Episode 36. The Three Kings (君臨三王) 22014.01.04.
Climbing a snowy mountain was very different from what Sonbin had imagined. There were places so wide that they could be considered slightly sloping fields, and there were also narrow paths and steep slopes.
When the boring road seemed to continue, the group was faced with a steep cliff as if it were a wall in the sky and a waterfall flowing in the middle of it.
One time we had to cross an old swinging bridge that looked quite precarious.
Sonbin’s eyes were almost blurry, but the others crossed it as if they were walking on flat ground. Even his words had no hesitation at all.
A forest appeared in front of the group that was climbing the snowy mountain. However, the forest was a forest of dead trees, with no living trees.
‘This place… … .’
Sonbin looked around. The area around the tree roots is full of green moss, but the tree is dry and dead.
There were few trees standing properly, as if they had been broken by the wind and fell down. It was a forest of dry, dead trees, a deadwood area.
‘It’s kind of eerie.’
Along the steep slope, ruin-like dead trees stood vaguely like ghosts in the thick fog.
The fact that the fog, which I thought had already cleared, was particularly thick was probably due to the clouds covering the mountain peak. The steep slope and the abundance of small stones and sand make it difficult for horses to walk.
Takkak.
Sa Su-yeon, who was walking while holding the reins, stopped. The words literally stand there. Sonbin looked ahead without thinking to see what was going on and was startled.
‘100 million!’
A white human shadow stood next to a black dead tree. With his long flowing black hair, he had the appearance of a ghost.
“you… … .”
A faint, thin voice came from beyond the fog. Sonbin was relieved to see that the white shadow was a person, but the eerie voice gave him chills.
“Are you Powell’s owner?”
“Yes.”
Sajahyeok answered.
Sarah.
Almost without a sound, a white shadow took a step forward. Only then was Sonbin able to see it exactly.
‘woman?’
Sonbin looked at the person with curious eyes. Her white shadow was a woman dressed in white.
Her clothes looked like some kind of ceremonial attire, a snow-white garment that flowed from her slender shoulders to the ground beneath her, swaying gently with each step she took.
The sleeves that covered her hands clasped at her chest were wide and long, hanging down to her waist. If it weren’t for the sword she held close to her chest, one would have thought she had arrived at a Taoist or Taoist shrine.
Fluttering.
She walked slowly towards Sajahyeok. As she approached, her appearance became more and more distinct.
Sonbin, looking at her appearance, noticed that her feet, slightly visible through the hem of her clothes, were bare.
‘Being barefoot in these cold mountains.’
It’s not terribly cold, but it’s still quite chilly in the highlands. If Sonbin, properly dressed, felt that way, the cold would be even worse if he were barefoot.
‘Is there some religious significance?’
Even while Sonbin was thinking such things, her steps did not stop. And that was the moment when she got close to Lion Hyuk.
Swish.
She turned around lightly. Her white clothes waved and her black hair flowed in the air as she moved. The movements were smooth and elegant, as if they were dancing.
‘ah.’
Sonbin was impressed for a moment. Because her movements were so soft and graceful that they were considered beautiful.
Her bare white feet and slender calves were slightly visible beneath the wave-like hem of her dress.
And when she faced Sajeok again, in her hand was a sword shining as white as snow.
Hiss.
‘omg!’
Sonbin took a deep breath. The cold, shining blade in her hand was falling towards Lion Hyeok.
It was a movement that neither Son Bin nor Sa Su-yeon could have predicted at all, and it did not feel real at all, as if he was possessed by something. However, Lion’s Hide Powell had already revealed himself.
Huh.
Before we knew it, Sajahyeok, who had been lowering his body, raised his pole.
The moment the black sword rising from the ground into the sky collided with the silver blade falling to the ground, a sharp sound pierced the silence.
Jaeaeang!
A sharp, sharp sound spread softly, as if something was breaking.
The falling silver blade stopped in midair. The extreme edge of the blade was exactly in contact with the extreme edge of the black long sword.
Wooooow.
The sword and sword vibrated softly and cried. The woman’s eyes shone sharply through her flowing hair.
Sajahyuk also met his gaze with intense eyes.
And the next moment.
Quang!
The sword and sword flew out with a loud sound.
Whirling.
The woman made a sharp turn and stepped back. Her clothes and sleeves were waving as if she were dancing.
Sajahyeok, on the other hand, recovered his original posture just by moving one foot back.
widely.
Powell, the great swordsman of the lion, turned to the woman. The woman behind her stood facing Lion Hyuk, holding her sword in one hand.
Without missing the opportunity, Sa Su-yeon wrapped one hand around Son Bin’s waist from behind and hugged him.
“Avoid.”
fault.
With a voice whispering in his ear, Son Bin got off the horse as if halfway pulled down and retreated with Sa Su-yeon.
Sa Soo-yeon stood guard as if blocking Son Bin’s path. Until then, neither the lion nor the woman made any movement.
“Whoa.”
A thin voice, almost like a moan, came from the woman.
“I never thought I would feel this much regret about my own shortcomings… … .”
Okay.
Her sword moved slowly. And the place where the sword was pointed was her scabbard, which she held in her other hand.
Sreung.
The silver blade slowly disappeared into the white sheath.
“If I were just a little bit stronger, I could have risked my life to compete.”
widely.
When the blade disappeared completely, she wrapped both hands around it. Her long, wide sleeves covered her white hands, and she became the same as when she first appeared.
“I lost.”
Sabak.
The woman took a step back. There was no trace of the woman who had muttered lamentations just now.
Sreung.
Almost at the same time, Sajahyeok’s leader Powell also disappeared.
“name is?”
Sajahyuk asked. The woman answered in a thin voice.
“doesn’t exist.”
“is it?”
“but.”
She spoke in a faint voice, as if it might break at any moment.
“If you remember me as a swordsman, that’s fine.”
“Sure.”
Sajahyeok answered.
“I am Lion Hyeok. And there is no need to remember.”
The woman blinked. But that was all, she said nothing more.
“I want to ask you something.”
Geomhee’s eyes moved slightly and looked towards Sasuyeon. Her Sa Soo-yeon looked straight at her and said,
“Are you one of the three reigning kings?”
Geomhee, who was silent for a moment, answered.
“I don’t know. “I’m not interested in that.”
Geomhee continued speaking while looking straight at Sasuyeon.
“And you don’t seem interested in that either?”
Sa Su-yeon frowned slightly. However, Geomhee’s expression did not change at all.
“Then you…” … .”
Sa Su-yeon was about to say something more, but suddenly Geom-hee moved.
Sarah.
“you… … .”
‘me?’
Sonbin, who was moving his brush, stopped and looked at Geomhee. Her gaze was directed at Sonbin.
She was walking straight towards Sonbin.
Sabagsabag.
Sa Soo-yeon blocked Son Bin’s path and placed her hand on her sword.
“What are you doing?”
Sa Su-yeon’s eyes were shining sharply. But Geomhee didn’t even look at Sasuyeon.
Sa Su-yeon could not help but be nervous. Just a little while ago, Geomhee was walking like this and swung his sword at Lion Hyuk without any warning.
Sabagsabag.
“Stop!”
Sa Su-yeon spoke, but Geom-hee did not stop walking. Sa Su-yeon unsheathed her sword.
Huh.
At that moment, Geomhee stopped walking. And right in front of her face, Sa Su-yeon’s sword stopped with its sharp teeth flashing.
“If you come close, I will cut you.”
Sa Su-yeon said. Those eyes told me that her warning was not a lie. However, Geomhee’s gaze was not directed at Sasuyeon.
“Why do you smell like this… … .”
Geomhee frowned slightly. Her eyes flicker slightly and soon land on something sticking out of Sonbin’s backpack.
“Was it a good sword?”
‘Seongeom?’
Sonbin turned his head and looked behind him. In fact, I could tell what she was talking about even without looking. It may refer to the white heron, a relic of Nodosa Temple.
Sarah.
Geomhee seemed to have lost any more interest and turned around.
Sa Su-yeon’s sword was flashing in front of her, but she acted as if she wasn’t even interested. Sa Su-yeon slightly bit her lip, but she kept sharpening her sword.
Ching.
Sabagsabag.
Meanwhile, Geomhee had disappeared into the fog. When even the faint sound disappears, all that remains is the gloomy atmosphere created by the bare dead trees.
“let’s go.”
Sajahyeok said. Sonbin closed the booklet.
widely.
∴
The group could not leave soon. After the dead tree area, the slope became steeper and I could no longer ride the horse.
You may be able to climb it alone, but the slope is so steep that you will fall backwards if you climb on it.
Since the only luggage he had on his back was anything, Sonbin sent the horse without hesitation.
I thought about tying it up nearby, but since there was no guarantee that it would come here, I decided to let it go.
Tap, tap.
After confirming that the horse was going down after letting go of the reins, Sonbin started walking along with Sasuyeon and Sajahyeok.
The ground was full of sand and the slope was steep. I don’t think I’ve even walked a few steps, but I can already feel my breathing becoming difficult.
chin.
Someone put a hand on Sonbin’s shoulder. A large hand that seemed to cover her entire shoulder. When she raised her head, she saw that it was Lion Hyuk.
“Wait a moment.”
“what… … .”
As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, I felt Sajahyuk placing his hand on my back. Heat slowly rises in the area touched by his large hand.
“No, I’m fine…” … .”
“It’s not okay.”
Sajahyeok said.
“Do not take the mountains lightly. “Even though it just looks desolate, this is a place where you can never let your guard down.”
Sonbin nodded quietly. Her body feels warm and her breathing suddenly becomes easier.
Sonbin slowly caught his breath. After a while, Sajahyuk took his hand off Sonbin’s back.
“Your breathing has become deeper.”
Although it was just a passing comment, Sonbin felt embarrassed for some reason. It feels like I got caught trying to imitate Lion Hyeok, which doesn’t work.
“Oh, this is… … .”
But Sajahyuk didn’t really care much.
“It will be okay for a while. Do you still have Hoa?”
“I have it.”
To be exact, it was the handle of a hoa sword. The sword body that the fierce tiger of Sichuan had was broken, so it can no longer be called a sword.
“It will be helpful to keep it in your arms.”
Sonbin nodded and took out the handle of the Hoa sword from his backpack. Sonbin put it in his arms, wrapped in cloth.
I am reminded of Sajahyeok’s words, which he said were painful memories, and somehow I feel sorry.
‘Now that I think about it, this also belongs to someone else.’
Suddenly, the image of Seolgeom Danghwaryeon came to mind. I feel like I can hear her words that she will definitely go find it.
“are you okay?”
Sonbin suddenly came to his senses at the sudden voice of Sasuyeon.
“Oh, it’s okay.”
“sorry. “I should have noticed first.”
“No, no.”
Sonbin waved his hand. But Sa Su-yeon bit his lip.
“I thought this was all I could do, but I can’t even do that properly.”
Her gaze was directed at Sajahyeok’s back.
“Shall we go?”
Sa Su-yeon said. Sonbin nodded her head without saying a word. The cold went away, her breathing became easier, and her steps became lighter.
However, Sonbin did not let down his guard and slowly controlled his breathing and walked forward.
∴
Phew.
As the wind blew, the accumulated snow rose up and sparkled everywhere. The snow beneath my feet is turning and making noises, as if complaining about being woken up.
Sabak.
Footprints were engraved on the pure white snow field as if they were wounds.
The snow plains spread out under the deceptively blue sky, creating an overwhelming yet out-of-this-world beauty. I felt sorry for having to step on it.
“Whoa.”
Sonbin slowly exhaled. His cloud must have passed by, so all around was wide open.
When I looked back, the green forests of Yunnan stretched out endlessly in the distance beneath my feet, and when I turned my head, the peaks of the mountain peaks were shining white against the blue sky.
The snow blowing in the wind behind the peak sparkles like white flames.
“are you okay?”
Sa Su-yeon, who was walking ahead, turns around and asks. Sonbin nodded her head lightly.
“Fine… … .”
Sonbin’s answer could not continue. And Sa Su-yeon was no longer looking at Son Bin.
Sarah.
Sa Su-yeon stood guard as if blocking Son Bin’s path. Sajahyeok, who was walking in front, also stopped walking.
Huh.
A man was standing on a pure white snow field. The dragon pattern embroidered on the white silk clothes gently swaying in the wind catches the light and sparkles.
He, who was looking up at the mountain with his back turned, turned.
“Come on.”
He said, covering his face with a jade-colored fan. The voice contained a faint laugh that could not be hidden.
“Is this your first time here?”
Standing on the snowy field like a fantasy, he was none other than the Jade Dragon.
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martial arts,
