“Are you saying it’s to save my life?”
The Three-Eyed Sword Cho Cheol pointed the blade towards my neck, as if he couldn’t believe my words.
Huff!
Stay calm. If I show any weakness, I’ll end up bleeding today. It’s the Three-Eyed Sword that should be shaken, not me.
Taking a quiet deep breath, I opened my mouth with a composed expression.
“It’s not uncommon for martial artists to leave the Martial Arts World and start a second life. Even if they borrow a large sum of money and go into hiding, the Central Plains are vast, so no one will notice if they hide. That must have been your thinking, Brother.”
“You knew…?”
No need to confirm or deny. I continued talking.
“At first, courage for a new life must have been your priority. After all, you borrowed money from the Man Geum Battlefield and fled. But as you eagerly rushed out from Ho Ga-Jang into the world, you realized a pressing problem. Your black hair stands out too much, making it hard to escape unnoticed.”
“Hah…”
One side of the Three-Eyed Sword’s mouth curled upwards. It was a smirk filled with acknowledgment.
“First, you had to hide. Hubei Province is within the territory of the Man Geum Battlefield, so remaining here would mean it was only a matter of time before the collectors from the Man Geum Battlefield caught up with you. After much thought, the place I chose was Wuhan.”
“……”
The sharp tip of the sword glinted, urging me to continue speaking.
It didn’t matter. I had created this opportunity to face a master with my crafty tongue.
“Wuhan has many Joseon people, so you won’t stand out or attract anyone’s attention. Plus, it’s spacious enough to hide. However, there was one problem. A massive problem that even the legendary Three-Eyed Sword was unaware of.”
What could the problem be? I tapped my fingers against my chest.
“Is it you?”
I nodded immediately.
“Yes. The Club Leader of the Joseon Person Association. The future son-in-law of Man Geum-jeon. Kang Yoon-ho. I was summoned to Man Geum-jeon. They handed me the paperwork. Your name was on it.”
It was technically papers with a warrant. But there was no need to get into that detail.
What was crucial was generating a crisis that even the Three-Eyed Sword didn’t know about.
I raised my hand and pointed at the Three-Eyed Sword’s neck. Before you could point your sword at mine, the Man Geum Battlefield was already hunting for you. Unbeknownst to you, the encirclement was tightening.
I instilled pressure.
“Finding me must have been easy.”
They found me within a day.
I scoffed and looked at the Three-Eyed Sword with a condescending gaze.
“You’re in a huge misconception.”
“Misconception?”
“You’ve never borrowed a hefty sum in your life, so you probably thought borrowing from the Man Geum Battlefield was just a matter of squeezing out a few coins from a wealthy family. But the Man Geum Battlefield didn’t think like that at all.”
“They didn’t think like that at all?”
His expression changed. He became a member of the Man Geum Battlefield.
I tightened my grip on my fingers like I was clenching my fist. From a calm demeanor, I shot a glare of resentment and fury at Cho Cheol.
“Three-Eyed Sword Cho Cheol dares to treat the Man Geum Battlefield like a purse! We’ve been insulted! Find him! Make him pay!”
“……”
“If you catch him, cut off his limbs, and if he resists, kill him! That’s the decree handed down to you.”
What exact decree was handed down to the Three-Eyed Sword remains unknown. But the Man Geum-jeon has said: when the battlefield is treated like a purse, that’s the end.
Of course, if I were simply talking, it would be empty threats. But behind me stood the warriors of the Man Geum Battlefield, ready to pounce at any moment.
My words couldn’t look like anything other than the truth.
“Ugh…”
The Three-Eyed Sword glanced at the warriors of the Man Geum Battlefield. He must have thought.
If I’m not careful, my head might roll.
The situation I created made the facts inferable. My warnings and threats became a heavy burden on the Three-Eyed Sword.
“Three-Eyed Sword.”
I calmly called him.
“……?”
Good. For now, I injected a sense of death into the Three-Eyed Sword’s mind.
“My name is Kang Yoon-ho. I’m from Joseon. Not from Musu Village.”
Now it’s time to reveal the truth.
—–
Understanding unexpected truths often requires a moment. Confusion flickered in Cho Cheol’s eyes, which quickly widened in surprise.
“You?! What did you just say?”
Don’t be too shocked. I warned you not to be too shocked by revealing something even more shocking afterward.
I need to take this opportunity to shed lies to gain your trust.
“It’s a lie that I’m from Musu Village. The rest is all true.”
“Then when did you start deceiving me? Surely from the beginning?”
Cho Cheol’s face contorted with feelings of betrayal.
“What you should be curious about isn’t that.”
I had no intention of indulging Cho Cheol’s anger. I denied the answer.
The explanation time is over. Let’s not dwell on the past too much. I cut through with a firm voice, regaining the initiative.
“What?”
“Isn’t it strange? I’m a stranger to you. I should only track your position and relay the information. Why did I approach you? Why am I revealing the truth now? Isn’t that what you should be curious about?”
With a question following my denial, I pulled interest and control back to my side.
“Are you not trying to mock me since everything’s over!”
I immediately shook my head left and right.
I changed my expression to one that seemed sincere in my plea. For a moment, I was acting for the sake of the Three-Eyed Sword.
“Please wait! Surely the Three-Eyed Sword has a story! Isn’t cutting off my limbs too much? Just give him a chance! I’m the future son-in-law of Man Geum-jeon! Trust me and give me a chance! I just need to inform you of the position and say thanks for the hard work to Man Geum-jeon!”
I acted as if I had put in so much effort for him before meeting the Three-Eyed Sword.
I worried for you. I stepped up for you. So please don’t get mad and just satisfy your curiosity. Of course, I never actually did that, but still.
“……”
“Why did I travel to the Man Geum Battlefield to plead? Are you not curious?”
Cho Cheol seemed to realize the oddity of the situation and faltered before eventually speaking with a serious expression.
“……Why?”
What should I say?
For your sake. Everything was done for your sake. So please don’t get mad, just hand over the money and go. If I said that, the blade in front of me would pierce through my neck.
I need to add credibility to my words.
“To help you. Just like the Three-Eyed Sword, no, Cho Cheol did years ago when he was in Musu Village.”
I have a reason. There’s something that could persuade even you.
“What do you mean by that?! You just said you’re not from Musu Village!”
“Do you not remember? Years ago, before you left Musu Village, you hunted a wild boar and held a feast. During the starving spring, everyone was hungry and naked.”
“The wild boar…? Are you talking about the one I reluctantly gave up because the old village chief was a nuisance? How would you know?”
You just said you’re not from Musu Village. How do you know? Cho Cheol’s gaze stuck to me.
“I saw you at that time. I thought I need to be someone who gives like you.”
I skillfully caught it with a smile.
“Are you trying to act like a fool again?”
No.
It’s just that I’m trying to persuade you.
“I never said I’m a fool, nor did I deny that there are no fools.”
I had quite a bit prepared.
“What…?”
Empty words don’t reach the enraged. Persuasion requires narrative.
Following my gaze, Cho Cheol turned his head. There, a group of Joseon people watched us, terrified.
Among that group, there was a narrative for me.
“C, Cheol hyung! I’m the fool from Musu Village.”
A real fool at that.
——
“What is this?”
“Everyone can come out now.”
The Three-Eyed Sword wavered. I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. I gestured, and the people popped out one by one.
“Hyung Cheol! I’m the cow dung that lived next door, Baek-dol.”
“Kang Yoon-ho! Are you deceiving me again?!”
The Three-Eyed Sword glared at me as if he wouldn’t waver.
That’s the truth.
I could be deceiving you again with people, but listen.
“Hey! Even if I have to bow down to the Club Leader, you have to tell me what this is!”
If it’s someone you know, then the story changes, right?
“Vice-Chieftain…? Old man, you’re alive?”
The person Cho Cheol recognized at a glance was the vice-chieftain of Musu Village. The old man he called the troublesome gentleman.
Cho Cheol’s eyes trembled again. Once a crack formed, it was easy to widen.
“Hyung! I’m the talented person living next door. Do you remember? I tried to acknowledge you before!”
“Y, you’re the one who took a bag of rice from me earlier…?”
Cho Cheol looked at me, unsure of what to say.
What happened? I prepared this all for today.
Cho Cheol, it seems you have a better reputation than I thought.
I gathered people from Musu Village to deceive you, but there were people who cared or respected you, and people with good memories.
“Thanks to that, I was able to create a great narrative.”
The narrative I made was not to help Cho Cheol.
The necessary narrative isn’t for Cho Cheol, but for me.
“I explained the situation to them and worked hard to find you, and they told me. Our pride from Musu Village, Hyung Cheol! Please save him!”
The only person who could help the Three-Eyed Sword Cho Cheol was the Club Leader Kang Yoon-ho.
——
“So you deceived me by saying you’re a fool because of that…”
The Three-Eyed Sword seemed to finally understand the situation slightly and lowered his sword.
“You were on the run, risking your life. Who would listen to you if someone came to persuade you? You would just run away like a rabbit startled by rustling leaves, and get your limbs cut off. That’s why I had to step in.”
In truth, I would’ve warned you that we should help the fellow Joseon persons, even in danger. That was my claim.
“Hyung Cheol! We couldn’t just stand by!”
“You bastard! Running off with someone else’s money! You think I won’t sleep for three generations because of this! You bastard!”
“……”
Everyone’s support was commendable. The Three-Eyed Sword was speechless as he seemed to be in shock.
“Now, please step aside momentarily.”
I gestured, and the Musu Village folks moved behind me.
The Three-Eyed Sword must have seen me and the group of Musu Village people behind me. Past relationships were seeking help, and the Club Leader Kang Yoon-ho moved.
“I didn’t deceive you with bad intentions; it’s that I couldn’t help but deceive you because of the situation. I’m staging a scene that would persuade you at a glance.”
I wasn’t stealing your money; I was being helped from a lethal situation by an old friend. Anyone would be shaken in this situation.
“……Why?”
The Three-Eyed Sword swallowed hard, his eyes shaking as he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you put your life on the line for me?”
If I was caught deceiving you, I could die. I’m still in danger. Why did I step out?
That’s a good question.
I opened my mouth, holding affectionate gaze towards the Three-Eyed Sword.
“Because of the wild boar soup.”
“……!”
I pointed to the Musu Village folks behind me.
“After savoring the soup you gave, the man who survived the spring became a father. The kids you told to eat slowly because of your indigestion grew up and started families. The fool wanted to become someone like you, and even during tough times, shared firewood in winter.”
“……”
“I’m the Club Leader of the Joseon Person Association. The one leading the Joseon persons oppressed by the people of the Central Plains. If I don’t show gratitude first and extend a hand to those in trouble, who would reach out to look after our fellow countrymen?”
Combining the narrative of Musu Village with the narrative of being the Club Leader of the Joseon Person Association.
Even if my past was a lie, my role as the Joseon Person Association’s Club Leader that Cho Cheol has seen is real. It adds credibility to the narrative.
“Yes, what you’re saying doesn’t change the fact you have deceived me…”
True. But I think your feelings might change.
“I’ve done all I could. Now, I’ll give you the final option.”
If I’ve shaken you enough, let’s wrap it up.
“Option?”
I pulled out an envelope from my robe.
“It’s the bill I gave you earlier. If you want, take it back.”
“Club Leader?!”
“What is this?”
The eyes of the Three-Eyed Sword widened, shocked beyond belief.
I stepped closer to Cho Cheol, looking at him with affection and concern.
“If you’re going to run, avoid the harbor as much as you can. It’s already fully set up. And once you step out this door, the Man Geum Battlefield will chase you. I tied a horse at the back door. You might temporarily slip away from their pursuit. I can’t guarantee if you can escape from Wuhan.”
My voice dripped with genuine concern.
Your money wasn’t my goal. My goal was your life. Whispering into the heart of the Three-Eyed Sword.
In fact, what I was saying was that the outcome would be obvious even if you fled, but my expression and tone made my intentions doubtless.
“Why do you….”
Cho Cheol’s voice became heavy. I slowly placed the envelope in his hand.
There was no ulterior motive. I was really worried for you.
I gently wrapped his hands with mine, as if telling him not to let go of it, before triggering my final trap.
“You’re also a member of the Joseon Person Association, right, Hyung Cheol.”
Referring to the blood on Cho Cheol’s thumb left from stamping the papers earlier.
“……!”
“Take care.”
The people of my hometown, the kind Joseon Person Association, the sincere Club Leader who cares for the Joseon persons, and the Three-Eyed Sword Cho Cheol, who has now become a member of the Joseon Person Association.
They are all connected as one. Can you truly cut this connection and run away?
“……I’ll pay you back.”
“Hyung?!”
“I understand! I’ll pay you back! I promise!”
You won’t run away.
——
“The people of the Man Geum Battlefield have retreated.”
The warriors of the Man Geum Battlefield left the inn once they received their money without any resistance.
“Haa.”
As the Cheol’s theatrical performance came to an end, he sat down in despair and let out a deep sigh.
“Why are you sighing so much?”
“Having lost everything, is there anything else I can do?”
He still had resentment in his voice. Though he had paid the debt, he must have felt empty.
But let me tell you something.
“Our story isn’t over yet.”
“What?”
“Shut the door! So the Man Geum Battlefield doesn’t listen!”
“Yes!!!”
The Joseon folks hastily closed the inn’s door as if preparing for a secret meeting.
“Huh?”
“Since we’ve cleared everything, isn’t this a chance to start anew? Just like we came to the land of Wuhan from our hometown.”
“What are you talking about…?”
The man who fled with another’s belongings was tossed into a river to reclaim his bundle.
The person before me was someone who barely escaped from the water, completely drenched. The Three-Eyed Sword didn’t demand the belongings back after saving him, but…
I am different.
“I’d like to make a suggestion for you, Hyung Cheol.”
Now that I got someone else’s bundle, shouldn’t I also get the drenched person in front of me?
