Book 25 Chapter 7

A Letter

- From Younger Brother to Older Brother

The port was empty.

"Boats? They all left just now."

"Have you ever seen coffins? Of course. There were over a dozen."

"Ah, those coffins? They were loaded onto four boats."

"Where they're going, I don't know."

"Those boats? Aren't they heading over there?"

When Bi Ryuyeon and his party arrived at the pier with Na Baekcheon, the four boats were already silhouettes against the horizon of Dongting Lake. Everyone was in a sorry state, smudged with soot and covered in dust. Even the esteemed leader of the Martial Arts Alliance was no exception.

"Yerin- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

He called out his daughter's name, infusing it with his internal energy, towards the receding boats on the horizon. However, even this immense cry, like the tolling of a bronze bell, scattered into nothingness upon the vast waters of Dongting Lake.

"Alliance Leader, please calm yourself. You'll injure your vital energy by shouting like that."

Profound anger and sorrow could harm one's vital energy. A loss of vital energy leads to a loss of internal energy. This was something a martial artist should absolutely avoid.

"Yerin- IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!"

At that moment, a roar rivaling Na Baekcheon's erupted. Jang Hong covered his ears and looked at his friend. This time, it was Bi Ryuyeon.

"Yerin- IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!"

His was even more severe than his father Na Baekcheon's. He was practically screaming, his cry filled with fury and sorrow. He was calling out Na Yerin's name so intensely, it seemed he might vomit blood at any moment. Simply listening to it filled the heart with sadness. Judging that it would be dangerous to leave him like this, Hyo Ryong and Jang Hong grabbed his shoulders and tried to restrain him.

"Calm down, just calm down. Ryuyeon, what will happen if you do this too? Calm down. If your vital energy is damaged, your cultivation will be disrupted. At worst, you could fall into a state of 'zouhu-inma' (走火入魔)."

Damaged vital energy can lead to a runaway of qi and blood, and the person who loses control over it becomes helpless. If the runaway qi becomes tangled like a ball of thread, the qi and blood become blocked. This is the onset of 'zouhu' (走火). When this happens, one loses control over the emotions of sorrow and anger that cause 'inma' (入魔). When sorrow and anger overflow, the mind goes insane. One loses oneself and falls into madness. This is 'inma' (入魔). 'Zouhu' damages the body, and 'inma' damages the mind. However, the mind and body are intrinsically linked and inseparable, so 'zouhu' and 'inma' often occur together. Therefore, the blockage of qi during energy cultivation is collectively referred to as 'zouhu-inma'. What Jang Hong feared was Bi Ryuyeon falling into 'zouhu-inma' by being unable to control his overflowing emotions and anger.

"If you fall into 'zouhu-inma' now, who will save Yerin? Be more rational. You still have things to do! Look me in the eye!"

Jang Hong shouted, shaking Bi Ryuyeon's shoulder.

"You haven't finished what you need to do yet. Go insane after you've finished everything. If I know Bi Ryuyeon, he would have said the same thing."

Bi Ryuyeon's eyes, which had become hazy like a darkened sky veiled by clouds, slowly began to clear.

"That's right, this is not the time for me to be like this. I still have so much to do and promises to keep. Besides, it's illogical to just collapse here while leaving the enemy unharmed! Yes, absolutely."

He had to find his world, his lost half. Moreover, he hadn't even properly retaliated against the enemy yet. The enemy was still alive and well. Bi Ryuyeon was always meticulous in his calculations.

When Bi Ryuyeon regained his composure, Jang Hong let out a sigh of relief. He had been so worried, his heart had shrunk to the size of a bean. He had no idea what would happen if someone as unfathomable as him went mad. He desperately wanted to avoid that.

"What is that?"

At that moment, Hyo Ryong pointed to one side and asked.

Creak, creak!

It was a small rowboat, with no oarsman, approaching them carrying something.

What was loaded inside that rowboat was, without a doubt, a 'coffin.'

For Jeongcheon Alliance Leader Na Baekcheon.

That was written in red letters on the coffin. The letters were written in blood, not ink. Na Baekcheon shuddered, wondering if the blood might be Na Yerin's. All sorts of terrible thoughts flooded his mind. It would have been simpler to just go mad.

Creak!

Na Baekcheon opened the coffin lid with trembling hands. The inside of the coffin was empty. Instead, a letter lay at the bottom. It did not read 'For Jeongcheon Alliance Leader Na Baekcheon.' Instead, the letter read, 'For Elder Brother.' Na Baekcheon's hands trembled violently as he unfolded the letter.

Hello, Elder Brother.

I hope you have been well. I am doing well.

How is your health?

Thanks to you, I am also healthy. So healthy that I can't control my youthful vigor.

I have your cute and lovely niece with me. Seeing her grow even more beautiful, I am truly proud as her uncle.

Ah, the reason I am writing this letter is because I have a favor to ask. It is a small favor, so I believe you will surely grant it.

Lately, I have come to want something. What is it, you ask? It is the head of Heukcheon Alliance Leader Gal Jungcheon.

I would appreciate it if you could bring it to me.

If I say, "If you do not grant my request, I will kill Yerin," you will be surprised, won't you? Haha. But there's no need to be so surprised. How could I possibly kill this lovely child right away? This child always makes me realize my hidden true self. How ugly and cruel I am. How deep into darkness my soul has fallen.

Whenever I look at this child's snow-white skin, I want to tear it to shreds and drench it in red blood. Wouldn't that be incredibly ecstatic and exciting? Just imagining it makes me throb. So, don't worry. I will not take Yerin's life. However, I will cut off and send you one of her white, jade-like fingers, which is so lovely I want to break it. How much will her scream, wailing from those beautiful red lips, delight and elate me? My heart pounds at the mere thought of hearing that scream.

So, it doesn't matter at all whether you carry out the task written in this letter. Either way will bring me endless joy. I can picture your face, Elder Brother, receiving my beloved finger. After the finger, where else shall I cut and send? If there is a part you wish for, please let me know in advance.

However, I wish to keep this child's exceptionally precious, jewel-like eyes for myself and not give them to anyone. So, please exclude that. I want these eyes, which stimulate my dark soul, to gaze only at me for eternity.

- From your estranged younger brother.

P.S. I will send the second letter to the tavern 'Heuksangru' next to Heukcheon. If you do not receive that letter, it will be great fortune for me. I will be able to calm my racing heart with sweet screams.

The moment he read the letter, Na Baekcheon was overcome with nausea and a burning rage, trembling violently. His brain felt as if it were burning, and he felt dizzy.

Bi Ryuyeon snatched the letter and slowly, syllable by syllable, read it through. With each character he read, the expression drained from his face. It was as if his life was draining away. Yet, he did not avert his gaze and read to the end. After reading the last line, Bi Ryuyeon stood like a statue for a moment. There was no anger, no passion, no indignation, no tears. Only a trickle of blood silently flowed down the corner of his mouth.

He had just decided the fate of a person. Even if heaven refused, he intended to impose that fate upon that person's destiny. It would likely be recorded as the most brutal fate anyone had ever experienced.

He cast aside all the compassion and forgiveness dormant within him, and calmly, silently made his decision. And he resolved to make his imagination a reality.

"I don't know yet if hell exists. But if there is no heaven or hell in the afterlife, I will make you experience hell sufficiently in this current life. Just in case there is no hell for you to fall into when you die!"

He quietly swore.

For a while, no one spoke. Even if they wanted to pursue, they couldn't, and the problem was, they didn't even know which direction to pursue.

"All clues are gone."

Jang Hong said with a devastated voice. If the boats went in four directions, they had no way of knowing in which direction Na Yerin's coffin was. They lacked the time to chase each one individually. During that time, the kidnapper could continue to move places.

"What do we do now, Madam?"

Na Baekcheon asked Yecheong, looking at her. Since she knew this area, Ganghorando, well, she might have a way. At least if they could narrow down the targets…

"Hmm…"

Yecheong pondered for a moment and then said.

"Let's go see Du Nu-i."

"That old information broker?"

"Yes, although he is old, he is still a capable information broker. He might have information we don't know. His eyes and ears are hidden throughout Ganghorando. And he never misses an opportunity for profitable information. He will surely give us the information we want, because we are willing to pay him a hefty price."