Episode 259
‘This is not it.’
Entering the private barracks built by his subordinate Black Night Soldiers, Zhuge Hye took off his bamboo robe and ruffled his hair.
I couldn’t shake off my mixed feelings.
“Whoa.”
Lying down on the cot, she looked up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.
Yeonsun told her not to worry, but she knew intuitively.
That a wall has been created between him and himself.
‘How did this happen?’
When we met on the outskirts of Zhejiang and walked together for a while.
When I visited the headquarters of Hwayang Sangdan and found out who it was.
And when I greeted him as an invitee at a villa in Honam.
I have interacted with a man named Yeon-woon several times, but I have never felt as uncomfortable as I did today.
The current Yeonsun was a completely different person than before.
At least that’s how Jegal-hye felt.
‘Jina (進兒). ‘What on earth have you done?’
She pictured her younger brother’s face in her head and muttered as if she were resentful.
It was not difficult to guess what the younger brother was thinking in selling his name to approach Yeonsun.
He must have judged that it would be easier to become friends with the Heavenly Dragon that way.
Basically, he was a person with similar tendencies to his father, Zhuge Seo-jin.
He was the one who used whatever means were available to form and maintain human relationships.
‘......In the end, I brought this upon myself.’
Of course, there was a fundamental reason why Yeonsun became wary of himself.
A conversation I had with him in the past at Hwayang Sangdan flashed through my mind.
[Small cooperative. I didn’t come here to say anything that would be particularly harmful to the small cooperatives. I have no intention of informing others about the identity of the small cooperative, nor do I have any intention of requesting anything from the cooperative. I just want to confirm.]
[.......]
[I will ask again. [Is the true identity of the Humyeonhyeop the Yeon Sohyeop?]
He said he would definitely keep his promise, but then committed the misdeed of secretly revealing his identity to his uncle and military officer, Zhuge Huan.
In a way, it could be said that it was natural to be labeled as an untrustworthy person.
There were no excuses.
[The Lord said that his inaction would be close to the level of a hundred great masters. What do you think?]
[I think so too.]
I noticed it when Zhuge Huan first brought up the story about Yanyun.
That he considers Yeonsun to be the next leader candidate.
Unknowingly, I got excited and started talking about the Homyeonhyeop.
By the time I realized it was too late, it was already too late.
‘It’s difficult to build trust, but it’s only a moment to lose it.’
I met Yeonsun today and felt what he said.
I had no idea how to turn the relationship around.
‘I shouldn’t have done that.’
I had the naive thought that if we met in person and offered a sincere apology, things could be resolved amicably.
But the reality was harsh.
Is it because I became more wary after meeting my younger brother?
Yeonsun didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to what he said.
‘He’s the first friend I made after coming to Kangho.’
Zhuge Hye sighed again and quietly closed his eyes.
Where did I put the button wrong?
It was a somewhat sad night.
* * *
“Huh.”
“Something is making me feel dizzy.”
The first and second of the Guizhou Samjeol (貴州三切) let out soft exclamations.
Until the outer wall of Baekmakmun (White Gate) was in front of me, I did not get caught up in the battle even once.
“Failed! “It is said that the rescue team broke the camp before the surprise attack!”
“.......”
The rumbling noise spread throughout Daejeon.
Everyone in the hall could not hide their anxious expressions at the shocking news.
“What a disaster. “I never thought I would be able to last even a day with so many battles.”
“Has a direct blood relative of the Zhuge family joined the rescue team?”
“No matter how much Zhuge family’s character is included, isn’t this too fast? “I don’t think it would be possible, but the head of the family, Zhuge Seo-jin, didn’t come in person, right?”
“Anyway, I think that’s too much of an idea.”
Various opinions were presented.
They say that we have to surrender now, and that if we mobilize all the disciples of the sect, we will be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive.
In the end, there was a war of words between those with different opinions.
Baekmakmunju Hojeonggeom, who was quietly contemplating with his eyes closed, spoke in a low voice.
“We will fight desperately.”
“Lord Moon!”
“It’s not possible! If we do that, we will all die!”
A long sigh escaped Gojeongeom’s lips.
He didn’t know either.
That his decision would result in numerous casualties.
“What happens after I surrender?”
“.......”
“We are traitors. “It goes without saying how the martial arts people of Baekdo will look at us who stuck a sword in the back of a colleague.”
Those who insisted on surrender pursed their lips.
Everyone knew.
That there is no turning back now.
“We have no other options.”
It was just as Gojeonggeom said.
At the point when he ambushed and brutally killed the disciples of the Gongong Sect, Baek Makmun had already crossed the river of no return.
Even if he survived right now, what awaited him was the fall of the sect and a bleak future.
“And it’s not just a hopeless situation. “Because we have a powerful hand that can overturn our military inferiority.”
Gojeonggeom’s eyes turned to the corner of Daejeon.
The man leaning against the wall with his arms crossed noticed my gaze and raised his head.
The man yawned and muttered.
“Is the boring meeting over?”
“.......”
“I couldn’t listen to it. How dare you say something like that in front of me because you have to surrender? “It seems like your life isn’t a waste of money, right?”
The man’s gaze turned to the two old men sitting across from him.
The two old men, who were startled and waving their hands, grabbed their necks at the same time.
“Go!”
“Ugh!”
The wrinkled face instantly turned bluish.
It was as if someone invisible was grabbing the two people’s necks.
“Consider yourself fortunate. “If this was a demonic religion, it wouldn’t have ended with the two people dying.”
The two old men’s new figures collapsed into place like dolls with their strings cut.
The atmosphere in Daejeon became cold.
Gojeongeom grabbed the armrests of the chair and swallowed.
‘Usational energy. I’ve only heard about it, but this is my first time seeing it in person.’
He killed those who were three feet away without even touching him.
It was an art that could not be performed unless you were an absolute expert who had reached the level of mind-killing.
The man said, sweeping the middle school students with menacing eyes.
“I think you are misunderstanding something, but there was only one path for you to choose from the beginning.”
Saaaaa.
A surge of demonic energy invaded Daejeon.
The disciples, whose martial arts skills were relatively poor, moaned in pain.
“Prepare for all-out war. “I will not accept any disagreement.”