Moonlit Duel (3)
“It’s all about keeping secrets.”
The old man’s words left Cheon So-seon looking surprised.
“I understand the danger of secrets being leaked, but is it really as risky as joining forces with you, Grandfather?”
“That’s what they must have concluded.”
“Then they’re underestimating us.”
The old man shook his head.
“It’s not that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“When judging someone, you can’t rely solely on your own standards.”
After cautioning his grandson against being too hasty, the old man continued calmly.
“I suspect this organization has been around for centuries.”
“Centuries?”
“Yes. I imagine it was exposed and nearly destroyed several times in its early days. Controlling the world from the shadows is no easy feat.”
Cheon So-seon listened intently.
“To them, keeping secrets is as vital as staying alive. They’ve staked everything on maintaining secrecy, which is why they’ve survived this long.”
Cheon So-seon spoke up.
“So they recruited you, an outsider, to protect their secrets?”
“Exactly. They joined hands with us to remain hidden. They’re not weak, so never underestimate them.”
“I understand.”
“One more thing, they don’t trust brute force. What they truly believe in is financial power. Remember that.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
The old man coughed repeatedly, perhaps from speaking too much.
“Are you alright, Grandfather?”
“Take me to the celestial bed.”
“Hold my hand.”
Cheon So-seon helped the old man to the celestial bed they had brought with them. It was essential not only for healing wounds but also for the grand ritual the old man planned to perform.
As the old man lay down, his expression relaxed a little.
“I’ll have to perform the grand ritual soon.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. The success rate is less than ten percent.”
“I must do it. I can’t hold on much longer anyway.”
“Grandfather!”
Realizing the old man had made up his mind, Cheon So-seon sighed.
After a moment of rest, the old man sat up.
“Grandfather, please rest a bit more.”
But the old man perched on the edge of the celestial bed.
“So-seon.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know why I fled here?”
“Isn’t it for the grand ritual? To avoid any injuries before the big event?”
“That’s part of it. But there’s another reason.”
“What is it?”
The old man let out a long sigh.
“I wasn’t confident I could defeat him.”
“Grandfather?”
Cheon So-seon could see the truth in his grandfather’s expression. He never imagined hearing such words from the man he considered the greatest in the world.
“That can’t be. You would have defeated him.”
The old man only gave a faint smile. What worried him was the possibility of the grand ritual failing. If he couldn’t defeat the opponent, neither could Cheon So-seon. And there was also the dark figure trying to eliminate him.
“In case the grand ritual fails… there’s something I must do.”
“What is it?”
“Before I begin the ritual, I’ll pass all my inner strength to you.”
“Grandfather?”
“If the ritual succeeds, I’ll be reborn as a complete being. If it fails, I’ll die. I won’t need my inner strength either way. Even if I die…”
“Don’t say that…”
“Listen to me!”
“Yes.”
The old man spoke with the seriousness of a final testament.
“Never rush into anything. The one who disrupted the ritual and the dark figure are not to be underestimated. If you act out of blind vengeance, you’ll only end up being used by them and meet a miserable end. So if you seek revenge, do it slowly, with great care and patience.”
Cheon So-seon nodded in understanding and spoke with determination.
“The grand ritual will succeed.”
＊ ＊ ＊
Life on the island continued peacefully.
Im Yeon-jeong devoted all her time to the child, while Baek Ryeon mostly trained in martial arts or took walks.
Today, they were strolling through the garden together. It was a beautiful moonlit night.
“I’m not sure if this is okay.”
Im Yeon-jeong smiled at Baek Ryeon’s concern.
“It’s okay to rest.”
“But still.”
Im Yeon-jeong had helped her a lot when she struggled to adapt to this new life. Thanks to her, Baek Ryeon found some stability, but she still felt uneasy about living such a comfortable life.
“I keep thinking, he gave us this peaceful life, but is it right for me to just accept it? Shouldn’t I be doing something?”
“Maybe it’s okay.”
“Do you think so?”
“The person we know, I think of him as a wall.”
“A wall?”
Im Yeon-jeong shared her thoughts with a smile.
“Yes, a very tall wall. A wall that shields us from the winds outside, one that never falls no matter how strong the wind blows. And it’s also a wall we must eventually climb over.”
“A wall we must climb over?”
“Yes. Like you said, we can’t just rely on his help forever. But sometimes, we need to take shelter behind the wall. When the time comes to climb over it and face the wind head-on, we need to be strong enough not to be blown away. That’s when we can truly repay him.”
Baek Ryeon nodded in agreement.
Just then, from a distance, Jang-geun called out to Im Yeon-jeong.
“Mom!”
“You little rascal, why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Im Yeon-jeong ran to the child. Stopping a few steps away, she turned back and said,
“Don’t worry, maybe this unease is the beginning of change.”
Yes, she might be right. No change can begin without some unease.
Baek Ryeon stretched and looked up at the moon. Perhaps it was the beautiful moonlight, but she felt inexplicably happy.
“How high is his wall?”
＊ ＊ ＊
After leaving the cave, I went straight to see Seong Wang-bo.
He was waiting for me in the secret room of the Dongho Trading Company, anticipating the outcome of recent events.
“He got away before I arrived.”
Seong Wang-bo was taken aback by my words.
“That’s impossible. Could he have just stepped out for a moment?”
“No, his men were prepared for my arrival.”
“He’s not someone who would flee so easily.”
“But he did.”
“Wait here. I’ll check the details.”
He left the room.
At that moment, Cheonma spoke to me.
[It’s the work of that old man.]
[You’re sure?]
Seong Wang-bo had claimed to be in direct contact with the old man. Who else would know his whereabouts? Perhaps only the dark figure or his close associates.
How did they know to flee in advance? No matter how nonchalant he acted, he couldn’t fool my eyes, or rather, our eyes.
[We can tell at a glance. He’s hiding something.]
[Division and betrayal. It’s not bad for us.]
[The righteous fool is finally learning the true joys of life.]
[Haha.]
Yes, he was right.
When facing a formidable evil, we need to use methods that match its strength. It would be ideal if justice and chivalry were enough, but against a superior foe, all means must be employed.
[He’s a funny one. Paying to have someone killed, then secretly helping them escape.]
[It’s a struggle for survival.]
Seong Wang-bo returned shortly after.
“Our network has also lost track of him.”
“Let me know as soon as you find anything.”
“Understood. You should also take action.”
“I will.”
As I turned to leave, I glanced back at Seong Wang-bo and asked,
“When can I meet him?”
“Who are you referring to?”
“The person behind you.”
I didn’t mention the dark figure by name. In negotiations, it’s best to give the least and gain the most.
“Will I be able to see him once this is over?”
“I’ll mention it to him.”
“Thank you. Until next time.”
After leaving, I stopped by the contact point to send an urgent message to Gal Sa-ryang. It was to ensure we had a clear understanding of Seong Wang-bo’s actions.
If our suspicions were correct and Seong Wang-bo had betrayed us, his value would only increase.
When a dam breaks, it always starts with a small crack. This time, that crack was named Seong Wang-bo.
＊ ＊ ＊
Today, I was the one who initiated the use of Cheon Gi Sim Hwan Gong to summon Cheonma.
We stood by a rather picturesque lakeside. Using the backyard pond as a reference point, I had managed to create a beautiful setting.
As I became more adept at controlling the size of Cheon Gi Sim Hwan Gong, I was able to shape it closer to my vision. Initially, when I used the pond as a reference, we ended up floating on a vast expanse of water like an ocean.
But today, I successfully created a lakeside setting even more charming than the backyard pond.
If I continued to practice, I felt confident I could create the perfect space I envisioned.
[What brings you to summon me first?]
[The moon is lovely tonight.]
[You called me out for such a trivial reason? Let’s spar!]
Though he grumbled, Cheonma was clearly pleased. But the real surprise was yet to come.
[Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.]
[What is it? Are you going to read me a challenge?]
[Haha. No, it’s something you’ll like.]
[I don’t know what it is, but I don’t want to hear it.]
[It’s the secret technique of the Immortal Crane.]
[What?]
A moment of silence followed. Cheonma was so taken aback that he couldn’t speak for a while.
[You’re trying to kill me with a fake technique.]
[You said you can’t die without a body, remember?]
Silence lingered, and then Cheonma asked again.
[Why are you teaching me this?]
[We agreed to break the bond together, didn’t we? So I should teach you the Immortal Crane technique.]
[What if I change my mind and only teach you the Celestial Crane Technique, but not the Divine Heart Method?]
“Would you really do that?”
“What?”
“Would you really?”
“You fool, asking so bluntly like that…”
Silence fell between us again. The Heavenly Demon stared at me intently, unable to hide his true feelings. His expression was a mix of suspicion and awe.
For once, I laid my emotions bare. I was genuinely offering to teach him the technique without any strings attached.
“Is it really without any conditions?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Do you really trust me?”
“I do.”
“Damn it. Damn it all!”
The Heavenly Demon lashed out in anger for no reason.
But I understood. He was overwhelmed, embarrassed by his own feelings of gratitude. That’s why he was reacting this way.
It was something he had never experienced before.
Just like me, this was all new and refreshing for him.
He must have lived an even more rigid and isolated life than I had. As the leader of the Demonic Cult, when would he have had the chance for such a conversation?
“If you betray me, I won’t just refrain from using the Celestial Mind Technique, I won’t speak to you ever again.”
“Ah, there it is. A condition. Just like those righteous sect folks.”
“Haha, well, I’m not naive enough to trust the leader of the Demonic Cult completely.”
“You wretched fool!”
“Listen carefully. I’ll only explain it once.”
“You idiot, you should explain it five times. When you get older, you can’t remember things after hearing them just once or twice.”
I taught him the incantation for the Celestial Crane Technique. Despite his words, the Heavenly Demon memorized it perfectly after just one explanation. If it had been anything else, I might have had to repeat it ten times.
But this was martial arts. And he was the Heavenly Demon.
“Be honest. What’s your real intention?”
“I just wanted to share it.”
“Share what?”
“That this is what it means to join forces.”
The Heavenly Demon gazed at the moon reflected in the pond for a long time.
Finally, he turned to me and shouted.
“Stop with the old man talk! Once I master this, I’ll crush you with the Celestial Crane Technique!”
“Hahaha.”
“Damn it! We didn’t even fight today…”
He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I knew he meant he felt utterly defeated, even without a fight.
Together, we lifted our heads to gaze not at the moon’s reflection in the pond, but at the moon hanging in the sky.
After a moment, I glanced over to see the Heavenly Demon wearing a gentle expression. It was the first time I’d seen such a look on his face since we met.
Yes, sometimes, these kinds of battles are necessary.