Chapter: 233
Alone in the tent, Bi Yeonsum was still feeling anxious.
The murmuring from outside mixed with an unidentifiable atmosphere kept him on edge.
About half an hour had passed since Gu Jeolyub had left.
Inside the tent, not a single person had come to visit him.
…Is it really okay for me to be here like this?
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was wrong for him to be sitting there.
If it were the Murim Alliance, they would’ve at least detained him for a brief identity check.
From any angle, it seemed like an irresponsible way to handle matters.
He began to worry that something might go awry if he remained there much longer.
After all, if someone who didn’t recognize him stumbled upon him…
An incident could occur.
As he continued to fidget restlessly, suddenly, slide, someone entered the tent.
Perhaps the sudden opening had caused a gap; he felt a rush of cold air filling the space.
Even though summer was just around the corner, why was there such a chill?
Was his sensitivity dulled due to the nerves?
“Hmm?”
The person who stepped into the tent showed a subtle reaction upon seeing Bi Yeonsum.
But it was Bi Yeonsum who was utterly speechless in front of this person.
“Uh… huh?”
The newcomer was a woman, and an exceptionally beautiful one at that.
Her flawless, porcelain skin, flowing black hair, and sky-blue eyes that sparkled like jewels.
Just making eye contact with her made his heart race.
Moreover, Bi Yeonsum recognized who she was, having seen her from afar before.
“…S-Snow Phoenix…?”
“Who are you?”
The Snow Phoenix, Moyong Hi-ah.
It was undoubtedly her.
He remembered catching a glimpse of her during last year’s Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes from a distance.
There was no way he could forget such a stunning figure.
“Oh… I-I am…”
Bi Yeonsum wondered why the Snow Phoenix was here, but he found himself stammering, unable to articulate his thoughts clearly.
It was a conversation with the legendary Snow Phoenix, after all.
Moyong Hi-ah observed him, lightly adjusting her hair before asking again.
“Are you perhaps the person brought by the Sword of Heroic Flame?”
“Ah… Ah, yes! That’s correct. M-My name is Bi Yeonsum.”
“Oh dear, it seems he brought another one. He must be so tired.”
“Not at all… I-It wasn’t hard at all.”
“So, where did the Sword of Heroic Flame go?”
Moyong Hi-ah didn’t appear interested in his reply; rather, she only asked questions with a cold demeanor.
“…Um, he said he’d bring someone and then disappeared.”
“Left you here? Alone?”
“Yes…”
“…What a guy.”
Moyong Hi-ah pondered quietly, lightly tracing her lips with her delicate fingers.
That sight was so enchanting that Bi Yeonsum had to force himself to calm his pounding heart.
After a moment of reflection, the Snow Phoenix instructed.
“Follow me.”
“Huh?”
“It feels uncomfortable leaving you here, and I had to go there anyway. So just follow me.”
“U-Understood!”
Even though he wondered if he should stay behind, he couldn’t possibly defy the Snow Phoenix’s request.
There was something about her presence that compelled his obedience.
Moyong Hi-ah exited the tent, and as Bi Yeonsum hurried to catch up, he felt like he was in a dream.
Walking alongside the Snow Phoenix…
He was strolling through the forest with the renowned Snow Phoenix.
Despite having been abandoned by his companions and thrust into this perilous forest, just meeting the Snow Phoenix seemed to wash away all his worries.
He cautiously stepped into the forest alongside her.
At first, Bi Yeonsum felt exhilarated just being in the Snow Phoenix’s company. However, unease soon began to set in.
Why… is it so silent?
He couldn’t hear any of the usual forest sounds, nor could he sense even the tiniest presence.
The Snow Phoenix must have felt the strange silence too, but she continued walking through the woods as if she were accustomed to it.
How long has it been?
After passing a few trees, Bi Yeonsum stumbled upon a spacious clearing.
“Gasp…!”
He gasped, his throat tightening at the sight that lay before him.
The ground was strewn with the corpses of Blue-Grade Demons.
There were so many he couldn’t even begin to count.
It seemed like they had died quite recently.
The gruesome appearances of the demons, charred or brutally torn apart, even made Bi Yeonsum recoil slightly; the sight was that horrifying.
Checking on the Snow Phoenix, he anticipated she might be shocked, but she calmly passed by the cadavers as if she had seen much worse.
“I-It seems a Gate of Demons has opened,” he said awkwardly.
His words fell on deaf ears as the Snow Phoenix showed no signs of engagement.
Feeling increasingly awkward, Bi Yeonsum fell silent and continued to follow her, trying his best to ignore the scene of carnage surrounding him.
…Who on earth did all this…?
Every single one of the fallen demons was Blue-Grade.
While Bi Yeonsum could handle a single Blue-Grade Demon, he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance against this overwhelming number.
Did multiple people work together for this?
That was the only feasible explanation.
How could anyone take down such a large horde alone?
Not even the Sword of Heroic Flame who saved him, nor the Peak Realm master Muyeon, could handle this many demons at once.
Bi Yeonsum lost track of time as they walked.
Eventually, the Snow Phoenix came to a halt, prompting him to do likewise.
And then…
“…What… what is this?”
Bi Yeonsum fell to his knees, incredulous at what he was witnessing.
“What… what is… going on…?”
At first, he thought it was a hill.
Too small to be a mountain but too large for an ordinary mound.
However…
As he took in the scene, Bi Yeonsum found himself trembling uncontrollably.
That hill was made entirely of demons.
He finally understood why he hadn’t felt any demonic presence as he ventured further into the forest.
It was because all the ferocious demons that once inhabited this forest had been killed and piled high here.
Atop the hill, he noticed a figure.
Seated cross-legged, resting his chin on his hands, the person surveyed the ground.
The darkness obscured most of his features, but Bi Yeonsum could see the gleam of his bright red pupils.
“Didn’t I mention this last time?”
A voice resonated from the top of the hill, causing Bi Yeonsum to flinch slightly.
The voice was surprisingly youthful.
It occupied a space between that of a boy and a young adult—deep yet soft.
“Why do you always bring back baggage every time you go out?”
The man’s tone layered with annoyance was directed toward someone unseen.
Bi Yeonsum turned his head, bewildered as he searched for who this man was speaking to, only to find someone kneeling across the hill, hands raised high to the sky.
It was akin to the punishment he received from his grandfather when he was seven.
“…Huh?”
His eyes widened as he recognized the person being punished.
It was none other than Gu Jeolyub, the Sword of Heroic Flame who had saved him.
The only difference was that he was holding a huge boulder as part of his punishment.
The Sword of Heroic Flame…
Gu Jeolyub, who had exuded an overwhelming presence with his Sword Resonance, was now subjected to a rather humiliating punishment.
“What in the world is happening here…”
“I’m here.”
As Bi Yeonsum struggled to grasp the situation, the Snow Phoenix addressed the figure atop the hill, showing no concern for Gu Jeolyub.
Though her voice was faint, it seemed she had caught his attention as the horrendous red eyes zeroed in on her.
Bi Yeonsum trembled at their intensity, yet the Snow Phoenix remained unfazed.
In fact, there seemed to be an unusual energy radiating from her.
“You do know it’s almost mealtime, right? If you’re done here, let’s hurry and go.”
“Did you come to pick me up?”
“I’ve been waiting because you’ve been taking ages to return.”
Bi Yeonsum’s eyes widened in surprise; there was a hint of warmth in the usually frosty voice of the Snow Phoenix.
“…Hmm.”
Tap.
The soft sound of something landing caught Bi Yeonsum’s attention.
As he turned to look, he realized someone was already standing nearby.
He hadn’t even noticed the person move, yet they had traversed the distance from the hilltop to this spot.
“Put it down.”
Bang!
As soon as the command was given, Gu Jeolyub dropped the boulder he had been holding.
Tsk.
The figure clicked his tongue disapprovingly, casting a disdainful glance at Gu Jeolyub.
Bi Yeonsum was utterly confused as he struggled to make sense of the situation while his eyes remained glued to the stranger’s face.
“…Huh?”
The young man appeared closer to adulthood than to boyhood.
He wore red attire and pushed back his hair as he frowned, his fierce gaze suggesting he was sorely displeased.
His expression was one that would surely be hard to forget.
And then it dawned on him—he recognized this young man. He was the boy who had made such an impression during the last Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes.
No, not a boy anymore; he was undeniably a young man now.
“Jin… Long?”
Bi Yeonsum blurted out the name he hadn’t intended to.
The young man, Gu Yangcheon, then shifted his gaze to Bi Yeonsum.
“What did you say, punk?”
Suddenly, a thought struck Bi Yeonsum as he listened to the growling tone.
Yep, this has to be a dream.
It made sense: encountering the Snow Phoenix, the True Dragon, and having a Peak Realm martial artist standing guard.
It all felt too surreal.
“Haha, I guess I’ve gone a bit mad from lack of sleep.”
Bi Yeonsum nodded to himself in acceptance.
Thud.
And just like that, darkness enveloped him as he collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.
“What the hell is wrong with this crazy bastard?”
Gu Yangcheon could only stare down at the unconscious Bi Yeonsum in disbelief.
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