< Episode 99: That Day (3) >
[Waaaaaa!!!]
Soon the entire training hall rang with the cheers of the Wolmaek people.
Hearing their cries Ryu So-wol withdrew the sword he had raised with his sword and looked towards the west.
There the warriors and vassals of Wolmaek were seen rejoicing and his father the head of the family Liu Kang was seen standing up and ecstatic.
She looked at her father and pounded her chest lightly with her fist.
-Thump thump!
At her actions as if she had proven herself the head of the family Liu Kang’s lips twitched and her eyes soon turned red.
Finally he lifted his head towards the sky closed his eyes and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
‘….’
Seeing her father like that Ryu Sowol could barely hold back her intensifying emotions.
How will she react when she finds herself breaking her heavenly vein and surpassing the limits set by her father? How does it feel? She was a very curious person.
Will she feel cool? Or will the resentment from the past be resolved?
But when she actually saw her father being so moved she felt moved.
She said ‘Why are you crying now after accepting such an offer as if you had given up on everything?’
If I do this I won’t be able to resolve the sadness I’ve been feeling.
Emotions were truly cruel.
Just looking at that sight makes me feel weak.
Then amidst the cheering a faint voice was heard.
[…It can’t be like this. how….]
It was the muttering sound of Soju Biheon of the Heavenly Vessel.
After crossing the wall and reaching the realm of flowering all of her senses became more developed than before and this sound was heard precisely in her ears.
‘Yongheon…’
Her usual playful and confident self suddenly disappeared and she was overcome by a sense of helplessness perhaps because she was so shocked by the loss.
Even though she had worked hard to defeat him she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him when he saw her like this.
So she tried to say something to him
-Jump jump jump!
Then he saw the head of the Heavenly Veil Bihyeongmyeong approaching behind him.
Was she trying to comfort her son who was devastated by her defeat?
When she saw him come up and put his hand on his shoulder she the winner of her fight decided that the other side would be better than appeasing her so she backed off.
however
‘!?’
For a moment she couldn’t believe her own eyes.
‘Laugh…huh?’
The corners of the mouth of Bihyeongmyeong the head of Cheonmaek who was placing his hand on his son’s shoulder were turned up.
It was not the kind of benevolent laughter one would make to comfort a son who had just lost for the first time.
She seemed to be smiling as if she had been waiting for this.
Seeing this Ryu So-wol was instantly overcome with discomfort.
‘Why is it like that….’
however
[soju!]
She had to bury this discomfort as the vassals of Yue Mac came running to celebrate Bi Mu’s first victory.
The lingering feeling of discomfort was soon buried in the joy of her retainers.
* * *
When the sun sets that day
Ryu So-wol who climbed to the top of the peak with light movements spotted someone and smiled brightly.
Then she ran and fell into someone’s arms.
That someone was a man full of black.
Her man also said with a smile as he wrapped her in his arms.
[It looks like she finally achieved what she wanted so much.]
[I achieved it. Who did you learn from?]
[Doesn’t it make you feel good to see people flattering you when they didn’t?]
[of course. The years of patience are bitter but the fruits are sweet.]
-Sigh!
With those words Liu Sowol held her man’s cheeks with both hands raised her tiptoes and kissed her lips.
Her man also responded by kissing her deeply.
She was the teacher who enlightened her as a warrior and the man who first made her realize that she was a woman.
Although she only saw him for two or three days a year she had this man in her heart at some point.
And it didn’t take long for her to realize that she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
For a while the man and Sowol indulged in each other under the red sunset.
* * *
Liu Xiaoyue’s face was full of smiles as she sat on the cliff and leaned on her man’s shoulder.
She had never been happier and smoother in her life.
Her man said to her:
[Now that you have achieved what you wanted are you closer to your goal of returning?]
[I don’t know yet. I won this time but I don’t know how things will be different next year.]
[Hoo. You’ve grown quite a bit.]
[They say you can’t let your guard down.]
[Satisfaction brings about carelessness and carelessness ultimately leads to defeat. Therefore there is no point in enjoying victory for a long time.]
[…That’s correct. But listening to what you say it feels like I’ve been fighting non-stop my whole life.]
Her man laughed silently at her words.
It seemed like a positive thing.
[Really?]
[I have been living on the battlefield longer than you think. It’s still the same now.]
[Is that still the case?]
Liu Soyue took her head off the shoulder she was leaning on and looked at her man.
She’s grown to like him but there’s still so much he doesn’t know.
Looking at his exotic appearance it is puzzling that at times he does not seem to be a member of the midfielder and at times it seems like he is.
However rather than being from the western region I also feel like I am from the central region.
It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe in words.
[When I look at you I always think that you are mysterious.]
[What do you mean?]
[Appearance and everything else. I wait here every year without fail but I don’t even know where it comes from or how to get there.]
He met her here every year but she had never seen her man go up or down here.
Nonetheless he always appeared in the same place.
That was her always her doubts.
But even though she was so close to her man she never told him anything about herself.
Sometimes she felt sad about this.
As if understanding her feelings her man wrapped his arms around her shoulders and spoke in a soft voice.
[I’ll tell you sometime. But now is not the time.]
[…When will that be?]
[It won’t be long. The place where I live is becoming more and more desolate and the war has been going on for a long time. That’s why I’ve been keeping an eye on this place for a long time. But if you do that now they will move too. Then this place will soon become a battlefield.]
[….]
What kind of world does this man live in?
As he talks it sounds as if he is alone in another world.
But I soon gave up that thought.
When the time comes won’t he tell me everything?
I strongly believed that.
Liu Sowol said playfully squeezing her man’s arm that was wrapped around her own shoulder.
[iced coffee. That’s right. I think someone told me a few years ago that I was the owner and that he was going to directly rule this place but I guess I’m remembering wrong?]
[…control. Yes I tried to do that.]
[Ugh. Did you say that?]
[You should be thankful for this. There are still many who wish to do so. He’s the same guy who dealt with you for years.]
He was her man’s subordinate who had beaten her to death for years under the pretext of her teachings.
He didn’t change even after several years.
He always treated himself like an insignificant insect.
Even though he grew up like a good boy he has been told countless times that he is a peerless beauty and he is probably the only one who treats him like that.
[Now that I think about it how is he doing?]
[Didn’t you tell me? For our clan everyday life itself is a battlefield.]
[Battlefield… somehow it is more devastated than my life.]
[Everyone’s life is noble. It’s just that it’s not easy to recognize it.]
[Then am I like that too?]
[Of course.]
Ryu So-wol smiled at the man’s answer.
Although she has become much softer than when we first met she is still a very blunt person.
However I feel that she respects and cares for herself more than anyone else.
That’s why I like him so much.
Liu Sowol who was staring at her man opened his mouth in a slightly hushed voice.
[I wish I could continue to be by your side.]
As her feelings for him deepened she always regretted their brief meeting in the year.
She said Sowol was cute when she talked about her feelings of wanting to be together while being embarrassed. Her man stroked her head and said.
[Just a little… No it’s not a little bit for you but just wait.]
[If I wait can we continue to be together?]
[…okay. We will do this together. Even if it is only a moment.]
[A moment?]
Why did the expression of being together refer to a moment rather than eternity?
As she looked puzzled her man spoke in a somewhat regretful voice.
[I wish you were like me.]
[What does that mean?]
[Even though I know it’s only a moment it feels painful to embrace you.]
[…Why are you talking like that?]
Ryu So-yue suddenly felt uneasy at his unknown words.
Then her man hugged her tightly and said
[Don’t worry. Even if it’s just for a moment my feelings for you will continue.]
[Is it because it feels like our life together is short?]
[…okay.]
Ryu So-wol sighed and laughed at his words.
Her anxiety was as if washed away.
Even though I still have a long life left I think I can tell how much this man likes me by saying that it feels short.
She said hugging her man tightly.
[Someone said that. Because it’s shorter it shines even more. We can live like that too.]
[Because it’s shorter it shines even more… Yes that’s right.]
Her man smiled.
Then she kissed her forehead and said
[For me this moment with you is the brightest thing in my life…!?]
As he spoke he quickly turned his head to the side.
[I would have told you not to disturb me while I was here.]
[I apologize. The situation was so urgent that there was nothing I could do.]
When Ryu Sowol heard her familiar voice he looked over and saw that her man’s subordinate had already arrived.
She felt ashamed and woke up in shock probably because she was embarrassed for no reason to be in her man’s arms.
[Oh it’s been a while. Mr. Tau.]
Despite her greeting her male subordinate whom she called Tau still glanced at her as if he were looking at her bug and then pretended not to notice.
Then he approached her man and whispered something in his ear.
‘…I can’t hear you.’
I tried to focus my hearing on what they were talking about but I couldn’t hear their conversation.
It seemed to have been blocked by some kind of energy.
However the expression on her man’s face as he listened to her story was not very good.
As soon as she finished reporting something her man came up to her and spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.
[I guess I should probably go.]
[…It seems like you’re in a lot of trouble. Is there anything I can do to help?]
[It’s okay. Don’t you have work to do here?]
[still….]
Before she could finish her sentence her man gently hugged her and said
[You don’t have to worry. I will come here as always.]
[…all right.]
okay.
Her man is not weak enough for her to worry about.
She believed that the man was stronger than anyone she knew and that there was no one who could break him.
[I’ll wait.]
She smiled and sent her man off looking forward to the next year.
But at this moment she had no doubt that those expectations would be shattered.
* * *
Ryu So-wol shed tears endlessly in her bed covered with a blanket.
He stayed out in the rain for nearly seven days waiting for her man but he did not show up.
At this she was so consumed by her worries that she almost stopped eating and drinking.
She believed so much but it was painful for her to feel that even a hint of her anxiety had become a reality.
[Black.]
Her tears didn’t stop.
He couldn’t bear the pain in his heart as he wondered if the man who said he always lived in his battlefield had passed away leaving him behind.
As her tears did not stop due to her sadness and suffering someone knocked on her door.
-dripping!
[go! Please leave me alone….]
-thud!
Then the door opened and someone came in.
He was her father Liu Kang head of the Yue Mac family.
Liu Kang looked at her emaciated woman with sadness and said in her pitiful voice.
[How long are you going to keep doing that?]
[…Just leave it alone. You won this match as well. therefore….]
[Is it because you couldn’t meet him?]
[!?]
For a moment her expression hardened.
Soon she glanced at Hwa-yeon the head of the guard who was standing behind the head of the family Liu Kang.
Her stories about him were told only to her long-time companion.
She asked me to keep it a secret but did I mention it?
The head of the family Liu Kang clicked his tongue and said.
[You say you like him so much but you don’t trust him?]
[yes?]
What does this mean?
She was dumbfounded.
She only thought that if he found out about this she would be furious if he who only regarded her as Soju the heir to her family.
Because even though she had broken the spirits of her heavenly and earthly veins she hoped to form a relationship with one of them and give birth to her child.
But I couldn’t help but be surprised when my father said this.
[Did you think that the head of the family or rather the father would always be against it?]
[….]
With those words the head of the family Liu Kang snorted and said with a bitter look on his face.
[I’m very curious about that damn top that made my daughter cry so much.]
[…father.]
Soon tears welled up in Ryu So-wol’s eyes again.
Her father had been so strict and cruel ever since he became Soju.
But for the first time since her brother left he was treating himself as her wife.
Her father Liu Kang approached her and embraced her as she was overwhelmed.
Ryu So-wol who had been crying breathlessly due to worry and not being able to meet him broke down in tears and cried.
Her father Liu Kang patted her back and comforted her without saying a word.
Liu Kang spoke to her as she cried for a while.
[If that guy comes back I will scold him so cheer up now.]
[….]
[Even if I tell you to stop. Phew. If you really want to see that guy tell the painter to draw a portrait and hang it up.]
[yes?]
[Don’t I need to know what my future son-in-law looks like?]
[Ah…Father.]
[While we’re at it how about you decorate yourself pretty and draw a portrait? In the future if she leads the Wolmaek or rather the Wolhoe of Heaven and Earth on behalf of her father she will rarely have to decorate herself as a woman.]
[Do you finally think of me as your daughter again?]
At her words Liu Kang smiled and said with a face full of wrinkles.
[Before she was Soju she was always my daughter.]
More than any other words her father’s words brought great comfort to her life.
* * *
Six months later.
On the way back from Linggeom Mountain Lodge in Chaoyang north of Hubei Province.
Her escort Joo Hwa-yeon of Ryu So-wol continued to tease her.
[The head of the family must have been so angry that he would have blown up Jeonseo-gu.]
[….]
[So since you haven’t even gotten married yet why did you paint a portrait wearing a bridal gown?]
[… That’s because they wanted to leave a portrait of her in her most beautiful appearance so why are you going to get so angry over that?]
[It’s natural to get angry. Soju drew a portrait of her in her bridal attire and he also drew a portrait of her like her groom wouldn’t you?]
Hearing Hwa-yeon’s words like this Ryu So-wol pursed her lips and expressed her dissatisfaction.
[Tch. At one point he said something about his son-in-law but it was all empty talk.]
[But it went too far. soju.]
[Stop teasing me now. Because that makes my bones ache.]
Seeing her reaction like this she seemed to think that she should stop teasing her and the guard Joo Hwa-yeon looked embarrassed and changed the topic.
[By the way it’s truly unique.]
[What do you mean?]
[The time when the sword was completed coincided with the time when Soju could be crowned as her Lord.]
Hearing her words Liu Sowol waved her hand and said.
[Don’t be too excited. Because I don’t know yet.]
[Hey. Why did you look so confident in front of the owner of Yeonggeom Mountain Lodge as if you were going to become the leader?]
[Then will he say that he is not confident in front of outsiders?]
[Well that’s true.]
Guard Hwa-yeon Joo nodded his head.
The master he served became in name and reality the best master of all three arts.
She had every reason to be proud.
Hwa-yeon was also very proud of helping such a young lady.
[But soju. Is it because of him that the sword was named that way?]
It was Hwa-yeon who unintentionally overheard her conversation with the head of Yeonggeom Mountain Lodge Gu Mun-hyeok.
When he asked the name of her sword Ryu Sowol asked him to call it her Sunyeon (順戀).
Shuyeon means longing.
It also means that I miss you so much.
I think you know how much Soju wants to see him to the extent of giving him that name even to Eda the treasured sword she will spend her whole life with.
But Ryu So-wol answered in a calm voice.
[Let’s talk about that later.]
[I’m sorry. miss. Without even realizing it this guy’s mouth was shaking.]
The head of the guard Hwa-yeon pretended to hit her mouth with her palm.
Looking at her like that Ryu Sowol chuckled.
She then she said.
[For now I only want to focus on Hapjongsik’s dance.]
[soju….]
Seeing her firm determination the guard Joo Hwa-yeon twitched his lips and couldn’t help but feel proud.
After experiencing many pains she was truly a strong woman.
She was becoming a leader for many people.
[You will definitely win. Soju will become the final winner in the ceremony of concluding the three maeks will be crowned as Hoeju and will also receive the Pasapal ceremony which is called the highest rank.]
Passapal style (破思八式).
It was an opportunity for the three branches of heaven earth and moon to be divided into three factions.
< Episode 99: That Day (3) > end
ⓒ Hanzhongwolya
