Chapter 73
While Ya Socheong was speaking, it wasn't just the junior lords who were listening.
The guards who followed them also all opened their ears and listened to what Ya Socheong was saying.
They were all older than the junior lords, and they must have been people with an excellent eye for reading the times.
To be in this position, they must have already received such training to the point of being tired of it.
As they listened to what Ya Socheong was saying, they grasped the Sect Leader's intentions to some extent.
What they thought was not much different from what Ya Socheong had first thought when he had recalled what kind of place Cheonbong Mountain was.
What the true purpose of this junior sect leader competition was.
What would happen to the junior lords who were here after this junior sect leader competition.
Ya Socheong discreetly observed their expressions.
And he realized that his strategy was a great success.
The junior lords were foolish, but the guards who protected them were not.
It seemed that they were trustworthy.
"Then what do you think we should do from now on, Faction Leader Ya?"
When Dan Mok-heukya asked, Ya Socheong looked at the junior lords.
"What thoughts would I have? I will follow whatever you junior lords do."
Dan Mok-heukya, although he had asked Ya Socheong in a hurry, seemed to think that it was a problem they should have decided on their own.
"Faction Leader Ya, didn't you say that you have a token that shows your friendship with His Highness the Fifth Prince? If you go with that, the people of Cheonbong Mountain won't be able to be hostile to you. What do you think?"
It was Dan Mok-hwawun's words.
"That will be true. But I don't know what you want me to do by doing so."
When Ya Socheong said that, Dan Mok-hwawun was also at a loss for words.
The Sect Leader had told them to go there and find the treasure of the sect.
The problem could not be solved by just Ya Socheong going to Cheonbong Mountain alone.
But if they all went in, he was not confident that they could get out of there.
"If it's just to promote friendship, we can talk. And we might be able to get the painting without necessarily using force."
"How?"
That was a question that came from almost all the junior lords at the same time.
Ya Socheong actually didn't have the answer until he said that, but after he finished speaking, the face of the fifth prince came to mind.
Although the government and the martial world were inviolable, if the prince demanded it from them, could they refuse his request?
Moreover, if that prince had a very high possibility of ascending to the throne in the future?
The fifth prince would grant Ya Socheong's request once.
He needed to do so to receive Ya Socheong's help while continuing his competition with the third prince.
Ya Socheong was lost in thought for a moment and then looked at them.
"How about this? There are people from the sect in His Highness the Fifth Prince's maternal family. You junior lords will meet them. If the junior lords from the sect come out and praise their hard work, wouldn't it be a great comfort to them, who must always be longing for their hometown?"
That was not a story he could be sure of.
But if you live in a foreign land for a long time, you are bound to think of your hometown, and if you meet someone from your hometown in a foreign land, aren't you even more glad?
But if it was not just anyone but the junior lords, they might be moved by the fact that they had met them.
Now, only Ya Socheong could make a request to the fifth prince, but at that time, the people of the fifth prince's maternal family might also make a request together.
Then wouldn't the fifth prince give in?
That was Ya Socheong's thought.
For now, it was a thought of just saying it, whether it worked or not, but the eyes of the junior lords who were looking at each other shone.
The people who thought that was even better were the guards who were guarding each of the junior lords.
They had just found out what the Sect Leader thought of their masters.
If their thoughts were correct, their masters would have been destined to be abandoned by the Sect Leader and die here, but because of Ya Socheong's words, hope suddenly appeared.
If the junior lords formed a friendly relationship with the fifth prince, and if by any chance the fifth prince expressed his intention to meet them in the Heavenly Demon Sect, even if he were the Sect Leader, he would not be able to kill the junior lords carelessly.
It was as if Ya Socheong could clearly see such thoughts going through their heads.
Ya Socheong thought that the idea that had suddenly come to him could save several people.
"My lord, just a moment."
Starting with Dan Mok-hwawun's guard, each of the guards secretly sent a signal to the junior lords.
At that, the junior lords gathered separately with their guards and talked.
Ya Socheong used his internal energy to enhance his hearing and could hear the stories they were sharing.
As expected, the situation was going as Ya Socheong had thought.
"My lord, if Faction Leader Ya's words are true, it seems that there is another reason why the Sect Leader held the junior sect leader competition. If this continues, everyone who participated in the junior sect leader competition will be greatly harmed. Even if you win the competition, you may suffer great sacrifices or incur the wrath of not being able to protect the other junior lords. It seems that the Sect Leader sent you here from the beginning, aiming for that."
The guards of the junior lords patiently persuaded their masters.
They did not hesitate to say that it was not an important problem to go to Cheonbong Mountain and get the treasure first, and that it was a suicidal act.
If Ya Socheong had said that, the junior lords would have greatly rebelled and gotten angry, but when the guards who had risked their lives for them for a long time said it, they quietly nodded.
It must have been fully understandable and agreeable.
"Faction Leader Ya's plan seems good. It seems that that is the only way for you to save your life now, my lord. No matter how much he is the Sect Leader, he will not be able to treat you carelessly, who have built a friendship with His Highness the Fifth Prince. Please preserve your life in that way. And please consolidate your power using your friendship with His Highness the Fifth Prince. Above all, you must draw Faction Leader Ya to your side."
Such words came from every single guard without exception.
The junior lords also knew that it was important to build a friendship with the fifth prince and that Ya Socheong's role would be great in that.
The expressions of the junior lords who had returned were much more gentle, and their gazes towards Ya Socheong had definitely changed.
"For now, let's postpone going to Cheonbong Mountain."
When Dan Mok-hwawun said that, the people who had blocked Ya Socheong before came forward.
"You junior lords must go to Cheonbong Mountain as you are."
Seeing them block even the junior lords, let alone Ya Socheong, Ya Socheong realized that what he had been thinking until now was definitely correct.
"You are speaking insolently. What will you do if I do not go to Cheonbong Mountain? Will you swing your sword at me?"
"Junior lord, this is the Sect Leader's order."
"What exactly is the Sect Leader's order? Is it the Sect Leader's order to offer my neck?"
Dan Mok-hwawun said in a calm voice without getting very angry.
At that, the people who had blocked him eventually stepped back.
They seemed to be greatly flustered, not having thought that the Sect Leader's intentions would be revealed so quickly.
"From now on, it would be good for you to also seek a way to live. If you block my path one more time, you will not be able to avoid my sword."
Dan Mok-hwawun said as if it were a final warning, and the other junior lords also nodded as if they would share his will.
"How about we rest for a while?"
Dan Mok-hwawun said.
His gaze was definitely directed at Ya Socheong.
* * *
A group of people came to the Yanwang Manor where the fifth prince was staying.
One of the people guarding the main gate recognized Ya Socheong first.
"Isn't it Faction Leader Ya! Please wait a moment."
Ya Socheong said that there were people who had come with him and briefly introduced their identities.
He went inside and then came out with a pleasant face.
"He says to come inside. He said he would also see the people who came with you."
The junior lords, who must have been nervous, seemed to finally be at ease.
After entering the Yanwang Manor, it definitely felt like their relationship was being reorganized around Ya Socheong.
Ya Socheong was dignified, and it seemed that many of the people in that place wanted to get close to him.
That was also clearly visible in the eyes of the junior lords and their guards.
It was a definitely different atmosphere from the Heavenly Demon Sect, where they had been trying to cut him down.
When they went inside, the fifth prince was personally coming out.
"Your Highness."
When Ya Socheong greeted him first, the junior lords followed him and greeted him.
That was something that even Ya Socheong had not calculated.
Since they were seeing the fifth prince for the first time, they were not accustomed to how to show their respect in front of him.
That's why they had no choice but to glance at Ya Socheong and follow him.
"What a welcome guest. I don't know how happy I am that you didn't forget and came to see me. Please introduce the people who came with you, Faction Leader Ya."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The fifth prince, as if he were very curious, asked for an introduction on the spot without even going inside, and Ya Socheong introduced the junior lords.
The fifth prince nodded repeatedly and smiled brightly, and the junior lords were at ease as they saw the fifth prince welcoming them without any formality.
The fifth prince said that he had a deep relationship with the Heavenly Demon Sect and told them in detail about the help he had received from Ya Socheong.
Although the junior lords had heard the story through Ya Socheong, the story they heard through the fifth prince was different.
They finally properly realized how much the fifth prince thought of Ya Socheong and how grateful he was for that.
If the fifth prince hadn't said it, they wouldn't have even known the proper meaning.
The junior lords realized that Ya Socheong had only told them the necessary things and the objective facts, and had not made any embellishments to praise himself.
And they thought of many things.
They themselves were in a position where they were constantly being evaluated and compared.
So if they didn't embellish themselves and try to stand out, they would be treated as inferior and fall behind others.
That's why they had tried hard, and when it didn't work with their abilities, they had not hesitated to drag others down.
But looking at Ya Socheong, he seemed somehow envious and great.
It was because it seemed that even if Ya Socheong himself did not try, everyone around him was eager to praise him.
Since they were junior lords, it was particularly noticeable that the fifth prince was doing that, but even while they were in the Heavenly Demon Sect, there were many such people around Ya Socheong.
Wasn't Baek Yuhwa's Baek family also like that?
The incident where Baek Yuhwa had rejected the Sect Leader's proposal and had held a wedding ceremony with Ya Socheong had had a great impact.
People tried to pretend not to know about that and not to mention it, but there was no need to say how much the Sect Leader's honor had been tarnished by that.
(End of Chapter)