Chapter Text
Red.
Everything was red.
Everything before his eyes was stained scarlet with blood.The lush green mountain peak was stained blood-red, its very nature was swept away in a single day.
Death. All that was left was death.
He gaze locked onto the culprit of this scene.The Demon from the skies, the leader of the Demon Sect, Cheon ma. The sight of this despicable man sat cross-legged in the sea of blood and gore evoked strange emotions in him.
The Heavenly Demon’s pale, empty eyes opened to gaze into the blue sky.
“….■■■■■■■■■■” Apparently, those words were unclear. His gaze still locked into those emotionless red orbs, the strange emotions started to rise again.
“How unfortunate, ■■■■■■■■■■■■■. If only you could get out of here, you could boast of your achievements.”
“…Shut your disgusting mouth.”
“You can still be proud of your actions. With the help of countless people, your sword finally reached my body.”
“Shut up!” He screamed,just from hearing his voice makes him wants to throw up.
Just then, when he was about to launch forward something slapped his cheeks so hard making him almost fell.
"OWW!!"
...
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"Oww, Cheon ma?!..."
"Cheon ma?! Stop daydreaming! Chung Myung, how many times do I have to remind you about not to sleep during classes? Do I need to call Chung Mun again?"
Looking up, Chung Myung's vision begin to clear. Another normal day where his teacher would scolded him for sleeping in their class. His ears ache, it might even bleed at this rate. Seconds later he heard laughs begin to abrupt
"Chung Myung, are having a nightmare? You literally just screamed so loud 'Shut up' are you okay? Lol" One of his classmates said.
"Huh?"
His teacher only sighs and came back to his desk and started to announce, "We will be having a school field trip in a week. We will give you the form about the details around tomorrow." Then, one of the student raises their hand "Where will we be going Mr. Baek oh?"
Baek oh then smiles and began to explain "we will be going to the ancient Great Mount Hua Sect"
"Mount hua was an ancient sect located in shaanxi China, it was a sect that was known for its beautiful Plum blossom technique. The destination for our school trip will be there, although now the only thing that's left is an empty buildings amidst the Plum blossom trees and an empty mountain. Once we reached the peak of the mountain, don't forget to pay respect to the ancestors of the Great Mount Hua disciples."
Great. Another boring history lessons. When are we going home anyway? Chung Myung thought as he began drifting into a slumber. Just then, he heard a sound of a smack.
"Chung Myung, are you even hearing me? No sleeping in class and tell me what did I tell everyone just now?"
The said student groans in displeasure, his fingers getting rid of the messy hair that was covering his visions.
"Ughh, What's so special about that mountain anyway? Just some old buildings and trees and stuffs, that sect didn't exist anymore anyway what's there to pay respect for?"
No really. That sect is already long gone anyway, it might have a history but it's all are already in the past it doesn't have anything to do with the present? He really never understands why history exists in the world, isn't there a poem that says 'let the past be the past'? Chung Myung just looked at Baek oh innocently as he didn't said anything wrong.
"Chung Myung..."
"Yes??"
"Go to the detention please"
"W—wait!! but I didn't do anything wrong???"
"Yaahhh!!! For the love of heavens, JUST GO YOU BRAT!!"
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Walking to detention, Chung Myung only crossed his arms and huffed in annoyance. "I really didn't do anything wrong tho?" He mumbled.
Finally reached the room, he then sigh heavily and enter the detention room with a heavy steps. Once he entered, there was someone who is already sitting on one of the chairs in the corner. At least he's not going to spend his detention entirely alone.
The other person sense someone's presence then turned his head towards the door. Eh?? Both of the person just stared blankly at each other...Silence filled the entire room for a few seconds, it was then Chung Myung take the initiative to speak. "Tang Bo???"
"Hyung-nim??"
Tang Bo, a close friend of Chung Myung.
The fact that they become close friend is because Tang Bo insisted to stick close to him like a leech. Tang Bo just entered high school about a year ago when he stubbornly asked Chung Myung for a fight. That is...until he got beaten to death.
Chung Myung just stood there bewildered "What did you do this time? And wtf happened to your face?"
That question immediately offended Tang Bo. Apparently, there's a visible bruise across his left cheek as if he just got punched. "I didn't do anything wrong!! Those jongnam bastards apparently talks bad about you and I just gave them a lesson!" Tang Bo complained in a defensive tone.
"And how did you get that bruise? There's no way those bastards land a hit on you."
"The principal called my parents..."
"Oh..."
Tang Bo then looked at him and repeated the same question. "And what did you do??"
Chung Myung's just scowled as he sits down. "I was just sleeping in that old bearded man's class"
"You know he hates when someone isn't serious in his class."
"How the hell am i supposed to be serious if his lessons are nothing but about dead people? They're dead! And what? Mount Hua protected the world from demons? What nonsense is that? Demons don't exist, what kind of lousy fictional story is that?"
Hearing that, Tang Bo's expression suddenly changed, a slight tension building up in his expression. And Chung Myung immediately noticed, but he decided to let it off. Since Tang Bo is a person who likes learning about histories, maybe he's offended by his words?
Silence then settled them both. It was then a couple minutes pass Chung Myung finally broke the silence. He remembered having a strange dream during Mr. Baek Oh's class.
"But Bo-yah, i actually had this strange dream during that bearded man's class..."
This immediately took Tang Bo's attention then turned his face to him, a hint that he's listening.
"Everything was red in there...i smelled cold metals of blood and corpses tattered everywhere, building a mountain. And, i just stood there on top all of them...all alone."
Silence just envelopes them once more
The expression Tang Bo wore is...unreadable It seems like Tang Bo is in deep thoughts, seeing this Chung Myung just shrugged and decided to change the topic.
"Bo-yah"
"What is it, Hyung-nim?"
Chung Myung started to look around as if checking that nobody else is there,then began to whisper into Tang Bo's ear. "Wanna go to the Playstation?"
"Why are you whispering?" Tang Bo immediately felt pain on one of his foot, seems like his Hyung-nim just stepped on him. "Idiot, we're in detention. What if someone hears?"
"Hyung-nim, you never even care about those things"
"Yahh, I'm graduating next year. I can't afford to redo another year because i cause some trouble"
"Aren't you in detention right now because you've done something?"
"I'm just sleeping, there's nothing wrong with that."
"That's literally the same thing."
He groans and started kicking the other person's shin. Fortunately, the latter is already so used to it so the pain feels like nothing but an insect bite. "So, are you going or not?"
"Alright..."
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Everything is dark...and cramped, the air is stuffy. She shouldn't have agreed to play that stupid game, now she is stuck here all alone with an uncomfortable position. Now what time is it now? She should've been in class already, her older brother would scold her till her ears starts bleeding if he finds out that she ended up stuck inside the storage room because of a stupid dare.
There was literally no one in this area, how is she supposed to ask for help? Those bastards must purposely locking her inside when she was finding the 'keys' that they hide as her dare,tch.
Apparently, the storage room is also right behind of the high school building. Well, the buildings for middle school and high school are only a few meters away, even less then 10 meters since the school is a combine of both middle school and high school, just different buildings. She just hopes that one of her seniors is skipping class right now.
Just when she was in a dilema, she heard a sound of footsteps. She then quickly bang at the door and shout "Is anybody out there?? Please, help me get out of here!!"
--------------------
Tang Bo and Chung Myung were just about to escape when suddenly they heard a voice coming from the storage room. They immediately went to it and the voice is getting louder.
"Anybody out there???"
Tang Bo realized who the voice belongs to then called "Soso?? Is that you?? Why are you in there??"
"Ah...Tang Bo it's you...Well- no time for chit chat get me out of here it's suffocating!!"
The door is finally open. Soso then went out feeling relieved after breathing some fresh air. She then turned to her cousin, seeing the look in his face it seems like he wanted answers immediately...
"I was playing dare, and those guys told me to fins a key inside the storage room then locked me in."
"Why are you even accepting that from the start?"
"Well i don't know i'm just bored? And aren't you skipping class again? You're just the same as me then"
"That's just dumb." Chung Myung suddenly commented Tang Soso's behavior
He saw how this 'cousin' of Tang Bo suddenly turned face him and stared. Her expression comes from annoyed turned into some realization and then into something he can't quite comprehend? But before he could speak up, she suddenly started speaking. "Actually, I think I changed my mind. Can I come with you?"
Tang Bo looked at her as he thought she was crazy. Soso? Skipping class? That's such a foreign thing coming from her. Soso, didn't you have said before that you will work hard and not to skip classes so that you can get into your favorite university? Well, he can't said that outloud or else he will be kick by the knee.
"Soso, you shouldn't skip class. What if Pae finds out and reports it to your father?"
"Well, YOU are also skipping class. There's no need to worry about oppa."
"I'm not skipping class, i'm in a detention anyway."
Tang Soso just tilted her head and stared blankly at him. No, this sight is definitely very familiar to him. Isn't this the reaction Hyung-nim would give him when he was annoyed? How did she developed such thing? Soso?? You've never even met Chung Myung before this right? How come you know that expression?
And it seems like she would keep staring until Tang Bo accepted her request (more like a demand) He couldn't do anything and ended up agreeing. He then glance at his friend, the said person only gave him a judgemental look. There's no hope huh? He just wants to spend some time alone with his Hyung-nim!!
Tang Bo was about to head back to his friend when suddenly Tang Soso bolted passed him in a flash and approached Chung Myung.
"Chung Myung sunbaenim* have you heard that we're all going to Mount hua in next week?" Tang Soso ask with stars in her eyes
Chung Myung stared at her dumbfounded, yahh why are you staring at me like that? He then realized something. "Wait, so the middle schoolers are also coming?"
"Yes everyone is coming, they say that as our symbol of respect for the ancestors that have sacrificed themselves for the sake of the world"
"Is that so..."
"Should we get going then? How about the amusement park, it's actually near by."
"Who the hell goes to the amusement park while skipping class?! And not just that with this uniform?"
"The girls in my class often skipped the classes by going to a mall with a school uniform also, and nothing happened."
Chung Myung only watched them argue. No,no,no wait- think about it, the Tang family is known for their knowledge about medicines, they also even have multiple hospitals built around the country, doesn't that means their rich? It wouldn't hurt right if he emptied their wallets? He can't miss this opportunity!
But then, as the two argue Chung Myung then hear footsteps nearby. Without hesitation, he grabbed both of Tang Bo and Tang Soso's arm hard and went to hide inside the storage room that Soso has been trapped before. "Sstt, seems like someone is coming."
True to his words, someone DID actually come. Chung Myung tried to peek through a small gap between the door and the wall, not a security or a teacher but a student. Something caught Chung Myung's eye, a badge...beside the sleeves...it's the student president! Shoot, if they got caught by this person he is very certain they will immediately be send into the principals office! Wait- that's Chung Jin!! Chung Myung then remembered that his brother Chung Jin is a student president. No, he can't get caught! Or else his hyung would definitely scolded him again for a lifetime!
Chung Myung turned his head towards the other two person with him internally asking 'what should we do??!!' Tang Soso just blink and quietly muttered "stay silence?". Tang Bo facepalms at her response and choose to stay quiet for the sake of his life.
Oh, Chung Myung never wanted to yelled at someone so badly before. But hey, he would be in a huge problem if he hit a girl especially a girl of the Tang family. Trying to put aside his anger, the footsteps suddenly seems to be directing towards their place.
Unfortunately for them, it seems like they were going to be sent back to the detention room and get punished soon anyway.
--------------------
Chung Mun paced back and forth in front of the living room window, glancing at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. He knew his younger brother, Chung Myung, should have been home from school hours ago. But Chung Mun wasn't surprised when his brother failed to appear on time.
He had already received a call from Mr. Baek Oh earlier that day, informing him that his brother would be staying late for detention. Chung Mun sighed and rubbed his temples. He had warned Chung Myung countless times to behave himself in class, but it seemed his brother never listened.
Finally, the door swung open, and Chung Myung walked in.
"I'm home."
"You're late."
Chung Mun continued, "Mr. Baek Oh said that you caused trouble again during his class. Mind telling me what happened?"
"I didn't do anything wrong!! I was simply just sleeping throughout his boring lectures?"
"Then how do you explain yourself when he saif to me that you were screaming during your sleep? And how about how you responded to the location you're going to for your field trip? How about telling me about the screaming problem first?"
Chung Myung took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts. "I just had this dream during class...i guess, it was so vivid." Chung Mun stopped any activity he was doing and stared at Chung Myung. Listening carefully, urging him to continue.
"Well, it was nothing important. It's about something called Cheon Ma? I guess that's the name."
Chung Mun's face turned from curiosity into horror.
"Everything just looks red? Then suddenly i saw something up and just immediately screamed. After that, Mr. Baek Oh asked me about the lesson he explained earlier about Mount Hua."
"And what did you say about Mount Hua?"
Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed, well his hyung did asked in more specific why he got into detention.
"Well, i just said that there's nothing special about that place. Besides why are we going there anyway? It's literally located in China while we lived in Korea! Why go so far just for a field trip? There's nothing there anyway."
Seeing this, Chung Mun just smile at his brother. The smile itself felt off–it was not just a smile, it's like a smile that held so many emotions. Guilt and sorrow. Chung Myung was about to ask him if he was okay but what his hyung said next wasn't something he was expecting.
"You know, there's no need to whine about. In fact you should be happy because that you're going 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦."
...
Huh???
Chung Myung just stared blankly at Chung Mun, has he have gone crazy or something? Hyung, are you sure you didn't want to go to the doctor?? Why were you even staring at me like you've lost me before? Did he miss something?
And...home? What was that supposed to mean? Chung Myung never even been to that place, he even just started to know that place because of his teacher just explained it to the whole class this afternoon.
"𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙃𝙊𝙈𝙀? Hyung, you're acting weird today that it started to creep me out...Do you wanna go to the doctor?"
But Chung Mun just sigh and went to the kitchen to prepare for dinner, he didn't even bother to explain it! Rude. Chung Myung was about to complain but seeing how Chung Mun looks sad(? He then could only grumble in annoyance and went back to his room.
He then glanced at his hyung one last time and saw him staring at an empty corner of the room. Maybe his hyung is just tired?
"I'm sorry, Sajae..."
Unfortunately, that voice didn't reach the said person.