Tangmunjeon - Chapter 252



Only Noblemtl

Episode 252: The Joint Force

Hong Geol-gae carefully examined Yal-Yul-Dal-Eum again, wondering if he had seen anything wrong.

His eyes were closed and his face was badly injured.

However, the large and refreshing facial features I had seen before, and the considerably large bone structure for a woman, were still there. It was very pitiful to see that only skin remained on top of the large bone structure.

Hong Geol-gae let out a sigh without realizing it, but stopped himself. He was worried that Yul-dal-eum might hear his sigh.

It’s been about two years since I met Yul Dal-eum and killed Muryangja.

However, Yul-Dal-Eum looked old, as if almost ten years had passed. It may be because he had become very thin, but it was even more so because he had suffered greatly.

‘How on earth did this happen?’

If we understand the story according to Myosun, Yul Dal-eum should be seen as having joined the group of Sa-pa warriors who were trying to overthrow the Gongdong faction, but was then subdued.

But Hong Geol-gae couldn’t shake off his doubts.

‘What if it was someone else, Yalul Dal-eum?’

The Yalul Dal-eum that Hong Geol-gae remembers was not that kind of person.

Yul Dal-eum was a warrior who ran across the harsh lands of the north with sparkling eyes, promising to open a new future for the Sapa warriors.

Of all the people Hong Geol-gae remembers, the one who fits the Gong-pa the most is definitely Yal-ul-dal-eum. Even more so than the long-suffering Muryang-ja.

Even if all the martial artists who witnessed the death of Muryangja gave up their training and returned to the life of a savage, only Yul Dal-eum would not have done so.

So Hong Geol-gae changed the direction of his thoughts. To the worst possible direction, and the only possible direction he could think of.

Could it be that the Sapha warriors who came to the Gongdongpa really took over the Gongdongpa’s hegemony? Could it be that the people of Pyeongryang County are unaware of this fact?

Hong Geol-gae was about to send a message straight to Yul-dal-eum to ask, but then stopped.

This is because I have a feeling that the actions of Dang Mu-jin and his party must have had an influence on the current state of Yalul Dal-eum.

Of course, I didn’t kill him because I wanted to kill him, nor did I burn him because I wanted to burn down the Gongdongpa’s skeleton.

Furthermore, Hong Geol-gae did not play much of a role in the fight against Muryangja. All he did was stand between his friends and barely manage to get through one or two sword strikes.

But one thing was certain.

If Dang Mu-jin and his party had not wandered north, this situation would not have occurred.

And the person who led Dangmujin to the north was Hong Geol-gae.

Hong Geol-gae was afraid that if he sent a message to Yul-dal-eum for no reason, he would hear stories mixed with resentment.

‘Wouldn’t it be okay if I just pretended not to know and let it go? There’s no need to tell my friends about it.’

If it passes like that, you can let the moment pass as if nothing happened. Even if your friends happen to see Yalul Dal-eum, you can just say that you didn’t recognize him because his face was too damaged. There’s no reason for them to be suspicious.

But Hong Geol-gae took a deep breath and bit his lower lip.

‘No, we’ve already started. We can’t back out now.’

Hong Geol-gae sent a message to Yul-dal-eum.

-Yul Dal-eum. I am Hong Ju-san. Do you remember my voice?

Yuldal-eum squirmed in response to Honggeolgae’s voice. It didn’t seem like he was startled simply by the voice. Yuldal-eum clearly remembered Honggeolgae.

Yul Dal-eum tried to raise his body by supporting the ground with both elbows.

Unlike other men, he was able to move at least a little by cutting the muscle veins around his armpits and groin, but not his wrists and ankles.

However, since Yul Dal-eum also had no energy, he could not properly raise his body.

Yul Dal-eum gave up on moving his body.

Instead, she tried to say something by moving her severed tongue.

“Uh-uh, uh-uh.”

Myosun was taken aback when she saw Yuldalum’s reaction.

“What, why are you suddenly like this?”

“well.”

Hong Geol-gae looked around appropriately and then sent a message again.

-There’s no need to force a reaction. If you want to talk a little longer, just nod your head slightly.

Yul Dal-eum nodded desperately.

And as if it was a lie that he had been lying like a corpse until now, he shed tears from his wounded eyes.

Yul Dal-eum was unable to overcome all the emotions surging within her.

Hong Geol-gae was afraid because he couldn’t guess what Yul-dal-eum wanted to say.

This is not to say that I want to just give the information that Dang Mu-jin and his party need.

Inside those closed eyelids, the flames of resentment must be burning. I am already afraid of how many terrible resentments and curses I will have to hear.

But the story has already been brought up.

Hong Geol-gae suppressed his slightly rapid breathing and sent another message.

-I’ll be back soon. Maybe tonight, or maybe tomorrow night.

Hong Geol-gae left the hut with Myo-sun. Of course, Myo-sun did not understand the whole story at all.

*

That night, Dang Mu-jin and his party entered the shack.

-You said the person lying the innermost was Yalul Dal-eum?

-okay.

The three men took Yalul Dal-eum out without even making a sound, carried her on their backs, and ran to the blacksmith shop. Contrary to what Hong Geol-gae had thought, Yalul Dal-eum was very quiet.

Before bringing Yalul Dal-eum into the room inside the blacksmith shop, Dang Mu-jin warmed up some water and used it to wash Yalul Dal-eum’s body.

I know it’s a very difficult task for a man to clean a woman’s body.

But even Yul Dal-eum wouldn’t want to talk with his whole body covered in filth.

Fortunately, Yalul Dal-eum seemed to think the same way, and accepted Dang Mu-jin’s consideration with a somewhat relaxed expression.

After Yelul Dal-eum was washed, Dang Mu-jin prepared porridge and fed it to Yelul Dal-eum instead of asking her questions directly.

While Dang Mu-jin was helping Yal-ul-dal-eum eat, Hong-geol-gae asked.

“Can you cure it?”

“I can help you find your strength, but opening your eyes, speaking, or using your limbs are beyond my capabilities.”

Dang Mu-jin let out a deep sigh.

Just looking at Yul Dal-eum makes me feel complicated.

How should I express this feeling? If I had to put it into words, it was closer to regret than guilt.

It was not in order to destroy Yalul Dal-eum and Gongdongpa that he killed Muryangja.

The one who started the fight first was Muryangja, and it was Muryangja who held a grudge against Yu Jin-gwang’s father, Yu Gwan-il.

There was no reason to feel guilty, even if it was regrettable.

At that moment, Yul-Dal-Eum, who had eaten all the porridge, let out a faint voice.

“Ugh.”

“I think you have something to say.”

“Wait a minute. Yalul Dal-eum. Do you know how to write?”

Yuldalum nodded. Dangmujin tied a wet brush to Yuldalum’s wrist.

Yul Dal-eum left his writing on the floor with very slow movements.

-Why did you come to me?

Despite the miserable situation, the handwriting was powerful. Just looking at the writing, it felt like I could hear Yul Dal-eum’s voice.

Dang Mu-jin said.

“It seems like something is wrong with the community, so I came to check on the situation.”

-Yeah. You came to the right place.

A soft smile appeared on Yalul Dal-eum’s lips.

The same old smile. The expression of a strong warrior.

If he had at least expressed his resentment, he would have protested proudly. However, Dang Mu-jin could not remain silent in the face of this attitude.

Dang Mu-jin couldn’t stand it anymore and apologized to Yul-dal-eum.

“···I’m sorry. I didn’t go north hoping for this outcome.”

Yul-Dal-Eum answered in straight writing.

-Why are you apologizing?

-Mu-ryang-ja started a fight, lost, and died. It was Mu-ryang-ja’s fault.

-Hwangol-gak burned down because it failed to properly control the unmanned people. It was Hwangol-gak’s fault.

-The communist faction, having lost its leader, was unable to prepare for the turmoil. This is the fault of all the communist factions.

-You were just swept away.

“but···.”

-Don’t be sorry. The waves that came crashing down just pounded the hard rock. Even if the waves crashed without breaking the rock, it’s not the rock’s fault.

His determined attitude made me even more suffocated.

The pain only took away Yalul Dalum’s body. It could not break Yalul Dalum’s spirit.

It would have been a little better if I had at least expressed a little resentment.

-What are you curious about that makes you come to me?

“I want to know what happened to the communist faction.”

-Do you still hold a grudge against the communist faction?

“No. I have had a bad relationship with the Muryangja, but I have never been hostile to the Gongdongpa. I hope that the Gongdongpa will not fall into the hands of the Safa. I hope that you will continue to play a role in guiding the Safa’s military personnel.”

Yul-Dal-Eum seemed satisfied with the answer, and smiled with wrinkles forming on his sunken cheeks.

-Baek Ya-hyo took the Sa-pa’s unmanned men and infiltrated the Gongdong faction. At first, they seemed docile, but eventually they rebelled and seized control of the Gongdong faction. Those who resisted were either killed or ended up in the same situation as me.

“Is that all?”

-No. There will be people who crouch down and hold grievances. Sapa Muin is used to lowering his head and waiting for an opportunity.

There was so much writing that it was hard to read. Before Yul-Dal-Eum could write again, Hyun-Gong quickly brought a rag and wiped the floor.

Yul Dal-eum finished the story.

– This is due to the lack of the community. I know it is foolish to ask for help from outsiders. However, since my situation and the community’s situation are not very good, you are the only people I can ask for help. Please help the community.

Dang Mu-jin recalled the day he left the north and came down south.

A story told by Yu Jin-kwang over a fire on a day when stars twinkled. A story about how, as time passes, all sects will eventually become similar.

Yoo Jin-kwang said he was just telling a story for fun, but Dang Mu-jin didn’t think it was nonsense.

And now, the coalition stands at a crossroads.

Now there are only two futures left for the Gonghappa: either drive out the Sapha unmanned people, or be completely devoured by the Sapha unmanned people.

But even if things go well, it won’t be the same as the previous communal wave. As long as people are alive, memories can’t be erased. That’s why time doesn’t go backwards.

“Okay, I understand. Even though it’s uncomfortable, please stay here for the time being.”

-Send me back to the shack. If I have any questions, I can come and ask them anytime.

Although the handwriting was plain, Dang Mu-jin could see into Yal-Yul-Dal-Eum’s inner thoughts from the handwriting written in water. Her true feelings of not wanting to go back to the hut.

It didn’t require any great insight.

Who in the world would want to return to a shack filled with stench and frustration and wait for death?

Dang Mu-jin quietly looked at Yul-dal-eum.

Anyone can tell that his body is in terrible condition. He will never walk again. But if he’s lucky, he might be able to lift a spoon with one arm.

The tongue will never grow back. But I thought that if I was lucky, my eyesight might improve. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to see anything clearly. I would see a world that was even more blurry than that of an old man suffering from severe presbyopia.

But it is the law that requires the legislator to give patients hope.

As far as Dang Mu-jin knew, that was the first step to treatment.

That is why the party leader spoke with emphasis.

“There’s no need to go back to the hut. Let’s stay in the blacksmith shop for a while and then return to the common area.”

Yul-Dal-Eum looked surprised after hearing Dang Mu-Jin’s story.

And then he smiled with satisfaction. That was exactly what Yul-Dal-Eum wanted to hear the most.