episode_0501

*** ***

-Aaaah!

Have you ever seen someone fall from the sky?

Sabokseol became one of the few people who could nod to that question.

People started falling from the huge hawk flying in the sky, accompanied by long screams.

“…what is it.”

Sabokseol muttered this without even realizing it, strengthening his eyesight. The old man, deftly holding on to the black lip with one hand and holding the girl with the other, was falling.

And landing.

Let’s sleep!!

Instead of asking the boring question of who the members of the Trench Party who were supporting the plainclothes theory were, they were singled out from the provincial level. No matter how wide the world is, is there anyone other than the Venerable Thunderer who would fly in the sky on a falcon spirit creature and then fall?

“Calm down. I just came here to talk.”

Ho Cheon-an spoke calmly and lowered Navin, whose soul was half gone, to the ground. Is it because the experience of free falling from the sky was so shocking? Navin seems to have lost strength in his legs and slumps down on the spot.

A strange confrontation ensued between the group of Trench Party members who did not dare to attack Ho Cheon-an, who had made an appearance from nowhere, even though they aimed their swords at him, and Ho Cheon-an, who did not move and was only comforting the surprised Navin.

The standoff was broken after Navin came to his senses.

“What is bothering the people of Podalapgung! Well, stop it!”

“What?”

Plain Clothes Seol was dumbfounded by the words of Navin, who was half-hiding behind Ho Cheon-an’s legs. To be precise, I was astounded by Ho Cheon-an’s behavior, allowing Navin and Sabokseol to exchange words directly.

Generally speaking, conversations are usually held between the leaders of a group. Considering common etiquette, it was normal for Ho Cheon-an to lead the conversation even if Navin had something to do with Sabok-seol.

“Look here. Brain Master. What kind of bizarre thing is this?”

“I just brought this kid here because he wanted to persuade you.”

“Ha.”

Plainclothes thought as he looked down at Navin.

Who is this wretched guy?

I was shocked by the plainclothes theory, but decided to participate in this conversation. It was also a way to indirectly express one’s will to the Brain-Light Venerable, and since I could clearly see with my own eyes what kind of risk that rat-sized guy had taken, I decided to give him a high opinion of his will.

“Yes. What do you want to say?”

“Leave Podalap Palace alone! They are all kind and good people!”

“Hehehe…yeah. The people at Podalap Palace are monks, so of course they are good and kind.”

“Even though you know that, why…!”

“Why?”

Plainclothes stared at Navin. As he looked at Navin, who was shrinking under the gaze of the police officer, Sabokseol had this thought. If I explain the history of the martial arts and the actions of the imperial kingdom to this child, will he be able to understand and understand?

Probably not.

Therefore, Sabokseol slowly organized his mind and simplified his feelings.

“Kid. You probably came here from Jungwon too, right? Even if I ran on a spirit beast, it would have taken quite a while. Isn’t that right?”

Navin nodded.

“I escaped from the empire and wandered around this village for over a dozen years. I’ve probably been wandering around longer than you’ve ever lived.”

Navin took a deep breath at those words. Navin also experienced a journey where spirit objects and Hocheonan did not protect him.

“I endured and endured those long years, looking only for the opportunity to return to the midfield. But now that peace has come to the central plains, that opportunity has disappeared. Do you know the feeling of despair and anger when the long wait goes in vain?”

“Still, bullying good people is a bad thing!”

“That’s correct. So what do you think I should do? Should I give up my lifelong wish to not do bad things?”

Navin was speechless.

Plainclothes’ actions were clearly wrong. In the end, isn’t it because of his desire to return to the central plain that he will harass the people of Podalap Palace?

“I want to return to the Central Plains, and now the only way for me to return to the Central Plains is to occupy this Podalap Palace and Lhasa, increase my power, and wage war against the Empire. Ha, well, it’s something that has little chance of being realized.”

However, it was impossible to tell Sabokseol, who had been wandering around this chief for over a dozen years with the sole intention of returning to the central plains, to ‘quit.’

“That…but…”

When Navin could only mutter and could not answer, Sabokseol burst into laughter. This is a question that is difficult for most adults or even military people to answer. It was a question that only those with strong beliefs in their hearts could answer, so was it too harsh for the child?

“You are raising your child strictly? Venerable Brain Master.”

Ho Cheon-an wrote with black lips in silence. In response to the indirect intention not to talk, Sabokseol also nodded and opened his mouth.

“But now that I’ve seen your face, I’ll say a few things I want to say. You may wonder what it is like when you see it, but just being an expert in the discipline is enough to be called an absolute person in the secular world. However, all the masters of Hyeongyeong either headed to the new world or chose to live in seclusion. Do they really think that they felt threatened by the imperial army and went into hiding and ran away?”

Ho Cheon-an did not answer.

“Of course not. But they were also people. Since we were people, there was a connection. Not everyone could overcome the power of that fate. It means that he was unable to withstand the pressure of the empire pouring on those around him. Would it be any different for you? As long as the current empire exists, it will try to oppress you in any way possible. And the target of that oppression will not stop with you.”

Ho Cheon-an understood what the plainclothes theory was trying to say.

This is an imperial kingdom that drove out all the masters of the Hyeongyeong from the martial arts world. So then, how should we treat the Brain Master, who showed absolute performance that even such experts in the field could not show?

They would put more pressure on him than the police officers.

Ho Cheon-an was confident that no matter what pressure the Empire put on him, he would not be hit. But will the people around Hocheonan feel the same way? What if Naveen becomes a disciple? You may not be able to lead a normal life just because you are a disciple of Venerable Brain Master.

“Unless the Empire changes its attitude. The martial arts people will live a life of persecution just because they have a high level of martial arts. But will the imperial kingdom change its attitude? An imperial kingdom that remains silent and ignores even the appearance of the Thunder Master who subjugated all the remnants of the blood religion?”

Plain Bokseol shook his head.

“The only thing that can change the attitude of the empire is the sword that is now at hand. Isn’t it?”

If you care about Naveen. Sabokseol’s appeal is that if Navin wants to live a happy life, the current imperial kingdom must never be left alone.

Ho Cheon-an did not respond to the appeal of such plainclothes theory.

In response to Ho Cheon-an’s lack of response, Sabokseol waved his hands at his subordinates. The subordinates withdrew their courage and slowly retreated, and Sabokseol, who was watching, also turned and said.

“Please leave Podalap Palace quietly. If you do that, you and I will be able to get what we want.”

As expected, there was no answer.

*** ***

“Nabin…!”

As soon as Hocheonan and Navin returned to Podalap Palace, Ramo hugged Naveen.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes. I’m okay, sister.”

“Elderly! No matter what, he fell from the sky on a ride! What are you going to do if something goes wrong?”

Ho Cheon-an smiled shyly at Ramo’s anger. Seeing that, Sarah also added her words.

“Nabin and Hocheonan Daehyeop are guests of this Podalap Palace. It is the owner’s duty to protect the safety of guests. The group of people in the trenches will be cleaned up at Podalap Palace, so the Grand Hyeop can rest comfortably within the palace.”

“Elderly! If you do something reckless with Naveen one more time, I will be really angry! I’m serious!”

“I understand. Be self-reliant.”

Ho Cheon-an barely managed to comfort the two people who were taking turns showing their anger and send them away, then heaved a long sigh and looked back at Navin. Navin is looking at the floor with a sullen expression.

Hocheonan stayed by Navin’s side.

Then he stroked Naveen’s head without saying a word.

How long has it been like that?

“Did I… do something wrong?”

Suddenly Navin’s mouth opened.

“I don’t want the people of Podalap Palace getting hurt…but I’m also worried about that old man…but that doesn’t mean he’s not a villain…”

Although the words were incoherent, Ho Cheon-an was able to fully understand Navin’s concerns.

Although his desire to save the people of Podalap Palace remains the same, he may have developed feelings of sympathy for Sabokseol as well.

Ho Cheon-an patted Navin on the back and said.

“Actually, this old man has a way to save both sides.”

“…Yes?”

Navin looked up at Hocheonan with a puzzled expression. Could there be such a way?

“Wouldn’t it be okay to change the will of the emperor?”

Navin was dazed for a moment.

This was because answers came out on a scale that I could not even imagine.

“If the will of the empire can be changed, Sabokseol will be able to return to the martial arts world, and since he can return to the martial arts world, there will be no reason to invade Podalap Palace.”

“Is that….possible?”

“Of course it’s a difficult path.”

Ho Cheon-an smiled slightly.

“Why does it seem impossible?”

Navin shook his head slowly. Navin, who has been learning about the world little by little while traveling, is now gradually getting a sense of how great of a person Ho Cheon-an is.

If it’s Hocheonan, it’s really possible.

done!

Navin’s face lit up. In this way, the problem of plain clothes and the problem of Podalap Palace will be solved.

However, Navin’s smile cracked at Ho Cheon-an’s next words.

“But in order to change the will of the empire, you must leave this Podalap Palace. At least this old man.”

“Yes?”

Do you have to leave Podalap Palace?

“Hehe. Will the plainclothes theory just go away? Changing the will of the emperor is still only a possibility, so in order to persuade the plainclothes theory, it will be necessary to show at least an immediate movement.”

“Such…”

“So this old man has no choice but to leave for Jungwon.”

Navin was confused by Hocheonan’s question. Podalap Palace was a place where I wanted to stay for the rest of my life. It was a place where there were priests and monks who looked after the spirits, and there were Ramo, who played with him every day, and Sara, with whom he felt a closeness for some unknown reason.

Because I wanted to be with them, I wanted to protect Podalap Palace… but I had to leave?

Naveen’s heart ached just thinking about leaving Podalap Palace. Naturally, Ho Cheon-an’s heart was filled with sadness upon seeing the crying face.

“You are Ramo and Sarah. No, I am sorry for having to say this even though I know very well that I have a lot of affection for this Podalap Palace itself.”

Ho Cheon-an hugged Navin in his arms.

“This grandfather is greedy. I hope that the group of Trench Party will be sent back to the central plain, that this Podalap Palace will become peaceful, and that the will of the Empire will be reversed and this world will return to its original state. Even though I know that the road is long and difficult for Navin…and that many adversities await.”

“Grandpa…”

“Nabin. If you stay with this old man, you will experience something like this again in the future. You will wander around the world, you may have to leave again even if you have become attached to someone, and you may experience different pains that you cannot imagine now.”

Ho Cheon-an would do his best to prevent such a future from happening to Navin, but it would definitely happen.

so.

Ho Cheon-an looked at Navin’s face and said.

“So…if you want to stay here, if you think it will be difficult to endure the separation you are experiencing now and the suffering and pain you will experience in the future, I will ask my Ranosara to let you stay here.”

“Why…”

Navin heard Ho Cheon-an’s words.

“Why are you saying that!”

He shouted angrier than ever and pushed Ho Cheon-an away. It was Navin who was pushed out, not Ho Cheon-an, but in the end, regardless of who was pushed out, Navin escaped from Ho Cheon-an’s arms.

“I really hate grandpa!”

Naveen.

He stormed out of the room leaving only those words behind.

Ho Cheon-an stretched out his hand towards the sound of small footsteps gradually moving away.

He immediately withdrew his hand and lowered his head.