Seuuuk.
A pure white cloth swept through the sword.
Seuuuk.
Baek Cheon’s eyes were deeply focused.
It’s something he does habitually once a day. Yet his posture was as serious as the first time he ever polished his sword.
Seuuuuk.
The blade reflected his face like a mirror. Baek Cheon looked at his reflection in the blade and resumed polishing it quietly.
How much time had passed?
“Huuu.”
Having confirmed that the sword was clean, he sheathed it back into its scabbard.
Tak.
He carefully set down the sword he had finished maintaining and looked towards the door.
“If you’re here, come in. Why are you standing there?”
“...When did Sasuk notice?”
“It would be even stranger to not notice while you are making that much noise.”
“Then tell me to come in!”
Baek Cheon chuckled when he saw Chung Myung coming in with a huff.
“Since when did you become someone who needs to be told to come in? Even if it’s completely locked, you’re the guy who breaks through the door and comes in.”
Agreeing, Chung Myung walked in the room grinning, and casually plopped down in the middle. Baek Cheon had a light smile on his lips.
“....”
“....”
A moment of silence passed. Chung Myung squinted his eyes and looked at Baek Cheon.
“Aren’t Sasuk going to ask?”
“What?”
“Why I came.”
“You must’ve come for a reason.”
“No....”
“That’s why I’m waiting. For you to say what it is.”
Chung Myung pouted and spoke bluntly as if he’s displeased.
“Sasuk talk as if you knew I’d come.”
“I did.”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung’s head shot up in surprise. Receiving a questioning gaze, Baek Cheon calmly responded.
“I didn’t know you’d come to my room, but I thought you’d speak up soon. About something important.”
“...Why?”
“Why, you ask?”
Baek Cheon responded as if the question was absurd.
“Because you weren’t the same as usual.”
“What does Sasuk mean by that?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Yeah. I think I’ve been just the same.”
Baek Cheon sighed and pressed his forehead with one hand.
Chung Myung flinched and resisted Baek Cheon’s pitying gaze.
“Why, why! What, what!”
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“What!”
“What did you do after you fought with Jang Ilso and came back?”
“What did I do, of course, I...”
Chung Myung stopped mid-sentence and slowly closed his mouth.
‘That’s right. What did I do?’
He tilted his head slightly and recounted the past few days.
He has been doing something constantly, but come to think of it, it felt like he didn’t do anything in particular. As Baek Cheon asked him, he was at a loss for an answer.
Watching Chung Myung seriously ponder, Baek Cheon chuckled and spoke.
“The maintenance of Plum Blossom Island was carried out mainly by the Tang Family, and building docks and establishing the system of merchant ships was carried out by Nokrim. Mount Hua’s disciples stabilized the surroundings and provided relief.”
“...That’s right?”
“If you were your usual self, you would have tried ordering around builders, and then rushed to the docks to beat up some bandits. Then you’d be the first one shouting about killing the Evil Sects guys.”
“....”
“Someone who was overflowing with energy finds themselves stuck on a cramped island, idly indulging in leisure activities. Do you think I’d consider such you in a normal state?”
A bitter smile slipped from Chung Myung’s lips.
“It’s just what you thought, isn’t it?”
“Would I be the only one? Everyone must be feeling like they’re holding a ticking bomb. If one does not know you’re not in a normal state, then they’re not a disciple of Mount Hua.”
“....”
Chung Myung’s face changed several times in a short period. Chung Myung, who was moving his lips as if he was going to say something, eventually sighed deeply.
“...But why didn’t Sasuk say anything?”
Baek Cheon shrugged.
“Because there was no need to.”
“....”
“You’re not the type to listen to others, nor are you the type to wallow in your problems. I figured you’d resolve your concerns and speak up when the time is right.”
Baek Cheon’s eyes turned to Chung Myung.
“Right, just like now.”
“....”
“To take....”
After a while, a groan-like voice came out of his mouth.
“...the head.”
Baek Cheon smiled contentedly.
“...Yeah, that’s it.”
It’s not simply about taking out the leader. This means that the most important matters should be dealt with first.
Chung Myung and Baek Cheon both know the meaning.
“The Chung Myung I know doesn’t get swayed easily. You like simple things best. Leave everything else to others to do, and you do the best you can think of.”
“....”
“To take responsibility, it’s not to bear everything. If anything, that is being irresponsible.”
Chung Myung stared silently at Baek Cheon. Then Baek Cheon smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders.
“Why? Are you going to praise me now for being Sasuk-like?”
“No, it’s not that...”
“Then what?”
Chung Myung, who had a complex look on his face, laughed.
“I just thought how Dongryong could be like a human too. It seems like yesterday when you were acting like a fool and couldn’t even act worthy for your face.”
“...This punk?”
Chung Myung laughed gleefully.
“I get one thing now.”
“What?”
“When a parrot imitates how a stork walks, it ends up tearing its own legs.”
“Is that directed at me?”
“No, it’s about me.”
Chung Myung chuckled self-mockingly.
He wanted to become Cheong Mun.
The most ideal Sect Leader he thinks is Cheon Mun. But at heart, he already knew.
He can never become Cheong Mun, nor is he a person fit to be Sect Leader. Neither was something Chung Myung could accomplish.
‘I knew yet I forgot.’
He was doing something that certainly didn’t suit him.
He didn’t hear anything particularly great. But it felt like he became wide awake. As if the fog that had been covering the world had suddenly lifted.
“Sasuk.”
“Hm.”
“Thank you.”
Baek Cheon’s eyes became as big as a lantern at the calm remark.
“...Did you eat something wrong?”
“....”
“Maybe Jang Ilso hit you so hard that you hurt your head.... Should I call Soso?”
“....”
Chung Myung felt sad. It wasn’t because of what Baek Cheon said, but because of Baek Cheon’s sincere eyes, which revealed that the comment was not a joke.
Normally, Chung Myung would have immediately poked him in the eye with his finger, but today he decided to hold back.
“Anyway....”
Seeing how both Yoo Iseol and Baek Cheon came out like this, he must have been acting like an idiot.
Chung Myung’s eyes gradually became clearer and sharper.
“So, Sasuk is saying I should do what needs to be done now, right?”
“Yeah.”
“The most important thing?”
“I told you so.”
“...Is that so?”
“....”
A moment of silence passed. Anxiety started to creep across Baek Cheon’s face.
This is because a wicked smile began to spread around Chung Myung’s mouth. He was relieved because it was so typical of Chung Myung, but on the contrary, it was so Chung Myung-like that he suddenly felt anxious.
“Sasuk is right. I was stupid.”
“....”
“Now that I think about it, it pisses me off! Something so obvious! Since when have I cared about this and that!”
“N- No, wait a minute. Chung Myung-ah. Hey, you punk.”
Baek Cheon’s face began to turn pale.
Something... Something started to work out differently than he thought. No, this was not merely a feeling; it was a certainty.
“I feel refreshed thanks to you! Keuu, Dongryong does have some use sometimes! Let’s talk later!”
Chung Myung stood up with a relieved face and turned around.
“No, you son of a beast! Tell me what you’re going to do.....”
Baek Cheon hastily reached out his hand, but Chung Myung had already kicked the door open and left.
His hand, which had been groping the empty air, awkwardly grabbed nothing but air before dropping down.
“....”
He felt like he had made a mistake?
At that time, Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol poked their heads out through the wide-open door. He doesn’t know since when, but it seems like they’ve been listening from outside for some time.
The two alternately looked at Chung Myung, who was running far away, and Baek Cheon, who stood dumbfounded and opened their mouths.
“Sasuk.”
“...What?”
“What have you done?”
“....”
Guys...
I don’t know either, and that’s what’s worrying me.