[Chapter 94]
"Have you been here all along?"
"…"
"News has arrived. Ming Heolim is currently passing through Mong City. His movements are still slow, so even at his fastest, it will take two days."
"Understood."
"Just in case, from tomorrow noon onwards, we should be on standby near the entrance of Anga."
"Alright."
"Then."
With that, the informant of Hwangpungjeong disappeared.
Leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, Yeon Hojeong let out a sigh.
"It can't be helped."
Ming Heolim must be captured. Not for any deal with the Moyong army or for fame, but because he will surely cause trouble someday.
With Ming Heolim's talent, he could learn the fake Death God Technique as quickly as Ming Cheon. If he learns it without realizing his own transformation, it might harm unrelated people in the future.
And as a grandmaster of the Death God Martial Arts, he couldn't just let him be.
"Mokbi… huh, they say life never goes as planned."
Knowing that Mokbi was at Mount Palgong's Anhui Blood Palace, Yeon Hojeong rushed over without looking back. However, he didn't expect that Mokbi's organization would be causing such chaos.
He had saved his life for now…
"But I can't just drag him away by force."
If he had planned to cause a bloodshed, Yeon Hojeong intended to listen and then decide whether to leave him be or help. Later, he thought of making him his man again.
If he was just residing in Mount Palgong without any particular reason? He intended to persuade him to become his man by any means necessary.
It wasn't because of Mokbi's talent or their past friendship. To stop the Saeum Sect, he needed the strength that he knew well. In fact, he had been the one who utilized Mokbi most strategically in the past.
But in this situation, it was difficult to take him away by force.
Yeon Hojeong stepped out into the street and headed for the second floor of the Cheongsaru Pavilion's rear garden.
"Ah, have you arrived?"
"How is the child?"
The middle-aged physician let out a sigh.
"We've passed the dangerous threshold. The child was born weak, and now he's been poisoned with a vile toxin."
"Can he be detoxified?"
"It's difficult, but not impossible. However, we need to improve his physical condition as well, which will take quite some time. We should expect at least a year for recovery."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"That's fortunate."
"More than fortunate, it's a miracle. Had we been a day or two late, he would have crossed a river of no return. The gods must have been watching over us."
"The child's father has put in a lot of effort. It seems his sincerity has reached the heavens."
"Ah! I see. Oh? But where is the father?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled bitterly.
"Who knows."
With that, he headed to the room opposite.
"Gasping for breath!"
Baek Gungcheon lay on the bed.
His body was drenched in cold sweat. Although his wounds were treated, his life force was spent.
Was it shock? Or despair? He was rapidly losing vitality.
Yeon Hojeong looked down at Baek Gungcheon and then turned away.
Sliding down.
Mokbi, no, Baek Hyang was crouched in a corner. Tears filled her eyes.
"…It's all my fault."
"What is?"
"If I, if I had no talent…!"
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"Your circumstances are none of my concern."
It was a harsh statement. Baek Hyang looked up at Yeon Hojeong with tearful eyes.
Looking into those eyes, Yeon Hojeong was engulfed in unspeakable emotions.
'She's dead.'
Her eyes were lifeless.
Amidst her struggles with sorrow and regret, her eyes were gradually losing the light of emotion.
Once that light completely fades, it will be the gaze of Mokbi.
Mokbi knew responsibility and duty, but it was akin to a trained reflex.
However, she often showed emotions while mingling with the warriors of Heukjesung, including himself. But usually, she still did not give affection to others.
Suddenly, he wondered.
What did Mokbi think when she heard the news of her own death alongside the Saeum Sect leader? How did she accept the death of her lord and perhaps her only friend?
Yeon Hojeong's mouth opened on its own.
"You're not that kind of person."
"…What?"
"You've never easily shown your emotions. But it's not that you didn't have any. On the contrary, you were a warrior with a heart hotter than anyone else's."
Even amidst deep sorrow, Baek Hyang felt puzzled.
What is this young man talking about?
"I liked you. At least, back then, you knew how to choose your own life. Even though the path was painful, you never complained."
"What are you talking about…?"
"I didn't know your past. I didn't expect this. But to pry any further would be overstepping."
"…?"
"The past is just the past. However, I wanted to fix a past that could become a terrible future. To do that, I needed to be different from my past self."
"…?!"
"I ask you. How do you want to live?"
Baek Hyang's eyes shook violently.
How do I want to live? She had never been asked that question before.
From a forgotten childhood, she had held a bow, naturally drawing the string as if it were a given. Her life was then determined to be an archer for the divine.
That was the life she had always lived. It was natural. She had never thought of anything else.
"Let me ask the question again."
"…"
"Do you believe in that existence called a divine archer?"
"…!"
"Indeed, it's as I thought. Neither you nor the archer on that bed believe in the existence of a divine archer. Yet, you strive to become one without knowing what it is, without believing."
Shock registered on Baek Hyang's face.
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
"If you ever wish to find a new life, just visit the branch of Gaebang and mention my name. I can't take responsibility for your life, but I can offer some help. Of course, there will be a price."
Yeon Hojeong turned around.
"My name is Yeon Hojeong."
With those words, he left the room.
Thud.
As the door closed, only the rough breathing of Baek Gungcheon could be heard.
Baek Hyang stared blankly at the door.
The storm that had been raging seemed to vanish in an instant, leaving her mind in turmoil with the words it left behind.
Then…
"Cough! …Go."
Startled, Baek Hyang looked at Baek Gungcheon.
"Follow him."
"Brother!"
She quickly stood up in front of Baek Gungcheon.
"Are you alright? Are you coming to your senses?"
"I've been conscious… for a while now."
Baek Hyang placed her hand on Baek Gungcheon's chest.
"If you're conscious, then straighten up! I will help channel your energy…"
"Don't."
"What?!"
"I know my body well. I am dying."
Tears poured from Baek Hyang's eyes.
Baek Gungcheon held her hand.
"Hyang."
"…Yes, brother."
"Hyang, Hyang, Hyang."
He called her name several times.
Overwhelmed by his earnest voice and the warmth she hadn't felt in so long, Baek Hyang bowed her head.
Baek Gungcheon smiled faintly, a smile that didn't quite suit his stern face.
"Do you remember? Since you were young, you were the darling of us brothers."
"…"
"But at some point, the brothers' eyes turned cold towards you. I was the same. We realized that your talent far surpassed ours."
"…"
"The elders postponed the competition after seeing your skills. They thought your talent was too precious to waste. That's why the competition five years ago ended inconclusively."
"Brother."
"But… doesn't that mean we all have to die by your arrow? I hated that decision. That's why I hated you even more."
Tears fell onto Baek Gungcheon's hand.
"Yet, I shouldn't have hated you."
"No, no, brother."
"I should have left Gwanilgok."
"!"
"To become a divine archer, one must be prepared for death. That's the life of a royal archer. But I wasn't prepared for death."
Baek Gungcheon's smile faded.
"I lived out of habit. If I hated it, I should have left Gok, and if I stayed, I should have accepted death."
"…"
"The brightest moment in my life was when I met my wife. And…"
Moisture filled Baek Gungcheon's eyes.
"And when I found out I had a daughter."
She wasn't his biological daughter, but he treated her as such.
The shock was great, but Baek Gungcheon did not regret the life he had risked for the unknown girl.
"Whether she's my daughter or not isn't important. What matters is that I lived as I wished, even if just for a moment. That's why I'm thankful to her."
"Brother…"
"Live the life you want. If you don't know what you want, go out into the world like I did. I hope you can experience that exhilarating feeling I felt."
"Sob."
Baek Hyang, holding Baek Gungcheon's hand, wept silently.
He stroked Baek Hyang's head. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he had last done so.
At the same time, he thought.
If he had more time, he would have stroked Garengi's head like this too.
"Help me sit up."
Baek Hyang helped Baek Gungcheon sit up. He leaned against the wall beside the bed.
"Hyang."
"…Yes, brother."
"I want to see your archery one last time."
"What?"
Baek Gungcheon pointed with trembling hands to his heart.
Baek Hyang's face turned pale.
"The rest died by my hand. Baekso-gyeong was the last."
"Brother!!"
"There have been quite a few survivors of the Divine Archer Competition who didn't return to Gok. They will probably track you down. But…"
Strength returned to Baek Gungcheon's eyes.
"Yeon Hojeong, that young man, he will be able to protect you for a while. I saw that much strength and potential in him."
"No! I can't do that! How could I, with my own hands, brother…!"
"Didn't you have that resolve?"
"!!"
"Did you participate in the competition without the resolve to either die or kill? Did you hope to become the winner without either dying or killing? If so, you should be ashamed."
"Brother."
"I promised that young man, Yeon Hojeong. I agreed to apologize to Gaebangdo. I said I would apologize on his behalf if I died, but that won't do."
Baek Gungcheon closed his eyes.
"I owe him a great debt. I haven't repaid any of it. So, at least I want to keep my promise."
"Sob!"
Baek Gungcheon smiled. His face, eyes closed and smiling, looked incredibly serene.
"Please."
After shedding tears for a long while, Baek Hyang suddenly created distance.
Sssss.
It was as if an invisible arrow had formed on the empty bowstring.
Baek Gungcheon exclaimed in admiration.
"Formless Arrow! Truly remarkable!"
Baek Hyang bit her lip.
"…I'm sorry, brother."
"Shoot."
"…"
"Now!!"
Baek Hyang clenched her eyes shut.
She released the bowstring.
Twiiiiing! Thud!
* * *
Panting!
A man was climbing a dark mountain path, gasping for breath.
His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were torn here and there. He was the very picture of destitution.
Yet, his movements were incredibly agile. Despite his ragged breathing, he ascended the mountain ceaselessly, like a tiger on the prowl.
'Almost there!'
A thrill of elation surged in the man's eyes.
'Anga! I've finally made it!'
That's when it happened.
"Ming Heolim."
In an instant, the man felt a chill run down his spine.
He turned his head towards the right, where the voice had come from.
There stood a young man with his hands clasped behind his back, wielding a massive axe.
"I've been waiting."