Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Episode 1018

Reclaiming history (2)

The road to Hyeongdang prison.

Zhuge Yan, who was walking down the street without saying a word, suddenly looked around.

The distance from the military headquarters to the execution hall was not very far, but due to the circumstances, quite a few warriors came and went around.

Although they were samurai warriors and received orders from their superiors, there were many who secretly hated and loathed the black sword. Among them, there were moderates and radicals, and there were also people who did not care about the alliance with the Black Island.

Among the samurai who came and went, more than three-tenths were trying hard to turn their gaze away from Yeon Ho-jeong. Because of their social status, they did not take action with the anti-black faction, but deep down they supported the exclusion of black people.

Rather, it was fortunate for them. If we had acted together with the anti-black faction, we would have been in a bloody situation and didn’t know what to do.

Still, I felt uncomfortable and couldn’t bear to look at Yeonhojeong directly.

Zhuge Yan opened his mouth.

“Do people know? “Your decision to switch to the Black Island was a decision made after intense consideration for everyone’s future.”

Zhuge Zhen’s voice was neither loud nor soft.

However, all the warriors passing by could hear her voice. This was because they all had top-notch skills.

Yeon Ho-jeong answered calmly.

“There is no one who does not know. “I didn’t transfer because I wanted people to know that.”

“If you knew that….”

“Don’t they say people are more influenced by emotion than reason? It’s not important to know. “What you feel is important.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I don’t care if my name is rolling in the mud. “As long as we can win the war against the three religions in the future, that will be enough.”

“You tend to be too kind to yourself.”

“It’s not a matter of treating them carelessly, it’s a matter of how much you can sacrifice for your goal. I’m not the only person like this. Even within the Murim Alliance, many people live with beliefs like mine or even better than mine.”

“okay?”

“People like that are truly amazing. “It’s nothing to me.”

A shadow fell on the warriors’ faces.

As Yeon Ho-jeong said, they knew the reason why the eldest son of the Yeon family gave up his shining honor and devoted himself to the Mukryongbu.

Some said that in itself was a betrayal, but there were no such voices at the time. As the three schools of religion were spreading fear in earnest and so many incidents were occurring throughout the central plains, many people accepted Yeonhojeong’s decision as a courageous sacrifice, saying, “What a shame.”

However, even if the facts are the same, interpretations can vary at different times and under different circumstances.

Zhuge Yan sighed.

“The world is so easy.”

It was a self-mocking remark.

This was not simply a comment about Yeonhojeong’s transfer to Heukdo.

People’s minds change depending on the situation. It was a disappointment in this world where people do not have their own opinions and have eyes to distinguish between right and wrong, but ignore the truth due to their weak hearts.

“That’s why the world develops.”

“huh?”

“If only the same opinions are always evaluated as true and truthful even in the same situation, that society will not grow easily.”

“This case is different.”

“If you look at the big picture, you can’t even say it’s different. In the end, the cause is also an issue that cannot be forced. “Because each person has a different cause.”

“There is also a cause that is absolutely shared.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Wars can occur due to the one-sided viciousness of one side, but they can also occur when causes clash with each other.

In the past, Yeonhojeong was like Moyonggun. The destruction of the three religions was an absolute value, and they even thought that those who did not follow it were not from the Central Plains.

However, as time passed, I realized that this problem could not be viewed so simply.

‘If life is a choice, then death is also a choice.’

This world does not work dichotomously.

But in war, there are only two allies and an enemy.

It is up to each individual to decide whether to be an enemy or an ally. In order to win this war, we must increase and preserve our troops as much as possible, and then plan countless operations.

However, if you are already part of the Murim Alliance, you will be punished for communicating with the enemy because it is governed by the evil law.

That’s what war is. There are only enemies and allies, but we must overcome immeasurable values and causes until the enemies and allies are divided.

‘Freedom without responsibility is nothing but self-indulgence. No matter what anyone thinks, I have no choice but to push for what I believe is right.’

In the end, what Yeonhojeong could do was limited.

Not just him, but everyone. It is about living according to the definition that each person shares in each position.

If we can accept even death, the causes of others also deserve respect.

At least that was the case in this situation.

and.

‘I’ll have to make a decision too.’

So the two entered the prison cell.

* * *

There was no one who could stop Zhuge Yan, who came as a military representative, and Yan Ho-jeong, who received the plaque directly from Ambassador Gong Gong.

The two went down to the lowest level of the prison.

‘…!’

Tension appeared on Zhuge Yan’s face.

There were more criminals locked up in the lowest level of the prison than she expected. Most of them were unconscious, and most of those who were not unconscious were leaning against the wall and looking at the ceiling.

There was a gloomy atmosphere.

The humidity was not as high as expected and the environment was clean, but it gave it an even more strange feeling. Unlike the prison that people associate with it, the very well-maintained appearance evokes an inexplicable fear.

Zhuge Zhen, who was walking to the place where Hong Ik-cheon was trapped, was momentarily startled.

“…Namgoonghyeon.”

Nam Gung-hyeon was chained up in a prison cell.

I am conscious, but I am lost. Looking at him sitting blankly and drooling, Zhuge Yan felt goosebumps rising.

The moment when my head turns without even realizing it.

“Face it.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s strong voice shook Jegal Zhen’s heart.

“You belong to the military department. “There is still a lot of work to be done in the war.”

“….”

“I’ve known you for a long time, but he ended up trying to kidnap you. Look confidently and hate it instead. “He’s the one who can’t make eye contact, not you.”

“Hojeong.”

After taking a short breath and organizing his thoughts, Zhuge Yan looked at Nam Gung-hyeon.

Nam Gung-hyeon, who was looking down at the floor blankly, looked up when he heard Jegal Zhen-yeon’s voice.

At that moment, Namgoonghyeon’s eyes, which had been lifeless like rotten fish eyes, appeared red.

“Ayeon!”

Clap!

Even though both hands and feet are tied in chains, he crawls up to the bars and shouts.

“Ayeon! grow! it’s me! “It’s Namgung’s brother!”

“….”

“I don’t know why you were trapped here because of a misunderstanding, but what you know is not true! “Don’t listen to crazy people’s nonsense!”

Zhuge Zhen’s eyes, which were full of embarrassment, pity, fear, and sadness, gradually calmed down. Rather, it was Namgung-hyeon’s appearance that helped him regain his composure.

She thought. Depending on how you make up your mind, people can be as hard as steel or as soft as a cloud.

At least when I first saw Nam Gung-hyeon, he wasn’t this weak.

Plus, I never thought I would become someone who would cross the line that much.

“Ayeon!”

“Prisoner No. 379.”

Nam Gung-hyeon’s body stiffened as if he had been struck by lightning at Jegal Yeon’s harsh voice.

Zhuge Yan said with a calm face.

“The only thing left for you to do is to earnestly plead that the crime you committed had nothing to do with your family.”

“…Zinc?”

“They said that adults are responsible for their own words and actions. “Because of you, your father died and your grandfather suffered an indelible shock.”

“…?!”

“Stop talking nonsense and reflect on yourself.”

It was a voice that exuded more pity than coldness.

However, from Namgoong Hyun’s perspective, it must have felt like the sky was falling. Namgoonghyeon’s already gaunt face turned white.

At that time, Namgung-hyeon’s eyes landed on Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who was behind her back, did not even look at him. They are just waiting for Zhuge Yan to finish speaking.

Namgoonghyeon’s eyes sparkled with murder.

“You bastard!”

Pow!

Namgoonghyeon collapsed on the spot. This is because the jailer who came with the two men swung his wooden baton between the bars.

The warden asked in a grave voice.

“Do you have anything more to say about this prisoner?”

“no.”

Jegal Zhenyeon, who was looking at the fallen Namgoonghyeon trembling, turned his head.

“no. nothing.”

“All right.”

So the two walked out again.

Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“It’s no big deal, right?”

“okay.”

Zhuge Yan smiled bitterly.

“It’s nothing special.”

I felt like I knew why Yeon Ho-jeong brought me here. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable because of someone who was only that good.

Zhuge Yan sighed and said.

“I feel like I’m always in debt to you.”

“Just pay off the debt and that’s it. “I’ll buy you a drink later.”

“You have to be on time.”

“I don’t think there will be time to catch up and relax until the war ends.”

Sreuk.

Yeonhojeong’s steps stopped.

At the far end of the prison, in a prison with particularly impressive thick iron bars, a young man was sitting with his back against the wall with his legs outstretched.

Like other prisoners, both hands and feet were chained. However, the quality of the chains is completely different from that of other prisoners.

It was a chain made professionally to block internal air. Although it is not visible from the outside, there are also fine needles attached to the inside of that chain that pierce the acupuncture points in the wrists and ankles.

Although it is said that the top danjeon is used as the main danjeon, it is impossible to implement the water dragon acupuncture technique unless the entire body is involved. This was especially true because it was not a pure technique.

Moreover, since his eyes were covered with a black cloth, there was nothing Hong Ik-cheon could do.

Despite this, Hong Ik-cheon did not seem to be embarrassed or distracted at all.

“It’s you, Yeonhojeong.”

I lost sight and my sense of energy disappeared, but even my ears didn’t work.

“I thought you would come visit me at least once.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who was quietly watching him, sat cross-legged across the iron bars.

the warden asked.

“Shall we hit it?”

They say there is no torture, but if necessary, assault is no big deal. It was a word that gave an idea of how the prisoners on the lowest level of the prison were managed.

When Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head, the warden bowed his head and retreated to the end of the hallway. Then he covered his ears with a strange object. It was so as not to overhear the conversation.

Hong Ik-cheon said in a laughing voice.

“Thank you. “Even with a body like this, pain hurts.”

“I have something to ask you.”

“You mean what I did?”

“No, your work is done.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Because what you wanted was not the end of causing chaos for the Murim Alliance.”

“….”

“Your goal was me until the end.”

“….”

“yes?”

The corners of Hong Ik-cheon’s mouth rose.

“Have you reached there already?”

“I knew it from the beginning.”

“…You are amazing. “It’s surprising that you can be so calm even after knowing that.”

Zhuge Yan asked.

“What do you mean, Hojeong?”

“What do you mean?”

The answer came from Hong Ik-cheon.

“Sobuju, the symbol of the black and white union, is saying that he will officially break off the union with the Murim Alliance.”