Episode 223
“Take it.”
Hwigawon, a soldier of the Beast Palace, handed me a bundle of documents.
After checking the Beast Palace Lord’s seal on the corner of the document, I nodded with a satisfied expression.
Finally, the purpose of visiting the Beast Palace was achieved.
If this was delivered to the headquarters of the Murim Alliance, the mission would be completed.
“Are you planning on going back to the midfield right away?”
“yes.”
“Isn’t it too urgent? “You must have been tired from competing, so I think it would be a good idea to get some rest before moving.”
“Isn’t it good for the delegation to stay in the Beast Palace any longer?”
“That’s true, but…”
Hwigawon, who was scratching his wrinkled cheek, glanced sideways behind him.
The Beast Princess, who was sitting leaning against the head of the bed and staring at us, coughed softly as if she had been waiting.
I laughed as I looked at the two people openly exchanging signals.
‘Just ask normally.’
Of course, Huigawon was not sorry about me leaving the Beast Palace.
He just wanted to give the Beast Palace Lord time to say goodbye to his blood relative, Woo Hwa-yeon.
“Now that I think about it, it will take some time to prepare the compensation you promised me. “We will postpone our departure by three days.”
“Thank you.”
“Please take care of the promised items.”
“Don’t worry about that part.”
I got up from my seat, packing the non-aggression pact in my chest.
Since I finished all my business, I was thinking of heading back.
The Beast Palace Lord spoke to me as if throwing a tone.
“Please take care of Hwa-yeon.”
“Do not worry.”
“This is a child who suffered a lot after being caught up in an unwanted fight.”
“We will not only guarantee your personal safety, but we will also take measures to ensure that you can live a life without any shortcomings. “I promise you this on my name.”
“I feel a little relieved to hear you say that.”
A sad smile appeared on the Beast Prince’s face.
Before he was the ruler of Namman, he was also a parent with children.
I would never feel at ease.
“Then I’ll just leave.”
* * *
After saying goodbye to the palace lord and the soldiers one by one, I went that way and found the residence of the prince.
Originally, I had planned to go straight back to my lodgings, but suddenly I thought that I would like to have a proper conversation with Confucius at least once.
‘Before, I didn’t have time to talk properly because he was forcing me to help him in a threatening tone.’
Confucius’ residence was located in the center of the inner city, on the highest floor.
After informing the warrior guarding the entrance of my visit and entering the room, a spacious and simple space came into view.
Confucius, who was lying in bed, raised his upper body with difficulty and asked.
“Why did you come here?”
“I plan to return to midfield soon. So I came to say goodbye.”
“Are you saying you’re leaving already?”
“yes.”
“You’re overdoing it. “It may not be as bad as mine, but your injuries are probably significant.”
“This is okay.”
As Confucius said, I suffered quite a few internal injuries in the final match.
The only thing that looked fine was on the outside.
There was a need to focus on treatment for a while.
Of course, due to the nature of the White Lightning Divine Art, it will not take a long time to recover.
“It was a fun match.”
“I think so too.”
“Did you say you are twenty-one this year?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s not good for my face. “It’s like lying in a hospital bed after being defeated by a young late Jisoo.”
“Didn’t that late Jisoo win the championship by defeating all the strong men who participated in the competition? “I don’t think you need to worry about him losing his dignity.”
“How dare you say something like that so casually? “Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Isn’t it true?”
As he shrugged his shoulders slyly, the Duke couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing.
He laughed for a while, then glared at me with sharp eyes and said.
“I hope we get a chance to compete again.”
“Someone said that. “Opportunities are not something you wait for, but something you create yourself.”
“······?”
“If we lose the successor competition and there is no longer a place for the Grand Duke in Nanman. At that time, please come to the midfield. “We will welcome you.”
People didn’t know how to do things.
A word thrown without much thought could have become an opportunity to greatly change the future.
As a similar example, wasn’t he reunited with Yu So-hwa, the guard of the Manjang family, in Maeng?
“There is no such thing as bad talk.”
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“Don’t misunderstand. “I didn’t mean it with malicious intent.”
“I’m sorry, but that won’t happen. “I will definitely climb around the palace grounds.”
“I will support you.”
Although he was injured and weakened, he remained confident.
Confucius and I continued to talk about various things after that.
‘It’s definitely different than before.’
Even after wiping my eyes, I couldn’t find the overbearing attitude at first.
Occasionally he would make jokey remarks, and he would also seriously ask for advice.
How much time has passed like that?
“and······.”
He, who seemed to be muttering uncharacteristically, opened his mouth with difficulty.
It seemed quite embarrassing that he couldn’t make direct eye contact.
“Take care of your youngest child.”
For a moment, I saw the image of Prince I overlap with that of Princess Beast, who had asked me to take care of Woo Hwayeon.
If you think about it, I have never seen Confucius treat Wu Hwayeon harshly, even though he was often at odds with his other brothers.
‘I’m not good at expressing myself, though.’
Even that arrogant and self-righteous man seemed to feel familial love for his sister.
Even if they are half-siblings, does that mean that family is family?
[As the fight for control of the palace intensified, our relationship became estranged, but the relationship between me and my brothers was not bad until a few years ago. All four of them treated her little sister kindly for a long time.]
[······.]
[I’m not sure. Is it so wrong to think that you don’t want to kill your loved ones with your own hands?]
I felt like I could understand it to some extent now.
Why did Woo Hwayeon ask to take her to Jungwon?
Why did he show such aversion to harming other brothers?
‘It’s self-sacrifice.’
A similar sentiment came to mind when I saw Yu So-hwa sacrificing himself for Cho Yeon-hee.
It was still a feeling I couldn’t relate to, but I didn’t feel like denying or criticizing that feeling.
“yes.”
I nodded with a kind smile on my face.
In this situation, there was no need to say something that would make the other person anxious.
“Do not worry.”
* * *
The next day, early morning.
I visited Woo Hwayeon and informed her of my future schedule.
“We will leave in two days.”
“All right.”
Woo Hwayeon, sitting across from him, was dressed quite simply.
It was a contrast to the previous appearance, which was decorated with great splendor.
As for my personal impressions, this one seemed to suit her impression better.
Since she is a beautiful woman, she will look good in any outfit.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Because it’s something I wanted for myself. “I have no regrets.”
Woo Hwayeon nodded with a faint smile on her lips.
Contrary to what he said, the hand holding the teacup was shaking slightly.
It wasn’t too much of a stretch.
Is there anyone in the world who would not feel anxious while living as a prisoner in a faraway land?
“By the way, I never thought you would directly negotiate with your grandfather.”
“It was half a gamble. In the end, it worked out well.”
The corners of Woo Hwa-yeon’s eyes drooped slightly.
It was an expression that seemed both relieved and confused.
“No matter how much it is to achieve a secret wish, you can’t believe you made the decision to send me to the central region so easily. As expected from my maternal grandfather…”
“well.”
I shook my head and put the tea cup down on the table.
At first glance, Dokgokju seems to be a cold and heartless person, but I knew that this was not the case in reality.
“As I said, I proposed to Lord Dokgok that he disband Sojeo’s faction and support Sagongja’s faction.”
“······?”
“I don’t think you understand.”
Woo Hwayeon is staring at me with a questioning expression.
I picked up the kettle and filled the empty glass with tea, then picked it up and brought it to my mouth.
“Let me ask you a question. “What do you think is the easiest way to disband Sozer’s faction?”
“I, the head of the faction, am leaving for the central plains with the delegation, am I not?”
“no.”
“then?”
“Sojeo was assassinated by a gunman.”
“······!”
Woo Hwayeon’s expression hardened.
It seemed like he finally understood what I was saying.
“It is a problem that can be easily solved by killing him, but we chose the cumbersome method of keeping him alive and sending him to the central office. “There is no need to explain what this means.”
In a way, Dokgokju’s decision was no different from admitting his own weakness.
This means acknowledging Woo Hwayeon’s value as a hostage.
It was an act that clearly had to take a loss for him who wanted to rule as the supreme ruler of Namman in the future.
“okay.”
Woo Hwayeon, who had been quietly fiddling with her teacup, lowered her head.
The tears that flowed down my cheeks formed on the tip of my chin and fell to the floor.
I tipped the teacup without saying a word, giving her time to gather her emotions.
“Thank you for accepting my unreasonable request.”
“There is no reason to say thank you. “I did it for my own benefit.”
“Even so, Sohyeop is a benefactor to me.”
“······.”
She wiped her tears with her sleeve, took a deep breath, and straightened her back.
Then he looked straight at me and said.
“I will do anything to repay the favor. “Please tell me anything you want from me.”
* * *
The day to leave the Beast Palace finally arrived.
The warriors waiting outside the outer castle came rushing in and joined the delegation.
“Long time no see. “Old master.”
“I’m glad that I safely achieved my goal.”
“yes. “It took some time, though.”
“I will escort you so that you can safely return to the central plain as agreed.”
“Please take care of me.”
Daejeon Commander Mu Jin-cheon and his warriors led the way, and the envoys followed.
I looked back at the palace moving away and said something to myself.
‘What kind of trouble is this?’
A lot has happened in the meantime.
Thinking about the long hardships he endured in a faraway place, his anger toward Namhakgeom boiled over again.
Well, Namhakgeom might be restless right now, worrying about his blood relatives.
‘Still, I made quite a bit of money.’
The mission was completed successfully, and I also earned some nice extra income.
I was already looking forward to it.
If I go to Maeng’s headquarters and report this, I wonder how Namhakgeom will react.
‘by the way.’
As I searched inside my arms, I found a small wooden box.
It was an elixir received as a prize for winning the competition.
Did you say that it is the inner altar of spiritual objects that can only be found in Namman?
It was a treasure of treasures that could give you half a pound of stamina in an instant if you took it.
‘What on earth should I use this for?’
martial arts,
