Return of the Mount Hua Sect

A cold voice came out from the deepest room.

“Please explain.”

Bop Jeong sighed inwardly at the reprimand from the head of Peng Family, Lightning Flash Quick Dao (????(閃電快刀)) Peng Ye (??(彭曄)).

“Bangjang.”

“I am listening. Peng Gaju.”

“Is it so difficult for you to answer why this happened?”

“Gaju.”

“Along the way here, I’ve heard numerous stories. But the loudest of all suggests one thing.”

Peng Ye said while glaring straight at Bop Jeong.

“Shaolin abandoned the principles of justice and Chivalrousness, leaving Namgung stranded at Plum Blossom Island.”

Bop Jeong closed his eyes.

“And while Shaolin and Kongtong were not moving, Heavenly Comrade Alliance stepped forward and rescued Namgung Family without any damage.”

“…”

“Bangjang.”

Peng Ye bit his lip and continued speaking.

“Please answer me. How did this happen? Is everything I heard true?”

“Amitabha.”

Bop Jeong quietly chanted. As if to soothe his troubled mind. However, to Peng Ye, the chant only sounded like he was ignoring his responsibility.

“Say something!”

“Enough!”

At that time, the person who raised his voice was not Bop Jeong, but Mountain Man Who Subdues Demons (????(伏魔山人)) Jongni Hyeong (???(宗利形)), sect leader of Kongtong Sect.

Jongni Hyeong glared at Peng Ye with furious eyes.

“Does Gaju Peng believe he has the right to say such things?”

“Why wouldn’t I have the right?”

“While Shaolin and our sect were trying to do something on the Yangtze River, where was Peng Family?”

“…”

“No matter how far it is for Peng Family, this is not something that someone who has only arrived now would say! Someone who can’t show up on time to give a lesson after the work finished!”

“It took me a while to ask permission from the family.”

“Do you think that’s an excuse?”

Peng Ye glared at Jongni Hyeong with menacing eyes.

But it is true that he also has nothing to say. By the time they arrived, everything was already over.

“If only Hebei Peng Family had arrived in time, we could have taken a different course! The reinforcements who were supposed to arrive are not coming, so what can we do among ourselves?”

“So you’re saying that you were just watching whether or not Namgung was dying?”

“What do you mean watching! You’re being too much!”

“Then am I wrong?”

The argument escalated.

Bop Jeong watched in silence as the two men quarreled.

Peng Ye, who looked like he was about to jump up and grab Jongni Hyeong, sighed at some point.

“…I apologize.”

“…”

When Peng Ye suddenly apologized, Jongni Hyeong also closed his mouth for a moment, probably at a loss for words. He then blushed and coughed as soon as he looked into Peng Ye for a moment.

“No. I went too far as well, Peng Gaju.”

“…I didn’t expect I would arrive this late either. Even the Taesang Elders came forward and unanimously opposed this.”

“Hmm.”

A great family is different from other sects. Unlike the sects that automatically receive disciples when the time comes, the great family is passed down through blood ties. And succession takes place only after the person who takes over as the next Gaju of the family reaches an appropriate age.

The issue arises when the succession happens too swiftly.

Although they have retired from the front stage, Taesang Elders and the previous Gaju of the family, still possessing influence, tend to meddle in affairs like overbearing kings, scrutinizing every action of the current Gaju.

In Namgung Family, such a thing did not happen because Namgung Hwang was a late child, but this is actually a common occurrence. Didn’t Sichuan Tang Family also experience a similar problem? If you think about it, it could be said to be a chronic problem for a great family.

Especially in the case of a great family, since all of the interfering great elders are the elders of the family, it’s really hard to cut off their meddling words harshly.

“I understand.”

Jongni Hyeong nodded. But deep down, he was thinking about something else.

‘Fortunately, it’s a blessing that Peng Family didn’t arrive on time.’

Would things have been different if there had been Peng Family?

Well.

Even if Peng Family had gathered early, Bop Jeong would not have changed his mind. Then there would probably have been greater criticism. There were three sects that dominated Kangho, but they were just watching the fire across the river.

Since Peng Family arrived late and couldn’t act, it was probably for the better that they could at least make that excuse.

“So, what are you planning to do now?”

“…What do you mean?”

“We can’t help what has already happened. Shouldn’t we discuss what’s next?”

Jongni Hyeong also nodded at Peng Ye’s words. He was already feeling frustrated. Bop Jeong remained seated here without saying a word.

“Bangjang.”

When Peng Ye called, Bop Jeong finally opened his mouth.

“First….”

“Yes.”

“I must say I am sorry. Because of this old monk’s foolishness, the two sects are suffering humiliation that should not have been suffered, I’m ashamed.”

Bop Jeong bowed deeply.

“No, Bangjang.”

“How can you be like this?”

Jongni Hyeong tried to dissuade Bop Jeong, but smiled bitterly inwardly.

He was sick of seeing the confrontation between Chung Myung and Bop Jeong.

But it wasn’t like they could just turn their backs on Shaolin. If Kongtong had another mountain to lean on other than Shaolin, they would never have come all the way to the Yangtze River in the first place.

After all, they were in the same boat as Shaolin. They had no choice but to trust and follow Shaolin, whether they lived or died. And that’s probably the same for Peng Family too.

Namgung Family and Sichuan Tang Family, which formed the main axis of Five Great Family, have left Five Great Family. That was no different from saying that the three remaining great family would soon enter into a power struggle to gain superiority over each other.

Now, it has become a situation where they have to be called Three Great Family instead of Five Great Family, but even that small reputation as the best of the three is very important in Kangho.

And in that struggle, Peng Family will definitely need Shaolin’s strength. No matter how much Shaolin has moved away from its absolute status in the past, isn’t Shaolin still Shaolin?

Even the two sects that are not Namgung or Sichuan Tang Family can be suppressed with the authority and power that Shaolin currently has.

It was a campaign that was initially undertaken despite opposition from the Taesang Elders and the previous Gaju of the family. In order to avoid being reprimanded for returning empty-handed and with a bad reputation, rather than gaining anything, Peng Ye had to obtain Shaolin’s absolute support and return.

This meant Peng Ye was in a situation where he had to rely on Bop Jeong even more than Jongni Hyeong had to rely on him.

“However… we can only know the outcome of everything when it reaches its end.”

“…Does that mean that this Yangtze situation is not over yet?”

“That’s right.”

Bop Jeong said with a somber expression.

“Everyone is too fixated on the minor details. The reason we originally summoned Ten Great Sects wasn’t just to save Namgung, was it?”

“Ah….”

Jongni Hyeong looked at Bop Jeong as if in a new light. This is a fact that even he had forgotten.

“The purpose of our gathering in the first place was because that wicked Evil Tyrant Alliance showed signs of invading Gangbuk. It wasn’t to save Namgung.”

“That’s right, Sect Leader.”

Jongni Hyeong quickly nodded as he felt enlightened.

Perhaps it was just turning a blind eye, but Jongni Hyeong knew. There is definitely someone in the world who believes in that fact.

“If we confuse what we must do because of the world’s blame, a greater disaster will befall us.”

“…Do you think Evil Tyrant Alliance can attack Gangbuk like this?”

“Yes. I think there’s a good chance.”

“But really….”

“Otherwise, there is no reason for the water fortress to remain in the Yangtze River. In the first place, aren’t we in a situation where we can’t attack Gangnam because of the Yangtze River pact?”

“Upon hearing that…”

Jongni Hyeong made a subtle expression.

If you think about it with common sense, there’s no reason for them to be camped out like that.

No matter how accustomed the pirates are to living on ships, how easy would it be to indefinitely wait in ships where supplies are not readily available?

“Ba- Bangjang. If they were to attack, the three sects here will have a hard time handling it.”

To be honest, Jongni Hyeong was at a loss.

This is because he has never truly realized how much power that Evil Tyrant Alliance has. But what is certain is that if war continues like this, the three sects here will bear the brunt of the damage.

‘That can never happen.’

And Bop Jeong precisely scratched Jongni Hyeong’s itch.

“Let’s send a letter to other sects.”

“A letter, is it?”

“Yes.”

Bop Jeong nodded.

“The last request for assistance was sent only in Shaolin’s name. However, this letter will include the names of Hebei Peng Family, the head of Five Great Family, and Kongtong Sect, the backbone of Ten Great Sects. Then the weight will change.”

“Hmm.”

“We can’t be sure if they will respond well, but at least we will be able to properly inform them of the situation here.”

“Indeed.”

Peng Ye nodded.

Even if they don’t come to the Yangtze River, gaining the justification that these three sects are resisting the invasion of Evil Tyrant Alliance is a win-win situation.

“But… isn’t Heavenly Comrade Alliance also here?”

Bop Jeong shook his head in response to Jongni Hyeong’s question.

“That’s exactly why we need to send out the letter.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I do not trust Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”

“…Bangjang.”

“I am not denying their heroic deeds. But no matter how much I think about it, the situation of entering Plum Blossom Island and returning without suffering any damage is very unnatural.”

“…..”

“If there had been twenty deaths, I wouldn’t be saying this. But did ten die? Five? The only ones who died were Namgung Family. In such a situation, can you really trust Heavenly Comrade Alliance?”

“That’s certainly unnatural.”

Peng Ye nodded.

Jongni Hyeong, who had seen the entire situation, still had an uncomfortable expression on his face, but Bop Jeong’s words sounded much more persuasive to Peng Ye’s ears.

It means that Bop Jeong’s argument sounds closer to the truth to those who have not seen the situation here with their own eyes.

No. Perhaps that’s completely meaningless.

Since people in the world prefer to believe lies that are pleasant to hear rather than the inconvenient truth, Peng Ye also had no choice but to believe those words.

His conscience was boiling, but he tried to suppress it. He remembered the look of the family elders when he left.

“So, you two, please help. If we do that, everything will return to its place.”

“Understood.”

“I will do so.”

After the conversation ended, a strange atmosphere lingered in the room. The two people, unable to bear this, bowed their heads and immediately stood up. And Bop Jeong did not bother to hold them.

Bop Jeong, left alone in the room, slowly held the prayer beads in his hand and rolled them slowly.

Yes. It may be far-fetched. But….

‘If Evil Tyrant Alliance really attacks Gangbuk, will this sound like a stretch even then?’

If it comes to that, the whole situation will change.

Those who criticized them will all turn and criticize Heavenly Comrade Alliance. It will be said that they could have killed Jang Ilso, but to avoid sacrifice, they backed out because they felt their life was precious. Thus, they caused all these situations.

Sometimes, rather than waiting for the flow of water to change, you have to change the flow yourself.

‘If not me, who else will go to hell?’

He closed his eyes firmly.

In the quiet room, only the faint sound of rolling beads could be heard.