“Certainly, I have long harbored thoughts of eliminating Seomun Cheon-oh, no, Joo Cheon-oh, early on. But normally, I wouldn’t have rushed in blindly just because I saw an anomaly in him. At that time, anger took precedence to a strange degree, and I couldn’t make any rational judgment whatsoever. The fact that I felt alienated by my own actions only occurred to me after he disappeared from my sight.”
Seeing him speak to this extent did sway Cho Yoon’s heart slightly.
Upon reflection, Moyong Seo in the original work was a character who, even when appearing to recklessly challenge stronger opponents, always had a plan stemming from his skill and knowledge.
Whether this was the coercive force commonly seen in stories to maintain the order of the original world, or due to some other reason, Cho Yoon couldn’t yet guess.
He didn’t even know the whereabouts of the divine artifact Moyong Seo should have possessed, so there was no way he could know anything else.
Cho Yoon gazed at Moyong Seo’s face with eyes that hadn’t quite shed their chill before speaking in a flat tone.
“Deceiving Sa-hyeon was unfortunate but unavoidable. Attacking Cheon-oh was also beyond your control and unavoidable. Your words are nothing but sophistry. You played cheap tricks on my disciple to come all this way, and all you have to say is that kind of evasion?”
I’m still angry, but I didn’t mean to go this far…
Cho Yoon, having spat out words that were merely devoid of inflection but sharpened to a keen edge, startled himself into silence. However, Moyong Seo had already swallowed a vain breath, his face turning pale as he lowered his gaze.
A taut tension hung in the previously calm air, and a frost-like tremor settled on the boy’s stiffened body.
Furthermore, Cho Yoon’s lips, having suppressed his displeasure for so long, opened far too easily.
“You asked what my final goal is. I have not a shred of interest in your grand plans or your pathological protectiveness. Whether you unite the Murim to oppose the forces of Xinjiang, or die in the attempt and leave the Central Plains covered in lawless mobs, I have absolutely no intention of dedicating myself to interfere.”
“…Then.”
“I merely met and took in Lim Sa-hyeon, whom you said could not appear. I discovered and took in Seomun Cheon-oh, whom you tried to kill blindly. I simply intend to take responsibility for what I have touched. Keep your misunderstandings within reason.”
The tension in Moyong Seo’s jaw as he gritted his teeth was clearly visible. But Cho Yoon, stating for the first time that he had acted without any thought until now, felt somewhat relieved and didn’t stop speaking. Now that I’ve told him this much, surely he won’t have strange expectations of me anymore. It felt as if the burden he had been subconsciously carrying was washing away completely.
“The Seomun Cheon-oh I raised is a completely different person from the Joo Cheon-oh you know. Accordingly, many aspects of the Demonic Cult must have changed as well, but since the person who would be their focal point is here, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you. Haven’t you enjoyed my help more than enough with this?”
“…Yes.”
“So do not expect anything more from me. I know nothing more, and even if I did, I would not tell you.”
Having poured out his words unilaterally, Cho Yoon rose from his seat as if there were no reason to face him further. As his white collar brushed coldly past Moyong Seo’s shoulder, just as when he entered, Moyong Seo bit his lower lip hard and hastily raised his voice.
“I apologize, Great Hero!”
“…”
Cho Yoon halted his steps weightlessly. No one looked back. The orchid placed by the window was drying brown from the tips. Seeing this, Moyong Seo swallowed dry saliva, and clasping his clenched fists together with effort, tried to keep his voice steady.
“My impatient worry took precedence, and I committed rudeness. It is my fault, with no room for excuses, so if you hold me accountable, I will accept it gladly. But… but my brother and my clan are without fault…”
“…”
“I still… do not know how I will react when I encounter Seomun Cheon-oh again.”
Moyong Seo had forced through an unreasonable and impure journey because he wanted to solve the doubts he harbored. However, at this rate, the only thing he would gain was the single proposition that Immortal Healer Cho Yoon is involved.
It was a trade where the balance sheet didn’t match at all, exchanging the person he thought would be a good friend, the danger he exposed Moyong Dan to, and the blow of being hated by the Hao Sect for this alone.
Moyong Seo had to be certain of one more thing, even if it meant looking like he was fearlessly defying a master who had reached the Profound Realm.
“I wish to know the reason why I lost my reason. I feel I must know.”
“…”
“I beg you, disregarding my shame. Please allow me to meet Seomun Cheon-oh once more. If I show unexpected behavior, you may subdue me mercilessly, just like back then.”
Even if my limbs are broken, I will not blame anyone. I will tell everyone firmly.
They say those who are guilty and trembling run their mouths. Moyong Seo’s desperate and lengthy words spilled out in succession.
After begging like that for a while, Moyong Seo suddenly snapped to his senses and looked back.
There was already no one there.
“…”
Only then did Moyong Seo let out a long sigh, bending forward to rest his forehead on his hand. The night air entering through the open window cooled the nape of his neck and his back. Only after his body temperature dropped did he realize he had been sweating cold sweat.
The aftereffect of receiving a cold rebuke from a master he still couldn’t dare approach, a figure wrapped in layers of mystery, was greater than he’d thought.
Fortunately, unlike his appearance, Moyong Seo had lived a harsh life for decades, so he could calm down quickly. By the time the wind chime rang once more, Moyong Seo lifted his head and stared blankly at the seat of honor where Cho Yoon had been sitting, covering his mouth.
Even amidst the confusion, Moyong Seo had deductions and schemes he hadn’t spoken aloud.
Now, he had to figure out how to execute them.
***
“In the end, it is all because of an unforeseen connection. My brother’s anxiety was the driving force behind everything, but at the same time, I worry it will ruin everything.”
Definitely, if he’s so anxious that murderous intent boils over and he blindly swings a knife at someone he’s seeing for the first time, he’s just hopeless. Wouldn’t it be better to isolate him at home and not let him out into society?
Sa-yeong thought cynically.
Not knowing why Moyong Seo was anxious, she only had the impression that he was a madman. And the person in front of her, desperately defending such a human, was the same. No matter how much she probed, asked indirectly, or induced, Moyong Dan’s shield was impenetrable, and Sa-yeong lost even the will to treat him politely.
“Jeong Seon of the Shaolin Temple has been called the Mad Buddha for a long time, hasn’t he? I’ve heard enough of Jeong Seon’s ramblings about the Star of Heavenly Slaughter to be sick of it too. But suddenly claiming the owner of that Star of Heavenly Slaughter is my youngest junior brother? Are you saying that knowing this child’s birth date and time—”
“The important thing isn’t whether Young Hero Seomun is the Star of Heavenly Slaughter or not. In fact, I don’t particularly believe in the stale concept of the Star of Heavenly Slaughter either. However, my brother seems to believe so, and he has the skill and will to try and prove his belief.”
“Then shouldn’t you just reason with your brother, Great Hero? You seem to be looking at this much more calmly than Young Master Moyong, who demanded a duel with real swords as soon as they met. What do you think? Does Cheon-oh look like the Star of Heavenly Slaughter to be executed in your eyes too, Great Hero?”
Sa-yeong opened her palm and pointed at her junior brother sitting next to her.
Cheon-oh, who had been listening quietly without expressing a single opinion even though the conversation was about him, glanced at his senior sister’s crooked hand. But Sa-yeong was too exhausted to correct her posture and attitude. She thought she might finally hear something worth listening to, but in the end, the only conclusion was that these brothers were out of their minds. It seemed the evaluation of Moyong Dan circulating in the world was greatly exaggerated.
Moyong Dan shook his head from side to side.
“Leaving aside other things, my opinion of Young Hero Seomun is not important to him. It is difficult to bring this up to someone who has already suffered harm, but since no one but Young Hero Seomun can end his anxiety, I dare to ask.”
“Since you’ve apologized for everything that can be apologized for, are you saying you’ll make demands now?”
“It might look that way. It is a request I make while laying down all my face. I will pay the maximum price I can, whether to the Hao Sect, or to all of you.”
That attitude was the problem.
That lowly posture which shouldn’t generally exist in a young master raised precious by the world.
Whenever someone in a far higher position than herself submitted flatly without a single word of rebuttal, Sa-yeong was momentarily struck speechless. If he was doing that knowing the effect, Moyong Dan was also quite a nasty character.
Whether he didn’t miss the gap, or was simply continuing his speech, Moyong Dan opened his mouth with an attitude that didn’t waver by a hair. The clean face of a noble scion wore a nonchalant, expressionless look for someone who claimed to have laid down all face.
“Since a conversation with words will not be enough, I wish for him to meet my brother once more and cross swords. If you do that, I believe my brother will finally lay down his abnormal obsession toward Young Hero Seomun.”
“What kind of absurd—”
“Isn’t Young Hero Seomun a considerable martial artist?”
Moyong Dan’s two eyes looked straight at Cheon-oh. He had been pretending to be dull this whole time solely to make this plea.
“Coincidentally, my brother is also a martial artist whose limits are unknown. If they share swords, countless questions will be resolved.”