Chapter 68: When the first Snow Falls Again (4)
Translator: hwarang
Editor: ardastre
Baek Pyo was surprised to see the sword that he had disguised himself to have shown itself before us. Since I was that surprised, how could Baek Pyo not be even more surprised!
But the person that expressed it the most was Kw.a.n.g Du.
“Woahhh!”
This was the first time Kw.a.n.g Du experienced something such as a sword crying on its own.
I quickly told Baek Pyo, “We’ll be going then.”
I was dragging Kw.a.n.g Du out the door in consideration of Baek Pyo, but then the sword started crying again.
Jiiinnng!
It sounded as if it didn’t want me to leave. So I stopped, then its crying receded. It was reacting to my motion. When I turned around Baek Pyo was looking at me with surprise. He had also realised that the sword was reacting to me.
I slowly approached the sword. Jiiinngg! The sword’s sound grew deeper. Then I took a step back and the sword’s cry became louder. It was definitely calling for me.
Baek Pyo looked at me with a questioning mean, “Why is something like this happening?”
I looked at Baek Pyo and asked him with my stare, ‘Can I go close to that sword?’
After looking between the Divine Sword of King Shura and me, he nodded. He was certain that the sword was calling for me. I slowly approached the sword and its crying sound receded, as if a wild animal was calming down.
It stopped crying after I touched it. And I took down the sword that was on the wall. Seeing this blade after about a year, my heart also moved.
Shiiing!
When I unshed the sword it felt refreshing and it started crying again.
Jiiinnnng!
This time it wasn’t crying, but expressing its emotions. It was saying something like ‘It’s been a while, Master!’
Yes, it has been a long time.
We were exchanging our feelings. The bond that we had developed after fifty-something years. Then I put it back in its sheath. Everything became normal again and great silence divided the room. No one said a word.
Then Baek Pyo asked me, “Who are you?”
At this moment I was certain that fate was calling for Baek Pyo. On the first day that he opened his shop, I visited. I sat at my favorite place and ordered my favorite food and drink from my previous life. Then I rescued his family from disaster, and I told him the exact words he had said to me. Finally, the Divine Sword of King Shura recognized me.
I quietly told him, “I am the heir of the Byuk Clan, Byuk Lee Dan.”
Baek Pyo looked at me flabbergasted. The sword that had never cried, had cried for the first time in front of me. This was the work of fate, calling for him to accept it.
“Someone who wasn’t worthy is now the mengju. Because of this, there will be great chaos in Kang Ho.”
Baek Pyo opened his eyes. He was the person who knew it best - that the current mengju was not worthy of that t.i.tle.
“I wish to put an end to it… Will you help me achieve this?”
*****
The next morning, Kw.a.n.g Du was cleaning the table at the inn. He was cleaning it to the degree that it was starting to glow.
Then someone asked, “Is the customer even supposed to clean the inn?”
Turning around, he saw Kong Soo Chan smiling at the door.
“So someone with a cheap lip finally decided to show himself.”
“I am sorry, master Byuk was looking for you. I didn’t want to say it but I got a feeling that I had to say it.”
“Haha, you did well telling him.”
Since Byuk Lee Dan had come in person, things were going the way he planned.
But there were some sights that he could not forget.
“Then why are you cleaning?”
“This is what I usually do when I get bored. It clears up my mind, making things clean.”
“I understand you. For me, it’s calculus.”
“Calculus? About what?”
“Just anything that comes to mind. How much we made last year, how much we need to start this guild…”
“Why do you do something like that? And you believe my cleaning is the same as your calculus?”
“I think I am the normal one.”
“Oh, my goodness...”
Kong Soo Chan started laughing and Kw.a.n.g Du followed. These two had gotten much closer since they had moved to Mu Han. To get close to someone, one had to live with them.
“So what was the result of your accident?”
Kw.a.n.g Du was looking out the window when Kong Soo Chan asked him this. The world seemed more innocent with the snow covering it.
“The result… I think we will have to wait and see.”
*****
Baek Pyo was watching Myung He play in the snow.
Jung Young approached behind him, looking at the two swords that were lying beside the door. One was her husband’s sword, and the other a sword that she had never seen before. That sword was the Divine Sword of King Shura.
Her eyes clouded. Ever since her husband had started his business, he had never taken out his sword.
“Did you watch as the first snow fell?”
He nodded to her.
“That’s a relief.”
Although she was hesitant, she trusted her husband. This was probably how all women who were the wives of Kang Ho members felt.
“Someone asked me to come back to Kang Ho with him.”
“Who?”
“Someone from far away. He is the heir to a Clan in San Dong. I don’t know what kind of person he is.”
“He must be a great person.”
Baek Pyo turned around with a look full of questions.
“If not, you wouldn’t be hesitating like this.”
That was true. When he had first seen Byuk Lee Dan, there was something about him that had made Baek Pyo feel connected to him. But that was not the reason why he was hesitant. Even though the person was great, he was not planning to take on anyone else as his master besides Chunhajin.
But then, the Divine Sword of King Shura shook his belief. Baek Pyo knew that a divine sword like King Shura would choose its master. And he was certain that it chose Byuk Lee Dan as its master.
Being accepted by the Chuhajin’s personal sword put Baek Pyo in a very uncomfortable position. He knew that his fate lay with Byuk Lee Dan. The man kept reminding him of Chunhajin ever since they had first met. And he had also saved their family, he was indebted to him.
“He knows that Kang Ho is in chaos. He said he wants to protect the Kang Ho. To tell you the truth… I don’t know what to do.”
“You should go.”
“Honey.”
“Did you know that you haven’t had a single nightmare today?”
That was true. He hadn’t had a nightmare.
Jung Young knew that the place where her husband belonged was not a store like this, but the Kang Ho. She knew that it was time to set him free again.
“If the reason why you are hesitant is because of Myung He and me, just go. I will protect Myung He. If it’s because of the previous mengju, you should still go. You should protect what the previous mengju created.”
“Honey...”
“If what he said is true, you should protect the Kang Ho. Just the way you did all those years ago.”
She was now looking at Myung He.
“You should protect it for Myung He. So that he can live in a peaceful world.”
***
Squeak! Crunch!
Stepping on the fresh snow, Baek Pyo was coming towards me. We were facing each other in a forest behind his shop. He had his sword on his waist, and the Divine Sword of King Shura on his back. From this, I could tell that he had made his decision.
“I believed that you were a great person the very moment I saw you. But right now, I don’t know.”
“I understand.”
“You said you wanted me to be your subordinate?”
“Yes, I did.”
Baek Pyo took out his sword.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“I don’t just serve anyone.”
His eyes were glowing with pa.s.sion. It was the same sight that I remembered whenever we went to the battlefield together.
“You could die because of me. Do you still want to take me?”
Baek Pyo was telling the truth.
Then I stepped forward and said, “I don’t just take anyone for my subordinate either.”
There was no need for any further talk.
Baek Pyo also took a step forward, and now we were slowly circling each other. I knew Baek Pyo’s sword art better than anyone else. There was one common strength and weakness in his sword art. It was not a sword art to kill, but one to protect. It was weak because it was a sword meant to protect, but it was also strong, for the very same reason.
“I am coming, be careful.”
This was the first moment in my life when I was facing a true master.
After his warning, he slashed his sword at me.
Swoosh!
He was aiming for my arm. His attack was fast, and did not hold any wasted movements. I turned my body as easily dodged. He kept a.s.sailing me, aiming for my vitals. But I dodged and blocked his sword. He had probably started off easy because he did not think that I could be stronger than him. But after couple of exchanges, he started going all out.
I was facing him using my White Crane Art. Although I had the Ashura Soul Chasing Sword art, I couldn’t show it to him. There might be a day when I would have to show it to him, but he probably wouldn’t believe me if I said I learned it personally from the mengju. So I had to say I learned it from his master, or apprentice brother.
Slash Slash Slash Slash!
He started to get serious and to exert more pressure on me. Since I was fighting him bare handed, I used my hands and feet to deflect his attack. It may have looked like a life or death situation for most, but I for one felt at peace. Since the opponent was a master, it allowed me to vastly improve my techniques.
But I believed that it was time to end it, so I dodged his sword and penetrated his defenses.
Bang!
Baek Pyo was sent flying.
Crash!
Lying on the ground, Baek Pyo covered his eyes. He did not know what had happened in that last moment. But one thing was certain. If I wanted to, I could have taken his life.
I offered him my hand. He took it and raised himself. Baek Pyo looked at me, confused. He had not expected me to win. I could have lost to him on purpose, but in Kang Ho it was important to show my power to someone who was going to be my subordinate. The relationship between a subordinate and a master was especially important, and the subordinates liked to follow a strong master.
That was the reason why I had shown him my strength. To fully turn him into my subordinate.
Before his final decision, Baek Pyo asked me, “If there comes a day when you must fight them, will you fight them?”
He was referring to Ma Bong Gi and the person who was pulling the strings.
“Yes, I will fight them.”
“You may have to fight against the entire Kang Ho.”
“I already know.”
“Everyone might die.”
“Everyone might.”
“Then why are you going to fight them?”
“Because he is an evil person. And an evil person cannot rule the Kang Ho.”
There was a great silence between us.
Then Baek Pyo went on his knees and said, “I, Baek Pyo, the former head of the Fierce Guard Sect, the master of Guardian Wind Sword Art, vow to the heavens to faithfully serve my master Byuk Lee Dan”.
With that, he took out the Divine Sword of King Shura and offered it to me.
“This was the personal weapon of the previous mengju. This is the most important sword in the world. Since it chose you, I am offering it to you, master.”
“Can I really take it?”
“Someone else entrusted this to me. At first I didn’t want to, but since it chose you, I‘m sure that person will understand.”
I received King Shura and put it on my waist. Then it started crying again.
Jiiinng!
Hearing its cry, Baek Pyo nodded. He was now certain that he had found the rightful owner. I grabbed Baek Pyo’s hand, and he looked at me with eyes full of pa.s.sion. How much had he suffered because of me? This was the type of person that he was - a truly loyal person. And now fate had allowed us to meet again.
“Until death do us part.”
Baek Pyo’s eyes widened. He understood what I was feeling.
“I will serve you faithfully until death.”
I was thankful to the heavens for allowing us have a relationship like this once again.
On the day after the first snowfall... I had gained someone more reliable than a thousand subordinates.