Chapter v9c15

The Divine Prestige of Gal Hyo-bong

– A Reminiscence by Eun Seol-ran

He was the hero of the underworld and the idol of everyone.

In both the black and the white paths, there was no one who opposed his outstanding martial valor and sharp foresight.

His abilities were too extraordinary compared to others for anyone to feel jealous.

As the greatest genius of the underworld, he was regarded as a celestial dragon. At that time, no one doubted the bright glory and honor that seemed destined in his future.

“What’s your name?”

A man with the spirit of the soaring heavens and the stature of a dragon, who wore a green sash crossed on his head, asked his opponent.

“I hail from the stronghold of Paedo Fortress, and I am known as Pungma-do of the Paedo clan. It is an honor to be able to compete against you.”

The voice of Pungma-do trembled slightly with tension. His palms were becoming damp.

“Come!”

The man gestured lightly with his hand.

“Ahhh!”

The man from the Paedo clan surged forward with a mountain-like force of bandit energy. He too was a skilled fighter who had made it to the final round of the Hwasan covenant Selection. To be easily defeated was a matter of pride.

Of course, losing to Gal Hyo-bong, the number one genius of the underworld, was not a disgrace. Rather, it was an honor just to be qualified to fight against him. That’s why he had to crash in with all his might.

Gal Hyo-bong, true to being a master at his peak, always decided the outcome of a duel in the simplest and clearest way in a short amount of time. Being able to decide a fight quickly and accurately was impossible without a significant gap in skill between him and his opponent.

The fight against Pungma-do was no exception. Pungma-do was well aware that his internal strength was inferior to Gal Hyo-bong’s. He was not so full of himself to overestimate his abilities.

Therefore, he had to gamble on an early victory. Otherwise, he had no other option. Pungma-do’s strike, with all his might, fell towards Gal Hyo-bong’s head with the force that could split a mountain. However, Gal Hyo-bong did not even flinch at the furious onslaught. It was an impressive amount of composure.

Thud!

Hyo-bong had merely flicked his wrist to deflect the sword he was holding to the side. But the effect was sufficient.

Clang!

“Argh!”

A scream burst from Pungma-do’s mouth. His full-powered strike had been deflected off to the side by Hyo-bong’s blade in an instant. Boom!

The sword, having lost its target, sliced through empty space and then crashed into the ground with a thunderous sound. “Kuh!”

Pungma-do let out an involuntary groan.

The grip of the sword in his hand was tingling with shock. It was a perfect failure. Pungma-do’s sword was now restrained, and his entire body was exposed in an unprotected state.

Pungma-do tried to pull out his sword, which he had thrust into the ground, to regain his stance, but Hyo-bong’s sword resting on the tip of his prevented it. A thousand pounds of pressure pinned Pungma-do’s sword to the ground.

Swoosh!

Hyo-bong took just one step forward and pressed his sword against Pungma-do’s neck. It was a clean finish.

“How about it?”

Hyo-bong asked for his impression.

“I lost.”

Pungma-do had to admit the overwhelming difference in skill. Not only that, but he even began to doubt whether he was truly a skilled fighter who had made it to the final round. But he knew all too well that not acknowledging it would only make things more embarrassing. To contribute to a society that accepts defeat gracefully, to create such a beautiful world, Pungma-do graciously accepted his defeat.

Surprisingly, the final round of the Hwasan covenant Selection ended anticlimactically. It was a perfect, overwhelming victory.

“Wow!”

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd gathered around the arena.

“The winner! Fourth-year student of Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion, Hyo-bong!”

“Wow! Wow!”

Once again, an ear-splitting cheer filled the stadium. The people were ecstatic. The referee, Magaek Jeonwol-tae, raised his hand and declared,

“I hereby declare Hyo-bong as the representative of the Hwasan covenant. If anyone objects, please raise your hand.” There was no one to object. Instead, the cheers grew louder. It was a moment when the entire underworld’s attention was concentrated on one person. Compared to him, the rest of the people chosen for the Hwasan covenant seemed mere stand-ins. Such was the magnitude of the expectation and fervor placed on him.

“Good work, Grand Master!”

Eun Seol-ran, whose smile would make even the sun and flowers seem pale, rushed over to greet the overwhelmingly skilled Gal Hyo-bong.

“Hahaha! Thank you, Seol-ran! Your support was a big help!”

“Really?”

Her heart soared at his words. She and Gal Hyo-bong were betrothed, arranged by their families.

She was overjoyed to be his fiancée, not knowing how to thank her parents enough. Gal Hyo-bong was so charming that even she, with her exceptional beauty, was smitten at first sight. The thought of becoming the wife of such a man filled her with immense joy. She became the target of envy, jealousy, and spite from many women, but still, she was happy. She had triumphed over numerous women to be his partner! It was a time when she felt she needed nothing else as long as she had him.

That was the happiest time of her life.

“Hahaha! Congratulations, Sect Leader!”

The person who approached with a hearty laugh was Bi, the only son of the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion Sect Leader (at this time, he was not yet called the Great Young Master).

At this time, Gal Hyo-bong was also the Sect Leader of Cheonma, the most powerful martial arts force in Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion, and Bi was the Vice Sect Leader of Cheonma, who most admired Gal Hyo-bong.

Bi was also known for causing quite a stir by announcing that he would give up participating in this Hwasan covenant Selection because he had not achieved the great success that some said was comparable to Gal Hyo-bong’s.

Sara!

Eun Seol-ran tightly grasped Gal Hyo-bong’s sleeve.

“What’s wrong, Seol-ran?”

Gal Hyo-bong asked puzzledly.

Eun Seol-ran simply shook her head without saying anything. However, for some unknown reason, she always felt uncomfortable around Bi. He was always smiling at her… There was nothing rude in his attitude… But she instinctively wanted to avoid him, a peculiar kind of person that one instinctively shuns.

“Come on! Why so awkward? You’ll make me feel awkward too. Hahahaha!”

Gal Hyo-bong tried to change the atmosphere with a loud laugh, but it did not go as he intended. The situation would have become even more awkward if someone hadn’t appeared, which would have been embarrassing for Gal Hyo-bong.

“Brother! Brother!”

The person shouting “Brother!” with a loud voice and running over was a boy who looked to be only about fifteen years old. The boy ran over with a flushed face and a proud smile.

Then he leaped and hung onto one of Gal Hyo-bong’s arms like a monkey, looking so pleased he didn’t know what to do. He was reminiscent of a puppy on a snowy day.

“Oh my! You were here too, Hyo-ryong!”

Gal Hyo-bong warmly welcomed his brother Hyo-ryong. He then affectionately tousled his hair so vigorously that it would need to be combed again from scratch, even if it meant ruining the neat hairstyle. It was an act of affection, so it would not be considered a crime, even if it did result in a bit of disarray.

Eun Seol-ran had often seen Hyo-ryong during her visits to Dark Heaven Alliance and found him to be an adorable boy who she also cherished.

“We won, we won! As expected, my brother is the best! Indeed, the strongest and greatest martial artist in the underworld is none other than my brother! No one else can match my brother.”

“Hahaha! Stop it, you! That’s enough. My head is spinning. I’m still young. There are many strong people among the previous generation of masters; how could I be satisfied with just this? Even if I am the best among those of my own age, it is still a long way to receiving the title of the true strongest. It seems too early to be complacent. The strongest in the underworld, huh? That’s far from true!”

Gal Hyo-bong spoke seriously to his younger brother Hyo-ryong. However, young Gal Hyo-ryong didn’t seem to take it too seriously.

“Kyahaha!”

The boy kept laughing, hanging from Hyo-bong’s arm.

“Come on, that’s enough! I have a gift for you.”

Hyo-bong said with a warm smile.

“What is it?”

“Hyo-ryong asked with his bright, twinkling eyes. Then, Hyobong unraveled the green cloth he had been wearing on his head and handed it to Hyo-ryong.

“Here it is! I’m sorry it’s something I used to wear, but I want to give it to you! Treasure it well!”

What Hyobong gave to Hyo-ryong was the green cloth he used to wear crossed over his head, a symbol of his identity. It was a precious item that he always wore like an amulet on his forehead.

“Thank you, brother! Really, thank you. I’ll try my best to become a person just like you!”

Hyo-ryong replied with an excited face, brimming with enthusiasm. It was an item he had always wanted. He was so happy that he didn’t know what to do with himself. Hyobong laughed happily at Hyo-ryong’s spirited response.

“Hahaha! Why would you want to become someone like me? You have to surpass me! Do you understand, Hyo-ryong? Become a warrior who surpasses me. I will always be waiting for that! You got it?”

“Yes, brother! I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hyo-ryong responded seriously to Hyobong’s serious words. Only then did Hyobong show a broad smile.

“That’s my boy! If anything happens to me, please take care of Seol-ran. Can you do that?”

Hyobong’s hand, as he stroked Hyo-ryong’s head, overflowed with kindness.

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

“Good, then I expect a lot from you!”

Then he turned towards Seol-ran. His eyes overflowed with gentle affection. Even without saying anything, the fact that she could feel it made Eun Seol-ran immensely happy.

Bi flinched as he watched the scene.

“Seol-ran!”

“Yes, Dae-ga ?”

Eun Seol-ran turned around with a smile as if a million flowers were in full bloom. It was a beautiful smile that could captivate the soul of anyone who saw it.

“Hahaha! Seol-ran, I wish you would always smile, no matter what happens! Your smile always gives me strength! I hope there will never be a day without laughter on your face.”

Her face instantly turned red.

“Seol-ran! When I come back this time… Well, cough!”

But Gal Hyobong did not finish his sentence. Even he, who was fearless in the world, seemed to have something that made him shy.

“Yes!”

Eun Seol-ran answered cheerfully with a soft smile.

Even though she didn’t hear the end of the sentence, she was simply happy. Because of that, the events that followed felt like a completely unrealistic dream.

The broad and reliable back of the man, filled with confidence and responsibility!

That day was the last time she saw Gal Hyobong.

Exactly one month later!

A tragedy occurred.

———————————————-

Crack!

–!”

“Is somebody there?”

Eun Seol-ran suddenly turned around at the sound of someone’s presence, but she couldn’t find anything. The presence had vanished as if it was never there. However, just because she couldn’t see or feel it didn’t mean there was no one there.

‘Huff, huff, huff! Why am I hiding right now? I just came to express my opinion to Miss Eun. I haven’t done anything to warrant hiding like this?’

He thought he was bold in front of her, but his body wouldn’t move. Somehow, he couldn’t muster the courage to appear before her. It seemed like a side effect of secretly witnessing a woman’s tears.

‘Have I seen something I shouldn’t have?’

He had never imagined that such sorrow could be hidden behind her always cheerful and bright demeanor. The heart of Mo Yong-hwi, who listened to the woman’s desperate sobbing in hiding, was indescribably strange.

‘Tears on her cheeks whiter than pearls, as if containing the sorrow of the moon!’

The pitiful and yet sensuous appearance of Eun Seol-ran completely captivated his heart in an instant.

Thump, thump!

Mo Yong-hwi suddenly felt his heart pounding. For some unknown reason, his face felt hot. He experienced an unexplained fever and heart palpitations.

‘What is this?’

Mo Yong-hwi couldn’t grasp the unfamiliar feelings he was experiencing for the first time in his life. With no experience in love, he was bewildered. At that gaze, Mo Yong-hwi couldn’t bring himself to move. Or rather, his feet wouldn’t detach from the ground as if they had been glued down. He certainly didn’t remember nailing them there.

Still, Eun Seol-ran was endlessly gazing at the moon. The reason was unknown. Only a heart-wrenching sorrow could be felt. The more she looked, the faster his heartbeat became.

The feeling of having accidentally seen a scene he should not have, and the guilt that accompanied it! He felt it would have been more comforting to witness a murder scene instead.

And having seen such a scene, he could no longer say that he would quit being her guardian.

‘How can I stop after seeing such a thing? Sigh, is there no choice…’

Mo Yong-hwi had to completely abandon the plan to go to Majinga tomorrow to express his thoughts. It seemed he couldn’t remove himself from this place until this was over.

‘Maybe that’s just as well…’

Mo Yong-hwi’s vision was repeatedly haunted by Eun Seol-ran’s face, glowing in the moonlight, and the tears streaming down her cheeks. It seemed to be an illusion he had never experienced before.

Thump, thump!

‘Is there something wrong with me?’

Worry preceded Mo Yong-hwi. Fear of the unknown was creeping up on him. He felt he had to leave this place as soon as possible.

‘I have to leave quickly!’

It felt as if his heart would burst at any moment.

“Who’s there? It’s not a good habit to spy on people.”

Eun Seol-ran’s soft voice carried through the chilly night air.

“Oh no!’

Mo Yong-hwi inwardly panicked.

‘What mistake did I make?’

His heart was racing, but he had been careful not to reveal his presence. Yet, it seemed he had been discovered. Cold sweat ran down his back.

‘Phew…’

Running away was not in his dictionary. Now that he had been discovered, he could not just flee. Just as Mo Yong-hwi was about to reveal himself with a resigned expression…

Rustle!

The sound came from the opposite side of where Mo Yong-hwi was hiding, among the trees.

“Huh?”

Mo Yong-hwi stopped his steps to surrender, as he noticed Eun Seol-ran didn’t seem surprised, indicating that she was probably addressing someone else. His existence had not been discovered yet. It was a moment of relief.

‘Huh?’

His eyes widened. The person who appeared from the darkness was someone he knew very well. What was more surprising was Eun Seol-ran’s reaction.

“This… This Confucius!”

It was an exclamation almost bordering on shock. It was not the way to call someone she barely knew.

‘When did those two properly greet each other?’

He couldn’t recall such an event in his memory. Doubts surged up, but it was not the time to resolve those doubts. Mo Yong-hwi stealthily and quietly hid his presence in the shadows of the night. He hoped the deep darkness would erase his form completely. But it seemed too late to leave.