< Episode 99: That Day (3) >
[Waaaaaa!!!]
Soon, the entire training hall rang with the cheers of the Wolmaek people.
Hearing their cries, Ryu So-wol withdrew the sword he had raised with his sword and looked towards the west.
There, the rejoicing vassals and warriors of Wolmaek were seen, and the father, the head of the family, Liu Kang, was seen standing up and losing his mind.
She looked at her father and lightly pounded her chest with her fist.
-Thump thump!
At her actions, as if she had proven herself, the head of the family, Liu Kang,’s lips twitched and his eyes soon turned red.
Eventually, he lifted his head toward the sky, closed his eyes, and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
‘······.’
Seeing his father like that, Ryu So-wol could barely hold back his growing emotions.
How will he react when he defeats Soju of the Heavenly Vessel and overcomes the limit set by his father? How does it feel? She was a very curious person.
Do you feel refreshed? Or will the resentment from the past be resolved?
But when I saw my father so emotional, I felt like crying for no reason.
‘Why are you crying now after accepting such an offer as if you had given up on everything?’
If I do this, I won’t be able to resolve the sadness I’ve been feeling.
Emotions were truly cruel.
Just looking at that sight makes me feel weak.
Then, amidst the cheering, a faint voice was heard.
[······This can’t happen. how······.]
It was the muttering sound of Soju Biheon of the Heavenly Vessel.
After crossing the wall and reaching the state of flower world, all of her senses became more developed than before, and this sound was heard exactly in her ears.
‘Yongheon…’
His usual playful and confident self had disappeared, and he was overcome by a sense of helplessness, perhaps due to the shock of defeat.
Although she had put in a lot of effort to defeat him, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him when she saw him like this.
So I tried to say something to him,
-Jump, jump, jump!
Then, he saw the head of the Heavenly Veil, Bihyeongmyeong, approaching behind him.
Is he doing this to comfort his son who was shocked by the loss?
When she saw him approach and place his hand on his shoulder, she thought it would be better to be on the other side than to be comforted by herself, the winner of the fight, so she backed away.
however,
‘!?’
For a moment she couldn’t believe her eyes.
‘Smile?’
The corners of the mouth of Bihyeongmyeong, the head of the Cheonmaek family, who was placing his hand on his son’s shoulder, were turned up.
It was not the kind of benevolent laughter one would make to comfort a son who was defeated for the first time.
He seemed to be smiling as if he had been waiting for this.
Seeing this, Ryu So-wol was instantly overcome with discomfort.
‘Why is it like that…’
however,
[soju!]
She had to bury this discomfort as the vassals of Yue Mac came running to celebrate Bi Mu’s first victory.
The lingering feeling of discomfort was soon buried in the joy of the vassals.
* * *
As the sun set that day,
Ryu So-wol, who climbed to the top of the peak with light movements, spotted someone and smiled brightly.
Then she ran and was in someone’s arms.
That someone was a man full of black.
The man also said with a smile, wrapping her in his arms.
[I guess I finally achieved what I wanted so much.]
[I achieved it. Who did you learn from?]
[Doesn’t it make you feel good to see people flattering you when they didn’t?]
[of course. The years of patience are bitter, but the fruits are sweet.]
-Sigh!
With those words, Ryu So-wol grabbed the man’s cheeks with both hands, raised his heels, and kissed his lips.
The man also responded by kissing her deeply.
He was the teacher who made her realize that she was a warrior, and the man who first made her realize that she was a woman.
Although they only met for two to three days a year, she started to hold this man in her heart at some point.
And it didn’t take long for him to realize that he wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
For a while, the man and Sowol indulged in each other under the red sunset.
* * *
Ryu So-yol’s face was full of smiles as he sat on the cliff and leaned on the man’s shoulder.
Her life had never been smoother and happier.
The man spoke to her.
[Now that you have achieved what you wanted, are you closer to your goal of returning?]
[I don’t know yet. I won this time, but I don’t know how things will be different next year.]
[Hoo. You’ve grown quite a bit.]
[They say you can’t let your guard down.]
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[Satisfaction brings about carelessness, and carelessness ultimately leads to defeat. Therefore, there is no point in enjoying victory for a long time.]
[······That is correct. But listening to what you say, it feels like I’ve been fighting non-stop my whole life.]
The man laughed silently at her words.
It seemed like a positive thing.
[Really?]
[I have been living on the battlefield longer than you think. It’s still the same now.]
[Is that still the case?]
Liu Soyue lifted his head from the shoulder he was leaning on and looked at the man.
I’ve come to like him, but there’s still so much I don’t know.
Looking at his exotic appearance, it is puzzling that it may seem like he is not a member of the Central Plains and at other times it may seem like he is.
However, rather than being from the West, I feel like I am from the Central Plains.
It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe in words.
[When I look at you, I always think that you are mysterious.]
[What do you mean?]
[Appearance and everything else. I wait here every year without fail, but I don’t even know where it comes from or how to get there.]
I met him here every year, but I had never seen him go up or down here.
Nevertheless, it always appeared in the same place.
That was always her question.
But even though the man was this close, he didn’t say anything about himself.
Sometimes this felt sad.
As if he understood her feelings, the man wrapped his arms around her shoulders and spoke in a soft voice.
[I’ll tell you sometime. But now is not the time.]
[······When will that be?]
[It won’t be long. The place where I live is becoming more and more desolate, and the war has been going on for a long time. That’s why I’ve been keeping an eye on this place for a long time. But if you do that now, they will move too. Then this place will soon become a battlefield.]
[······.]
What kind of world does this man live in?
When you listen to the story, it sounds as if you are alone in another world.
But I soon gave up that thought.
Won’t you tell me everything when the time comes?
I strongly believed that.
Ryu So-wol said playfully, squeezing the man’s arm wrapped around his shoulder.
[iced coffee. That’s right. I think someone told me a few years ago that I was the owner and that he was going to directly rule this place, but I guess I’m remembering wrong?]
[······control. Yes, I tried to do that.]
[Ugh. Did you say that?]
[You should be thankful for this. There are still many who wish to do so. The same goes for the person who dealt with you for several years.]
He is a subordinate of the man who beat her up for years under the pretext of teaching her.
He hasn’t changed over the years.
He always treated himself like an insignificant insect.
Even though she grew up like a good boy, she has been called countless times as a peerless beauty, and she is probably the only one who treats her like that.
[Now that I think about it, how is he doing?]
[Didn’t you tell me? For our clan, everyday life itself is a battlefield.]
[Battlefield······. Somehow it’s more miserable than my life.]
[Everyone’s life is noble. It’s just that it’s not easy to recognize it.]
[Then am I like that too?]
[Of course.]
Ryu So-wol smiled at the man’s answer.
Although he has become much softer than when we first met, he is still quite a blunt man.
However, I feel that he respects and cares for me more than anyone else.
That’s why I like him so much.
Ryu So-yol, who was staring at the man, opened his mouth in a slightly hushed voice.
[continue······. I wish I was by your side.]
As her feelings for him deepened, she always regretted their short meeting in the year.
The man thought Sowol was cute when she talked about her feelings of wanting to be together while being embarrassed, and said while stroking her head.
[a little bit······. No, it may not be a bit for you, but just wait.]
[If I wait, can we continue to be together?]
[······okay. We will do this together. Even if it is only a moment.]
[A moment?]
Why did the expression of being together refer to a moment rather than eternity?
As she looked puzzled, the man spoke in a somewhat regretful voice.
[I wish you were like me.]
[What does that mean?]
[Even though I know it’s only a moment, it feels painful to embrace you.]
[······Why are you talking like that?]
Ryu So-yue suddenly felt uneasy at his incomprehensible words.
Then the man hugged her tightly and said,
[Don’t worry. Even if it’s just for a moment, my feelings for you will continue.]
[Is it because it feels like our life together is short?]
[······okay.]
Ryu So-wol sighed and laughed at his words.
The anxiety seemed to have been washed away.
Even though I still have a long life left, I think I can tell how much this man likes me by saying that it feels short.
She said, hugging the man tightly.
[Someone said that. Because it’s shorter, it shines even more. We can live like that too.]
[Because it’s short, it shines even more… Yes, that is correct.]
The man smiled.
Then he kissed her forehead and said,
[For me too, this moment with you is the brightest thing in my life…?]
As he spoke, he quickly turned his head to the side.
[I would have told you not to disturb me while I was here.]
[I apologize. The situation was so urgent that there was nothing I could do.]
Hearing a familiar voice, Ryu So-wol looked towards the place, and before he knew it, the man’s subordinate had arrived.
She felt ashamed and woke up in shock, perhaps feeling embarrassed for being in the man’s arms.
[Oh, it’s been a while. Mr. Tau.]
Despite her greeting, the subordinate of the man called Tau still glanced at her as if he were looking at an insect and then pretended not to notice.
Then he approached the man and whispered something in his ear.
‘······I can’t hear you.’
I tried to focus my hearing on what they were talking about, but I couldn’t hear their conversation.
It seemed to have been blocked by some kind of energy.
However, the expression on the man’s face as he listened to his story was not very good.
As soon as she finished reporting something, the man approached her and spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.
[I guess I should probably go.]
[······It seems like a lot of trouble. Is there anything I can do to help?]
[Okay. Don’t you have work to do here?]
[still······.]
Before she could finish speaking, the man gently hugged her and said.
[You don’t have to worry. I will come here as always.]
[······all right.]
okay.
The man is not weak enough to worry about.
She believed that the man was stronger than anyone she knew and that no one could break him.
[I’ll wait.]
She smiled and sent the man off, looking forward to next year.
But at this moment, I had no doubt that those expectations would be shattered.
* * *
Ryu So-wol shed tears endlessly in bed, covered with a blanket.
I waited for the man there for nearly seven days in the rain, but he did not show up.
As a result, she was so worried that she almost stopped eating and drinking.
Although she believed so much, she was distressed because it felt like some of her anxiety had become reality.
[Black.]
The tears didn’t stop.
I couldn’t bear the pain in my heart that the man who said he always lived in the battlefield might have left this world without me.
As the tears did not stop due to sadness and pain, someone knocked on her door.
-smart!
[go! Please leave me alone…]
-thud!
At that time, the door opened and someone came in.
He was her father, Liu Kang, head of the Yue Mac family.
Liu Kang looked at her, who was thin with sadness, and spoke in a pitiful voice.
[How long are you going to keep doing that?]
[······Just leave it alone. You won this match as well. therefore······.]
[Is it because you couldn’t meet him?]
[!?]
For a moment, her expression hardened.
Soon she glanced at Hwa-yeon, the head of the guard, who was standing behind the head of the family, Liu Kang.
I only talked about him to my long-time friend.
I asked you to keep it a secret, but did you tell me about it?
The head of the family, Liu Kang, clicked his tongue and said.
[You say you like him so much, but you don’t trust him?]
[yes?]
What is this sound?
She was dumbfounded.
She only thought that he, who considered her to be nothing more than Soju, the heir to the family, would be furious if he found out about this.
This was because, even though he had broken the spirits of the heavenly and earthly veins, he hoped to form a relationship with one of them and have children.
But I couldn’t help but be surprised when my father said this.
[Did you think that this head of the family, or rather this father, would always be against it?]
[······.]
With those words, the head of the family, Liu Kang, snorted and said with a bitter look on his face.
[I’m very curious about that damn top that made my daughter cry so much.]
[······father.]
Soon, tears welled up in Ryu So-wol’s eyes again.
His father had been so strict and unkind ever since he became Soju.
But for the first time since her brother left, she was treating herself as a woman.
Her father Liu Kang, who was overwhelmed, approached her and embraced her.
Ryu So-wol, who had been crying silently due to worry and not being able to meet him, broke down in tears and cried profusely.
Her father, Liu Kang, patted her back and comforted her without saying a word.
Liu Kang spoke to her as she cried for a long time.
[If that guy comes back, I will scold him, so cheer up now.]
[······.]
[Even if I tell you to stop. Phew. If you really want to see that guy, tell the painter to draw a portrait and hang it up.]
[yes?]
[Don’t I need to know what my future son-in-law looks like?]
[Ah…Father.]
[While we’re at it, how about you decorate yourself pretty and draw a portrait? If I lead the Wolmaek, or rather the Cheonjiwolhoe, in place of Abby in the future, it will be rare for me to make things up as a woman.]
[Foot, do you finally think of me as your daughter again?]
At her words, Liu Kang smiled and said with a face full of wrinkles.
[Before she was Soju, she was always my daughter.]
More than any other words, her father’s words brought great comfort to her life.
* * *
Six months later.
On the way back from Linggeom Mountain Lodge in Chaoyang, north of Hubei Province.
Ryu So-wol’s bodyguard, Hwa-yeon, continued to tease her.
[The head of the family must have been so angry that he would have blown up Jeonseo-gu.]
[······.]
[So, since you haven’t even gotten married yet, why did you paint a portrait wearing a bridal gown?]
[······I wanted to leave a portrait with the most beautiful appearance, so is that something to get so angry about?]
[It’s natural to get angry. Soju drew a portrait in a bride’s outfit, and he also drew a portrait like a groom, wouldn’t you like it?]
Ryu So-wol pouted his lips and expressed his dissatisfaction at Hwa-yeon’s words.
[Tch. At one point, he said something about his son-in-law, but it was all empty talk.]
[But it went too far. soju.]
[Stop teasing me now. Because that makes my bones ache.]
As if she thought it was time to stop teasing her with this reaction, Hwa-yeon, the head of the guard, looked embarrassed and changed the topic.
[By the way, it’s truly unique.]
[What do you mean?]
[The time when the sword was completed coincided with the time when Soju could ascend to the throne.]
Hearing her words, Ryu So-yol waved his hand and said.
[Don’t be too excited. Because I don’t know yet.]
[Hey. Why did you look so confident in front of the owner of Yeonggeom Mountain Lodge as if you were going to become the leader?]
[Then should I say that I am not confident in front of strangers?]
[Well, that’s true.]
Guard leader Hwayeon nodded.
The master he serves has become the best master of all three styles, both in name and reality.
She had every reason to be proud.
Hwa-yeon was also very proud of helping such a young lady.
[But soju. Is it because of him that the sword was named that way?]
It was Hwa-yeon who unintentionally overheard her conversation with the head of Yeonggeom Mountain Lodge, Gu Mun-hyeok.
When he asked the name of the sword, Ryu So-wol asked him to call it Sun-yeon.
Shuyeon means longing.
It also means that I miss you so much.
I think I know how much Soju wants to see him, to the point where he gives that name to the treasured sword he will use for the rest of his life.
But Ryu So-wol answered in a calm voice.
[Let’s talk about that later.]
[Sorry. miss. Before I knew it, this guy’s mouth was shaking.]
The head of the guard, Hwa-yeon, pretended to hit her mouth with her palm.
Looking at her like that, Ryu So-wol sighed and laughed.
Then he said:
[For now, I only want to focus on Hapjongsik’s dance.]
[soju······.]
At her firm determination, the head of the guard, Hwa-yeon, couldn’t help but twitch her lips and feel proud.
She had become truly strong after experiencing many pains.
He was becoming a leader for many people.
[You will definitely win. Soju will become the final winner in the ceremony of concluding the three maeks, will be crowned as Hoeju, and will also receive the Pasapal ceremony, which is called the highest rank.]
Passapal style (破思八式).
It was an opportunity for the three branches of heaven, earth, and moon to be divided into three factions.
< Episode 99 That Day (3) > The End
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