Episode 1361. After all, you have a big heart. (1)
“This way.”
Yugong spoke in a slightly hoarse voice and looked back. And then, without realizing it, I bit my lip.
He only said, ‘This way.’ He didn’t even gesture to indicate the direction. However, Hu Jiaming was naturally turning in the right direction.
It was as if he had already completely interpreted the sign before he even spoke.
Yu Gong found this situation indescribably uncomfortable.
It is not because I am afraid that Ho Ji-myeong understands the sign that only Haenam can understand.
Even if it is based on Haenam’s swordsmanship, it is only a matter of interpretation. If you watch it repeatedly, it will not be that difficult to understand specific sword marks and the direction they indicate.
The reason Yugong feels uncomfortable is because his value is decreasing. If Hu Jiaming were able to fully interpret Haenam’s sign, he would no longer be of any use.
So how will the nickname come out at that time?
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
Hearing Hu Jiaming’s words, Yugong flinched and looked back. He still had an expressionless expression, so it wasn’t easy to figure out what he was thinking.
“Are you worried that it might end up being discarded?”
Hu Jiaming’s words struck Yugong to the core.
“There is no need to think like that. “It is the political faction, not the religious faction, that uses people and throws them away when they become useless.”
Yu Gong flinched and looked at Hu Jiaming again. Even though he never said it out loud, Hu Jiaming was able to completely see into his inner thoughts.
“Sapa doesn’t abandon people.”
“⋯⋯You guys?”
“It’s obvious. You may have a distinction between useful people and useless people, but in Safa there is no such distinction. “More than half of it is trash anyway.”
Yugong was silent. It was because I didn’t know how to react.
“So, even if it is trash, there is no reason to discard it as long as you show some effort. Even if it means being a traitor to the political faction.”
“…Should I say thank you?”
As Yu Gong asked, a strange smile crossed Hu Jiaming’s lips.
“That’s a strange reaction.”
“⋯⋯.”
“The one who chose betrayal was none other than you. “No one forced it.”
Yugong bit his lip.
“If you want something, all you have to do is think of a way to get it. “If you consider all the other cumbersome things, you end up losing everything.”
Hu Jiamyeong gestured forward.
“So stop thinking about unnecessary things and focus on what you have to do. “It is I, not you, who determines your usefulness.”
“⋯⋯Okay.”
It was the moment when Yugong sighed and was about to accelerate again.
“and.”
“⋯⋯Yes?”
Paaaaat!
The Jang-gong with the nickname passed by grazed Yu-gong’s cheek. The knife-sharp tension left a long tear on his cheek.
Patter.
Red blood ran down my cheek and dripped from the tip of my chin.
“If you’re going to do it, you have to do it right. If you find out something, don’t hide it, report it. For example, it seems like they have decided on a new destination as their direction is slightly twisted. “Seeing as the interval between markings is closer than before, it seems like the speed of movement has slowed down a bit.”
“⋯⋯.”
“You just have to report what you find out. “The interpretation is mine.”
Yugong closed his eyes tightly.
“⋯⋯Okay.”
“Speed up.”
Yugong gritted his teeth and moved forward. A strange look of disdain and ridicule flashed across Hu Jiaming’s face when he saw this.
‘That’s not even funny.’
Yugong is a traitor with no excuse.
At first, he may have stepped forward to save others, but now he is steadily selling out his comrades in order to survive. And yet, they are acting as if they have the last conscience.
Even though it is meaningless to discuss the existence of conscience the moment one betrays the monk and sells out one’s comrades in the first place.
Hu Jiaming, who was looking at Yugong’s back, soon lost interest in him. Anyway, it’s just a hunting dog. There is no need to know that psychology.
‘The important thing is them.’
Although the enemies’ movements have changed subtly, they are still within the expected range. That means that they have not yet noticed that they are interpreting and following Haenam’s signs.
‘No, even if you know, it doesn’t matter.’
Since Jang Il-so has already started to move, the fate they must face has been decided. All Hu Jiamyeong has to do is to loosen Jang Ilso’s hand a little more.
Hu Jiaming, who instructed everyone to increase the speed, kicked the ground and moved forward.
❀ ❀ ❀
The old man, the village head of Hyeongga Village, looked at the setting sun. Hyeong-wook, who was watching the scene from the side, opened his mouth implicitly.
“I guess not today.”
At those words, the old man looked at Hyeongwook blankly. Hyeong-wook, realizing the meaning in those eyes, lowered his head.
“Now let’s slowly unpack again.”
“father. Not yet…”
“Do you still have regrets?”
Hyungwook bowed his head even deeper. Unlike his gestures that seemed to say he would follow, there was still a trace of lingering regret in his voice as he continued.
“It’s only been a few days yet. “You know that it wouldn’t be strange if it took a month instead of ten days to get here from Gangbuk, right?”
“That’s the story of idiots like us. “Is it possible that these strong people, who can cross rivers in a month and climb mountains if they want to, would take more than 10 days to get here?”
“⋯⋯When I heard it, they said that the Sapaeryeon bastards were controlling that river. So even if you cross that river…”
“Tsk tsk.”
The old man clicked his tongue before he could hear the rest. Hearing this, a deep sigh escaped Hyeongwook’s mouth.
“Why are you being so foolish?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Of course, I also have a grateful heart. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be alive right now, and the people in this village wouldn’t have been able to escape this misfortune. “How can I express my gratitude in words?”
Hyungwook nodded at those words. Isn’t it something that can never be repaid with anything?
“But son. “You can’t expect more than that.”
“⋯⋯.”
“It’s not because they are bad. They are truly great people. But people are like that.”
“They were different.”
The old man shook his head again at Hyungwook’s words.
“If an ordinary person sees a rabbit falling into a snake hole, the first thing they will do is help it.”
“⋯⋯.”
“But they don’t necessarily chase the rabbit to make sure it’s not injured and provide a way to make a living. “Isn’t that a very natural thing?”
“But…”
“To those people, people like us are just like rabbits. “If you see them in front of you, you can help them out of kindness, but there is no need to take the time to protect them or help them.”
“Father, they…”
“Why do you keep not understanding? Even if they aren’t bad. “That’s just the way the world is.”
“⋯⋯.”
“So let’s stop now. The village people are also unable to do their jobs properly due to unnecessary expectations. It is not easy to live with affection in a place where you may soon be leaving. Yes, that expectation could be poison to the village.”
Hyeong-wook looked at his father with complex feelings that were difficult to express.
His father served as the village chief of Hyeongga Village for decades. Before he was born, when he was young and didn’t know much about the world, and until now.
Therefore, your perspective on the world will be incomparably deeper.
However, even Hyeong-wook, who normally would have bowed his head and accepted, could not easily give in on this matter.
“I know what your father is talking about. And I know it makes sense.”
“⋯⋯.”
“But… Father. There was something really different about them. “I…”
A deep sigh escaped Hyungwook’s mouth. I still wanted to believe the people who said they would help the villagers move to Gangbuk.
“Please wait a little longer. There must be something.”
“hmm.”
The older man looked pitifully at his son.
There are times when everyone has expectations like that. A time when we feel envious while listening to the stories of heroes who save those in need.
When Hyeong-wook was young, he would tell him stories about legendary charlatans and tell him that he, too, should grow up to be just like him.
But the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment.
‘In the end, it’s poison…’
A story is just a story. If those people were really common… No, if there were at least a few of them, the world wouldn’t have been this rough.
But the old man could no longer open his mouth.
After giving up their expectations, all that remains for the people of this village are the days of living silently under the reign of the cruel evil-doers.
How easy would it be to tell people who are chasing a dream because they are suffering from reality that their dream is worthless?
So we had no choice but to wait for the villagers to finally give up and acknowledge reality.
The old man spoke in a sighing voice.
“okay. Let’s do that. But… that doesn’t mean we can just sit here indefinitely, so now…”
It was right then.
“Chief Cho! Hey Hyungwook!”
Suddenly, the door to the house burst open and a man hurriedly entered.
“What’s going on?”
“Did something happen?”
“They are here! “They!”
“You mean them?”
“No, that…”
The person who came inside was so shocked that he stuttered as if he couldn’t speak well and pounded his chest in frustration.
“Oh, isn’t it! “The one you’ve been waiting for!”
“wait? “I welcome those who come from Gangbuk.”
“okay! The ones who called them!”
Although the words came out in a twisted manner, Hyeong-wook immediately understood their meaning.
“Are you saying that the charlatans who visited back then have come back?”
“yes! yes!”
“Why them?”
“You’re in front now!”
“huh?”
As Hyungwook blinked, not knowing what was happening, the man raised his voice again as if he was frustrated.
“Now they are back! They’re looking for you up front! What are you doing? “Hurry up and go out!”
The man, unable to overcome the feeling of discomfort, grabbed Hyeongwook’s arm.
“They came?”
“That’s right!”
“Get out of the way!”
Hyeong-wook suddenly came to his senses, pushed the man away and ran away. As I ran to the village entrance, I saw some people.
“Ah…”
For a moment, I almost didn’t recognize it right away. Because his demeanor was so different from when I first saw him.
When I first saw him, he looked neat and heroic, but now he was extremely haggard. He looked like he had gone through an unimaginable battle.
But those eyes were no different from when I first saw them.
“Howdy.”
A slightly shorter man standing next to the tall man grinned and waved his hand.
“How have you been, uncle?”
“Women heroes!”
Hyeong-wook’s face lit up.
What my father said was wrong. They did not forget the village people. Isn’t that why you came back here?
“I’m sorry, but can I get some food?”
Hyeong-wook nodded frantically at those unexpected words.
“sure! Of course I have to give it to you! Eat inside. “I tell you to prepare right now!”
“really?”
“Of course. “Who saved your life, but would you care about things like grain?”
“That’s… a bit loud. Is that okay?”
“Of course!”
“It’s really a bit much.”
“Anything is okay.”
When Hyeong-wook answered again, the slightly smaller man Cheongmyeong looked back and said.
“It’s okay! “Everyone, come out and see us.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of warriors appeared from the forest behind.
Even if you count just the people at a glance, there were more than a hundred men approaching in a hurry. Hyungwook’s mouth opened without realizing it.
“⋯⋯Are you okay?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Wow. After all, you have a big heart. “I will eat well.”
Hyeong-wook couldn’t speak for a while. Cheong-myeong’s face felt so disgusting.
