Chwima and Ilhwa Geomjon arrived at Daechwirim.
“Leave the liquor chest here. I’ll carry it from here.”
At Chwima’s words, Ilhwa Geomjon kept walking.
“Shall we have a drink before we go?”
“And here you were about to leave so coldly when I held you back?”
“I got my hands on some good liquor.”
Of course, that wasn’t the reason. She had sensed Chwima’s mood had sunk and wanted to comfort him. After all, he was the one friend she had.
Ilhwa Geomjon spoke to Yeobin, one of the Three Drunken Guests, who greeted them.
“Let’s drink together today.”
“I’m fine.”
“I want to drink, so indulge me.”
At that, Yeobin looked at Chwima. Chwima glanced at Ilhwa Geomjon once, then nodded to Yeobin.
“Then I’ll bring some anju.”
Ilhwa Geomjon and Chwima ascended Chwimongru first.
“Why are you doing something you don’t usually do?”
Even as she asked, Chwima thought of the answer himself.
Ilhwa Geomjon had secretly worked behind the scenes to reconcile him with Hyeolcheon Doma. Thanks to that, much of the old conflict between the two had been resolved.
Even though Ilhwa Geomjon didn’t know that fact, she was trying to connect him with Yeobin. Was life truly something that went around and came around?
“Because I’m tired of doing the same things every day.”
When Ilhwa Geomjon extended her hand, a bottle of liquor rose from the chest she had brought and flew to the pavilion where she sat.
“You have a golden hand. To pick out the rarest and most expensive liquor among so many. Well, a Sword Venerable’s hand is the most precious after all.”
If it had been the past, she might have flared up slightly at that joke.
But now, no anger arose. Because she was doing her best now.
Yes, her hand now was a precious hand.
Ilhwa Geomjon poured liquor for Yeobin, who had returned with anju.
The woman received the drink with both hands and emptied her cup. Ilhwa Geomjon saw her hand trembling with nervousness.
“Have another.”
Ilhwa Geomjon poured again, and again until the third cup.
After drinking three cups in a row, her hand stopped trembling.
“It feels like just yesterday that you came to Daechwirim. So much time has already passed.”
“Do you remember that time?”
Ilhwa Geomjon nodded. She remembered because Yeobin had been one of the few women among the guests. Of course, that didn’t mean Yeobin had held any significance in Ilhwa Geomjon’s life. It was only recently, as Ilhwa Geomjon underwent a change of heart, that she had come into view.
Only when life changes does martial arts change.
It was the opposite of what Geomugeuk used to say. Because martial arts changed—more precisely, because her heart toward martial arts changed—her life was changing. Thus, life and martial arts were like two sides of a coin, influencing each other.
“You were young then, I was quite young, and your Demon Venerable over there was quite dashing.”
Chwima smiled silently. Ordinarily, he would have spouted all sorts of nonsense—saying he was more dashing now, asking how one could compare that youthful spirit to the charm of a middle-aged man. But today’s Chwima was calm.
The three of them drank. Ilhwa Geomjon didn’t draw Chwima into the conversation. She left him to drink alone and spoke with Yeobin. She asked this and that, but as befitting a seasoned Sword Venerable, she did not ask questions that would make Yeobin uncomfortable.
Except for this one.
“Do you not wish to marry?”
Chwima looked at Ilhwa Geomjon with a gaze that said, *Why ask something so unnecessary,* but ignoring that gaze, Ilhwa Geomjon waited for Yeobin’s answer.
“No, I haven’t thought about it.”
“Why not?”
“What man would like a wife who drinks like this every day?”
“You could just meet someone who likes drinking. Aren’t there plenty of men in Daechwirim?”
Yeobin merely smiled.
“What about your Demon Venerable?”
Then Chwima interjected.
“Nonsense! Are you drunk?”
Ilhwa Geomjon spoke to Chwima.
“Yes, I’m drunk. How do you drink so much without getting drunk? If you’re the Drunken Demon, you should get drunk!”
Their gazes met in the air.
Ilhwa Geomjon spoke the words she had prepared.
“Do you know why you’ve been so sulky and angry lately?”
Chwima flared up. Sulky? You’re going to say that in front of my subordinate?
But Ilhwa Geomjon continued.
“It’s because you hold it in. You hold it in because you’ve grown old, because you’re a Demon Venerable. What does age matter? What does dignity matter? Listen, friend. As you grow older, you need to know how to reveal your desires gracefully. If you want to stop being angry and stop sulking, that’s what you need to do.”
Though she herself had failed to reveal her desires gracefully.
That was why. Why she had something to say on this matter. Whenever she fell into thought, she would inevitably recall her own shameful desires from the past.
“Stop talking nonsense and go. Stop wasting someone else’s precious gift.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll go.”
Chwima descended Chwimongru with a bottle in hand and set a boat afloat on the lake alone.
The two women watched Chwima’s boat slowly drifting toward the reflection of the moon on the water.
“Actually, those words were meant for you. I know that friend won’t listen to such talk.”
Yeobin looked at her with a surprised face.
“If you keep holding it in, and holding it in again. At first, you’ll become sulky, and later, you’ll grow angry.”
Because she understood the meaning all too well, Yeobin couldn’t answer at all.
“Are you scared? That even this life of watching from the side might disappear?”
She still said nothing.
“If so, don’t be afraid. You’ve watched enough by now. That’s attachment and habit. Let that life drift away.”
Silence fell over both Chwimongru and the lake.
How much time passed like that? A cool breeze blew from somewhere. That breeze sobered Ilhwa Geomjon, and her mind snapped into focus.
Am I in any position to give advice to anyone? What do I even know about Yeobin?
She thought she had gone too far in her concern for both of them. Should she say she didn’t remember because the Outland liquor was too strong?
“Don’t think too deeply into words spoken while drunk.”
Just as Ilhwa Geomjon tried to rise from her seat, Yeobin finally opened her mouth.
“You saw correctly, Sword Venerable. I have already passed through being sulky and am now angry. It has been several years since I became angry.”
It was the first time she had revealed her true feelings. Because she had always shown a polite demeanor, no one had realized she was angry.
“Seeing how I still tremble like this, I suppose I’m afraid even this angry life will disappear.”
The eyes of Yeobin, who was revealing her innermost thoughts to someone for the first time, trembled.
Ilhwa Geomjon had no more words to say. So she filled Yeobin’s cup with the greatest courage she could offer a guest.
“For today, become a true drunkard.”
After saying that, she leaped away. Though she claimed to be drunk, she crossed the lake with a display of lightness skill too brilliant and elegant for such a claim.
When she landed on the lakeshore and looked back, she saw Yeobin flying toward Chwima’s boat on the lake with a bottle of liquor in hand.
A smile formed on Ilhwa Geomjon’s lips.
She envied that girl’s youth, which allowed her to act first and regret later.
But it was fine. From now on, she too intended to live revealing her desires.
Elegantly and gracefully, instead.
* * *
I arrived at Donggwonmun with my brother.
Because I had trained from White Fist to Black Fist here in the past, every passerby knew my face.
The gazes and attitudes toward me were completely different between then and now.
Receiving polite greetings from the Iron Fists, I entered the inner courtyard.
In the training ground of the inner courtyard, Gwonma was training the Black Fists.
He personally guided only the Black Fists’ training, while Cheonsohui handled the training of the remaining Iron Fists.
“Master! I’ve returned.”
“So you’ve come?”
Despite Gwonma’s fearsome face, seeing him after so long was a joy.
Compared to Gwonma’s blunt welcome, my brother greeted me with gentle eyes.
“You’re here, Eldest Young Master? Please set down anything heavy over there.”
I wasn’t one to just stand by.
“My chest is heavier! Are you discriminating against people?”
The reason for the discrimination was soon revealed.
“I’ve heard many things from Branch Leader Gwak. The Eldest Young Master suffered greatly making those gauntlets.”
“It was only right that I did. Today I’ve brought the completed gauntlets.”
Geomuyang opened the chest to show the gauntlets.
Meanwhile, Cheonsohui, who had missed the chance to greet me properly and only bowed her head, came over and whispered a greeting.
“I’m glad you returned safely, Young Cult Leader.”
“How many times must I tell you to call me Martial Brother when it’s just us?”
Cheonsohui looked at Gwonma and my brother with eyes that said, *But it’s not just us right now.*
I said it again so those two could hear. It was a shout disguised as a whisper.
“It’s a relief we have such a kind Martial Sister under our heartless Master.”
Gwonma looked at me and said,
“The kinder your Martial Sister is, the shorter her lifespan will be.”
“That won’t do. I take it back about the kind Martial Sister! Martial Sister, this is a cruel murim!”
Those watching smiled. Everyone knew my personality well, so the atmosphere was good.
Gwonma picked up the gauntlets and examined them.
“You’ve put a thin steel mesh in the palm.”
“That’s right. It’s light yet incredibly durable. The technology of Cheolbang is concentrated in that part.”
Gwonma handed the gauntlets to Cheonsohui.
Cheonsohui wore the gauntlets and tested their power.
“The fit is excellent.”
She had an Iron Fist bring a sword.
“Strike with all your might!”
The Iron Fist who brought the sword swung it forcefully, and she blocked the blade with her palm.
Though it was quite a powerful strike, her palm was unharmed.
The watching Black Fists exclaimed in admiration.
Gwonma nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent gauntlets. You’ve worked hard.”
“We can supply fifty for now, but within a few months, we’ll produce enough for all of Donggwonmun’s Iron Fists.”
“It’s thanks to your care. Thank you.”
Gwonma expressed his gratitude sincerely, and Geomuyang smiled with the satisfaction of his past toils being resolved.
While Cheonsohui distributed the gauntlets to the Black Fists, we walked through the inner courtyard together.
Gwonma mainly spoke with Geomuyang rather than me. From matters regarding this gauntlet production to what support Donggwonmun needed. They conversed about various work-related matters.
I walked silently together and felt it clearly. My brother was indeed better at this sort of thing. It was a moment that made me newly realize that for proper results to come about, someone needed to have a meticulous and thorough personality.
Gwonma sent a transmission just as we were bidding farewell and turning to leave.
—Welcome back.
—I’ll stop by again later.
That one line of transmission from my Master was enough of a welcome for me. It felt better than setting off hundreds of firecrackers.
At the entrance of Donggwonmun, I spoke to Geomuyang.
“I’m hungry. Let’s eat together.”
“Since when do we eat together?”
“I went out to the Outlands this time, and it made me think a lot about Father and you.”
After a brief pause, Geomuyang said,
“Let’s have a meal with Father soon.”
I understood. It was his answer to my suggestion to take care of Father. It meant we would do it together.
“You’re buying.”
“No. You, who has plenty of money, should buy.”
Surprisingly, my brother is getting better.
But I mustn’t let my guard down. Mistakes between people happen precisely at times like this. When things are just starting to get better. The more it’s like this, the more you need to keep your eyes wide open and watch the other person.
I stood for a moment watching my brother’s retreating figure, then turned in the opposite direction. Where I headed was Namdojong.
Hyeolcheon Doma was in his quarters.
“I’ve returned, Elder.”
“Why come here instead of resting from your journey?”
“Seeing you is my rest. But why are you sorting books?”
He was placing martial arts secret manuals on the shelf instead of poetry collections and literary works.
“These are secret manuals I read when I was young. I’m having Daeryong read them.”
“Everyone overflows with love for their disciples.”
“‘Everyone’?”
Originally, it had been about the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“I mean that I too am loved by Master Gwonma.”
“Hardly. You should count yourself lucky if you don’t get beaten.”
“Shall I help you organize?”
“I’m done.”
I crouched down and rummaged through the books Hyeolcheon Doma had stacked.
“There are many books I haven’t seen before. Let me borrow them.”
“Do you have time to read?”
“I have to, even if I don’t.”
As I was rummaging through the books, Hyeolcheon Doma asked while organizing the bookshelf.
“Were they the same as the ones from the Murim Alliance?”
I had been with Hyeolcheon Doma when capturing Baekcheongyeong of the Murim Alliance.
“Yes, they seem to be on the same side.”
“This murim never has a peaceful day.”
Hyeolcheon Doma asked no more about it and selected a few books to lend me.
“Borrow more when you’re done reading.”
“I’ll visit again.”
I returned to my quarters with the books Hyeolcheon Doma lent me.
Jeokyeon, who had been waiting, held out a bottle of liquor.
“What’s this?”
“A gift.”
“A gift?”
“When buying gifts for Chwima-nim, we pooled our money and bought one bottle.”
Looking at it, it was one of the more expensive liquors among those gifted to Chwima. It seemed the guards had secretly bought one bottle for themselves while purchasing them.
“Where would you guys have money?”
“You may not know who we are, but we are the guards of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Young Cult Leader. We get paid a lot.”
It was Jeokyeon’s self-deprecating joke. Because rather than protecting me, they probably felt like they were the ones being protected.
“Thank you for the gift. I’ll save it and drink it.”
“Then we shall take our leave.”
After Jeokyeon left, I washed up and changed into new clothes.
Instead of extinguishing the lights and lying on the bed, I gathered books and liquor.
Snap.
I opened my own space with the Spacetime Shift Technique.
A clear sea, white sandy beach, blue sky, broad-leaved trees, and a comfortable chair beneath them.
“You rascals, I’ve missed you!”
I laid my body in the comfortable chair.
“Ah, this is nice.”
Such happiness in this place! Though the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader warned that those who learned illusion techniques would fall into their own worlds, I could not compromise on this space alone.
Looking back on my past life, what had been most important and necessary as I grew older was a space of my own, and time of my own.
At least here, I could forget everything in the world and enjoy my own quiet rest.
Today, I added one more thing to my sanctuary.
A small chair appeared beside my chair.
I placed Bigwe on it.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
Bigwe was smiling widely, pleased.
Reclining in the chair, I took a sip of liquor and read my book. All that could be heard were the sound of the wind, the cries of seagulls, and the turning of pages. I wouldn’t trade even all of murim for this moment.
The first day back at the cult, which had been even busier since my return, was passing by like this.
Absolute Regression, Episode 334