As Realization Deepens (2)
“Grandfather.”
Cheon So-seon slowly regained consciousness. When he first fainted, he had taken on the appearance of a woman, but now he was back to his original self. Thanks to the old man who had cleaned his face beforehand, he didn’t look like the bizarre, made-up version of himself.
“Are you awake now?”
“What happened?”
“Don’t you remember?”
Cheon So-seon paused, trying to recall. His expression soon darkened.
“Ah! That scoundrel attacked us!”
“Yes, that’s right. It was him.”
As Cheon So-seon attempted to sit up abruptly, the old man gently restrained him.
“You’re safe now. Rest a bit more.”
Cheon So-seon lay back down and spoke to the old man.
“Grandfather, could you bring me a mirror?”
Without a word, the old man fetched a small mirror and held it up to Cheon So-seon’s face. Even without makeup, the reflection revealed a complex mix of emotions.
“What about the Great Law? What happened to it?”
“The Great Law failed.”
“And the soul of the Heavenly Demon?”
“It’s gone.”
“Damn it!”
Cheon So-seon’s face twisted with despair.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather.”
“It’s alright. Your safety is all that matters.”
“It’s not enough! You’ve been preparing for this for so long!”
“Things in this world rarely go as planned. Sometimes, you have to accept failure and take a step back.”
“I won’t forgive him!”
“By now, he’s likely dead.”
“What?”
Cheon So-seon was taken aback.
“He was caught in the explosion and is now trapped in the underground prison of the Martial Alliance. I’ve sent people to finish him off.”
“But he…”
Cheon So-seon’s eyes wavered. He had experienced firsthand how formidable the opponent was. He wasn’t someone who could be easily defeated.
Just then, a man with no eyebrows entered and spoke.
“The Chief Inspector is here.”
“Rest now.”
After comforting Cheon So-seon, the old man left the cave.
At the entrance, Seong Wang-bo was waiting.
“I’ve sent the ghosts to eliminate the one in the prison.”
The old man knew who these “ghosts” were.
“They’re quick and skilled.”
They were particularly adept at infiltration, making them suitable for sneaking into the prison. Given that their target was already subdued, their skills weren’t a major concern.
A report of success should have come, but Seong Wang-bo delivered unexpected news.
“The ghosts failed.”
The old man was shocked.
“Failed?”
“Yes, all but one were wiped out. The survivor reported it was a trap set by Ma Cheol-gun.”
“Ma Cheol-gun counterattacked?”
It was possible. Ma Cheol-gun was desperately trying to break free from his control.
“Then the one who disrupted the Great Law?”
“We suspect he escaped the explosion site from the start.”
“Ma Cheol-gun set a trap?”
“Yes, intending to eliminate anyone who came to rescue. Or perhaps it was Ma Cheol-gun’s subordinate who disrupted the Great Law from the beginning.”
The old man shook his head firmly.
“He’s not someone who would serve under the likes of Ma Cheol-gun.”
The opposite was more plausible.
Could it be that he had even Ma Cheol-gun under his command? But given Ma Cheol-gun’s recent actions, it didn’t seem likely.
“They must have received the report too.”
“The Dark Council is furious about this incident.”
“I should be the one angry. We couldn’t even handle such a trivial matter.”
Seong Wang-bo remained silent.
He stood on thin ice, and the cracks beneath his feet were widening. If the ice broke, he would plunge into the water with no escape. His survival depended on which way he chose to move.
“Did he give any specific orders?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“That’s even worse.”
The old man understood the Dark Council. The lack of orders meant they were deliberating over his fate.
‘Those arrogant golden bugs!’
Yet, the old man showed no sign of anger, remaining composed. He slowly walked to the edge of the cliff and asked.
“Have you brought the right question for the right answer?”
It was a conversation he had with Seong Wang-bo during their last meeting.
“No, I haven’t found the right question yet.”
He would need to find it soon if he wanted to avoid drowning.
The old man continued to gaze at the distant scenery and asked again.
“What is your dream?”
“You asked me the same question when we first met. I answered that my dream was to make a lot of money.”
“I remember. I then asked, don’t you already have a lot of money? And you replied, I want much more than I have now.”
“You remember exactly.”
The old man slowly turned to look at Seong Wang-bo.
“My dream hasn’t changed.”
“That’s right. A true dream doesn’t change.”
Seong Wang-bo gave a self-deprecating smile at the old man’s words.
“Most people dream of things they can’t achieve.”
Then came a single remark.
“Don’t you want to make that dream a reality?”
Seong Wang-bo’s heart skipped a beat.
He knew exactly what those words implied.
It was an invitation to betray the Dark Council and join him. If he did, and if he could claim all their wealth for himself, his dream could come true.
But if he were someone who could betray so easily, he would have done so already.
Seong Wang-bo didn’t answer immediately. A shrewd businessman always calculates before speaking.
“I’ll see you next time.”
I met the Heavenly Demon again.
We met on a small boat floating on a lake.
I had set the focal point of the Celestial Transformation Technique to the small pond in the backyard of the safe house, so I expected the mental space to resemble a similar garden and pond.
But the place that formed was a vast lake. Perhaps it appeared as a lake to me, but it could have been a pond. It was similar to how the chains on the wall had become a massive chain bridge.
“Did we ever fight on water?”
The Heavenly Demon asked, and I recalled our past battles. Not precisely, but…
“Twice, maybe three times. Don’t you remember? At the start of the new year, you launched a massive attack on the ship I was on.”
“I should have fed you to the fish back then.”
“Who were those who attacked me?”
“The Water Combat Unit.”
“How could they stay underwater for so long without breathing?”
They were so adept that it was believable they had gills.
“Do you think I’d reveal the secrets of our sect so easily?”
Of course, if I wanted, I could find out everything. But I had no intention of using him to uncover the secrets of the Water Combat Unit.
“Now, shall we see how I am on the outside?”
“Go ahead.”
I recited the incantation of the Celestial Transformation Technique and focused my mind.
Whoosh.
Suddenly, the small boat we were on began to speed across the water.
In no time, the boat reached the edge of the lake.
Ahead, I could see land. On the land was the garden’s backyard, the very place where I had started the Celestial Transformation Technique.
There, on a rock, I sat cross-legged.
I was seeing my current self.
“Truly impressive.”
I was genuinely moved.
“Whose martial art do you think it is? Of course, it’s impressive.”
The Heavenly Demon and I stood side by side, watching my meditating form.
“Watching myself, it’s strange.”
“Isn’t it fascinating?”
“It is.”
It felt as if my soul had left my body to observe myself from the outside. Like an audience watching a stage. It was far more intricate than any ordinary illusion, made possible by mastering the essence of the Celestial Transformation Technique.
“Hey, Cheon-gwang.”
“What?”
“You didn’t get mad when I called your name.”
“I’ve been getting mad so often that it seems to have lost its effect. I’ll get mad when you least expect it.”
“Haha.”
“So, why did you call me?”
“Have you ever seen yourself objectively?”
“Objectively? Why should I see myself objectively?”
“Well… because it’s hard to do.”
“Then why bother with something so difficult?”
Seeing oneself objectively is as important as it is challenging.
People are lenient with themselves but strict with others. They often fall into the trap of self-justification, and I’m no exception.
What I firmly believe to be right might be remembered by someone else as the worst mistake.
“Life’s too short for such thoughts.”
There are moments when I agree with his perspective. At least, I fully agree with him now.
Looking back, my seventy years of past life felt like a fleeting moment.
Truly, just a moment.
In my teens and twenties, time seemed to crawl. But once I hit my thirties, as my sword grew faster, so did the passage of time.
Moreover, I fought in wars. And then, I experienced the internal strife of the Martial Alliance.
Just when I thought I could finally relax, I found myself at the age of death.
Yes, I resonate with the Heavenly Demon’s words.
I resonate, but he and I are fundamentally different. Thus, our conclusions differ.
I believe that because life is so short, we must strive. Strive to see ourselves objectively, strive in other ways too, because life is too short not to.
Perhaps it was because of the topic of ‘self’ that the Heavenly Demon turned to me and said.
“I want to have my own body.”
I could tell he meant it sincerely.
I replied just as sincerely.
“Sorry, but you can’t leave my body. And eventually… you’ll die by my hand.”
After speaking, I glanced at the Heavenly Demon.
He said nothing. Silently, he continued to watch my real-world self.
His vacant gaze reminded me of a look I’d seen before. Just before our final battle, when he looked up at the falling rain.
What could he be thinking now?
Then, the Heavenly Demon spoke softly.
“Someone’s coming.”
I looked in the direction he indicated.
Baek Pyo was entering the garden.
[It’s about time to wake up.]
Cheonma remained silent. His uncharacteristic calmness hinted at the turmoil he was feeling inside.
I awoke from the Cheonki Simhwan Gong.
The world dimmed and then brightened again, revealing Baekpyo standing before me.
“My lord.”
I greeted him with a bright smile.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Ha… ha… ha…”
Baekpyo was panting heavily.
Our reunion was marked not just by words but by a sparring match.
Thanks to my previous teachings, Baekpyo’s martial skills had improved significantly. He was now on the verge of becoming a top-tier master.
The sparring was meant to push him from ‘almost’ to ‘completely.’ While a few matches wouldn’t transform his abilities overnight, they could provide the breakthrough he needed to reach the next level.
For someone like Baekpyo, who had already reached a high level, such breakthroughs were as crucial as the training itself. I was determined to keep providing him with those opportunities.
“Come, let’s have a refreshing drink.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As we walked, we chatted about various matters.
“How are things going with the Taeseong Trading Group?”
“We’ve gathered forty skilled warriors. The next steps depend on Gwangmuin.”
“Gwangdu will handle it well.”
“I agree. The more I see him, the more impressive he becomes.”
“You have a good eye.”
Just then, Cheonma unexpectedly spoke up. He hadn’t said a word since the last Cheonki Hwan Sim Gong, but now he addressed me in his usual tone.
[Who is Gwangdu?]
[He’s around.]
[You don’t mean that crazy head, do you?]
[Haha, it’s the ‘bright’ Gwang.]
I remembered the first time I teased Gwangdu about his name, calling him ‘bright’ and watching him jump around.
[He’s a subordinate I value and like.]
[A subordinate you value and like? You can’t be serious.]
[What if I am?]
[Idiot! Subordinates are meant to be intimidated and manipulated, not treated with sincerity.]
[That’s why you lost.]
[Ridiculous. I lost because of you. It was just my bad luck that someone like Cheonhajin was born in my era.]
[I’ll take that as a compliment.]
Just then, Galsaryang arrived at the hideout.
“My lord.”
I greeted him warmly.
“Perfect timing. Let’s have a drink together, the three of us.”
[It’s four, not three!]
Cheonma shouted, but I pretended not to hear and pulled Galsaryang along.
“We have important matters to discuss.”