99 – Jehwajeon. (4)

The shoe show, which started past noon, had been going on for quite a long time.

It is because all three great disciples who participated were sincere, as each of them had prepared only this for a long time.

Even more so, since they are students of the same school, the swordsmanship they each use is the same.

It took longer because we knew each other so well.

In a way, it feels like a boring time, but the enthusiasm of the crowd didn’t seem to cool down.

“The reactions are amazing.”

“Everyone seems to be having fun.”

It was because of the small number of spectators, but in terms of enthusiasm, it was almost as good as the competition hosted by the Moorim Maeng.

To be honest, it was kind of boring for me.

‘… Maybe it’s because I’ve been hanging out with Youngpoong a lot lately.’

Perhaps it was Yeongpoong who was the target of comparison, but the swords of those watching looked relatively crude.

The unique flexibility of plum swordsmen was also lacking, and it was particularly disappointing in terms of speed and application of bets.

To put it bluntly, at my current level, I could incapacitate it with a single blow.

This is not me, but Yeongpung and Namgoongbia as well.

‘… That’s why you chose Yeongpoong as the disciple of Lee Dae.’

Now it was the part that I could definitely touch as to why I did it that way.

They were never lacking.

They were clearly the disciples of the Gupa faction, among them the Volcano faction.

It’s true that he’s a warrior who is stronger than his peers, but… .

The problem was that the people I faced recently were too overwhelming.

‘Hey, it’s not even someone’s dog’s name to be first-class at an age where the terms and conditions are not even reached.’

Today’s geniuses such as Yeongpoong and Namgoongbia are strange.

I glanced at Namgoongbia, wondering if I was the only one who was bored.

I couldn’t see it properly because it was covered with cotton thread, but I could feel some subtle movement.

I saw that and asked.

“You yawned.”

“…”

Namgoongbia flinched at the sound of the question and slightly averted her gaze.

The back of her hair, which was tied to her moving head, swayed.

For no reason, I gave my gaze to the ornament on which my head was fixed, and then turned my gaze to Wiseol-ah.

Unlike me and Bia Namgung, Wi Seol-ah was watching the non-stage with bright eyes.

“fun?”

“Yeah!”

The emotions contained in the brightly shouted voice are revealed without hiding.

Is it because it’s a different perspective from mine?

Yay-!

I looked at the non-stage at the sudden cheering sound, and one of them had dropped a wooden sword on the floor.

“… lost.”

“You worked hard.”

The winner taps the loser on the shoulder.

Perhaps the one who lost was the younger or later disciple.

You can hear the people around you talking about it.

“The standards this year are much higher than last year.”

“I am proud that so many people have changed in one year.”

“This is a volcanic wave… ! cancer!”

It’s definitely different from my worn gaze.

Even if it is the gaze of an ordinary person, not the gaze of an unmanned person.

‘Have I changed?’

Do you think that you are on the same level as them because you grew up with a little bit of a chance while returning?

If that’s the case, you need to think differently.

This may be the cause of Shimma.

It’s something I’ve been through, so I had to be more careful.

As I was organizing my thoughts, Bia Namgoong spoke to me next to me.

“… I’m here.”

His eyes lit up at those words.

I could also hear the buzz around me.

“What is it, were there any women among the disciples?”

“I didn’t have it last year… . Are you new?”

“How could that be so? I heard that the Danju of the Chunga Sangdan tried hard to get his youngest son into the Volcano faction, but he was rejected like a knife, saying he wouldn’t accept it now.”

A girl in a white apricot dress and holding a wooden sword is standing on the stage.

He tied his black hair down to his back and caught his breath.

Amidst the attention and chatter of countless people, the girl’s gaze remained calm.

Or are you pretending to be calm?

I was just watching.

Eventually, he drew his sword and took a stance.

Before starting the dance, the two people facing each other opened their mouths.

“… My name is Yeongjin, the third great disciple of Hwasan.”

“My name is Guryeong-hwa, the second great disciple of Hwasan.”

It was never a loud voice, but the reaction of the people who watched Gu Ryeong-hwa’s words increased as if there was no difficulty in listening.

the introduction is over.

“start.”

With shouts of bets, Guryunghwa’s dance began.

******************

-What is this, Daejeon? How are you so young?

-Is this the first time I see you? Judging by your name, you haven’t even received a doho yet.

You can hear sounds all around you.

Even if you don’t want to hear it, the sound of the words that you hear makes a mess in your head.

Gu Ryeong-hwa tried to focus only on the opponent in front of her.

The facial expressions of the three great disciples reveal an inexplicable timidity.

That is dissatisfaction with the opponent.

It won’t just be a complaint about fighting an accident.

I wouldn’t even treat it as an accident in the first place.

Contrary to the wishful thinking, the dissatisfaction of having to fight with a young girl must be greater.

It is an uncomfortable and uncomfortable feeling.

Gu-ryeong-hwa flowed into the exhaled breath.

-I want to hold a shoe show on the first day.

Gu Ryeong-hwa wanted to compete among the disciples of Lee Dae, but gave up that greed and spit out the words.

In the first place, it was a pitiful stubbornness.

It was something that pushed against the futile pride of being Master’s disciple and the sense of qualifications that had been seething in proportion to it.

simply gave up on it.

Shinhyeon asked Gu Ryeong-hwa if he would be okay, and Gu Ryeong-hwa nodded with a firm face.

There were many hidden words in Shinhyeon’s question if he was okay.

Gu Ryeong-hwa couldn’t have known that.

Slowly, he rode his wooden sword and fixed his eyes on his opponent.

‘I’m scared… .’

It’s still scary.

I wanted to run away right away.

The frowning gaze is frightening, and the sharpened atmosphere is frightening.

No matter how much I cried and shouted, I remembered the back that didn’t look back, and I couldn’t breathe.

“start-!”

At the same time as the sound, the opponent rushed at Guryeonghwa.

As if intending to end it quickly, he unfolds his sword technique.

However, there was little power contained in the visible sword.

It was as if he was watching, and he had lost his strength.

Seeing that, Gu Ryeong-hwa gritted her teeth.

Gu Ryeong-hwa swung his sword day and night.

Every day was a day dedicated to blooming plum blossoms.

I don’t know how many times my palms have been torn and burst, and dripping nosebleeds is a daily routine.

All of this was done with the will to make plum blossoms bloom.

Dududuk-!

“… !”

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s opponent, Young-jin, was momentarily taken aback by the blocked sword path.

I guess I never thought that this would stop.

It’s still a meager power, so I chose to let it flow rather than block it.

As I rode the blade and moved as if drawing a semicircle, Youngjin’s sword was swept away and bounced off.

The upper body emptied in the twisting motion.

Gu Ryeong-hwa swung her sword at the gap, but Young-jin blocked it.

‘… late.’

There was a moment of hesitation.

The moment he hesitated for fear of extending his sword was the problem.

Young-jin refines his stance, as if he realized something after a confrontation.

It seemed that he was determined not to be careless.

“after… .”

The deep breathing was still shaking.

The reason Gu Ryeong-hwa wanted to smoke plum blossoms was only because of the sword.

It was because he wanted to reassure his teacher by lighting plum blossoms before closing his eyes.

It was also the reason why I was immersed in training while reducing my sleep.

Now that I think about it, plum blossoms were not something that could be bloomed that way.

Even more, now that Geomhu is gradually recovering his health, Gu Ryeong-hwa has lost the goal of smoking plum blossoms and had to feel empty.

‘Why do I have to learn a sword?’

It was nice to be able to train with Geomhu who had regained his health.

Guryung-hwa still couldn’t catch the galpi.

Geomhu, who noticed this, said to Gu Ryeong-hwa one day.

– I think finding out what to put in should come first.

find the essence

It was the first homework that Geomhu gave to Gu Ryeong-hwa.

To find the meaning to put into the sword, the swordsmith who taught me one by one said an abstract meaning for the first time.

Whiik!

Youngjin’s sword grazed Gu Ryeonghwa’s hair.

Unlike before, he is full of strength and his steps are neat.

Even if it wasn’t sincere, it seemed to be doing it a little right.

Gu Ryeong-hwa kept as calm as possible so as not to be swept away by the sword in front of her.

If it’s not plum blossoms, what should I put in my sword?

It was a worry that was repeated thousands of times in a matter of days.

What is written on the place where the impatience was washed away?

Is it revenge?

A sense of revenge against the family that brought out the end of his mother.

Resentment towards her brother who tried to abandon her.

Should I include it?

“Ugh!”

Gu Ryeong-hwa blocks Young-jin’s sword, but is shaken by the force.

One after another, Youngjin attacks.

The swordsman’s sword is focused on defense.

Even if you learn the same sword, if the meaning is different, the way you look at it is different.

Don’t panic, it can spill.

“What… ?”

Youngjin spat out a short single word as if embarrassed.

It was because Gu Ryeong-hwa spilled the sword that he thought he would never be able to avoid.

Little by little, Guryunghwa’s breathing, which had been rough, began to stabilize.

‘I don’t want to include that.’

The fearful and painful memories are still there, but I didn’t want to choose revenge to overcome him.

He still resents Guyangchun.

Nevertheless, I had hope in his changed appearance and words, and my gaze started to follow him again.

It was foolish.

Even after being in so much pain, she didn’t change from the time she sat on the ground and waited for her brother.

I remember the words I unknowingly spit out in my longing and complicated mind.

-Can we go back to normal?

It was a hope and a wish.

If only Yangchun Gu had said that he could do that at the time.

He may have tried to stay in his original form, pretending not to know.

For Gu Ryeong-hwa, it was turning away and escaping.

If you just forget about it, you will be comfortable with yourself.

‘Would that really be comfortable?’

I’m sure I’ll be able to forget it then.

Maybe I’ll forget forever.

It can be a rest or a comfortable refuge.

That’s what it’s like to live without knowing.

but.

Even that did not mean that the old age was desired.

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s eyes were on the spectators even as she threw away the raging swords.

It wasn’t difficult to find what you were looking for.

There are few people in the world who wear red uniforms and have ferocious eyes.

If not, I was able to quickly find Guyangcheon in the crowd.

Gu Ling-Hwa almost burst out laughing while dancing while watching Gu Yang-Chun.

You spit it out bluntly as if you were just going to watch it, and you look so worried.

What happened to her brother in the past year?

Gu Ling-hua knew the guilt and regret he sometimes felt in Gu Yang-chun’s eyes looking at him.

I know that even though I want to apologize, I am not saying it out loud.

However, Gu Ling-hwa did not ask why he could not speak to Gu Yang-chun.

There is a distance between each other.

Guyangcheon will not try to narrow it down.

Thinking that far, Gu Ryeong-hwa seemed to know a little about what she wanted to do.

Shiiik-!

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s sword squeezed through and hit Young-jin’s shoulder.

There was no sudden damage because it was just a weak hit, but it was important that the attack went in.

At this, Yeongjin’s gaze was filled with heat.

He must have been proud of himself.

Even in such a gaze, Gu Ryeong-hwa was calm.

Power goes into the tip of the toe that is approaching again.

The bet, which starts spinning in the dantian, spreads evenly throughout the body and gives strength.

If there is a distance between you and your opponent, you can narrow it down.

Yes, if you do not come, then I will go.

If you can’t go back to the original, you can face it with a different look.

You will resent it, and you will be angry with anger.

You may cry over the scars that are deeply engraved in your heart.

At the end of it, I wanted to forgive in the end.

Obviously, if I wanted to include something other than plum blossoms in my sword, I wanted to include these images.

In Yeongjin’s sharpened sword path, Gu Ryeong-hwa moves flexibly.

The flowering of talent is sudden.

Pushed from the body and pushed from the bet.

Even more so, I was pushed back in power.

Strangely, Gu Ryeong-hwa wasn’t afraid of that.

Shedding an approaching sword attack, I approached one step at a time.

Seeing this, Youngjin’s expression gradually distorted in embarrassment.

The heart that I thought I would easily subdue and do the next dance properly collapsed.

From the beginning, Youngjin was sincere.

‘What the hell is this… .’

To call it absurd, Young-jin had been through the same thing.

Not only Youngjin, but all three generations of disciples saw and experienced this.

Youngpoong was like this when he was young.

A priest who came in a long time ago, but has risen to plum blossom inspection in just a few years.

This is the reverse of the three great disciples and the cause of crude jealousy.

The sword mixed with personal feelings is inconsistent.

Youngjin’s sword path was like that now.

The movement was bigger than usual, and Gu Ryeong-hwa did not miss it.

The experience of bimu with Namgoongbia is helpful in this case.

Don’t miss the time.

He let down Youngjin’s sword, creating a gap, and twisted the blade to hit his wrist.

“Keep!”

The wooden sword rolls on the ground with a scream.

At the same time, the tip of Gu Ryeong-hwa’s sword touched Yeong-jin’s neck.

The silence created by focusing on the dance was broken and cheers rang out.

At the end of the dance, Youngjin raised a wooden sword and bowed with a bewildered expression.

“… lost… !”

Young-jin, who was about to admit defeat by suppressing his resentment, faced Gu Ryeong-hwa and shut his mouth.

Gu Ryeong-hwa was laughing.

It wasn’t the face that was always frowning.

He was smiling brightly.

Gu Ryeong-hwa looks at Young-jin and says, as if she had a lot of fun.

“great job.”

“to… Yes… !”

Young-jin stuttered at the words that seemed refreshing.

Gu Ryeong-hwa walks down the rain stage.

Youngjin wiped the sweat from his forehead and stared intently at Guryonghwa as he descended.

For some reason, the smile I had just seen seemed to be haunted.

******************

After the dance, the surroundings were already full of cheers.

The dance just now was a series of surprises.

“… I won.”

Namgoongbia said as if surprised.

I couldn’t see his face, but he must be very surprised.

that’s me too

I never imagined that Guryunghwa would win.

‘What happened?’

I couldn’t know more when I thought about the old age in my previous life.

This is because Gu Ryeong-hwa was not a warrior who was very famous.

“… But what it looks like now… .”

Anyone who has thought about and studied martial arts at least a little will notice.

How full of possibilities the old age just now looked like.

As if to prove that, I can see something buzzing from the side where the elders are gathered.

The image Gu Ryeong-hwa just showed is not something that can be pulled out suddenly even if one has attained enlightenment.

‘It was as if I had released something that was suppressed.’

Our eyes met Gu Ryeong-hwa, who was descending from the non-stage far away.

Gu Ryeong-hwa looks at her and waves her hand.

I realized that something had changed in the old age.

It felt like something festering inside me was melting at the sight of Gu Ryeong-hwa smiling brightly.

Gu Ryeong-hwa, who had been confused just when they met earlier, seemed to have removed something from her armpit.

‘Even after going through a regression, I’m still stuck.’

Unlike me, the child seemed to have found his way.

Unlike my incompetent brother.

“cute.”

I laughed at Namgoongbia’s words.

“suddenly?”

“… Your smile is cute.”

“Yes! I think the young master is smiling.”

“… That’s not it.”

“Hey.”

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, Namgoong-bia sneakily resolutely refutes them.

It was true, but it made me feel pretty bad.

While I was saying something to Namgung-bia, I waved my hand slightly while looking at Gu-ryeong-hwa.

‘That’s it.’

I thought while looking at the guy who was Gu Ryeong-hwa’s opponent.

It reminded me of staring at Gu-ryeong-hwa after the dance was over.

“… I’ll have to ask Youngpoong what that bastard’s name is.”

I didn’t really do anything, but I just didn’t like it.