Chapter 929
So far, he has tolerated the man’s behavior. He refrained from punishing him due to his improper attitude, as it was a clear cause for retribution.
But now, this act has clearly crossed the line.
“Siju.”
The voice of Bop Kye came out like a growl.
The voice was incredibly low and ferocious for a monk.
“This is Shaolin’s affair.”
“….”
“It means that it is not a matter for outsiders to interfere. Do you understand?”
Chung Myung stared silently at Bop Kye.
“You may not have been aware of the situation, so I won’t reprimand you for daring to attack Shaolin’s disciples. However, if you interfere one more time, I will consider it an attack on Shaolin.”
“….”
“Please step back. This is not something you can handle!”
The reason why Bop Kye felt the need to assert this is because he has not forgotten that this place is Mount Hua. This was the least courtesy he could extend, given he had to enforce Shaolin’s discipline in another sect’s territory.
Surely, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword would understand the situation and retreat. Anyone with at least some sense to think would not know what it means to block Shaolin’s affair.
However… What he heard next was something that completely broke his expectations.
“It seems you’re the one who doesn’t understand.”
“….”
At that moment, Bop Kye’s eyes widened slightly.
“This is Mount Hua.”
Chung Myung said, baring his teeth.
“Anyone who wants to hurt someone inside Mount Hua must get permission from Mount Hua’s Sect Leader. That’s the law of Mount Hua.”
“….”
“So, back off from our baldie and go away, before I strike not just your hand, but your neck.”
Bop Kye’s face contorted horribly.
“…How dare you!”
His anger reached its peak and he was on the verge of losing his mind.
What happened inside was a negotiation process. But this wasn’t. This was a threat, a clash of power.
Why would Shaolin need permission from another sect to conduct its own disciplinary action? In the thousand-year history of Shaolin, such a precedent has never existed.
Of course, enforcing discipline inside Mount Hua Sect may cross the line. But it was a tolerable matter!
The man even brandishes his sword, saying that he could never compromise on said tolerable matter.
If this is not a challenge to Shaolin, then what is?
“Do Siju understand what Siju’s actions mean? Daring to do something that Siju can’t handle?”
Bop Kye’s voice overflowed with fury. However, Chung Myung twisted the corners of his mouth as if he thought it was funny.
“Can’t handle?”
It was a blatant mockery. It is so blatant that it’s hard to ignore.
Bop Kye’s face turned red with anger, having never been mocked so openly.
“Look at you blabbering just because your mouth’s hole is working.”
Chung Myung cracked his neck left and right.
“You don’t seem to know much, but so far there’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“….”
“So let’s confirm it here at once. Whether I can handle it or not.”
Bop Kye clenched his teeth.
This insufferably arrogant man clearly thinks he has an impunity card. It’s an undeniable fact that this young Taoist was the only one who upheld the dignity of the Righteous Sects during the catastrophe at the Yangtze River.
But this is no longer a situation where he can get away with using that as an excuse.
“Siju are crossing the line. Even if this is Mount Hua, do you really think Mount Hua can protect you?”
“Don’t be mistaken, baldie.”
“What….?”
“It’s not me that Mount Hua is protecting, but you all.”
Chung Myung bared his teeth.
“If it wasn’t for Mount Hua, if I wasn’t a disciple of Mount Hua, I would have already cut off your neck a long time ago. Along with that Bangjang next to you.”
Bop Kye’s jaw dropped.
“So get lost. Before my patience runs out. Even human patience has its limits.”
“….”
Speechless, Bop Kye stared at Chung Myung in disbelief.
At least… there was one thing he could be sure of.
‘This man is out of his mind.’
Who in the world would dare to say such things in front of Bangjang of Shaolin? Not even Paegun of the Evil Tyrant Alliance would dare to speak such words.
What kind of place is Shaolin?
Even though the rapid changes in Kangho’s power dynamics mean it can’t exert the same influence as in the past, this fact doesn’t mean that Shaolin has lost its power.
This means that the current Shaolin is no different from the same Shaolin that has been leading Kangho for hundreds of years.
But isn’t the man completely denying the authority of Shaolin and trampling on it?
He was overwhelmed by disbelief that he couldn’t even feel angry anymore. He doesn’t even know what to say. There was nothing he could do but tremble and stare at Chung Myung as if he were suffering from a disease.
“Siju!”
Then an unexpected voice broke out. It was Hye Yeon.
He shouted urgently.
“This is a matter for Shaolin! I understand Siju’s feelings, but if Siju cares for me, please don’t interfere…”
“What? Shut up, baldie!”
“….”
Startled, Hye Yeon gawked at Chung Myung in confusion.
“I’ll take care of it, so just keep your mouth shut!”
“A- Amita-…”
Then, suddenly.
Bop Jeong, who had been silent so far, opened his mouth.
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”
The gazes of the two clashed heatedly in the air.
“Stop forcing your way.”
“….”
“In this world, if there is something to gain, there is also something to lose. If you decide to be hostile to Shaolin, you can no longer get involved in Shaolin’s internal affairs.”
It was an utterly cold voice.
“This is the consequence of your choice. If you’ve made a choice, then you should also learn to bear the consequences.”
At first glance, it seemed like a calm admonition, but the power and authority of Bangjang of the Thousand Year Shaolin was reflected in his voice. Most people would have backed down, overwhelmed by the intimidating pressure in his voice.
But the person in front of him was Chung Myung.
“You understand it well.”
“…What did you just say?”
Chung Myung looked at Bop Jeong with an infinitely disinterested gaze and spoke.
“I said you understand it well. As you say, in this world, every action comes with a consequence. So, I ask you…”
Chung Myung, who stopped talking for a moment, smiled mischievously and grinned.
“What consequence do you plan to pay for harming someone in Mount Hua’s territory?”
Bop Jeong glared at Chung Myung with a blank face.
“All this time, I…”
His voice, filled with murderous intent, began to strangle Chung Myung.
“…have shown you a great deal of mercy.”
“….”
“But this isn’t just about you and me. If you get involved in this anymore, it will be Shaolin, not me, who will be angry, and it will be Mount Hua, not you, who will have to deal with that anger.”
Chung Myung’s eyes grew darker.
As if driving a wedge, the final words of Bop Jeong echoed through Mount Hua.
“Let me ask you.”
His presence was overwhelmingly commanding.
“Does your Mount Hua…”
“….”
“…really have the confidence to withstand Shaolin’s wrath?”
It wasn’t the eyes that looked at those who walked on the same path.
It is a look that purely looks at the enemy.
It seems as if he was saying with his eyes that depending on how Chung Myung answers, it will be decided whether Mount Hua and Shaolin will really turn into enemies or not.
It was truly a heavy question, and the answer had to be even heavier.
Yet Chung Myung remained unfazed.
“Do we have the confidence to turn Shaolin into an enemy…”
He muttered to himself, then smiled lightly.
“I think someone else will give that answer, not me?”
“Hm?”
At that moment.
Step. Step. Step.
One person walked slowly and stood beside Chung Myung.
It was Baek Cheon.
His eyes, sharp as a honed blade, glared at Bop Jeong.
Then another person, Yoo Iseol, filled the space beside Chung Myung with her characteristically indifferent face. Her expression was as if washed clean of emotion, but her hand rested on the sword at her waist.
There seemed to be no better way to show their firm resolve.
And it wasn’t just them.
Yoon Jong calmly walked up and stood beside Baek Cheon, and Jo-Gol, who was shaking his shoulders as if he was about to rush at any moment, filled the side of Yoo Iseol.
Eventually, Tang Soso, Baek Sang, and even Mount Hua’s disciples who had been watching from afar narrowed the distance as if surrounding Bop Jeong and Bop Kye.
The message in their eyes was clear.
“This… Is this the will of Mount Hua?”
Bop Jeong asked. There was only one person here who could answer him regarding this.
“I don’t know the specifics, Bangjang. And Elder.”
Baek Cheon briefly scanned the two and looked at Hye Yeon.
“But… what’s certain is this. Whether it’s right or wrong, Mount Hua doesn’t know how to abandon a comrade who has fought and bled together.”
Bop Jeong clenched his fist.
There was not a hint of hesitation in Baek Cheon’s voice, and his eyes were straight and unwavering.
“Even if it means turning Shaolin into an enemy, it doesn’t matter. Mount Hua would rather choose to die with its comrades than live by abandoning them. That’s…”
He declared calmly.
“What Mount Hua has learned from our ancestors a hundred years ago.”
At the end of Baek Cheon’s words, Chung Myung suddenly looked up at the sky.
‘…Sahyung.’
A hundred years ago. That was an incredibly foolish thing.
Filled only with regrets.
But now, their descendants are mentioning that past. They learned something from the past that he thought was full of regrets.
‘Maybe we were…’
A small smile formed on Chung Myung’s mouth.
‘Not so foolish after all.’
Bop Jeong said with his teeth clenched, unable to hide his anger.
“Do you have the right to say that, Mount Hua Righteous Sword?”
“Of course, Bangjang.”
The response didn’t come from Baek Cheon but from someone else.
“Every disciple of Mount Hua can represent Mount Hua. That’s how Mount Hua teaches its disciples.”
“…Sect Leader.”
Hyun Jong, who had quietly approached, saw Hye Yeon still kneeling and hardened his face.
“Although monk Hye Yeon may not be the disciple of Mount Hua, Mount Hua does not distinguish between disciples and its comrades. If you intend to harm him, you’ll have to deal with the entire Mount Hua.”
As soon as the soft but firm voice came out, Hye Yeon’s shoulders began to tremble.
Unable to hold back, he bowed his head and tears dropped from his large eyes.
Bop Jeong looked at them and spoke.
“Sect Leader… It seems that Sect Leader is taking Shaolin lightly.”
“That’s not the case.”
“If not, how dare Sect Leader interfere with Shaolin punishing its disciple? Sect Leader will surely regret this.”
“Hah!”
Suddenly, Chung Myung burst into laughter. Bop Jeong asked with an angry face.
“…What’s funny?”
Chung Myung, who was shaking his shoulders as if he could not hold back his laughter, shook his head.
“It seems Bangjang still doesn’t understand Mount Hua.”
“I don’t understand?”
Doubt clouded his face. What else was there to understand?
Chung Myung laughed out loud for a moment and explained kindly.
“If Bangjang doesn’t know, I’ll tell you, so listen carefully. Mount Hua fought against Myriad Man Manor even when we had nothing, and even when everyone was busy begging for their life, it was Mount Hua that stood still and fought against Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
“….”
Mount Hua’s disciples giggled and laughed at his words.
“That’s not all. A hundred years ago, we even fought Magyo, right?”
“Now that you mention it.”
“…At this point, isn’t being fearless also a tradition?”
Bop Jeong could not hide his absurd expression as he saw Mount Hua’s disciples suddenly laughing among themselves.
“It is such Mount Hua.”
At that moment, Chung Myung’s voice forcefully captured his attention.
“Yet, do Bangjang think mere Shaolin could be considered a threat?”
“….”
“I’m sorry, but this is a sect where crazy bastards who, if not convinced with something, have to fight to the death before they are satisfied whether the enemy is Magyo or whatever, gather.”
“Keuhum.”
“No, that’s a bit too much.”
“……You’re going too far.”
Chung Myung lightly ignored protests from other disciples.
“So if Bangjang wants to make a threat, Bangjang should look at the opponent.”
The sound of Bop Jeong grinding his teeth spread chillingly.
“And… just in case Bangjang doesn’t know, I’ll tell you, so remember.”
Chung Myung’s icy gaze pierced Bop Jeong.
“In history, there have been sects that have opposed Shaolin and survived, but there has never been a sect that has turned Mount Hua into an enemy and survived.”
“….”
“So, stop the threats that don’t work, and get out of Mount Hua. Before my patience runs out.”
Bop Jeong’s face turned blue with visible veins. At least for now, his face looked more like an Asura in hell than a monk worshiping Buddha.
“Shaolin…”
He spoke softly with bloodshot eyes.
“Will not forget today’s humiliation.”
“Whatever.”
He etched the faces of Chung Myung, Hyun Jong, and the other disciples of Mount Hua into his memory, glaring at the kneeling Hye Yeon for the last time before turning around without a word.
“Ba- Bangjang!”
“Let’s go!”
Turning around like a cold wind, he led Bop Kye out and walked briskly away from Mount Hua.
“Oh….”
Hye Yeon watched the departing Bop Jeong’s back with a bewildered look. Suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder.
“…Jo- Jo-Gol Dojang.”
“Hey, why kneel and get your knees dirty? Stand up.”
“I….”
Yoon Jong also smiled and grabbed his other shoulder, lifting him up.
“Our monk seems to be in big trouble now. It looks like he can’t even go back to Shaolin.”
“….”
Hye Yeon bit his lip tightly.
How on earth should he express this feeling?
“…Thank you.”
No matter how hard he thought about it, this was all he could say.
Baek Cheon smiled, tapping on his shoulder without saying a word.
Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s not worried about what happens next. But….
‘There’s no reason to hesitate about what needs to be done.’
Chung Myung’s words and Hyun Jong’s words paved the way in their hearts.
“If it’s not right, it’s not Mount Hua.”
This was the will that Mount Hua must continue.