Book 9 Chapter 4

The Standard of Common Sense

"By the way…"

Eunseolran, who had been watching the affectionate(?) bickering between the two, opened her mouth.

"Yes?"

"Who is being called fat?"

Eunseolran asked Na Yerlin, feeling puzzled. This was because she had the impression that Na Yerlin had known Maharyeong for a long time.

"Well? Isn't it pointing to Maharyeong, the leader of the sect over there?"

In fact, Maharyeong was also familiar to Na Yerlin. It would have been stranger if the daughter of the Heavenly Martial Academy head and the daughter of the Martial Alliance leader did not have any interaction.

Although they had become awkward as they grew older, they used to call each other "sister" when they were young. However, their relationship wasn't good enough to build deep affection. Maharyeong always seemed to resent her for some reason. It seemed she felt a sense of inferiority. At that time, being compared to her must have been very painful for her, who was a bit plump.

'She always looked at me with a strange gaze mixed with dissatisfaction, longing, and hatred!'

However, she hadn't seen her face since she entered the sect to seriously train in martial arts.

'When I was young… I was definitely much plumper than I am now.'

But that was a thing of the past, more than ten years ago. Just because someone was fat when they were young doesn't mean they have to be fat when they grow up. There's no such rule in the world.

"Oh my? My eyes must be malfunctioning!"

Eunseolran suddenly fussed and made a scene.

"What is it?"

"In my eyes, that young lady doesn't look fat at all. Then I must be fat too. What do I do now! Sob sob sob!"

Eunseolran pretended to cry and wailed.

"…"

Na Yerlin remained silent without saying a word. She was bewildered. She felt like she had been tricked again. And now, her concern was not Eunseolran's fake crying.

'In the past… did Bi Gongja and Haryeong unnie meet more than ten years ago? If not, how could she call the current Haryeong unnie fat?'

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't find an answer. Of course, Biryuyeon had never met Maharyeong until just three days ago.

The situation was still at a stalemate with no progress. Eunseolran seemed to find the situation very interesting and didn't let her guard down at all.

"That person is incredibly stupid."

"That's right. They are truly irredeemably stupid."

Na Yerlin also actively agreed. It seemed Moyonghwi also had no objections. It was a moment when everyone's opinion was unified after a long time.

As they said, Biryuyeon was stupid.

Normally, when dealing with someone from a good family, with a good background, high status, and education, one should bow deeply, to the point where their spine might dislocate, with all sincerity. Isn't that only natural? Because everyone does it as a matter of course. You can easily understand if you look around.

There are many such people. They are like aspiring organ donors who would readily give their livers and gallbladders to those with higher status, money, power, and fame. Their spirit of sacrifice is truly tear-jerking and moving to behold.

When meeting someone of high status, people naturally act as if by reflex. They clasp their hands, bow their waist, and show a servile smile with all their might. Of course, rubbing one's palms until the fingerprints are erased can also yield good results.

This damn world was originally made that way. Most people also act according to that rule. But Biryuyeon, the troublesome troublemaker who claims to be a rebel of the era, apparently hates it.

Therefore, Biryuyeon never bowed down in front of people with higher status or stronger power. Instead, he completely ignored them. He didn't seem to have any intention of compromising his beliefs because of the other person's background.

That's why he was able to slap Maharyeong across the face without any hesitation. He had no intention of moving his body in a direction that his heart didn't desire. Therefore, he could indeed be called the greatest fool of all time.

Pursuing things according to one's beliefs means having to bear many consequences. It is never a smooth path in any era. Yet, Biryuyeon was trying to walk that path now.

The reason people are astonished is also along the same lines. These people are astonished and angered because Biryuyeon boldly broke the established customs of the world and acted as he pleased. How infuriating it must be that he constantly does what they cannot do!

In the future, they will not be able to understand Biryuyeon. Of course, they don't want to understand him. Their fundamental way of thinking is completely different.

Therefore, people have never been able to properly assess Biryuyeon. When they try to measure his capacity with the yardstick of common sense, they always fail. To measure his vessel, a very special, not ordinary, yardstick is needed. A custom-made yardstick just for him, otherwise, no matter how many times they repeat it, they will never get the same answer.

Someone that their existing yardsticks don't work on!

That's why they could never, even if the sky split in two, acknowledge Biryuyeon's existence.

To ignore all authority, power, and might derived from academic connections, regional ties, blood ties, or background, what a foolish and shameless act! It was an act only Biryu, who is called the greatest fool of all time, could perform without shame.

Biryuyeon did not regret his actions in any way. He was always responsible for his actions and safety. He was fully prepared to counter any extreme retaliation. This was not because he had learned how to do so, but because he had lived that way until now.

Can't we just end it now? The confrontation has been going on for too long. Everyone around them sincerely wished for it to conclude soon. How long were they going to continue this wasteful stubborn battle?

'Will the confrontation between those two ever end?'

Neither side showed any sign of yielding yet. The two were already in a precarious position, like riding a tiger. It was too late to jump off the back of a tiger running like a gale.

Perhaps because of this, even after more than half an hour, the tense confrontation between the two showed no signs of ending. At this point, even the spectators should be bored. However, they couldn't feel bored because of the strange tension emanating from between the two.

Biryuyeon still had a smile on his lips. However, a tension far greater than when he had a dark expression was tightly binding the surroundings.

Although he didn't remove the smile from his lips, Biryuyeon's hand still held Maharyeong's wrist like a hawk's talon and had no intention of letting go. It was a firm stance that he would absolutely not let go until she said "Please. Let go," as he had warned.

"Why don't you stop being stubborn? Miss Stubborn?"

Biryuyeon asked Maharyeong for her intentions. But Maharyeong was not the type to answer such things.

"…"

"Why aren't you saying anything? Even if you can't move your body carelessly, there shouldn't be any problem moving your mouth?"

"Do you think I would surrender to you, you scoundrel?"

Grind!

Her teeth ground together with a loud friction sound.

"Who said you should surrender? I just wanted a simple apology. Everyone does it. Especially those who made the first mistake."

"It means the same thing to me."

How could they be so unreasonable!

Once again, the negotiation failed. The more negotiations fail, the deeper the emotional rift becomes.

'Who would say something like that!'

The flame of will in her eyes shone with an intense light.

Maharyeong's pride was too high, and her status was not something to be taken lightly, to say such a thing.

Normally, she would have used her martial arts to easily escape the opponent's grasp. But this time, it was impossible. It was as if she were bound by invisible threads, unable to exert her full internal strength. She couldn't believe she had been instantly subdued by a nameless junior through a moment's carelessness. The blow this series of events dealt to her pride was devastatingly immense.

Was this what it felt like to have ten years of study go to waste? She had dedicated herself to martial arts with unwavering determination for ten years and entered a certain realm, but the profound despair of a martial artist who realizes that their martial arts, which they thought could crumble mountains and split the earth, couldn't even kill a single ant they encountered after descending the mountain, best described her current state.

'What was the point of me shutting myself off from the world and dedicating myself to training for the past five hundred days? Did I go through all that hardship just to suffer such a terrible humiliation from this mere junior? Or am I dreaming right now?'

However, her throbbing cheek, which dealt a more fatal blow to her spirit than her still aching body, made her face reality starkly.

It felt like all general means of recourse were blocked. It was like a derelict ship cast adrift in the vast ocean. She had never imagined that being unable to do anything could cause such a sense of powerlessness.

'I never imagined I would experience such powerlessness…'

Further confrontation would only tarnish her reputation.

'I guess I have no choice but to apologize… Otherwise… Will I break the taboo?'

She bit her lower lip. Whether she stayed as she was and apologized to get him to let go, or broke the taboo, her pride would be severely damaged.

Either choice would demand a certain sacrifice from her. At this point, the deciding factor for the person concerned would be the minimal sacrifice. Of course, neither decision was easy.

'If only that day hadn't happened…'

'If only that secret hadn't been revealed…'

If they were to call it a bad connection, it was the most terrible bad connection.

The night three days ago when the two first met!

That night, Biryuyeon had given her a terrible night that she never wanted to think about again.

Thinking back now, that tavern was the starting point of all the incidents.