Book 5 Chapter 3

The Harmony of a Moonlit Night

The beautiful sound of the jade flute, carried on the evening breeze,

gently reverberated, as if dancing with the moonlight.

It was a beautiful sound that seemed to stir the listener's heart.

However, Moon Il-gi, a middle-aged man drawn by the sound of the jade flute, a man whom people nicknamed "Hwasan Bicheon-eung" (Flying Eagles of Hwasan), knew that this sound was significantly different from usual. The sound, always calm and quiet, sounded unusually urgent and unstable today. And Moon Il-gi had a pretty good guess as to why.

Upon reaching the source of the sound, Moon Il-gi quickly found his intended target. She was here indeed. He praised his sharp judgment once again.

Her face, softly illuminated by the moonlight, was breathtakingly beautiful. Who could find any trace of her forty years of age in that lovely appearance, or call her an aunt? If there were such a person, he would rush over and break their legs.

Moon Il-gi stood quietly and listened, not wanting to disturb her playing. She was now releasing the pent-up rage and anger within her through the jade flute, through the melody. To interfere here would be a great discourtesy, and provoking someone holding back their anger would not be good for him either. In such situations, it was wise to simply watch from afar.

Her melody grew more intense and fierce. It was a melody he had never heard before. This was proof that her heart was also in turmoil. Even he, a layman in music, knew well that melody represented one's heart.

After a while, the fierce melody, reminiscent of a small boat encountering a fierce storm, subsided, and a calm like gentle waves returned. Finally, the sound faded, and she quietly removed the jade flute from her lips. Moon Il-gi, who had been lost in her melody as if spellbound, was startled back to his senses only after her melody ended.

'Truly, one who carries on the lineage of the sound immortal!'

It was a melody that always amazed him.

Sensing his presence, she turned her head and looked at him. Her beautiful face slightly contorted, as if she was not happy to see him. Who would dare call her a 40-year-old aunt after seeing such an expression? If they didn't want their mouth smashed…

Moon Il-gi spoke first.

"Your melody was disturbed. Is something bothering you? It's been a long time since I've seen you play the jade flute so fiercely and wildly. It feels like a sight I haven't seen in nearly five years."

"You seem relieved. Was it that enjoyable? Of course, it must have been fun. Did my state look good to you? I'm glad you got your fill of the spectacle!"

She shouted irritably, like a cornered she-cat. Since noon today, her face had been burning, and she had avoided meeting people. So, she had come to this secluded place to soothe her heart by playing the jade flute. And in the meantime, this man had managed to find her. But she was not in the mood to converse with others yet.

"Ho ho ho, it seems you're really angry. Well, isn't the jade flute used for hitting or piercing things! There's no reason to be so upset about something like that. Calm your heart and let go of your anger."

Moon Il-gi said with a hearty laugh.

"I've calmed down! How can you tell me to be patient after seeing such a disgraceful sight?"

Cheon-eum Seon-ja Hong-ran, who had been listening to his words, which were questionable as comfort but he clearly thought were comforting, suddenly screamed.

"You'll give me a heart attack."

Moon Il-gi said with a slightly startled expression. However, his complexion suggested he wasn't that surprised.

"If my heart is going to fall out, let it. Who cares about a liver that's soaked in alcohol and weak?"

Hong-ran retorted venomously, like a venomous viper. She was clearly very upset. In this situation, it was an insurmountable difficulty for Master Mun, who had come to appease her, like facing 48 pavilions of Shaolin in a vast mountain range.

"Hey, hey, you're going too far! Still, it's a precious organ to me. Aren't you overthinking the matter of that child, Bi Ryu-yeon?"

No matter what she said, Moon Il-gi had to find a way to appease her.

"Overthinking? My name and the reputation of Eum-mun have been tarnished today! Do you think I can just stand by? Ah~, the 700-year history of Eum-mun… How can I face the ancestors with shame…"

Venom poured from her smooth lips, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor. Even she couldn't understand why she was in such a foul mood. It was all because of that brat.

Hong-ran, who firmly believed that the respected name of Eum-mun had been disgraced because of Bi Ryu-yeon today, did not hear Moon Il-gi's words. As she thought of this, Cheon-eum Seon-ja's face turned red with increasing anger.

Moon Il-gi's attempts at comfort were counterproductive. Her face began to show a tempestuous, ever-changing spectrum of colors. It wasn't because of Moon Il-gi. It was because seeing Moon Il-gi's sly face reminded her of that day, that moment.

The memory of that face brought back a surge of anger and a tempest of emotions that she couldn't control.

How could she forget! That day, when the entire Eum-mun felt like a laughingstock… That heaven-defying, earth-shattering event that happened in broad daylight with hundreds watching!

"But you still won! You can say you did well. It's better than losing!"

In fact, Moon Il-gi didn't care whether Bi Ryu-yeon won or lost. No, given the insolent attitude he had shown in class, he thought he deserved to lose. But he could say this now because his interest wasn't on Bi Ryu-yeon.

He was past his forties and still unmarried. He was what people called an old bachelor. And Hong-ran, though over forty, was also unmarried. To put it harshly, she was what people called an old maid. It was probably largely due to the influence of their sect.

If it could be said that it was a natural law for an old bachelor to be interested in an old maid, then Moon Il-gi's visit here was also an act in accordance with natural law.

"I… I can never accept that kind of fighting style!"

Hong-ran said, shivering.

"Rather than such a fight, such a victory, I would rather have lost cleanly. I can never accept it. I have no face to show to the founder of Eum-mun."

Her words were firm. She thought it would be more comforting to bite a sword and die, or to have herself killed, rather than accept such an unsightly fight.

Today, Bi Ryu-yeon had turned not only her but the entire Eum-mun into a laughingstock. It didn't matter whether he belonged to Eum-mun or not.

If one were to pick the sect with the fewest disciples among the martial arts world, Eum-mun would be the first to come to mind. However, although their power was weak, Eum-mun was more noble, proud, and had a stronger sense of camaraderie than any other place. And yet, to fight like that with an instrument representing Eum-mun. If only he had wielded the jade flute like a sword…

But… but…

The more she thought about that day, the more she couldn't help but sigh.

That day! If it were just her face on the line, it would be frustrating and unjust, but when interpreted broadly, how could she forget that day when the entire Eum-mun became a laughingstock and mockery? It was a shocking event that she could never forget, even if a sack of dirt were thrown into her eyes.

After noon today, that day was actually today. Since then, she had been so embarrassed that she couldn't even lift her head when facing people.

It was unjust that she, who was undeniably a disciple who had passed through her hands, even if not a direct disciple inheriting the lineage and secret teachings, could not deny this reality.

If only she had stopped him by any means necessary when the strange omens began from the very beginning, that she couldn't do so remained an eternal regret, tormenting her so. It was too late to regret now, like medicine after death, and in reality, there was no way to stop him, but the human heart is truly strange and cannot easily accept reality. She deeply regretted it.

The incident began very ordinarily.