Chapter 86
‘Did I hear that right?’
‘He’s throwing down a challenge as soon as he debuts?’
‘Is he even a monk? What kind of spirit is that!’
Murmur, murmur—
At Gwang-won’s words, not only the rising generation but also the key figures murmured with astonished faces.
What kind of place was this?
It was a meaningful place where the centennial plan of the Orthodox Path was being celebrated, new officials were being appointed, and unexpectedly, the current Martial Alliance Leader had even announced his intention to retire.
But the sight of a young monk who had just appeared in the Jianghu for the first time, pointing out a specific person and requesting a duel, was a shock that could not be helped.
But.
‘You can’t blame him for being arrogant.’
‘Isn’t he a person of the Gwang generation of Shaolin? In terms of seniority, he should be able to say such things.’
‘If he’s the top disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung, he’s on the same level as the respected leaders of the Nine Great Sects. It’s definitely not a matter of manners.’
Soon, the people changed their minds.
Certainly, Gwang-won’s seniority was not just special, but astonishing.
Before his appearance, So-ah had already transcended convention by becoming the top disciple of the God of War, calling the Sword Empress ‘Grandma Hong-ryeon’ and Hong In-geol ‘Chief Grandpa,’ but Gwang-won’s case was a step further, to a monstrous level.
Shaolin, which was known as a conservative group as much as its long history.
The fact that a young monk in that Shaolin had the seniority of the Gwang generation and had become the top disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung was truly an unconventional event.
But leaving aside the bewilderment of the people, Gwang-won maintained a calm demeanor and continued to speak.
“I have already made a promise with Young Master Jin at the main temple. But I wanted to inform you of this fact in an official setting to rule out any disrespectful speculation in advance. Shaolin and the Moyong Family. The Moyong Family and Shaolin. This duel between the two is not for the sake of malice or fighting spirit, but for the development and balance of the Orthodox Path, so I would be grateful if you would all come to the main temple with a willing heart and observe.”
With his words, Gwang-won performed a half-bow and bowed his head.
At that sight, some bowed their heads together, and others seemed unable to hide their excitement at the unprecedented duel between the two peerless masters, So-ah and Gwang-won.
But.
‘For the development and balance of the Orthodox Path? Pfft. Even hypocrisy has its limits. Keke.’
So-ah couldn’t help but let out a smirk.
Unfortunately, the people from the Shaolin side did not miss that fleeting moment and witnessed it clearly.
‘How dare he laugh at the words of the venerable Gwang-won?!’
‘No matter how much of a top disciple of the God of War he is, to show such an arrogant attitude!’
‘Amitabha… the donor will realize that there is a world beyond the heavens on this occasion!’
Of course, whether they knew the minds of the people from the Shaolin side or not, the people of the Moyong family showed a reaction not much different from So-ah’s.
‘The monk has a lot of courage. If he keeps this up, he’ll get another… no, a severe beating from Senior Brother. Kikik.’
In particular, Moyong Hwa, who found Gwang-won’s spirited statement amusing, let out a snicker from a distance, in the ranks of the Human Division students.
***
“Hey! Is it okay to be this happy?”
“What’s wrong? It’s our day today.”
“But… it’s also the day the Martial Alliance Leader announced his intention to retire. But to have a festive atmosphere.”
“The affairs of the high-ranking people are handled by the high-ranking people. Let’s just enjoy ourselves. The tedious student label is finally over.”
“Damn it! I don’t know either! Why am I worrying about the Martial Alliance Leader? Kikik.”
“Let’s drink!”
“Pour it in!”
“Han Baek, you don’t drink, you brat!”
The current state of the students was roughly like this.
As the accumulated resentment and burden disappeared at once, their hearts became as light as a feather.
Moreover, since the academy had set up banquet tables in the main building and annexes to celebrate their graduation, the students, who were still young men and women, enjoyed the atmosphere, chattering loudly like fish that had met water.
Of course, they were not the only ones.
Today, an unprecedented scene was unfolding in the Martial Alliance Leader’s office. The place, which had always been a place for stiff meetings, was now filled with a lavish banquet table with all sorts of delicacies and the precious Golden Cask Liquor.
There, with the Martial Alliance Leader Ha Won-sang at the center, to his right were the Great Master Gong-seung and the people of Shaolin, and to his left were the Dragon Head of the Beggars’ Sect, Hong In-geol, the Sword Empress of the Emei Sect, Hong-ryeon, and the key figures of the Five Great Families. Opposite them were the instructors of the academy.
“Martial Alliance Leader. I was really surprised. A sudden resignation. How could you not say a word…”
“That’s right. You’re still in your prime, so wouldn’t it be right for you to be more active?”
The key figures of Qingcheng, Kongtong, and Diancang expressed their regret to the Martial Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang.
Of course, it was just a courtesy.
If a new Martial Alliance Leader were to be elected, the entire Martial Alliance would be greatly reorganized, and at present, everyone was calculating in their heads, caught up in their worries about their own sect and personal glory.
“Hoho. Actually, I wanted to step down a long time ago. Unfortunately, after the esteemed God of War passed away, the Orthodox Path became chaotic, and for the past few years, there has been confusion due to the matter of the Gui Ma Jiangshi and the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong, so it was delayed. Also, my resignation has been discussed with the elders of the alliance for a long time.”
“Martial Alliance Leader…”
“But we must be careful in replacing the Martial Alliance Leader. Today, the great strategist of the Cheonmun-gwan, the great hero Zhuge, is not present, and the alliance has not yet finished discussing the election of the next Martial Alliance Leader, so let’s discuss this matter later.”
Ha Won-sang, who had sensed that the matter of electing the next Martial Alliance Leader would drag on, cut off the conversation.
Since he had cut it off so openly, the people of the other sects also suppressed their disappointment and could not bring up the matter anymore.
“Instead, how about we talk about the two peerless young masters who will lead the entire Orthodox Martial Path in the future? It’s not easy for so many Orthodox Path people to gather in one place.”
Ha Won-sang’s gaze turned to So-ah and Gwang-won in turn.
At that, the other people also fixed their gazes on the two, just like him.
Just then, the first to open the floodgates was Gwang-won.
“Martial Alliance Leader. Are you talking about me and Young Master Jin?”
“Keke! That’s right. If not for the two of you, how could I mention two peerless young masters?”
Ha Won-sang used honorifics to Gwang-won.
Considering his age, it was a strange thing, but since the Great Master Gong-seung was his senior, it was a gesture of respect.
“I am at a loss for words at such praise.”
At that, Ha Won-sang laughed heartily and this time asked the Great Master Gong-seung.
“Great Master Gong-seung. How did you hide such an amazing top disciple until now? Not only me, but all the people of the Jianghu must have been surprised.”
For a moment, a smile appeared on the Great Master Gong-seung’s face.
At this point, the debut of his young disciple could be said to be a success.
“Amitabha… Is it just Gwang-won? The great hero, the God of War Moyong, also kept the peerless hero, Young Master Jin, tightly hidden.”
“Hoho. Anyway, I am also excited about the duel between the two young masters.”
“I hope it will be a good friendly match. Through this duel, our Shaolin hopes to take on the role we have neglected so far.”
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room flowed strangely.
The ‘role of ours’ that the Great Master Gong-seung was talking about.
It was because the people had to rack their brains to interpret what the role of Shaolin meant.
‘Shaolin is slowly trying to stand at the center of the Orthodox Path!’
‘It seems that Shaolin will shine its presence at the center of the political situation related to the next Martial Alliance Leader.’
‘Until now, the power of other sects has been greater than that of Shaolin in the Martial Alliance, but from now on, it will be different.’
Most of them could not help but think that.
But at Ha Won-sang’s following words, the strange and low-lying weight of silence soon disappeared.
“It will be so. Would Shaolin be Shaolin for no reason? Keke! Of course, the Great Master Gwang-won will have a hard time.”
“…”
“Because Chief Instructor Jin is a truly terrible opponent.”
‘Ah…!’
For a moment, the people let out an inward sigh.
Ha Won-sang’s words, at a glance, seemed to praise Shaolin, but on the other hand, they contained the meaning that Gwang-won would by no means be able to easily defeat So-ah.
Moreover.
“Hoho. You are absolutely right, Martial Alliance Leader. So-ah is no ordinary person.”
The Sword Empress, Hong-ryeon, who had been silent, also opened her mouth and added.
“Keke! Is it just his martial arts? So-ah has had an extraordinary mind since he was young. The Great Master Gwang-won has met a difficult opponent, a difficult opponent, from his first debut in the Jianghu.”
Even the Dragon Head of the Beggars’ Sect, Hong In-geol, supported the words of Ha Won-sang and Hong-ryeon.
‘They’re looking down on Gwang-won.’
The people of Shaolin, including the Great Master Gong-seung, tasted a bitter taste.
But since it was true that So-ah’s recent tracks had been amazing, they could only smile bitterly.
Just then, Gwang-won spoke softly to So-ah.
“The trust of the famous masters in Young Master Jin is so deep that my heart is pounding. I hope that Young Master Jin will give me a great teaching.”
‘Wow… this bald monk is provoking me until the end. Is he trying to play a psychological game? I was going to restrain myself in front of my uncle!’
So-ah was so surprised by Gwang-won that he was now at a loss for words.
When they first met, he had been astonished by his enormous status and his feat of overcoming the Arhat Hall, but today, he had already committed several provocations under the guise of etiquette and justification.
But So-ah was not one to be flustered.
More than anyone.
“I will fully meet that expectation. But!”
He was strong with words.
“The price will not be cheap. My fists are a bit strong. Of course, even if you get hurt a lot, you can’t ask my family for treatment fees, right? Monk Gwang-won? Ha… hahaha!”
But it seemed to be a bit of a stretch.
Moyong Baek’s mouth was agape, his face turned pale, and on the bald heads of the Shaolin people, uncomfortable veins popped out.
‘So-ah. You’ve crossed the line this time!’
‘It’s a stretch, a stretch! What an unstoppable brat. Keke.’
Even the Sword Empress, Hong-ryeon, and Hong In-geol narrowed their eyes and avoided So-ah’s gaze.
***
The next day.
<Resignation Letter>
—Name: Jin So-ah.
—Position: First-class official of the Martial Alliance, Chief Instructor of the White Martial Academy.
—Affiliation: Moyong Family.
—Reason for Resignation: Personal reasons.
As always, So-ah’s writing was severely concise and direct.
Instructor Cheong-il, who was in charge of the overall administration of the White Martial Academy, recalled the payment document that So-ah had handed him for the expensive medicinal water ingredients and burst into laughter.
‘Huhuhu. At that time, too, he pushed through such a document with an absurd justification like infinite stamina or body remodeling.’
But under that absurd banner, So-ah had achieved a truly enormous feat, so Instructor Cheong-il’s laughter was not one of ridicule, but of satisfaction.
“Instructor Jin. Are you really leaving?”
“I reported to the Martial Alliance Leader and the Head Instructor last night. The resignation letter is just a formality. Please, Instructor Cheong-il.”
“Of course. I will approve and process it.”
“Then, I’ll be going.”
Just as So-ah was about to leave the instructor’s office.
Cheong-il called So-ah.
“Young Master Jin!”
“Yes?”
“Where are you planning to go now?”
“I’m going to Samryun Peak on Daeak Mountain in Sichuan.”
The place where the tombstones of the God of War, Moyong Cheon, and the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un, were erected.
It was So-ah, setting out on the road home.
(End of Chapter)