That evening, Bi Sa-in and Han Seol visited Geom Mugeuk’s residence.
Han Seol had let the Ice Cold Twin Blades have some rare time to themselves.
Now that she was meeting Geom Mugeuk, she no longer needed an escort.
“You’re finally here.”
Geom Mugeuk greeted the two warmly.
“I thought you were arriving tomorrow?”
He had planned to say, ‘Well, things just turned out that way.’ But looking at Geom Mugeuk’s face, he couldn’t bring himself to lie.
“We arrived early today, so I showed Miss Han around Wuhan.”
They had eaten delicious food at Wuhan's Number One Restaurant, sipped tea at a tavern famous for its fragrant brews, and even enjoyed a stroll before coming here.
Bi Sa-in honestly felt sorry toward Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Muyang also came out to greet the two.
“Welcome.”
“I apologize for visiting so late.”
It was Geom Muyang who couldn’t look at them.
He was embarrassed, remembering the moment he had spied on them.
“Come, let’s go inside. We have things to discuss and much to prepare.”
Geom Mugeuk led them to the great hall.
“I plan to hold our own celebration in two days.”
Since Jin Ha-gun would be exhausted from attending the Martial Alliance banquet today, he wanted to let him rest for a day and hold it the day after tomorrow.
“And a celebration must have a performance, don’t you think?”
At the word ‘performance,’ everyone flinched with tension.
The emotion in all their eyes was similar.
What are you plotting now?
Before Geom Mugeuk could even say a word, Bi Sa-in spoke firmly.
“Absolutely not.”
“What?”
“Whatever you’re thinking right now, absolutely not!”
Geom Mugeuk then asked with a meaningful smile.
“What am I thinking?”
Bi Sa-in absolutely did not let those words escape his lips.
If he did, Geom Mugeuk would surely make it a reality at once.
However, Geom Mugeuk’s target was not Bi Sa-in.
Geom Mugeuk casually asked Han Seol.
“Do you dance? Surely a celebration cannot be without dance and music, right?”
Given how eccentric Han Seol already perceived Geom Mugeuk to be, this insane suggestion to dance at a celebration didn’t sound strange at all.
“Do we have to go that far? Isn’t it enough to congratulate him sincerely?”
“Of course, that would be fine. Just like the countless guests who met Ha-gun today to congratulate him. He’s probably still receiving congratulations if the banquet hasn’t ended. In about ten years, Ha-gun will think to himself, ‘What did that person say to congratulate me back then? Was he even there?’”
His words were irrefutable.
“So you’re suggesting we do something memorable for him?”
Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
“We’re not doing it for him.”
“Then?”
“We’re doing it for us. For our memory of preparing such a performance for a friend. Think about it. In life, don’t you remember what you’ve given more than what you’ve received?”
Watching from the side, Bi Sa-in shook his head.
He could feel that Han Seol was being slightly persuaded.
No! You mustn’t fall for it!
“I understand what you mean, but I can’t dance.”
At her words, Bi Sa-in felt a sense of relief.
‘Well done. Truly well done.’
But then came Han Seol’s added remark, like a bolt from the blue.
“But what about singing?”
Bi Sa-in shot a startled look at her.
Not only him, but Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang were also surprised.
“Though I’m not a great singer.”
“That doesn’t matter! We’re all tone-deaf here, so this is perfect.”
Geom Mugeuk cheered, but Bi Sa-in’s mind grew complicated.
If she was participating, he couldn’t very well refuse.
But no matter what, he could not dance again.
This time, Geom Mugeuk dragged his brother into it.
“Besides, among us, there’s someone who can play a wonderful accompaniment to the young lady’s song.”
Just as Geom Mugeuk was about to slyly take out the flute from his sleeve, a telepathic message from his brother arrived.
-You dare take that out and you’re dead!
-We can’t have her sing without any accompaniment.
Using her as a shield, Geom Mugeuk took out the flute.
“Isn’t it surprising? That my brother knows how to play an instrument.”
He then slyly praised his brother.
“He’s probably the strongest person in the world who can play an instrument.”
Geom Muyang looked at Geom Mugeuk with an expression that said he was hopeless.
His younger brother’s gaze seemed to say.
-Brother, isn’t it fun to live a life you’ve never lived before?
Yes, if he was going to refuse, he shouldn’t have played at the instrument shop that day.
“I’ll do the playing.”
Yes, if he had to do it anyway, it was better to decide quickly.
To be more honest.
Playing the flute was a hundred times better than dancing or singing.
He considered himself fortunate.
What if he had to dance? He would rather wash his hands of the world and live in seclusion.
Now, only one person remained: Bi Sa-in.
He was cornered at the edge of a cliff.
If he fell, he would have to dance! No! Absolutely not!
Geom Muyang could now clearly see what Geom Mugeuk was plotting for Bi Sa-in.
I really can’t help with this one.
My apologies.
A single misstep, and he could have his flute taken away and be dragged onto the dance floor.
Geom Mugeuk began to persuade Bi Sa-in.
“Fortunately, we have a long time, a whole day.”
“It’s only a day.”
“So what if we can’t sing well, can’t dance well, or can’t play well? We’ll be the only ones listening and watching.”
Geom Mugeuk emphasized ‘we.’
“This is something the five of us are doing together. We’ll take it to our graves.”
“Why five?”
“Miss Jin has already agreed to join.”
Even Miss Jin!
Thump!
A stone from behind his feet fell off the cliff.
“Were you a dancer in a past life? Why are you so obsessed with dancing?”
Geom Mugeuk’s reason was in an unexpected place.
“When we were on the brink of death, you said it yourself. That if you survived, you would dance.”
“!”
Because of that promise, he ended up dancing at the three-party meeting.
“It was a choice from your subconscious. The first thing you wanted to do if you survived. Perhaps it was because you wanted to live a different life from your usual one if you lived?”
He’s good at twisting words I just said!
But at least because of Geom Mugeuk, he was getting a chance to live a different life.
His current relationship with Han Seol was a part of that.
Whoosh.
Just as he could no longer hold on and was falling off the cliff.
Grip.
Someone grabbed his hand.
It was Han Seol.
“Let’s do our best.”
Her single phrase changed Bi Sa-in’s mind.
What was something he couldn’t do in front of her became something he would bravely attempt because she was watching.
Bi Sa-in declared to Geom Mugeuk.
“This is the last time I dance.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and shouted.
“Yes, let’s dance our hearts out and then find other new things we haven’t done before.”
*
Two days later.
Jin Ha-gun entered the Azure Cloud Forest.
The celebration today was set to be held here.
The site of their last battle.
The pavilion was gone, destroyed, but the bamboo forest remained as it was.
In the middle of that bamboo forest, a banquet table was set.
The table was laden with fine wine and excellent dishes.
The food had been prepared by the Alliance’s chefs at Jin Ha-ryeong’s request.
“Welcome, my friend.”
Geom Mugeuk, Bi Sa-in, Han Seol, Jin Ha-ryeong, and Geom Muyang were waiting for him.
The moment he saw them, Jin Ha-gun’s mood lifted.
He hadn’t said a word, just looked at them, yet he felt happy.
“Here, come and have a drink first.”
As Jin Ha-gun strode over, Geom Mugeuk immediately poured him some wine.
Trickle.
The clear sound of a cup being filled.
Jin Ha-gun stared at Geom Mugeuk.
His ascent to the position of successor.
‘No matter what anyone says, it’s all thanks to you.’
Once the cup was full, it was Jin Ha-gun’s turn to fill Geom Mugeuk’s cup.
‘I’ll follow you slowly, my friend.’
After filling Geom Mugeuk’s cup, he filled everyone else’s as well.
Geom Mugeuk raised his cup high.
“To the next Martial Alliance Leader!”
Everyone present echoed Geom Mugeuk’s words and emptied their cups.
A wide smile spread across Jin Ha-gun’s face after he drained his cup.
He had achieved his dream, and he had people who genuinely celebrated it with him.
None of the people here were trying to curry favor because he was the Martial Alliance Leader.
“Now, let me pour you a cup.”
This time, Bi Sa-in poured wine into Jin Ha-gun’s cup.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“I’d come no matter where you were.”
As the two emptied their cups, Geom Mugeuk slyly commented.
“He might have wished the road was longer.”
At Jin Ha-gun’s questioning look, Geom Mugeuk glanced slyly at Bi Sa-in.
The flustered Bi Sa-in looked elsewhere, avoiding his gaze.
It was immediately obvious.
‘He’s noticed.’
How sharp he was.
He thought it was for the best.
It was more comfortable to be teased by him than to feel the discomfort of deceiving him.
Next, Jin Ha-ryeong stepped forward.
“Brother, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
At their warm gazes toward each other.
“Brother, that’s how siblings look at each other.”
Geom Muyang pretended not to hear and poured wine for Jin Ha-gun.
“Have a cup from me as well.”
“Thank you so much for coming.”
Jin Ha-gun didn’t separately ask Geom Muyang about the Gwak siblings.
He was someone you could trust to do well without being asked.
To Jin Ha-gun, the Great Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect was now that kind of person.
Finally, Han Seol poured him a drink.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you so much for coming.”
And so, Jin Ha-gun drank with everyone present, taking turns.
Now the real drinking party began.
As they exchanged cups and everyone became tipsy, Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat and walked out.
“Now, we shall have a celebratory performance to congratulate our friend Ha-gun on becoming the successor!”
Jin Ha-gun was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.
He was even more surprised to see everyone else rise from their seats and walk out.
‘All five of them?’
The others were one thing, but even Geom Muyang? That was the most shocking part.
The five people stood in their designated spots.
Geom Muyang and Han Seol stood at the very ends, and between them stood Geom Mugeuk, Bi Sa-in, and Jin Ha-ryeong.
The five stood in a line, looking at Jin Ha-gun.
Not expecting this kind of atmosphere, it was Jin Ha-gun who was flustered.
‘What on earth are they planning?’
Since there were no musicians, was he about to see a sword demonstration? Just as he was thinking that!
Geom Muyang took out his flute.
That was the first shock.
The moment the Great Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect took out a flute instead of a hidden weapon.
Geom Muyang took his stance, and as he breathed into it, the flute sang beautifully.
It was truly a masterful performance.
Soon, a clear singing voice rode on the melody of the flute.
Seeing Han Seol singing, Jin Ha-gun was surprised for the second time.
The Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace was singing to congratulate him?
Finally, in time with the melody and the song, the three in the middle began to dance.
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze was fixed on one person.
A person with an appearance that least suited dancing in this world.
‘Sa-in, my apologies.’
How much must he have been tormented by Geom Mugeuk to perform this dance? He could guess without seeing.
But separate from that feeling, Bi Sa-in was dancing the most diligently of the three.
Though he had said he would rather die than do it, he was not one to do a dance half-heartedly once he had agreed.
It was clear they had practiced a lot.
The dance of the three was perfectly in sync with the flute and the song.
Bi Sa-in’s dance of selflessness.
Had he been practicing dancing in his spare time? The dance was too magnificent to be believed it was the result of a single day’s practice.
Bi Sa-in deserved to be in the center.
On his left and right, Geom Mugeuk and Jin Ha-ryeong also danced with gusto, but they reduced their own movements to make Bi Sa-in stand out even more.
The music became faster and more exciting, and Han Seol’s song grew more cheerful.
The mist flowing around them made the stage even more magnificent.
A scene that Jin Ha-gun would never forget for the rest of his life was unfolding before his eyes.
Someday, when he was old and told someone about today, what would happen?
-Long ago, when I became the successor, a celebratory performance was held to congratulate me.
The Great Young Master of the Divine Sect played the flute, and the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace sang.
And the successor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance, and my younger sister danced to that song.
After hearing it all, that person might go to see the Martial Alliance’s Divine Doctor.
-I think the Alliance Leader is unwell.
The flute and song stopped, and the dance ended.
Even the finishing pose was perfectly synchronized.
For just one day of practice, it was too magnificent a stage.
A brief silence flowed.
Jin Ha-gun rose from his seat and bowed his head.
“I will never forget this moment for the rest of my life.”
He was truly grateful to them.
Were these people who would play the flute, sing, and dance? The fact that they had practiced for his sake moved him deeply.
Bi Sa-in, who had burned himself out, staggered back to his seat and gulped down some wine.
“How is it? Don’t you feel refreshed now that it’s over?”
He couldn’t deny Geom Mugeuk’s words.
The wine he had just drunk was the most delicious in the world.
Just then, Bi Sa-in’s eyes met Han Seol’s.
“You were wonderful.”
Her single phrase was enough.
Bi Sa-in smiled with satisfaction.
Still!
“There will be no more dancing in my life!”
That night.
Under the moonlight, three people stood atop the bamboo canopy.
They were the three successors who would lead the Martial World in the future: Geom Mugeuk, Jin Ha-gun, and Bi Sa-in.
“I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Geom Mugeuk planned to return to the Main Sect immediately after this gathering.
There was a place he needed to go, but he had been away from the sect for too long, so he planned to return to the headquarters with his brother first.
Jin Ha-gun felt a sense of regret.
If they parted like this, he didn’t know when they would meet again.
And at this moment, Bi Sa-in was feeling regret over another farewell.
Once this gathering was over, Han Seol was also scheduled to return to the Northern Sea with the Ice Cold Twin Blades.
Bi Sa-in’s gaze drifted down to Han Seol.
Down below, Geom Muyang, Jin Ha-ryeong, and Han Seol were drinking and talking.
Let’s have a drink, those of us who were pushed out of the succession!
With the cup Jin Ha-ryeong offered, Geom Muyang and Jin Ha-ryeong became one, and the teddy bear Han Seol brought to this place also became a topic of conversation.
Surprisingly, the three people, who seemed like they would be awkward, had a continuous conversation.
Even Geom Muyang, who seemed like he wouldn’t say a word, was chiming in with a few phrases.
Bi Sa-in’s gaze shifted from Han Seol back to Geom Mugeuk.
Since he already knew he had been found out.
“Why aren’t you teasing me?”
He had expected Geom Mugeuk to tease him and make him flustered for liking her.
“You have a long road ahead of you. I figured I could tease you slowly.”
His words held a concern that it would not be easy for the two of them to work out.
Jin Ha-gun nodded as if he thought the same.
Bi Sa-in asked Jin Ha-gun.
“When did you figure it out?”
“From the first time I saw you.”
“How?”
“Did you expect me not to know when you came together dressed in white robes, even carrying a teddy bear?”
Bi Sa-in’s face flushed slightly.
He was so used to being teased by Geom Mugeuk that he felt no shame.
But he was still a little embarrassed in front of Jin Ha-gun.
He was the type of person who would rather die than talk to someone about his problems with women.
But thinking that the two of them knew, he felt at ease.
“If the Ice Palace Master objects, just invade the Northern Sea! The Main Sect will pretend not to know.”
Jin Ha-gun caught Geom Mugeuk’s joke.
“Don’t do that. We have to go help the Ice Palace.”
“We have to help a friend! Sa-in, tell him to take back the dance!”
At those words, Bi Sa-in laughed.
A bright smile from him, it had been a while.
“Oh! A charming smile! Show that smile to Miss Han!”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Bi Sa-in let out a light sigh.
Would such a day ever come?
Just then, from below, Jin Ha-ryeong shouted up.
“What are you talking about that’s so interesting?”
Three young men gathered together, of course, it’s about women.
Geom Mugeuk shouted back at her.
“What do you think successors would talk about when they gather? Of course, it’s about peace in the Martial World!”