Book 10 Chapter 22

The Remains of the Late Bi Ryuyeon

- Funeral of Nayelin and her Appendage

In a sudden shock, the water channels burst, and Nayelin and Bi Ryuyeon were swept away by the current.

The surprisingly strong current made it impossible for Bi Ryuyeon and Nayelin to control their posture at first.

Forty-four days had passed since the collapse of the Illusion Demon Cave, but not a single body, let alone a survivor, had been found. Currently, only two people, Bi Ryuyeon and Nayelin, were missing. Whether it was divine intervention or sheer skill, there were no fatalities despite the catastrophic explosion. It was a miracle. However, the number of injured was immense. Among them were those who became disabled, having limbs crushed by falling debris.

The current tally showed a total of 321 participants, 0 deaths, 151 injured, and 2 missing. Those two missing individuals were Bi Ryuyeon and Nayelin.

More than twenty people were rescued from beneath the collapsed cave after 10 days, emaciated to the bone. The most recently discovered buried person was rescued 18 days after the collapse. However, no matter how hard they dug, Nayelin and Bi Ryuyeon remained untraceable. As over a month passed, people's hope began to dwindle.

The two empty coffins placed on the dressing table were a temporary measure, as no bodies could be found. An altar was set up to pray for the peace of their souls, and memorial tablets bearing their names were placed.

The Remains of the Late Bi Ryuyeon (故 飛流連 神位)!

The Remains of the Late Nayelin (故 羅濊璘 神位)!

And then, the funeral was held.

Under the guidance of Jade Master Oxian of the Wudang Sect, scriptures were recited, and a subtle incense burned along with the chanting. Many people gathered at the venue. Most of them had come not to mourn Bi Ryuyeon's death, but Nayelin's.

*Fwoosh!*

Finally, paper money was burned. The burning paper money turned to ash and fluttered in the wind. If Bi Ryuyeon were present, he would have raged, "Paper money is still money, why burn it like an idiot?"

Initially, many people vehemently opposed placing Bi Ryuyeon's coffin and Nayelin's coffin together. The Bingfeng Flower Guardians, in particular, led the opposition, with numerous male followers enthusiastically agreeing. Their main argument was that it was an insult to the deceased Nayelin. They believed there was no reason to cremate them together as they were not husband and wife. However, the Academy side disregarded their opinions, citing the hassle and cost of holding two funerals. When faced with practical financial issues, no one can remain unfettered.

Nayelin's death, presumed by some, cast a pall of sorrow over the hearts of many men. They hadn't believed her death from the beginning. Initially, they too believed in Nayelin's survival and actively participated in the rescue mission. The Tianwu Academy had assembled the most capable rescue team in its history, consisting of over a hundred elite martial artists. They dug and dug, like people obsessed with shoveling, into the Illusion Demon Cave. The pace of work was astounding. As they were all elite martial artists, they exhibited more than ten times the efficiency of ordinary laborers. In other words, one hundred elite martial artists could achieve the work efficiency of one thousand able-bodied men.

However, the work was not smooth. There were too many obstacles during the excavation process. First, the rocks in the collapse area were incredibly hard, as if they were diamonds. It seemed as though iron was mixed in. Therefore, they requested the best swordsmith at the Tianwu Academy to urgently craft picks and shovels comparable to divine weapons. The rocks of the Illusion Demon Cave could only be penetrated with such equipment. Moreover, unless one exerted significant spiritual energy while digging, only a small amount of dust would fall, and even the slightest mark would not appear on the rocks. Everyone had to pour their heart into each swing of the pickaxe as if performing a martial art. As a result, the work naturally faced delays.

Day after day, week after week passed. Even as the possibility of survival grew increasingly slim, they did not give up. The death of such a beauty was a great loss to the world. As for Bi Ryuyeon's life, it was none of their concern. Bi Ryuyeon's life could be as it wished. However, Nayelin's life had to be saved at all costs. The driving force behind their fervent work was their desire for Nayelin.

People dug into the earth like madmen. The rescue team, comprised primarily of the Bingfeng Flower Guardians and Nayelin's followers, worked tirelessly as if they had forgotten to rest. The entire excavation process was directed by Dokkulgum, an elder of the Cheongi Sect, who was knowledgeable in formations and machinery. Without the guidance of an excavation expert, they risked collapse at any time or place, hence the need for a digging specialist (though Dokkulgum would have been furious to hear this term).

Following Cheongisu's instructions, they reinforced the tunnels with supports at intervals and diligently dug in three shifts, day and night.

'Alas! To think that I would be excavating the Illusion Demon Cave, in which my ancestor played a significant role, with my own hands…'

The ancestor of the Cheongi Sect had been involved in the planning of this Illusion Demon Cave, which was initiated with the purpose of confining the spirit rather than the physical body. The Illusion Demon Cave was originally a collaborative work between the former Sect Leader of the Cheongi Sect, Hwanshin-gun Jo Eolhwan, the former head of the Tang family, Cheonhwansin-su Tang Yugi, and the Je Bulgak family head, Mantong Seonsaeng Je Bulgak Cheonu.

However, with it having collapsed to this extent, restoration was out of the question. Observing the rescue operation proceeding at breakneck speed, people's vague hopes flared. Their hopes shone even brighter as survivors were found on the 8th, 10th, and 12th days.

But their hopes did not last long. The heavens were quite indifferent. Perhaps the devotion of men reached the divine beings more slowly than that of women. It was enough to make one feel resentful that the heavens might be discriminating between genders, as her traces were nowhere to be found. They dug through all the interconnected collapsed tunnels, but strangely, there was no sign of her or her appendage, Bi Ryuyeon.

It had already been one month and fourteen days since the accident, forty-four sunrises and sunsets had passed. By the time a month had passed, hope for her survival had already faded. How could she have survived in there without food? Now, they too had to accept the reality of her death. They could not help but be in pain.

Human stamina clearly has its limits, and they had already surpassed those limits. The shoulders of those who had been so enthusiastically involved in the rescue efforts gradually began to slump.

Although no one said it, they had to agree that the possibility of Bi Ryuyeon and Nayelin's safe return was slim. Realizing their idol had vanished overnight, they felt both the futility and sorrow of life.

Finally, fire was set to the dressing table where the two coffins were placed. The flames grew in an instant, engulfing the two coffins and burning fiercely, casting a red glow deeper than the sunset. On one side of the blazing flames, the leader of the Baekdo martial alliance, Na Baekcheon, wept uncontrollably, forgetting his dignity and pride.

"Yerinnn! My beloved Yerinnn… Who did this to you, Yerinnn…"

Majinga tried to comfort him, but only Na Baekcheon's icy gaze met him, and there was nothing he could do. Na Baekcheon had only managed to have a single daughter in his old age. She was a precious child he cherished more than his own eyes.

A gem in the palm of his hand (掌中寶玉)! He had raised her with such care, like a jewel in his hand… Yet, that daughter had died. How could his sorrow and anger be put into words?

"Was it the work of Cheon-geop-u?"

Gradually, a terrifying killing intent emanated from Na Baekcheon's entire body. It was a killing intent so powerful that even a high-level expert like Majinga flinched.

"That is the most likely possibility. Only they can use the Yeom-ma-roe, a unique thunderclap bomb of the forbidden weapon, Cheon-geop-ryeong. If it wasn't them, who else would dare to commit such an outrageous act? Someone must have detonated it inside the Illusion Demon Cave."

"Then that means there could be a spy among the participants?"

"Of course. They are all under surveillance!"

As Majinga said, all participants of the Illusion Demon Cave test were under the strict surveillance of the Biyounggak. However, no clues had been found yet.

An immense killing intent erupted from Na Baekcheon's eyes.

"I swear I will annihilate those culprits from this world and offer their blood in mourning for my daughter's death!"

He had the power to do so. A single word from him would rouse the entire martial world.

"Understood. You must do so."

Majinga replied. Would the conspirators plotting in the darkness be able to withstand this giant's wrath? That remained to be seen.

"Ryuyeon! I can't believe that someone like you, who seemed impossible to kill no matter how much you were killed, is dead. You, who always seemed to come back to life, died so absurdly…"

Jang Hong sat by the blazing fire, gulping down alcohol. Everyone was finding their own way to cope with the grief of losing the two. Moyong Hwi stared at the burning flames with a stern expression. Beside him, Eun Seolran wiped away tears. The dull Moyong Hwi didn't even think to comfort her and stood stiffly, flustered. Conversely, Hyo Ryong was busy comforting Yi Jinseol, who was weeping. Her tear ducts were flowing incessantly like a dam bursting in the rainy season.

"Aaaaah! Sister! Sister! Sister!"

Hyo Ryong felt pity for her crying figure. But all he could do was stay by her side and watch over her. Tears like blood flowed from Dok-gol-ryeong's single eye. She vowed to seek revenge, standing before their empty coffins. Blood dripped from her clenched fist. The members of the Suzaku Corps stared blankly at the dressing table. They still couldn't believe Bi Ryuyeon was dead. No, the word "unbelievable" was more fitting for them.

"I will surely uncover the mastermind and resolve your grievances. So rest in peace in the afterlife!"

Jang Hong seemed to find solace in alcohol. He continued to pour liquor down his throat. However, for some reason, he didn't get drunk at all.

"Damn it! No matter how much I drink, it's no use. Can't I even get drunk now…"

He held the gourd bottle to his lips and drank directly from it.

*Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!*

Alcohol flowed ceaselessly down his throat. After drinking for a long time, his mind became heavy, and only then did a slight intoxication begin to creep in. Just then, a shadow appeared behind him. The shadow asked,

"Whose funeral is this?"

"Yours!"

Jang Hong answered unconsciously. And then, perhaps due to his intoxication, he seemed unaware of who he was talking to or what was happening.

"Oh, really? Did you collect a lot of condolence money?"

The shadow's interest seemed to be more in the condolence money than the funeral itself. It seemed that figure was most curious about that.

"Unfortunately, we didn't collect much. It was quite modest. On the other hand, Miss Nayelin's side is bustling."

The line of mourners for Nayelin's coffin stretched endlessly.

"I need to teach my disciples a lesson. This is not a matter of ability, but of sincerity."

*Crack! Snap!*

The shadow said, cracking its knuckles. That shadow was Bi Ryuyeon. He seemed to be attributing the insufficient condolence money to his disciples' lack of salesmanship. He had found this place, where flames were rising, while searching for a place to dry his wet clothes.

"Yes… Indeed. Huh?"

Jang Hong, who had been talking with Bi Ryuyeon for a while, suddenly widened his eyes. He turned around and shouted,

"Ryuyeon!"

His voice was so loud that it vibrated throughout the funeral hall. His shock and astonishment were immense. Jang Hong couldn't believe his own eyes.

"What?"

"What did you say?"

"What?"

"Why?"

"Damn it!"

Unexpected exclamations burst out from various places.

The eyes of the people, who were scattered and lost in their own grief, suddenly focused on Jang Hong. Their gaze, initially directed at Jang Hong, the source of the voice, shifted to Bi Ryuyeon, who was standing awkwardly under Jang Hong's intense, piercing stare. A myriad of thoughts flashed through people's minds.

'Why is that guy alive?'

'Huh? Wasn't he dead? How did he survive?'

'Oh, God! Why do you test me like this!'

'Damn heavens! Go to hell!'

Such outlandish and exasperated reactions were mainstream. Most of the people showing these reactions were Nayelin's followers.

"Why is there so much commotion, Ryuyeon?"

With a voice like heavenly music, people's gazes were directed towards the dark area behind Bi Ryuyeon.

*Rustle, rustle!*

Pale cheeks bathed in the soft moonlight! Jet-black hair not yet dry, elegant curves visible through clothes clinging to his body, damp with moisture. People's eyes seemed to disbelieve what they were seeing. Emerging with elegant steps from behind Bi Ryuyeon's obscured form was the beautiful figure of Bingbaengbong Nayelin. Even over a month of isolation and harsh conditions had failed to steal the dazzling light of her beauty. Moreover, her form-fitting attire was utterly captivating.

"Waaaah! Woooooh!"

Cheers erupted from all sides simultaneously. As expected, the reaction was worlds apart from when they confirmed Bi Ryuyeon was alive. People seethed in a frenzy of adoration.

"Oh, Yerinnn! This can't be a dream, can it?"

Na Baekcheon reached out and caressed Nayelin's cheek with an expression of disbelief. She was clearly flesh and blood, not a ghost.

"Yes! Father! I've returned."

Nayelin embraced her father.

"Oh! Heavenly beings! Thank you!"

Na Baekcheon shed tears of emotion. A touching reunion between father and daughter had occurred. Bi Ryuyeon briefly looked at her with a hint of envy, but that envious glance quickly disappeared.

When Nayelin awoke from her unconscious state, Bi Ryuyeon felt the need to dry their clothes. So, he looked around and saw the flames here. Therefore, Bi Ryuyeon, hiding his Murin Blood Web in a secret location, came here with Nayelin. However, he never imagined that those flames were burning the coffins of himself and Nayelin.

Bi Ryuyeon also had people who would welcome him.

"I'm glad you returned safely, Master!"

Yeomdo said with a peculiar smile.

"You must be quite disappointed that I didn't die, right?"

Bi Ryuyeon winked one eye.

"Ah, no…"

Yeomdo's mind was in turmoil. He couldn't grasp whether he was happy or sad.

'Considering how I was bossed around and treated, I should be jumping for joy at his death…'

When he heard the news of Bi Ryuyeon's death, a sense of emptiness filled a corner of his heart. That didn't mean he was overjoyed at this moment. It was a complex and subtle emotion that was hard to describe. Beside him, Binggeomdo, with a face as if he had eaten bitter melon, was of the same lineage.

"It's truly good that you've returned. Congratulations on your survival once again. I'm glad you are safe."

While it was impossible to know his true feelings, Bi Ryuyeon decided to believe that they were genuinely happy about his survival. As soon as Yeomdo and Binggeom finished their greetings of survival, his friends, including Hyo Ryong and Jang Hong, gathered around. And then, there were those who came running hastily from over there. They were the Suzaku Corps. They ran towards him with expressions of joy, sorrow, resentment, and injustice.

Bi Ryuyeon smiled at them. And then, he resolved to bring up the issue of condolence money.

"How was it inside the cave?"

Majinga asked. He wanted to speak directly with Bi Ryuyeon, who had miraculously survived.

"It was quite comfortable. It was an interesting experience. Being with a peerless beauty for such a long time in a confined space is not an experience one can easily have. Perhaps someone would pay a million gold pieces for this experience."

His words were a blow to the men who had been listening intently. Imagining what they were thinking, they all flinched and seemed anxious. They were pitiably struggling to control their jealousy and to suppress their emotions by measuring their own fading reason against Bi Ryuyeon's martial prowess. The flames on the dressing table still raged fiercely. If they had their way, they would have thrown Bi Ryuyeon into the burning flames. But who possessed the skill to dare throw Bi Ryuyeon into them?

"Your survival is truly a miracle. Heaven's fortune has aided you. I should offer countless bows to heaven! My beloved niece has also returned safely, thanks to you! Your virtue is great!"

Majinga said in awe.

"You flatter me. I was lucky, but my skill was greater."

Bi Ryuyeon replied with a bright smile.

"May I ask one question?"

"Of course. Ask me anything!"

"Are we qualified?"

Quite some time had passed since the test, so Bi Ryuyeon was curious. He wondered if coming out so late, and in such a different way than others, could be grounds for disqualification. Therefore, he wanted to confirm. In any case, if he had passed the test, he was looking forward to exploring the martial world.

"What did you see inside?"

Majinga asked before revealing whether Bi Ryuyeon and Nayelin had passed or failed.

"The existence I must surpass! And myself."

Bi Ryuyeon answered without a shred of hesitation. Majinga nodded. But that wasn't all. Bi Ryuyeon had seen something else. After a moment of thought, Bi Ryuyeon opened his mouth again.

"Ah! And one more thing, I met a beautiful celestial maiden inside. A cold celestial maiden who smiled at me."

Majinga nodded with a satisfied smile.

"You pass! Of course, Nayelin too!"

After a brief pause, Majinga carefully asked,

"May I ask just one thing?"

"Yes, ask me anything."

Then, with a serious expression, Majinga whispered into his ear,

"Did absolutely nothing happen in there?"

"Yerinnn!"

"Yes, Father!"

At Na Baekcheon's call, Nayelin politely replied.

"Your father has one question."

Na Baekcheon's words were cautious, as if walking on thin ice.

"What is it?"

"Did something happen while you were trapped in there?"

Nayelin's face stiffened as she grasped the implication behind her father's question.

"…"

Nayelin couldn't find an immediate answer. Na Baekcheon, seeing Nayelin's rigid reaction, made his own assumptions without waiting for her response.

"Did… did that scoundrel dare to flirt with you? Did something happen?"

Na Baekcheon's concern was solely for that. He was well aware of how men, infatuated by his daughter's beauty, had lost control and committed certain acts, although they had been unsuccessful. Therefore, his concern was understandable.

Nayelin replied with a slight blush,

"Nothing happened, Father!"

However, Na Baekcheon couldn't easily believe it. His suspicion only intensified. Nayelin blushing as she answered… It felt as if a layer of ice around his daughter's face had melted. A parent's intuition is surprisingly sharp.

"If you were wronged, tell this father without hiding anything! I will tear that wretch limb from limb and throw him to the wolves."

This was yet another instance proving that the martial alliance leader of the world was a besotted father blinded by his love for his daughter.

"Nothing happened, Father! Please don't put me in such a difficult position anymore. I'm leaving now."

Nayelin, angered, turned and disappeared from Na Baekcheon's presence.

"Something definitely happened…"

The father was relying on his parental intuition. However, he could not clearly discern what it was. But what was most fortunate was that his daughter had returned safely and unharmed.

It was a miraculous return after 44 days.