Chapter 4 - Part 1 and 2 and 3
Part 1 and 2 and 3
Chapter 4: Late Autumn Night
Her room was visible in the distance.
Jin San-wol took a deep breath.
As always, his heart fluttered strangely whenever he went to see her. It was a peculiar feeling that couldn't be expressed in any other way.
But it was never an unpleasant feeling. Rather, he endlessly anticipated that fluttering and wanted to experience it again and again.
However, the moment he actually met her, that fluttering would somehow disappear. Instead, another kind of warmth would envelop his entire body. The sweetness that followed that fluttering and warmth was something he wouldn't trade for anything else.
Jin San-wol lightly cleared his throat in front of her door.
"Sa Mae."
A soft female voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Jin San-wol opened the door and entered.
As always, her subtle fragrance reached the tip of his nose.
The room was simple and elegant. Every time he entered this room, Jin San-wol liked the atmosphere and charm that emanated from it. It was an atmosphere that made one's heart feel comfortable and cozy.
She was sitting in front of the only table in the room, in a neat posture.
Even though she was wearing loose mourning clothes made of hemp, she was still dazzlingly beautiful. Her slightly haggard and pale complexion, combined with her deep eyes, added a strange color to her entire face.
Jin San-wol sat down on the chair in front of her.
"You didn't eat much again today."
She lowered her eyelashes slightly.
"I don't have much of an appetite."
Jin San-wol stared at her face for a moment, then said in a quiet voice.
"You have to eat, even if you force yourself, if you're going to leave tomorrow."
She slowly raised her lowered eyes and looked at him. An incomparably brilliant light poured out from her eyes.
"I heard that Du Gi-chun disappeared with the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence."
Jin San-wol nodded bitterly.
"Yes."
"And Great Senior Brother gave up looking for Du Gi-chun?"
"Well..."
She stared at Jin San-wol with starlight-like eyes for a while, then opened her mouth in a soft voice.
"Eung Gye-seong came to talk to me a little while ago. He said that Great Senior Brother doesn't seem to think losing the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence is a big deal."
"Gye-seong said unnecessary things."
"I don't believe that you can become a Peerless Master with just the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence. But as Great Senior Brother knows, it's a very special item. It's my father's only keepsake."
"That's right."
"It was my father's earnest wish. He used to say that he had to do at least that much for Great Senior Brother."
Jin San-wol was silent for a moment, then scratched the back of his head.
"Just consider that I ate it."
She shook her head.
"That's not right. If it were anything else, I wouldn't mind... Father thought that it would only have true value if it went into Great Senior Brother's hands. He said that it would be the foundation for fulfilling his lifelong wish."
"..."
"To allow it to fall into someone else's hands is no different from committing a sin against Father. If Father knew about it, he wouldn't be able to close his eyes, even in the afterlife."
Her words were not loud, but with every word she spoke, Jin San-wol felt a weight like a lead ball in a corner of his heart.
Jin San-wol suddenly let out a soft sigh.
"If I could get it back, I would have done something. I wanted it desperately too."
She silently stared at his face.
"I know Du Gi-chun well. That guy wouldn't carry the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence around with him. He probably took it out of the jade box and swallowed it right away."
She nodded.
"Du Gi-chun would definitely have done that."
"So, even if I sent people to catch him again, how could I recover the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence that had already disappeared into his stomach? Should I cut open his belly to get even the dregs of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence? Or should I drink his blood?"
"But there must be a way."
A bitter smile appeared on Jin San-wol's lips.
"It might be possible with the Wicked Art of the Heterodox Sect. But as Sa Mae knows, I can't do that. Master wouldn't want that either."
She closed her mouth.
"This is all my fault for not keeping the item safe in the first place. I should have guessed that Du Gi-chun would be aiming for it, no matter what, but I didn't. So, strictly speaking, this is my mistake. How can I blame anyone else?"
A slightly empty and slightly bitter smile appeared on her bloodless face.
"Great Senior Brother always blames himself more than others."
"Because it's true."
She shook her head.
"Great Senior Brother was like that before too. Father said that Great Senior Brother tenaciously accomplishes what he sets out to do, but he also gives up very quickly on things that he can't. To put it nicely, he has decisiveness, and to put it badly, he lacks perseverance."
"Maybe I lack perseverance."
"In my opinion, Great Senior Brother tries to shoulder all the worries alone too much."
"Me?"
Jin San-wol shrugged with an exaggerated gesture.
"As Sa Mae knows, I hate anything burdensome."
"There's no need to deceive me."
A faint sigh escaped from her lips.
"I've been watching Great Senior Brother for nine years now. So now I know what kind of person Great Senior Brother is better than Great Senior Brother himself."
Jin San-wol looked a little dazed.
"What kind of person am I?"
She looked straight at him.
Jin San-wol thought that her eyes were too bright and radiant. They were so dazzling that he felt he couldn't look at them directly. But he couldn't turn away. Something in those eyes was holding him captive.
She stared intently at him with those eyes for a long time. Then, in a quiet voice, she opened her mouth.
"Great Senior Brother is a foolish person."
Jin San-wol's eyes widened.
"A foolish person?"
"Yes. A foolish person who doesn't know how to confide his worries to others and can't even express what he wants."
"Is that so? Now that I hear it, it seems like that's true."
"So you always make people's hearts feel upset, frustrated... and hurt."
Jin San-wol tried to laugh it off, but her expression was too serious for him to do so.
"Great Senior Brother. Don't try to shoulder all the burdens alone. Share them with me and others, even just a little bit. We are Sa Hyung Je who are in the same boat."
Jin San-wol stared at her for a while, then nodded.
"Okay. I'll do that."
Her hand reached out across the table.
It was a soft and beautiful hand, as if it had no bones, but it looked a little pale today.
Jin San-wol reached out and held her hand tightly. Her fingers gently stroked the back of his hand several times.
Jin San-wol liked it very much when she tickled the back of his hand like this. Every time she stroked the back of his hand, he felt as if his heart was being caressed by her beautiful touch, and his mind would calm down and he would feel comfortable.
For a while, the two of them sat quietly, holding each other's hands.
It was a peaceful and warm atmosphere.
Jin San-wol looked at her and smiled.
"Everyone decided to gather for a feast in the evening."
She gazed at him with sparkling eyes.
"That's a good idea."
"I'm going to make Mung Bean Carp and Chrysanthemum Hot Pot, which Sa Mae likes."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"That's good."
"Tell me if there's anything else you want to eat besides that."
She rested her chin on her hand and twinkled her eyes for a moment, then slightly opened her red lips.
"Southern Fried Chicken Leg."
Jin San-wol tilted his head.
"You don't usually eat that because it's too greasy, do you?"
"That's why I want to try eating it today."
"Okay, sure. Anything else?"
"I'd like Daughter's Red Wine for the alcohol."
Jin San-wol's eyes widened.
"You're going to drink alcohol too?"
She smiled shyly.
"I can have a glass or so."
Jin San-wol stared at her in surprise, then laughed heartily.
"Haha... Chwi-a is going to meet a formidable opponent today."
"Hearing about the food is making me hungry."
"Wait a little bit. I'll start as soon as the ingredients are ready."
"I'll be able to taste Great Senior Brother's cooking skills for the first time in a while."
"I'll definitely be a good husband in the future."
She covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Hohot... Why is that?"
"Because I'll never make my wife do kitchen work."
"Wouldn't that be boring for a woman?"
"Women have their own things to do."
"What's that?"
"They have to make clothes for me, do the laundry, and give birth to and raise children."
She stared at Jin San-wol with sparkling eyes for a while, then tightly grasped his hand.
"Great Senior Brother will definitely be able to marry such a woman."
Jin San-wol smiled.
"I know."
"And I'll be able to get a husband who makes food just for me someday, too."
"That's right."
"Someday..."
She murmured softly.
That's right.
Someday...
But that day might never come. Because it can only be achieved after the dying wish of her dead father is fulfilled.
The dream of reigning over the world!
Until that is achieved, the two of them had no choice but to put aside their small wishes.
Jin San-wol and Im Yeong-ok's small and simple wishes!
Will it really be possible to achieve them...?
☆ ☆ ☆
The feast was splendid.
First, appetizer dishes such as Braised Egg and Steamed Cabbage with Pork, which was made by steaming boiled cabbage leaves with pork, began to come out. Then came soup dishes such as Milk Broth Meatballs, Fried Fish Fillets, Korean Shrimp Fritters, which was made by coating shrimp with egg whites and frying them white, Stir-fried Conch, and Mung Bean Carp, which was made with mung beans and carp, and other full-fledged dishes poured out.
In the center of the table, there was a pile of chicken leg skewers that made your mouth water just by looking at them. It was made by cooking only the meat from the legs of the chicken, and its smell and taste were so excellent that even people who were ignorant of food would point their fingers at it.
This was Southern Fried Chicken Leg.
"Wow! This looks really delicious!"
Il-bang shouted loudly and hurriedly grabbed his chopsticks. But before his chopsticks could even reach halfway, someone slapped his hand.
Il-bang turned around and saw Bang Chwi-a raising her eyebrows and winking at him.
Il-bang stared blankly at her, not knowing what was going on, and she whispered in his ear, as if frustrated.
"You idiot. Great Senior Brother made that especially for Sa Jeo."
Only then did Il-bang realize the situation and gave an awkward smile.
"No wonder... Chicken leg skewers that never came out before are coming out... Don't worry. I don't usually eat chicken dishes anyway."
Il-bang stretched out his chopsticks and picked up a shrimp fritter next to the Southern Fried Chicken Leg.
"I like shrimp. I like everything except chicken!"
Bang Chwi-a shook her head as if she couldn't help it when she saw Il-bang shouting shamelessly and eating shrimp fritters like crazy.
"I really can't stop him."
She rolled up her sleeves and started picking up and eating this and that like crazy, not wanting to be outdone by Il-bang.
On the opposite side of the table, Eung Gye-seong and Jeong Hae were already exchanging drinks and concentrating on their meal. Mae Sang, who had a meticulous personality, and So Ji-san, who didn't talk much, were also eating diligently, but only Im Yeong-ok was sitting demurely, not even thinking of picking up her chopsticks.
Bang Chwi-a was about to put a large piece of fish into her mouth when she saw this scene and said urgently.
"Sa Jeo. Eat before it gets cold..."
She managed to chatter without spitting out any fragments, even with her mouth full of food.
Im Yeong-ok smiled quietly.
"I'm fine, you eat first."
"You haven't been able to eat properly lately."
"A little later..."
At that moment, the door opened and Jin San-wol came in again, carrying several plates full of food.
There was well-roasted duck, Beggar's Chicken, which was steamed chicken, and a shallow pot filled with various ingredients. Jin San-wol placed the roasted duck and steamed chicken on both sides and placed the boiling pot in the very center.
On top of the pot, fish sliced in the shape of chrysanthemums, finely chopped chicken, sea cucumbers, abalone, shrimp, bamboo shoots, tofu, ginkgo nuts, matsutake mushrooms, noodles, and all sorts of colorful ingredients were piled high, boiling with a savory smell. Jin San-wol took an egg out of his pocket and cracked it on top of the ingredients.
This was Chrysanthemum Hot Pot, one of the dishes that Jin San-wol was most confident in.
With the Chrysanthemum Hot Pot in place, Jin San-wol went to an empty seat and sat down with a thud.
"Okay. Now, shall I eat something too?"
As Jin San-wol tore off a handful of steaming chicken and brought it to his mouth, Im Yeong-ok finally picked up her chopsticks.
Bang Chwi-a smiled shyly as she saw this scene, even though her mouth was full of food.
"After all, the only person who cares about Great Senior Brother the most is Sa Jeo..."
At that moment, Jin San-wol suddenly held out a glass of wine to Im Yeong-ok.
"Have a drink."
Im Yeong-ok nodded and received the glass. Jin San-wol filled her glass to the brim. The sweet and bitter smell unique to Daughter's Red Wine wafted out.
Everyone was puzzled by this. Im Yeong-ok was usually the type of person who never touched alcohol.
Jin San-wol poured wine into Bang Chwi-a and Il-bang's glasses as well.
"Let's eat and drink as much as we want today. There won't be many days like this in the future."
Il-bang grinned.
"What do you mean there won't be many? Let's have another banquet after we go to the Shaolin Temple."
At that time, Eung Gye-seong, who was already quite drunk, said in a blunt voice.
"Will there be a chance? Maybe by then, everyone will be broke and living on the streets."
Bang Chwi-a pouted.
"Eung Sa-hyung is too pessimistic about everything."
"Just watch. I'm sure I'm right."
Eung Gye-seong shouted loudly, but no one paid much attention to his words.
Eung Gye-seong also blurted out a word in his drunkenness and soon forgot what he had said.
Looking back on what happened later, it was clear that Eung Gye-seong had some kind of foresight at this time. But at the time, no one, including Eung Gye-seong himself, took those words so seriously.
For a while, everyone was engrossed in their meal.
Whether they liked Jin San-wol or not, everyone acknowledged that the food he made was delicious. He was not only good at making food, but he also liked making food itself.
Once, Bang Chwi-a watched Jin San-wol sweating profusely and making food in the kitchen for a long time, and then asked him.
"When I see Great Senior Brother working, he looks like a born chef. Do you like cooking that much?"
Jin San-wol nodded without even looking at her.
"Cooking makes me feel comfortable."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have to be hungry."
Bang Chwi-a didn't understand his words well and tilted her head.
Jin San-wol said in a calm voice.
"When I was young, I was always hungry. I wanted to eat anything, but I couldn't find anything to eat. It was even worse in the cold winter. There were times when I survived on just one dumpling for five days."
Bang Chwi-a had heard that Jin San-wol was a wandering beggar before he came to the Jongnam Sect. But she was hearing for the first time that he had been so hungry.
"Being hungry is really scary. You can eat anything. But sometimes, you can't even find that anything."
"I didn't know it was that bad."
“So, I thought to myself. When I can do anything I want later, I must become a famous chef. How wonderful would it be to make and eat whatever food I desire.”
Jin San-wol's expression was very calm as he said those words.
But for some reason, Bang Chwi-a's nose tingled, and it felt like tears would stream down her face at any moment.
“I see. I didn’t know you had such a story.”
Jin San-wol turned to her and smiled.
“At first, my only wish was to make a lot of my favorite food and eat it all by myself, but my heart changed a little when I saw others enjoying the food I made.”
“How so?”
“I feel good when I see other people enjoying the food I make. So now, I often make food to give to others rather than for myself.”
Bang Chwi-a smiled bashfully.
“You’re just a born chef.”
“Haha… I guess so.”
“But Great Senior Brother can’t be a chef anymore.”
“……!”
“Great Senior Brother will one day become the Sect Leader who will lead Our sect. So, no matter how much you want to be a chef, you can’t.”
At that, Jin San-wol only stared at her without a word, just smiling.
The moment Bang Chwi-a saw that smile, she somehow felt that he hadn’t given up on that dream. It was as if he would keep that dream in his heart forever.
Even now, Bang Chwi-a thought that as she looked at Jin San-wol.
‘Great Senior Brother, even after becoming the Sect Leader, perhaps you haven’t given up on that dream?’
That was something she couldn’t know.
When the atmosphere was ripe, Eung Gye-seong suggested a toast.
“Okay. But what are we toasting to?”
Sunset Clan asked, and Eung Gye-seong flicked his head.
“What else? To our historic Martial arts world debut.”
“Ehh. That’s a bit boring…”
Sunset Clan made a lukewarm expression, and Eung Gye-seong glared at him with a fierce look.
“This bastard always tries to oppose everything I say.”
“That’s not it. Think about it. Martial arts world debut can be done anytime, so it’s a bit funny to make a toast for something that’s not a big deal.”
Bang Chwi-a sided with Sunset Clan.
“That’s right. Besides, there are people who aren’t going out into the martial world this time, so it’s too unfair. Let’s do something more plausible.”
“Damn it. With such a lack of harmony…”
While Eung Gye-seong was grumbling, Jeong Hae interjected with sparkling eyes.
“How about this? For the revival of Our sect.”
Sunset Clan and Bang Chwi-a looked at each other, their ears perked up.
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“I agree too. It’s not too grand and seems like a very realistic proposal.”
Eung Gye-seong wore an expression as if to say, ‘You guys do whatever you want,’ and firmly closed his mouth.
Sunset Clan turned to Jin San-wol and asked.
“Sect Leader Great Senior Brother. What do you think?”
“I don’t mind either way.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“I mean, the revival of Our sect is good, and toasting for Martial arts world debut is good too.”
Im Yeong-ok opened her mouth in a calm tone.
“How about this? Let’s each take turns saying one thing we want. We’ll toast for all of those things.”
Sunset Clan smiled brightly and clapped his hands.
“Wow! That’s a really wonderful idea.”
Bang Chwi-a and Jeong Hae also looked delighted.
“That’s really good. Sa Mae’s idea is exactly what I wanted.”
“I agree.”
Sunset Clan quickly looked around and asked.
“What about the others?”
Mae Sang and So Ji-san, as well as Eung Gye-seong, who was sitting with a sulky look, nodded with satisfied expressions.
“Good.”
“Sect Leader Great Senior Brother?”
Jin San-wol smiled gently.
“If I refuse in this atmosphere, I might get kicked out of the Sect Leader position, right?”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Sunset Clan jumped up from his seat and raised his glass high.
“Then I’ll speak first. I…”
At that moment, Bang Chwi-a quickly cut him off.
“Why are you trying to go first, Sunset Clan? If we’re going by seniority, Great Senior Brother is first, and if we’re going in reverse order, I’m the very first…”
Sunset Clan’s face crumpled.
“Chwi-a. Can’t anyone just go first?”
“No. Decide quickly whether we’re going in order of seniority or the opposite.”
“Alright. Alright. You go first.”
Sunset Clan waved his hand as if he couldn’t help it and sat down.
Only then did Bang Chwi-a, with a flushed face from the alcohol, wear a beaming smile.
“Hehe… Then I’ll go first. I want to toast for the boundless development of Our sect.”
Sunset Clan cleared his throat and stood up.
“Hmm. Then it’s my turn. I’ll toast dreaming of the day Our sect rises again, regains its past glory, and Reign over the world.”
“Hehe… That’s too grand.”
“What’s so grand about it? Actually, I wanted to say that I want to dominate the martial world for ten million years…”
“Hehe… That’s just like Sunset Clan.”
Jeong Hae looked around and slowly stood up.
“It’s my turn this time.”
The rank right above Sunset Clan was originally Du Gi-chun. But since Du Gi-chun had left Jongnam, Jeong Hae, the next in rank, stood up.
Jeong Hae cleared his throat and then spoke in a clear voice.
“Like Sunset Clan, I also wish for the revival and development of Our sect.”
Next was Eung Gye-seong’s turn.
“I’ll toast to the day I go out into the martial world and make a name for myself as a supreme master.”
The rank above Eung Gye-seong was So Ji-san, who was the same age as him but had joined a few months earlier.
So Ji-san said briefly.
“Have a safe trip.”
Eung Gye-seong chuckled in disbelief.
“What’s this? Can you even toast to something like that?”
It was Mae Sang who took his words.
“Anyone can toast to what they want. I’ll toast to my sword.”
Everyone thought it was a very Mae Sang-like thing to say.
Mae Sang was a person who was thorough in his self-centered way of thinking.
Bang Chwi-a’s gaze turned to Im Yeong-ok.
“What will Sa Mae toast to?”
Im Yeong-ok said in a quiet voice.
“For the living and the dead.”
Sunset Clan tilted his head.
“The living and the dead? What does that mean?”
Jeong Hae quickly said.
“The living refers to us here.”
“Then who are the dead?”
“Of course, it’s our deceased ancestors.”
Only then did Sunset Clan nod as if he understood.
“Ah! So, Sa Mae’s words mean that she’s wishing for all of us and our ancestors.”
“That’s right. In other words, it means that we shouldn’t forget our ancestors and should uphold their legacy well.”
“That’s very profound.”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Jin San-wol.
“Now, Sect Leader Great Senior Brother will decorate the finale.”
Jin San-wol slowly rose from his seat with a glass in his hand.
He looked around once and then opened his mouth in a calm voice.
“I hope that when we meet again, we can see each other smiling like today…”
Sunset Clan asked Jeong Hae again.
“What does that mean again?”
“Idiot. That’s just saying that he wants to meet again with a smile next time.”
Sunset Clan laughed blandly.
“I see. I thought Great Senior Brother was going to say something profound.”
At that moment, Mae Sang suddenly said in a passing voice.
“It’s a profound story in its own way. If only it could be that way…”
Sunset Clan and Jeong Hae flinched and looked at him, but Mae Sang was silently looking at the glass in his hand.
Jin San-wol raised his glass high.
“Alright. Let’s toast. For everything we’ve said so far.”
Everyone raised their glasses high.
“Cheers!”
“For Jongnam!”
“For the glory and Reign over the world of Jongnam!”
“Cheers!”
☆ ☆ ☆
The night grew deep.
In the sky, a crescent moon like a woman’s eyebrow was half-hidden among the clouds, its graceful figure painted beautifully. A gust of wind blew from somewhere, brushing past the courtyard, and the sound of leaves rustling, like the sound of waves, could be heard.
Shoo-ah…
Jin San-wol sat perched on a low rock overlooking the forest, staring blankly into the air.
The night air was quite cold. As the coldly chilled night air penetrated his thin clothes and touched his skin, the alcohol-induced flush seemed to subside a little.
Jin San-wol had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol today.
Not only Jin San-wol, but everyone was quite drunk, and Sunset Clan and Eung Gye-seong had fallen asleep in a corner of the main hall where the banquet had taken place. Bang Chwi-a, her face bright red, had barely managed to crawl into her room with staggering steps. Jeong Hae, as well as Mae Sang and So Ji-san, who rarely got drunk, were so intoxicated that they could barely stand and had long since returned to their rooms.
Jin San-wol was about to go to his room as well, but he suddenly turned his steps and climbed up the hill behind.
Strangely, his heart felt heavy. The reason he had drunk more alcohol than usual today might have been to get rid of that heaviness. But the more he drank, the heaviness not only didn’t disappear but rather grew even larger, to the point where he couldn’t control it.
Jin San-wol looked up at the One Point Fragment Moon hanging among the clouds with hazy eyes.
The figure of one person was emerging above that fragment moon.
It was the figure of a gaunt and gentle-looking middle-aged man. It was an ordinary appearance, but for Jin San-wol, every single strand of that middle-aged man’s hair, his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth were emerging so clearly.
‘Master…’
Jin San-wol looked up at his master’s illusion and fell into reverie.
“You are just like me thirty years ago. Will you follow me?”
It had already been nine years, but the voice he had heard when he first met his master was remembered as vividly as if it were today.
The unfamiliarity he had felt when he followed his master to Jongnam Mountain, and the relief and peace he had felt when he realized that he no longer had to starve.
The cute appearance of that adorable pigtail girl who had widened her eyes in surprise when she saw him after he had taken his first proper bath in years.
And the warm and sweet emotions he had felt while watching that girl gradually grow into a beautiful woman.
The pride he had felt when disciples had gradually increased in Jongnam’s school, which had initially consisted of only himself and Sa Mae, and the pity and guilt he had felt when his master, who had been searching the deep mountains and valleys for Elixir to feed his disciples, returned exhausted and dejected after several months, saying, ‘I will make you Reign over the world.’
The bitterness and injustice, the desperate rage he had felt when he secretly watched his master, who had been insulted by masters from other sects and had turned away with a smile, secretly shedding tears of blood and wielding his sword madly on the back hill.
His own joy when he had seen his master overjoyed at learning about the whereabouts of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence in Yongmun Mountain, and the intersecting image of his master’s last appearance, covered in blood and breathing his last breath while handing him the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Essence, tore at his heart.
“San-wol. You must Reign over the world.”
He could not forget the last gaze of his master, who had held his hand tightly and stared at him with earnest eyes.
Since that day, Jin San-wol had not had a single night of deep sleep.
Could he really keep his master’s legacy?
Could he achieve the dream of Reign over the world, which no one in the history of the martial world had ever achieved?
Could he really lead the eight younger siblings who trusted and followed him on the path to Reign over the world?
Every day since then had been days of hellish pain and agony for him. Perhaps if it had been someone else, they would not have been able to withstand this pressure and would have run away.
But Jin San-wol couldn’t do that.
His master was the one who had given him a second life.
If it hadn’t been for his master, he would have already become a cold corpse on a cold winter day nine years ago. His master had saved his life and allowed him to live a new life.
But it wasn’t just about repaying the debt he owed his master.
Jin San-wol thought that if he avoided responsibility and duty out of fear, he could no longer be said to be alive. It was a basic human duty before it was a debt of life.
That was what tormented Jin San-wol.
Now, he had to go down the mountain with his fellow disciples tomorrow.
Whether he intended it or not, it would be the first step to keeping his master’s legacy.
But could he really reach the end of that path?
With Mountain trấn Internal Energy and the insignificant martial arts of the Jongnam sect, which had Extinct art, and with only eight disciples, achieving Reign over the world, which no one had ever achieved, was impossible.
But Jin San-wol had to go that path.
Even if he fell midway, he had to go.
Because for him now, that was the only path he could take.
Jin San-wol was lost in endless thoughts as he looked up at the sky.
“You were here.”
A quiet voice and a subtle fragrance were conveyed to the tip of his nose.
Jin San-wol knew who the owner of the voice was without turning his head. No, even if he didn’t hear the voice, he could recognize her just by the fragrance.
Im Yeong-ok’s appearance, standing in the dim moonlight, was beyond the description of beautiful. Jin San-wol’s eyes sparkled particularly brightly in the darkness.
Im Yeong-ok slowly approached him and sat down side by side on the rock.
At that moment, the moon, which had been hidden among the clouds, revealed its full form and scattered its bright moonlight in all directions.
“The moonlight is really beautiful.”
Im Yeong-ok murmured as she looked at the moonlight illuminating her silver fish-like hands. She looked at her hands in the moonlight, turning them this way and that, and then quietly took Jin San-wol’s hand with those hands.
Jin San-wol also took her hand in return.
The two of them held hands, shoulder to shoulder, and looked up at the night sky.
It was a night when the wind blew, the clouds flowed, and the moon twinkled. The moonlight was cold, but the two of them didn’t feel the cold at all.
After a while, Im Yeong-ok murmured softly.
“I remember when I first saw Great Senior Brother.”
“Really? What was it like then?”
A faint smile appeared on Im Yeong-ok’s lips.
“You were a very small and gaunt kid. At that time, rather than feeling sorry for you, I was more concerned about why Father would think of bringing such a dirty and messy child.”
Jin San-wol smiled along.
“That’s right. I was a very dirty, skinny, and ugly kid back then.”
“But your eyes were very bright. Do you know? I was so surprised when Great Senior Brother came out after taking a bath?”
Jin San-wol nodded with a wistful expression.
“Yes. I still remember it vividly. I can still recall Sa Mae’s big eyes and open mouth.”
“Was I ugly?”
“No. You were pretty even then. I thought, ‘There’s a child who’s pretty even when making such an expression.’”
“Hehe… Actually, I was so surprised at that time. Great Senior Brother, who came out after taking a bath, seemed like a completely different person.”
“How was I different?”
Im Yeong-ok tilted her head.
“Well, I couldn’t exactly pinpoint it, but anyway, the person himself seemed different. It was as if a silkworm had shed its cocoon, suddenly changing from a shabby and unsightly child into a reliable and likable boy.”
“Was I like that?”
“Yes. I had seen many boys who were more handsome than Great Senior Brother at that time, but strangely, I felt a liking for Great Senior Brother. You didn’t have a very handsome face, but you had a friendly and affectionate face. You had an impression that gave a sense of goodness.”
Jin San-wol smiled gently and stroked his chin.
“It’s still the same now.”
“Hehe… But inside, you’ve become a sly old fox.”
“No. I’m still good. I can guarantee that.”
“Really?”
“That’s my only boast. I’m a human full of flaws, but being kind is my greatest strength.”
“Hehehe…”
Im Yeong-ok covered her mouth and laughed softly.
“Tell me. Was I that likable back then?”
“Yes.”
“So, was that why you didn’t talk to me for three months after that?”
“That’s… because Great Senior Brother doesn’t know the feelings of a young girl. Girls of that age tend to act coldly on the outside the more they like someone on the inside.”
"I see. I was so flustered back then, thinking Sa Mae hated me. I was also worried about being kicked out..."
"Kicked out? How could you even think that?"
"Well... I guess I was a coward back then. I was so happy that I could eat whatever I wanted and sleep comfortably. I was really happy. So I was always anxious about that happiness flying away."
Im Yeong-ok looked at him with a fresh gaze.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that?"
"I couldn't. I thought I'd really get kicked out if I said something like that. You know, 'speak of the devil.'"
"Did you really think so?"
"I did back then. Don't laugh. I was very serious about it back then."
"Hehe... I can't believe someone as optimistic and cheerful as Senior brother had that side to him."
"People usually have another side that they don't show to others. Even now, sometimes I don't understand why I was so anxious back then."
"That was really unnecessary worry."
"Yeah, but it didn't last long. After about two months, I stopped worrying about it."
"Why?"
A faint smile appeared on Jin San-wol's lips.
"Because I got to know what kind of person Master was."
"So you thought Father would never kick Senior brother out."
"Yeah. From then on, I slept well at night and ate even more."
"Senior brother was such a glutton back then. I had never seen anyone eat so much. I never even imagined that there would be someone who eats five or six meals a day."
"I really didn't know when I was full back then. I would have eaten twice as much if Sa Mae hadn't given me those looks."
"That wasn't a glare, it was curiosity. I was curious about what was inside Senior brother's stomach."
"I remember when Sa Mae first spoke to me."
"I remember too."
"Do you know what Sa Mae said first?"
"You glutton!"
"That's right. I was secretly eating from the rice pot in the kitchen because I was so hungry in the middle of the night, and suddenly Sa Mae appeared and shouted that."
"Hehe... Senior brother's appearance, holding the rice pot and eating like crazy, was really something. When I suddenly appeared and shouted like that, you were so surprised that you just stared at me blankly with your mouth full of food. It was so funny and cute..."
"Funny, I understand, but cute...?"
"Senior brother was really cute back then."
"That's terrible. That you thought that was cute... Anyway, I couldn't eat for three or four days after that. But I was really happy that Sa Mae spoke to me."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Im Yeong-ok looked at Jin San-wol and smiled brightly.
"I was happy to be able to get along with Senior brother too."
"Those were really good times."
"Yes."
"We'll be able to have those times again soon."
Im Yeong-ok stared at Jin San-wol.
"Does Senior brother really think so?"
Jin San-wol nodded with a serious expression.
"Of course."
Im Yeong-ok stared intently into Jin San-wol's eyes for a while, then buried her face in his arms. Jin San-wol gently stroked her hair as she leaned halfway into his embrace. She nestled quietly in his arms like a little bird. Her expression at that time looked so peaceful and happy.
Jin San-wol lowered his head and whispered softly in her ear.
"Someday, when our child is born... If it's a son, let's name him Eok-hong."
Im Yeong-ok murmured in a small voice, her face buried in his arms.
"Eok-hong... You took it from Father."
"Yeah."
Eok-hong meant 'remember Im Jang-hong'.
Im Yeong-ok turned her face halfway and looked up at him, then asked.
"What if it's a daughter?"
"Mo-ok."
"Mo-ok? Does that mean to resemble jade?"
"It means to resemble you."
Im Yeong-ok's eyes sparkled particularly brightly.
She lowered her head again and buried her face deep in Jin San-wol's arms.
"Will that day really come?"
"It will."
Jin San-wol hugged her shoulders tightly.
"We have to make it come."
His last words sounded more like a pledge to himself than to her.
The bleak wind of late autumn blew again.
The sound of insects chirping, not sleeping late into the night, could also be heard from somewhere.
October 3rd.
It was the last night of autumn, when the moonlight was particularly pale.