1643 - So are you happy? (2)

"Are you happy?"

The blood runs cold.

Even though he had vowed not to back down no matter how Jang Ilso reacted, and even though he believed that Jang Ilso would never show true hostility towards him, just those few words made his blood run cold and his heart sink.

"Gakmyung."

It was something he had heard countless times. A voice he had heard for a long time. Jang Ilso had called Ho Gakmyung's name for so long.

But the resonance in that voice now was distinctly different from what he had heard before. At least Ho Gakmyung could clearly feel it more than anyone else.

"What do you mean by that?"

Jang Ilso's gaze began to tighten around Ho Gakmyung.

But Ho Gakmyung did not retreat easily.

"I mean it as it is. I'm asking if Ryeonju-nim is happy now."

"Ho Gakmyung!"

Jang Ilso's voice raised slightly.

Of course, it was just a little louder, but the significance was not small. The tension that came in an instant made the air parallel.

Jang Ilso, who had been watching Ho Gakmyung comfortably, covered his face with one hand. His long fingers nervously gripped his face.

"Did you come to see me this early in the morning just to say meaningless things?"

"Is it meaningless?"

When Ho Gakmyung asked calmly, Jang Ilso's eyes that were visible between his fingers glinted like a ferocious wolf.

"Gakmyung."

"Maybe it doesn't matter to you now, but to me, it's very important."

"...Haha"

Jang Ilso laughed as if it were absurd.

"Is it important whether I am happy? More than understanding how the situation is unfolding and how urgent it is?"

"Yes."

It was a firm answer with no room for negotiation or even the slightest opening for a needle.

Jang Ilso's eyes naturally narrowed.

"Is that the conclusion you came to with your cold head?"

"....."

"Hmm? Gakmyung? Answer me, is that the conclusion you came to with your smart head? Are you telling me to forget this pressure and become a pig chasing pleasure now? Is that your conclusion?"

The emotion in Jang Ilso's eyes was not contempt.

But it was certain that there was a slight disappointment.

It's disappointing...

Eyes that were once full of solid trust now held disappointment.

This situation might be something Ho Gakmyung brought upon himself.But Ho Gakmyung did not succumb.

"Did you say pressure?"

"When I first joined Ryeonju-nim, you told me I would go through hell."

Jang Ilso nodded slightly.

"That was true. It was a path as difficult as hell itself. But I decided to serve you knowing that. Do you remember what I said then?"

"To have leisure?"

"No. I said that even if being with you was like hell, it would at least be enjoyable."

Jang Ilso fell into silence.

Ho Gakmyung bit his lower lip gently.

"The reason I told you that was not because of who I am, but because of who you are. You were someone who could laugh and mock your enemies even in the middle of hell. But is Ryeonju-nim now truly the same?"

Jang Ilso glared at Ho Gakmyung without a word. Or maybe he couldn't answer.

He must already know.

Someone like Jang Ilso would never fail to understand what Ho Gakmyung was trying to say. If he hadn't understood, he wouldn't have reacted so strongly.

"So?"

A white tooth showed between Jang Ilso's twisted lips. It was as if he was about to grab someone's neck and tear it off, sharp and fierce.

"What if I'm not happy? What do you want me to do? Enjoy this situation? Or should I put everything down and just drink myself to death? Huh?"

A small sigh escaped from Ho Gakmyung's lips.

This conversation made it clear.

That scene. That day's scene.

Jang Ilso had not escaped even a bit from the sight that even Ho Gakmyung was afraid to see again in his dreams.

"If there's an enemy, you fight."

"....."

"If you can't win with strength, you use strategy. If strategy doesn't work, you use poison, dig a deadly trap, take hostages, and even make your opponent careless to ensure victory."

Jang Ilso's face became increasingly cold.

"That's the way of Paegun that I know."

"....."

"If you can't win, you don't look for a way to run. You use every means to win, and if you still can't win, you just laugh it off. That's who Paegun was!"

"Ho Gakmyung!"

Jang Ilso finally shouted in anger. Ho Gakmyung also shouted clearly but desperately.

"What have you seen that makes you give up even thinking about it? Is that the Paegun I know? The Jang Ilso who would never give up even a fake book?"

Chaeng.

The bottle of liquor Jang Ilso was holding shattered, spilling pieces and liquor on the ground. The liquor spread inappropriately given the situation.

A short silence fell.

That silence couldn't bridge the gap between the two. It just made a cold, brutal sound.

"You're talking well."

Jang Ilso wiped the liquor off his hand and sighed briefly.

"What you see and what I see are different."

"Ryeonju-nim."

"If you felt what I felt, you wouldn't speak so easily. Do you understand?"

"Is that so?"

A faint light flickered in Ho Gakmyung's eyes.

Jang Ilso could tell. The emotion in those eyes was not much different from his own.

"Then that means you've only turned those who were appropriate adversaries into enemies."

Jang Ilso stopped his hand wiping the liquor.

He looked at Ho Gakmyung straight in the eyes with a snake-like gaze.

"What did you just say?"

"Am I wrong?"

"Gakmyung."

There was a chilling look in Jang Ilso's eyes.

"There are lines to be kept between people. Even you shouldn't cross certain lines."

"No. It's not me who crossed the line. It's you, Ryeonju-nim."

Jang Ilso's lips curled up. The smile was thick and eerie.

"Go on. Let's see how far you go."

"If the enemy is unbeatable, is giving up the fight itself the way of Paegun?"

"No, finding a way is my way. But if there's no way, what should I do? Should I face them head-on and get destroyed? Should I die faster since I'm going to die anyway?"

"Is there really no way?"

"....."

"The Paegun I know doesn't do that. If there's only a 1% chance of winning, he finds that 1% chance. That's the way of Myriad Man Manor, the way of Paegun, and also the way of Jang Ilso."

"So now..."

"Join hands with the righteous sects."

Jang Ilso, who was about to scold, froze.Again, silence filled the space between them. After a long pause, Jang Ilso spoke.

"What did you just say?"

"Join hands with the righteous sects."

"Haha."

A hollow laugh escaped from Jang Ilso's lips.

"Do you think that's even possible?"

"It would be impossible without a common enemy. But with one, it's entirely feasible. If they understand 'that person's' existence, they will join hands with you. History proves this."

Jang Ilso remained silent.

"If the odds of winning are low, you increase them. If forming an alliance with them raises our chances, why not consider it?"

Jang Ilso's eyes narrowed at Ho Gakmyung's words.

Jang Ilso's expression showed more disgust than reluctance, similar to a physiological aversion.

Jang Ilso pressed his temples and shook his head.

"It's nonsense."

"Ryeonju-nim."

"Gakmyung, you talk as if you're dreaming. What are you saying?"

Jang Ilso chuckled.

"Perhaps you're right. It might be a way. But do you really think those pigs will trust my words in this situation?"

"Even if they trust me, do you think they would truly join hands with me?"

Now it was Ho Gakmyung's turn to be silent.

"You know they wouldn't."

Jang Ilso sneered.

"Resentment often surpasses reason. Even if it means my death, I'd kill my enemy. Would they really ally with me to survive?"

"They aren't fools."

"War strategies are in books, but people don't live in books."

"Many here have lost loved ones and sects by my hand. Do you think they'll protect my back for some grand cause?"

Jang Ilso's face contorted.

"Such an alliance would be worse than solid enemies. If you can't subdue them, equality is meaningless."

"It's strange."

"Strange?"

"Listening to you, it sounds like you'd never ally with them, but you already have, didn't you? In Hangzhou, you fought alongside them. What's different now? The situation or…"

Jang Ilso's face hardened.

Though unaware, Ho Gakmyung was coldly smiling.

"Have you changed?"

Jang Ilso stood up as if hearing something intolerable. Yet, Ho Gakmyung did not retreat.

"Say it again."

"I asked if you've changed."

Their cold stares clashed.

For the first time, there was a clear divergence in their steps, which had always been in sync.