Chapter 191
Episode 191: He said he only said one word.
Why did my father come??
“Of course he came to push me..”
I know very well that you are not that kind of person..
It is not easy to find out why my father came here today, as much as why Kwon Ma came to the late-night training meeting..
“Is that really so??”
Kwon Ma acted as if he had an idea about his father's visit this time..
I asked, pouring a drink into his empty glass..
“Then why do you think you came??”
Gwonma emptied the glass again. He drank without a change in his countenance..
“I think it's the opposite. I came here to push the archduke..”
“Did you two share a message??”
Gwonma shook his head..
“But how do you know your heart??”
“Because the fact that you came here tells you the answer. The leader came to the first drink of the meeting I am having with you. To congratulate me? Is the leader that kind of person??”
“Nope.”
“Yeah, no. Then why did you come? I came here to let you know. He's just trying to let you know that he's keeping an eye on this situation..”
I don't know how he could possibly know everything about his father, but he must be saying things like that because he has certain feelings..
“In the end, my father is on my brother's side..”
“I can't say for sure that that's the case either..”
“You said that a while ago.?”
“He said he came to take my side, but he didn't mean that the leader was on the archduke's side..”
After saying those vague words, Gwonma stood up..
“I received a good welcome today..”
“It's good that Madam Kwon joined the meeting..”
“I like it?”
Kwon Ma's suspicious gaze turned from me to Ian and Cheon Sohee..
I replaced their frozen hearts..
“Of course it will be difficult and uncomfortable for those two, but they will definitely like you a lot..”
If it were the Ian I knew, he would have wanted to joke around by saying 'No!', but he nodded with a stern expression..
“I'm so glad that Madam Kwon came in.!”
“I guess so. You are a good woman..”
At my joke, Ian tightened his eyes again and looked at me..
Gwonma pretended not to hear. Whether it was a joke or a prank, the woman who could be called the most beautiful woman in the world said she was in good shape, so at least it wouldn't be a bad thing..
In fact, the person who was greatly affected by the arrival of Kwon Ma was not Ian, but Cheon So-hee..
She said to Gwonma in a trembling voice..
“You may not believe me because I made a lot of mistakes, but… … The reason I chose martial arts rather than swordsmanship is because I admire Master Kwon. I am… … I want to be like Mrs. Kwon.”
Her face was red, perhaps because she was drunk or because she was nervous. However, he was trying to convey his sincerity in his eyes towards Gwonma..
“I'm so glad that Madam Kwon joined the group..”
Kwon Ma stared at her for a moment and went down to the first floor without saying a word..
Cheon So-hee was standing with a face that looked like she was about to collapse at any moment. I gave her a nod and shouted at Gwon Ma, who was leaving the bar..
“Next time, Mr. Kwon, please buy me a drink.!”
“There is no next time.”
“There could be a reception for my father, right??”
Kwon Ma stopped at the entrance to the tavern, then snorted and shook his head..
“The leader of the cult? don't even dream.”
So Gwonma left the tavern..
Now only me, Ian, and Cheon Sohee remain. Ian and Cheon Sohee sat down in their seats as if broken..
“Ahhh! It's over.”
Ian sighed in relief and held out his drink..
“I can finally have a drink comfortably. Have a drink, master..”
I toasted her and then had a drink..
Cheon So-hee's hands were shaking..
“I'll drink it later. I can't lift my glass.”
When we were all together, I was caught up in the situation, but once Cheonma and Gwonma left, it seemed like I was dreaming. In fact, he drank with Cheonma and directly told Gwonma that he admired him. Something that was previously unthinkable happened today..
“Oh, I was so nervous, my whole body felt stiff..”
“how is it? I can drink it again?”
To my question, Sohee Cheon gave a different answer depending on her physical condition..
“It was so hard... … This tension wasn't bad.”
She met me recently, and although she seemed to be flustered by various things, she is a woman with the most iron fist of the Dongkwonmun and has more strength than anyone else..
“I'm not saying I can drink it, I want to drink it..”
“Stimulating things are definitely thrilling?”
Cheon So-hee smiled slightly and agreed..
Now my eyes were on Ian..
“how do you feel?”
“What do you think??”
It was the day I received martial arts instruction from the Heavenly Demon..
“I wasn't just happy that the teacher taught me martial arts..”
“then?”
“The fact that you taught me martial arts means you officially acknowledged me.?”
Although she couldn't say it out loud, her father acknowledged that she was as close to him as his own by personally teaching her the Bicheon Sword Technique. Because the Bicheon Sword Technique was a martial art that was only taught to blood relatives..
“It will be a day I will never forget. Thank you, master..”
“what did i do?”
“You said that to the religious leader, right? It may be a one-time drinking event for his father, but it could be a life-changing event for Ian. If it weren't for those words, nothing would have happened..”
Ian remembered exactly what I told my father..
“I felt welcome today.”
I smiled broadly and patted her on the shoulder. Welcome, Ian.
And so the drinking party at the Pungryu bar ended..
* * *
The reception is over, but my day is not over..
When I returned to my residence, an unexpected person was waiting for me..
The person standing in the yard of my residence looking up at the moon in the night sky was my older brother, Geommuyang..
“When did you come??”
“earlier.”
I feel like I probably waited quite a long time. What did you think while waiting??
“I had a drink with Mr. Kwon. If I had known it would be like this, I would have done it together..”
Geommuyang just looked up at the moon in silence..
I stood next to him.
“You look tired.”
At my words, Geommuyang’s eyes turned from the moon to me..
“okay? I have a lot of work to do these days. how about you?”
He looked softer than usual. I felt it. That Geommuyang is trying her best. The more I'm pushed into a corner, the more I try..
In a way, I felt sorry for my brother. It was true that my brother's life became difficult when I returned. This fight was a fight with a decided outcome from the beginning. Because a young man in his twenties couldn't deal with me. Even after I returned, I was getting stronger endlessly..
Still, bro, we can't live the same life. If we continue like this, the only thing waiting for us is death..
“I'm worried about me meeting a knight?”
“It would be a lie if I said I didn't use it.”
“I'm really into boxing these days. You won't believe this?”
“Would you believe it??”
“Hyung, you can also meet the Magons comfortably. I met Hyeolcheon Doma and talked about books, and I met Chuma and drank alcohol. Because I'm okay.”
“Are you confident about this? It's already yours? As your older brother, let me give you some advice. Don't look down on the Magons. If you think that the person smiling in front of you right now is you, it is a big mistake. They will eventually make a choice at the last moment that is in their best interest..”
I smiled at him..
“Are you laughing at me??”
“no. When was the last time my brother gave me advice or advice? It was quite a long time ago?”
Geommuyang turned her head and looked at the wall with the shadow of the moon on it..
Between us, there is a fence several times higher and thicker than that fence..
“Gwonma said so. He said he supports his brother. I'm sure my father would want that too..”
For a moment, Geommuyang was startled..
“Really??”
“okay.”
“Why are you telling me that??”
“brother. I am naturally like this. The other person comes out well, but I am not a person who is making a fuss..”
I revealed my true feelings to him, something I hadn't done in a long time..
“Do you know why I told the Magons that I would fight for the successor instead of shedding blood with my brother??”
“Because?”
Geommuyang was genuinely curious..
“When I was young, my brother did things to me that I couldn’t do. It instilled a fear of martial arts in me as a child and led me to break down psychologically. At that time, just thinking about the word martial arts made me feel intimidated and scared..”
This was the first time I brought this issue up to him. Geommuyang’s eyes trembled. I guess they thought I didn't know. Well, he pretended to be worried about me and told me all kinds of things..
My brother didn't deny it..
“Then you have to take revenge, why don't you shed blood??”
“My brother was a bad guy only to that extent..”
“!”
“If my brother had been more of a scumbag, he would have killed me somehow. They must have destroyed the Danjeon or used some other vicious tactic. But my older brother was not the kind of person who wanted to become a successor, at least by harming his younger brother. A bad guy that I can understand and tolerate, that's why. With my broad heart, let me forgive and understand up to that point. Because you were young back then.”
Of course, the fact that my father wanted it was another big reason..
“Crazy guy, damn it..”
A swear word that I didn't usually use came out. Geommuyang was embarrassed. Maybe at this moment, my brother is being bombarded with questions deep inside his heart..
‘What would have happened if you weren't confident in becoming the successor? Still, would he have left his younger brother alone? Didn't he stop at that level because he was confident of becoming the successor??’
What kind of person is my brother??
Actually, I don't even know that far. Because it didn't happen, and no one can guarantee what choice a desperate person will make at that moment..
“Instead, don't let down your guard. My brother and I are still standing on the test table. I said I would fight for succession without shedding blood, but if I kill my brother and become the leader of the cult, no mazon will truly follow me. Same goes for my brother. If you defeat me and ascend to the position of leader through a clumsy plot, the Mazon will never be truly loyal to you. Don't forget. It seems like they don't see us, but the Mazons are always watching us..”
Geommuyang, who was quietly staring at me, blurted out.
“Why have you become so talkative? I wasn't like that when I was young..”
“All my inner strength goes to my mouth..”
“It's not funny at all.”
Did my first words knock a brick off the thick wall between him and me? I kept nagging him more, hoping that would happen. I have no choice but to use my nagging skills towards my older brother..
“Since we're all chatting anyway, I'll just say one last thing. There is no coexistence between brothers in a power struggle? They end up killing each other? Who decided? Why should we be swayed by the precedents and suspicions of idiots who can't even control their desires??”
I, who was next to him, went in front of Geommuyang. And looked into his eyes and said.
“So don’t even dream of being swayed. If you ever feel anxious, like I'm going to kill you, come see me. When you see me, those thoughts will disappear. Don’t think you’ve been ignored by me today either! Don't think you lost. I just think that my younger brother talks a lot and speaks well. Don't get upset! Don't decide anything hastily!”
As soon as I finished speaking, Geommuyang became upset..
“You bastard! I thought my ears were bleeding. You say you only say one word, but is this just one word? If you feel like killing yourself or me, come see me! The young guy is admonishing me!”
Geommyang walked outside with great strides..
You know what? brother. It may be difficult for you too, but so am I. My older brother is the most difficult for me, more than my father and even Palmazon..
I stood in the yard for a moment and looked up at the moon my brother had been looking at. It was a night that reminded me of Hyeolcheon Doma's words about my family being my enemy..
* * *
We trained hard the next day and the day after that..
I worked hard during the day and worked hard at night as well. It was truly a series of training..
A few days passed and today we were still in the middle of a late-night training session..
Today was also the time when I was practicing herbalism in the same posture as a boxing horse..
Whoa whoa!
The horse's fist flew towards me..
It looked like a mistake, but it wasn't a mistake.
Boom!
My fist and the horse's fist collided in the air..
Ian and Cheon So-hee looked at us in surprise at the sound of the drum exploding..
We were raising our fists in the same position, and our fists were meeting in the air..
“I'm sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”
“It could be so..”
“What is it like? I've already put in so much effort, so let's give it a try.?”
“It was a good try, though. I decline..”
Finally, the horse is starting to do tricks that are not just tricks. He wanted to fight me ten times as much as I wanted to learn his martial arts..
“If you declined, you would have turned away. Why are you looking at me like that??”
It was probably a very unfamiliar experience for him. Because it's rare for someone to stare at you like this..
Now I'm going to take a good look at that horse. I saw the fist first, but now I'm going to look at him. straight forward without any preconceptions.
“I think it's less scary because I keep seeing Kwon's face..”
Gwonma shook his head with a puzzled expression and got dressed as if that was the end of today’s training..
After he left, Ian and Cheon Sohee came next to me and said.
“liar!”
“The more you look at it, the scarier it gets..”
I laughed lightly at their sincere jokes..
My eyes turned to the horse walking in the distance. The horse was walking alone into the darkness with its big, thick back showing..
What keeps catching my eye isn't his face. From that lonely looking back, I... … I see myself before returning.
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