The heat was still palpable.

Whatever was happening beyond, she didn’t need to see it to know.

The intense heat and fierce energy were suffocating.

Despite it being a cold winter night, there wasn’t even a hint of frost in the air.

Crunch.

The sound of leaves being stepped on echoed.

Leaving the overwhelming heat behind, Wi Seol-ah took a few steps forward.

She moved to where the moonlight was clearest. She felt that was where she needed to be.

—"Is it okay not to look?"

She didn’t respond to the voice. It was laced with concern, but this wasn’t the time for that.

She hadn’t gone far.

She only walked while the second test was temporarily on hold. She would have to return soon.

After walking a little further, she finally arrived at a place where the moonlight poured down brightly.

As she settled into the spot, a voice broke the silence from behind.

"Unexpected."

She knew someone had been following her.

"I thought you'd be watching what he's doing."

"..."

"You're not curious?"

The man’s face, which had been smiling, suddenly cracked. His expression shifted, revealing a hint of malice.

Wi Seol-ah, seeing this, remained silent. She had no desire to exchange words with him.

"You ignored my request and even left before me."

“I have no obligation to grant your requests.”

Jang Seon-yeon laughed softly at Wi Seol-ah's sharp words.

"As always, I don’t understand."

"What don’t you understand?"

"Why you dislike me so much."

Even as Jang Seon-yeon spoke, Wi Seol-ah’s expression remained unchanged.

"I've done nothing to you. Why do you hate me so?"

"For now, I haven’t."

“…Ha.”

Jang Seon-yeon let out a bitter laugh at her firm reply.

“How can you be so sure? It’s as if you’re convinced I’ll do something.”

“Aren’t you?”

Wi Seol-ah’s voice was calm, as though she was stating a fact. It was as if she knew, without a doubt, that he would eventually cross a line.

Faced with her unwavering certainty, Jang Seon-yeon fell silent.

"...You’re really too much."

"And you’re not denying it."

"If I denied it, would you believe me?"

"No."

Jang Seon-yeon chuckled.

Lately, a thought had been nagging at him.

‘It’s all gone wrong.’

Somewhere along the way, the smooth path he had envisioned had twisted.

'Where did it go wrong?'

He couldn't pinpoint it.

His plans had been flawless. He was confident in his talent.

‘But still…’

It wasn’t just the people around him.

Even this woman…

It felt like everything was gradually spiraling out of control.

While countless juniors and those around him admired and placed their hopes in him, the very people whose approval he most desired were indifferent. Why?

Even as he pondered, Jang Seon-yeon knew the answer.

‘It's because of him.’

He recalled the face of a person he hadn’t initially paid much attention to.

While many had their eyes on him, one gaze had stood out.

Malice.

That person's eyes had been full of hatred. He hadn’t even bothered to hide it.

The disdain in those eyes was unforgettable.

‘Why?’

Jang Seon-yeon couldn’t understand.

At the time, he hadn’t done anything to deserve such hatred. Even if he had, he would have done it subtly enough that it wouldn't be noticed.

It was just pure malice.

Jang Seon-yeon wasn’t used to such a look, and he hadn’t given it much thought.

‘He must be envious,’ he had told himself. ‘The eyes of someone coveting what they can’t have.’

‘Hah.’

Reflecting on it now, Jang Seon-yeon scoffed at himself for thinking so little of it back then.

‘Envy?’

Did that person really envy him?

That couldn’t be.

The stage had been set for him to shine, but the spotlight had been stolen by someone else.

The “True Dragon.”

Just thinking about it made his stomach churn and his heart race with frustration.

Why?

Why did such a person have to be born in the same era as him?

It was a thought that gnawed at him every night before he slept.

It was humiliating to admit it, but he couldn’t help but wonder.

Like his moniker, the True Dragon had hidden among the writhing snakes.

And when that massive dragon had finally stirred—

The fragile gathering of snakes had crumbled.

That was the impact of his arrival.

Jang Seon-yeon tried to steer the conversation, to maintain his facade of divinity.

But how long could he keep it up?

Even he knew the truth.

Especially now, as he saw that spectacle in the distance.

‘Is he showing off to me?’

The realization made Jang Seon-yeon grit his teeth.

The reason the man was unleashing such intense energy was simple.

It was to show off—to rub it in his face.

Jang Seon-yeon was sure of it.

—"You hate me just as much, don’t you?"

That’s what Gu Yangcheon had said when Jang Seon-yeon had asked why he hated him so much.

His tone had been coarse, and his expression mocking. Just thinking about it made Jang Seon-yeon seethe with anger.

But it also left him with questions.

‘How did he know?’

For some reason, Gu Yangcheon seemed to see right through him.

Before the Yongbong Gathering, they had never met. They had never even heard of each other.

‘How could I possibly like him?’

How could he like someone who had taken all the attention that was meant for him?

What was worse—

‘What bothers me most is that he actually has the talent to back it up.’

As much as he hated to admit it—

Gu Yangcheon wasn’t like the other juniors. He was on a completely different level, as if he were a star descended from the heavens.

A star?

Ridiculous.

Among the so-called "generation of comets," each genius had been compared to a star, but even among them, Gu Yangcheon’s path was unlike any other.

Which was why—

‘I need to eliminate him.’

He had to remove him from his path.

The brightest star should always be him.

The other rising stars, like the Sword Dragon and Dormant Dragon, were also irritating, but none as much as Gu Yangcheon.

As these thoughts festered, Jang Seon-yeon turned his gaze to the woman before him.

She had her face partially concealed by a cloak, but she was undeniably beautiful.

She hadn’t stood out as much when he first met her, but over time, she seemed to glow more and more.

Her beauty was not suited for the soft light of the moon. She was more like the radiant sun in the middle of the day.

Oddly enough, she had crafted her swordsmanship under the black moon.

And with each passing day, her beauty only grew.

Her lineage was also incredibly advantageous to Jang Seon-yeon.

She was the only disciple of the Sword Master.

And her talent was just as extraordinary.

‘No matter how talented Gu Yangcheon is…’

Could he surpass a woman who had already broken through so many barriers in just a year or two?

“I trust you haven’t forgotten.”

Jang Seon-yeon’s words caused Wi Seol-ah to bite her lip slightly.

"When I reach the highest position here, you are to be mine."

It was the wager they had made before arriving here.

She responded with a question of her own.

“…Have you forgotten the other part of the agreement?”

"Oh, that?"

Jang Seon-yeon smiled, and the look on his face caused Wi Seol-ah to frown.

“If I fail to reach the top, I’ll honor your request.”

What was it again?

She had asked him to speak to his father so she could enter the Taechun Demon Realm.

And she had also mentioned wanting one of the Jang family’s relics.

“May I ask you one thing?”

“…”

Wi Seol-ah didn’t appear to be listening, but Jang Seon-yeon continued speaking.

“What do you see in him?”

“What?”

Wi Seol-ah’s voice turned cold, and her eyes narrowed at the mention of Gu Yangcheon.

Not that this would stop Jang Seon-yeon from speaking.

“I know you served his household as an attendant, but are those memories really that precious? It was less than a year, wasn’t it?”

“What do you think you know to talk so carelessly?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking. You seem quite upset.”

Even in her fury, she was beautiful.

“I also heard he’s engaged to someone else.”

“…”

“Even if you grew fond of him while you served him, do you think there’s a place for you by his side now?”

Jang Seon-yeon’s words caused an intense reaction from Wi Seol-ah.

She had always been vulnerable when it came to Gu Yangcheon.

Did she really care for him that much?

Was her heart truly that tied to him?

The thought irritated Jang Seon-yeon, but it also made him smile. It was so easy to provoke her.

“You…”

“Perhaps the only reason you agreed to the wager was because you knew, as long as he existed, I would never reach the top.”

For her, it must have been a convenient deal.

Gu Yangcheon was heading to the Sinryong Pavilion, and even Wi Seol-ah herself would be going there. She probably thought she could break this wager whenever she pleased.

‘She still doesn’t know.’

If you can’t reach someone because they’re too high, you just have to bring them down.

It was such a simple concept, but she still didn’t understand.

‘Her head must be filled with flowers.’

The world wasn’t as peaceful as she seemed to think. Unfortunately for her, she was still living in her own sheltered little bubble.

‘If I push her just a bit more, she’ll probably draw her sword.’

Though she was trying to suppress her emotions, Jang Seon-yeon could see it clearly.

Wi Seol-ah was at her limit. One more word and—

Would she be able to hold herself back?

Jang Seon-yeon was curious.

"Watch closely. When he finally crumbles and bows to me—"

Click.

A sharp chill ran down Jang Seon-yeon’s spine as he quickly gathered his energy.

As expected, if things continued like this…

Tap.

“…Huh?”

But instead of Wi Seol-ah drawing her sword, something else happened.

Jang Seon-yeon froze in place.

Someone had appeared between them.

Like a ghost.

Neither he nor Wi Seol-ah had sensed the approach until this figure was suddenly standing there.

Both of them were equally surprised.

In the silence that followed, a gentle breeze blew.

“…Sister?”

Wi Seol-ah’s voice was carried on the wind, spoken as though she were in disbelief.

The figure between them turned to look at her.

Bathed in moonlight, with platinum hair and a deep blue robe, and an aura of subtle but undeniable power—

‘…That woman.’

Jang Seon-yeon instantly recognized who she was.

Even with her face covered by a veil, he couldn’t forget someone who had made such an impression on him.

‘The Sword Dancer…?’

She was Namgung Bi-ah, the woman who had defeated him at the Yongbong Gathering.

Namgung Bi-ah looked at Wi Seol-ah, and with a soft wave, she spoke.

“…Hello.”

Her voice was quiet, as if it were in harmony with the calm atmosphere. Wi Seol-ah’s face showed clear signs of surprise.

“Sister… Why…?”

“…I’ve been looking for you. I’m glad I found you.”

“You were… looking for me?”

“Mm…”

Wi Seol-ah’s eyes trembled as she looked at Namgung Bi-ah, who slowly opened her lips to speak again.

“I never got to say goodbye.”

Explaining why she had come, Namgung Bi-ah smiled faintly as she greeted her once more.

“It’s been a while.”

“…Yes, it has.”

“Have you… been well?”

Her voice was calm, but it carried a subtle warmth, as if she were truly glad to see her again.

But Wi Seol-ah didn’t answer the question. Her lips moved slightly, but no words came out.

Seeing this, Namgung Bi-ah took a step closer.

“Namgung Bi-ah.”

Jang Seon-yeon’s cold voice called out to her, halting her movement.

“…It’s a pleasure to see you again, but I haven’t finished speaking with her yet.”

His voice was sharper than usual, laden with irritation. The overlapping frustrations of the night were beginning to take their toll.

"So, if you could continue this conversation later—"

"Who?"

“…What?”

Namgung Bi-ah turned slowly to look at Jang Seon-yeon, her voice calm but piercing.

Jang Seon-yeon was momentarily at a loss for words.

Had he misheard?

“What did you just say?”

“Who are you?”

She repeated the question without hesitation, tilting her head slightly as if genuinely confused.

Jang Seon-yeon, struggling to contain his rising frustration, forced a smile and took a step closer.

“There’s no way you’ve forgotten me, Sword Dancer.”

The woman who had fought so fiercely against him during the martial arts competition…

Could she really not remember?

“Surely, you can’t have forgotten me—”

“…Don’t come any closer.”

Namgung Bi-ah raised her hand, drawing an invisible line between them.

Though her expression was hidden behind her veil, her voice carried an undeniable strain.

As if she were in pain.

What’s going on?

Jang Seon-yeon’s expression faltered slightly as he tried to make sense of the situation.

“…You smell. Don’t come any closer.”

Her blunt and direct words shattered whatever composure Jang Seon-yeon had left.

 

______________

 

Fwoosh!

The surrounding area was engulfed in flames.

A massive column of fire, glowing with a deep crimson hue, seemed to wreak havoc as if it had a will of its own.

Boom!

“Argh!”

A nearby junior disciple was swept up by the shockwave, flung into the air, and slammed into the ground. The area was littered with others who had suffered the same fate.

Even the instructors were at a loss, scrambling to manage the situation.

Crack!

The searing heat passed by, consuming an ancient tree.

Fwoosh!

The tree was swiftly reduced to ashes in the blaze. The scene unfolding before their eyes was nothing short of hellish.

'Impressive.'

Watching the fiery spectacle from a distance, Bi Eui-jin nodded in satisfaction.

‘His control over the energy is remarkable.’

Despite the massive flames wreaking havoc around them, only a few things were actually burning, and none of the surrounding area had caught fire.

This meant that even while unleashing such power, there was near-perfect control.

'At such a young age too?'

Indeed.

Pae-jun smiled to himself as he thought of the owner of these ferocious flames. The boy had far exceeded his expectations.

Fwoosh!

"Eek!"

As the heat surged toward them, Bibi, who had been watching the flames alongside Bi Eui-jin, jumped in surprise and hid behind his back.

Hum.

Watching her reaction, Bi Eui-jin discreetly erected a qi barrier around them.

“…Wow…”

With the heat slightly lessened, Bibi’s eyes sparkled as she continued to watch the flames.

“Amazing, right? How can someone do that?”

“Fascinating, isn't it?”

“Absolutely!”

No matter how talented a junior disciple might be, in the end, they were still a junior. The opponent was none other than the Sword Empress herself, a martial arts master.

In this scenario, the overwhelming fire made it impossible to see what was happening inside.

‘Incredible!’

Bibi’s eyes shone with excitement.

She had thought only her older brother could perform feats like this, but perhaps all the Six Dragons were like this.

Though most would feel disheartened by the gap in talent, Bibi was simply amazed.

“I didn’t expect the Sword Empress to be struggling.”

“Struggling?”

Bi Eui-jin’s voice cut in sharply, interrupting Bibi’s thoughts.

“But she hasn’t been able to do anything. Isn’t that struggling…?”

“She hasn’t been able to do anything…?”

Hmm.

Bi Eui-jin stroked his chin, a habit he had when he found something puzzling. He typically did this when he heard something wrong but didn’t feel like correcting it.

“Ugh…”

Bibi, unhappy with his response, puffed her cheeks and tried to poke at his side.

Rustle.

“Hm?”

The chaotic noise of destruction around them suddenly went silent.

From somewhere, a petal gently floated down and landed on Bibi’s nose.

“Huh?”

When she reached up to touch it, the petal shimmered briefly before dissolving into dust and disappearing into the air.

Seeing this, Bibi turned quickly to Bi Eui-jin.

“Brother, just now—”

“Keep watching. This is the most interesting part.”

Bi Eui-jin’s response was as if he had expected this all along.

Though she pouted at his lack of explanation, Bibi turned back to the flames, as instructed.

Though she couldn’t see much at first, something was beginning to change in the scene before her eyes.

‘Huh?’

Amidst the chaotic, roaring flames, petals began to appear.

‘What is that?’

For a moment, Bibi was confused, but then she realized.

It was plum blossom petals.

Countless plum blossoms were now swirling amidst the fire, encircling the entire area.

Watching this unfold, Bi Eui-jin thought to himself.

‘Not bad, but still rough around the edges.’

The boy’s ability to manipulate his internal energy was incredible, but something seemed lacking when it came to close combat.

The reason it looked like the Sword Empress was being pushed back was simple.

She was merely avoiding the attacks, lightly stepping back and creating distance.

She was evading all the chaotic flames.

And then—

Whoosh!

The petals caught in the wind swirled into a whirlwind, sweeping up the flames and shooting them skyward.

In an instant, the raging fire was extinguished.

‘Oh…’

Bi Eui-jin let out a quiet sound of admiration.

The flames that had been so overwhelming just a moment ago had vanished without a trace, carried away by the wind.

‘Has she changed?’

Bi Eui-jin studied the Sword Empress curiously.

The former Sword Empress would have handled the situation with a more gentle approach.

Her treatment of juniors was far rougher than usual, which was unlike her.

It seemed…

Even the Sword Empress held high expectations for this boy.

She was testing him, showing that this wasn’t enough.

She wanted more from him.

For her to have such expectations meant she thought very highly of him.

Bi Eui-jin, who had been somewhat satisfied with the boy’s performance, couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

‘She’s become a bit overbearing with age, hasn’t she?’

Of course, if he’d said this in front of the Sword Empress, she’d have drawn her sword immediately, regardless of who he was.

But since he was only thinking it, there was no harm.

Bi Eui-jin smiled to himself as he turned his attention to another figure.

‘So, what will you do now?’

The flames that had surrounded Gu Yangcheon had disappeared.

The heat remained, but—

Gu Yangcheon’s face was twisted in frustration as he stared at the Sword Empress.

He undoubtedly knew.

This wasn’t just an entry test.

This was a personal test from the Sword Empress.

‘What are you going to do?’

Gu Yangcheon, standing before one of the greatest martial artists in the world, looked visibly displeased.

From his expression, it seemed as though he was thinking, ‘Isn’t this enough?’

But the Sword Empress’s face still held the same look of expectation as when they’d begun.

Sigh.

Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon finally let out a long sigh.

He wore the expression of someone who had given up.

Seeing this change in his demeanor, Bi Eui-jin felt a slight sense of disappointment.

It wasn’t that Gu Yangcheon’s performance had been disappointing—

‘He’s planning to hold back.’

He had more to show, but he wasn’t planning to reveal it.

That was what Bi Eui-jin found disappointing.

‘Still, with what I’ve seen, he’s definitely the right one for the role…’

Even with the disappointment, Bi Eui-jin confirmed in his mind that Gu Yangcheon was the best fit for what he had in mind.

“I trust the Sword Empress will handle the rest flawlessly.”

“…What did you just say?”

“I leave it in your capable hands.”

As Gu Yangcheon spoke these cryptic words—

Fwoosh!

“…!”

Both Bi Eui-jin and the Sword Empress’s eyes widened.

As Gu Yangcheon extended his palm and closed his eyes, the air around them shifted.

“Flame Orb.”

The night sky flipped.