Thrush Episode 288: Even if they hear it, they won't be able to chase. (2)
The sweltering heat lingered.
Whatever was unfolding beyond, it was so intense that there was no need to go and see.
It was a thick, viscous heat and fighting spirit.
Even though it was a winter night surrounded by the cold, the frosty energy was barely noticeable.
*Crunch.*
Leaves crunched underfoot.
Leaving the palpable heat behind, Wi Seol-ah walked a short distance.
Toward a place where the moonlight was clearly visible, if possible. She felt she had to.
*Are you sure you don't need to look?*
She paid no mind to the voice that reached her ears.
Though the tone carried a hint of worry, this was not the time for that.
She didn't stray too far.
Since she was moving while the second exam was temporarily halted, she had to return quickly.
After walking a little, she fortunately managed to reach a spot where the moonlight fell distinctly.
Just as she slowly approached and found a spot—
“This is unexpected.”
The one who had been following from behind finally spoke.
She had known. Known that he was following her.
“I thought you would stay and watch what he does.”
*Heh.*
“It seems you aren't curious.”
A crack somehow appeared on the smiling man's face.
Along with it, a vile emotion could be felt.
Seeing that, Wi Seol-ah offered no reply.
She had no desire to converse with him.
“You ignored my request and even left first.”
“I have no obligation to listen to your request.”
At Wi Seol-ah's sharp words, Jang Seon-yeon let out a dry chuckle.
“It’s always been like this, but I just don't understand.”
“About what?”
“About why you dislike me so much.”
Even at Jang Seon-yeon’s words, Wi Seol-ah’s face remained utterly expressionless.
“I haven't done anything to you. Why do you hate me so much?”
“For now, I suppose you would think that.”
*Hmph.*
...Ah.
Her words were so resolute that Jang Seon-yeon could only smile bitterly.
“How can you be so certain? As if you're convinced I will do something.”
“Aren't you?”
Wi Seol-ah’s voice was completely calm.
As if stating that he would unquestionably commit some misdeed.
Her words were so unwavering that Jang Seon-yeon had to close his mouth.
“...You truly go too far.”
“You didn't deny it either.”
“If I were to deny it, would you believe me?”
“No.”
*Heh.*
Jang Seon-yeon laughed.
It was because the thoughts occupying his mind as of late refused to leave.
‘It’s tangled.’
Literally.
A path that should have stretched out as a smooth, broad highway.
He felt like it was tangled up from somewhere.
‘From where, exactly.’
Where did it start tangling?
His thoughts and plans should have been perfect.
He even prided himself on having the talent to back them up.
‘Just what...’
Not to mention the people around him.
Even that woman.
He only felt like things were gradually tangling deeper and deeper.
Countless rising stars and those around him sent him admiration and expectation.
Yet, the very people he desired recognition from did not. Why did such a gap exist?
Even as he pondered, Jang Seon-yeon knew the answer.
‘It must be because of that bastard.’
A face surfaced in Jang Seon-yeon’s mind.
He hadn't paid any attention to him when they first met.
He only remembered that, while many others looked at him with interest, that man’s gaze had been distinctly different.
Malice.
....
At that time, that bastard’s eyes were brimming with malice.
As if he didn’t even intend to hide it.
The look in his eyes was steeped in contempt.
Since he was the first person to ever look at him that way, Jang Seon-yeon could never forget that moment.
‘Why was that?’
Jang Seon-yeon didn't know.
At the very least, he hadn't done anything ‘yet’ to warrant such a gaze from him.
Even if he had, he would have made sure it went unnoticed.
Just pure, simple malice.
Jang Seon-yeon was unaccustomed to such gazes, but he didn't dwell on it too deeply.
*He must be envious of me, that's why he looks like that.*
He simply thought it was the gaze of someone coveting what they couldn't have.
‘Hah.’
Jang Seon-yeon let out a hollow sigh inwardly.
The thought of having dismissed it as merely that made him feel pathetic.
‘Envious, my foot.’
Did that bastard envy him?
Impossible.
It was a stage created for him to shine, yet the actual spotlight was stolen by someone else.
Jinryong (True Dragon).
Just thinking about it made his stomach churn and his heart race.
Why. Why did someone like that have to be in the same generation as him?
Whenever he was about to fall asleep, those wretched, teeth-grinding thoughts would always arise.
Words reeking of an inferiority complex. He never expected to be the one uttering them.
Just like the moniker he received, that bastard was a dragon, holding its breath alone amidst a writhing pit of snakes.
The moment that massive body stirred, the banquet of snakes—barely holding their ground and maintaining their lines—crumbled.
That was what his emergence had been like back then.
No matter how much the sect leader diverted the conversation, or how much he wore a mask and called himself divine, how long could that last?
Jang Seon-yeon already knew that himself.
Let alone... now that he was showing such a spectacle from afar.
‘...Is he trying to show off to me?’
Jang Seon-yeon ground his teeth as he recalled that bastard’s intentions.
The reason he started radiating his fighting spirit in all directions to imprint his presence—wasn't it to show off to him, as if to say, "Look at me"?
Jang Seon-yeon was convinced of it.
*“You hate my guts too, don't you?”*
When he had asked why Wi Seol-ah hated him so much, those were the words Gu Yang-cheon had thrown at Jang Seon-yeon.
Because of his rough tone and that sneering expression, just recalling it made his anger surge.
Yet, conversely, a question arose.
‘How did he know?’
For some reason, Gu Yang-cheon’s gaze and tone had seemed to see right through him.
Even though they shouldn't have even seen or heard of each other before the Gathering of Dragons and Phoenixes (Yongbongjihoe).
‘I don’t like it.’
How could he?
That bastard had stolen every ounce of the attention he was meant to receive.
Furthermore.
‘The fact that he has the talent to back it up... that’s what I hate the most.’
He didn't want to admit it, but that bastard was on an entirely different level compared to the other rising stars.
He was like a star shining brilliantly alone, as if sent by the heavens.
A star?
How laughable.
Even among the geniuses of the Meteor Generation, each hailed as a star in their own right, that bastard was on a completely different orbit.
And precisely because of that—
‘I must eliminate him.’
He had to remove him from his sight.
Because the brightest star should always be himself.
The currently conspicuous Sword Dragon and Latent Dragon were also thorns in his side, but they couldn't compare to Gu Yang-cheon.
Swallowing his frustration, Jang Seon-yeon looked at the woman before him.
Though she had covered her appearance with a fur coat, she was truly a beautiful woman.
She hadn't been quite this striking when he first saw her, but as time passed, it felt as if her beauty was absorbing the light.
An appearance more suited for the midday sun than the faint moonlight.
Ironically, her swordsmanship was created from observing the black moon.
The woman grew more beautiful by the day, and her background was nothing but advantageous to Jang Seon-yeon.
The sole heir of the Sword Venerable.
On top of that, the woman was immensely talented.
‘No matter how outstanding Gu Yang-cheon is... could he really be greater than this woman, who crossed her wall in just a year or two?’
“I trust you haven't forgotten.”
At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, Wi Seol-ah bit her lower lip slightly.
“Once I stand at the highest position in this place, you promised you would be mine.”
Before coming here, that had been the pact he made with Wi Seol-ah.
She asked in return, “...Have you forgotten the opposite condition?”
“Ah, that?”
Jang Seon-yeon smiled softly at Wi Seol-ah’s words.
Wi Seol-ah scowled at the emotion contained within that smile.
“If I fail to do so, I will grant you anything you wish.”
What was it again?
She had asked his father to enter Taecheon's Demonic Mirror, and also requested one of the treasured artifacts owned by the Jang family.
“May I ask you one thing?”
“...”
Wi Seol-ah seemed to turn a deaf ear to him, but Jang Seon-yeon ignored her and continued.
“What is so great about him?”
“What?”
The moment Gu Yang-cheon’s name left Jang Seon-yeon’s mouth, Wi Seol-ah’s voice and gaze turned icy.
Of course, even so, it wouldn't shut Jang Seon-yeon’s mouth.
“I know you served as an attendant in his household, but are the memories from that time truly that precious? It was barely over a year.”
“What do you even know to speak so recklessly?”
“I don't know, hence I am asking. But it seems I’ve struck a nerve.”
Even the sight of her gritting her teeth in anger was beautiful.
“I even heard he is already engaged to another woman.”
“I could understand if you had developed feelings for him while serving as his attendant, but do you truly think there is a place for you beside him now?”
At Jang Seon-yeon’s venomous words, Wi Seol-ah’s reaction was visceral.
It had always been like this. Wi Seol-ah was unusually sensitive when it came to anything about him.
Did she like him that much? Did she desire him that much?
Even though he detested it, that reaction was a highly convenient tool to provoke her.
“You...”
“Perhaps, the reason you accepted our pact is because you believe that, as long as he is there, I will never be able to rise to the top.”
From a certain perspective, she must have thought it was a safe bet for Wi Seol-ah.
The True Dragon was heading to the Sinryonggwan (Divine Dragon Hall), and Wi Seol-ah herself would be going there as well.
She must have thought a pact like this could be easily broken.
‘It seems you still don't understand.’
If someone is so high up that you cannot chase them, you just have to drag them down.
She didn't seem to grasp this simple truth.
‘You must have flowers in your head.’
The world wasn't such a peaceful place, yet unfortunately, she seemed to still be living in an illusion of peace.
‘If I provoke her any further, she’ll draw her sword.’
She seemed to be desperately holding back her emotions, but Jang Seon-yeon could tell.
Wi Seol-ah was at her limit.
If he said just one more word here, would Wi Seol-ah be able to endure it?
Jang Seon-yeon was curious.
“Watch carefully. When he is ultimately ruined and bows his head to me—”
*Click.*
At the chilling sensation, Jang Seon-yeon immediately pulled up his energy.
*As expected, if it continues like this...*
*Thud.*
“...Huh?”
Contrary to his expectation that Wi Seol-ah would immediately draw her sword, Jang Seon-yeon had to freeze at the scene unfolding before him.
Someone had suddenly appeared right in front of them.
Like a ghost.
Up until the moment she suddenly appeared between him and Wi Seol-ah, he hadn't even noticed her approaching presence.
Wi Seol-ah was just as startled upon realizing this.
A silence tinged with shock hung in the air as a tranquil breeze blew past.
“...Unni...?”
Wi Seol-ah’s voice drifted on the wind.
As Wi Seol-ah breathed the word like a whisper, the intruder turned her gaze toward her.
Platinum-blonde hair steeped in the moonlight.
An indigo-blue martial uniform.
And a faintly palpable aura of lightning.
‘...That woman.’
Jang Seon-yeon immediately recognized who she was.
Even though she wore a veil, the image of a woman looking exactly like that was deeply etched into his mind.
‘The Sword Dancer...?’
She was the woman who had lost to his sword at the Yongbongjihoe.
The Sword Dancer (Geommuhui), Namgung Bi-a, turned her head at Wi Seol-ah’s call and looked her way.
She then gave a slight wave of her hand and spoke to Wi Seol-ah.
“...Hello.”
A serene tone of voice that matched the atmosphere.
Wi Seol-ah, examining her, wore a face of sheer astonishment.
“Unni, why are you...?”
“...I was looking for you. I’m glad... I found you.”
“Me...?”
“Yeah...”
At Namgung Bi-a’s words, Wi Seol-ah’s eyes trembled.
Looking at her, Namgung Bi-a slowly parted her lips.
“I haven't been able to greet you yet...”
Having stated her reason for finding her, she spoke to Wi Seol-ah once again.
“It's been a while.”
“...It has.”
“Have you been... well...?”
Her initially impassive voice gradually took on a gentle tone as she spoke.
As if she were truly glad to see her.
But Wi Seol-ah couldn't bring herself to answer the question of whether she had been well.
She merely moved her lips, remaining silent.
Seeing this, as Namgung Bi-a took a step toward Wi Seol-ah—
“Sword Dancer.”
Jang Seon-yeon called out to stop her.
“...It is a pleasure to see you after so long, but she and I were not finished with our conversation.”
Unlike his usual self, Jang Seon-yeon’s voice was stiffly suppressed.
Facing multiple displeasing situations all at once had layered his frustrations, making his composure hard to maintain.
“Therefore, your conversation can wait—”
“Who are you?”
“...Excuse me?”
At the words Namgung Bi-a uttered while slowly turning her head to face Jang Seon-yeon, he momentarily lost his voice.
No matter how he thought about it, he must have misheard.
“What did you just say...”
“Who... are you?”
But as if to confirm he had heard correctly, Namgung Bi-a repeated the same question.
Namgung Bi-a tilted her head far to the side as she asked Jang Seon-yeon.
*Who are you?*
Jang Seon-yeon suppressed his boiling anger and forced a smile.
Then, he took a step closer to Namgung Bi-a.
*That’s impossible.*
“Please do not joke around. Sword Dancer.”
Back at the Sparring Tournament (Bimuje), she was the one who had swung her sword at him so desperately.
She didn't remember him? That was absurd.
“There is no way you do not remember me—”
“...Do not come closer.”
At that, Namgung Bi-a gestured with her hand, drawing a line to warn him away.
Her expression was hidden beneath the veil, but her voice carried an exhausted tone.
Wondering what on earth was going on, Jang Seon-yeon’s expression began to waver.
“...Because you reek... Do not come any closer...”
At Namgung Bi-a’s resolute words, Jang Seon-yeon’s mask finally shattered.
*Whoosh!*
The entire vicinity was engulfed in flames.
Massive pillars of bright crimson fire, as if possessing a will of their own, were turning the surroundings into a chaotic wasteland.
*Boom!*
“Uwaaah!”
A rising star nearby was swept up by the gale pressure and sent flying into the air, crashing violently onto the ground.
The area was teeming with people like this.
Even the instructors were at a loss, busy just trying to gather and tend to them.
*Crackle!*
The heat that brushed past consumed an old tree.
*Whoosh!*
The tree, engulfed by the flames, was reduced to ashes in an instant.
Taking in the area engulfed in flames, it was nothing short of a living hell.
‘Magnificent.’
Bi U-jin, watching from a distance while feeling the heat, let out a satisfied murmur.
‘Their ability to control their aura is exceptional.’
Even though a massive firestorm was raging around, things only caught fire occasionally.
The surrounding area wasn’t actually catching flame.
Which meant that even while emitting such overwhelming power, they were maintaining near-perfect control.
‘And at such a young age, no less?’
Ah.
Recalling the owner of these ferocious flames, a smile naturally crept onto Pae-jon’s face.
It was because the level of skill far exceeded his expectations.
*Whoosh!*
“Eek!”
As the heat leaked out and drifted their way, Bi-bi, who was watching from the side, startled and hid behind Bi U-jin’s back.
*Hum.*
Seeing this, Bi U-jin quietly deployed a qi barrier.
“...Whoa...”
Perhaps because the heat had lessened, Bi-bi stared at the flames with sparkling eyes.
“Isn't it amazing? How can they do that...?”
“Fascinating, isn't it.”
“Yes!”
No matter how outstanding they were among the rising stars, they were still just rising stars.
The opponent was a supreme master known as the Geomhu (Sword Empress).
In such a situation, the overwhelming heat and density of the flames made it impossible to tell what was happening inside.
‘Amazing...!’
Bi-bi’s eyes shone.
She thought only her older brother could pull off something like this.
Were the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes (Yukryongsambong) all like this?
She could have felt disappointed in herself when sensing the gap in talent, but Bi-bi was simply fascinated.
“I didn't expect the Geomhu to be pushed back.”
“Who is being pushed back?”
At Bi-bi’s words, Bi U-jin interjected bluntly.
“Well, the Geomhu isn't doing anything right now. So she's being pushed back...”
“Isn't doing anything...”
*Hmm.*
At Bi-bi’s remark, Bi U-jin stroked his beardless chin and gave an ambiguous reaction.
He usually did this when he had either misspoken himself, or when he heard something wrong but was too lazy to correct it.
“Tsk...”
Dissatisfied with his reaction, Bi-bi was about to huff and tickle Bi U-jin’s side when—
*Rustle.*
“Huh?”
The strange noise that had been destroying the surroundings suddenly went quiet, and a flower petal drifted down from somewhere, landing softly on Bi-bi’s nose.
“Huh?”
As she reached out to touch it out of curiosity, the petal shimmered slightly before turning to dust and vanishing into the air.
Seeing this, Bi-bi tried to urgently tell Bi U-jin, but—
“Oppa, just now—”
“Watch closely. It’s getting to the interesting part.”
Bi U-jin reacted as if he had fully expected this.
Bi-bi pouted at Bi U-jin’s words, but as he instructed, she turned her attention back to the center of the flames.
Though she still couldn't see anything clearly, a change gradually began to appear before Bi-bi's eyes as well.
‘Huh?’
Amidst those violent flames, flower petals had begun to intertwine.
‘What is this...’
Bi-bi pondered for a moment, but soon realized what it was.
These were plum blossom (Maehwa) petals.
Countless plum blossom petals began to ride the flames, enveloping the surroundings.
Seeing this, Bi U-jin thought,
‘Not bad, but amateurish.’
His fearsome inner qi and his ability to control it were absurdly outstanding, but when it came to close-quarters combat, something felt lacking.
In this situation, there was only one reason the Geomhu appeared to be on the defensive.
It was simply because she was only dodging.
She was merely employing light footwork to maintain her distance, effortlessly evading all those fierce flames.
Soon after—
*Roar!*
The plum blossom petals were caught in the wind, swirling into a gale.
The flames that had engulfed the surroundings were entirely swept up, soaring into the night sky, extinguishing every last spark.
‘Oho...’
Bi U-jin let out a sound of admiration.
All those roaring flames had vanished without a trace in the wind in a single instant.
‘Has she changed?’
Bi U-jin looked at the Geomhu, letting out a sound of bemusement.
If it had been the Geomhu of the past, she would have taken a gentler approach.
Her way of dealing with a junior was quite ruthless.
It was unlike her.
This could only mean that the Geomhu also held expectations for that child.
*Show me more. This isn't enough.*
Her actions must carry that meaning.
It seemed her expectations were quite substantial.
Even he himself had been somewhat satisfied with the display just now.
‘It seems as time has passed, her eccentricity has only grown with age.’
If he had said that in front of the Geomhu, she would have drawn her sword, Pae-jon or not.
But since it was a thought kept inside, it didn't matter.
Bi U-jin smiled joyfully and looked past the Geomhu at someone else.
‘So then, what are you planning to do?’
The swirling flames had completely vanished.
Though the heat lingered, Gu Yang-cheon, the master of the flames, merely glared at the Geomhu with a deeply furrowed brow.
He probably knew.
He knew this situation was a test for him.
Not because it was the entrance exam, but that he had been placed on the Geomhu's testing ground. Gu Yang-cheon likely knew this.
‘How does he plan to show off?’
Standing before the Geomhu, his scowling face showed immense dissatisfaction.
Reading into his intentions, he seemed to be thinking, *Isn't this much enough?*
But the Geomhu still wore the same expectant expression as she had at the start.
“Haa.”
Seeing that, Gu Yang-cheon finally let out a sigh.
As his expression shifted to one of apparent resignation, Bi U-jin had to feel a tinge of disappointment.
Not out of disappointment that Gu Yang-cheon had given up so easily, but because—
‘He must be planning to hide it.’
It seemed like he had more up his sleeve but had no intention of showing it, and that was a little disappointing.
‘Still, if this is his level, is that child really the best fit...?’
Disappointment aside, just as he was confirming his belief that Gu Yang-cheon was the perfect candidate—
“I trust the Geomhu will clean up this mess flawlessly.”
“...Hm? What do you mean by that?”
“I leave it in your hands.”
The moment Gu Yang-cheon spat out those incomprehensible words—
*Whoosh!*
“...!”
The eyes of both Bi U-jin and the Geomhu widened simultaneously.
The moment Gu Yang-cheon spread his palm and closed his eyes, the surrounding air shifted.
“Flame Jade (Yeomok).”
The night sky inverted.