Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 429

During the month it took for Igrak to fully mature, Lee Ro-woon and Cheong In-woo were together, whether they wanted to be or not.

And during that time, they had numerous conversations.

It wasn’t for Lee Ro-woon to understand and forgive Cheong In-woo.

-Let’s talk a bit.

It was Cheong In-woo’s atonement and to uncover the secrets of Hwasan [a renowned martial arts sect].

Cheong In-woo had more secrets than expected.

He was known as the best swordsman of Hwasan, the next sect leader, and the head of the guild.

Yet, he was also the one who had spilled so much blood with his own hands.

-I’ll hand over Hwasan.

He betrayed Hwasan so easily.

To throw away everything in an instant, no matter the reason, was unreasonable.

Even if guilt and regret tormented him, as a human, it was impossible to give up on such things.

The stigma of a traitor, being discarded like a used tool.

If Cheong In-woo had wanted, none of it would have mattered.

However.

-I’m going to be abandoned anyway. The Red Plum Blossom Squad too.

He seemed to have sensed that he would be abandoned.

-Me, a candidate for the next sect leader? Guild leader? What a joke.

What was known and.

-I’m just a well-behaved hunting dog. Raised to be used.

The truth was completely different.

And that truth was surprising even to Lee Ro-woon.

-I am.

The truth that Cheong In-woo revealed.

With that alone, his choice could be understood.

“I’m not a martial artist.”

Cheong In-woo’s words from that time were brought up again.

“I’m not from Hwasan either.”

His face and voice, usually playful, were now quite serious.

Not a martial artist.

Not from Hwasan.

His words sounded as if he was regretting the past and denying his identity.

Chuckling.

His smiling face felt distant from those thoughts.

“I am.”

He said again.

The truth that even Lee Ro-woon was surprised by when he first heard it.

“I was taken in by Hwasan when I was young.”

Cheong In-woo recounted the story of that time.

“Hwasan took me in, and Hwasan raised me. Therefore, Hwasan was my everything, and they were my father and brothers.”

That’s how it is for everyone.

But Cheong In-woo’s case was more extreme.

Hwasan took in a kid with nowhere to go.

Having received such grace, his gratitude towards them grew even more.

But the truth was.

“It was Hwasan that ruined everything about me.”

It was Hwasan that made Cheong In-woo that way.

Deliberately destroying Cheong In-woo’s surroundings, making him collapse.

So that when Hwasan took in Cheong In-woo.

“It was to make me a loyal dog.”

So that Cheong In-woo would be grateful for his situation and be more loyal to Hwasan.

Hwasan had created the entire situation.

That’s why Cheong In-woo decided to betray Hwasan.

Also, he decided to face the truth he had been denying until then.

The truth he was revealing now.

That was the biggest secret that Cheong In-woo was hiding, that Hwasan was hiding.

Cheong In-woo was a more important existence than he thought.

To Hwasan.

‘And to me.’

To Lee Ro-woon as well.

His true identity.

“I am…!”

Cheong In-woo’s face contorted.

He spoke as if he was screaming.

“A player.”

* * *

The best swordsman of Hwasan.

A figure of respect to many martial artists, and an object of fear to many players, Cheong In-woo.

He grew faster than anyone else and reached the realm at a young age. He was evaluated as having talent and insight that was second to none, and his talent was said to be among the best in the history of Eunha [a fictional world or realm].

Also, it could be seen after crossing swords with him a few times.

His swordsmanship was also deeply profound, and the plum blossom sword technique he displayed was truly at the level of art.

However.

-I am a player.

The truth he revealed was not easy to accept.

That such a martial artist was actually a player.

-Did you know?

But Cheong In-woo asked, surprised by Lee Ro-woon’s lack of surprise.

If he already knew.

-Roughly.

And that was the correct answer.

Lee Ro-woon had already clashed with Cheong In-woo several times.

At first, he didn’t know, but the more he faced him, the more he felt a subtle sense of incongruity.

And finally, when he crossed swords with him again, Lee Ro-woon was certain.

That something was hidden within his vast inner energy.

And that it was something very familiar to Lee Ro-woon.

-Ha, no one else notices, but you’re different?

Cheong In-woo’s secret.

-Unlike others, my player core is located in my dantian [an energy center in the body], not near my solar plexus. Also, the energy filling my player core is inner energy, not mana.

Therefore.

-No one noticed.

Lee Ro-woon had noticed it.

-Why do you think I took you in?

Lee Ro-woon’s question.

-Because you’re reflecting? Because you want to atone? Because I thought taking you would be a big blow to Hwasan?

Lee Ro-woon asked in a monotone voice.

The answer to that was.

-Damn it.

A short curse.

-You took me in because you knew I was a player?

-Because that’s your value.

Lee Ro-woon said.

-The best swordsman of Hwasan, a swordsman with talent throughout history, a high-ranking official of Hwasan. All that….

-Yeah. It’s meaningless to you.

Cheong In-woo had already confirmed the power Lee Ro-woon possessed.

If he wanted to.

‘Hwasan would collapse.’

Hwasan would collapse more easily than expected.

The reason Hwasan was still standing was because Lee Ro-woon was leaving it alone.

From the beginning, that was why Hwasan was not touching Lee Ro-woon either.

If Lee Ro-woon didn’t want to destroy Hwasan with troublesome actions.

‘The Martial King.’

Also, if his master was not in Hwasan’s grasp, Lee Ro-woon could have destroyed Hwasan long ago after regaining his power.

To him, Cheong In-woo’s value was insignificant.

However.

-You took me in because I’m a player.

If Cheong In-woo’s secret was that he was a player, the story was different.

-You are.

Lee Ro-woon said.

-You have more value than you think.

Martial artists cannot use the power of players, the power of Einheart [a type of energy or power source].

Einheart cannot use the power of players, the power of martial artists.

Experiments on this were ongoing, and there had been some progress, but a perfect fusion had not yet been achieved.

However.

‘Players can imitate the power of martial artists and Einheart, though not perfectly.’

In the name of skills.

They use things similar to martial arts and things similar to magic.

But they were not perfect either.

It was through levels and skills, not through learning and training that they acquired their abilities.

The Cheong In-woo before his eyes.

‘Was an existence that had accomplished that.’

His uniqueness was his job.

-My job is a practitioner.

A practitioner.

-I can use the abilities I learned through training and practice.

That was his specialness.

And Hwasan was experimenting to create special beings through him.

However.

-That’s not your value either.

Lee Ro-woon said.

If his specialness was interpreted and researched, the day when players could use the power of martial artists, and martial artists could use the power of players, could come soon.

Hwasan had recognized his value and had taken him into Hwasan, going through unnecessary trouble.

But his true value was different.

What Lee Ro-woon had felt.

“…The investigation is complete.”

Ha Se-min approached with a tired face.

“The strategists and researchers have already collapsed.”

The researchers he was talking about were those from the Tang family and players.

The fact that they had already collapsed and that Ha Se-min looked haggard meant that the investigation had been that difficult.

“How is he?”

At Lee Ro-woon’s question, Ha Se-min sighed and said.

“He’s asleep. He’ll probably sleep for at least a week. It must have been that much of a strain.”

Ha Se-min said.

“It was a process of rummaging through his dantian and investigating everything. It was practically like dissecting him alive.”

Lee Ro-woon nodded.

“He endured all that with gritted teeth, so it’s natural that he fainted. Thanks to him holding out until the end, the investigation was completed quickly.”

Lee Ro-woon turned his gaze.

Igrak’s development was noticeably progressing.

The association had already entered long ago, and many other player guilds and sects that had received Lee Ro-woon’s permission were entering, trading with Asgard, and establishing themselves.

That was the investigation that had been conducted during that time.

“….”

Ha Se-min with a heavy face.

“Jincheon was right.”

He said, looking at Lee Ro-woon.

Lee Ro-woon, with his languid eyes, seemed to already know all the truth, but Ha Se-min had to report to him.

“He is….”

What they had been investigating was Cheong In-woo.

-Well, whatever, I’ll cooperate with everything that requires my choice. Just keep your promise.

Those in a similar situation, the Red Plum Blossom Squad, were outsiders who had taken root in Hwasan, just like Cheong In-woo.

They were also those created through experiments using Cheong In-woo.

Cheong In-woo had promised unconditional cooperation in exchange for taking them in.

“He was the key.”

He was the key.

“He is the map and the key to approach the world’s stakes.”

Cheong In-woo was a person who held an even greater secret that he himself was unaware of.

***

“Ugh.”

Cheong In-woo groaned and opened his eyes.

“Damn it. I thought I was seeing a ghost.”

Lee Ro-woon was in front of him.

Cheong In-woo smiled and cursed as he looked at him.

“I thought I was dead. Heh.”

“Unfortunately, it seems you’re not dead yet.”

Lee Ro-woon said, looking at him.

“You’re talking like a scholar with that dog-like nonsense.”

“….”

Cheong In-woo’s eyes changed.

“What did you find?”

In fact, Cheong In-woo had been in a state of mental chaos since just before losing his memory.

He had just been holding on with sheer grit and determination, and it wouldn’t have been strange if he had fainted long ago.

“Ha, I’m going to die.”

His body was in the worst condition.

The Tang family’s medical team was treating him, and even Lee San-hoo, who was a master of soul medicine, and Lee Ro-woon himself had helped him, but Cheong In-woo’s recovery was slow.

What had been done to Cheong In-woo was that severe and painful.

It was like dissecting his entire body alive, turning it inside out, and thoroughly scanning what was inside.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t find anything after all this. I don’t think I can do it twice. I’d rather die with the Red Plum Blossom Squad and all.”

He said playfully, then looked at Lee Ro-woon with serious eyes again.

“So, what did you find?”

Nod.

Lee Ro-woon nodded at that.

“Ha, that’s good news to hear. Still….”

Clench.

Cheong In-woo clenched his teeth and said.

“That I’m of some help.”

“You’re saying something that doesn’t suit you.”

Lee Ro-woon said, getting up from his seat.

“It was as I thought.”

“…!”

“You were the key.”

Lee Ro-woon said, looking down at Cheong In-woo while standing.

“You are….”

It was truly a dog-like situation.

Cheong In-woo, the protagonist who had massacred more players than anyone else.

He was.

“The key to liberating players.”

That he was the key for players to regain their original power.