Chapter 229
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Heart Demon
"Here it is."
Following the guidance of an unnamed female disciple, I arrived in front of Daoist Hyunjin's door.
The female disciple who had guided me quickly excused herself, saying she would head back.
Thanks to that, now alone, I stood before the door, took a small deep breath, and called out to Daoist Hyunjin.
"Daoist Hyunjin, are you inside? It's Goon Ja-seong."
—...Young Hero Goon?
I sensed a presence from within, and a reply came right away.
Soon, sounds of clattering came from beyond the door, and it cautiously creaked open.
Through the slightly ajar door, I saw Daoist Hyunjin, still wearing his bloodstained Daoist robes without having changed.
Seeing him like that, I gave a wry smile and asked,
"May I come in for a moment?"
"...Yes. Please, come in."
After a slight hesitation, I followed the permitting Daoist Hyunjin into the room.
The room inside was fairly neatly tidied.
The only thing out of place was a single chair awkwardly toppled on the floor.
It seemed the earlier clattering had been caused by that.
"Have a seat."
Noticing my gaze, Daoist Hyunjin righted the chair and offered me the seat across from him.
And so, we sat facing each other across a small round table.
First, I placed the Songmungum Sword, which I had roughly wiped of blood, on the table.
"Here, your sword, Daoist. You left it behind in your haste."
"Ah... Thank you."
Daoist Hyunjin gave a quiet word of thanks as he sheathed the sword.
"......"
"......"
After that, an awkward silence filled the room.
Daoist Hyunjin kept his head bowed, unable to meet my eyes, while I pondered where and how to begin.
After sorting my thoughts for a moment, just as I finally opened my mouth.
"So, then..."
"I'm sorry!"
A booming apology cut off my words.
Slightly startled, I blinked, and Daoist Hyunjin glanced at me before continuing.
"What happened just now... It was entirely my fault. Seeing that guy who looked so much like the tiger that killed my senior brother, I lost my reason without realizing it."
It was pretty much as I had expected.
Daoist Hyunjin's face was filled with guilt toward me.
But there was one peculiar thing.
Amid the guilt, I faintly sensed a hint of impatience.
Impatience... impatience?
Keeping a close eye on Daoist Hyunjin's reactions, I spoke up.
"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt or anything, so you don't need to feel that bad about it."
"...Thank you for saying that."
Daoist Hyunjin let out a deep sigh.
His complexion seemed a bit brighter, as if the guilt had eased somewhat.
But my words weren't over yet.
"However, there's a problem."
"...A problem?"
"Yes. It seems the elders aren't inclined to let your actions slide."
"Not let it slide...?"
To the anxious Daoist Hyunjin, I explained everything as it was.
"Elder Mujin and Elder Muyop are planning to put you in secluded meditation..."
"No!"
—Crash!
Daoist Hyunjin shot up from his seat, toppling the chair once more with a loud bang.
His contorted face showed shock and anger.
"Daoist Hyunjin."
"Secluded meditation? Absolutely not. That guy, that tiger bastard is nearby, and if I go into seclusion...!"
"You won't be able to avenge your senior brother?"
"......!"
Daoist Hyunjin flinched at my words.
His eyes darted about in momentary panic.
But only for a moment.
Soon, resolve filled his eyes, and his clenched fists trembled.
"...Yes. That's right. I must avenge him. I have to kill that tiger bastard who murdered Senior Brother Hyun-un and desecrated his corpse, to soothe his soul."
—Grit.
Just thinking of the scumbag made anger surge, as Daoist Hyunjin ground his teeth fiercely.
An extraordinary killing intent began to emanate from his body once more.
Narrowing my eyes at that, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Do you think that's possible? That tiger bastard isn't an easy opponent."
"Do you think I don't know that? If he were, Senior Brother Hyun-un wouldn't have died so pathetically."
Recalling Senior Brother Hyun-un's death again, the whites of Daoist Hyunjin's eyes turned red.
He squeezed his eyes shut, as if trying to control his overwhelming emotions with a deep breath, then continued.
"He's the enemy of Wudang, my mortal foe. I can't just weigh the pros and cons and run away when we can't live under the same sky. If need be, even at the cost of my life...!"
"Hah."
At his declaration of willingness to throw away his life for revenge, I let out a short scoff.
Seeing my reaction, Daoist Hyunjin's face hardened.
"...What's so funny?"
"No, I was just thinking Senior Brother Hyun-un would be pleased. His junior willing to give his life to avenge him—quite the sight of brotherly bond."
Both he and I knew I wasn't saying it was truly admirable.
Shrugging off the increasingly menacing aura from Daoist Hyunjin at my sarcasm,
"Even if you stake your life, you won't be able to kill that scumbag tiger—let's set that aside for now. But do you think Senior Brother Hyun-un would praise you for that kind of revenge?"
"...Young Hero Goon."
"No way. He was someone who sacrificed himself to protect his juniors. If his junior throws away his life trying to avenge him, he'd be furious instead."
My words struck home, and Daoist Hyunjin finally exploded.
"Then what am I supposed to do!? That bastard who killed Senior Brother Hyun-un and defiled his corpse is out there right now, and you're telling me to just ignore it and go into secluded meditation? Do you think I can do that?"
"......"
"Even now, my chest feels like it's going to burst from frustration. I want to rush out and tear him apart right this instant, but I can't, and it's driving me mad. Is this... is this wrong?"
This time, I closed my mouth.
It wasn't wrong.
At least, that's what I think.
If I were in Hyunjin's shoes, I would have sought revenge on my senior brother too.
In fact, I had.
Recalling the sight of my wet nurse and retainers slaughtered by the Dark Heaven Corps bastards, my fist unconsciously clenched.
The greatest revenge is oblivion, forgiveness is the best revenge.
Even that revenge is ultimately futile.
From my own experience, those were just empty platitudes.
How could I even think of forgiveness when my precious people had been unjustly sacrificed to someone's malice and injustice?
So, I don't deny revenge.
But there was one thing that must not be forgotten.
That was...
"Even if you take revenge, that frustration and anger won't disappear. The dead won't come back, no matter if you kill that scumbag tiger or not."
"Are you telling me to give up on revenge? To just forget?"
"Let me finish..."
"No! I'll take revenge! I'll kill that bastard who murdered my senior brother with my own hands!"
—I'll take revenge! I'll get revenge on the ones who did that to my dad!
"...Ah."
Hearing Daoist Hyunjin's shout, I widened my eyes.
It wasn't his words that shocked me.
It was the voice of someone from long ago who had said something similar.
Along with the last words I had said to that person upon hearing them.
...Hah, after racking my brain and agonizing over it without recall, it surfaces now.
Letting out a hollow laugh inwardly, I looked straight at the fuming Daoist Hyunjin and opened my mouth.
And I said it.
The words that the young me had spoken to the crying young Hwaryeon.
"Revenge is fine. If neither changes anything, revenge might feel a bit more refreshing."
"...Then."
"But you mustn't abandon your own life for revenge. You have to think about after the revenge. For the sake of the Daoist you cherished, and the people who cherish you."
"......!"
Hearing my words, Daoist Hyunjin looked as if he'd been struck on the back of the head.
—This is something I heard somewhere: if you're going to take revenge, make it perfect revenge.
—Sniff... Perfect... revenge? What's that?
—Living happily for the rest of your life after completing your revenge. For the sake of your father who loved you.
It was the story I told Hwaryeon after she had cried herself out and finally calmed down.
If you seek revenge, make it perfect revenge.
I didn't even know where I'd heard it, and it wasn't particularly profound.
Yet those words had shaken Hwaryeon's heart and made her let go of her obsession with revenge.
Now, what about Hyunjin?
I said nothing more and silently watched Daoist Hyunjin.
For a moment, he wore a dazed expression, then his face twisted and relaxed repeatedly.
Gripping his fists tightly with a complicated look amid the whirlwind of emotions, he finally let the tension drain from his body and sighed deeply.
"Haa..."
And as he tried to sit back down,
"Ugh!?"
—Crash!
He toppled backward.
"...It seems you forgot the chair was toppled."
"D-Did I...?"
Blushing with embarrassment, Daoist Hyunjin righted the chair and sat down.
Was it my imagination, or did his expression look much better than before?
After hesitating a bit, Daoist Hyunjin sighed once more, then spoke in a calmer tone.
"...Even if you tell me to think about after the revenge, I'm powerless. As you said, Young Hero Goon, even staking my life, the chances of killing that tiger bastard are infinitesimally low."
"I won't deny it."
That scumbag tiger's massive build was secondary; he had whiskers and claws tough enough to block sword qi and even sword strikes.
For Daoist Hyunjin, who couldn't even emit internal energy, let alone sword qi, he'd die without landing a single scratch.
At least he'd regained enough composure to make that judgment.
Honestly, I hadn't expected much, but once again, my words had succeeded in changing something within Daoist Hyunjin.
In that case, as the one responsible for that change, I should lend a hand in his perfect revenge.
I stood up from my seat.
"Daoist, would you follow me for a moment?"
"Pardon? Where to...?"
"You'll see when we get there."
With a slight smile as I replied, I led the puzzled Daoist Hyunjin out of the room.