Chapter 2
Kwon Dong-je, Jeong Baek.
For him, who is said to be a great man of Jeongdo, Jeongdo was part and everything of life..
don't do anything wrong.
do what is right.
It is a simple and clear fact that everyone knows, but only a very few people keep it..
As people live, they are bound to be blocked by the wall of reality at some point, and they become resigned and compromise with reality..
However, for Jeong Baek, this ‘compromise’ did not exist..
If something went wrong in front of me, I pointed it out and tried to correct it, and I valued what was right and did good deeds..
Although it is a noble and upright belief, if you look at it through the eyes of an ordinary person, it can be said that you are crazy..
If you ask why, there is only one answer..
It is absolutely impossible for a person to do this..
It was once or twice that he did not spare his efforts or his life for others, but to repeat it for decades was crazy..
‘Why are you doing this??’
One day, Nangong Weiwu asked:.
‘Because that is the duty of man.’
Jeong Baek’s thoughts are not that difficult..
Simple enough for even a child to understand.
But it was a concept that was so far from reality..
People saw this and called it ideal..
It is difficult to maintain the original ideals..
The goal was high, but there were limits..
Jeongbaek’s wall of limitations wasn’t that high..
It was because he had the ability to rise to the top without a martial arts skill, connections from a prestigious tribe, or a teacher..
When there was a situation where he had to save one of the two, he saved them both with overwhelming talent and effort..
Of course, I have never faced a truly unavoidable situation..
There were times when I almost got frustrated..
But I didn't give up.
I didn't give up.
Even as I got older and became frustrated, I kept my convictions..
Was it because of endless effort or pure character?.
Many martial arts heroes gathered by his side..
When I came to my senses, I realized that I was called a hero..
Eventually, as time passed, his unchanging beliefs were embodied in his imagery, and he reached the level of absolute mastery..
but……
Ideals that had not changed for decades were shaken..
The starting point was the day that Namgung Weimu became a martial arts official..
‘Take responsibility for that level of pride.!’
‘It means becoming an adult.!’
Joo Seocheon's shout was stuck in the corner of my head..
Those words never left my head, or rather my heart..
take responsibility.
I stayed in Murim pondering those words..
To see the results of actions based on beliefs.
The ripples caused by Nangong Weimu spread into waves..
And today Jeongbaek noticed.
‘Has it changed?……’
Compromise is understanding and also mutual respect..
Jeong Baek finally put down the ideology he had been pursuing..
In the name of responsibility, I ended up compromising like normal people..
Instead, I also learned that because of this, I was having mental problems and my martial arts, including my body, was deteriorating..
‘If this continues, I cannot take responsibility for my actions..’
The realm regressed to the beginning of the prefecture, but soon it fell all the way down..
It was between Hwa-gyeong and Hyeon-gyeong..
My mental image was broken, so it was only natural..
‘No, there is one way..’
Visualization is one of the above application methods..
‘Congenital Jingi.’
Innate Qi (先天眞氣)).
It was the energy and ideal power that became the source of people, or rather living things..
It is a type of internal energy that is possessed from birth, and unlike general internal energy, once consumed, it cannot be replenished..
Also, as the source of life was consumed, the cost was great..
It was life.
It didn't matter whether it was low or high..
Gu Hal dies, and even if he lives with the luck of heaven, he loses his martial arts skills and becomes a ruined person..
And in return, the user gains enormous power..
It was the only way to make up for the regression..
I didn't care because I didn't have much time left anyway..
“Haaap!”
Jeong Baek’s spirit rang loudly..
It is not something collected from the usual Mother Nature..
It was the energy of life embraced by a man named Jeong Baek..
The fist blocked by the sword pushed Amcheonhoeju away..
“I never thought I could handle congenital jingi..”
The emotion that came out of Amcheonhoeju's mouth was surprise..
Congenital Qi is not something that can be treated carelessly..
Even if you use it sparingly, its lifespan decreases and you instinctively become unable to use it..
The same goes for the absolute master of Hyeongyeong, the Sixth Chair of the Supreme Heaven..
It was something that even superhuman willpower couldn't do anything about..
But Jeongbaek was also surprised..
‘I was planning on blowing it up, but I ended up getting pushed away..’
Jeongbaek’s face hardened..
As there was little time, exploration battles were meaningless..
I was planning on pushing through and finishing it all at once..
However, rather than finishing, I was shocked by Amcheonhoeju's profound work, which ended with him being pushed back a little..
‘That’s what the swordsman warned me about… … Is it the power of Amcheonhoeju?.’
Joo Seocheon warned several times about the fear of Amcheonhoe..
I recalled that voice and started my next attack..
Step your right leg forward.
Cooung!
When I put pressure on my feet, the floor collapsed into a hemisphere shape..
It was easy to lose balance, but the two masters remained steadfast..
Boom.
Twist your waist halfway and apply rotational force to your left hand..
The atmosphere, not the wind, was crushed.
Jeong Baek struck out the sword with his hand, not the fist that pushed the sword away..
Kwaaang!
The fist drew a straight line and hit Amcheonhoeju's lower abdomen precisely..
It was a clean blow..
But it didn't cause any fatal injuries..
Just before I got hit, I deployed my self-defense technique and was blocked..
Whirling!
Jeong Baek rotated half a turn using his right foot as an axis..
In response, he lifted his left leg and rotated it to deliver a kick..
The speed and power are also top-notch..
It was to the point where he went beyond making up for his lack of martial arts skills and aimed for a level above that..
Without even blinking an eyebrow, Amcheon Hoeju raised his sword diagonally and blocked a spinning kick that was about to hit his ribs..
Kwaaaaang!
Power collides with power.
energy and energy collided.
There is a saying that the moment it all started, there was a big explosion..
There was an explosion worthy of those words..
I thought the energy in the atmosphere was shaking, but it caused a series of explosions and spewed out a storm..
Quarrrr!
The roof tiles above the eight gates were broken by falling rainwater..
The sand on the ground dispersed like fog, became the wind, and passed through the surrounding area..
The air disappeared for a moment and I couldn't breathe..
It was an influence worthy of a battle of absolute masters..
I couldn't see it as a person.
In the midst of all this, Zhuge Zhongho maintained the Paljindo and was amazing..
Pabat!
Jeongbaek's body became blurred and then appeared behind Amcheonhoeju's back..
It was Lee Hyeong-hwan, Choi Sang-seung's Shinshin Corporation..
“Whoop!”
I draw strength not from my body, but from my being, and punch my fist with all my might..
He was ready to break his target's back at once..
Paaat!
But that fist couldn't reach.
Amcheonhoeju didn't even have eyes on the back, but he avoided it as if he expected it..
Even the technique that was avoided was Lee Hyeong-hwanwi..
Amcheonhoeju also disappears and then appears from the side..
Shout out!
Amcheonhoeju's sword stretched forward and drew the characters of Korea and Japan..
It was still a speed that deviated from common sense..
Jeongbaek quickly twisted his body..
“Sigh.!”
His moving speed is also unusual..
But it was accompanied by a lot of pain..
Muscles were twisted, accompanied by pain..
My muscles were pulled as if they were about to break..
My intestines hurt like crazy..
The direction of the force, which had been heading towards the front, changed as if it had originally been to the side, and the arm that was extended forward was swung to the side, hitting the sword body of Amcheonhoeju with all its force with the back of the hand..
Jjaeaeng!
The sword rang with shock..
The skin on the back of my hand also trembled as if there were waves..
This is not the end of all offense and defense..
Before I could catch my breath, Amcheonhoeju’s sword strikes poured down..
pabababat!
The sword struck by the back of my hand has suddenly found its original position..
I moved my body desperately in response to my owner's movements..
A black flash of light flashed..
A sword was fired at a speed that could not be followed by human vision..
Jeongbaek also swung his fists one after another, matching the speed..
pababababat!
Sword and fist strikes were fired at the opponent in front..
Chae chae chaeng!
There was a friction sound as if metal was struck repeatedly..
A flash of light flashed and sparks flew..
There was a triple-digit clash for a split second..
‘Huh! Heo Eok!’
I'm getting short of breath..
My heart was racing like it was going to explode.
My body was starting to get heavier little by little..
Kwaang!
Jeongbaek widened his distance for a moment to regroup..
“How foolish..”
The head of Amcheonhoe noticed Jeongbaek’s condition..
“No matter how great your innate Qi is, in the end you are no different from a moth throwing yourself into a flame..
Returning to light means turning your energy around before you die..
I should have carried out those proud ideals as I have always lived..”
It's not wrong..
On the contrary, it belongs to the correct theory..
“If there had been no change in thinking until the end, the imagery would have remained the same and it would have displayed its original power..
It's true that I don't have much time left to live, but I wouldn't have to die as soon as I do now..
What ruined you so much??”
Amcheonhoeju asked:.
“Although crazy and distorted, your beliefs were pure and worthy of respect..”
I wasn't being sarcastic..
I meant it..
“Didn't he just lead by example and make an effort instead of just talking loudly like other hypocrites?.
But where did he leave his noble beliefs and become a weakling?.”
Amcheonhoeju looked disappointed and raised his sword..
Buzz buzz!
The atmosphere is shaking.
Heaven and earth were shaken.
A vibration that I had never felt before covered the surroundings..
The unprecedented power in the sword rotated and engulfed the surroundings..
“Answer me, Kwon Dong-je.”
It is not a power system..
Jeong Baek also raised his right fist..
And at this moment, the source of life boiled and erupted, including the remaining lifespan and the foundation of martial arts..
“I am just an old man.”
The energy of Mother Nature was quiet..
Proved that ideals have collapsed.
So we even mobilized power cuts that we don’t know when they were in operation..
Pure white hair was flying..
The skin under the eyes began to wrinkle rapidly..
I felt like my well-trained muscles were gradually shrinking..
The boy becomes a young man, the young man becomes middle-aged, and eventually he enters old age..
“done.”
Amcheonhoeju’s voice grew cold..
No emotion could be found in those eyes that only showed darkness..
“Goodbye, Sangcheon of Martial Arts.”
Amcheonhoeju swung his sword..
It didn't matter that there was a distance from Jeongbaek..
The sword, which drew a vertical line from top to bottom, was aimed at his head..
Jeongbaek also swung his fist at the same time..
A light as white as snow flashed and the natural energy erupted..
‘if……’
In the pure white light, a fragment of memory emerged..
I have been wandering around various battlefields since I was young..
I have lived my whole life knowing about the right and wrong, judging what is right and what is bad, and punishing..
As time passed, the number of people with me gradually increased, and I laughed, cried, and got angry..
Sometimes, I lived for someone else, raising my voice and discussing the present or future of Moorim..
‘If I hadn't left Moorim back then……’
Always treated like a fool.
I was ridiculed as a child who did not know reality..
It was a belief that no one understood, and it was a lonely path, but from some point on, more and more people would be with me..
The Nangong Wei Martial Family, the Great Hyeman Family, the Zhuge Zhonghu Family, the Woon Gwang Yi... … He was with many other people as well..
After not giving up and continuing his efforts, he ended the conflict with the previous generation and succeeded in reforming the Murim Alliance..
If I hadn't left that day, a different future might have awaited me..
I wouldn't have been sitting in the mountains where no one would come.
He may have been sitting in the Murim lord's hideout, playing baduk and discussing the future of the martial arts, or taking in disciples..
Waiting for life to end, old people might gather together and shiver..
“iced coffee……”
In the fading consciousness.
Jeongbaek suddenly muttered..
“Comfort... … sorry……”
Sangcheon six seats. Pure white. death).
Three days later, Moorim was shaken by some news..
Hefei has fallen!
The Murim League’s saints have collapsed..
That was enough to shock people..
“The flag of Amcheonhoe has been raised at the Murim Alliance headquarters.!”
“what? Is that really true??”
“No, does that mean the Murim Alliance lost the war??”
The Murim League headquarters was perceived in people's minds as an impregnable castle..
It was natural, as the history of defeats since the headquarters settled in Hefei has been few and far between..
Also, in the previous cases, the only cases where it was regained immediately after being defeated were..
There were virtually no cases of falling into the hands of the enemy like this time..
The aftermath was significant for the martial people, or rather the Jeongpa people..
It was so extreme that as soon as they heard the news of the fall of the headquarters, it was said that the Murim League was completely destroyed..
“It's a rumor!”
“This is the work of the Amcheonhoe.!”
When the political faction, Murim, began to experience difficulties due to scandalous rumors, the political and political alliance quickly took action to resolve the issue..
“It is true that the Murim League headquarters was defeated, but it was not completely destroyed..
The purpose of Amcheonhoe is to exaggerate the victory and shake the spirits of the allies, so do not be deceived..”
“Phew, thank goodness!”
“Still, isn't it true that the headquarters was captured and defeated??
It's a shock..”
The Murim people showed various reactions..
I was able to see a variety of people, from people who were relieved to people who were disappointed or frustrated..
In addition, before the confusion over the news of the Murim Alliance's defeat had subsided, another negative event shook the political and political alliance..
The six thrones of Sangcheon, Emperor Gwon Dong-je are dead.!
“That guy is really old, so wouldn’t it be strange if he died at any time??”
“You idiot, if that were the case, would you have made such a fuss??
He did not close his eyes because his life was over, but he died by the hands of Amcheonhoeju.!”
“What?”
It was the death of King Gwon Dong-je, the six kings of heaven..
As he was a hero to an entire generation and a martial artist who reached the peak, it was natural that his death became a hot topic..
“Former military officer, Zhuge Zhonghuodo……”
“What on earth happened??”
It didn't take long for the whole story to come to light..
The fall of the headquarters was so large-scale that there were more than one witness..
I quickly learned about the war situation..
“Wow, I never thought something like that would happen.……”
“It's truly a pity.”
People of the political faction mourned the sacrifices of Zheng Baek and Zhuge Zhonghao..
“What is the future of political factions??”
“Isn’t this no different from a complete defeat?.”
The fall of the headquarters was also a problem, and to make matters worse, the morale of the government-government alliance plummeted due to the news of Emperor Gwon Dong-je's death..
It was fortunate that most of the main retreat group survived, but it was not of much help..
As a result, the headquarters fell and the Sangcheon Sixth Place, a member of the political faction, was lost, so the damage was too great..
“I have a complicated feeling..”
Apostle Heaven frowned at the fall of the Murim League headquarters..
“Before I was wondering how to destroy such a troublesome headquarters, but now I am lamenting it.……”
The Murim League is a Murim League, but Sado Cheon also has bitter tastes..
Uneasy voices were coming from within, affecting not only the political faction but also the morale of the four factions..
Since it is a sect that pursues profit rather than faith or duty, there were opinions in places that were not visible that it should be attached to the Amcheonhoe even now..
After the Samun Rebellion, the mole was completely cleaned out, and the sprouts began to grow again..
“The future of government affairs is dark.……”
* * *
Honam, Jangsha).
‘got hit.’
A sigh flowed from Joo Seocheon’s mouth..
It was about five days ago..
The moment the contingent heard the news of He Fei's attack in Guizhou, their hearts sank..
And at the same time, I automatically realized what the enemy's intentions were..
Guizhou is a trap.
‘I felt that Gwiju's Amcheon-gun was not the main force..’
It was natural since there were no executives other than Yogwang..
The power of the Amcheonhoe was less than expected..
‘But I never thought it was just bait……’
It was just a matter of buying time to gather at Hefei..
But it was too late to realize.
As soon as I heard the news, I hurried back to Hefei, but that was after the attack..
Even if I tried my best, I couldn't help in time because of the distance from Guizhou to Anhui..
Above all, the problem was that it did not take long for the Amcheonhoe to capture the Murim Alliance..
Quick resolution.
I couldn't physically use my hands..
In the end, without even being able to set foot on Anhui, let alone Hebi, he heard the news of the defeat of the Murim Alliance in Honam..
“……”
The atmosphere of the detached unit, led by Joo Seocheon, was not very good..
In particular, Zhuge Suran was depressed due to self-blame..
“sorry… … If only I had said let's go back to headquarters sooner.……”
Byeoldongdaeju is Dan Lihua, but the destination and actions are determined by Zhuge Suran..
It seemed like he felt responsible for that..
“are you okay. Because it's not my brother's fault.”
Dan Lihua comforted Zhuge Suran with a bitter smile..
“It's just like he said..”
Tang Hye agreed to Dan Lihua’s words..
“It was necessary to clean up after the clash in Guizhou, and even if they had returned right away, they would not have been able to arrive on time as everyone was exhausted and the distance to Hefei was considerable..
Even if I arrived, I would have been too tired to fight properly..”
The same goes for Joo Seocheon..
Guizhou and Anhui are far away..
Unless they retreated while fighting with the Guizhou army, they could not have arrived on time..
“Same goes for you.”
I glanced at Joo Seo-cheon, as if Dang-hye was concerned..
‘Next time, I won't be fooled like this time..’
However, Joo Seocheon was not that gloomy..
I'm resentful, but I can't stay entangled forever..
After blaming myself, I was thinking about the following..
‘Kwon Dong-je……’
Gwon Dong-je, Jeong Baek's death.
Ju Seo-cheon also had complicated feelings about Jeong Baek's death..
To be honest, I don't like him..
If you ask me if I hate it, I will say I hate it..
I thought he was a stubborn old man, or rather a child, without even thinking about what was going on or what was around him..
However, after hearing the end, my thoughts changed a little..
‘Were you trying to take some responsibility? Kwon Dong-je… … No, Jeongbaek.’
I had that thought..
* * *
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