Chapter 965
Talk about changing the general.
After hearing that, Yarang had to stiffen his body for a rare moment.
Changing generals? I didn’t even need to look that up.
It was literal, as it meant replacing someone from the current generals.
“…”
Hearing that, someone came to Yarang’s mind.
He was one of the generals. If what the woman said was true, he seemed most likely to be that one.
However, this was merely Yarang’s speculation. In the end, he knew very well that what mattered was the master’s heart.
“Hmmm.”
The woman, either aware or oblivious to Yarang’s feelings, kept humming and looking around.
Is she happy? Yarang pondered as he gazed at her back.
No.
Not happy at all. That woman showed no signs of enjoyment.
She just acted in a way that made it look like she was having fun.
The scenery she observed held no significance for her.
“The flowers are really pretty, aren’t they?”
She held up a red flower whose name was unknown and flashed a bright smile.
It was a beautiful smile. If not for the cloth covering her face, it would have been a face that captivated everyone around her.
Can a smile devoid of sincerity possess such power?
Yarang found that rather terrifying.
“Daughter?”
“…”
At the woman’s call, Yarang nodded.
“Come here.”
He approached slowly.
Then the woman reached into the bushes and pulled something out. It was, once again, a flower.
This time, unlike the red flower he had, it was a light blue flower.
Was it okay to pick this one too? Such questions were unnecessary.
As Yusa had said, there was nothing she couldn’t do on this land.
“How about this? Is it pretty?”
Yarang simply nodded as she spoke about the flower.
“Hmmm. You don’t seem to like it.”
He shook his head at those words, but the woman didn’t believe him.
Just like that, she reached out into the grass once more.
Should I stop her? Yarang thought hard.
There was no need to stop her, but there also wasn’t a need to be so obsessed with flowers.
Let’s think about it first. So concluded Yarang as he approached her.
“Ah. This is it.”
The woman picked up the flower again. This time it was neither red nor blue.
It was a pure white flower.
A beautiful flower, reminiscent of freshly fallen snow.
When Yarang saw that, he momentarily suspended his fingertips.
“…”
It was a familiar flower.
Why does it feel so familiar? His gaze trembled unconsciously as he stared at it.
“Daughter. Why are you—”
The woman looked at him as if asking why he appeared so flustered.
In that instant.
Bam!
“…?”
Someone appeared and grasped the woman’s hand.
Both Yarang and the woman widened their eyes in surprise at the sudden sensation.
“…”
The woman turned her head to see who had grabbed her arm.
There stood—
“…”
A young man with a stiff body and a grimace.
It was Gu Yangcheon.
*
On top of a tall building in the night sky.
Gubong and Shincheol, garbed in red military uniforms, were keeping a watchful eye below.
“… Ah, that guy. He finally did it.”
Shincheol sighed softly upon confirming the situation.
Even though he’d loudly advised against it, the stubborn rascal went ahead anyway. It was truly a sigh-worthy situation.
“Oh my…”
He exhaled wearily, wiping his face with his old hands.
That breath escaped not only for that troublemaker but also for himself.
“… Jang Munin…”
Gubong called out to Shincheol. The latter glanced back at him with an awkward expression at those words.
“Are you okay? It’s windy.”
“Heh heh.”
Shincheol chuckled at Gubong’s comment.
“Who would worry about who? You think I’d be blown away by a little wind?”
“However…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be shaken even if a gale hits.”
He waved his hand dismissively, but Gubong’s expression did not improve.
Knowing how anxious he was, Shincheol chose not to say anything further.
Now wasn’t the time for such words.
“Hmmm…”
What could that foolish kid possibly be up to?
That thought nagged him.
‘Yangcheon-ah.’
He understood being swept up in emotions.
After all, it wasn’t every day one saw their long-lost mother.
The issue was—
‘… That’s not your mother.’
No, it was that or that being.
Something bizarre and immensely powerful that could not be described in mere words.
He worried that if he approached thinking it was his mother, he could face the full consequences.
Shincheol was anxious about that.
‘Please.’
He hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be too deep a wound.
As he mulled it over, Shincheol kept his focus on Gu Yangcheon.
“Long story.”
“Okay.”
Gubong inquired gently from behind.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“What if I say no?”
“… Then I’ll just remain quiet.”
“Ha! It’s a joke. Ask away.”
These words were delivered without making eye contact with Gubong.
Hearing this, Gubong jumped straight into his question.
“Is that person whom you’ve been waiting for all this time?”
“…”
At his inquiry, Shincheol slightly turned his head to look at him.
How should he respond? He hesitated for a moment.
“Yes.”
Finally, Shincheol chose to answer honestly.
It wasn’t something he needed to hide.
“That guy is that guy.”
“…”
“Why? Are you upset?”
“… No.”
If Gubong claimed he wasn’t feeling anything, he was lying. He wasn’t merely wrapped up in sentiments.
It was known to him beforehand.
Yet it was also far more complex and expansive than that.
Jealousy. Resentment. Sadness.
Those emotions surged within him.
Above all, the largest feeling among them was:
“Long story…”
“Speak.”
“So, do you intend to leave now?”
It was anxiety again.
“What?”
Shincheol widened his eyes in surprise at Gubong’s words.
His expression was one of disbelief. But Gubong pressed on.
“If you find what you’re searching for… you didn’t mean to leave us again, did you?”
“…”
Oddly enough, Shincheol offered no response to Gubong’s words.
Seeing that, Gubong reflected.
Is that truly so? Is he not replying? Or is he unable to?
A moment of uncomfortable silence filled the air. If that isn’t an answer, then what is?
As Gubong tried to redirect the conversation by biting his lip, Shincheol spoke up.
“Don’t worry.”
Shincheol reassured him.
“I have no intention of going anywhere.”
“… However…!”
“The reason I couldn’t respond earlier was that I needed time to sense the heart with which you spoke to me, Gubong.”
“…”
“I genuinely wish to sit down and converse more deeply about this.”
With that, Shincheol stopped looking down and rose upright.
“Unfortunately, the situation has twisted against us.”
“… Jang Munin? What are you saying?”
“Just come out.”
Ignoring Gubong’s words, Shincheol stared into the air.
At that moment.
Anyhow.
Something appeared from nowhere and landed on the roof.
“Gasp…!”
Gubong trembled in shock at what he beheld.
“Still sharp as a tack.”
A young man with green hair.
The lord of Night Moon and one of the only four existing generals in this realm.
It was Yusa.
“Y-Your Excellency…!”
Gubong was astonished, unable to even blink as he gazed at Yusa.
Yusa, in turn, slightly frowned at Gubong’s reaction.
“Child of the Moonlight, what do you mean with such rudeness toward me?”
“…!”
Gubong’s heart skipped a beat at Yusa’s words.
An instinctive loyalty to greater predators seized him.
His body, recalling this feeling, was desperate to kneel naturally.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Shincheol stepped in front of Yusa.
As a result, Gubong felt his trembling body calm down.
“Don’t you know it’s disgraceful to harass a child?”
“Harass? I was merely trying to teach manners.”
“Chuckle chuckle.”
Shincheol found that remark laughable.
Yusa’s expression tightened in response.
“Are you laughing?”
“Well, it is funny. Are you not laughing too?”
“Your tone is exceedingly irksome.”
“We are not in a place for trivial banter. What brings you here?”
“Who’s got something to say to whom?”
Yusa, baring his teeth, shot a glare at Shincheol.
“I might have missed it had I not been alert. What business brings you here?”
“Isn’t it clear? I took a stroll with my disciple.”
“That certainly sounds like a stroll…”
Creeeak!
The ground beneath Yusa cracked ominously.
“Have you forgotten the pact?”
Growl…
A beastly roar erupted from within Yusa.
“No, I’ve never forgotten.”
“You haven’t forgotten…? But you dare set foot here?”
As his rage soared, veins began to surface on Yusa’s forehead.
“The volcano you created allows those filthy wretches to come and go. That’s solely due to the pact you entered with your master. There are priorities that need to be upheld.”
The priorities that must be kept.
Indeed.
“You must never step foot outside the territory you established.”
That meant Shincheol would be trapped in the volcano.
“You’ve barely managed to secure peace with that pact, and you’ve already violated it twice?”
Yusa’s fists clenched tightly, arms swelling to monstrous proportions.
“How fortunate! I had grievances against you anyway. Now is the time…!”
Just when Yusa was ready to rush in and unleash chaos—
Boom!
“Ugh!”
Yusa suddenly collapsed to the ground.
It was because Shincheol had come up and landed a fist squarely on Yusa’s face.
Thud!
Yusa’s body crumpled onto the ground, appearing unconscious.
“Hey. It’s noisy. I’m not even a dog, and I’m super busy. Tsk.”
Shincheol, as if indifferent, picked up the fallen Yusa and tossed him aside before returning to his spot.
“…”
The situation unfolded in an instant. Gubong stood there, speechless.
The general had been struck down and was out cold.
Shincheol paid it no mind.
And amidst it all, only the bewildered Gubong remained.
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