Episode 306
[What do you want to achieve?]
In the past, the Murim lord also asked me the same question.
‘Was it the time when he was called to the lord’s personal office and praised for his achievements in man-made ruins?’
So Hyeon-geom’s question had a slightly different feel from the question Joo Hwa-baek asked at the time.
If Joo was trying to judge and judge a human being, Sohyeongeom was trying to estimate and make an estimate.
Would it be okay to continue our friendly relationship with me?
I wonder if I will be harmed by continuing the relationship.
“You know roughly, don’t you?”
I filled my empty glass with alcohol and answered in a calm tone.
Sohyeongeom shook his head and said, as if he knew that would happen.
“I don’t want to hear such an unclear answer.”
“if······.”
“I’ll take back exactly what you said. Don’t be nervous. “Don’t you know what I want?”
It was indeed Sohyeongeom.
Before we exchanged a few words, our escape route was blocked.
Although they were old monsters with ten snakes in their hearts, they could not compare to Sohyeongeom.
“As a descendant of Wolhwajang, or someone related to it, taking revenge on the Demonic Cult? “This is just an old man’s guess, but I don’t think that’s your ultimate goal.”
“······.”
“I can tell because I have continued to interact with them and observed them. Even if the Heavenly Demon dies and the Demonic Cult collapses, you will not stop. “You are not a madman who devoted his life to revenge, and you are certainly not someone who will give up his power and foundation and go into hiding after the war is over.”
“The story is getting heavier. “Didn’t you say that you called me because you wanted to have a drink with your junior after a long time?”
“There is no place like a drinking party where we can talk openly with each other. “It is also common for juniors to ask for advice or advice from their seniors at work or in life.”
“When you say that, I have nothing to say.”
It was obviously Sohyeongeom who asked the question first, but I don’t know how it ended up being me asking for advice.
I didn’t feel refreshed, but I decided not to bother asking.
Because that wasn’t what was important.
“As you may know, my junior is a bit cautious. “I can’t reveal everything here.”
“It is good to be cautious, but if you are too cautious, you may miss something important.”
Sohyeongeom strengthened the hand holding the drinking glass.
Jump!
A small crack appeared on the side of the glass.
As I watched him with interest, he silently set the glass down in the center of the table.
Then, I lightly tapped the edge of the glass with my index finger.
Damn it!
Then something surprising happened.
A crack that grew in size in an instant.
The glass shattered and lost its shape and fell down.
The alcohol that flowed out soaked the cloth laid out on the table.
It was a truly amazing method.
“Sometimes a small crack can destroy an entire relationship.”
In short, it meant, ‘If you come out like that, we won’t be able to continue the good relationship we had until now.’
A heavy silence fell.
I didn’t open my mouth right away, but fiddled with my glass for a while.
A crossroads of choice.
Depending on what answer I gave here, my relationship with Sohyeongeom would be newly established.
“I don’t know if this will be a satisfactory answer to you, but I will tell you one thing for sure.”
“······.”
“I have no intention of aiming for the position of the next leader based on my experience as the head of the Cheonan Gambu.”
* * *
On the way back to Wolhwajang after leaving the base.
I asked while looking at the bamboo person who appeared as if blocking the path ahead.
“Is there a problem.”
I knew it intuitively.
That Jukripin is a member of the Black Night Unit (黑夜隊) directly under the Military Ministry.
“The Commander-in-Chief invited the Cheonan Inspector General.”
“Commander General?”
I laughed inwardly.
The words were an invitation, but in reality it was closer to a call.
I knew that Maeng’s military department had established an information network covering the entire Honam region in connection with the opening, but I never thought that he would react as soon as he had a drink with Sohyeongeom.
The person who politely handed me the note disappeared into the crowd.
I walked slowly towards the place written on the note.
It was a little embarrassing, but there was nothing bad about it for me.
‘If possible, it would be better to strike a balance.’
The invitation of the general military had as much political significance as the invitation of the elder.
As the leader of a third force that does not belong to the Alliance faction or the Elder faction, it would not be good for me to appear biased toward one side.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here.’
Before long, a familiar manor came into view.
It was a villa owned by Zhuge Emperor, who had visited it five years ago at his invitation.
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“welcome.”
As if he knew that I would be visiting, the warrior guarding the main gate greeted me with a restrained gesture.
I followed the lead of the warrior leading the way and entered the manor.
A well-manicured garden came into view.
At first glance, it seemed like a peaceful space, but I knew that the entire place was covered in evil spirits.
It appears that it is not activated at the moment, as there is no separate warning to be careful.
How far did you walk?
“Welcome.”
The old man who was waiting for me sitting in the pavilion connected to the main hall opened his arms with a happy expression.
Baek Woo-seon’s pattern embroidered on the sleeve of the bachelor’s gown caught the eye.
I waved politely and greeted him.
“I see you, Commander-in-Chief.”
“You’re being too stiff. “It’s not a public situation, so it’s okay to look a little relaxed.”
The table spread out in the middle of the pavilion was filled with precious delicacies from the mountains and the sea.
The strong scent of alcohol stung my nose.
I suddenly found myself having a drinking party one after another and internally smiled bitterly.
I thought it was a good idea to use my inner strength to get rid of the intoxication before coming.
“They said he had a drinking party with Sohyeongeom.”
As soon as he sat down, Zhuge Hwan got to the point.
I nodded and answered with an indifferent expression.
“yes.”
“What did he talk about?”
“He congratulated me on becoming the head of the Cheonan Inspectorate and gave me a well-wishes.”
“Is that all?”
“Are you planning on digging into conversations we had in private?”
“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. “As I get older, my useless curiosity only increases.”
Zhuge Huan, who had been pushing as if interrogating him, shamelessly shrugged his shoulders and took a step back.
He was a difficult person to treat in a different way from Sohyeongeom.
I couldn’t let go of tension even for a moment when dealing with this type of person.
Because you might get caught up in a mistake.
“Don’t worry too much. Not even five days have passed since I took office as the head of the Cheonan Inspector General. “There’s no way I could have already forgotten my duty and become attached to a specific person or force.”
“That sounds oddly reassuring, but also worrying.”
“Did I say something that should make you worry?”
“Isn’t that already possible? If you interpret it differently, doesn’t it mean, ‘As time passes, you may forget your duties and join hands with one side of the force?’”
“That is an exaggerated interpretation. “Do you have the guts to say something like that?”
That’s what I meant.
A warning not to provoke me carelessly because if I don’t get it right, I might get stuck with a specific faction.
If it were anyone else, Zhuge Hwan would have understood well.
There was a strange war of nerves going on.
Just a few years ago, Zhuge Huan treated me disparagingly, but now his tone has clearly changed.
This meant that my position within the group had grown, and it also meant that he had become wary of me.
“Now that I think about it, this is the first time we’ve had a drink together like this.”
“······.”
“Was it five years ago? “Did you join the Yongbong branch?”
“That’s right.”
“I am probably the person who has heard the most news about your activities. “I can’t tell you how many times he thought he was glad that you were a member of the Murim Alliance.”
“Excessive praise is burdensome.”
“What? There will be no one in the Tanggeum Murim Alliance who can deny your merit. So, even the tight-knit elders could not oppose the revival of Cheonan Kambu until the end.”
“······.”
“There are a lot of expectations placed on you.”
I didn’t give any answer and just lifted the glass to my mouth.
I didn’t know what Zhuge Huan wanted from me.
The long-awaited wish of the leader and general.
Breaking down the wall of vested interests that have been formed over a long period of time and allowing the Murim Alliance to be reborn as an organization worthy of its founding purpose.
‘You probably want me to help correct Meng’s evils and achieve reform.’
I feel sorry for Zhuge Huan, but his ideals were far removed from the future I envisioned.
Everything he said here was going to be heard in one ear and out the other.
“In that sense, there is one thing I would like to ask.”
“Please speak.”
“How has your relationship with Hye-ah progressed?”
“······yes?”
I frowned and tilted my head.
It was a completely different kind of question than I expected.
What kind of nonsense is this?
* * *
“Can you give me a moment?”
In front of the main gate of Wolhwajang.
After parting ways with Zhuge Huan and returning to my living room, I scratched my cheek with a tired expression upon the appearance of an unexpected guest.
Suzaku Daeju, Hwaseong Sword (Fire Sword).
The number one female martial arts expert came all the way to meet me.
‘Could it be that Seo Ho-seon or Sa Woo-yeon made some mistake?’
For a moment, such a thought crossed my mind.
Could it be that Hwaseongdo, who noticed the presence of the two people assigned to watch over Jong-ri So-yeon, came to ask me about the circumstances?
If that were the case, it could not have been a big deal.
“Is there a problem.”
“There are a lot of eyes watching this place. “I want to talk quietly together.”
“great.”
Originally, I would have kicked it out without even thinking about it.
Basically, my relationship with Hwaseong Island was not very good.
Hwaseong Province criticized me several times in public.
If the relationship was smooth, it was even weirder.
‘It is unlikely that Seo Ho-seon and Sa Woo-yeon made a mistake. but······.’
Still, for now, I had to listen to her story.
It could be said that it was like a thief being caught off guard, but I wanted to at least know what purpose she had come to see me for.
I guided Hwaseongdo to the living room inside the manor and asked her to take a seat.
“Alcohol and tea. “Which do you prefer?”
“I haven’t had a drink in over 20 years.”
“All right.”
Are you proud of yourself for not drinking alcohol?
Even without asking, he was telling a story.
All you have to do is just answer tea.
“So, what brought you to see me?”
“I came to warn you.”
“warning?”
I tilted my head and asked back.
What does this mean out of the blue?
“It might be more appropriate to call it advice rather than warning.”
“······?”
“You probably feel uncomfortable with me too. So, I’ll just quickly tell you my business and leave. “This time, in the process of absorbing the Inspection Department and the Legislative Assembly, it seems that they joined hands with the elders of the Maeng.”
“······.”
“Don’t trust him. “He is a much more dangerous and insidious person than you think.”
A burst of laughter came out.
Looking closely, it didn’t seem like he had noticed the presence of Seo Ho-seon or Sa Woo-yeon.
‘What is this?’
The reason why he suddenly came all the way to Ye was to warn me.
Who on earth cares about whom?
Not even knowing that a large silverfish was eating away at his nest.
martial arts,
