◈Episode 717.
A treasure trove of enlightenment (7)
What I would like to ask.
Unlike his tone of voice, which seemed somehow hollow and youthful, his tone was one that conveyed formality and power toward his superiors.
“Who are you?”
It is a question with great weight. It was not a situation that could be passed lightly.
“No, from now on, I will call you Jinyang. Ever since Daesu started yelling at Jinyang, I have felt puzzled. “It’s probably the same for Jinyang now.”
“I understand.”
“He seemed to know us from the moment we first met. “It was not like I had heard his name a few times; it was as if I was dealing with a comrade in arms who I had lived with for a long time.”
As expected, it’s sharp.
Su Jeong-gwang was the wisest and most perceptive of the five great gods.
Sometimes, when they moved among themselves, they played a military role. While Yeon Ho-jeong watched the game and read the flow, So Jeong-gwang showed delicacy in interpreting and judging each and every thing that could easily be missed.
Although his direction was different, he was a genius comparable to Yeon Ho-jeong in terms of strategy. As such, even though he may have appeared immature on the outside, he must have thought a lot about it.
“This is ridiculous. If you’re one of us, neither Jinyang nor I have ever seen Daesu. Nevertheless, Daesu treated us as if he were his friends.”
“okay.”
“Please explain.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“Do I need an explanation?”
“Jinyang is coming after disbanding the clan.”
So Jeong-gwang’s eyes sparkled.
A frightening eerieness hovers over the fragile and soft impression. So Jeong-gwang’s serious eyes were so strong and sharp that they shook the other person’s heart.
“It means that the path is to completely dismantle the foundation that has been built, leaving behind everything such as natural talent and aspirations. “He has declared his determination to gain enlightenment and live a new life, but in other words, he is that serious.”
“….”
“It’s not something you can just pass over. You are the one who made a man throw away his entire life. “If you want to be together, you have to take responsibility by showing sincerity.”
“It’s responsibility.”
“That’s right. That responsibility is not about providing money or teaching martial arts to a guy like me.”
So Jeong-gwang’s voice became deeper.
“An explanation as to how you know what kind of person you are and why you looked at us like that… with eyes that were both happy and sad. “For that alone, you have fulfilled your responsibility.”
It is a list of words that are resolute and correct.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“Even if I explain it, you won’t believe it.”
“How can we be with you if you don’t even explain that it’s unbelievable?”
“I have no hesitation when it comes to showing my sincerity, even if the circumstances are quite unbelievable. But this goes beyond that category.”
“Are stories that go beyond that category so bizarre that they overwhelm our will to demand responsibility?”
“….”
“Please tell me. Otherwise, I won’t learn martial arts from you or join you.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly looking at So Jeong-gwang, looked up at the sky.
The day was cold, but the moonlight was warm and the stars were soft.
‘….’
Why?
Suddenly, Yeon Ho-jeong felt a rush of tears.
‘It’s an explanation.’
During the time of the Emperor of Darkness, they were in a relationship where no explanation was necessary.
But now his former comrade who fought alongside him was demanding an explanation.
Of course, that was natural. Because the case is different from silence and gangryang.
The persistent urging of a man who was also a subordinate, a brother, a friend, and a comrade in arms.
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
“You are right.”
“….”
“It is absurd to say that you should follow me based solely on my origins, my status, and my status. There is no need for such trivial things to form relationships between people. “As you said, I am giving up my life so far, so it would be my least responsibility to tell you the truth, no matter how absurd it may be.”
So Jeong-gwang’s eyes slightly wavered.
The deep emotion felt in Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice. In the voice of a young man a few years younger than himself, who was not even 30 years old, the sorrowful memories of Noh Ik-jang’s decades of life were evident.
“Heukjeseong.”
“…?”
“I was the master of Heukje Castle and the first king to unite the Black Islands.”
“What do you mean?”
“It wasn’t because I was good at my abilities. “I was struggling to live like a human being, but thanks to you who helped me live without any particular purpose, I was able to stand tall as the master of the dark island.”
So Jeong-gwang frowned.
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden? What is Heukje Castle? “You mean the master of the black sword?”
“Yes.”
“Are you talking about the Ink Dragon Club? But the Inkryongbu….”
“The Inkryongbu is the pinnacle of the dark path of this era. However, Heukjesung is a fictional organization that exists only in a lost history and a huge armed force that existed in a future that has become invisible.”
“I totally understand…”
“I died once. And then I returned to the past.”
“…?!”
“And it exists here now.”
“…yes?”
Yeon Ho-jeong calmly recalled the past.
A love family that became extinct due to the invasion of the Nine Ju Myeong Family. A gift that saved him, the only survivor. The past day when I entered the black island after descending the mountain and lived a life of ups and downs.
The history of building Heukje Castle by building relationships with each person. War against the three religions.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice had no pitch. The voice that flowed calmly as it was in a submerged state showed huge emotions rippling like waves even though there was no change.
“….”
Su Jeong-gwang’s face became blank.
After finishing everything, Yeon Ho-jeong looked at So Jeong-gwang with transparent eyes.
After a moment of silence.
“Lies….”
“….”
“…It’s not the same. Just by looking at the expression or voice.”
Yeon Ho-jeong had no answer.
So Jeong-gwang’s cheeks trembled slightly.
“Is this why you said you wouldn’t believe it?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong composed herself.
Actually, there was no need to tell So Jeong-gwang this. He was a man of great eloquence, and could have somehow passed off like a snarky serpent.
However, I could not ignore So Jeong-gwang’s confident request.
Furthermore, he decided to take it. The fact that So Jeong-gwang might go back thinking that he was crazy.
And the strong sincerity and resignation in that atmosphere were fully conveyed to So Jeong-gwang.
‘Did you die and return to the past? Emperor of darkness? ‘Five great gods?’
Does this make sense?
‘Nonsense!’
The reason I seriously thought it was ridiculous was because Yeon Ho-jeong was so serious.
So Jeong-gwang was sure. Yeon Ho-jeong has now revealed his true feelings.
Even if you cannot guess the force, you can distinguish whether it is sincere or false. If he didn’t have that kind of insight, Hwaungmun’s life wouldn’t have been called that.
“No matter what…”
So Jeong-gwang mutters without realizing it.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“It was you who asked for the truth. “It was I who said you wouldn’t believe it.”
“…!”
“I showed sincerity. That’s a hard thing to say to anyone. “It’s up to you whether you believe it or not, but don’t think that my sincerity is disguised as a lie.”
“….”
Su Jeong-gwang’s eyes wavered.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s words were clear. You are free to believe, but you are responsible for what you wish for.
And taking sincere responsibility meant that this was real. Additionally, it also meant that if you believe in this, you will be together, but if you do not believe in it, it will be the end.
‘It was me.’
So Jeong-gwang realized.
‘In the end, it was me who took this relationship to the extreme.’
I didn’t regret it. It was because I thought it was a fact that should be heard.
There was silence again.
The silence this time was so long that it was almost beyond words.
During this time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression did not change. Only So Jeong-gwang’s expression changed from moment to moment.
And again after a moment.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“hmm?”
“I heard it was something you didn’t want to talk about? “You went through a hard time because you brought it up like that.”
A strange look appeared in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.
“Do you believe it?”
“Is there any other way to believe it? And…”
So Jeong-gwang laughed bitterly.
“You may think otherwise, but for me right now, it doesn’t matter whether I believe it or not.”
“Why?”
“Because my algebra skills are clear.”
“what?”
“It’s definitely a hard story to believe, but I couldn’t find any trace of lies in Dae-su’s expression or voice.”
“….”
“If it is true, the request was granted, but if it is false….”
So Jeong-gwang scratched his head.
“It means that he is a prostitute who can deceive me who lived off his wits, so wouldn’t it be worth making a big decision and taking a risk in life?”
A strange smile appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
‘People are responsible for their own lives. But, well… shall we try to bet on you just this once?’
A conversation that was dormant came to mind in the back of my mind.
So Jeong-gwang was like that even back then. He pushed himself seriously and said that he would try his life after hearing his answer.
From then on, So Jeong-gwang acted without once questioning his orders or requests.
“However, I will think about what to do with our relationship when Jinyang’s friend comes.”
“good night.”
“Then, since I’ve heard everything, let’s start by learning the martial arts that you’re so good at.”
So Jeong-gwang asked mischievously.
“What kind of martial arts was I learning when I conquered the Black Sword with the fearsome nickname of Nando Blood Demon, the Five Great Gods of the Black Emperor?”
“I do not know.”
“…What?”
“I do not know. “I didn’t even bother to know.”
“I heard correctly right now, right?”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“I taught you martial arts. However, as time passed, you modified the martial arts in your own way and created new martial arts. “I didn’t even have a name, so everyone just called me an unknown artist.”
So Jeong-gwang whistled.
“I guess I did quite a bit too? “I’m even thinking about modifying martial arts.”
“Because you’re a genius.”
“…Adventure!”
“I will just tell you about the martial arts that was the basis. Even back then, I taught this martial art. “Progress is yours.”
“great.”
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
“What I will teach you is the martial arts called Byeoknajingyeol (碧羅眞訣) of the main family and the Bicheon blood clotting sword (飛天血鷹劍).”
“…?!”
So Jeong-gwang’s eyes shook fearfully.
“Byeokna Jingyeol is one of the five great divine techniques of the Yeonga, and Bicheon blood clotting sword is the secret technique of the Yeonga perfected by the Bicheon swordsmen, the secret forces of the main family.”
“You’re telling me about Ye Yeon’s martial arts skills?”
“Your muscles and blood vessels are almost perfect for learning the martial arts of the original family. However, the method of solving it was somewhat fierce and cruel, but its power was enough to make any expert hold out his tongue.”
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his eyes.
So Jeong-gwang looked like he couldn’t come to his senses.
He said that he would teach me a new martial art and that he would teach me the vision of the six great generations. Anyone would be shocked.
“I will stay here for two days. While maintaining the dantian, I will burn all the true energy in your body. And put new power into that body.”
“Two days… “Well, let’s try something.”
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong took Taeeul Dan out of his arms and threw it at So Jeong-gwang.
So Jeong-gwang suddenly received a gold bag containing Taeeul Dan.
“This is a spiritual altar that will help your new martial arts skills settle into your body.”
“…!”
“It’s not an investment. It’s about helping an old comrade and a new strength.”
Yeonhojeong’s eyes sparkled with fire.
“That’s why you shouldn’t disappoint me either.”
