episode_0117

At night, Hongryeon and Chaejin, who had been meditating in preparation for going to the secret mirror, gathered in one room.

Sayun looked at the two with concern, and Chaeryeon and Hyeonhwi were holding her hands gently.

“I’m so nervous about this that I don’t know if I’ll be able to fall asleep.”

When Hongryeon spoke in a low tone, Chaejin also agreed.

The apprentice grinned at them.

“You can force him to sleep.”

oh. Are you trying to get a blood transfusion? After all, point blood is the flower of martial arts. Even in the bright moon of heaven, there was no such thing as blood transfusion and putting to sleep, but here we see…

He picked up a club.

“If you get hit on the head with this, you can fall asleep quickly.”

I don’t think I’ll fall asleep, but I’ll go into eternal sleep, right?

When they heard that it was not someone else but the apprentice who was attacking them, the two hurriedly shut their mouths and closed their eyes.

“Now, let’s sleep!”

“Good night!”

I looked at the apprentice and he grinned.

“It was a joke.”

It seemed serious.

I heard that people who have learned martial arts can fall asleep quickly at any time through the flow of inner energy.

Is that why?

As the two of us lying on the bed fell asleep, breathing comfortably, I looked at Sayun.

It’s a pity that I can’t sleep because I’m worried about Hongryeon and Chaejin, even though it’s way past my bedtime and I’m sleepy.

“Now go to sleep.”

“Still…”

“If something happens, the apprentice is there too. And I will watch too.”

If something actually happens, I’ll have to step in.

I told Hyeonhwi and Chaeryeon to go to sleep, and they hesitated before heading to the room inside. The door was slightly open, as if they were about to step out immediately if something happened.

The apprentice who was staring at it slightly waved his hand. That alone closes the door without a sound.

How long has it been like that? When he seemed to have fallen asleep inside, I took out the heart scripture he gave me.

As he stared at the spot where two of the jewels that were supposed to be in the mirror were destroyed, he smiled and opened his mouth without hesitation.

“As I said to Sojeo, everyone has a mind. It’s just that the sima always hides itself and reveals itself when a person’s heart is weak, so I just think that strong people don’t have sima.”

A moment of silence. He stared at me and then said.

“It was a few years ago. After attaining the mind-soul sutra, I also entered the mirror secret world to overcome my mind-ma.”

If it had succeeded, only one would have been destroyed, but it failed, and someone must have used it to save it.

There was bitterness in the corner of the apprentice’s mouth.

“I failed, and my wife saved me. Thanks to you, I was able to stop Simma from controlling me.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the secret story that I had never heard of even in the bright moon of heaven.

By the way, if a disciple has a heart, does a swordsman also have a heart?

After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.

There must be. He’s a swordsman who even experienced something like that.

So, can we use this to help her overcome Simma?

“I’ll be out for a bit.”

Apprentices also go out. I’m the only one left in the room.

I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes.

“Ugh…!”

A low groan is heard. I slowly turned my head. It was a moan coming from Hongryeon.

If I feel like it’s getting worse, I can go in, right? I fiddled with the heart sutra that I had received from my apprentice in my pocket.

“Ugh…!”

My body twitches once. Chaejin’s beauty frowned, and her body bounced lightly.

But that only lasts for a moment.

When Chaejin became quiet again, I observed the situation again.

Several times, both of them complained of pain intermittently. However, it quickly calmed down as if they were somehow trying to overcome it, but their condition was getting worse.

The candles lit to check the time slowly melt. That was when the half-melted candle flame swayed slightly.

“Ugh…!! Ugh…!! Ugh…!! Pfft!”

A groan was heard that made anyone who heard it know that he was in excruciating pain.

It was Hongryeon. After looking at her, I got up and opened the window. Outside the window, the apprentice was thinking about something.

“Let’s go in now.”

“Hmm. Be careful.”

I lay down next to her, who was sweating profusely, struggling and complaining of pain. And, seeing the eyes filled with tears, I listened to the Heart Sutra.

What is reflected in the heart sutra is the red lotus.

But my image did not exist.

The moment I recognized it, the surroundings began to turn white.

The first thing I saw was the desert. A desert with no end.

And, there was a road in the center of the desert, and traces of someone walking were visible.

Did Hongryeon walk here?

I walked along that road. As I was walking like that, I saw something.

It was a small bag. I picked it up and looked inside.

– I will do it. I will take care of my students.

It was Hongryeon’s voice.

A voice that makes you think you’re younger than you are now.

Along with that voice, a red-haired girl who was thought to be Hongryeon’s childhood appeared.

– Because Master is having a hard time. I will do it.

– Is that okay. A burden on you…

– are you okay! That’s what an eldest sister should do!

After saying those words, the brightly smiling girl took charge of Hong Seong-moon’s housekeeping.

No matter how talented she was, it was not easy for a young girl to take charge of the household of a clan.

Nevertheless, the girl managed to maintain Hong Seong-moon, who had lost many things.

To do so, the girl gave up the opportunity to decorate herself.

When I had good fabric, I used it for my sisters, and when I had money to buy things like cosmetics, I used it for things for my sisters.

Still, she wasn’t sad.

Because I thought that was what I had to do as a great disciple and as the eldest sister.

I walked back with my bag and found another bag.

– How about getting some more training?

At the Sword Saint’s suggestion, Hongryeon, who took off her girlish appearance but was younger than she is now, shook her head.

Although it was important to receive training from a sword saint, he also could not give up his activities in the Murim Alliance.

– This time, I plan to exchange my sword with the funds I can obtain from my activities at the Inspection Department. Liu Kang’s sword is very old, isn’t it?

-But your training…

– I can grow enough just by teaching my sisters.

– Then take this elixir. I made this for you.

Hongryeon smiled and said to the sad Sword Saint.

-Ryu Hyun’s strength is lacking right now. I might be able to obtain an elixir through the Murim League activities this time.

I gave up on becoming stronger.

As the first disciple of the Sword Saint, even though much could be asked of her, she served her disciples.

He wanted Hongseongmun to grow bigger, and he wanted the Samae to become stronger.

That’s why he gave up his desires.

The desire for growth that a warrior must naturally have.

When the illusion disappeared again, I packed my bag and walked.

Bags, bags, bags appear again.

All of those things were things that Hongryeon had given up while living as Hong Seong-moon’s great disciple.

I took them and walked, and found numerous corpses of monsters at the end of the road.

And, beyond the corpses, I found a red-haired woman sitting on the floor carrying a large luggage.

The things she was holding were all brightly shining red jewels.

What it was, I knew.

This is Hong Seong-moon.

They are Hong Seong-moon’s disciples.

I smiled at her as she gave up her desires and wishes, but still tried to take them with her, and sat down next to her.

“Are you okay?”

Slightly, Hongryeon turned her head. Then he smiled sweetly and leaned his head towards me.

With a strong scent of plum blossoms in the air, she looked up at me and smiled when she saw the bags I had brought.

“…Ah. I’m leaning on you again.”

It must have been very difficult.

I saw that you were being pampered in a way that you normally wouldn’t be.

It’s a good thing you came.

“You won’t take these?”

Hongryeon looked at the bags I brought with her with sad eyes. And he nodded.

“It already happened in the past.”

As soon as she spoke, the bags I had packed disappeared.

However, there was no bitterness on her face. I could only watch proudly as the bags disappeared.

About what you have lived so far. He seemed to be proud of the things he gave up and brought with him.

“Can you help me?”

If I help her here, she will be a little more comfortable, but it will be impossible to overcome Simma.

But it’s better than sitting here forever.

When I held out my hand, Hongryeon, who had been staring at my hand, shook her head.

“This is something I have to shoulder. Even leaning on you must be a burden for you. I can’t leave this to you. Instead… can you walk with me?”

“Hmm. I will. But what is that? It looks a little different from the others.”

“Ah. This, this… that…”

It was different from anything she had ever held. A bag that emits a soft blue light.

Unlike the others, Hongryeon hugged the small bag tightly, as if she didn’t want to give it away because it looked like new.

I nodded to her who hesitated to answer.

“If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to.”

“…Thank you.”

Thank you.

Hongryeon, who seemed to have regained her energy, walked down the road with me again.

“Is this path for me? Or this burden? Or this desert?”

“Well…”

“…You saw it, right? What are the things I dropped on my way?”

“I saw it.”

“…There were times when I was sad and times when it was difficult.”

Hongryeon continued to speak as she trudged along. The weight and duty that the first disciple of the Sword Saint should have.

It would be a lie if I said it wasn’t difficult.

As a human being myself, I was quite tired of the burden.

“…Still. I was able to cheer up. Because everyone was there.”

Because what she had now was worth carrying to the end.

Hongryeon, who said that, looked at the end of the road with a much more relaxed expression.

“…Hong Seong-mun’s great disciple, Geomsung’s first disciple. The inspector of the Murim Alliance, Nakilgeom… everyone’s older sister. Because they are what makes me.”

“But isn’t there a red lotus in it?”

“Actually, that’s true, but it’s a little different now.”

Hongryeon looked up at me slightly. With a kind, melting smile, she fiddled with a small bag containing a blue gem.

“Because there is something precious that cannot be given to anyone else. therefore. This is enough for me. Also, when it’s hard.”

Gently, Hongryeon grabbed my arm.

“You said you would stay by my side, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Hehe. That’s enough. I… no. Actually, it’s not enough.”

Hongryeon slightly lowered her head. So we walked along the road without saying anything, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the end of the road.

A large door, the exit to the mirrored secret world, was revealed.

As we arrive near it, the road and desert we have passed so far begin to turn white and disappear.

“When I walked alone, I thought it would never end. Since the two of us are walking, it feels really short. thank you. Really.”

“No. I didn’t do anything.”

Nothing was really done. She wouldn’t have known if I had carried that burden, because she handled everything on her own.

All I did was just walk next to him.

Hongryeon smiled as she stared at the exit at my answer. and.

“…Did you ask what this was?”

She fiddled with her blue jewelry bag.

“Hehe. I want to say it here too.”

Hongryeon smiled slightly. And he takes a step closer to me.

“This is the heart.”

Another step.

“The heart I cherish.”

And then another step.

“But I am afraid of being rejected.”

One final step.

“Still, I can’t let go of this pounding feeling.”

“…Huh?”

“I can’t tell you in real life yet, but I want to convey my sincerity first to you who is inside me, a creation of my image.”

“…Huh? for a moment. Hongryeon. Now…”

I think I’m having some incredibly dangerous illusions and misunderstandings.

It’s as if he thinks I’m a June created by his own imagination.

“I’m a town!”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Hongryeon came completely in front of me, grabbed my face, and raised her tiptoes.

A pretty face gets closer.

I was clumsy. It was so sudden that my teeth slightly touched, and my lips were shaking so much that I could tell that I was nervous.

Still, her lips were full, soft, and sweet.

Before she could enjoy it, Hongryeon slowly lowered her raised foot and fell.

Then, he hugged me and brought my face to his chest, and spoke in a sweet tone, unable to raise his face or hide his red neck and ears.

“You know what? June? i like you iced coffee. said. I said it. How great it would be if we could say this in real life…”

Feeling sorry, Hongryeon slowly pulled away and stared at me with sad eyes.

Her weak white hand was slowly turning into a fist.

With determination and determination to achieve it.

“Someday, I will definitely speak confidently in front of you. So… please let the you in me support me. like this. So that I can say I like you.”

As she was leaving through the exit while saying that, she looked back and said.

“So. Please wait.”

Is it because Hongryeon passed through the secret mirror?

I came to my senses.

Looking at the seconds, it seemed like very little time had actually passed.

“…ugh. Ahhh… Ugh! Ahhh!”

There was no time to organize my thoughts. When I saw Chae-jin next to me struggling in pain, I immediately grabbed the heart sutra and headed to her side.

And the moment she and I were illuminated at the same time with the heart mirror, the surroundings turned pure white again, deforming our appearance.

Is this Chaejin’s image?

I looked around and groaned.

If Hongryeon’s image was of an endless desert road.

Chaejin’s mental image.

It was a dark dungeon.