092
092
Ice Palace Mistress Yoo Seol-ra.
She was the Ice Demon (氷魔), a being who had long served as one of the Wild Three Demons.
To be precise, she was the 8th-generation Ice Demon. Among the Ten Demons, a few inherited the demon titles through generations. Ever since the North Sea Ice Palace incurred a debt to the Demonic Cult in the past, the Ice Palace Mistress had served faithfully as a member of the Ten Demons.
The Central Plains believed the North Sea Ice Palace was simply an unorthodox faction. To begin with, people rarely descended from the Ice Palace, and a round trip to the North Sea Ice Palace required at least half a year.
The Eldest Prince had drawn out the Ice Palace Mistress, located far away in the outer northern regions. It was clear she had either already descended long ago or remained in the Central Plains for some reason without returning.
"Little Princess, have you never seen the Ice Palace Mistress before?"
"No. I knew the Wild Three Demons were stronger than the other Three Demons, but the North Sea Ice Palace Mistress... I know I shouldn't think like this, but I'm being compared to her enormously. That..."
Lee Si-a couldn't bring herself to speak. It felt like two estate owners betting on who had the larger estate, only for one to be compared and fall into gloom.
"It's true the Flying Heaven Three Demons are pathetically weak."
"Ugh."
The Earth Qilin Three Demons vs the Flying Heaven Three Demons. The Earth Qilin Three Demons won overwhelmingly without a doubt.
Two at the Peak level and one at the Peak Realm. Technically, among the Ten Demons, the 6th (Illusion), 8th (Red), and 9th (Bandit) supported the Little Princess. Even the strongest of them, the Illusion Demon, was overwhelmingly outmatched by the Flame Demon (4th).
'In reality, Tianshan has no shortage of demons stronger than the Flying Heaven Three Demons.'
The Ten Demons are about martial prowess, but the biggest factor is that the Heavenly Demon bestows their titles.
The reason the Heavenly Demon granted the Flying Heaven Three Demons the title of 'Demon (魔)' wasn't for their martial skill, but for their loyalty to the Tianshan Demonic Cult and their 'potential'.
"Don't worry. The Blade Demon, Bandit Demon, and Illusion Demon all have the potential to ascend to the Harmony Realm. I can guarantee it. They just need a trigger."
"A trigger? What is it?"
"That's a secret. Anyway, the Flying Heaven Three Demons' combat strength might be weak, but I can more than make up for it."
"That's reassuring."
Of course it's reassuring to have the world's greatest by your side. I clinked glasses with Lee Si-a.
"So what's the Eldest Prince's plan? Do we have to figure it out slowly again? I don't really like riddles."
"No need. You only have two tasks. One: just like the Taiji Flower, draw attention as the 'Number One Flower of the Black Path'."
"...You mean show my face officially?"
"Of course."
The Little Princess standing alone in the middle of enemy territory. She'd become the center of attention.
It was essentially a repeat of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
The difference was that it wasn't the Flying Heaven Three Demons, but the Sky-Soaring Lust Demon. The Sky-Soaring Lust Demon would be right by her side protecting her. And normally, there would be another to guard her separately.
"The Taiji Flower, Sagong Hee, will protect you. And you, Sagong Hee."
At the mention of Sagong Hee, Lee Si-a stared at her drink with wistful eyes.
"...As a martial artist, I thought she was just a friendly rival. I never dreamed she'd be a rival as a woman. Does the Taiji Flower know about our relationship?"
"Of course. To begin with, I briefly left the Taiji Flower's side to win you."
"Hmm, is that so?"
Hearing that I'd left Sagong Hee for her, Lee Si-a grinned, the corners of her lips lifting.
"Then we'll have to decide who's the older sister and who's the younger, won't we?"
"Isn't Sagong Hee the older sister since she's older than you?"
"What nonsense. In the martial world, the stronger one is always the big sibling, father said. If it's about age..."
Lee Si-a placed her hand on my head and stroked it.
"You should be calling me your older sister first."
"Oh? Are you picking a fight because you've recovered a bit of stamina?"
"...Tch."
When I subtly touched her bottom with meaningful eyes, Lee Si-a pouted and downed her drink. Knowing that even if she challenged me again, she'd just climax once or twice and faint, Lee Si-a meekly backed down from my provocation.
"I'll beat you by myself someday, for sure."
"I look forward to it. Once you become the Heavenly Demon, you'll be capable of facing me."
Lee Si-a was a woman who didn't fight losing battles. That is, she wouldn't recklessly challenge until she could win.
"In that sense, let me tell you your second task."
"What is it?"
"A cooperative attack."
Creeeak.
I opened the window and raised my glass toward the Taoists below, visible from the inn in their grey martial uniforms embroidered with the Taiji symbol. Beneath the carriage, a woman we knew well was wearing a face veil and looking up at us.
"Black-and-White First Flowers, the two of you, face me."
"...Where? The sparring ground, or the bed?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Both.
* * *
Before examining the two empty seats they aimed for, the countless crow-tits who had unfortunately failed to become phoenixes first needed to observe the four already occupied positions.
The courtesan of the Jegal Clan, Crouching White Phoenix (臥白鳳) Jegal Seon.
Using the Eight-Tube Brush and White Feather Fan as her main weapons, she specialized in subduing opponents by striking their pressure points with her swift Movement Art. Not many at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering could keep up with her Movement Art.
The swordswoman of the Moyong Clan, Swallow Maiden Phoenix (燕姬鳳) Moyong Ran.
Unlike the others, she was a Blade User who wielded the 'dao (刀)' as her main weapon, specializing in her clan's hereditary martial arts. Since the renowned Hebei Paeng Clan, famous for their dao, didn't attend the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, Moyong Ran was effectively praised as the best among dao practitioners.
The eldest daughter of the Green Forest King, Mountain Lord Phoenix (山主鳳) Bang Cheol-su.
As befitting the Green Forest King's eldest daughter, she had a large physique and stood at a towering six cheok. She specialized in wielding a heavy iron staff. With her profound Internal Energy and External Arts unbefitting of a woman, she boasted such immense power that it raised the rude suspicion of whether she had been born the wrong gender.
And the mysterious beauty whose martial sect was unknown, the one who claimed to be the most beautiful female martial artist in the Central Plains: Most Beautiful Phoenix (中最美鳳).
Hiding her face with a mask as if performing in a play, the unidentified beauty who called herself Most Beautiful Phoenix was at least beautiful in her figure.
Unlike the others, she appeared not in light martial attire, but in silk clothes, holding a single telescopic chain sword with which she displayed exquisite martial arts.
Among these four, the undisputed leader was Moyong Ran, followed in order by Most Beautiful Phoenix, Jegal Seon, and Bang Cheol-su. Under normal circumstances, the Taiji Martial Phoenix—Demonic Dark Phoenix—would have occupied a higher rank, but the two of them had taken the positions of the First Flowers instead of the Phoenixes.
Thus, the crow-tits who looked up at the four phoenixes already soaring in the sky and the two flowers blooming in the heavens looked upward with eyes full of envy and jealousy, overjoyed.
- Firstly, four of them are out of the way!
The crow-tits rejoiced at having eliminated the threatening competitors.
Those who occupied the Six Phoenixes seats were beings on a completely different level from ordinary First-Rate martial artists. They had reached the early stages of the Peak realm through enlightenment gained during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering's duels. If they had to fight again, they were formidable opponents who might be forced to admit defeat or forfeit.
While they were relatively weaker compared to the Two Flowers, who had surpassed the mid-Peak realm and were suspected of having reached the Peak Realm from the start, the Four Phoenixes were clearly tricky opponents.
- If I don't have to fight them, I can do it too!
Besides, would the Taiji Flower and the Little Princess, now the Number One Flowers of the White and Black Paths, really step forward to become Six Phoenixes again? Absolutely not.
Though it was practically a match to decide 7th and 8th place, the opportunity to gain the honor of the Six Phoenixes rarely came in a lifetime. Moreover, for those who would age out and miss the next chance, this was their last opportunity in life.
- Girls younger than me, get lost! I'll become one of the Six Phoenixes and get married!
- If you're jealous, wait for the next round!
- If you've just gotten old without marrying, you should quietly spend your nights alone. How dare you aim for a marriage and retirement with the Six Phoenixes title?!
...It was desire filled with selfish motives, but human desire was bound to be reborn as powerful drive and will.
And here, one woman with a stronger will than anyone else was gnashing her teeth and sharpening her blade.
"This is a chance, Brother."
"Yurin, calm down."
"Do I look like I can calm down right now?! It's a golden opportunity to ascend to the Two Phoenixes!"
Namgung Yurin's eyes blazed furiously, radiating an intense will.
"Moyong Ran and Jegal Seon, those two bitches, took their places as Six Phoenixes! And you're telling me that Yurin of the great Namgung Clan can't make it into the Six Phoenixes?!"
"That's true. That's why we came all the way to Henan, isn't it?"
Namgung Yurin, participant in the Two Phoenixes Decisive Battle.
Despite the terrible events she experienced at the last Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, she had gritted her teeth and used it as a foundation to increase her martial arts.
"So, Brother, let's do that!!"
"Wh-what?"
"Sparring!"
Namgung Pae nearly fainted before letting out a sigh of relief. And the relief soon turned into a lament.
"...Do you know how many times we've already done this? You've gotten a lot stronger. Winning twice out of ten matches against the Exploding Dragon means you're strong enough."
"No, it's not enough! Who knows what other bitches might pop out!"
Bang! Namgung Yurin roughly slammed down a thick book. It was a new edition of the Flower Directory that Namgung Pae had purchased at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
"Look at this! These bitches here! They're saying they've eliminated the six toughest to deal with!! Trash who wouldn't have even dared to submit an application before are already acting like they've become Six Phoenixes!!"
"There are only two spots left, so four spots are a small number, but since six strong opponents have vanished, it's worth a try. It's a strategic choice."
"That's right! If I just avoid one bitch, I'll win! All I have to do is meet that bitch in the finals. You know?"
Namgung Yurin flipped to the center of the directory and smacked her palm against it.
"Dokgo Yeon! If it weren't for that wench, I'd be one of the Six Phoenixes too!"
"......."
She meant that if she met Dokgo Yeon before the finals, she wouldn't make it to the Six Phoenixes, but Namgung Pae couldn't bring himself to speak.
* * *
Step, step.
A small-framed woman who looked as if she might collapse at any moment was taking a stroll in the garden. Dressed in a light purple mourning garment, the woman paused for a moment, then went to lean against and sit near the pavilion.
"Haa, haa."
She hadn't walked far, yet her breath was already ragged, and her chest ached. Habitually covering her mouth with her sleeve, the woman coughed heavily.
"Cough, cough! ......."
The end of her sleeve was stained with dark red blood. Having coughed up blood, the woman looked at her own reflection in the pond beneath the pavilion and bit her lip.
"...Why me."
The woman's reflection in the water showed hair as white as snow. Her eyes were a light violet, like violets, seeming to match the color of her clothes.
"......."
The woman sighed and looked up at the sky. The full moon hanging in the night sky was full and white, possessing a bewitching charm that captivated people, but the night sky, unchanged for even a single day every night, couldn't evoke any emotion in her.
What difference did a night sky that didn't change for a moment make? It was completely identical to the night sky she had seen a year ago.
Ever since she was born, the woman had never once left this garden.
"Ah."
A change occurred. Something long drew a trajectory across the night sky and vanished. The woman recalled the contents of a book she had read in the library. She put her hands together at her forehead and offered a prayer.
"Please... let me do it, Heavens and Earth."
"Are you that eager for the Two Phoenixes Decisive Battle, Yeon-a?"
Startled, the woman jumped to her feet. The middle-aged man who had been walking toward her with a smile was equally startled by the blood on her sleeve and rushed over.
"Yeon-a!"
"...I'm fine, Father. It's not something that's happened for only a day or two."
The woman tried her best to look energetic and smiled brightly. That, in fact, hurt the middle-aged man, Dokgo Ja-yeong, even more.
"Are you truly alright? How about taking care of your body and trying for the next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering? You've only just come of age."
"No. I'm alright. Even if it's the lowest seat... I can win."
The woman overflowed with confidence in her martial arts. Dokgo Ja-yeong knew his daughter's skills better than anyone, which made his heart ache even more.
"...May I go inside first?"
"Y-yes. Go on inside. It seems my presence just bothered you for no reason."
Dokgo Ja-yeong actually found Dokgo Yeon very difficult to deal with due to her mature behavior. Despite her father's awkward actions, Dokgo Yeon bowed her head with a benevolent smile, turned around, and slowly walked back to her room.
"......If not now, cough."
Dokgo Yeon coughed up blood once more and grabbed the railing. Fortunately, her cough was quiet enough that Dokgo Ja-yeong didn't notice. She had learned to manage her pain silently, alone.
"Haa."
The night sky reflected in the pond still had the trajectory of starlight passing through it.
"Heavens and Earth, please."
Dokgo Yeon's expression was frozen cold.
"Let me escape this cage... and fly to the sky."
Please, let this prayer reach the heavens.
Dokgo Yeon staggered back to her room as if she might shatter.