◈ Episode 35. Autumn Rain
The inside of the chest was half filled with silver coins stacked neatly, and the other half was filled with vouchers.
Huyoung covered her mouth in surprise.
“Huh.”
Jinmu Rip looked around at his commanders and said.
“How much do you need?”
Jeon-yu asked with wide eyes.
“Are you saying you’re going to give it to us too?”
“Do you think I’m going to eat all this by myself? I’ll give it to you, but before that.”
Jinmu-rip, holding a few silver coins in his hand, smiled and said.
“Raise your hand if you doubted me in Kiru.”
“······.”
As expected, it is an unpredictable relationship.
While everyone else was just watching, the taciturn Joo-cho cautiously raised his hand.
“Is that you?”
Jucho shook his head at Jinmu-rip’s words and slowly moved his fingers, and the other leaders except Poongyeon had sad expressions on their faces.
Jinmu-rip chuckled, closed the box, and got up.
Because the wealth of the Blood Ark did not end there.
A secret room leading under the bed.
I went down the narrow stairs and opened the door, where I found a dozen gold bars and a large pile of silver coins.
Of course, it wasn’t as large as the amount in the receipt, but considering the size of the bloodbath, it seemed like they had scraped together quite a bit.
‘If you add it up with the receipts in the box, it’ll come to five hundred thousand.’
Jinmu-rip counted the vouchers and handed a bundle to the leaders.
“I’ll give each person a hundred pieces of silver, and you all take double that amount.”
There is no need to be stingy with what you give to your subordinates.
“Thank you, my lord!”
Not only did they successfully get their revenge, but they also got some unexpected extra income, so everyone’s expressions brightened.
Jinmu-rip, who had taken the remaining gold bars, said to Jeon Yu.
“As soon as the sun rises, take your men and investigate the people who were attacked by the bloodthirsty monks.”
“All right.”
The next person to be called was Jucho.
“Samjo, move all the silver here to Geumjeongmumun. The silver will be returned to the victims in the name of Dangwoo and Geumjeongmumun.”
Rather than carrying around a heavy silver coin, it is better to make sure that you have already made up your mind to borrow money.
Joo-cho nodded and went to pick up his subordinates.
When the situation was resolved, Jinmu-rip came out of the secret room.
A manor where the flames have died down.
They left the mansion of the bloody room as the darkness grew deeper.
Danryehwa, who followed Jinmurip, was lost in thought.
Sometimes violent, unrestrained and extreme.
However, listening to the conversations he had with his subordinates, I could tell that Jin Mu-rip’s actions were motivated by his own beliefs.
After watching the series of events, I was able to understand Jinmu Rip’s thoughts a little.
‘He has no mercy towards his enemies, but is generous towards his subordinates. In some ways, he reminds me of my father.’
There is something I learned from today’s experience.
Born on Hwaryeong Island, she never experienced war.
Of course, I have traveled the world hiding my identity, punished evildoers, and even committed murder, but a war like today was a first.
She was learning about the real world of martial arts by following Jinmu Rip, who had come to keep an eye on her.
***
“Ugh······.”
A deep groan escaped from Dang-woo’s mouth as he came to his senses.
As my energy level dropped, pain surged through my entire body.
But the pain was worse than that, and it was felt in my heart, not my body.
‘I······. I······.’
I took the world too lightly.
In the Tang family, he thought that if he could escape from the saints, he could become a promising martial arts master like his two older brothers.
But the reality wasn’t that easy.
The women shed tears, thanking themselves for being the backbone of the Bloody Ark, which was played with by the three-inch tongue.
As I thought of their haggard faces, a surge of pain came over me and tears poured out.
“Khuuuuk.”
“Are you in pain?”
A voice heard without a sound right next to me.
It was Jinmu-rip who had beaten himself to a pulp.
It was the first time in my life that I had been hit like that, but now it didn’t matter.
Even if I get hit, I still fight.
What is truly regrettable is Jinmu Rip’s lies.
I wish I had just said out loud that this guy was a bad guy.
Jinmu Rip robbed himself of the opportunity to be blamed and the opportunity to ask for forgiveness from them.
“Why······. Why did you make me their great swordsman?”
“Isn’t the reason you left home alone without an escort because you wanted to become famous like your brothers?”
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“I didn’t want this. I didn’t want a false hero.”
“You’re still throwing tantrums. I should’ve hit you harder.”
“······.”
“If you blame yourself, complain, and suffer in silence, will you ever be able to become the true great hero you want to be? Instead, think about becoming an adult who won’t be ashamed of you in front of them. You idiot.”
Jin Mu-rip, who had been spitting out harsh words, stood up from his seat.
“If next time we meet, things are no different than they were today, then we will see real hell.”
The door closed with a bang.
Dang-woo covered his complicated face with his arms and didn’t move for a while.
***
The next morning.
As Jin Mu-rip was getting ready to leave, Munju Shin Hwan came to visit him.
“It’s such a shame you have to rest a little longer.”
“I got enough rest.”
“I couldn’t even treat you properly······.”
Jinmu-rip said with a smile.
“I’ll stop by next time I’m passing by.”
“I really hope so.”
Shin Hwan, speaking with a smile, held out a letter wrapped in silk from his bosom.
“Please tell the Lord of Madorim that I will come and see you soon. It is not too far from here.”
“I will convey that to you.”
“Little Prince.”
Shin Hwan, who had grabbed Jin Mu-rip’s foot, bowed to him with the utmost respect.
“Thank you so much. I will never forget you.”
Although it was a short speech, I could clearly feel his sincerity.
Jinmu Rip also politely accepted the lottery ticket.
“I look forward to meeting you again.”
After exchanging final greetings, Jin Mu-rip left Jangwon with his subordinates.
In a quiet room.
Dang-woo, looking out the window at the back of Gwangryongdae, was still recalling what happened yesterday.
‘He is a great swordsman.’
The group that left Pyeongchang-hyeon quickly moved south.
“I didn’t know Daejoo had that side to him.”
Jinmu-rip turned his head at Danryehwa’s words.
“What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t it that you were trying to lead the party leader to the right path?”
“How naive.”
Jinmu-rip snickered.
“I’m not that kind of person. Why would I suffer because of someone like that?”
“Are you saying that’s not it?”
Jinmu-rip just laughed and didn’t open his mouth.
‘Since it’s Sacheonmaeng, I’ll see you again soon.’
***
The autumn rain pours down so refreshingly that it feels like my heart is being opened.
The raindrops that briefly lingered on the leaves with a thud sound quickly soaked Gwangryongdae’s entire body.
Danryehwa spoke with a look of despair as the sky was covered with dark clouds, the rain did not stop, and the darkness grew deeper.
“Even if I run diligently, it will be difficult to get to Chongqing today.”
Jinmu Rip also nodded in agreement.
“It’s only a day’s journey, so there’s no need to push yourself too hard. I need to find a place to rest. Yudaeha.”
“All right.”
As soon as they were united, they called the leaders together.
“The leaders decide the direction. Time is half an hour. The search will be conducted in teams of two.”
“All right.”
While his subordinates were deciding on partners, Jinmu-rip walked under a large tree and held hands.
Danryehwa asked.
“What are you doing?”
“It’ll be night soon. It’ll be easier to find if you light a fire.”
Jinmu Rip drew out the internal energy of Geukyang and guided it to Jangsim.
Then, steam rose from the damp wood and, surprisingly, caught fire.
“I guess you ate something good.”
“They say that they fed him Cheon Yang Sin Dan (天陽烥團) as soon as he was born.”
“Cheon Yang Shin Dan?”
Danryehwa’s eyes widened.
The Cheon Yang Cho, an ingredient in the Cheon Yang Sin Dan, is a flower that blooms on the cliffs of an erupted volcano, and it endures the heat of the lava to form flower buds.
Because it is not only difficult to see, but also blooms only in places inaccessible to humans, it could never be brought here without someone’s sacrifice.
Cheonyangshindan, made by refining Cheonyangcho, is a spiritual tablet that contains the energy of extreme yang. If taken rashly, it will burn the body, so it must be taken together with an elixir of extreme yin.
“Are you saying you survived by eating that?”
When Danryehwa was surprised, Jinmurip asked.
“I survived because I ate. I’m a celestial being.”
She was so surprised that she was speechless.
‘He was born as a Heavenly Lord with the power of the Heavenly Sound and even ate the Heavenly Yang God’s Tablet? How can there be such a person in the world?’
As she struggled to control her surprise, the tree, which had been growing hotter and hotter, began to burn fiercely.
“When you come back, come find me when you see the light!”
“yes!”
As his men scattered in all directions, Jinmu Rip moved under the tree on the other side.
‘It’s going to take quite some time.’
I tried to find a cave like I did when I was looking for the Jeonggajangju, but there wasn’t any such place nearby.
Danryehwa sat down next to me with a big smile.
“But it’s not cold because there’s a fire.”
“I don’t know because I don’t feel the cold easily.”
“Is it because of the celestial body?”
“Okay. I’ll show you something fun.”
Jinmu Rip drew his sword, picked up several branches, and stuck them into a large tree.
Then, as Jinmu-rip’s hand touched the tree branch and passed over it, it became a roof made of ice.
As the raindrops flowed down the roof, not only Danryeonhwa but also Yeonsujeong opened their eyes wide in wonder.
“It won’t last long because of the rain, but it’ll at least take half an hour. I’ll take a look around and come back, so rest.”
“all right.”
When Jinmu-rip disappeared, Danryehwa and Yeonsojeong touched the ice roof as if it was new.
“He’s a man with more secrets than you might think. I think I understand a little why you want to keep an eye on him.”
Danryehwa smiled and said as if she felt sorry.
“I’m sorry that it seems like you’re suffering because of me.”
Yeon So-jeong, crouching under the eaves, shook her head.
“No. I’m studying a lot too.”
What I experienced over the past few days was the real martial arts world that could not be learned in Hwaryeongdo.
Yeon So-jeong said, staring at the burning tree.
“But if the trip is prolonged, the lord and the lady will be worried. They may even send someone to fetch the young lady.”
An embarrassed look appeared on Danryehwa’s face.
‘That’s a bit difficult.’
It’s not like they could find out anything right away if they met Jinmu-rip, but they wanted to avoid contact if possible.
“How about going back first, asking permission, and then coming back?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that right now.”
Yeon So-jeong smiled for the first time in a while and said:
“I knew you would say that. Then I will go and tell you both in person. It would be better for me to tell you in person, since I know the situation better than to send a letter.”
“huh?”
Danryeonhwa’s eyes widened.
Yeon So-jeong, who never wanted to leave his side from the moment he left Hwaryeongdo.
I was surprised when she volunteered to go to Hwaryeongdo.
Yeon Soo-jeong said.
“A man named Jinmu Rip. He is a secretive person and it is difficult to know his true intentions, but he does not seem to be a bad person.”
It is very rare for her to compliment anyone.
Danryehwa asked as if it was unexpected.
“Can you see that?”
“You can tell by the way he treats his subordinates. He is a very dangerous person to the enemy, but if he becomes an ally, you can trust him with your back. If you stay by his side as his ally, I think you can go and come back with peace of mind.”
“Your evaluation is more generous than I thought. I thought you hated him.”
“I don’t hate him. I don’t like him either. I just don’t let my guard down.”
“But why did you suddenly change your mind? Until recently, you were against me following the vacuum.”
“It’s because of Dangwoo.”
Danryehwa tilted her head at the unexpected words.
“Because of the party leader?”
Yeon So-jeong smiled bitterly.
“Haven’t you seen what happens to the person who grew up in the well without seeing the world? I don’t like the show-off, but Jin-gong-ja is definitely a person who can be learned. I think staying by his side will be an opportunity for you to broaden your horizons.”
Hwaryeongdo is the safest place in the world and has everything, but the experiences I’ve had over the past few days are things I could never do there.
Yeon So-jeong sincerely hoped that Dan Ryeo-hwa, whom she thought of as her own sister, would grow up.
Danryeonhwa was grateful to her for saying such things for him.
She said with a sincere smile.
“You’re the only one who thinks of me. You’re not planning on leaving right now, are you?”
“I’ll go with you to Chongqing. It’s a road that leads to Gangnam anyway.”
“I guess I’ll have time to write a letter.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“of course.”
Yeon So-jeong glanced around and asked quietly.
“You’re not by any chance interested in that guy, are you?”
“huh?”
To someone who doesn’t know the inside story, it might seem that way.
While the flustered Danryeonhwa was trying to find words to say, Yeonseojeong’s expression became more cautious than ever.
“Miss, all men are thieves. You should never trust them so easily.”
“······thank you.”
Danryehwa sighed and shook her head.
Exactly half an hour after the mission began, the scattered Gwangryongdae gathered again.
The group spent a night in the cave they had been looking for, and finally arrived in Chongqing two days later.
