The sky was very blue.
Volcanoes are mountains that have always felt close yet unfamiliar, and more difficult than any other place. Climbing up there, looking up at the clear sky, Zhong Ligu let out a long breath.
Did you ever imagine that the day would come when you would climb a volcano alone and look up at the distant sky?
The gaze naturally turns towards the far west. The end of the wide-open world leads to the familiar shape of the mountainside that he knows.
‘That’s strange.’
There isn’t a single day that goes by that he doesn’t see Jongnam in his eyes. But Jongnam, seen from afar, seemed strangely unfamiliar. And I realized it again.
Just because you live on a mountain doesn’t mean you know it best. Sometimes, someone who looks from a step away can see more.
At that time, a noise was heard from a short distance away.
“hmm.”
As soon as Zongligok’s gaze turned in that direction, something flew into his chest.
widely.
I reflexively took it and saw that it was a heavy, pure white porcelain bottle. I could guess what the liquid inside was without even opening it.
“alcohol?”
“Do you by any chance hate it?”
Zhongligok shook his head. Not really. I don’t enjoy drinking it, but that doesn’t mean I strictly abstain from it. but… … .
“Since broad daylight?”
“Are you the kind of person who thinks about things like that?”
When Zongligok asked, Cheongmyeong smiled and answered. Jongligok couldn’t help but laugh at those words. We’ve definitely come too far to save face again.
“Then drink it gratefully.”
Zhongligok uncorked the bottle and took a sip from the bottle. It’s not a particularly special drink, but the scent felt different today.
Maybe it’s because what’s in this bottle isn’t just alcohol.
“It’s a good drink.”
“He’s a cheap shipper.”
“It’s a good drink.”
Cheongmyeong shook his head. Then, I took out the bottle of liquor I had brought for myself and took a refreshing drink.
“Big.”
Wiping the corner of his mouth, Cheongmyeong glanced at Zongli Valley. Funny enough, he was dressed in a white military uniform and the scenery of the volcano went very well together. It’s ridiculous.
Well… … Is there anyone who is more or less suited to the mountains? The mountain is just there.
“I didn’t know you wouldn’t have such a solution.”
“You saw it wrong. “I am a very cautious person.”
“I didn’t know you had such a bad personality.”
“I often heard you call me a good person. “Maybe it wasn’t like that to you.”
“… … “For something like that, it doesn’t even make sense.”
“My ears are always open. “That is the duty of a long-time writer.”
Cheongmyeong looked helpless for a moment at Jongligok, who was fighting back without a single word, and then he shook his head again and asked.
“Why did you do that?”
“What do you mean?”
“… … “I could have just passed on.”
Instead of answering, Jongligok gave him a blank look. He must have felt pressured by those gazes, and added something that Cheongmyeong didn’t even ask.
“No, well… … It’s not that I feel bad for Jong-nam or anything, it’s just something that had to be done. It’s something that should be done in the first place, but what can I say… … .”
“Didn’t you urge it?”
“Yes. That’s right. however… … .”
Cheongmyeong scratched the bridge of his nose in embarrassment.
“It wasn’t a good time, right? “Now we are in a position where we have to fight together.”
“… … “It’s jealousy.”
Zhong Ligu repeated in a daze, looked at the distant sky, and took another sip of his drink.
“You are right. but… … .”
Eventually, a small smile appeared on his lips as he looked at Cheongmyeong.
“No matter how much I thought about it, there was no such thing as a ‘right’ time.”
“… … .”
“Do you know?”
“… … What?”
The corners of Zhongligok’s mouth became a little softer.
“There’s always a reason why it shouldn’t be now.”
“… … .”
“okay.”
Zhongligok nodded as if agreeing with his own words. That’s right, these words were not addressed to Cheongmyeong, but to himself.
“It’s always there. “Anytime.”
At the small laugh he let out, Cheongmyeong’s face became strangely distorted.
“Okay.”
A deep sigh escaped me. What Jongli Gok said is correct. Once you miss an opportunity for one reason or another, everything falls apart.
“But that wouldn’t necessarily have been a bad result for Jang Mun-in. “Wasn’t that what you were saying just last night?”
“Is that what the person who insisted on leaving everything just last night would say?”
“Well, you have a knack for leaving me speechless.”
Cheongmyeong licked his lips. Jongligok held a complaint.
The more you look at him, the stranger he becomes.
He was so cold and cold, and when he erupted with so much anger that it was difficult to understand, when Zong Ligok made up his mind, he tried to be considerate of his position.
To put it in a good way, he is a complicated person, and in a bad way, he is a very self-indulgent person.
Nevertheless, at this time, Zhongligok did not feel particularly disgusted by Cheongmyeong. Maybe it’s because I can feel the cruelty underlying that spineless behavior.
“so… … Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“If it’s not okay, is there any other way? “What has already been done.”
“… … “There’s really no solution.”
Cheongmyeong laughed as if it was absurd. Who would have imagined that Zhongligok would be this kind of person?
Jongnam lost a lot because of this incident.
There wasn’t much to criticize Jong-nam on the spot, but once the stigma was engraved, it wouldn’t go away easily.
When subordinates prosper, they may be able to pretend nothing is wrong, but when they lose their power, it may become a punishment from which they can never escape.
No, you may have to suffer from cold gazes even while fighting for your life together. Even if you make a great contribution, you might end up buried in the sins of the past.
Zhongligok is not a person who does not know that. Cheongmyeong was concerned about such a situation and tried to cover up the matter for now.
Zhongligoo said with a smile.
“And you are wrong. “This is a very good time.”
“yes?”
“Now is the opportunity without Shaolin. Since the old sect’s façade has disappeared, there will be no chance of being kicked out of the old sect because of this, right?”
“… … Does it make you laugh?”
“Is there any reason not to smile?”
“… … “It’s going to spin, really.”
I’m not just saying this. Certainly, the current Zhongligok does not feel as stiff and tense as before. Instead, the place was filled with unknown detachment and leisure.
Depending on how you think about it, it may be that he is now carrying a heavier burden, but Zhongligok’s shoulders seemed much lighter.
“Don’t look at me like that. “I was also worried because I am a human being.”
“Are you worried?”
“When you stopped me from speaking.”
Zhongligok’s eyes sank.
“For a moment, I thought this was it. I showed my courage, and you recognized it. “Then I thought I could bury it all and leave.”
“… … But why did you force it?”
Zhongligok laughs. The reason… … .
“Because burdens are not carried with the shoulders, but with the heart.”
Qingming looked at Zhongligu in silence. It would be difficult to find enlightenment like the Taoists of Hwasan from him.
However, sometimes the world easily says things that even those who have trained their entire lives cannot say.
That’s what the hearing said. There is a Tao in everything in the world, and we are just those who follow it.
Zhongligoo smiled faintly again.
“I feel sorry for you.”
“You seem to misunderstand, but I spit even when I’m smiling.”
“But I won’t cut you.”
“… … “I’m really going to spin.”
Cheongmyeong scratched his head. There is a degree to which people can change overnight. This is handmade… … .
“Oh, I don’t know. “It’s none of my business!”
Cheongmyeong suddenly got up from his seat and turned around.
“Are you going?”
“Yes, I’m going. There’s a lot of work to do. Jang Moon-in, don’t waste your time here and come down quickly to work.”
“Sure.”
“… … Wow. “I can’t get used to it, really.”
Cheongmyeong let out a loud scream as if there were bugs on his body and then walked down the mountain. As Cheongmyeong’s appearance disappeared, the smile on Zhongligoo’s face slowly disappeared as well.
“It’s a burden… … .”
It was a voice that clearly conveyed a sense of weight.
Know. That from now on he will have to carry an even bigger burden. But Zongligok had no intention of avoiding the burden anymore. Because of this, he may not pass on the burden he carried to his future generations.
It will be difficult. However, if they can overcome that hardship, his disciples will be able to stand in the world without any hesitation at any time. On the contrary, you will be able to look directly at them.
Before he knew it, he saw Cheongmyeong running all the way down the mountain in the distance.
Zhongligok had a slightly different smile than before.
‘I think I understand why so many people follow the author.’
Cheongmyeong forced him to become food for Jongnam. Rather than having future generations become entangled in resentment and shed blood, he advised you to bear it all.
That is the duty of those who stand on top and those who walk first.
However, when Zongligok tried to keep his word, he tried to protect him again. It’s as if he wants to be his nourishment.
A small laugh leaked from Zhongligok’s mouth. Maybe we should find this insulting. He is such a young brat that he treats Jang Mun-in, the son of the world, as an immature person who still needs to be protected.
However, Jongligok did not have the slightest desire to do so.
A single cloud was moving along the endless blue sky.
I slowly closed my eyes and vividly recalled the conversation I had with Hyeonjong.
“… … “Raise your head, Jang Mun-in.”
When Zhongligok raised his head, Xuanzong was gently shaking his head.
“The person here is the Taesang Jangmun of Hwasan, but he is no longer the Jangmun of Hwasan. So it is difficult to say that it represents a volcano. but… … “If someone has to respond to what Jang Moon-in said, it would be right for me, who had the deepest relationship with Jang Moon-in, regardless of my position.”
He stretched out his hand and took Zong Liqu’s hand.
“Make atonement on the world, not on the volcano. “If we uphold the duty now that we were unable to do back then, no one will hold a grudge against Jongnam.”
“… … “Taesang Jangmunin.”
“Can you do that?”
Zhongligok slowly opened his eyes.
still… … He seems like a frustrating, pathetic, and naive person.
If he were in the same position as Hyeonjong, he would have taken this opportunity to literally throw Jongnam away.
Even if Hyeonjong demanded all of Jongnam’s family assets, Jongnam would have had no reason to refuse.
However, all Hyeonjong could do was convey such instructions.
The foot of Jongnam Mountain is visible under the blue sky. That unfamiliar yet familiar ridge kept becoming blurry.
“… … “Not bad.”
Yeah, not bad. Jongnamdo Island seen from here. And the sky that spreads above it. and… … This mountain he is stepping on.
Maybe this is a world where descendants have to live together with someone.
It’s much clearer than the world he looked at yesterday, a little more… … It only seemed mild.
