Episode 799.
Black Emperor (4)
His voice was calm. There was no confusion in the emotions contained within.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
“Is that your choice, Vice lord?”
“Yes, that is my choice.”
“okay.”
Yangcheon looked at Yeonhojeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong also looked calmer than expected. Yang Chen could not read the look in his eyes as he watched the snowflakes falling one by one.
Yang Chen turned his head again and looked at the sky.
“It stings.”
“….”
“I thought about whether that ambition was truly what I wanted, leaving everything else aside.”
Isn’t it just a dream to become the leader of the Black Island?
In fact, I am quite satisfied with this position, but I feel burdened by the world’s eyes, so I wonder if I have fooled myself into thinking that my dream is to unify the world as a black sword.
Yangcheon thought about that.
Yeon Ho-jeong said with a smile.
“It can be said that the Vice Lord’s courage is great just by being able to think sincerely and not spill even harsh words.”
“Don’t spread it out of proportion.”
“When I actually have to fly it, I’ll tell you I can’t do it.”
Yang Chen shook his head.
“It’s true that I missed what you said. So I was worried. “What do I really want?”
“….”
“To some extent, you are right. I had a dream of unifying the world, but that dream was too vague. I didn’t specify my goals. As you say, if you were truly working toward that goal, you wouldn’t have given the headquarters’ warriors intensive training.”
Training is important. However, if he truly wanted to unify the world, he could have done something similar or even more vicious than Prince Moyong.
“I wanted a different way.”
“…?”
“I didn’t mean to climb Manjangjeolgae to pick fruit, but I was waiting for the fruit to fall from the top of the cliff.”
Yang Chen stretched out his hand.
A slowly falling snowflake escaped his palm and flowed down.
“Did you think that a day like that would come someday if you became the king of the martial arts kingdom of Black Dragon?”
Looking back, there was definitely something ambiguous about Yang Cheon’s actions. It was not a difference in passion, but a difference in method.
In order to stand at the top of the world, he created the Mukryongbu. In the process of unifying Heukdo, countless Heukdo sects were destroyed, and among them was the prestigious Guicheolgeommun.
By destroying Botaam, he tried to acquire someone with the qualifications of a swordsman, and he tried to gain more financial power by tapping into the southern commercial district.
That was it.
That series of actions is intended to gather strength and does not signify a great cause in itself.
Many organizations in the world struggle to gain stronger power. The Mukryongbu Yangcheon just moved like other organizations.
Although it is a necessary preparatory process for the great cause, it cannot be considered a decisive task for achieving the great cause.
If it was to obtain the real world, it would have been better to join hands with the Samgyo, as Yeon Ho-jeong said. There is a high possibility that they will use their brains to shake up the balance of the scales and gain benefits in the future.
Otherwise, it would have been a good idea to get involved in the palace affairs before anyone else. No matter how you look at it one way or another, Yang Cheon’s actions were not an active move for the unification of the world.
“At first I thought I was stupid. “I thought you were so hard-headed that you couldn’t think of that.”
“You underestimate yourself.”
“that’s right. “It’s not because of what you said, but when I thought about what we should do right away if it were truly for the unification of the world, a really arrogant method came to mind.”
There are many ways. The only difference is whether it is feasible or not.
Yang Chen sighed.
A slow, long sigh. A thin stream of breath flowed out continuously.
“As the countless ways came to mind, one emotion suddenly enveloped me. “Do you know what that was?”
“….”
“It’s a dead end.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Yang Cheon in silence.
Yang Chen chuckled. It was a self-mocking laugh.
“As people get older, they realize how empty most of the passions they had when they were young were.”
“I’m jealous at the same time.”
“That is correct. “I would rather envy the situation at the time when I didn’t know anything and was able to run forward without any hesitation.”
“….”
“But in the end, with a bitter smile, I brush off the passion of the past as a delusion from my childhood.”
“If it develops incorrectly, it becomes defeatism and pessimism.”
Yang Cheon laughed as if it was fun. He still wasn’t looking at Yeonhojeong.
“Isn’t that what you want to say to me right now?”
“I heard you won’t change your mind anyway.”
“still.”
“And I know that words like this will not affect your decision.”
“You can be so obnoxious sometimes.”
“Thank you for saying sometimes. “It’s not like I wanted to rip you off because you were mean to me every time we met.”
“If that were the case, I would have ripped off your head right away. “Well, sometimes, whenever I get upset, I get angry.”
“You’re welcome.”
The conversation, uncertain whether it was a joke or seriousness, brought comfortable smiles back to the two people’s faces.
Yang Chen raised his hand again.
This time, two large and small snowflakes landed on his palm.
The small snowflakes melted first, and the large snowflakes cried mournfully.
“I will not give up my dream of unifying the world.”
“yes.”
“It is a wish I have dreamed of since I was young. “As I got older, I forgot the passion I had when I was young and gradually became immersed in the world, but that single goal is what made me who I am today.”
“yes.”
“but.”
Yang Chen closed his eyes.
“…but.”
He clenched his fist.
All the snowflakes that cried sadly melted and disappeared.
“You won’t be able to take over the world through force.”
“….”
“The situation is not good and I feel hopeless in many ways. Crucially….”
“….”
“I don’t want civilians who haven’t even learned martial arts to get hurt because of my ambition.”
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
On the contrary, Yang Chen opened his eyes. The snowflakes reflected in those clear, deep eyes looked very beautiful.
“If there had been a plan to sacrifice the small for the large, I wouldn’t have even thought about this. But I don’t have any such plans. “I just wanted to unite the world with my own hands, and there was nothing more.”
He was someone who clearly saw his condition and accepted it obediently.
And at this moment, Yangcheon’s status has risen one level higher. Yeon Ho-jeong thought so.
“I believe that I am carrying on my identity as a dark sword hero from the glorious past. “The black people of the past, who were even called dark nobles, had their own rules and laws.”
“I know.”
“okay. “When you, the person who deceived me, came back, I talked to you about it.”
“yes.”
“But right now, the majority of black people do not live that way. They are only oppressed by the power of the Mukryongbu, and if this inhibitor is released, they will run wild without any rules or laws. “Just like before.”
“….”
“That’s why I wanted to become an indicator. Because there should not be such idiots under the command of the one who rules the world. “I wanted to become the center of a wonderful world where Heukdo’s unique way of life is alive with elegance and dignity.”
“….”
“When I had that dream, I, who used to be a fool, became better than before. So I feel rejected. “Those who do not belong to the realm of martial arts are harmed by the martial arts people.”
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his eyes and looked at Yang Cheon.
Now, Yeon Ho-jeong can no longer read Yang Cheon’s thoughts and emotions in his calm expression.
“Then what should I do? Should we come up with a plan to rule the world right now?”
“I’m sure it will be difficult.”
“It must be difficult. But giving up my lifelong dream is even harder.”
“I guess so.”
“So I thought of a good way.”
“What is that?”
Yang Chen smiled.
“Even if we survive the war against the Three Religions, the empire and the martial arts world will not immediately merge into one.”
“It will take a long time.”
“Isn’t it a dream come true to live as the last leader of the martial arts group before being absorbed into the empire for such a long time?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shook greatly.
Yang Chen chuckled.
“It’s become a lot more simple and loses its appearance a bit. “But the world is changing, so can I achieve my goals if I just remain stubborn?”
“You mean…”
Only then did Yang Cheon also look at Yeon Ho-jeong.
And at that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong looked down. Somehow it felt like it had to be that way.
Yang Chen said.
“In order to achieve my dream, I’m thinking of taking advantage of someone else’s dream.”
“…!”
“If the emperor has a way to rule the people, if he has prepared a lot for a better world, wouldn’t he be able to share that knowledge and experience with me?”
“Master?!”
Yangcheon turned his head back to the snowy world.
“Wouldn’t you give that much to your son-in-law, who will play a huge role in achieving a great cause? “If only the emperor was big.”
“…!!”
“If you don’t teach me, I’ll have to wrap my head around and study hard at a late age. “If you still don’t know, the only way to do it is to grab your father-in-law by the collar.”
“My lord.”
“If you think about it, isn’t it a huge benefit for me? “A 60-year-old man is getting married to a woman 20 years younger than him, and this is a complete mistake.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with a face that showed many emotions, such as smiling or crying.
“Yes, you caught it.”
“How is it? “Is this enough to qualify as a teacher?”
“Until just a moment ago, it was neither too much nor too little.”
“now?”
“You are full and overflowing.”
“ha ha ha.”
Yang Cheon burst out laughing.
His laugh wasn’t just a laugh.
It was a sigh and tears of sorrow. It was a feeling of relief, a feeling of regret, and the excitement of someone who has discovered another possible future.
And frustration, greater than all the emotions, was breathing in his laughter.
Yang Cheon, who laughed for a while, placed his hand on Yeon Ho Jeong’s shoulder.
“I have shown my qualifications as a teacher, so I need to get confirmation from my student.”
“Please speak.”
“This child has a lot of blood on his hands because of me. But if you look inside, the child is much softer than he appears. “That guy was just trying to survive, and he was a good kid by nature.”
“….”
“Even when I told him what I thought, he didn’t feel any regrets. No, I was disappointed, but I saw relief similar to mine on the other side. He only took up that position to prove himself in order to live, and it seems like being Vice President was a huge burden for him. “After all, teachers and students are alike.”
“….”
“I won’t tell you to take good care of me. However, unless the child tries to kill you, you are not allowed to harm the child.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was watching Yang Cheon with trembling eyes, lowered his head.
“The teacher’s daughter is also my family. “I am not a person so cruel as to harm my own relatives.”
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Yang Cheon turned and walked while holding Yeon Ho Jeong’s shoulder.
“Let’s go get a drink.”
“It will be a great hangover drink.”
“For some reason, my eyes were very bloodshot.”
“Iknow, right.”
“Even if I give you an injection today, you have to accept it well.”
“of course. “Don’t just bring up Xingong.”
“I wasn’t crazy enough to kill my student just because I was drunk.”
“Fortunately, the.”
“Anyway, I want to ask you something.”
“Please speak.”
“Princess Cheonghwa, is he pretty?”
“…You are also greedy.”
“If possible, it’s better to be pretty.”
The two walked down the hill side by side, having a casual conversation.
A clear footprint was left on the snow-covered ground where the two people passed.
