Chapter 427
## Chapter 427. Five Hundred Years of Waiting (2)
—
Upon returning to the Tai-eul Sect and sharing their profound impressions with everyone, the Tai-eul Sect promptly convened a General Assembly.
“Am I to participate as well?”
“It is not just you. Geum, Eun, Dong, and Sa-ryeon, all of you are to enter.”
Hearing Gang Chae-seok’s instructions, the brothers Geum, Eun, and Dong tilted their heads in confusion, yet they cautiously stepped into the inner hall.
Though we were attending the General Assembly, we lacked the authority to speak, so we took our places at the absolute end of the table and silently observed the proceedings.
“Of the dignitaries invited to the opening ceremony, roughly seventy percent have sent affirmative replies. By a generous calculation, if eighty percent of those actually show up, we anticipate approximately one hundred individuals in attendance.”
“Hmm…….”
A soft groan echoed through the room.
Even if every single person coming to celebrate the Tai-eul Sect were tallied together, they could not begin to match the massive numbers gathered at the main gate intending to crush the Tai-eul Sect.
The Munju-nim, lost in contemplation for a brief moment, raised his gaze.
“Arrange the accommodations and provisions so that there is absolutely no deficiency.”
My father, who served as the Hall Master of the Outer Hall and now the Merchant Leader of the Daicheon Merchant Group, gave his response.
“I shall arrange for double the required amount, accounting for the retinues accompanying our guests.”
“Lodging is one thing, but ensure five hundred portions of food are ready.”
“Munju-nim!”
“That simply cannot be.”
To prepare meals while taking into account even those who had not been invited… The underlying implication of those words pointed to only one conclusion.
“They are adversaries hostile to the Tai-eul Sect. They are the ones attempting to violently rouse the Tai-eul Sect while it is still in its growth phase!”
Protests instantly erupted from every direction, yet Munju Hong remained unperturbed. Once the sudden wave of agitation quieted down, Father calmly resumed the exchange.
“I concur. I view this as a pointless squandering of resources. Is it not reported that numerous traders have set up in So-eum-hyeon, meaning there is no issue regarding their dining and lodging?”
“Is that the perspective of the Outer Hall Master?”
“……It is merely an observation.”
Hong Mun-gi deliberately surveyed the assembly with eyes that held an intense spark.
“Do you truly view the crowds out there as our enemies?”
“If they are not our enemies, then what else could they be?”
“Let me ask you this. Do they belong to the Black Path?”
“…….”
“Or have they violently breached the boundaries of the Tai-eul Sect?”
A chilling stillness, like ice water dousing the room, spread through the air.
“They have behaved insolently and tried to intimidate the young ones, but they delivered Bimu Dispatches and maintained the bare minimum of decorum.”
“Is that not entirely for the sake of appearances and justification?”
“Indeed, justification. It is precisely because of that justification. If so, shouldn’t we likewise confront them with the bare minimum of courtesy?”
“…….”
There was not a single flaw in the Munju-nim’s reasoning, yet the atmosphere left the attendees of the General Assembly struggling to accept it. As if speaking on their behalf, Father deliberately chose his words.
“Might I inquire what led you to that conclusion?”
“Did So-un not put it plainly? That if they conduct themselves as guests, we shall accord them the treatment of guests.”
Father’s piercing gaze shifted and locked onto me.
“Do not place the responsibility on So-un. It was a concept I already harbored. That youth merely gave voice to the very thoughts I intended to express.”
The Munju-nim’s approving look was entirely different from Father’s stern expression. At the very least, I felt a sense of relief wash away the apprehension in my chest. The Munju-nim, having observed the gathering for a moment, firmly locked his hands together on the table.
“This opening ceremony must not be reduced to a simple occasion where the long-isolated Tai-eul Sect merely unlocks its doors.”
Presently, his eyes drifted toward the furthest seat at the table where I remained seated. Within his gaze, unlike in his previous lifetime, a distinct power resided. I met his eyes directly without flinching.
“Because this opening ceremony signifies that the Tai-eul Sect is once more taking flight.”
Taking flight.
The ascent of the Tai-eul Sect.
Mirroring the Munju’s gaze, the attention of everyone in the room shifted entirely to me.
‘Had he truly kept the words I spoke years ago buried deep within his heart?’
In contrast, Geum, Eun, Dong, and Sa-ryeon merely looked completely bewildered by the situation.
“I view those who have pitched their tents before the Tai-eul Sect as mere quails. Is it truly such a hardship to share the leftovers of the nest with them?”
Faced with the Munju-nim’s query, Father ultimately let loose a heavy sigh.
“Though it appears those quails possess quite the massive appetite.”
“I am perpetually indebted to you.”
Even so, a subtle grin played at the edges of Father’s lips.
“Save your breath. This falls under my responsibilities.”
With the first matter resolved, Gang Chae-seok introduced the subsequent topic for deliberation.
“The following matter concerns the Bimu Tournament.”
“The Bimu Tournament.”
In comparison to the initial agenda, which carried a lighter weight, heavy groans and sighs resonated throughout the room the instant this second topic was raised.
“Practically speaking, we cannot possibly fight every individual who has delivered a Bimu Dispatch. Nor is there any justification to do so. Consequently, we propose to hold a Bimu Tournament immediately following the conclusion of the opening ceremony. We shall screen and select only those of reputable status and upright character from among the senders of the Bimu Dispatches.”
“Should we proceed in that manner, won’t the pool of participants for the Bimu become remarkably narrow?”
The gaze of Munju Hong, now completely transformed into a fierce martial artist, widened with intensity.
“We must also take into account the forces at our disposal. Evaluating the caliber of those who delivered the Bimu Dispatches, how many individuals within the Tai-eul Sect are truly capable of matching them?”
“What if I step forward to fight more than five?”
“Sigh…….”
Gang Chae-seok let out a lengthy exhalation.
“If circumstances permit, I deeply desire to avoid such an outcome.”
One of the Hall Masters voiced a lingering skepticism.
“Even if we appoint chosen representatives and hold the Bimu, will the masses outside truly accept it? They hail from entirely different territories and diverse lineages.”
“Given that the vast majority are connected to Wudang and Jeomchang…… if we require them to select their own representatives, they will be forced to accept it to some degree.”
Gang Chae-seok finished speaking, but an uneasy quiet persisted among the assembly. Because everyone understood the temperament of martial artists completely, they were well aware that such a restrictive condition would not be swallowed tamely. Particularly by those backed by massive entities like Wudang or Jeomchang.
“If things go awry, the entire opening ceremony itself could be utterly compromised.”
In truth, that remained the primary anxiety. If those who had spent days and nights lingering outside the gates reached the absolute end of their endurance and revolted against the Tai-eul Sect’s terms, using it as a pretext to spark a riot… the opening ceremony would inevitably be ruined.
The tone of the Hall Master of the Bu-saeng Hall, who had initiated this line of thought, began to waver with anxiety.
“It is entirely possible they are waiting precisely for us to take such an arbitrary stance.”
“…….”
“From the vast funds of the Daicheon Merchant Group to the overwhelming flood of Bimu Dispatches. Upon reflection, not a single event from the very start has unfolded under our own initiative.”
The suffocating, multi-directional pressure bearing down on the Tai-eul Sect felt like a tightening noose.
“I cannot believe all of this has occurred merely by chance. The events awaiting us will undoubtedly be the same.”
The overwhelming might of an adversary that felt distant before was now looming large. By the time they began to truly comprehend that strength, it would already be too late.
“In truth, I am filled with dread regarding how this state of affairs will conclude.”
Dark premonitions fueled their foreboding, forcing them to picture a grim outcome. The Hall Master of the Bu-saeng Hall laid bare his unvarnished dread.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
And that dread was far from isolated. It was an unspoken weight that every person in the chamber felt intimately, yet chose to ignore. Confronted directly with that brutal reality, they fell silent under a pressure that felt heavy enough to shatter their bones.
Hong Mun-gi carefully studied the anxiety-ridden expressions of the Hall Masters one by one. Their features had grown rigid beneath the gravity of their roles. Ultimately, his eyes settled upon me.
“So-un, what is your perspective?”
This was a chamber where I possessed no formal speaking privileges. Yet, for some reason, the Munju-nim and the various Hall Masters turned to me with searching, expectant glances. I carefully cleared my throat to speak.
“I find myself in agreement with the analysis of the Hall Master of the Bu-saeng Hall. I believe there is no conventional path to triumph over those who stand against the Tai-eul Sect.”
The moment I voiced my candid assessment, disappointed looks rippled across the room.
“Are you suggesting we simply allow everything to descend into chaos? If that is the case, what was the purpose of unlocking the gates in the first place?”
Gang Chae-seok challenged me, his tone rising with irritation. I glanced briefly at his flushed face before calmly addressing the path forward for the Tai-eul Sect.
“I may not possess a strategy for total victory, but I do possess a method to signal to the world that the Tai-eul Sect is rising once more.”
“What sort of nonsense is that?”
“Hall Master of the Kwae-hwa Hall. Control yourself for a moment and allow So-un to finish.”
As Hong Mun-gi intervened, Gang Chae-seok silenced himself by reaching for his cup, swallowing his tea in large gulps. Consequently, a brief hush settled over the room.
“I propose that we accept every single Bimu application that has been submitted.”
“What!”
Not only the Munju-nim but every Hall Master present reacted with sheer astonishment.
“They will undoubtedly question the framework we establish. They will protest, arguing that regardless of the outcomes, the individuals fighting as representatives do not truly speak for them on an individual level. They will seize upon any flaw the Tai-eul Sect shows and refuse to let go until the bitter end.”
“And so?”
Gang Chae-seok, the Hall Master of the Kwae-hwa Hall, who had briefly contained himself, finally burst out with a question.
“If we are destined to be pulled along by them regardless, I am proposing that we let them pull us as far as they desire.”
“……Ha. The crowd gathered outside currently numbers over six hundred. The Bimu Dispatches delivered to the Tai-eul Sect have surpassed four hundred. Even if every disciple within our sect secures two victories each, our numbers are insufficient.”
“Why do you operate under the assumption that victory is mandatory?”
“W-What?”
“The Tai-eul Sect is an order that has languished in obscurity for five centuries. We have barely taken our initial steps after inheriting the legacy of the Founder.”
“…….”
“Do you expect us to instantly match the scale of a massive sect like Wudang or Shaolin in a matter of a few years?”
Confronted by my unvarnished assessment of the Tai-eul Sect’s current standing, everyone in attendance fell silent, completely caught off guard.
“I was taught that the core philosophy of the Tai-eul Sect is ‘Change’. It means preserving our core purpose by constantly adapting and shifting through the passage of time and various hardships. The Tai-eul Sect has no need to conquer every opponent. We merely need to demonstrate something to them.”
I locked eyes with every single person watching me.
“That regardless of the coercion, the assaults, or the machinations brought against us, the Tai-eul Sect will perpetually adapt and stubbornly preserve its sacred purpose.”
To make them comprehend what our true nature, our origin, and our ultimate power consist of.
“That is the lesson I absorbed while being born and reared within the Tai-eul Sect, and the path of cultivation I have pursued thus far.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
A profound stillness gripped the chamber, as sudden and stark as a downpour. Munju Hong, after drawing in a slow breath, let out a deep murmur of awe.
“Ah…… how did such a disciple find his way to the Tai-eul Sect. This is a blessing for which I must offer deepest gratitude to the Primordial Heavenly Lord.”
When he looked at the gathered Hall Masters once more, his eyes were burning with absolute resolve.
“Is there any further debate required?”
The stillness persisted. Yet, it carried an entirely different weight than the silence from before.
“I ask you once more, is there anything left to discuss?”
As his voice reverberated through the hall a second time, the assembly answered in unison.
“””There is none.”””
With those words, the General Assembly drew to a close.
—
Once the inner hall had emptied of the other participants, only Jin Tae-san and Gang Chae-seok lingered behind. Neither man made a move to leave their seat, preserving a prolonged quiet. Moments later, Hong Mun-gi stepped back inside, carrying a liquor vessel in one hand.
“Forgive the delay. It took some time to locate this.”
“Is that not the Succession Liquor?”
Beholding the specific spirit that was unsealed exclusively when leadership of the Tai-eul Sect shifted generations, Gang Chae-seok was utterly stunned.
“Do not tell me…… are you intending to abdicate your position as Munju?”
Hong Mun-gi’s shoulders shook with quiet amusement.
“Do any of you…… recall the authentic name of this vintage?”
“……Is it not simply the Succession Liquor? Intended for the investiture of the subsequent Munju.”
“The ancient chronicles state that the true name of this liquor is the ‘Ten-Thousand-Change-Thousand-Flower-Liquor’ (Man-byeon-cheon-hwa-ju).”
Hong Mun-gi explained, gently wiping the surface of the antique vessel.
“It was originally christened with a specific intent: ‘To undergo ten thousand changes in order to blossom a thousand flowers.’ In modern times, it has merely been relegated to succession rituals.”
“…….”
“I believe the ideal moment to unseal this vessel is precisely today.”
None present could mistake exactly who the Munju-nim’s admiration was meant for. The father of the youth in question offered a muted complaint.
“That lad has always possessed a silver tongue. I see no reason for even the Munju-nim to be swayed by it.”
“Come now, you truly are incapable of being transparent. Do you honestly believe I failed to notice the tears forming in your eyes while So-un was delivering his speech?”
“……That, that was merely a yawn. A yawn! I simply yawned because exhaustion caught up with me!”
Watching the flustered reaction of Jin Tae-san, both Gang Chae-seok and Hong Mun-gi erupted into hearty laughter. Their forms and countenances had already transitioned into an older generation, yet engaging in this familiar banter made them feel as though they had journeyed back to their youth.
“Well then…… do you intend to refuse a drink?”
“Is it not pointless to attempt to reseal a vintage that has already been exposed to the air.”
In place of tea, the Ten-Thousand-Change-Thousand-Flower-Liquor was distributed into the cups of the three companions. They silently appreciated the heavy initial notes, the sharp middle flavor, and the enduring fragrance that lingered at the finish.
“When I first tasted this vintage, I could not comprehend why such a sharp, harsh liquor was maintained as our heritage. I even held a grudge against my Master, assuming it was a reflection of the impoverished state of the Tai-eul Sect.”
A wry grin appeared on Hong Mun-gi’s face for an instant. And that very expression…
“My Master offered no explanation for my grievances. He merely remarked that comprehension would come to me in due time.”
It quickly blossomed into a vibrant smile, reminiscent of a flower opening completely.
Ten Thousand Changes, A Thousand Flowers.
The realization that only a blossom forged through agonizing persistence and harsh struggle can project a magnificent scent. His Master had intended for him to uncover this straightforward truth through his own journey. Across a vast expanse of time.
“He was always a man of exceedingly few words.”
Hong Mun-gi gave a slow shake of his head.
“No. It was precisely because it was such an elementary and self-evident reality that he refrained from stating it outright. One must experience and endure it firsthand to grasp its authentic essence.”
Hong Mun-gi, inhaling the aroma of the Ten-Thousand-Change-Thousand-Flower-Liquor once more, spoke with complete serenity.
“The prospect of death no longer frightens me.”
“Munju-nim!”
“Ah, naturally, I have no intention of throwing my life away recklessly, so compose yourselves. It is simply that, regarding the Tai-eul Sect of the coming generation, and the Tai-eul Sect that follows after that… I no longer carry any anxiety for them.”
His pronouncement felt liberated and unburdened, as though he had unfastened heavy chains.
“The Tai-eul Sect that our descendants forge will look entirely different from the Tai-eul Sect we managed to preserve. They will encounter turbulence and tribulation, but it will perpetually adapt and ultimately bloom into a flower of magnificent fragrance.”
His eyes shone with absolute clarity.
“I earnestly desire to witness that transformation with my own eyes.”
He burned brightly, fueled by an inner fire that would not easily be quenched.
—
As I made my way toward my quarters, I found myself abruptly diverted toward the training field, pulled along by the firm grip of my Sa-jes.
“What is the meaning of this! I am exhausted.”
“Is fatigue truly your main concern right now? Do you intend to transform the Tai-eul Sect into a massive medical clinic?”
Geum-pyo hauled my arm, his countenance filled with genuine anxiety.
“Why? Are you already trembling because I intend to engage in endless combat?”
“That is hardly the core issue! Leaving us aside, what of the tender young disciples or the advanced elders? What occurs if they suffer catastrophic wounds during the Bimu?”
“Why on earth would they sustain injuries?”
“What?”
“I am telling you to dispel your anxieties, because there is absolutely no scenario where they will be harmed.”
Words are merely words, are they not? The argument I presented during the General Assembly was strictly a demonstration of our grit and mindset.
“Do you take me for a lunatic who would willingly push our young Sa-jes and elders into a brutal Bimu ring?”
“Then how do you propose to handle the Bimu Dispatches that hover near four hundred…… and could easily multiply beyond that…….”
“Rest easy, for I have a strategy in place.”
They thought they could coerce us with Bimu Dispatches and talk about sabotaging the opening ceremony? Highly amusing. Does the world ever bend precisely to a person’s desires?
“Go cleanse your feet and retire for the night. I have mapped out everything.”
It is time to give them a harsh lesson in reality.
