Cheon Myeong had often dueled with Saseong in the past.
Of course, after Cheon Myeong beca the leader and Saseong beca the head of the Law Enforcent Hall, they no longer dueled as they used to, but there was an action that Saseong had shown to Cheon Myeong every ti they dueled.
"Let's create a sign to indicate surrender to each other."
Saying that it was faster to show with a movent than with words, Saseong had created a sign that only the two of them knew.
Although Cheon Myeong had thought that such a sign would not be necessary, once they had made it, they had used it quite often in duels.
Of course, since Cheon Myeong had actually won most of the duels, he had seen Saseong use it more often than he had used it himself.
Yes, it was that very posture right in front of his eyes.
"..."
Seeing the sign that Saseong had often shown him in the past right in front of his eyes, Cheon Myeong reflexively changed his sword path.
Of course, if the sign had been just a little similar, he would have thrust his sword into Yu Eunseong's body without hesitation. But no matter how he looked at it, it was not to the extent that it had been created by chance.
An action taken with a clear understanding of the aning of that sign.
Just by showing the sign at the crucial mont, Cheon Myeong couldn't help but have that thought.
'This sign is only known to Saseong and . But why is Yu Eunseong...'
From the circumstances, it seed almost certain that Yu Eunseong knew the aning of the sign properly.
If so, why did Yu Eunseong know this sign?
Especially since he had co to the era of a hundred years ago, it was unreasonable to think that Saseong had told Yu Eunseong.
"Fortunately, you recognized it."
At that mont, Yu Eunseong said to Cheon Myeong.
Since their faces were so close that they could feel each other's breath, Cheon Myeong could clearly see Yu Eunseong's expression.
And the mont he saw her expression, Cheon Myeong's doubt could only grow bigger.
'Why... is she looking at with such a happy expression?'
Yu Eunseong was smiling.
To Cheon Myeong, such an appearance of Yu Eunseong couldn't help but feel awkward and strange.
Because Yu Eunseong was a person famous for not smiling usually.
Even though they had spent a long ti together when they had headed to Namgang, Cheon Myeong had never seen Yu Eunseong's smiling face.
"..."
To think that such a Yu Eunseong was now smiling at him as if she were happy to see him. Moreover, an unknown longing was even felt in that smile.
'Fortunately, you recognized it...?'
Usually, in this situation, the opponent would not be smiling. Especially if it were Yu Eunseong, who was famous for not smiling usually.
And the fact that she had made the sign that only Saseong and he knew, and the words that Yu Eunseong had just muttered to him.
Cheon Myeong chewed on all these things inwardly and was lost in thought for a mont.
"...!"
At that mont, his two eyes widened as if he had rembered sothing.
Although he thought it didn't make sense even after thinking about it himself, when he considered all the circumstances, that was the only conclusion that ca out.
"You... are you perhaps Saseong?"
Cheon Myeong asked with surprised eyes.
Then, after a mont of silence, Yu Eunseong opened her mouth while still maintaining her smile.
"...Yes, Young Master. No... Leader."
As he heard the confirmation from Yu Eunseong's mouth, Cheon Myeong's face beca blank.
'You an I wasn't the only one who ca back to a hundred years ago?'
Why hadn't he thought of that?
Although he didn't know the reason why he had co to the past, it was sothing that could be expected if he had thought about it a little, that the target might not be just him.
"..."
Of course, even if he had had that speculation, he would not have thought that Yu Eunseong was Saseong.
Although there were various reasons for that, the biggest reason was that her appearance had completely changed.
'This person... is Saseong?'
To be honest, he still couldn't believe it.
The Saseong in his mory was a man, although he was quite handso.
Unless one had divine powers, how could one know that the woman in front of him was a bearded old man in the past?
In fact, if she hadn't shown the sign that only the two of them knew, he would never have believed it even if Yu Eunseong had revealed this fact herself.
"Really... are you Saseong?"
Cheon Myeong asked again.
As if she had felt sothing from that question, Yu Eunseong answered, slightly avoiding his gaze as if she were a little embarrassed.
"Yes... that's right."
"...Really?"
"...Really."
"..."
An awkward silence.
Since Cheon Myeong also felt embarrassed to ask any more, he decided to stop this question now.
'Now I know why she wanted to have a duel with , even challenging to a ranking match.'
The only ans by which Yu Eunseong could reveal her identity would have been that sign.
In fact, if it weren't for that sign, Cheon Myeong would never have thought that Yu Eunseong was Saseong even at this mont.
Since the only ti she could use the sign was when they were having a duel, from Yu Eunseong's point of view, she would have wanted to show the sign even if it ant having a ranking match.
'Co to think of it... how did this person know my identity?'
Even if he could know by seeing the sign, on what basis could Yu Eunseong have known that he was Jangcheon?
For a mont, Cheon Myeong had that question, but he couldn't think deeply anymore as he heard the voices from the surroundings.
"What on earth are the two of them doing?"
"It was a flow where Young Master Cheon Myeong was finishing it, but did he perhaps let her live on purpose?"
"It seems they're talking to each other. Ugh... I can't hear what they're saying."
Cheon Myeong realized that the arena had beco noisy and realized that he was still in the middle of a ranking match.
'First... I should finish this.'
Since the two who had been fighting so fiercely until a while ago were now still without any movent, people would naturally have questions.
And since a man and a woman were lying close to each other's faces, doesn't the picture look quite strange?
Of course, the reality was not that... but there was no way the other people here could know the inside story.
"When I get up, you surrender."
"..."
"Let's finish the ranking match first and then talk."
"I understand."
Hearing the answer, Cheon Myeong stood up from his spot.
At the sa ti, Cheon Myeong, who drew the sword that was deeply embedded in the floor. And as he put the drawn sword into its scabbard, the crowd couldn't help but look at him with puzzlent.
"...?"
The match wasn't even over, so why was he putting his sword away?
While the crowd was thinking that, seeing Cheon Myeong's action, Yu Eunseong, who had stood up from her spot, shouted with a voice that everyone could hear.
"I have lost!"
"...!"
"I surrender!"
What, what is it...?
A confrontation that had ended too anticlimactically compared to the intense beginning.
At Yu Eunseong's surrender, no one opened their mouth for a while.
***
A late night past midnight. Cheon Myeong was moving sowhere, hiding his presence.
Rustle-
Cheon Myeong's movents were as careful as a thief's.
Since the clothes he was wearing were also of a dark color overall, if he were to wear a mask on top of that, it seed that he would have nothing to say even if he were mistaken for a thief.
"..."
The place Cheon Myeong was going to now was a place called Cheonjeongbong.
Although Cheonjeongbong was just one of the many peaks in the Heavenly Mountains, Cheon Myeong had gone here quite often in the past.
The reason for that was because the sunrise seen from Cheonjeongbong was quite beautiful.
Since he had gone there alone whenever he wanted to blankly look at the sunrise, the only people who knew about that place were Cheon Myeong and just one other person.
'It's been a long ti since I've gone there.'
Whenever he was at Cheonjeongbong, avoiding everyone's eyes, Saseong had always co to catch him.
At that ti, he had been quite displeased that Saseong had found out his secret place, but to think that it would be used in this way.
"Tonight at midnight. Let's et at Cheonjeongbong."
Cheon Myeong had said that before parting with Yu Eunseong.
The only people who knew about Cheonjeongbong were himself and Saseong.
If Yu Eunseong was really Saseong, she would surely rember that place.
'If Yu Eunseong is there, I won't have to doubt anymore.'
This was the final confirmation.
Of course, although he had a certain degree of confidence to the point where he didn't need to do this confirmation, isn't it better to be as cautious as possible in all things?
Since it was that hard to believe, he had no choice but to go through several confirmation processes.
'I'm almost there...'
As he got closer to Cheonjeongbong, Cheon Myeong began to gradually reduce his speed.
And he carefully walked to Cheonjeongbong with his presence completely concealed.
"..."
She's there.
A woman standing under a huge tree.
Cheon Myeong silently watched Yu Eunseong, who was looking at the moon, while hiding his body in the bushes.
'Really... it's Saseong.'
There were nurous trees on Cheonjeongbong.
But for Yu Eunseong to be standing under that tree, of all places, was sothing that would be absolutely impossible unless she was Saseong.
Because the place where Cheon Myeong used to watch the sunrise was always on top of that tree.
To be waiting under that tree just by hearing the na Cheonjeongbong could be considered as knowing that fact accurately.
"Leader! We must go now!"
That was the last mory of Saseong, shouting at him like that.
As the days went by and the Demonic Cult was on the path of decline, the people around him had also gradually left his side.
But at that ti, the only person he could trust and who had stayed by his side was Saseong.
A close friend and a loyal subordinate.
Saseong was a truly precious existence to Cheon Myeong.
Thump- thump-
At that mont, Cheon Myeong slowly walked out of the bushes.
Only then did Yu Eunseong notice Cheon Myeong's presence and look at that side. And she smiled brightly, just as she had shown at the Nine Heavens Martial Arts Stage.
"Leader!"
To dare to call Cheon Myeong that, if soone had seen this, they might have been startled right away.
However, for Yu Eunseong, this was the correct title.
The one and only leader in Yu Eunseong's heart. That was only one person, both then and now.
"..."
Even at Yu Eunseong's happy voice, Cheon Myeong just walked silently.
"Leader...?"
At his unusual appearance, Yu Eunseong approached Cheon Myeong with a puzzled face.
And the mont the distance between the two beca close, Cheon Myeong suddenly pulled Yu Eunseong into a tight embrace.
"L-Leader!"
As Cheon Myeong suddenly hugged her so tightly, Yu Eunseong was flustered.
But soon, the sound of Cheon Myeong's sobbing was heard in her ear.
Hearing that sound, Yu Eunseong couldn't say anything.
'Yes... the Leader also had this side to him.'
How emotional had she been when she had beco sure that Cheon Myeong was Jangcheon?
That would be the sa for Cheon Myeong.
Although she had not shown it because there were eyes watching, since there was no one watching now, it would be okay to just be faithful to her current emotions.
Yu Eunseong silently patted Cheon Myeong's back.
At the sa ti, as she continued to listen to Cheon Myeong's sobbing voice, she felt so emotional that she thought she might cry.
"Saseong..."
"Yes, Leader..."
"How... how did that happen?"
"...?"
What?
At the sa ti as that thought, Yu Eunseong's hand, which was patting Cheon Myeong's back, stopped.
"How did that disappear, my friend!"
"..."
Hearing those words, the tears that had been welling up in Yu Eunseong's eyes went right back in.
(End of Chapter)
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