Episode 828 Where are the others now? (3)
Consciousness gradually settles deeper.
Sinking down and down endlessly, the body and consciousness become separated from each other and become increasingly distant.
My hazy consciousness was constantly searching for something, as if I was dreaming a vague but not completely broken dream.
‘Long story….’
Taaaaagh!
“Aaaahhh!”
Cheongmyeong opened his eyes and grabbed his head at the sudden pain.
“ouch! “What kind of bastard!”
“grow.”
“….”
He was about to throw a fit as he rolled his eyes, but when he saw who was sitting in front of him, he quietly closed his mouth.
“Cheongmyeong.”
“yes?”
“As people live, they may fall asleep. “It’s not that I don’t understand that.”
“Yes, that’s right. “Well, it’s not that special.”
“yes. But…”
The person sitting in the front.
An indescribable feeling of emptiness fell on the face of Daehyeongeom Cheongmun, the chieftain of the volcano.
“It’s not that I didn’t buy that much, but this is the first time in my life I’ve heard of someone dozing off while being disciplined. Shikiya!”
“…is it my fault! Because you’re just saying the obvious…”
“What are you doing?”
As Cheongmun began to foam, the priests, including Cheongjin, who were watching the situation, were shocked and shouted loudly.
“Calm down, long sentence!”
“You can’t lose!”
Cheongmyeong smiled happily at that heartwarming sight.
I usually don’t talk much, but those bastards still respect me quite a lot…
“Then it means we will meet later!”
“Don’t hit me unless you stop me! “We’re doubly so!”
“You’d rather kick me out of the volcano! “You won’t do that!”
“….”
I had a look at who the last guy was. Even if no one else knows, you are really upset.
Cheongmun held the back of his neck and sighed heavily.
“Are you a Taoist? huh? Are you a Taoist?”
“Has our executioner’s eyesight deteriorated significantly? “I’m proudly wearing my uniform like this.”
“Are you a Taoist just because you wear a coat of arms, you idiot?!”
Cheongmun screamed.
“I sent you to subdue the magic bandits who are harassing the civilians!”
“We subjugated him. I destroyed everything just like you told me to. Then, instead of acting like this, you should praise me!”
“okay. “You did a great job, our priest.”
Cheongmun smiled happily and asked.
“So what did you receive from the people who said they were grateful?”
“yes?”
“What do you think you received?”
“iced coffee. “That one?”
Cheongmyeong smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head.
“No, I was just going to leave, but they kept saying thank you… If it wasn’t for me, many people would have been killed by those magic bandits.”
“so?”
“That’s why I said I wanted to thank you and repay you, but I think it’s not polite to ignore people’s sincerity so much, so…” Cheongmyeong smiled awkwardly and glanced at him
.
“Thank you for your hard work and I received what was given to you… ahhh!”
Cheongmyeong fell flat on the spot, avoiding the inkstone that flew like lightning. The inkstone that narrowly grazed my head got stuck in the wall.
“Are you trying to kill me now?”
“If you die like that, I won’t even go through this trouble, you damned bastard!”
Cheongmun now picked up the table in front of him and threw it away.
As Cheongmyeong quickly rolled his body to the side to avoid it, a double wick lit up in Cheongmun’s eyes.
“damage? damage? Where are you today? You die and I die! Cheongjin! “Go and get the whip!”
“yep!”
“you. “Please bring it somewhere.”
“…yes.”
“I told you to bring a whip!”
“yes!”
“Think carefully. “Really think about it.”
Caught between two giants… no, a giant and an evil spirit, Cheongjin suffered torn between this and that, unable to do this or that. Then he said while looking at the hearing.
“I… be sentenced to death in long sentences.”
“why?”
“Anyway… I think I got cramps in my legs after kneeling for a long time, so you’re sending someone else…”
Cheongmun opened his eyes and glared at him, but Cheongjin just lowered his head and looked away.
‘Authority is far, fists are close.’
If Cheongmyeong’s calf catches fire, it is obvious that Cheongjin’s chin will catch fire later. Even if he gets hit, it would be better to get hit by Cheongmoon. That person beats him without mercy, so the situation will be even more serious.
“Ok.”
Seeing the priests all avoiding their gaze, a groan escaped Cheongmun’s mouth.
“They are already devastated civilians suffering from magic attacks! “You can’t give money and come back, but you take money and come back?”
“Then you won’t accept what’s offered? no way. Ignoring sincerity is also not polite. ha ha ha.”
“Ugh.”
Cheongmun grabbed the back of his head, which was feeling a tingling sensation.
“Now, long sentence!”
“Calm down! And then you move on!”
“This hasn’t happened for a day or two, so why are you so angry?”
That bastard has been hitting hard since a while ago?
As for you, I’ll see you later.
Cheongmyeong glanced at the priests. Unable to control his anger, Cheongmun stretched out his hand, but when he realized that he had thrown Datak away a moment ago, he shouted at Cheongmyeong.
“water! Refreshing cold water!”
“Yes!”
Cheongmyeong quickly answered and turned his head.
“What are you doing? “Run, you bastards!”
“You go! You bastard! “You… ugh….”
“Oh, I told you to calm down.”
“now. Take a deep breath. Slowly, slowly. “That’s right.”
When Cheongmun began to fall backwards with a clatter, Cheongmyeong quickly ran outside.
He scooped up the water in an instant and held out a glass. Cheongmun took it and tried to drink it in one go, but then flinched.
“….”
I looked down with a blank face and saw steam rising from the glass.
“…Cheongmyeong.”
“yes?”
“…Why is this hot water?”
“Uh… I’m afraid you’ll feel sick if you eat something cold in a hurry. “Did you do well?”
“….”
“….”
A deep emptiness appeared in Cheongmun’s eyes.
You can’t really kill this thing.
Primeval Heavenly Lord. Why are you doing this to me…?
He moved his lips as if he were going to say something, but soon stopped and shook his head helplessly.
“Cheongmyeong.”
“Your death penalty.”
“Why did you take the money?”
“No, what… I said I would give it to you…”
“Honestly!”
“Grunt.”
Cheongmyeong stuck out his mouth in disapproval and made a loud noise.
“Honestly, I don’t really understand.”
“what?”
“To put it bluntly, that’s something that should have been done in the coffin. But we take our precious time to go there and help.”
“yes.”
“Then isn’t it true that there is a price?”
“….”
“It’s also a problem to think that someone else will do something whenever a problem arises. In the world, if there is something that gives, there is also something that comes. But it’s not like I received anything special. “You have to try that to make a few pennies.”
A sigh naturally escaped from Cheongmun’s mouth.
“Was it that big of a deal for you to beat up some of those magic bandits?”
“…That’s not true.”
“okay. “Wouldn’t it be over in just one meal?”
“It is true that whether it was Han Sik-gyeong or Han Si-jin, they did their work.”
Cheongmun, who was looking at Cheongmyeong, who seemed not to understand at all, asked.
“Even if I am about to be attacked by magic enemies, are you going to save me and ask me to pay for my trouble?”
“no way. Can the death penalty and those people be the same? Do not worry. If my brother is attacked by magic bandits, I will cut those magic bandits into pieces. Where are the magic bandits going?”
Cheongmyeong made a serious decision. Cheongmun sighed and looked at him quietly.
‘What should I do…’
It is not that difficult to force Cheongmyeong to act. Although he may have to complain, Cheongmyeong always follows his words anyway.
But that shouldn’t be the case.
This is the gateway. It is a place where I have to follow my heart. So what Cheongmun must do is not to control Cheongmun’s actions, but to change his mind.
‘I sent you here to feel the feelings of the powerless.’
There is nothing more to ask for if such outstanding talent is accompanied by cooperation. However, heaven does not give everything to one person.
“Cheongmyeong.”
“yes?”
“Do you know why the volcano emphasizes consultation?”
“Because it’s a political faction.”
“Then do you know why political factions emphasize consultation?”
“…well. Because it looks like it’s there?”
Cheongmun shook his head.
“Because we are people with swords.”
“….”
“We are people who try to become stronger through training. Of course, the training is also a way to realize the Tao, but the essence of those who increase their strength does not change.”
“Yes, of course.”
“And… When people hold a sword, they want to swing it, and when they have power, they want to use it. “It means that those who decide to wear a sword at their waist will inevitably pull it out one day.”
Cheongmyeong quietly nodded.
What Cheongmun said is certainly correct. There are very few people who repeat training within their own sect throughout their lives and then end their lives. One way or another, accumulated power is bound to be expressed.
“Who are those who receive that power?”
“….”
“He is also a person, Cheongmyeong.”
Cheongmun’s eyes sank solemnly.
“Power without direction becomes oppression and evil. The reason why an agreement must be established is not out of pity. It is to establish one’s own path correctly. “The power that forgets righteousness will one day destroy itself.”
“Eh… So…”
Cheongmyeong shrugged.
“You just have to beat up the bad guys.”
“….”
“Okay, okay. It’s okay if you don’t pay for the trouble. How much does that cost? “I will be careful from now on.”
Cheongmun sighed in response to Cheongmyeong’s answer.
As expected, Cheongmyeong does as he is told. But that’s not because I ever understood it. It’s just because the hearing wants it.
That was not what the hearing wanted.
If Cheongmyeong wanted to live only with the sword of the volcano, that would have been enough, but what Cheongmun really wanted was to stand upright as a Taoist.
Even if it is an incredibly difficult task.
“Cheongmyeong.”
“yes?”
“Okay, you can forget everything else. But remember this one thing.”
“yes.”
“You can’t do everything on your own.”
“….”
“No matter how strong you become, no matter how great you reach, there are some things you cannot do alone. “If you find yourself in such a situation someday, you too may desperately need someone’s help.”
“Me?”
Cheongmyeong tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.
It may be difficult to understand the current Cheongmyeong. now.
Anyone who has never lost, who has not experienced despair due to a keen sense of lack, cannot understand the value of the warmth contained in someone’s selflessly extended hand.
“Someday, when you feel helpless, when you despair in front of something you cannot do, then you will understand. “How did the people you helped feel?”
“….”
“When that time comes, can you promise me that you will put the agreement into your sword?”
“Grunt.”
Cheongmyeong still scratched his head with an expression of uncertainty.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Death penalty.”
“okay. “It’s not easy for you.”
“But…”
But then he nodded obediently.
“yes. If I feel it… If I feel it, I will do as my brother-in-law says. But I can’t guarantee.”
“okay. “That’s it.”
Cheongmun smiled and nodded.
“Now go and return the money you received.”
“…Uh, that….”
“I know you spent it all on drinks. “Take the money you saved and give it back without missing a single penny.”
“….”
“What is the answer?”
“Nun.”
Cheongmyeong pouted his mouth, but Cheongmun just smiled.
“okay.”
“Then I’ll come back.”
Cheongmyeong turned around. Then Cheongmun added softly to his back.
“Oh and…”
“Yes?”
“Distribute to the civilians all the property that was stolen while robbing the magic bandits.”
“….”
Cheongmyeong’s body froze like a stone statue on the spot.
After a while, he slowly turned around, and there was extreme despair on his face.
“How did you do that…”
“Cheongjin.”
“…yes.”
“Follow him and keep an eye on him to make sure not a single penny is stolen. Cheongmyeong, if you steal again this time, I will hang you upside down, so behave yourself!”
“….”
“Don’t worry about which is better: hanging on or saving money. “I will steal the money and hang it up.”
“…ghost.”
“Tsk.”
When Cheongmyeong, now sullen, left the room first with his shoulders drooping, Cheongjin sighed and asked carefully.
“Long sentence of death. Aren’t you expecting too much from Brother Cheongmyeong? “The death penalty is different for criminals like us, right?”
“Know. It won’t be easy, but…”
Cheongmun looked at the door that Cheongmyeong had closed and left.
‘But one day…’
The day will come when Cheongmyeong will also understand the meaning of his words.
That guy is none other than Cheongmyeong.
A warm smile slowly appeared on Cheongmun’s lips.
