As Prophet - Chapter 109



Only Krnovel

Episode 109. Arrival at the Second Wave

“Do you see my future too?”

“Oh, no. Am I a Taoist? No, I am. But I don’t look at it on purpose.”

But did that sound like something you could see? Baek Ui-hyeong quickly said no.

“No, I don’t believe it. If our lives are set in stone, what’s the use of all this effort?”

“Yes. Ahaha! That’s why I tell you to work hard and achieve great things.”

Maybe it’s set in stone. Isn’t it a life where you can’t escape your destiny no matter how hard you try?

“Haha, what are you talking about?”

“It was something you wanted to do. You really wanted to do it. And it was so hard to give it up.”

“If only you had come down and said something like that… … .”

“Go ahead. Say hello to everyone. I think someone might be coming.”

“who?”

“It’s the second wave. Hahaha!”

“Ahem, who is it? Is it your brother?”

“He’s, um… … maybe the last one?”

“What a person.”

Baek Ui-hyeong got up. He went to the entrance of the mission and said that his resignation letter had been rejected and that he was leaving for his new post. He thanked Won-ju and left the mountain gate, and Dal-cheon followed him.

“When will I see you again?”

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Is it early or late?”

“I will miss you. Goodbye.”

Dalcheon bowed down in front of the mountain gate. It seemed as if he was pushing him away, telling him to hurry up and stop talking. The farewells in the mountains were brief, but this time it was quite grand.

* * *

Instead of returning to the mountain, Dalcheon went into Wonju’s room.

“Why? You came up as soon as you finished work.”

“I thought someone might come.”

“Eww! Who, who is it?”

Wonju was frightened and stammered.

“This time it’ll be someone taller, um… … .”

“Whew! The scariest thing in the world is people.”

We know what that means. People are the ones we should be most happy and affectionate with, but we turn away from them and look for meaning elsewhere. This is because our relationships have become more complicated and different.

The person sitting on one side of the room looks like the owner of the room.

“The shape is exactly the same.”

“Huh, how is it?”

“Even when I was little, I would follow him in and sit against the wall like that and play.”

Dalcheon nodded. Whenever the master visited the mountain temple, he would sit behind him and listen to the adults talking and reflect. The conversation between the monk and the mountain man was nothing special. They talked about trivial things like preparing for winter, the vegetables growing in the garden, and the shortcomings of human life that could not keep up with the changes in the weather. To the master, the temple at the bottom of the mountain was a neighbor that he had to protect. It was only natural that Dalcheon, who inherited it, would nag the magistrate… … . However, his methods were a bit rough and forceful. It was because he was young. It was because his blood was still hot.

“The master did his work silently.”

Dalcheon swallowed hard. It was not someone else’s story, but his teacher’s.

“I should do that, but I’m getting angry first… … Hehe. I still have a long way to go in terms of studying, so I hope Monk Wonju understands.”

“I am worried that the magistrate, who is already living a miserable life, might hold a grudge.”

“I told him strongly that he did it on purpose.”

“I am afraid that people will write that I am an impure person with treasonous intentions.”

“If you write it like that, things will be set right. This time.”

The monk Wonju asked with gentle eyes as if he was talking to the young Dalcheon.

“Who are you?”

Dalcheon blinked and got up.

“It looks like they’re coming. Let’s go out and see.”

“Me too?”

“You came to me, but I provided the place, so it is only natural for the host to welcome guests!”

“You really speak well. No, you speak fluently.”

“These are the words we all learned while sitting here. Hahahaha!”

Dalcheon’s smile was clear and refreshing. Wonju followed with a slightly anxious heart. After reaching the entrance to the mountain gate and waiting for a while, the sound of horse hooves was heard and a group of horses came up.

It was a large party, with Mukhyeong and Cheolmuung running in front. Dalcheon tilted his head. I heard that the nobleman passed the state examination and went to work as a Crown Prince’s Guard…

The dust raised by the dozen or so disguised nobles following them dispersed like fog between the tall pine trees lining both sides of the road.

Dalcheon knelt down on one knee in front of the prose and bowed.

“Welcome to visit.”

As the great cavalry dismounted, the guards that followed behind took the reins.

“I came here because they said it was gone, and it was in the temple.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So why do you do something so shameful?”

“That’s right.”

The conversation was open. Wonju tilted his head in wonder, wondering who it was. Dalcheon immediately introduced himself.

“This is the monk Wonju. He is my neighbor, so I sometimes help him out.”

He brought people who looked like soldiers. I was confused because I didn’t know who the owner was.

“My name is Lee Young.”

“Wooden Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. I am an uncomfortable being living in an insignificant age. Please look after me kindly.”

The army habitually scanned the surroundings. It was a good terrain for an ambush. The darkness cast by the thick pine forest was gloomy. It was a place where dozens of people could hide without being noticed.

“Don’t worry, there’s no one nearby.”

“If you say so, then so be it.”

“I will invite you inside.”

“Let’s walk a bit.”

“yes.”

Dalcheon briefly asked about Mukhyeong’s health.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s not okay.”

“Take a rest.”

“I know.”

Dalcheon greeted Cheolmuwoong with his eyes.

“What happened? I heard you went to the Crown Prince’s Guard.”

“They kept asking me to restore it to its original state, as they were being treated here and there.”

“Why don’t you work under His Highness the Crown Prince and then try to rise in the world… ?”

“They put labels on people’s foreheads and managed them in some way, but I couldn’t stand it anymore. I told them the truth and asked them to let me go.”

“Hoo hoo hoo.”

What makes a foolish person good is his consistency. If the crown prince were to become king, he would not be treated well, but he volunteered to be the grand prince’s escort. It is easy to rise in the ranks of the Crown Prince’s Guards, but as the grand prince’s escort, you are likely to be beaten to death. And yet he asked for restoration… … .

The two men pointed in the direction where the army was waiting.

“Mama, the left blue dragon and the right white tiger are intact.”

“The words have become more free.”

“When I was a government official, I was careful because I was thinking of the children, but now that I’m back in my hometown, I guess it’s because there’s nothing to worry about.”

When ‘Mama’ and ‘Sejaikwisa’ appeared, Wonju guessed that they were the royal family and their escorts.

“The distinguished guests have arrived. It will soon be dark, so let’s go in.”

Dalcheon smiled brightly at Wonju’s urging. He called himself a “Sapanseung” every day, but he thought he was really good at his job.

“Let’s walk a bit.”

The two walked side by side up the mountain path. The guards mounted their horses again and followed them at a distance.

“It’s nothing special, His Majesty has ordered me to bring you here.”

“One person has already done it, and you ordered it even though you knew it wouldn’t work.”

“Ahem. Are there any other good cards after this one?”

“Mr. Baek Ui-hyeong, the Manho of Hoeryeong, came and left, and Mr. Baek Sa-ban stayed behind.”

“Aha! I didn’t know there was someone more important than me.”

“Since Mr. Baek Ui-hyeong has come with a letter of resignation, I am worried that Mr. Baek Sa-ban will follow suit with a letter of dismissal. I am worried because he is a person who believes everything in the world at face value.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Well, your Majesty, you have gone as far as you can go. What can you possibly think of when you are under the threat of assassination on a large scale?”

“Fortunately, there was no danger on the way here. If they had tried to kill me on the way here, they wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

“Could it be because I dealt with a lot at that time?”

“Hmm… … I have a feeling that I have been feeling quite depressed lately. I don’t know what it is, so I’m not sure, but I think His Majesty was angry because of the last incident.”

“It was great back then.”

“The governor was truly amazing. He took care of hundreds of people by himself.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Hahaha, of course. Hahaha!”

“What happened to that woman?”

“Did you have a woman in mind?”

“Don’t mention it. Whether it’s Mihyang or Sohyang, they all look the same so I can’t tell the difference.”

“I am alive.”

Dalcheon’s eyebrows furrowed slightly and then relaxed.

“I don’t like people who touch women, old people, and children.”

“You speak politely. You should treat me like a human being and say that you will kill me at any time.”

Dalcheon smiled brightly.

“I wonder? Hahaha.”

The large army that had been walking side by side stopped. Those who had been following at a distance stopped almost simultaneously. They were well-trained. Two ki advanced forward and blocked the two people who were facing each other.

“That’s right, there was a document that I was asked to open upon arrival.”

“You saw it in advance, right?”

“Haha, of course.”

“What did you say?”

“He told me not to come back unless I could convince him.”

“Oh my.”

“Aren’t I just a human being anyway?”

“It is too contemptuous.”

“He told us to stay away because we would be a threat if we stayed together. He told us to send those who could be a threat to the land of rebellion and not to return.”

Dalcheon suddenly wanted to use this opportunity to say something to overturn things. Who would say anything if the Prince’s Rebellion broke out again? However, he was worried that someone would ask for a price for his words, so he did not say anything.

As if answering his own question, the Grand Prince recited what had been flowing through Dalcheon’s mind.

“Should I just throw it over? Hahahaha!”

“Hahahaha.”

Dalcheon didn’t say anything and just smiled. It’s none of my business. The moment I say something, you can’t say you’re responsible.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I heard that the Grand Princess is a filial son.”

“You have to die to be a filial son.”

“Why are you saying such harsh words… … I don’t know much about it, but if the Grand Princess isn’t here, Your Majesty might be in quite a difficult position.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Anyway, since they are rich, I think they know each other better. It may look good to the person weighing it, but in the end, it falls into the trap of arithmetic. Value is very subjective to the individual, but it is very objective and simple to the world. The fate of those who cannot see it will only remain as an unfortunate history filled with misjudgments and mistakes. Above all, it is only a relative value. As a result, they will regret losing their son, losing their position, and having an unhappy later life.”

The great army swayed from where it had stopped. It was as if the ground was tilting and shaking, and it was trying hard to endure it. But I couldn’t accept it because it was my life. It was the life before me that no one could replace.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Overturn it. Even if it means becoming one of the most evil monarchs in history.”

“Why such a judgment… … .”

“Joseon cannot continue like this. It will collapse helplessly to the invasion of foreign enemies. The beautiful rivers and mountains will be stained with blood. I hope that this beautiful country, this country where the people love and are happy, will last longer.”

“Can there be a sharp number for this army?”

“Everyone should be required to serve in the military without exception. There should be no exceptions. If some people are exempted from military service because they are nobles, some are paying military service, and some are students studying at a hyanggyo, who on earth will be able to protect the country?”

“What’s going on?”

“Look. We are locked up tight and don’t even know what’s going on outside the country. Even when the border invades ninety-nine times a year, we just say, ‘It’s okay, do your best.’ The big countries are pressuring us, the small countries are making a mess, and we are growing stronger across the sea.”

“Okay.”

“It’s not too late.”

The body of the prince looking at Dalcheon trembled like an aspen tree.

“Are you sure you will help me?”

Dalcheon shook his head.

“For people like us to interfere in the affairs of the lower world is to distort the natural order of things. We are a group of warriors who are one against a hundred, and one against a thousand. We cannot help but be limited. We cannot help.”

“What’s the weather like?”

“If it is twisted, the fate of many people will be distorted. Avoid it, be careful, stay away, and still it is the same.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Shall I explain with an example? Let’s start by walking.”

He pointed ahead to the large army that was standing with both feet firmly planted on the ground. The two of them started walking again.