Episode 170: The body knows first.
“How did Soje get here?”
Seo Dae-ryong’s voice trembled as he asked the question. It was truly something I never imagined I would see her here.
“I was invited too.”
“How?”
Only people related to Xiaolongzhen were invited to today’s banquet.
Then, an amazing fact came out of the woman’s mouth.
“I advanced to Palgang in the Soyongjeon held three years ago.”
Not only Seo Dae-ryong but also the later Jisoos around him were surprised.
The Soryongjeon is held once every three years, so this woman was a finalist in the last eight competitions. Basically, for the Soryongjeon celebration banquet, it was customary to send invitations to those who were members of the Murim Alliance among the past finalists.
“Let me formally greet you. “I am So-ok, the third leader of the White Dragon.”
“Ah, you were a military member of the Murim Alliance.”
He was also the leader of the White Dragon. When she shyly approached me and cheered me on, I never dreamed that she would be a member of the Murim League since she was not a member of the Murim League doubles team.
“I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t know. “Because I didn’t tell you.”
“Why are you cheering for me?”
The gazes of the two people intertwined in midair. Seo Dae-ryong’s excited emotions could be felt even from the side. The excitement of meeting your first love again.
On the other hand, Sook was calm compared to him.
“Seeing Seo Martial Arts reminded me of my old self, when I used to participate in Soryongjeon. I also came from a village and didn’t know anything. I didn’t know anyone and no one knew me. “I didn’t even have enough money to stay at a guesthouse, so I camped in the mountains and came down to participate in the competition.”
So-ok said these things without any shame. That kind of appearance made Seo Dae-ryong feel even better. She smelled nice.
“I watched every single dance of the Seo Sohyeop. It was a really great projection. It was especially great during the final dance. “My heart was racing so much that I wanted to jump up onto the offstage.”
To other people, it sounded like he wanted to participate in the competition again because he was impressed by the great dancing, but to Seo Dae-ryong, it could have been misunderstood to mean that he wanted to participate because he liked it.
“To beat Jin Soje. “It was truly the best dance of all time.”
Seo Dae-ryong felt like he was flying. After winning, I received many compliments and compliments, but this moment I received from her was the best. A smile formed on my lips.
“Now, would you like to go to the Demon Demon Squadron?”
The Murim League was the elite organization of the Murim Alliance, made up of young masters. From generation to generation, the winners of Soryongjeon entered the Destroying Demon Army.
“You can also apply to the White Dragon Order where Sojeo is.”
Then Sook’s face turned slightly red.
“Thank you for your words, but please don’t do that. “Starting from the Destruction Demon Command is the royal road to success in the Murim Alliance.”
“Thanks to your support, I even won. So, I would like to treat you to a separate meal.”
It was a truly courageous suggestion.
Seo Dae-ryong was nervous because he had been rejected more often than accepted by women. Fortunately, despite all that trepidation, So-ok readily accepted the offer.
“It’s an honor for me. “Because the winner of Soryongjeon buys us food.”
Seo Dae-ryong was so happy that he felt like he could fly.
Geommugeuk and Jin Ha-ryeong were watching this from outside the window.
I could understand the sword dance.
That she was captured by Cheon Myeong-hoe at Soryongjeon three years ago. In other words, it meant that even three years ago, Cheonmyeonghoe was active in Moorim.
‘These people are more deeply rooted in the Murim Alliance than I thought.’
It was the moment when the woman’s identity was revealed and an unexpected fact was discovered.
I asked Jin Ha-ryeong who was next to me.
“Do you know that woman?”
“So leader? “We just say hello.”
“What kind of person are you?”
“He is easy-going, has a good personality, and is popular with people. But it’s surprising. I never thought you would be cheering on your master like that. why? Are you worried, master? “Are you afraid that the fox will get mesmerized and give you the prize money?”
“Of course you should be worried. “It’s a servant.”
At that moment, Jin Ha-ryeong’s true feelings suddenly came out.
“Can’t you just stop doing that?”
After speaking, she said, “Oops.” I was told not to say anything I was worried about, but the words I shouldn’t have said came out. Thinking it was an out-of-the-box step, she said what she wanted to say.
“Can’t I just live like an ordinary drone? Since I learned martial arts, I can take the entrance exam, right? “I will help you if you need it.”
When Geommugeuk said nothing, Jin Ha-ryeong spoke hurriedly.
“Don’t misunderstand! I’m not doing this because I’m embarrassed to be your servant. “It just means that there is a new life.”
Her face was slightly flushed. I was worried that I might have hurt the pride of sword dance.
Soon, Geomgeuk opened his mouth.
“This is something I often say to someone. “Try a new life.”
“To whom?”
“there is. “He’s a stubborn person who doesn’t like change.”
“Like you?”
Geommugeuk smiled and looked at Seo Dae-ryong again. Although he was still popular and surrounded by people, Seo Dae-ryong’s eyes kept focusing on one place.
* * *
The next day, Seo Dae-ryong went out to see So-ok.
After making a fuss about getting up, taking a bath, combing my hair, and changing clothes before the ceremony, I said this again.
“It’s not that I like her, it’s that I met someone who supported me. “It is a pure heart.”
“If I were to be pure just twice, my mouth would be torn apart. “Stop laughing.”
I was worried because Seo Dae-ryong liked her so much. I would be very heartbroken if I found out the truth.
Seo Dae-ryong went out with great energy as if he was competing, but when he came back, he was somehow downcast.
“why? “Didn’t it work out?”
“no. I had a good time. He said he likes tea rather than alcohol and likes to take walks. So, I ate, drank tea, and went for a walk.”
“But why do you look like that?”
After a while, Seo Dae-ryong sighed and said.
“I was sitting there in a good mood, and at some point a thought occurred to me. Isn’t this it? There is no way my life would turn out this well. It felt like someone was whispering this in my ear. “If something good like this happens, you have to prepare for something bad, right?”
It seems that instincts that have been dormant until now have awakened. Once fate starts to move, it wakes people up like this.
“Did you tell her?”
“I didn’t. “I didn’t pay the ticket as much as I could and parted ways with a smile.”
“Investigator Seo. I said it. “The path you have chosen is the path of going on stage with your injured arm tied up.”
“He said it was a path where you could walk even though you were blind with one eye, with blood flowing from your whole body and limping.”
“okay. It is also a path where you have to be suspicious even when you meet someone. So making friends or truly loving someone is not an easy path.”
Seo Dae-ryong, who was lost in thought for a moment, said something he never wanted to say.
“Let me tell you something in that sense. I guess this woman is suspicious. I think he approached me intentionally. “Could it be someone sent by the Cheonmyeonghoe?”
I didn’t answer anything. He was startled as he stared at me.
“that’s right?”
“….”
“Is this really true?”
Seo Dae-ryong’s voice trembled. I had a feeling that something was suspicious, but I guess I still had the feeling that it couldn’t possibly be true.
“right. “She is from Cheonmyeonghoe.”
“!”
Seo Dae-ryong opened his eyes wide. I thought there would be a heaven-shattering reaction, but unexpectedly, Seo Dae-ryong was calm.
“As expected, my hunch was correct. Well then. What’s on my topic. It was strange from the beginning. There are a ton of good-looking Jisoos, but I recognized them from the moment they came to me and cheered me on. “How pathetic did you think I was inside?”
“Rather than beating ourselves up like that, how about we celebrate and rejoice that you guessed her identity?”
“How did you know, Mr. Gakju?”
“During the final match.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m afraid I’ll get ticketed for acting awkwardly.”
“Then why are you telling me now? “You can just pretend not to know and move on.”
“Because there are more important issues than whether you are good at acting or not.”
“what is that?”
“It seems like your survival instinct has fully awakened.”
Seo Dae-ryong was surprised by my words.
“Everyone has a survival instinct. However, the survival instinct of unmanned vehicles is different. The more you become an expert, the more different it becomes. The body knows first. No matter how much the other person smiles and says nice things, the body rejects it. The fur all over my body stands up and my heart races. On the other hand, I may feel down like you did today.”
“My survival instinct came into play.”
“okay. “Remember how this survival instinct came into play and how it felt.”
Seo Dae-ryong was moved. He considers his survival instinct to be more important than catching Cheonmyeonghoeju.
“Thank you, Mr. Gakju.”
“You have to act well from now on.”
“You were worried for no reason. I’m better at acting than I thought. “He’s that sneaky guy.”
“We’ll see.”
“What do you plan to do next?”
“You should do it. We need to get her to lead you to the heavenly meeting. “And as quickly as possible.”
There was no time. If she decided to get closer slowly, it could take several months or even a year or more. But we are in a situation where we need to resolve this quickly and return.
After thinking for a while, Seo Dae-ryong thought of a solution.
“Do you remember what she said in the banquet hall? When I came to participate in Soryongjeon three years ago, I was in the same situation. I think that wasn’t a lie. “Let’s dig into that.”
“Are you going to take advantage of the sense of homogeneity? “Is this a feeling you’ve experienced too?”
“yes.”
“one more. “I must be accompanied when the background is introduced.”
Seo Dae-ryong nodded.
“Please leave it to me.”
* * *
Two days later, Seo Dae-ryong and So-ok were up on a hill overlooking the Murimmaeng.
“The scenery is nice here.”
“This is where I go when I’m feeling frustrated.”
“It’s a great place.”
Seo Dae-ryong was inwardly amazed at the endless expanse of the Murim Alliance. I thought there would be no place bigger than the Heavenly Demon Church, but the scale of the Murim Alliance was no less.
“Actually, I was moved by Chief So’s words that day. They say that when you participated in the competition, you slept on the mountain because you knew nothing and had no money. I am also in a similar situation. “I will definitely succeed here in the Murim Alliance.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“yes?”
“I hesitate to say this to someone who hasn’t officially joined the school yet, but I’ll tell you this with the martial arts person in mind. In the Murim Alliance, you can’t get ahead if you don’t have supporters to support you. You may be able to become a leader, but you cannot become a leader. You may be able to work hard and become a sober person, but you will never become a sober person. “The limits are clear.”
Her acting was as great as Seo Dae-ryong’s. If I didn’t know the truth, it would have sounded like I was saying it out of genuine concern.
“Maybe Seo Mu-in will be even more heartbroken. Because he comes from a winning background. It might start as a leader and end as a leader in the last thousand years. Overcome with skill? how? This is impossible in these days of peace. “The success story of Red Hand Kwon is something that only exists in storybooks.”
Seo Dae-ryong asked with a serious expression.
“Then what should I do?”
Right now, Seo Dae-ryong was showing his current emotions well without any sense of discomfort.
“Make a line. Put aside your pride and be loyal to those who push you. “I did that.”
“Please let me catch the same rope that Daju So held. That warrior has no pride or anything like that. Please help me.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment. Seo Dae-ryong pestered her as she worried.
“please.”
“Okay, it’s fate that I met a warrior like this. “Let me tell you.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. “The elderly may say no.”
“Oh, and I would like to ask you one more favor.”
“What is it?”
“Please also introduce my attendant.”
“A servant?”
“If the Murim Alliance is such a place, shouldn’t I also develop my own strength? I plan to recruit my servant and raise him as my right hand man. In a world where there is no one, there must be at least one person who can be trusted. “I can only trust his loyalty.”
Seo Dae-ryong pushed forward like a hillbilly showing his tenacity.
“I don’t know if it’s possible.”
Seo Dae-ryong bowed his head with an earnest face.
“Please.”
* * *
It was three days later that Sook contacted me again.
She took Seo Dae-ryong and me and arrived at a manor located far away from the Murim Alliance.
Although the number was not large, the level of masked people guarding the surroundings was unusual. It means that the person she is trying to introduce is not an ordinary person.
“This is old man Ok.”
“Come in.”
We followed Sook into the room.
The curtain was lowered in the middle of the large room, so it was impossible to recognize the other person’s face.
I exercised my divine eye skills. I strained my eyes and saw who was behind the curtain. And the moment I confirmed who the other person was, I was surprised. He was someone I knew.
Jinryongjangju Jo Yi-baek (曺梨伯).
It was Jo Shin’s father.
Either it was Jo Yi-baek who recruited the courtiers, or Cheon Myeong-hoe recruited each of these father and son. If that were the case, there was a possibility that both parties were unaware that they had been captured.
In both cases it was surprising.
Joybaek spoke softly from behind the curtain.
“You want to succeed in the Murim Alliance?”
His prayer was completely different from the one next to the Murim Lord. The feeling of intimidation behind the curtain was completely different from that of his father, Joy Baek, who was trying to make an in-law relationship with the Murim lord. This must be his true face.
Seo Dae-ryong bowed his head and spoke politely.
“yes! “I really want to succeed.”
I could tell.
After Hwamugi was swept away, Shinryongga became a pillar of the martial arts faction. This was because they had been plotting like this ever since.
So, is Joy Baek the owner of Cheonmyeonghoe? Or is there a separate Cheonmyeonghoeju?
One thing is certain: Cheonmyeonghoe, which is gradually revealing its body, is a much bigger monster than I thought.
“If I help you, you will definitely succeed. If you do that, then you…”
Joybaek added softly.
“What can you do for me?”