Book 16 Chapter 19

Ahn Myung-hoo opens his eyes… and then…

- False Accusation -

The man was running, wandering through the darkness.

'I must report this to the superiors without a moment's delay.'

'Hwasan is in danger.'

'Captain, leave this to us!'

'Don't worry. But you must keep your promise to buy me alcohol!'

Kwak!

Kwak!

Kwaaak!

The man ran on through the darkness, covering his ears. He could only think of escaping.

Rumble!

Something rolled in front of his eyes. The man stopped and looked at what had rolled before him. It was… it was… the head of his subordinate, Gaeko.

Flash!

The eyes of the severed head lying on its side suddenly opened.

The man screamed. The eyes were pure black darkness. Blood flowed from the empty pupils.

'Captain… resentment… resentment…'

From within that empty darkness, millions of centipedes and maggots began to writhe and crawl, instantly engulfing the man's body.

"Aaagh!"

Ahn Myung-hoo opened his eyes with a scream. At first, it was just hazy, as if a thin film had been cast over his retinas. It was only after blinking several times that the images of objects began to form clearly. Where am I? It was an unfamiliar ceiling. A round, rough stone ceiling; this was not a room, but a cave. His back was damp, as if he had broken out in a cold sweat.

"Why am I here…"

His body felt as if it were laden with lead. His body didn't feel like his own. He tried to move his fingers, but they wouldn't cooperate. Where is this place? Why am I here?

"Ah, you're awake. Are you feeling better?"

A woman's voice, one he had never heard before, came from beside him. He turned his head to see a woman, neatly made up and dressed in splendid clothes, smiling as she knelt politely.

"Wh-who…"

"Ah, I haven't introduced myself. It's nice to meet you. My name is Gyo-ok."

The woman replied with a smile.

With the help of the woman who was tending to him, Ahn Myung-hoo managed to get to his feet. It felt like at least an hour had passed since he had opened his eyes. Only then did he ask the woman where he was. The answer came back: a cave in the mountains, the training ground of the Hwasan branch.

"So, is this Hwasan?"

"Strictly speaking, yes. But it's a little far from what is usually called Hwasan. Though the mountain ranges are connected."

"Hwasan… is Cheonmubong safe?"

His eyes, asking urgently with a serious expression, were filled with anxiety.

"Yes, for now, it is safe."

The woman, surprised by his forcefulness, calmed herself and answered.

"Then please call someone."

"Call someone?"

"Yes! Hwasan is in danger!"

"I wish you had just stayed unconscious…"

The woman muttered under her breath. Her voice was too low for Ahn Myung-hoo to hear.

"Yes?"

"Unfortunately, you must fall asleep again."

The woman said softly, as if whispering. Ahn Myung-hoo politely declined, saying now was not the time. He was growing impatient. He didn't know how much time had passed since he had lost consciousness, which made him even more anxious.

"Ah, as you can see, my body is fine. More importantly, call someone! I have something urgent to tell you."

"Something to tell me?"

"Yes, about a great conspiracy."

"A conspiracy?"

Ahn Myung-hoo quickly recounted what he had seen, heard, and experienced. At first, the woman looked very surprised, but soon her expression settled, and she seemed to regain her composure. A smile spread across the woman's red lips.

"You've really been through a lot. Then you must take care of yourself even more. Come, it's time to sleep."

"No. Thank you for your concern, but first, after this matter is resolved…"

Interrupting Ahn Myung-hoo, the woman shook her head.

"I don't like disobedient children. Come, I'll sing you a lullaby. A lullaby called 'Dirge' that will help you have an eternal dream!"

"Yes?"

*Scratch!*

Something sharp grazed his carotid artery.

*Splash!*

Without even a chance to flinch, blood spurted from his neck.

'What's happening? I have to tell them quickly… why?'

His vision turned black, as if a dark curtain had fallen, and the sounds gradually receded. He tried to speak, but his tongue felt paralyzed. His senses were stripped away, and his mind seemed to be floating. Only then could he realize. That something absurd had happened to his body. He could only manage to let out a single word with great effort.

"Why… why…"

As his vision blurred, darkened, and narrowed, the woman spoke quietly.

"You saw what you shouldn't have seen, heard what you shouldn't have heard, and you have a loose tongue, so it seems like a sufficient reason to go to the underworld. Thank you for your service. Now, rest well."

Her voice was so kind and gentle, it was unimaginable for someone who had committed such a cruel act without hesitation. It was as if he were possessed by a ghost.

Through the spray of red blood, the last thing he saw was the smiling lips of the grim reaper, a seductive crimson like a pomegranate.

Kiiiiiiaaaaak!

A high, thin female scream echoed through the entire mountain. It came from the direction of the cave.

"What in the world is happening?"

Returning to the cave at the sound of the scream, Bi Ryu-yeon frowned deeply at the strong smell of blood. Na Ye-rin, whom he met at the entrance, tried to block the unpleasant smell with her sleeve, but realizing it was futile, she gave up.

People began to flock in. Dokgo Ryung and the eldest son, Bi, were also seen. For a moment, Bi Ryu-yeon's eyes met the eldest son's. Bi Ryu-yeon thought his eyes, still harboring unknown schemes, were inscrutable.

Two bodies lay in the sea of blood. One was the unconscious patient he had been protecting. He hastily examined them, but the carotid artery had been cleanly severed, leaving no hope of revival. The other was Hyulsimran Gyo-ok, who had been caring for him. She lay in a pool of blood, unconscious. Fortunately, she was still breathing. There were no other injuries. She seemed to have simply fainted.

"This is horrific!"

Someone muttered.

The eyes, wide open as if in pain, stared at the void. How indignant must he have been to not even close his eyes in death? The despair of his final moments seemed to linger in his wide-open eyes.

"A truly flawless technique."

The severed surface where Ahn Myung-hoo's carotid artery had been cut was smoother than if it had been shaved with a razor. It was certainly not the work of an ordinary individual.

"Tsk, to be caught like this! I was too careless! He must have been completely unaware that his own life was being cut short! He must have been caught in the blink of an eye."

Bi Ryu-yeon spat out the words. Honestly, his mouth tasted bitter. This was an opportunity to get a lead on the work he was currently investigating – most of the legwork was being done by his disciples. A moment of carelessness had led to an irreversible consequence. He acknowledged that it was a clear mistake not to have taken appropriate measures, even though he knew this place was not absolutely safe. He had to admit the limitations of his own vision. In any case, this situation was deeply unsettling.

"It seems the game of tag has begun."

Bi Ryu-yeon muttered to himself quietly.

Bi Ryu-yeon, Hyo-ryong, and Jang Hong stared at Ahn Myung-hoo's face in silence. Perhaps due to the shock of his death, he remained with his eyes wide open, uncomprehending and indignant. Hyo-ryong frowned at the smell of blood that permeated the cave. This was a truly unpleasant situation.

"Horrific. Who could have committed such an atrocity? Why? For what reason? Who is this person, anyway?"

Hyo-ryong said in a somber tone.

"What secrets did he hold?"

This was the tangled mystery that Jang Hong was currently struggling to unravel.

"One thing is certain."

"What is it?"

Jang Hong and Hyo-ryong asked at Bi Ryu-yeon's words.

"The secret he held was so important that it had to be silenced, even through the extreme method of assassination."

It was a reasonable point.

"But what use is that now? The person who had something to say can no longer speak! The only lead has been cut off."

Jang Hong lamented with a sigh.

"We cannot conclude that so quickly! It's too soon to make a hasty judgment."

The one who responded was surprisingly the eldest son, Bi.

"There's something strange!"

The eldest son, Bi, who had entered the cave at some point, said while looking around Ahn Myung-hoo's body. Bi Ryu-yeon watched him with a displeased expression.

"What's strange?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked.

"Then, isn't it strange to you?"

His tone was as if he were mocking Bi Ryu-yeon for not being able to grasp such a simple thing. Bi Ryu-yeon judged it unnecessary to retort and remained silent.

"Why would the person who so cruelly murdered this man leave Gyo-ok alive? If the goal was to silence them, it would have been better to silence both."

"Because he dislikes pointless killing?"

Jang Hong replied perfunctorily.

"I don't think a criminal with such neat skills would possess such a compassionate heart."

"Then, do you have something in mind?"

Bi nodded. He had been leading the situation since entering the cave. Everyone else had become mere spectators, watching his every word.

"It means 'he' is someone who would be in great trouble if she died."

"Aren't you too easily assuming the culprit is male?"

However, the eldest son ignored Bi Ryu-yeon's words and continued.

"For some reason, he must not have killed her. That means he needed her. Perhaps he quietly approached her from behind, checked her pulse, and cut this man down. He was skilled enough to fool her. Or perhaps he was someone she could trust implicitly."

"That doesn't make sense. If he approached her using their friendship, he should have silenced her too. As soon as she woke up, his identity would be revealed."

Bi Ryu-yeon pointed out the flaw in his reasoning. It was true. In that case, both should be dead. The eldest son showed a brief look of displeasure at Bi Ryu-yeon's constant objections and continued.

"Perhaps he used drugs. He approached her without her knowledge and mixed something in her water or food. Then, seeing her fall asleep or faint after consuming it, he went about his business."

It was a fairly plausible theory, and several people nodded as if it were possible.

"Then, what do you mean by 'she would be in trouble if she died'?"

"Trouble? I hope you haven't forgotten the rules of the Hwasan Quyag Branch's Ohaengguan."

The eldest son Bi's sharp gaze swept over Bi Ryu-yeon's face.

"If even one member of a team drops out, that team is disqualified."

Chu Myung said in a blunt voice, clearly enunciating each word. Murmurs arose from various directions. His plausible words were clearly gaining sympathy from the crowd.

'That bastard!'

Bi Ryu-yeon cursed him internally.

"Y-you don't mean… that the culprit is in our 7th team?"

The eldest son Bi nodded lightly.

"Nonsense! What evidence do you have for that? What you're proposing is just one of many hypotheses! There are a hundred reasons why the culprit, whether it be him or her, couldn't kill her! Or perhaps she herself is the culprit!"

His voice, pouring out fiercely, trembled with anger. Then Bi replied in a cold, indifferent voice.

"Even if one wants to hide their crime, is it right to shamefully accuse a weak woman as the culprit?"

Bi's tone now seemed to definitively label Bi Ryu-yeon as the culprit.

"There's no motive! And the evidence is scarce."

Bi Ryu-yeon grumbled.

"Then where were you when the scream was heard? Was there anyone with you?"

"Th-that…"

If things are going to go wrong, they'll go completely wrong. At the time, he was alone, so there was no one to testify to his whereabouts. The eldest son smiled triumphantly.

"Do you know that the dead can sometimes speak? It seems he's holding something in his tightly clenched right hand. That might be a clue!"

At the eldest son's words, everyone's gaze turned to the dead man's fist. Indeed, he was holding something, and a string was protruding from between his fingers. Bi leaned down and forcibly opened the fist. It was difficult due to rigor mortis, but it was resolved quite easily once it was in his grasp. What came out was a small wooden token. Bi, with a look of great interest, held it up and turned it around so everyone could see it well. There was no one present who didn't know what this object was.

"Ch-Cheon-yul-pae…"

Gasps of shock erupted from the crowd. Could it be that the culprit was among them after all! A palpable tremor rippled through the air.

"Now, if you look at the name written here, you can tell whose it is. Check it for yourself!"

Bi thrust the blood-stained token in front of Bi Ryu-yeon's nose. This time, even Bi Ryu-yeon, the master of indifference, couldn't help but be surprised.

"Th-this is impossible…"

It read:

Hwasan Quyag Branch, Jungto District, Team 7, Cheonmu Academy, Bi Ryu-yeon, Male.

"Well, do you have anything to say now?"

The eldest son Bi interrogated him in a sharp voice. The curious gazes of the crowd now shifted to suspicion and hostility. The eyes of those staring at him were chillingly cold. Of course, Bi Ryu-yeon, who was utterly wronged, had much to say.

"If I say, 'I lost it last time!', will they believe me?"

Bi Ryu-yeon was disheartened by his own pathetic answer. He couldn't expect others to believe an excuse that he himself wouldn't believe. No matter how true it was, only a kind-hearted fool would believe such an excuse.

"Of course! Who would believe such an obvious excuse?"

I see… Although he didn't show it outwardly, he had to admit it in his heart. Sometimes, exaggerated lies are more realistic than simple truths. Truth is often like air; we don't feel it until it's gone.

"But I don't think I'm the only one who lost or had their Cheon-yul-pae taken here? There's a possibility that those silver masks knocked them out and just handed them any token. It's possible I was unlucky and got caught. It's a kind of trick. It's more realistic than me, who has no particular motive, committing murder, don't you think?"

Bi Ryu-yeon said in a chilling voice, looking around. He felt some people flinch. Those who had been victims of the silver masks seemed to recall the nightmare of that time. Others seemed to agree with his opinion. However, only the eldest son Bi remained unfazed. He firmly shook his head and said.

"No, that's incorrect. You weren't attacked by them. The people who had their 'pae' taken were all those who were knocked out by them!"

"Right! Right! Now that I think about it, that's true. How could you have had your Cheon-yul-pae taken without being defeated by them?"

The few who had leaned towards Bi Ryu-yeon's side now shifted back towards the eldest son.

"Is it such a great honor to be defeated by them and beg for your life? Is it so proud and happy to have only lost a wooden token instead of your life?"

Bi Ryu-yeon said with a sneer. It wasn't entirely untrue. However, such an action was like pouring oil on a fire. The hostility towards him instantly tripled. Jang Hong and Hyo-ryong had to hold their temples at their friend's actions. Even the sliver of friendly opinion that remained vanished instantly to the other side. It now seemed more difficult for everyone to imagine a possibility other than Bi Ryu-yeon being the culprit.

'This is not good…'

Jang Hong thought, his body tense. All the circumstances were turning against him.

"It seems people believe my opinion more than yours."

Bi Ryu-yeon, his mind suddenly sharp, looked around. Almost everyone was looking at him with wary eyes, cold and indifferent. Na Ye-rin's gaze, looking at him with worried eyes, was a small comfort. And thankfully, among the Jujak Squad, there seemed to be no fools who believed the eldest son's words. If they had fallen for such a simple trick, it wouldn't have ended with mere special training. Of course, first, he had to clear this false accusation…

A great wall of suspicion had already been erected between him and the crowd. Perhaps it didn't matter to the eldest son Bi whether he was the culprit or not. His goal was simply to sow seeds of suspicion. And the seeds of suspicion he had sown in people grew vigorously, fed by their existing complaints, contempt, and disdain, and soon bore fruit. They were people with no backbone or intelligence…

'Is this what they call being ostracized?'

Bi Ryu-yeon thought with an inner wry smile. By his nature, he had no intention of playing the tragic hero. He was still optimistic. His pride wouldn't allow him to kneel down for something like this. And he had no intention of engaging in the fruitless act of blaming the foolish masses.

'The eldest son Bi…'

He was indeed a formidable opponent.

"If no one believes me, then there's no need for me to be here! But I will clear this false accusation!"

A fighting spirit, dormant for a long time, began to rise within his sluggish body and mind. His fingers suddenly pointed towards the eldest son Bi's brow.

"I'll warn you! You'll regret making me so bothered!"

Then he turned and headed out of the cave, pushing through the cold stares of those who were once his comrades.

"Wait! Stop! Are you crazy? Do you think you can just leave here?"

*Swish!*

Six men formed a cordon, blocking Bi Ryu-yeon's path. They all held their weapons, their faces radiating murderous intent. The common understanding was that they couldn't let the culprit – already imprinted in their minds as Bi Ryu-yeon – go like this. One of them shouted.

"Surrender peacefully! And… we'll take our time to make you confess, completely and in detail!"

Bi Ryu-yeon's steps halted abruptly. His shoulders drooped slightly forward, and his head was bowed halfway. From his lips came a low, quiet voice.

"Are you… are you trying to stop me now?"

His voice was far from its usual tone, twisted and distorted, filled with a deep, tangled resentment.

"Of course!"

The men shouted indignantly. A low growl responded to their anger.

"Heh heh heh, I'm in a really bad mood right now. It's been a long time since I've felt this bad. So, I'm warning you, if you don't want to get hurt… get out of my way."

It was low until now. But then…

"How dare you think you can stop me!"

In an instant, an immense killing intent emanated from Bi Ryu-yeon's body. It was a terrifying killing intent that seemed to swallow everything, like the Yellow River overflowing in the rainy season. This potent killing intent pierced the hearts of the six men in an instant. Their bodies stiffened. This feeling… he remembered it. It was the same feeling he had when he stood facing the silver masks and drew his sword. The feeling that made his heart freeze and his fingers unable to move, like a frog in front of a snake. The very feeling people call fear.

Still displeased, Bi Ryu-yeon passed through the six men in silence, his lips closed. Not a single one of them dared to move.

'If I move, I die!'

This was the common thought that flashed through the minds of the six men, pale and drenched in cold sweat.

'It must be her…'

The most suspicious person was indeed Hyulsimran Gyo-ok.

Her full, ample chest, her slender waist, her long, shapely legs. He admitted that she had a voluptuous figure that any man would find attractive. He couldn't believe that such a young and beautiful woman, overflowing with charm and allure, could have committed such a heinous act. However, he didn't intend to criticize their lack of imagination. For them, it was far more reasonable to point the finger of blame and suspicion at a scoundrel whose origins were unclear, whose status was uncertain, whose martial arts seemed unremarkable, who didn't know how to obey authority, and who tried to break the social mold – a scoundrel whose every action was highly displeasing and a thorn in their side – than to suspect a mysterious woman who made their mouths water and their loins stir. Furthermore, a seemingly decisive piece of evidence had emerged, leaving them no room for hesitation.

They were so engrossed in the sweet taste of the flimsy authority guaranteed by society, their brains so softened as if soaked in sugar water, that they were quite accustomed to acting foolishly. Their eyes were merely decorative ornaments. They had not the slightest hope for the blind fools.

'Where should I go now? Is the game over?'

Bi Ryu-yeon left them without deciding where to go. Soon, he realized someone was blocking his path. He raised his head and looked at the person's face. To his surprise, it was Na Ye-rin.

"Where are you going alone?"

She greeted him with a faint smile, a rare sight.

"Uh, were you waiting for me? Or saying goodbye?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked.

"The latter is incorrect. We have to go together. You can't go alone. We are colleagues."

"Us?"

Then, the grass on the other side rustled, and several people emerged. Jang Hong, Yoon Jun-ho, Hyo-ryong, Lee Jin-seol (she seemed to have followed because of Hyo-ryong, but let's overlook that!), and Mo Yong-hwi were there. They all looked visibly embarrassed. Jang Hong spoke on behalf of the group.

"We believe in you! So we've decided to follow you."

Mo Yong-hwi, not even in the same team, intended to accompany him.

"There's no particular benefit in following me. You could be completely ostracized by the mainstream. Besides, you're not even in the same team. Your chance of winning might be gone forever?"

Bi Ryu-yeon said.

"The majority's opinion doesn't make something the mainstream. History will decide what becomes mainstream, or rather, what becomes the right direction. Besides, winning is already out of the question. Most of us were thoroughly defeated by the silver masks and had our Cheon-yul-pae taken. Unless we get them back, it's hard to even place in the rankings, let alone win."

Jang Hong replied on his behalf.

"Speaking of which, you seem to be in a serious bind this time. It won't be easy to clear this false accusation, will it?"

Jang Hong said, clicking his tongue. He was a different kind of person from those whose brains were soaked in sugar water. And he was someone who understood brotherhood, having shed tears upon reading Han Yu's 'Elegy for Shi-rang' <祭十二郞文>, written about the death of his cousin, Shi-rang.

It has been said from ancient times that one who doesn't shed tears reading Gongming's 'Memoranda on Expeditions' <出師表> is not a loyal subject, one who doesn't shed tears reading Yi Mi's 'Petition for Affection' <陳情表> is not filial, and one who doesn't shed tears reading Han Yu's 'Elegy for Shi-rang' lacks brotherhood.

Therefore, Jang Hong firmly believed that his friend Bi Ryu-yeon was not diligent enough to commit such a troublesome act.

"Tsk, to push me this far… I was careless and got hit!"

"What will you do now?"

"First, I need to clear this false accusation that was forced upon me. It doesn't seem to suit me. I should give such a bothersome thing to someone who's more suited for it."

"How? It won't be easy, will it? It's not that proving your innocence is difficult, but whether they will readily accept it is the question. You've made too many enemies! There's more than one person holding a grudge. Moreover, their vigilance has increased due to the recent sword duel… Everyone is eager to devour you. If you're even slightly careless, you'll be completely picked clean by vultures."

"Talking to fools is useless; they block their eyes and ears entirely and imagine what they want. We can only show them results."

"How?"

"First, we need to take care of the most suspicious ones."

"You don't mean… them?"

"Yes, those silver masks. They are the most suspicious."

"That's certainly true… but where will we find them?"

"There's a way."

Bi Ryu-yeon replied with a confident voice.

"….?"

"I've left a thread behind!"

"A thread?"

"Yes, a thread! No matter where they are, that thread will guide me!"

*Smile!*

As Bi Ryu-yeon smiled, a thin, silvery thread glowed transparently at the tip of his raised index finger.

"Alright! Then friends, shall we go!"

"Ooh!"

With a hearty cheer, they walked along. Their own unique path, imbued with the pure will that arose from within them. Therefore, they had no regrets and possessed trust that bordered on faith. The red sunset enveloped their backs warmly. And…

They never returned until the end of the Jungto District.