Chapter 987 - Chapter 988
Added 2024-02-22 04:58:58 +0000 UTC
Chapter 988
Righttt, I could just try posting it like this. So, what do you guys think? I ask for either one of this
Chapter 987
Though they moved away from the riverside with great momentum, Mount Hua and Tang Family did not actually move very far.
They needed to find accommodations nearby to care for the severely injured members of Namgung Family, and the village they built in Kugang was perfect to accommodate Mount Hua and Tang Family.
“Still, I think it’s too close to Ten Great Sects. Wouldn't that be uncomfortable?”
"If anyone's going to be uncomfortable, it's those guys standing there looking like they've broken their legs. Why should we be uncomfortable?"
“That’s true.”
Thus, Mount Hua settled in the manor previously used by Nokrim.
After tending to the injured without even having time to unpack, by dusk, they had managed to stabilize the situation somewhat.
Of course, that referred to the injured.
Not Mount Hua.
"The more I think about it, the angrier I get, that crazy octopus-headed guy!"
Chung Myung’s eyes are gleaming.
"What? Collusion? Colluuuuusion? That crazy monk just spouts nonsense! I'll shove a wooden stick in his mouth! Who is he framing us!"
“Kuhum, Chung Myung-ah.”
"What!"
Baek Cheon cleared his throat softly. He understood the anger, but as a Sasuk, he felt it was too harsh to talk about Shaolin’s Bangjang in such a way.
"You're being too harsh on the elder of Kangho."
"Has Sasuk gone mad?"
“That’s not it… but, he could be sick. Maybe he's got dementia."
“….”
Jo-Gol asked Yoon Jong next to him in confusion.
"Sahyung. Can martial artists get dementia?"
"I thought they couldn't."
“But?”
“After seeing what happened today, I thought it might just be possible."
"Ah….”
It was an ordinary conversation that any disciple of Mount Hua would be familiar with.
There was just one minor problem: there was now a shiny, bald head in front of them.
Hye Yeon, who couldn't bring himself to join in on this conversation, just sweat profusely.
As he nervously shifted his gaze, the sparks inevitably flew his way.
"Hey. What do you think? Fake monk."
“A- Amitabha Buddha…. W- What do you mean?”
“It looks like Bangjang has gone crazy. What do you think?”
Hye Yeon closed his eyes tightly.
Since he was a person with eyes, he could not help but witness everything that happened between Mount Hua and Shaolin. When Bop Jeong accused them of colluding with Evil Sects, didn't he almost put double insults at Bangjang's face without even realizing it?
If that had actually happened, it would have been a moment of great dishonor that would forever remain in the history of Shaolin.
“Ah, what do I think.”
Hye Yeon was overcome with agony. Even though he could no longer be considered part of Shaolin, Bop Jeong is like a parent to him. Isn't it impossible to badmouth him in front of others!
Of course, Chung Myung did not give Hye Yeon's situation the slightest consideration. Instead of thinking, I tilted her head crookedly and pushed my face in front of Hye Yeon.
"Are you deaf? Since your head is so shiny, has your eardrum become shiny too?"
Jo-Gol whispered to Yoon Jong again.
"Sahyung. Shouldn’t the hearing get better if your eardrums are shiny?”
"...I'm not a physician, so I don't know that much..."
Hye Yeon glanced at the two and bit his lips.
Those bastards are even more hateful.
“Why can’t you answer?”
At that time, Baek Cheon, who was silently watching Chung Myung, narrowed his eyes.
“Chung Myung.”
"Ah, what now!"
“Monk Hye Yeon is having a hard time answering. Stop asking.”
Chung Myung frowned. But before he could curse, Baek Cheon spoke calmly.
"People are like that. Even though he's physically with Mount Hua, his heart is still with Shaolin. How can we stop that? Understanding even that is what makes a true friend."
“Oh, is that so? Do you still like Shaolin better?”
Hye Yeon changed his mind.
Baek Cheon, that bast…. No, he hates Baek Cheon Siju more.
“Hiyaa. I've been raising a tiger cub. So, you’re saying you’d still side with those who accuse us of colluding with Evil Sects? Are you a spy who dug into Mount Hua instructed by Bop Jeong?"
"Hm?"
"Uh?"
“Hmmmm?”
Five Swords' eyes all focused on one place. Hye Yeon, who had been blinking his eyes, jumped up startled.
"A spy! How could a Buddhist do such a thing?"
"Why not, this punk! Your Bangjang looked like he’d sell his own country for the right price! Even when you see him like that, those words still come out of your mouth? Are you saying people of Shaolin are born with a conscience?"
“Tha- That’s….”
Cold sweat trickled down Hye Yeon’s head.
"So, did you see what your Bangjang did, or not?"
“I- I….”
“Yes, you are.”
“I- I didn’t see anything.”
“…..”
At that moment, everyone looked at Hye Yeon blankly. He clenched his eyes shut again.
"Really? You didn’t see?"
Chung Myung quickly got up from his seat, made a happy expression, and immediately hit Hye Yeon on the head.
“Kyargh!!”
"Grab him!"
“I knew it would be like this!”
Five Swords was frightened and held onto Chung Myung, who was charging toward Hye Yeon.
"Let go! Won’t you let go? That fake monk bastard is just! This is why you don’t raise black-haired beasts! What? You didn’t see? You bastard! Your eyes are useless anyway, won’t you let me pluck them out today?"
“Chung Myung! Calm down!”
"Man, you can’t beat people up like that!"
“That’s right, Chung Myung! I don’t know if it’s someone else, but Monk Hye Yeon is not a black-haired beast! He doesn’t even have hair."
“….”
“….”
There was silence for a moment. Chung Myung, who was charging, and Five Swords, who was holding him, all looked back at him blankly.
“…What?"
“…Crazy guy.”
"Amazing."
“Siju, that’s a bit….”
“Shut up, you son of a beast!”
Chung Myung overturned his eyes again and rushed at Hye Yeon.
This was no different from the daily life of Mount Hua, so no one was paying attention to the scene.
Except for one person.
“…..”
Namgung Dowi looked blankly at Chung Myung, who was biting Hye Yeon’s head with his teeth.
'What?'
Is this person the same one I've been watching?
As he watched the scene intently, he happened to catch a disciple of Tang Family passing nearby.
“H- Hey, Sogaju-nim.”
"Yes?"
"...Is it always like this here?"
In response to his question, Tang Pae slightly raised his head and looked at Chung Myung and Five Swords. And he answered with a sad face.
"Well... you'll get used to it soon enough."
Then, he patted Namgung Dowi's shoulder a couple of times as if he felt sorry for him and then went on his way.
Now Chung Myung was beating Hye Yeon down. Namgung Dowi’s eyes fluttered at the unbelievable sight.
'Come to think of it….'
It seemed like this was indeed his typical behavior. Yes, like during Murim Competition. Murim Competition... Yes, that's right, that Murim Competition.
'But still!'
Wasn't he the one who showed heroic action by defeating Black Dragon King on Plum Blossom Island yesterday? The sword he saw back then still sent shivers down Namgung Dowi's spine.
And now, this person was...
“Die, die! You bat bastard!”
“I- I’m not a bat!”
"You're not? With a bald head in a robe, where else would you find one? Either grow some hair or take off the robe! You have to do one or the other!"
“Tha- That’s….”
There he goes again.
Ah, just like that.
He knew in his head that they were the same person, but it felt like his heart couldn't accept it.
"Ah, calm down, man! Why take out your anger on the monk about Shaolin... Oh?"
At that moment, Yoon Jong found Namgung Dowi standing blankly.
"Ah, hello?"
“…Yes. Good… evening, Dojang.”
Although Yoon Jong greeted him politely, Namgung Dowi’s expression as he received the greeting was lukewarm.
"What's this? Isn't that the injured person? Why are you crawling out again?”
As Chung Myung's attention turned to him, Namgung Dowi quickly cleared his throat. Regardless of the strangeness of the person, there was something he needed to do.
"Dojang. I've come to formally express my gratitude again."
Namgung Dowi took a deep bow.
Chung Myung, who was looking at this in confusion, turned his gaze to Baek Cheon and asked.
“Sasuk.”
"Hm?"
“Are the kids from prestigious sects like that? How many times have he repeated the greeting he just said?”
“…Why are you asking me that?"
"Well, you come from the deep-rooted Southern Edge Sect, right?" (“그야 사숙은 뼈대 깊은 종남 출신이잖아.”)
“No, you bastard! I'm thoroughly a man of Mount Hua through and through!"
"Ah, this utterly disrespectful brat. Tsk, tsk. To think you betrayed your parents who gave you the good name Dongryong.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you!”
Ah, right.
Now that he thinks about it, that person is Mount Hua Righteous Sword who cleared the way against the pirates at the Yangtze River.
Back then... he was truly impressive and reliable.
'No, but his name is Dongryong?'
There is no need for a person's name to match their face, but at this level, isn't the face and name so discordant that they are grabbing each other by the collar?
"Well. Whatever. Being polite isn't a bad thing, I suppose."
Chung Myung shook his head and spoke half-heartedly. Contrary to what she said, there was a blatant look in his eyes that asked, 'What on earth are we supposed to do with this useless youngster?' Enough to be clearly visible even from Namgung Dowi’s perspective. (청명이 고개를 주억거리며 건성으로 말했다. 말과는 달리 눈엔 ‘저 쓸데없는 짓거리나 해 대는 애송이를 대체 어디다 써먹어야 하지?’라는 빛이 노골적으로 어려 있었다. 남궁도위 눈에도 훤히 보일 만큼.)
"So, are you done?"
“N- No.”
Namgung Dowi kept wiping the sweat that was beading up.
"I- I'm here to tell you that since we've become one family, I'm looking forward to your kind cooperation."
Namgung Dowi bowed deeply again.
"I look forward to your guidance."
He was convinced deep down.
'Mount Hua has become much stronger.'
He knew very well what the original level of Mount Hua was. Just a few years ago, the sect that did not even have a name in Kangho was Mount Hua.
'And even during Murim Competition, it was nothing more than a sect with a promising rising star.'
However, what they showed at the Yangtze River this time completely shattered Namgung Dowi's thoughts. In just a few years, they have become equal to Namgung Family.... No, perhaps it has become a sect with a power that goes beyond that.
Although it makes no sense according to common sense, there is no way to deny what he saw with his own eyes.
'In other words, it means that Mount Hua is the one in the world who knows best how to rebuild a sect.'
Therefore, no matter what, he had to stick close to them.
In order to completely rebuild the half-collapsed Namgung Family, they must learn from Mount Hua and Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.
'Chung Myung Dojang will definitely help. Certainly.'
Chung Myung fought with his life on the line to save people he barely knew. Considering that deep sympathies, he will never turn away from Namgung Family.
Namgung Dowi thought so.
The problem was...
“Sasuk.”
"What?"
"What is he saying?"
“He’s saying, ‘Now that I have joined Heavenly Comrade Alliance, please take good care of me.’”
"So, what does that mean?"
“He said in front of Shaolin’s Bangjang that they’re leaving Five Great Family and join Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Weren't you listening?"
“Ah, that?”
Chung Myung nodded as if he finally understood.
"Yes! Exactly that."
Namgung Dowi stared at Chung Myung with a bright face.
"So, from now on..."
"Hey."
“…Yes?"
Namgung Dowi, who was about to lower his head again, hesitated for a moment and slightly raised his head.
And then he saw it.
Chung Myung, with his head tilted to the side, looks at him with a face that seems to have all the annoyances in the world crammed inside.
"Join?"
“…Yes. Join….”
“Who will accept it?”
"Huh?"
Chung Myung then cleaned out his ears and blew on his fingers.
"Not buying it."
"Yes?"
“I’m not buying it.”
“…..”
Right, the problem… was that Chung Myung was even stranger than Namgung Dowi had thought.
Very unfortunately.
Chapter 988
"Dojang."
"Go away."
"That… Dojang."
“Oh, just gol.”
"Dojang….”
"Argh, damn it!"
Chung Myung turned his body around and kicked Namgung Dowi.
Kwang!
“Keuk!”
Namgung Dowi was hit by Chung Myung's kick and rolled on the ground.
“But this bastard! Seriously?” (“근데 이 새끼가! 보자 보자 하니까?”)
Chung Myung glared at Namgung Dowi with his eyes wide with fury.
"Hey! Do you think we're easy? Just because you say you want to join, we should accept? The world-renowned Namgung Family is asking to join, so why are the beggars of Heavenly Comrade Alliance refusing, is that it?”
Namgung Dowi jumped up in a panic.
“Do- Dojang! That's not what I'm saying...!”
"Not what? Then what! Did Sect Leader give permission? Did Tang Gaju give permission? Oh! Is it like that? Now that you’re Gaju of Namgung, Mount Hua's Sect Leader and Tang Gaju don't matter anymore?"
“M- Me?”
How dare I?
“Yes, you! You, punk! Are there any other Namgung here besides you?”
Namgung Dowi looked at Chung Myung with a face as if he had seen a ghost.
When had he ever been cornered like this? As Sogaju of Namgung Family, the existence of a person named Chung Myung was too harsh for him, who had always lived under expectations and admiration.
However, as always, Chung Myung did not care about other people's perspectives.
“Do you take us as pushover! When things were going well, you went around talking about being leaders of Five Great Family and the ruler of Anhui! Now that your foothold is falling, what? One family? One famiiillyyyy? I’ve never even eaten with you, to hell with family! You bastard!”
“I- It’s not like that. Dojang! First of all, listen to me....”
"No need!"
Five Swords watched this scene from a distance with a strange expression. Namgung Dowi, who threw away all his dignity as the next Gaju of Namgung to grab and plead with Chung Myung, caught Jo-Gol's eye, who then turned to Baek Cheon with a curious expression.
"That… Sasuk.”
"What?"
"Was he always like this?"
“….”
Baek Cheon was about to say, 'how would I know?', but then trailed off.
What should he say…. There seemed to be something dignified and impressive about that him at the Murim Competition....
Yoon Jong scratched his head as if he didn't understand.
"Why is he acting like that?"
Baek Cheon shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“Isn’t it inevitable for Namgung Sohyeop to somehow join Heavenly Comrade Alliance?” (Sohyeop means little warrior, while Daehyeop means great warrior.)
“Really?”
"Yes, there's no other way."
Baek Cheon quietly looked at Namgung Dowi.
'Anhui is too dangerous now.'
Anhui, Zhejiang Province, borders the Yangtze River. Although it does not completely overlap with water fortress' direct activity area, it is a place where water fortress can lead its fleet and attempt to invade whenever they want.
And….
'Water fortress must be seething with rage now.'
Of course, water fortress' morale was thrown to the ground, but it is highly likely that Black Dragon King's eyes were overturned.
Why not?
Even if all of this was Jang Ilso's plan, in the end, water fortress was humiliatingly defeated by Heavenly Comrade Alliance, and Black Dragon King himself was defeated by Chung Myung, losing an arm in the process.
Black Dragon King will try to vent his anger anywhere. And the current Namgung Family is the perfect target to vent that anger.
All of this began when Namgung Family attacked water fortress. And Namgung Family's power is now less than a third of what it once was.
“Water fortress attacked Namgung?”
When Yoo Iseol spoke as if she had also guessed it, Baek Cheon nodded. (유이설이 자신도 짐작했다는 듯 말하자 백천이 고개를 끄덕였다.)
"Under normal circumstances, Namgung Family wouldn't fear an attack from water fortress... but the situation is far from favorable now."
Losing too much power on Plum Blossom Island was a problem, but a bigger problem was that they had completely lost touch with Ten Great Sects.
In this situation, even if water fortress attacks Namgung Family, will the Ten Great Sects really try to help Namgung Family?
Baek Cheon, who was contemplating, sneered coldly for a moment.
'No, who knows. Even if they hadn't severed ties, whether they would have helped Namgung...'
Having seen what he had, Baek Cheon could no longer trust the Ten Great Sects.
“The fact that water fortress was defeated is not a big problem in itself. The problem is that Black Dragon King probably lost a lot of his control over water fortress due to this incident. When an internal crisis arises, isn’t it the basis of a strategy to attack the external enemy and control the internal one?”
“Yes, Sasuk.”
Yoon Jong nodded as if he understood.
“From water fortress’, Namgung Family is the most easy prey right now.”
"Right."
At that time, Jo-Gol opened his mouth.
“And I’m sure it’s not just that.”
"Yes?"
Baek Cheon turns his head towards Jo-Gol. Jo-Gol looked up at Namgung Dowi with slightly bitter eyes, as if he knew something.
“In essence, sects are a place that stands on strength. No matter how clean and upright they try to be, problems of one kind or another are bound to arise.”
“…It means that resentment from the past may rear its head again.”
"That’s right. In the first place, Kangho is not a place that just leaves the powerless alone.”
Tang Soso also nodded with a bitter face.
“What Sahyung said is right, Sasuk.”
"Mhm."
Baek Cheon sighed softly.
'Right. There is probably no sect that understands that fact more keenly than Mount Hua.'
Just thinking about what happened after Mount Hua lost its power by the attack from Magyo, one can see. Was it because those people had a grudge against Mount Hua that they tried to rob everything Mount Hua had left? (화산이 마교의 습격으로 힘을 잃은 이후만 생각해 봐도 알 수 있다. 화산에 남은 걸 모조리 털어 대려 했던 이들이 특별히 원한이 있어 그랬겠는가.)
'No. That's probably not it.'
Kangho is a place where the moment a person with power loses their power, people who used to face them with a smile turn into robbers. If things continue like this, even if water fortress makes no move, Namgung Family will experience something similar to Mount Hua of the past.
“Since they can no longer be with Ten Great Sects, there is no sect that can help Namgung Family. The distance between the remaining Five Great Family is too far... As you know, just because Five Great Family are part of each other doesn’t mean they all get along well.”
"That's true."
"So… Right now, Namgung Sohyeop needs a roof. Not for himself, but a roof under which the surviving members of Namgung Family can rest."
"Um."
Yoon Jong nodded loudly as if he understood.
“But, Sasuk.”
"What? Do you have any more questions?”
“…That’s not what I was curious about.”
“Then what?”
Yoon Jong said, looking at Namgung Dowi with a worried face.
"If he wants to join Heavenly Comrade Alliance, he could just talk to Sect Leader or Tang Gaju, so why bother doing that to Chung Myung? He must’ve already seen that he doesn't even budge even when it comes to Sect Leader's words.
“…..”
Namgung Dowi clung to Chung Myung tirelessly and was kicked and pushed away. Baek Cheon looked at the scene with a complex expression and said.
“… His injuries are severe. He might have poor judgment because of it.”
“….”
It was something they could not understand at all.
* * *
Quite a number of people gathered around and sat down in the great gall, where in the past many bandits wielded their brushes frantically for accounting works.
Namgung Dowi, who was able to be here thanks to Hyun Jong's consideration, swallowed dry saliva as he looked at the faces of those gathered.
The weight is extraordinary.
If he had been Namgung Dowi in the past, he might not have felt so much pressure here. But now, he had to desperately suppress the urge to shrink away.
Is it because Namgung Family feels shabby after losing Namgung Hwang and standing at a crossroads?
No, that wasn't it.
'This is probably because their status is on a different level than it was back then.'
Call him snob if you must. It's the truth.
Those who haven't experienced it might not understand. But at least, anyone sitting here in a position similar to Namgung Dowi's would surely feel the same way.
Namgung Dowi glanced at Hyun Jong.
'It's the same with that person.'
The first time he saw him, he was merely Sect Leader of a nameless sect. Although he was placed at the seat of honor where the heads of the sects participating in Murim Competition gathered together, to put it bluntly, it would not have been surprising if Hyun Jong was kicked out of that table at any time.
However, when they met again at the Yangtze River, he became Sect Leader of Great Mount Hua Sect, who defeated even Wudang and became the core sect of Kangho, and now, as Maengju of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, he has become the one who confidently stands up to Shaolin’s Bop Jeong and Jang Ilso of Evil Tyrant Alliance.
What's strange about being nervous in front of someone like that? On the contrary, it would be insane not to.
'It's not just Sect Leader Hyun Jong.'
The same was true for Tang Gaju Tang Gun-ak, who sat next to Hyun Jong.
Of course, Tang Gun-ak had always held a high status.
But can you really compare Tang Gun-ak of a few years ago with Tang Gun-ak of today, which is Heavenly Comrade Alliance's second-in-command?
That can never happen.
Namgung Dowi knew the power of Five Great Family best. The names of Five Great Family are listed side by side, but in the end, no matter how hard they tried, they could never be compared to Ten Great Sects. That means that even Namgung Hwang could not dare to be on par with Shaoli’s Bop Jeong.
But Heavenly Comrade Alliance is different. Haven't they already proven that they can occupy an equal position with Ten Great Sects?
The disciples of Mount Hua and the disciples of Tang Family who guard the left and right sides are also very formidable.
'The problem is that this isn't everything.'
Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s potential still remains. They can call upon Namman Yasugung Clan and the Northern Sea Ice Clan anytime.
This makes him realize once again how great Heavenly Comrade Alliance is.
And most crucially!
Namgung Dowi's eyes landed on Chung Myung, who was showing signs of annoyance all over his face.
'The young swordsman who defeated Black Dragon King.'
He doesn’t know for sure, but the moment this fact spreads throughout Kangho, there will be a big uproar. No, perhaps it's already been turned upside down because of all the turmoil
Even today, Chung Myung is famous. Although there has been more than one person who has been called the greatest rising star in the world, there is one reason why only Chung Myung has become particularly famous.
'Because that person is not just a potential talent.'
In other words, it means that Chung Myung was the person who would later ascend to the position of the greatest person in the world.
Currently, there is no "greatest martial artist" in Kangho. No, not only now, but most of the time, the greatest in Kangho did not exist.
In the end, who is stronger can only be determined through confrontation. However, the top leaders of a sect cannot easily compete with anyone because there is so much at stake in their name.
This is because there is so much to lose if they were to be defeated.
Therefore, although there are individuals who could be called the greatest in the world, a firm and unassailable title of the greatest in the world is difficult to exist. That's why terms like the "Three Great Swordsmen of the World" and the "Five Great Sword Master of the World" come into being.
But not with Chung Myung.
Chung Myung made it known at Murim Competition that he would one day ascend to the position of the greatest in the world, and his subsequent actions made Namgung Dowi admit that that day is not far off.
'And now, even Black Dragon King.'
Everyone will now realize it. That Heavenly Comrade Alliance will soon have the undisputed greatest person in the world.
There is no one in Kangho who cannot understand what that means.
'It could really change the order of Kangho'
All because of Chung Myung!
Namgung Dowi clenched his fists. He is a very difficult person to follow, but Namgung Dowi cannot help but follow the man. Because the path that person walks is the path to the top.
‘So, we must be part of Heavenly Comrade Alliance….'
It was just as Namgung Dowi was about to make up his mind again.
“Huhuhu. It's good to see everyone gathered again. Well, it's all thanks to me for preparing the ship on time, but I won't accept thanks for that. Helping each other out within Heavenly Comrade Alliance is only natural... Keuk!"
Chung Myung's fist suddenly landed on the jaw of Im Sobyeong, who was joking around.
“This bastard could just get away with it, but he’s scratching it again? Hey, you bastard! If you had come just a moment earlier, we could have taken Jang Ilso's head! I told you to hurry up and fetch the ship, but you couldn't do that one thing properly and were late?"
As Chung Myung thought about it, he became so angry that he climbed onto Im Sobyeong's stomach and punched. Im Sobyeong protested while desperately blocking the punches coming at his face.
“N- No! Why is it my fault? I did my best...!”
Oh, you're also a rat from Evil Sects, huh? Can't stand to see the leader of Evil Sects lose his head? Enough with the excuses and die, you rat! Die!"
"No, I'm enemies with that bastard! Argh! This is crazy!"
Cold sweat trickled down Namgung Dowi’s forehead.
'What is this...?'
How could such a thing happen in a gathering of such significant figures?
“Keuhum.”
At that moment, Hyun Jong cleared his throat softly.
Namgung Dowi looked back at Hyun Jong with a questioning look. Surely, that behavior deserved punishment...
“Let’s start the meeting.”
"Yes."
"Die! Die, you rat bastard!”
“First of all, on to the first issue….”
Chung Myung continued to beat up Im Sobyeong and the others start the discussion as if it was nothing.
Namgung Dowi, who was looking at the amazing scene in bewilderment, looked up at the ceiling.
'Should I just ask them to join Five Great Family again?'
Certainly… It didn't seem like it would be easy to adapt.
Ha... Haha...
