The Weight of Unspoken Memories
Cheonjon Ak Biryang spoke. “Namgung Suryeon…?”
“That’s right. Do I look a little different now?”
“What’s a girl who hasn’t even come of age doing talking like some old crone?”
“Wh-what did you just say?!”
Namgung Suryeon wiped the haughty expression from her face and snorted. Being called an old crone? She had to admit, the boy had a talent for twisting words to cut deep—especially when he chose to attack someone’s manner of speech.
“How could you say something so cruel! Don’t you think that’s going too far?!”
“Let me put it another way. A stranger suddenly appears in the guest chamber where I’m resting, sword at his waist. How exactly am I supposed to see you?”
“I-I just wanted to stop by, that’s all!”
“Then you should state your business first. Why are you striking that arrogant pose like some thug who only knows how to lean on his clan’s backing?”
“Eeeek!!”
Baekri Hyeong had spoken offhandedly, yet Namgung Suryeon reacted as though struck by lightning. She seemed less like the daughter of a great house and more like a pure child untouched by the world’s stains. In truth, there was only one reason Baekri Hyeong had spoken so roughly: the relationship between the Baekri Clan and the Namgung Clan was at its worst. Moreover, the moment he heard the name Namgung Suryeon, unpleasant memories surfaced.
In his previous life, during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, he had suffered a crushing defeat at her hands in a sparring match. He hadn’t recognized her face at first, perhaps because of the trauma. Now that he saw her clearly, those memories came flooding back. The sight of her calmly receiving every one of his sword techniques while maintaining that lofty expression had been nothing short of genius. Yet not long after ascending to the new generation’s pinnacle, she had been ambushed and killed. The culprit had been so meticulous that no one could be named at the time. Only later did it become clear that the Heavenly Demon Cult had already been moving in the shadows of the murim. In other words, their encounter with the cult in this life was not far off.
Separately from all that, teasing Namgung Suryeon was genuinely entertaining. He hadn’t known whether she had possessed this personality in his past life, but if this was who she was, there was no reason they couldn’t become close. Just because the clans were at odds didn’t mean their children had to inherit that hatred.
“So, what’s your reason for visiting?”
“Hmph! As if I’d tell you!”
“Very well. Please go back inside, then, auntie.”
“A-auntie?”
“What should I call you, then? Grandmother?”
“Hey!!”
Unable to endure the humiliation any longer, Namgung Suryeon shouted with inner energy laced into her voice. Even so, she still glanced around warily afterward—an unpredictable girl indeed.
“You little—! How old are you anyway?! I’m fourteen!”
“And I’m eleven. Must be nice being so much older, auntie.”
“Aaaagh!!”
Namgung Suryeon’s mind was consumed by the urge to stomp Baekri Hyeong into the ground right then and there. Yet she knew that causing a scene in the guest chamber would only harm herself, so she exercised the utmost restraint. Could he possibly be needling her while calculating even this far ahead? Her father’s words had been entirely correct. He had said the children of the Baekri Clan would never harbor good feelings toward them. Only now did she begin to understand her father’s heart. This was the first time in her life she had been verbally beaten down.
“I can’t take this anymore! You and I are sparring right now!”
“Me? Why? Is beating up children your hobby?”
“Use proper speech! I’m your senior!”
“Yes, yes, senior sister. How may I assist you? Ah, but sparring is impossible. As you can see, I’m far too young to even hold a sword properly.”
“..!”
Namgung Suryeon froze in place as though struck by lightning. Had she misspoken? She remained motionless for a long while until Baekri Hyeong, unable to bear the silence, spoke first.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Why are you just standing there?”
“You really don’t care about the sword at all, do you?”
“..!”
“Forget it. I don’t want to speak with someone like you anymore. Sorry for disturbing your rest. See you next time.”
With a sharp turn, Namgung Suryeon walked out of the guest chamber without a trace of lingering attachment. Baekri Hyeong frowned, feeling thoroughly unpleasant. She had said he didn’t care about the sword? Him? Anything else he could accept, but not that. Realizing his mistake, he hurried after her.
“Hey, auntie.”
“I’m not an auntie—”
“I’ll accept the spar. When do you want to do it?”
“Huh?”
Namgung Suryeon blinked in confusion. The boy who had seemed completely uninterested in fighting moments ago was now sincerely requesting a match. She had thought he was all talk, but apparently not. If her final words had moved him, then Namgung Suryeon had only one choice.
“Fine. How about this evening?”
“I’ll inform my father and send word. Also, please forgive my earlier rudeness.”
“Huh? No, it’s fine. Just treat me normally.”
When Baekri Hyeong suddenly changed his attitude and bowed politely, Namgung Suryeon waved her hand dismissively. They had already exchanged harsh words upon first meeting; there was no need for formal speech now. Yet upon hearing her words, Baekri Hyeong grinned mischievously.
“Understood, auntie.”
“Stop calling me auntie!”
With the parting threat that she would beat him senseless if he called her that one more time, Namgung Suryeon stormed out of the guest chamber, fuming. Left alone, Baekri Hyeong thought to himself that the thread of hatred between the Namgung and Baekri Clans might finally be severed in his generation. It would be best if the grudges of the previous generation were resolved by that generation. He was not ignorant of the sins Namgung Yeong and Namgung Ak had committed. But for children to inherit their parents’ crimes was far too cruel. At the very least, if such a righteous woman became the Namgung Clan’s eldest daughter and eventually led them, he had no desire to remain enemies.
Meanwhile, on the mountain behind the Murim Alliance Headquarters, Baekri Hyeok climbed with a grave expression. It had been a long time since he last ascended this peak, yet the terrain had hardly changed. They said even mountains and rivers transformed in ten years, but strangely, this mountain alone remained untouched. The reason was something only Baekri Hyeok in this world knew.
After climbing to a certain height, Baekri Hyeok carefully surveyed his surroundings. Then he gathered inner energy into his hand and grasped the sky, tearing away the invisible barrier that shrouded it as though ripping paper. Beyond the tear appeared a desolate rocky mountain, the complete opposite of the vibrant scenery outside. With a hardened expression, Baekri Hyeok stepped inside. At the same time, the sky he had torn returned to its original state, and the mountain behind the Murim Alliance continued under its usual clear, sunny sky.
Reaching the summit of the rocky mountain, Baekri Hyeok saw an old man sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. He lowered his head in greeting.
“A junior of the murim pays his respects to Cheonjon Ak Biryang.”
“Sword brat, is it? It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I was late in coming to see you.”
“Come and sit.”
The old man’s true identity was Ak Biryang, one of the Five Sovereigns of Murim known as the Heavenly Sovereign. He had erected a formation on the mountain behind the Murim Alliance without anyone’s knowledge and spent his days in meditation. Among the current murim practitioners, Baekri Hyeok was the only one who knew Ak Biryang’s whereabouts. More precisely, only those at the level of the Five Sovereigns possessed the qualifications to come here. The other sovereigns were too busy carving out their own paths to visit. Who would come to see an old man with little time left? In the end, Baekri Hyeok was the last person to visit this place.
“How much time has passed outside?”
“It has been roughly… twenty years since I last saw you.”
“Heh… Time has already flown by that much.”
“How goes the task you were working on? Can you see its end?”
“I cannot. It remains far away, and I cannot draw closer. It seems I will ascend to the heavens without ever reaching it.”
Baekri Hyeok bit his lip at Ak Biryang’s resigned words. In truth, he had climbed the mountain fearing the worst—that the Heavenly Sovereign had already passed. Fortunately, the man was still alive, yet after twenty years, Ak Biryang had reached a state where he had abandoned everything in life. He would likely achieve Uwha-deungseon soon. The thought that he would depart without attaining the realm he had pursued his entire life was unbearable to Baekri Hyeok.
“Hyeok-ah.”
“Yes.”
“I can see it a little now. An indescribable, massive darkness… swallowing the murim whole.”
“…”
“And I will not be there when it happens. It seems my remaining lifespan is not very long after all.”
Baekri Hyeok wanted to shout that it wasn’t true, but no words came out, overwhelmed by emotion. If he opened his mouth now, tears would spill disgracefully.
“Don’t concern yourself with an old man like me. Live your own life.”
“Elder..!”
“Go down now. Meeting someone after so long is tiring.”
“…I will obey the Heavenly Sovereign’s words.”
Baekri Hyeok gritted his teeth and rose at the dismissal. He had to respect the old man’s final will. Yet there was one thing he still wished to say.
“Please achieve what you desire, Master.”
“Heh heh heh… Even if I told you not to call me that.”
Ak Biryang chuckled at being addressed as master. It had been so long since he last heard the word, and now he was hearing it again. Of all times, he had to reunite with his disappointing disciple in his final years.
“Live long. But not too long.”
“Yes.”
“It was good to see you after so long. Now go, truly.”
“Farewell.”
Baekri Hyeok offered his final bow and descended the mountain. He would never climb this peak again. He did not wish to confront his master’s death.