Episode 116 Why are you whispering?
The woman pounding hard on the sledgehammer was none other than Ian. She was working in a small iron shop making agricultural tools such as hoes and scythes.
She was dexterous and quickly learned the job, quickly producing a fairly good quality hoe.
This was the safe house of the Heavenly Demon Church. There were many different types of safe houses. There were hidden safe places where people could not reach, and there were places disguised as ordinary places where many people came and went.
At that time, someone entered there.
“I eat and work.”
When I turned around, I saw that Tianhua Luzhu had brought some food.
“thank you.”
Ian did most of the iron work, and Cheonhwaruju was in charge of preparing the meals. Because Cheongmyeon was wearing a mask, he moved secretly without being seen.
Ian asked, looking at Tianhuaruju’s attire.
“Where are you going?”
It was Cheonhwaruju, who usually wore ordinary woman’s clothes and a head scarf. But today, I was wearing makeup and pretty clothes.
“No, I just tried it on for a change.”
The rule was that it was absolutely impossible to go out as long as you were in the safe house.
Ian could tell. That today is a special day for her.
“Is it your birthday today?”
“no. Just had a nice dream. Now, hurry up and eat before it gets cold.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
Ian started using chopsticks.
“Please eat together.”
“I ate a few pieces while cooking and I was full. eat a lot.”
“I think you really have natural cooking skills. “It’s much more delicious than buying it.”
“Actually, when I first started this job, I worked in the kitchen.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I went through a lot of hardships back then.”
Ian could feel it. That the experience of struggling from the bottom made her successful.
The food was delicious, but Ian couldn’t eat much. She had no appetite for food since she came here because she was worried about the sword dance.
“Did you hear what I said to Gongja Lee?”
“yes. I heard you said that I am someone who will do great things in the future. “Why did you say that?”
“I’m good at looking at people.”
“Thank you for your positive comments. “But that’s too much of a compliment.”
Chen Hualouju said, looking at Ian with calm eyes.
“This warrior is a precious person. So always value yourself.”
Ian was grateful that she said this.
While I was hiding in the safehouse, I didn’t show it to the public, but I was very worried about the sword dance. I was so worried that I couldn’t sleep at night. Every time that happened, Chen Hualouju consoled herself that nothing would happen.
Her comfort is strangely supportive. It may have been due to some mysterious aura that was difficult to explain in words that the woman named Cheonhwaruju had.
At that time, Cheongmyeon, who rarely appears, entered the place.
Ian asked in surprise.
“What’s going on?”
“The headquarters of the Apostolic Alliance is on alert.”
“Don’t you know the details?”
“yes. “I only heard that there was an emergency.”
Ian said, trying to calm his anxious mind.
“Young Master, you will be fine. Because Soma is protecting you.”
It was then. A welcome voice came from behind.
“Why don’t you think about the opposition? “I can protect Soma.”
When I turned around, I saw Geomgeuk and Geukak Soma walking in side by side. There was blood splattered on the two people’s clothes, especially in the sword dance. Surprised, Ian ran over and examined Geommugeuk’s body first.
“are you okay? “Are you hurt?”
Geomgeuk sat down on the floor and Ian looked at his body. Although he received sword wounds in various places, he had avoided fatal injuries.
“I was hurt a lot. “All my limbs were almost cut off!”
“…I don’t think it’s that bad?”
“No, look closely. “Check to see if all your fingers and toes are still together.”
Ian turned his head and greeted Extreme Soma politely.
“Thank you for saving our master.”
“No! “It’s the opposite!”
Geommugeuk joked and Extreme Soma remained calm. So, it seemed like the atmosphere where Geukak Soma saved Geommugeuk.
Extreme Soma was staring at the sword dance in silence. Tianhua Rouju could feel the change in Extreme Evil Soma. Just as the mask worn has changed, the way one looks at the sword dance has changed.
She asked, crossing Extreme Soma’s arms.
“Brother, you are not injured, are you?”
“does not exist.”
“Then can we go back to Cheonhwaru now?”
Extreme Demon Soma nodded, and Tianhua Rouju was delighted.
Just as she felt the change in Extreme Soma, Ian also felt one thing. Maybe that Chen Heruju knew that the two would return today.
“Do you all want to go right away?”
“Let’s go first.”
When Cheonhwaruju looked back at Geukaksoma’s chin gesture, Geommugeuk was sleeping, leaning on Ian’s back.
Ian said he would stay like this for a while so I pretended to go first.
Tianhua Luzhu whispered to Extreme Evil Demon.
“After a long time, have a drink with the food I cooked.”
“It’s good.”
Extreme Evil Soma and Cheonhwaruju Cheongmyeon left there first.
Ian sat quietly so as not to break the sword dance. Ian’s expression, which had been extremely tense for a while, finally relaxed.
‘Welcome back, master.’
* * *
I had a dream.
In my dream, I was fighting Baekmanggi. It was not a new fight, but a reenactment of a previous fight.
Baekmanggi’s sword blade, which was too fast to be seen during the fight, unfolded like a slow painting. My herbivorous diet was also moving slowly.
I felt like I was watching the fight objectively as a third party. It’s like being a spectator and watching from the side.
In an instant, I remembered exactly what I thought I had forgotten about. I replayed the fight like a baduk player replaying a game. My subconscious was accurately remembering the fight with Baek Mang-gi.
He could even control the speed of the fight. The moment I decided to stop here for a moment, Baekmanggi and I in the dream stopped moving.
Thanks to this, I was able to closely examine the position and angle of the sword. The fight moved according to my will. You could watch it by moving slowly, or you could stop it.
In that way, I was able to compare the difference between Geomwang’s martial arts and my martial arts. This process gave me as much enlightenment as the experience of fighting in person.
In fact, there were times when I had to fight for new experiences. At the last moment when fighting Baek Mang-gi, only he was visible and the world went dark.
I could tell. These mysterious events are a result of the changes that occurred when the Bicheon Sword Technique achieved the Twelve Saints and Daesung, the internal energy exceeded a certain limit, and the teachings of the Master of All Things were added to it.
The moment my sword finally pierced his heart, I woke up.
My body and mind were refreshed.
I thought I would be more tired because I was fighting even in my dreams, but that wasn’t the case. It looks like he had a dream before he finally woke up and slept well.
“Master, are you awake? “Are you hungry?”
“How long did I sleep?”
“You fell asleep almost ten o’clock.”
This meant that I slept almost a full day. It’s been a long time since I slept soundly. Now that I think about it, this was the first time I’ve slept so soundly since returning.
My physical condition was also good. Thanks to your kindness and Geukpumcheonjamsa, the wound where I was injured was not that deep.
‘Thank you, old man.’
If Hyeolcheondoma had not given him his favor, he would have definitely been hurt more. I unwrapped the Geukpum Cheonjamsa and wrapped it around the handle of the black magic sword again.
“I don’t think I slept that long.”
“I think you were very tired.”
“What about Extreme Soma? Did you go to Cheonhwaru?”
“Yes, you two went first.”
Suddenly, I felt like I wanted to see Extreme Soma, so I guess it’s true that people become closer while fighting.
“New news came in while you were sleeping. “Bisain killed Seok Guan Chu’s grandson.”
I nodded silently. It was a moment that changed not only the fate of Bisain but also the fate of the Sado Alliance. Originally, Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson was the successor to Sado-maeng. We don’t know how this change will affect our future.
“This is a good thing, right?”
“maybe?”
I lay down again.
Ian pulled the blanket over him.
“No. “Eat and sleep.”
“a little bit.”
“I’ll prepare a meal, so come out as soon as I call you.”
I called out to Ian as he left the room.
“Ian.”
“yes?”
“It’s nice to see you again.”
Ian smiled broadly.
“Me too.”
* * *
Commander-in-Chief Sima Ming had come down to the operation command room.
The operation command room of Tongcheongak is known to be safer than Cheonmajeon.
Hundreds of letters arrive every day and are analyzed here.
“Not yet?”
“yes.”
Sima Ming was nervous because of the last letter that had arrived.
I wasn’t this nervous until I heard the news that Sarcophagus was behind it.
This is because I believed that Geommugeuk and Extreme Soma would get through it on their own.
However, when Baek Mang-gi’s name was mentioned, Tongcheongak was put on alert. If Baekmanggi had truly moved, the lives of Geommugeuk and Extreme Soma could not be guaranteed.
But the religious leader did not give any orders. As the opponent was the enemy, it would have been impossible to immediately dispatch a master to support them nearby, but it was possible to send an urgent message to Geommugeuk and Geukak Soma to stop everything and return. But Geom Woojin didn’t do that.
Sima Ming felt like he was a religious leader, but he also thought that it was a decision he could never make.
‘Do you really believe that much?’
The soldiers working here were also very nervous, as it was rare for a general to come down here and wait for a war message like this in person.
The soldiers who managed this place were those with the authority to handle Tongcheongak’s top secrets. Sima Ming was also the one he trusted the most.
At that time, the long-awaited letter arrived. The soldier who confirmed the contents reported in a welcoming tone.
“Both Seokguanchu and Baekmanggi are dead.”
Sima Ming was relieved at the report from his subordinate soldiers, but he was also deeply surprised.
“What about our two?”
“Both Lee Gongja and Extreme Evil Soma are safe.”
Sima Ming sighed in relief and sat down in his seat. Relaxed, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment.
‘Two people killed Baek Mang-gi and Seok Gwan-chu? ‘That won’t be possible.’
Since the Apostles and Bisain moved together, there must have been other variables. A new expert may have emerged from the Sado Alliance. As time passes, we will find out more details about what happened.
In the meantime, the soldier who made the report organized the war documents and brought them back as a report. It was a report to be sent to Cheonma.
Sima Ming asked him as he accepted the report.
“What do you think about this?”
“I don’t know how Baek Mang-gi died, but one thing is certain. “The latest news related to science and engineering always surprises me.”
Sima Ming nodded in agreement and stood up.
However, Sima Ming left the strategy room, thinking that it was even more surprising that the leader seemed to have predicted this outcome, at least for today.
* * *
A few days after arriving at the safe house, I walked around the streets and bought various items. There were a lot of things to buy, so I bought a cart and loaded them up.
First, I stopped by a doctor’s office and bought several new needle tubes, and then stopped by a pharmacy and bought several herbs in bulk. There were rare and expensive herbs, and there were also commonly used herbs.
After gathering the herbs, I bought a container. It was a wooden barrel large enough for three or four people to fit into it.
I bought new blankets and clothes, and food and alcohol to last me for a while. Then, I bought a large longing that could illuminate my whole body.
Ian was surprised when he saw the things I bought from the author.
“What is all this?”
“Guess what it is.”
“These are completely unrelated things, right?”
She asked me with a curious look as she looked at the pile of herbs.
“Aren’t you suffering from internal injuries?”
“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you would worry. “I think I should go to Dr. Ma quickly.”
Ian looked at the cart again.
“You’re not hurt. But why did you buy so many herbs?”
Then I picked something up from the cart.
“What is this? omg!”
She whispered as she lowered herself next to the cart, putting down what she had picked up where it was.
“This is women’s underwear, right?”
“that’s right.”
I lowered my posture like her.
“Why did you buy underwear?”
“Because I need it. But why are you whispering all of a sudden? “Has an enemy appeared?”
“That’s right… something more surprising than a grocery store map came out of the cart.”
“My back hurts. Can we stop standing up?”
“I have other clothes too! So pretty!”
There was also a beautiful palace made of high-quality silk.
“Whose is this? “Is this a very thin woman?”
“I have someone to give a gift to.”
“If you’re giving me underwear as a gift, it seems like you’re very close to me, right?”
“It’s close.”
“There’s no way I don’t know someone who’s so close to me? But that doesn’t mean he’s Lord Cheonhwaru. ah! “Is there anyone among the courtesans at Cheonhwaru that you liked?”
“Shall I show you who it is?”
“really?”
“of course. let’s go.”
Ian and I drove the cart to a small manor far out of town.
“Do you live here?”
“You could say so.”
But when we entered the manor, it was empty.
“anybody there. “I don’t think anyone lives there.”
“It will happen now. “I borrowed it for a few days.”
“why?”
I spoke to the puzzled woman. It was the words that would change her life, and the words that she most wanted to hear came from me.
“Because I plan to perform a poison purification technique on you here.”