Chapter 60
"In the future I saw, it takes at least 5 years."
Azazel told the other disciples about the future she had seen. She didn't mention her plan to deceive and kidnap Bing Yeon.
"...How can you be so sure?"
Bi Wol glared at Azazel as if she didn't believe her. If she waited 5 years believing Azazel's words, their master Bing Yeon might already be dead by then.
"I have the ability to glimpse possible futures. That's what I saw when I first met Brother."
Azazel spoke calmly, clasping her hands together. She knew that they would eventually join forces to prevent Bing Seolhwa from making the first move.
Although they were fighting now to determine superiority, the situation would change again when a common enemy appeared.
"Master won't be able to hold out that long. The Nine Yin Severed Pulse isn't as light an illness as you imagine."
Bi Wol shook her head, saying it was impossible. No matter how much Bing Yeon extended his life, it didn't seem possible to endure 5 years in his current physical state.
Unlike others, she could check a person's condition through her qi sense, which was why she stayed by Bing Yeon's side every day, sharing his waking and sleeping hours.
"But Junior Azazel doesn't seem to be lying!"
Verdandi suddenly interjected into the conversation between the two. From her perspective, Azazel was telling the truth.
If so, it meant that Bing Yeon would survive for the next 5 years at least.
"It would be helpful if Junior could tell us more details about that future!"
What was needed at this time was cross-verification. By combining the ability to see the future and the eyes that see truth, they could know the future with the highest possibility.
"What I see is only a 'possible' future. You should keep in mind that human affairs are unpredictable..."
Azazel deliberately trailed off at Verdandi's words. As much as she admired Bing Yeon, she didn't want to say with her own mouth that she would do such intimate things with a man.
After all, she was a saint. A figure chosen by God, aiming to defeat the Demon King of this world.
Even though she was born as a succubus, she wanted to naturally develop affection with Bing Yeon through natural encounters without using seduction magic.
"...We are legendary heroes and saints! If Junior tells us the future she saw, couldn't we really save Master?"
As if seeing through this fact, Verdandi raised her voice towards Azazel. It was a matter of life and death for the person she loved most.
Whatever consequences that method might bring, Verdandi was willing to risk even her life.
"Sister, do you know the meaning of the term 'body nourishment'?"
Azazel asked Verdandi if she knew the true meaning of the solution the Divine Doctor had suggested, just in case.
She knew from glimpsing the future that it meant a man and woman having physical relations together.
Bi Wol had naturally not explained the meaning of the term to the other disciples to reduce competition.
"I don't know! It's probably something where I have to sacrifice my life!"
Verdandi spoke with a nonchalant expression. One of her hands was trembling, and her blinking became more frequent.
It was the first time death had felt so frightening. Before meeting Bing Yeon, she had thought it would be good to die somewhere unknown.
"...It's not that kind of thing. It's about a man and woman sharing a bed, developing a deeper relationship."
"How did you... Ah, you said you could glimpse the future."
In Azazel's case, being a succubus dream demon, she knew about these things better than anyone, and Bi Wol had learned various knowledge in preparation for the possibility of defeating Bing Yeon later.
However,
"What do you mean by a deeper relationship?"
Unlike them who had prepared everything to pounce on and devour Bing Yeon, only Verdandi was different.
"Well... it's about making a child that looks exactly like both of you."
"Aren't babies brought by storks or found under bridges?"
She had never learned such basic common sense from her parents. As Bing Yeon had exemplified, she was like a blank slate with nothing written on it.
"Don't tell me, you really don't know anything?"
"Aren't you all misunderstanding! What I heard from children my age definitely came out as true!"
Bi Wol covered her mouth in surprise at Verdandi. Judging from the kiss on the cheek before, she had thought Verdandi knew how to be somewhat coy.
Was this saying that all of Verdandi's actions were natural results of knowing nothing about love between men and women?
"You, don't tell me you don't even know about kissing?"
"I know that! Isn't it pressing lips together or kissing on the cheek like I do with my mother? I know it's something you do with someone you like!"
"No, mixing tongues..."
"? What does that mean?"
Bi Wol felt chills seeing Verdandi who was more innocent than she thought. She instinctively realized that such an aspect was rather a constitution that unknowingly bewitched men.
Unlike herself and Azazel who harbored ulterior motives, innocence could become another weapon.
No wonder their master Bing Yeon seemed particularly unguarded only when dealing with Verdandi. There's no way someone who had reached the pinnacle couldn't have noticed a kiss on the cheek.
"This won't do. Let's settle this properly today."
Feeling a sense of crisis, Bi Wol suggested that they have a martial arts match among themselves, glaring at Verdandi and Azazel.
They had fought together before, but at that time, under Bing Yeon's guidance, they hadn't used their full strength and were trying to master third-rate martial arts.
"Why is the conversation suddenly turning this way?"
"The ascension of realms is also achieved through consistent repetition of martial arts and enlightenment..."
Looking at it now, there was too much information that they were hiding or didn't know about each other. It was uncertain who would be the first to pounce on their master Bing Yeon and claim the position of mistress.
"...I think I need to show my sisters who is the woman most suitable to be Master's primary wife."
She had decided to make the first move. Instead of using vile and sinister methods, she thought she could secure the position of mistress through just and legal means.
Jealousy and interference were things only amateurs did. Bi Wol had realized through conversations with Azazel that a true master would become a woman no one could approach and capture a man.
"...Alright. I also want to keep what I've seen of the future to myself as much as possible."
Azazel nodded as she looked at Bi Wol. She also felt the desire to make the first move before losing to that woman called Bing Seolhwa.
Even though the problem could have been peacefully resolved if she had seduced Bing Yeon and made him wear a blindfold, as she had seen in the future.
"I also want to change the future if possible."
Azazel didn't want to yield Bing Yeon to anyone right now.
"What kind of future did you see to act like this? Last time you even had a nosebleed."
"...You don't need to know."
Azazel was predicting the future by looking into Bi Wol and Verdandi's eyes before fighting.
She thought her victory was already assured, as she had succeeded in defeating the chimera by exploiting weaknesses with this method at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
"Then I'll fight too! If that's the shortcut to reaching the state of flower viewing!"
Verdandi's pre-summoned Holy Armor blocked the future prediction. The blue-tinged armor that protected its wearer from all attacks.
Seeing this, Azazel bit her lower lip hard.
Today was a more hectic day than any other.
Because my sect had received the title of Three Phoenixes all at once due to my disciples winning the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
"Sigh... Even if people suddenly ask to be taken as disciples, I can't just accept those who come looking to become stronger."
Therefore, more people were coming to me, who was reluctant to be active due to my weak body and to avoid ruining the original work as much as possible.
"Even if I die, the only one who can lead this sect is... probably Bi Wol."
I sighed deeply and stretched. Recently, I had been coughing up blood more frequently and often woke up at dawn, unable to sleep well.
To avoid worrying my disciples, I often secretly endured the pain by gritting my teeth.
The sensation of life gradually fading felt similar to the description in Seolhwa's will.
- It feels like being buried alive.
- It feels like someone is shoveling damp, hard soil onto my head, one handful every day.
"The weight of death is so light..."
I muttered to myself, reminiscing about Seolhwa. Unlike her reputation as a genius, she was emotional and cried easily.
If I could remove the Outer God dwelling in Seolhwa as the Divine Doctor said, I wanted to reunite with her rather than with my disciples.
I thought that would be the right thing to do.
But then.
"Master Bing Yeon! You need to come out for a moment...!"
I heard other disciples urgently calling me from outside. Now that the Dragon Phoenix Gathering was over, there shouldn't be any big issues except for the Demon King trying to dominate the Western Regions.
"Right now, your top disciples are suddenly having a martial arts match...!"
"What did you say?"
Isn't it common in sects for disciples to train in martial arts or practice together? I tilted my head as I looked at the other child speaking to me with a pale face.
"The training ground's equipment is being smashed to pieces! Please come quickly and stop them!"