Novels online

Chapter 277

Episode 277 I can handle it?

Jinha took his hand away from the doll he was trying to raise..

Crunchy.

I heard the sound of carving wood again..

Normally, the master would not have cared whether the doll was upright or down..

Who is this doll??

Jinha looked down at the fallen doll again..

For some reason, my eyes kept falling. In the end, Jinha didn't dare to stand up, but he gently turned over the doll that was lying down with its back turned..

For a moment, Jinha was surprised..

The wooden doll was himself. Although it was only the size of a finger, I could instinctively feel that it was definitely me. Like the clothes and the hair.

“Because it's me?”

At the soft question, the sound of cutting wood stopped..

“yes, it's you.”

Jinha looked at his master with a puzzled mind..

‘Say it's me and leave me lying there?’

Jinha knew. Master knows what happened in Honam..

‘No matter how much it is.’

Instead, just get angry. It felt worse than being yelled at. What on earth was Master thinking when carving this doll and laying it down in front of it? I felt a sense of disappointment and distance that I had never felt before..

‘I thought you would understand why I did that..’

Yes, you're probably doing this because you don't know the circumstances of that day..

“Chunhwamunju's son murdered innocent people..”

The master was absorbed in the sculpture in silence. I was listening, so I meant to keep talking..

Jinha couldn't say the most important part of the explanation. I should say that I realized that giving up Cheonhwamun was my grandfather's test, but wouldn't that mean that the master didn't realize that it was my grandfather's test in the first place??

“There was nothing I could do because Geomseon came forward..”

The master didn't say anything, either because he already knew or because he thought it was an excuse..

In the past, I would have been restless and asked my teacher for forgiveness first..

But Jinha quietly looked at his master..

‘What would you have done if it were a sword dance??’

Was it because I was thinking about the sword dance the whole way back? It really felt like a lie..

His image came to mind. His face looking at me with a wide smile.

―Let's have a drink!

One thing was certain. If it were a sword dance, I would have dealt with this moment with a smile..

Yes, if you get excited, you lose..

Jinha spoke calmly..

“I'm sorry to disappoint you..”

For a moment, the sound of cutting wood stopped..

Baek Cheon-gyeong slowly raised his head and looked at Jin Ha-gun..

In the past, my heart would have been pounding like it would explode, but strangely, I wasn't scared..

Lee Chae flashed across Baek Cheon-gyeong’s eyes. I felt that my student was different from usual..

Baek Cheon-gyeong put down the doll he was holding and stood up..

And then he slowly walked towards Jinha..

Jinha quietly looked at his master. In the past, your head would have moved before your eyes..

This must be how Master feels right now. What should I say to make Master's anger go away??

But now Jinha was thinking differently. Those words from the sword dance that were stuck in my heart.

―All along you've been looking straight ahead?

Jinha looked at the master walking towards him..

The master's eyes, steps, hand movements, and even facial expressions.

‘It's unfamiliar.’

Baek Cheon-gyeong's eyes, which were staring at his disciple, turned to the doll lying on the stand..

“Were you sad that your doll fell down??”

Jinha answered in a calm tone..

“This is my first doll made by my master..”

Baek Cheon-gyeong put the doll in its place..

“Are you done??”

Jinha looked down at the doll for a moment and then laid it down again..

“No, this time I was defeated by Geommugeuk. I should be down.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong nodded as if waiting for that reaction..

“okay. You should have somehow gotten Cheonhwamun into your hands and saved them..”

Jin Ha looked at Baek Cheon-gyeong in silence. It's also unfamiliar. Now that I think about it, I've never looked at his face so closely from the side or from up close. When I see my master, I feel it. When I see my grandfather, I feel it. That's how you lived by seeing people..

“Someday, when war breaks out, hundreds of Jeongpa people may be killed by Cheonhwamun. Can you handle that responsibility??”

In the past, I would have immediately bowed down and asked my teacher for forgiveness. Because what the master is saying now must have resonated with you. No, even if it didn't really hit home, I would have thought Master's words were right..

But I didn't feel that way now. Rather, I felt this way..

‘Why are you giving an extreme example that didn't happen??’

Suddenly, what Geomugeuk said came to mind..

―The person who connected you with that Lord of Heavenly Flowers does not want you to become a leader..

At the time, I thought it was nonsense, but now it has become a small doubt growing in my mind..

“my thoughts were short.”

At those words, Baek Cheon-gyeong’s expression softened somewhat..

“Okay, that's all you need to know. Now we have to find a way to get Cheonhwamun back..”

“I'll think about it.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong returned to his seat. Before starting to carve again, he uttered a word..

“The leader must have wanted that too..”

Crunchy.

It was contrary to Jinha's thoughts until the end..

‘Was it really like that??’

My grandfather was truly happy that he had given up Cheonhwamun. Because I tried to look at my grandfather clearly, I was able to read his emotions clearly. If not, I would have bowed my head and agreed to those words right now. Because I didn't see my grandfather properly..

Today, Jinha was finally able to understand how important Geommugeuk’s words to look clearly were..

‘Aside from everything else, shouldn’t we forgive people like Seo Cheong? Because we are a political faction. Among the political factions, he is the one who will become the Murim lord, and he is that lord’s master..’

When I returned from the sword dance, the master looked different..

No, maybe it was only today that Master realized that he was a completely different person from what he perceived..

* * *

That night, Jinha had a nightmare..

I was chased around all night by a shadowy figure whose face I couldn't recognize. No matter how much you run away, the other person knows where you are and follows you..

Even now, the guy was following me from far behind..

I was too tired to run..

As he trudged along in a state of desperation, he noticed people staring at him on the side of the road..

There were some familiar faces among them. There were people I practiced martial arts with when I was young, and there were disputes. People I wasn't even that close to. Why do they come out? Nightmares always bring back those we have forgotten..

I passed them and kept walking. Meanwhile, the chasing shadow came closer and closer..

I thought I was going to die now. Then someone called me.

―jin daeju!

When he looked up, he saw Geommugeuk leaning on the railing on the second floor of the tavern, looking down at him..

―Come up and have a drink.

He was smiling as brightly as when we last parted ways..

I went up to the second floor of the bar as if I was possessed. I was glad to see him.

I stood on the railing on this floor with Geommugeuk. The black shadow that was chasing him only looked up at him at the entrance to the bar, but did not enter there. I felt that the scary shadow was afraid..

Geommugeuk, who was standing with him at that time, suddenly spoke. That's what he said to himself at the banquet hall..

―Isn't that why we exist? Who can stop a guy like that if not us??

The moment he was watching the sword dance, Jinha woke up from his dream..

“Phew.”

Drenched in sweat, Jin Ha sighed..

It wasn't strange that a sword dance performance appeared in my dream. 'Cause I've been thinking about him ever since I met him.

But the choices I made in my dream today were so foolish. I was just helplessly chased. Whether you fight directly, lead a squad of annihilators, or go to your grandfather and ask for help. I had to make active efforts and choices. I was just chased..

What made me even more angry was that I gave up everything in the end. I vividly remembered the moment I was trudging along in desperation..

Shaking off the nightmare, he quickly got up from the bed..

* * *

Jin Ha-ryeong was surprised by Jin Ha-gun’s visit..

“Even you do things you don’t do before.?”

This is because Jinha has never visited his residence recently..

“People change sometimes.”

“Don't change too much, it's scary.”

Jinha, who was looking around the room, sat down. Since there was no way her brother could have just come to see her, Jin Ha-ryeong felt nervous and asked..

“What I went to?”

“I failed.”

“For that matter, you have a nice face.?”

“It was half failure and half success..”

Jin Ha-ryeong looked at him with an expression asking what he meant, but Jin Ha-gun did not answer. That's what he said, but he himself didn't know. What's right now, what's wrong.

“Sword dance drama, what was that person like??”

“I don't know.”

“Don't do that, just tell me.”

“I don't know. I don't know that person.”

Jin Ha-ryeong nodded..

“Good job. that person.”

If you ask her what kind of person Geommugeuk is, the only answer she can give is that..

At that time, Jinha said something unexpected..

“Haryeong, you have experienced something in your life that you cannot understand.?”

Jin Ha-ryeong looked at Jin Ha-gun in surprise..

“now.”

Jinha smiled slightly..

“I'm asking you seriously.”

Have you ever experienced something like that? Ah, there was.

“When I met that person, I couldn't understand everything at that time..”

“How did you get over it??”

“I didn't pass it up. I was swept away by that person in the sword dance..”

Now even Jinha knows exactly what that means..

Jin Ha-ryeong knew. A wave of change has come into my brother's life. I didn't ask if it was because of the sword dance. Because I won't say yes out of pride.

At that time, Jinha asked about something unexpected..

“Review index meetings are still held?”

“summer solstice.”

“A lot of people will come.”

“Where are you coming to see me? I'm coming here to impress my grandfather..”

Jin Ha-ryeong took turns inviting later leaders of political factions. Rather than a personal gathering, it was closer to managing late-stage indices at a private level. She was in charge of it.

“I have someone to invite.”

“who?”

Then, an unexpected person came out of Jinha’s mouth..

“A person who should look without prejudice.”

Jin Ha-ryeong was surprised. I'm talking about sword dance now..

“why is that person?”

Jinha answered..

“He needs help. Call me your guest, pretend it's a coincidence and let me meet you.”

I couldn't call him directly. Because the person who would become the Murim lord could not ask for help from the Demonic Cult leader..

“I'm serious?”

Jinha nodded. My younger brother is so amazing. Because even I thought this was crazy..

But it felt instinctive. The sense of alienation he felt from Master continued to stimulate his crisis instinct. What if I lived without knowing it like before? The doubts that have bloomed in my heart are growing day by day..

It was not something to put off, nor was it a time to take care of one’s pride. I needed someone's help, and I needed someone from the outside who could look at this situation objectively, not from an insider with a conflict of interest. I thought I shouldn't be as helpless as I was in my dream..

“Why on earth?”

“You don't need to know.”

“Ask again. Now, the Great Master of the Demon Cult needs the help of the Little Cult of the Demon Cult.?”

Jinha answered..

“Let's put it in a situation where your brother needs your friend's help..”

Even if you think about it, it makes no sense. But my instincts were speaking earnestly, even mobilizing my dreams. he needs it.

Jin Ha-ryeong hesitated. Even though it was the first request my mature brother had asked me, I hesitated..

The sword dance performance was also a good memory for her. With this excuse, I also wanted to see him again..

But getting tangled up with my brother was a different matter. Because it was the relationship between the person who would become the successor to the Murim League and the successor to the Demonic Cult..

So I was anxious. Is it okay to involve Mine in my brother's work?.

“I can handle it?”

After a moment, Jinha shook his head..

“Sword dance? I can't do it. He needs help because he can't handle it..”

Jin Ha-ryeong felt relieved because he accurately identified his opponent..

“That's it then.”

* * *

I was practicing the secret art of time and space in the art of space-time transformation..

Since my return, I have met all kinds of people and done all kinds of things, but I have never forgotten that the most important thing is martial arts training. Whenever I had time alone, I devoted myself to training..

The secret art of Sicheon was developing little by little. It was really slow like a turtle. But I didn't give up. I practiced and practiced again, hoping that one day I would suddenly reach a higher level. Of course that didn't happen.

Then, whenever I had to be in a place where people were passing by, I would close my eyes for a moment and practice the Cheonma self-defense technique. Since I had one step left in Daesung, I trained as best as I could..

Whenever he had time, Guhwamagong practiced only the first method of training over and over again. There will be almost no opponent that he cannot kill with the Bicheon Sword Technique, which has achieved great success in the Twelve Stars, but if he appears, he intends to kill him with the first method. So I practiced over and over again. I watched and watched your demons over and over again to the point where I now feel close to them. The time they stayed was also slightly increasing..

While I was resting for a while after training, I saw a horse taking a walk outside the window..

Gwonma stood tall at the end of the yard and looked beyond the fence at the mountains in the distance..

“Master.”

I stood side by side next to the horse..

“Let me guess what you were thinking right now.?”

Then Gwonma showed interest..

“what was i thinking?”

“You were thinking of the cliff.?”

“If anyone hears this, they will think I am crazy about destroying cliffs. Why did you think that??”

“Master and others said so..”

The horse looked at me with an expression that asked what I meant..

There are people who say who they are with their backs. My father is like that and Gwonma is like that..

The reason I feel lonely when I look at his back is because I know how honest that back is. If it is my father's order, I will walk alone towards thousands or tens of thousands of enemies without a single hesitation..

“Master, I don’t think we should collapse the cliff..”

“why?”

“When are you going to get rid of all that? And it would be cool if there was a cliff there.?”

Gwonma looked at me and smiled. I like this man's smile, this smile you don't see often..

At that time, a military officer from the Honam region came and delivered a message. Unexpectedly, it was a telegram sent by Jin Ha-ryeong..

―If something strange or incomprehensible happens in your life, you must tell me, right? Right now.