Chapter 85

85. He's back.

Jinhyuk looked at Seo Yeon and said, "Let's pick out the roles we want to try and show them to Min-woo."

Seo Yeon nodded.

"Hey, what's this? It's just a joke."

Manager Kim said in a bewildered tone, but Jinhyuk and Seo Yeon were not joking.

Given the probability that Do Min-woo had shown, it was only natural to listen to what he had to say at least once.

Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked on the car window. It was Serin.

"Come on in, Serin."

"Come on in."

At Jinhyuk and Seo Yeon's greeting, Serin smiled brightly.

"Wow, it's so nice to see you again on the set."

Serin jumped into the car and hugged Seo Yeon tightly.

"Are you not tired?"

"No, I'm not tired at all."

Serin, who answered with a bright smile, said with a hint of regret, "I have to go now. I need to get my makeup done quickly. See you later."

Serin ran out of the car again and waved at Jinhyuk and Seo Yeon several times.

"If I had known you were this good, I would have asked you to appear earlier."

Seo Yeon said, looking at Serin.

***

"Hello, sir."

At Jinhyuk's respectful greeting, veteran actor Won Sang-gi approached with a broad smile.

"Let's shake hands."

Holding Won Sang-gi's hand tightly, Jinhyuk could feel the many words it held.

Won Sang-gi patted Jinhyuk's shoulder with his other hand.

"Thank you. Thank you."

Tears welled up in the veteran actor's eyes.

"To see such a wonderful Hong Gil-dong again before I die. Ha ha."

"You'll be fine."

"Ha ha. You speak so maturely."

Looking at Jinhyuk with satisfaction, Won Sang-gi nodded to the manager. The manager picked up a box and handed it to Jinhyuk.

"It may not mean much to the young, but please accept it as my heart."

"This is…"

"It's the costume I wore when I played Hong Gil-dong."

The costume of the first Hong Gil-dong, Won Sang-gi, his most cherished treasure.

Jinhyuk opened the box.

The costume, well-preserved despite the 50 years, was neatly folded. Just by looking at its condition, one could see how much Won Sang-gi had cherished it.

"That's a costume made by the intangible cultural heritage, Mr. Yoon Nam-su. I don't think many of his costumes are left."

The costume was not only significant in the history of broadcasting as the first Hong Gil-dong costume but also as a valuable piece of art.

"Because it was the first drama KBC put a lot of effort into. I only wore it once for the first episode as a keepsake. After that, I wore a replica because the filming was tough."

For Jinhyuk, it was a somewhat awkward gift.

"Can I really accept such a valuable thing…?"

"You can't take it with you when you die. I think it's better to give it to you than to my children."

But the veteran actor's eyes were such that Jinhyuk couldn't refuse. Jinhyuk greeted him with a serious expression, filled with gratitude.

"I'll keep it well for the rest of my life."

"No, no. I'm not giving it to you to keep. Sell it, donate it to a museum, or store it—do as you wish, it's yours."

Won Sang-gi smiled.

"I don't have the old man's desire to leave my mark after I die. I just couldn't express my gratitude to you in any other way… I only wanted to give you this with all my heart."

The veteran actor's feelings were deeply conveyed to Jinhyuk. Jinhyuk expressed his deep gratitude once again.

Thus, the final shooting of Hong Gil-dong with the veteran actor and Jinhyuk began.

"Ouch."

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, be careful."

A woman in a cloak bumped into a nobleman in the market and quickly moved away.

When she reached a place where there were no people around,

"Hey, lady."

Someone called out. The woman tried to quickly get away, but—

Swish!

A man blocked her path. It was Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk.

"Hey, lady. It's not right for a virtuous young lady to take other people's things like that."

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, was being playful.

"Besides, that thing is very important to me."

At that moment,

Swish!

The woman's cloak slipped off, and a hidden dagger flew at Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk. But it was impossible.

Swish! Swish!

Thud.

Clang.

The woman, unable to withstand a few exchanges, was subdued by Jinhyuk.

Held by Jinhyuk's arm and pushed against the wall, the woman had—

A neatly braided hairstyle.

A white, prominent forehead, and

Beautiful, large eyes that seemed painted.

A beautiful nose that stood out even among her sparkling eyes,

A small, delicate philtrum,

And red, ripe, beautiful lips—

A beauty of the world.

In other words, summarized in three letters—

'Yeon Serin.'

The rebellious girl, Yeon Serin, smiled sweetly.

"Are you well, Senior Brother Gil-dong?"

"What? Senior Brother?"

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, looked at the girl in surprise.

"Hee. Senior Brother, you pushed me so forcefully, let's move on to the next level."

"What?"

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, was startled and let go of the wrist he was holding, taking a step back. He raised one eyebrow.

"What are you doing?"

"Me? I'm a girl."

"Are you joking? Now."

"Joking? Being a girl is very important. I've admired you for a long time."

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk's eyes widened. At that moment,

"Brat! How dare you tease Senior Brother like that!"

Seeing the old man in front of him, Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk's eyes widened even more.

"Master!"

The old man who taught Hong Gil-dong martial arts, Baegun Taoist. A character not in the original but often appearing in secondary creations, played by veteran actor Won Sang-gi in a cameo.

"Hee. This child said she had to meet you…."

"Did she call me Senior Brother? Is she your disciple?"

"Do you not remember?"

"Huh?"

Won Sang-gi shook his head.

"Tsk tsk. How could you be so forgetful…. Isn't it Sohyang?"

"Huh?!"

Sohyang, the granddaughter of Baegun Taoist. The little girl had grown into a young woman.

"I'm disappointed."

Serin pouted.

"No, how could you… No, when…."

The little girl who used to chase after Hong Gil-dong, saying she would marry him.

"Brother, I'm over 15 now."

"…"

"That's the age to get married."

Serin's eyes sparkled. As Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, who was backing away, suddenly shouted,

"Master! Over there!"

As the Taoist, Won Sang-gi, and his granddaughter Serin looked in the direction Jinhyuk pointed,

"Run!"

Hong Gil-dong and his subordinates ran away in a comical manner, their faces full of fear.

This was a scene that would be a cookie video after the ending of Hong Gil-dong Episode 16.

"Okay! Cut!"

With PD Jung Doo-il's satisfied shout, the surprise appearance shooting was completed.

"Phew. How can Serin be so beautiful?"

Writer Han Yookyoung hugged Serin, who had finished shooting, and expressed her gratitude. Serin gave her a thumbs up.

"Writer, Hong Gil-dong was really the best."

"Hee. The kids did such a great job."

Han Yookyoung looked at the approaching Jinhyuk and Seo Yeon and then turned to Serin.

"I'm the one who's been enjoying your songs so much."

"Hee. Thank you."

Looking at Jinhyuk, Seo Yeon, and Serin, Han Yookyoung's eyes were filled with emotion.

It had only been a year and a half since she met these kids, and they had grown so much. They had all become stars.

"I hope we can work together again someday."

As if regretting that the shooting was ending, or trying to remember the three of them well, Han Yookyoung looked at Jinhyuk, Seo Yeon, and Serin one by one.

Thus, another page of time was coming to an end.

***

The first day of the final week of Hong Gil-dong's broadcast.

Episode 15 was nearing its end.

"Wow!"

"Ah!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The fake Halbin-dang gang, lured by the real Halbin-dang, and the government troops began a fierce battle.

Gang Hee, Seo Yeon, who was on reconnaissance, checked the situation and was about to turn back when—

Swish!

Swish!

A dagger flew at her, and Seo Yeon nimbly dodged it. She then engaged in a sword fight with the few enemies who appeared.

Swish!

Seo Yeon's twin swords, filled with killing intent, danced. She had decided to kill the enemies.

The elite of the fake Halbin-dang were busy dealing with the government troops. The thugs who appeared were no match for Gang Hee, Seo Yeon, one of the top 2-3 assassins in Halbin-dang.

In an instant, Seo Yeon's sword was about to strike the vital points of the thugs, aiming for their lives.

'Don't kill them.'

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk's face appeared in Gang Hee, Seo Yeon's mind.

"Chit!"

Seo Yean's sword hesitated. In that moment of hesitation,

Swish!

A hidden dagger flew at her,

"Chok!"

Thud...

Seo Yeon fell.

The red blood flowing, Seo Yeon's vision slowly blurred.

'Leader, I don't understand. Don't the bad guys who deserve to die need to be killed?'

It was a spring day when the cherry blossoms were falling.

Not long after starting her journey with Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, Gang Hee, Seo Yeon, had asked this.

What did the leader say back then?

'It's for you.'

'Huh?'

'Don't kill for me.'

She heard the answer, but it made no sense. But—

'Ah.'

She nodded.

Love, after all,

Wasn't something that could be fully understood.

Seo Yeon's eyes slowly closed. The tears that had been welling up were pressed by her eyelids and fell with a plop.

"Leader... I didn't kill them…"

Seo Yeon murmured in a barely audible voice.

"Not for me… but for the leader…"

Because she loved him.

The world turned dark.

The Halbin-dang leadership gathered with somber faces. Lady Yeonju entered the mountain lodge, opening the door.

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, jumped up.

"How is she? Gang Hee's condition."

"It's not good. We'll have to see if she makes it through the night."

The atmosphere became even heavier.

"Damn!"

Deputy Leader Jang Buli jumped up from his seat. He glared at Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, with a resentful look and left.

The other leadership members also left one by one, leaving only Jinhyuk and Lady Yeonju in the mountain lodge.

"..."

Silent, Lady Yeonju spoke carefully.

"I'm sorry."

"..."

"If Gang Hee dies... I won't be able to forgive you."

Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk, said nothing. Lady Yeonju looked at him silently and quietly left the mountain lodge.

The silent mountain lodge.

Jinhyuk sat there like a frozen stone.

The moonlight settled by the window.

The mournful howl of a wolf echoed in his ears.

To avenge his birth mother, he killed another mother, Chorran.

At the end of his righteous revenge, Gil-dong lost his family and gained a sense of guilt.

The uncontrollable anger at the loss turned towards the group of assassins.

Those who deserved to die.

When he finished his righteous judgment,

What he saw was not the light of victory. It was the miserable sight of families who had lost their sons, husbands, and breadwinners, the deep darkness.

They were,

Thanks to his righteous revenge, in the same position as him, having lost their families.

The families were wailing, having lost their loved ones.

The inescapable, deep guilt gripped Gil-dong's heart.

He had killed his family in the name of justice.

He had killed their families in the name of justice.

Was it really justice?

Hong Gil-dong no longer had the courage to call killing justice.

'What do you want me to do?'

Thus, the belief that he would not kill for justice.

He thought it would save him from the guilt of that day.

He thought it would prevent the new family, the Halbin-dang members, from falling into the same guilt.

But if that belief caused them to die again,

'They will resent me.'

Lady Yeonju's voice echoed in Hong Gil-dong, Jinhyuk's heart.

'Before that, I won't be able to forgive myself. If Gang Hee dies.'

The sorrow of the bowed Gil-dong filled the dark mountain lodge with deeper silence.

The deep night wept.

That night, and again, as always,

When dawn finally came,

Gil-dong lifted his head.

In the still dark place, his eyes, like a beautifully cold lake, looked at someone somewhere.

"If one of us has to die."

His voice, filled with many emotions, echoed in the mountain lodge.

"It won't be my family."

Jinhyuk gripped the scabbard he had placed beside him.

"If there is a sin to be paid to save my family."

Jinhyuk stood up with his sword.

The cold killing intent that had disappeared since that day returned to Jinhyuk's eyes.

Thud. Thud.

He opened the door of the mountain lodge as the dawn of morning approached.

The strongest warrior, Hong Gil-dong, had returned.

***

"..."

KBC's Director Lee Sang-soo, listening to the ending OST of Hong Gil-dong Episode 15 at home, just swallowed hard.

"Wow! Dad! Can't we see the next episode faster? How can I wait until tomorrow!"

"Hong Gil-dong will probably destroy everything, right?"

"What about Gang Hee? She won't die, right? Wow, if Gang Hee dies, I won't let it go."

"Dad, you know the next part, right? Tell me something."

While his family was in an uproar, the director was only more convinced.

There was no need to check the ratings.

The final episode.

Hong Gil-dong is back.

And. I'll go around all the departments in drag.