Episode 1489. I didn’t come looking for you? (4)
Cheon Sang-rooju furrowed his eyebrows.
It’s difficult to explain the reason clearly, but Lee Song-baek’s eyes were strangely annoying.
“Jongnam’s Song Baek.”
A pitchless voice leaked out.
“Jongnam’s great disciple. He is mentioned as the person who will lead Jongnam next along with Jin Geum-ryong. The most anticipated review index at the moment. His personality is serious, polite, and disciplined. Inaction cannot be confirmed at this time. There is a possibility that he may become Jongnam’s scholar in the future.”
Lee Song-baek slightly widened his eyes in surprise, but Cheon Sang-rooju spoke indifferently.
“It looks like my information is wrong. If I were the Jongnam Lee Song-baek I knew, there would be no way he would have known that it was against etiquette to intervene in a conversation like this without permission. Or did Jongnam also decide to follow Hwasan’s lead?”
It was truly a blatant snub. Lee Song-baek politely gave up his hand.
“I formally apologize for that.”
“I accept the apology. But this isn’t something you should get involved in. So, back off.”
“It’s not difficult to step away. But I would like to say one thing.”
“…Something?”
Lee Song-baek raised his head straight at Cheon Sang-ru-ju’s answer, which was obviously not surprising.
“I think there is no mistake in what you said a moment ago. “I could clearly feel how much the Ark cares for the islanders.”
“Let’s put aside the public relations and just state the conclusion.”
“…yes.”
Lee Song-baek nodded and spoke with determination in his eyes.
“Isn’t it possible that what the Ark thinks is right may be different from what the open believers think is right?”
Cheon Sang-ruju’s eyes darkened.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. “If you’re going to say something obvious, just stop now.”
“That’s…”
Lee Song-baek was about to say something more when he suddenly sighed. It was difficult to persuade Cheon Sang-ru-ju because he did not have enough words to persuade him.
But he did not back down and chose a different path.
visor!
When Lee Song-baek suddenly pulled out his sword, Hwasan’s disciples were startled and grabbed his shoulders.
“This small cooperative! What are you doing now…!”
“wait a minute.”
Lee Song-baek carefully pushed away Baek-cheon’s hand on his shoulder and extended his sword forward.
“This is my sword.”
“….”
“You know that you are the Ark of Openness. I am learning the thirty-six swords of the world. Jongnam’s most basic… No, it was a basic sword in the past, but is now out of the mainstream.”
“What does that have to do with this?”
“Listen.”
Lee Song-baek took a deep breath and opened his mouth again.
“Jongnam’s predecessor considered this sword to be insufficient and judged that he could not become the best in the world with this sword. So, he tried to take Jongnam one step further with a new sword. “It must have been a decision made out of faith in Jongnam and affection for the disciples.”
Cheon Sang-rooju narrowed his eyes slightly.
“But I am still learning the swords of the past. Do you know what the reason is?”
“It seems like you and that sword are a good match.”
“no.”
Song Baek shook his head.
“The reason is simple. “Because I think it is right for me to learn this sword.”
Lee Song-baek, who had left the Heavenly Luju for a moment, landed on Cheongmyeong.
“Of course, it wasn’t Jong-nam who made me realize that it was right. But in the end, I decided that it was right for me to learn this sword, so I did. That’s why I’m here now.”
The eyes pouring out to Cheon Sang-ru-ju were truly sincere. Those eyes were just annoying. Cheon Sang-rooju spoke while averting his eyes.
“What does that have to do with the current situation? “I’m not free enough to listen to you painting my face.”
“I just wanted to ask. The Ark said he did all this for the Open Islanders. Jongnam’s predecessor also did this for Jongnam. Same thing. But at least to me it looks different.”
“different?”
“Don’t you know? Our Jangmun must have firmly believed that it would be better for disciples to learn new swords. “I’m sure he had no doubt that it was for the benefit of the disciples.”
Cheon Sang-ruju’s face suddenly stiffened. It seemed like he understood what Lee Song-baek was trying to say.
“But now I am learning the thirty-six swords of the world. Even though I made that judgment in the past when I was weak and foolish, Jang Moon-in did not force me to take the ‘right’ path. That’s why I am who I am today.”
Lee Song-baek looked down at his sword and continued speaking.
“Jang Mun-in must have been worried about me too. Still, wasn’t the reason you didn’t dissuade me because it was a decision I made after much deliberation? If I make a choice as a warrior and am prepared to take responsibility for it, then of course that should be respected. But!”
Lee Song-baek’s voice spread out to Cheon Sang-ru-ju like a heavy sword energy.
“Do those pursuing openness know what kind of situation they are facing now?”
“….”
“Do they also know that the Ark is trying to do less to protect them and make them live as ordinary beggars?”
Cheon Sang-rooju did not answer.
“That’s… Yes, Ark. “That’s…”
Lee Song-baek couldn’t bear to continue speaking and trailed off. It’s not because I have strong emotions. It’s just that I’m at a loss.
This frustration was relieved by Cheongmyeong, who was quietly listening.
“That’s not correct.”
Song Baek nodded. It seemed like that was what he was trying to say.
“yes. It is not correct. “It’s not fair.”
“Because no one would want their life to be decided for reasons they don’t even know about.”
“yes! “That’s it.”
Song Baek quickly nodded. Clearly, Cheongmyeong understood what he was saying. Thinking like that, Lee Song-baek felt strangely excited.
At that time, Cheongmyeong spoke like a sigh.
“That sounds nice.”
“…yes?”
“Isn’t that what people who steal and copy other people’s swordsmanship would say?”
Cheongmyeong looked at Lee Song-baek with infinitely anxious and sorrowful eyes. Every time Cheongmyeong’s lips twitched as if disapproving, Lee Songbaek’s body also twitched and shrank.
Lee Song-baek somehow opened his mouth, albeit awkwardly.
“No… that’s not what Jang Moon-in is doing right now…”
“As you live, you’ll see all sorts of things, right? It’s true that that guy did something frustrating, but someone who should point that out should also point it out. Where is this thief licking his lips? If I just listen to you, I’ll think Jongnam Jang Mun-in is a saint and gentleman of the world? uh?”
It was counterproductive. At Cheongmyeong’s words, Ogeum also seemed to come to his senses and glared at Lee Songbaek.
“and. I was almost tempted. “If I had listened a little more, I would have thought Jongnam Jangmun-in was a good person.”
“If you think about it, that nobleman was the one who was arrogant at the Hwajong branch because he copied our swordsmanship, right?”
“…you have to peel the shell.”
“I’m going to burn it someday. Jongnam.”
“…accident. “You shouldn’t say things like that in front of Jongnam.”
“why?”
“You’re prepared. Then it gets difficult. When you’re not thinking about it, suddenly! “I have to run.”
“ah.”
Lee Song-baek’s hands came together respectfully.
In the past, when the Twenty-Four Water Plum Blossom Sword Technique was put into practice, I would have known, but now I couldn’t help but know where the Seolhwa Twelve Sword Technique came from.
Of course, the current Seolhwa Twelve Sword Technique has deviated significantly from the Twenty-Four Plume Sword Techniques thanks to the desperate improvements made by Jin Geum-ryong and Jong-nam. But that doesn’t make the sins they committed disappear, does it?
“What can I say to the volcano people….”
“This small cooperative.”
“yes?”
“Close your eyes.”
“…yes.”
Hearing Yoonjong’s words, Lee Songbaek quietly lowered his head again.
“Tsk.”
Cheongmyeong clicked his tongue and then burst into laughter. And then he looked at Cheon Sang-ru-ju. He couldn’t even think of opening his mouth yet.
“Yes… the problem is the person who said it, but the words themselves are not wrong.”
“….”
“You would know. How important information is when making decisions. That also applies to openness. “You are just chopping off the hands and feet of open believers and forcing them into the life you want.”
There was a chill in Cheon Sang-ruju’s eyes. As if I had heard something terribly insulting. But that was all. Even as time passed, there was no rebuttal.
“It’s not that I didn’t say it, it’s that I couldn’t say it. Because there is no way the open-minded people would agree to this. If that were the case, the term ‘opening of blood’ would never have been created in the first place. For the sake of the world, life can be thrown away like stubble. Because that’s the opening of blood.”
Cheon Sang-rooju bit her lip gently. Staring at Cheongmyeong with eyes mixed with hatred and anger, he slowly tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. My eyes, which were swirling with complex emotions, slowly closed.
“I guess so.”
A dejected voice came from Cheon Sang-rooju, whose eyes were closed.
“No one will agree with what I’m trying to do. Those with power will want to be competent in opening up, and those without power will say that it is right to act indiscriminately without caring for their own lives.”
“You didn’t deceive the outside world.”
Cheongmyeong nodded as if he finally understood.
“What you deceived was none other than openness. yes?”
“….”
“The opening could really mean that you are bedridden. No, maybe there is a body double. Anyway, you hid yourself in order to deceive even the open provinces, and yet you are staying here because you cannot bear to leave a place so close to the open provinces. “Like a ghost.”
Cheon Sang-ruju’s body trembled slightly.
Cheongmyeong felt an inexplicable sadness from that sight.
There are things that cannot be understood by anyone in the world, but must be done. He knows best how lonely the person who does this is.
“I won’t say you’re wrong. But it’s not right either. “If you really wanted that, you had to convince the beggars of openness.”
Cheon Sang-rooju lowered his head and slowly opened his eyes. The swirling hatred had calmed down. However, that did not mean that his eyes changed to be friendly towards Cheongmyeong.
“Thank you for pointing it out.”
“….”
“But I have no intention of changing my ways now. I will save at least one more person until the end. Even if it’s the wrong way.”
He actually became more determined.
“The conversation ends here. “Stop going back.”
“Now wait a minute.”
Jo Geol was surprised by the sudden announcement of the wedding invitation and joined in.
“Just go back? Oh no. How can you say this and just leave? “What will you do if we leave here and tell the world about this?”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“No, that’s not it. “I’m not saying to threaten you, but… please organize something somehow…”
Cheon Sang-rooju said calmly, looking at Jo Geol, who was babbling in confusion.
“If you want to let me know, let me know.”
“Yes. “Yes?”
“I told you to let me know.”
Jo Geol closed her eyes.
Can I tell you all this? The story that the Ark of Openness, who was said to be bedridden, is eating well and living well at the top of a luxurious base?
“If that happens, the open world will be divided into those who believe what you say and those who do not, and this will serve as an opportunity to antagonize and fight with each other again. I don’t know if I will be kicked out in the end, but I will persevere until this war is over.
Then, openness will reduce the number of people getting involved in this dirty war. “Thanks to you, things might get easier.”
“Oh no…”
Jogeol was left speechless. After listening to it, it seemed like things could really go that way.
“Don’t even think about changing my mind. “If it had been that easy to change, I wouldn’t have lasted until now.”
Cheon Sang-rooju looked straight at Qingming.
“Especially the Hwasan Sword Association. I am different from those you have dealt with so far. A conversation with you will never change my mind. So don’t waste your time and go back. Openness will not take the side of the old faction or the Cheonwoomaeng faction.”
Baekcheon sighed at the words that seemed to cut like a knife.
‘Why not?’
Saying this, it seemed like there was nothing more I could do. If you try to force it further, it will only lead to pointless resistance.
Anyway, just getting this far wasn’t a meaningless opening trip. Baekcheon said while thinking so.
“Cheongmyeong. First, go back…”
That was then.
“Of course it won’t change. “It’s not up to you to make the decision anyway.”
“…huh?”
“is not it?”
When Cheongmyeong, with his strange smile on his face, looked at Cheon Sang-ruju, he sighed.
“Is this just being forced now? Well, I guess I can’t do it anymore. All that remains is the possibility that I am not the Ark of Openness. But Hwasan Sword Association. “No matter how hard you try, I am the Ark of Openness.”
“Oh, that’s right. But what should I do? “I’m not talking about that?”
“…No?”
Cheongmyeong laughed cynically.
“It was a little confusing, but now I understand.”
Baekcheon, a little embarrassed, lowered his voice and asked.
“What are you talking about, Cheongmyeong? “I don’t understand the situation.”
“It’s simple logic, Sasuk. “The ark of openness may not necessarily be the head of openness.”
“What is that…”
“What are you having trouble with? “It’s like a volcano right now.”
“ah…!”
Baekcheon immediately understood and glanced at Cheonsangruju again.
ark.
With just those two letters, the people present thought that the person in front of them was responsible for all aspects of openness.
But that may not be the case.
“say it.”
Cheongmyeong smiled coldly and glared at Cheon Sang-ro-ju.
“Who is behind you? Who told you that you need to open up like that?”
For a moment, Baekcheon saw.
This is the first time that Cheon Sang-ruju’s complexion changes significantly.
