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chapter 121
3:00 a.m.
Those with families left first in taxis, while the others who wanted to keep partying passed out drunk in the guest rooms arranged by Lee Gunsan.
But Lee Hyun strangely couldn’t sleep.
He sat on a bench in the yard, quietly gazing at the night sky.
Being away from Seoul made the stars appear much brighter.
“What are you doing there, looking all gloomy?”
Lee Gunsan approached with a smile, holding steaming cups of coffee in both hands.
“Not sleeping, General?”
“And you?”
“Just a lot on my mind.”
“I feel the same. Maybe because everyone’s gathered again after a long time, I’m in a really good mood. Want a drink?”
“Thank you.”
Lee Hyun carefully took the cup Gunsan offered.
It was hot chocolate.
“Tasty, isn’t it?”
“Very much so.”
“Heh. I even got it from our regular place.”
“You’ve become quite the chef.”
“I’ve always enjoyed good food, but after retiring, this is the best hobby I’ve found.”
Lee Gunsan chuckled, taking a sip of the hot chocolate.
“My wife nags me a lot about controlling my blood sugar, though.”
“…You really should listen to her.”
“That’s why I make accomplices like you.”
Lee Hyun let out a small laugh.
Despite his age, Lee Gunsan had this playful side.
“How does it feel meeting old friends again?”
“Very good. I wonder why we didn’t do this sooner.”
“Growing up, huh?”
“I’m always late to these things, I guess. That’s probably why.”
Lee Hyun glanced at the guesthouse and faintly smiled.
Meeting old colleagues filled a part of his heart that had been empty until now.
And knowing he could work with them again made his heart even fuller.
“You always say you’re late. But that’s just your perspective. From my point of view, it’s not true at all.”
Lee Gunsan continued, gazing at the same starry sky as Lee Hyun.
“Nowhere in this world is ever too late. It’s only a matter of whether you start or not.”
“….”
“Those who start know what they lack, and they strive to fill it.”
Lee Hyun looked at Lee Gunsan without realizing it.
Gunsan’s smile had deepened.
“But those who don’t start will never know what they lack. Even if they do, they pretend not to. They refuse to listen to their inner voice.”
“….”
“Everyone has weaknesses. But people don’t want to acknowledge them—or they’re afraid to reveal them.”
“….”
“But from what I’ve seen of you, you listen to your inner voice. You know your shortcomings, and you confront yourself honestly.”
Lee Hyun felt a strange sensation.
He had heard similar words from Son Goku before.
“That’s not something you can do without courage. So keep trusting yourself with that same courage.”
Lee Hyun remained silent for a moment, simply looking back at the night sky.
And then:
“Thank you. For your kind words.”
“Heh. I always say, what I do is just an old man’s advice from the next room.”
Lee Hyun smiled quietly.
That was exactly why he was always grateful to Lee Gunsan.
Even if he wandered, Gunsan never scolded him and always believed in him from afar.
And always cheered him on.
It was because Gunsan had always been there that Lee Hyun felt he could reach where he needed to be.
“If he hadn’t been there… could my brother or I have come this far? Wouldn’t we still be wandering?”
Lee Hyun saw Gunsan as a towering tree.
A tree casting a long, comforting shade…
“Well, shall we talk briefly about what’s next?”
Lee Hyun nodded.
The team was almost complete.
But that didn’t mean they could immediately go after Shi Changyou.
There was still much preparation to be done.
“You asked if you could get into the Ministry of Defense, right?”
Lee Hyun’s eyes sparkled.
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> leaps from the throne!]
“Three days from now, 2 p.m. Will that work?”
“If not, we’ll make it work.”
“Heh. Your body’s already fired up, huh.”
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> clenches its fist.]
The Ministry of Defense had the Snow Queen’s body stored.
If they could retrieve it, the Frost Emblem could be significantly strengthened.
It would also be a strong counter to Shi Changyou’s prized Frost Ring.
“The Ministry plans to hold a military decoration review for you. Four years ago, during the Gangneung incident, you declined, right? Back then, there was some internal pushback, so now they want to award everyone at once. But…”
“There will be resistance.”
Lee Gunsan took a sip of hot chocolate and nodded heavily.
“It won’t just be minor. It’ll be big. Not just jealousy-level big.”
Lee Hyun sensed deep concern and sighs in Gunsan’s voice.
“Those responsible for disbanding Cheongrae?”
“Something like that.”
Gunsan nodded.
“There are people in the military tied to the Central Heroes Committee.”
“….”
“And the more you shine, the more they feel cornered.”
Lee Hyun understood what Gunsan meant.
“They’ll try to suppress me to hide their flaws.”
“They’re no different from Changwoo.”
Gunsan sighed.
“The problem isn’t just the committee. There are others with ties to other factions, and they’ll likely swarm the review.”
“I didn’t know the Ministry of Defense had become so globally entangled. Or has it always been?”
Gunsan laughed bitterly.
Even he felt frustrated.
Then he asked Lee Hyun seriously:
“As a civilian, they have no right to touch you, but once you’re inside, you’ll look like prey in my backyard. They’ll try to bite you. Are you okay with that?”
The disbanding of Cheongrae was a disgraceful history in the Ministry.
They had torn apart the very people who solved the Gangneung incident.
And because they knew it was a poor decision, they had never made it public.
But now, the person they abandoned had returned. Naturally, they would be on edge.
Under normal circumstances, a review wouldn’t be held for Lee Hyun, but because of his significant contribution in the Ulleungdo operation, it couldn’t be ignored.
So they would try to diminish his achievements during the review.
They might give him just enough decoration to dismiss him, or even deny him entirely.
“Of course, the Ministry isn’t all bad. Many patriots want to help you. But…”
“They’ll have to be cautious. Open help would be difficult.”
Gunsan nodded quietly and sighed.
The cup was empty.
“Honestly, I don’t want to take you there. You don’t deserve to be slandered. They might even try to falsely accuse you.”
“I’m fine.”
Lee Hyun placed his cup on the bench and stood.
“I’ve already prepared for everything, and I’ve decided to rebuild Cheongrae.”
“You…”
“And I even think it’s a good thing.”
Gunsan looked at Lee Hyun’s profile.
His mouth twisted slightly under the full moon.
Cold eyes.
The same eyes he had when announcing the plan to capture Shi Changyou.
“You’ve got a plan in mind.”
“In a way, this is like entering enemy territory. And as you know…”
“…You never fight a losing battle.”
“Why fight a losing battle? It only increases damage and wastes time.”
Lee Hyun knew he wouldn’t be welcomed at the Ministry.
At first, he had considered quietly retrieving the Snow Queen’s body despite the insult.
But:
‘I don’t want that. They’re at fault. Why should we bear the disgrace?’
He could endure it alone, but now he wasn’t alone.
He was the symbol of the rebuilt Cheongrae, the face of Team Z.
He could no longer allow Cheongrae to be slandered recklessly.
So they would have to break them head-on.
Perhaps sensing Lee Hyun’s resolve, Gunsan’s expression shifted subtly.
“Three days, you said? Perfect timing. General, I have just one favor to ask.”
Thump!
Gunsan felt the vigor in his old student.
And the audacity.
A bloodline he thought cooled by age seemed to burn again.
He wanted to see how far this young man could go.
“What… should I do?”
He didn’t even realize his own voice trembled slightly.
And when Lee Hyun made a few ‘requests,’ Gunsan burst into laughter.
“Honestly! You said I need to control my blood sugar…!”
When Gunsan returned to his room, his wife, Choi Hyejin, unleashed a torrent of scolding.
“You, awake at this hour?”
“How can I sleep? I know how hard you’ve been pushing yourself lately!”
Gunsan tried desperately to calm his formidable wife.
Just as he was a famous alchemist, she was a top-tier healer.
And his personal physician.
“Sit there.”
Gunsan sat quietly.
Hyejin placed her hands on his back. A milky glow shimmered and seeped slowly into his body.
His complexion relaxed.
“Heh. Feels good.”
“Feels good, huh?”
“Your touch always feels good.”
“Not my usual touch. This one.”
“Yes, very good. After forty years, my dream is finally coming true.”
Gunsan smiled broadly, a mischievous grin unfit for his age.
Hyejin chuckled and shook her head.
Then her eyes narrowed.
“This is really your limit now. You know that, right?”
She wasn’t joking.
Gunsan nodded heavily.
“Of course. I know your worries. But trust me. I’m Lee Gunsan, your reliable husband.”
“Sure, if you can’t even speak properly.”
“I’ll ensure you have nothing to worry about.”
Hyejin sighed, saying nothing more.
She just hoped her husband wouldn’t overexert himself.
Gunsan looked at her with a satisfied smile.
Nothing had changed since they first met fifty years ago. Age hadn’t altered their bond.
She was still cute and lovable.
And Gunsan vowed to live as long as possible, never missing a moment of Lee Hyun’s journey or time with his wife.
The next day.
News portals were dominated by one theme:
<The Hidden Hero of the Gangneung Incident Four Years Ago, Jett. Who Is He?>
<The Return of the Hero Feared by China and the World>
<Why Was Cheongrae Disbanded Quietly?>
All stories were about Lee Hyun.
