Flying Dragon Thirteen, 7th Unit
The gathering was held in a clearing deep within the forest.
By the time the Sword Saint Elder and I arrived, the other members had already finished nearly all the preparations.
In the clearing, round tables made from chopped tree trunks and matching wooden stools were neatly arranged.
At the center, a great bonfire blazed. Skewered over the fire were a medium-sized wild boar, several rabbits, pheasants, and fish, sizzling and releasing mouthwatering aromas.
As I entered, Bisa-yeong, who had been placing bowls and spoons on the tables, spotted me and shouted.
"Hey, you brat! Why are you so late?! You're younger than me but act so high and mighty—ah, Sword Saint Elder! Welcome, sir!"
He scolded me but bent ninety degrees in a perfect bow to the Sword Saint Elder, which made me chuckle.
Glancing over the spread, I said to him:
"You're making it sound like you worked so hard. But judging from this, all you did was move some bowls and spoons. That big tree trunk table looks like Lady Cheongyeon's handiwork, and as for the stools…"
Just then, Lady Cheon Ju-eun, who was tending the roasting meat alongside Bae Jong-gwan, raised her hand cheerfully.
"Me! I made them!"
I smiled and praised her.
"Well done, Lady Cheon. The stools are very cute."
She beamed, poked her own cheek with a finger, and asked playfully:
"Cute like me?"
Her sudden display of charm caught me off guard. I stammered before managing a reply.
"Y-yes. Cute… like you, Lady Cheon. Ahem."
"'Y-yes'? That pause was way too long in the middle of your answer!"
"Lady Cheon, I'd say you're a hundred times cuter than those stools!"
I pretended not to hear her protest—or Jong-gwan's bold confession that followed.
Turning back to Bisa-yeong, I continued:
"Anyway, Ma maeng-un said he'd bring the drinks. And that boar clearly isn't your catch. Neither the rabbits nor the fish look like your doing either. So whose work is it?"
He flinched, caught off guard, and stammered.
"H-how did you know? You're like a ghost. The boar, rabbits, and fish were caught by Lady Ya un-hyang. But hey, I did catch those pheasants! I threw my flying daggers!"
"Oh-ho, is that so? Well done then. Good boy, yes you are."
"You bastard! Are you mocking me?! You've been no help at all!"
I grinned slyly and declared confidently:
"No help? Hmph. I brought none other than the Sword Saint Elder with me."
"Th-that…!"
Bisa-yeong almost shouted back but, catching the Sword Saint's glance, ground his teeth and forced a nod.
"Y-yes, that's… important work indeed."
I smirked at his cowardice, then asked:
"But Lady Ya un-hyang went hunting? She seems like the type who'd find such things tedious."
"Ah, she went out with Jong-gwan. He says her Iron Whip Technique is no joke. The whip moved like a black dragon, either binding the animals or piercing them like a spear."
"Really?"
So the rumors were true—she was indeed a formidable expert of the unorthodox schools.
I nodded and glanced around.
"But the Captain and Lady Cheongyeon aren't here yet?"
"The Captain's circulating energy after taking elixirs. Seems it'll take a while since he took quite a dose at once."
"Ah, I see."
That made sense. After breaking through, he hadn't had time to consume his elixirs—first off on an iron ghost hunt, then straight to the front lines.
Earlier, he'd meditated after sparring with the Sword Saint Elder, then must have gone to take his elixirs, likely heeding the elder's advice to engage in more full-power bouts.
"And Lady Cheongyeon?"
"She came earlier, made the tables, then went back to the 4th Unit. Said she'll return in time."
"Hm."
Since my return, I hadn't spoken with Lady Cheongyeon at all.
Not only had we not spoken, but with her always at the 4th Unit, I hadn't even run into her once.
It was baffling how we could go so long without crossing paths, even within the same Flying Dragon Thirteen.
Though it was a relief to see her adapting well to her new unit, I couldn't help but feel hurt.
After all, in this life we had entered the Flying Dragon Division together, always side by side as close companions.
Not getting to speak with her before leaving for the front still weighed heavily on me.
A little later, once the food was nearly done, the Captain and Lady Cheongyeon finally joined us.
And at last, the gathering could begin.
"To the endless growth and triumph of the Flying Dragon Thirteen's 7th Unit!"
"To triumph!"
We clinked our cups together at the Sword Saint Elder's toast.
"Wow! The boar meat melts in your mouth! Jong-gwan, Lady Cheon—your skill is superb!"
"Heheh! We did put some effort into it!"
"Ah, and the wine! This is divine!"
"Well, that's because we added actual honey. That's why it tastes like honey."
"O-oh, is that so?"
The gathering was joyful.
It didn't feel like we were marking anyone's departure so much as simply enjoying food and laughter as family.
As if nothing would ever change, as if we would always gather like this.
After filling our bellies, we entertained each other with various talents.
"No feast is complete without music."
With a languid voice, Lady Ya un-hyang surprised us all by revealing an unexpected mastery of the seven-string zither.
Inspired, Lady Cheon Ju-eun leapt forward.
"Then I'll sing!"
With a sweet voice, she sang, twirling gracefully with the Hwandudaedo of the East.
"L-Lady Cheon! You look like a celestial maiden!"
Bae Jong-gwan was completely entranced by her dance and song.
Then it was my turn.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps the warmth of family, but I felt no shame at all.
"Then I'll show you a transformation technique!"
"Huh? Transformation technique?!"
"You can use sorcery too, Lord Seonu ?!"
Confidently, I demonstrated the bone-shrinking technique of Chukgokgong.
Bisa-yeong and Jong-gwan had seen it before, but the others hadn't, and their eyes widened in astonishment.
"Now, shrinking into a dwarf!"
Crunch—!
"Whoa! You really got smaller! Lord Seonu , amazing!"
"Hahaha! Truly, my disci—er, kin, you have many talents!"
Encouraged by their reaction, I moved on.
"Now, into a child!"
Crunch—!
This time, I shrank my entire frame into that of a child.
The group burst into laughter.
"Pwahahaha! What kind of child has muscles that thick?!"
"Ugh! And it's not just the muscles—the face looks so old on such a small body, it's creepy!"
"Wahahaha! This is killing me!"
After my transformation, the finale belonged to the Sword Saint Elder, who had grown quite merry.
"Well now! After such a fine show, I can't stay idle! I'll show you my secret skill!"
"Ooooh! Sword Saint Elder!"
We cheered in unison.
Though Lady Cheongyeon hid her face in embarrassment, the elder seemed not to notice.
"Ih-yeop!"
With a playful shout, he pointed his finger skyward.
And we all nearly leapt out of our seats in shock.
The Sword Saint Elder's sword, lying on the table, suddenly flew into the air in the direction of his finger.
"Wha—?!"
"N-no way?!"
We had half-doubted at first. But when the sword soared skyward and then began darting through the air like a bird, following his finger's every move—we could only cry out in astonishment.
"Flying Sword"
"Uwaaahhh!"
"T-that's the Sword Controlling Art?!"
"It's real? It's actually possible in reality?!"
"Unbelievable!"
The astonishment didn't end there.
As we shouted in excitement, the Sword Saint Elder, in high spirits, suddenly leapt up—landing directly atop the flying sword.
And then, riding the blade, he soared through the sky, darting here and there.
It was none other than the legendary Flying Sword Art.
We roared with cheers.
"Uwaaaaah! Sword Saint Elder!"
"You're the greatest, Elder!"
"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
When our cheers began to settle, the Sword Saint Elder descended back to the ground.
"The drain on inner force is too great, so I can't show it for long. Was it worth it?"
"It was incredible, Elder!"
"I thought you were an immortal!"
It was far beyond "worth it."
It was the most astounding thing I had ever witnessed in my life.
After that, with the wine flowing, everyone split off into small groups of two or three to chat.
I glanced toward Lady Cheongyeon, wanting to speak with her, but she was deep in conversation with Lady Cheon Ju-eun and Lady Ya un-hyang. With the three of them together, I couldn't bring myself to cut in.
"Hm."
A faint bitterness welled up.
Perhaps I wouldn't get to speak with her tonight either.
The thought struck me suddenly.
So the distance between people can widen in just a single moment.
That it had become difficult even to share a simple conversation with her left me both bitter and hollow.
Once, I had even thought—maybe it would be her, not Lady Na, with whom I'd end up.
Back then, as a man, how could I not? Always by my side, always able to converse so easily with me—of course I'd felt something more than friendship for Lady Cheongyeon.
At least, until I learned she was the Sword Saint's daughter and possessed beauty worthy of being called the greatest in the land.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
After that, I felt so foolish for ever entertaining such a thought about someone so perfect.
Of course, the main reason had been Lady Na. But still, after that realization, I had discarded all selfish feelings and strove only to be a good friend to her.
Yet, seeing how things had come to the point where even approaching her was difficult… perhaps my efforts had been insufficient.
Just then, Captain Seol-pung approached me with a cup in hand.
"Jin, you've endured much under this lacking captain. I can hardly believe that from tomorrow, you'll belong to another unit, when I think of how much help I've received from you."
I grinned and replied:
"Another unit? No, I'll always be of the 7th Unit. I'll still come for morning training and evening sparring, so don't think you're rid of me. And if not for Captain Seol-pung, I'd still be nothing but a pig, not a man. Any part of me that's done well—it's all thanks to you, Captain."
Not a word of it was false.
My parents may have given me birth into this world, but it was my captain who forged me into a warrior.
It was a debt I could never repay, not in a lifetime.
"And Captain… are you perhaps hesitating to use it in front of the Sword Saint Elder?"
At my question, he hesitated, then nodded.
"As expected, I can't hide anything from your eyes. Yes. The Sword Saint Elder is surely trustworthy, but still, I'm wondering if I should reveal it."
By it, he meant the Scarlet Eyes Martial Art, his secret technique. The one that allowed him to temporarily exert strength one or two levels higher than his own.
If he wished to fight with all his might, as the Sword Saint Elder had advised, he would have to use it.
Without it, any duel would mean concealing his true ability.
But the problem was that using it risked exposing his identity.
And if anyone would surely notice, it was the Sword Saint Elder.
The moment I had overheard the elder's words earlier, I suspected the Captain would be troubled by this.
And indeed, I was right.
"Captain, this is just my thought, but… if breaking through requires that you fight with all your might, as the elder says—then perhaps now is the best opportunity you'll ever have."
"…Now, you say?"
"Yes. To meet an opponent who forces you to use that power, and to have that opponent be someone you can actually trust—it's an extraordinarily rare chance. It might even be the last."
"Hm…"
"So, though it may not be what you want, I think… just this once, it's worth taking the risk."
The Captain fell into deep thought at my words.
It wouldn't be an easy choice. But somehow, I already felt I knew what his decision would be.
***
Hae Cheongyeon
Behind her curtain of hair, Hae Cheongyeon stole a glance at Seonu Jin, who was speaking earnestly with Captain Seol-pung.
So leaving my hair down is useful at times like this.
Seeing him again after so long—it was, humiliatingly, far too pleasant.
She had thought that staying away from him would cool her feelings.
But it hadn't helped at all.
These past days, she had been wracked with self-loathing.
How pathetic, how shameful it was that she had stormed off to the 4th Unit in a fit of anger when Jin had gone to save Na Seo-yu.
An impulsive choice driven only by emotion… she could hardly believe she had been so foolish.
But as she calmed down, she had tried to convince herself that maybe it was for the best.
That keeping some distance from Jin might help restore her pride and her ability to think rationally.
And yet…
The moment she laid eyes on him again, all that supposed recovery shattered.
He was still far too captivating.
Adorable when he demonstrated Chukgokgong before the others. Handsome now, with his serious expression while talking to Seol-pung.
If she relaxed her focus for even a moment, her gaze would drift back to him.
No matter what she told herself, she couldn't look away.
Though it was her own heart, her own body—it was as if she were possessed, unable to control herself.
She squeezed her eyes shut, drew a deep breath.
Get a hold of yourself, Hae Cheongyeon. Stay calm.
She forced herself to think logically.
If Jin could speak so naturally with Seol-pung now, it meant he hadn't confessed to Na Seo-yu yet.
If he had, things wouldn't be this unstrained between them.
So Jin must still be looking only at Seo-yu, blind to her feelings.
And if she stayed by his side, it would only mean more humiliation for her.
Thus, it would be wiser to keep her distance.
To protect herself, and to wait for a better chance later.
Having reached her conclusion, she stood up.
"Perhaps I drank too much. I'm very tired. I'll take my leave."
The others looked at her in surprise.
"Oh? Lady Hae, you're leaving already?"
"Unni, are you really that tired? I wanted to talk more…"
"Sorry, I think I overdid it."
Their eyes were full of regret, but her firm tone left no room to stop her.
Just then, Sword Saint Hae Un-baek, who had been merrily chatting with Bisa-yeong and Bae Jong-gwan, reluctantly rose to his feet.
"You must be very tired. I'll take you back myself."
As Hae Cheongyeon left the gathering, she cast one last glance at Jin, sitting among the others.
His eyes met hers—eyes that, like the others, held regret at her early departure.
But knowing his regret was only that of a comrade losing a companion from the table… that realization stabbed at her heart all over again.
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