Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 133



Only Krnovel

133. Aftercare (4)

Myungil and I waited for Yeo Hongyang outside the building. To be honest, I wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation between Yeo Hongyang and Yeo Buljin, but it was clear that the guard behind them, Moonwon, would not allow it.

“Was it fun?”

Myeongil asked out of the blue.

“yes?”

“You kept laughing.”

“I just laughed at that to try and scratch the surface as much as possible.”

“No. There’s a difference between your fake smile and your real smile.”

I was a little surprised. My fake smile that I had honed as a merchant was discovered by a kid like this. My pride felt a little cracked.

“How did you know?”

“Just know.”

“I don’t know much about it.”

I sucked my lips. Myeongil just stared blankly at the sky, not knowing how great a job he had done. That was the part that made me even more upset.

“Honestly, it was kind of funny.”

“what?”

“That king was trembling as much as possible, trying not to show his true feelings.”

“I don’t know that guy very well.”

“Why can I see through it and not the King?”

“That person is someone else anyway. There’s no need to see him.”

Well then, I was about to ask that.

I’m now too entangled with the nonpartisans to call them strangers. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I covered my mouth and coughed.

“Anyway, that king’s hands were shaking a lot. I’m sure he wasn’t aware of it.”

“Was it like that?”

“Yes. I feel like kicking the flower pots against the wall right now and taking my anger out on the plants.”

I chuckled. Myeongil looked at me silently as if he found me pitiful.

But the funny thing is, it was funny. And yet, I thought that the King was not the King for nothing.

Of course, it is true that I couldn’t get angry because he was the one who tried to make me drink water first. But people aren’t that rational. It is true that the way he kept his true feelings hidden as much as possible while being wary of me, who was much younger than him, was quite impressive.

I glanced at Myeongil and saw that he was tired, even though he didn’t show it. After all, he was a kid who only trained in swordsmanship at the main temple. He had been traveling around the Central Plains for almost a few months, so it was only natural that he would be tired.

“I have to go quickly.”

I looked at the sky and waited for the red yang to appear.

It took quite some time. Of course, there will be a lot to talk about with Yeo Hong-yang. I will talk about everything from what you did when I took away Cheonsu Sangdan’s rice bowl to what kind of person I am.

As I was waiting, looking up at the sky, I heard a noise coming from inside the building. It was the sound of someone coming out.

“You came out so damn late… … .”

I waved my hand and stopped saying that. This wasn’t the person I was waiting for.

The person who came out was none other than the escort called Moonwon.

For a moment we looked at each other in silence. Moon-won came down the stairs towards us. Then he slowly approached me and opened his mouth.

“If you ever act so rudely to an elder, you’ll get your head cut off.”

Moon-won was about to growl and leave. However, Myeong-il did not stay still.

“What you just said is an insult to the nonpartisan group.”

Moonwon, who had been turning his back to leave, stood tall and looked back.

“What did you say, Sodojang?”

“The priest is a non-partisan. To threaten a non-partisan is an insult to the non-partisan.”

“Since when did the non-partisan group become such an inclusive group that they even take care of lay disciples?”

“So when did this group become so strong that they could threaten non-partisan people?”

Myeong-il and Moon-won were two heads apart in height. However, Myeong-il’s characteristically indifferent gaze was more than enough to deal with Moon-won.

“Look, I’m not a top guy. I’m a personal protector of the elders. Do you think I’d be scared by a shamanistic Malko?”

Moonwon shot a blast of energy at Myeongil. It seemed that Myeongil had a hard time handling the energy, so his face turned slightly pale. I waved my hand to disperse the energy.

“What are you doing to a child that is so embarrassing?”

“Child? That has no meaning now that you’re in the world of martial arts.”

“You call a child a death row inmate.”

Moonwon, of course, and unexpectedly, Myeongil also glared at me. My true feelings had finally come out. I coughed in vain.

“That’s a slip of the tongue. Death penalty. Anyway, don’t bother and go. If you’re going to escort me, just escort me. You’re going too far.”

“Kids these days have no manners.”

In the end, Moonwon and I both got on each other’s nerves.

“The death penalty should be postponed a bit.”

“No. This is a matter that I, as a death row inmate, must take responsibility for.”

Myeongil unexpectedly took a step forward. It seemed like he was the one who started the fight and wanted to take responsibility for it.

But what can I do? My heart is brave, but Myeongil is no match for Moonwon.

“I’m sorry. Death penalty.”

“hmm?”

I stepped forward and touched the sleeping hole of Myeong-il. Myeong-il fell down as if he was falling asleep. I caught him before he hit the ground and laid him down far away.

Moonwon drew his sword as if he had been waiting for me to return. It certainly had a murderous aura.

I don’t know what his background is, but it was clear that he was a man of such power that he could make fun of the nonpartisans.

“I’ll fix your rude snout today.”

“Try it.”

As my tone of speech became more informal, Moon-won’s eyebrows rose.

“bloke!”

Moonwon kicked the ground right away. I quickly stepped back and drew my sword. Even though I stepped back and drew my sword, Moonwon’s sword was fast enough that the swords clashed before my eyes.

“Stop this?”

There was confusion in Moonwon’s eyes. It seemed he was convinced that I would not be able to stop his sword.

As I struck back with my sword, Moonwon also quickly stepped back.

“What are you, a mere merchant? You think you can stop my sword?”

“He’s not just a merchant. He’s a disciple of a non-partisan group.”

“How absurd. Even the disciples of the shaman sect your age would have a hard time blocking that sword.”

“I have a bit of a genius side.”

Moon-won was about to refute my shameless speech, but closed his mouth. This level of inaction by a lay disciple was definitely something that only a genius could explain. Now, I also know my inaction to some extent. At least now, I was a pretty good master for my age group.

“I apologize for looking down on you.”

A creepy aura appeared in Moonwon’s eyes. Now that I’ve swung my sword a few times as a warrior and fought many people, I know.

That was the kind of energy that someone who had killed people could emit. And not just one or two, but many. That means the author was a seasoned expert. I didn’t know why someone like that was acting as a personal bodyguard, but I didn’t have time to think about it right now.

“Hot!”

With a roar, Moonwon’s new form suddenly disappeared. At that moment, a shadow was cast over my body. When I looked up, Moonwon had turned his back to the sun and was beating me down.

I quickly turned the sword towards the non-blade side and blocked it with both hands.

bang!

My ankles were tingling. The force was so strong that the ground beneath my feet caved in. If I hadn’t used the wisdom I learned from the shamans to channel most of the shock outward, it would have been my ankles that were flipped over, not the ground.

Fifty beats passed in an instant. Moonwon was definitely a very strong man. I don’t know what he does, but it seemed like he must have blown it up at some point.

I had no choice but to block it with as much nonpartisan logic as possible. While I was blocking it, sweating profusely, Moonwon’s attacks also became more intense.

At that moment, a pebble flying from the ground flew quickly toward my eyes. As I stepped on the ground, the ground flipped over and splashed me. I instinctively closed one eye, and Moonwon did not miss the gap and swung his sword in a square direction.

‘What’s wrong?’

As that thought passed through my mind, I heard someone shouting from afar.

“stop!”

The sword stopped right at my waist. Of course, I knew it wasn’t going to cut me in two, but I couldn’t help but feel my flesh tremble.

Our heads turned in the direction where the sound came from at the same time. There were Yeo Bul-jin and Yeo Hong-yang with surprised expressions.

“What are you doing!”

“… … There was a brief altercation.”

“No matter what, the escort is trying to cut down the guest. Haven’t you broken your old habits?”

Yeo Bul-jin rebuked him. Moon-won lowered his head.

“sorry.”

“Put the knife away!”

At Yeo Bul-jin’s words, Moon-won put his sword back in its scabbard. I followed suit and put my sword back in. Only when I couldn’t see the cool blade did I relax.

Yeo Bul-jin approached me and bowed her head. Both Moon-won and I were surprised by her actions.

“I’m sorry. I guess the escort was in bad shape.”

“No. I also made a lot of mistakes.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Sure, Yeo Bul-jin tried to trick me, but as a merchant, he was someone I could learn from.

Since Yeo Bul-jin apologized, Moon-won had no choice but to apologize as well.

“… … I’m sorry too.”

“No. I guess I was being harsh.”

That was how our conflict came to an end. As they say, there is no one to be ignored in the world of martial arts. Who would have thought that he would be a master who hides his identity and lives as a personal bodyguard? I was as surprised as Moon-won was.

Yeo Bul-jin said she was sorry and offered to compensate me with something, but since I hadn’t done anything good, I just ran away.

After a very long time, it was time to return to the neutral party.

* * *

After Mukhwiyoung’s group left, Yeo Buljin and Moonwon shared a drink for the first time in a long time. In any case, it was bitter for Yeo Buljin to have been drinking from a junior of hers.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“It’s not because of me. I stopped because of you.”

Yeo Bul-jin clicked her tongue.

“If you were just a regular escort, I would have told you a little later. I could have framed you and sent you to the Murim Alliance. As for that guy named Muk Hwi-yeong, I think it would be easier to just kill him now.”

Yeo Bul-jin spoke comfortably while pouring a drink in a murderous tone. Moon-won received the glass with both hands.

“But I can’t abandon you, right?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I should repay you for your trust.”

“You’ve done enough to repay me. How many times have I told you that you don’t need to protect me anymore?”

Moonwon shook his head at Yeo Bul-jin’s words.

“No. You are a benefactor whom I will have to repay for the rest of my life.”

“There is no such thing in the world.”

“This is an unmanned calculation. It is obvious that it is not included in the merchant’s calculation.”

Moonwon took over the bottle of alcohol and politely poured it for Yeo Buljin.

“By the way, it seems that Muk Hwi-yeong is quite strong in martial arts… … In fact, Son Yeong-ui said that Muk Hwi-yeong defeated the direct line of Namgung Se-ga.”

“Is that so? That’s really great. Somehow.”

“Haha. But still, would he be greater than the last descendant of the Heavenly Kings who ruled a few decades ago?”

A surprising word came out of Yeo Bul-jin’s mouth. Cheonwangmun. A mysterious sect from Cheonghae that disappeared ten years ago.

As the Heavenly King’s Gate was dismantled, its people also disappeared. But if people found out that the gatekeeper was a descendant of the Heavenly King’s Gate, it would turn the world of martial arts upside down.

“No. I’m just a natural born person. But Mukhwiyoung is different.”

“You’re strangely humble. You’re a genius, and he’s not?”

“Yes.”

“There’s no denying that you’re a genius. You’re not given the nickname ‘Cheonwangshinryong’ for nothing. You were given the nickname because you defeated all the later greats of your time.”

This was not something Yeo Bul-jin intended to say. In fact, the Heavenly King Dragon had been given the title of the best late-stage index more than a dozen years ago. No one knew that the Heavenly King Dragon, who disappeared along with the Heavenly King Gate, was in the Heavenly Guardians’ Shangdan.

“Yes. From my perspective, Muk Hwi-yeong is not a genius.”

“Haven’t you become dulled by being away from the martial arts world for so long?”

“That’s not entirely the case. I’ve been taking care of the old man for five years now. During that time, there was no life-or-death struggle. But my eyes are still alive.”

Yeo Bul-jin was puzzled. When he investigated Mok Hwi-yeong, he said that he had only recently entered the mountains as a lay disciple. But if he had been able to confuse the Heavenly King in those few years, wasn’t he an incredible genius? However, his opponent, the Heavenly King, said that Mok Hwi-yeong was not a genius.

“Then what?”

“He is a master of his craft. His swordsmanship does not show the brilliance and creativity that only a genius can have. Only those who have truly dealt with him can know this. Instead, he knows how to penetrate his own world through the sword. It is a sword that can only be seen in great masters who have surpassed even the realm of talent.”

“Family… ….”

Yeo Bul-jin spat. The phrase “form a family” cannot be used lightly. Moon-won was not the type of person to speak without knowing that.

“Then does that mean he is on the same level as the Seven Great Swordsmen, known as the Great Master, or the Five Great Sword Masters of the World?”

“That’s not it. His family didn’t achieve anything through martial arts.”

“Then, does a blacksmith who has been making weapons for fifty years swing a sword like that when he picks it up?”

“That’s not it. If you don’t have talent for martial arts, then it’s impossible.”

“But you said that Mukhwiyoung isn’t a genius?”

“That’s the strange thing. Judging from the way he swings it, he’s definitely not a genius, but it’s an accomplishment that only a genius can show… … . Anyway, he’s a strange guy.”

Yeo Bul-jin stuck out his tongue at Moon Won’s words. At least, Moon Won, who was known as the greatest talent in the Central Plains, could not help but believe what he said.

“Then that’s greater than a genius.”

“Most of the reviewers of Gupaebang are geniuses. There are very few who break the egg of genius and become true masters. They are far beyond geniuses.”

Moonwon sighed.

“But usually, that is something that is created through hard work and external experiences. What is surprising is that Muk Hwi-young didn’t have time to create something like that. It was against the natural order.”

“Is it to the extent that it even comes to natural order?”

“Yes. The reason he was pushed back by me was simply because he wasn’t a genius and wasn’t used to the sword. If he had been in contact with the sword for a similar amount of time as I did, I would have been defeated in less than a minute.”

“That’s amazing.”

Yeo Bul-jin knew that Moon-won was not a person who talked nonsense. Yeo Bul-jin was slightly embarrassed. It was the first time she had seen Moon-won praise someone so highly.

Yeo Bul-jin sighed deeply. In fact, he could understand what Moon-won was saying to some extent. This was because, as a merchant, Mok Hwi-yeong also seemed like a member of the same family. As a merchant, Mok Hwi-yeong even looked very experienced.

“They say that in times of trouble, capable people will pour out. It looks like times of trouble are coming soon. Since someone of that level of ability has appeared in the Central Plains.”

Yeo Bul-jin smiled bitterly. Moon-won was also slightly surprised. In the years that he had served Yeo Bul-jin, he had never seen her praise someone so highly.

This was the first time that the two, who are stingy with praise, had praised someone together. It was surprising.

“Still, this old man can’t just sit back and be swept away.”

“You’re old. You’re still in good health.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Yeo Bul-jin shook her glass. It was a sign that it was empty. Moon-won hurriedly picked up the bottle and poured some alcohol.

“I feel a change coming. A wave of change that no one person can stop.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s scary.”

“There was something you were afraid of, sir.”

“I have many fears. That is my shame. I just don’t show my fears. That is my pride.”

Yeo Bul-jin took a sip of the wine and turned the glass upside down. It meant that he would stop drinking. Originally, Yeo Bul-jin was the type of person who would not drink if he felt good.

“Let’s make a place for Jegal Se-ga and me.”

“Is it Zhuge Liang?”

“The only one who can restrain the non-partisan faction in Hubei is Zhuge Liang.”

“All right.”

Moon Won-do also turned over his glass.

The wave of change would first sweep through the Hubei martial arts world.