Covering The Sky With One Hand

“Given the situation was already ruined, did you really have to slaughter so many people?”

Sang-won was displeased with Jeok-woo’s massacre of the Eminent Mountain Sect disciples at the tournament. He had tried to stop Seomun, but he too ignored Sang-won’s gaze.

“It couldn’t be helped.”

But Seong Gon had no intention of understanding Sang-won. To him, it was regrettable it had ended with so little. His grief over the death of his cherished disciple Yu I-jeong had not even subsided.

Sang-won realized there was no point in arguing further. He let out a faint sigh and changed the subject.

“You still won’t meet with Right Shadow?”

When the deputy of the Black Butterfly Shadows carried in Right Shadow, he was on the brink of death from qi deviation. Jo Sang-won hadn’t wanted to aid a traitor to the sect, but upon hearing that Left Shadow had died, he couldn’t cast him aside. He only provided a cave deep in the mountains to prolong his life, yet the Black Butterfly Shadows were so grateful they became his hands and feet.

“You’re far too soft-hearted.”

Seong Gon glared at Jo Sang-won with clear disapproval. That such a soft man had served as an infiltrator for over a decade was laughable.

“Then you truly mean to ignore that boy?”

After much hesitation, Jo Sang-won voiced what had weighed on him. As expected, Seong Gon shook his head with a stony face.

“There’s no reason to concern myself.”

“But if left alone, Jo Yang will kill him.”

“That too is his fate.”

Yet Ryeo blood flows in Yun-seon’s veins. Jo Sang-won found Seong Gon’s coldness especially distasteful today.

“Do you still harbor resentment?”

At Jo Sang-won’s barbed words, Seong Gon’s face hardened. Though his former position had belonged to that of a fallen nation, for a subordinate to speak so arrogantly was outright insubordination.

“Watch your tongue! Do only your part.”

“Understood.”

Sang-won knew nothing he said would bend that iron will. He pitied the boy’s fate, but lacked the power to change it alone.

“According to Right Shadow, the boy has memorized the manual’s contents. If he goes to Jo Yang and spills everything, wouldn’t that be troublesome?”

This time he tried reasoning. Surely even Seong Gon would agree that securing Yun-seon first was safest.

“That would be fine as well.”

Seong Gon stroked his long beard indifferently. Even if Jo Yang obtained the text, interpreting it would take years. One would need knowledge of Ryeo’s script and deep martial training, a rare combination. Even if by chance someone deciphered it, the location remained a riddle. The chance was nearly zero.

“Do you not covet the two remaining stages of the Taiyi Divine Art? And the Eight Characters ¹ about the location—we don’t know them either. With the Sword God dead, only the boy is the key.”

Jo Sang-won pressed on. He wasn’t even sure if it was out of pity, or lingering loyalty to Ryeo.

“My ability ends at the fifth stage. As for the location—I’d rather it stay hidden forever.”

When Jo Sang-won began to object, Seong Gon swung his sleeve and turned away. His mind had been made the day Kang Yul-cheon rejected him and took Yun-seon instead. To him, Yun-seon never existed.

Unwilling to continue, Seong Gon strode toward the door.

“But if I may—just imagine.”

Jo Sang-won’s quiet voice reached his back.

“If the boy guards the scripture to the very end, what then?”

Seong Gon slowly turned and smiled faintly.

“If he has such iron will, I’ll consider it then.”

Then he turned away again, muttering to himself.

“But that will never be. Blood cannot be denied…”

“Your resolve is truly impressive.”

After Jo Sang-won infused qi into him, Yun-seon felt a bit of strength return. At least enough to descend the mountain.

“If it were me, I’d have confessed everything four years ago.”

Despite appearances, Jo Sang-won was rather talkative. After years of hiding his identity, perhaps he had much bottled up inside.

“I only thought, with no one left to protect me, I must suspect everyone.”

Still, Yun-seon had prayed his worries were unfounded. If Jo Yang’s warmth and Hyeongjin’s care had been sincere, he would have given his life in repayment. But his grim premonitions proved true.

“But never did I dream you, Sect Lord, would aid me.”

At this, Sang-won burst into loud laughter.

“Forgive me for not helping sooner. With my own troubles, I had to act cautiously.”

Hearing this, Yun-seon realized something puzzling.

“Sect Lord, how could a disciple of the Taiyi Divine Sect become Sect Lord of Dragon Gate?”

Knowing it might offend, he asked cautiously. Though it was impolite, his nature wouldn’t let him ignore a burning question.

“Do you know that a hundred years ago, this very region belonged to Ryeo?”

Sang-won paused. The underground route meant climbing many stairs. He was fine, but for tortured Yun-seon it was grueling.

“Ryeo was once a mighty nation. Before the royal family squandered its strength, not only Gyejeong, but also Muncheon and Hanjoo were its lands. Dragon Gate Sect’s roots too lie there. My family held its seat for generations.”

Sang-won quietly watched Yun-seon struggling to breathe. Perhaps it wasn’t something one could pin on anyone’s fault. The fall of Ryeo had been heaven’s will; but needing someone to blame just to endure, he had cursed and cursed again.

“I am half-Ryeo. My mother was Gyeong, and though I lived as Ryeo following my father, I was always troubled by identity. The two nations never did get along…”

Even while loyal to Ryeo, he had never been truly recognized. That he had never declared his nationality openly and come this far was proof of it.

“Still, I was always proud to be of Ryeo.”

Looking at his face, happy as if he had returned to the past, Yun-seon felt a tickle in his chest. He was surprised that the man who had always seemed gloomy and stern could be so cheerful and kind. At the same time, imagining the hardship of hiding his identity for so long, Yun-seon felt a bond stemming from shared suffering.

“The Cloud Sword of Ryeo was charged with guarding and aiding the king from the shadows, so their identity was always hidden. Thus, when Ryeo fell, it was only natural I was chosen as an infiltrator. That’s how I remained in Dragon Gate Sect, deceiving the Gyeong people for more than ten years.”

“But Sect Lord, even so—wasn’t it hard to avoid suspicion when you inherited the seat of Dragon Gate’s sect leader?”

At Yun-seon’s sharp question, Sang-won faltered. His eyes reddened, but soon he regained his composure, smiled brightly, and hooked his arm under Yun-seon’s to help him up.

“We must hurry. Jo Yang is presiding over the meeting, but he won’t drag it out for long. With your ribs broken, can you get through that narrow passage?”

The place Sang-won pointed to was the same rabbit hole Yun-seon had crawled through earlier. For him, struggling even to walk, it was impossible.

“Then we’ll have to take the longer way around.”

Seeing Yun-seon drenched in cold sweat, Sang-won relented. The Yongmun Sect’s underground paths branched into many routes, but if not through that hole, the safest exit was toward the sect leader’s inner quarters.

“Did your master ever tell you anything?”

“What do you mean?”

Yun-seon, unsure what Sang-won was asking, was bewildered.

“Have you never wondered why you keep getting entangled with the Taiyi Sect?”

This was indeed his greatest question. It wasn’t only Jo Sang-won—whether by coincidence with Jeok-woo, or through the Black Butterflies or Yu I-jeong, the Taiyi Sect people had constantly pressed upon him.

“I do wonder. Does it concern my birth?”

“Once we’re safe, I have something important to tell you.”

For a moment, it seemed a shadow crossed Sang-won’s face—but perhaps it was only the lantern he carried.

“Come! This way leads to my quarters. Through the back door we’ll reach the rabbit hole’s entrance again. If my letter was delivered, someone should be waiting to aid us beneath the cliff at Tiger Rock.”

“Tiger Rock? Wasn’t it Rabbit Rock?”

At Yun-seon’s question, Sang-won chuckled softly.

“The Gyeong folk call it that, but we call it Tiger Rock. In any case, if things go well, we’ll descend safely and reach the cave where Right Shadow was hiding.”

“What, then…?”

Looking at the startled Yun-seon, Sang-won wore an apologetic expression.

“It was also I who saved that wretch. Forgive me, but apologies must wait for another time.”

Growing anxious, he quickened his pace. Nearing the surface, they should have heard the vibrations of footsteps—but the silence was ominous.

‘Surely not… They can’t possibly know of the secret passage in my quarters…’

At last, they reached the passage’s entrance, beneath Sang-won’s bed. With a foreboding feeling, he drew in a deep breath. If need be, he’d leave Yun-seon in the tunnel and seal the exit. Seong Gon also knew of its existence—if anything happened, he would retrieve Yun-seon.

‘One… two… three.’

He gave Yun-seon a reassuring glance, counted to three inwardly, then opened the entrance. The bed shifted like a mechanism, instantly lifting Sang-won to the surface.

Sreung!

Sang-won unsheathed his sword just in case and scanned the surroundings, but thankfully there was no sign of anyone.

“Young Warrior Kang, come up!”

He worked the mechanism again, pulling Yun-seon up. At last, Yun-seon breathed the fresh surface air—it felt like he could breathe again.

“Thank you… Sect Lord…”

He managed only those words before collapsing on the floor. He knew they had to flee quickly but couldn’t lift even a finger. Checking his pulse, Sang-won fetched a pill from the bedside drawer and slipped it into his mouth.

“It’s a restorative pill. Even if it won’t go down, force yourself to swallow it.”

Yun-seon forced himself to chew and swallow the large pill. The bitter taste on an empty stomach made him gag, but he fought to keep it all down.

“Now we move.”

Sang-won checked outside, then returned and slung Yun-seon’s arm over his shoulder. He could have carried him on his back, but he wouldn’t risk letting go of his sword.

“I’ll surely repay this debt.”

“See that you don’t forget.”

With a warm smile, Sang-won steadied Yun-seon’s sagging body. Having infused him with much qi, he himself was weaker than usual, but the urgency left no choice. At last, they carefully opened the door to the inner quarters.

“You’re later than expected.”

“Ah!”

The two were struck dumb. Before the door stood none other than the Martial Alliance Leader Jo Yang, the sect leaders of the Five Great Mountain Swords, and the three Yong Brothers of Dragon Gate, glaring as if ready to devour them.

일수자천 (一手遮天), Covering the Sky with One Hand:

Someone who relies on power to deceive the public.