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#513
Taejonbirok Volume 21, Episode 13
Chapter 115: The Lazy Man Goes to the Demonic Cult (3)
“It’s a sight beyond words.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
“Is that kid strong?”
Cheonryu Sword raised his head and looked at the old man quietly.
Lost.
It was a crushing defeat, beyond excuse. The fact that the world's greatest swordsman, the Cheonryu Sword, had been defeated by a young, blue-eyed rascal, would be a shock to anyone.
But the old man was calm, as if he had guessed it all.
'You won't be shaken, will you?'
Even if the world were turned upside down and the positions of heaven and earth reversed, the old man wouldn't be surprised. He would remain calm, as if he'd already known.
Cheonryu Sword was offended by that fact.
He is someone no one dares to catch up with.
Just someone I admire.
For the first time since learning of his brother, Cheonryu Sword felt a sense of rejection. Just as one longs to gaze upon a perfectly calm lake, longing to throw a pebble and create ripples, a slightly sinister desire crept up within him to shake this man's composure.
“It was strong.”
“So much so that you can’t even lift a hand?”
"Yes. He was so strong that I couldn't even fight back. It wasn't a mistake. I lost due to skill."
“That kid is that bad…….”
on the sly.
The old man's composure wavered slightly.
"house owner."
“Speak.”
“I have something to ask you.”
“What was it?”
“Are we using the devil’s cult?”
The old man's gentle gaze gazed quietly at the Cheonryu Sword. His gaze felt incredibly warm.
But Cheonryu Sword no longer felt the warmth of those eyes.
'Why didn't I know?'
That warmth wasn't respect. It was a look of ownership, a look directed at one's possessions, a look of possession directed at a faithful pet.
“Does that matter?”
“How could it not be important?”
Anger boiled over at the sound of Cheonryu Sword's voice.
"Wasn't all this for the sake of the Ten Thousand Swords? What's the point of subordinating ourselves to the Demonic Cult and restoring the reputation of the Hundred Schools? It only makes sense when we achieve it through our own hands. It's not a reputation we can reclaim by becoming a dog of the Demonic Cult!"
“Fame…….”
The old man smiled quietly and gently pushed the teacup towards Cheonryu Geom.
"You're excited. Enjoying the tea scent will calm your mind a little."
"house owner!"
“Aren’t you telling me that I’m excited for you?”
“…….”
A low but stern rebuke.
Cheonryu Sword clenched his jaw in response to that rebuke.
'Do you still treat me like a child?'
I admit he's a brother I deeply respect. But he's not young. He's not short on fame. So, shouldn't we treat him as an equal to some extent?
Cheonryu Geom silently lifted the teacup and drank the hot tea in one gulp.
widely!
The teacup landed roughly on the floor.
“Is it okay?”
The old man stared at Cheonryu Sword without a trace of expression. Seeing the hostility in Cheonryu Sword's eyes, he sighed softly.
“It’s public opinion.”
“Yes, brother.”
The title of Gaju was changed to Hyungnim.
It was a determination to set aside public hierarchy and have a proper conversation as brothers. The old man, understanding this intention, shook his head.
“You still don’t know anything.”
"No one knows, not me. You alone know everything. If you don't tell us, how can we possibly know what you mean?"
“…….”
"You may think you're carrying the burden alone, Brother. But is that the right way to go? We're not mere accomplices to your plans. We're not hunting dogs that bite when you tell us to bite or bark when you tell us to bark. So how! How can you hide everything from us?"
The old man closed his eyes quietly.
"Even if we achieve everything this way, what's the point? What we want to recreate is the glory of the Ten Thousand Swords. And the condemnation of those shameless people. We don't want to establish a world of magic. I thought they were simply a means. Didn't you say that, Brother? But… when did the tables turn? When, exactly?"
“Why do you think the roles have been reversed?”
“Isn’t it?”
The gentle gaze of the old man and the sharp gaze of the Cheonryu Sword intertwined in the air. The old man gently deflected the Cheonryu Sword's wrathful gaze.
“It’s a ball.”
"……yes."
The old man maintained his gaze unwavering despite the rudeness of the Cheonryu Sword.
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“Nothing has changed, nothing. Nothing has changed from the beginning until now.”
"one……."
The old man's words cut off the Thousand-Ryu Sword's resistance.
“Did you say it was for the glory of the hundred schools?”
“Yes.”
"Then nothing has changed. Everything is for the sake of the Mangeom Sword. I swear it on my all. It's not what you think. I've never bowed to the Demonic Cult. I've never listened to their words. I've only pursued the glory of the Mangeom Sword."
"older brother!"
“Do you doubt me?”
Cheonryu Sword shut his mouth tightly.
He knows it too.
That the old man dedicated his entire life to the revival of the Mangeombaekga school, that he rejected all the happiness that ordinary people could enjoy and clung only to that one thing.
Starting from the ground up, building up Baekgeomseong, and now finally having the chance to put everything back in place.
I know. Everyone knows.
'But why is this happening at this time of all times?'
“Let me ask you just one thing.”
“Ask.”
Cheonryu Sword hesitated several times before opening his mouth.
“Wei Yanhu used the Mangeom sword.”
“…….”
wobble.
The Cheonryu Sword did not miss the old man's trembling.
There were ripples on the calm lake.
"Perfect. Yes, there's no such thing as perfection in the Ten Thousand Swords. But this Ten Thousand Swords was approaching perfection. Aside from yours, I've never seen a sword of that caliber anywhere else. It'll take countless hours to reach perfection, but at least it's grasped the very tip of the Ten Thousand Swords. Let me ask: Are there others in the world who have inherited the Ten Thousand Swords?"
The old man shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Is there something you don’t know, hyung?”
“It’s not a bad thing.”
The old man's voice was firm.
"I can't possibly know everything that's going on in the world. Even if someone other than us were to inherit a piece of the Ten Thousand Swords, I wouldn't be able to know."
“…….”
“If the swords of ten thousand swords are connected to other places besides us, then that is something to be happy about.”
“It looks awfully similar.”
“You say we look alike?”
"Yes. It resembles your sword so much. I'd believe it if you said he was your disciple. Your sword, which neither I nor Hoe-myeong could bring themselves to chase, was there."
“Hmm…….”
The old man's eyes trembled.
This was definitely something strange.
Man-geom.
Although simply referred to as the Ten Thousand Swords, the Ten Thousand Swords represent all the swords in the world. Similarly, the paths to reaching the Ten Thousand Swords are countless. Even if the outcome is the same, the process is different. Does this mean even the paths we walk are similar?
'That's impossible.'
This would have been impossible without someone who inherited the direct lineage of the Ten Thousand Swords and embodied the essence of the Ten Thousand Swords. But… …But all the Ten Thousand Swords' direct lineage except them are dead. That is a clear fact.
So where did Wei Yanhu learn that sword?
There's no way the Cheonryu Sword was mistaken. He'd experienced it firsthand. If that's the case…
“I don’t know what happened either.”
“Yes, you don’t know. Then let me ask you one more question.”
Cheonryu Sword's voice became firm.
“Did you know about the existence of the Heavenly Horse?”
“…….”
The old man did not answer.
But that was a better answer than anything.
“You knew.”
Cheonryu Sword bit his lips tightly.
“Why didn’t you say a word to us even though you knew?”
The old man shook his head.
“What difference does it make if you know?”
“……Isn’t anything going to change?”
"I just avoided unnecessary confusion. If you knew…"
"older brother!"
Cheonryu Geom cut off the old man's words in an angry voice.
"We're not three-year-olds, nor are we your tools. I wanted to be a comrade who shares in the will of Mangeom. I didn't want to live as a tool to fulfill your will."
“Did you say it was my will?”
“…….”
“My will? My will?”
The old man began to laugh.
'what?'
Cheonryu Sword's eyes opened wide.
laugh.
It was a smile that never left the old man's lips. But the smile he saw now was different from any he had ever seen before.
It wasn't a smile filled with leisure and gentleness. It was a twisted, distorted, almost maddening smile.
“Hahahahahahaha! My will? My will? Did you say my will?”
“Tongue, brother…….”
“Those who don’t know anything.”
An incredible aura rose from the old man's body.
"Those who lived peacefully behind the name of Mangeom! Those who know nothing of the truth, how can they talk so well? Did you say it was my will? My will?"
The old man shouted.
It was a shocking sight for Cheonryu Geom, who had never imagined seeing an old man like this.
"Was it my will to re-establish the Mangeom Sword? Was that truly my will? Arthur! Arthur, you rascal! You have given rein to your twisted madness, and now you blame me! Me!"
Cheonryu Geom's face trembled.
"Yes, I understand. We may resent you. But you're the one who took responsibility for all this. Don't think we should be grateful just because you know everything and suffer alone. We weren't even given the opportunity to suffer together."
“…….”
"I will fulfill your command, Lord, even at the risk of my life. Walk the glorious path, as you have always done."
Cheonryu Geom abruptly rose from his seat, turned around, and left the garden without a word.
The wind is blowing.
The old man, left alone, stared blankly up at the sky, feeling the wind blowing.
“Cheonma-ra…….”
Laughter erupts.
Heavenly horse, Heavenly horse… … .
“Things like a heavenly horse…….”
The old man ground his teeth.
The truth is too heavy.
So much so that his body, which had no fear of the world, was crushed by the weight and burst.
You want me to tell you?
Let's carry it together?
“Come on, you guys.”
You have no idea how scary this place is. And… … .
'You'll find out soon.'
Because there's no avoiding it now.
When the world is filled with the name of the Mangeom, they too will see the truth. And then they will understand why he had to do this.
“Is anyone there?”
"insect!"
“Call Hoe-myeong.”
"insect!"
As the shadow hiding in the pavilion disappeared, the old man quietly turned his head and looked at the flowers in full bloom.
“Once a flower blooms, it will eventually fall.”
After the flowers have bloomed, the dark ground that was hidden by the flowers becomes visible.
Now the warriors will know how black and ugly the land they stood on was. The old man will shove manure-filled dirt into their faces.
And then you'll laugh it off.
but…….
All that glory was never meant for him.