Chapter 90
"Just tell me what you want. I'll grant most of your requests."
Magistrate Chu spoke as if he would even pluck the moon for him. But you shouldn't believe all of his words. Because people who work in jobs that deal with people are prone to exaggeration.
But it was true that Magistrate Chu was showing considerable goodwill. Whether it was for a greater profit, or because of their friendship so far.
"There must be quite a few martial artists who were in the gorge together."
"That's right."
Although many people died, quite a few survived. They had seen what had happened inside.
"If we listen to those people's stories, I think we can find out what happened inside..."
There are a huge number of people who are curious about what happened that day. The incident that occurred in the Flame Pond gorge of Mount Xiaohua is an incident that the entire marial world is paying attention to. Because such an enormous incident rarely happens.
"How about we gather those people and sort out what happened that day?"
"Oh ho. That seems like it would be a very interesting event."
It's something everyone is curious about. Besides, it's a situation where the claims are conflicting. But to reveal that fact? Through the testimony of the people who were there at the time? It was an event that would become a hot topic in the world.
"It will definitely draw a lot of attention. But I think there will also be some difficult parts."
"What's the biggest obstacle?"
"Hmm... I think the biggest problem will be who hosts it."
The prestige of Huashan and Shaolin is at stake. So no matter what the result is, one side will not accept it.
"So a place that is strong enough that both Shaolin and Huashan can't raise an objection has to host it and make a conclusion."
"Where would such a place be?"
Mok Wigun was planning to proceed with this matter no matter what. He couldn't just stand by when the Huashan Sect was coming out like that. Was Mok Wigun a person who would be obedient just because the opponent was a huge sect? He was a person who would hit back more than that if the opponent came out strong.
"The first thing that comes to mind is the Martial Alliance, but it won't be easy."
The most influential in the Martial Alliance are Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan. Although Shaolin is the strongest, Wudang and Huashan are also at a level that cannot be ignored. Is there a need to take a risk when it's not certain? So they probably wouldn't create a problem that could become a problem.
"Actually, besides the Martial Alliance, there's no place that comes to mind. Who would do something that even the Martial Alliance is reluctant to do?"
It was not an easy problem. Then suddenly, the Shaolin monks came to mind.
"By the way. Do you know anything about Great Master Jongmyeong and Great Master Jongheo?"
"You mean the people who came to the Flame Pond. I know to some extent."
Magistrate Chu first spoke about Jongmyeong. He had mentioned him first because he was also the overall leader.
"He is known as a person who is rigid and lacks flexibility. So they say there were some problems after he came out to the martial world. Perhaps because of that, he doesn't have many external activities."
For some reason, something was a bit clumsy. His actions and his responses. So that's why they didn't let him go outside.
"It seems he is known to some extent within Shaolin and around Mount Song, but there are more people in the marial world who don't know him."
"Then what about Great Master Jongheo?"
"Great Master Jongheo is closer to a scholar monk than a martial monk."
It seemed so. Although his martial arts skills also seemed to be at a certain level, he seemed to be more interested in other things than martial arts. So they must have made Jongmyeong lead the whole group and given Jongheo the role of assisting him.
"Then Great Master Jongmyeong's right to speak would be stronger. His martial arts are also higher, and he has also taken on the position of leading the monks."
"Uh. No. That's not the case."
Magistrate Chu said that if you just consider influence, Great Master Jongheo's side is stronger. The influence of a scholar monk is stronger in the martial sect of Shaolin? It was not a common-sense thing.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ah. Isn't Great Master Jongheo's master the former sect leader? So Great Master Jongheo's right to speak is stronger."
Jongheo's fellow disciples are now in many of the main positions in Shaolin. So it meant that Jongheo's words were more effective.
"That's good."
The value of a divine plaque also differs depending on who you received it from. A divine plaque received from someone in a key position in the sect, like the sect leader, is naturally more valuable. In that sense, it was a great relief that Great Master Jongheo was an influential person within Shaolin Temple.
One of the most powerful cards that Mok Wigun has now is Shaolin's divine plaque. Depending on how he uses this, he could overcome a great crisis, and he could also turn an unfavorable situation around.
'Then should I use it this time?'
To keep the Huashan Sect in check, it has to be at least Shaolin. He could give the divine plaque and ask Shaolin to investigate the truth.
'For now, let's watch how things proceed.'
The divine plaque is a very precious secret weapon. There is no reason to use it in a hurry.
"For now, before we proceed, we need to create some atmosphere. Could you sort out some people who are interested in this kind of thing?"
"You mean people who are very curious and can't stand not knowing?"
"That's right."
"There are quite a few such people."
If you stir up such people, they will come to Chang'an or Mount Xiaohua and stir things up. There are quite a few people among the martial artists who like such things. Representative examples are Manbakja, or Dogwang, one of the Three Eccentrics.
"Send me a list of those people."
"You're really going to proceed with it."
"Of course. It's a good opportunity to make my reputation widely known, so I can't just watch as they throw ashes on it."
Magistrate Chu was all smiles.
"Your ideas are certainly interesting. An ordinary person would try to solve it by talking with Huashan."
"Will it be solved by talking?"
Mok Wigun said with a snort. It's impossible for that to be possible. So it's better to just open the stage publicly.
"I will talk and have the list delivered. But you are a very interesting person, young master. If I'm next to you, young master, there will be no time to be bored."
Magistrate Chu seemed to be sad to leave.
"If we have a connection, we'll meet again. You never know what will happen in the world, do you?"
"I also have a feeling that I will see you often."
"It was convenient because Magistrate Chu was here until now, but I'm worried."
At Mok Wigun's words, he hesitated for a moment before leaving and then turned around and said.
"If you need anything, you can talk to the old shopkeeper at Yeseowon. I know her well, and she is competent and trustworthy. I strongly recommend her."
"You must be really close."
"You can entrust her with the work as if it were me."
It's a happy thing to have someone you can trust that much. Because most people don't meet such a person in their entire lives.
"Alright. I'll do that. And I'll contact you often too."
"I will also pay my respects."
After saying that, Magistrate Chu left. He had always been someone you could meet if you went to the government office, but after sending him off like this, he felt a little empty.
"He was a really interesting and good person."
He thought he should contact him often if he had the chance. It's not easy to make a relationship with someone who is so competent and friendly.
"I should also get ready slowly."
Mok Wigun also began to move. It was because the time to go for the treatment was approaching.
"Are you ready?"
"I finished a long time ago."
Pyon Juksu was also ready with a face full of expectation. He usually dawdled, but today he had already finished preparing before the time came.
"Wait a minute. I'll just finish writing this."
Besides, perhaps because he was bored of waiting, he was doing calligraphy with a large brush. He wrote down the characters with a single stroke and then stopped the brush. And then he stood a little away and admired it.
"Kuh. It's amazing. How's my skill?"
"It's neat and elegant, yet I can feel the power. It's good writing."
The guy had also researched calligraphy in that other world, and he wrote quite well.
"I'll write the signboard here. You've become independent, so how can you not have a signboard?"
"What signboard? I might have to move soon."
"Are you going to name your child later just because you're moving? Let's see. I'll write a cool one and hang it up for you!"
"Let's talk about that later. Let's go. We have to do the treatment."
Pyon Juksu chuckled and laughed.
"I'm really curious about what will happen before the treatment today. Hehehe."
It seemed the guy had something against the magistrate. Well, he had even used his power to mess with the magistrate. As he was laughing like that, he came outside, and the people were moving very busily.
"That's this way, and the things piled up here go to that warehouse."
Steward Wang was ordering people around and running around. When he got closer, he saw that they were the medicinal herbs he had brought from the Folding Snow Valley.
People were only interested in the horn and skin of the single-horned great serpent and the leg of the human-faced spider, but the amount of medicinal herbs he had brought was also enormous. But strangely, no one knew that he had brought the medicinal herbs. Everyone only remembered the horn.
"Young master. This is the first time I've seen so many medicinal herbs in my life."
Steward Wang clicked his tongue. He said it had taken several days just to classify the medicinal herbs. Well, since he had been classifying them since he arrived here.
"The classification is just finished, so we are moving them to the warehouse."
But since the amount was so large, they were moving them to two warehouses.
"At this rate, we'll run out of warehouse space."
"It's fine since we'll be selling them soon."
He was going to dispose of them soon anyway. After telling him to put them away well, he moved on, and Pyon Juksu asked.
"Hey. Didn't you bring too much?"
"I don't think I even brought one-hundredth of what was in the Folding Snow Valley."
"Yeah. Hya. It's good just to see it. To think that such good medicinal herbs are full in the warehouse."
Pyon Juksu pleaded with him not to sell them all.
"Leave a generous amount. Because I have to experiment when I make potions. Got it?"
"Alright. Set aside as much as you need. I'll dispose of it after that."
As they were talking like that, the two of them headed to the magistrate's residence. It's not that far from the manor to the magistrate's residence. After a while, the two of them arrived at their destination.
"The weather seems to be good today."
"Right?"
The gloomy, cloudy sky seemed to be like the magistrate's expression that he would soon see.
* * *
The magistrate's daily life is very busy. The amount of work to be processed was enormous, and the problems to be concerned about were also huge. Besides, recently, there was even a troubling matter, so he was at a loss.
"What will you do?"
The document to change Mok Wigun's assets to Lady Jang's name. He had been acquiescing because Mok Wigun's power seemed to be growing too much, but the situation was getting a little difficult.
It had become awkward to cause a conflict with Mok Wigun because of his mother's treatment. Besides, his mother seemed to be quite fond of Mok Wigun. So he couldn't help but be troubled.
"Haa. For now, do as you have been doing. It will be fine to decide after watching a little more."
The magistrate did not confirm it but ordered to continue with the process. His head was complicated.
"It seems the Huashan Sect is trying to keep Mok Wigun in check."
If that succeeded and Mok Wigun's power was weakened, that would also not be good. Because it would be like a tiger coming in instead of a wolf. If that happened, there would be a conflict with the Huashan Sect. As he was lost in such thoughts, news was delivered.
"Magistrate. The physicians have arrived."
"Alright."
The magistrate stood up from his seat. And he headed to his secret vault to get the fruit of the thousand-year-old flower spirit grass.
(End of Chapter)