Episode 1534. What do you know? (4)
The sound of grasshoppers crying suddenly feels unfamiliar. Maybe it’s because this situation is unfamiliar.
The two looked at each other in silence for a while.
“…die.”
After a while, the silence was broken and Baekcheon’s voice came out calmly.
“Isn’t this something that anyone who holds a sword must be prepared for?”
What he expressed in an unwavering tone was a completely natural statement. However, Yunjong did not accept that theory as a correct theory.
“You know that’s not what I’m saying.”
Baekcheon’s calm gaze looked at Yunjong.
Eventually, Baekcheon realized something again. It is surprising that he has never talked about these deep-seated thoughts openly.
“hmm.”
A soft smile appeared on Baekcheon’s lips.
“Thank you for your concern, but there is nothing to be so blunt about. “I…”
At that moment, the plum blossom sword was pulled out from Yunjong’s scabbard like a flash sword. It was filled with a life force that was rarely shown.
Paaaaat!
The sword imbued with red energy reached Baekcheon’s neck at once. Baekcheon, who was surprised, quickly swung his sword and powerfully blocked Yunjong’s attack.
Kagang!
The moment the sword and sword collided, Baekcheon’s body was pushed backwards.
“what…!”
However, without any time to show his anger at the sudden surprise attack, Yunjong’s sword was aimed at Baekcheon one after another.
Occupying all directions at once. Baekcheon felt the pressure of a huge mountain bearing down on him.
Paralarak!
The tip of Baekcheon’s sword quickly scattered dozens of plum blossom sword energy. The red petals that bloomed like clouds blocked the space between Yoonjong and Baekcheon like a wall.
Coo!
Then Yoonjong stepped forward without delay. He twisted his waist and thrust his sword horizontally in one motion.
Whiiiiing!
With a strong sound, hundreds of plum blossom leaves were swept away by the black energy. Like a plum blossom that cannot resist an untimely typhoon.
thud!
Yunjong quickly threw himself into the opened space and struck Baekcheon’s head with his sword.
Baekcheon’s pupils dilated even more.
Kaaaaang!
Baekcheon’s sword extended upward and Yunjong’s sword lowered collided strongly in the air.
Kaga! Let’s go!
Yunjong pressed down on Baekcheon’s sword with the force of breaking it. Baekcheon also did not give up and gritted his teeth and tried to push the sword away, but Yunjong did not budge as if he were a mountain.
Uduk. Crack.
Baekcheon’s feet gradually pushed back. Every bone in my body screams. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t defeat Yunjong, who was pressing down on me so calmly.
Baekcheon’s distorted face and Yunjong’s calm face, not showing any emotion, faced each other with crossed swords.
At that moment, Yoonjong opened his mouth.
“No matter how much…”
Even though Baekcheon is being held down, it seems like he still has some strength left.
“If you don’t gain strength by trying to trick your eyes with flashy things, it’s just a shell.”
Tooung!
At that moment, Yunjong’s sword pushed Baekcheon away. Baekcheon, who was thrown back a few steps, stopped only after sinking the sword in his hand into the ground.
Yunjong stared at him with narrowed eyes.
“So what you should pursue is not flashiness, but the true meaning within.”
Baekcheon slowly raised his head and faced Yunjong.
“…That’s what Sasuk said.”
Baekcheon did not answer.
What appeared on his face now was not shame at being pushed out by Sajil, self-destruction, or anger at Yoonjong’s actions that had gone too far. It’s just…
“You’ve become stronger than you know.”
“Have I become stronger?”
“….”
“If people still see Sa-sook as a child, I might be able to fool them. You will be able to present yourself with plausible swordsmanship and appropriate bravado. But Sasuk.”
Yunjong’s cold eyes seemed to pierce Baekcheon.
“Now no one sees Hwasan’s long-time deputy leader as a child.”
Baekcheon was silent. That silence was a clearer yes than any answer.
“So, every enemy you face will try their best to kill Sasuk. “Without letting down one’s guard.”
“Yoonjong-ah.”
Yunjong bit his lip and glared at Baekcheon.
“I’ll say it again, you’re going to die.”
Baekcheon, who had been silent for a long time as if he were at a loss for words, sighed.
“Does everyone know?”
“You would be a fool if you didn’t know. “How can you not know?”
“Then why haven’t you said anything until now?”
Yoonjong answered as if it was very obvious.
“Because it’s a private residence.”
It was an answer with so much meaning. So much so that it is difficult for even Baekcheon to understand it all at once.
Baekcheon asked, looking straight at Yunjong, who was staring at him with a stern expression.
“Then… why are you doing this now?”
Yunjong’s hand holding the sword gained strength. It was a different question, but the answer he had to give was the same.
“Because it’s a private residence.”
Baekcheon gently closed his eyes.
okay. It’s not that I can’t say because I don’t know. Because they know each other, they can’t talk.
Yunjong said coldly.
“Please step back.”
It was Yoonjong who spit out the cold words, but it was also Yoonjong who distorted his eyes as if he had been cut by those words.
“No one wants to see Sasuk die.”
“hmm.”
Baekcheon straightened his posture and stabbed the sword. The eyes were aloof as they looked over the distant peak of the volcano.
“Winter will come soon.”
“…Sasuk.”
“When the cold winter comes, this volcano will also be covered with snow. “As if it were a lie to say that it was full of plum blossoms all season long.”
Baekcheon’s gaze, which had been heading towards the distance, once again turned to Yunjong.
“Any flower will eventually wither. It is something that cannot be avoided or denied. But…”
A voice without hesitation rang out clearly.
“There is no flower that does not bloom because it knows it will fall.”
“Sasuk!”
“If anything, they bloom even more desperately because they know they will lose. “Because it’s a plum blossom.”
Yoonjong bit his lips.
“There’s no need to throw yourself into losing.”
“….”
“You just need to sit back and recuperate properly. Don’t you just need to recover your body? “Then…”
Yoonjong, who was speaking passionately, paused for a moment.
I laughed out loud.
Because I know. How meaningless these words are to that person.
How could Yunjong not know? Even Baekcheon, who has lost his skills, will be of some help to his strength. And the battlefield is a place where countless people run away for even a single speck of dust.
Risking the death penalty for your own survival? For the Baekcheon that Yoonjong knows, no such option exists at all.
“Sasuk.”
“Nothing to worry about.”
Baekcheon shook his head. It was a slow but decisive gesture.
“I know that you too could be in danger because of me. “I know that, and I will never create a situation like that.”
“That’s not what we’re talking about right now!”
Finally, a shout came out of Yoonjong’s mouth.
Seeing Yoonjong getting angry, Baekcheon actually laughed a little. I thought he was someone who could get that angry.
In some ways, I was sad that the target was myself, and in other ways, I was proud.
“The volcano needs me.”
“….”
“It is neither arrogance nor conceit. “I just have a role to play.”
“I can do it.”
“You can’t do it yet. “You know that.”
“I…”
Yoonjong clenched his fists.
I wanted to deny it a hundred times, but I couldn’t.
He will have to take over Baekcheon’s role at some point, but that is literally just a future with uncertain timing.
Right now, he is someone who can never replace Baek Chun.
“…are you saying that you will eventually go to the battlefield?”
“okay.”
“No matter how much I tell you, you won’t listen.”
“Maybe so.”
Yunjong nodded heavily.
“Then I will stop Sasuk in my own way.”
“Yoonjong-ah.”
“If we can’t communicate, that’s the only way.”
Yunjong turned around and immediately walked away from Baekcheon and went down the mountain.
Baekcheon silently followed Yunjong’s back with his eyes.
It probably wasn’t easy to get up here. But I couldn’t help but come. Because it’s Yoonjong.
Baekcheon looked at the space where Yoonjong disappeared with bitter eyes and opened his mouth. It was a quiet voice.
“come out.”
Rustling.
Then a person walked out from one side of the bush.
“…I wouldn’t have known.”
“Even if the senses die, the sense remains. “The sound of insects cut off once in the middle.”
Yu Iseol nodded as if he understood what was going on.
When Yoonjong surprised Baekcheon in the middle, he almost ran away in surprise, which was the reason he was caught.
Baekcheon turned his head and looked at Yu Iseol, who was depressed.
“Are you going to stop it too?”
“I feel the same way.”
“So you’re saying you won’t stop it.”
“Because it would have been the same.”
This means that even if Yu Yi-seol were in Baek-cheon’s position, she would have made the same choice.
“…okay.”
Baekcheon nodded. After hearing this, I felt a little at ease. But it didn’t stop me from sighing.
“…It’s difficult.”
Baekcheon stared at the moon rising in the sky.
The whitish moon, half-covered by clouds, was also looking down at him in silence.
Yunjong’s steps going down the mountain became faster and faster.
I feel like my chest is full of something. It’s so frustrating that it’s hard to even breathe.
It wasn’t because of Baekcheon’s insistence. While listening to his unreasonableness, a part of me felt frustrated with myself for not understanding him.
Or perhaps we should call it helplessness.
If Yoonjong could completely replace Baekcheon, then we wouldn’t have to go through this awkward situation.
I thought something like this could happen at any time, but I vaguely thought it was something far away. That complacency led to the current situation.
If Baekcheon dies during this war, Yunjong will never be able to forgive himself.
No, his regrets are trivial. The important thing is that Baekcheon does not die. Not only Baekcheon, but no one dies.
‘Taesangjangmunin…’
Yunjong, who had been looking for Hyeonjong in his head without even realizing it, quickly shook his head, saying “Oops”.
If Taesangjangmunin intervenes, I don’t know if Baekcheon can be stopped, but the situation will get worse. In the worst case scenario, things may escalate into something bigger.
And I’m not sure if arresting Baekcheon at the order of Taesangjangmunin is the perfect way to resolve this situation.
It’s frustrating and exhausting. It felt like everything was clogged.
My heart is impatient and desperate, but there is no way to solve it.
At that moment, there was only one person that came to Yunjong’s mind.
‘Clearness.’
Baekcheon is not the only one who cannot understand.
What I really don’t understand is why that damn bastard has remained silent until now.
There’s no way Cheongmyeong wouldn’t know what Yunjong noticed, right?
Yunjong’s feet gained strength again.
‘If it’s a guy…’
You have to listen.
Why does he remain silent? In a situation where it wouldn’t be surprising if a war broke out right away, why are we acting like this serious matter is someone else’s problem? Why… are they watching Baekcheon go to the battlefield with a body like that?
In the darkness, Yunjong’s eyes cooled down.
‘If it’s him… he’ll give you an answer no matter what.’
No, you will make me answer.
certainly.
