Episode 322 What kind of happiness is Kang Ho-in?
Lim So-baek arrived at Huwon and took a deep breath.
“The night air is nice.”
I also took in enough night air. It was a cool day, so it was a good night for a walk. After passing by Huwon, I walked along the trail as if I was heading towards the mountain behind.
At this level, it looks like the mountain was dug out to create a pupil.
Before we knew it, we came to a dead-end wall covered in vines, where Lim Sobaek slowly raised the sword on his waist and thrust it into a specific area.
The vine wall was pushed and moved, creating a narrow space to enter and exit.
As I entered Vigo, the smell of dust filled my nose, but it was quite dark.
When Lim So-baek pulled the string next to the door, the rectangular stone door opened at the top, allowing moonlight to shine through and enter. It was my first time seeing a window made of stone.
Anyway, it looked like it was made for ventilation.
Lim So-baek also looked around the floor and the surroundings carefully, as if it had been a while since he had been to Vigo.
My first impression of Murimmaeng Vigo was surprisingly like a general store.
There were Buddhist statues, unidentified statues, old art pieces, musical instruments, and antiques whose purpose could not be determined, and weapons were gathered to one side.
It felt more like a warehouse than a warehouse.
I said while looking at the old statue.
“…Why is there something like this?”
“It must be loot. It’s been a while so I’m not sure. It seems that when fighting against various forces and obtaining objects of artistic value, some were disposed of and others were piled up one by one. There must have been the tastes of the former leaders as well. There are no records of really old things, but there are records at some point. “Look underneath.”
As Lim So-baek said, when we looked at the bottom of the statue, there was a simple explanation attached.
I suddenly checked the floor where the moonlight was shining.
If no one had been in for a long time, I expected there would be dust rolling around, but I guess there was someone cleaning occasionally, so I didn’t see any dust or hair right away.
Suddenly, I felt like I heard the sound of water, so I looked ahead and saw that there was something like a ditch dug and water flowing gently inside it. I asked Lim Sobaek.
“Is this for fire protection?”
“I think so.”
It looked like a ditch was dividing the area. After crossing this ditch, the material of the floor changed to wood. The floor is laid so that you have to take off your shoes before entering. Because it was made of connected planks, a creaking sound was heard every time you stepped on it.
From here it was the study.
The walls on the left and right were all books.
Why on earth are there so many books? There were a lot of old, dull-looking books piled up, and most of them had era names or something like that written on them.
Is it something like the Chronicles of the Murim Alliance?
When we went a little further and looked, there were strange stairs-like things rising here and there. When I guessed its purpose, it turned out to be a staircase that doubled as a chair to sit on and read a book. Of course, it was also a ladder structure that allowed you to climb up to a high place and take out the books on top.
Lim So-baek said to me while looking at a corner of the study.
“What was here was difficult to read.”
“What is it?”
“It is a book that records evil deeds that actually occurred in the past. A record of evil. The people before Confucius were particularly cruel. There remain incidents that are not even covered in history. Now, no one remembers it or has any records of it. You must have forgotten. “It appears that human nature is much crueler than we realize.”
“hmm.”
“It seems that this Murim League was created and destroyed repeatedly. It is said that the Murim League is a deadly force that kills those who commit mass murder or are ruthless that should not be committed by humans.”
“It’s a death-defying team… I guess the first Murim League was small.”
“I guess so. It must have been created by a few experts from a certain sect working together. Anyway, if you read the book here carefully, you will feel disgust for humans themselves. I think it will be right to get rid of this book someday, but I haven’t decided. “I wonder if my personal choice may be too arrogant.”
I looked at Lim Sobaek.
“Is it because of how cruel the ancient people were?”
“It’s more than you can imagine. To the point where it actually feels romantic to kill someone with a sword. “There were especially many Sima Mao-do who killed people regardless of their gender or age for the sake of martial arts.”
I looked around the library while listening to Lim So-baek, and finally stopped in front of a book related to martial arts.
As I was staring at the numerous martial arts books, Lim So-baek came near and said.
“There are many strange things about old martial arts. There are many things I can’t learn now. There are many shamanic arts that have completely different methods of fortune telling or are actually martial arts. “Then who are the people who still possess and practice the most martial arts like this?”
I looked at Lim Sobaek.
“It’s a magic religion.”
“okay. We also have the goal of eliminating from the world those with martial arts growth methods that cross certain human lines. “That goal is not the goal of the members.”
“It’s a goal given to the leader.”
Lim Sobaek nodded.
“But if we get rid of these records and the past right now, it will be difficult to fight against the magic power. I wonder if I’m anxious. Because you have to know the other person. In the end, I have no choice but to keep it in a storage like this. So, in the study you are looking at now, there are more old magic arts and actual martial arts techniques than white martial arts techniques.”
“If it’s a martial arts growth method that crosses the line.”
“Take a guess.”
“I guess it’s a way to gain true energy through killing or slaughter, or something like that, right?”
“right. “If this method spreads, there will always be people who want to try it.”
“Why won’t it go away? “Something like this.”
Lim Sobaek looked at me.
“I don’t know. Are they bound to coexist like light and darkness? Or is the method wrong? Maybe we need more time. Only the method of killing will change, but it may not disappear forever. Still, we must be prepared.”
I checked in the Murim League’s library that there were more magic crafts.
It felt strange to hear that they were magicians who could not be eliminated because they could be helpful when dealing with magic.
Anyway, I am in a situation where I can confirm the remarks of the Murim Alliance with my own eyes.
I thought that perhaps this place was of a higher level than the study room managed by students. First of all, the level of vigilance is different and they possess the martial arts of the forces that the Murim Alliance destroyed.
I had no choice but to ask Lim Sobaek what I wanted to ask him.
“…who is the manager here?”
Lim Sobaek didn’t answer for a while, so I looked at him. Lim So-baek asked me back.
“manager?”
“yes. At least he’s in charge of cleaning…”
“There is a supervisor and there is a deputy. Anyway, you also need to manage your inventory. I’m the one who has to check Vigo’s overall storage condition, so I can’t leave that to just anyone. Of course, I was also in charge before I became the leader.”
“okay.”
Only then did I find out who Vigo’s manager was. Lim So-baek looked at my expression and asked:
“Do you know who it is?”
I nodded.
“Yes, General Military Gongsunshen and Military Gongsunyue will be the supervising adjutants. “After Lord Maeng, the only people who need to know Maeng’s secrets are the military.”
Coincidentally, the two also have a teacher-disciple relationship.
Lim So-baek acknowledged in a calm tone.
“right. Moreover….”
Lim Sobaek was about to say something but closed his mouth. I immediately sealed my mouth and listened.
“….”
As I was waiting, taking three or four breaths, I heard footsteps outside.
There was one person.
The sound of not-so-fast steps grew louder, and then a voice was heard from Vigo’s entrance.
“…Is the lord there?”
Lim So-baek answered.
“Here it is.”
I looked at Lim So-baek’s facial expression, clearly not speaking informally.
I heard footsteps, followed by the sound of stepping on the floor, and then a man I had never seen before suddenly appeared and looked at Lim Sobaek and me.
He looked too sane to be called an old man. However, most of the hair was white with black hair mixed in here and there.
“You were with a guest.”
Lim Sobaek nodded and introduced me.
“You’ve probably heard of it. “This is Hao Wen Ju, Li Zhaha.”
Lim Sobaek introduced me to the man who appeared.
“Total military politeness.”
I took a stab at Gongsongsim.
“Junior Lee Ja-ha is meeting the Commander-in-Chief.”
Gongsongshen responded in return.
“Nice to meet you, Lord Moon.”
Gongsunshen said while slowly looking around.
“Vigo is a place where outsiders cannot enter, but it seems that Lord Hao Wen has decided to join the Murim Alliance.”
Lim So-baek answered.
“Not really.”
Gongsunshim said with a somewhat surprised expression.
“Ah yet? If Lord Maeng trusts me, I have no choice but to trust him. Instead, I will record the arrivals and departures on the list. “Please understand that this is in the same context as managing Vigo’s items.”
Lim Sobaek nodded.
“I brought Moonju because he said he wanted to see it, but he was about to leave.”
Gongsun Yue waved his hand.
“Please take a good look around, and if you get permission from the lord, you can borrow it. Just tell me later what you are taking.”
This time I answered.
“These are precious books, so how can you take them to look at them? “I’ll just take a look around.”
Gongsunshen nodded and pointed to one side.
“There are a lot of records out there that are difficult to read. You must be careful because these records are a hindrance to your self-cultivation and you may fall into a state of confusion while reading them. Normally, when a distinguished guest comes, I have to guide him… Anyway, since he is with the Lord, it would be rude to disturb him. “My lord, I will leave.”
Lin Xiaobai nodded and Gongsunshen looked at me.
“See you again, Lord Moon.”
I was polite again.
“Please take a look too, Commander-in-Chief.”
“Yes then.”
Gongsunshen slowly turned around and walked away. Naturally, I watched Gongsongsim walking closely. His back was straight, his shoulder lines were straight without any tilt, and his gait was constant until he disappeared.
As I continued to stare at Gongsunshen….
Lim Sobaek, who seemed to have deliberately arranged the meeting, said while observing my expression.
“Please sit down.”
“yes.”
I sat on the stairs and Lin Xiaobaek also sat a little away. We both had a useless conversation while listening to the sound of footsteps moving away.
“The first time I came here was before I became a leader.”
“Ah, it wasn’t necessarily the case that only the leader could come in?”
“Of course, the leader of the squadron brought us here. There were a lot of martial arts classes and a lot of good weapons, but honestly, I wasn’t interested. So I asked the leader at the time. Master, why did you bring me here? Then he laughed for a while. He had a bit of a foul mouth, but he laughed while swearing. It’s a place that other people can’t enter even if they try, so why did you bring them there? While doing so.”
I listened to Lim So-baek, nodding occasionally.
“…At that time, the leader was not able to recover his previous martial arts skills. “He must have been nervous and frustrated, but he was such a strong person that he didn’t show it often.”
“It appears that it was following an incident in which you were seriously injured.”
“that’s right. After looking around, he pulled out a book, handed it to me, and told me to read it. After that, he took out a book and sat down on the stairs to read it quietly. “I just sat on the floor and read the book recommended by the leader.”
Somehow, I felt like I knew the intentions of the squadron leader.
Lim Sobaek continued speaking with an expression reminiscent of that time.
“…It was a record of evil. It was also a record of slaughter. It was a book with illustrations. As I was reading, I found it very difficult to read. There was a terrible picture that was described in detail, and as I was looking at it, tears came out without me realizing it and I looked at Maengju. Why on earth does this old man ask me to read something like this? I closed the book. Then, Maengju quietly closed the book he was reading, looked at me with an unprecedented serious expression, and spoke.”
I nodded.
Lim Sobaek said in a calm tone.
“Sobaek, I need you to take charge of the leader.”
Lim Sobaek sighed and looked around at Vigo.
“…I thought, what kind of bullshit is this? “I should have refused when I was sick.”
I burst out laughing at Lim So-baek’s tone of voice.
Lim So-baek told me.
“Why are you laughing. This person. “We’re talking about something serious.”
“You weren’t interested in the leader position at all.”
“There was none.”
“There must have been a reason, right?”
Lim So-baek said.
“Jahaya, the leader is not a human being. I knew it before then. Even when I want to cry, I can’t, and even when I want to laugh, I often have to hold back. Even after being informed of my subordinate’s death, I still have to deal with what needs to be done that day. You have to be either a very shameless person or a very strong person. I was neither of those. I watched the leader of the squadron suffer for a long time. So I didn’t want to do it anymore. “I just wanted to go back to my hometown one day and live leisurely like a successful man who came back.”
“yes.”
“I knew that if I became a lord, I would have to give up these feelings and even simple dreams. If you depend on alcohol, you can become a drunkard, if you are drunk with anger, you can become a tyrant, and if you are blinded by money, you can become a tyrant who uses his anger to accumulate wealth. The leader must just be the leader, but it is not an easy task. When you get married and start a family, you have to increase your guard… If you are wary of all of this, you will only end up living as a leader. Do you think I’m happy?”
“….”
At that moment, I lost concentration and couldn’t see how far away the sound of Gongsunshen’s footsteps had gone. I felt like I was suffocating as I wondered if they were nearby, deliberately muting the sound of their footsteps and prayers. First of all, I had no choice but to shake my head in response to Lim Sobaek’s question.
“Master, what kind of happiness is Kang Ho-in? All I had to do was have a drink every now and then.”
Perhaps because my words seemed absurd, Lim So-baek also burst into laughter.
“Is that so?”
“yes.”
Lim Sobaek asked me like a drunk neighborhood brother.
“Jaha, how are you? “Are you happy with your life now?”
“What’s it like to be alive? It’s not bad.”
Lim Sobaek smiled slightly.
Of course, we didn’t mention a word about politeness while chatting.
