Episode 183: When a Crack Appears Between People.
The next day, I went to the place where the young disciples were training.
They were clearly different from the Baekwons, wearing blue uniforms. They had the leeway to match their skill level.
Since Kwonma hadn’t arrived yet, I greeted them comfortably. Of course, they knew that I had trained with Baek Kwon.
One of them asked me.
“Have you learned everything there is to learn from the hundred volumes? I heard that there are only seven or eight chapters left?”
“How long did it take you?”
“It’s been two years. If you haven’t learned properly from Baekwon, it won’t be easy to practice Cheongwon.”
It seemed like he was saying this out of concern, but in reality, he was expressing his displeasure. We suffered for two years, and you passed in just a few days. He was subtly expressing his dissatisfaction, saying that you benefited from your status as a scholar. He was saying that it was not a difference in ability, but a difference in status.
I didn’t bother to make excuses to him. There were probably others who had similar grievances, and this wasn’t something that could be resolved through words.
After a while, Kwon Ma showed up there. This is something I learned when I came here, but Kwon Ma personally taught martial arts training from the white to the black. Other demon lords only teach their disciples, and the disciples take charge of teaching their subordinates, but Kwon Ma personally took care of all of his subordinates.
“I think it is truly admirable that you personally lead all the Iron Fist.”
I said it out loud. Everyone thought I was flattering, but I meant it. There were no questions asked, and Kwon-ma had never heard anything like that before. So I said it.
Kwonma’s gaze turned to me. Looking at his fierce and blunt face, I spoke louder.
“Excellent!”
Rather than doing it a hundred times when there are only two people, you should do it once when everyone is present. At least this part is not flattery. He deserves praise. It was really not easy for the Ma-Jun to take care of his subordinates.
Still, Kwonma’s eyes said this.
-The number of copies doesn’t work.
This is how my eyes were received.
-Then it will work, since it’s not a trick.
As they began their full-fledged training, all the disciples took off their tops.
Starting from the Cheongkwon class, I practiced with my upper body exposed. This was to examine every single muscle movement.
They all took off their shirts, and their gazes turned to me. Their eyes were like, “Let’s take a look at our handsome and slender body.”
I also took off my clothes slowly. Everyone was surprised when they saw my body.
On the muscles built through training, there were countless scars. If he knew who gave them to him, even Kwon Ma would be shocked.
I smiled brightly and told everyone.
“I came here to avoid getting hit.”
The corner of Kwonma’s mouth was clearly a mockery. He still had some distrust in me, wondering how long I would last.
The real training has begun.
This time, Kwon Ma didn’t teach me a single movement during the martial arts training, so I watched them perform and then followed along. The breathing method was important from the beginning that they were learning, so I followed along and learned that breathing method. I used Shinanjutsu to examine their noses, throats, stomachs, and mouths in detail and figured out their breathing method.
And I asked Kwonma to confirm.
“Please check if this breathing method is correct.”
“Who taught you how to breathe?”
“I learned it by watching you demonstrate your martial arts skills just now.”
The youth looked as if they didn’t believe anyone.
But I will trust Kwonma. He must be reading my prayers. How does he evaluate my skills?
My father’s words came to mind. He said that if you get involved with Kwon Ma and Mu Gong, you will definitely get hit.
I looked at him and said, raising my hand.
“I have another question!”
* * *
The next day, and the day after that, I practiced hard.
The somewhat twisted gazes of the youth toward me have disappeared. I worked hard, did better than anyone else, and above all, I brought out a new side of Kwon Ma.
“How can I use this recipe in real life?”
This question was strictly speaking not a question for the youth, but for the powers that be.
Of course, Kwon Ma wanted to tell his subordinates about the practical utility of the herbivore. If it were me, I would have wanted to tell them. Wouldn’t Kwon Ma do that?
Indeed, Kwon Ma explained it in such detail that it made you wonder what would have happened if you hadn’t asked. The Cheong Kwons also looked surprised. They probably didn’t know that Kwon Ma would explain it so well.
“Do you have a special mindset that doesn’t make you afraid of the sword?”
I have a question about this psychological aspect.
“Why martial arts?”
I even asked a fundamental question.
In fact, it is a question that everyone from the white to the black, and even the magician, must continue to ask.
At the same time as asking that question, I naturally asked myself:
‘Why a sword?’
How you answer this question will determine how far you can grow.
Five days after starting the Qingfeng training.
Kwon Ma spoke to me in front of the watching Cheong Kwon Muin.
“Come to the red-light district training starting tomorrow.”
“yes.”
There was no complaint from the people about this decision. Within a few days, I had mastered the basic techniques they had learned.
The man who spoke to me on the first day even came and apologized.
“Please forgive my rudeness on the first day.”
“Anyone would think that way. There are probably people in power who would say the same thing.”
“That person will come to apologize like me in a few days. Thank you for opening our foolish and inadequate eyes.”
All the Cheongkwon warriors standing behind him bowed their heads slightly to me. I bowed my head to them as well. It must have been a meaningful time for them just to see a new side of Kwonma.
* * *
“I heard that Moogeuk is training under Kwonma.”
Geommuyang was keeping a keen eye on his younger brother’s movements.
“They say that he broke through the Cheongkwon training in just over ten days and started training with the enemy forces two or three days ago.”
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Mabul, who was sitting across from him, answered.
“If you have the skills of a skilled martial artist, it is definitely possible.”
Ma-bul knew what the Grand Duke was worried about. He must have been worried that if things continued like this, the Duke would really become Kwon-ma’s disciple.
“You don’t have to worry about Kwon-ma. If Lee-gong-ja tries to involve him, it will only have the opposite effect.”
Then, Geommuyang recalled the past events.
“Do you remember what you said to me before?”
“What did I tell you?”
“Chwima is an uncontrollable being. If he starts to stir things up, even Lee Gongja will not be able to deal with him easily. Lee Gongja will lose the demons he has painstakingly collected.”
It was what Ma-bul had said to Geom-mu-yang when he had received a broken bottle of alcohol from Chwi-ma in the past.
But the news that was eventually heard was that Geommugeuk was drinking and partying with Chuma.
“Don’t take it personally. I can’t ignore what happened when I was drunk.”
Although he told her not to take it personally, Mabul was not happy. Was it really necessary to repeat exactly what he had said? Didn’t that mean he was still thinking about what had happened back then?
Is it really true that once a crack is created between people, it can never be repaired?
At first, I tried hard to ignore the gold, being careful not to break it further, and eventually figured that as long as it didn’t break, it would be okay.
But Mabul feels it.
What’s important in human relationships is not whether the crack breaks or not. The fact that the crack has formed is the problem.
If the other person wasn’t Geommuyang, this relationship would have been sorted out in some way already. But that can’t be the case. Geommuyang chose the path she wanted. She bet her life on him.
The black sheep said to Ma-bul.
“Would you like to meet Kwonma and find out what he thinks?”
“Yes, I will meet you sometime.”
Mabul readily accepted the request.
Mabul, who was getting up from his seat, looked back at Geommuyang. He wanted to tell him this. If you’re nervous, it’s okay to show it. You can tell him everything. That his younger brother is too strong and hard to handle. If he tells him everything, he’ll feel a little better.
But the words were stuck in my throat and wouldn’t come out.
“Why are you like that? Do you have something to say?”
“No. I’ll be back.”
As he left the office, Mabul reproached himself.
If the Grand Duke can’t do it, he can at least be more open-minded… … It’s not like you can blame Geommuyang.
* * *
The next day, Mabul’s footsteps stopped as he entered the Donggwonmun Gate.
I saw Geommugeuk with the people of Jeokkwon.
“Spread your legs wider. Put your arms down.”
The swordsman was watching their movements. I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person, but how could he have been acting so friendly with the people of the Red Army after only a few days?
At that moment, Mabul saw the eyes and expression of Geommu-geuk. He was talking passionately to the enemy as if he was really into martial arts.
Yes, that’s why. Everyone gets sucked into it. They get fooled by that strange heat that they almost get sucked into if they’re not careful.
At that moment, Geommugeuk saw Mabul and ran towards him to greet him.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
Geommu-geuk smiled brightly. How nice would it be if Geommu-yang smiled so brightly?
‘No. Don’t think of useless things. He’s smiling like that because he’s the enemy.’
Aren’t people the ones who smile brightly at strangers but frown when they see someone they know? Don’t be fooled by that smile. The Grand Duke is annoyed because he’s on our side, and the Duke is smiling because he’s the enemy.
“I’ve heard a lot of rumors lately about you being really into martial arts.”
“While doing Hwangcheon-gakju, there are so many guys that I want to beat up with my fists.”
“Hey, let’s not act like that among ourselves. Aren’t you coming here to get Kwon-ma to take your side?”
“It’s nice to hear you say, ‘just among us.’”
My ears keep melting at that three-inch tongue that obviously says it’s nice to hear.
“Stop pretending and go swing that cotton fist.”
After trying to act coldly, Ma-bul headed to Kwon-ma’s office. From behind, Geommu-geuk’s shouts could be heard.
“You said that Kwonma had baby hands, but Mabulnim said that he had cotton fists?”
* * *
“Since you are busy, I will get to the point first. The reason I came to see you today is because of Lee Gongja.”
As if he had expected this, Kwon-ma waited silently for Ma-bul’s next words. Kwon-ma, who was tall and large, and Ma-bul, who was much smaller than an average person, were together, so the two of them were in stark contrast.
“The fact that Lee Gong-ja wants to learn martial arts is a ploy to draw you to his side.”
In fact, Mabul had not been close to Kwonma until then, but he had an inner sense of intimacy of his own. He considered his small stature and his scary face to be on the same level. He thought that they had the same physical weakness in that they would frown when people saw them.
Of course, I never revealed those private thoughts to anyone.
“So? Are you afraid that I will fall for the engineer and come here?”
“That’s right. That’s what I was worried about. The Bloodthirsty Demon has passed, and the Ilhwa Sword Master has passed. Even the Evil Demon and the Drunk Demon have passed.”
Mabul spoke honestly. If he beat around the bush, he could end up in trouble later. He should be told this.
“Lee Gongja is a fox. He is a fox with a hundred tails. His three-inch tongue is sweeter than the tongue of a traitor. If you let your guard down, you will soon find yourself taking Lee Gongja as your disciple.”
Kwonma stared at Mabul and suddenly asked.
“Did you almost fall too?”
At that moment, Mabul flinched inside, but spoke confidently.
“I have been on the Archduke’s side from the beginning, until now, and will continue to be on his side.”
“The Duke said so. Protect the Grand Duke.”
Mabul was startled. He had said something like that to himself before.
“He said he would end the fight for succession without shedding blood.”
“Do you believe that?”
“Do you believe it?”
Mabul didn’t answer at all. It was a moment when he should have said that he didn’t believe it, but the words didn’t come out. He came to give Kwonma some assurance, but he only confirmed that he had been shaken by Geommugeuk.
“Go and tell the Archduke that my support for the Archduke has not changed.”
Although he couldn’t know what Kwonma’s true feelings were, Mabul thought that just giving him this sense of alarm was enough.
“The Archduke will be very pleased.”
So Mabul left the office.
On the way back, I saw the sword dance again. In the far away training ground, he was still practicing martial arts with his opponents. I could tell from afar that he was truly immersed in martial arts and was practicing it. Just like when I was young and immersed in martial arts.
I’ve thought the sword dance was amazing many times before, but today’s feeling was a little different.
It must have been even more so because of the enemies I was training with. Do you already trust me? How long has it been since you met, why are you swinging your fists together?
Mabul suddenly became afraid of the sword dance.
Doubts creep in like a thorn in my side. What if the trick that shakes people’s hearts is real? What if I turn out to be an idiot and the one who uses tricks? What if I’ve chosen the wrong line?
But soon Mabul shook his head. The more this happens, the more I have to work hard. He walked briskly, emitting a golden light. Even though it was so confusing, so hard, and so far gone.
Your Highness, let’s do our best.
