episode_0055

There was a fierce determination in his eyes, as if he would grab the neck if left alone.

Cheong couldn’t stand to see that sight and spoke up.

“You’re just going to leave behind a good weapon and talk? The winner will let you go…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his subordinate drew his sword.

He seemed to be a captain with a bad temper.

“Argh, you…!”

Yomsaradal, who was stabbed in the side, coughed up blood.

Normally, when someone is stabbed in the side, they usually die.

Even a master couldn’t escape their fate.

“Shingyo is about the strong, there’s no need to feel unjust.”

The subordinate, who had unexpectedly put down his sword, said some unnecessary cool words.

But it wasn’t entirely wrong.

No one in Shingyo was being insulted.

The weak were considered guilty.

The one who survived was the winner.

That was all there was to it.

Yomsaradal, who was hit by a sword from his subordinate, was a fool.

If he were to mock him, it would be the end.

That was the atmosphere of Cheonma Shingyo.

Cheonma Shingyo!

Its roots were in a religious group called Ilwol Shingyo.

Originally derived from Zoroastrianism from the Western Regions, and later adapted into Ilwol Shingyo to suit the tastes of the Central Plains people.

Ilwol Shingyo believed that it must inherit the meaning of the sun god Ahura Mazda and the moon god Angra Mainyu from the Central Plains.

They dreamed of the victory of their religion.

And they actually took action.

It was a kind of reform attempt.

And rulers never took kindly to challenges from religious factions.

The Emperor harshly suppressed Ilwol Shingyo.

As a result, Ilwol Shingyo formed a community that fled to the harsh lands of Shingang, dreaming of revenge.

The representative of this community was the top master of Shingyo, who led Ilwol Shingyo to safety against the Central Plains’ martial artists.

He ascended to the position of the new leader and proclaimed.

Ahura Mazda, the god of heaven.

Angra Mainyu, the devil leading the end of the world.

When heaven and the devil were combined, they were called Cheonma.

Thus, Cheonma Shingyo was born.

They always sharpened their swords and hoped to one day dye the Central Plains in the light of Shingyo.

And they actually did. Whenever they were forgotten, they invaded the Central Plains.

First time. Second time. Third time, fourth time.

It was the history of the four Great Wars of Cheonma Shingyo.

In the blood-soaked Central Plains, they were stripped of their good reputation by Ilwol Shingyo and called them Magyo.

To the disciples, it was Cheonma Shingyo, to the Central Plains people, it was Magyo, so they had two names, but one entity.

“Sir… Captain?”

The victorious subordinate glanced at Cheong.

Cheong asked.

“Is he still alive?”

“He’s in the author’s embrace.”

The subordinate pointed to Yomsaradal.

Yomsaradal, who was dying, opened his eyes.

But why would a dying man be afraid of anything?

“Alright. Then go.”

“Thank you for your mercy.”

The subordinate took a bow and leaped away.

Without hesitation, Cheong reached out his hand.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Bang! Along with the sound of the bell shaking, the subordinate’s buttocks exploded.

The two legs without buttocks drew different trajectories, and the remaining torso fell lonely onto the ground.

The ground cracked, and the intestines spilled out.

The subordinate made a pitiful sound with a resentful look.

“Uwe, uee…”

“What’s wrong? Didn’t I say I would let you go? Didn’t I say I wouldn’t attack? If you wanted to live, you should have dodged.”

“Ssuuubuaaa…”

The subordinate gasped with a hollow expression.

Cheong whistled and searched the bodies.

Obtaining loot was the winner’s rightful privilege.

“Well, what good is money if you can’t hold onto it? At least there’s something to harvest, like the thigh guards and the neatly arranged flower-patterned ribbons.”

Do bandits like flowers?

Cheong put on the thigh guards and fastened the belt.

Stretching out his legs, he found the item quite pleasing without any discomfort.

Now, it seemed unnecessary to bring chopsticks with him to each inn he visited.

And finally, the one-man army, or rather, the versatile Cheong, had a firm grip on the mysterious object.

Surprisingly long and sturdy, it felt cool to the touch when held in his hand.

With a hole in its long body, the flute seemed to be just that – a flute.

However, with no embellishments, it appeared to be nothing more than a solid, unadorned stick.

Wow. This would definitely come in handy.

Swish. Swish. Cheong swung the mysterious object.

The weight, length, and handle were all excellent.

Perhaps even the legendary blacksmith had made it as a substitute for a club in times of need.

If the bandits had seen it, they would have shed tears of blood.

Cheong, with the mysterious object strapped to his waist, looked around.

The flickering torches turned the dimly lit room into a chaotic scene.

Approaching the central altar, Cheong carefully unfolded the faded silk robe on the skeletal remains and closed the lid.

Cheong leaped up through the hole in the ceiling.

And spiraled.

As the torches flickered out, the chaotic tomb was engulfed in darkness.

—

The gatekeeper, Wang Gaeyook, was in high spirits.

And why wouldn’t he be, having achieved the greatest success of his fifty-seven years of life.

While some gates were damaged, there were no serious injuries.

He had even defeated the Maekyo Battle Unit.

And to top it off, he had successfully rescued the missing individuals.

Although he was in a somewhat battered state, with only about thirty or so troops left.

Originally not expecting to rescue anyone, it was a pleasant surprise.

However, the missing individuals had no information to offer.

They had been lured in by the cunning of the royal family, only to be told to dig a hole once they came to their senses.

With the Blue Wave Brigade either dead or fled, the purpose of Maekyo remained unclear.

It was simply an attempt to dig up the graves of unknown individuals. That was all.

With Cheong having obtained the ten-gold item, it all came to a close.

In truth, Cheong hadn’t made much effort to conceal it.

“What’s this?”

“Oh. I don’t know. It’s called a ‘flute.’ It makes sounds when you blow into it.”

“…That’s not what I’m asking. Can’t you carry something more decent? Instead of picking up some cheap junk.”

Musical instruments were originally elaborate items.

Music ultimately had the power to captivate people.

In the past, music had the ability to make people forget the toils of labor, or to add solemnity to ceremonies, instilling reverence.

Nowadays, it could help people forget the sorrows of love or enhance the taste of alcohol.

So musicians not only delighted the ears but also made the eyes happy, and the splendor of musical instruments was a fitting evolution of their original purpose.

In that sense, the mysterious object was just a rough stick to look at.

“If San knew how much this was, he’d be surprised, wouldn’t he?”

“Why, maybe two coins?”

“Ha, then it won’t even fetch scrap metal value. Maybe one silver coin?”

“The younger ones are too fixated on appearances. Surprisingly, such an item could be a treasure… or…”

Changbin’s words trailed off and disappeared.

Cheong looked at him with a sharp gaze.

It was a rare moment of insight for a disciple of Do Moon.

However, Changbin had never been treated well.

Pung Dae-san and Namgoong Shinjae simply listened and let it pass.

“You should speak sensibly,” he thought.

“Gumoo, but did you know how to play the flute?”

Namgoong Shinjae asked unexpectedly.

If Cheong had been like other women, it would have been too much.

Playing a musical instrument was a woman’s skill.

But Cheong was a man.

He didn’t care.

“A flute? What’s so special about a flute. Just blow into it.”

Cheong put the flute to his lips.

Since Seomun Surin often played the flute, his imitation posture was quite convincing.

The three of them looked at him in anticipation.

But to their surprise, only the sound of the wind was loud.

Cheong, feeling challenged, blew harder into the flute.

Even though something similar to noise could have come out, all they heard was the loud sound of the wind blowing.

Cheong looked puzzled.

“Hey, is this broken?”

San looked at Cheong in disbelief.

The girl’s face was red from how hard he must have blown into the flute.

“…Does it make a sound just by blowing hard?”

“What’s wrong, San. Do you know how to play?”

“Just a simple tune or two.”

“Wow, a man who plays music. Impressive. Then where. Let’s hear a song?”

Cheong handed the flute to Baengdaesan.

As Baengdaesan reached out to take the flute, he saw some lipstick marks near the mouthpiece and hesitated.

“Why?”

“…Please. Don’t push something that a lady has touched so carelessly into your mouth. Can’t you act more like a lady? How ridiculous will other men find you?”

Oh, now he’s even nagging.

If this looks ridiculous now, what’s the harm in looking more ridiculous.

Cheong scratched his head and, out of habit, untied his hair and tied it back up again.

His skill in tying his hair was impeccable, as he put the hairband in his mouth and quickly tied, twisted, and wrapped it around, then inserted a hairpin.

When he finished tying the knot again, there was not a single strand of hair out of place.

It was the greatest achievement of a night of hard work.

“What’s wrong, just friends. Right? Or not?”

Come to think of it, is it more awkward because we’re just friends?

Cheong remembered his school days.

The recorder seemed like an item that could never be borrowed or lent.

It’s awkward.

“Gumoo, why don’t you play the drum or gong instead. At least that will make some noise.”

“What?”

Cheong gave Gomoo a sharp look.

But because Namgoong Shinjae’s words were not a joke, but a sincere advice for Gomoo, he felt a sense of urgency.

“Wait and see, I’ll make a sound with this. I promise.”

Baengdaesan was astonished and sarcastic.

“…How can you make a sound by just holding a flute and blowing into it?”

“Just wait and see.”

And so, Cheong carried the flute throughout the journey to the volcano.

But no sound came out.