125
125
The true curtain fell on the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
With the final two vacant seats filled, the Gathering that had stretched over half a year drew to a close.
The Nine Dragons, led by Exploding Dragon Namgung Pae!
Swallow Maiden Phoenix Moyong Ran! Crouching White Phoenix Jegal Seon!
Mountain Lord Phoenix Bang Cheol-su! Most Beautiful Phoenix!
And Sword Princess Phoenix Dokgo Yeon! Ice White Phoenix Yoo Seol-ra!
Thus, with the birth of these six Phoenixes, many martial artists sang praises of their power and beauty.
For some, it became a fine opportunity to elevate their fame; for others, a nightmarish day when their honor was dragged through the mud.
But opportunity remains. The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering returns every four years—one simply needs to aim for the next chance.
The Six Phoenixes, newly risen, became the reigning sovereigns rather than the challengers.
A flower that bloomed in the celestial sky, the Taiji Flower.
No matter how stunning the Six Phoenixes' beauty, unless they surpass the Taiji Flower, they cannot become the White Path's Number One.
No matter how much a pack of rejects console themselves behind the scenes—claiming they're prettier, their martial arts superior—the reality that the Taiji Flower is the White Path's Number One Flower does not change.
And the Taiji Flower can participate in the next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
—What if the Taiji Flower appears again at the next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?
With the emergence of the Demonic Cult's Little Princess, strictly speaking, this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering became an Eight Phoenixes system—and within it, a two-horse race led by the Black-and-White First Flowers.
The next Gathering will be different. If the past Gatherings were martial contests between first-rate experts, the future Gatherings will become bloodbaths where Peak-level masters spill blood.
Nor is it only the war among the Phoenixes that changes. Exploding Dragon Namgung Pae's martial level has already reached the Peak Realm. Four others among the Nine Dragons have also ascended to the Peak Realm.
Of course, they feel somewhat outclassed compared to the Taiji Flower and the Little Princess, but the martial world's gossipmongers, their pride swelling, declared Exploding Dragon the foremost of the Nine Dragons and Six Phoenixes.
—I shall guard the title Exploding Dragon well until the next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering in three and a half years!
Those who have become Dragons and Phoenixes.
Be prepared to face countless challenges from mudfish and titmice.
Yet for now, it is a time to celebrate those who have spread their wings anew and risen as Phoenixes.
At the month-long festival held in Xuchang, many raised shouts of joy. Many bestowed blessings upon the festival where Dokgo Yeon and Yoo Seol-ra stood as the main figures.
"It is truly fortunate you have recovered!"
"It is truly fortunate your health has returned!"
"Miss Yoo, congratulations on becoming the Ice White Phoenix!"
Everyone celebrated the new paths ahead for the two women. One as the daughter of the Alliance Leader, the other as a rising female master of the Emei Sect.
"The future of the Martial World is so very bright!"
The Martial World had once again entered a new era.
* * *
"However, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering never opened again. The Alliance, having poured all its strength into the Gathering, as if by a lie...."
"What ominous words are you spouting?"
Sagong Hee, who was peeling fruit, scolded me. I had my face pressed into Sagong Hee's chest, savoring the rest for the first time in a while, but it seemed she was about to start nagging me like a mother, so I felt a bit of spite.
"Do you think the next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering will happen?"
"Of course it will. If it doesn't open, that means a great upheaval has occurred in Murim."
Perhaps thanks to living with the two greatest genius women of Murim? Sagong Hee's mind had grown rather sharp, and she grasped the hidden meaning of my words instantly.
"You mean something like the Great Righteous-Demonic War might break out?"
"That's something that could eventually happen, but what I mean is, will the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering truly be the same Dragon-Phoenix Gathering as before?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Setting aside the Nine Dragons Struggle for Supremacy, the contest for the Six Phoenixes will have a completely different power dynamic going forward."
Sagong Hee, Lee Si-a, Dokgo Yeon, Yoo Seol-ra.
Right now, four of the eight Phoenixes are masters ranging from the late Peak Realm to the Transcendent Realm. Compared to the other four Phoenixes below them, they are already playing in a different league.
"After the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ends, martial decorum dictates that one should not challenge them to a duel for roughly two or three months. But once some time passes, everyone will start demanding duels."
"To pull them down from the Nine Dragons and Six Phoenixes?"
"Yes."
The moment they lose a duel against a martial artist of a similar age or younger, they are expected to relinquish their title. There's no absolute reason they must, but with sullied honor and wounded pride, most end up stripping off the Nine Dragons and Six Phoenixes title anyway.
"Even if they couldn't win at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, they can at least comfort themselves by saying, 'I beat so-and-so!'"
"That feels a little... unsightly."
"In Murim, the one who wins in the end is the victor."
—Young hero, you are of the Gang Ha school! Though my son could not win, it would be such a terrible waste to simply let a talented youth like you leave! Here, here. At least have a meal before you go. Daughter!!
That is precisely how clans increase their power.
—Young hero, you are of the Gang Ha school! But your martial arts have a gap. Ahh... if only you learned our sect's unique martial art, you could overcome that weakness... hm hm.
That is precisely how sects increase their power.
The Nine Dragons and Six Phoenixes become a yardstick to identify promising talents, and by maintaining an unbroken winning streak against challengers, the Nine Dragons and Six Phoenixes can also further elevate their own honor.
So, in that case, who will people challenge?
"People are naturally wired to crush opponents they think they can handle first."
"Moyong Ran, Jegal Seon, Bang Cheol-su, Most Beautiful Phoenix."
Unlike Most Beautiful Phoenix, whose whereabouts are hazy, the other three have clear locations. In particular, Moyong Ran and Jegal Seon, being women of clans rather than sects, are even easier to pinpoint.
"The same goes for you, of course. Everyone will be targeting you from now on."
"Don't worry, my lord. I have the power you gave me."
Sagong Hee held my head from behind in her embrace. I deliberately turned my face and buried it into Sagong Hee's chest.
"The New Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. It will be a duel of peak experts unlike before. We must prepare for that time."
"Yes, of course. Isn't that why we're secretly scattering and regrouping now?"
Sagong Hee smiled and patted me.
"I trust you'll be back soon. But don't come too late. I waited half a year, but asking me to wait another half year is too cruel."
"Don't worry. Even if I have to use my greatest movement art, I'll fly there in a single step."
I do not break promises. I spent a long time in Sagong Hee's embrace.
"...Then I'll be off first."
"Alright. Let's meet again in Hubei."
Step, step.
Sagong Hee, her travel gear packed, departed for where the Wudang Sect's Taoists waited. I saw her off from within the Dokgo Clan's estate.
"You've come, martial uncle Hyeon-ta?"
"Yes. Let us go to Wudang Mountain now."
Sagong Hee.
Just as when she arrived, she left the Murim Alliance escorted by the elders of the Wudang Sect.
Now it was time to extract the other two.
After waiting several time-cycles, the next escapee finally returned into the Wuling Island Garden.
"Welcome back."
"Hoo-ah, someone put me through absolute hell."
Lee Si-a, her face drenched in sweat, returned to the estate while fanning herself with her hand.
"Those Murim Alliance old-timers grilled me until late at night. What if my skin gets ruined?"
"You've suffered. And I'm sorry."
"So why did you have to put Bi-cheon in front of the Ice Demon's name? Tch, just see if this doesn't go according to plan."
Lee Si-a had been interrogated by the Murim Alliance elders.
—What is your relationship with the one called Flying Heaven Ice Demon?
The Murim Alliance elders suspected the Little Princess had a connection to the Flying Heaven Ice Demon.
—The Flying Heaven Three Demons and the Flying Heaven Ice Demon. One can't claim there's no connection, can one?
—Was it the Face-Changing Art? Why? Eliminating a rival makes no sense.
—Could it be to abduct Lady Dokgo...?
The Little Princess, who had been exercising her right to remain silent, finally erupted under the late-night interrogation and pulled out the ultimate persuasion technique I'd taught her.
—Ui Sa-baek? I don't know that bastard!! Flying Heaven Ice Demon isn't the Ice Demon! Right now, the Ice Demon is called Bi-cheon!
Play dumb. Then pretend to explode and leak information.
—Indeed! So the Ice Demon was a woman! My apologies, Little Princess.
—How hot-blooded you are. Is it because you're still young? Ha ha ha!
Lee Si-a revealed that the Ice Demon is a woman. The Murim Alliance elders, having finally extracted even a scrap of desired information, released Lee Si-a.
"Shit, those bastards. They totally treated me like a kid!"
"Our little Si-a, well done. Good girl."
"Hey!"
Lee Si-a flared up but didn't stop me from patting her on the rear. Instead, she sat me down in a chair so I could grab more comfortably, and stood beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"The Murim Alliance bastards must be in total chaos right now. The Ice Demon is a woman? A few of them probably already knew that. But then who exactly is the one called Flying Heaven Ice Demon? To ask that, they'd have to send someone to the North Sea Ice Palace, but..."
"By the time they go there and come back, it would be quicker to just capture the missing Flying Heaven Ice Demon and torture him."
"Heh heh, exactly."
The Flying Heaven Ice Demon is a person who does not exist. Because the Ice Demon is called Bi-cheon.
"Ugh. Anyway, what about Yeon-i?"
"She's been summoned to the Alliance Leader right now. I was too, and so was Sagong Hee. They're probably asking if anything strange about you has come to light."
Lee Si-a covered her face with her hand. Coming to the Murim Alliance to win Dokgo Yeon was all well and good, but she'd taken heavy blows in many ways.
"Ugh, I've been misunderstood as a woman who does it with women..."
"Thanks to that, it worked out well for me."
That day. The day the Celestial Maiden was brought down to the earth.
Sagong Hee and Lee Si-a had said they'd practiced the Seduction Art postures they each knew using the other as a partner while honing their Sex Arts. While they were at it, Dokgo Ja-yeong happened to open the estate's main gate late at night and quickly closed it again.
"He must have mistaken the two of them practicing the Seduction Art for something else. If not for my wife's aid, it could've been a real disaster."
Even if it was revealed that I was a lust demon, Dokgo Yeon would have kept it a secret from Dokgo Ja-yeong, but Dokgo Ja-yeong would have surely tried to put a leash on me once he knew I'd entered a relationship with his daughter. For example, building a huge Mubung Medical Hall in the Murim Alliance to tie me down.
The relationship between the Black and White Two Flowers had abruptly been linked as a forbidden love, but so what? If it's good, it's good.
"Heh heh. Then wait just one day. I'll be waiting outside."
"You go on ahead. Oh, right. You... you'll be wearing a disguise, won't you?"
"Of course."
"W-well then. Can you use the Body Transformation Art however I tell you?"
At Lee Si-a's request, spoken with a flushed face, the corner of my lips rose into a smirk of their own accord.
"Those were your tastes? As I thought, my guess wasn't wrong."
"Shut up! Just go already!"
Lee Si-a forcibly stood me up and tried to shove me out of the estate. My travel luggage was already packed, so I slipped out of the estate with only a single bundle.
Wuling Island Garden would become a brief prison for her, but the Young Heavenly Demon would stride out of Xuchang City on her own feet. I only needed to wait for her elsewhere in advance.
Step, step.
My time at Wuling Island Garden, where I'd stayed for nearly two months, now came to a close. Farewell to the days of leisurely playing like a Taoist immortal in the Celestial Maiden's embrace. It was time to return to being Sky-Soaring Lust Demon Mubung.
"Alliance Leader."
I greeted the Alliance Leader, who had come all this way to see me off. With a genuinely regretful face—yet bearing a subtle sense of relief somewhere within—he grasped my hand.
"I shall never forget this life-saving grace. Divine Doctor."
"I am not yet worthy of the title Divine Doctor."
"How could a physician who saved my daughter not be a Divine Doctor? Whatever anyone else says, you are a Divine Doctor to me."
The treatment was so exceedingly courteous, it made me feel deeply unworthy. Did Dokgo Ja-yeong even know? That the man who had claimed both of the virginities of his daughter Dokgo Yeon—who now stood hesitantly behind him—was none other than me.
"Thank you, truly, for treating my daughter."
"It was merely a physician's duty. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to focus my medical skills in comfort and peace. I thank the Alliance Leader for his hospitality. And Lady Dokgo."
I looked toward her.
"Please stay healthy from now on."
"......."
Dokgo Yeon said nothing. With her reddened eyes brimming with a longing that seemed to hold something back, Dokgo Ja-yeong placed a hand on Dokgo Yeon's shoulder and patted her gently.
"Yeon-a."
"...Can't you stay here?"
In a stuttering, tearful, yet clear voice, Dokgo Yeon looked straight at me and spoke. Her clenched skirt was horribly crumpled, and her eyes were rimmed red.
"I'm sorry. I am one who seeks out patients. I must practice my medicine wherever there are those who suffer. However."
I offered her a small medicinal pill as a gift. At the pill, richly redolent with the scent of medicinal herbs, Dokgo Yeon shed a stream of tears.
"If someday you are in such pain that you cannot endure it, I will come find you then."
"It's a promise, Doctor."
Dokgo Yeon accepted the pill I offered with trembling hands. Dokgo Ja-yeong's expression as he watched us seemed genuinely complicated.
"Divine Doctor."
"I am not a Divine Doctor."
"...Doctor. You are a benefactor of the Dokgo Clan, and a benefactor of the Alliance."
Dokgo Ja-yeong thanked me from his heart.
"Should great danger befall you in the future, never hesitate to call upon me for aid. I, Dokgo Ja-yeong, am no ungrateful wretch who forgets a life-saving grace toward his daughter."
"I gratefully accept the sentiment."
Dokgo Ja-yeong will never know.
That the one who took his daughter's first time was me.
That in the Celestial Maiden's villa, I had done it with his daughter at least once every three days without fail.
That one day, we went three rounds in turn—morning, lunch, and evening.
'You trust your daughter too much.'
And tomorrow night.
'A sex demon means a kidnapping.'
He will never know that it is I who will abduct his daughter.