Chapter v17c22

Destruction & Regeneration

– Mountain and Sky

A desolate wasteland, burning buildings, rafters collapsing in flames, massive pillars reduced to black ash, swirling like dark snow in the murky sky. And within that inferno, a frail being named Mo Yong-Hwi was consumed by fire.

It lay on the ground. He stared at it with trembling eyes. It was small. So small that he had to look down. He was forced to look down at something he had always looked up to. It was a face. A face he had admired and revered, a face that had always been kind to him, a face that had guided him on the path of the sword, a beloved blood relative, and a final destination he had believed to be eternal.

The face that lay detached on the ground was that of his grandfather, Sword Saint Mo Yong Jeong-Cheon. And he was looking down at it. There was no body beneath his grandfather’s head. Only a severed neck. The earth was drinking the crimson blood, staining its yellow soil a bright red.

Who could have done such a thing? Tears streamed down his cheeks.

‘Who could have done this…’

Mo Yong-Hwi raised his trembling left hand and looked at his palm. A blood-red hand filled his vision. No, it was blood. There was no doubt about it. Warm blood that had been coursing through someone else’s veins just moments ago.

‘Whose blood is this?’

He looked at his right hand. There was a sword. The very sword his grandfather had given him when he turned fifteen, a gift to commemorate his coming of age.

The blade, once as pristine as freshly fallen snow, was now stained with sticky, crimson blood. Whose blood was this?

Suddenly, the severed head’s eyes snapped open. Bloodshot eyes blazed with hatred.

“Have you forgotten whose blood it is?!”

A roar erupted from his grandfather’s lips. Tears of blood streamed down his face.

“No, no! No! It can’t be!”

Mo Yong-Hwi screamed, desperate to escape. The truth was too heavy for him to bear. He wanted to deny it. He wanted to disappear, to be anywhere but here.

The sky cracked, the earth split. He felt a dizzying sense of falling. He tumbled into the abyss of nothingness.

The world crumbled.

* * *

“Grandfather!”

Mo Yong-Hwi woke up with a scream, kicking off the blanket. His body was drenched in sweat.

“Shut up!”

Whoosh!

Thump!

A pillow flew through the air and struck the back of his head. It was a playful attack he would never have allowed under normal circumstances, but it was effective now, as he was completely caught off guard.

“It’s too loud! How many times has this been? Let me sleep!”

Bi Ryu-Yeon grumbled, pulling the blanket over his head. Ever since that day, sleeping at night had become quite a challenge. It wasn’t enjoyable. While eating and sleeping might not be the most important things in life, they were essential for survival.

“S-sorry. I had that nightmare again…”

“The one you’ve been having every night lately?”

Mo Yong-Hwi nodded weakly, his face pale and sweaty.

“Tsk, tsk, it’s just a dream. It’ll disappear when you wake up, like morning mist. It’s not right to disturb someone else’s sleep over a mere dream. Don’t you think so?”

It seemed words like “comfort” or “sympathy” didn’t exist in his vocabulary. But strangely, hearing his harsh words, dismissing his worries as if they were lighter than feathers, made Mo Yong-Hwi feel a little better. It was a blessing to have someone to share his burden with, intentional or not.

“But… Ryu-Yeon.”

“What?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon replied, his voice muffled by the blanket.

“Can I ask you something?”

“If it’s a love confession, I’ll have to decline.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon replied curtly.

“W-who said anything about a love confession? I’m serious. Can’t you take me seriously?”

“Then you’ll have to pay a consultation fee!”

“Consultation fee? You charge for that?”

Mo Yong-Hwi asked incredulously.

“Of course. And there’s an extra charge for nighttime consultations. No exceptions, even for friends.”

“Since when?”

“Since just now! If you’re willing to listen to my advice, you have to pay the price. You should be grateful I’m waiving the sleep disturbance fee. Got it? Then why should you pay? Let me explain. Paying means you’re committed to listening to my advice. But if you’re not willing to pay, can you say you value my words? If you’re looking for sympathy, you’re better off giving up. And if you want real advice, you have to pay the price. Without that commitment, your actions are just for self-satisfaction, not because you actually need advice. So it’s better to not even try such a meaningless act. I have no desire to waste my energy giving advice to someone who won’t even listen. It’s called the law of equivalent exchange.”

“I-is that so? Then will you listen to my question if I pay?”

“Spit it out!”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s answer was short and to the point.

“So, what’ll it be?”

“I’ll pay!”

Mo Yong-Hwi nodded. He was willing to throw money at the problem. It showed how desperate he was.

“Good, let’s hear it then. This is what they call bleeding-heart service. Remember that.”

There were too many things in the world that he had to remember, so Mo Yong-Hwi decided to forget about that. Instead, he asked the question that had been bothering him.

“What do you think about killing someone?”

“It’s about eliminating them from my world.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon answered simply.

“Eliminating?”

“Yes. It’s my belief that anyone who dares to invade my world without my permission should be punished severely.”

“Then what does it mean to have your world invaded? Are you referring to threats against your life?”

“Hmm, it doesn’t have to be a threat against my life. Those cases are actually simpler. You just have to return the favor. If someone tries to kill you or harm you, they should be prepared to face the same consequences. Don’t you think so? It’s pathetic when they cry about their rights only after they’ve been attacked. It’s better to take care of a good person than to spare the life of such scum.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s words were sharp and cold.

“That’s a radical statement.”

Mo Yong-Hwi, who always adhered to tradition, was uncomfortable with Bi Ryu-Yeon’s unconventional thinking.

“Well, it’s not just about killing intent. It’s the same with unsolicited advice. There are people who always try to give advice, even though they can’t possibly understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. Good intentions don’t always lead to good results. Sometimes, it can trample on someone else’s world. So you should always be careful with advice.”

He was surprisingly strict about that. Perhaps that was one of Bi Ryu-Yeon’s core values.

“…”

“So, what’ll it be? Still want my advice? As I warned you, it means I’ll be invading your world. Are you willing to accept that?”

“Does advice carry that much weight?”

“At least I think so. That’s why I don’t like people interfering in my life under the guise of advice. It’s an invasion of my world.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s belief was unwavering. But Mo Yong-Hwi still had a question.

“But humans can’t live alone, can they?”

“Of course, there are times when you need advice. But shouldn’t you examine yourself first? Knowing when you need advice is also a skill. I don’t have that yet, but you need advice when you know what you need. Advice isn’t about forcing someone to break their own rules. That’s an invasion. Are you still willing to accept my advice? This is your last warning. What will you do?”

“I am.”

Mo Yong-Hwi was desperate, willing to cling to even a rotten rope.

Bi Ryu-Yeon finally got up.

“Here.”

He saw a white hand extended towards him. As he was about to grasp it, his friend said,

“Payment first!”

* * *

“So you’re saying you’re struggling with how to handle that old man Hyeok’s request?”

“Yes.”

Mo Yong-Hwi nodded.

“Just kill him.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon asked back, as if it were the most obvious solution.

“Ryu-Yeon! Are you serious?!”

Mo Yong-Hwi shouted, genuinely angry. His usually calm demeanor cracked, and a wave of killing intent, sharp as a thousand blades, erupted from him.

“Alright, alright. I was joking. Why are you so serious?”

“Take me seriously. You got paid, didn’t you?”

His words struck a chord with Bi Ryu-Yeon’s business sense.

“Alright, alright. How about this? Ask him directly.”

“A-ask him? Who? Old man Hyeok didn’t…”

“Who said anything about asking that old geezer? He wouldn’t tell you even if he knew.”

“Then who should I ask?”

“Who else? Your grandfather!”

Mo Yong-Hwi’s jaw dropped at Bi Ryu-Yeon’s assertion.

“That’s absurd! How is that even possible? Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m perfectly sane. It’s not impossible unless you decide it is. It’s your call.”

“That’s ridiculous. What am I supposed to ask him? ‘ What should I do?'”

“I like how direct that is.”

Mo Yong-Hwi snapped.

“What kind of grandson would even consider such a question? It’s a filial duty to refuse such an absurd request! It’s patricide!”

Bi Ryu-Yeon clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

“Then why are you struggling, Mr. Smarty Pants?”

“W-well…”

He stammered.

“Something’s bothering you, isn’t it?”

Yes. He hadn’t been able to refuse outright because something was bothering him. His heart was telling him to look beyond the surface, to see the hidden meaning. But even after several sleepless nights, he couldn’t find the answer.

“Some answers can’t be found through introspection alone. Some things you have to experience firsthand. Your grandfather might offer a new interpretation. Words are such poor tools for communication, after all. They’re open to interpretation. I wouldn’t use them if there was another way.”

“Words… you say…”

“Go ask him. And see if it’s a mountain or the sky. Maybe then you’ll understand what he meant. That’s all for today’s consultation.”

He lay back down and pulled the blanket over his head. But Mo Yong-Hwi couldn’t stop asking questions.

“So you’re saying you understand the hidden meaning behind Old Man Hyeok’s words?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon didn’t move.

“…Consultation’s over. Good night.”

He waved his hand dismissively from under the blanket.

“Will we continue tomorrow?”

“If you pay extra.”

And then he fell asleep.

Instead of feeling lighter, Mo Yong-Hwi’s heart felt even heavier. He wondered why he had wasted his time and money on this absurd consultation. Why had he paid to listen to this man’s nonsensical advice?

“If you’re willing to listen to my advice, you have to pay the price.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s words echoed in his ears. Would he ignore the value of the money he had paid, or would he take a leap of faith and act on it? In the end, the choice was his.

‘Should I really go crazy and try it?’

The saying “one who touches ink will be stained black” came to mind.