#1
5
4.
Jang Woo-jae could not say a word in response to the question from his younger sister, who was on her way to marry into a powerful family.
Because he was the only one who knew that she, too, had a dream of engaging in martial arts activities more than anyone else.
My younger sister used to say things she didn’t mean, saying that since she had married into a wealthy family, her future life would be smooth.
In this way, Jang Woo-jae was able to become a student at the Murim Academy thanks to his younger brother’s sacrifice.
Knowing that his younger sibling would be happier than anyone about his passing, Jang Woo-jae tried to meet them as soon as he arrived at Yujangmun.
However, I could not meet her at all, and I could not hear any news about how she was doing.
A grand banquet hosted by the family.
From the visit of friends he met at the school building, Jang Woo-jae was truly spending each day in a frenzy.
“uh?”
The man who married the younger sister he met then.
I naturally frowned at the sight of someone singing a tune with a gisaeng on one side of the banquet.
Even the sight of him drunkenly causing chaos everywhere, and coming to the academy students to act like a fool…
Despite his arrogant behavior, Jang Woo-jae treated his brother-in-law well with patience.
but.
“Ah, if only my wife were at least like you, Miss, it would have been really great.”
The suspicion sparked by a single remark uttered in a flattering manner among the students.
“My wife has absolutely no ability, but she is full of pride. I am having a really hard time teaching her a lesson. Hahaha.”
Jang Woo-jae was the main character of the banquet and had countless people to meet, but he rushed straight to the family where his younger sister had married.
When he ignored the servants and maids’ pleas to stop him, barged into the quarters, and forcibly opened the door.
“her…….”
The younger sister greeted Jang Woo-jae with a sorrowful smile.
“Brother, have you been doing well?”
She tried to cover up the bruise on her face with makeup, but the size of the scar was immediately obvious.
“I heard you came with your friends from the academy this time? It’s practically the same as our Yujangmun becoming a respectable sect now, isn’t it?”
Jang Woo-jae could not answer that day, just as he had in the past.
He realized whose sacrifice had prepared the place where he stood, and felt it so painfully.
I couldn’t say a word.
“…….”
His eyes were filled with desperation as he headed toward Dongting Lake.
I couldn’t just fall like this.
I couldn’t just collapse like this.
He has already sacrificed too many huge things.
If the Yoo Jang-moon collapses here, not only he but also his younger brother will not be able to live a proper life.
“I will never fall. No matter what happens, I will survive.”
Yu Jang-mun gazed at the boats floating far away on the dark Dongting Lake and vowed to himself over and over again. ‘I’m tired.’ Il-gak thought so.
Compared to the grueling training I had undergone every day at the academy, the schedule in Akyang was incredibly lazy, yet I felt much more mentally exhausted.
“My immediate wish is to return to the academy as soon as possible and prepare for the next duel with Jin So-un. ‘That won’t be easy now, either.’ If I go to Sichuan, it will take at least a few weeks.
Because they will engage in all sorts of ridiculous formalities to produce results that don’t exist.
Visit allied sects, strengthen relationships, and hold banquets, and repeat this process continuously.
Still, there was a time when I thought of this as a form of mental discipline, but too much anguish has accumulated for that to be the case. ‘It is my lack of training.’ The path that countless seniors and masters of the sect have all traversed.
Isn’t it only natural that you, too, go through it?
Inwardly, Il-gak chanted ‘Amitabha Buddha’ thousands, tens of thousands of times, swallowing his patience over and over again.
“Monk, it is time to disembark.”
I quickly snapped back to reality at the sailor’s words, and before I knew it, the ship had returned to the dock.
Il-gak got off the ship with a willing heart.
There will be more stories to be conveyed when I return to my lodging, but once that is finished, I will be able to make time to train.
When I was thinking that.
“Ambassador! My name is Jang Woo-jae! I am a student at the Murim Academy and also a disciple of the Yujang Sect. Please help me just this once!”
I turned my head at a familiar name.
Familiar faces were shouting at the top of their lungs amidst the people’s restraints.
The Four Sects are currently on the verge of collapse at the hands of the Dark Sect. We desperately need help.
As people’s eyes turned toward that place at Jang Woo-jae’s words, Hye-seong eventually gestured for them to come closer.
Ahem.
Ambassador Hye-seong covered his nose and frowned.
The heavy smell of sweat wafted from them as they rushed out through the crowd.
“Abbot! We desperately need the help of the Baekdo Sect, including the Jeongdohoe. Please help us just this once!”
I only heard fragments of the story, but I could roughly guess the situation.
It means that as the Jeomchang Sect retreated, the White Path and Black Path martial arts worlds began to clash over control of Akyang.
The White Path martial arts world will suffer a significant blow due to the storm blowing from the Black Path.
And it is only natural that the impact spreads to smaller sects rather than large ones.
Il-gak wore a look of pity as he recalled that Jang Woo-jae’s sect was not such a great sect.
A moment.
At Ambassador Hye-seong’s call, which seemed to be asking for an explanation, Il-gak quietly approached and spoke.
They are student dormitory students.
“Which sect’s son are you?”
It is a sect called Yujangmun.
“Yu Jang-mun?”
At Hye-seong’s reaction of tilting her head, Il-gak quickly spoke up as if to add to it.
It is a solid sect rooted in Akyang.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you at the Murim Alliance?”
“Although activities within the League are still lacking, I understand that I hear a lot of talk among the people about consultations taking place.”
Hye-seong’s gaze turns toward Jang Woo-jae and the students at the academy who appear to be his friends.
I closely observed the clothes they were wearing, the weapons they were holding, their appearance, and the level of their martial arts skills.
“hmm…….”
At Hye-seong’s quiet nasal sound, Ilgak quickly continued speaking.
“In particular, that friend Jang Woo-jae is regarded as representing those within the academy who have no affiliation. He is so well-respected that not only our Jeongdohoe, but also the Baekdohoe and the Twelve Bongseong are eyeing him.”
His sect might disappear because of this incident in Akyang.
Although it was a matter completely unrelated to him, some began to feel anxious.
“If you help out this time, it will likely be of great assistance in regaining the position of Student Council Representative in the future.”
“Is that so?”
Yes, four.
Hyeseong gazed intently at a corner.
You, who are usually so ignorant of politics and human relationships, have become quite the eloquent speaker today.
Ambassador Hye-seong shook his head.
That, too, is suffering.
Ambassador Hye-seong stepped forward.
And he spoke in a majestic voice.
“Young beggar, please get up.”
“Ambassador! We will pay any price later. Please help us just this once.”
A desperate longing to grasp a sliver of hope was etched on Jang Woo-jae’s face.
“The Buddha does not expect any reward from you. Have you perhaps tried asking for help from the Aeyang branch of the Alliance?”
“Yes. I rushed over first and asked for your help. However, the branch’s personnel are insufficient to handle the entire Black Sect of Akyang.”
No matter how much the limited number of personnel from the branch stepped forward, the Black Dao martial arts world was unlikely to cower.
From the start, the Dark Martial World was not meticulous enough to hesitate in the face of an environment where they could run wild to their heart’s content like this time.
Jang Woo-jae prayed earnestly once again.
It will be too late once the war with the Dark Paths breaks out. We need immediate help, Master.
Il-gak helped out without even realizing it.
“That is correct, Monk. If the Murim Alliance steps in after the Dark Path Murim seizes control of Akyang, the smaller sects will.……”
Ambassador Hye-seong slowly turned his head and looked at a corner.
That expressionless face felt like the face of the Four Heavenly Emperors, so Ilgak involuntarily swallowed hard.
“……
I, I’m sorry.
Ambassador Hye-seong began to speak again in a serious voice.
It is not a new phenomenon that the wickedness of the dark path has plunged the world into chaos. It is a source of deep sorrow for this humble practitioner that the Buddha’s grace fails to exert influence throughout the world.
Not only the students, but everyone from those who came to watch the people of the Nine Great Sects to those who came to take the boat, all looked at the comet.
Furthermore, the Buddha never turns away from sentient beings who desire salvation.
Before anyone realized it, Hye-seong’s gaze had shifted away from the students and turned toward the people.
“Wherever and whenever there is someone seeking the Buddha’s help, His hand will reach them, even if it is in the Nine Heavens and Hell.”
Those who were listening to the story of the comet let out a cheer for a moment.
““Waaah!””
As the momentary excitement subsided, Hye-seong looked at Jang Woo-jae with a benevolent smile.
So please return home with peace of mind, benefactor.
“Are you, are you helping me?”
“Didn’t I just say? Wherever you are, the Buddha’s grace will reach you.”
At Hye-seong’s ambiguous words, Jang Woo-jae bowed his head deeply once again and spoke.
There are rumors that the Mukhyeolbang plans to attack our sect in the near future.
Hyeseong nodded.
As soon as I return to the Martial Arts Alliance, I will convene a council meeting and handle this matter as the top priority.
“yes?”
Jang Woo-jae’s face contorted.
If you handle it that way, how is it any different from the Murim Alliance’s Akyang Branch handling it?
“D-Great Master! Our Yujangmun is standing on the brink of disaster. If things continue like this…”
“dole.”
Ambassador Hye-seong’s voice was filled with a strong sense of betting.
A decree of speech that tightens the spirit as if a heavy burden has been placed upon it just by hearing it.
The onlookers also felt the immense presence of Ambassador Hyeseong’s voice and remained in deep silence.
“Did I not tell you? That there is no place the Buddha’s hand cannot reach.”
However, everything in the world has its order.
Jang Woo-jae, trembling violently, desperately opened his mouth.
“Th-then… would you be able to visit our sect? Just your visit alone would cause great tension in the Dark Path martial arts world.”
Il-gak, watching Jang Woo-jae, could not help but be inwardly surprised.
Hyesung’s Speech Ban is considered unrivaled even within the Shaolin Temple, so to think he overcame it.
Conversely, it also meant that the situation Jang Woo-jae was currently facing was just that desperate.
Il-gak, who was unable to do anything despite knowing all of this, felt a deep sense of shame toward himself.
I would like to, but I ask for your understanding that I am unable to visit as there is a very urgent matter right before my eyes that requires immediate attention.
“D-Ambassador!”
Do not worry. The donor and the donor’s monk will surely be protected within the grace of the Buddha.
The moment Hye-seong finished speaking and was about to turn around.
“What is this catching thing?”
A voice breaking the silence echoed across the dock.
“Does anyone still use things like this these days?”
Men and women who appear to be in their twenties walking out of the dock.
As the man at the very front waved his hand in the air, the people let out a long sigh, feeling the pressure that had been unknowingly constricting them being relieved.
Hye-seong’s gaze turned toward the man who had lifted the ban on speaking.
A look that seemed somewhat despicable and mocking. On top of that, a relaxed attitude unbefitting of his age.
He was a man I knew, too.
The man asked while looking at the comet.
“You mean being protected within the Buddha’s grace? Well, are you saying that if you pray hard, Mukhyeolbang will run itself? Is that what you mean?”
The man naturally stood between Hye-seong’s group and Jang Woo-jae’s group and continued speaking.
“Isn’t that true? If everything could be resolved simply by chanting ‘Amitabha Buddha,’ why does the Murim Alliance exist, and why do the forces of the Dark Path still remain in the Jianghu?”
The man’s gaze turned toward the audience.
Was the prayer at Shaolin Temple insufficient?
Not only Hyeseong’s party, but also the onlookers turned pale and stared at the man.
“Who on earth is it?”
Is he out of his mind?
“How dare you speak such disrespectful words to Master Hyeseong, the eminent monk of the Shaolin Temple….”
People whispered and looked at the man.
Just who exactly is this man, spouting remarks that are so brazen it seems he left his entire liver at home?
And the answer unexpectedly burst out of Ambassador Hye-seong’s mouth.
“Master Jin So-un…….”
The man named Jin So-un furrowed his brows deeply.
“I’ve told you before, but please stop begging a Taoist Wumen disciple for alms. Seriously.”
