Book 5 Chapter 1

The Azure Sky's Wing

"Hoo, a hawk with peculiar feather coloring.

Has there ever been a hawk with the color of the azure sky like that in our academy?"

The one who exclaimed in admiration was a woman,

but unfortunately, her left eye was covered with an eyepatch.

Yet, even the eyepatch couldn't hide her beauty; instead, it created a unique aura. She was Dokko Ryong, the One-Eyed Phoenix.

She had seen hundreds of hawks soaring in the sky, riding the wind, but this was the first time she had witnessed the flight of such a uniquely colored hawk. The grandeur of its spread wings was like that of the king of the heavens.

"This is the first time I've seen this hawk either. If a hawk were this distinctive, it wouldn't have escaped my notice."

Na Ye-rin nodded in agreement with Dokko Ryong's words.

"Changi-ik! Could that be the famous Dongbang's Haedongcheong hawk? It's been a truly long time since I've seen a hawk cleaving the azure sky with such pride."

Dokko Ryong found herself smiling at the hawk's refreshing wingbeats. Seeing the hawk slicing through the wind with such vigor seemed to lift her spirits as well.

"Hoo? It seems that hawk's destination is my academy! It looks like it's flying this way."

Na Ye-rin's gaze also confirmed this fact. The hawk, which had been soaring through the azure sky, changed its wing direction and was heading towards them.

In that moment, Dokko Ryong's beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly.

'Who could it be?'

Since it was a hawk she'd never seen before, she couldn't know its owner. Someone she didn't know, anyway. Who else would it be this time? Her fervent wish was for it to stop. She was tired of it.

"Is that one too…?"

Dokko Ryong muttered to herself, as if she had a suspicion. Her gaze, which held a "just as I suspected" look, and a look of pity for someone making such a useless effort, went beyond the hawk to its owner. To its owner, whose name she didn't even know…

"Your name is U-roe-mae, isn't it?"

Na Ye-rin said, with a rare, slight smile. For some reason, this hawk, which was usually fierce, was docile in front of Na Ye-rin. It sat proudly, arrogantly, and confidently on her left forearm guard.

The reason Na Ye-rin knew the name of the blue-feathered hawk was because it was kindly written on the letter tied to its leg. However, the rest of the contents plunged her into thought.

It was an unexpected turn of events. The hawk's owner was someone she knew well.

Although she had only met him twice, he was someone who had left an incredibly strong impression in her mind. And he was also the one who had stolen her precious lips. He was someone she couldn't forget, no matter how hard she tried.

"Are you planning to go?"

Dokko Ryong, despite thinking she wouldn't, confirmed her sister's thoughts once more. Although her sister had received thousands of letters from men, she had never granted a single request written in them. Her role was always to coldly refuse.

However, Dokko Ryong's eyes widened. Her sister nodded. This was an unexpected outcome. It was unprecedented.

"It concerns me. I have no choice but to go."

If it weren't for her, Bi Ryu-yeon wouldn't have participated in the Samseong Mujae. On the other hand, she was curious to know what kind of skill he possessed to have boasted so much in front of her.

What she wanted to know now was Bi Ryu-yeon's martial arts level. As a suspect in the invasion of Baekhyang Hall, who had easily escaped her using unfathomable techniques, she had a reason to see his skills.

"If my sister thinks so, then there's nothing I can do."

Dokko Ryong reluctantly agreed. For her to go meant that Dokko Ryong herself would also have to go.

"But if word gets out that you're going to watch that guy's martial arts match, many men will burn with jealousy in their eyes! Though, that might be surprisingly entertaining. I can already picture Bi Ryu-yeon's flustered expression!"

Dokko Ryong's lips curved into a slight smile, imagining the spectacle. It was as rare as finding stars in the sky to see the One-Eyed Phoenix, also known as the Iron-Blooded Woman, smile. However, by the side of her sister, Na Ye-rin, her smile could be seen somewhat more often. This was because the other person never smiled, so someone had to. Her sister suffered from an even more severe smile deficiency. And Dokko Ryong was convinced that the reason for this was those damn wolf-like men. Therefore, her perception of men had only worsened.

Since her sister had decided to go, Dokko Ryong had to accompany her. The responsibility of protecting her sister from the clutches of those wolves rested on her shoulders and her sword.

As long as beastly men existed, Na Ye-rin's safety could never be guaranteed. There was a group called the Bingbong Younghwa Suho-dae, but Dokko Ryong did not particularly trust them. How could one trust a group of beastly men when there were other things to believe in! Therefore, her male distrust only deepened rather than improved.

Her sister, Na Ye-rin, was the same in that regard.

However, perhaps it would have been better not to see it at all. There are often things in the world that are worse to see than not to see. Bi Ryu-yeon's first match! By her judgment, it was something that couldn't even be called a martial arts match.