Episode 178 Who is third?
Hyeolcheon Doma was training. He started training long before I took this exam, so he has been practicing non-stop for quite some time.
“Are you really preparing for war?”
He responded without even turning his head to what I said.
“When you get older, living each day is a war.”
“I’ve been there.”
This time, I ran and was suddenly hugged by Hyeolcheon Doma.
“What are you doing so disgusting?”
Hyeolcheondoma was scared and forcibly pulled me away. Honestly, I want to be hugged by my father like this. I can’t even try because I’m afraid I’ll get hit with a nine fire magic attack.
“I missed you, old man.”
“You’re acting like someone you haven’t seen in a decade.”
The Blood Heaven Sword plunged the Death Heaven Blade into the ground.
And I leaned against it. At times like this, it’s nice to see that knife looking like his friend.
“Cheonmyeonghoeju?”
“He died.”
“There must have been a lot of people around.”
“I got a lot of blood on my hands this time.”
Hyeolcheondoma must have sensed the bitterness in my answer, so he went into the house, brought out some alcohol, and poured it for me.
“What can I do? Such is your fate. “Drink it and shake it off.”
I drank the drink he gave me. I felt as if a blood chopping board was washing the blood off my hands. At least it was a drink and comfort from someone who knew better than anyone else what it was like to kill someone.
I didn’t say thank you. Because, as always, I couldn’t repay you with words.
“The Archduke will never give up, so the future will not be easy. “Even if his abilities and qualifications are not as good as yours, he is stronger than you in terms of his determination to become the Heavenly Demon.”
It would be difficult to save a brother like that.
“Have you ever met a true disciple?”
“I came and went earlier.”
“You did a great job choosing me as your successor.”
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
“This guy will do better than anyone else. “You may have heard that I won the Soryong Tournament.”
“Did you win?”
“You wrote that if you lose, you die, so how can you not win? Even if the world’s best martial arts competition is held instead of the Xiaoryong match, I have to win. And whose martial arts skills would you lose?”
Joy flashed across Hyeolcheon Doma’s face, as if he had never thought he would actually win. In times like these, it is clear that there is affection for Seo Dae-ryong.
“Ugh. The fact that the chatterbox doesn’t brag about it shows how difficult it is for the elderly. Please be a little more comfortable with me.”
“If things are comfortable between priests, things will end up going wrong. Anyway, I guess I’m being really rude. “I’m going to need training in hell.”
Ah, inspector. This is something I didn’t expect. sorry.
“Stop it. “Shouldn’t we see other mazons as well?”
“no. Other Mazon will watch slowly. “I’m only seeing the elderly today.”
If you like someone, you have to like it clearly like this. As the saying goes, a person who likes everyone is someone that no one likes. Regardless of a person’s true feelings, everyone will think that way. That person usually likes everyone, right? At the very least, it is a misunderstanding that Hyeolcheon Doma does not want to receive.
“The flattery is still the same.”
However, a smile that could not be hidden was blooming on the corner of Hyecheondoma’s mouth. I secretly like this kind of thing.
“Go say hello to the mazons. “Everyone stepped up for you, but it’s polite to say hello.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Even though deep down I wanted to go.”
“You just need to know that seniors always come first.”
I left the residence, leaving behind Hyeolcheon Doma, who was wielding the sword again.
Before going to Akingok, I stopped by the house and picked up a white mask. Wouldn’t it be polite to wear a mask when going to a bad song?
The masked people wearing white masks no longer paid special attention to me like before. The hostility in his eyes towards me also disappeared.
I could tell from their reactions that my friendship with Extreme Soma was deepening. If they look at me and say hello to me with friendly eyes, we’ll be closer than we are now.
With the guidance of the masked visitor, I entered the residence of the evil-in-gokju.
At first, I thought these Magons were as important as martial arts training, so meeting them was a task, but now it has become a relationship rather than a task. Surprisingly, people go there because they really want to see it.
Extreme Soma was looking at the white wall again today. Really, what are you thinking about while looking at that wall?
“I’m here.”
I raised my mask over my head and greeted him bravely. Then, Extreme Soma turned towards me.
His eyes met those inside the mask. I never thought the day would come when I would make eye contact with a very evil Soma and feel this happy.
The two of them teamed up with Extreme Soma and fought for their lives twice. The first was a fight with Geomwang Baek Mang-gi, and the second was a fight with Geukak Soma’s Four Baek Yang Cheo-gi.
Both of these fights were life-threatening, and perhaps because of that, there was a special feeling of being a comrade on the battlefield who saved his life.
“I heard that the Cheonmyeonghoe work was completed successfully.”
“Who would have neglected revenge?”
In fact, this test was also related to Extreme Soma. Because they had captured Yang Cheo-gi, one of the four hundred members of the Extremely Evil Soma.
Extreme Soma said with a smile.
“As you know, I’m sure I have a source of help.”
It was a metaphor for giving a silver coin to Chusaeng of Wolpyeongmun Gate. Extreme Soma and Eunwonjeon were a really unsuitable combination.
Extreme Soma held out a small box.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
When I opened the box, there was a white herb inside.
“This is Baengryeongdan, a secret elixir handed down from the main text.”
A spicy yet strong scent quickly filled the room. I could feel that the efficacy was unusual.
“It was sent to me by a monk. “It seems that peace has come with the death of the Four Baek Yang wives.”
It seems that he sent it because he was grateful that the Samun warriors who came at the order of Sabaek at that time were sent away without hurting anyone.
“I will give it to you.”
“Why are you giving me this precious thing?”
“I received it thanks to Lee Gongja.”
It was truly a gift for me. I was taken aback by the unexpected gift.
“no. Soma, please eat.”
Then, Extreme Soma said something unexpected.
“I’m giving it to you because I want to get some points, so stop refusing and take it.”
“I want to win points too. great. So how about this? “Let’s share it in half.”
Extreme Soma was surprised by my words.
“Are you serious?”
“yes. I’m not one to share elixirs because I’m greedy, but I’d like to make an exception this time. “Let’s eat half each to commemorate the fact that we fought together and survived.”
Extreme Soma’s eyes shined brightly. It was the clearest look in his eyes since I met him. I could feel it. We are passing another turning point in our relationship with him.
“great. “Of course.”
I pulled out the dark magic sword and split the Baeknyeongdan exactly in half.
We took it at the same time, like drinking alcohol.
I swallowed Baeknyeongdan with my throat. The angry energy filled my mouth, but soon melted and went down my throat.
It was a very strong elixir, but my existing internal strength was so deep that I absorbed all of its effects without any problems. Although it was only half, the amount of energy added to the Danjeon was not small.
My eyes began to shine with a clear and deep look, then returned to their original look.
Extreme Soma also finished his fortune telling and stood up.
“Is it delicious?”
“It tastes better than any elixir I’ve ever had.”
There was no need to say anything else. We just laughed together.
“By the way, if I give you poison, why do you eat it so eagerly? “What if that’s a fake Baekryeongdan?”
“So we shared it, right? “Let’s die together.”
Extreme Soma laughed loudly. To everyone else, his laugh may have been just a habitual laugh, but to me at least it was filled with emotion. Because I felt his emotions through his laughter.
“But is it okay for you to look at that wall like that?”
“It’s good, right? He looks like a crazy person. Basically, you can’t mess with a crazy person. why? Are you worried? “I’m afraid I might go crazy.”
“A little bit.”
In response to the honest answer, Extreme Soma revealed an unexpected fact.
“Can I tell you a secret? The effect of the meditation in the text is further enhanced if you practice while looking at a white wall.”
“Oh, that’s why.”
I had no idea that the extremely evil Soma was practicing meditation while looking at the wall. I feel it again. To me, they look anxious, but everyone is doing well in their own lives.
“Did you come back here after seeing Hyeolcheondoma?”
“yes.”
“It will be difficult to take care of everything.”
“There are still only four of us, right?”
“I’m planning on taking care of all eight of you.”
Surprisingly, his prediction was correct.
“yes. “I will manage and take care of all eight people, whether they are allies or enemies.”
“Can you hold on?”
Of course, it is not easy. Even though we laugh and enjoy this relationship, we never know when and how things will turn sour. If you take the Mazons lightly, you will end up in trouble someday.
“That’s what I told my pretty heart. They say martial arts and life are connected. Does that only apply to her? “If I become a vessel that can embrace all of Palmazon, I will be able to overcome the wall of martial arts that blocks me.”
Extreme Soma stared at me for a moment and told me what he had always felt.
“What is Gongja Lee looking at? When I look at it once in a while, I get the feeling that what Gongja Lee is looking at is not just the successor, not just the Heavenly Demon, but something else beyond that.”
Is it because they only look into each other’s eyes? He is also looking beyond what I am looking at. Extreme Soma feels what even people closer to him cannot feel.
There will come a day when I tell him. About my great enemy. So, there may come a moment when we come back to back again and go beyond the moment of life and death.
“I don’t think that moment would be so bad if it were Soma-sama and not someone else.”
I said it all over and over again, but Extreme Soma did not ask me what I meant.
“I will wait for that moment.”
“See you then.”
I greeted him and left Akingok. The reunion with him was as neat as the white mask.
* * *
Ilhwa Geomjon and Chwima were drinking, so I was able to see them both in one place. The two friends used to drink often, and they happened to be drinking today as well.
“Welcome, Gongja Lee!”
I was drunk on both Ilhwa Geomjon and intoxicating liquor. It was the first time Ilhwa Geomzon had been seen this drunk.
“You have fallen into the temptation of evil.”
“Please come and rescue me quickly.”
While saying that, Ilhwa Geomzon poured me a drink.
“I was thankful for the last time I worked on the evil song.”
“What have we done? “It was just a stampede.”
At that time, Chwima asked me with a disgruntled look.
“Hyeolcheondoma and Extreme Evil Soma have already met, right?”
“yes.”
“Why are we last? Why third or fourth? “If you’re here, we could come see you first, right?”
Ilhwa Geomzone also joined in the complaint. When he glared at me with his red, drunk face, I smiled and said.
“Which one is third?”
The two people willingly accepted this strong separation.
“Naji.”
Chwima shook his head as if he felt sorry for Ilhwa Geomjon’s confidence.
“friend. I’m sorry, but this is me. “I am on friendly terms with Lee Gongja.”
“Hey buddy. If it were a true brother and sister system, you wouldn’t be fighting for the third or fourth time, right?”
“We drink and swim together.”
“I wasn’t going to tell you this, but we even danced under the moonlight.”
The two people who had been arguing looked at me. I’m asking you to choose. Who is third and fourth? Chwima asked with earnest eyes.
“Brother. “I’m not the last, right?”
“It’s not the last time.”
“yes?”
That time when he smiled brightly.
“It’s somewhere in the middle. “I am the fourth of the eight mazon.”
Ilhwa Geomzone drank the winner’s drink.
“Not all friends or brothers are close friends, right?”
Chuma pouted his mouth and drank.
I was so thankful for these two people. How could these people be treated like this? Who would be in this position for the third or fourth time in the first place? You are holding back for me. They are willing to fight for third, fourth, etc.
“I’ll just tell you two today. You know the two people in front of you, right? Picky, bratty, and eccentric. Conversely, what about the two of you? “Of all the Magon people, you have the biggest heart, right?”
“Is it because you have a big heart? “It’s not because you’re easygoing, is it?”
When I made a flinching look at Chwima’s question, the two people laughed as if it was amusing.
The three of us toasted and emptied our drinks.
As he put down his drink, Chuma also shared some rather surprising news.
“Not long ago, Doma and I had a drink here with Geomzon.”
The image of three people drinking together was not easy to imagine.
“How was it? “Did you like it?”
“Would it have been good?”
Chuma sighed.
“There was no stabbing, right?”
“I almost flew.”
“Then that’s it.”
Then Ilhwa Geomzon spoke.
“What happens? “Don’t ever invite me to something like that again!”
So, if people who have a falling out reconcile so easily, why would there be fights in the world?
Anyway, it had meaning. Because Chwima was trying to reconcile the two.
I raised my glass and said with my eyes.
You worked hard, bro.
Chuma smiled and raised his glass. There are times when it is better to acknowledge one hardship than to say a hundred nice words.
“Now that I’ve said hello to your return, I’ll be leaving.”
I said goodbye and got up. I forced myself to get up, holding on to my trouser legs to drink more.
I can play with the mazons next time, but hunting with my father is not an opportunity that comes often.
Early the next morning, carrying a larger leather bag than before, I headed to Cheonmajeon for my second hunt with my father.