Episode 203. Who should I kill?
Commander Yeo Mu-yang was furious, but deep down, she was already thinking of withdrawing the operation.
It is natural that he has no grudge to the extent of pushing ahead despite the opposition of the Supreme Council.
“Okay, then let’s go.”
“Thank you, Master Taoist.”
The Golden Guard’s Nam Jin-musa, Dong Yu-su, rose from his seat, bowed, and left.
As if he had been waiting, the staff member came in and checked Muyang’s expression.
“The operation has been cancelled. Tell Won Jeong-cheon-ho (Won Sang-cho) to return.”
“yes.”
The staff member who had unintentionally overheard from outside the door did not ask why.
***
The Cheonhoso troops who had gathered on the outskirts of Gaebong returned to their original base at noon.
There were many rumors about the Cheonhoso troops who made a fuss as if they were going to be dispatched, but then disappeared without a trace.
Among them, there are two representative ones.
This is the military’s warning to the martial artists and the commander’s inspection of the military’s discipline.
Whatever the reason, with the disappearance of the Cheonhoso troops, Gaebong returned to its peaceful daily life.
Except for one person.
Around noon.
The inspector’s office.
Sa Yeon-hwi was uneasy due to the sudden change.
This is because the Cheonhoso troops that were supposed to go capture Yeonjeokha cancelled the operation and dispersed.
Today was the third day that Yeonjeokha had predicted, so there was no time to come up with a plan.
Cheon Ryang-ji, who was watching him like that, spoke cautiously.
“Your Majesty, since the Royal Guard has blocked the dispatch of troops, there is no other way. I think you should make a decision before it is too late.”
“Are you saying that I should bow my head to a mere thief from the Green Forest?”
“The King’s actions have probably already reached the ears of the Royal Guard. It seems that the Royal Guard is secretly supporting Prince Yeon, so hurry. You can frame him for ‘trying to move the military for personal reasons.’”
“Do you really think there is a secret agreement between the King and Prince Yeon?”
“Don’t you know what kind of work the Golden Guards do? They are people who belong to the political and military circles. There is no reason for them to stay away from the Green Forest Patrol.”
“While the Yoo Myung-gyo and Jeong Ui-maeng are fighting, you are trying to take advantage of the Nokrim by moving it?”
“Could there be any other reason besides that?”
“What does the Golden Guard have to gain by getting involved in that dogfight?”
“Who knows the inside of the conductor’s body?”
“Haa! The Royal Guard suddenly intervened and ruined the meal that was already cooked. I can’t believe it.”
“Now is the time to show that the relationship between the great man and the young prince is good. If the King thinks that the great man will continue to target the young prince… … .”
Cheonryangji trailed off.
Then the Golden Guard might try to bring down Sa Yeon-hwi.
Because they are not the kind of people who would just let someone get in the way of their work.
As it happens, Sa Yeon-hwi has a history of privately attempting to move the military.
This means that you can now throw away your story at any time.
Sa Yeon-hwi stared blankly into space.
He also knew what Cheonryangji was worried about.
Until this morning, I was wondering what to do if I caught Yeonjeokha.
But I couldn’t believe that it had become like this in just half a day.
“Wow! This country is in a terrible state. If the inspector doesn’t apologize to the thief, he might be beheaded.”
At Sa Yeon-hwi’s sigh, Cheon Ryang-ji quickly opened the door and went out to look around the office.
Fortunately, there was no one nearby.
Cheon Ryang-ji closed the door and returned to his seat, speaking softly.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor may be watching you from the top. You must be careful about your words and actions.”
Cheon Ryang-ji was one of Sa Yeon-hwi’s closest associates, so he couldn’t help but worry about him. If he were to be captured, his own future would be in jeopardy.
“Haha. You’re the only one who worries about me.”
“Don’t be too heartbroken. It’s just that the times are such that even the female leader can’t help. Once the struggle among the martial artists is over, the Jinuiwi won’t oppose either.”
“So now I have to bow down and go in unconditionally?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Ha! Apologize to the thief who made my son a cripple. I feel like hanging myself from a beam.”
Sa Yeon-hui closed his eyes with a gloomy expression.
No matter how much I thought about it, it was something I couldn’t do to the honor of the inspector.
Sa Yeon-hwi skipped lunch and stayed in his office without leaving the house.
Then, at about 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Cheonryangji was called in.
“Let’s try to keep the escort to a minimum.”
“yes.”
Cheonryangji didn’t ask where he was going.
Just by looking at Sa Yeon-hwi’s empty face, I could easily tell where the destination was.
***
Cheonryangji gathered only five military officers, including Im Sa-seong, to form an escort.
They were all people who excelled in martial arts and were trusted by Cheonryangji.
Since he was on his way to apologize to the old man, he was filled with his own people.
When they arrived at the village, the sun was slowly setting.
Sa Yeon-hwi muttered with a lonely expression as he crossed the deserted village.
“Maybe it’s because it’s winter, the sun sets early.”
“It might actually be better for us.”
It was cold and dark, so there were fewer people around, and there would be fewer witnesses.
Sa Yeon-hwi, who understood Cheon Ryang-ji’s words, smiled faintly.
“You are a very positive person.”
Two people who were walking while chatting stopped at the same time.
I could see an inn in the distance.
Sa Yeon-hwi winked at Im Sa-seong, who was following him.
Im Sa-seong, who had been walking ahead quickly, entered the inn first.
Im Sa-seong came out again soon.
“They say he hasn’t come from Hyojaam yet.”
Cheonryangji quickly stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, it would be better to meet him at Hyojaam. No one will come at this hour.”
“Okay.”
Im Sa-seong, who knew the way, took the lead.
As they passed the forest path and reached a place where a hut was visible, Cheonryangji warned the officers.
“You are to guard this place, but do not let anyone approach Hyojaam.”
“yes.”
Five officers answered softly.
After a while, Sa Yeon-hwi and Cheon Ryang-ji walked towards Hyojaam.
Yeonjeokha was still sitting on the edge of the rock, looking at the Yellow River.
Cheonryangji approached cautiously and hesitated for a moment.
My face burned as I tried to pay respect to him in front of the police.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the four great men of the Inspectorate.”
Only then did Yeonjeokha slowly get up from her seat and approach Cheonji and Sayeonhwi.
When Cheonryangji paid him respect, Sa Yeon-hwi bowed first without saying a word.
“This is Sa Yeon-Hwi, the inspector of the Gaebongbu.”
I just stared blankly at the story of the lover.
The dazed expression on his face seemed like someone pondering, ‘What should I do?’
Cheonryangji quietly stepped back to save Sa Yeonhwi’s face.
Cheonryangji, who had fallen behind, glared at Nokdam-pyeong, who was standing there blankly, with frightening eyes.
Only then did Nokdam-pyeong feel startled and quickly went into the hut.
Because it is a hut made of wood and reeds, the sound of breathing is muffled, and the feeling of the outside world is almost visible.
‘Anyway, those officials!’
It’s like covering your eyes and pretending not to know anything.
Do they think that if they just close their eyes like a pheasant, they won’t know anything?
Even while grumbling, Nokdam-pyeong listened to the sympathy outside.
This is the moment when Sa Yeon-hwi cannot stand Yeon-jeok-ha’s silence and is about to say something.
“What kind of father is Nari Anchalsa?”
Sa Yeon-hui, flustered by the unexpected question, just stared blankly at the other person’s face.
I thought he would reprimand his son for what he did. What kind of father is he?
Could this be a bait to torment me?
“Why are you asking that?”
“I was just curious. I wondered what kind of father he was to have such a strange guy.”
“I heard what my son did. I tried to bring him home, but he was badly injured, so I left him at home. I apologize on behalf of my son.”
Sa Yeon-hui, who had made up his mind, lowered his posture definitely.
Because I don’t want to do something twice or three times that can be done once.
“I don’t have any particular regrets toward the Inspector. It’s because Cheonryangji spoke carelessly that things turned out like this. Of course, if the Inspector didn’t come, I would have gone to see him. I’m a person who keeps my word.”
“I heard that too. He must have said that because he was thinking of me first.”
“Yes, I will understand it as the arm bending inward. By the way, I am asking because I am really curious. What kind of father is the inspector?”
“I am like other fathers.”
As for Sa Yeon-hwi, he didn’t really have anything to say about himself.
Moreover, since I didn’t know the intention of the other person’s question, I tried to be as ambiguous as possible.
“I’ll ask again. Can you, Mr. Anchalsa, die in place of that worthless son?”
Life energy poured out of Yeonjeokha’s eyes.
Sa Yeon-hwi unconsciously flinched, feeling as if her whole body would be stabbed at any moment.
“I don’t know if you know, but Nokrim kills even if he doesn’t like the look in someone’s eyes. But Nari’s son touched my friend’s body. That’s like ignoring me.”
“Please forgive me.”
He continued talking without even pretending to hear what the other person was saying.
“Old Man Shim seems satisfied with breaking bones, but I am different. I feel like I need to kill someone to feel better. That is why I ask. Tell me. Can you die in place of your son?”
Along with the words, Yeonjeokha shook his sword.
Then, a sword flew from somewhere and struck Sa Yeon-hwi’s neck.
Immediately afterwards, a terrible murderous aura enveloped Sa Yeon-hwi’s body.
That was beyond the level that a mere civil servant could handle.
For a moment, Sa Yeon-hwi, gripped by fear, lost his sense of humor and began to talk nonsense.
“Please, spare my life. That’s not what Chief Chun meant. I should have noticed when he kept saying sorry… … I didn’t know it would turn out like this. Really.”
Yeonjeok-ha thought this wasn’t right and pulled his sword back slightly and asked again.
“So, who should I kill, my son or Nari?”
Sa Yeon-hwi suddenly came to his senses and only then realized the point of the question.
He really wanted one person’s life.
When I thought, ‘I might die,’ all kinds of emotions came rushing in at once.
The jumbled, tangled emotions churned inside him and then flowed out like an ebb tide.
A fleeting moment that felt like eternity passed.
Sa Yeon-hwi, who had been standing there blankly, answered in a hoarse voice.
“Then kill me. I have lived long enough.”
At that moment, Yeonjeokha moved the sword.
The sword that had been drawn back flew like a ray of light and embedded itself deeply in the nearby rock wall.
The trembling murderous spirit disappeared as if washed away.
Yeonjeokha said to Sa Yeonhwi, who was absentmindedly blinking.
“You are a good father.”
“… … No. I’m just a father like that.”
“Trust me. I saw someone like that a long time ago, but he was different from you, Inspector An. He only cared about himself until he died.”
“Are you forgiving your son?”
“Forgiveness belongs to heaven, not to people. Just because people forgive doesn’t mean their sins disappear. People just act according to their own convenience. If they have the power, they take revenge, and if they don’t, they forgive for their own sake. I was relieved when the inspector greeted me first. I told you from the beginning. I have no regrets.”
After finishing speaking, Yeonjeok walked away, staggering, and disappeared into the forest where darkness had fallen.
Wuxia,
