Dreams of the Past (3)
I tried using the Dream Lotus Technique again, just in case, but it was no use. It seemed it required a certain amount of time to pass.
I immediately summoned the Heavenly Demon using the Celestial Mind Technique. This was important, and I wanted to speak face-to-face.
As soon as the Heavenly Demon appeared, I asked, “Have you seen that guy before?”
The Heavenly Demon shook his head. “Never seen him.”
I figured as much. If he was someone the Heavenly Demon knew, I probably would have known him too. Besides, he looked too young to be someone who would mingle with us. Of course, he could be much older than he appeared.
“What was your first impression?”
“Strange. It’s hard to find the words to describe just how strange.”
Clearly, he was unsettling not just me but the Heavenly Demon as well.
Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon seemed to have a thought and asked urgently, “Could this be a Heart Demon?”
“No,” I replied quickly and firmly.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because I wouldn’t fall for something like a Heart Demon.”
“You arrogant fool! That answer alone shows you’re already ensnared by a Heart Demon!”
“Haha.”
Of course, that was just a jest to amuse the Heavenly Demon. The real reason was my instincts. This wasn’t something like a Heart Demon.
You know that feeling? With my age, experience, and mastery of martial arts, I was certain. This wasn’t a Heart Demon.
Perhaps it was the subconscious or the last memories of Byukridan, lingering in this body, trying to convey something to me.
Trying to explain why things had changed.
When I arrived at the main base of the Taesung Trading Company, Gwangdu was in the middle of giving a speech to the Taesung Sword Unit.
“Never forget. Our most important duty is to protect the merchants of the Taesung Trading Company. People come before money or goods! Without people, there is no money! Understood?”
“Yes!” the warriors responded in unison, their voices strong and confident. They were well-trained, not quite on par with the Black Panther Unit, but impressive nonetheless.
It wasn’t just their skills that impressed me; it was their spirit. Bright and healthy, it mirrored Gwangdu’s own demeanor.
“Alright, let’s give it our all today!”
“Yes!”
As the warriors dispersed, Gwangdu turned and spotted me, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Young Master? Young Master!”
Gwangdu ran over, beaming with a smile.
It was the same smile I had seen in my dreams. Unblemished and seemingly eternal, it was a smile reserved only for me, a testament to Gwangdu’s loyalty.
“What brings you here so early in the morning?”
Gwangdu now fit perfectly as the leader of the Taesung Sword Unit, his skills and inner strength having grown remarkably.
“I came to see you.”
“Oh my! Finally!”
“Finally?”
“The moment has come for you to use me as a human shield!”
It was so good to see Gwangdu’s playful banter again.
“Yes, the time has come. But thinking of you wandering as a bachelor ghost makes me uneasy.”
Gwangdu was floored by that one.
“Call me a Sword Ghost, a Blade Ghost, anything but a bachelor ghost! I’m no greenhorn! I’ve got plenty of experience!”
“Hahaha.”
I could guarantee it. This guy was still the same.
“Let’s take a walk.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
We strolled through the training grounds of the trading company. Gwangdu and the Taesung Sword Unit had been tasked with protecting the company, which operated independently from me.
“How’s work these days?”
“It’s going well.”
“Do you enjoy leading the Sword Unit?”
“I must, since I look forward to getting up every morning. Haha.”
Indeed, he looked bright and happy.
“Oh, and I’ve been taking the elixirs you sent. Thanks to them, my skills and inner strength have improved significantly! Thank you so much.”
“To become an indestructible human shield, you need to get even stronger.”
“With you looking out for me like this… I can’t even die.”
“Haha.”
I have to look out for you. Why else would I go through all this trouble? Don’t you dare die on me.
“Oh, and I’ve decided to give it another shot with her. She came back, apologized, and said she wanted to try again…”
I knew he was talking about Suran, whom he had broken up with not long ago.
“It’s tough. I don’t really understand women.”
“Committing to someone and taking responsibility for them for life is never easy or simple. But congratulations.”
“Save the congratulations for when I get married. These days, it might not even be her.”
“Haha. So you’re becoming a playboy, huh?”
“Better that than a bachelor ghost.”
We walked a bit more before I stopped and asked, “Do you remember when I was young?”
“When exactly?”
“Around the time I started to change.”
“Why do you ask about that all of a sudden?”
“Just curious.”
“You started changing a bit after Miss Song left for martial arts training. Until then, you were always with me, but around that time, you began to prefer being alone. Then you gradually became more violent and caused a lot of trouble.”
Gwangdu sighed, a hint of regret in his voice.
“I still regret not being there for you back then. I should have been by your side, supporting you.”
Tears welled up in Gwangdu’s eyes. Though I’ve changed as if reborn, those times must have been truly difficult for everyone.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
I looked into Gwangdu’s trembling eyes and spoke calmly.
“So don’t blame yourself.”
Chirrup, chirrup.
I awoke to the sound of bustling noise. I found myself standing in the middle of an inn.
All around, people were drinking, laughing, and chatting. I had woken up in a completely different place than before.
Looking around, I realized this was the inn across from the Quarters of the Bureau, where we had arrived in the dream. It was on this inn’s balcony that Byukridan and the man had met.
Scanning the crowded inn, I spotted the man and Byukridan sitting in a corner. It seemed they had decided to have a drink before parting ways.
“A man should know how to drink. Bottoms up.”
Byukridan took the drink the man offered and downed it in one go.
“Oh! You drink well.”
But soon, Byukridan coughed, unable to hold it back. It seemed he had little experience with alcohol.
“Hahaha. A true martial artist drinks strong liquor. Even the Heavenly Lord you admire loves a stiff drink.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve shared drinks with the Heavenly Lord.”
This bastard! Lying so smoothly?
I had never met him, and I wasn’t one to enjoy drinking.
Still, his lie worked. Byukridan’s gaze softened, his wariness lessening, and his interest growing. The idea of sharing drinks with someone he admired made him more inclined to trust the man.
Every word the man spoke seemed to hit the mark.
He had a naturally likable appearance. His friendly demeanor made it hard to believe he was lying. His looks inspired trust.
“You said earlier that dreams don’t come true.”
“I did.”
“Then do you not have any dreams?”
“No, I have dreams. Dreams don’t exist solely to be fulfilled, do they?”
He was quite the smooth talker.
He might fool young Byukridan, but he couldn’t fool me.
There was a sense of perfection about him, like a counterfeit. A flower crafted with perfect petals and leaves, yet devoid of any fragrance. That’s what he and his words felt like.
But that didn’t mean he wasn’t formidable. He was one of the most significant presences I’d ever encountered.
Who could he be?
Was he connected to someone I knew, or was he entirely new? I still didn’t even know his name.
“So, what kind of dream do you have?”
“You said your dream was to become like the Heavenly Lord, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then my dream is similar to yours.”
“Similar to mine?”
“To have this martial world in the palm of my hand.”
Byukridan blinked, unsure whether to take him seriously or as a joke.
“Who do you think is the master of this martial world?”
When Byukridan hesitated, the man asked again, “Is it the Martial Alliance Leader, Cheon Hwa-jin?”
“No.”
“Then the leaders of the Five Great Clans?”
“Certainly not them.”
“Then who?”
“The master of the martial world… would be us martial artists.”
“Exactly. A very commendable answer. That’s what everyone believes.”
The man filled his cup and continued.
“Now, let me ask you. Are you the master of this martial world?”
When Byukridan couldn’t answer, the man smiled.
“According to what you just said, you should answer yes.”
But that was just the man’s words. In this situation, how could anyone claim to be the master of the martial world?
The man’s expression turned serious.
“When someone asks who the master of the martial world is, I want my name to be the answer. When they ask the person next to them, I want my name to be the answer again. When everyone’s lips speak one name, only then can that person truly be called the master of the martial world. Don’t you agree?”
Byukridan still couldn’t respond, just staring at him. It was a statement that shook one’s values. Part of him might think it was wrong, but another part might find it incredibly alluring.
Using such words to sway a child?
I felt even more displeased with the man.
The man laughed heartily and said.
“Hahaha, just kidding. No need to look so serious. People like us have to engage in this kind of banter to make our mark in the world, don’t you think?”
“Oh, I see.”
Only then did Byeok Lidan realize the man’s words were a joke, and his expression relaxed.
But my face remained tense. I sensed the man was being sincere.
The man refilled Byeok Lidan’s glass and changed the subject.
“Do you have someone you like?”
Even Song Hwarin chimed in with that? They were doing everything possible to get on my nerves.
Byeok Lidan’s face turned slightly red, and the man smiled knowingly.
“So, you do. Is she pretty?”
“To me, she’s very… beautiful.”
“When will you introduce her to me?”
“She’s away for martial arts training, so I can’t.”
“Oh dear, I brought up something unnecessary.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Come on, let’s have a drink.”
The man clearly had an agenda with Byeok Lidan. Otherwise, why would someone with such grand ambitions be drinking with a teenager? He probably already knew Song Hwarin was away for training.
The man stood up.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere to lift your spirits.”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
The man led Byeok Lidan out of the inn, and I followed them.
He took Byeok Lidan to a pleasure house.
I had heard from Gwangdu that Byeok Lidan had become infatuated with a courtesan and spent all his money there. This must have been when he first got a taste for it.
I stopped short of following them inside.
There was no need to watch them indulge in the pleasures of the house.
But why had I come to Shandong in the first place?
The question suddenly struck me. Could it be related to this?
I took to the sky, flying swiftly towards Gokbu District.
Whoosh.
In an instant, I crossed the distance and landed in the courtyard of Gokbu District. Just then, I heard the sound of birds.
Chirrup, chirrup.
No!
I awoke on my bed.
“Damn it.”
I couldn’t tell if I had woken up because I had escaped the two of them or because it was simply time to wake up.
With some time left before my meeting with Cheon Soseon, I decided to visit Galsaryang.
I wanted to find out why I had gone to Shandong back then. It was too long ago to remember, but I hoped for a clue.
To my surprise, Galsaryang remembered.
“Ah! I remember!”