Chapter 26
Thump! Thump! Thump!
It was the sound of a wooden block announcing midnight.
It seemed that at least half a shichen had passed since he had faced Baek Unseol.
However, Baek Unseol, with a sullen face and her head lowered, just kicked a stone with the tip of her foot and remained silent.
Moyong Gi was also silent. He didn't know what had happened to Baek Unseol. But he couldn't worry about that. Moyong Gi himself was complicated enough for that.
'It's difficult.'
Although he had tried to look away with an unconcerned face, he was someone who had harbored feelings for her for over thirty years.
Even though he understood with his head that they were looking in different directions, it was not an emotion that could be easily shaken off.
'Still, I have to get over it, right?'
It is a lingering attachment to not be able to let go of the past. It doesn't help anyone.
Having organized his thoughts, Moyong Gi turned his gaze to Baek Unseol. Just then, Baek Unseol was also looking at Moyong Gi. Moyong Gi, who met Baek Unseol's eyes, intentionally said with a crooked face.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I was just wondering what you were thinking."
"That's because you're not saying anything..."
Moyong Gi, who was retorting, unknowingly shut his mouth. And then he shook his head.
"Why?"
"Nothing. It's nothing. By the way, tell me the reason you came to see me first. It's already very late."
Baek Unseol puffed out her cheeks with a dissatisfied face.
"Is that important now?"
"Then what's important? Tell me. I have to know for you to tell me."
At Moyong Gi's urging, Baek Unseol's beautiful face contorted with disappointment. Moyong Gi shot up from his seat.
"I'm leaving now. If you feel like talking later, tell me."
"You really."
"What do you mean, really. Then what do you want me to do? Just stay like this?"
"Yes. Can't you just stay by my side for a bit?"
"Why should I?"
"Huh?"
Moyong Gi looked back at Baek Unseol. At Moyong Gi's coldly hardened eyes, Baek Unseol flinched and trembled. Darkness fell over her jewel-like sparkling pupils.
But at that sight, his heart, which he had tried so hard to control, weakened again. His eyes, which had been full of strength, unknowingly relaxed. Moyong Gi sighed.
"Tell me. What's wrong?"
Moyong Gi's attitude softened. Only then did Baek Unseol's frightened pupils also find stability.
However, there was still no answer that Moyong Gi wanted. She lowered her head again and just kicked an innocent stone.
And Moyong Gi also decided not to rush her anymore. He just looked down at Baek Unseol silently.
Thump... thump... thump...
How much time had passed?
As if she had calmed down a little, Baek Unseol's footwork, which had been kicking the stone, gradually slowed down.
Moyong Gi, who had sensed that, was about to let out a low sigh, but Baek Unseol suddenly opened her mouth.
"Master has come."
"Huh?"
Baek Unseol said once more in a sullen tone.
"I said, Master has come."
And Moyong Gi's face contorted strangely.
'Johwasim! That dog-like old man!'
If Johwasim had come to the Orthodox Justice Alliance, what he would do was obvious.
He could also sufficiently guess the reason why Baek Unseol was so down.
"Master... Master..."
Baek Unseol's voice was tinged with moisture. She couldn't finish her words. But at that pitiful sight, Moyong Gi rather felt his blood run cold.
"Why? Did he tell you not to see me?"
It was a dry tone, to the point where Moyong Gi himself was surprised.
It was no wonder that Baek Unseol was startled and raised her gaze. But things like that didn't matter.
"So what about you?"
"Huh?"
"So what are you going to do?"
At Moyong Gi's urging, Baek Unseol had a flustered face. However, Moyong Gi's question was not difficult to understand. It was just that it was difficult to answer.
Baek Unseol covered her face with both hands.
"I don't know. I..."
That was the end. There was no more emotion on Moyong Gi's face. He now knew for sure that it was a useless act.
Moyong Gi turned his back coldly.
"Are you just going to go?"
Baek Unseol's tearful voice caught Moyong Gi's footsteps. But Moyong Gi replied without looking back.
"Then?"
"It's not 'then'. You should at least tell me what I should do..."
Moyong Gi shook his head. She was the same then and now. He didn't want it anymore.
"It's late. Go in now."
And then, he walked away without any lingering attachment.
"Gi!"
This time, even Baek Unseol's tearful voice could no longer catch Moyong Gi's footsteps.
***
When Hong Sochen and Chunghuh appeared, the scene became noisy.
People had been dispatched from each sect to observe the mid-term examination, but most of them were ordinary figures.
They were no match for the Beggars' Sect leader, Hong Sochen, or the Wudang's number one sword, Chunghuh. Naturally, they couldn't help but attract attention.
Jeoksong of Kunlun, the head of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn, quickly greeted the two.
"Sect Leader Hong has come all this way in person. What brings you here?"
"What do you mean, what brings me here. Why? Did I come to a place I can't come to?"
"That's not what I meant. I'm saying it because I'm happy. Thanks to Sect Leader Hong coming, my face has been saved. Haha."
Since the mid-term examination was a passing process, it received less attention than the sword examination held when first entering the Dragon and Phoenix Inn or the final examination held at the end of the first year of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn.
But if people with great fame in the martial world like Hong Sochen or Chunghuh observed, the level would rise.
This was especially true for Chunghuh.
In terms of status in the martial world, the Beggars' Sect leader, Hong Sochen, was a step above.
However, with the fame of being the Wudang's number one sword and the mystery of being a reclusive master who had not shown his face for the past twenty years, he was incomparable in terms of newsworthiness.
And their visit meant that another achievement would be added to Jeoksong, the head of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn.
A broad smile hung on Jeoksong's face as he looked at Chunghuh.
"How long has it been, Daoist Master Chunghuh. How could you be so heartless as to not contact us?"
"It just happened. I'm sorry."
"What's there to apologize for. I was just saying. Please don't mind it."
Jeoksong quickly waved his hand.
As Chunghuh smiled slightly, this time, Mokyoung acknowledged him.
"Amitabha. It's been a while, Daoist Master."
"Ah, Grandmaster Mokyoung. Have you been well?"
"Is there anything a monk can't be well with? I've been well. By the way, Daoist Master, you look much better than before."
"It's because I've only been living in a place with good mountains and clear water. Grandmaster, you should also throw away the troublesome affairs of the Orthodox Justice Alliance and return to Shaolin. Then your complexion will also become much better."
"I would like to do so as well, but since the abbot does not allow it, I have no choice."
"Then you should be stubborn. If you lie down saying you can't do it like me, the abbot will eventually accept it."
"Thank you for the advice. If it really doesn't work, I'll try that method."
Mokyoung showed a gentle smile. Hong Sochen, who was on one side, called Chunghuh.
"You brat, come here. Greet him. He's the strategist of the Orthodox Justice Alliance."
Hong Sochen introduced Zhuge Guk to Chunghuh. Zhuge Guk cupped his fists.
"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I'm Zhuge Guk."
"Ah. You're the Divine Strategist. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Chunghuh."
"It's an undeserved title. I'm embarrassed."
As Zhuge Guk's face turned red, Hong Sochen laughed heartily and intervened.
"Still, you know your place. This is why I like the strategist."
Chunghuh chided Hong Sochen.
"You brat, what kind of talk is that? So rude."
"What rude. Have you ever seen a beggar being polite?"
And then he looked at Zhuge Guk again.
"By the way, what brings the strategist here? Did you come to see your niece by any chance?"
"That's right. I was worried..."
"Of course. If she's as pretty as that child, of course you'd be worried. If it were me, I would have hidden her in the house and raised her."
"Have you seen our Yeon?"
Hong Sochen nodded.
"I've seen her once. Come to think of it, you brat. Let's have our strategist sit next to us. The view is good here."
Chunghuh looked at Zhuge Guk.
"Would that be alright?"
"Of course. I'll have a seat prepared right away."
Zhuge Guk called a person and ordered them to bring more chairs.
While the two's seats were being prepared, Chunghuh and Hong Sochen were busy greeting other people, but once again, the crowd became noisy.
The one who entered late, receiving all their gazes, was none other than the Iron-Faced Swordsman of Mount Hua, Johwasim.
Hong Sochen, who had confirmed Johwasim, his face contorted at once.
"Aish, so unlucky. Why is that guy here?"
He didn't particularly lower his voice, but rather said it as if he wanted him to hear.
However, Johwasim, without showing any particular reaction, walked silently and faced Chunghuh.
"It's been a while."
Chunghuh smiled brightly.
"Yes. It's been a while. You look well."
It was an attitude as if he had met an old friend.
On the other hand, Johwasim did not erase his cold face.
As if that wasn't enough, he poured out sharp words.
"Is that so? But you don't seem to be. You seem to have become a cripple."
He was pointing out that his ki had changed.
In the past, it was Chunghuh who had shown a more blade-like ki than Johwasim. But that ki had completely died to the point where it could not be found.
It was not an exaggeration to take it as an insult, but Chunghuh's face was only full of a gentle, warm breeze.
Rather, it was Hong Sochen who got angry.
"You damn brat who can't even be cursed, what are you talking about? Are you asking for a fight?"
Chunghuh restrained Hong Sochen.
"Stop it. Why are you getting so angry? We didn't come here to fight, did we?"
"Didn't you hear what that guy just said? How dare he say such things with that open mouth of his?"
Rather, the angry Hong Sochen kept panting, and Chunghuh, who was coaxing him with kind words, still did not erase his smile.
Johwasim, who was observing Chunghuh carefully, his eyes narrowed.
"It's not that you seem to have become a cripple, you really have become a cripple. In this way, there's no need to see more."
Then, he shook his head and turned his steps to approach the elder from Mount Hua, Gongson Do.
Watching his back, Hong Sochen trembled.
"Th-th-th... that damn temper, how does it not change even with age?"
As Hong Sochen clicked his tongue and pointed his finger, Chunghuh pulled on his collar.
"That's enough. By the way, the seats seem to be prepared, so just sit down."
***
Taking advantage of the chaotic scene, the elder from the Peng family, Peng Domyung, stuck close to Lee Cheonggang and whispered.
"This has become troublesome. What should we do?"
Although the children had planned it, it was the adults' job to make it happen.
Even if they were children from small and medium-sized sects, their numbers were large.
It was impossible to unite nearly a hundred children from small and medium-sized sects without the support of the adults.
So they had carefully grasped the situation and actively supported it.
It was because from their perspective, Moyong Gi was also a thorn in their side.
Normally, it wouldn't have been a problem, but of all people, Hong Sochen, Chunghuh, and Johwasim were present. There was a high possibility that it would become a problem. However, Lee Cheonggang bit his teeth.
"We've already come this far. We can't back out now."
"That's true, but it's not just anyone, it's the Wudang's number one sword, Daoist Master Chunghuh, and the Iron-Faced Swordsman, Johwasim. The attention of the Orthodox Justice Alliance will surely be focused on them..."
"I've already spoken with Grandmaster Johwasim. You don't have to worry about that side."
He had already communicated with Johwasim in advance. He was not the problem.
"Then Daoist Master Chunghuh..."
Lee Cheonggang shook his head. Peng Domyung's face contorted.
"It would be better to stop now..."
"Are you saying that as if it makes sense? The children have already all entered. Access is blocked, how are we going to back out now?"
The Dragon and Phoenix Inn students had all finished entering the training ground where the mid-term examination was being held.
Except for a few instructors who were deployed to prevent any unfortunate incidents, the access of others was blocked.
It was a situation where he couldn't stop even if he wanted to.
Peng Domyung let out a groan.
"This has gotten really messy."
Lee Cheonggang shook his head.
"There's no need for that. We just have to do it according to the regulations. There's no regulation that says you can't form a faction in the mid-term examination, is there?"
"That's true, but..."
"That's enough. But we absolutely don't know anything about it. Do you understand?"
Even Peng Domyung thought that was the only way. Peng Domyung nodded.
"I understand."
"Make sure you tell the others firmly. If we're the only ones who don't know, there's no problem."
"Don't worry."
(End of Chapter)