Episode 722. I’m back. (2)
Jerk. Jerk.
Cheongmyeong’s feet, which had been running only looking ahead like a person who does not know what’s going on, gradually slowed down. And he finally came to a complete stop.
He looked up and saw the beginning of the road leading up to the volcano.
Cheongmyeong carefully lowered the baggage from his shoulder and held it, looking up at the volcano with blank eyes.
It’s not any different from usual.
A place that has surprisingly maintained its mountainous form in silence even over such a long period of time.
but… … Nevertheless, the reason why Cheongmyeong cannot look at it with the same eyes as usual is because this ordinary scene must have been sorely missed by someone. Even the moment you close your eyes.
Cheongmyeong remained silent and fixed his gaze until Hwasan’s disciples came running behind him.
Cheongmyeong took a slow step at the sight of people gathering behind him.
And I began to climb the mountain slowly, very slowly, to the point that the momentum I had been running so far was insignificant.
Flowers and lush greenery blooming around the narrow road leading up to the volcano. A steep cliff rises against the forest, and cypress and plum trees grow between the cliffs.
It is a sight all too familiar to Hwasan’s disciples. But today, all of them came into view one by one.
Ogeom, who was climbing up behind Cheongmyeong, kept looking around and once again caught the familiar glow of the volcano with his eyes.
As I walked slowly through places that I had always passed by while running quickly and urgently, I felt many more things.
Are you saying that people do not know the value of what is close to them?
Baekcheon gently closed his eyes.
I had already heard repeatedly that not a single ancestor of Hwasan from Daesanhyeolsa Temple had returned. However, that fact remained only as knowledge and did not provide any further inspiration.
But the moment I saw the remains held in Cheongmyeong’s chest, I knew.
‘You must have wanted to walk this path.’
The ancestors who risked their lives to fight against the Heavenly Demon must have had only one wish. Somehow kill Cheonma and protect the future of Kangho and Hwasan… … .
Walk this path with your own two feet and return to the volcano.
The fact that the wish, a simple wish that was not particularly great, did not come true weighed heavily on Baekcheon’s heart.
He quietly looked around.
Yoon Jong, who was serious, Yu Yi-seol, who was always indifferent, Dang So-so, who could not yet deeply sympathize with Hwaseong’s sadness, and even Jo Geol, who was always fussy, were following Cheong-myeong’s footsteps silently with a stern face. They looked like they were thinking a lot.
Jerk.
Jerk.
Cheongmyeong’s feet climbed the volcano slowly but without stopping.
Cheongmyeong calmly passed through a path surrounded by green trees and entered a small path that was barely big enough to fit one foot.
A road leading to a distant cliff.
Sometimes I got angry and cursed a lot, asking if this was even a road, but I just walked that road in silence.
A rocky mountain rising into the sky looks down upon them with great force.
Now all you can see are huge rock walls.
It may seem like a dreary sight at first glance, but that is not the case for those who live in volcanoes. The edge of the vast sky above the rows of mountains was gradually turning red.
Cheongmyeong stopped and stared at the volcano where the sunset was starting to pour down.
– Isn’t that great?
– what?
– That sunset. Isn’t it the symbol of a volcano?
– You crazy guy. The symbol of volcanoes is plum blossoms.
– Tsk tsk. That’s what ignorant people say. Isn’t Qigong (氣功) the basis of martial arts? Of course, Jashingong is a symbol of volcanoes rather than plum blossom swordsmanship. When you think of Jaha (紫霞), isn’t it sunset? sunset!
Cheongjin, who was also dyed red in the sunset, smiled and said.
– Actually, I just like sunsets, death. The sunset seen from the volcano is truly spectacular. When I die, I hope to see this scene.
– what.
– Take a look. Isn’t it pretty, capital punishment?
– Stop talking nonsense and go get a book.
– … … You shouldn’t talk.
Cheongjin, who had been turning around muttering, slowly turned his head to look back at Cheongmyeong and said this.
– Just wait and see. One day we will also learn about the death penalty. How beautiful the volcano sunset is.
‘Cheongjin… … .’
Cheongmyeong also knows.
This is just harmful. The dead body has no will or meaning.
So, what I am holding in my hand right now is not anything from Cheongjin, it is just a lingering feeling that remains in Cheongmyeong’s heart.
Even though I know… … .
Cheongmyeong slowly closed his eyes. His long eyelashes turned yellow in the pouring sunset and trembled slightly.
‘Did you like it?’
Not everyone wanted this.
What he wanted, and what Cheongjin wanted… … Everyone returns to the volcano together.
They cursed and laughed about this narrow road, and eventually they talked loudly about how hard it was to climb the volcano.
Cheongmun, Cheongjin, and all the celadon and myeongja boats are all sitting in the same place and smiling like that.
The images of countless people appeared before Cheongmyeong’s closed eyes.
The celadon boats, the bright porcelain boats, the many people who left Hwasan, pledging to protect this river.
But even for a moment, those faces began to disappear one by one.
Someone died at the hands of the Demon Cult on the battlefield.
And someone else, unable to overcome his injuries, died while holding Cheongmyeong’s hand and only licking his lips.
One, another. And so everyone finally disappears.
Only Cheongmyeong stands alone in an empty space where no one is left.
‘I am… … .’
I hoped we would come back together.
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——————
To this place.
Kuuk.
Cheongmyeong, holding on to Botjim, opened his eyes.
The red-stained sky and clouds flooded into Cheongmyeong’s field of vision.
‘okay. It’s pretty, as you said.’
Again you were right.
Strange. Why didn’t I know at the time?
Cheongmyeong’s two eyes were colored with sunset color.
‘If I had known the beauty of this sunset back then… … So, has it changed at all?’
A cold wind blew through the cliff. The hem of the clothes covering the remains fluttered and lightly hit Cheongmyeong’s fingertips.
‘Come, you guy.’
You want to go quickly, right?
Cheongmyeong nodded slowly and started climbing the cliff again.
You probably want to go to the volcano as soon as possible.
Yes, to where you lived.
Only then did Cheongmyeong’s steps become a little faster.
Although the road was still steep and harsh, Cheongmyeong showed no signs of fatigue. I was even stronger and stronger than usual.
The sky, which had been colored purple, was now quickly becoming dark.
But it’s okay.
Because what Cheongjin missed was the volcano. I must have missed the volcano at night, with darkness settling in every corner and the sound of plum tree leaves rustling.
Now there is only one final cliff leading up to the volcano.
‘let’s go.’
Cheongmyeong held on tightly to his luggage and immediately began climbing the cliff.
The slow pace up to now has gone from nowhere to a truly lively and enjoyable pace.
fault.
So, as Cheongmyeong rose up from the cliff, the vast landscape of the volcano came into view. Scenes of volcanic waves from the past overlapped before my eyes.
It’s a little different, but it’s not awkward. Even if the appearance changes, this place is a volcano. The breath of those who died first is vividly alive.
widely.
Cheongmyeong got down on the floor and looked at the mountain gate.
Daehwasanpa (大華山派).
The moment I saw the four letters engraved in the handwriting that looked like the dragon ascending to heaven, I bit my lip without realizing it.
‘You’re back.’
After such a long time.
For some reason, I felt like I could feel the warmth from the bag in my arms.
‘Let’s go, Cheongjin.’
Cheongmyeong moved forward as if possessed.
One step, another step.
The volcanic wall, the high mountain gate, and the lovely scenery seen inside the wide open gate were all just around the corner.
‘It’ll only take 10 days.’
It took a long time, didn’t it?
As he approached me, speaking unfamiliarly kind words to me and feeling that the short distance seemed like a thousand miles, there was someone standing at the mountain gate to greet him.
“… … “A long writer.”
King Hyeonjong, wearing a mountain robe and a sword, was looking at Cheongmyeong in silence. Since Baekcheon said he included a letter in the middle, he probably knows the general story of what happened.
As expected, Hyeonjong’s eyes turned to Botjim in Cheongmyeong’s arms.
Cheongmyeong slowly opened his mouth.
“volcano… … .”
His voice trembled slightly.
“Thirteenth disciple of the Volcanic Sect. Cheongjin Jinin… … ’s remains.”
Hyeonjong looked at Botjim in silence, nodded slowly, spread the hem of his clothes forward, and knelt down on the spot.
After bowing with utmost reverence, he stood up and quietly recited the Taoho.
Cheongmyeong placed Cheongjin’s remains in the hands of King Hyeonjong. Then Hyeonjong accepted it with an extremely careful hand and turned around.
Likewise, disciples equipped with uniforms were lined up on the left and right. Hyeonjong and Cheongjin slowly began to walk along the path between them that was completely undisturbed.
At the end of the road, there was a simple but neat altar.
Someone placed a hand on Cheongmyeong’s shoulder, who was staring blankly at the scene.
“… … .”
When I turned around, I saw Hyeonyoung standing there with a friendly smile in her eyes.
“You worked hard.”
“… … .”
“First of all, let’s serve the royal family comfortably.”
Cheongmyeong nodded instead of answering. After comforting his shoulders a couple of times, Hyunyoung walked towards the altar.
Ogeom, who arrived later, passed Cheongmyeong and entered the volcano.
All the disciples of Hwasan looked at Sajo, who had returned to Hwasan too late. Every eye was full of reverence.
but… … In fact, Cheongmyeong could not easily step between them.
Strangely, even though all of Hwasan’s disciples except him were inside the mountain gate, their feet did not fall as if they had glued on the floor.
Just a little while ago, I was touched by the familiarity of the volcanic landscape, but it suddenly felt unfamiliar. I felt so uncomfortable that I felt nauseous.
‘I am… … .’
Cheongmyeong covered his mouth with one hand and curled himself up.
The world was spinning, my ears were ringing, and my vision was blurry.
‘I am… … .’
It was then.
– I’m back.
A voice passed by my ear.
I was startled and looked back… … .
“… … .”
There was nothing visible. All that is visible is the volcano colored by night. As always.
Cheongmyeong, who was urgently groping the air like a person chasing something, slowly straightened his bent back.
His slightly opened lips trembled slightly.
– Cheongmyeong!
– execution!
– Ugh! execution! Where have you been again?
A nostalgic voice swirled in my ears. The sound, as if carried by the wind, was so vivid that Cheongmyeong could not open his eyes.
Yes, I guess it just came back.
He walked towards the inside of the mountain gate without opening his closed eyes. The scent of purple plum blossoms flowing from somewhere carefully settled on his shoulders as he silently entered the volcano without making a sound.
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