Work Text:
Years and years after the second demonic war, Cheong Myeong drinks in his old hideout.
Huh, how funny is it that I’m hiding from a Sect Leader in both lives, here?
He sighs, trying to shake off the feeling – only here for a little solitude, something so hard to come by these days.
Hwasan is so crowded nowadays. With new faces, new buildings, new names – the world has transformed.
Even his chicks have changed.
Not only have they matured, just as Cheong Myeong hoped, learned to guide others, they can move forward even without him leading the way, and as such, they've become adults.
But even their appearances have changed; years and years have passed. Cheong Myeong has already noticed some white streaks in Yoon Jong’s hair – Jo Geol not far behind.
He feels as if he should treat them as adults.
He takes another swig from the bottle and gazes at the horizon, where the figures of the new, younger generation struggle to keep up with the training regimen led by their Cheong sasuks.
There's something he wants to say, something that has always weighed on him invisibly. He can lean on them now.
//
“Everyone else was busy, it's only us.” Baek Cheon says, glancing at everyone gathered: Yu Iseol, Yun Jong, Jo Geol and half of the Cheong disciples – including Cheong Myeong himself.
“It’s okay.” Cheong Myeong walks off, and the rest automatically follow.
They all exchange glances.
Is he okay?
It seems serious.
Yun Jong sighs, and they all walk in silence, unsure of what to say.
Suddenly, he stops. Baek Cheon at the front, not expecting it, stops, causing everyone behind him to walk into each other, creating a human pile.
Cheong Myeong, with his back to them, unknowing of the situation starts: “I have something to tell you.”
He breathes in.
And lets it out.
“... I’m the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.”
“...”
“FUCK!”
Cheong Myeong freezes. They, excluding Baek Cheon who looks as if the final puzzle piece fell into place, had a face of pure distraught.
“Why?”
“Wha-”
“Why would you be him?” Cheong Myeong stares at Jo Geol’s stressed face, who continues, “I mean it's much more plausible for you to be from the demonic cult-” “The what.” “- because you know so much about it!”
Pulling at his hair, he keeps blabbering, the rest of the five swords unable to stop him due to shock: “And, and, the majority betted on that anyway…”
“...”
Realising what he said, Jo Geol tries to laugh it off.
“Um, Cheong Myeong-”
“Bet?” Cheong Myeong’s face visibly twitches. “Demonic Cult?”
“Wow! The sun is high in the sky- I better uh, run off-” Cheong Myeong grabs him by the scruff of the neck.
“BEEEEEEEEEEEEEET?”
Gul-a, why do you never know when to shut your mouth…
The rest of the Five Swords who came to his senses, realised he, the demon, was mad and began to run off – to no avail – as Cheong Myeong, while holding Jo Geol, immediately kicked all them in the back causing them to all fall over. (The rest of the Cheong disciples, knowing he’d be distracted by the five swords, run away without looking back.)
“W-wait! Cheong Myeong!” Baek Cheon blurted out, “Are you really the Geomjun?”
Dragging Jo Geol, Cheong Myeong walks up to Baek Cheon pulling him up by the front of his clothes. “What, so you can trade your money around?”
“I don’t-” even know what you're talking about… And suddenly, Baek Cheon saw the cloudless sky. All he could think of is how beautiful it was.
//
Thoroughly beaten up, the Five Swords laid there, dreaming of another life.
“Ahem…”
What does this bastard want from us now?
One day, one day, I’ll take the head off this guy…
Seriously, it’s been decades, why hasn’t he changed!
Watching four matching glares come his way, Cheong Myeong felt annoyed, until he remembered the situation that caused such a beating.
“What is this bet you speak of?”
“...”
Cheong Myeong raised his fist again.
“S-so, um, you know how you never explain anything, right?!” Jo Geol, who sat up, gulped. “We- we just wanted to guess why you are... like this? So there was-"
“What were the options?”
Yun Jong, knowing they would get beaten even more, if they told him the options, closed his eyes.
“What were the options.”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Jo Geol spoke up, trying to distract him: “There were others, other than us, who also bet on this!”
Wow… No hesitation… How fickle of you.
Cheong Myeong lifted a singular eyebrow, cracking his hands, he asked: “who?”
“The Nokrim King…”
//
Im Sobyeong walked in, fanning himself. Seeing the Five swords, he closed his fan with a click.
“So, I heard of this betting pool?”
“... How did you hear of it..”
Opening his fan again, he covered the bottom half of his face: “I have my ways.”
… He definitely just overheard it…
Seeing the dirty looks, he cleared his throat.
“Let me bid.”
Jo Geol, being a merchant, stepped up, pulling out a book. “How much, and on what?”
“50 silver taels.” Im Sobyeong paused. “On him being Jang Ilso’s long lost brother.”
//
“.. The Young Lord.. Uh, and also the rest of his family…”
//
Seeing Im Sobyeong walk up to him alone, shocked Nagmung Dowi and the rest of the family who were eating.
“How is the young lord, on this fine and summery day?” He says, slotting himself right next to Dowi.
“…” Dowi narrowed his eyes. He’s up to something.
“… Good..”
“Sure, sure! Just a quick question,” he continued, putting his arm around Nagmung Dowi’s back, “have you heard of the rumours of Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon’s secret past?
“... No?”
“Well isn’t it curious, that kid, practically half of our age, is so sharp?”
Nagmung Dowi slowly nodded.
“It’s a common rumour that he’s from the Demonic Cult…” Im Sobyeong opened his fan, fanning his face.
“W-what!” Shocked, Nagmung Dowi brushes off his arm. “You Sapa, what are you trying to say!”
Sending a pointed look towards Dowi, he rebuts: “Of course, I would never believe such defamation! Have you seen his reaction to the word Magyo?”
Seeing the shivers of Nagmung family, he puts his fan to his chin, as if in deep thought. “Although, I’m not sure if the Nagmung Family would disagree with such statements…”
“What! No, how could you ever think that!”
“Hwasan Geomhyeop has that title for a reason!”
He continued, ignoring everyone’s immediate backlash. “I would bet 100 silver taels, that Cheong Myeong is actually Jang Ilso’s long lost brother!”
Fuelled by his hatred, Nagmung Dowi blurts out: “B-but they do not even look alike!”
“So? Do all siblings share the same features?”
Dowi, looking around the table, could not refute him.
“Either way, it doesn’t matter. Their shared trait of their smartness overrules such trivial facts. Do you think there could be two, unrelated geniuses in one era?”
Seeing everyone in deep thought, Im Sobyeong smirks. Emphasizing his words with a tap on the table, he says: “100. Silver. Taels.”
“Ugh! Why do you keep insisting on betting?”
“Because, there is a bet.”
“W-what! That’s not right!”
Suddenly, a member of the Nagmung Family buts in. “Haven’t you seen Dojang talking to the air sometimes?”
Distracted, Dowi responds. “Hmm... He must be, he must be...” He closes his eyes, deep in thought. His moodswings, different personalities, talking to the air… What could it all mean..?
Ah! He must be-
“Possessed!”
“Sure,” Im Sobyeong says while fanning himself, “But does it even matter? You seem... Uncommitted to the cause.”
Leaning in, fan covering his face, he whispers: “100. Silver. Taels.”
Pulling away, Im Sobyeong closed the fan with a click. Heh, I can’t wait for the look on their faces when they have to pay a ‘dirty sapa bandit’!
Not wanting to be out done, Nagmung Dowi quickly retorts: “W-well then, I would bet 150 that Dojang has multiple different spirits within him!”
Wanting to back up the Young Lord, the rest of the family joins in, creating a chorus of “me too!”
“Hmph. Are you sure? 200.”
“250.”
“500.”
“1000!”
…
The Nagmung family ended up bidding a total of 100,000 silver taels in a hypothetical situation. Im Sobyeong told a different story.
//
“… Uh, Tang… Pae..?”
“No, you idiot! He was the one who vehemently opposed this whole thing, after he heard what happened to Dowi!”
“Oh, right! I meant Soso!”
//
“Sahyung..? Hmm..”
Deep in thought, she blankly stared into the sky - reminiscing on all the pain she went through.
She wiped a tear from her eye. “The only option is the Demonic Cult. I’ll bid 300.”
//
“.. And all of Mount Hua..”
//
“Sahyung, let me bid 50 on him being a God of Vengeance!”
“Are you an idiot? Gul, write 60 for descendant..”
“Nono, is he even real?! We are all going crazy!”
In all the commotion, the considerably trained martial artists did not seem to hear the heavy footsteps of another.
“Ahem.”
Oh fuck, we are so gone.
“E-elder!”
Looking at the fear in their eyes, Un Geom laughed softly. “I am not here to get you in trouble, instead, w- I am here to bet.”
(A few hours ago, the elders, excluding Hyun Young, and 1st generation disciples had all gathered in the Sect Leader’s office.
Taking the lead, Hyun Jong started: “We’ve all heard about it, yes?”
Seeing everyone nod, he asked: “Do we think it is right to do this?”
“No!”
“Good, let’s bet with the idea of repentance in our minds.”
... And from then, an argument not befitting their statuses occurred. With whisper-yelling (God knows if Hyun Young found out they were even thinking of it, all of their pocket money would be gone), threats and a near physical fight happening, they settled on an amount and theory.)
“50 silver taels on him being a descendant of Mount Hua.”
Jo Geol, shaken out of his frozen state, quickly writes the bid down. “And is that for the whole…?” He sharply deducts from Un Geom’s stutter.
Resigned, he affirms.“Yes, excluding Hyun Young-”
“What’s excluding me?”
… Why did these guys make me go!
…
In the end, Hyun Young revoked all of the elder and first generation disciple’s pocket money for the next three months. Separately and in private, Hyun Young made a bid for 2000 that he is an ancestor of Mount Hua. To spite the others who excluded him.
//
“I still get shivers from that day…” Jo Geol shakes his head.
Trying to think of another bidder, he pauses.
“Uh, wait, would Hye Yeon be considered to be a part of Mount Hua disciples..?”
“Who knows..”
//
After an especially rough day of training, Jo Geol attempts to lighten the mood.
“Monk, isn’t the sky so brigh-”
“He’s a demon. Unforgivable. One day he will fall to hell. I promise you, one day, I’ll-" “Okay, Hye Yeon, let's calm down.” Jo Geol, using the tried and true method of “stuffing one's mouth to shut them up and calm them” on him, sighed deeply. I tried.
Hye Yeon suddenly stopped, as if realising something.
“Siji, I've heard the rumors.” He looked at Jo Geol with giant, pleading eyes. “Please, please, please let me bet 1 silver coin for him being a demon.”
“But… why?”
“This is something you’ll never understand, Siji.”
“…”
And on that faithful day, Jo Geol learnt to never be nice again. (To a certain monk, at least.)
//
“Huh, I feel like I’m forgetting someone..”
“Uh, Zang Than?”
“Tang Zhan.”
“Ah, right, him.”
//
“Dojang, wait!”
Jo Geol turned back.
“I’ve heard from Soso, that you have this bet...?”
He nodded.
Tang Zhan looked around before whispering, “can you add 10 slivers for him being an ancestor of the Tang Family...?”
Jo Geol, who was ready to write his name under “Demonic Cult”, paused. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
How else could he known our clan’s secret weapon! And why else would he be so willing to be in a friendship with us - if this is not his home! Tang Zhan thinks, looking Jo Geol in the eyes, as if trying to telepathically send this information to him.
//
“Mm, I swear he was trying to tell me something..”
“Who’s next.”
“Ah, right, right! Meng So!”
//
With a tap on the shoulder, Jo Geol nearly sunk into the ground. Ah. It’s Meng So.
“Palace Lord, what could I do for you?”
“Do not be so formal, friend!” He laughs, loudly. “I have heard of a bet going around? About Cheong Myeong?”
Jo Geol pulls out the book, ink and brush from his chest, ready to write - only for it to be stolen.
“H-huh?”
Meng So wrote quickly and efficiently. Handing it off to him, he smiles and pats him on the shoulder before leaving.
Meng So: Hwasan Old Spirit, 200 silver taels.
//
“Ah, um, ah.. Uh…”
Cheong Myeong stares him in the eyes.
“Oh! Seol Sobeak!
//
“Dojang, Dojang!”
“Palac-” “Bet! About! Cheong Myeong!” Watching him excitedly jumping up and down, Jo Geol smiled.
“What would-” “Cheong Myeong is the most glorious, amazing, wonderful guy – no, hero – ever!” As if reverted to a kid, he continues: “Do you remember when he-” “Yes, yes, but what about his secr-”
“I’m getting to it.” With an ice cold aura, Jo Geol freezes.
“Any-way, as I was saying…” And from then on, Jo Geol was subject to his rant. For the next three hours. (He swore he saw Han Imyeong hover near the door for a couple minutes, and then cast a pitying gaze towards him before leaving.) Even though he was ready to write a bid at any moment, there was not even a mention of a ‘secret past’.
//
“... Uh… Nevermind… He really didn’t count… um…”
“...”
“Anyway… Uh…………………”
Unable to think of anyone else, Jo Geol closes his eyes – hand on chin – as if in deep thought.
“Huh, is that guy really thinking right now?”
“First time in his life, isn’t it..”
Taking the deepest breath, Jo Geol opens his eyes to Cheong Myeong right in his face, who sighed – understanding that he had used all his brainpower for the day.
Ugh, seriously, these bastards!!! Oh heavenly lord, what did I do to deserve such idiots? Looking up to the sky, Cheong Myeong felt as if he could hear the laughter of some certain individuals.
Breathing deeply, he asks Jo Geol, who somehow became the group’s leader: “Who won?”
“Well.. Um, I don’t remember since it’s been yea-” Cheong Myeong walked an inch closer to him. “UH I MEAN, I MEAN IT WAS UM, HYUN YOUNG AND- And, Sag-” Suddenly, Jo Geol could feel a piercing gaze from the side. “S-sorry! I meant sorry, it’s-”
Who is the furthest from us, and got it close enough…? Ah, yes. Him.
“Meng So!”
“Right.”
In the stance to run off, he pauses.
“Do you not care?” Cheong Myeong asked, quietly.
“About what?”
“That I’m Geomjun?”
“No. You are still Cheong Myeong to us.” Baek Cheon smiled. “Yu Iseol was right, you are an old man.”
“Of course Sasuk doesn’t care… He didn’t have a massive stake in the b- AUGH! I’m sorry- Sahyung-”
Yu Iseol flicked Cheong Myeong on the forehead. “Sajil is Sajil.”
The so-called sajil burst into laughter. These fools, what else was I expecting?
Shaking his head, he finally runs off to demand two thirds of the winners prize, because he was the reason they could win in the first place!
//
As the Five Swords walked back to Hwasan together, Jo Geol cleared his throat.
Attention grabbed, the rest look to him.
“Do you think he was like this in his past life too?”
Everyone, realising what that meant, suddenly became horrified.
“You mean.. The Geomjun, part of the top three best swordsmen in the whole world, is like… is like… him...?”
“Oh my god… Our poor ancestors…”
Suddenly, Baek Cheon stopped walking with a face of complete terror. Everyone looked back to him.
“Sasuk...?” Yun Jong said, while shaking him. “Is ever-”
“We praised him, protected his pride. In front of him!”
“...”
Varying levels of disgust and embarrassment appeared on their faces. From that point onward, they vowed to never talk of it again.
//
Bonus:
Later that day, in Jo Geol’s chambers.While cleaning his sword, his thoughts strayed. …How much time has passed? Remembering how young they were when they made the bet, he sighed.
Closing his eyes, he recounts another time.
//
During, or after the party or the morning after – (why would I remember? It’s been decades!) – and somehow the random trio of Yun Jong, Jo Geol and Yu Iseol had gathered in a… private space?
Either drunk out of his mind, or uncaring of other’s opinions (probably both), Jo Geol opens his big mouth, interrupting the… lack of conversation. “Wh-what- do you think Cheong Myeong’s secret identity…? Uh, or past is?”
With not enough energy and coordination to hit Jo Geol on the head, Yun Jong shakes him, asking many variations of “who cares, he’s still Cheong Myeong either way!” (This also causes Jo Geol to almost vomit on him, to which Yun Jong pushes him away, screeching.)
“Old man.” Yu Iseol butts in.
“H-huh?”
“Old man.”
“Me..?”
You’re literally the youngest here…
“No. Other sajil.”
“Him?”
“Ugh. No. Youngest Sajil.”
“Ah, Cheong Myeong.”
“Mm.”
“Why him?”
“Old man. Trapped in a young body.”
“Ohhh..”
Jo Geol considered this. He seemed swayed, and I mean literally swayed. He was swaying. Back and forth.
Yun Jong, holding Jo Geol up to prevent him from falling off his seat, asked: “didn’t we say he was, he was, uh, from the, the, cult demon? Demon cult?”
“Mm, you’re right! He is really the biggest demon…” Jo Geol closes his eyes, as if about to sleep.
Suddenly, he jumps up, out of Yun Jong’s grasp and runs out.
“Huh..?” Yu Iseol and Yun Jong share a glance. Should they run after him or not…?
After an unknown period of time and a lot of inaction, Jo Geol somehow finds his way back, dumping a blank book, a brush and a bottle of ink on the table.
Crowding him, Yun Jong questions the just written characters on the front of the book. “Bet? What for?”
“For, for, the uh, Cheong Myeong thing!” Jo Geol stares directly into his eyes. “His secret identity, and what-not.”
“Why?” Yu Iseol asks.
“Because! Imagine the money!” He looks up above, with his eyes as coins, as if imagining money is falling from the sky.
God, he really is a dirty, scheming, pocket picking merchant at heart…
“Either way, Sago!” Yu Iseol turns to him. “What was your bet?” He seems to be bursting with energy.
…
That day, the bet for Cheong Myeong’s secret past began.
//
Bonus Bonus:
“HAHAHAHA!! Of course that kid got me money, even in the afterlife! HAHAHHAHAH!!!!!”
Ugh, seriously… How did you make it up here? Hyun Jong sighed.
That day, Cheong Myeong’s hair would be rustled by the wind, carrying the distinct smell of mooncakes.
//
Bonus Bonus Bonus:
Hearing the loud laughter from Hyun Young, the elder of Cheong Myeong’s current life, Cheong Mun smiled.
From the many praises of Cheong Myeong, a specific sentence caught his ear: “–I knew I could trust my Cheong Myeong with everything!”
Looking down at Mount Hua, with a revived will and martial arts – which were nearly lost, if not for him – his smile became wider. Yes, I knew too.