who was running next to him, was surprised to realize that Naye-rin, who was always by her side, was gone.

To not even notice Naye-rin's disappearance during an escape.

"No way, no way! No! No!"

Yeong-ryeong shouted in a panic.

An overwhelming sense of dread washed over her. The uncontrollable worry and anxiety plunged her mind into chaos.

"Samae! Samae! …Ah!"

She suddenly realized she had called Naye-rin "Samae" and was startled.

"What should I do? What should I do?"

Everything was just chaotic.

"What do you mean, what should we do? We have to go back, don't we?"

Maharyeong objected to Yong Cheon-myeong's urgent question.

"No. Where are you going in that condition? You're barely running after using your Lion's Roar (사자후) so desperately. How can you fight those monstrous women?"

Maharyeong had truly experienced the existence of such formidable female masters in the martial world for the first time today.

"That's true, but…!"

Among the Cheonmu Academy disciples, only Jin-ryeong, Gongson Jeol-hwi, and Geum Yeong-ho were in good condition.

Maharyeong, Yong Cheon-myeong, Baek Mu-yeong, Cheong Heun, and others had nearly depleted their internal energy from the attacks they used during their escape, so they were in no condition to fight properly. Jin-ryeong had conserved her energy in case of an emergency, but if they met an enemy again, all they had left was annihilation.

However, they couldn't leave it to Director Dam or those from the Black Path. Of course, it was difficult to expect anything from Geum Yeong-ho, and the same went for Gongson Jeol-hwi. Especially Maharyeong was curious about what Geum Yeong-ho could do, or if he could do anything at all.

He had been of no help whatsoever up to this point.

"No, keep going. Naye Soje probably wants that too. Right now, the best way to help Naye Soje is to put more distance between us and our pursuers!"

It was a difficult decision for Maharyeong as well. Just then.

"I'll go."

It was Yeong-ryeong who spoke in a firm voice.

"…Will you really do that?"

Jin-ryeong asked back with a look of delight. As a member of the Vermilion Bird Squad (주작단), whose Grand Senior Disciple was Bil-ryeon, Jin-ryeong had to ensure Naye-rin's safety by any means necessary.

"I'm just worried I'll have nightmares if I just leave like this. I have no other intentions."

"Then let's assume that for now."

"Not for now, that's the truth."

Jin-ryeong looked Yeong-ryeong straight in the eye and bowed her head, speaking respectfully.

"Our Grand Senior Disciple, please take good care of her."

"I'm not doing it because you asked me to… well, fine."

Yeong-ryeong nodded slightly and turned away.

"Can we really trust that person? I'm really worried."

Geum Yeong-ho asked, unable to hide his anxiety, as he watched Yeong-ryeong's receding figure in the distance.

"If something happens to our Grand Senior Disciple… we…"

The rest was too terrible to imagine.

"Hey, Mr. Pig Geum? Are you worried about our Grand Senior Disciple, or your own safety?"

Jin-ryeong glared at Geum Yeong-ho with a very displeased expression.

"Of c-of course, the Grand Senior Disciple. Naturally?"

Geum Yeong-ho exclaimed.

"Don't worry. A person's eyes don't lie."

Jin-ryeong's voice held a certainty that was different from her usual self.

"Really?"

Geum Yeong-ho's words clearly conveyed, 'Since when did your eyesight become so amazing? I don't believe you.'

"Of course. Therefore, I know you were lying just now!"

"Gasp! How do you… *huff*!"

Geum Yeong-ho gasped in surprise at his own unintentional slip of the tongue and covered his mouth.

"Tsk tsk, I knew it."

Cold sweat poured down Geum Yeong-ho's forehead like rain.

"Please, just not to our Senior Brother…"

To Geum Yeong-ho's earnest pleas, Jin-ryeong's answer was very concise.

"We'll see."

Geum Yeong-ho's complexion turned very pale upon hearing that. Like black ink staining white paper, Jin-ryeong, who was becoming more like her Senior Brother, quietly murmured to herself as she watched the direction Yeong-ryeong had disappeared.

'Yes, that person is different from you. What is contained within her eyes! That is…'

What Jin-ryeong saw in her eyes was a 'resolve.'

And people, distracted by Yeong-ryeong's voluntary departure and the bickering between Geum Yeong-ho and Jin-ryeong, did not notice the anomaly occurring in a corner. What they missed was the sight of Ok Yu-gyeong looking down at Jang So-ok, who was slumped on the ground like a discarded sack.

The whereabouts of the nameless person, the culprit who had abandoned his devoted second-in-command like luggage, were nowhere to be seen.

***

"Thank you, Ryeong Unni. But did Ryeong Unni save me earlier too?"

Naye-rin's surprise and joy were immense, as she had never expected Yeong-ryeong to come to her rescue. Moreover, the divine skill she had displayed without a trace earlier was at an astonishing level.

"W-what are you thanking me for? I don't know about earlier, but I didn't come because of you. I just came to find something you forgot."

To Naye-rin's gratitude, Yeong-ryeong turned her head elsewhere and replied in a dismissive tone.

"Then what did you forget, Unni?"

Naye-rin asked lightly, a faint smile on her lips.

"I-I don't know. In any case, it wasn't you."

Yeong-ryeong was not very honest.

"Thank you."

Naye-rin expressed her gratitude once more with a gentle smile on her face. Despite her curtness, Yeong-ryeong's concern for her was directly conveyed. And because of that joy, Naye-rin never realized that there was another being who had helped her before.

"D-don't smile. It's not what you think!"

Turning her head away, Yeong-ryeong replied. Her slightly visible cheeks were flushed red for some reason.

"…What do I think?"

"I don't know. Mind your own business about trivial things!"

To another curt reply, Naye-rin responded with a gentle smile. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable and embarrassed, Yeong-ryeong concluded that the best course of action was to leave the scene as quickly as possible.

"Are you seriously bickering when you're holding someone hostage? Release Maknae at once!"

Gyeo-hyo snarled, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Oh my, don't come any closer. My hand might slip by accident."

Then, Gyeo-myo screamed as if terrified.

"Eek! Don't come closer, Unni! I don't want to get hurt!"

Thanks to Hyo-hyo's scolding and Hyo-myo's scream, Yeong-ryeong was able to calm her mind and escape the dilemma. It was more comfortable to be a wicked hostage-taker than to be interrogated by Naye-rin.

"Hyo-myo!"

"I told you to stop! I'll slit your throat if you don't!"

As Gyeo-min leaned forward with a worried expression, Yeong-ryeong let out a terrifying shout. The ferocity of her aura made both Hyo-min and Hyo-hyo halt in their tracks.

"Grrr…"

Gyeo-hyo gnashed her teeth, unable to move forward or backward. She had considered forcibly taking her back, but if even a scratch appeared on her maknae's skin, their mother, Dan-hye, would surely not stand by.

"Don't worry. I'll only keep her until we get to a safe place."

Yeong-ryeong opened her mouth in a calm tone, as if she hadn't just shouted.

"Will you give Maknae back if we let you two go?"

"If you love your sister, you should do so, shouldn't you?"

Gyeo-min bit her lips and asked in response to Yeong-ryeong's question.

"What if we refuse?"

If they tried to forcibly retrieve her, a fight would be inevitable.

"That would not be a good choice. I don't have a hobby of slitting the throats of such cute young ladies, so I'd prefer to avoid it."

Although her tone was calm, the content within was as cold and sharp as a gleaming dagger.

As their gazes met, invisible sparks flew in the air.

"Fine, I'll do that."

"Unni!"

Gyeo-min was the first to nod. It was because she couldn't harm her maknae.

Only then did Yeong-ryeong let out a sigh of relief.

"You made the right decision."

There was an unbridgeable gap between making up her mind and actually slitting the girl's throat.

"Then we'll be going now. Before we go, here's a farewell gift!"

Yeong-ryeong took out something like a black ball from her bosom and threw it towards Hyo-min and Hyo-hyo.

Boooong!

The black ball, flying like an arrow, vibrated in the air and suddenly split into seven.

"Foolish! Do you think such a trivial skill will work!"

Boooong!

Thinking it was a projectile, Gyeo-hyo swung her spear and split all seven incoming objects in half.

"Huh?"

However, Gyeo-hyo's eyes widened as she saw smoke rising from the fourteen remaining halves still floating in the air.

Pah!

The next moment, the black halves that had been split exploded, emitting thick black smoke.

An arm stretched out through the black smoke, grabbing Naye-rin's arm.

"There! This is our chance! Let's go, Naye-rin!"

Yeong-ryeong shouted, pulling Naye-rin's wrist as they ran through the spreading smoke. Then she was suddenly surprised. 'Hot!' she exclaimed. When she came to her senses, she realized she had been speaking informally the entire time.

However, there was no time to stop and make excuses. Hesitating for a moment, Yeong-ryeong turned and ran again, and Naye-rin smiled brightly and replied.

"Yes, Ryeong Unni!"

And then…

"Ugh, what is this? My eyes sting!"

Hyo-hyo shouted in an annoyed voice.

"No, it's not poison. It seems to be a mixture of chili powder and pepper."

Even in this situation, the calmest was Gyeo-min.

What Yeong-ryeong threw was not just a smoke bomb to obscure vision, but a combination of chili powder, pepper, and an unknown spice. Therefore, its potent stimulus greatly irritated their eyes and noses. The toxicity of this bomb was comparable to absolute poison.

"What? Chili powder? Damn it! Unni, doesn't it sting you?"

"…It stings."

Then she couldn't say anything more and began to blow wind by swirling her sleeves like a gust of wind to drive away the black smoke.

Cough, cough.

Coughs and sniffs of a running nose continued, and after a while.

As the black smoke cleared and they could finally distinguish objects around them, Gyeo-hyo continued to cough, her face deeply contorted.

"Maknae? Maknae!"

However, nowhere around where the smoke had cleared was there any sign of the maknae, Gyeo-myo. Of course, neither Yeong-ryeong nor Naye-rin were there either.

Unable to contain her anger, Gyeo-hyo thrust her silver spear into the ground.

Boom!

The ground shook with a roar. It was clear how angry she was. However, she immediately added a remark.

"Damn it! That's a relief."

Putting aside the curse, the immediate addition of "that's a relief" was strange.

"Yes, now it has all gone according to Third Sister's plan. We almost captured an unintended hostage, didn't we? That Na kid is worth it, though…"

"Still, Unni, I didn't use my true killer move."

"Are you saying you were about to show even 'that'?"

It was as if she wanted to say, 'What if something went wrong?'

"That's the same for you too, Sixth Older Sister. You almost used the Severing Sound Sword Technique (切音劍訣)."

Gyeo-min didn't deny it.

"Then what will you do?"

Gyeo-min, who was not one to be easily swayed, retorted without a single eyebrow twitch.

"Gasp! Th-then it was real?"

Gyeo-hyo's eyes widened at her incredibly calm reaction.

"Yes, it's real. Is there a problem?"

With such confident assertiveness, she had nothing to say.

"Oh, no, of course there's no problem, but…"

Even though she felt this wasn't right, she couldn't say anything else.

"I have never seen a child of her age resist my Soulless Spirit Summoning Sound (無魂招靈音) to this extent before today. She is truly a remarkable child."

Soulless Spirit Summoning (舞魂), literally meaning to make the soul dance. It was a terrifying sonic art that controlled the mind and body through music. It was a high-level sonic art of the soul-capturing category (攝魂系) that could never be performed without profound martial energy, a deep understanding of music, and the ability to freely wield that understanding.

"In any case, you'll have to be prepared from now on. Your various rough and hasty words and actions today… seem to be at a level that requires reporting to Mother."

"Hic!"

Gyeo-hyo let out a gasp of air from her lungs at the unexpected remark from Hyo-min.

"N-no, Unni! Just to Mother… isn't that too much? I'll do anything else, please spare me just this once, okay?"

Gyeo-hyo's face turned pale at Hyo-min's threat, which was not really a threat.

Hyo-min's biological mother was Sa-ran, the third wife. She was a person who was more strict than anyone else about maintaining dignity and grace. Sa-ran's role was to uphold the dignity, grace, and family traditions of the Shinma family. The Shinma Eight Immortals (신마팔선자) had all received strict etiquette training from Sa-ran since childhood.

Even then, Gyeo-hyo's etiquette training results, who was always boisterous, were dismal, but Sa-ran was not one to let that slide, so she had to endure great hardship every time she was caught. Even looking back, all she remembered was suffering.

"In any case, th-that, please! Unni! Are you trying to send your sister to her doom? We are sisters, aren't we!"

For Gyeo-hyo, Sa-ran's quiet but terrifyingly oppressive long scoldings were no different from fear. No matter how old she got, she never got used to it, but rather became more afraid.

"Fine. Considering the bond between sisters, I'll let it slide this one time, and we'll resolve it amongst ourselves later. But remember, there won't be a second time."

"Of course. Yes, yes. Thank you, Min Unni."

Gyeo-hyo let out a sigh of relief, as if she had just come back to life, and nodded repeatedly.

"Be careful next time. I'll be watching."

"Yes, of course. Oh, by the way, that kid named Naye-rin, she's really quite strong. I like strong women. I wish she wasn't from the Na family… Don't you think so?"

"Are you changing the subject now?"

Gyeo-hyo couldn't fall for her sister's trick and asked sharply.

"N-no, of course not. Unni, don't you think it's a shame? You know very well that it's rare for a young female sword master with such talent to be born."

That was truly sincere.

"Is her talent so regrettable to you?"

"Of course, it is. Moreover, I have to eliminate that talent with my own hands."

"So, will you stop?"

"Unni, are you joking? To spare the bloodline of a demonic beast. Do you think I would do that?"

Her tone showed no sign of letting up.

"Yes, you wouldn't. As long as that child is the bloodline of that demonic beast, her fate is already sealed."

"Then… Ye-cheong Unni's fate is also sealed, isn't it?"

"…Let's not talk about that."

"…Yes."

The two fell silent for a moment as if they had made a promise. Gyeo-hyo broke the silence.

"But we're quite calm, aren't we, when Maknae has been kidnapped?"

Gyeo-hyo's words lacked a sense of tension or urgency.

"That's true."

Gyeo-min's answer was very calm.

"I can't explain it well, but isn't something strange about this, Unni?"

To Gyeo-hyo's words, Gyeo-min nodded and spoke with a serious expression.

"If you are worried about something right now, it is whether you will be scolded by Third Mother if that child gets even a scratch? You are not worried about that child getting seriously injured or suffering irreparable harm."

"…Of course. There's no way she'd be taken down that easily? That kid, although annoying, her martial arts talent is superior to mine."

Gyeo-hyo nodded in affirmation.

"Exactly. That's why such a Maknae was so easily taken hostage. Is it possible for that child to be easily captured by others?"

Gyeo-hyo shook her head as if it were absurd.

"Of course not! How slippery that kid is!"

Gyeo-hyo, who had suffered chasing after her whenever she teased them, knew this better than anyone.

"Yes, even a skilled person like you often loses track of Maknae. Even if it was a surprise attack, could she really be captured that easily? The one-eyed girl who appeared later, I don't think she's stronger than you. And the one who interfered earlier was definitely not that girl."

"Of course… Gasp! Th-then, could it be…!"

As if a thought occurred somewhere, disbelief and shock simultaneously appeared on Gyeo-hyo's face.

"I don't want to admit it, but there is a high probability that it is. Ten to one, it is. Not only that. What I am sure of is because of Maknae's voice."

"Her voice?!"

Gyeo-hyo knew well what that meant. It was one of Gyeo-min's unique abilities; she possessed the miraculous ability to read the emotions conveyed in a person's voice. Therefore, Gyeo-hyo had never managed to deceive Gyeo-min before. It was because she could tell at a glance whether her words were true or false just by listening to her voice.

"I missed the clue at the time because I was flustered, but I realized it only after Maknae disappeared. The cry for help that Maknae let out then had no sincerity in it. The pitch and tone were exactly the same as the screams she let out when she was scolded by Second Mother."

At those words, Gyeo-hyo clenched her fists in anger.

"No wonder! I thought it sounded like a familiar exaggeration! I should have just hit her with one blow."

It seemed to be a mistake to be flustered by the sight of blood spurting from her maknae's arm.

"However, that child named Yeong-ryeong was sincere. It wasn't a good choice to move rashly."

Just as Gyeo-min's sensitive ears had read the pretense in Maknae's words, she had also read the sincerity in Yeong-ryeong's words.

"Then what about Maknae? Should we just leave her? To be happily kidnapped, this isn't voluntary payment, it's voluntary kidnapping. Damn cat kid!"

Gyeo-hyo wanted to rush out immediately and grab Maknae by the scruff of her neck and drag her back. She felt a sense of emptiness for being angry at the hostage-taker just a moment ago.

"Why! Why did that kid do such a crazy thing? Why?"

Naturally, such a question arose.

"Isn't that child different from us? It's probably because of that… that."

Gyeo-min, who nodded, had an expression not much different from her younger sister.

"That? Ah… That? …Ha, haha…"

Gyeo-hyo trembled, confused whether to laugh or be angry at this matter.

"Why at this time… And why such an opponent…!"

"What can we do? She's already sixteen."

Gyeo-min's words, mixed with a sigh, carried a deep sense of resignation.

"She's grown a lot."

"Yes, she's grown a lot."

Of course, it was not said with pride in her growth. Furthermore, a bigger problem remained.

"How should I tell Mother about this…!"

Just the thought made Gyeo-hyo's vision go dark. She might be reprimanded for failing to properly supervise her Maknae. In that case, she would have nothing to say even if she had a hundred mouths.

"You just have to tell her the truth. Then she will understand."

"R-really? R-right? M-maybe…"

She desperately wanted to agree, but her reason kept refusing to accept the fact.

"If something happens to that kid…"

"Then half the martial world will burn in flames. I don't want to see that."

"Um, Unni… We'll burn too, right? …Haha, I don't like hot things…"

Gyeo-hyo was so steeped in extreme fear that she was on the verge of talking nonsense.

"…Anyway, she'll be fine with Maknae's abilities. Was there even one among us sisters who could handle Maknae?"

"No. Who could handle that troublemaker? So, there won't be any problem, right?"

Only then did Gyeo-hyo's stiff expression gradually relax.

"Of course, there won't be any problem. So, let's stop the idle chatter and start. We have to do what Third Sister told us to do."

Gyeo-min quietly closed her eyes and slowly opened her sensitive hearing, which she possessed from birth as perfect pitch and had continually honed.

…….

The sounds of the world began to flow into her ears.

"Did you find her? Where are they now, Unni?"

Gyeo-hyo looked at Hyo-min, who was concentrating with her eyes closed, and asked nonchalantly. As if she knew an answer would come.

"They are currently moving about one stride per breath outside this Li."

Hyo-min opened her mouth slowly with her eyes closed.

"The direction?"

"Northeast."

The answer came without a hint of hesitation. Northeast, where the Ghost Gate (귀문) was located. It was an ominous direction.

"As expected, Sixth Older Sister's Ten Thousand Li Hearing Technique (萬里至聽術) is amazing."

"There's no need to ride in a palanquin. That doesn't change the fact that you'll have to have a session with me later about the posture of a refined lady."

"Ugh, no way!"

Gyeo-hyo let out a sigh that felt like the sky was falling, but Gyeo-min was not one to be swayed by such things.

Ten Thousand Li Hearing Technique (萬里至聽術).

It was a martial art created by Gyeo-min, who possessed perfect pitch, by honing her innate talent. It was a technique that maximized the method of hearing (聽法: method of hearing). When this secret technique was cast, her hearing instantly increased more than tenfold. She also became a sound collector that didn't miss even the faintest sound.

With her perfect pitch ears, she could hear even the faintest sounds from afar as soon as the Ten Thousand Li Hearing Technique (萬里至聽術) was activated. Therefore, she could be considered the most outstanding and most terrifying tracker.

'Just how far can Sixth Older Sister hear?'

Even her sister, Hyo-hyo, didn't know how far Gyeo-min could hear.

'It's no wonder they call her a hellish ghost!'

Gyeo-hyo vowed to herself that she would always gossip about her sixth older sister only in her mind or write it down.

"Well then, let's chase them!"

Just then, Gyeo-min raised her hand and stopped Gyeo-hyo from rushing out.

Gyeo-hyo looked at Gyeo-min with a 'Why?' look. However, Gyeo-min continued to deploy her Ten Thousand Li Hearing Technique (萬里至聽術) and remained motionless.

"Something's there."

Did she sense something? Gyeo-min's brow furrowed slightly.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Gyeo-min had never heard something out of nothing before.

"To the southeast… a group moving at high speed towards the northwest."

Since Naye-rin's group was moving northeast, it meant it was another party.

"Who could it be? From the southeast, that's the direction of the Black Heaven Alliance (흑천맹), the direction of the Infinite (무한), isn't it? And moving northwest, it's hard to consider them enemy reinforcements."

After listening more closely and analyzing the sound, Gyeo-min said.

"Judging by the texture of the sound and the speed of movement, it's definitely a cavalry unit. Moreover, this heavy and rough sound that crushes the earth… it's undoubtedly a cavalry unit in heavy armor. With this kind of momentum, this feeling… it's definitely Gyeongcheon (轟天)."

Gyeo-min had identified them just by the sound.

"Gyeongcheon (轟天)? This is bad. Isn't that overlapping with the path of those kids?"

"Yes, if we're not careful, we might run into them. We need to stop them before they're annihilated. We still need to keep those kids alive."

It would be quite inconvenient to die before they were led.

"We need to hurry too, let's go!"

Gyeo-min moved forward. It was an elegant movement technique, like a crane flying.

"Ooh! Let's go!"

Gyeo-hyo followed behind, stamping the ground. Unlike Gyeo-min's elegant movement technique, it was a fast and powerful movement technique, like a sturdy horse kicking the ground.

Even though they were sisters, their movement techniques differed greatly.

***

"Please go back now. I apologize for my rough behavior."

Yeong-ryeong, who had run with Naye-rin for a long time, stopped briefly at a point where she thought they could be relieved and gently said as she released Gyeo-myo.

"Huh? Are you letting me go?"

Gyeo-myo asked with a surprised expression, looking at Naye-rin's face. She seemed unable to believe she was being released so easily.

"Of course. Although the situation was urgent, Yeong-ryeong wouldn't have intended to take a hostage if it weren't."

In fact, Yeong-ryeong had not considered a hostage shield strategy at all when she burst out of the bushes to block Gyeo-hyo's silver spear that was rushing towards Naye-rin. If Gyeo-myo hadn't suddenly jumped out and blocked her path at that opportune moment, she would have fought entirely on her own.

"I-I can't believe it!"

Gyeo-myo's body swayed as if she had received a great shock.

"Did we really seem that wicked to you?"

Yeong-ryeong couldn't understand why she was reacting like this and was quite displeased. To make matters worse, she covered her face with both hands and began to sob.

"Sob sob sob! Even though you were holding me hostage just now! Are you throwing me away because I'm useless after sucking out all my sweetness? Sob sob!"

Yeong-ryeong's face turned crimson at Gyeo-myo's pathetic attitude, wiping her eyes. She couldn't help but raise her voice and exclaim.

"I-I sucked out sweetness and threw you away! Anyone who hears that would misunderstand…! Moreover, I don't think it's good for a woman to use such vulgar language!"

"I'm fine…"

"I'm not fine!"

Yeong-ryeong shouted with a serious expression.

"In any case, go back!"

She felt that if they stayed together any longer, it would get even stranger.

"That won't do."

The answer she received was beyond Yeong-ryeong's imagination.

"What did you say?"

At first, she doubted her ears, wondering if she had misheard.

"I can't go back. You told me to go back, but then you'll try to harm me the moment I turn my back, right? Freedom for a hostage, is there such a thing? Sob sob."

Yeong-ryeong, exasperated by those words, couldn't suppress her anger and shouted.

"I have no intention of harming you! If I wanted to harm you, I would have done it already!"

Then, Gyeo-myo said with an expression that implied they didn't understand.

"Freedom doesn't just not exist for the hostage, it also doesn't exist for the hostage-taker. You can't release them as you please unless the hostage wants it."

"What kind of nonsensical thing is that?"

A hostage who didn't want to be released was something she had never heard of.

"Well, it's right here."

Gyeo-myo replied instantly. In other words, she didn't want to be released.

'No, why?'

No matter how she thought about it, there was no reason for that.

'Did she go crazy because of all the big events happening lately?'

However, she was too cheerful and lively for that. She was playing with the black cat on her shoulder and having fun.

"Oh, and you can speak informally, Unnis. I'm only sixteen anyway, so, hehe."

Gyeo-myo said with a cute and lively smile.

"You're sixteen?"

Yeong-ryeong and Naye-rin asked back in surprise.

It was natural for them to be surprised. After all, the Shinma Eight Immortals (신마팔선자) were direct descendants of the Martial God, Gal Jung-hyeok. Although they looked young, they were actually very old. Since she thought none of them were under thirty, she had spoken respectfully, but here was a sole exception.

No, that wasn't the important thing right now.

"…Don't tell me you were captured on purpose?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about?"

To Yeong-ryeong's questioning gaze, Gyeo-myo retorted with an innocent expression.

'So that's how it is!'

Seeing Gyeo-myo's feigned ignorance, Yeong-ryeong became more than 80% sure that her guess was correct. But then another question arose.

'Was she captured on purpose as a hostage? No, why?'

Even if she was a naive sixteen-year-old, she wouldn't have started playing hostage just because she was bored. The reason was still unclear.

'She wouldn't have fallen for Nayelin, would she?'

It was an absurd reason that made her chuckle.

'After all, that kid is a girl?'

Looking at her Adam's apple, her fine skin, her charming demeanor, and her clear voice, she was definitely a complete… girl. Then, another possibility suddenly struck her.

'N-no, could it be, that… love for the same gender…!'

Her face instantly turned red, and Yeong-ryeong vigorously shook her head.

'No, no! Am I crazy? What am I thinking?'

"Are you still thinking? Is it really okay if I go back? Then it will only boost the opponent's strength. I'm actually very strong, you know? If it were me, I wouldn't send her back, never."

It sounded like a threat, saying she wouldn't let her go if she sent her back.

"Sigh, what should I do?"

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't reach a conclusion, so Yeong-ryeong finally looked at Naye-rin and asked for her opinion. However, in this situation, Naye-rin had no clever solution.

"We have no choice but to take her with us."

"As expected, Pretty Older Sister knows what's best!"

Gyeo-myo smiled broadly, seemingly happy even though she was a hostage.

With an unexpected burden, Naye-rin returned with Yeong-ryeong to where their companions were waiting.

The rescue party, who hadn't expected much, let out exclamations when Yeong-ryeong returned with Naye-rin. However, there was an unexpected bonus next to Naye-rin. They had only expected two to return, or for no one to return at all, but they never expected three to return.

"No, why is this little lady here…"

Gongson Jeol-hwi, unable to contain his curiosity, asked Yeong-ryeong.

"I don't know, she just followed me."

Yeong-ryeong replied, turning her head away with a displeased expression. She seemed quite unhappy.

"But that little lady is the youngest celestial maiden of the Shinma family, isn't she?"

"That's right."

Naye-rin answered in place of the sulking Yeong-ryeong.

"Did you kidnap her?!"

Gongson Jeol-hwi exclaimed in surprise, confirming his guess.

"Who said I kidnapped anyone! She just followed me on her own!"

"But if things go wrong…"

It was like carrying a bomb in their bosom for them, who were being pursued by the Shinma family, to be with Gyeo-myo.

"My, my, such a polite young master? Then you can personally take charge of watching this little lady and taking good care of her so she doesn't cause trouble!"

Gongson Jeol-hwi retorted indignantly to Yeong-ryeong's commanding tone, as if she were his senior.

"At a time like this, when we need to find Brother Mo-yong and join him as soon as possible, why do I, a man, have to take care of a girl!"

Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching!

Along with sharp sword sounds, four drawn swords, Yeong-ryeong, Ok Yu-gyeong, Maharyeong, and Jin-ryeong's swords, glittered menacingly, pointing at the impudent Gongson Jeol-hwi's neck, as if ready to slice it off. The word 'girl' that came out of the junior disciple's mouth had offended these women.

"What did you just say?"

A chilling voice came from Ok Yu-gyeong's lips. Gongson Jeol-hwi, sweating profusely, couldn't move an inch.

"So, what will you do?"

Yeong-ryeong asked with an arrogant smile.

Despite his strong self-confidence, which was second to none, Gongson Jeol-hwi could no longer even utter a word. He had to give up any thought of rebellion.

"I-I'll do it…"

Gongson Jeol-hwi accepted the task reluctantly. Even if they wouldn't actually cut off his head, it felt like something terrible would happen if they didn't.

"Then our watcher has been decided. Please take good care of her, Jeol-hwi-gun."

Naye-rin's calm remark made Gongson Jeol-hwi snap to attention and exclaim.

"Yes, yes! I will guard her with my life!"

Gyeo-myo, as if all the events happening around her were completely unrelated, was just smiling innocently and sticking close to Naye-rin.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Gal. I am Gongson Jeol-hwi, the successor of the Gongson family."

At Naye-rin's words, Gongson Jeol-hwi, filled with determination, approached Gyeo-myo and spoke with a charming smile as the successor of the Gongson family, one of the eight great noble families. It was a refreshing smile that would have easily captivated any woman, if not Mo-yong-hwi.

"Oh my!"

Gyeo-myo turned her head towards Gongson Jeol-hwi with a wide smile, and winked as she said with a refreshing tone.

"Get lost, old man!"

Her cheerful smile remained unbroken.

'I'll kill you! You slut!!'

Gongson Jeol-hwi clenched his fists, about to unleash a furious punch, when Naye-rin's request from earlier flashed through his mind.

'Endure! Jeol-hwi! You must endure!'

He wrote the character for 'endure' (忍) in his mind and swallowed, barely suppressing his anger. As if wanting to provoke the fuming Gongson Jeol-hwi, Gyeo-myo pulled the skin under her right eye with her index finger and stuck out her tongue, saying 'Bee~'.

'I'll kill you someday! I swear!'

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

Completely ignored and his pride utterly crushed, Gongson Jeol-hwi could only swallow his bitter resentment internally.

'Whether this will be a blessing or a disaster… I cannot predict it now.'

Naye-rin, observing Gyeo-myo's actions, let out a quiet sigh.