Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Center of the Black Forest
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The heart of the Black Forest.
Only six-star Saints or higher were permitted entry. The center boasted pleasures beyond those of any city, yet with few resident Saints, it lacked the clamor of urban life.
The Black Forest's Saints numbered well over a thousand in total, but among them, only eight possessed six stars or more.
The Black Heaven Prodigy, the Black Overlord, and the Legend.
Back in Liang Province, she had lived in a place where rain leaked through the ceiling and the air reeked of salty sea and fish, but here in the Black Forest, Ha Ji-eun resided in a mansion fit for royalty.
That said, Ha Ji-eun wasn't particularly extravagant by nature. She hadn't bought the mansion herself—it was a standard perk granted to any student granted access to the center.
In truth, Ha Ji-eun found this lifestyle profoundly uncomfortable. She had never been one for luxury to begin with.
Born into the impoverished North Sea Ice Palace, she had lived frugally from childhood, so she simply couldn't adjust to the opulent abundance of the Black Forest.
Even if it was a benefit bestowed upon all six-star Saints without exception.
"What are you staring at?"
They were in the middle of breakfast.
Woo Ha-yeon eyed Ha Ji-eun across from her with a troubled expression. The massive dining table seated only the two of them. Before Woo Ha-yeon lay an array of lavish dishes too extravagant for morning fare.
In stark contrast, nothing before the mansion's actual owner, Ha Ji-eun, could even be called a proper dish. Just rice heavy on the mixed grains rather than white, some soy sauce, a pinch of salt, wilted pickled radish, and...
"...Why do you have that hanging there?"
They had arrived in the Black Forest two days prior. She had wondered about it since their first dinner together that evening but hadn't dared ask then.
She had reached her limit now, though. Woo Ha-yeon finally voiced what had been nagging at her every time she glanced at it.
"It's a side dish."
"You don't even eat it."
"I eat it with my eyes."
Woo Ha-yeon's pupils twitched at the novel response. Eating a side dish with her eyes? What nonsense was that? She alternated her gaze between Ha Ji-eun's impassive face and the fish dangling from the ceiling. A faint, briny fishy scent wafted from the dried catch.
As she stared blankly, saliva naturally pooled in Woo Ha-yeon's mouth.
"See?"
"Huh? Oh."
"Right now, saliva's gathering in your mouth too, isn't it, Lady? You're eating that fish with your eyes as well."
"No... eating? But it doesn't fill you up..."
"When you eat with your eyes instead of your mouth, of course it doesn't fill you up."
Ha Ji-eun scooped up a large spoonful of rice.
"Eat this, and you'll be full."
Why say something so obvious with such smugness? They had only been together for two days, but Woo Ha-yeon couldn't comprehend Ha Ji-eun at all. Especially during meals—it baffled her even more.
"It makes me feel bad eating like this while you eat that."
"No need to feel bad. You're a guest who deserves proper hospitality."
"Even so. Can't you eat the same as me?"
"No. Excessive luxury fattens the soul and dulls it. Get too accustomed to this indulgence, and you might one day lose yourself to hedonism."
Ha Ji-eun spoke in a stubborn, resolute tone. She could only enjoy such luxury here in the Black Forest.
Leave this place, and she would revert to being the destitute young mistress of the North Sea Ice Palace. That was why Ha Ji-eun had always shunned extravagance and pleasure from the start.
She had seen plenty in the Black Forest who had grown addicted to such things and turned into grotesque swine.
"...I get what you're saying. And from now on, I want to eat the same as you."
"Is my hospitality unsatisfactory?"
"It's too much. Eat like this every day, and I'll get fat."
Woo Ha-yeon grinned broadly. Ha Ji-eun blinked, staring at the pure smile for a moment.
"...Well, in that case, no helping it."
Woo Ha-yeon smirked at Ha Ji-eun's concession. They had only been together for two short days and hadn't shared many stories.
Still, Woo Ha-yeon felt she had chosen correctly with Ha Ji-eun.
"No thought of calling me 'sister'?"
"None."
"Being called 'Lady' embarrasses me."
"I'm embarrassed by 'sister.'"
Stubborn and proud as she was, Ha Ji-eun felt nothing like the savage rumors of the unorthodox sects so common in the righteous faction.
"As early as today, the successful promotions among the city's five-star Saints will come to the center."
"I wonder if Junior Brother can make it."
"If he was determined enough, he could."
News from the city reached the center as well. Not just the city— the center gathered all information from across the Black Forest.
She knew Wi Seong-cheon had allied with Baek Ri-hyang.
'I was down to those two.'
Woo Ha-yeon had agonized until the end between Baek Ri-hyang and Ha Ji-eun. Her gaze had lingered on the desperate-looking Baek Ri-hyang, but in the end, it settled on Ha Ji-eun.
"If you'd stayed there longer, you could've allied with the Latent Dragon Young Hero after me."
"Not satisfied with just me?"
"I only regretted letting the Latent Dragon go."
"Young Master Zhuge gave up on him ages ago?"
"He thought rationally about it."
"So you didn't."
Woo Ha-yeon smiled slyly. Ha Ji-eun pouted, lips pursed, before speaking.
"The Latent Dragon Young Hero is after the Black Heaven Prodigy, and so am I. Our interests align perfectly."
"In that situation, interests align with anyone. But among the six-star Saints, you were the only one willing to stay for Junior Brother Wi. Know that?"
"...Because the Latent Dragon is the Black Heaven Prodigy's brother."
"Right. If the Black Heaven Prodigy uses Heavenly Flower Sect techniques, Junior Brother could never claim the advantage."
Woo Ha-yeon had fought Wi Seong-cheon directly and witnessed his fights several times. The Heavenly Flower Sect's arts carried an erratic nature utterly unlike standard martial techniques.
Joint locks emphasizing the Golden Claw Technique, grappling, throwing, slamming body arts. In pure martial depth, Jin-u surpassed Wi Seong-cheon, but he had lost, unable to handle the erratic close combat.
Against the Black Heaven Prodigy, versed in such Heavenly Flower Sect arts? Wi Seong-cheon held no edge.
"You're known to be close with the Latent Dragon Young Hero, Lady. Why push me aside and not wait for him?"
"Junior Brother told me to go first."
"...That's all?"
"That's it. If he wanted me to wait, he wouldn't have said that. But he did—told me to go ahead and meet inside."
Ha Ji-eun gazed at Woo Ha-yeon with incomprehension.
"It's not just me. Surprisingly, Junior Brother gets a lot of affection and attention everywhere. But no one stayed for him, right? Not because they didn't care—because they trusted his words and respected his will."
"...You too, Lady?"
"I trust and respect him, of course. Yeah. And one more thing."
Woo Ha-yeon giggled.
"I want to see how much stronger Junior Brother has gotten. Ally with him, and I lose my chance to fight him."
"As expected, competitive spirit. I heard you were above such things, Lady."
"That was until last fall. Thanks to that annoying Junior Brother, I discovered the thrill late."
Not just me, probably.
Woo Ha-yeon smiled as she lifted her teacup. This year's Black Forest students couldn't participate in the Righteous Heaven Tournament. Plenty of other chances to test skills beyond the tournament, sure.
'But situations like this are rare.'
A desperate scenario eclipsing even the tournament. Several young warriors whose skills had skyrocketed beyond compare in mere months. Competitive fires were bound to ignite.
'Hurry and come.'
Woo Ha-yeon wasn't the only one thinking that.
Zhuge Ihyeon had let Je gal Ihyeon choose any room in the vast mansion to suit the guests.
Paeng Yeon-hwa selected a small, quiet one. She sat cross-legged in the center of the room.
'Extend the arm... further...'
'Brother is nothing but shackles binding freedom...'
'Shortest path, fastest. The leash.'
'Slash and stab.'
The faint voices of lingering grudges echoed. In the Paeng family's underground kennels, masters who had died becoming beasts in iron cages. No mere delusions or hallucinations.
Indeed, Paeng Yeon-hwa had completed her unfinished Fierce Tiger Lone Heaven Blade following those grudge voices and their guidance.
Most grudges vanished upon leaving the iron cage and kennels. But not entirely. Paeng Yeon-hwa opened her closed eyes.
It resembled a tiger formed of pale mist. Normally invisible and silent, but in solitary meditation, it would appear unbidden.
It no longer bothered her. She was fully accustomed. The grudge spirits who died becoming beasts. Paeng Yeon-hwa called the pale tiger "Spear Ghost."
'Regrets...'
Whenever seated alone like this, Spear Ghost would pose such questions to Paeng Yeon-hwa.
In truth, Spear Ghost's queries stemmed from the doubts lingering in Paeng Yeon-hwa's heart. Self-questioning, ultimately.
'No.'
Self-answering. Paeng Yeon-hwa did not regret coming with Zhuge Ihyeon. Truth be told, anyone would have sufficed. She chose him because Wi Seong-cheon had spoken favorably of him.
Had Wi Seong-cheon allied with Zhuge Ihyeon...? Paeng Yeon-hwa would have chosen Ha Ji-eun. Either way, she wanted the side not taking Wi Seong-cheon.
Greed, plain and simple.
"The blood report's out."
Paeng Yeon-hwa didn't startle at the sudden voice. She slowly turned to look behind her. Dang Seona stood there, arms crossed.
"Jiu's insisting we go greet them. What about you?"
"Black Hawk got promoted."
Only one reason for Namgoong Jiu to go greet someone.
Black Hawk, allied with Wi Seong-cheon, had advanced to six-star Saint.
"And you, Senior?"
"What to do? If you go, I'll be stuck here alone with Thunderbolt, and I'm not thrilled about that."
Dang Seona flashed a mischievous smile. Even if Paeng Yeon-hwa left, Zhuge Ihyeon and Dang Seona wouldn't be the only two in the mansion.
The place was as full of servants as it was spacious. Dang Seona simply wanted Paeng Yeon-hwa's answer.
Paeng Yeon-hwa cleared her throat lightly and turned her head slightly. Spear Ghost had vanished. In its place, a swaying tail flickered.
"...Weren't you and Young Master Zhuge exchanging letters long before, Senior?"
"Not quite 'long before.'"
Zhuge Ihyeon had sent Dang Seona letters before even meeting Wi Seong-cheon in Liang Province. Surprisingly, among the Black Overlords, only Zhuge Ihyeon had attempted such contact. Back then, pride kept others from approaching Righteous Heaven Academy students first.
In that regard, Zhuge Ihyeon was flexible. Among the Dragon-Phoenixes, he selected a fitting ally—and it was Dang Seona.
"No reason to refuse. The letters weren't arrogant. If allying with a Black Overlord was needed, pick the first to extend the invitation. No flaws in Thunderbolt either."
"...Had Heeran come here, you'd have gone elsewhere, Senior."
"I can't tell what answer you're fishing for."
Dang Seona's lips curved as she eyed Paeng Yeon-hwa. Paeng Yeon-hwa rose with a soft chuckle and shake of her head.
"Just curious."
"By sending me those letters, Thunderbolt had already ruled out Heeran. He knew pulling her in meant he couldn't recruit me. And you?"
Dang Seona's eyes narrowed.
"Your choice opposite Wi Seong-cheon Junior makes sense. But picking against Cheong Wu-bin? Weren't you two close?"
"Just worried about Jiu."
"Why? Old memories stirring? True, as kids, Jiu followed you around a lot. Always trying to grab your tail."
"Senior only had eyes for Heeran. Never cared about us."
"Not much different now."
"That's why I came here. Didn't think Senior would look out for Jiu, nor Young Master Zhuge."
"You've changed a lot in a year. Gotten much softer."
Paeng Yeon-hwa smiled silently.