Baek Chun, who had been gazing at the two men as they entered with blank expressions, suddenly regained consciousness and hurriedly greeted them.
“I- It’s an honor to meet Bangjang!”
As a result, another disciple of Mount Hua who was preoccupied quickly extended a greeting.
“Greeting to Bangjang.”
Bop Jeong smiles brightly.
“We ask for your understanding of the sudden rudeness that visiting without contacting first.”
“What does Bangjang mean rude! It’s ridiculous.”
Sweating caused Baek Chun’s palms to get wet.
This is not just out of courtesy. Don’t Kangho people want to meet Shaolin’s Bangjang at least once in their lives?
It would be an honor if such a person walked directly; however, forcing such a person to walk could be considered impolite.
“But what brings you here….?”
Bop Jeong answered Baek Chun’s cautious query with a tiny smile.
“Of course, I have a business, but I don’t think I should say it here. Is Sect Leader present?”
Baek Chun nodded in surprise.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I should have told Sect Leader first……. Baek Sang! Tell Sect Leader that Shaolin’s Bangjang has visited, quick!”
“Yes, Sahyung!”
Baek Sang ran to this floor with all his might while sprinting.
The remainder remained motionless, unsure how to handle Shaolin’s Bangjang. Bangjang’s eyes shifted to the side at that moment.
“Right.”
He smiled and made eye contact with Chung Myung.
“How’s your preparation going for the finals, Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”
Chung Myung smirked at the words.
“Is there anything I need to prepare? It’s a fight anyway.”
“A fight.”
Bop Jeong nodded quietly as if he liked the answer.
“Right, it’s just a fight. Hye Yeon should know that too.”
“Hm?”
Just as Chung Myung was about to ask back, Baek Sang rushed in.
“Please proceed to the second floor. I’ll guide you! Chung Myung, follow me. Sect Leader asked me to come with you.”
“Yes.”
Chung Myung lifted himself up without hesitation.
“Please here.”
“Thank you.”
Bop Jeong grinned and ascended to the second floor after Baek Sang.
The disciples of Mount Hua stared at each other as Bop Jeong, Hye Yeon, and Chung Myung completely vanished.
“Why are they here?”
“…I don’t know.”
Everyone looked up at the upper floor like a honeyed mute.
“Welcome, Bangjang.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Hahaha. It’s difficult seeing the position. Should I receive a guest from the position of the owner, or receive the owner from the position of a guest?”
Bop Jeong smiled at Hyun Jong’s words.
“Here is Shaolin, but since I’ve given this pavilion to Mount Hua, I’m a guest.”
“Um.”
“So shouldn’t I be treated?”
“Then shall we bring some grain tea?”
“Is there a grain tea?”
“It’s a joke. It’s a joke.”
“Well, that’s a shame. I wish it wasn’t a joke.”
“Hahaha. It’s very different to hear that from Bangjang. Hahahaha.”
Chung Myung grinned happily as he observed Hyun Jong speaking softly.
‘Just wipe your sweat and smile.’
Although he was speaking clearly, sweat was dripping from his forehead and face, which were awkwardly stiffened from stress, to the extent that he regrets it.
But Chung Myung was unable to harbor any sympathy for Hyun Jong. Anyone in the world would find it challenging and burdensome to meet privately with Shaolin’s Bangjang.
“Keuhum.”
Chung Myung coughed lightly.
It meant not being so anxious about his presence.
Hyun Jong then turned to face Chung Myung while raising his head. Then there was a slight loosening of the crumpled face.
“But.”
In the end, Chung Myung opened his mouth first because he believed that if Hyun Jong were left to handle his meal, he wouldn’t get any rice or porridge.
“What bring you here?”
Bop Jeong’s eyes turned to Chung Myung.
“Yes, before the final…….”
“I don’t think you’re here to make friends while we’re about to fight. Right?”
Bop Jeong smiled silently at Chung Myung.
‘You’re more daring than I thought.’
He looked at Chung Myung.
Even Mount Hua’s Sect Leader Hyun Jong cannot conceal his anxiety in front of him.
However, Chung Myung is not tense when he is around him and Hye Yeon. No, in fact, he was displaying signs of boredom.
Are you bold? Or is it simply mindless?
‘Neither way.’
There was an air of unfitness.
He felt as though he was dealing with a veteran who rolled over in Kangho despite the fact that it would not have been feasible to see Chung Myung’s behavior.
No.
‘Is it more than that?’
Not possible. That’s obviously not going to happen.
Bop Jeong is a person who puts a lot of faith in his senses. He thought that occasionally a sudden sixth sense could say more than a rationale.
But this time he couldn’t quite believe what his sixth sense had told him.
‘It feels like I’m dealing with ancestors.’
It is similar.
Even though he feels removed from the world, he presents as distant and discreetly preoccupied with it, and he doesn’t give a damn what people think of him.
Even the few words that are interspersed between sentences gently convey the main idea.
He occasionally experiences this when dealing with the Taesang Elders of Shaolin, who have now retired from active duty. Isn’t it odd that the young swordsman can experience such a thing?
Naturally, Bop Jeong withheld all of the information.
“If Mount Hua Divine Dragon says so, I can’t be rude anymore. Of course, there is a clear reason why this monk came here.”
Then he raised his head and looked straight at Hyun Jong.
“Sect Leader.”
“Please tell me, Bangjang.”
“How do you view Kangho’s strength?”
“If you ask me how I see it…….”
Bop Jeong continued with a heavy voice.
“What did you feel at this competition?”
Hyun Jong narrowed his eyes.
It was hard to guess what he was going to say. Bop Jeong sighed quietly, looking into Hyun Jong’s face.
“Originally, this competition is designed to bring harmony between the sects. However, the goal of the competition has not been achieved at all, although the final is just around the corner. The confrontation between the sects has gotten worse, and the movement to keep each other in check is getting worse.”
“…Um.”
“Magyo is moving again, and they began to make an appearance. If the Ten Great Sect and the Great Five Family do not harmonize with each other, we may have to go through that terrible war again.”
Hyun Jong nodded heavily. And he opened his mouth with an expression of concern.
“But why are you telling me that?”
“Amitabha, harmony is essential.”
Bop Jeong’s eyes lit up.
“But if it doesn’t happen voluntarily, it has to be done by force. To do that, we need Mount Hua.”
“…We?”
“Yes.”
“No……. why is Mount Hua……..”
Bop Jeong smiled subtly as he watched the flustered Hyun Jong.
“Sect Leader. The meaning of Mount Hua is more than you think.”
“……Um.”
“Mount Hua proved themselves to the world in this competition.”
“But isn’t it just the rising star’s performance?”
“The rising star in the future of the sect. In other words, there is a high probability that a sect, which has distinguished itself in this competition, will lead the future of Kangho. Not only did Mount Hua put two of their disciple in the semifinal, but each of the disciples who were eliminated proved that they were not easy opponents at all. Now, no sects in the world can ignore Mount Hua anymore.”
Hyun Jong tried to guess Bop Jeong’s intention to come and say such things. But there was no expression on the face of the old monk.
“So, please help Shaolin, Sect Leader. If Mount Hua helps Shaolin, Shaolin can lead Kangho to a true realm of harmony.”
Chung Myung narrowed his eyes.
‘So you want us to come under Shaolin?’
‘Look at this bastard.’
His face looks so innocent and looks righteous.
While Hyun Jong was silent because he couldn’t find an answer to the sudden proposal, Chung Myung took the lead.
“But.”
“Um.”
Bop Jeong turned his head and looked at Chung Myung.
“Help can’t be one-sided. Isn’t it meant to help each other?”
“Amitabul, what Sodojang says makes sense.”
“So what does Shaolin do to help Mount Hua? It’s not like we receive nothing, right?”
Bop Jeong looked at him with strange eyes at the bold question.
“Well, that’s a problem for me, too. What should I do to help? Hmm. How about this?”
“……?”
“For example…….”
The corners of Bop Jeong’s mouth rolled up.
“What about Shaolin’s full support for Mount Hua’s return to the Ten Great Sect?”
Hyun Jong’s body flinched as if he had been struck by lightning.
“Te- Ten Great Sect, did you say Ten Great Sect?”
Bop Jeong nodded.
“That’s right.”
Hyun Jong’s eyes widened as if torn.
Of course, this story is not that unfamiliar. Hyun Jong too has been thinking in his heart that if they go on like this, there will be plenty of possibilities.
But.
If the word comes out of the mouth of Shaolin’s Bangjang, the story is different. It is not just support, but “full support.”
The person sitting in front him me is none other than the Sect Leader of Shaolin.
In Kangho, what can’t be done with the full support of Shaolin and its Bangjang?
This was nothing short of a guarantee that Mount Hua could return to the Ten Great Sect.
“Why did you make such a promise…….”
“Sect Leader.”
Bop Jeong smiled kindly.
“I highly value the possibility of Mount Hua. But that’s why I can’t help but worry. Shaolin and Mount Hua will be able to unite in times when I and Sect Leader are alive. But…….”
He paused and looked alternately at Hye Yeon and Chung Myung. And said in a heavy voice.
“There is no guarantee that it will be possible in the future.”
“…….”
Hyun Jong did not miss Bop Jeong’s gaze on Chung Myung.
‘Future generation?’
It won’t mean right after they die. Hye Yeon accompanied him in such a place. In other words, the future generation clearly means the day Hye Yeon takes full control of Shaolin.
If Hye Yeon is the leader of Shaolin, Mount Hua is of course…….
‘No! No!’
Hyun Jong secretly groaned inwardly.
Of course, Chung Myung is a lucky charm that rolled in, and a horse-like guy who goes crazy with Mount Hua on his back.
But he doesn’t dare to hand him over the position of Mount Hua’s Sect Leader.
It is not possible for him to be Sect Leader. If it’s Sect Leader, there’s Baek Chun and Yoon Jong.
But it’s not hard to guess who will be in power as long as Chung Myung is alive and in Mount Hua.
In any case, what if there comes a world where Shaolin of Hye Yeon and Mount Hua of Chung Myung are compatible?
‘To hell with harmony.’
This is Chung Myung, who expresses strange ill feelings toward the Ten Great Sect. In that case, how could the future unfold if he were to be in power?
Harmony or whatnot, it would be nice if war didn’t happen right away.
Only then can Hyun Jong now know what Bop Jeong is worried about.
“Aren’t Bangjang looking too far away?”
“That’s the purpose our position hold.”
That one sentence contained how heavy the position of Shaolin’s Sect Leader was.
“If Shaolin and Mount Hua can unite, Kangho will be at peace. But if both don’t, Kangho will eventually split again.”
“…….”
“Sect Leader, the current situation is not necessarily good. There is a subtle crack in the relationship between the Ten Great Sect, and the Great Five Family fighting against the Ten Great Sect. The Magyo began to move, and those Evil Sect forces are building up their power at this moment.”
Bop Jeong, who remained indifferent, stared solemnly at Hyun Jong.
“This is the beginning of a turbulent time.”
“…What a mess.”
Hyun Jong bit his lips.
He thought it was a light discussion, but it feels like things are getting bigger and heavier. That’s too hard for him to handle.
“So please think about it. If Mount Hua helps Shaolin, Shaolin will fully support Mount Hua. If that’s the case, it won’t be too difficult for Mount Hua to regain its past glory.”
Of course it is.
He’s the Sect Leader of Shaolin.
If Shaolin, called the northern head of Kangho, openly supports a particular sect, who dares to rebel?
It was a really sweet offer.
But.
There are bound to be people in the world who are dissatisfied with the sweetness.
“But.”
Bop Jeong’s head turned slightly.
Chung Myung was looking at him with an expressionless face.
“Why are you saying that now?”
“Hm?”
“There is still the final.”
Bop Jeong answered as if it was an expected question.
“If the final takes place and the winner is decided, even the same words will change the meaning. So it should have been now to convey Shaolin’s true intentions.”
But Chung Myung grinned.
“I beg to differ.”
“…… hm?”
Bop Jeong’s eyes sharpened at once.
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