Chapter 310: The Wicked Cheolyangcheol (2)
A room shrouded in silence.
In the mind of Cheol Jiseon, who sat motionless gazing into empty air, swirled the words that Sin Seong had uttered when they met late at night a few nights ago.
“Jegal Jinseon. That’s what I should call you, isn’t it?”
A clear voice that seemed still audible.
Crack.
Recalling it, his hand clenched into a fist of its own accord. At the same time, Sin Seong’s smiling face as he spoke flashed past.
‘How did he know?’
His true identity. The fact that he was not Cheol Jiseon, but Jegal Jinseon, was something no one knew. Cheol Hwan-o, who was currently staying on as an instructor, knew the story, but Cheol Jiseon was well aware that the man called Cheol Hwan-o was not someone who would go around spreading it to others.
Then how on earth did Sin Seong know?
‘How… how on earth?’
He couldn’t understand. How Sin Seong knew about him. Moreover, it wasn’t just his identity. Sin Seong knew something else as well.
“Th-that… how do you know that…?”
He shouted, unable to hide his trembling voice.
“Please, calm yourself.”
Sin Seong chuckled and gestured.
“How am I supposed to calm down right now…!”
“If I had merely known your name, I would not have sought you out.”
Sin Seong’s face as he said those words somehow felt extremely cold. Even though he was clearly smiling. At that expression, Cheol Jiseon involuntarily flinched, yet he had to struggle not to avert his eyes.
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden…?”
“I know that you have a goal.”
…!
Cheol Jiseon swallowed his breath at Sin Seong’s words.
“It will be a very arduous path. To achieve that goal, that is.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“I shall help you along that path.”
Cheol Jiseon’s expression furrowed the moment he heard Sin Seong’s words. How the man knew his true identity, and how he knew his goal, he couldn’t fathom. But more than anything, those words were even stranger.
“…Do you even know what goal I possess?”
And it was understandable. If he knew what Cheol Jiseon’s goal was, it was not something Sin Seong could say so easily. But—
“The revival of the Jegal Clan. Isn’t that what you wish for?”
…!
Laughably contrary to Cheol Jiseon’s expectations, Sin Seong stabbed straight at his vulnerable spot. For the son of the Martial Alliance leader to say such a thing, it was an extremely strange matter. The history of the Jegal Clan was, in some ways, like a scar to the Martial Alliance.
“…How… even that…”
Though Cheol Jiseon was greatly flustered, Sin Seong merely continued to speak with a smile.
“If you help me, I shall help you achieve your purpose.”
“…What on earth is your reason for helping me? What do you want from me?”
“There are several reasons, but it is because you are the only one who can help me in this matter.”
“What do you mean?”
What did Sin Seong want from someone as insignificant as him? What did he desire, that he approached him in this manner? Cheol Jiseon asked with trembling eyes, and Sin Seong soon answered.
“Your ‘power.’ I wish to borrow that for a moment.”
…Click.
At those final words, Cheol Jiseon ground his teeth. That was the reason his head was aching right now.
‘How… even that.’
It was a power he had hidden and lived with for well over a dozen years since making a promise with his sister. The people who knew his secret, excluding his sister, numbered no more than three at most. Moreover, they were not people who would mention him to others.
‘It must be so.’
It absolutely had to be so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to trust anyone.
‘How… what on earth should I do?’
He had thought he had established a fairly thorough plan, yet he felt as if everything had become tangled. Where had it gotten twisted, and where should he begin to unravel it? Cheol Jiseon squeezed his eyes shut with a feeling of despair.
‘…I just want to go back.’
..
…
What would happen if he refused Sin Seong’s words? He didn’t want to imagine it, but looking into Sin Seong’s eyes then, he had known. That the option of refusal was never one he intended to offer from the start.
‘Sister…’
He thought of his sister waiting for him somewhere far away. He had to calm himself with that thought. Was it true that Sin Seong would help him? How on earth would he help? No matter how strong Sin Seong was, at the end of the day he was still of the younger generation. Though he was the sole son of the Alliance Leader, was he truly someone with that much capability? The rumors certainly suggested as much, but the Sin Seong Cheol Jiseon had seen was somehow a sinister figure.
‘…If it’s an unavoidable situation, then I have no choice but to accept for now…’
“I say there.”
Tap, tap.
In the moment he had squeezed his eyes shut and tried to collect his thoughts, someone tapped Cheol Jiseon’s shoulder a few times.
“…!”
Perhaps because he had been too focused, Cheol Jiseon hadn’t even noticed someone standing before him.
“Huurk!”
So startled that he was about to fall backward, the figure before him reached out and caught him.
“Ah…! Th-thank you.”
“Seems I startled you. My apologies.”
His bright smile was remarkably refreshing. With such a handsome face, it was enough to make one pause. Cheol Jiseon studied the man’s face, wondering who he was.
‘This person?’
Before long, Cheol Jiseon felt he knew who stood before him. And no wonder—not just him, but those around them were already murmuring.
“Isn’t he from a different group? Why is he here…”
“The clothes of Wudang and that face… It’s definitely Jamyong, isn’t it?”
“Jamyong? Jamyong is here?”
All the surrounding trainees directed their gazes toward the figure in front of Cheol Jiseon. Because the figure before him was quite the figure, it couldn’t be helped. He was one of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, the young swordsman called the hope of Wudang—for he was Jamyong.
“J-Jamyong?”
“That’s right. I am the famous Sleepyhead.”
Cheol Jiseon blurted out in confusion, and Jamyong smiled once more at the reaction.
“I called several times, but you did not respond, so I touched you a little. My apologies.”
“Ah, it’s fine… Wh-what business do you have with me…?”
“Ah, the reason I sought out the young hero is none other than…”
Why would the famous Jamyong come looking for him? A prickling sensation ran down his spine.
‘Could this person too…’
Could he know about his identity or his power? At that thought, Cheol Jiseon couldn’t help but be seized by premature fear. However, contrary to such expectations, the words that leaped from Jamyong’s mouth were utterly unexpected.
“I too wish to enter the Cheolyangcheol Faction. I do hope you will accept me.”
“Excuse me?”
What faction? Cheol Jiseon involuntarily furrowed his brow. He had heard a term he had never seen nor heard in his entire life.
“Wha… what faction?”
“Is it not Cheolyangcheol? Or was it Yangcheolcheol?”
Onion? Sheep iron? What kind of strange word was that? Cheol Jiseon asked again in bewilderment, and Jamyong tilted his head at his reaction.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
“Jinryong told me. If I wanted to join our faction, I should go find the leader and get permission, he said.”
A familiar ring reached Cheol Jiseon’s ears. Jinryong. At that dizzying name, he involuntarily swallowed a groan. Because nothing ever went normally whenever that nickname was involved.
Gulp.
“I-I see. Then why have you come looking for me…?”
He didn’t want to know what that man was scheming. Because if he got entangled, he didn’t know what would happen to him again. With that in mind, he asked, and Jamyong answered.
“Huh? I came because I was told to get permission?”
“Yes?”
What did that mean? To enter that place called either Yangcheolyang or Cheolyangcheol, why would his permission be needed…?
“Jinryong told me.”
“Go find the leader and get permission, he said.”
At those words Jamyong had spoken with a smile, in that instant Cheol Jiseon felt his chest sink heavily.
‘It can’t be, right?’
A nightmare flashed through his mind, but he thought it wouldn’t be. Surely Jinryong couldn’t be that crazy. No, it couldn’t be. Please.
That firm and fervent wish of Cheol Jiseon’s crumbled far too easily. Because Jinryong was indeed even crazier than Cheol Jiseon had expected.
“Mad Dog Cheol Jiseon, I heard you are the faction leader.”
At the words Jamyong calmly uttered—
“Might I also join in?”
—the surrounding atmosphere froze solid in an instant. It felt as if a blizzard had swept through, settling down with a terrible cold.
“Kk… kk…”
“What is the matter?”
Seeing Cheol Jiseon unable to breathe properly, as if greatly shocked, Jamyong was briefly bewildered.
“Pull yourself together. Are you alright?”
As Jamyong held Cheol Jiseon in concern, the surroundings broke their silence and began murmuring again. Of course, the contents were entirely different from before.
“Leader…? Jinryong wasn’t the leader?”
“Actually… I heard Jamyong and Jinryong talking at the cafeteria earlier. Honestly, I thought it might be a lie, but is it really true?”
“Mad Dog… He looks frail on the outside, but in reality, is he a sleeping lion?”
“No! It’s not!”
Hearing the murmuring, Cheol Jiseon shouted. Not only had such absurd rumors spread, but he couldn’t understand how everyone was starting to believe them so nonchalantly.
“I-I’m not like that…!”
“H-hey! Jin Iseok! Pull yourself together! Why are you suddenly fainting!”
“Jin Iseok fainted at the Mad Dog’s roar…!”
“The wicked leader wasn’t Jinryong… It really was the Mad Dog!”
Q—
The trainee who had been tormenting him had even fainted. That was likely less due to his roar and more like a butterfly effect brought on by memories of what Jinryong had done to him. But he didn’t know anymore.
“Ah…”
The remaining time he had at Shinryong Hall seemed to be completely ruined.
“So, will you accept me?”
Looking at Jamyong persistently asking even in this situation, Cheol Jiseon spoke.
“…Do as you please.”
It was a voice utterly devoid of spirit.
Whether it was matters concerning Sin Seong or matters concerning himself, forgetting them all, Cheol Jiseon, who had been dazed for a long while, suddenly spat out toward empty space.
“Jinryong… you bastard.”
It was the first time in Cheol Jiseon’s life he had ever cursed.
“Hm?”
“What is it, Hyung-nim?”
“Ucheol, did you just curse me?”
“How could that be?”
Pae Ucheol replied with a look of horror at Guyangcheon’s words. Unless he were mad, who would curse in front of Guyangcheon? Even if he wanted to die, he wouldn’t do that. He’d rather hang himself.
“Really? I felt like someone was cursing me.”
Guyangcheon made an expression as if he understood.
“I’m good at finding these things. Because there are so many people cursing around me.”
“There was no one around us.”
“I suppose it was my imagination.”
That could be. It wasn’t as if no one had cursed him in his life; even if they had, he didn’t pay much attention. Of course, if he had seen it with his own eyes—
‘I would have folded them into a star shape, though.’
“…Huh?”
At that rather cruel thought, Pae Ucheol beside him flinched. He seemed to have sensed something like killing intent.
“Hyung-nim.”
“Hm?”
“About that Jamyong from earlier.”
At Pae Ucheol’s words, Guyangcheon perked up his ears. It was a sudden story about Jamyong.
“Why did you have to go out of your way to do that, Hyung-nim?”
At Guyangcheon’s answer, Pae Ucheol scratched his cheek.
“It’s not that, but I wondered if there was a need to go that far…”
If he was going to refuse, let him refuse. If he was going to accept, let him accept. Why did he have to pin a rumor on Cheol Jiseon like that? That seemed to be what Pae Ucheol was questioning.
‘Oh…’ At that appearance, Guyangcheon inwardly admired slightly. Because he really seemed smarter than expected.
“It wasn’t planned, but I thought it would be convenient if I did.”
Exaggerating the rumors about Cheol Jiseon. It wasn’t something that absolutely had to be done, but he thought it was necessary. While it would also prevent Cheol Jiseon from being bullied, there was also a slight reason he needed to give the guy some name value. Moreover—
“Anyway, that Jamyong guy wouldn’t have been fooled.”
“What?”
At the playfully uttered words—Jamyong likely wouldn’t have been deceived. He was someone lies had never worked on since long ago. From the moment the words were spoken, Jamyong’s expression had already been tinged with playfulness.
‘From the start, he had a face that didn’t believe it at all.’
When it seemed like a joke, he had instead become earnest. Or perhaps he might have gone straight to Cheol Jiseon just like that. Surely he wouldn’t have, no matter what?
‘…Maybe he did.’
He couldn’t be sure. Because if it was that guy, he might have. In that regard, he was certainly not in his right mind. He was a strange guy to begin with.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
At the same time he withdrew the inner qi he had raised in his body, he said to Pae Ucheol.
“Kkeueok…!”
Then Pae Ucheol collapsed with a thud. It seemed he had reached his limit. At Pae Ucheol’s clinging request, Guyangcheon had been overseeing his training in this manner. Though it was very rare.
‘Even if not in detail, I can do this much.’
Pae Ucheol was also following along desperately, so it was rather fun. Though Goo Jeol-yeop had better reactions. Speaking of teaching, it reminded him—
‘Since then, he hasn’t approached.’
Though the group and room were different, if his goal was to take him as a disciple, he had thought he would definitely come and approach him. From what he heard, he seemed to be living very quietly. To what extent? The trainees didn’t even seem to know whether Twuryong was in Shinryong Hall. He seemed to be living with his presence utterly erased.
On the contrary, he often heard stories about a woman called Bibi apparently having a merry time. He had heard she was called something like the woodpecker of the non-rain, or whatever. Beyond that, he didn’t know.
‘As for Goo Yeonseo…’
From Namgung Bia, he had heard that the two had been going around together recently. He didn’t know what her intention was, but since she said there was no problem, he could leave it be for now. It was Namgung Bia, after all; she would handle it herself.
‘Probably.’
Leaving Pae Ucheol lying down exhausted, he slipped out of the training ground. Once he came to his senses, he would return on his own. He had told him beforehand. It had been almost half a month and several days now. It was about time he finished adapting to Shinryong Hall.
In Yeongpung’s case, he ran into him during training, but he was surrounded by people, so it was a bit awkward to call out to him.
‘Is it because he’s popular?’
Well, with a handsome face and an amiable personality, he couldn’t help but have many people around him. Compared to that…
‘…They look at me like I’m a beast.’
It was unjust, but what could he do? If you’re born this way, you just have to endure it.
He suddenly recalled what Dang Soyeol had said while looking at Yeongpung and Jamyong.
“When I look at them, I feel nauseous.”
“Really?”
“Yes, somehow, physically or psychologically, it’s a bit too much, I suppose.”
He had said the same thing looking at Namgung Cheonjun and Jang Seonyeon. It seemed Dang Soyeol had a rejection reaction to handsome men. Then Dang Soyeol had looked at Guyangcheon and nodded.
“As expected… When I look at you, Gongja-nim, my insides feel refreshed. You’re the best. I feel like I could live my whole life just looking at your face!”
It was a compliment that wasn’t pleasant at all.
Moving his steps while recalling such idle thoughts, not much time remained before returning to his room to sleep. Though it was a bit rushed, he had to go. Because there was someone he had to meet.
The place he headed to was the promenade. It was the path he had taken to find the secret chamber last time, and also the place where he had met the person he was going to meet now. As the distance narrowed, a faint floral scent was carried on the night air. It was clearly the scent of plum blossoms—thick yet somehow felt gentle.
Silencing his presence, he arrived at the destination. Someone was waiting for Guyangcheon from afar.
“I apologize for making you wait.”
At the words of apology, the woman turned her head. At the same time, her long black hair fluttered.
“What should I call you? Should I call you Instructor-nim?”
The woman smiled brightly at Guyangcheon’s words. It was her uniquely beautiful smile.
“It does not matter. You may call me whatever. More than that, I wish to hear why you called me out on this late night.”
The woman’s identity was none other than one of the few experts representing the Huashan Sect—the Sword Empress who currently stayed as an instructor at Shinryong Hall.
Looking at her, Guyangcheon smiled slightly.
“To get straight to the point, I have a story I would like to propose to the Sword Empress.”
The Sword Empress tilted her head at Guyangcheon’s words. Guyangcheon had come to Shinryong Hall for several reasons, and this was one of them—something he had to retrieve as soon as possible if he could.
“Won’t you make a deal with me?”
The secret chamber that would be beneath Shinryong Hall. He had to retrieve it before it was too late, and to do that, he needed the Sword Empress’s help.