Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Reunion (2)
Was there such a thing as longing?
The emotion I felt meeting Mountain Gorge King was gladness.
"Oppa, please step out for a moment."
Inside the van that many celebrities ride in, So Iryeon spoke to the manager in the driver's seat.
The place we arrived at to avoid people's eyes was So Iryeon's van.
"Oppa, no, Cult Leader."
"You, speak properly. I'll really kill you."
"It's become a habit. Everyone likes it when I do this."
So Iryeon handed me a coffee.
"The manager's expression wasn't great."
She introduced me as her nephew, saying I rolled down a mountain while playing around. The manager didn't believe it, but there was no need to make excuses.
"Well, since my body ended up like this, I'll get some scolding from the agency."
"Let's treat your internal injuries first."
"I should."
So Iryeon naturally tried to take off her shirt. To help with internal energy, it's best to directly touch the vital acupoints.
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Just do it like this."
"That's not like you, Cult Leader. Don't tell me you see me as a woman?"
"As if. And change that way of speaking."
"I can't do that. It's become a habit from practice."
Warriors know best what results practice brings. I just had to accept it.
First, I locked all the car doors and proceeded with the treatment by putting my hand inside the t-shirt as a temporary measure.
"I'm starting."
With these words, the small talk ended.
The internal injuries were quite severe.
'To act perfectly fine with such internal injuries.'
This was the Mountain Gorge King I knew.
The internal injury treatment process causes severe pain, but So Iryeon endured it without a single groan.
"Huuu."
After about 30 minutes of treatment, I prevented the situation where her dantian would be endangered. The environment was too poor for complete treatment, so I didn't proceed further.
"Thank you."
So Iryeon let out a long breath and released her cross-legged position.
Her whole body was drenched in sweat during the treatment process, and she eventually took off her t-shirt and changed into new clothes.
"I'm getting used to it now."
Fortunately, I was adapting.
Once the fact that Mountain Gorge King and So Iryeon were the same person began to be imprinted, the discomfort also disappeared.
"If you were desperate enough to write it in song lyrics, there must have been an urgent reason."
"I had to meet you quickly."
"Why?"
"Cheonhogwi left this behind."
An unforgettable name.
Cheonhogwi.
The leader who commanded the Cheongoldae, a gathering of a thousand elite warriors of the Demonic Cult.
So Iryeon handed me a piece of paper. It had translated writing on it.
-I barely escaped from the hunters. I'm looking for reincarnated Heavenly Demon Cult members. But it doesn't seem like all Heavenly Demon Cult members have reincarnated.
-The hunters' first targets are the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader and the Ice Witch. They believe one of the two is dead. And besides the hunters, those who were destroyed by the Heavenly Demon Cult are also searching for Heavenly Demon Cult members.
I could learn several facts.
First, that the reincarnated didn't all reincarnate at the same time.
And the existence called hunters.
"Where is Cheonhogwi now?"
"It seems he was caught by the hunters. I don't know the details either. I only heard they hunt reincarnated people."
The hunters seemed to be moving systematically. If so, it couldn't be just reincarnated people involved.
Money and politics are bound to get involved in every organization.
"Any news of the other Protectors?"
"None. I tried to look for them, but I'm only famous in Korea so far."
There's no way to gauge which country the others were born in.
"I'm thinking of translating and spreading the word in as many languages as possible. Once the Protectors gather, Cult Leader will do something about it."
"That's your plan? That I'll do something about it somehow?"
"Don't expect too much from me. Even doing this much is something to be praised for."
"That's like you."
"I don't even know anymore which one is like me. I don't even know which is real. Still, I'm glad I met Cult Leader. No need to be fake, no need to pretend to be nice. I've never been this comfortable."
Words that touch the heart because they're honest. I'm feeling the same emotion.
"You need to become famous quickly for the other Protectors to gather."
"I'll work hard. But Cult Leader, I'm curious about something."
So Iryeon's tone became serious again. This was probably what she was most curious about.
"The fact that Cult Leader reincarnated means you died in your previous life."
"It was mutual destruction."
I didn't bother to say that I died first.
"That's good. Then the Ice Witch must have been reborn too."
Killing intent appeared in So Iryeon's eyes.
"Cult Leader, when you find that person, please give me the first chance. The memory of dying trapped in ice is still vivid."
I had forgotten for a moment.
Mountain Gorge King, who had no match on the battlefield, died at the hands of the Witch in the Ice Castle.
Mountain Gorge King, who had confidently stood at the forefront in the early stages of the Ice Castle attack, had his whole body frozen and died inside the ice.
It happened right before my eyes, but I couldn't save him. With that rage, I fought alone in the Ice Castle for three days.
How should I say this?
It's not my fault, but I somehow feel sorry.
For a warrior, revenge is a justification that cannot be stopped by anything.
Moreover, if it's revenge for death, there's no reason to stop it.
"I know where that Witch is."
Hiding isn't my style.
"Really?"
So Iryeon asked urgently. I could feel the pressure to speak in her eyes.
'Damn it.'
There's no reason to hide it. Still, I couldn't help but curse.
"She's my older sister."
So Iryeon stares at me blankly. Then after a long while, she asks again.
"What did you just say?"
"She's my twin sister. I'm going crazy too."
"You're lying, right?"
"Fate made it that way."
I had no choice but to tell her everything about the process of my birth, the fights when I was young, and my parents' existence.
We were originally people with no secrets from each other. The Protectors knew more about me than I knew about myself.
Meeting So Iryeon made me naturally tell her everything.
While saying this, I also realized I had been waiting a lot for someone who would understand me.
When my story was all finished, So Iryeon asked me with a confused expression.
"Haah, then what about revenge? I can't kill Cult Leader's sibling."
"I can't kill her either because she's my blood."
So Iryeon thought for a moment and asked.
"How strong is Cult Leader's older sister?"
"I don't know. I haven't fought her since I was one year old."
So Iryeon grins and says.
"Wouldn't a sparring match be okay?"
Eyes that desire the strong. There's also anger in them.
She seems to be thinking dangerously.
"Let's talk about that story next time."
It's a story that can't have an answer.
"First, go back and get treatment."
"Yes, I understand."
So Iryeon said she understood but stared at me intently.
"Do you have something to say?"
"I have a favor."
"Speak."
She calmly said what she had been holding back.
"Can't you pat my head just once?"
"What?"
"Because you're cute."
"If you do that, I'll really kill you."
"Why are you getting angry? Just don't do it then."
She gave me her phone number.
"Cult Leader, I'll invite you to the broadcasting station once."
"Why the broadcasting station?"
"There are many pretty women. You like them, don't you?"
There's no reason to refuse.
"There's only you, Mountain Gorge King."
"It's So Iryeon now."
Rest is necessary even during training. I can take that rest at the broadcasting station.
"Contact me soon, Cult Leader."
So Iryeon winked at me as I got out of the car.
"I'll kill you."
"Oh my, I'm sorry. It's become a habit."
She raised her hand and folded and unfolded her palm.
It seemed useless to say anything more, so I just turned around.
I returned to the dormitory, not the back mountain.
My heart was heavy and frustrated.
"Is this what karma is?"
Bastards called hunters are active. Moreover, there are many other reincarnated people.
"They'll target the Heavenly Demon Cult first."
The number of martial artists who died at the hands of the Heavenly Demon Cult while unifying the martial world was countless. If they reincarnated, they would naturally harbor killing intent toward the Heavenly Demon Cult.
I would naturally do so too if I were them.
"My cult members have become prey?"
My body trembled imagining this.
"How dare they."
Rage boiled up.
"Can I protect all of them right now?"
I'm only eight years old.
I've trained hard in the meantime, but there are limits.
"I need to become stronger."
It's not for my satisfaction anymore.
-Trust me. You'll never regret it.
These were the words I said to the Heavenly Demon Cult members in my previous life.
I kept my word, and I had no regrets about it.
But reincarnation extended the meaning of those words to this life.
'I don't have that power right now.'
The weight of those words pressed heavily on my heart.
Two weeks passed after meeting So Iryeon.
During that time, I completely gave up on school classes and focused only on internal energy training.
Until now, I tried to balance it with external training, but I changed my mind.
'Internal energy comes first.'
The goal is still Hwangoltaltae. Only then can I use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
I plan to start training external arts again from then.
There will be disadvantages, but I have no choice but to take the shortcut.
"This can't be helped."
Since I'm still in my growth period, I have to eat even during internal energy training. So I bought a lot of lunch boxes.
'To think I'm using the Witch's money.'
It can't be helped that my pride is hurt.
But this is something I have to accept.
'If necessary, I'll have to sell paintings to fill it back in.'
There was someone who wanted to buy my painting through the principal anyway. I refused because it was bothersome, but it seems I can sell it anytime if they want.
Right now, even that time is precious, so I focused on internal energy training.
On the fifteenth day.
Someone came to the back mountain.
It was Min Ju-yeon.
"Are you okay?"
She asked when I stopped training for a moment.
"I'm fine."
"I was worried, so I came. You haven't been showing up even during meal times."
"I have a lot to do. You'll have a hard time seeing me from now on too."
At my words, Min Ju-yeon's expression darkened.
"I have something to tell you."
I waited for her to speak.
After hesitating for a moment, Min Ju-yeon carefully began.
"An opportunity to study abroad came up. The foundation introduced me to a company through a nurturing program, and it seems they liked my paintings. They said they'd support me as a sponsor."
Sometimes companies and young artists make sponsorship contracts like this.
In return, the artist gives the company portrait rights for a certain period and sometimes donates the contracted results.
It was a proposal that had come to me too, so I knew the details.
"Of course, you should go. This school doesn't help you."
"Is it okay to go?"
At that question, I focused on Min Ju-yeon.
"You already know the answer."
Instead of answering, Min Ju-yeon lowered her head.
"You shouldn't waver for any reason."
"Tsk, I was just asking. You told me to come find you when I'm twenty."
We spent quite a lot of time together. In the process, she must have felt my inner self to some extent.
My appearance is eight years old, but her eyes don't see me as a child.
"Waiting a few more years isn't a problem."
"Really?"
"But I won't be the only woman for you."
"What?"
Min Ju-yeon glared at me with fierce eyes.
Seeing those eyes, I felt somewhat satisfied.
"Those eyes are good. With that much, you won't have to worry even if you go abroad."
"Tsk, what does it matter to you? You said you'd meet other women."
"You'll eventually understand what my words mean. So make the decision yourself. I don't force anything on women."
I said more than usual. It means I've become quite comfortable with Min Ju-yeon.
"If I suddenly disappear, just accept it. You don't need to look for me or wait."
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I said."
"Do you have a problem?"
Min Ju-yeon asked with a worried expression.
"There's always some problem. Things I need to do. That's my life."
She won't be able to understand exactly. Still, I wanted to tell her at least this much.
"Don't forget. The brush is like a sword. Just as you're a warrior if you let go of the sword, you lose yourself if you let go of the brush."
"Thank you."
Min Ju-yeon had a determined expression.
That was enough.
After she left, I went back into internal energy training. But my heart felt uneasy.
'What is it?'
It's not because of Min Ju-yeon.
Without any reason, one corner of my heart ached. It was as if a foreign substance was stuck in my heart.
I had never experienced this even throughout my previous life.
The uneasy feeling grew as time passed. Then it became so clear that it interfered with my internal energy training.
'Could it be my parents?'
My family suddenly came to mind.
Just in case, I called home.
"Mother, is everything alright?"
-Yes, son. I'm fine.
Mother's voice answering was darker than usual.
"Please tell me honestly."
After asking several more times, Mother finally said something different.
-Yuri won't come out of the research lab. It's already been three days.
Because they know our relationship isn't good, my parents didn't bother to tell us about each other.
'The Witch hasn't appeared for three days?'
After hanging up the phone, the uneasiness changed to anxiety.
'What is this feeling?'
I couldn't stand it anymore.