Episode 206: The person who actually refuses.
After meeting my father, I went straight to the magician’s office.
At that time, he was treating a critically ill patient. He was so badly injured that not only the patient but also the surrounding area was covered in blood. When he returned, the first smell he smelled was the smell of iron from the iron room, but the next smell he smelled was the smell of blood.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“It’s okay.”
I stood at a distance and watched him treat the patient. The doctor was covered in blood and was doing everything he could to save the patient’s life.
Whether it’s Kwak Bang-ju or Ma-ui, people who have reached the top of their field give off a similar vibe. The effort and concentration that they put into saving people are similar to Kwak Bang-ju’s determination to make a good sword.
After a while, the magician, who had just finished his treatment that felt like a war, walked towards me.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No. Can I watch the mystery of a dying person coming back to life for free?”
“He was originally a person who was meant to live.”
How could that be possible after working so hard to get it? It was the luck of having a doctor as his doctor that saved his life.
The doctor washed his hands and face in the water he had kept in the corner of the room. Looking at his withered arms, I felt sorry for him.
“I haven’t been able to visit you often under the pretext of being busy. I’m sorry.”
“No. Just seeing each other like this once in a while is enough. I’ve been hearing from you. Thank you for making me think every time that I made a good choice.”
“Thanks to you, Mr. Ui-seon.”
“Are your eyes okay?”
“There’s no problem. It’s just that it looks so good.”
“That’s fortunate.”
When I decided to kill Yalulhan, I wanted to see him.
There is also a reason why I went to the devil’s office to gain courage after hearing my father’s words that ‘it is absolutely impossible’. I would like to tell him that I plan to kill Yalul from now on, but that is something I will do after receiving my father’s permission.
“Since you’ve come all this way, why don’t you have a cup of tea before you go?”
“great.”
I chatted with the doctor about this and that. I was going to tell him everything that had been piling up, but then another patient came in and I had to get up.
“I will come see you again.”
“I’m busy, so there’s no need to do that.”
I will definitely come back again soon.
* * *
The next person I visited was Hyeolcheon Doma.
Blood Heavenly Sword was sitting on the yard, leaning against the Blood Heavenly Sword, eating breakfast. The heat of training lingered in the surrounding space. While I was out playing around with Kwon Ma, Blood Heavenly Sword was still practicing martial arts.
“Elder! I’m back.”
While I greeted him excitedly as if I had returned home in glory, Hyeolcheon Doma greeted me indifferently as if I had just seen him yesterday.
“You’ve come a long way, so why didn’t you rest? Why did you come here?”
“Why did you come? I don’t know about other people, but I have to say hello to you. And I have something to report to you.”
“What report?”
I sat down in front of the blood chopping board.
“I became the disciple of that magician.”
Bloodthirsty Horse glanced at me and didn’t say anything.
“What is this dry reaction?”
“What kind of reaction did you expect?”
“You became my disciple without my permission? He’d get angry. If you want to become my disciple, you have to become my disciple. He’d be jealous.”
Then, Hyeolcheon Doma said something unexpected.
“There is no demon lord who would take you as his disciple unless you are the real one.”
“What do you mean?”
“Personally speaking.”
“What about you, sir?”
“I like a disciple like Daeryong. A disciple who I can teach to my heart’s content.”
“Ah! Poor Inspector Seo.”
“The price you pay for carelessly grabbing someone else’s trouser leg.”
This was said because the beginning of their priestly relationship began when Seo Dae-ryong got drunk at a tavern and grabbed Hyeolcheon Do-ma’s trouser leg.
Of course I know. Even though Blood Heavenly Sword Master says that, he still cares for Seo Dae-ryong a lot. If not, he wouldn’t have been chosen as the next Blood Heavenly Sword Master.
“If I take you as my disciple, you will get sick in less than a month.”
“I can’t deny it.”
“On the other hand, Kwonma doesn’t get sick.”
“Why is that so?”
“Because he’s the type of person who doesn’t intend to manipulate anyone in the first place. If the leader or I are fire, he’s water.”
I thought Kwonma was like my father, but Hyeolcheondoma felt like he was like water. Maybe he was right. Since he was like fire and water, he might have gotten along well with his father.
“To be honest, I was worried that you might be upset.”
“Are you afraid that narrow-minded old man will get upset?”
“You say I’m narrow-minded. It’s just that you have deep affection for me.”
“I would have been like that in the past. Before I saw you, I would have definitely been disappointed.”
“Now?”
“It’s changed now. Because of you.”
“It’s because of me?”
“Are you saying such things when you can’t let such a narrow-minded old man go with you?”
“… … !”
I never dreamed he would think like this.
“After meeting you, I started to look back on myself. You stimulated me endlessly. At first, you annoyed me, then you surprised me, and now you move me.”
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“Is that also the aspect of your cultivation?”
“Yes. I have a feeling that if I just rely on my existing skills and act like I’m better than everyone else, I’ll be swept away by the wind and rain. You’ve already begun your ascension.”
When I first met him, he told me that the ascending dragon was bringing wind and rain. Until then, he had said it metaphorically, but now it has become a reality.
Bloodthirsty Doma looked at me with serious eyes, and I didn’t act like I used to, like I was a loach. He was right. If we just hang around relying on our abilities, we’ll all die.
That’s why I had to keep going.
“I will write the first of thirty-three requests that I can write.”
At my words, Hyeolcheondoma blinked and asked.
“Thirty-three requests? Was there something like that between us?”
“Of course not. I think I will need to ask for help from you thirty-three times in the future. I made that decision arbitrarily.”
“Who cares?”
“You must not catch a cold until you grant me thirty-three requests. Do you understand?”
It was a stubborn wish that also included my wish to live a long life, so Hyeolcheon Doma couldn’t help but laugh.
“What do you want?”
“Please persuade my father.”
“The leader? How?”
“I would like to get permission to kill the evil spirit of the Apostle Alliance.”
Bloodthirsty Doma wasn’t surprised. He was so calm that it made you wonder if he really didn’t need to be surprised.
“Why aren’t you surprised?”
“I thought you were crazy enough to do something like this.”
“Isn’t it the wind and rain of the ascending dragon?”
“No. This is just crazy.”
“Just let me do that crazy thing once.”
“Let me ask you why. Why do you want to kill him?”
I told Hyeolcheon Doma that the Golden Pig Ji Saeng, a subordinate of Yulhan, was using the Shinsunchae to lead the youth of the martial arts world to ruin.
I couldn’t tell him about the devil’s revenge. It was a very personal matter.
“If that’s the reason, the leader won’t allow it.”
“That’s why I’m asking you, sir.”
After a moment, Hyeolcheondoma asked.
“If permission is granted… … are you confident you can kill?”
“I have to try.”
“He is a jerk, but his subordinates’ martial arts skills are also formidable. If things go wrong, it could escalate into a war between the church and the Apostolic Alliance.”
Hyeolcheon Doma also worried that war would break out.
“Is it worth taking that risk?”
“Young people who have just come into the world are being deceived by those worn-out guys and forced to do all sorts of evil deeds, and in the end they end up being stabbed to death or committing suicide. Is it worth it? Yes, it is worth it.”
Even without the promise with the devil, Yalulhan’s evil deeds continued.
Before returning, I had been busy collecting Dafa materials and had not paid much attention to the Apostle Alliance. However, even during that time, I had constantly heard rumors of evil deeds related to Yeoluhan’s subordinates.
If fate has brought me before him at this point, I think it is right to deal with it this time.
“Why was someone like you born in our school? Instead of being born as the son of the leader of the martial arts world.”
“I told you not to fight with your elders.”
Bloodthirsty Demon sighed lightly.
“There is someone in the Apostolic Alliance who will help me.”
“Who is it?”
“I am Bisain, the successor to the Apostolic Alliance.”
Even if it’s just to repay a past favor, Bisain will definitely help me, and he will be a great helper.
After thinking for a moment, Hyeolcheon Doma said the same thing as Kwonma.
“To change the mind of the cult leader, all eight demons will have to come forward. If you can demonstrate that level of ability, the cult leader will have a reason to change his mind.”
My heart was heavy because these were the opinions of the two people who knew my father best.
“Palmazon is in trouble. Mabul and Dokwang are my brother’s supporters right now, so they won’t help.”
Bloodthirsty Demon said as he pulled out the sword stuck in the ground.
“Are they really the only ones who refuse?”
He added as he entered the house.
“Your real relationships might just start now.”
* * *
As expected, it was just as Hyeolcheon Doma had expected.
Ilhwageomjon refused outright. She refused cleanly, just like her swordsmanship.
“That won’t work.”
The reason for the rejection was also clear.
“Lee Gongja, since it’s you, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t want to get in the cult leader’s bad graces because of something like this.”
I could understand. She had respect for her father more than anyone else since she was young. She didn’t want to go to him and ask him for something that he would never allow.
“I understand, senior.”
To be honest, I had somewhat expected Ilhwageomjon to reject her. I thought she was one step further away from the other demons. Other than Bimu, I had never had the opportunity to form a deep relationship with her.
“Are you upset?”
If you answer her in an old-fashioned way, you’ll really upset her.
“Yes, I’m sorry. It’s too much!”
Ilhwageomjon smiled.
“I hope you understand.”
Only then did I smile, half joking, half serious.
“I understand. My father is not an ordinary person. I know how much pressure you must feel, Senior.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I’m sorry, but this may not be the end. I may have to come back to persuade you again.”
“I know.”
But it wasn’t easy to get permission for this even from someone she considered one step closer to her.
The next person he went to was Chwima, who suddenly started pretending to be drunk when he was asked to persuade his father.
“Ah! I’m suddenly feeling tipsy.”
The drunkard pretended to be asleep, burying his head on the table.
As I drank in silence, he spoke while lying face down.
“I’ll grant any other request. What should I do for you? If you ask me to buy you alcohol for the rest of your life, I’ll buy you alcohol. Should I lend you money? Should I go to the evil den and beat up those guys again?”
“Okay. Just convince Dad.”
Then, the drunkard who had been banging his head on the table suddenly got up and jumped into the lake.
Chwima swam like a madman from one end of the lake to the other, then came back up to the pavilion. He sat down in his original spot with his body dripping with water, and spoke with a solemn expression.
“I’d rather quit drinking.”
He said he was going to quit drinking. I ended up laughing out loud.
“Is it that hard?”
“What would the leader think if I came to see him? Look at this kid, he came to me and tried to persuade me even though he obviously knew I was against it? The leader already hates me.”
“Why does your father hate you, brother?”
“I don’t like it. The cult leader hates drunkards and poisoners. The cult leader is a person with clear likes and dislikes. I can’t do it! I absolutely can’t do it! I’m sorry, little brother.”
I didn’t bother him anymore. If it was something else, I wouldn’t understand, but if it was something related to my father, how could I not understand? Even if it wasn’t because of my father, if someone doesn’t like it, you can’t force them.
“If you’re sorry, I’ll abstain from drinking for ten days starting today!”
“I’m quitting! Sorry!”
“Why are you sorry, hyung? I should be the one who is sorry for forcing you into something unreasonable.”
“We can’t let this incident ruin our relationship!”
“Brother, the reason our relationship is getting worse is not because I asked for a favor, nor because you refused to do so.”
“Then why does it get worse?”
“When you’re not honest. Imagine if you were honest and said, “I can’t do it because of this,” but instead you said you’d do it to please my mood. If you try to do something you don’t want to do, you’ll get irritated and upset. In the end, you’ll even hate me as a person.”
He nodded with an expression that suggested that it must have been the same.
“You turned me down, hyung. I’ll be asking you for a lot of favors in the future. Go with me when I beat someone up. Drink with me when I’m lonely. Help me persuade that person. You should be honest with me like this back then, hyung. You should never think that since you turned me down last time, you have to force yourself to do it this time! That’s when our relationship will break apart, you understand?”
The horse that had been staring at me quietly spoke.
“From today on, you’re the older brother. I’m serious.”
“No. What are you saying to a younger brother who lives for the fun of teasing his older brother? Brother!”
“Oh my, my brother is so embarrassing.”
“I don’t know about other things, but being afraid of your father is never something to be ashamed of. I’m going. I’ll probably come back for this. See you then.”
So he withdrew from the drunken man’s dwelling.
Bloodthirsty Doma was right. Perhaps persuading the demons might be more difficult than persuading my father.
It would be hard to persuade Ilhwageomjon and Chwima, who were on my side, so how could eight people have to go and talk to my father before he would give permission? I sighed, but now was not the time to be frustrated, but to find a way.
The next place I headed was where my fighting comrade was. I was curious about his reaction.
