'What Even the Physician Couldn't Notice?'
Ryeon's family simply pitied her for the seasickness, while the visiting physician kept tilting his head in puzzlement before concluding it might be shock from the unfamiliar place. He soothed her with words of comfort, administered acupuncture known to help with nausea, and left.
"This won't do..."
Sticking close to Danmok Ryeon had dulled everyone's perception of him, she realized. Otherwise, how could he have stayed hidden from the eyes of the world's Danmok Cheon-gi all this time?
Hwaryun, who had experienced the world's incomprehensible mysteries and the truths beyond his knowledge, chose not to delve into the cause of this mystical phenomenon. Instead, he exploited it to remain by her side.
'But Danmok Cheon-gi seemed to know something.'
He alone appeared to have noticed upon seeing her condition. Self-reproach for failing to prepare gnawed at him as he sighed, finally issuing an order to end the gathering with assurances that she would recover soon before stepping out of the cabin.
'What the hell is it? Why does this happen? More importantly, she said she'd tell me if it hurt, but again, again, again!'
Hwaryun dragged a hand down his face and let out a deep sigh. Swallowing blood with practiced ease, cleverly concealing her pallor to avoid worrying others... He understood why Ryeon did it. The physician wouldn't notice anyway, and with the certainty and experience that it would pass with time, she didn't want to cause needless concern.
But.
"At this rate... I can't even..."
Hwaryun grumbled on as he tucked Danmok Ryeon's hand under the blanket. A displeased expression flickered briefly across the still young and boyish face before fading.
* * *
As the boat arrived in Yangju, people bid farewell to the Danmok family with teary eyes and gusts of wind. They would have been held at the dock for ages if they hadn't moved quickly.
Early spring in Namjikrye Province's Yangju was colder than Hangzhou, but Ryeon looked far more vibrant and healthy than she had aboard the boat. Only the tip of her nose and cheeks flushed red from the chill wind, her pale face blooming with a bright smile that made her seem lively.
Ryeon, bundling her younger brother Danmok Bi tightly in his fur-lined robe, showed no sign of feeling the cold despite the brisk early spring breeze.
"Hwaryun, are you cold? Come here."
"I'm not cold."
Hwaryun said so while pressing close behind her, as if dodging her touch.
"But you're really okay now, right?"
His whispered question came in a voice too grave for a child.
Ryeon nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Totally fine!"
"Because you loaded up on jewels?"
"Yep!"
The moment they disembarked from the canal boat, Ryeon swept through a nearby jewelry shop. With enthusiastic support from Danmok Cheon-gi and Danmok Hyeon-yo, she didn't just buy for Danmok Bi but for everyone—Danmok Wan, Seo Geuk-rim, and Mae Sin-yu whom they'd brought along, plus gifts for the branch family children and relatives waiting at home.
Picking quality items from a sudden visit to a small shop was usually tough, but for Ryeon, it was simple. If a gem could hold a lot of Yeong-gi when she picked it up, it was a good one!
She infused a bit of Yeong-gi into each purchased gem, and strolling slowly through bustling Yangju while purifying the streets here and there had gradually stabilized her fluctuating energy.
"You like jade that much?"
Hwaryun asked in a somewhat cautious tone.
Ryeon answered earnestly.
"I like all gems. Love them, really."
'They take responsibility for my Yeong-gi.'
"Hm."
"When my Hwaryun makes it big later, will he buy his big sis some jewelry too~?"
Ryeon teased with a mischievous grin.
Hwaryun gazed at her face steadily before shrugging.
"If sis accepts it later."
"Of course I'd accept! What kinda talk is that?"
"Who knows. Anyway, sis, what's written on that fan or something?"
Hwaryun abruptly changed the subject. She was holding a fan despite the lingering chill in the air.
"No, it's just..."
"You're really okay, right? Not feverish and hot or anything?"
"It's really not that. You okay? First time this far out. Hard to find if you get lost here. Gotta hold sis's hand tight."
"...Sigh."
Ryeon squeezed his hand playfully with a grin, but Hwaryun didn't pull away and flee as usual. Instead, he watched her with deeper eyes.
"Hwaryun? Even if I look like this, I'm the eldest grandchild of the Danmok family. No way I'd be that sickly just from a canal boat!"
Hwaryun's lips twitched as if he had much to say, then he gave up, fleeing as always to sidle up to Danmok Bi.
Soon, the vast estate of the Namgung family came into view. The ancient, history-laden compound could almost pass for a palace if you weren't careful.
And lined up before its opulent gates were people awaiting them: Namgung family head Namgung Hwan, his son Namgung Gyeong-hae, and their retainers.
Yet surrounding them in formation was a group whose identity was impossible to pin down.
If the Danmok side had seen them for the first time, they might have been greatly startled, but the unfamiliar faces all wore expressions of deep familiarity.
The very faces, the very gazes they had seen on the boat to Danmok Cheon-gi not long ago. Long-cherished feelings—gratitude and devotion, the emotion of witnessing a fallen giant rise again—mingled with nostalgia, regret, and guilt, all shining radiantly.
Faces of those who remembered who had lifted the shadow of blood that engulfed the Central Plains during the Dongjeong Blood Incident decades ago.
Clop. As the horse carrying Danmok Cheon-gi took a single step forward.
A man from the surrounding crowd bellowed in a resounding voice.
"All—rise!"
The noise of everyone straightening up echoed loudly. At first chaotic and scattered as feet planted firmly and postures aligned, it soon fell completely silent.
When it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, all cupped hands and bowed in salute.
Snap! Snap-snap-snap!
The sounds of the salute rippled like waves, and as the Namgung family joined in unison, the man shouted again.
"Mwol-la!"
With that, all slammed palm to fist anew, stomped their feet in unison, and roared.
"Haeng-hyeop!"
Even Namgung family head Namgung Hwan joined the cry, the unified voices shaking heaven and earth.
Danmok Cheon-gi silently watched them for a long moment. It felt as if he'd returned decades ago, to the time he cleaved through seas of blood and fire at the vanguard, saving people alongside his living son. And finally, to the last moment when all wars ended...
As the cries faded into silence once more, Danmok Cheon-gi cupped his own hands in salute and mouthed softly.
"...Mwol... la... Haeng-hyeop."
A hoarse, sunken voice emerged from his slightly parched throat, and with it, cheers erupted once more, filling the street.
"Waaaaah!"
"Wumwolgeom! Wumwolgeom!"
Mwol-la Haeng-hyeop. An ancient slogan. The White Dao Alliance originally flew the banner of "Haeng-hyeop Jang-ui."
But when the White Dao Alliance, Black Heaven Alliance, and Machun-gyo formed the Murim Alliance against Blood Valley, "Mwol-la"—to eradicate Blood Valley—preceded upholding justice through heroism over "Haeng-hyeop" or "Jang-ui."
And now that Danmok Cheon-gi had crushed Blood Valley, the Murim Alliance had reverted to "Haeng-hyeop Jang-ui," consigning "Mwol-la Haeng-hyeop" to history's shadows long ago.
Everyone had forgotten it—even Danmok Cheon-gi himself thought so.
Yet great deeds leave great traces; noble sacrifices are never forgotten. Evil may once shine brilliantly but fades without mourners, while good seems fleeting yet endures eternally. Even if it appears extinguished or depleted, it's not. Like embers reignited by wind, a small spark makes all cry it out again.
That they remember your grace. Never forgotten, not for a moment. That they wanted to show what you achieved, what you protected decades ago.
As they passed through and entered the Namgung estate, Ryeon whispered quietly.
"Grandfather... came out."
"What?"
Amid the cheers, Danmok Cheon-gi didn't miss his granddaughter's faint whisper.
His eyes moist, he turned to Ryeon.
She met his gaze steadily and said.
"It's not because Grandfather regained his lost power. That's not why they came."
"..."
"It's because Grandfather came out of the estate. On the boat, now... that's why they're gathered."