Bang-!
With a loud noise, the inner palace was filled with dust.
At the same time, the door opened and people rushed inside. It was Bang Gitae and the gatekeepers who had been waiting outside.
"Leader!"
As soon as he entered, Bang Gitae shouted.
However, something was strange about the situation.
Cheon Jin was standing with his sword on the side of the grand chair, and Cheon Myeong was standing in the midst of the dust.
"..."
Cheon Myeong was looking at Cheon Jin without a word, with his mouth closed.
At some point, a strange mark had appeared on Cheon Myeong's left side.
As if a giant beast had scratched it with its claws, there were five sword marks of a considerable size on the floor.
To put it bluntly, if there had been soil there, it would have been at a level where one could farm right away.
Of course, since the floor here was made of hard stone, it had ended at this level, but if it had been made of soft soil, it would have been dug so deep that even an adult would not have known if they had fallen in.
'...You madman.'
Looking at Cheon Jin, Cheon Myeong thought so to himself.
No matter how much he had spoken harshly, to think that he would send a river of energy like this.
It didn't seem like he had intended to kill him from the beginning, but what would have happened if he had dodged to the side?
Perhaps it would have been him, not that hard floor, that would have been dug up like that.
'I would have been shattered without a trace.'
Looking at that power, he thought that it was rather fortunate that he had not drawn his sword.
If he had drawn his sword, would he have been able to block that river of energy safely?
It seemed highly likely that his sword would have broken and his neck would have broken along with it.
'Before that, just the fact that I drew my sword is enough to be punished.'
Even if it was to protect his own life that he had drawn his sword.
The act of drawing a sword in front of the leader, and that too, inside the inner palace, could be considered an act of rebellion and be punished.
Cheon Myeong had not drawn his sword, considering that point.
Of course, there was also the reason that he had noticed that the sword's strength would change in the middle and that Cheon Jin would not kill him so easily, but still, that act just now was a gamble for Cheon Myeong.
"..."
Thanks to that, Cheon Myeong's liver had shrunk to the point where it had shriveled up for the first time in a long time, but his outward expression still maintained its composure.
"...Why did you come in?"
Cheon Jin suddenly said.
Although his gaze was directed at Cheon Myeong, the person he was asking was not Cheon Myeong.
Bang Gitae immediately realized that fact and answered.
"Because a loud noise was suddenly heard inside the inner palace..."
"Who gave you permission to come in?"
"...I'm sorry."
Bang Gitae said that and bowed his head. The same went for the gatekeepers standing behind him.
If they were to stay in the inner palace any longer, they would offend Cheon Jin's mood.
Bang Gitae noticed that and hurriedly went out with the gatekeepers.
"..."
Again, only Cheon Myeong and Cheon Jin were left in the inner palace.
Just like when Cheon Myeong had first come here, an awkward silence flowed in the hall, and Cheon Jin broke that flow first.
"Why didn't you draw your sword?"
Cheon Jin asked Cheon Myeong.
Although there could be various reasons for that question, there would be only one answer that Cheon Myeong had to say now.
"I couldn't react."
"..."
"Because I couldn't even see you drawing your sword, leader."
Of course, this was also a lie.
Although he could not guarantee that he would be able to block the river of energy, he was able to see the movement of Cheon Jin drawing his sword with his own two eyes.
However, an ordinary person would not be able to notice when Cheon Jin had drawn his sword. At the moment they came to their senses, it would seem as if the sword had already been drawn from its scabbard.
In other words, the fact that he had grasped that movement was, in itself, proof that he was already a skilled person.
'It won't go as you wish.'
Although it seemed that he had swung his sword, pretending to be angry at his words, it was still clumsy.
The experience of life is different from yours. The experience of life.
Well, it seemed that there was about a ten-year age difference between his past self and him, and a period of ten years was long enough for a river and a mountain to change.
'I can see it. I can see it.'
I can see right through you, you punk.
Although he was maintaining an expressionless face on the outside, he was probably quite angry inside because things were not going as he wished.
"...Good."
"..."
"I'll admit it. As you said, I don't know exactly what Cheon Seong's skills are like recently."
Huh? Why on earth is that guy admitting it so obediently?
I see. It seems that he has decided to back down because he has no more moves.
'The leader is nothing special.'
Thinking so, Cheon Myeong was pleased with his victory. However, hearing Cheon Jin's following words, that feeling completely disappeared.
"Then I'll have to check it myself."
"...What?"
"Did you say that Cheon Seong is injured now? I will check it when his body has fully recovered."
"..."
"If at that time, Cheon Seong's skills are not at a level that can produce this much power, you will be punished for speaking to me with an arrogant tone."
There was no need to ask who would receive that punishment.
'You narrow-minded bastard...!'
Wouldn't it be okay to just let it go, do you really have to go that far?
There was no generosity to be found in a guy who was a leader.
"..."
The skill of Cheon Seong that suddenly came to mind.
Cheon Seong had performed the Mad Dragon Demon Blade when he had had a duel with him.
With that poor skill, he couldn't satisfy Cheon Jin's eyes... could he?
Since it didn't even satisfy his own eyes, how would it be in Cheon Jin's eyes?
If he were to stay still like this, he would be punished. And that punishment did not seem to end at the level of corporal punishment.
'This is dangerous!'
He had to come up with some countermeasure.
But how? How could he improve Cheon Seong's skills?
Moreover, since he had said that he would check it as soon as Cheon Seong's body recovered, it seemed that there would be no time to train Cheon Seong in the meantime.
Thump-.
"..."
At that moment, a clear sound that sharply penetrated Cheon Myeong's ear. It was the sound created by Cheon Jin sheathing his sword.
Cheon Myeong barely came to his senses at that sound, and Cheon Jin was already in his seat on the grand chair.
"A month should be enough for a full recovery, right?"
"..."
"At that time, we'll know. Who was right between you and me."
Cheon Jin, who was sitting on the grand chair, said with a meaningful smile.
***
Although Cheon Seong was lying on the bed, he could not sleep at all at night.
For what reason on earth had Cheon Myeong been called to the leader's palace?
Since that thought had been lingering in his head since the moment Cheon Myeong had left the hospital room, he could not sleep even if he closed his eyes.
"...Phew."
With a sigh, Cheon Seong opened his eyes.
What time is it now? Since he had been lying in the hospital room all the time, his sense of time had become quite dull.
Although he had tried to go to sleep because it seemed that the sun had set, it seemed that he would not be able to sleep in this state.
'Will my brother come to see me again tomorrow?'
Then he really wanted to ask what had happened at the leader's palace. And he would also talk about the request that he had not yet been able to tell Cheon Myeong.
What Cheon Seong wanted to ask of Cheon Myeong was to teach him the sword technique.
Of course, although he had refused Cheon Myeong's proposal himself in the past, the sword technique that Cheon Myeong had shown him in front of his eyes was still vividly remaining in his head.
I want to be like that too. Since he had that thought strongly, Cheon Seong wanted to ask Cheon Myeong to be his master, even if he had no shame.
"..."
Although he had tried to go to sleep early to ignore his anxious heart, it seemed that he had failed.
Wouldn't he be able to sleep if he drank some warm water?
Since he seemed to have heard such a thing somewhere, Cheon Seong was about to call someone.
However, at that moment, discovering the person who had suddenly entered the hospital room, Cheon Seong swallowed his words.
"...Hyung-nim?"
"Gasp... ha..."
Why on earth had Cheon Myeong come here at this time?
Moreover, the appearance of him panting strangely gave the feeling that he was in a great hurry.
Since Cheon Seong had seen such an appearance of Cheon Myeong for the first time, he said, looking at Cheon Myeong with a slightly bewildered look.
"Why are you sweating so much? As if you were being chased by someone..."
"..."
Chased by someone?
If he had seen it that way, he had seen it really well.
Because Cheon Myeong was now certainly being chased by someone.
Of course, it was not that he was really being chased from behind, but if one were to think of it in another sense, it was a much more frightening situation.
"Cheon Seong..."
"Yes?"
"You, you said you wanted to use the sword technique like me."
"I did say that... are you trying to play a prank on me again?"
"...A prank?"
At that moment, Cheon Myeong's eyes suddenly flashed.
"Do I look like... I'm playing a prank now?"
"..."
Why is he suddenly being so scary?
As Cheon Myeong said that to him, Cheon Seong momentarily felt a chill.
'What on earth happened at the leader's palace?'
It seemed that the reason why Cheon Myeong had changed strangely was there.
However, since he had a scary look that made it difficult to ask about it, Cheon Seong could not easily open his mouth.
"Cheon Seong."
"...Yes, hyung-nim."
"You have to become much stronger than you are now. At the very least, you have to be able to perform the Mad Dragon Demon Blade to near perfection."
"...?"
Why on earth was Cheon Myeong saying that all of a sudden?
However, that was what Cheon Seong himself had been desperately wanting.
That's why, using what Cheon Myeong had said as an excuse, Cheon Seong carefully brought up the story that he had been thinking about in his heart.
"I have a request, hyung-nim."
"..."
"Can you be my master?"
Even after saying that, Cheon Seong couldn't help but bow his head.
Because he knew how embarrassing this situation was.
Cheon Seong continued to speak with his head bowed.
"I know I have no shame... but I..."
"That's a good answer."
"...?"
Hearing Cheon Myeong's voice, Cheon Seong, who raised his head. Then, in front of him, Cheon Myeong was holding out his right hand.
"Grab it. Then I'll change you to the level of shedding your bones and changing your skin."
"...Hyung-nim."
Although the words that he would change him to the level of shedding his bones and changing his skin bothered him a little, a deep emotion was rising in Cheon Seong's heart.
Although he had rejected him so coldly, the only person who had not given up and had continued to hold out that hand was his own brother.
So this time, it would be right to grab that hand.
Cheon Seong thought so and carefully grabbed the hand that Cheon Myeong had held out.
"Hyung-nim... I, I will really work hard on your teachings..."
At that moment, Cheon Seong saw it. A smile of unknown meaning passed over Cheon Myeong's face.
A sense of crisis that was felt instinctively.
Cheon Seong tried to let go of the hand he was holding without realizing it.
Squeeze-.
However, at some point, since Cheon Myeong was giving so much strength that he could not escape, Cheon Seong could not let go of the hand he was holding.
At that moment, Cheon Seong had to realize it.
That he should have let go of Cheon Myeong's hand at that time, no matter what.
(End of Chapter)