< Episode 23: Sihyeolgokju (3) >
[Grandfather. Isn’t our Lee family truly a family of traitors?]
[Jiyeom. Yes is that question related to the scars on your face?]
[…..]
Eleven-year-old Lee Ji-yeom did not give any answer to his grandfather’s question.
While working as a conference attaché this kind of thing was a bookkeeping issue.
A family of traitors and betrayals.
I heard all kinds of noise and was ignored and harassed.
I tried to ignore them and I also tried to fight back against their bullying.
But it made no sense.
It was a bond handed down from his grandfather who swore allegiance to the disappeared Moon Vessel and it was the price he paid for it.
[….Isn’t this a bond that our family will never be able to escape from?]
[Jiyeom…]
The grandfather looked sadly at Lee Ji-yeom who was covered in wounds.
Then I hugged him warmly and comforted him with a soft yet firm voice.
[Do you remember what I said to you?]
[Washin consultation]
Consultation on the body.
It means sleeping on a pine tree full of thorns chewing on gall and enduring hardships for the sake of the future.
My grandfather used to say that to himself as a habit.
As expected my grandfather’s reputation as one of the ten members of the conference’s opening faction fell to the ground after that day.
[…..]
[Why is there no answer?]
[I don’t know anymore.]
I tried to endure it as my grandfather said.
But there was no use trying to piece together my increasingly broken heart.
Why do my grandfather my father and myself have to suffer like this?
Should they be ostracized to this extent by the association just because they swore loyalty when it was not a crime they committed?
[Grandfather I would rather swear eternal loyalty to the Lord of the Lord…]
[Uh huh!]
That day I saw my grandfather’s scary face for the first time.
I can’t believe my grandfather who had never shown his feelings before became this angry at the idea of escaping from the shackles of this stigma by pledging allegiance to Lord Hoe.
Why is he angry with himself?
Did he say something wrong?
For the first time I felt a sense of rebellion as I was overcome with tears.
[Did I…did I say something wrong? Why are we a family that has contributed to the establishment of the Association…]
[conflict!]
Lee Ji-yeom was unable to speak due to the tearing pain in his ears.
His grandfather spoke to him who was in pain with eyes full of blood.
[No matter the outcome it is natural for a vassal to believe in the lord who has sworn loyalty to the end! Did this bride teach you like that?]
[That master fell astray and even branded his family as a traitor. But what does that mean? And because your grandfather accepted that mistake didn’t he accept being confined in Sihyeolgok until the fourth generation and being demoted to Gokju?]
The more I think about it the more resentful I become.
Why didn’t my grandfather strongly say that he had nothing to do with it?
Why does his sin continue together?
Because it’s a vassal?
‘I can’t admit it!’
Lee Ji-yeom no longer talked to his grandfather after that day.
And he gritted his teeth and devoted himself to practicing martial arts.
He couldn’t bear to not focus on something.
He devoted himself so much to practice that he succeeded in becoming the first in his family to reach the 5th level in the Daeyeomgong (待炎功) skill of the Red Flame Sword Technique before the terms of service.
Lee Ji-yeom became even more motivated after this.
‘I can do it.’
Among the family’s ancestors no one had completed the Jeokyeomgeopbeop.
Even my grandfather had 8 stars as his limit.
This was because the more the Great Flame Ball was learned the stronger the hot sun energy became but it did not end with that becoming stronger and even burned the caster’s body.
He was confident that if he was one he would be able to go beyond the 8th star and reach the level of the 9th and 10th star.
And has this excessive greed become poison?
-Do not attempt 6-star until 5-star is completely ingrained in you.
[Aaaah!]
Ignoring his father’s warning Lee Ji-yeom’s body burned brightly as he tried to force himself to 6 stars.
When he reached the 6th grade of Daeyeomgong he was able to load the Yeolyangjigi with the Red Flame Sword Technique but it failed and faced a backlash.
In an instant half his face was engulfed in flames and he couldn’t come to his senses.
The runaway Yeolyangjigi has already surpassed the line he can control.
[Aaaah!]
Am I going to die like this from being overly greedy?
At that moment someone caught him as he ran away.
And he absorbed the runaway heat wave and stabilized it.
‘!?’
The person who absorbed the heat energy from his burning body was none other than his grandfather Lee Hwa-moon.
Lee Ji-yeom who barely came to his senses amidst his pain could not contain his astonishment.
Neither his grandfather nor his father can completely control the heat energy in his body so if he is forced to accept it
-Rarrrrrrrrrrrr!
The anger is directed towards oneself.
Thanks to taking the Yeolyangjigi Lee Ji-yeom’s body was able to stabilize but this was not the case for his grandfather Lee Hwa-moon.
In an instant his entire body was covered in flames.
It was at a level that could not even be compared to Lee Ji-yeom.
[Oh no! No way! Grandpa! Grandfather!]
Lee Ji-yeom rushed in and tried to calm down the angry man at Ihwamun.
However he could not get close because his grandfather Lee Hwa-moon had a profound secret that prevented him from entering his radius.
[Grandfather! No grandfather!]
This is the first time we’ve seen each other up close in almost four years.
Thanks to his deep internal energy his body was prevented from burning quickly but before he knew it his grandfather’s skin was turning red and fluid was oozing out.
[grandfather! please! please!]
Lee Ji-yeom tried to break through his true spirit by force.
His grandfather Lee Hwa-moon slowly shook his head with a bitter look on his face.
I could tell by the shape of the lips.
‘Don’t come. ‘My grandson.’
That sight made Lee Ji-yeom break his heart.
The feeling of watching my grandfather gradually burn out right in front of me was heartbreaking.
He waited for his grandfather’s true energy to weaken and tried to somehow subdue the yeolyangjigi but this was very painful.
[please! please!]
I prayed to my grandfather to take away my true spirit.
However my grandfather did not give up his enthusiasm until all his flesh was consumed by the fire.
Only when the breath ceased did the magic that formed the curtain disappear.
[Aaaaaaaaa!]
Lee Ji-yeom screamed.
His grief as he watched his grandfather die because of him from beginning to end was a tragedy.
He wanted to turn his life and his grandfather’s life around if he could.
But it couldn’t be done.
[Ugh.]
Lee Ji-yeom who had been screaming and crying for over half a day was only able to stop when he fainted when his strength was exhausted.
After I woke up like that everything went complicated and fast.
This was because he had to attend the funeral of his deceased grandfather.
He confessed to his father and everyone in his family that his grandfather died because of him.
But no one blamed him.
[Even if you were impatient it’s not your fault. It’s all our fault for failing to teach you properly and weakening our warnings.]
[Please…please punish me.]
The father who became the head of the family shook his head and firmly refused.
The reason was that his grandfather Lee Hwa-moon would not want it.
[but…..]
[If your wife resented you even a little until the moment she dies then so be it.]
[….]
I didn’t.
Even though my grandfather was experiencing tremendous pain as his body burned he never showed any signs of it.
He just kept his mouth shut and kept his face as nonchalant as possible as if worrying about him would hurt his heart.
It was all out of consideration for himself.
Lee Ji-yeom shed tears in silence throughout the funeral.
Lee Ji-yeom who held his grandfather’s funeral in such sadness came across the last words of poetry that his grandfather left behind.
It was like the last will of the deceased.
-Ahh. I always remember the day I followed behind while looking at the black gun. No matter how much time passes I will be able to forget those days of dreams.]
It seemed like there wouldn’t be any more tears to shed.
But when I see this painful tears flow down my face again.
Even though he was one of the ten members of a sect he insisted on loyalty until the end even though most of the executives including Hoeju did not come to the funeral due to the stigma of stigma.
Does that mean he believed in Him that much?
‘….’
My mind becomes complicated.
Lee Ji-yeom hated that person so much.
However after reading my grandfather’s words that express his longing for his former master even his last will is confusing.
The person my grandfather never lost faith in until the very end.
A grandson who inherited the Lee family insulted my grandfather’s loyalty and will.
‘Grandpa.’
At that time Lee Ji-yeom made a decision.
The will of my grandfather who risked everything and even put down his honor through counseling.
He says he will carry on that will.
‘This ugly grandson… will continue his loyalty.’
Even if it is a terrible stigma.
Even if it was a period of patience.
He decided to continue his will even if it was just to regain the honor of his late grandfather.
* * *
‘Nonsense… no way.’
Poet Hyeolgok Joo Ji-yeom could not help but be astonished at the scene that unfolded before his eyes.
At first he thought that Mo Qingyun used some strange magic.
He was at a loss for words as he saw the being taking shape in the blood.
A peerless beauty with blood-red eyes wearing a crown and holding a gombangdae.
That face that is both arrogant and majestic.
The moment I saw this the image of him that my late grandfather Lee Hwa-moon had talked about so warmly came to mind.
[Don’t hate him too much. The lord that this queen devoted half her life to serving is not the mean traitor you think. He was stronger and more beautiful than anyone else in the meeting.]
I just brushed off my grandfather’s words.
This was because he believed that the wounds he received as he grew up were not as heavy as them.
But the moment I saw her my grandfather’s words made sense.
There is a saying that those who rule are born with it.
‘Aaaah!’
The being in front of me seemed to be literally born to rule.
I was in awe as I felt a shiver just by looking down.
Then Mok Gyeong-un’s voice came into his ears.
“How do you feel about seeing him in person?”
“He…”
Lee Ji-yeom’s heart was pounding.
Is this being in front of me really the person my grandfather longed for until the end?
At that moment Yeom got down on one knee as if his leg had given out.
-thud!
It didn’t matter whether the being in front of me was a ghost or something else.
He swore in front of his grandfather’s memorial tablet.
To inherit the loyalty that he nobly maintained until his death.
Lee Ji-yeom bowed his head and put his hands together to show respect.
“Lee Ji-yeom head of the Lee family recognizes my lord the owner of Wolmaek!”
Lee Ji-yeom’s warm greeting caught Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.
On the other hand Cheongryeong looked at Mok Gyeong-un with fierce eyes.
‘Did you see it? ‘Rebirth.’
She had boasted to Mo Kyung-un.
I don’t know about other rotten things but if he was a blood descendant of the Lee family Lee Hwa-mun that he knew he would still keep his integrity.
Mok Kyung-un snorted inwardly at her words.
Almost a hundred years have passed.
But it was ridiculous to think that that will of loyalty would remain.
‘I became a vengeful spirit but do I believe in humans?’
He thought it was truly foolish.
Everything fades away even in just a few years.
But isn’t it really a vain expectation to think that loyalty will continue when the person involved is dead and gone?
But something really unexpected happened.
‘It turned out differently than I intended.’
Mok Gyeong-un quenched his appetite.
I wanted to see her reaction as her false expectations were shattered and she couldn’t help but be disappointed.
But she ended up feeling elated instead.
‘It’s a shame.’
Well it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The fact that that loyalty has continued even after a hundred years has passed means that it is worth taking advantage of.
While doing so Cheongnyeong tried to open her mouth.
-Long…..
It was that moment
-Park! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Mok Gyeong-un made a hand sign with one hand and extended her wooden doll towards Cheongryeong.
“Geumyeojimyeong Muahgonghyeong Lee Suimyeong salary rate bong (封)!”
The spell was almost over.
Her spiritual body which had just come out was instantly sucked into her wooden doll.
Then the blood-stained ghost realm that had been formed by her spirit disappeared and in an instant her office returned to its original state.
-Shudder!
Noticing this change Lee Ji-yeom frowned and lifted her head from her old book.
Where has the person who was just a moment ago disappeared to?
Of course Cheongnyeong was inside her wooden doll.
-Pachik!
Her wooden doll wriggled and Cheongnyeong’s voice rang in Mok Gyeong-un’s ears.
-You damn sentient being! What is this?
She even revealed her spiritual body to confirm her loyalty.
Then she could just lure this guy in and do her bidding but why is she suddenly sealing herself in a wooden doll again?
While I was doing that Mok Gyeong-un said.
“Did you see it? “He has become a vengeful spirit with a grudge against me and he is with me.”
“You guy….”
Lee Ji-yeom raised her body and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.
His appearance just now was definitely not an illusion.
Lee Ji-yeom asked Mok Gyeong-un.
“Where is he?”
“I just told you. “He is with me.”
“…If you do let me see him again. “There are so many things I want to ask.”
At Lee Ji-yeom’s request Mok Gyeong-un pointed to himself with his thumb.
“Isn’t he right in front of you?”
“what?”
When Lee Ji-yeom asked what on earth he was talking about Mok Gyeong-woon smiled and said
“I am his possessed body. It may be difficult to understand but as He is written to me He is me and I am Him.”
-under!
The young spirit inside the wooden doll was astonished at Mo Gyeong-un’s words.
Why did he seal himself back inside after showing off at best?
The purpose of Mokgyeongun was clear.
‘That loyalty transcends generations. I guess I’ll have to get it myself.’
< Episode 23: Sihyeolgokju (3) > end
ⓒ Hanzhongwolya
