A drop of cold sweat flows down Yoonjong’s forehead.
Although we have overcome many fierce battles and crises, we have not experienced many situations as tense as this. The pressure that is constricting my breathing makes me feel like I’m going to suffocate at any moment, and I feel like I want to run out of the room at any moment.
That wasn’t all. The expression on Jo Geol’s face next to him was not much different. The fact that even that guy who used to be so dull and fussy is nervous means that the situation we are facing right now is that serious.
A shivering silence. And the tension is enough to make your fingertips go cold.
Among them, someone’s voice came out coldly.
“yet again… … “I’m telling you.”
The face, which appears to have been carefully carved and shaped by a craftsman out of jade, is now strangely distorted.
“What Jang Moon-in said… … It’s just that you are a long-time writer… … That doesn’t represent the position of all Jongnam people… … .”
He managed to speak intermittently, but soon closed his mouth and gritted his teeth. As he spoke, he knew for himself that there was no point in saying these words.
There is one rule that never changes, no matter how old or new it is.
The truth is that once the logic to be presented collapses, all that remains is coercion.
“anyway! Don’t think anything will change just because it happened! “If you harbor vain thoughts, I will make you realize the harsh reality!”
At first glance, it was a mixture of life and death. However, the person sitting across from him, who looked exactly like him, raised the corners of his mouth in a leisurely manner.
“what. “A low-level thief.”
“Ugh… … .”
Jin Geum-ryong, feeling a tight pain, grabbed his heart. His sinewy hands were shaking.
On the other hand, Baekcheon, whose face was full of composure, shrugged his shoulders.
“No, well… … . “You don’t have to worry so much, brother.”
“… … what?”
Jin Geum-ryong asked back as if he could not believe his own ears for a moment. Of course, how on earth did you even bring up the word ‘brother’ to upset him?
And indeed, Baekcheon was Baekcheon.
“I am weak and lack skills, so what can I do? I understand your feelings because there would have been no way to beat Hwasan fairly. Oh my… … .”
“execution! Don’t pull out the sword! If you pull out your sword here, it’s all over!”
Lee Song-baek threw his whole body to catch Jin Geum-ryong, who was about to pull out his sword without hesitation, and blocked him. He was so surprised that all the blood had gone and his face was meditative.
“eww… … .”
Jingeumryong, whose eyes were bloodshot, looked like he was going to eat Baekcheon at any moment. However, Baekcheon’s leisure gradually gained momentum.
“Oh my, are you going to stab me then? Well… … “Well, you’re a member of a clan who can do that.”
“Death penalty! “Isn’t it true that you shouldn’t draw a sword?”
Yunjong, who was watching this, finally let out a long sigh. It was like the sound of wind falling.
“Is this right, girl?”
“… … “It feels like something is definitely wrong.”
Cheongmyeong’s figure appeared overlapping Baekcheon’s giggling figure. Jogeol looked at that and ate it.
“But Sasuk’s feelings are a little… … Should I say I understand?”
… … Yunjong also sympathized with that. Jongnam, who used to have high arrogance, bowed his head, so he couldn’t miss an opportunity like this.
Jingeumryong held the sword and fussed for a while, but only after a while did he seem to calm down and let out a long breath. However, in the meantime, when he saw that disgusted face (but that looked exactly like him), something welled up inside him again.
“anyway… … .”
Finally, the true Jingeumryong suddenly corrected his posture. Then, with a straight face, he bowed his head deeply towards Baekcheon. Baekcheon stopped laughing and opened his eyes wide.
“Although it happened in the past, I know that this sin is a sin that all of Jongnam’s disciples must bear together. Although I am not the person who can represent Jongnam… … .”
“That won’t happen. “Jin Sohyeop.”
Baekcheon interrupted Jingeumryong’s words with a stern voice.
“Just as Jin Sohyeop cannot represent Jongnam, I am also not the person who can represent Hwasan. He is just wearing the guise of being a long-winded agent. “I don’t think it’s right for us to bring up again the story that Jang Mun-in of the Gwimun and Taesang Jang-mun of the Council ended in the first place.”
A calm yet powerful voice continued.
“If you really have that kind of heart, just like Taesangjangmunin said, you can repay the world.”
Jin Jin-ryong and Baek-cheon’s eyes met directly in front. Although it was a short moment, complex emotions passed through Jin Geumryong’s eyes.
“… … Thank you, Baekcheon Dojo.”
“It was nothing.”
Have you ever imagined the day when you would meet Baekcheon like this? Jingeumryong sighed softly inwardly.
‘I don’t want to admit it, but… … .’
It got me thinking. If he were in Baekcheon’s position, would he have been able to nod like that?
no. I would never have done that.
Even if an agreement was reached amicably with his superiors, he would have tried to accuse the other party of his sins until the end. He never allowed me to even make eye contact with him again. No, perhaps he did not want to acknowledge the adults’ agreement itself.
But not Baekcheon.
He is being considerate of him by taking all of this calmly. Of course, that action was a greater burden to Jingeumryong, but it was clear that it was something Jingeumryong could not do, regardless of whether it was aimed at that or not.
I have to admit it now. My younger brother sitting in front of me… … . No, the fact that the volcano’s Baekcheon was now too big for him to handle.
“But that is my position as Baekcheon, the great disciple of Hwasan.”
“… … huh?”
Jingeumryong, who was a little embarrassed, made a slightly dumb sound. Before I knew it, Baekcheon was leaning back as far as he could and was looking down at me with arrogant eyes.
If Cheongmyeong had seen him, he would have said, ‘That damn thing again, that unlucky person.’
“As a human vibration dragon, I think I should receive an apology, right?”
“… … .”
“what? Like a volcano? A place like a volcano? “That kind of ruined cult?”
“… … .”
“Oh my gosh. Jongnam seems to be from a very loving clan. So did he so carefully steal the money from that ruined sect? Hey, it seems that the word ‘amazing’ that I know and the word ‘amazing’ that you use have different meanings. It’s so amazing that I guess I just made up a word for it, huh? I am very proud of being the leader of such a great sect… … .”
bang!
Jin Geum-ryong came out, closing the door roughly, and took a deep breath. If I had stayed there just a little longer, I would have ended up pulling out my sword.
“That damn… … !”
Where on earth did you learn such an unlucky expression and such a blunt way of speaking? He was a man who kept his standards, at least when he was at home.
Just as I was trying to soothe my boiling insides, the door slowly opened again and Lee Song-baek came out. Jingeumryong glanced back at the sight and started walking towards his dorm without any regrets.
“Let’s go together, death.”
Lee Song-baek followed quickly, matching his steps. While she was walking to her dorm, there was a somewhat awkward atmosphere between them.
“execution. This time… … .”
“Know. “That I wasn’t that mature.”
“… … .”
“Okay, don’t say more.”
Song Baek sighed deeply.
“Still, I’m glad.”
“what?”
“The Baekcheon seal.”
Jin Geum-ryong secretly turned his gaze to Lee Song-baek. Song Baek said quietly.
“In fact, if Baekcheon Dojang had asked with a straight face, the relationship between Hwasan and Jongnam would have literally turned into ice in the future, but since you came forward and treated me in a joking way, wouldn’t you be able to at least talk to me?”
How can Lee Song-baek not know how serious this matter is?
Coveting the highest rank of another clan, it would not be strange for them to go to war until the last person left.
How amazing it is that such an important matter is passed over like this.
“Even the priests say they don’t know how to view Hwasan’s disciples. Meanwhile, the Baekcheon seal… … .”
“okay. “He probably knows what he’s doing.”
“… … “I guess so?”
Baekcheon’s influence is stronger than you think. If we were to consider only the influence within the clan, it would be incomparable to the influence that Jingeumryong had on Jongnam.
With someone like that coming out to lighten the mood, it was clear that no major problems would arise between us for some time to come. Baekcheon must have also been aiming for that and showed himself by sitting with Jingeumryong.
“So, the burden on my mind was eased a little.”
“Do you really think so?”
“yes?”
Jin Jinlong stopped walking and looked intently at Lee Song-baek. It was a gaze that was close to glaring.
“I asked you if you thought so.”
“… … execution?”
“What did we do to relieve the burden on our hearts? What did you do? “You just bowed your head once in front of him?”
For a moment, Lee Song-baek’s face stiffened.
“Try changing your position. Can you understand that those who pray for Jongnam’s ruin and take advantage of Jongnam’s crisis to steal Jongnam’s wealth are bowing their heads for a moment?”
“that… … .”
Jingeumryong bit his lip gently.
“Forgiveness is something that can only be desired when at least appropriate compensation and price has been paid. Unconditional forgiveness is simply a request for mercy. “You said you were grateful that Hwasan took pity on Jong-nam.”
Lee Song-baek bowed his head without saying a word. Jingeumryong, who was shooting at him, soon sighed briefly and looked up at the sky. It was because he kept feeling stuffy.
Even though I knew it wasn’t mature enough, I had a hard time controlling myself. If it wasn’t Lee Song-baek who was at fault, it was just that he shot him for no reason.
Lee Song-baek asked cautiously.
“then… … “What should we do?”
“I have to pay it back.”
Jin Geumryong focused his gaze on him again and spoke firmly.
“Now that we have received such forgiveness, we should not consider ourselves proud, but we should repay and repay until we feel that it is enough. That’s how confidence comes. “You don’t get it through other people’s acceptance.”
“… … Can you repay the mistake of betraying morality?”
“If we cannot pay it all in our own generation, we can pay it in the next generation, and if that is not enough, we can pay it in the next generation. It may be difficult, but at least it is a thousand times better than having a clan called Jongnam become a dishonest clan.”
Lee Song-baek also nodded heavily in agreement.
“Tell this straight to the priests and magistrates. “If there are people who act recklessly, I will never forgive them.”
“I will, death penalty.”
Jin Geum-ryong, who had been looking at Lee Song-baek for a moment, turned and started walking again.
‘Thank goodness… … .’
He thought about why he poured out his anger on Song Baek. Perhaps the reason I was so angry was because Jin Geumryong had the same thought.
What would have happened if this hadn’t happened now?
If he had become a scholar and found out about this, would he have had the courage to reveal all of this openly and bear the price?
That wouldn’t have been possible. Not only Jingeumryong, but no one in the world would have the courage to touch this powder keg.
Therefore, Jin Geum-ryong would have rotted secretly with his uncontrollable sin buried inside him. Anyone… … . Yes, no matter who it is.
At that time, Jin Geum-ryong thought of just one person and laughed.
‘If it were him, he would have taken it out without any hesitation and lowered his head.’
He shook his head, thinking of his younger brother who looked exactly like me.
‘Are we now in a position to pursue it?’
Although the smile was bitter, the mood was cool.
