Episode 1492. There’s no need for that. (2)
My heart was constricted and I couldn’t even breathe.
What is Magyodae?
Although I had heard these words countless times, the four words that came out of this old man’s mouth felt like they had a completely different weight than anything I had heard before.
“……Amitabha Buddha.”
In that heavy atmosphere, Hyeyeon chanted softly. It was a voice close to a sigh.
“Are you saying that the Lord… is the one who saw the Demonic Rebellion with his own eyes?”
In response to Hyeyeon’s question, the old man nodded slightly.
“That’s right.”
“Oh how…”
Hyeyeon stared at the old man with eyes that were difficult to believe. Then, how old is this old man now?
“Death penalty. I heard you were alive at the time?”
“Hmm.”
Compared to Jo Geol, who was greatly embarrassed, Yoon Jong was relatively calm.
“If you think about it, it’s not strange. There are cases like the old man Jopyeong of the party.”
“Ah…I see.”
At that moment, a low, clear voice rang in everyone’s ears. The voice was so colorless that it was so indifferent that it gave me goosebumps.
“A sinner…”
Others paid attention to the word ‘survivor’, but Cheongmyeong seemed to be bothered by the word ‘sinner’.
“What does it mean?”
The old man’s gaze turned to Cheongmyeong. The old man, who had been staring so hard that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking, opened his trembling lips.
“…The great catastrophe. It cannot even be called a war. It was a terrible catastrophe that literally swept away everything.”
“……”
“Everyone was a victim. Those who died innocently, those who died without knowing why they had to fight, those who survived but had to groan in pain for the rest of their lives…”
Soon the old man’s face wrinkled. This is strangely twisted. There was a glimpse of fear, discomfort, and a deep sense of guilt that was difficult to express.
“But I… I am not. I am not the victim of that crime, but the one who committed it.”
“What on earth did you say earlier…”
“At that time, I…”
The old man muttered his lips and spoke as if he were spitting out.
“Open…he was a firefighter.”
“……what?”
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
Nowadays, young small family owners and small owners are not uncommon in strongholds, but this was not the case at the time. At that time, when there were no disruptions in the flow of people, munju were often over sixty, and
even small juju were generally at least forty.
But if you were a small business owner back then…
“Then what are you doing now…”
“Girl!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed, so stop.”
Zhao Jie immediately lowered his head, but his eyes were still wide with shock unable to go away.
‘Even if I can’t do it, is it 100 and 30? No, it could be one hundred and fifty.’
I have heard of martial artists who have reached the peak of martial arts living to be over 100 years old, but this was my first time seeing someone who lived this long with my own eyes.
‘Really?’
Jo Geol, still unable to let go of his doubts, looked at the old man closely. At that time, Baekcheon asked in a voice that did not ease his guard.
“Are you saying that the old man was the pioneer of openness in his time?”
“That’s right, Mr. Jangmun.”
“……See you, senior.”
Baekcheon bowed in a slightly confused voice. Anyway, this is a situation where you have to show respect. Other Hwasan disciples also followed him and paid respect to the old man, who called himself the Fire Lord of Openness.
But only one person asked a question instead of saying yes.
“What does it have to do with the windless, silent god?”
“He is my teacher. At the time of Demonic University, my teacher was the ark of openness.”
“Now just a moment!”
At that moment, Lee Song-baek says in surprise.
“If you are a disciple of the Pungbaek Mueumsingai… Are you by any chance the Hyeonpungsingai? He was the lord of the Ark of Openness in the past?”
The old man nodded slowly.
“That’s right. I am the beggar called Hyeonpunggae.”
“Three worlds…”
Lee Song-baek stumbled slightly as if his legs had lost strength. Hwasan’s disciples, who did not know the meaning, asked.
“This small cooperative. Do you know anything?”
“yes?”
“Hyeonpungsingae! Magyodae is the legendary ark who reorganized the government, which had suffered enormous damage and was in disarray at the time, and replenished the provinces. He is a person who cannot be left out when discussing the history of the powerful king over the past 100 years!”
“Eh?”
Jo Geol and his group lifted their heads and looked at the old man again.
Is this old man, who looks like he’s about to be put into a coffin, really such a powerful person?
“But I heard that he passed away at least fifty years ago, so I never thought he was still alive… and in a place like this…”
Lee Song-baek blinked as if he couldn’t believe it.
When it comes to distribution, I don’t even dare to mince words. Even Jongnam’s long-time friend wouldn’t dare straighten his back in front of this.
Standing in front of someone like that, I couldn’t help but feel shaky…
“It seems like you don’t know what to say.”
“Huh.”
But Cheongmyeong didn’t seem to care at all and just spat out an insult. Lee Song-baek stopped breathing without realizing it.
“Dojang! If you do that, you won’t…”
“What does it mean to be a sinner? Answer me without interrupting me.”
Seeing Cheongmyeong growling, Lee Song-baek was momentarily dazed.
‘I’m crazy.’
I know it’s difficult to explain without mentioning Cheongmyeong’s unconventionality, but no matter what, this has crossed the line. It’s been a while.
If it is known to the Gangho that he said these words to Hyeonpungsingae, many of the old powerful people in the Gangho will hang Cheongmyeong upside down and try to strip him of his skin.
But if you look closely, it was a bit strange.
Hyeonpungsingae, who heard the extremely rude remarks of a distant junior right in front of him, is not displeased at all.
‘How can this be?’
Of course, Hyeonpungsingae may be like that. To him, Cheongmyeong is a very young junior, not even the age of his great-grandson. Even if you climb on his lap and pull his beard, you might look cute.
However, it is definitely strange that even the Ark of Openness of the Heavenly Luju Dynasty behind them is watching this situation.
Moreover, it is not only the openness that is strange, but also the clearing.
Although Cheongmyeong is often said to be rude, he is not reckless enough to recklessly show hostility even to the old man.
‘And this is not mine…’
To live?
The cool life that flowed from Cheongmyeong flowed to Hyeonpungsingae. Sensing this, just as Cheon Sang-ru-ju was about to move, Hyeonpungsingae raised his hand to stop him.
“Don’t interfere.”
“Master Hana. I…”
“I told you not to interfere.”
The immense intimidation that emanated from Hyeonpungsingae immediately overwhelmed Cheonsangruju. Then, Cheongsang-rooju, who seemed to be second to none in terms of momentum, could not even offer a slight resistance and quietly bowed down to the whale.
“Cough. Cough.”
Hyeonpungsingae let out a dry cough weakly and turned his head towards Cheongmyeong.
“It’s not what you imagine. Hwasan Sword Association.”
“…”
“You can’t do something like that. Anyone who saw that war with their own eyes wouldn’t be able to lick the feet of a demonic cult. A human wouldn’t be able to do that. So stop your anger.”
Only then did Cheongmyeong’s shoulders relax a little.
“So? What do you mean? A sinner.”
‘Ah…’
The others who were watching this situation only then realized what this abnormal confrontation meant.]
A life where one must hide the word ‘criminal’ and even one’s own survival.
Taking those two things into consideration, Cheongmyeong believed that this person might have betrayed the central government.
As the murderousness disappeared from Cheongmyeong’s eyes, Hyeonpungsingae continued speaking with a deep sigh.
“In that great turmoil…”
Hyeonpungsingae’s eyes stared somewhere in the distance. Somewhere in the past, a place that no longer exists in the world.
“I sent tens of thousands of people to their deaths.”
“……”
“All the countless people, all the countless people… I drove them all to the battlefield. All of them.”
Hyeonpungsingae’s bony shoulders began to slowly shake.
An indescribably dull and damp air settled around them.
“The death penalty and discipleship… Anyone who works in the name of openness has been driven into the enemy camp without mercy. Because that is the way to go. Because only then can we understand the enemies.”
“……Amitabha Buddha.”
Hyeyeon threw away the whale.
“How could that be your fault? Anyone can say that…”
“Do you know where the exhibition is open?”
Hyeonpungsingae cut off the consolation Hyeyeon offered. Hyeyeon, who at first glance seemed cold, closed her mouth that she had opened without realizing it.
“Those who lost their parents at the hands of the devil, those who lost their children, those who have nothing left and are just waiting for the day to die… In times of war, they all become beggars and flow into the open air.”
Everyone held their breath and listened to the old man’s voice.
“I drove those people to the enemy camp. I put a sword in the hand of a ten-year-old child, encouraging him to risk his life in order to get revenge. Even though I knew he wouldn’t come back… I just didn’t know when his life would end
. To determine the presence or absence of horizontal enemies.”
Baekcheon’s face turned white.
I’ve heard countless times how terrible the war against the Demon Cult was, but I’ve never heard anything like this.
How many people’s deaths and bloodshed are lumped together under the term ‘great damage’?
“I just watched as the child headed towards Gangnam, holding the dagger with his bracken hand. Or rather, I pushed him on his back.”
Hyeonpungsingae’s voice began to tremble.
“Because I had to…”
It may sound like an excuse, but everyone here knew. Anyone can tell by looking at Hyeonpungsingae’s expression.
What he says is by no means an excuse.
“Because only then can we win. Because only then can we avoid destruction. Only then!”
Hyeonpungsingae’s hands start to twitch.
“Because that’s the only way to survive…”
Tang Soso bit his lip as he stared at Hyeonpungsingae’s hand, which was trembling so pitifully.
“But that’s not your fault either!”
“……”
“Everyone would have had to do that in the end. It was inevitable at that time. It’s the Demonic Cult that’s wrong!”
“Oh my…”
A sad smile appeared on Hyeonpungsingae’s lips.
“…I thought so too.”
A dry cough broke out one after another. Every time he coughed, it felt like the life was draining out of him.
No, perhaps it is not his life that is slipping away, but the lingering regrets he left behind.
“Before I saw with my own eyes what I was trying to protect…what I had sacrificed and thrown away so many things to protect…I thought that too.”
Hyeonpungsingae’s eyes were colored with deep regret.
“Until I knew that the sacrifices of those I sent to death were for the benefit of mere bastards.”
The face of the old man who had been quietly chanting became increasingly distorted and distorted. The face looked like it was smiling or crying.
A slight bitterness and sadness also appeared in Cheongmyeong’s eyes as he stared at Hyeonpungsingae.
