A Glimpse Through the Clouds (3)
She was silent for a long time.
The idea of a new life seemed so foreign to her that she didn’t know how to react.
“Are you joking?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Of course, I didn’t. I was looking at her more seriously than ever.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.”
“You don’t even know me.”
I pulled an envelope from my coat and handed it to her.
She opened it and examined the contents. It was information about the Western Scholar that Ban Seo-jung had given me.
Her eyes widened in shock.
“How did you get this?”
Her expression hardened, suspicion and wariness creeping into her gaze.
“How did you know I was investigating this person?”
“I know much more than that.”
I could sense her unease.
“Tell me.”
She was trying hard to maintain her composure. If it weren’t for our past, she might have already drawn her sword.
“I’m fighting against the organization controlling the martial arts alliance with the Galgun faction. I know you’re part of that organization.”
“Since when?”
My answer would change everything between us.
How should I respond?
How could I possibly understand the heart of a woman?
But I knew one thing.
When faced with a complex and difficult problem, there’s one simple yet challenging way to break through.
And that’s to tell the truth. I don’t believe the truth always leads to the best outcome.
But while it might not be the best, it won’t make things worse. At least it keeps things from spiraling out of control.
Things get messy when lies begin.
“Since the first time we met.”
Chil-ho flinched, her expression hardening further. She realized that everything between us had been intentional.
I continued to speak the truth.
“I’ve been debating what to do with you. Should I kill you, or try to bring you to my side?”
“Why even consider that? I was your enemy from the start.”
“An enemy, yes… but you never felt like one.”
That was my honest feeling. When I thought of her, I remembered the first time we met. Her lonely figure standing by the pond under the moonlight. That image was etched into my mind.
Whether it was a romantic feeling or simple human empathy, I couldn’t be sure.
I asked her in return.
“Do I feel like an enemy to you?”
She answered with action.
With a swift motion, she drew her sword and pointed it at my neck.
I stood still, letting her do as she wished.
“I could kill you right now.”
“Sorry, but… you can’t.”
Just as I had spoken the truth, my martial arts revealed the truth as well.
In a flash, I grabbed her wrist and twisted it. She resisted, but I used her strength against her, quickly disarming her.
Her sword spun through the air and landed in my hand. The true power of my martial arts was revealed.
She looked at me in shock.
“You were hiding your skills. And they’re incredible.”
She never imagined she could be disarmed so easily.
“Without them, I wouldn’t have dared to face you all.”
She looked at me with a complicated expression, unsure of how much to believe or what to do next.
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Did you forget? I said I wanted to hire you. I don’t want to deceive you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Why me? Don’t give me that ‘you don’t feel like an enemy’ nonsense. Tell me the truth.”
Her words came out faster than usual.
The answer I found within myself was simple.
“Because I want to.”
What other reason could there be? I just wanted to.
Silence fell between us again. Our eyes met in the air.
We asked, answered, and fell silent. It felt like we were climbing a staircase.
She asked again.
“If I refuse, will you kill me?”
I shook my head without hesitation.
“No. I’ll just let you go.”
“I could report everything.”
“I still won’t kill you.”
With a practiced hand, I sheathed her sword.
“Even if you refuse, nothing changes.”
“Did you give me a name because of this?”
Her voice trembled more than it had all day.
“No. That was unrelated. It was just a pure gesture.”
Her gaze searched mine, trying to discern the truth.
Silence stretched on. Waiting for her answer felt like an eternity. I sensed we were at the final step.
Finally, she spoke.
“I’ll accept your offer.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll gladly join you.”
“Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
“That’s yet to be seen.”
I laughed heartily, overjoyed. My happiness seemed to embarrass her, and she blushed slightly.
“I’m just an ordinary person called Chil-ho.”
She wasn’t ordinary. If she were, I wouldn’t have noticed her.
But I kept that thought to myself, not wanting to overwhelm her.
“I’m just an ordinary person too. Let’s gather ordinary people and take down your organization.”
I extended my hand to her.
She slowly reached out and took it. Her hand was cold.
“Your hand is warm.”
“Yours is too cold.”
“My hands are always cold.”
She quickly withdrew her hand.
“Can I ask why you agreed?”
“I liked your terms.”
Her gaze shifted to the sky. The moon had risen in the now-dark sky.
“I wanted to live a new life.”
The next morning, at dawn, Im Yeon-jeong stood in the field with Chil-ho. She had followed Chil-ho for a morning walk.
“It’s nice to be here again.”
Im Yeon-jeong reached out to feel the breeze. The fresh morning air was invigorating.
As she enjoyed the dawn, she spoke words she had kept buried.
“You haven’t forgotten, have you? The promise to save me.”
“Of course not.”
“You don’t have to. I didn’t say anything that day, but it was arrogant. To say you’d save someone, it’s presumptuous. No one can live someone else’s life.”
Im Yeon-jeong spoke firmly, trying to dissuade her. It was a realistic and convincing argument.
“But don’t take it the wrong way. I know you meant well.”
Chil-ho listened silently. Im Yeon-jeong asked again for confirmation.
“You’ll do as I say?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not upset?”
“No.”
“Thank you.”
Im Yeon-jeong smiled.
‘Yes, this is enough. There’s no need to push her to her death.’
This was her own problem. She would find a way to kill the Western Scholar or find a way out of this situation.
Of course, escaping wouldn’t be easy. Given the organization’s methods, it seemed impossible for someone of her skill level to assist. She could find help, but finding someone well-versed in their techniques wasn’t easy.
The organization wouldn’t allow her to back out.
‘I have to find a way.’
As she pondered, Chil-ho spoke calmly.
“No one can live for someone else… but sometimes, you have to live for someone.”
“That’s true. Just not this time.”
She tried to dissuade Chil-ho again, but the truth was, the words applied to her.
‘I must survive. To do that…’
The thought she had was spoken by Chil-ho.
“I’ll kill the Western Scholar.”
Im Yeon-jeong quickly turned to Chil-ho.
“You said you’d do as I asked?”
“I will.”
“Then why say you’ll kill the Western Scholar? What do you mean?”
“I won’t kill him. Someone else will.”
Chil-ho turned to look elsewhere. Im Yeon-jeong followed his gaze and was startled.
In the distance, Byeok Ri-dan was approaching.
Watching him, Chil-ho spoke to her.
“I’ve already decided to betray the organization.”
“Because of me?”
“At first, yes.”
It had started because of Im Yeon-jeong. But now it was different.
“Now… it’s because of him.”
“I’ll kill the Western Scholar.”
Im Yeon-jeong looked at me in surprise.
I told Chil-ho that we needed to inform Im Yeon-jeong about our plan.
Chil-ho agreed. We couldn’t proceed without her knowing. She might not be needed for the killing, but she needed to know who she was trying to protect.
“I’ll kill him before the ritual begins.”
“Don’t you need to know what the ritual is?”
“Then you’ll be in danger. When he’s dead, someone else will take over. At least it won’t be someone who kills their own comrades. We’ll find out about the ritual through him.”
It was all for Im Yeon-jeong’s sake.
Just as Chil-ho had been wary of me, Im Yeon-jeong was now on guard.
“How did you convince her?”
“I was honest. I said I wanted to work together.”
“How do you plan to convince me?”
“By being honest again.”
“You really think I’m a fool, don’t you?”
Im Yeon-jeong looked at Chil-ho with an expression that seemed to ask if he truly believed such words.
Chil-ho remained silent.
“Not at all. If I thought you were a fool, we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.”
Convincing her was naturally much harder than convincing Chil-ho.
After all, it was the nameless hero who had a deep connection with Im Yeon-jeong, not Byeok-ri-dan.
Yet, the reason this conversation was even possible was because of Chil-ho. She was at the heart of this persuasion.
“How can I trust you? Do you have anything to make me believe you?”
“Not a thing.”
Im Yeon-jeong looked incredulous for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
“At least you’re honest.”
This was part of her charm. She never lost her positive outlook.
“If you had claimed to have something trustworthy, I would never have believed you.”
“That’s a relief, then. That there’s nothing to persuade you with.”
I replied with a hint of self-deprecation, and her expression softened further.
“Why are you fighting them?”
She used the term “them” instead of “us,” indicating her heart was no longer with the organization she belonged to.
“Because they’re bad people.”
“You’re not trying to take their place?”
“Do I seem like someone who wants money and power?”
“You never know what’s inside a person.”
“Then let me be clear. No. I’m fighting them because they’re the kind of scum that needs to disappear from the world.”
Im Yeon-jeong could see my sincerity. It was evident in her expression. But her response was a separate matter.
“I can’t leave the organization.”
I had suspected she wouldn’t leave. I also knew it wasn’t out of loyalty to the organization.
She was staying for someone else, willing to sacrifice her life for them. She was far too good for the organization she was tied to.
“This isn’t about leaving the organization.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Survival. If you don’t survive, neither will the person you’re trying to protect.”
“But if it’s discovered that I’ve betrayed the organization, it won’t just be me who dies.”
“Who is it you’re trying to protect?”
Im Yeon-jeong’s eyes trembled.
I thought to myself.
Perhaps everything comes down to a single step.
Living or dying. Meeting or passing by.
I chose Chil-ho, and she accepted it. Because of that, everything would change.
The same went for Im Yeon-jeong. Her fate would be entirely different depending on whether she chose me or not.
Where Seo Hak-sa was, how strong he was—none of that mattered now. He would die by my hand anyway. I would make sure of it.
At this moment, I asked the most important question once more.
“Who is more precious to you than your own life?”
Im Yeon-jeong looked at me. After a long pause, she spoke softly.
“My son.”