“Hey.”
Beyond the sound of the bonfire burning firewood, the voice of Jehu was heard. Lee Sungmin, who was meditating with his legs crossed, opened his eyes slightly. Beyond the flickering flames, Jehu was sitting across from him, glancing at him.
“……do you know my name?”
“I know your nickname as the Black Dragon.”
“My name is Jehu.”
It was rather out of the blue for Lee Sungmin. Jehu had only been traveling with them for the past three days.
Although they had heard that the Murim Alliance had begun their chase, it was taking a rather long time for them to get things sorted together with their Lord kidnapped.
Meanwhile, Sima Ryunju had ordered several carriages once more from the Sama Order to give mixed destinations to their pursuers while they traveled North.
For three days, Jehu did not talk to anyone, sleep or even eat.
Scarlett talked to him a few times, but he didn’t answer her at all. Sima Ryunju also no longer had any questions for him to ask Jehu,
For Jehu, the past three days were spent in nothing but silence. That was why it was out of the blue for Lee Sungmin when Jehu opened his mouth and spoke to him first.
Scarlett, who was writing in her book, raised her head and Ye-Hwa, who was taking care of the fire, turned her eyes and glanced in their direction. Sima Ryunju, who had put his mask back on, was not interested though.
“It was my mother who gave me my name. Don’t you think it’s a name without any kind of sincerity? She only changed the name slightly to resemble the name ‘Black Dragon’. But I guess it couldn’t be helped, seeing that she was illiterate.”
The voice of Jehu was rather calm when speaking to Lee Sungmin.
“My mother was a humble woodcutter’s daughter. I lived deep in the forest. Her meeting my Father…… was pure coincidence, and there was no type of typical romance that would appear in a fairytale. My mother’s taste just happened to be suited towards my father’s, and they had me. My life was nothing but a coincidence.”
Lee Sungmin undid his lotus position and faced Jehu. He didn’t know why Jehu was telling him all of this, but he was sure that Jehu wasn’t lying about any of it.
“My mother always had this look on her face when she talked about my father who was a Dragon. It wasn’t something I couldn’t understand. The daughter of an illiterate woodcutter met with a Dragon randomly and had a child with it. Moreover, the Dragon, my father, when using his polymorph magic, was a man so beautiful in my mother’s eyes unlike any other man she had seen. She thought she was like a princess who had met her lucky husband from her dreams,”
“……so?”
“I was born that way. As a child, I was full of resistant feelings towards my father. My mother began to die of the aftereffects of giving birth to something she couldn’t have possibly given birth to, and my grandfather, a woodcutter, resented me ever since I was born. The villagers regarded my existence as a curse rather than a blessing. For me, my father, a Dragon, was the object that had made my life a living hell.”
It was a depressing past. Lee Sungmin didn’t know he would hear all of this so suddenly, so he had no idea what expression to make.
Scarlett gently closed up her book. Ye-Hwa swallowed her saliva down nervously as she set the wood on the fire.
“Dragons were known to be superior in every possible way with regard to magical prowess and knowledge. Yet, I couldn’t even attach that to my name. Just because I was of mixed blood, didn’t mean I was blessed by mana like the Dragons were. I couldn’t use magic at all for that matter. It was possible to wield mana, but I could not use it for magic at all. I was utterly hopeless and a failure of both worlds.”
“So you mastered martial arts?”
“There was some backlash. I blamed the Dragons for cursing my life the way they did, so I didn’t want to use magic. Fortunately, martial arts fit me very well. My body was not as strong as a real Dragon’s, but it remained somewhat superior to other creatures and was very useful for pursuing the path of martial arts.”
“I don’t think you like Dragons very much. If that’s really the case, then why did you want to go to the dimensions where the other Dragons are?”
“Because I was lonely.”
Jehu replied.
“I don’t belong anywhere, I wasn’t a human nor was I a Dragon. There was no place for me anywhere. That’s why I wanted to meet them. I didn’t know if they’d accept me, but I have never met them since my birth. So… I wanted to try and meet them if I could… my father especially.”
Jehu giggled.
“I’ve been thinking a lot for the past three days. I don’t like what my father did to me very much. I used to hate him when I was a kid. But over the course of hundreds of years, I had thought I’d like to meet him at least once and hear what he had to say. Knowing that he’s dead…… I hated you when I found out that you had taken his dragon heart and made armor out of his remains.”
“I suppose so.”
“I’m going to quit holding onto such petty things.”
Jehu shook his head.
“As I said, it was a father who didn’t do anything for me. I’ve never even seen him before. I also know you didn’t kill my father. So…… I won’t hate or resent you for it. I told you my past and gave you my name as a way to sort out my feelings. I think I did it because I want to be closer to you.”
It really did seem like Jehu was being sincere.
“What I did as the Lord of the Murim Alliance was nothing but put you in trouble left and right. About that…… I don’t even know if I should be the one to apologize since my actions were direct orders from Beyond the Heavens. Do you want an apology from me though?”
“……no, you don’t have to apologize.”
Lee Sungmin hesitated for a moment and shook his head. It was because he never imagined that Jehu would actually let go of things like this.
Of course, he was not sure that the attitude of Jehu was genuine, but the story was honest enough to the point to make Lee Sungmin confused.
[I don’t think he’s that narrow-minded. Or it could just be that he’s wary of the old man over there.]
The existence of Sima Ryunju was enough to force anyone to mind their behavior around him. It could just be that Jehu was paying attention to Sima Ryunju’s words and forcing himself.
His sudden change in attitude and words might also have been a ploy to make Sima Ryunju lift his guard up and relax.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be with you, but I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
Jehu held his hand out as he spoke. Lee Sungmin, who was looking at the hand that was outstretched, raised his hand opposite and shook his hand.
Shaking hands, Jehu grinned. Lee Sungmin felt suspicious of the smile, but remained silent because he was not in a position to question Jehu after his story.
The journey to the North was long and arduous. Lee Sungmin and his group knew that the pursuit of the Murim Alliance was nothing but a show without any substance. They only did it out of public image and nothing else.
They may not have confirmed the fate or death of Jehu, but they could not leave Sima Ryunju and his party alone, who had devastated the headquarters in Cron.
That’s how the chase team was organized. To restore the prestige of the fallen Alliance. Yes, in the representative sense, it was.
But in reality, the Murim Alliance knew. They knew they couldn’t even touch Sima Ryunju. Even with all the power at their disposal, it amounted to nothing in front of him.
That’s why the chase team was organized so late. The fact that Sima Ryunju had destroyed the strongest hundred man formation in the entire Alliance by himself, was already something that had wounded the pride of every martial artist in the Murim Alliance.
Just one man was able to take down one hundred Peak Realm Experts all by himself.
“Maybe Geom-Seong will move.”
There was still a long way to go from their location to get to Travia. Over the course of the journey, Jehu showed an active and amicable attitude as if to prove that he had cleared his resentments and hatred. He was not asked, but voluntarily expressed his opinions.
“I have been a Leader, but I have never tried to do anything for my own people. Most of them were their own forces that acted alone unless I used my power and title as the Lord of the Alliance.”
“You’re saying you were basically a scarecrow.”
“Yeah, actually, I didn’t really fit in as a Leader. I wasn’t motivated at all. For them, they knew I was a Draconic Human unlike the other human candidates, so I was not held highly regarding their respect. They only saw me as a figurehead who had a strong level of martial arts.”
Lee Sungmin recalled what happened in Shaolin. At that time, Ambassador Bulyeong was recommended to be a candidate to take over as the Lord of the Murim Alliance.
Of course, the Ambassador Bulyeong rejected the position without thinking twice. Judging by the level of martial arts between Ambassador Bulyeong and Jehu, Lee Sungmin was rather certain that Bulyeong could not compare to Jehu at all.
However, in terms of merit and a strong sense of righteousness and fairness, Bulyeong was a perfect candidate in all regards to the matter.
“The existence of Geom-Seong was difficult for me, and it was difficult for Beyond the Heavens as well. Even Musin told me not to do anything that would provoke that man from the Wudang.”
“But Geom-Seong might finally move?”
“The Wudang….. Has always been an independent faction, regardless of their relationship to the Murim Alliance. This time though, they might simply move since Sima Ryunju’s actions were baffling and overbearing to the point of widespread humiliation and blatant disrespect.”
“Are you saying that Geom-Seong might personally step forward and take action?”
Lee Sungmin recalled his frightening encounter with Geom-Seong. The Heavenly Sword of the Wudang, Geom-Ssong, was someone that Lee Sungmin was never a match with to begin with.
“It’s very likely. Even if he was in secluded training, he must be ready to take a call like this from the Alliance.”
“I don’t care.”
Sima Ryunju appeared perfectly comfortable. It was a long journey, but he was looking out the window, relaxed as if he had just been out and about after enjoying a nice drink outside.
“When I went to the Alliance and acted that way, I already knew that my actions would possibly draw out Geom-Seong. Nevertheless, I still did it, didn’t I?”
“Are you confident in beating him?”
“I’ll know once I’ve fought against him in-person. But when you get to this level of martial arts, there is no place for fear, anxiety or anything else of the like.”
“Are you not afraid of possibly dying to him?”
Jehu asked with a dumbfounded expression. The question was something Sima Ryunju found funny. He chuckled and laughed at the question.
“Isn’t the question of death just a question of dying earlier in life or later? Rather than dying helplessly while waiting, it is much more enjoyable for this old man to choose to fight and enjoy his life.”
Jehu did not understand Sima Ryunju at all, nor did Sima Ryunju want Jehu to understand him.
Sima Ryunju who was staring at Jehu, who was making an absurd face, went back to stare out the window of the carriage.
The sun was setting. Stopping the carriage at sunset was the one rule they had on this long journey.
It was because of Sima Ryunju’s policy to enjoy every little moment despite being on a long journey. It was to make the best use of their travels and enjoy the smaller things.
“Disciple.”
“Yes Master.”
“How are you feeling?”
Sima Ryunju’s voice was rather sweet-sounding. Beyond the eyeholes of the mask, Sima Ryunju’s eyes were curved into upward crescents.
Lee Sungmin felt a chill down his spine.
Lee Sungmin’s physical condition was not bad.
But he hadn’t pulled his own weight ever since the fight against Kang Seok. It was because he was wearing a mask the entire time as Sima Ryunju had ordered him to.
“…… Not bad.”
“It’s not bad at all. In fact, it looks like you’re doing great.”
Sima Ryunju spoke in a mocking manner. Suddenly the carriage stopped.
Sima Ryunju sent a mental message to Ye-Hwa who was in charge of the horses driving the carriage. Sima Ryunju raised his finger to point to Lee Sungmin and then to Jehu.
“It’s time to camp out. I’ll let you take off the mask now.”
“…… Yes?”
Lee Sungmin’s eyes opened wide at the words.
“You haven’t been moving in a while, so I don’t want your movements to get stiff on me.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
It was Sima Ryunju in the first place, who had told Lee Sungmin to not take off his mask and circulate his internal energy. The reason for it was obvious at the time.
Although months had passed since then, Lee Sungmin still did not fully trust himself.
“You can’t let it go on like this forever, can you?”
“But…”
“There is no need to be afraid. And it’s not like this old man can babysit you forever.”
Babysit him.
Lee Sungmin was speechless.
[You need to be prepared for what is to come in the future. He has a point.]
Heoju’s voice rang out inside Lee Sungmin’s head.
While traveling with Sima Ryunju, he had the chance to experience things he would not be able to do with all of his power and might. But, he couldn’t rely on his master forever.
“I know.”
Lee Sungmin was also aware of it. He didn’t mean to lean on his master in the first place.
If he did not have the power to solve his own problems, he would surely die thanks to being unprepared.
[He also knows that he can’t help you forever.]
‘Maybe he’s just being mean.’
[I don’t think so. I don’t know what you think of that man, but he has done a lot of things as your teacher. It’s the same even now.]
Lee Sungmin laughed bitterly at the words. Lee Sungmin also knew that Sima Ryunju did take care of him like a true master would care for their disciple.
[Maybe you’ll have even more control over the power inside your body now.]
Although Lee Sungmin was also curious as to the answer for Heoju’s words, he didn’t question it but rather took his hand to the mask on his face and started to take it off.
Whooooooooooosh!
The moment he took off his mask…..
A sharp current of power flowed inside of his blood vessels.