〈 Episode 579 〉 Welcoming the Night.
After Sinryong left.
Finishing the miscellaneous conversation, when I returned, Paejon was already inside the inn.
Even the table was laden with all sorts of things.
“What is this?”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
I know.
I know all too well, and that’s the problem.
“Why did you order so much food?”
“Some is to take away. Aren’t you curious?”
“About what?”
“To think even a monk eats dumplings. You can’t help but be curious.”
“...”
Hearing that, I faltered slightly.
‘So he noticed.’
This old man. As expected, he had figured it out.
That the fellow eating dumplings at the inn was Shaolin’s Sinryong.
Well, if I had recognized him, there was no way Paejon wouldn’t have.
With a bitter expression, I pulled out a chair and sat down.
Picking up a dumpling from the table, I asked.
“May I eat one?”
“You already touched them with your dirty hands. Why ask?”
“Dirty? I wash up thoroughly.”
“You ought to. If you didn’t even manage that, what would you do?”
“...”
What is with this infuriating conversation?
I scrunched up my nose and bit into a dumpling.
Yes, dumplings are still delicious.
It was the taste I had asked Moyong Huia to bring.
The umami was rich.
The aroma and flavor were excellent.
Indeed, I didn’t know about other things, but I felt I’d be quite annoyed if this place disappeared.
After shoving the remaining dumpling into my mouth in one bite, I asked Paejon.
“So, what happened?”
At my question, Paejon crossed his arms and leaned back.
“What do you mean?”
“That matter earlier. Did anything happen after?”
Sinryong’s… what was it.
Anyway, it was a question about right after that man had been knocked unconscious.
“What could have happened? The League men came and took him away, that’s all.”
As expected, nothing much seemed to have happened. And there.
‘The League took him away.’
If the League dragged off a first-rate martial artist who had caused a drunken commotion.
I doubted he would come out of it looking very good.
At the very least.
‘I won’t be seeing him around here for a while.’
That was a relief.
Having watched him act disorderly at the inn…
‘I was thinking of dealing with him discreetly.’
It seemed I wouldn’t have to get blood on my hands.
In that case, maybe I should eat another dumpling.
Just as I thought that and reached out.
“Did you talk things over?”
Paejon asked.
At those words, my whetted appetite plummeted instantly.
“Yes, well.”
“You didn’t sell him, did you?”
“…?”
Feeling that I had heard a strange question, I frowned.
“Sell? What would I sell? You could cause a real scandal if someone overheard.”
It was absurd.
Who did he take me for, some neighborhood thug? What did he mean, sell?
“He wasn’t someone who’d take a beating, was he?”
“Hmph.”
Paejon didn’t particularly object to my words. He couldn’t.
Sinryong was clearly an absurd existence at first glance.
“Indeed. Cheonan has raised quite the interesting fellow.”
An interesting fellow.
The very fact that such words came from Paejon’s mouth meant the level was extraordinary.
Hearing that, I burst into a short laugh and asked.
“Did you take a liking to him?”
Wondering if he had quite liked him, I asked, and the corner of Paejon’s mouth rose slightly.
“Why, are you jealous?”
What? What kind of crazy talk was this?
“Elder, have you gone senile—?!”
The moment the words left my mouth, something approached right before my eyes and stopped.
I realized it was a pair of chopsticks.
“Shall I pluck out your eyeballs instead of the dumpling? It seems your eyes are broken.”
“…My apologies.”
When I offered a brief apology, Paejon finally withdrew the chopsticks.
Watching this, I had to suppress my unease.
The reason was simple.
‘I couldn’t see it.’
The problem was that even without using my Sim’an.
I had failed to properly track Paejon’s movement.
Had his movements grown faster upon ascending to Hwagyeong?
I didn’t know. I didn’t know, but if there was one thing that was clear.
‘I won’t be able to act cocky for a while.’
I had thought I could barely contend, but now that was no longer possible.
Even so, it was irritating to a degree I couldn’t easily ignore.
“What do you mean, jealous? I have other things to be jealous of.”
Tsk, tsk.
Paejon let out a laugh at the words I spat out with feeling.
“It is true he possesses a fine body. But such things are useless.”
“Why? Didn’t you say my body is simply amazing?”
“I did. However, you aren’t the only one whose body meets the standard, are you?”
That was true.
Though this was a body I had forged through regression and various fateful encounters.
Those who possessed the minimum requirements to learn Tuapacheonmu were aplenty.
Ah, well, perhaps not aplenty, but not so few that they couldn’t be found.
‘Having learned it directly, I understood better.’
Unlike how Paejon had searched for someone with an incredible body and talent.
Tuapacheonmu was not a martial art that required such immense talent.
Contrary to my fear of how high-level a technique it might be.
Having learned it, it wasn’t such a difficult force.
I had felt that way at first. But the more I learned, the clearer it became.
The very fact that even I, who had not a scrap of talent, could master it without issue was proof enough.
‘Honestly, I think this is largely thanks to Paejon, though.’
If it doesn’t work, do it until it does.
If it still doesn’t work, change the method and try again.
There is nothing in this world that cannot be done.
That was Paejon’s philosophy.
Moving according to his will, it truly became so.
Damnably so.
Seeing this.
Just as I was thinking that, contrary to Paejon’s expectations, Tuapacheonmu might not be such a difficult martial art.
“My worthless disciple. You are under some great misconception.”
Paejon clicked his tongue briefly and spoke to me.
“As you say, there are many whose physical conditions are suitable.”
His eyes were full of pity.
“But how many have achieved those conditions at your age?”
“Well, that is true.”
A body that possessed the conditions to contain Tuapacheonmu.
There might be many such bodies, but how many had achieved them at a young age?
If counted, they wouldn’t number ten.
Those who came to mind now, perhaps four?
Meaning four, including myself.
“Moreover. The most important talent for learning martial arts is neither the body nor martial aptitude.”
“Then what?”
“Patience.”
Patience?
Looking at Paejon’s expression, he seemed sincere, but it wasn’t a sentiment I could relate to.
Patience was the most important thing?
Wasn’t patience something that obviously had to be included in order to learn martial arts?
If the obvious was said to be the most important, there was no way I could sympathize with that.
Perhaps that thought showed on my face. Paejon clicked his tongue as he looked at me.
“Do you think otherwise?”
“…It’s not something I can relate to.”
I knew well what he meant.
The pain felt while learning Tuapacheonmu.
To artificially transform the body, moving bones, pushing past muscles, even stimulating the acupoints.
Because of this, I felt pain as if someone were dancing with a blade inside my body.
And in executing the movements, there naturally couldn’t be even the slightest tremor or deviation.
I had to endure that pain and repeat the same movements tens of thousands of times.
‘If I finished taking one step, I had to take the next.’
Accumulating like that, I couldn’t even count how many times I had moved.
If forced to count, I had to count in days.
I spent ten days throwing a punch.
I spent another half month twisting my waist.
It was that kind of time.
That was how I reached where I was now.
Paejon didn’t hurry me through the slow parts, so I repeated until perfection.
No one was impatient or frustrated.
Even while feeling that time was terribly pressing and insufficient.
If blame was to be cast, I would only blame my pathetic past self; no one else was blamed.
That was how I reached the present.
That.
“What was so hard about it?”
What on earth had been so hard?
To learn martial arts, patience was obviously necessary.
Having failed to realize that, I had lived my past life like scum.
Now I was merely trying not to do so.
Pain was something to endure.
Frustration was something to withstand.
“Let us go now. The night has grown late.”
At those words, I too rose.
“So, what was it you were going to tell me?”
“Hm? Ah.”
I asked, following behind Paejon.
Curious about what he had tried to tell me earlier.
“It was nothing much. You will learn of it later anyway. Do not concern yourself with it now.”
“…That only makes me worry more.”
How could he tell me not to worry when he said that?
Especially since it was Paejon who said it.
That gentleman tells me every day not to cause trouble, but.
‘He himself isn’t exactly a docile person.’
In Paejon’s youth. Saying he would test his martial arts, he would single-handedly destroy sects.
Stories of how he sought out demonic experts and reassembled them were still famous to this day.
Little wonder that among Paejon’s youthful aliases, there were ones containing “Mad Dog.”
To me, that man was crazy about martial arts, but.
‘He was just crazy as a person…’
*Whish—!*
“…!”
Suddenly, chopsticks shot toward my eyes like before.
I hurriedly turned my head to dodge, but it was a close call.
Watching that, I shouted at Paejon with a startled face.
“What the hell are you doing all of a sudden?”
“You seemed to be talking nonsense inwardly, so I did it without thinking.”
“...”
Damn it.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
His senses were still terrifyingly sharp.
When I raised my head again, Paejon was already leaving the inn.
I too moved quietly, following Paejon.
Then.
“E-Excuse… me….”
Someone approached to speak.
I looked over, wondering who it was; it was the woman who had been harassed earlier.
Was it Misun or Misuk? Something like that?
‘Whatever, it doesn’t matter.’
I spoke, looking at the woman.
“What is it?”
Since it was a novel experience for a non-martial artist to approach me.
I answered, widening my eyes slightly.
“Eek…!”
The woman stepped back in fear upon seeing me.
“...”
“S-Sorry, sorry….”
I would let most things slide, but that one really hurt.
Was my face that much of a problem?
The kids had all said it was fine, though.
Anyway, no matter what, I couldn’t vent my irritation on a civilian, so I barely held back and asked again.
“…So, what is it?”
“A-Ah… I, um… that….”
The woman pointed somewhere.
It was Paejon, who had already left the inn.
With seemingly hurried steps, Paejon disappeared from sight.
What, was he that hungry?
I had wondered if Paejon unexpectedly had a gluttonous appetite.
“…Ah, not yet….”
The woman spoke to me.
“The b-bill… you haven’t paid….”
“…?”
They hadn’t paid the bill?
He had just taken the food with him?
Hearing that, my eyes narrowed.
‘Wait, surely not…’
The moment I looked back at the woman with an eerie thought.
“Your… companion… said you would pay….”
“...”
The woman said, on the verge of tears.
Haha.
You damned old fogey….
******************
Since when had it been?
It hadn’t been long, but lately I had been dreaming often.
It wasn’t that strange a thing.
I had always dreamed often.
The problem was merely that most were nightmares.
Recalling things I had done in my past life.
Or recalling those I couldn’t save and those who died for me; those were most of my dreams.
Truly awful nightmares.
That was why I had hated dreams.
Because every dream I had was of that sort.
But.
These days, I had been having somewhat different dreams.
It must have been shortly after I had finally stopped dreaming.
Around the time I thought I could finally sleep comfortably.
I began to have different dreams.
They were not dreams related to my past life.
Things I had never experienced.
Situations I had never seen before.
Even the scenery constantly changed.
If there was one thing that did not change.
It was that I appeared in the dream. And the person beside me did not change either.
Today was the same.
Today too, I was wandering somewhere.
And beside me walked the person who was always there.
[Your hand is cold.]
Words I spat out, holding someone’s hand.
My head turned to look at the one beside me.
I could not see the face.
Only that the person was a woman.
And that she was the one who always appeared in my dreams.
If asked how I knew despite not seeing her face.
Somehow, I just knew.
Yes, I simply knew, that was all.
As I carefully held her hand.
The woman smiled.
[Haha. It is autumn now. It isn’t even cold.]
[…If I am cold, then it is cold.]
That bastard’s putting on an act.
Doing such things with my face made me want to vomit.
What kind of dogshit dream is this? I feel particularly foul today.
Yet the woman smiled, seemingly pleased despite such ridiculous behavior. It must be because it was a dream.
What woman would like such an act? She was only doing this because it was a dream.
[The maples have turned.]
[Are they pretty?]
[They are especially pretty this year.]
Strength entered the hand I was holding.
It was the woman who led the way.
Following her, absurdly, I found myself wishing I could walk more slowly.
[They will be even prettier next year.]
[How can you be so sure of that?]
[I know everything. Because I am smart.]
[…I see.]
[You don’t look like you believe me?]
[I believe you.]
About what age?
If forced to say, just before I died in my past life. She appeared to be around that age.
I gave a half-hearted answer, and the woman spoke in a displeased voice.
[Truly, there is nothing I do not know. Why can’t you believe me?]
[Did I not say I believe you?]
[No. You do not believe me.]
It was a voice that seemed slightly sulky.
At the same time, she let go of the hand she was holding.
As the sensation disappeared, a feeling of regret flickered in my heart.
The woman took a few light steps forward, then turned her body gently and spoke to me.
[Then shall I tell you one more thing?]
[What is it?]
A happy voice.
So did mine.
So did the woman.
So did the blooming maples.
It felt especially so.
[This child, will it be a boy or a girl?]
At the words the woman uttered while stroking her belly.
I had to swallow a hollow breath.
Come to think of it, the woman’s belly was slightly swollen.
Looking at it, I felt strangely suffocated inside.
[I wouldn’t know.]
[You have no preference?]
[…It does not matter. Whoever.]
Whether a son or a daughter, it did not matter.
At least, I would become a better father than my own.
The me in the dream was thinking so.
The woman smiled, looking at such a foolish me.
[Yes. I knew you would say that.]
Though I could not see her face.
Somehow, I felt she was smiling brightly.
I could not see the smile.
Even so, it was distinctly felt.
I wanted to hold on.
I wanted to reach out and hold the woman’s hand again.
Move.
If this is a dream, move according to my will.
Because I wished so desperately, my body slowly began to move.
I approached the smiling woman.
Drawing close, I reached out my hand.
And so, as I tried to hold the woman’s hand once more.
[No.]
The woman put distance between us.
Why? Why was she suddenly keeping her distance?
Looking at her with a bewildered reaction, the woman spoke to me while maintaining her smile.
[You cannot do this.]
[Why…?]
[You must not remember this.]
[What are you talking about all of a sudden?]
[That. Is our promise.]
I walked.
Ignoring words I could not understand, I walked to catch the woman.
But.
The distance did not close.
I grew impatient.
Why would it not close?
I reached out and then tried running, yet the distance remained the same.
[What…!]
[You know.]
The woman spoke, looking at me running desperately.
[Please be happy.]
For words spoken with a smile, they were full of sorrow.
[That way. I think I will be okay too.]
[What on earth are you…!?]
Then I realized.
That the beautiful scenery had vanished before I knew it, and only pitch-black darkness remained around us.
It gradually descended.
Dark, terrifying darkness was swallowing us.
Even knowing that, my legs did not stop.
I tried running somehow to catch the woman, but she only watched me and quietly whispered.
[Goodbye.]
That was the end.
With those words, the darkness swallowed me.
“Hurk…!!”
I could open my eyes.
“Kuhuk… huk….”
I bolted upright and gasped for breath.
“…What… what the fuck….”
I turned my thoughts to the terribly unpleasant feeling. I wondered what kind of shitty dream this even was.
“Huh?”
But.
‘…What was the dream?’
The dream I had been having until just now, for some reason, I could not remember a single thing.
As if having dreamed had been a lie, not even the faintest memory came to mind.
That.
Really made me feel as if I were going mad.