Episode 982. This is what makes the world interesting. (2)
“Thank you for your hard work, Ryeonju.”
“Hmm.”
Jang Il-so, who was on the boat, smiled bitterly. Hu Jiaming, seeing that expression, asked with a slightly puzzled look.
“Was there a problem?”
“It’s a problem… well. I don’t know, pseudonym. “Should we call this a problem?”
“….”
“We decided to send the Black Dragon King and the war stopped, so we got everything we wanted.”
“Then why…”
“Hmm.”
Jang Il-so glanced back at Maehwado and shook his head.
“no.”
After cutting off his words, he immediately gave instructions with a sour expression on his face.
“Tell Surochae. “Please send them away gracefully and not disturb those who are leaving Maehwa Island.”
“Yes, Lord Ryeon.”
Ho Ga-myeong, who gave instructions to his subordinates, quietly looked at Jang Il-so.
“why?”
“…I know that I cannot dare to guess what you want to do. But…”
“Tsk tsk.” Why don’t you ask instead of spinning around? “What’s new?”
A slight suspicion appeared in Hu Jiaming’s eyes.
“It is true that the Black Dragon King is important. Because without him, the ditch would be out of control. “It would be fortunate if we could easily absorb them, but neither Hao Wen nor the Black Ghost will watch that in silence.”
“yes.”
“But… even so, wouldn’t it be too unfortunate to send them away like this? At least I could have done some damage. “They were stranded on Maehwa Island and under siege.”
“Hmm, that’s right. “That makes sense.”
“What if…”
Jang Il-so opened his mouth angrily.
“The reason is simple. “First of all, it is more beneficial for me to return safely to Gangbuk than for those guys to die like this.”
“….”
“Secondly….”
Jang Ilsoo chuckled and looked back at Hu Jiaming. Then, out of nowhere, he said something unexpected.
“What do you think of the Hwasan Sword Association?”
As soon as the words ‘Hwasan Sword Association’ came out of Jang Il-so’s mouth, Hu Jia-myeong’s complexion hardened.
‘What do you think?’
If you ask this question to someone who has observed every situation on Maehwa Island, isn’t the answer obvious?
“…It’s a monster.”
“yes.”
Jang Il-so quietly nodded.
“It makes me wonder if it was born from a human stomach. The inaction he showed before is still vivid in my memory, but after only three years…” The
Hwasan Sword Association defeated the Black Dragon King alone.
That means that the Hwasan Sword Association must now be recognized as one of the leading experts in the world.
There were many martial artists in the long history of Kangho, but was there anyone else who reached this level at such a young age?
If we limit it to the aspect of martial arts, it should be said that the Hwasan Sword Association is an entity that far exceeds the knowledge and common sense of household names.
“That’s why it’s dangerous. “No more.”
“Yes, it’s dangerous.”
Jang Il-so curled the corner of his mouth.
“But the reason the Hwasan Sword Association is dangerous is not because it is strong.”
Hu Jiaming did not immediately understand what he meant.
“…what do you mean by that?”
Jang Il-so slightly turned his head and caught a glimpse of the Cheongmyeong side of the Hwasan Sword Association.
“A strong person is just difficult to deal with, but not difficult. “If you can’t win alone, you two can fight, and if you can’t win alone, all three of you can fight.”
This is Safa’s way. Hu Jiaming nodded in agreement. Jang Il-so spoke slowly.
“He who is strong in arms is not strong. Those who know how to survive are strong. But the problem is…”
He trailed off for a moment, then his eyes narrowed.
“The point is that the Hwasan Sword Association knows how to survive.”
“…yes?”
Jang Il-so’s face had a vaguely ghostly look to it.
“A pseudonym.”
“Yes, Lord Ryeon.”
“Do you really think that the Hwasan Sword Association jumped into Plum Island without any countermeasures?”
“….”
“No. no. That can’t be possible. There is no way that a devil-like bastard with dozens of snakes in his stomach would just move impulsively without any countermeasures. “Even if it started on impulse, I would have finished calculating while running all the way here.”
“That…”
“There he is coming.”
Jang Il-so gestured toward the river. Hu Jiaming turned his gaze in that direction and immediately opened his eyes wide.
At a glance, more than a dozen ships were revealed.
“Is that…?”
“It must be a ship called by the Hwasan Sword Association. “To get out of Maehwa Island.”
“But didn’t you already give orders to Surochae to take over all ships in the vicinity?”
“yes. “But isn’t there someone who has the resources to save a ship like that even through all that obstruction?”
“…yes?”
Jang Il-so chuckled.
“The guy who clings to the political faction like a bat and has yet to show his face once.”
Hu Jiaming bit his lip.
“…Lim So-byeong.”
“okay. “It’s him.”
Jang Il-so laughed. But unlike him, the blood drained from Hu Jiaming’s face for an instant.
So, that guy called Hwasan Swordsmen arranged a ship through Green Forest King Lim So-byeong while rushing here with all his might to save Namgung? To get out of Maehwado Island safely?
“But the water bill….”
“There is no need to pay the water bill. “If you just sprinkle the right amount of boats, those guys can jump over a boat like they’re riding a plank.”
“….”
Cold sweat ran down Hu Jiaming’s back.
The people gathered at this Yangtze River are all warriors who have made a name for themselves throughout the world. But how many of these people would have realized that there were so many plans hidden behind this battle?
“Then?”
Hu Jiaming’s face turned pale as if he realized something.
“Lord Ryeon, did you enter Maehwa Island alone even though you guessed that Lim So-byeong was driving the boat?”
“yes. “Is there any reason not to do that?”
“Oh no….”
“It’s the same anyway. No matter how great he is, he can’t know exactly when the ship will arrive. “You can’t gamble with a ship that may or may not come.”
Hu Jiaming let out a long sigh as he watched the fleet approaching through the water.
The more you hear it, the more terrifying it becomes.
But what was even more strange was that Jang Il-so, who had barely escaped the danger of losing his head if he had been just one inch off, was somehow smiling with a cheerful face.
“Do you understand now? “Why do I just let them go?”
“Yes, Lord Ryeon.”
As long as they had a boat, they would have been able to get off the island even if they suffered some damage. If that had happened, the Black Dragon King would have naturally lost his life.
‘It’s clearly a loss on our side.’
In that case, it would be better to get the Black Dragon King back and let them go.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since I felt this way.”
“…Lord Ryeon.”
“Hmm.”
Jang Il-so once again took in Plum Blossom Island with his eyes with a subtle expression.
“A pseudonym.”
“yes.”
“Send me what you have prepared. Anyway, it looks just the way I wanted, so I guess I should give it a gift.”
“I will.”
Jang Il-so waved his hand as if he was annoyed and walked slowly. As he climbed onto the bow, wading through the blowing river wind, his eyes sank serenely. At the end of the gaze was a plum blossom island.
“In this world, if you gain something, you also lose something.”
His red lips quietly drew an arc.
“Do you know now what you lost?”
It doesn’t matter whether you know or not. Just because you know it doesn’t mean you can do anything about it.
* * *
“It’s coming quickly, that useless human!”
Cheongmyeong, who was on the railing, gritted his teeth as he saw the approaching fleet. If that idiot had arrived sooner, he could have ripped off that damn Jang Il-so.
“Tsk.”
Now I can see Maehwa Island, which is quite far away. The pirates who filled Maehwado Island just watched them get on the boat and escape.
With the Black Dragon King held hostage by Hwasan and even Jang Il-so speaking out, they probably had no choice.
At that time, a person approached Cheongmyeong.
“stamp.”
“hmm?”
As I turned my head, I saw Namgung Dowi walking unsteadily.
He walked precariously right in front of Cheongmyeong and took a long, deep breath. And he bowed his head deeply. It was not a bow, which is a military greeting, but a direct bow of the head.
This is a courtesy shown by Namgung Se and Namgung Dowi, a human being, not by Namgung Dowi, the owner of Soga.
“I really… thank you so much.”
“….”
Cheongmyeong stared at Nangong Daowi with an expressionless face.
Then the five swords that were a little away from him started whispering among themselves.
“Why is he doing that?”
“Leave it alone. How many times have you heard someone say thank you in your life? “You may have heard that it’s like shit.”
Those bastards?
Just as Cheongmyeong was about to open his eyes, Nangong Daowi raised his head.
“Thanks to the leader’s support, Namgung was able to carry on the name. How on earth should I repay this favor?…”
“Give me the favor later.”
“…yes?”
“The first thing you must not forget is resentment.”
Cheongmyeong slightly turned his gaze to the side. I saw the Black Dragon King lying unconscious.
“How about now? “There’s no need to keep a promise you made to Sapa, right?”
It means do you want to kill the Black Dragon King?
However, Namgung Dowi shook his head without any hesitation.
“no.”
“Hoo?”
Although he was still having a hard time, Nangong Daowi’s eyes did not waver at all.
“Killing the Black Dragon King is not Namgung’s revenge. I guess it’s just my anger. One day, I will proudly defeat the Black Dragon King with my own strength and honor the souls of those who died.”
Cheongmyeong nodded as if he was satisfied. And Namgung Do-wi added something that didn’t need to be added.
“Because my father would want that too.”
As soon as the story about Emperor Nangong came out, the ship became quiet for an instant.
Cheongmyeong nodded slightly and lightly tapped Nangong Daowi on the shoulder.
“okay. “I think so.”
It was at that moment that Namgung Dowi slightly bit his lip.
“Cheongmyeong!”
“huh?”
“A ship is approaching.”
“what?”
Cheongmyeong kicked off the deck and ran to the other side.
However, to their surprise, the boat coming toward them was a small boat with only one person on board. The same ship that Jang Il-so was on a little while ago.
“…what?”
Qingming frowned.
Fortunately or unfortunately, it was not Jang Il-so who was on that ship. This is someone who has been seen by Jang Il-so’s side a few times.
The moment the boat reached the nearest ship to Cheongmyeong, a loud voice was heard.
“Hwasan Sword Association!”
Instead of answering, Cheongmyeong narrowed his eyes.
“It is a gift from the Lord.”
A person on the boat grabbed a large object from the boat.
‘coffin?’
The moment Cheongmyeong’s eyes widened slightly, the large coffin flew into the boat.
chin!
Cheongmyeong accepted the coffin without saying a word.
Hu Jiaming, who was quietly glaring at him, turned the boat around without any hesitation, as if his business was over.
A strange silence fell over the ship.
After carefully putting down the coffin, Cheongmyeong looked at Namgung Dowi. Namgung Do-wi also slowly opened the coffin lid with trembling hands, as if he had guessed something.
And…
“Matriarch!”
“Hehehehehe! “Matriarch!”
“Aaaah!”
The moment the coffin was opened, all the inspectors of the Namgung family burst into tears.
Emperor Namgung.
Although his appearance was extremely gruesome, it was clearly his body in the coffin.
“father! father! “Hehehehe…”
Namgung Do-wi, who was clutching the body, sat down and sobbed.
I thought I was sinking motionless beneath this cold river. I was heartbroken at the thought of having to leave the Yangtze River without even being able to retrieve the body.
However, the body of Emperor Namgung was unexpectedly returned in a coffin.
Cheongmyeong, who was looking at the sobbing Namgung Dowi and Namgung’s relatives with dark eyes, turned his gaze. Toward the ship in the distance.
‘…Damn you.’
It’s hateful.
The day will never come when he understands Jang Il-so, because they will forever run parallel paths.
But…
“You do something human once in a while.”
Cheongmyeong, who spoke like he was chewing, turned his body around.
On the boat heading towards the land of Gangbuk, sad sobs continued for a long time.
