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Once there was a bird on a branch, all alone. He was so very lonely. He wanted a companion.
”Yah! Hurry up!”
Chung Myung whacked Baek Cheon on the head, urging him to pull the cart faster.
“Even a snail can pull this cart faster!”
Disgruntled, Baek Cheon scowled, his muscles straining to pull the heavy carts. Under his breath, he muttered complaints, quiet enough that you could barely hear them.
Sadly for him, Chung Myung did hear them, and he raised his fist.
“Aigoo, is the work too easy for little Dong Ryong? Should I make it harder? Everybody carry a boulder!”
All the other disciples despaired. If only Sasuk didn’t open his stupid mouth. They all turned to Baek Cheon and glared at him.
Feeling the weighted stares, Baek Cheon sweated nervously. It wasn’t his fault! It’s that devil, Chung Myung’s! He could not voice out any more grievances lest he gets punished with even more ‘training’.
“How much longer do we have to go?!”
”500 Li.”
”D-Did I hear that right?”
”Yes, 500 Li.”
All of them cried out, staring into the sky as if the heavens would tell them that they heard wrong. Chung Myung spared no sympathy for them and hit each of their heads.
”Get moving!”
How much longer did they have to suffer? They all silently wept. Regretting the day that this bastard entered Mount Hua.
Soon another bird came to join him. They chirped happily in the mornings and slept together in the evenings.
On their way, they passed Jo Gul’s family’s house. It flaunted riches and towered over them.
You see, their group mainly consisted of those who had never witnessed such luxury.Yu Iseol and Yoon Jong were orphans and so was Chung Myung.
However the ones that had grown up with their bellies full and an abundance of new clothes, didn’t feel too shocked.
Tang Soso was from the Tang Family and naturally had never seen such hardships like hunger.
Even Baek Cheon, despite leaving his family young to join Mount Hua who was teetering the edge of bankruptcy, had lived in a well off home.
Feeling vindictive, Chung Myung sneered at Jo Gul. His finger pointed at him.
”Wah! So you ate and bathed as you pleased while hungry orphans like us starved? No wonder you’re so weak! You’ve never faced no hardship.”
”Now, don’t be so hard on Jo Gul, he suffered along us when Mount Hua didn’t have anything!”
”Dong Ryong, Dong Ryong, don’t think you’re escaping too. I know you was also raised in a rich family, looking down on us for being poor!”
Baek Cheon spluttered. His face indignant. Why was the devil pointing at him?! He felt outraged.
”But I left my family!”
”Tut tut tut! Even worse! You decided to leave all that cosy life behind while we were barely surviving by begging!”
Giving up, Baek Cheon decided to ignore Chung Myung’s wild accusations. What made it really hard to ignore was the fact that Yoon Jong and Yu Iseol was nodding along.
”Even you samae!?”
Baek Cheon looked at her betrayed, wallowing in self pity. Soon the doors opened and Jo Gul’s father invited them for a feast.
Chung Myung gladly accepted and they gulped down the food and alcohol, looking like crazy bandits.
The one that looked the craziest was obviously Chung Myung, his face stuffed to the brim, belly round and bulging, the only sign of the feast that was there.
Well rested and their stomachs satisfied, they set off, with gifts from Jo Gul’s father. They began pulling the carts once more.
One day, the other bird flew away. He was alone again.
In the distance, they could see the Tang Family’s Manor come into view. The big arching gate opened, revealing the Tang Patriarch.
With a bright smile, he welcomed the Mount Hua disciples, treating them warmly. Releasing his stoic expression, he embraced his daughter.
”Soso-ya, are you happy?”
”Father, I’m very happy! Although I have much training to do, to catch up with Sago and Sasuk, I feel like I’ve gotten much stronger.”
”Haha, I’m proud of you! Alright, keep training well and working hard.”
The father-daughter reunion was cut short by Chung Myung. He impatiently tapped his foot.
”As sweet as this is, we have business to do.”
”Ah, yes. Tell me, what made you come here, your ‘letter’ didn’t tell me much.”
Before the journey, Chung Myung sent a very brief letter to the Tang Patriarch stating “Coming soon, prepare food and alcohol!”
Upon receiving the letter, Tang Gunak was confused but ordered servants to prepare food and alcohol as requested, regardless of the vagueness of the letter.
”Cold steel.”
”What?”
”We want to make swords out of cold steel.”
“Cold steel? Really?”
”We brought it here.”
”Where?”
Chung Myung pointed at the carts behind them. Walking up towards them, Tang Gunak pulled away the cloth, revealing the precious metal beneath.
His eyes widened, carefully touching the metal as if it would break with one single mistake.
”So can you do it?”
”Wha- I mean no. There’s some difficulty with that.”
”Huh? Why!?”
”The only person who could work with cold steel is…let’s just say not in his right mind.”
”No problem! I’ll find a way. Lead me to him.”
Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung in disbelief. He could not believe what he was saying. But if it’s him, it might be possible.
”Fine.”
”Great!”
Tang Gunak led them to the forge where there was a single old man, who was busy staring out the window.
”Great Elder! We have some guest for you.”
The old man did not reply, it was as if he hadn’t heard him.
”Great Elder!”
Still, no response.
“Ah-pyung!”
Chung Myung stepped forward, tapping the man on the shoulder. Miraculously he responded.
“Elder? You’re back! I knew you would come back.”
”Ah-pyung, I haven’t visited you in a long time. I’m sorry.”
”Elder don’t apologize! I knew you would come back, no matter how they said you died in the war, I knew you would come and find me. After all, you couldn’t let Grandpa be all alone.”
Chung Myung ruffled Tang Jopyung’s hair. The other disciples watched in horror.
”Yah! Chung Myung you can’t pretend to be the Plum Blossom Saint!”
The others were whispering ferociously. This bastard was pretending to be the plum blossom saint, somebody save them. Shaking their heads, they signaled to Chung Myung to stop.
But he didn’t stop, and even called the Great Elder an affectionate name ‘Ah-pyung’.
”Ah-pyung, could you create us some swords out of cold steel?”
”Anything for you elder!”
Tang Jopyung looked like was twenty years younger. He rushed to the cold steel and started to hammer vivaciously.
Chung Myung looked smug with himself. The others just shook their heads, not wanting to acknowledge what happened.
Night and day, day and night, the bird mourned, hoping to hear the sweet chirps of the one that once accompanied him.
Not long after, the swords were finished. Proudly, Tang Jopyung showed them off.
”Elder, here is your sword. I had yours made especially with the finest materials! After all, we should treat you with the highest respect.”
Few days earlier, Tang Jopyung rushed into a hidden cellar and demanded that the ‘thing’ be taken out.
Tang Gunak saw this and tried to stop him.
”Great Elder! That’s the precious ore of the Tang Family! Why are you using it for that bastard?!”
”Yah! This is for the Plum Blossom Saint! He protected us from the Magyo. If you call him bastard again, I’ll sew your mouth shut and chop off your tongue!”
Unable to retaliate, Tang Gunak resigned, handing over the obsidian ore to Tang Jopyung. Internally he shed tears at the lost of such a valuable thing for a bandit who extorted most of the Tang Family’s riches.
“Aigoo, Ah-pyung is giving me such a good thing! This is why you’re my favorite!”
Chung Myung looked at the sword with glee, tracing the handle. The sword scabbard had a green tassel attached to it.
”What is this green tassel?”
”To show its the work of a Tang blacksmith!”
”Ah, thank you Ah-pyung!”
All the other disciples held their swords with care. Baek Cheon sliced the air, the blade glimmering in the sunlight. It felt so light but also powerful.
They couldn’t help but look at the swords in awe.
”What are you gonna call your sword?”
”What?”
”Name your sword.”
Chung Myung contemplated. He stared at the sword as if it would name itself. His eyes found his way to the green tassel, which reminded him of a certain person, who had protected him, even in his final moments, just like how this sword would protect him now.
”Dark Fragrance Sword.”
”Ah! A fitting name!”
Tang Jopyung smiled, while his eyes glistened, revealing the deep emotions he felt.
Whilst the others felt that this was a weird name, they decided not to remark on it. They all agreed on something. Never let Chung Myung name anything ever again.
Seasons passed, the bird never left. He sat there, waiting.
Their mission was complete, so it was time to return back to Mount Hua. Well almost. They couldn’t leave without a feast!
Piles of food were served, rich with Sichuan cuisine, accompanied by sweet plum blossom wine.
Chung Myung showed no hesitation in diving into the mountains of food and chugging down the wine. The other disciples ate just as lively but with a tad bit more decorum.
Tang Soso was having a heartfelt conversation with her father, happy to finally be reunited. Whilst her brothers listened intently to the stories that she shared.
Yu Iseol quietly listened to the banter between Yun Jong and Jo Gul, silently enjoying the dishes served. Baek Cheon talked to one of the Tang members about swordsmanship, sharing experiences.
It was a peaceful atmosphere, however Chung Myung’s mind kept wondering to a certain person.
This kind of thing was exactly what he wanted. He would’ve fit right in. Alas, he wasn’t here, so he would have to enjoy it for him.
And waiting,
Chung Myung quietly left the room, a bottle of alcohol in hand. Everyone else was busy passed out from too much food and wine.
He stared at the clear night sky, stars twinkling in the darkness. The moon hung low, shaped like a crescent.
The breeze ruffled Chung Myung’s hair. He took a swig from the bottle of alcohol, sitting on the pavilion.
Bo-ya
Chung Myung raised the bottle to the sky.
I miss you.
Chung Myung then took a sip of the alcohol, careful to not let any spill.
Why was only I brought back to life?
Chung Myung set the bottle on the ground.
You shouldn’t have died.
Chung Myung took another swig.
Why did you die?
Then, another gulp of alcohol.
Atleast I should’ve died with you.
Chung Myung wiped his mouth.
If it wasn’t for that bastard Cheon Ma.
He let out a sigh, the alcohol making him drowsy.
We could’ve gone on that trip.
Chung Myung lay his head on the ground.
We could’ve been happy.
He closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. His final thought was of brown silken locks and emerald eyes.
And waiting.
Chung Myung was found passed out on the pavilion. No disciple dared to wake him. They shudder to think what would happen to them if they woke this devil.
Thankfully, to their luck, Chung Myung woke up, his eyes blearily opening.
“Chung Myung, are you awake?”
Stretching, Chung Myung yawned before nodding his head.
”Start packing, we are leaving today.”
Hearing those words, Chung Myung reluctantly got up and started to gather his things.
Like usual, he tied his hair with a green ribbon and grabbed his new sword.
Quickly, he packed up everything and headed to the front gate, where everyone was waiting.
Tang Gunak stood, holding a box.
”Chung Myung, here is a gift for your Sect Leader. Please deliver it safely.”
”Of course I will, of course.”
”Now, farewell friend, may we meet again in the future.”
All of them bowed, showing respect.
Then,
”Stop!”
They all turned around to see Tang Zhan, out of breath, running to them.
”Please stop!”
”What is it, son?”
”Tang Bo woke up!”
Chung Myung rushed forward and grabbed Tang Zhan by the robe. The rest of the disciples moved to stop him.
”Say. That. Again.”
”T-Tang Bo woke up.”
The other bird came back.
Chung Myung couldn’t believe his ears. Tang Bo? The one who died in his arms? The one that he saw coughing out blood. The one that he felt his heartbeat fade away.
There was so much blood, and he couldn’t stop it. All he could do was infuse his qi and it did nothing.
Then his heart shattered.
”Cousin woke up? From his 3 year coma?”
Tang Soso’s voice rang out in the silence, bring Chung Myung back to reality.
He released his hold on Tang Zhan and backed away from him. His hands were shaking.
It wasn’t his Tang Bo.
And apologized for taking so long,
How could it be his Tang Bo? His Tang Bo was dead. He died in his arms. All because he didn’t know how to save him.
Then,
A familiar presence approached them.
Chung Myung felt it. He knew those footsteps, he knew that heartbeat, he knew that qi.
But he couldn’t turn around.
He was afraid. Afraid of being wrong. Afraid of getting his hopes up. Afraid of being let down.
To return.
The footsteps stopped.
All Chung Myung could hear was his own heart pounding.
Then,
”Hyungnim?”
He turned around. And he saw what he had longed to see.
The same brown hair.
The same emerald eyes.
The same dimples.
He ran, straight into his arms.
”Bo-ya!”
Tears streamed down his face. He inhaled the scent of herbs and spices, finally where he belonged.
Chung Myung clung to this fragile body, so like his Tang Bo, yet so different.
Gazing into Tang Bo’s face, he took in every detail. He soaked up every bit of his presence.
He collapsed from the relief of not being the only one in the world who knew the war.
From not being the only one carrying that burden. From the knowledge that he wasn’t alone anymore. From the fact that Tang Bo was back.
Tang Bo caught him as his legs gave up. And they sunk to the ground, locked in embrace.
Chung Myung cupped Tang Bo’s face and kissed him with a burning passion.
But then, the kisses turned tender and sweet, as if to savor this moment.
Now, Chung Myung was truly alive. He was running on the embers of a distant promise and now it was as if the fire in him had been relit.
All the others could do was look at this heart wrenching reunion with confusion.
Confusion at why their sagil was kissing this Tang member, confusion at why he was weeping so hard and confusion at what they couldn’t understand.
That Chung Myung finally had a reason to exist.
He didn’t care that everybody was watching, for he had Tang Bo in his arms, alive and breathing. That was all he needed. For him to truly live.
Now, two birds perched on a branch, forever keeping each other company.