#153. Black Flame Dragon in Chaos (3)
Hong Saryeon let out a long sigh as she slipped out of the banquet hall. Her jaw ached from all the laughter inside. As she tried to recall the last time she'd laughed like this, she quickly realized it was a pointless exercise.
Ever since she'd shouldered the massive burden of Tae-eul Gate, it felt like she was constantly walking a knife's edge.
'It was never something a vessel like me could carry in the first place.'
Yet she had no choice but to bear it, knowing full well that the moment she dropped it, everyone would plunge into suffering.
"Pfft…."
Suddenly, she remembered her senior brother from the banquet, who'd shown up late and pummeled Geum Pyo mercilessly. When she'd asked what was going on, he'd spouted some nonsense about "establishing Tae-eul Gate's traditions." Yeah, right. Since when did Tae-eul Gate have any traditions?
She chuckled to herself, but then felt a pang of guilt toward her senior brother. She knew her shoulders felt lighter, her laughter more hearty, only because he'd taken her burden upon himself.
"…What a mess I am."
Instead of helping the man who'd shouldered her load, here she was, just relieved. Even she could see how pathetic that was.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?"
She turned at the familiar voice. A man in black robes embroidered with silver thread approached.
Saryeon turned away without a word.
"Something bothering you?"
"…."
This was how he was. Bearing the heaviest load, enduring the greatest pain, yet always checking on those around him.
"If something's hard, just tell me."
"…."
Even though he was the one shedding the most blood….
"Nothing like that…."
"You rascal."
His rough hand rose to her head, messing up her carefully styled hair.
She'd told him a thousand times she hated having her hair touched. But the calluses on his hand—rough like sweeping branches, grinding stones—stifled her complaints. She loved that coarse, solid feel. It was too comforting.
She didn't swat his hand away or dodge.
"Saryeon, you always worry about the others and forget to look after yourself."
Who was he to say that?
"I'll try to take better care, but this senior brother of yours just isn't reliable enough. So if you need anything, speak up first."
"…."
Then who's taking care of you, senior brother?
It was a question burning inside her, but she couldn't voice it. She knew his answer all too well.
"I'm always sorry for not being dependable."
And that answer would tear at her heart.
"Sniff… sniff…."
Why did she always end up crying in moments like this? She hadn't shed a tear in front of her father since growing up, yet here she was, bawling before her senior brother time and again.
"Wha—whoa? C-crying? Ah, crap! Sorry. You told me not to touch your hair. My bad. Forgot."
And why did this idiot senior brother never understand why she cried?
No matter how much time passed, she couldn't fathom it.
"There, there. See? Back to normal. That good?"
He ruffled it again. The more he tried to fix it, the messier it got—and the more her pent-up emotions settled.
"…Stop it."
"Just a sec, almost…."
"I said stop!"
"…Ah, sorry."
The senior brother who bared his teeth fearlessly before absolute masters tensed up at her shout and stepped back.
"Hoo…."
"You're not mad, right?"
"I'm not mad."
"Your voice sounds mad?"
"Ugh, damn it!"
As she raised her fist, he flailed his arms and legs to shield his face like a scared kid. His ridiculous pose made her burst out laughing despite herself.
"Pfft, geez."
Just like that, she forgot all her weight and laughed like a child again.
"Don't worry too much. Everything'll work out."
"…."
What exactly would work out? Saryeon didn't fully grasp what Jin Sowoon envisioned.
"What future do you want, senior brother?"
She needed to know his vision to align herself with it.
"The future I want…."
Jin Sowoon gazed at the pitch-black Dongting Lake without answering.
"In my eyes, this dark lake looks just like the world."
"…."
"And I hope one of those bright lights shining on it is Tae-eul Gate."
He spoke with eyes that seemed to trace back through ancient years.
"That's all I want."
His words were elusive, hard to pin down. But seeing the depth in his sunken gaze, Saryeon couldn't press further.
Whatever he desired, she'd give her all to make it happen. That was all she could think.
The fake Demonic Cult incident that rocked Akyang had all factions and businesses tied to Jeomcheong holding their breath.
Starting with Yujangmun, related sects faced blanket investigations in Akyang. Those who'd ruled like mountain tigers were now bowing their heads preemptively, fearing any pretext.
Cheongsungpa was no exception—and they were in a real bind with these unwelcome visitors.
"Just days ago, you were talking about uniting to defend Akyang!"
"Naesung Military Hall and Hongjukbang have already fallen to the Black Path's attacks."
"They won't stop here. Not until they've seized all of Akyang."
They were scions of nearby orthodox sects, supposedly his friends.
If they'd stayed mere nobles, he wouldn't have let them into Cheongsungpa.
'I thought they were big shots since they're academy students….'
The Cheongsungpa sect leader shot a sharp glare at his guardian hall leader.
They were Murim Academy students, but most had no ties to Jeongdohoe or the Twelve Peaks of Baekdohoe. Considering their future rise in the Murim Alliance, listening was wise.
But with their own sect on the brink, their prospects looked dim too.
"We're already formulating countermeasures. Return to your sects and stand by."
"Our sects are moments from falling to the Black Path's blades. Please help us."
He knew. Half of Akyang would likely fall into Black Path hands over this.
But with suspicions heavy on Jeomcheong, they had no justification to act.
Jeomcheong was surely playing the long game. Ignoring them now, while Black Path rampaged and public outrage built, to reclaim Akyang later.
"I told you, we're handling it. Your interference is only making things harder!"
At the sect leader's eviction order, Jang Ujae and the academy students—who'd been venting furiously—were all but chased out.
"Sniff… what do we do now…."
Jang Ujae, Yujangmun's heir in Akyang, despaired at his sect's precarious future.
"Sorry to show you this mess…."
The academy students, invited by Jang Ujae during the break, could only look at him with pity.
Like him, they'd left their sects' foundations to join the academy. They had no way to help Yujangmun either.
"Why not seek help elsewhere?"
"Didn't you see? Every place we went refused us."
"I heard part of Jeongdohoe is meeting in Akyang right now."
"Jeongdohoe?"
"Yeah. Not just students—Alliance adults too. We should ask them."
"Where?!"
Jang Ujae shot up from the floor like he'd grasped a rotten lifeline.
"What were you thinking about?"
Ilgak snapped to at the voice behind him.
"…."
A massive ship gleamed brightest at Dongting Lake's center. He'd been staring at the man and woman on its railing. He turned away.
"You've arrived, monk."
Hye-seong ignored the greeting, took Ilgak's spot, and gazed at the ship. He nodded knowingly.
"Lost in worldly vexations."
"…."
Ilgak hung his head in shame at Hye-seong's words.
"That kid beat you? Was it such a shock?"
Hye-seong shook his head at Ilgak's grimace.
"Your training is lacking."
"…It's not about the defeat."
"Then what?"
"I'm questioning the origin of existence."
"Tch. I thought mastering the Muscle Reversion Scripture and passing the debate meant enlightenment…."
Ilgak, who'd sunk into silence, asked lowly.
"Monk. Did I truly awaken?"
"Doesn't your manifested Golden Bell Force prove it?"
"Monk. From my studies, Golden Bell Force, Taiji Force, and Three Pure Ones Force can only be wielded by those who've endured deep training, patience, meditation, reflection, and life's endgame agonies."
"Correct. It's no power for just anyone."
Ilgak eyed the man on the ship again.
"What he manifested was clearly Jade Pure Heavenly Star Force. How is that possible?"
"…."
Ilgak still hadn't shaken the shock of Jin Sowoon's Jade Pure Heavenly Star Force from their spar. No—since then, he'd drowned in deep affliction.
"He's vulgar, cowardly, dishonest, a smooth liar. He chooses any means for his ends. So how can such a man wield Jade Pure Heavenly Star Force? Is he truly a villain?"
"…Tsk tsk. Confused by mere phenomena before your eyes."
Hye-seong wagged his head.
"Demons sometimes don saints' guise. Poison always mixes with fragrant wine. Why be deluded by dazzling illusions?"
"…."
Ilgak was bewildered. Were all Jin Sowoon's past actions just a villain in disguise, as Hye-seong said?
Then, conversely, could his own deeds be called saintly in form?
"Cast off delusions. The fifty thousand delusions breed vexations. Never forget—that's the first step of practice."
The unassailable Buddhist truth. The golden rule he'd never doubted.
Ilgak forced his sealed lips open.
"…I'll keep it in mind."
Hye-seong nodded briefly.
"Word from the council leader."
"…Jeongdohoe leader?"
He knew indirectly of Akyang's events. With this mess hurting Jeomcheong, why contact them amid cleanup?
"Yes. He wants us to investigate the Sichuan incident."
"…External mission?"
"Indeed."
"…But we must return to the academy soon."
He swallowed the rest: 'Academy students need representative approval for external activities during term.' He knew it'd vex Hye-seong.
"That's why. Before the academy rep can control it."
"…."
The intent was obvious.
"Blatantly obvious move."
Aimed at Jin Sowoon, no doubt.
"Deliberately factoring in Akyang. To weaken his power and extract something."
"This could be our chance to enter Akyang. Jeomcheong might yield it now."
"…."
Ilgak had no retort. He pressed his palms together in prayer.
"Amitabha."
"Yes, yes. Without Buddha's grace, impossible."
Hye-seong grinned triumphantly. For a flash, his face seemed demonic to Ilgak, who desperately shook off the delusion.
'Amitabha.'