Absolute Return Episode 332
Episode 332: I’m trying to comfort you in my own way.
There was a gift for the horse.
On the way back, I stopped by a famous brewery in Sae-oe and bought some alcohol.
Jeokyeon unloaded boxes of liquor from the carriage. It wasn’t just one or two bottles. He had bought several bottles of each type of liquor to drink over and over again.
“Did you buy it for me?”
“I bought it because it’s my brother’s favorite, but I’m not sure if it’ll taste good. I intentionally left out the strong ones. I was concerned about his health.”
Chuma was taken aback by the unexpected gift. Originally, he had come to ask Geommugeuk if he had a good time with Mabul without me. But a gift?
Mabul spoke on behalf of Geommugeuk.
“The young sect leader visited many places outside of the city for Janelle. He didn’t hesitate to go to faraway places.”
Ma-Bul expressed his regret for not giving the poison to Geommu-Geuk by saying this.
“Then let’s talk. I’ll go to the cult hall first.”
Mabul took the first step.
After he left, Chuma checked the liquor. The emotion was not just because he had bought the liquor. There were all the liquors that Sae-oe had said were good while drinking with Geommu-geuk. He remembered all of that.
The drunkard picked up a bottle of alcohol, opened the cork, and drank the entire bottle.
The alcohol tasted incredibly sweet.
“Give me a sip too.”
Geommugeuk also drank the alcohol that Chwima gave him.
“It definitely tastes different from the Central Plains liquor. I’ll be there soon, so let’s have a drink together.”
Then someone else appeared.
“Did you have a good trip?”
She was none other than Ilhwageomjeon.
The drunkard asked her.
“You said you were busy practicing?”
I came here because I wanted to see the sword dance. I wanted to show that I’m still training without makeup. And one more thing.
“I came here to tell you to take our drunkard with you next time you go out. I don’t think that’s necessary.”
She asked, looking at the case of liquor.
“You bought a lot. Do you have a present for me?”
“I’m sorry, but this time the gift is only for our master.”
Then Chwima asked Geommugeuk.
“Your Majesty’s too?”
When Geommugeuk nodded, Chwima was inwardly embarrassed but also pleased.
Originally, it was a moment when she should have been joking around, but she couldn’t do it in front of Ilhwageomjeon. How could she not know? The reason she came here was to protest against Mabulman’s taking.
Ilhwageomjon asked Geommugeuk.
“What happened?”
“It was handled well.”
“Yeah, since you went.”
“There were dangerous moments.”
Then Ilhwageomjeon repeated what he had said before.
“Yeah, since you went.”
It was said that good fortune would follow the sword dance.
“Now that you’re back, stop by.”
“Yes, I will see you soon.”
Ilhwageomjon looked at Chwima and asked.
“Would you like to come with me?”
Chuma nodded. If you take it as a gift, what if you take ten boxes? How could you not take a hundred boxes? I’m not asking because I don’t know.
Chwima and Ilhwageomjeon walked side by side, carrying boxes containing bottles of alcohol.
After walking for a while, Ilhwageomjon suddenly spoke to Chwima.
“Your Majesty, please be wise.”
Chwima had no words to say in response.
In that place, where the Taoist Demon Lord Ilhwageomjon had left, another Demon Lord had arrived. This time, it was the Sub-Hon Demon Lord.
“Did you have a nice trip?”
Since this new journey was started because of me, how could I not come out and see it?
“Thanks for your concern, I had a good trip.”
After exchanging greetings, she went to find the leader of the Pungcheon sect.
“Where is the master?”
“The leader remained in Pungcheon Church.”
I quickly spoke to her in surprise.
“He said he would come as soon as he finished his work, so it shouldn’t take too long.”
A look of disappointment crossed the face of the Demon Lord. It seemed that she had been waiting for the leader of the Fengchun sect more than anyone else. The leader of the Fengchun sect was currently very popular with his disciples.
As she left, Seo Dae-ryong said.
“How many Amazons have come? Let’s see. One, two… … There are four of them.”
Then the sword dance answered.
“No, it’s five minutes.”
“Huh? Did I count wrong?”
The gaze of the swordsman was directed towards the giant stone statue standing in the distance.
“There’s someone there too.”
“Who are you?”
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Seo Dae-ryong looked so small that it was hard to recognize him.
But I saw the sword dance play clearly with Shinan-sul. He was the person I was most happy with.
The person wearing a white mask and looking at me with his arms crossed was none other than the evil Soma. He was standing on the stone statue where we used to stand together.
‘Soma-sama!’
Even from that far away, he was watching me return.
Last time, he said that he might come to see me first when I returned to the church. He didn’t stop at that time with those words and actions, and this time, he was the first to come out to greet me.
‘Thank you, Soma. I’ll see you later.’
I don’t know if he can see it, but I bowed my head in his direction and turned to face the sect leader.
Because I missed my father so much right now.
* * *
In Cheonmajeon, my father was with General Sima Ming.
Mabul had already returned after greeting the two people.
“I’m back, Father.”
Although I was greeted with a blunt face, I was so happy and glad to see my father. I hope this feeling shows on my face. I hope my father knows it.
“Sir, I’m back.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Young Master.”
He had already reported everything that had happened outside through Eunwol.
“We have not detected any movement toward the revival of the Blood Cult so far. It is entirely my fault.”
“No. Before he died, he told me that his goal was to revive the Blood Cult, but he changed his mind. As if to prove it, he tried to destroy the Holy Land left by the Blood Cult at the last moment. He was motivated by personal desires.”
Of course, Sima Ming would have guessed this to some extent. Baek Cheon-gyeong, who was active in the Murim Alliance, had no connection to the Blood Cult.
“Be careful, there may be remnants left.”
“They should be careful. Whose son did they touch?”
Sima Ming smiled at my joke.
Then my father, who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly asked me.
“What kind of people are they?”
You asked straight to the point, cutting everything out. You were asking about my feelings.
“They are very dangerous. They are more dangerous than any organization that has ever appeared in the martial arts world. No one would think of touching the Magical Master and Sae-oe at the same time.”
My father nodded slowly as if he agreed with those words.
Father looked at Sima Ming and said.
“You must be busy.”
These were words that contained the father’s will to handle things carefully, and also words that contained trust in the military commander.
“I’ll report back as soon as I have more information. Then you two can talk.”
Sima Ming bowed politely and then gave up his seat.
My father came down from the throne.
“Let’s take a walk.”
“yes.”
My father likes to walk with me these days. Walking with me to the hospital was good for me in many ways. Whenever people passing by saw this, their authority and loyalty toward me would increase.
“Oh, and Father. I have solved the mystery of the secret.”
My father stopped walking in surprise.
I took the casket out of my bosom. And I told him that I had absorbed the black spirit energy from the Pungcheon Bridge.
“I can give it back to you if you want.”
“This thing was meant to be yours, so it’s now yours.”
The image of my father always moves me, and at times like this, the words, “Father is father,” come out naturally.
My father reached out and grabbed my wrist instead of the scepter. A stream of energy flowed through my wrist. He was checking if there was anything wrong with my body.
“I feel like there’s some energy coming in, but I can’t find what it is. It’s not a bad feeling, though.”
I looked at the casket I was holding. Just as my father said, fate had reached me. I felt that this fate was by no means a bad one.
“If there is anything wrong with your body, please let me know immediately.”
I couldn’t feel the aura of the dark mind, but I could feel my father’s worry. It was an aura that was more precious and powerful than any other aura in the world.
“Oh, and the leader of the Pungcheon cult stayed in the cult. This incident made his relationship with the current leader stronger. Just like my father and I.”
“Do you think our relationship has become stronger?”
“Solid is not enough. It’s sticky, thick, and hot. Ah! I can’t express this feeling in words.”
A smile appeared on my father’s lips. Seeing that smile made me feel a pleasant sense of relief that he had really come back.
“Isn’t there someone else you need to become closer to?”
I smiled and said to my father.
“I was going to say hello and go see my brother first.”
* * *
Tension was running high in the Cheonmasingyo iron cell.
It was the moment of final testing of a new weapon that had been developed. The weapon being tested today was a fist-punching device for those who practice martial arts.
“The newly developed armor is made of a material that is so thin and soft that you can’t even feel it on your hand. However, its strength has been greatly improved compared to before, so it can prevent being cut by swords.”
The one who gave the explanation was the ironsmith, Kwak Jang-in. The person standing in front of him was the grand duke, Geommuyang.
The person who planned and promoted the development of this armor is none other than Geommu Yang. He was in charge of several key tasks of the Cheonmasingyo.
At first, Geommuyang expected that he would be relegated to a minor position.
However, Geommu-geuk shared important tasks with him. And those tasks were not limited to administrative tasks. He also entrusted him with tasks related to the major elite organizations within the alliance and tasks related to Palmazone. This was a real demonstration of his trust in his brother.
The strength test was a success. The gauntlet was not cut even when struck with the sword. The onlookers cheered.
“Not only that, the power of the authority has also been improved beyond its working capacity.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“The Grand Duke has done all the hard work.”
In fact, Master Kwak shook his head several times while doing this work. He was not the type of person to be sloppy when it came to doing his work thoroughly, but compared to the Grand Duke, he was a slacker who did his work roughly.
Geommuyang would come several times a day to check on the progress of the work, and if there was anything that was even slightly strange, he would have it remade.
However, since Geommuyang did not just give orders but investigated and found out himself and took the lead, Cheolbang could not complain. Thanks to this, he succeeded in making a better glove than ever before.
“First of all, this is a gauntlet that can be used by fifty people. Your Highness, please personally deliver it to the Dongkwonmun.”
I think that with this level of effort, you are qualified to take it and show it off yourself.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“I think the King will really like this armor.”
“Someday, I should make a pair of gloves that even His Majesty can wear.”
Although the quality was excellent, it was still a popular armor.
“Please make that armor in another iron workshop.”
Geommuyang smiled faintly at Kwak Bang-ju’s joke.
Then someone spoke from behind.
“As expected! Your arms are bent inward.”
When the two turned around, they saw Geommugeuk entering the area.
“You’re developing the things of the person who pushed you first.”
During the fight for the successor, Kwon Ma officially announced his support for Geommu Yang.
Unlike before, Geommuyang accepted the words gently.
“Isn’t that obvious? From now on, I will only develop things for Kwon Ma-nim and Ma-bul-nim. If you don’t like that, then just kick me out.”
“My brother is too good at his job for that.”
Geommugeuk greeted Gwak Bangju politely.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
“I heard you came back.”
“Can I try on the gloves?”
“Of course.”
Geommu-geuk tried on the glove. Gwak Bang-ju watched with a somewhat nervous heart. Everyone knew that Geommu-geuk inherited Kwon-ma’s martial arts. It was the moment when the martial arts master was conducting his first test.
Geommugeuk, who was swinging his fists here and there while wearing his armor, smiled pleasantly and said.
“Very good. Can I have this?”
Only then did Kwak Bang-ju relax.
“sure.”
“As a souvenir, would you please leave your name on this? Then, wouldn’t its value increase tenfold?”
Kwak Bang-ju smiled and gave up his seat to talk.
While Geommuyang was trying to lift the entire box of armor at once, Geommugeuk split it in half.
Two people walked side by side.
“This time I went out and Mabulnim helped me a lot.”
“He’s a good person. You shouldn’t be rude to him.”
Geommugeuk laughed while looking at Geommuyang.
“Why are you laughing?”
“If you look closely, you’ll see that my brother takes good care of the people around him. He also developed Kwon Gap first.”
“Don’t lock the barn door after the horse has bolted.”
“That cow didn’t go far and was around the barn.”
Even Geommuyang ended up laughing.
“Thank you, bro.”
Then, Geommuyang said somewhat coldly.
“Do you know that I regret the past several times a day? Do you know that I go to sleep every night imagining myself as the successor? Don’t be grateful, because I’m not the kind of person who should be grateful.”
“So, thank you.”
“what?”
“Thank you for telling me this. If you keep bubbling up and can’t stand it anymore, come to me and tell me. If I’m not here, go to Ma-bul-nim and tell him. If that doesn’t work, go to Kwon-ma-nim. If you really can’t stand it, go to your father.”
“Why is the father last? The father should be excluded.”
“Wouldn’t it be best to tell your father?”
The blacksmith stopped walking and looked at me.
“We need to become close to Father. Putting aside the fact that we’re the cult leader and all. We’re Father’s sons, aren’t we?”
I try to comfort my brother in my own way.
“Father and Ma-bul are worried about you. But I’m not worried about you. I have no intention of comforting you. You’ll take care of yourself. I know how cruel you are, don’t I?”
Geommuyang smiled faintly and self-deprecatingly.
Of course I know how quickly a person can fall apart once they start to fall apart.
When our minds begin to whisper and seduce us, we learn that our will is not locked with a lock made of iron, but is sometimes tied with a cloth that can be untied with a slight tug.
“Have you ever asked your father?”
“what?”
“What’s so hard for you, Father?”
For a moment, Geommuyang flinched.
“Did you ask?”
“I didn’t ask either. I thought that was something the eldest son should do first.”
My brother stared at me.
So this is how I consoled my chosen brother. If you wallow in self-pity, you will fall into an endless abyss.
“I think it’s time for us to take care of them. You start with me, hyung, because you’re my hyung.”
