Episode 186 It’s not easy, right?
There was a heavy silence.
No one here died, but some did. It was clear that the bravado and arrogance that the black powers had up until now had just died.
Of course, the way he looked at me changed completely. Awe, fear and anger. Each person contains different emotions depending on their personality.
It was Gwonma who broke the silence.
“Now do you think the sword is scary?”
“yes!”
The black powers responded loudly.
“When I first taught you martial arts, I told you not to be afraid of the sword. But now you have to know how to be afraid of the sword.”
Sometimes you shouldn’t be scared, and sometimes you should be scared. The teaching that Gwonma wanted to give to his followers today was that they must have both of these feelings.
“That’s it for today.”
After saying that, Gwon Ma left first. Although he did not show his vote in front of his subordinates, I could feel that he too was agitated by the dignity I showed him.
The remaining Black Powers could not disperse as usual and looked at me. Looks of awe were seen everywhere. By nature, demons were people who valued the strong and had an exceptionally strong desire to become strong.
Sohee Cheon asked on behalf of them.
“If you are this strong, why do you want to learn martial arts? “Is this like the play of the strong?”
It was a very provocative question.
She had been shocked by that move a moment ago. At the same time, I was angry at myself for being helpless. Since she does not want to lose to anyone, she will probably be able to become the next champion.
I calmly asked her back.
“How can learning martial arts be fun?”
“But why do you want to learn?”
Why? Because I had a desire to collapse that cliff with my fist.
“When my sword flew at you a little while ago, my hands were empty. What if you get attacked then? What should I do if I’m an expert who won’t give me a chance to retrieve my sword? I want to learn for that time. “Because this fist, which catches the opponent off-guard, will save my life.”
Cheon So-hee stared at me. I would wonder if she was sincere or not, but it was impossible for her to read my mind when she was still young.
After saying that, I also left the training center.
Just as the fate of everyone involved with me is changing, their fate will also change in some way. I just hope things change for the better.
* * *
That night, I was practicing martial arts.
I slowly practiced everything I had learned from the white fist to the black fist. You will be able to learn the basic martial arts techniques properly only when this basic martial arts technique is well established.
Papa papang!
I really liked the sound of a fist being pounded into the air. I had a desire to learn the martial arts skills and quickly achieve greatness.
“You’re working hard even though it’s late at night.”
The person who came to see me was Gwonma. Every time I hear it, I am surprised by the calm voice that contrasts with that scary face. What is more similar to his nature: his face or his voice?
Actually, I had a feeling that the horse would come to visit. Because I thought he would definitely respond to the skills I showed him earlier.
“I started late, so I have to work twice as hard.”
“I wouldn’t accept you as a disciple even if it were not twice as much, but ten times as much.”
“May I ask why?”
Gwonma didn’t answer, but the heat in his eyes did it for him. You want to fight with me. Because you can’t fight with your disciple.
“You want to fight me.”
Just as he ignited a fire in my heart, I also ignited a fire in his heart.
“I’m not going to fight.”
The moment I fight him, I won’t be able to learn martial arts. There is only one way to learn fighting skills from a fighting horse. Whether it’s a battle for successor or a political issue, it’s all useless. We must be connected through martial arts. He wants to fight with me, so I have to make him teach me in the end. That’s my plan.
“Why don’t you fight?”
Like him, I didn’t answer anything either. Gwonma, who was staring at me, realized the meaning behind my refusal.
“You’re worried you’ll beat me.”
Passion flashed across the horse’s face. Worrying about beating yourself after being named undefeated is something you have never experienced. Everyone would just see them struggling to not get killed.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Mr. Lee. “The martial arts you learned are the martial arts you learned from the sect leader, so even if I lose, it won’t be a shame.”
I also looked behind his words.
“Do you want to fight? Or do you want to win?”
For a moment, Gwonma looked startled.
“Is there a difference between the two?”
Rather than saying it out of arrogance, it was closer to this.
“You’re so used to winning that you don’t even notice the difference.”
He came quickly and put his face in front of me again. Having to see this scary face so close is truly more powerful than a flying fist.
“What do you want to say?”
I remembered what Extreme Soma had said. The saying goes that you can tell what kind of person Gwonma is when he loses.
“If you are an undefeated power demon or an extremely evil power demon, it will not be easy for you to accept defeat.”
“Will I break my promise because of the shock of defeat? “How can you see me?”
The expression of the Invincible Demon was distorted grimly. It was so scary that it seemed as if the ground next to him would open and demons would burst out of hell.
“Teach me martial arts first. Then, I will compete with Master Gwon.”
Gwonma snorted with an expression that said it was nonsense.
“You will have to fight me first.”
With those words, Gwonma turned and walked away.
Sorry, but that’s not your hand. As long as you were crazy about martial arts and built a myth of invincibility, that hand was mine.
I can wait, but you won’t be able to wait.
* * *
Cheon So-hee was watching the sword dance performance in silence.
Despite the chaos yesterday, Geommugeuk participated in the training of the Black Fist as usual. I was immersed in my training as if yesterday had never happened.
But the black powers were different. They appeared with Geumchang medicine applied to their sides, showing a different fever than the previous day.
“I was reborn yesterday.”
There was even a black power that openly said this.
Whether or not he was aware of these changes and fluctuations, Geommugeuk was concentrating on training alone.
His movements were more precise and he understood herbivory better than anyone else there. Since he was the son of a religious leader, any doubts that someone might have secretly taught him how to eat herbivores were all dispelled by the skills he showed in yesterday’s sword dance.
“I want to ask you something, is it okay?”
Just like the warriors in the red realm, people began to appear in the black realm asking Geommugeuk about herbivory.
“Of course.”
Geommugeuk sincerely explained what he asked.
In just one day, the atmosphere of the black powers changed so much.
After training that day, Cheon So-hee went to Geommugeuk.
“I lost the bet, so I’ll keep my promise. “Tell me what you would like me to do.”
Then Geommugeuk said something unexpected.
“Please make me your disciple.”
Cheon So-hee looked at the sword dance with a puzzled expression for a moment.
“Then please make me the former leader’s successor.”
I thought it was a joke and said it.
But soon she could tell through the expression on Geommugeuk’s face. That he meant what he said.
“It’s no joke.”
“Of course it’s not a joke.”
“I couldn’t be a disciple myself, so how can I make you one?”
At this time, Gwonma had not yet selected formal disciples. Gwon Ma, who was a perfectionist in martial arts, did not make a hasty decision when selecting a disciple.
“You, who lost the bet, should worry about that.”
“I didn’t know you would ask for such a ridiculous request.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me then? “There should be limits to requests.”
“Well… I thought a person with common sense would naturally ask for something that made sense.”
“Really? “You didn’t bother to tell me because you thought you would win?”
She couldn’t refute it. What Geomukgeuk said was true. When I made a bet to do a favor, I tried to say that I couldn’t make a request that went beyond common sense. But her instincts stopped her.
Of course it was a bet that I would win, but I didn’t think it was necessary to say that.
“Okay, I admit it.”
Geommugeuk smiled. If it hadn’t been so honest, I would have teased her more.
“What do you admit? “If someone makes such a ridiculous request, you should sharply refuse and forget about it.”
She looked at the sword dance in confusion for a moment.
I thought he was a truly unpredictable person.
She turned around. I walked a few steps like that and then stopped. Anyway, I lost the bet, but my pride was hurt to leave like this. She turned around again.
“Okay, let’s say I have the ability to do that. Even so, if you become a disciple, the chances of me becoming a disciple decrease, so there’s no way I can help you, right?”
“That is wrong. “If I become a disciple, your chances of becoming a disciple will increase.”
“Why is that so?”
“It is difficult to accept the first disciple, but now, as if the water has been opened, we will accept the third disciple. And I would highly recommend you to my sister-in-law.”
“me? “Why?”
Geommugeuk stared at her and spoke calmly.
“I think you’re better than anyone else. “I think he’s the best person to be the next champion.”
I thought it was a joke again, but Geommugeuk’s expression was serious.
Passion arose in her chest. It was something I had never heard before since I entered Dongkwon Gate.
Myself and my classmates. Seniors and juniors all looked upward and ran. I ran with the mindset that if I was eliminated from the white group to the black group, I would die.
Even though we all worked hard together, she never truly said good things to anyone. I had never heard of such a thing.
Rather, I secretly hoped for it in my heart. May your opponent have a harder time than you. May your opponent be eliminated from the competition. So, I hope you become a knight.
That Geomukgeuk, whom I met only a few days ago, doesn’t hesitate to say this. In all those years, they had never exchanged such words.
It wasn’t that I was bitter because I couldn’t hear it. I felt confused because I felt like I had confirmed my narrow-mindedness in not being able to do anything for anyone until now.
“even though you do not know it that well!”
She got angry and turned around to leave.
* * *
That night, Cheon So-hee could not fall asleep easily.
The words of sword dance kept coming to mind. Are you really the right person to be a champion?
Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she couldn’t bear it anymore and headed to Geommugeuk’s place.
I didn’t even think I would be able to meet him because it was late at night. I just went there out of frustration, but to my surprise, there was martial arts training in the sword dance.
I couldn’t even say hello to the training that was so serious. I stood still for fear of being disturbed.
Eventually, Geommugeuk, who had completed herbivorous training, sat down on a flat rock in the yard and asked.
“Would you like some tea?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Sohee Cheon sat next to him. I didn’t hate the smell of sweat from the sword dance.
“It was late at night, but I really wanted to check this out. “If I become your disciple, will you really recommend me as a disciple?”
“I guess so.”
How much should we trust? There are stories that we always talk about when we get together and drink together. No one should be trusted. That is the first principle of surviving for a long time in the martial arts world.
“My goal is to learn martial arts from Master Kwon. “It will be my sister-in-law who takes over the position of Gwonma.”
When this moment of strong temptation came, I had a hard time making decisions.
“This is my brother-in-law who put Heavenly Demon to death.”
Yeah, I guess that’s why everyone suffers. Even though I know it’s obviously a coaxing, I’m probably being deceived because my heart is pounding like this.
What if you’re trying to take advantage of me by tricking me like this? What if you get used to your heart’s content and then get killed? The sword of Geommugeuk appeared in her mind. You’ll say this as a sword passes through your face. Innocent bitch.
Just then, Geommugeuk spoke to her in a calm tone.
“Life isn’t easy, is it?”
Those words, delivered softly, entered my heart.
For a moment she wanted to scream. What on earth do you keep pretending to know about me? It’s easy and I’m doing well with my life. What’s difficult about it? Just run hard and run again. Just look up and run.
But the words that came out of her mouth now spoke from her heart rather than her head.
“…It’s not easy.”
I answered that way without realizing it. I have never shown weakness to others. I’ve never told anyone that I’m having a hard time in my life. I’ve endured it well so far.
The moment she acknowledged that, tears flowed from Cheon Sohee’s eyes. She was even more embarrassed by the tears that suddenly flowed. The tears suddenly flowed without me even being able to hold them back.
Is it possible for tears to flow so suddenly? Obviously she isn’t sad at all, so why are she crying? She was so embarrassed because she had never cried before.
“Oh no, this is.”
Just as I was hurriedly wiping away my tears with my sleeve, someone came inside and spoke.
“also! Investigator Seo was right when he said that he was the world’s biggest playboy. “After a fateful love, he is now making women cry.”
Seeing the person who entered, Geommugeuk smiled brightly and Cheon So-hee was surprised. This was the first time in her life that she had seen such a beautiful woman.