3
7
6.
The subject of the subjugation is, above all, Qigong.
Wherever qi comes into contact, stagnation that hinders the circulation of natural energy is bound to occur.
Therefore, the more delicate the control of force, the higher the level it can be considered.
I feel a greater threat from a cup of wine reaching my opponent without moving than from someone threatening me by raising a sword in mid-air.
Because nothing was more effective than this for showing off martial arts skills.
However, it was clear that the person weighing down my shoulders and knees right now was not at that level.
My feet have already lost sensation and my shoulders are aching as if they are throbbing.
I drew up the Taeeul Jingyeong at the maximum speed I could.
Pow pow pow!
The energy pushing out from within and the energy using air manipulation engaged in a tug-of-war, and soon the part where the fabric was connected was torn.
Charrr
The bamboo curtain is disheveled, and the wine cup shakes violently and is about to spill.
I could feel the eyes of the one using the air manipulation on me widen and their expression harden.
I secretly hoped he might cough up blood, but he showed no signs of it.
What a rude child.
A bald man standing in front swung his hand.
The bamboo curtain, which had been swaying wildly back and forth, returned to its place, and the overturned wine cups also returned to their original positions.
The interior had regained silence to the point where, if it weren’t for the alcohol stains on the table, it would be impossible to guess what had happened.
I thought you’d learned something at the academy, but you’re still so arrogant. They say people don’t change easily.
I nodded obediently.
Monk Hyesung’s preference for enjoying meetings at Hongru hasn’t changed either.
“……
This is just a regular place.
Unbearable stares fly in.
At the same time, the faintly spreading energy was relentlessly trying to grope my body. ‘Where do you think you’re going!’ I tried to draw up the Taeeul Jingyeong to block the energy, but the eight of them cunningly slipped through the gaps to test my internal energy once again.
“That wicked tongue of yours is still the same. Seeing that your nature hasn’t changed even amidst hardship, should I consider you stubborn? Or should I view it as being vulgar by nature?”
He is desperately trying to grope another person’s body while simultaneously throwing out questions as if nothing is wrong.
The current situation somehow seemed to clearly reveal their true nature, so I wanted to lose even more.
I drew up the Taeeul Jingyeong to its maximum extent.
Even after speaking the truth, [it is] deceitful speech
Being driven into that way—doesn’t that just mean the world is that wrong?
Ddddddddd.
The brazier and table placed between them and me are shaking violently.
Although there is no wind, the flickering flames flutter here and there.
“The most cunning minister cries out that he is a loyal subject.”
When I speak, to them; when they speak, to me.
Clatter, clatter.
The direction of the tilted glass also sways back and forth every time.
“…….”
They seemed to be quite enjoying the situation.
On the contrary, I found it increasingly difficult to stop their attacks.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? People say that if the Black Flame Dragon falls into water, only its snout will float.”
At this rate, not only will I find out the amount of my internal energy, but I will also be forced to hand over my entire body’s energy channels to those old men.
That was the only thing I could not tolerate.
I withdrew the bet that had been blocking the fight in an instant.
Just as a smile of victory was about to form on the lips of the eight men, he raised the mutual destruction fist, unleashed the Holy Fire Demon Slayer Hand, and slammed it straight into the furnace.
pop!
Whoosh!
The small brazier, burning with five or six logs, instantly ignited a massive fire and scattered in all directions.
As the faces of those accustomed to the darkness are illuminated by the light, surprised expressions are revealed.
Because the flames had spread in an instant, they traveled up the ceiling and vanished quickly, but the grip that had been constricting my entire body had already completely disappeared.
Unable to hide their anger at the thought of being wronged, they glared at me as if they wanted to kill me.
Fortunately, no more projectiles were fired at us.
It must be because attempting something again that has already failed once feels like a disgrace to them.
“How did you do it?”
It’s exactly the same as when I dealt with the Demonic Cult…
“What do you mean?”
The one sitting on the far right, who had shot out the Void Object, asked back.
I mean that just now.
I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.
It looks like the waiter put in some pine cones.
The man’s brow furrowed deeply, perhaps because my answer wasn’t very good.
This time, instead of fighting spirit, a faint killing intent flows out.
To think I can experience a variety of Qigong in such a short amount of time.
He is truly generous.
I tore off the sleeve of the half-torn garment.
He cracked his teeth and then spoke calmly.
Do you intend to continue?
Considering that the relationship between Samcheong Musang Sword and Jeongdohoe is not particularly good.
I have fulfilled my duty simply by enduring this far at Buk Won-pyeong’s request.
If the old priest knew that I had done this much, he would actually want to step forward and drag me out.
Stop it.
Just then, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor sitting next to Ambassador Hye-seong spoke as he leisurely sipped his drink.
It is only natural for an adult to be curious about a child’s achievements, so you should let go of your anger.
That unmoving attitude, as if his thoughts were self-evident.
He is the same in his past life as he is in his present life.
I answered without avoiding his eyes.
There is no chair for me.
His steady gaze and slow demeanor exude a distinctive authority.
Those appearances, which could easily be frustrating, feel all too natural. ‘Cheongsujinin,’ a divine figure of my father’s generation, and now a senior figure among senior figures leading the current Murim Alliance.
And the cunning hero who later gives the Murim Alliance to Yong So-ah.
Without the slightest change in expression, his lips move slowly.
“Because I cannot allow you any more proportionality.”
It seems that in a shamanistic guild, they can’t even provide a single chair to their disciples.
I looked around.
A chair that appeared to be used by servants while waiting was placed next to the pond.
I shot a flying dragon and tied the silkworm to the chair leg.
Whoosh.
With the sound of a fiercely spinning clockwork, the chair flew through the air and rushed to Cheonjamsa, and before I knew it, it landed perfectly in my hand.
I sat in the chair with one leg resting on my knee and tried to grab the glass and bottle.
“A baron is bound to make a person look shabby.”
Whoosh
The liquor bottle held in my hand went straight into the hands of Cheongsu Jinin.
“No matter how good the liquor is.”
As he tilts the bottle slightly and shakes it, just enough liquor to fill a single glass flies in and is poured into the glass.
Then, a leisurely voice flew in.
You can truly appreciate the taste of alcohol when you pour it for each other.
It was a move that displayed a level of artistry so high it was sickening.
“What are you doing? Without holding anything?”
He gulped down the glass he had been staring blankly at in one go.
It had a fragrant aroma, but it felt more bitter than ordinary bamboo leaf tea.
“You haven’t found an angle to support yet, have you?”
Did that news reach the Jeongdohoe?
Some of our children were following you and waiting.
“I didn’t say anything. Please don’t try to blame me.”
Cheongsujinin shook his head.
“After all, warriors are by nature a breed that occasionally makes such foolish choices.”
His flat voice held a moment of silence.
It flies back to me once again along with fragrant wine.
Apply to Cheongnyonggak.
Although the position of the glass was clearly different from before, the alcohol filled the glass accurately.
Without spilling a single drop of alcohol.
I took in every detail of that noble attitude.
I gave up on the idea early on, thinking it wasn’t a place that suited me.
“You must be thinking of the disciples of Taeeulmun, right?”
I stopped abruptly from holding the glass.
Cheongsujin slowly emptied his cup.
The fact that he went out of his way to apply to Baekranggak with such good grades must be due to his planning for the future.
I am not someone who sees that far into the future.
“Enter Cheongnyonggak. If you do so, I will allow Taeeul’s children, who are serving their mandatory military service in the future, to also come under the protection of Jeongdohoe.”
My head starts throbbing at the words of Cheongsujinin.
What do you mean by that?
Cheongsujinin nodded as if it were only natural.
“Alright, come join the Jeongdohoe.”
A proposal that flew in before I could even put down my glass.
I kind of expected it, but hearing it directly makes my head spin.
“I am not saying you should just come in and do menial work like before. I mean that I will accept you as a ‘real’ member.”
Since True Master Cheongsu began speaking, no one had emitted qi, but now the weight of the words presses down on my shoulders.
“I am certainly not speaking of you alone. I mean that Taeeulmun is with us as well.”
If it were a past life.
If it were Gye Cheol-yeong who was in this place instead of me.
Upon hearing this story, they would have bowed their heads to the floor.
Because it is what Gye Cheol-yeong and Taeeulmun in their past lives had so desperately wanted.
“You are well aware of how safe the shadow of the Jeongdohoe is in a martial arts world that is becoming increasingly murky.”
If Gye Cheol-yeong had been able to accept such an offer, he would probably have been grateful enough to give up the entire Gyeryong Merchant Guild.
To avoid being swept away in such a storm, you must hold firmly to a giant tree.
Because it is worth it.
Because it is not an ‘opportunity’ that anyone can easily obtain.
You must know.
When I didn’t answer, Cheongsujin’s eyebrows twitched and went up for the first time.
“Why isn’t there an answer? Could it be that they’re calculating the bill?”
From their tone, as if they hadn’t even considered a counterargument, I can vividly feel the authority of those sitting here once again.
Although there are only eight of them, the martial arts schools led by each of them number over tens of thousands.
Considering the influence of the words coming from their mouths that spreads through the Sokgamu Sect and the Murim Alliance to the entire Murim world, it is no exaggeration to say that they are truly the very embodiment of the Jianghu.
Therefore, the favorable offer was simultaneously a noose tightening around the neck.
Because if you refuse, the fallout won’t just end with the obstinacy of middle-aged men.
But I know.
Of course I have to calculate it. I have no way of knowing which is better or worse.
That this choice ultimately cannot take responsibility for us until the end.
The fact that if you choose them, you will ultimately be unable to fight the Demonic Cult until the very end.
Therefore, I will not be deceived by the despair that approaches wearing the mask of opportunity.
“Hmm… as expected, no matter how much I think about it, there is only one conclusion.”
I will decline.
The corners of Cheongsujinin’s eyes trembled.
Did you make a pact to join the Baekdohoe or the Twelve Peaks?
This is the first I’ve heard of it.
“And yet, you reject the Jeongdohoe?”
Come to think of it, it does make no sense for the Baekdo sect to refuse to join the Jeongdohoe in the first place.
But just because something doesn’t make sense doesn’t mean you have to follow it.
Do you have another agenda?
I don’t know about any other ulterior motives. It’s just that I don’t like the fact that the speaker is a shaman.
I touched upon past events.
You know, didn’t ‘a certain’ disciple of the Wudang leave behind thousands of people and flee alone in the Maryeong Plateau? We also trusted and followed them…
I looked straight into the unwavering eyes of the True Immortal of the Water and spoke.
“What am I supposed to do if I get betrayed like that?”
The other person does not make clumsy excuses or justifications.
You make the other person shut their mouth by simply remaining silently and quietly.
He was truly the epitome of a seasoned martial artist.
Tap tap tap.
The sound of burning wood echoed.
Around the time the burning wood split open and gray sleet began to rise.
“Are you confident?”
“Of course, myself…….”
“Confident enough to face Jeong Do-hoe.”
A voice that instantly crushes the air.
It was definitely a story I had heard countless times.
An identical sentence that feels completely natural even if you replace Jeongdohoe with ‘Baekdohoe’ or ’12 Bongseong’.
However, the words coming from Cheongsujinin’s mouth now felt slightly different in meaning.
“I asked if he was confident he could survive alone.”
It sounded as if Jeong Do-hoe would definitely be the one instigating the attack.
Is there really anyone who could remain unshaken in the face of this overwhelming presence?
However, I forced myself to overcome the urge to just rely on them.
No matter how scary or difficult it is, you cannot choose an ending where you already know it will fail.
After letting out a long, quiet sigh, I spoke as calmly as possible.
“I am confident.” #On the way back after leaving the pavilion.
Buk Won-pyeong was gazing blankly at the pond.
“Is the story… over?”
Then would you have returned on the way?
“I thought that if it were our Senior Brother, he might be able to do that.”
I was in a terrible mood, but Buk Won-pyeong had a strangely detached look on his face.
“Did they really… refuse?”
Then did you think I would accept it?
He stared at me for a long time with a complex look in his eyes.
“Anyone can put on a show of bravado in everyday life. But there aren’t many who can actually make such a choice when given the opportunity.”
“How can I protect my freedom by relying on someone else?”
Buk Won-pyeong’s shoulders slumped.
“Hehe…… Is that so? Was my choice wrong after all?”
“What are you talking about?”
So you’re saying the Senior Brother is better than this old priest.
“Twenty years ago, when I received the same offer, my choice was different.”
His voice was weaker than usual.
And paid a heavy price.
It looks like you paid a high price.
Buk Won-pyeong let out a chuckle at my words.
“Right. I paid a heavy price for that freedom you spoke of.”
Buk Won-pyeong, who had been looking at my face for a moment with a pleased expression, hardened his expression and asked.
“You know that rejecting the offer won’t be the end of it, right?” They are people who operate under the concept of “either you are my right-hand man or my enemy.”
Since we refused to become henchmen, only one category remains for us to enter.
“I’m not so foolish as to not know that.”
Buk Won-pyeong nodded and patted my shoulder as if to comfort me.
“Still, do not worry too much. This old disciple has built up his own strength over such a long time, paying a heavy price. I will not let the Taeeulmun, a secular sect, simply vanish.”
It hasn’t disappeared yet. Don’t say such unlucky things.
Oh, I’m sorry.
I chuckled and stretched.
If you feel bad, just buy me a drink. I’ve completely lost my appetite in there.
Then shall we go to Cheongbinru?
Huh, where did this old priest get off cheating?
I shook my head firmly.
Let’s go to Songhwagak.
“Tch, Senior Brother is cruel.”
Before leaving the garden, I looked at the pavilion where I had been just moments ago.
I couldn’t tell what kind of conversation was taking place behind the bamboo curtain, but I knew one thing for sure.
That a harsh wind has begun to blow in earnest in the martial arts world.
