Episode 189 I’ve been to that island too.
Kwon Ma’s body was perfect.
The face was devilish, but the body was a work of art.
The muscles of the horse that seemed ready to burst were large and thick, but they did not look dull. The diamond-like body that had been created through arduous training and dangerous actual combat made people feel intimidated just by looking at it.
There were less scars on his body than I had thought, but one long sword wound across his chest stood out. If anything, it made his body look even more impressive.
His body seemed to be saying this.
This is the body of a martial artist who has reached the ultimate level.
Will I be able to withstand the pressure of that body rushing in? Will I be able to withstand the destructive power of that big fist flying in? Will my sword be able to protect me from that body?
I was truly impressed. A hint of pleasure crossed Kwon Ma’s expression as he saw my reaction.
He must have heard countless times that it was cool, and he himself must know it. So I asked something else.
“How can I get a body like this?”
“If you make your body like this, won’t it interfere with your swordsmanship?”
Because there is a clear difference between a swordsman’s body and a martial artist’s body.
“As I grow like this, I need to train myself to become stronger in swordsmanship.”
“Then I guess I should move my body rather than my mouth.”
Kwon Ma started training in martial arts.
I actually thought he wouldn’t practice even if he came to the gathering. His purpose for coming wasn’t to practice.
But he started training properly. He started to show off his black fist technique as if he was asking me to watch and refer to it.
He took off his clothes, so I couldn’t just sit still. I took off my top too, stood next to Kwonma, and started to spread out my clothes.
I thoroughly examined Kwonma’s body with Shinan-sul. I compared his muscles with mine when performing the same movements.
How is it different and why is it different?
Understanding that difference will be the greatest learning experience for me.
Ian and Cheon So-hee watched Kwon Ma and I perform the same movements.
Although she may not know, Cheon So-hee’s heart must have been in a state of wanting to take off her clothes and jump in together. That’s because her heart was on fire.
Ian and Cheon So-hee also started training.
Late-night training meeting. If you just hear the name, you might think it’s a social gathering of slackers, but the four people gathered there were on fire. That’s why it was more passionate than any other training session.
The wind noise caused by Kwonma’s fist was different from my wind noise. Of course, Kwonma’s sound was better to listen to. How can something so heavy sound so cheerful? When I listened to Kwonma’s fist, my mind became calm and I felt good.
I was purely into martial arts. From the moment I heard that he wanted to break down a cliff, I never looked at Kwon Ma with any other intention or purpose. I just wanted to learn martial arts from him.
Maybe Kwonma is here with me at this moment because he felt my heart like that.
After the training was over, I told Kwon-ma some news.
“We will meet tomorrow at Magachon.”
“In Magachon?”
“Tomorrow we will have a welcome party for Kwon Ma-nim. It’s a welcome party for new recruits.”
Kwon-ma was surprised. Soon, he received a look even more intense than when he had said that he had to teach Dokmun martial arts to join the gathering.
You’re having a welcoming party for me? And I’m a newbie? Are you crazy?
It’s probably something you’ve never experienced before in your life.
“Let’s meet in front of the Pungryu tavern at the same time. That’s it, let’s disperse!”
I held on to the look in Kwon Ma’s eyes that said, ‘If you don’t like it, then just quit.’
Kwon-ma laughed and left.
I turned around and saw his back, and I was startled.
Ian and Cheon So-hee were standing side by side, glaring at me menacingly. It seems Kwon Ma-man isn’t the only one who doesn’t like the welcome party tomorrow.
Ian raised his voice.
“Is this really going to happen? Are you sure you can drink alcohol on the spot?”
“It might be surprisingly fun.”
Suddenly, Cheon So-hee put her hand on her forehead and said.
“Oh! I think I have a fever. I guess I’ll have to skip tomorrow.”
Ian added.
“Oh! Right. I have an appointment tomorrow. I forgot.”
He looked at the two women and said with a smile.
“Will it work? Okay, then see you tomorrow at the Pungryu Tavern!”
That’s how the first day of the late-night training session with Kwonma ended.
* * *
The next night.
Jo Chun-bae, the owner of the Pungryu tavern, yawned with his mouth wide open.
Today, there were no customers, so I was dozing off next to the cash register, wondering whether I should close the store early or not.
He woke up to the sound and was startled.
“Ahh!”
He screamed and fell backwards.
A terrifying evil spirit stood before his eyes. He must have seen something in his sleep, so he froze as he got up from the floor.
It wasn’t a demon, it was a person. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone so scary. His arms were thicker than his thighs.
A familiar voice is heard at that moment.
“Long time no see, master.”
A sword dance appeared behind the man.
“Your Majesty!”
I really felt like I had come back from the dead.
“I am the head priest of our school. Please greet me.”
Jo Chun-bae’s eyes widened at the mention of Kwon-ma. He had heard many rumors about Kwon-ma, but today was the first time he had seen it in person.
“I did not know that you were here, and I was sleepy and did something rude. Please forgive me!”
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Jo Chun-bae’s waist was folded in half.
The record has been broken at this time. The scariest person among the Amazons who came as guests is now Kwon Ma-da.
Ian followed in and greeted her warmly.
“hello.”
Jo Chun-bae’s expression brightened. Seeing Ian, who always greeted her brightly, made her feel better. When she stood next to Kwon-ma, it really felt like two polar opposites were standing together.
The three people, excluding the sword dance, went up to the seats on this floor first, where they always sat.
“How’s business these days?”
“Thanks to you, things are going well. I heard that you are currently practicing martial arts. It seems that the rumors are true.”
“The owner knows too.”
“If you don’t know that these days, you’re a traitor. No, I’d say that Sejak was the first to find out and report it to the Murim Alliance.”
Geommugeuk laughed along with Jo Chun-bae’s joke.
Compared to the cheerful atmosphere downstairs, the atmosphere on this floor was solemn.
Ian and Cheon So-hee were watching Kwon Ma’s expression. Cheon So-hee, in particular, was frozen. Not only did she not leave the group, but she was even caught talking about secretly executing and buying him.
‘The next Kwon Ma really went across the river!’
To break the awkward atmosphere, Ian asked Kwon-ma.
“Have you been here?”
Then Kwonma looked at Ian.
‘Is that question something that should make you look at me so frighteningly?’
If Kwon-ma knew Ian’s true feelings, he would have felt very wronged. He just looked at him and thought he was looking at him in a scary way.
“Ask them to bring you some alcohol.”
“Yes! I’ll get it!”
At Kwon Ma’s words, Cheon So-hee quickly got up and ran down to the first floor.
Now only Kwon Ma and Ian remain on this floor.
“It was really unexpected. I never thought that Kwon Ma-nim would join our group.”
Actually, Ian wanted to ask this question.
Did you really come here because you wanted to fight the young master?
Instead of answering, Kwonma asked her a question.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?”
“It’s scary.”
“You don’t seem scared at all?”
“If you felt that way, it must be because of you, Master.”
“Why a person with engineering skills?”
“If the Master Kwon was really a dangerous person to me, the Master would not have let me be alone with him. He would not have come to the meeting in the first place.”
Kwonma’s gaze turned to Geommugeuk, who was standing in front of the first floor cash register.
“The greater the faith, the greater the hurt.”
If Ian had just closed his eyes and listened to those words, he probably wouldn’t have thought they were Kwon Ma’s words. The content was like that, and the tone was soft. Suddenly, Ian thought that there might be something he misunderstood about Kwon Ma.
“I think men don’t know much about women. Women know everything. They just have to choose between pretending not to know or running away.”
“So? Are you the one who pretends not to know?”
“I’m a weak person, so I tend to run away early. However, your case is the only exception.”
“False beliefs bring misfortune.”
“It’s a shame. I can’t experience that.”
Ian’s belief in the sword dance was absolute.
At that time, Geommu-geuk and Cheon So-hee came up to this floor with drinks.
“I’m sorry. I had to hold the owner back for a moment, so the drinks were delayed.”
Geommu-geuk poured Kwon-ma a drink first. The glass in Kwon-ma’s large hand looked so small and cute.
Geommugeuk poured drinks for Ian and Cheon Sohee and said.
“People with shots, don’t forget who we’re drinking with!”
Ian got a taste of the sword dance.
“I have to risk my life because I have to get an injection.”
Then he looked at Cheon So-hee.
“Do you have any injections?”
“I don’t have any injections.”
“You didn’t drink it all the way through until the injection came out, did you?”
Cheon So-hee was confident that she would never inject herself. Drinking with Kwon Ma and injecting herself? That would never happen.
“Now, welcome, Your Majesty. Cheers!”
The swordsman raised his glass and everyone toasted.
The Geommugeuk tried to make the long-awaited drinking party enjoyable and lively. It was also for Kwon-ma, who arrived right on time even though he pretended he would never come.
With Geommu-geuk and Ian leading the way, they talked about all sorts of things. They talked about martial arts, women, and men. They talked about the Murim Alliance and the Sadomasaki Alliance, and they talked about other Demon Lords.
Kwon Ma-do didn’t seem to dislike this place. He drank well and answered the occasional questions well.
But throughout the conversation, I could sense that Kwon-ma was lonely. Seeing Kwon-ma laughing and talking like this made me realize it even more clearly.
The four of them were drinking together, but Kwon Ma was alone, far away.
That remote island was a place where Geommugeuk had also been.
The sword dance was like a martial arts. Although he was among people, he was never able to fully enjoy his life. He only had the thought of obtaining materials for the Great Law of Return, but he had no life of his own.
Could it be that Kwon Ma-do is living only with the single-minded determination to overcome the cliff, and has already lost the joy of reality?
While I was drinking, lost in such thoughts, Ian was looking at me. Her eyes, which looked more beautiful today, asked, What are you thinking about? Just this and that.
At that moment, Cheon So-hee, who was slightly drunk, brought up the words she had been holding back.
“I thought about the question you asked me yesterday all night. What are you going to do when you become stronger?”
She had been thinking about it very seriously.
“I honestly don’t remember what I was thinking before I entered Dongkwonmun. I just wanted to win and win again and become a Kwonma. But even during that time, I had this thought. I’ll be happy if I become a Kwonma. I’ll be happy. If I become a Kwonma, all my efforts will be rewarded.”
Her voice trembled.
“If I become stronger… … I want to become happy.”
Perhaps he felt embarrassed after saying it, so he quickly added.
“It would be wrong for someone who dreams of becoming a martial artist to only do happiness and not do great work for the school.”
It was Geommugeuk who accepted her words.
“I think I’m okay.”
Geommugeuk looked at Kwonma and asked.
“What do you think, Master Kwon?”
“It’s pathetic, but not bad.”
“If it’s pathetic, it’s pathetic, and if it’s not bad, it’s not bad. Please choose only one of the two. If you say something vague like that, my sister and I will worry all night and not be able to sleep a wink.”
“Not bad.”
Geommugeuk smiled and nodded at Cheon Sohee.
In fact, Cheon So-hee wanted to say this.
I want to be like this drone.
Ian looked happier than anyone else. Plus, he had someone he trusted and loved as much as he cared about his life.
‘I envy you.’
We all drank together.
Kwonma put down his glass and asked Geommugeuk.
“You said you wanted to learn martial arts because you wanted to become stronger?”
“yes.”
“What are you going to do when you become stronger?”
It was the same question I asked Cheon So-hee.
“I will live freely. When I want to go, I will go. When I want to come, I will come. When I want to be alone after playing with the demons, I will stay in Cheonmajeon for days on end. When I feel suffocated, I will run away to the central plains. When I meet a good person, I will stay in that village for a few days. I will drink with herbalists in a mountain with a nice view. At least I will not be suffocated and locked up in Cheonmajeon like my father. I will go out and play sometimes. Why do you all have such expressions? Why are you so scary…? No, right?”
Geommugeuk looked back, imitating what Cheon Sohee had said yesterday.
A person who made the surrounding air feel different just by entering, a person who made the always relaxed Kwonma tense up, a person who made everyone tense just by existing, that was Cheonma Geomwoojin standing behind him.
