episode_0024

***

There is no one in the world who is not lonely. That is why people live in cliques.

To soothe one’s own weakness and loneliness and to receive warmth by relying on others.

Just as we created fire to avoid darkness, humans instinctively try to avoid solitude.

And, like leaning on fire, the weak hoped to find stability by leaning on the strong.

And that also applied to Hongryeon, the great disciple of Hong Seong-moon.

However, before Hongryeon could rely on anyone, she had to become a pillar that someone could rely on, and in the end, she had no choice but to become an adult a little faster.

Of course, I didn’t blame my teacher, Geomsung, for that. From the beginning, Hongryeon wanted to become her disciple even though she knew that she couldn’t rely on her in everything except Mu.

Sword Saint Na Yerin was a clumsy person.

In addition to her natural talent, she herself was a person with a strong greed for nothingness.

And, perhaps because of the reaction against it, other parts were extremely clumsy.

Of course, just because you leave it to me doesn’t mean the Sword Master won’t do it.

However, when I was entrusted with work that was not related to martial arts, most of it ended up being a mess and I could not entrust it to them.

Therefore, Hongryeon had no choice but to become an adult more quickly.

What the teacher cannot do, you must do yourself.

Because everyone is looking at them.

So, you have to become an adult.

Of course, it couldn’t have been quite a burden for Hongryeon.

After all, she was a human too, and it was natural to want to lean on someone.

But to whom?

Contrary to Hongryeon’s earnest instinct, there was no pillar she could lean on.

Murim alliance?

Unfortunately, the Murim Alliance, a coalition of political factions, only hopes to utilize Hong Seong-moon’s power.

No, he had already used it once and was punished for it by an angry Sword Saint.

Then your family name?

However, the family also hopes to expand its power by using its name as the great disciple of Hong Seong-moon and its relationship with its teacher, Geomsung.

An apprentice who is the Sword Saint’s rival? Shaolin temple priest?

or not.

or not.

From Hongryeon’s point of view, their eyes were nothing but a concern.

They all had the eyes of someone who wanted to take what was theirs rather than an adult they could rely on.

It was Hongryeon’s job to protect Hongseongmun and the sisters from such people.

It had to be perfect.

He had to take care of the disciples on behalf of his teacher, and he had to maintain Hongseongmun on his behalf.

We had to not forget the teachings of a prestigious political school, and to do so, we had to show perfection.

But people cannot always be perfect.

If the weight of the railway continues, it will inevitably bend.

How can a person continue to maintain a will like steel?

That’s why Chun-seo, whom Hongryeon loves, and the low-class jokes she tells her sisters.

Maybe it was the quiet scream she cried out as she was crushed by the burden.

He said he was not perfect.

So, even if it’s only occasionally, please ask me to take on this burden.

Hongryeon She denies it.

But it was a thought that had been inside her for a long time.

That’s why I had to always maintain my adult status, and I couldn’t help but be conscious of him treating me like a girl when many people perceived him that way.

The richest person in Seomhwachon.

Unlike herself, who had to endure silent screams just to protect Hongseongmun, and to take care of her sisters.

An adult who not only maintains two large businesses, but also manages other assets with ease and is developing them.

“I just did what I had to do.”

It would be natural for her to be shaken by what he said.

Why is it natural?

Holding a knife means being prepared to be stabbed.

Even though Sayun and Yoohee were still young, they were all prepared to get hurt or even die since they were martial arts people.

And yet, protecting them was just doing what had to be done?

Hongryeon stared blankly at Yuwol.

His eyes were as straight as when we first met.

Just as it is natural for those who have cooked radishes to protect those who have not cooked them.

Are you saying that it is natural for adults to protect children?

There was a lot I wanted to say.

How can you do that?

Why aren’t you afraid?

Why are you so strong?

But that question never came out of Hongryeon’s mouth.

Because his eyes, those gazes filled with firm will, were responding.

In the end, Hongryeon only moved her lips a few times before suddenly realizing what was inside her and had no choice but to lower her head.

then.

Should I have some expectations from you too?

The burden on my back is too great.

Just a little bit, when it’s really hard and tiring. Is it okay for me to lean on the pillar of adulthood that I have never seen before, even just for a moment?

Hongryeon couldn’t get the words out that were boiling inside her.

Because she is not shameless enough to rely on others as she pleases.

Moreover, the man in front of me is not even Hongseongmundo.

And even though he didn’t show it, he might also be carrying an enormous burden on his shoulders like himself.

No, maybe it’s even worse.

guesthouse, and merchant association.

I heard that he also owns the land in Seomhwachon and buildings in other cities.

Hongryeon knew very well that although it is difficult to steal something, it is even more difficult to protect and maintain it.

Look there. Just like last time, weren’t there people targeting him this time as well?

Relieve your burden on him?

That is truly shameless and something a member of a political faction should not do.

That’s why I tried to smile at her, who was trying to pretend to be relaxed.

He casually blurted out such harsh words that one might think that an attack by a demon cultist was something like that.

“Is it difficult?”

stop.

“In that case, it’s okay to come here and rest sometimes.”

stop.

“I know that it is not easy to lead Hongseongmun on behalf of Geomseong, protect its honor, and maintain Hongseongmun. So it’s okay sometimes. Come and rest with your sisters. I won’t ask you for anything else.”

…stop.

“If that’s burdensome, how about doing it like this? How about entrusting Hong Seongmun’s disciples with patrolling Seomhwachon? Not everyone can stick to it though. Still, wouldn’t it be okay if there were just one or two people?”

“……”

“In return, you pay something like medicine. If you give me money, I won’t accept it.”

“…Why are you trying to do that?”

My voice was already trembling. Hongryeon had no time to hide it.

Because the idea of holding on and hiding was already in tatters.

Because I was shaken by the warmth and consideration that I felt for the first time in a long time.

Cough, the hand holding the hem of the clothes gains strength.

Nevertheless, instead of answering, he stared with soft eyes as if he knew everything that was going on.

What does that gaze say? Hongryeon found the answer in what he said before.

– You’re a girl too.

Since you are still a child, lean on me as an adult.

The tingling in my chest grew a little louder at that silent word.

And, due to the warmth it brought, Hongryeon ended up closing her eyes tightly.

***

Hongryeon, who only said she would think about it without replying to my suggestion, went back as was.

When she left, I put the tobacco in my mouth again.

The reason for offering Hongryeon medicine in exchange for patrols was simple.

It was because of the condition of Hong Seong-moon’s disciples who had entered the guesthouse earlier.

Although they were minor, they suffered injuries. However, it was left untreated until now.

Of course, there are people who have the skills of Hongseong Shingong and have also learned recovery techniques of their own, so it was not incomprehensible to just skip it.

However, if it is a situation that can be treated with the help of medication, it is better to receive treatment.

Even in Heavenly Moon, if you were injured and didn’t get treatment, you would incur a certain amount of penalty.

Hongseongmun is a prestigious political faction, but it is not wealthy.

As such, there couldn’t have been many effective Geumchang pills within the sect.

It’s the same when you look at the condition of the disciples right now, and when you look at Sayun’s reaction earlier.

Of course, Hongryeon will be able to obtain effective medicine by handling the affairs of the Murim League.

But still, the reason they are trying to ignore such a serious wound is probably an effort for their great wife to save the medicine she brought.

So, we don’t know when something like this will happen again, so we just treat the wound sloppily and let it pass?

In the worst case, the injury penalty may hinder you during an attack by the Iron Bloods.

From my perspective, it was something that absolutely had to be prevented.

However, it was clear that if I just gave it to him, he would never accept it, citing Hong Seong-moon’s policy.

That’s why I set a condition to come and do some patrolling.

I spit out the tobacco I had sucked in. As hazy smoke hung in the black sky, Hongryeon’s face from earlier came to mind.

Like this thick smoke, her face was also infinitely blurred.

It must have been difficult for her too.

If so, I hope this suggestion will ease her burden a little.

We are Sayundan.

Because they are connected by color.

“Hmm…”

Anyway, who’s going to come patrol?

I wish Sayun would come.

It didn’t take long for the scars caused by the demon cultist’s attack to subside and daily life to settle back into the village.

As usual, I practiced Oh Geum-hee in the morning and finished my morning business. While I was doing some work to avoid the crowds calling for members, a postal messenger came to visit me.

What he delivered was a letter of headache.

A work-related letter sent from the Cheonghoe Sangdan.

and.

“Oh… you’re here!”

It was Sayun’s letter.

I smiled and immediately opened the envelope.

The human mind is weak, and only when in darkness can one see one’s true nature.

These are the words spoken by the teacher who came down from the training center after a long time.

I don’t think it’s wrong. When I think about what I went through when I was young, I was staring right in the face at my own weakness and ugliness.

After coming to Hongseongmun with my teacher’s hand, I learned Hongseong Shingong and received help from many sisters.

I felt like I was still in that gutter.

Isn’t that right? In the end, my essence itself has not changed.

And this time, I felt it again.

It happened a few days ago. The demonic cult attacked Seomhwachon, and while I was fighting to stop it, I looked into the darkness within me.

Yu-hee’s sister’s residence was attacked by Hwa-ho.

That the person who cared for me got hurt.

That the people behind me are dangerous.

That alone made me realize that the darkness was just curling up inside me.

And, I was shaken by that whisper of darkness.

Master, Ambassador. I almost forgot what Hongseong meant when the other sisters said so much.

By the way.

There was something very precious that shed light in the darkness.

Hehehe. That’s what it is.

It was a man.

Every single word you sent me became a star in the darkness and illuminated my path ahead.

Because of his concern, consideration, and kindness toward me, I was able to never forget Hongseong’s intentions.

And I was able to go one step further in an area that was giving me headaches.

The value of that one word was like a thousand pounds to me.

Thank you so much.

I don’t know what to do because I feel like I’m always receiving things from you.

mister.

Is there anything I can do for you?

P.s.

When I returned to the sect after the fight with the demon cultists, there was no shortage of chaos.

The training building where Master lived was completely destroyed, and the entire sect was infested with demonic energy.

While we were fighting against the Demon Cult, Master also said that an enemy sent by the Demon Cult appeared.

Of course, it seems only the Master and the Ambassador know the details about that, but…

Still, the ambassador’s expression was not all that gloomy, perhaps because the training building was destroyed and the warehouse near the training building was tainted with demonic energy.

The good news is that there were no casualties, but he said that we need to train harder in the future.

Hehehe. I think it will be more difficult in the future.

Still, you have to cheer up, right?

haha. A demonic cult targeting the Sword Saint has arrived.

Come to think of it, Ryu Hyun did that two days ago when he ordered something.

It is said that the demon cultists came in targeting the Sword Castle, destroyed the training building and warehouse, and infected everything inside with demonic energy, making everything unusable.

Because of that, he said he had to spend all the money he received as a reward for catching a horseman to restore it, and he sighed as if the world was gone and burned his hostility toward the devil religion.

Thinking back to that incident, I tapped the letter and opened the safe.

And I thought about it as I carefully stored it in a very luxurious box and closed the safe.

Anyway, what can Sayun do for me?

There’s a lot I can do for you.

First, we have to go to other secret areas and get cavalry.

I also want to acquire more elixirs and learn other martial arts that can supplement Hongseong’s new skills. Wear nice clothes, eat delicious food, make some friends…

I burst into laughter thinking about what I had to do next.

“You are not ready yet.”

It’s impossible for me to become as strong and happy as we want.