Chapter 1533
What do you know? (3)
“Did you say they’ve brought in a large number of the family’s daughters?”
“Not brought in, but received support.”
“…Seems similar to me.”
“It’s dif-fer-ent.”
“Is that so?”
Tang Gunak let out a hollow laugh. He had thought about reorganizing the Tang clan’s martial artists to use them as medics, but he had never imagined they would involve the women of the family.
Various thoughts flooded his mind simultaneously: the evaluation of that idea, the future impact, and the backlash that would erupt from all corners.
But in the end, the words that came out of Tang Gunak’s mouth were different from all those thoughts.
“It seems you’re doing well.”
For a moment, Tang Soso was at a loss for words and looked at Tang Gunak. He was smiling faintly. Embarrassed, Tang Soso quickly turned her head away.
“I’ve always done well. You just never knew it, Father.”
“It seems like that?”
“Don’t agree so readily.”
“Then I won’t.”
“…Did you eat something strange?”
Tang Soso looked at Tang Gunak, baffled.
It was understandable. Her father was an exceptionally gentle man with his daughter, but when it came to family affairs, he was unyielding as if he were a different person.
But now, there was not a trace of that suffocating stubbornness in Tang Gunak.
“My brother must be having a hard time.”
“Are you talking about Tang Pae?”
“Yes. At least I can count on Hwasan, but for my brother, nothing he says seems to be taken seriously. Even though he’s the Young Lord, the day he becomes the family head seems far off. What can he do?”
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“What?”
“Tang Pae will do well too.”
With those calm words, Tang Soso couldn’t hide her surprise. But no matter how she looked at him, she couldn’t discern any other meaning from Tang Gunak’s face.
“…You really are strange.”
“There’s nothing strange about it,”
Tang Gunak said quietly.
Of course, he understood. Naturally, there would be various problems.
The backlash from the Tang clan members who wanted to be warriors instead of medics, the elders who didn’t want to relinquish control to those still so young, and the complaints from other sects who suddenly found themselves in a role to protect the Tang clan they once fought alongside…
If one started worrying about all that, there would be no end to it.
But…
“Oh, by the way!”
“Hm?”
“Don’t interfere!”
Before Tang Gunak could even open his mouth, Tang Soso extended her hand and made a cutting motion, as if severing something.
Tang Gunak smiled bitterly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You’re probably thinking of staying one step back, and if something seems to go wrong, you’ll quietly step in, right? Crushing disobedient family members or putting pressure on other sects.”
“Me?”
“Isn’t that true?”
Instead of outright denial, Tang Gunak evaded with a smile. Tang Soso clicked her tongue as if to say, “I told you so.” Then she spoke confidently.
“I can handle it myself.”
“It’s not that I want to lighten your burden. There’s no need to take the hard path when there’s an easier one.”
“I know. But if you start stepping in for me, I’ll always rely on your strength.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Soso shook her head firmly as she continued.
“It’s not a simple childish desire to be recognized or stand on my own. If people don’t trust me and instead trust the power behind me, there will be serious problems at crucial moments. So, I need them to believe in Tang Soso, the disciple of Hwasan, not Tang Soso, the daughter of Tang Gunak.”
“Make them believe…”
Tang Gunak stared intently at Tang Soso before speaking.
“Do you think you can do it?”
“I have to.”
Tang Gunak’s smile deepened.
“For now.”
“…Yes?”
“I believe in you.”
Tang Soso’s eyes, filled with surprise, met Tang Gunak’s, full of tenderness, in midair. Her face slightly flushed.
“You really are strange today.”
She quickly turned her head and abruptly stood up from her seat.
“I’m leaving. I’m busy.”
“I guess so.”
“Seriously!”
Watching his daughter dash out of the room, unable to overcome her embarrassment, Tang Gunak smiled broadly.
❀ ❀ ❀
“I’m going to die…”
A groan escaped his lips. Exhausted from training, Jo Geol collapsed onto his bed as soon as he entered his room.
Chung Myung’s training, which pushed people to their limits, was often too much even for him. And he had already experienced it plenty.
But instead of grumbling as usual, he fixed his gaze on the back of the person who had entered the room with him.
A slow and delicate hand wiped the dirt from the sword. Then he meticulously tidied his worn uniform. The familiar movements were accompanied by a low chanting that naturally calmed the heart.
‘Really…’
Jo Geol shook his head.
Yoon Jong had undergone the same training, so it wouldn’t be any less exhausting for him. Yet, unlike Jo Geol, he remained calm. No matter how tired and weary he was, he never neglected his duties.
This was a different kind of ‘strength’ than just high martial prowess. It was something Jo Geol could never hope to emulate in his lifetime.
“What are you staring at like that?”
Noticing Jo Geol’s gaze, Yoon Jong asked without even turning around.
“Oh, nothing…”
Jo Geol felt embarrassed and mumbled a vague reply.
“Foolish.”
Yoon Jong didn’t ask further. Instead, his hand moved a little faster as he cleaned his sword. He probably wanted to finish up quickly so Jo Geol could rest more comfortably.
Jo Geol, who had been staring blankly, muttered a word without realizing it.
“Sahyeong.”
“Hm?”
“Well…”
He started to say something but then shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
“Why are you acting so unlike yourself?”
“Let’s just turn off the light and get some sleep. Why go to such lengths? It’ll get dirty again tomorrow anyway.”
“I’ve always said, honing oneself means-”
“Ack! Nagging! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!”
“…”
Yoon Jong glanced at Jo Geol with narrow eyes. However, Jo Geol quickly turned to the other side, as if just imagining it made him shudder.
“I’m going to sleep now, so you should go to bed too, Sahyeong.”
“…Alright.”
Yoon Jong sighed softly as he looked at Jo Geol, who had turned to face the wall.
In truth, he knew. He knew what Jo Geol was about to ask.
‘He must be anxious.’
How could he not know? Each day brings them closer to war. Everyone will experience countless hardships in that war.
But what Jo Geol probably fears is not the pain they will face in that war.
Sring.
Yoon Jong, having finished polishing his sword, slid it into its sheath and strapped it to his waist before standing up.
Thud.
As the door closed carefully, Jo Geol glanced back at the door Yoon Jong had left through.
“…Hoo.”
A deep, uncharacteristic sigh escaped his lips.
The night was steeped in silence.
Yoon Jong’s steps, as he left the lodging at Hwaeum, headed toward Hwasan. Though there was no need to climb Hwasan since everyone, including the Sect Leader, had temporarily settled at Hwaeum, he went nonetheless.
Amidst the silence, only his footsteps echoed. Yoon Jong’s eyes were deeply sunken as he climbed the familiar steep path of Hwasan.
How far had he climbed?
He veered off the familiar path, moving deeper into the rugged terrain. A place so remote that even wild animals avoided it. The deep, deep valley of Hwasan.
As he pushed through the dense, dark forest, a sharp sound pierced the air, reaching Yoon Jong’s ears.
Whoosh!
Yoon Jong’s gaze followed the plum blossoms blooming atop the dense trees.
The vivid plum blossoms blooming in the dark mountains were a sight that even Yoon Jong, a disciple of Hwasan, found breathtaking.
He approached the place where the plum blossoms were blooming.
Soon, he saw a man creating the brilliant plum blossoms with the tip of his sword.
Whoosh!
His white uniform was spotless.
The headband tied around his forehead.
His long black hair fluttered with each leap and swing of his sword.
In the deepest place of Hwasan, where even those familiar with the area rarely ventured, Baek Cheon was swinging his sword. Sweat droplets were flying off his smooth jawline, and his lower lip was tightly bitten. This alone suggested how intensely Baek Cheon was pushing himself.
And at that moment.
Whoosh!
At the tip of his forcefully swung sword, a magnificent and abundant plum blossoms bloomed. The dark green forest seemed to blossom all at once, creating a scene colored in red.
How could one fully describe or explain this sight in words? It was a spectacle that could leave one spellbound even in a dream.
And soon, this entire scene faded as if it had been an illusion.
Like plum blossoms that had bloomed brightly for a season, only to fall away.
Yoon Jong watched the scene silently.
Baek Cheon had always been someone who surged ahead on natural talent alone, making it impossible for others to even consider catching up.
But Yoon Jong knew. Baek Cheon had not reached this point on talent alone. Without secretly putting in such tremendous effort, he could never have become the Baek Cheon he was now.
“Hoo, haa.”
Baek Cheon, calmly lowered his sword, bent slightly at the waist, breathing heavily. He looked exhausted. It was a side he never showed, even before Five Swords.
After catching his breath for a long while, Baek Cheon wiped the sweat from his face and turned around.
“You’re here?”
Yoon Jong, with a slightly awkward expression, offered an excuse.
“…I wasn’t exactly trying to spy on Sasuk.”
Baek Cheon let out a chuckle.
Where could there be any spying among disciples of the same sect learning the same martial arts? Yoon Jong’s words were merely an attempt to justify that he hadn’t deliberately sought out Baek Cheon’s secret training.
“What did you think?”
“It was splendid.”
Baek Cheon straightened up and looked directly at Yoon Jong.
Sweat had splashed onto the sword, making its tip glisten more than usual.
“Is that all?”
Yoon Jong responded calmly.
“Fast, intense… and also delicate.”
The true path of righteousness [정도(正道)].
When discussing Baek Cheon’s swordsmanship, it was impossible to exclude the concept of the righteous path.
But at the same time, it was also bold and powerful. Even if one understood it, it was difficult to emulate Baek Cheon’s sword.
The same sword technique varies greatly depending on who wields it.
“Is that all?”
Uncharacteristically, Baek Cheon pressed Yoon Jong for more, as if asking for a bit more praise.
Yoon Jong stared intently at him.
His eyes, usually thin and hidden and difficult to read, now looked at Baek Cheon with a seriousness that felt almost chilling.
In the heavy, awkward atmosphere, Baek Cheon spoke first.
“I know. There’s still a long way to go. That’s why I’m training in secret like this….”
“Sasuk.”
Yoon Jong’s voice interrupted Baek Cheon’s words.
After a brief silence, Yoon Jong spoke again, his words heavy.
Those words, so difficult to utter, seemed to cut like a blade.
“You will die.”
Somewhere, the sound of insects chirping could be heard.
The weighty silence, perhaps even sadly serene, like the chill of dawn, settled between the two men.
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