Kang Sogun

"What they want is my head. Of course, I cannot give it to them."

"It's not like someone died, so would they do that?"

"They are people who used tricks and drove the person who came to help into a corner."

Jeonggwan frowned. It was difficult to understand what he was saying.

"Amitabha. It seems the misunderstanding is deep."

A calm smile hung on the corner of Kang Sogun's mouth.

"You have come like this at Bang Yeonso's request, right? I don't know what words he used to move you, Great Master, but the point is probably to capture me and bring me to the Bang Residence."

An uncomfortable expression appeared on Jeonggwan's face.

Bang Yeonso had requested a pill from Shaolin, along with the news that his son, Bang Ilok, had been seriously injured by a brute.

Seeing his face, who had made a huge donation to Shaolin in the past, the abbot had sent Jeonggwan with a panacea and had told him to find out the circumstances.

Bang Yeonso had said that he himself did not know the detailed circumstances and had asked Jeonggwan to mediate with Kang Sogun.

Jeonggwan did not take those words to mean to capture Kang Sogun. But to mediate, both sides had to face each other and argue about right and wrong, so in the end, he would have to take Kang Sogun.

"I do intend to escort you, benefactor, to the Bang Residence. We have to go and look into the circumstances."

Kang Sogun snorted lightly and picked up his teacup. He slowly savored the tea and then put down the cup and said.

"As you can see, the Kang Residence has declined. Moreover, since the martial learning of Shaolin is lofty, if you, Great Master, were to step up, I would be helplessly dragged to the Bang Residence."

"Amitabha. You have misunderstood. Shaolin does not oppress people recklessly. This humble monk is now making a request to you, benefactor."

Jeonggwan sincerely tried to persuade Kang Sogun.

"If you, benefactor, are worried about your safety, I will guarantee it. But you must take responsibility for what you have done. You will have to explain why you harmed Bang Ilok."

Kang Sogun let out a long sigh.

"The affairs of the secular world are not as simple as in the mountains. If I go and bow my head, in the end, it will be the Kang Residence kneeling to the Bang Residence."

Kang Sogun said, pouring tea into his and Jeonggwan's cups. It was doubtful whether the martial monk of Shaolin could understand the intrigues and pride between the powerful families around the court.

In some cases, one had to bow down on one's own, and in other cases, one could not kneel even if it meant the annihilation of one's sect.

If the now-declined Kang Residence bowed its head to Bang Yeonso, other powerful families would rush in and bite. Perhaps they would even close it down altogether.

As expected, Jeonggwan just blinked his eyes and did not understand.

Kang Sogun lamented inwardly. It seemed he could not make him understand with words, so he would have to show him his power.

"Besides, I cannot go now."

"I would like to hear a reason that this humble monk can accept."

"I do not want to kill Bang Ilok now."

At the sudden words, Jeonggwan frowned.

"Bang Ilok insulted the Kang Residence, so I gave him a warning, but it seems there is a greater crime, so I will have to take his life."

Kang Sogun finished his words and picked up his teacup and drank.

"Amitabha."

Jeonggwan was confused about how to judge the dignified young master in front of him.

It was the first time he had seen someone who spoke so calmly about taking a person's life. Didn't he speak as if it were a matter of pruning a tree in the garden?

Since the opponent was speaking so calmly while drinking tea, it was also difficult to use force.

Great Master Jeonggwan stood up from his seat with a displeased complexion.

"What harsh words are those? Do you mean to say that Bang Ilok has committed a crime punishable by death? Even if that is so, it should be argued in the government office, so how can you privately try to take a person's life?"

A sharp light flashed in Kang Sogun's two eyes. At that sharpness, Jeonggwan flinched.

"Bang Yeonso must have intended to gauge my skill by sending you three monks. If a fight breaks out, there is no affection in a sword, so either I will die, or you three will die."

"Benefactor! Your words are excessive!"

Although the corners of Jeonggwan's eyes went up, Kang Sogun just looked at him straight on. His gaze was deep and deep, and its end could not be known.

Although Jeonggwan's Buddhist heart was deep and his mind was bold, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Since he could not know Kang Sogun's intentions, he felt a sense of foreboding.

'Amitabha.'

Jeonggwan came to his senses, chanting the Buddhist name inwardly.

'At best, isn't he just a young man? Jeonggwan, do you mean to say your cultivation is so lacking?'

Jeonggwan, whose immovable mind had been shaken, felt ashamed without realizing it.

Although Kang Sogun had not moved, his few words and the aura he exuded were so extraordinary that he, who had been cultivating for a long time, had been shaken.

Jeonggwan felt that he had buttoned the first button wrong. He should have come on strong from the beginning.

Since Kang Sogun had come out politely, he had also been careless and had been shaken, unable to get his bearings.

"Bang Yeonso has nothing to lose. If I die, it will be Shaolin who has killed a person, and conversely, if you three monks die, I will be at odds with Shaolin."

"Amitabha. This humble monk has asked with good words, but do you mean to use force?"

"Monk."

Kang Sogun became serious.

"Have you ever seen a matter of the martial world end with words?"

Jeonggwan was dumbfounded. As a martial monk of Shaolin, he had always been respected in the martial world.

He was dumbfounded that the young master of a great house was issuing him a challenge.

'This bastard is getting arrogant because he has subdued Bang Ilok.'

Although Bang Ilok had learned the martial arts of Shaolin quite well, he was just a lay disciple.

The true ultimate learning of Shaolin was still in Mount Song.

"Do you mean to say that you will eventually use force? It seems Young Master Kang is looking down on Shaolin too much."

Kang Sogun stood up, brushing off his clothes.

"The Kang Residence also has a training ground."

Kang Sogun said bluntly and walked out of the guest hall.

Although Jeonggwan was dumbfounded, he could not help but follow. The initiative was already in Kang Sogun's hands.

The place where Kang Sogun took the monks of Shaolin was his own training ground.

Jeonggwan said to the young martial monk.

"Beopo, you ask for Young Master Kang's guidance."

Jeonggwan was the hall master of the Shaolin Arhat Hall. He had no intention of using his own hands.

Beopo stepped forward. He was one of the one hundred and eight arhat monks of Shaolin.

Beopo performed a half-bow and then immediately took a starting posture. Beopo had been inwardly angry, seeing his master, Jeonggwan, being pushed back, having lost the first move in the argument with Kang Sogun.

Beopo intended to subdue the arrogant young master of a great house, who was only good with his mouth, in one fell swoop and show the loftiness of the Shaolin martial learning.

Kang Sogun stood in front of him. He had a vacant look.

"Do you have no weapon?"

Kang Sogun shook his head.

"A weapon is a dangerous thing. If you swing it once, a person gets hurt, so wouldn't that be as Bang Yeonso intended? Since you, monk, are going to fight with your bare hands, it seems it would be good for both of us if I also face you with my two hands."

"Hmph!"

Beopo snorted. The fist of Shaolin surpassed swords and sabers. To face the Shaolin fist with bare hands was truly like carrying firewood and jumping into a fire.

"I will yield the first move."

Beopo performed the proper etiquette for the last time.

"There is no need for that."

Kang Sogun answered briefly and raised one hand. It was a gesture as if to say, "Come on."

"Be careful!"

Beopo shouted and then approached in an instant and thrust his first fist.

The speed of his movements was like the wind, and the momentum contained in his fist was as if it would break a rock.

The Shaolin Arhat Fist was a fist art that struck the enemy in succession. Even if Kang Sogun blocked this one fist, he would surely be defeated by the following chain of fists.

Jeonggwan was greatly flustered, seeing that Beopo's fist contained killing intent.

"Beopo! Be lenient with your hand!"

Although Jeonggwan was cultivating the Buddhist path in the mountains, he was not completely ignorant of the affairs of the secular world.

Jeonggwan also knew what kind of place the Nanjing Kang Residence was. He also knew what kind of trouble would come to the Shaolin Temple if he beat the emperor's nephew to death.

Wasn't that why he had endured Kang Sogun's dazzling words until now? But it seemed his disciple, Beopo, was about to cause trouble, so he tried to stop him.

But.

Beopo's one fist was deflected. The second fist that went in again was also deflected. The following fist was wrapped by Kang Sogun's hand.

"Tai Chi Fist!"

Jeonggwan shouted without realizing it.

It had been over a hundred years since Zhang Sanfeng had created the Tai Chi Fist and had founded the Wudang Sect.

In terms of a human life, it was a time when three generations would have changed, but for a sect, it was not a long period at all, or rather, it could be said to be a short period.

In the meantime, Wudang had stood tall as one of the two great ancestors of the martial world along with Shaolin.

The Wudang Tai Chi Fist was like the natural enemy of the Shaolin fist. Even the strong Shaolin fist could not use its full power when it met a master of the Tai Chi Fist.

And for good reason. The founder of the Wudang Sect, Zhang Sanfeng, was a master of the Shaolin fist, and the ultimate he had realized by surpassing it was the Tai Chi Fist.

"Be careful!"

Although Jeonggwan shouted, the situation was already over.

Crack!

Beopo's left arm was broken, and he was thrown back. His arm was dangling, and it was clear that it was useless.

"You are vicious!"

Jeonggwan shouted in anger.

Kang Sogun became serious and said.

"Do you mean to say you did not know that you should have been prepared to die when you dared to cross the gate of the Kang Residence?"

"Hiyah!"

When his senior brother was defeated, the young martial monk, Beopyeol, rotated his body like a storm and performed a kick.

"Beopyeol! No!"

Jeonggwan knew that Kang Sogun's martial prowess was great. Beopyeol was not someone he could face.

-Boom!

As the internal energy clashed, an explosion erupted. Beopyeol's leg, which was like an iron pillar, struck Kang Sogun's ankle, but it did not budge, as if it were a stone pillar.

"No!"

Although Jeonggwan shouted, Beopyeol's leg was broken.

Jeonggwan's two eyes turned completely. Beopo and Beopyeol were his cherished disciples. As the disciples he had raised since they were young had become disabled in an instant, Jeonggwan could not bear it.

"You are a demon!"

Jeonggwan shouted loudly and thrust his first fist.

Before the fist arrived, the fist qi first covered Kang Sogun. What was shimmering between the fist qi was a faint saber qi.

Jeonggwan's anger had reached its peak, and it was clear that he had used all his strength.

Jeonggwan saw a golden aura and a bloody light rise from Kang Sogun's entire body and swirl.

Kang Sogun's hand came in between Jeonggwan's fist force. Kang Sogun's hand, which was as supple as a willow branch, wrapped around Jeonggwan's forearm.

Jeonggwan was greatly surprised as his fist force scattered in an instant and turned his body and swept his foot. But there was nothing for his foot to catch.

Kang Sogun just raised one foot to avoid Jeonggwan's shadowless kick and then pushed Jeonggwan with his palm.

-Boom!

Although it was a gentle movement, the internal energy contained in it was not simple. As the internal energy contained in Kang Sogun's hand and Jeonggwan's internal energy clashed, an explosion erupted.

"Kuh!"

Jeonggwan spat out blood and was thrown back.

Surprisingly, Jeonggwan's strong internal energy had been caught by Kang Sogun's internal energy and had turned back to strike himself.

"Master!"

Beopo and Beopyeol shouted at the same time and rushed to Jeonggwan.

Kang Sogun did not use his hands anymore.

Jeonggwan continuously spat out clumps of blood from his mouth. It was clear that he had suffered an internal injury.

Beopo supported Jeonggwan with his good arm and glared at Kang Sogun.

"You evil villain! To use such a vicious move on someone who came to mediate with good words!"

Kang Sogun was silent. But as he gestured, the chief steward, Mo Sang, came over, pale.

"Call a carriage and send these monks to the Bang Residence."

Kang Sogun turned his body and disappeared.

Mo Sang was anxious. Mo Sang also knew well what kind of place the Shaolin Temple was. It seemed as if the one hundred and eight arhats would rush in at any moment.

"How did you get into a fight? Oh dear, this! You are seriously injured. Please stay still. I will take you to a doctor."

The words that Mo Sang said to comfort them sounded like a mockery to Jeonggwan and the others.

"Kuh!"

Jeonggwan knew that the honor of Shaolin had fallen to the ground due to his carelessness.

"There is no need!"

Jeonggwan pushed Mo Sang away and stood up.

"Tell Young Master Kang. That Shaolin will not forget this incident!"

Jeonggwan and his two disciples supported each other and left the Kang Residence.

The Cho siblings, who had been watching from afar, stood behind Kang Sogun. Cho Hagyeong said to Kang Sogun.

"Now the Bang Residence will use its own hands."

(End of Chapter)