Die.
Actually, it's not a strange word. No, maybe quite familiar.
But the words that came out of Chung-Myung's mouth rest on everyone's chest like a thunderbolt.
"……No……."
Baek Sang was about to say something and shut up again.
It was because I didn't know what to say.
Chung-Myung grinned.
"You were lucky, weren't you?"
“…….”
"If he hadn't come forward and stopped the war.”
“…….”
"No, if it had been a little late to stop the war.”
Everyone turned their heads without looking at Chung-Myung.
"If all the people were not holding out on the spot, but were really determined to go to war.”
“…….”
"Did everyone really sit here and talk about fame and gain?”
Baek Sang bit his lips.
"But that's...….”
"Yeah."
Chung-Myung shrugged off Baek Sang.
"As long as you're a warrior, you should always be prepared to die. If someone who wields a knife thinks I won't be stabbed to death, that's arrogant and disgusting."
“…….”
"But that doesn't mean you can die."
Chung-Myung shook his head.
"The world is already different. The next battlefield we're going to be standing in won't be as easy as it has been. The days of fighting like practice and experience are over. And now I don't come back again. Next time, you really have to die and kill.”
Because Sapaeryon changed the world.
And that fact is known to everyone here knows that.
"But that's why...….”
But Baek Sang still seemed unconvinced.
"Isn't that why you're uniting the clans and raising taxes? If it's the power of the Heavenly Union...….”
"Living quarters."
Chung-Myung stared at Baek Sang and asked.
"Do you really think so?”
“…….”
Baek Sang sighed as he chewed on his lips.
Chung-Myung said.
"I like money, too. He likes fame, he likes honor.”
"……but?"
"But if you have to risk someone's life here in return, you don't need it.”
Chung-Myung's voice was calmer and stronger than ever.
"Do you know what really puts people in hell?"
"…Seeing the death of the death brother with your eyes?"
"No, it's nothing."
Chung-Myung shook his head.
"The real hell is to survive. And I realize later that I survived, in fact, could have kept the death penalty from dying."
“…….”
"It's regrettable to take a man to hell."
It was a calm voice.
However, listeners had to feel their hearts sink in unknown sadness.
"Someone's going to die. This is inevitable. I'm acting like I don't care, but everyone knows the truth. One day some of these people here die. It's not too far away."
“…….”
"Then……."
Chung-Myung threw his eyes up.
"The glorious reputation on the shoulders."
“…….”
"The great wealth in my hand."
“…….”
"A high honor to save the world."
While everyone was silent, Chung-Myung, who looked up at the ceiling for a moment, slowly opened his mouth again.
"You think it's all worth a penny?”
Baek Cheon looked silently at Chung-Myung.
Baek Cheon knows.
That's not what Chung-Myung says to the death penalty. That's what Chung-Myung says to himself."I don't want to regret it."
“…….”
"If you can't avoid seeing someone die, at least don't let it be from my complacency. It shouldn't be a dog's death from my wrong choice. It shouldn't have been a death that could have been avoided."
Yoo-Esul nodded slowly.
Calmly, but firmly.
"Hwasan needs to be stronger. Not now. It's not just about the crowd. It's not because of the love affair, it's not because of Jang Nilso."
It's because I'm scared.
Afraid to lose.
Had there been even one victim in this battle, Hwasan would never have been the same. And everyone knows. This result wasn't achieved by skill, it was just pure luck.
I should've done this from the beginning.’
Chung-Myung bit his lips.
Jang Nilso said it would make him regret giving Hwasan time. But it was just a venomous attack.
Chung-Myung was that scared.
You're going to beat everyone?
What's the point of winning at the expense of so many disciples?
Such a victory has gone through tirelessly. No one has experienced more victories and more glorious victories than Chung-Myung.
So what's left of Chung-Myung?
There's nothing left.
I'm telling you, nothing.
Then, Baek Cheon, staring at Chung-Myung, opened his mouth.
"So……."
The disciples all turned to him. The person who can represent Hwasan's students at this moment is Baek Cheon no matter what anyone says.
"As you said, if you practice to die, no one will die?"
"No way. Do you think so? Just……."
Chung-Myung slightly closed his eyes and opened them. And said with a firm face.
"At least you won't be ashamed of those who live in the face of that death."
Baek Cheon smirked.
"It's nothing great."
“…….”
"I'm all for it."
"Living room!"
"The death penalty!"
The death penalty screamed in surprise, but Baek Cheon didn't even look at them. He just smiled at Chung-Myung as if he was dumbfounded.
"I told the greedy one to stop being greedy, but he's doing something worse. I don't know if I should say it's like you."
Meanwhile, Baek Sang's eyes were embarrassed. Having spent a long time with Baek Cheon, he knew better than anyone else. Once the ambassador decides his mind like that, he never changes his words.
He turned to Yoon-jong as if he were asking for help.
"Say something."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
Yoon-Jong arranged his words for a moment and spoke calmly.
"I don't think there's anything bad about it either."
"…what?"
"In the first place, I don't know much about business, honor, fame. I just learn the sword. Hwasan is the place where the sword forms the province. Isn't that enough?"
With a slight shrug, he continued.
"I know there's a point in what you're saying. But either way, I think it's enough if I can just do what I have to do."
Before Baek Sang could say anything, Jo-Gol kicked his tongue at Yoon-Jong.
"Anyway, you're like a wall window...….”
"Why? Did you think differently?"
"If you say it's different, you'll hit me. What am I supposed to say?"
"I won't hit you."
"How can I believe that?""I won't hit you.”
"Yay, yay. It's the word of the death penalty, and I'll follow it...….Argh! You said you wouldn't hit me!"
Baek Sang sighed thinking that there was a burst.
The last time I saw Yoo-Esul, she was in favor of Bongmun in the first place, so it was meaningless to ask. In addition, seeing the sheep sitting calmly with an expressionless face, her mouth wouldn't fall.
"Just give up, Sasook."
Gwak Hae laughed bitterly.
"Honestly, what are you talking about when you hear that? You already know the room."
"……Yes, I know…….”
Baek Sang scratched his head.
"It's such a waste to think about it. Too! Chung-Myung. Are you really not compatible?"
"I'm not that tactful of a man."
“…….”
"I'm even doing the bongmun to push them without leaving any room. If it were compatible, I wouldn't have gone to the gate."
A deep sigh came out of Baek Sang's mouth.
When I looked back, everyone's eyes had changed.
'You bastards.'
After protesting so much, they seem to have already accepted even though they haven't heard a few words. No, it wasn't to the point of acceptance, but they were going to come out first and shout, "Let's go to the camp as soon as possible and train."
It's hard to lie, but...… Anyway, Baek Sang didn't bring it up anymore.
I had no choice but to understand. The same goes for Baek Sang.
Maybe I can insist. I don't know if I can turn that meaning by shouting out loud and banging.
But I can't do that.
What if one day in exchange comes when Baek Sang faces the body of fallen Baek Cheon?
Baek Sang will never forgive himself. Never
I can't bear to oppose it knowing that.
"I think it's settled."
At that time, Hyun Jong, who was still listening to their conversation, opened his mouth in a heavy manner.
"When Chung-Myung came to me last night and brought this up, I had a lot of worries, too. What's right."
"……long story."
"There are plenty of opportunities in Hwasan. And there is a heavy responsibility on Hwasan's shoulders."
Hyun Jong, who is no one else, will be even more so.
Others only have to think about how Hwasan loses. However, there are things Hyun Jong should bear as a heavyweight. He will have to consider more than his disciples, even if he is confined to Hwasan.
"I couldn't think of an answer. So I asked my mind for the first time. What is the path I want."
When everyone paid attention, Hyun Jong smiled brightly.
"My heart told me. Heavenly gold, the reputation that resonates in the world, the honor that makes Hwasan's name shine...….”
Both eyes were shining more clearly than ever.
"It's not worth a single student."
"……long story."
Hyun Jong smiled.
Perhaps it should not be said as a writer who leads a literary faction. However, at the same time, it was also the reasonable heart that Jang should have.
Hyun Jong's mind was clearly saying that now.
The opportunity that Hwasan now has is what he hoped for in the past.
But now Hyun Jong knows.
"I don't want Hwasan to be the world's biggest fan."
“…….”
"Without that name, Hwasan is Hwasan. It's not Hwasan because it's strong and great. But……."Hyun Jong's eyes contained warm warmth.
"Hwasan is not Hwasan without you."
Everyone clenched their fists.
There are a lot of words in the world, but nothing could touch their hearts more than this.
"I'm trying to protect him as a long-time writer for Hwasan."
“…….”
"Is there anyone against it?"
It's still.
Everyone looked at Hyun Jong silently. After a moment of silence, someone answered first.
"None."
Baek Sang.
When he answers, everyone follows.
"None."
"None, Jang Man!"
"I will follow the will of the writer!"
Hyun Jong nodded slowly.
"Hwasan's all disciples, listen."
"Yes, Jang Moon-in!"
"In the name of the long-written writer, we order the bongmun from this moment on. The deadline will not be set."
"Yes!"
Hyun Jong looked at everyone with gentle eyes.
It may be too much to ask. However, no one came forward to protest and no longer gave a discontented look.
I'm trying to follow what he says anyway.
How can we not protect these people?
"Let's go back. To Hwasan."
"Yes! Long story!"
That's how it was decided that Hwasan was going to the island.
Just when everyone was smiling warmly at Hyun Jong, a bleak voice came out.
"So it's a decision, right?”
Thick. Thick.
Chung-Myung twisted his neck from side to side. The sound of bone in his throat was somehow eerie.
"Oh, I didn't tell you one thing."
"……Huh?"
"It's not necessarily because of the war that's about to kill one."
“…….”
"I'm going to do my best this time. If you're going to die anyway, it's better to die on my hands than someone else's, right? Don't you think so?"
“…….”
"I'm just saying. Keep that in mind."
The spirit drained from the eyes of the Hwasan disciples. When they looked at Hyun Jong with frightened deer-like eyes, Hyun Jong sneaked away with a nice smile.
"Let's go back, no matter how long it takes. I'll be busy now."
“…….”
The door to hell is beautifully decorated.
It was only then that Hwasan's disciples realized that they had walked into hell on their own.