Chapter 112

Chapter 112

The execution grounds.

“I don’t understand.”

At the Sado Alliance Leader’s words as he sat with his chin propped up and a languid expression, Daesageom, who had been standing wearing a bamboo hat, frowned.

“What don’t you understand? That Seonwoo Gang will die because of your reckless game? Or that Baek Riyun abandoned Seonwoo Gang?”

“My, there are thorns in your words. Daesageom seems quite angry.”

Seeing the Sado Alliance Leader shrug at Daesageom’s pointed words, Daesageom ground his teeth. Because the situation was different from what the Sado Alliance Leader had said.

“It was the Alliance Leader who said this martial world needs as many talented people as possible. It was also the Alliance Leader who said there was no plan to kill Seonwoo Gang.”

Seonwoo Gang will not die.

The Sado Alliance Leader had declared it so. Baek Riyun would absolutely not abandon Seonwoo Gang, and would surely come to make a deal or take some kind of action.

These were the words of the Sado Alliance Leader, whose insight was so outstanding one might think he could see the future. That’s why, even without being certain, Daesageom hadn’t stopped the Sado Alliance Leader’s actions. Since they were letting him go anyway, it would be better if it benefited the Sado Alliance.

But what is the current situation?

“The execution is soon. Seonwoo Gang’s time to die is not far off.”

“Mm.”

“There’s no way to stop it now. Unless the Murim Alliance Leader himself comes and grants a pardon.”

If they were going to use a pardon, there would have been no need to drag it out until now.

The moment Seonwoo Gang left the Medicine Hall and headed toward the execution grounds, the stage where something could be done through diplomacy between the Sado Alliance and the Murim Alliance had passed. All that remained was Seonwoo Gang’s death.

When Daesageom pointed this out, the Sado Alliance Leader, who had been silently looking at Daesageom for a moment, chuckled pisik.

“It seems Daesageom cherished his former disciple quite a bit. I didn’t think you’d protest this much.”

“……I simply don’t want to see a fish I released enter another net and meet a futile end.”

“Isn’t that what cherishing means? I feel this every time, but Daesageom, you live such a complicated life.”

“But still. That’s not the part I don’t understand.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who seemed to be teasing Daesageom with chuckles pisikeori for a moment, propped his chin up again and looked straight ahead. The Murim Alliance members moving busily to execute the sentence.

“Baek Riyun will save Seonwoo Gang. This is a decided fact.”

“……In this situation?”

“That’s right. Even in this situation.”

Humans don’t change in an instant unless there’s considerable shock.

From the Basic Martial Arts plagiarism trial until now, Baek Riyun had chosen to break through all approaching hardships head-on. Even though there were clearly methods to go around easily if he would just accept a little damage.

Then what is the reason for that?

It’s simple. Because that’s the kind of being Baek Riyun is.

“The human called Baek Riyun doesn’t know compromise.”

“You mean he lacks flexibility?”

“No, it’s not that kind of story. His thought structure is extremely flexible. He just doesn’t use that flexibility of thought to make excuses for himself.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who paused for a moment, continued speaking.

“Let me give an example.”

“When you’re making one gift to give to someone, you can spend one unit of time to make something with ninety-nine quality, or spend ten units of time to make something with one hundred quality. The quality difference is so minute that no one but the maker would know. Which would Daesageom choose?”

“……It would depend on the person, but generally the former.”

“The reason?”

“Because it’s easier, and there probably wouldn’t be much difference anyway.”

The Sado Alliance Leader nodded in agreement at Daesageom’s words and smiled ssik.

“Right. That’s what normal people do.”

‘This is enough. This is sufficient.’

When faced with a difficult situation, people tell themselves that. That they’ve done everything they can. That doing more than this is impossible.

It’s true that occasionally there are those who surpass that realm. Because whether to compromise or not varies greatly depending on the importance of the matter, not everyone compromises in every situation. However.

Baek Riyun is different.

“From what I’ve seen, the option of compromising doesn’t exist for Baek Riyun in the first place.”

“He always pursues only the best result. No matter how dangerous the path, no matter how difficult the path, unconditionally. To an eerie degree.”

It’s like an obsession. An unshakeable conviction. Something like madness that maintains the human called ‘Baek Riyun’.

“For Baek Riyun, abandoning Seonwoo Gang is ‘something he cannot do’. Unless there’s absolutely no method, the option of not doing it when a method exists doesn’t exist.”

“But Baek Riyun has kicked away all those methods until now. What does this mean?”

“Isn’t it simply that he gave up?”

“That’s a story only possible for ordinary people . People like you and me.”

“In the end, he clearly has some method.”

The execution that has arrived at the threshold. Helpers who show no signs of moving. The unfamiliar execution method called Paenghyeong .

“I just can’t figure it out. How Baek Riyun will save Seonwoo Gang.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had been looking around assessing the situation, wore an interested smile on his lips. The Alliance members who were already finishing execution preparations.

“It’s about to begin.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who sat with his arm resting on his knee and chin propped up, tilted his head as he watched the Alliance members transporting a cauldron large enough for a person to enter. Water soon rising to fill it.

“Let’s watch. How he does it.”

Before long, Seonwoo Gang’s execution had approached right before them.

What is humanity ?

Humanity refers to the principles that must be upheld as a human being. Generally, it means not committing anti-human acts that would make anyone frown and practicing good .

This term also applies to punishment. Humanity  in punishment means mercy toward the one receiving the punishment.

Therefore, generally, what’s called a humane punishment most often refers to the least painful punishment.

This is only what’s meant generally, at least.

“How do you feel right now, Death row inmate Seonwoo Gang?”

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

A moment after declaring the start of the execution ceremony.

At Baek Riyun’s question, Seonwoo Gang, who had entered the large cauldron and was half-submerged in water, looked at Baek Riyun with eyes as if his soul had left him. Seonwoo Gang’s appearance, with eyes like a rotten pollack as if asking what he’s even asking.

“Why Paenghyeong …….”

At his appearance, as if he had entrusted his back to someone he trusted only to be stabbed with a knife, Baek Riyun chuckled pisik and patted Seonwoo Gang’s back tuktuk. Though he’s not the one who should say this since he’s the one who made it this way, the sight was quite amusing.

“Didn’t I say Paenghyeong is the most humane punishment? It’s much better than beheading or hanging.”

“……Boiling a person in hot water is a humane punishment?”

“The standards of humanity  differ depending on the person. What’s the most terrible punishment to someone can be the most humane punishment to you.”

“Isn’t that sophistry?”

“What you believe must be the truth.”

Everything is relative.

Seonwoo Gang, who had been looking at Baek Riyun as if dumbfounded by his words, bent his standing knees and sat back down into the cauldron that had been filled with water. The water, whose height seemed to have been matched quite well, rose up to the nape of his neck, lapping gently.

“Actually, it doesn’t matter anymore at this point.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Either way…… dying is the same no matter how you die.”

Seonwoo Gang, who answered lightly, wore a bitter smile and scratched his cheek.

“Though I’m saying this after things have come to this, I actually think I’m grateful.”

“Grateful?”

“Yes. You might find it strange, but really.”

The spy Seonwoo Gang will be executed.

From the moment he heard those words, Seonwoo Gang had been prepared to die. Even if Baek Riyun could save him, he hoped he wouldn’t. Why?

It’s an extremely simple story. Because it was the Murim Alliance that decided on Seonwoo Gang’s execution.

“The Murim Alliance is cruel.”

“Whether Orthodox Path or Demonic Path, they’re bound to reject those who oppose their will. Like how I, someone from the Demonic Path, was discovered and sentenced to execution.”

From the Orthodox Path’s perspective, he’s a traitor. Even if he hadn’t betrayed them, a dangerous element who might betray them at any time.

It’s not strange to be killed on discovery. No one questions that part, and he understands that too. However.

What about his fellow disciples?

“Spies are traitors. Those who defend spies…… are also likely to become traitors. Isn’t that right?”

“One could see it that way.”

“Yes.”

Seeing Baek Riyun respond nonchalantly, Seonwoo Gang smiled faintly and glanced slightly at the Muryeon Hall disciples who were watching him from behind Baek Riyun.

“Those guys. They’re my friends, but aren’t they such fools?”

“Because they only think about what’s righteous, what’s right.”

During the Hundred Demons Night Parade.

All the Muryeon Hall disciples agreed to protect Akyang. That wasn’t the petty desire for glory of greenhorns, but a resolution shown knowing it was a truly serious situation and that they might die.

His fellow disciples don’t hesitate when it comes to practicing what’s right. As long as they can be certain it’s right, they absolutely won’t waver.

Then what about now?

“They’re guys who can risk their lives for people they don’t know. If it’s someone they know…… it would probably be even more so.”

The hot-tempered Oh Ryeong would bring it up first, Unjin would agree, and Seomun Cheok would devise a detailed plan.

That plan might be as bold as what they’ve learned from Baek Riyun until now. Perhaps they might succeed and save him.

“That must not happen.”

Right. That must not happen.

Seonwoo Gang, who wore a bitter smile at the scene drawn in his mind, shook his head.

“I will die as a spy. A spy of the Sado Alliance who infiltrated the Murim Alliance.”

“Me avoiding execution is the same as avoiding the Murim Alliance’s announcement. It would damage their honor.”

How people live is the same everywhere, and not liking those who differ from one’s own thoughts doesn’t discriminate between black and white.

“If those guys ‘cross the line’ here, the Murim Alliance will punish them. No.”

Seonwoo Gang, who paused for a moment, continued bitterly.

“If it only ends with punishment, that would be fortunate. At minimum, expulsion from the Murim Alliance. At worst…… they could be designated as public enemies. Isn’t that right?”

An undeniable fact.

Seeing Baek Riyun answering with silence, Seonwoo Gang, who wore a bitter smile, continued speaking.

“I don’t want to drag all my fellow disciples to hell just to save myself. If the Sect Master hadn’t been here, if the Sect Master hadn’t moved as if he would take some action, it surely would have become that way.”

“That’s why I want to thank you. Because I can at least leave cleanly at the end.”

Seeing Seonwoo Gang awkwardly scratching his head, Baek Riyun wore a smile so faint you wouldn’t notice unless you looked closely. And the question that followed.

“It’s almost time.”

“Do you have any last words?”

“Last words……?”

“Yes.”

Seonwoo Gang, who seemed to ponder for a moment at Baek Riyun’s appearance asking for last words, glanced at his fellow disciples and answered.

“I don’t.”

“You don’t?”

“Yes.”

Last words remain deeply in memory.

‘I don’t want to remain.’

He doesn’t want to remain in his fellow disciples’ memories in a miserable state.

The moment of death faintly, the memories of life vividly.

“I want to die like smoke.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s appearance steeling his resolve, Baek Riyun nodded and made eye contact with the Changcheon Corps member who had been standing holding a torch.

“If that’s your wish.”

The moment the Changcheon Corps member brought the torch to the firewood laid beneath the cauldron at Baek Riyun’s signal.

“As of this time, the sentence will be carried out.”

Flames.

Began to rise.

‘Now…….’

Seonwoo Gang, who had been sitting watching the flames gradually spreading from firewood to firewood, slowly closed his eyes. The heat gradually rising to his nose tip that wasn’t submerged.

‘Now, it’s really the end.’

There wasn’t a moment when he didn’t tremble in anxiety.

He trembled in fear that his identity would be discovered and he’d be treated as a traitor by his comrades, and that if his identity wasn’t discovered, he’d end up killing his martial siblings and master with his own hands.

He stayed awake through countless nights with open eyes, and when everyone talked about their dreams, he kept his mouth shut. Because dreams were too distant a story for him. Because they were like mirages he couldn’t grasp.

What was the result?

‘It’s neither.’

He won’t have to kill his martial siblings and master. Despite his spy identity being discovered, his fellow disciples still consider him a comrade.

Could there be a death better than this? Could there be a better end than this?

‘This is enough.’

Right. This is enough.

This is the best. This is precisely the ‘best ending’ he could meet.

──Really, is that so?

Seonwoo Gang, who felt the water temperature gradually warming, wore a bitter smile. And at that moment, Baek Riyun’s low voice was heard.

“Do you know this?”

“Muryeon Hall disciples originally have a tradition where, after becoming graduating students and completing the exchange tournament, they get treated to alcohol and meat by their seniors.”

“Yes……?”

“There’s the problem that you have to drink alcohol to death, but it’s quite an enjoyable tradition. Don’t you want to participate?”

“……Saying this now?”

“When you’re about to die, there’s nothing you can’t say, is there?”

At Baek Riyun’s playful question, Seonwoo Gang, who burst into laughter pisik without realizing it, pidipped his nose bridge into the water that had warmed up and pulled it out. And the answer that flowed out immediately after.

“I do want to participate. If I could have participated.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Though not as much as Oh Ryeong or Unjin, I do like events quite a bit.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s appearance, answering with a bitter smile, Baek Riyun nodded, looked around for a moment, then placed his hand on his waist.

“Then you should participate. If you want to participate.”

“……Pardon?”

The moment Baek Riyun’s words fell.

“At this place, Paenghyeong was executed, and the martial artist ‘Geumgeomryong ‘ died.”

Together with a small flash of light.

“Now it’s time to come back to life. Seonwoo Gang.”

The cauldron that held Seonwoo Gang.

Split in two just like that.

Kwaaaaang──!