Sometimes, relationships that have been put off for a while come flooding back at once.
Like right now.
“Murim Malhak Gunggi Bang, meet several great seniors!”
In response to the brave greetings of Gung Gi-bang, who came running so that the soles of his feet were on fire, I opened my mouth in a stern tone on behalf of everyone.
“Is this an aftereffect of opening up? “Yes, nice to meet you.”
“… … .”
“My name is Jin Tae-kyung. “We are similar in age, so please feel free to call me old from now on.”
“… … It’s still the same. “It’s still the same.”
I shrugged my shoulders at the guy who had a shit-chewing expression on top of his already ugly face.
“Of course it should still be the same. “If a normal person suddenly changes, it means it’s time to die.”
“Well, I don’t think it was fine to begin with.”
“He was much better than anyone else.”
“Which part?”
“There are so many, but first of all, the ones that are created and eaten are of different levels.”
“Damn it, I can’t deny that much.”
Gung Gi-bang sighed deeply and then burst into laughter.
“Still, I’m glad. “It’s still the same.”
I also laughed along with him.
That one word that remains the same is really nice to hear.
And I also have the same thoughts.
* * *
The disciples of Gunggibang and Openness led us near the bonfire.
Although a cold snowstorm was raging everywhere, like the middle of winter, the heat from the bonfires that soon began to rise in various places was warm enough to forget the cold, and dry food was provided to fill the hunger and energy of the exhausted allies.
Even that is not enough.
“Were you waiting?”
“of course. “It was fully expected that reinforcements would come from Gansu Province.”
Gung Gi Bang added, handing over the beef jerky.
“That reinforcements might make the crazy choice of coming across the Qilian Mountains.”
“Was it too hasty to judge? “If you look at the contents of the transcript sent from the Kunlun faction, the Chinese poem seemed urgent.”
“No, it was a very correct decision. In fact, we were able to take a breather only a few days ago.”
As if to prove that the statement was not a lie, there was a hardened blood scab on Gung Gi-bang’s forehead that had not yet healed.
Obvious signs of battle.
Although he had a bright expression and voice, it was clear that he had recently fought a fierce battle between life and death.
“Oh, this? It’s no big deal, so you don’t have to worry about it. “She survived, so that’s okay.”
I answered with a bitter smile and looked up and down Gung Gi-bang’s entire body, setting the mood.
“huh. “It’s definitely not a big deal.”
“… … .”
“why?”
“Can you give me just one hit?”
“hmm. “It might be possible if you ask politely.”
“Then what about retaliation after being hit?”
“Ah, what do you think of people? Of course there is. “I would beat myself to death.”
“… … “I saw the person very accurately.”
Gung Gi-bang shook his head and continued.
“Anyway, it worked out very cheaply for someone who remained in the last line until the end. Of course, that was only possible because of timely help.”
Salseong, who had been chewing beef jerky in silence, opened his mouth when he saw Gung Ki-bang slowly turning his head to look at him.
“It’s all your luck. “Because we were around at the right time.”
“At first I was really surprised. I had no idea that Daehyeop was staying in Cheonghae with Cheongpung Sohyup… … .”
“The more people you know, the more difficult it becomes to achieve your goal. And I am not a Daehyup.”
That means it was hiding its existence even from its allies.
I suddenly asked a question to Salseong, who answered calmly.
“So you’ve been staying here ever since we left for the Nanman Beast Palace?”
“Well, it would be absurd to say that it was all the time. “We arrived at Cheonghae Castle only about a month ago.”
I traced past times and memories.
The last time I met Salseong was right after the establishment of Iryonggak, centered on Cheongpung and I, when I was leaving for South Manchuria.
So, this means that even excluding the one month he spent in Cheonghae Castle, he also performed some kind of mission with Cheongpung for the past few months… … .
‘Why have I never heard of him?’
It was a strange thing.
Even after I broke up with them, I have been involved in many major incidents, starting with the Nanman Beast Palace, and each time I did that, the world’s attention was focused on me.
Rumors can spread tens of thousands of miles away even without feet.
But over the past few months, I haven’t heard much about Salseong and Cheongpung’s actions.
And Salseong in front of him also clearly didn’t seem to want to talk about him.
The very next moment, before I could say anything, he spit out the beef jerky he was chewing.
“You’re tough. “It will be resting nearby for a while, so don’t look for it.”
Although there was no direct mention, this series of actions had a clearer meaning than a single word.
“You always have so many secrets. “That’s why I hear people say I have a bad temper.”
Jeokcheongang, who was clicking his tongue slightly at the back of Salseong moving away, frowned when he saw my expression.
“What are those rotten eyes?”
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“… … “What am I?”
“Explain.”
“Well, no. “You know better yourself.”
“What does it mean?”
Cheongpung, who was sitting near the campfire with a tired expression on his face, opened his mouth on behalf of me who was in dire straits.
“Of course, doesn’t that mean that your grandfather has a very bad temper? Right, benefactor?”
“… … .”
“Uh, no?”
Of course that’s right.
However, there are some uncomfortable truths in the world that cannot be revealed openly. Especially in a situation where someone could hit you to death.
‘Cheongpung, you bastard… … .’
While I was staring with cold eyes at Cheongpung, who had been learning a new assassination method from Salseong while I had not seen him, I tried to ignore the intense gaze of Jeokcheongang next to me and changed the topic.
“So, where has the Qing Small Association been wandering around and what have they been doing for the past few months?”
“hmm. “Grandpa told me not to talk.”
“You can tell me.”
“He knew how to say that, so he told me to keep quiet even if the other person was my benefactor.”
“It’s really okay. Jeong Then, slightly with the whole tone… … .”
“Wow, this is amazing. Even if my benefactor tried to persuade me that it would be okay if I spoke in full voice, I told him to keep quiet.”
“… … .”
“They say if you say anything, they will kill you. “I think I’ve heard ‘Murder and Extinction’ about 5,000 times so far.”
“… … “I just won’t listen.”
Of course, even if Cheongpung reveals everything that has happened, Salseong will not try to commit murder, but at this level, it is polite not to ask any more questions.
hmm.
To be a little honest, there is a part of me that is scared because it seems like they are going to attempt a real killing spree.
“What about Cheonghae Castle? “Is that a secret too?”
“no. “You didn’t say anything about it, so I think it’ll be okay.”
Cheongpung answered innocently and gave a rough overview of the events of the past month.
First, the reason and purpose of infiltrating Cheonghae Castle without telling anyone.
“The priority was to find Sejak who might be inside?”
“yes. You said that the traitor behind your back is more scary than the enemy in front of you.”
That is correct.
I had already experienced it painfully several times, so the meaning contained in those words was never taken lightly.
“So, did you find Sejak?”
Cheongpung answered Jeokcheongang’s question.
“There wasn’t any. At least from what we can tell.”
If Cheongpung had done it alone, it would have been unreliable even if it had been inspected a hundred times, but if Salseong is included in the two letters ‘we’, it is trustworthy enough.
If he didn’t have that level of thoroughness, he wouldn’t have been called the best assassin of all time.
but… … .
“It is too early to be reassured by that. “Because we don’t know what will happen.”
Cheongpung nodded at a word from Jeokcheongang, who seemed to have the age of Noh Kangho.
“that’s right. My grandpa had the same thought. So he tried to infiltrate the Kunlun faction to dig deeper.”
I did it, I tried to do it. There are many differences.
And I already knew why it had to be that way.
“At that moment, Amcheon invaded. Right?”
“yes. “It was an instant.”
Truly overwhelming numbers and power.
Some Cheonghae warriors, including the Kunlun faction, immediately withdrew from their headquarters and retreated to the east, but Salseong and Cheongpung were different.
“We stayed. “I hid among them and bided my time.”
If anyone else had tried the same method, they would have been discovered and killed long ago.
But at least Salseong was an exception.
No, the other person who had been teaching by his side for the past few months was also like that.
“I held my breath and killed the enemy just like my grandfather taught me, and no one noticed. like this.”
As Cheongpung stopped breathing as soon as he finished speaking, I let out a laugh instead of answering.
To be precise, despite its comical appearance, it was because of the presence of the guy who was right in front of us but was blurry like a ghost.
‘Is this happening? ‘In just a few months?’
I had that thought without realizing it, but I already knew the answer to that a long time ago.
possible.
If the target is Cheongpung.
The owner of that crazy talent, who seems to argue that there is no need for a system, could learn the difficult art of hiding in an instant.
‘Since I inherited Salseong’s teachings about such talent, it would have been possible to avoid their attention.’
A meeting between an Ilta instructor and a genius sent from heaven.
And the result was the successful infiltration of the two people.
Of course, they also had limitations.
“I did my best, but unfortunately I couldn’t go all the way to Taicheng Hall.”
“If it’s Taicheongjeon… … .”
“It is located on the highest peak of Kunlun Mountain. All major and minor matters of the Kunlun faction are decided. “But a strange energy surrounded the area.”
Cheongpung trembled, as if remembering the sensations of that time.
“I felt something, something invisible and sticky. “I felt like I was getting chills without even realizing it.”
“It was sticky and creepy?”
“yes. So much so that I shudder. The little old man must have felt it too, so he decided to come back amidst the monsters descending just in time. “A few days later, he met his benefactor.”
I stared with deeply sunken eyes at Cheongpung, whose expression did not improve even after he finished speaking.
The moment I heard the story, I silently pondered the two words that came into my mind unconsciously.
‘Magic power.’
And at that very moment.
Sigh.
Across the wide, blue river covered in thick fog, gentle waves arose.