Confession (6)
The next day.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Yeon Hojeong, sweeping the courtyard with a massive broom, suddenly turned at the sound of footsteps.
"Hey."
Muk Bi, dressed in thick furs, waved at him with a grin.
Yeon Hojeong smiled back. "What're you doing out here at the crack of dawn? It's freezing—go inside and rest more."
"You shady bastard."
"What'd you say?"
Muk Bi grumbled. "No wonder you knew me so well."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled. "So you believe me?"
"What choice do I have? If you say so, I gotta believe it."
It was the simplest conclusion imaginable.
Of course, this didn't mean Muk Bi's trust in Yeon Hojeong surpassed her faith in Yeon Wi. The difference between the two men boiled down purely to their personalities.
"How was I?"
"How was what?"
"How was I back then?"
Yeon Hojeong snorted. "A wallflower who could only shoot arrows. You didn't act your age—got plastered and danced like an idiot in front of everyone."
"Gah!"
Muk Bi's face flushed beet red. "Liar!"
"Heh heh."
"...It wasn't like that, right?"
"Whether it was or wasn't, what does it matter? The important thing is the you right now, isn't it?"
"Tell me straight. Did I or didn't I?"
"Dunno. Maybe you did."
"You're lying!"
Yeon Hojeong burst into laughter as he kept sweeping. "In the Black Path Great Union, at Heukje-seong, there was a rank called the Five Great Divine Generals."
"Five Great Divine Generals...?"
"The strongest experts under the Black Emperor Castle Lord, the Black Dark Emperor. Each one's martial arts were at the pinnacle of their field—unrivaled in the world."
Yeon Hojeong looked at Muk Bi. "And you were the leader of those Five Great Divine Generals, the mightiest warrior."
"...!"
"Your archery was undisputedly the best in the world. Even without a bow, you could hold your own against the other generals. In pure martial prowess, you were second only to the castle lord herself. That was the Divine Bow Muk Bi—you."
Muk Bi felt her heart pounding inexplicably. Divine Bow? What a magnificent title.
The idea that she, in the era Yeon Hojeong had lived through, was a powerhouse worthy of claiming supremacy sent chills down her spine.
"And Gang Ryang too."
"...?!"
"The one called the Black Path's Greatest Swordsman, the invincible sword master who shook the Central Plains as the Iron-Blood Sword King—that was Gang Ryang. One of the Five Great Divine Generals as well."
Muk Bi let out a hollow laugh. "Gang Ryang too...?"
"Back then, Moyong Gun was hailed as the world's greatest swordsman. But some whispered, 'In overall martial arts, Moyong Gun might be superior, but purely with the sword, Gang Ryang takes it.'"
"That's high praise."
"He might look like a slacker, but his talent and drive were unmatched. That's why he made the Five Great Divine Generals at such a young age."
"Was Gwi Cheol Geom Mun destroyed back then too?"
"Yeah. That's what surprised me. Makes you wonder if history always converges on the same end, no matter how the flow changes."
Muk Bi stared at Yeon Hojeong for a moment, then grabbed a broom from the corner. "Help out."
"Don't mind if I do."
They stood side by side, sweeping in unison.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Both were naturally deft, so each stroke cleared huge clumps of snow.
Yeon Hojeong glanced down at his broom. "You pissed about it?"
"About what? Me not knowing till now?"
"Nah."
"Then what?"
"You could think I approached you on purpose."
Muk Bi smiled. "Yeah, I guess you could see it that way."
"You're really not mad, huh?"
"If it weren't for you, my life would've been even more of a dumpster fire. Can't complain about that."
"Heh, you get it."
Muk Bi just smiled sweetly.
So that's how it was.
Behind her bright smile, she recalled Yeon Hojeong's words from the past.
You never showed your emotions easily. But you weren't emotionless—far from it. You had a heart hotter than anyone's, a true warrior.
I liked you. Back then, you chose your own path in life. Even if it was painful, you never complained.
I didn't know your past. Never imagined it. But digging deeper would just be meddling.
The past is the past. I just wanted to fix a past that would've led to a horrific future. And for that, I needed to be a different me from before.
After the Yesin Hapjeon ended, when she was with Palace Heaven Brother, Yeon Hojeong—whom she'd never even met—had said those things.
She'd been lost in profound grief, but those words kept echoing in her mind.
Yeon Hojeong had treated her like someone he'd known forever.
That's why he came looking for me.
Muk Bi's gaze softened as she watched him. And yet, you never manipulated me.
If he'd truly meant to use her, he could've dragged her along by any means. But he hadn't.
He'd given her a choice. And if she'd refused, he'd have let her go without a second thought.
That was Yeon Hojeong.
Even with deep ties from the past, he never forced anyone. He just made offers and respected choices.
How could she hate someone like that? How could she feel betrayed?
If anything, I'm the one in his debt.
Yeon Hojeong had given her a family.
That alone made him her lifelong benefactor.
It meant more than him saving her life—treating her like family was a thousand, ten thousand times greater.
"Whew, my back's killing me."
"The guy who swings an eighty-geun axe like it's nothing, whining over this?"
"Not using inner energy."
"...For real?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Just training. Keeps the posture solid—good for waist and core."
"... ."
"Hey, you don't use inner energy while sweeping snow either. Waste of qi."
Now that she looked, Yeon Hojeong's form was perfectly controlled. It was training disguised as labor—so natural you wouldn't notice without scrutiny.
Muk Bi clicked her tongue. "Training even now?"
"Gotta weave it into every moment if you want real growth."
"Nah, that's overkill."
Yeon Hojeong smirked. "You're right—it's not enough on its own. But I trust it'll stack up. Someday, it'll push me up another level."
"Hmm."
"Even if it doesn't boost skill, just staying vigilant is plenty."
Muk Bi shrugged at the thoughtful Yeon Hojeong. "I wouldn't live like that."
"Lazy."
"Don't forget I'm older than you."
"I was the castle lord, you were my subordinate."
"Past I don't remember."
"Same now, isn't it?"
"This is casual."
"Body's young, but I've lived near fifty years."
"Nice for you. But isn't that age imaginary?"
"... ."
"Live in the present, not stuck in the past."
"You'd never get scammed. Who knew the once so earnest and pure girl now has a dagger for a tongue."
"Not something you should say."
Yeon Hojeong roared with laughter. Muk Bi laughed along, then asked lightly, "When you telling Jipyeong?"
"Jipyeong?"
"Yeah. You told me, so obviously tell him too, right?"
"Eh?"
Yeon Hojeong shrugged. "No point hiding now that it's come this far. But making a big formal deal out of it feels weird."
"Does it?"
"Yeah."
He looked up at the sky. The pitch-black predawn was lightening; the snowfall had noticeably weakened.
"Figured it out yesterday. These things flow best naturally."
"Hm."
"Up till then, I didn't get it. Thought it was a huge dilemma."
Yeon Hojeong shrugged again. "But not anymore. Whether I confess my past or not, the people who trust me will stick by it. So I can just relax."
Muk Bi smiled. "Sounds good."
"Ah, and I'm tired now. Dumped at least five days' worth yesterday. Wanna rest my vocal cords awhile."
"For someone who wants quiet, you talk a lot."
"... ."
"Heh."
"... ."
"Pfft."
"... ."
"If you're gonna stay zipped, mind if I smack you? Seems pointless."
"No."
They both burst out laughing.
"Just letting it happen naturally. That's best."
"Yeah. Do that."
About half a shichen passed.
The sky was still dark as night, but the eastern horizon felt a touch brighter.
"Ah, been at it since dawn—I'm starving. Food?"
"Sure."
* * *
"Hoo."
Jegal Munho hadn't slept a wink.
"Three Fanatic Sects...?"
His eyes, fixed on the rattling window, swirled with confusion.
How did we miss an organization like that till now?
Well, it wasn't the Central Plains—it was beyond the frontiers. If those frontier forces were dead set on hiding, even the Martial Alliance's intelligence couldn't sniff them out easily.
That made it all the more terrifying.
People—or groups—tend to flaunt power once they have it. It's human nature.
Yet they hid their immense strength and wealth completely.
A group with unimaginable power and superhuman patience. And such patience required ironclad conviction in the future—meaning top-tier strategists aplenty.
Hard to believe. But...
Jegal Munho sighed.
Yeon Army Commander wouldn't lie about this. And besides.
He pulled a few neatly folded documents from his bosom. Secret intel seized from Muk Ryong Bu.
Top Secret Document: Funding Flows from Frontier Forces to Muk Ryong Bu
◈ Detailed records of massive capital infusions from unknown outer realm sources.
◈ Confirmed link: Hwarang Group (recently annihilated by Tang Ma Myeol Sa Army coalition).
The documents detailed fund flows from the frontiers into Muk Ryong Bu. And among them, the Hwarang Group—crushed by the Tang Ma Myeol Sa coalition.
Clear evidence. Confirms the Three Fanatic Sects exist.
Jegal Munho slumped back in his chair, frustrated.
"If they're backing Muk Ryong Bu to that extent, even Saneumgyo alone rivals the Martial Alliance. And there're three of them?"
His vision darkened.
He was quick with countermeasures against enemies, but there were limits.
And there was another problem.
"Moyong Gun."
Anger flashed across Jegal Munho's face. "There's a line even in madness for power! How could you ally with Yang Cheon? You've truly crossed it!"
The threat of the Three Fanatic Sects felt too abstract, honestly.
But Moyong Gun? He'd thought the man had his own sense of justice despite power lust. Now he seemed like a utter lunatic!
After fuming for a while, Jegal Munho turned to the door. "You there?"
"Yes, Strategist."
"Tell Yeon Family Head the strategist is resting briefly."
"Understood."
Jegal Munho gazed out the window.
Rattle, rattle, rattle.
The ferocious east wind shook the panes wildly.