A Dead End
"You animal! Stop right there!"
Rage boiled through Yeop Pung until every cell in his body felt ready to explode. He had never imagined Sa Cheonseong would stoop to something this vile. To Yeop Pung, Elder Han Un was a warmth he could never forget.
The sincere words Han Un had spoken on the road to Nagun Peak, the apologetic smile he had shown when they parted—those memories were still vivid. In those bleak days, Han Un's warmth had been Yeop Pung's only ray of light.
Elder Han, who had always wrapped the Cheonun disciples in his gentle smile... How dare you, Sa Cheonseong!
It wasn't just Yeop Pung. The fury of Wang Maeng, Mo Soo-mi, Yo Yeong-chun, and countless other radical disciples pierced the heavens. Most of them had received Han Un's care at one time or another. To them, Sa Cheonseong's shameless act was utterly unforgivable. If they could endure this, what in the world could they not endure?
Yet even in this situation, the gravely wounded Han Un desperately rose to his feet. With a blood-soaked hand, he grabbed Yeop Pung as he rushed past.
"Yeop Pung! No! You must not act on impulse!"
"Elder Han!"
Yeop Pung supported the tottering Han Un. He could feel the sincerity in the way the elder clutched his hand and struggled to speak.
"That... that spear in his hand is... a top-grade... a top-grade Profound Weapon... You... you're no match for him..."
Han Un coughed up bloody foam with every word. He was worried for Yeop Pung, and beyond that, he wanted to protect every last Cheonun disciple.
You're no match for him!
On the opposite side, Sa Cheonseong stood with a cold smile, spear in hand. The dark crimson long spear he held was in no way inferior to Yeop Pung's Black Frost Sword. Behind him, six-meridian experts like Noe Bun and Sa Ok were all radiating astonishing Profound Qi. With Yi Hwawu and Un Cheoncheon absent, even if Yeop Pung stepped forward alone it would be nothing but courting death. If Yeop Pung let his emotions take over now, he would only bring harm to everyone.
"Yeop... Yeop Pung.... You must regain your composure! For the sake of Cheonun Sect.... You, of all people, cannot lose your cool!"
Han Un did not let go of Yeop Pung's hand as he pleaded once more.
Just then, more heavyweights rushed to the scene. The first to arrive was Yeom Jin-ri, Peak Master of Gangun Peak. The moment she arrived, she said nothing and took Han Un toward the Herb Department.
Next to arrive was Ha Chung, Peak Master of Hwaun Peak. Famous for his hot temper, he took one look at the situation and erupted with even greater fury than Yeop Pung, radiating such intense fire qi that it seemed he would kill someone on the spot.
But the situation changed when Han Buri and Naeng Chu arrived at the same time.
"Ha Chung, stop this instant!"
Han Buri shouted, blocking Ha Chung's path.
"Han Buri, get out of my way!"
Ha Chung was about to unleash the rage he had long suppressed. But before he could even make a move, Naeng Chu beside him let out a sneer, pulled a blue whistle from his robes, and blew it lightly.
Wheee~
The clear whistle sound transformed into a tone that seemed to announce death. The once-imposing Peak Master of Hwaun Peak, Ha Chung, coughed up blood and staggered back at that sound.
What just happened?!
Every Cheonun disciple was stunned by the unexpected turn. Naeng Chu looked at Ha Chung and smiled chillingly.
"Peak Master Ha, have you forgotten the Pleasure Pill you swallowed last time? This is merely a warning. If you ever run wild at Cheonwoon Martial Academy again, you will die by my hand!"
"You bastard!"
Ha Chung trembled with rage. But the damned poison of the Pleasure Pill was lodged in his body like a thorn driven deep into his bones. He was in no condition to fight any longer.
This situation plunged Yeop Pung and his companions into deep despair. Could it be that every Peak Master, including Sect Master Lee Sujol, had already been seized by the Cheonbong Army? No wonder no one dared to step forward and resist. They were already in a position where they couldn't even protect themselves.
It was also strange that outstanding third-generation disciples like Yi Hwawu, Un Cheoncheon, and Hwa Cheonpung were not present. Perhaps they had already received orders from their respective Peak Masters and chosen the path of submission to the Cheonbong Army.
What hope remained for a Cheonun Sect like this?
Wang Maeng and the others fell back weakly. Their faces turned paper-white, and all strength drained from their bodies. The proud spirit of the radicals had vanished without a trace. All that remained on the scene was the arrogant momentum of the Cheonbong Army and the groveling of the moderates led by Han Buri's group.
"Director Han!"
Naeng Chu climbed onto the central platform of Cheonun Square and looked down at Han Buri with contempt.
"Cheonwoon Martial Academy is already in this much of a mess before the name has even changed. The responsibility of the future director will be heavy indeed."
"I understand. I will keep it in mind!"
Han Buri bowed his head deeply. He swept his sharp gaze around and said,
"Listen up! Lock up everyone who caused a disturbance today in Cheonroe and have them await their punishment!"
What?!
It was as if a dagger had been driven into hearts that had already gone cold. They were going to imprison these passionate disciples who truly cared for Cheonun Sect?
Unable to hold back any longer, Wang Maeng cried out from the crowd.
"Han Buri, you may have become Cheonbong's dog, but shouldn't you at least have a shred of conscience!"
"Insolent brat!"
The massive Noe Bun, standing behind Sa Cheonseong, charged at Wang Maeng with a thunderous rumble. Then he slapped Wang Maeng's cheek with his huge hand.
With a horrific smack, Wang Maeng's body flew backward. Everyone watching felt their hearts drop.
"Drag him away!"
Wang Maeng was dragged off by the soldiers, weeping. His sobs were filled with indescribable despair.
After that, no one opened their mouth, and the surroundings fell deathly silent. The Cheonun 1st Squad disciples, including Mo Soo-mi and Yo Yeong-chun, were weakly dragged away by the soldiers. They brushed past Yeop Pung as they headed toward Cheonroe on Nowoon Peak.
The moderate disciples mocked and jeered at them. They casually spat out words like "Cheonun Sect is already finished."
Yeop Pung did not move from his spot. It felt as if he were the only one left in the world.
Naeng Chu and Han Buri seemed to have no intention of arresting Yeop Pung. They watched the crowd disperse with cold eyes and turned away.
After everyone had vanished, only Sa Cheonseong slowly walked over and stood before Yeop Pung.
"Yeop Pung... Heh, how do you feel?"
Sa Cheonseong used to ask Yeop Pung this whenever he had a chance even on the training grounds. But he had never inflicted pain that gouged into Yeop Pung's chest like this today. Yeop Pung suffered not because of Sa Cheonseong's vulgar words, but because of a deep sense of powerlessness.
What should I do? After things have come to this, what can I even do?
Sa Cheonseong continued.
"Haha, what's wrong? Standing there like a mute who swallowed honey? Don't tell me you're scared after seeing my Blood Phoenix Spear? Don't worry. Listen carefully. In half a month, I'll punch a hundred holes in your body with this. I'll try to make it as painless as possible!"
Would the life-or-death duel in half a month even mean anything? Could I win? No—even if I won, would I be allowed to?
"Ahaha, Yeop Pung, from the moment you met me, you were destined to be trampled under my feet. I don't know what schemes you're hatching, but I'll tell you straight. In half a month, you will definitely die...."
Sa Cheonseong had become a completely different person. He took pleasure in tormenting his opponent like a pervert, wanting to watch Yeop Pung tremble in fear as he died.
"I'll be honest with you. If you run away, I'll kill every last one of your friends locked in Cheonroe. And if you dare try to harm me, I'll massacre them on the spot just the same!"
"In half a month, you will kneel before everyone and surrender to me. Then, maybe I'll spare their lives. Ahaha, remember this well. I'll be waiting for you in half a month!"
Sa Cheonseong leisurely disappeared. All that remained for Yeop Pung was a bleak reality with no solution in sight. At that moment, the wind blowing across Cheonun Square was as cold as ice.
Having returned to Nagun Peak, Yeop Pung shut himself in his room. And he didn't say a word all day.
Outside the room, Maeng Chang-haeng, Bone, and Heukgu sat in silence, waiting for Yeop Pung. Nagun Peak was more desolate and lonely than ever.
When night fell, Heukgu finally couldn't take it anymore and wrote on the floor with his claws.
Master.... It's really hard, isn't it....
Maeng Chang-haeng knew all too well what Yeop Pung must be feeling right now. That was why his heart ached even more. He felt sorry for Yeop Pung. It was a despair and shadow of death far too cruel for a mere sixteen-year-old boy to bear. Moreover, this time, no one could stand on Yeop Pung's side.
"Bone, should I try talking to the kid?"
"Kkaeng~~"
Bone glared at Maeng Chang-haeng and shook his head. The creature seemed to be saying, This isn't your place to step in.
"You stupid dog! Don't you have any conscience!"
Then Bone looked at Heukgu and wrote a sentence on the ground with his claws.
Old Man Maeng was bewildered. This brat—the dog knows how to write? I've never heard such a moving line before.
Bone flicked a few strands of his golden fur and looked at Maeng Chang-haeng with contemptuous eyes.
If you're uneducated, even a dog will look down on you!
And so one human, one dog, and one rat continued to stare blankly at Yeop Pung's room.
Then a white shadow suddenly appeared outside the courtyard. All their eyes went wide.
Yeop Pung inside the room was truly in agony. This agony stemmed from a hopelessness like being trapped in a maze with no way forward or back. The leaders of Cheonun Sect had been suppressed, and Wang Maeng's group had been imprisoned. The fate of Cheonun Sect had already changed, and he was destined to die in the duel half a month from now.
He could neither flee from the duel nor win it. If he lost he would die, and even if he won he would die along with the others. It seemed as if death was the only path left for Yeop Pung.
What should I do about this?
His current situation was harder than any time in the past eight years. He was clearly destined to die, yet he had to grit his teeth and keep moving forward. Anyone else would have collapsed long ago.
All day long, Yeop Pung could not escape these despairing emotions. It was a trial far too great for a sixteen-year-old boy to bear.
How can I find hope in the midst of despair?
Yeop Pung could not find an answer.
Just then, a voice he had never expected came from outside the door.
"Yeop Pung, come out for a moment."
The cold, warmth-less voice was so familiar that Yeop Pung recognized it at once.
"Un Cheoncheon?"
Why is she here?