When Starlight Falls (2)
“Son! How have you been?”
Seeing my mother on the verge of tears from joy, my heart swelled with emotion. I didn’t need to hear her say it to know how much she had missed me.
This was why I had rushed home without a second thought.
Holding my hand, she asked, “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Thank goodness, truly.”
In moments like these, my mother’s usual fiery demeanor was nowhere to be found. She became just like any other mother in the world.
My father, on the other hand, simply nodded at me in silence, his reaction even more reserved than usual. Yet, I understood. Though their responses differed, their hearts were united.
I’ve never been a parent myself, though I’ve met many. Through their stories, I’ve learned a lot about what it means to raise a child.
But since I haven’t experienced it firsthand, I can’t fully grasp their feelings.
I can only guess that their worries for me far surpass my own concerns for them.
“The martial world is in turmoil. Be careful.”
“Don’t worry. I, too, am a man of the martial world.”
“Yes, Father.”
Since the resurgence of the demonic cult, I had ordered Jin to significantly increase the number of spies in the Shandong region. Any small change or movement, especially related to the Byeok family or the Song clan, would be reported to me immediately.
Over dinner with my parents, I shared stories of the past. Not tales of battles with hidden forces, but other stories.
I told them about starting a small trading group and forming an organization to gather information. Though I didn’t disclose the exact scale, the mere fact of it surprised them greatly.
I credited Gong Su-chan for his exceptional talent, which had greatly alleviated our financial burdens.
“Do you need any money? I can lend it to you at a low interest rate.”
“You rascal!”
My father laughed heartily at my joke.
My mother joined in the lighthearted mood with a playful suggestion.
“Aren’t you hungry? Since our son is home, should I show off my cooking skills?”
As she rolled up her sleeves and headed for the kitchen, my father and I quickly intervened to stop her.
Thanks to revealing this, we could now place the external communication center within the house.
Returning home after so long was a joy.
Spending time with my parents late into the night, I realized once again how much I had changed.
The enemies revealing themselves were so formidable that it would have been natural to feel anxious and burdened. I would have interpreted everything through the lens of the martial world’s logic, feeling the compulsion to become stronger to protect everyone.
Of course, I must strive. But that shouldn’t be everything.
This moment is also part of my life. I shouldn’t sacrifice the present for the future.
If I once lived solely for the martial world, now I felt I was living within it.
Of course, that was my case, and there was someone else who was living madly for the martial world.
That was Gwangdu.
After dinner with my parents, I visited Gwangdu’s place late at night.
Gwangdu was still training in the practice yard. I stood quietly to the side, watching him.
Gwangdu had improved significantly. I had noticed before, but he had a natural talent for martial arts. With effort added to that, he was growing rapidly day by day.
He hadn’t yet encountered a wall, so he was progressing as much as he worked.
Gwangdu, who always used to joke around, seemed like a different person now, deeply focused on his training.
“Whew.”
Finishing his practice, Gwangdu was drenched in sweat.
When he turned and saw me, he was startled but quickly acted nonchalant.
“I heard you arrived.”
He used to run to me, calling out “Young master!” but now his reaction was unexpectedly calm.
“How have you been?”
“Same as always. It’s late, you should rest.”
Oh, really? Is that how you’re going to be?
“Alright, get some rest.”
I turned and walked away. We headed in opposite directions.
Just as I was about to turn the corner!
“Stop!”
When I turned back, Gwangdu was standing at a distance, pouting.
“That’s too much! You’re really leaving?”
“What’s too much?”
“If you made someone worry that much, you should at least let them fuss over you a bit.”
“Hahaha.”
How could I not?
I strode over and hugged Gwangdu tightly. He was startled and tried to pull away.
“I’m all sweaty!”
“It’s fine.”
I embraced Gwangdu sincerely.
How could I ever neglect you? Without you, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Gwangdu, too, was relieved that I had returned safely.
After releasing the hug, I teased him.
“I thought you’d forgotten about me.”
“That’s what I should be saying! What grand things have you been doing that you didn’t even send a message?”
“Sorry. Let’s do this together from now on.”
When I suggested we work together, Gwangdu flinched.
“What have you been up to?”
“I tried to prevent the assassination of the martial alliance leader, saved the life of the chief military officer, and now I have to be involved in selecting a new leader. I also have to fight the revived demonic cult… But I’m relieved now. You’ll be with me.”
Gwangdu took a step back.
“That’s how relationships are. If you’re always together, you don’t realize how precious the other person is. Being apart deepens the bond and makes you treat them better.”
I smiled at him.
The suggestion to work together was a joke. For now, I planned to keep Gwangdu at home.
Though Kwan-hwi of the Small Sword Brigade was doing well, he was still young, and Gwangdu would be a great support. Gwangdu was also essential for the sword clan.
“Guard the house well until I call for you!”
“Don’t worry!”
Gwangdu was probably the one who wanted to join me the most. But he never made unreasonable demands or requests. That’s why I thought he was smart and why I liked him.
As I turned to head towards the gate, Gwangdu called out from behind.
“Where are you going at this hour?”
“I have somewhere to be.”
In truth, when I thought about how to spend my leave, someone else came to mind first. I felt a bit guilty towards my parents, but it was the truth.
Lying in bed, Song Hwa-rin eventually got up and went outside.
She moved carefully, not wanting to wake Su-ran sleeping in the next room. Her martial skills had surpassed Su-ran’s, allowing her to move without a sound.
For some reason, she couldn’t sleep tonight. Her heart kept racing, as if someone was calling out to her from somewhere.
Could it really be? She wondered as she walked.
Unconsciously drawn, she found herself in the field behind the house.
And there stood Byeok Ri-dan, gazing up at the night sky. The stars were exceptionally bright tonight.
“You’re here?”
Byeok Ri-dan spoke as if he had been waiting.
Song Hwa-rin was genuinely surprised. She hadn’t expected to find him here.
“When did you get here?”
“I arrived today.”
“And here?”
“About an hour ago.”
“Why didn’t you come to see me?”
“It was too late.”
“But to be here…”
Suddenly, she was taken aback.
“Could it be? This sounds crazy, but… did you call me here?”
It was indeed a crazy thought. The distance from her room to here was quite far.
To summon someone from such a distance with energy was something only the highest masters could do.
Instead of answering, Byeok Ri-dan asked, “Shall we see how much you’ve improved?”
Song Hwa-rin chuckled.
“Doesn’t he know how to set the mood? Meeting after so long, and he wants to draw swords?”
But she also thought, it was because she learned martial arts from him that they could be so natural together.
“Alright.”
She stood before Byeok Ri-dan and slowly drew her sword. She had trained diligently, feeling the gap between them widening.
Song Hwa-rin swung her sword with utmost care, doing her best.
When she finished a sequence of the Jin-hwa sword technique, Byeok Ri-dan offered a different suggestion instead of critiquing her form.
“Let’s do it together this time.”
“Together?”
“Yes.”
Byeok Ri-dan performed the Jin-hwa sword technique alongside Song Hwa-rin.
“Don’t mind me, just do it.”
Their movements synchronized, moving as one. Like a shadow following, Byeok Ri-dan mirrored her every move.
When the sequence was complete, Byeok Ri-dan said, “Once more!”
They executed the sequence again.
Byeok Ri-dan’s movements changed. Initially, he had mirrored her, but now he led her.
Noticing the change in pace, the quick-witted Song Hwa-rin became the shadow this time.
It was different. The speed was different from what she had imagined, the stride was different, and the angle of the sword was different. If she had just watched, she might not have noticed, but performing side by side made the differences clear.
She thought she wouldn’t be able to notice while focusing on her own form, but somehow she could. It felt as if his movements were being transmitted to her body, a truly fascinating experience for her.
“Once more!”
With each repetition, the differences diminished.
Performing the same movements as Byeok Ri-dan, she felt a certain thrill. It wasn’t just that her martial arts were being corrected.
This synchronization led to a peculiar emotional connection. It was because it was Byeok Ri-dan. The joy of doing something identical with him stirred her heart.
After three more rounds, Byeok Ri-dan gave a new order.
“This time, use your full internal energy!”
She was startled. Using full internal energy would greatly increase the power, risking injury.
But Byeok Ri-dan had already begun the sequence.
She swung her sword alongside him. It was different from before, but now the sound emanating from the blade was entirely transformed.
She realized something crucial. Her sword needed to produce that same powerful sound.
It wasn’t as dangerous as she had feared. She understood that her worries were just that—mere worries.
“Don’t jump to conclusions about things you haven’t tried.”
She gained an insight. It seemed trivial, but for someone training in martial arts, it was a vital lesson.
When they finished the routine, two identical marks were left on the ground.
“Ah!”
Looking down at them, Song Hwarin felt a mix of embarrassment and a surge of emotion.
One mark seemed like it was made by a child, while the other was the work of an adult, a true martial artist.
The mark left by Byeok Lidan was deep, precise, and clean.
In contrast, hers was shallow and uneven.
Until now, she thought she was executing the moves correctly, but seeing them side by side, she realized she wasn’t.
It wasn’t just a matter of inner strength. It was about how accurately the moves were executed. It showed her the path she needed to take.
Song Hwarin looked at Byeok Lidan.
“Thank you.”
“Thank me? Let’s take a break.”
“Alright.”
The two of them sat down side by side. The night sky was so full of stars, it seemed they might spill over at any moment.
They drank, they trained. Having gone through so much together, there was no awkwardness between them.
Yet, Song Hwarin felt a twinge of regret.
“If only our relationship was…”
She trailed off, and Byeok Lidan finished her thought.
“You wish we weren’t engaged?”
Song Hwarin nodded slightly.
If that were the case, she wouldn’t have brought up breaking off the engagement.
What always held her back was her own declaration of wanting to end it. Even though Byeok Lidan had been unforgivably drunk at the time, she was the one who first mentioned breaking it off.
“I actually prefer things as they are now.”
Surprised by his words, Song Hwarin turned to look at him.
Byeok Lidan met her gaze and said, “Isn’t it nice? We can choose to marry or break up. We’re in a position where we can make any decision.”
She made a face of disbelief, then chuckled.
“I never thought of it that way.”
Just then, her eyes sparkled.
“Oh, a shooting star!”
In the distance, a meteor streaked across the sky, trailing its tail.
She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together.
Instead of making a wish, Byeok Lidan watched her. He thought she looked incredibly beautiful with her eyes closed.
In the next moment, Byeok Lidan’s face slowly moved closer to Song Hwarin’s.