Book 1 Chapter 19: The Message that My Death Brought (1)
Translator: Hwarang
Editor: Jay
I returned home the next day.
While everyone believed that I went up to train in the mountain, only Kw.a.n.g Du knew that I went out to get Kwak Do Su.
“You almost made me worry to death, young master.” There were dark circles under his eyes, he probably didn’t get enough sleep because of me.
“I told you not to worry about me.”
“So did you kill him?”
“Of course.” Kw.a.n.g Du trembled. Hey punk, if you get scared and tremble now, what would happen if you hear the news about the director Kong and how she became missing?
“Anyway how much did you improve on your cultivation? Come show me.”
“Since I was so busy worrying…” Without much confidence in his face Kw.a.n.g Du sat down and started circulating. I sent my energy into him and checked his progress. It seem he practiced as I taught him
“Good. You did very well.”
“Really? Do you mean it young master?” Kw.a.n.g Du became very excited. If I complimented him anymore he might have even cried.
“Why are you so happy?”
“This was the first time receiving a compliment from you after learning martial arts.”
“Don’t say useless things.”
“No young master, this is a moment that I cannot forget.”
He reminded me of my head of security Baek Hyo. His joyful expression as we watched the first snowfall. Now that I think about it, the people close to me then and now have these similarities.
“Now I will teach you the basics.”
“What?” Kw.a.n.g Du was surprised again.
I told him bring some fake swords since he doesn’t own a decent sword. Although I thought about buying him a decent sword, I put that thought in the back of my mind since I wanted to teach him the basics before using a real sword. I taught him the first three basic stances of the Seven Stances of the North Sea.
I didn’t have a particular reason for teaching him the first three stances. I thought since he might be bored just practicing the breathing technique, I might as well teach him some techniques to protect himself. But he might get confused if he learned any more than three, so I only taught him three stances.
“I will teach you the other stances after you master these three.”
“Thank you, young master.”
“Practice every day without sleeping. I will test you.”
“What if I die of exhaustion?”
“A lazy person can never die of exhaustion.”
“What if I fall into Qigong Deviation?”
“Don’t worry, that only happens to smart people.”
Kw.a.n.g Du looked at me with a pout. But, I could tell how happy he was and was certain that he would spend the night training.
Was I worried that he might die due to exhaustion? Of course not. Kw.a.n.g Du was a smart person. When he went out to gather information from before, I knew that he was smart. He could sense danger and knew how to avoid it. This told me that he would be able to control himself in his training.
As I was about to leave after teaching him the three stances, Kw.a.n.g Du said something. “Something about you changed.”
He had quick eyes. He was able to see changes that not even my parents were able to see. “What’s changed?”
“I don’t know…but it seems like you became calmer.” Then after observing my face Kw.a.n.g Du face lightened.
“Oh! Really? Did you meet a girl when you left? Yes? Did you sleep with her? You slept with her right?”
You punk, I didn’t have a chance to visit the Gisaeng house. I just left after shaking my shoulder once, but then Kw.a.n.g Du yelled. “You can’t betray Lady Song!”
(Tl: Gisaeng house means prost.i.tute house)
Hey punk, how can I betray her if I don’t have any feelings for her?
“Just focus on your training! And don’t betray yourself.”
The next day the news that I was desperately waiting for finally arrived.
Kw.a.n.g Du rushed to me and cried out, “Young master! Something big happened! The Murim Alliance Leader pa.s.sed away!”
Hearing about my death through a different person made me feel a bit depressed. A month and a half pa.s.sed since I had died, but they were just now releasing the news of my death. It must mean that they put in a lot of thought behind picking the next Alliance Leader.
They must have had a grand Alliance meeting, where the leader of each sect came and held a long meeting. Picking the next Alliance Leader could influence their position. The only thing that let my heart be at peace was that Kang Ho was at peace. There was no one from within or without that would try to take over the Alliance.
“Really?”
“Why is your reaction like this?”
“What about my reaction? You want me to cry or something?”
“At least be surprised or something.”
“But I am surprised.” You don’t know how surprised I am. I truly didn’t expect to die just like that.
“Right now all of Kang Ho is shaken up. Everyone from Murim-In to common people, they are all talking about the Mengju. Everyone is at an inn listening and telling stories. Maybe we should go.”
Kw.a.n.g Du was pulled my arm and I pretended to be pulled by him since I was curious as well. I wanted to know how others would tell the story of my death.
I wanted to know how I was remembered by these people. They say when someone dies, some will be beautifully decorated, others forgotten. I really wanted to know.
Not only the inns but everyone on the streets were talking about my death. “How did he die? Was he poisoned? Was he a.s.sa.s.sinated?”
“No I heard that he died in his sleep.”
“He must be blessed. He must truly be blessed.”
“Anyway, who do you think the next Alliance master will be?”
“That’s my question as well.”
“I’m very worried. Since different factions will compete for the seat.”
“But is there a good candidate?”
“Of course not. The Strongest Under Heaven held that position for too long.”
“Well, He held that spot for thirty years.” I was a little bit hurt the way they talked about me. Don’t they know how much I sacrificed for these Kang Ho-In? Yet they say those things about me?
They weren’t many talking about my death, but about me as a person. I felt disappointed. I really wanted to smack these people in the back of the head and say ‘Hey punk, do you know how many sleepless nights I had because of you!’
But I thought about it, and it was understandable. Since this was a position that received a lot of curses. They had to curse someone or blame someone to relieve their anger.
‘Go ahead curse me all you want. If it can release your anger, then curse all you want.’
“What kind of person was the Alliance Leader?” The one who asked me this question was someone that I knew best.
“Well...”
“I think he must have a lot of regrets when he died as the Alliance Leader”
“Why do think that?”
“Don’t you think so, young master? Wouldn’t you regret it if you died at the pinnacle? If it was me I wouldn’t be able to die due to my regret!”
Happiness? Was I truly happy?
Everyone was afraid of me. There were many who were loyal enough to put their life on the line for me, but there was a barrier between us. Even with Chancellor Kal I never truly had a deep talk with him.
It is said it is cold at the top of the mountain.
I don’t know if I lived a happy life, but I know that I lived a lonely life.
“Anyway, do you know how they pick the next Alliance Leader?”
I shook my head and replied. “I don’t know.” Even though I knew the answer, I didn’t want to tell him. If the Alliance Leader chose an heir before he died, then the heir would become the next Alliance Leader.
Many people wanted me to take an heir since I was already seventy years old. However, every time they brought it up, it was looked down upon. Since I was so healthy, they couldn’t bring it up too much. But no one expected that I, who was so healthy and my energy reaching the skies, would die so suddenly overnight. So the Murim wasn’t prepared for this.
But since there was no heir, the ten different sect leaders would get together to choose the next candidate. This process would go on until they could decide on the next Alliance Leader. This was how I was chosen. If the previous leader wasn’t poisoned by the Demon Alliance, I would have lived as a free Kang Ho-In.
To choose the next leader, more than five leaders must agree to it. When I became the Alliance Leader, all ten of them agreed upon my candidacy due to my skill and power. That was how I became the Leader.
Anyway, the final decision rested with Chancellor Kal. The problem lay within the fact that there was no strong candidates to take my place. So they didn’t reveal my death for a month and a half. I was certain that Kal Sa Ryang would be able to pick a great successor.
“Young master, we should give a toast as a sign of respect to the big elder of the Kang Ho.”
Yep, I only have you. “Let’s do it, but buy the most expensive alcohol.”
“You have money right?”
“Why don’t you buy, since you just became a Kang Ho-In?”
“If you say that, then I can’t really … Fine, I will buy it.” Kw.a.n.g Du waved at the owner
“Here! Give us the cheapest wine.” I laughed at Kw.a.n.g Du.
Thank You for toasting for my death.
Then I slowly turned my head toward the window and stared out. Somewhere far away within the Murim Alliance.
Chancellor Kal, you must pick a great Alliance Leader.