Book 5 Chapter 20

The melody played by Bi Ryuyeon was slowly reaching its climax.

On the other hand, Wi Ji-cheon, who was on the receiving end, was struggling to escape the situation, but once trapped in a heart demon, it was not easy to break free.

That is why one must always be careful. This is because there is a danger of falling into demonic possession if one makes a mistake.

"Ting!"

With the sound of a plucked string striking Wi Ji-cheon's brain, the melody, which had reached its peak, suddenly stopped. It was clearly a deliberate action.

"Ugh!"

As the melody abruptly cut off, Wi Ji-cheon vomited a whole bowl of blood. His body and mind, swept away by the music, could not adapt to the sudden break in sound and, their insides churning, he vomited blood.

However, it was fortunate for Wi Ji-cheon that it ended here. After vomiting a bowl of blood, he felt refreshed and his mind cleared. If Bi Ryuyeon had continued his music, he might have eventually fallen into a heart demon and demonic possession, his vital energy and blood becoming jumbled, turning him into a cripple. Bi Ryuyeon had held back his strength, but Wi Ji-cheon, who had vomited a bowl of blood, could not see that.

Now that his body was back to normal, it was time to do what he had to do. Wi Ji-cheon, emitting a terrifying, bluish sword energy, charged towards Bi Ryuyeon. Due to the internal injuries he had just sustained, he could not recklessly wield the sword energy, which put a lot of strain on his body.

'Oh, dear! Ungrateful…'

Bi Ryuyeon felt indignant inwardly. A barrage of merciless sword energy rained down on Bi Ryuyeon's entire body. To survive, he had to evade. The killing intent that emanated from it was too fierce to be used on a martial arts stage.

"Oh, my!"

Fierce sword techniques, used only for life-or-death battles, spurted from the tip of Wi Ji-cheon's sword. They were all sword techniques filled with killing intent aimed at his life. Bi Ryuyeon, unable to be careless against his fierce and merciless sword net, evaded using the Phoenix Dance. It was too difficult to evade solely with the String Playing Method as Wi Ji-cheon's sword energy was too fierce.

"Is this alright?"

Reading the ferocity of the sword energy and the killing intent within it, Moon Il-gi, filled with worry, sought an opinion from Yeom-do, who was beside him. He was asking if it wouldn't be better to stop it here. If it continued any further, blood might actually be drawn. Even if it ended properly, Wi Ji-cheon would likely face disciplinary action.

"Don't worry! He's not the type to die from something like that!"

Yeom-do said in a reassuring tone. Unlike the worried faces of Moon Il-gi and the other martial arts instructors, he remained composed.

'Still, it would be nice if he lost an arm… or even got one or two wounds…'

Yeom-do briefly entertained his modest wish. He had a slight hope that if Wi Ji-cheon charged in with such ferocity, it might just succeed. The problem was…

'He's lost too much reason! How can he exert his true internal energy like this! Tsk…'

As expected of Yeom-do, he sharply identified Wi Ji-cheon's current problem at a glance. It seemed heaven had no intention of granting his small wish.

"By the way, that child evades so well, like an eel. Wi Ji-cheon's fierce sword energy hasn't managed to harm him even once."

Suddenly realizing something, Moon Il-gi exclaimed in admiration. As he said, Wi Ji-cheon had not yet managed to inflict even a slight injury on Bi Ryuyeon and was tiring himself out. Seeing him tire so quickly and easily, unlike himself, it seemed the blow from the internal energy technique was not small. Cold sweat was already beading on his forehead. It was proof that he was recklessly operating his vital energy.

"It looks like it's about to be decided."

As soon as Yeom-do finished speaking, Wi Ji-cheon's eyes flashed. Once again, a roar erupted from his mouth.

"Kyahahahah! Whirlwind Rain Thunder (Seonpunguridae)!"

Like lightning falling from the sky, Wi Ji-cheon's sword lunged towards Bi Ryuyeon.

"Hmph!"

Bi Ryuyeon scoffed contemptuously. With a single wave of his hand, the sword energy that had been rushing towards him with great momentum vanished into thin air with a "poof." It was as if it had been blocked by an invisible barrier.

"Keuk!"

Wi Ji-cheon groaned. He absolutely did not want to admit it, but he had to acknowledge the skill of the opponent before him.

"You didn't expect such meager sword energy to work on me, did you? I believe there's a next turn prepared, or did I misunderstand?"

"Whirlwind Soul Sever (Seonpung Chamhon)!"

Before he could even finish speaking, eighteen streams of sword energy shot out from the tip of his sword like a gale. This time, it was his all-out attack. However, this attack from Wi Ji-cheon also seemed insufficient. With a playful flick of his body, Bi Ryuyeon's sword energy flew away in vain, without even touching the hem of his clothes. No matter how powerful it was, sword energy had to hit its target to inflict damage. Sword energy, no matter how potent, was useless if it missed its target.

"You're still, still far off. Try harder."

There are few things as humiliating as being cheered on and encouraged by one's opponent. How confident must one be to offer words of encouragement to their opponent?

"Kekekek!"

Wi Ji-cheon was on the verge of exploding with anger. Had he ever been so utterly disregarded in his life? His pride flared up. This time, regardless of whether he lived or died, he decided to use his ultimate secret technique. It was a killing move that he never used in martial arts tournaments because it was sword energy that always drew blood when used.

However, he was so blinded by rage that he couldn't see it, nor could he think that far.

"Take this! Heavenly Wind Demonic Thunder Slash (Cheonpungmaorecham)!"

"Hoo! That's dangerous! Such a killing move…"

Kang Ha-yun from the Qingcheng Sect, one of the judges, stood up abruptly in surprise. The Heavenly Wind Demonic Thunder Slash was a forbidden killing move even among the twelve forms of the Qingcheng Sect's Sword of Wind.

He never predicted that someone like Wi Ji-cheon would unleash such a brutal killing move in a martial arts tournament. However, Bi Ryuyeon, the one facing it, remained unfazed even in front of the terrifying killing move.

"Now this is a bit more interesting!"

A fearsome, swirling sword energy erupted from the tip of Wi Ji-cheon's sword. The eerie white sword energy swept towards Bi Ryuyeon as if to cleave his waist in two. To everyone watching, it seemed as if blood would soon be seen gushing from Bi Ryuyeon's waist.

Faced with such terrifying sword energy, Bi Ryuyeon made the most reckless choice. He chose the black zither he held in his hand as a shield against the sword energy that seemed intent on cutting through everything. Bi Ryuyeon held up the black zither with the side of its strings facing outward to his right.

Everyone thought the black zither would be split in two, and Bi Ryuyeon's waist would be spewing blood. The black zither, blocking Wi Ji-cheon's sword energy, looked too insignificant.

"Tzereong!"

A ear-splitting sound erupted. It was a sound unbelievable for the collision of a wooden black zither and a sword made of hundred-refined steel. The entire audience's eyes widened at this unbelievable fact.

Everyone's expectations were wrong. Bi Ryuyeon's Thunder Zither, Mokrae, proudly and unyieldingly blocked Wi Ji-cheon's sword energy without a single scratch. In fact, it even repelled his sword as if in mockery. Unable to withstand the recoil force, Wi Ji-cheon had to stumble back five steps.

Wi Ji-cheon was shocked by this astonishing and, in a way, absurd counterattack. It was a blow that made his heart sink. His ultimate move, his final secret technique, had failed. There was nothing more he could do.

"The Thunder Spirit Silk infused with Thunder Spirit Divine Art (Noeryeongsingong) cannot be cut by any sharpness. The game is over now."

At the same time, Bi Ryuyeon's eyes blazed. Keeping his right hand holding the black zither in place, Bi Ryuyeon's left hand extended forward.

"As a token of appreciation for listening to my performance so far, and as a parting gift, I will play my final piece for you. A performance of radiance and silence…"

The smile on his lips deepened. As his hair fluttered slightly in the wind, Wi Ji-cheon felt as if he had seen something that sent a chill down his spine, something that flashed like lightning. Bi Ryuyeon's left hand, which had never been extended before even after the start of the Three Stars Martial Arts Tournament, shot forward. Three silver beams burst forth from it like light arrows.

Flying Thunder Saber (Biraedo) Secret Technique (Oui) Sword Energy (Geomgi)

Chapter of Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Roar (Pung-un-re-myeong)

River of Flowing Lightning (Roegwangryuha-gok)

Ryuyeon's fingers danced across the silver strings as if playing a melody. Following his movements, three silver flashes danced around his body before disappearing as if absorbed into the air.

Wi Ji-cheon could not understand what was happening before his eyes.

"Tching!"

First, his sword, the life of a warrior, fell from his grasp. Something flashed before his eyes. Sensing an instinctive danger from this unexpected development, Wi Ji-cheon tried to escape by leaping away. After all, there was no more trustworthy friend than a warrior's instinct.

"Huk!"

However, he was like a butterfly caught in a spiderweb, unable to move. His body was as if bound by an invisible rope.

"Kyahahahah!"

The moment he felt his movements were sealed, a thunderous impact struck his entire body. It was a massive shock, as if the thunder cracking in the sky had fallen upon him. His silk martial robes, newly worn yesterday, were torn into thousands of pieces, and blood soon spurted out.

While it wasn't a lethal amount of blood, his entire body was covered in web-like wounds, and blood trickled out from them. Although he had only controlled his strength to cut his skin, his eyes had lost their focus, as if they had lost their life. He stood there swaying like a dazed person. It was clear to anyone who saw it who the victor was.

"Thump!"

His knees buckled weakly.

Bi Ryuyeon's smiling face, still smiling on the other side, filled his vision. It was a complete defeat.

"That… that martial art is!"

Gongson Il-chwi, the Sword Venerable, who was watching with Sect Leader Cheol-gwon Ma Jin-ga from the VIP seats, jumped up from his seat and exclaimed. Despite his reputation for deep cultivation, his eyes were wide open as if they would tear.

No matter how hard he tried to calm his mind, the trembling did not stop. The martial arts instructors, surprised by his sudden behavior, could only stare at him blankly.

"Master Won, do you perhaps know this technique? I'm seeing this martial art for the first time today. I can't guess its origin. Haha! Silk Sword that strikes the opponent at a speed invisible to the eye…"

Deep in thought, Gongson Il-chwi did not answer Sect Leader Ma Jin-ga's question immediately.

"Is something wrong, Master Won?"

Sect Leader Ma Jin-ga, who had been watching Bi Ryuyeon's astonishing strike with his mouth agape, asked about his sudden behavior. He was curious about what had surprised the most formidable person in the world.

"N-no. This old man seems to have been mistaken for a moment, Sect Leader. Hahaha! While watching these children's matches, an old memory suddenly came to mind. It seems I was lost in thought and mistook the place."

"Haha! That's not like you, Master Won. A mistake? Seeing how surprised you were, was it a bad memory?"

"A bad memory… Haha!"

Gongson Il-chwi merely smiled and said no more. At this moment, his eyes were deeper than an abyss, and those sunken eyes emitted a mysterious light.

'A bad memory! A terrible memory I never want to recall again. To think of old memories, buried by the move of a mere child, memories I never wanted to bring up… Was I truly mistaken?'

It was not a matter that could be judged hastily. However, it was something that had to be confirmed before moving on.

"Bi Ryuyeon! Victory (Seung)!"

With the judge's announcement, Bi Ryuyeon's final victory was confirmed. Thus, the honor of winning the Three Stars Grand Martial Arts Tournament of the Heavenly Martial Three Stars went to Bi Ryuyeon. It was a victory that no one had foreseen.

"Yippee! He really won!"

"Long live Brother! Is this a dream?"

Cheers of joy erupted from the Vermillion Bird Clan members who had bet on Bi Ryuyeon and his few friends, Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong.

"Ah, did I overdo it a bit?"

Bi Ryuyeon, who had come down from the martial arts stage, grumbled as he twisted his body.

"Brother! You worked hard."

As Bi Ryuyeon descended from the stage, the Vermillion Bird Clan members swarmed around him. They were truly delighted and genuinely happy for Bi Ryuyeon's victory.

"I guess I did overdo it! My body feels stiff!"

"After such an intense battle, it's natural! You worked hard."

Namgung Sang said this with a smile as he handed Bi Ryuyeon a towel. However, Bi Ryuyeon looked at Namgung Sang strangely.

"What are you talking about? That's not what I meant! When I try to control my strength and hold back, it puts a strain on my body. My muscles get stiff… It's really hard to win without killing!"

Bi Ryuyeon continued to grumble incessantly. His complaints were the kind that would make anyone faint if they heard them. The Vermillion Bird Clan members' eyes widened. It was an unbelievable story.

"Heh heh! Anyway, you won, so you kept your promise, right?"

Thinking of Na Ye-rin, a soft smile naturally spread across Bi Ryuyeon's face.

Who would win the overall championship of the Three Stars Grand Martial Arts Tournament was always a matter of great interest for the entire Heavenly Martial Academy.

However, this year, no one paid any attention to it.

On the empty martial arts stage stood Bi Ryuyeon alone, the one who had caused so much talk and trouble. Despite it being the overall final match, he had no opponent. One of the biggest upsets of this Three Stars Festival, the Joseon Battle, had ended in a draw, failing to determine a winner. The Sword Empress Battle was no different, failing to determine a winner.

Furthermore, the winner of the Sword Master Battle, who had almost always won the overall championship, was also not decided due to a draw. Moreover, both Moyong Hwi and Qing Chen were still recuperating from the injuries they sustained at the time.

Only one place, the Three Stars Battle, had a winner. Thus, the only participant in this year's overall final match was Bi Ryuyeon, the winner of the Three Stars Battle. A peculiar situation arose where Bi Ryuyeon was the only one eligible to participate in the overall final match. Even the organizing committee agonized over this unexpected situation, but there was no particularly effective solution. They had no choice but to award the glory of the overall championship to Bi Ryuyeon. From Bi Ryuyeon's perspective, it was as good as a free win.

Therefore, no one paid any attention to it. Only a very few people believed that Bi Ryuyeon deserved the honor of winning the Three Stars Grand Martial Arts Tournament overall championship.

Even now, Bi Ryuyeon stood alone on the martial arts stage, but even the few spectators knew that no one else would come up. The reason Bi Ryuyeon was on stage now was for the awards ceremony that was about to begin. It was clear that to the eyes of the world, Bi Ryuyeon would appear as a lucky fellow who had gained something for nothing. Or perhaps he would look like a thief in the night.

For this reason, the battle between the Nine Orthodox Schools' representative, the Nine Jeong Association (Gujeonghoe), and the representatives of the minor factions and the Eight Great Families, the Assembly of Heroes and Eight Families (Gun-ung Palga-hoe), a contest that had been a battle of pride between the two most powerful factions within the Heavenly Martial Academy, ended in a draw, not a victory for anyone. It was impossible to determine a winner.

The ambition of the Assembly of Heroes and Eight Families, which had vowed to win this time and break the arrogance of the Nine Orthodox Schools, had gone to waste, and the ambition of the Nine Jeong Association, which had intended to crush the hopes of the Assembly of Heroes and Eight Families by winning again, was buried in darkness without seeing the light.

The draw in the Sword Master Battle, which had inflicted damage on both sides, and the draws in the Joseon Battle and the Sword Empress Battle! And Bi Ryuyeon, the winner of the Three Stars Battle and the overall final winner, who was the biggest upset of the Heavenly Martial Academy Three Stars Festival, to everyone's bewilderment! He was a person who belonged nowhere.

This Three Stars Festival ended not with anyone's victory, but by bestowing glory upon an absurd third party. It was an incredibly futile event for the two factions who had been inwardly sharpening their knives against each other.

Unoccupied Empty Mountain, Fisherman's Profit (Muju Gongsan Eobuji Ri)! These were two old sayings that came to everyone's mind.