The Phoenix's Challenge
"Hey, Namgung Suryeon! Where have you been?"
"I went to the guest hall. What about it?"
"The guest hall is where the Baekri Clan is staying! Why would you go there? Father told us to stay away from the Baekri Clan! Are you deaf, or did you just decide to ignore him?"
"Juyeong. It's been a while since I last hit you, hasn't it? You're getting bold."
"..!"
Namgung Suryeon snapped at her twin brother, Namgung Juyeong, who was crossing the line. The current head of the Namgung Clan was Namgung Yeong. His son, Namgung Ak, had developed a heart demon after his fight with Baekri Hyeok and was barely holding on to the position of patriarch. Namgung Ak had three children. One was his eldest daughter, Hwi-bong Namgung Hayeon, who had been utterly defeated by Baekri Hyang at the previous Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. The other two were the twins, Namgung Suryeon and Namgung Juyeong.
While succession traditionally went to the eldest son, Namgung Hayeon had long since left the clan after being blocked by the wall that was Baekri Hyang. As for the eldest son, Namgung Juyeong, he possessed not a single shred of talent for the sword. A head of the Namgung Clan who could not wield a sword was as good as useless. Thus, Namgung Suryeon had already been designated as the next patriarch.
In this situation, Namgung Suryeon had openly conversed with the young lord of the Baekri Clan and returned. To Namgung Juyeong, it was utterly absurd. He could not even imagine how someone like her would lead the Namgung Clan. No matter how lacking his own sword talent might be, he was still better than this sister of his.
"That's what you seem to think. You're about ten years too early, Juyeong."
"An old hag with nothing but her talent left—!"
"Call me 'sister.' If you don't, I'll really smack you this time."
When Namgung Suryeon raised her fist with clear intent, Namgung Juyeong instinctively shrank back. She had not struck him lately, perhaps because she had matured, but the memories of being beaten half to death in their childhood were still vivid. The trauma was so intense that the mere sight of her fist made him flinch. In any case, it was all that damned witch's fault.
"Hah! Do whatever you want. Maybe you'll come to your senses after seeing what happens from getting tangled up with the Baekri Clan."
"Listen to yourself. Don't worry—I'll still go much further than you ever will~"
"You—!"
Infuriated, Namgung Juyeong kicked the table and stormed out of the room. Once he was gone, silence fell instantly. Namgung Suryeon sank into a chair and recalled the face of the young child.
"The young lord of the Baekri Clan, Baekri Hyeong... They say he's an unparalleled genius."
"What business do you have with the young lord of the Baekri Clan?"
"Huh? Sister?"
Namgung Suryeon, who had been quietly enjoying her solitude, was startled by the sudden appearance of Namgung Hayeon, who had made no sound at all. It had been years since she last saw her elder sister, and the woman before her was nothing like the person she remembered. The light had vanished from her eyes, and a faint killing intent rose from her body. Could it be that she still could not let go of her obsession with Baekri Hyang?
But when Namgung Suryeon remained silent, Namgung Hayeon intensified her aura and demanded an answer.
"Speak, Suryeon. Don't think I'm still the gentle sister you once knew."
"I... I just heard that someone from the Baekri Clan had come to the Murim Alliance, so I went to see for myself!"
"Is that so? Then that wretched woman must have come along as well."
Grind.
Namgung Hayeon began grinding her teeth so hard it sounded as if they might shatter. Namgung Suryeon trembled at the sight of this unfamiliar sister. The Namgung Hayeon she had known was not like this. She had been proud and aloof, always carrying herself with the dignity of being part of the Namgung Clan. But she had changed. After suffering a crushing defeat at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering against the one now called the Sword Phoenix, Baekri Hyang, she had nurtured her hatred and continued training in secret. Now, her eyes were filled with nothing but loathing for Baekri Hyang, her killing intent so intense that she no longer felt like a member of the Namgung Clan.
Namgung Suryeon bit her lip. She now understood why her sister had come here. The Sword Sovereign had already declared the Hubei Alliance's rise at the Murim Alliance. Namgung Hayeon must have been certain that Baekri Hyang, a proud member of the Baekri Clan, had joined as well. In that case, there was only one reason she had come: to bring Baekri Hyang down.
"Sister, wait. Grandfather hasn't said anything yet."
"Suryeon. If you stand in my way one more time, I'll tear your mouth open for real."
"..!"
"So shut up and stay out of this. This is a fair fight between woman and woman. Understood?"
Grin.
Namgung Hayeon smiled faintly, pressing a finger to her lips. There was no trace of gentleness left in that expression—only madness. What kind of grudge could have driven such a pure person to fall so far? Namgung Suryeon felt a pang of sorrow but did not show it. Namgung Hayeon was already an outsider who had left the Namgung Clan. Whatever choice she made, it could never represent the will of the Namgung Clan. Never.
**********
"Now who is it this time..."
"So you're the young lord of the Baekri Clan?"
"Hmm. It's Hwi-bong. A pleasure to meet you. Shall I guide you to my sister?"
Baekri Hyeong, who had been savoring his rest after Namgung Suryeon left, felt a vein throb at his temple when yet another member of the Namgung Clan appeared. These damned Namgung Clan brats just would not let him train in peace. Were they trying to extract information? Of course, that was only his internal thought. Regardless, what Namgung Hayeon wanted was obviously a duel with Baekri Hyang. In Baekri Hyeong's eyes, if she faced his sister in her current state, Baekri Hyang would win a hundred times out of a hundred. A martial artist consumed by hatred and madness could never reach Baekri Hyang, who walked the righteous path.
Contrary to his expectations, however, Namgung Hayeon pointed directly at him.
"You. How about a duel with me?"
"...Do you understand how rude it is to suddenly appear and demand a duel?"
"You look like you want one. If not, then forget it."
Namgung Hayeon let out a mocking laugh. This woman... She was treating him like some fool. Honestly, he could defeat someone like Namgung Hayeon without even using the Four Guardian Deities Sword. She was nothing more than a hollow shell who had recklessly boosted her inner energy, wrapped in nothing but an empty exterior.
"You seem confident."
"What?"
"But I must decline. If word spreads that the eldest daughter of the Namgung Clan lost to the young lord of the Baekri Clan, it would cause quite the stir. I doubt it would be amusing."
"..!"
"Hwi-bong. In your current state, my sister could suppress you with one hand. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles. First, examine yourself and face opponents you can actually handle. I have shown enough courtesy. See yourself out safely."
When Baekri Hyeong lowered his head as if he had nothing more to say, killing intent burst from the stunned Namgung Hayeon. Ah. She could not hold back anymore.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"How dare a mere young lord of the Baekri Clan speak so dismissively to the eldest daughter of the Namgung Clan!"
"Did my words seem that rude to you?"
"Of course they—"
"Then shut your mouth and get out of here right now."
"..!"
Shhhhhhhk.
When Baekri Hyeong released the killing intent of a man who had survived countless battles, Namgung Hayeon flinched. Killing intent for killing intent. Since she had provoked him first, it was only natural to return the favor at this level.
"I've indulged your tantrum long enough, brat. I'm saying this for your sister's sake. If you truly want to die, then keep going."
"..!"
"Get out. I won't say it twice."
Technically, Namgung Hayeon was the elder, but Baekri Hyeong had already lived a long life before regressing. In that sense, he could be considered the older one. He simply could not stand watching a child act so arrogantly. A brat who was barely worth a single punch was releasing killing intent and making a scene. It made him want to kill her on the spot.
Meanwhile, Namgung Hayeon, who had taken the full brunt of Baekri Hyeong's killing intent, found her legs trembling.
What was that just now? That killing intent... I've never felt anything like it before.
After leaving the Namgung Clan, she had operated in the territory of the unorthodox factions. There was no better place to gain real combat experience. Unlike the orthodox sects, the unorthodox world was a chaotic mess. Their willingness to use any underhanded method to kill, and the constant killing intent that never allowed a moment of relaxation, had completely transformed Namgung Hayeon's life. Yet even she had never encountered killing intent like Baekri Hyeong's. No martial artist from the unorthodox factions had ever emitted such a level of killing intent.
How could a child who clearly had no idea how the world worked possess this kind of killing intent?
It's impossible. Who would believe a child has this kind of killing intent?
He was fundamentally different from her. Feeling this with her entire body, Namgung Hayeon steadied her trembling form and clasped her hands in a respectful salute. Before him, she sensed the presence of an absolute being to whom courtesy was due.
"Young lord of the Baekri Clan, Baekri Hyeong... I request a duel with you, young hero."