Chapter 32
There was always a noisy meeting at the place where the mid-term examination was evaluated.
Most of the time, more than the quota for the Ascending Dragon Class had decorated the end with their own two feet, and a fierce war of words had gone back and forth to select the Ascending Dragon Class students from among them.
This was because there were many things entangled, whether it was by skill or by the interests of their own sects.
However, today, no one could easily open their mouths.
In the heavy atmosphere, only Hong Sochen had a smiling face.
"What's there to worry about. Let's just do it according to the regulations. It would be fine to just leave the kids who were standing at the end cleanly according to the regulations and send the rest to the Martial Tiger Class, right? Isn't that so, Elder Lee?"
"Ahem. Ahem."
Lee Cheonggang, who had received Hong Sochen's gaze, coughed.
No matter how much it was him, it was difficult to get out of it this time.
It was because he had already said something.
But he couldn't just send Joo Jinsung to the Martial Tiger Class either.
Lee Cheonggang stealthily turned his head and ignored the situation.
It was because he knew that there were many who would step up even if it wasn't him.
As Lee Cheonggang had expected, Ha Ilpyeong, the elder from Kongtong, stepped up for him and replied.
"But Sect Leader Hong, the quota for the Ascending Dragon Class is twenty. How can you operate the Ascending Dragon Class with only eight, which is less than half?"
Hong Sochen snorted.
"Hmph. What's there not to do? Anyway, because of that... anyway, because that kid from Diancang ran away, didn't the quota not match in the first place? Is there a reason to have to match the quota?"
"It's not that we have to match twenty, but there's a certain degree, isn't there? Have you forgotten that the purpose of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn is to improve skills through healthy competition? What kind of competition can you have with just eight?"
Ha Ilpyeong had constructed his logic well. Peng Domyung's face lit up as he chimed in.
"Of course. The purpose is more important than the regulations. If the regulations go against the purpose, then the regulations are wrong."
Then, people who were looking with expectant faces here and there stealthily raised their heads.
Hong Sochen chuckled.
"Competition? Yes, competition is great. But you know. Myung Jin and our Moogyeol alone beat everyone, do you think competition has any meaning?"
At those words, the faces of Ha Ilpyeong and Peng Domyung, who had been at the forefront, turned red, and in the end, they shut their mouths.
Hong Sochen clicked his tongue with a pathetic expression.
However, Jeonghuh, who was next to Hong Sochen, added a low word.
"It's five."
"The habit of just putting a spoon on the table is still the same even after getting old."
"I was just telling the truth."
At Jeonghuh's dignified face, Hong Sochen's face contorted.
"Good grief. I get it, I get it. Five. Is that enough now?"
Having received a satisfactory answer, Jeonghuh shut his mouth again.
Hong Sochen, after glaring at Jeonghuh with a dissatisfied face, fixed his expression and opened his mouth.
"Anyway, competition requires an opponent, but what's the meaning of this when a hundred attacked and were defeated by five?"
And then he looked at Jeoksong, the head of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn.
"You tell me. Am I wrong?"
Jeoksong, who had received Hong Sochen's gaze, had a troubled expression.
Anyway, since Woonhyun had survived, it didn't matter how the conclusion turned out.
But it was difficult to make a decision that ignored the relationship with other sects.
Namgung Jinsaeng's face, who was watching that quietly, became heavy.
'It's going to be difficult.'
In a situation where the head of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn found it difficult to state his position, the Beggars' Sect leader, Hong Sochen, had taken the initiative.
Moreover, he was the first to notice that today's events could by no means be quietly covered up.
Then he had to drag at least one more.
If it was the guy he hated the most, it would be even better.
"Sect Leader Hong is right. We just have to do it according to the regulations."
At Namgung Jinsaeng's unexpected remark, Peng Domyung's eyes widened.
"You! What are you talking about now!"
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"Th-th-..."
Peng Domyung could not find a reply.
Namgung Jinsaeng lost interest in Peng Domyung and looked at Hong Sochen again.
"But you know. The mid-term examination is a place where showing your skills is more important than standing on your own two feet until the end. What do you think about this part?"
At Namgung Jinsaeng's words, Lee Cheonggang, who had been silent, used his head.
If the ship was going to sink anyway, it was best to die together.
Lee Cheonggang's face lit up.
"Elder Namgung is right. No matter what the regulations say, we can't just leave a child who has shown nothing in the Ascending Dragon Class."
And it wasn't just Lee Cheonggang.
Those who were quick-witted agreed here and there.
"I also think that's right."
"I also think so. I think it's better than muddying the waters by putting a child who is not qualified in the Ascending Dragon Class."
"I also..."
Hong Sochen could see what they were thinking.
But this time, the opponent was bad.
"Then do that."
Hong Sochen readily nodded.
It was not a troubled face at all.
Rather, the elders who had been chattering excitedly looked at him and shut their mouths.
Namgung Jinsaeng's eyes narrowed. Lee Cheonggang, glancing at him, stealthily opened his mouth.
"Is that really okay?"
"Why? You don't like it? Then just quit."
Lee Cheonggang quickly waved his hand.
And then, he burst into a hearty laugh and said.
"Haha... no. Of course, that's what we should do. Wouldn't that be in line with the purpose of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn?"
"Of course. As expected, Sect Leader Hong is wise."
"That's why he's the Beggars' Sect leader of the world. The Beggars' Sect is not a place to entrust the position of Sect Leader to someone who does not follow the right path."
"Then we'll take out the child of the Moyong family..."
As if they had agreed for once, it was harmonious.
They were going back and forth among themselves and were about to drive the nail in.
Hong Sochen chuckled and added.
"What's so great about that that you're bringing up the position of Sect Leader? It's a given... let's see. Then there will be five Ascending Dragon Class students left?"
At that moment, the sound of voices disappeared in an instant. The elders who had been exchanging pleasantries turned their heads and looked at Hong Sochen.
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
Hong Sochen asked with a face that said what was wrong.
Lee Cheonggang, who was just blinking his eyes, coughed and replied.
"Ahem. Ahem. Didn't Sect Leader Hong make a mistake? It's not five, but seven..."
"What are you talking about? You said we shouldn't put a guy who has shown nothing in the Ascending Dragon Class, right? Then it's five, why seven?"
"No... that's..."
Lee Cheonggang was flustered.
Tang Hwagi, who was quick-witted, was restless.
Hong Sochen met Tang Hwagi's eyes.
"Don't you think so too? That little kid from the Tang family has to have shown something. Isn't it all that he was subdued after throwing a few stones from behind? Surely you don't think that little kid is suitable for the Ascending Dragon Class, right?"
"Th-that's..."
Tang Hwagi could not retort.
If you just looked at the results, Hong Sochen's words were right.
Hong Sochen, with a pitiful face, spoke again.
"And Unseol. You guys know that I cherish Unseol, right? But what can I do? The purpose is like that. I'll tell Johwasim that."
That was the fatal blow.
As Johwasim's name came up, the already sunken atmosphere froze completely.
There were a few sects that were not afraid of Mount Hua, but there were few elders who were not afraid of Johwasim.
In terms of martial arts level alone, it was difficult to determine the order between Hong Sochen and Johwasim.
Both were strong enough to make a name for themselves in the martial world.
However, unlike Hong Sochen, Johwasim had a nasty temper and did not care about the opinions of others.
When he got angry, he would draw his sword first without caring about the time or place.
Moreover, he was famous for always repaying a grudge.
There was even a saying that it was better to bite your tongue and die than to be on bad terms with the Iron-Faced Swordsman. He was that difficult an opponent.
'Foolish things.'
Hong Sochen was not satisfied with that.
He looked back and forth between the troubled Namgung Jinsaeng and Lee Cheonggang.
"And I'll be sure to tell you what I think. Ah, I won't forget to tell you that Elder Lee actively supported it."
Namgung Jinsaeng's face hardened. The color drained from Lee Cheonggang's face.
If this matter reached Johwasim's ears, he might come running with his sword drawn right away.
No. He surely would.
If he wanted to be safe, it was best to return to his own sect right away.
Hong Sochen showed a faint laugh and then finally looked at Jeoksong.
"No matter what, you're the head of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn, aren't you? You decide. Everyone will follow."
Jeoksong, who was pointed at, let out a groan.
The conclusion was already set.
The only problem was that the human heart is treacherous.
Even if you were convinced that it was the best conclusion for now, your mind might change after some time.
It was a difficult problem.
'It's going to be noisy for a while.'
However, he also knew well that it was not a problem that could be postponed indefinitely.
Jeoksong let out a low sigh. And then, taking a deep breath, he hardened his heart.
"Regulations are originally made to carry out the purpose. Although Elder Namgung and Elder Lee's words have a point, if the regulations do not serve the purpose, it is not that we should ignore the regulations, but that it is reasonable to make new regulations. Therefore, I will handle this mid-term examination according to the regulations."
As Jeoksong's words ended, sighs erupted from all sides.
For some, it was a sign of disappointment, and for some, it was a sign of relief.
However, no one presented an opposing opinion.
Hong Sochen's dragging in of Johwasim had worked properly.
"They say even dog poop has its uses..."
Hong Sochen muttered and stood up from his seat. And then he looked around the scene.
"Since the head of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn says so, there's nothing more to say... then I'll take it as such and go."
Hong Sochen, who was striding away, suddenly stopped at the door.
And then, turning his head, he looked back and forth between Lee Cheonggang and Namgung Jinsaeng and then opened his mouth with a grin.
"Still, I'll have to tell that Johwasim guy what happened, right? I'll tell him, so don't worry."
With those words, he left the room without looking back.
Lee Cheonggang and Namgung Jinsaeng had to harden their faces once again.
***
Seomun Gyeong, the elder from Zhongnan, sighed as soon as he entered his residence.
"This is quite troublesome."
Although they say one loach muddies the pond, a pond is a pond.
If it was the Orthodox Justice Alliance, it would be about the size of a lake. It should be normal for it not to be noticeable.
But that guy named Moyong Gi had done the difficult thing.
'Was he not a loach in the first place? Or was the pond called the Orthodox Justice Alliance smaller than I thought?'
Seomun Gyeong, who was pondering for a moment, soon shook his head. It was a useless thought.
"I let him be because his actions were cute..."
Although he had been with Lee Cheonggang and Ha Ilpyeong, he was inwardly pleased with Moyong Gi.
Because of Moyong Gi's existence, the Beggars' Sect had moved, and the sign that the power of the Orthodox Justice Alliance was being reorganized, albeit weakly, was in line with what he wanted to do.
So he had no ill feelings towards Moyong Gi.
But he had caused too much trouble in the mid-term examination.
"At this rate, the main sect will hold me responsible."
There was no problem with the Orthodox Justice Alliance being split into three.
It was not just anyone, but Wudang and the Beggars' Sect.
They were places that Seomun Gyeong's hands could not reach.
Not just Seomun Gyeong, but even if Zhongnan stepped up, their hands could not reach.
So they could not hold Seomun Gyeong responsible.
"But that girl is different."
Seomun Gyeong's hands could reach Jongri Hye.
Putting aside the fact that she could not participate in the Pure Martial Grand Tournament, being demoted to the Martial Tiger Class was something that Zhongnan could not tolerate.
They would surely hold him responsible for not managing Jongri Hye properly.
"It'll be a headache if I'm summoned..."
That couldn't happen. He had work to do in the Orthodox Justice Alliance.
Although he could come back, he didn't know how many years it would take.
A gap of several years at an important time was fatal.
"I'll have to cut that guy off."
There was no way to undo Jongri Hye's demotion to the Martial Tiger Class.
Then he had to at least show that he was doing his best to resolve it.
The best way was to cut off the source of the problem.
"It's a pity, but it can't be helped."
There were countless ways to cut off Moyong Gi.
That was not a concern.
"What should I do?"
Seomun Gyeong tapped the table with his finger for a moment and pondered. And then he chose one plan.
Soon, he prepared a brush and ink, and he wrote down at once without hesitation. Then, he nodded with a satisfied face.
"Is anyone there?"
As Seomun Gyeong raised his voice, a black figure dropped down from the ceiling.
"Go and deliver this."
The black figure bowed his head without a word.
(End of Chapter)