The Tongcheongak Operations Room was busy again today.
As always, countless reports flew in, and the strategists analyzed and sorted through them.
And today, there was a visit from someone unexpected.
“Greetings, Lord!”
At Geom Ujin’s arrival, the strategists stopped their work and greeted him in unison.
Sima Ming, the Chief Strategist who had been in his office, hurriedly rushed out. The day shift strategists had already been replaced by the night crew, but Sima Ming had yet to leave his desk.
“What brings you at this hour, Lord?”
“I’ve come to share a cup of tea with you.”
“Please, come in.”
Sima Ming guided Geom Ujin into his own office.
“Please sit, Lord. I will brew the tea.”
While Sima Ming brewed the tea himself, Geom Ujin took a seat and looked around the office. It was filled with books and documents.
“Are you keeping up with your mental cultivation practice?”
“Yes, I practice every morning and evening.”
The mental cultivation method that Geom Ujin had specially taught him was likely an unparalleled technique that any martial artist would desperately desire.
The more he practiced it, the healthier he felt. His body grew lighter and more refreshed.
“You must sleep more. If you collapse, the main cult collapses with you. So take extra care of your health.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Staying up late had been a lifelong habit for him, but these days, it was the Lord who had been sleeping late.
The Lord had always fallen asleep promptly at his usual hour.
Sima Ming personally brewed a tea he had been saving especially for when Geom Ujin or Geom Mugik visited.
“Please, have some.”
“Excellent flavor.”
How could Sima Ming not know why the Lord was so sleepless? At this late hour, the Lord had come to find him, his heart torn between love for his son and his own long-cherished ambition.
As he drank his tea, Sima Ming suddenly recalled the past. His youth, when he had dreamed of becoming Chief Strategist.
“Do you remember what you first said to me?”
Geom Ujin nodded.
“You told me back then: ‘If I lose this fight, you will die with me. Even so, will you become my strategist?’”
In those days, the succession struggle had been in full swing, and the atmosphere had been incomparably more brutal than that of Geom Mugik’s succession struggle.
Geom Ujin remembered that day as well.
“And you said, ‘I will make this young lord the Cult Leader.’”
Geom Ujin’s gaze upon Sima Ming was gentle.
“And you kept that promise.”
Regret flashed across Sima Ming’s eyes.
“I sometimes wonder. Was there not a better way back then?”
Watching Geom Mugik’s succession struggle made him think of it all the more. Surely he could have given better counsel.
Geom Ujin set down his teacup and spoke.
“That was the best we could do.”
He was nothing but grateful to hear the Lord say so. Back then, they had believed they could change the world. That single belief had brought them this far.
Geom Ujin looked at the strategic topographic map visible past the window and asked.
“What are those blue lines?”
Blue lines were drawn here and there across the map.
“They are the Young Lord’s movements.”
Geom Ujin asked with a surprised expression.
“Are you tracking all of his movements?”
At that, Sima Ming smiled and shook his head.
“The Young Lord sends word to Tongcheongak whenever he is able to contact us.”
Geom Ujin stepped out of the office and stood before the map. Sima Ming followed and stood respectfully a few paces behind.
“He has been traveling far and wide.”
Geom Ujin understood. If his son was sending word even when he did not need to, then he was showing this to his father.
*Father, this is the life I want.*
His son had told him as much, begging him to travel the Central Plains for leisure as well. Through this journey, the son was sending this message.
*Father, let us live like this.*
“Is there no movement from the Murim Alliance or the Sado Alliance?”
“No, there is none.”
Geom Ujin turned to Sima Ming and asked. It was quiet, even though Ma Jeongsa and the three successors were traveling together in the Central Plains.
“Has this martial world ever been so defenseless?”
A smile played at Geom Ujin’s lips as he asked, making it clear he spoke in jest.
“I can say with certainty that there has never been such a time.”
Geom Ujin’s gaze returned to the blue lines.
Sima Ming spoke to the subordinate strategists.
“Everyone, step outside and get some fresh air.”
The strategists in the operations room all went out.
Once they had left, only Geom Ujin and Sima Ming remained. Sima Ming manipulated a hidden device on the wall of the operations room.
*Rumble.*
The wall bearing the topographic map opened left and right, revealing a new map behind it.
The other walls did the same. As new walls were revealed, walls inscribed with different information appeared.
The map that had been filled with blue was now flooded with a red tide.
Red flags stood upon the map.
Originally, the Majongi banners had possessed their own unique colors.
Those various colors were unified into a single color.
Red flags.
Black characters written upon the flags:
Fist, Blade, Sword, Poison, Evil, Buddha, Wine, Soul……
They signified that individuals and organizations moved toward a single goal, setting aside their unique identities. It was the same for the flags of all organizations, not just the Majongi.
The flags were war banners, and the map was a wartime operations map.
It was as if Sima Ming were asking:
*Lord, which will you choose? Will you live freely, like those blue lines? Or will you live letting these red flags fly?*
“The Young Lord is desperately trying to stop the war, but the more he moves, the greater our chances of victory in war have become.”
It was a truly paradoxical result.
“The martial level of the Majongi has continued to rise, and the purge of corruption within the cult has continuously strengthened our main forces. Both you and the Young Lord have even achieved the Twelve Star Great Completion of the Guhwamagong. I can say with certainty that the main cult’s current strength is the greatest in its history.”
Unless something unexpected happened, the unification of Murim was an inevitable outcome. He need only make the decision to carve into history an unprecedented chapter.
Geom Ujin clasped his hands behind his back and silently stared at the wartime map.
Sima Ming could tell.
That as the Young Lord’s activities had raised the probability of victory, the Lord’s desire to go to war had diminished. And that his heart for his son had grown commensurately.
What was the probability now that the Lord would start a war?
Sima Ming could perform difficult calculations in any situation, but reading Geom Ujin’s heart was not easy.
Sima Ming manipulated the device again, and the walls returned to their original state.
Before them, the blue lines spread out once more in place of the red flags.
Gazing upon that blue journey, Geom Ujin asked.
“What is that boy doing right now?”
* * *
Splash!
Geom Mugik threw himself into the river.
He had been washing mud off in the flowing water at the riverbank when he simply dove right in.
Splish-splash.
At the sight of Geom Mugik swimming refreshingly through the water, Ian plunged in after him.
“I’m coming too!”
When Ian jumped in, Jin Haryeong jumped in as well.
“Me too!”
Seeing this, Jin Hagun shouted.
“You can’t!”
He shouted because wet clothes would cling to the body. The moon was bright, and others might see.
At that moment, Geom Mugik stopped swimming and stuck his head above the water.
“Ian can?”
Ian too stuck her head out of the water, playing along with Geom Mugik’s mischief.
“How mean, Young Alliance Leader.”
Jin Hagun was slightly flustered. He had blurted it out without thinking when his younger sibling suddenly jumped into the river.
“It’s not that….”
Geom Mugik looked at Bisain and spoke.
“Look at trusty Saine over there. He doesn’t say such things to Miss Han, does he?”
At that moment, Bisain spoke to Han Seol.
“You must not.”
He too was playing along with Geom Mugik’s prank.
Han Seol smiled faintly and said.
“I am the type to do it more when someone tries to stop me.”
Han Seol promptly jumped into the water.
Splash!
Han Seol, who had come from the Northern Sea, swam better than expected.
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to swim since you came from a cold place.”
Han Seol laughed at Geom Mugik’s prejudice.
“Have you forgotten who I am? Cold water is my element.”
Han Seol gestured for Bisain to come in. How could he stay out when she beckoned? Bisain too splashed into the water.
Jin Hagun was left alone outside. He had told his younger sibling not to go in, so it would have been awkward for him to enter; instead, he simply washed his clothes by the riverbank.
Then Geom Mugik struck the water’s surface with his palm.
*Splaaaash.*
He flicked the leaping droplets with his fingers.
*Pew!*
A single droplet flew toward Jin Hagun like a hidden weapon.
Jin Hagun slightly turned his body to avoid it.
“Stop it!”
*Pew! Pew!*
This time, Geom Mugik sent two droplets flying.
“Villain who only cares for his younger sibling!”
*Pew! Ping! Ping!*
After dodging several times, Jin Hagun finally jumped into the river.
“Why you… I said stop!”
“Finally, the true nature of evil awakens!”
Jin Hagun chased after Geom Mugik, who was swimming away.
“Why are you so fast? Have you mastered water arts?”
Jin Hagun chased after him with a happy smile. He had wanted to jump in and play too, and he was grateful to Geom Mugik for naturally drawing him in.
Geom Mugik ran across the water, and the real water play began.
“Ian, the Murim Alliance is attacking!”
“Haryeong, join forces and strike the Divine Cult!”
Jin Haryeong had never seen her older brother act so brightly and playfully. For the first time in a long while, she remembered how he had been as a child.
Geom Mugik and Jin Hagun employed every manner of movement art: Treading on Duckweed to Cross Water, Flying Over the Water’s Surface, Crossing a River on a Single Reed, then Stepping Through the Void and Soaring Across the Empty Sky. They played in the river, displaying all sorts of divine footwork.
“What, is this something to flee using the Heavenly Demon Flight Technique for?”
“That’s rich coming from someone chasing me so fiercely. Ian, request aid from the Sado Alliance.”
“Haryeong, we call upon the Ice Palace!”
At that moment, Geom Mugik suddenly stopped and spoke seriously.
“Take that back. Otherwise, those two will become star-crossed lovers.”
“Ah, I take it back.”
Geom Mugik smiled wickedly.
“So naive! Ian, the Murim Alliance has canceled the Ice Palace’s aid. Let’s continue our joint attack!”
There were no orthodox, no unorthodox, no demonic cultists there. There were only youths who simply loved their friends and loved to play.
* * *
That night, everyone sat around a bonfire.
They had played to their hearts’ content and enjoyed a late dinner with meat from their hunt.
After the meal, Jin Hagun announced a decision.
“I must return now.”
It was unexpected, and everyone’s gaze turned to him.
“It’s not that this journey hasn’t been enjoyable. Quite the opposite. I’m afraid if I continue, I won’t want to go back.”
In truth, there was a bigger reason.
It was because of those who had perished in the collapsed levee.
Perhaps because he had personally participated in the rescue and recovery, he kept thinking of the dead and the children.
Of course, it wasn’t that he would return to his main sect and start by rebuilding levees. He had realized there was simply too much he had to do.
Bisain looked at Han Seol. She read the meaning in his eyes and nodded. The two of them also had plans set in place.
“Then we shall take our leave as well. Since we’re out, we thought we’d visit the Northern Sea.”
He meant to escort Han Seol and pay his respects to the Palace Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Geom Mugik asked subtly.
“Shall we follow?”
Bisain was about to agree, but Han Seol cut in firmly.
“We were allied with the Murim Alliance.”
She was refusing, drawing on the play from their water games.
Geom Mugik looked at Jin Hagun. Saine was already living under the thumb of that scary face! Jin Hagun nodded with an expression of agreement.
Geom Mugik had not ended his journey because he had considered that they might part ways midway like this.
“Ian, our journey continues.”
“Yes, Young Lord.”
An unconcealable joy flashed across Ian’s face.
Then she thought of one person.
“Friend, let’s go together.”
Though she knew Ian spoke sincerely, Jin Haryeong refused.
“I’m a busy person too.”
How could Jin Hagun not know his younger sibling’s heart?
“Why do you like this martial artist so much?”
He had never been the sort to ask such a question in his life, but he had asked it for his younger sibling’s sake. He had asked as if in jest, yet they were words he had struggled to speak. For the sake of a younger sibling who harbored feelings in her heart for someone unattainable from the very start. To cut it off cleanly today.
How could Geom Mugeuk not know? Why Jin Hagun was asking such a question.
Yes, now was the moment to make his own heart clear. For Jin Haryeong, and also for Jin Hagun.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Ian, who was sitting beside him.
Why did he like Ian?
Because all of this had been possible because Ian existed.
Because she had thrown herself to block Hwamugi’s sword qi, enabling him to survive.
But the reason he liked her was not merely because she had saved his life.
There were many other reasons, but he did not reveal them here. They were words he would tell Ian when they were alone someday.
“Isn’t she pretty?”
Even if Ian had possessed an ordinary face, or even if the side effects of the Whole-Body Petrification Technique had gone uncured, Geom Mugeuk would have chosen Ian.
At Geom Mugeuk’s answer, Jin Haryeong deliberately furrowed her brow.
“To judge a woman based on nothing but her appearance!”
“If it’s unfair, then you should have been born the greatest beauty under heaven instead of the greatest beauty of Hubei!”
“You awful man!”
“Don’t forget that we are the Demon Cult!”
Jin Haryeong was rather grateful that Geom Mugeuk had spoken this way. Because she could console herself that she had simply lost in looks. Because no one could rival that face.
“Brother, are you just going to watch while your sister is treated like this? You should tell him you’ll start the Great Righteous-Demonic War.”
Jin Hagun spoke cautiously.
“Honestly, this martial artist is quite beautiful, isn’t she?”
“You’re impossible! Truly!”
Jin Hagun, too, was grateful to Geom Mugeuk. Because only by cutting it off cleanly like this could his younger sibling begin a new love.
“So is this the last night?”
To Geom Mugeuk’s words, Bisain answered.
“We should part while we still regret it, so that our next meeting is all the more earnest.”
“You don’t look the least bit regretful right now!”
Hanseol, who was in the back, formed a faint smile.
Geom Mugeuk proposed one thing to the two of them.
“Let’s make a promise. Let’s set aside a date once every year and travel together, even if only for a few days. Even if we become the Cult Leader and the Alliance Leader.”
Jin Hagun and Bisain wondered if they could truly do so even after becoming Alliance Leaders, but they thought that with their hearts as they were now, it would certainly be possible.
“Let’s do that.”
“I promise.”
As the two made their promise, Geom Mugeuk raised his cup high.
“If you miss it, the penalty is one root of Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. I’m not joking!”
Everyone toasted vigorously and drank.
“It’s always the one who makes rules like that who ends up missing them.”
“Who’s speaking such ominous words!”
They all had personalities as sharp as blades, but on this day of farewell, those blades did not obey.
Until morning broke, their farewell continued.