Chapter 186 : The Price of Turning Away from the Truth. -03
Chapter 186: The Price of Turning Away from the Truth. -03
An all-too-familiar shadowy figure appeared before Ban Hojin, who had been driving Bang Manchun back to the point of near humiliation.
It was none other than Damhyeon.
He had sensed the clash between Ban Hojin and Bang Manchun from the Abbot’s Quarters and come at once.
“Ughhh…….”
“It doesn’t look like the Sect Leader intends to finish this just yet.”
“You really are something.”
Damhyeon let out a faint chuckle at the sight of Bang Manchun still gripping his sword with trembling hands.
As a person, he did not particularly like him—but as a swordsman, Bang Manchun was someone worthy of respect.
This incident, too, had been born of excessive jealousy.
That said, he had no intention of overlooking it.
“Since Master wishes it, I will stop here.”
“Leave the rest to me.”
“Yes.”
Knowing why Damhyeon had intervened, Ban Hojin obediently sheathed his sword.
This was more than enough to demonstrate the gap in their abilities.
From now on, Bang Manchun would likely never dare to argue about martial arts in front of him again.
And if he failed to understand—
Then he would simply be taught once more.
“Ah, not yet…….”
“Sect Leader, let us have a word in private.”
Though the outcome had already been decided, Bang Manchun still refused to accept it. Damhyeon lightly subdued him and slung him over his shoulder.
This was not a place for conversation. They needed to move elsewhere.
Yet before departing, Damhyeon paused and gazed into the distance for a brief moment.
“Alright, let’s begin again.”
Knowing exactly where Damhyeon had been looking, Ban Hojin turned his head and smirked.
But at his words, everyone’s eyes widened.
“Now? Shouldn’t you rest a little?”
Seo Joun asked on behalf of the others, but Ban Hojin only grinned.
He understood why they were asking—but he was truly fine.
He had expended a considerable amount of internal power, yet Endless Sparring Training did not use Inner Energy in the first place.
His stamina was still more than sufficient.
“You just finished a sparring match.”
“It’s fine. Let’s start right away.”
As they spoke, Damhyeon disappeared with Bang Manchun in tow.
Just as he had appeared, he vanished like the wind.
The Rising Juniors only realized it a moment later and wore expressions that said, as expected.
“Gather up!”
Unlike the hesitant Rising Juniors who were still reading the room, the Head of the Escort Unit under Geum Hoyeon immediately assembled his escort warriors.
Without a single word of complaint, they responded instantly to Ban Hojin’s command.
Seeing this, the Rising Juniors began to gather one by one around Ban Hojin.
“Ugh, I’m dead.”
“You did look exhausted.”
Murong Heesu, who had come to visit Murong Cheok’s quarters, looked at him with faint sympathy.
Even to her eyes, today’s Endless Sparring Training had looked brutally exhausting.
If it had been her, she would not even have considered starting.
“It’s tough, sure—but once you get into it, it feels refreshing. Your stray thoughts disappear. You focus solely on the sparring.”
“It did look that way. I thought you’d all been collectively possessed.”
“You could say we fall into a temporary State of No-Self. What’s strange is that you start to see how you should move, even what technique your opponent will use next. Up to a similar level, at least. But with Brother, I can’t see anything at all. I just have to move on instinct. There’s no time to think. The moment you think, his sword body is already striking your side.”
“It was terrifying.”
Murong Heesu nodded.
Even after facing the Sect Leader of the Gongdong Sect, Ban Hojin had not shown the slightest fatigue.
In fact, he had toyed with Bang Manchun.
At least, that was how it had appeared to her.
“He’s truly incredible. If anything, the Sect Leader of the Gongdong Sect couldn’t even draw out his full ability. But what on earth was he thinking? Did he really believe it was pure luck that Brother killed the Iron Blood Demon Emperor? Even so, he came here far too recklessly.”
“He must have been confident he could win. People who are that stubborn always believe they’re right. They never consider the possibility of failure.”
“He won’t be able to show his face publicly for a while. There’s no humiliation greater than that.”
“He’ll probably leave immediately. Judging by the Abbot’s expression, this won’t be smoothed over kindly.”
Murong Heesu recalled Damhyeon suddenly appearing and carrying Bang Manchun away.
His face had been far more rigid than usual. From his expression alone, she could imagine how that conversation would unfold.
“I’d be furious too. He didn’t come just to visit—he came with the intention of bullying my disciple. Sure, he lacked the ability, but the important thing was his intent. His intentions weren’t pure at all. He could have requested a proper three-way meeting, yet he barged in on his own.”
“Exactly.”
“And the one who got beaten down was Sect Leader Bang.”
“Self-inflicted.”
Murong Heesu shrugged.
She had felt a flicker of pity near the end, but it had been fleeting.
As Murong Cheok said, he had come with impure intentions—so he deserved what he got.
“But what brings you here? Waiting for me this late?”
“Oh? How did you know I had a purpose?”
“…Do you take me for a fool?”
Murong Cheok frowned deeply.
Being so openly dismissed irritated him.
“You’re too different from usual. That’s a compliment, by the way.”
“Go. I have nothing to say.”
He waved his hand at her as if shooing away an insect, but Murong Heesu did not rise.
Instead, she spoke with a slightly prim expression.
“You might have nothing to say, but I do. Didn’t you say you’d help me?”
“Don’t cut out the context. If you’re going to talk, say it properly.”
Sensing something serious in her tone, Murong Cheok softened his voice slightly, studying her expression carefully.
“Young Master Ban.”
“Ah.”
“Don’t ‘ah’ me. You said you’d help.”
“I did. And I am trying my best. Even at meals, I naturally bring you along and introduce you as my sister.”
“The result is what matters.”
Murong Heesu tapped the table sharply with her palm.
She knew he had been helping behind the scenes.
But what she wanted was decisive action.
“You think I don’t want to help? Father’s pressuring me too.”
“You know why.”
“I do. I see it firsthand beside Brother.”
“Are you just going to let the lionesses snatch Young Master Ban away?”
“I don’t like that either. But there’s a limit to what I can do. In the end, it’s Brother’s decision.”
Murong Cheok was just as frustrated.
Though he and Ban Hojin addressed each other as brothers, blood ties were different.
If Murong Heesu married Ban Hojin, he would become his brother-in-law. That would be nothing but good for him.
The problem was that wishing it did not make it so.
“At this rate, the Namgung Family, the Sichuan Tang Family, or the Hebei Peng Family might snatch him up.”
“That won’t be easy. You know Brother’s personality.”
“I do. But foxes aren’t called foxes for nothing. Especially those four—they’re beyond foxes. They’re lionesses.”
“That description fits.”
“Ugh! I’m the only one frustrated here!”
She thumped her chest.
Yet the tightness within her heart did not ease.
“Calm down. If rushing could solve this, it would’ve happened already. Let’s think rationally.”
“Rationally?”
“Yes. You know the decision lies with Brother. So we must use our heads. From what I’ve seen, he’s clearly interested in women. He has no intention of living alone. Yet he keeps his distance for a reason. I don’t know the details, but that’s my assessment. Seo Joun thinks the same. And here’s what matters: he doesn’t place great importance on appearance. You’re proof.”
“I am quite beautiful.”
“You are. But you’re not without equals. Poison Phoenix and Plum Phoenix are here, for one. Thankfully, Plum Phoenix seems to fancy someone else. So is that the end? No. The world is wide, and there are many beauties. There’s even one who rivals you and Poison Phoenix—and she’s skilled in honey traps.”
“The Rumor Lord of the Hao Sect?”
“Hm? You know?”
“Anyone who’s looked into Young Master Ban does. No one’s seen her in person, though. Is she really that beautiful?”
Murong Heesu asked casually, though her eyes gleamed sharply.
“Incredibly. You’re beautiful too, but it’s a different kind. Different from Young Lady Tang as well. More… seductive, perhaps. She seems to understand men far better. Like she could seize a man’s heart in an instant.”
“She probably knows bedchamber arts too.”
“Watch your mouth.”
Murong Cheok stiffened.
They were in Shaolin Temple, after all.
“Women say worse among ourselves.”
“Not here. Words affect reputation.”
“Fine. Continue.”
“You can’t rely on beauty alone. There are others just as beautiful. You need a different weapon. Something that sets you apart.”
“My own differentiated weapon…”
She stroked her chin thoughtfully.
She had been thinking the same.
“If you just wait with your mouth open for a peach to fall, will it? You have to shake the tree or use a pole. And you’re not alone under that tree.”
“True. So what should I do?”
“…I haven’t thought that far.”
“Busy with training, were you?”
“Exactly.”
“Still, think about it. I can’t do this alone. Don’t you want Young Master Ban as your brother-in-law?”
“Of course. I don’t like you much, but better him than some fool. Brother takes care of his people. Imagine how he’d treat his wife.”
“I think so too.”
She nodded.
It was not just his martial prowess that drew her.
His character mattered just as much.
“I’ll subtly ask about his preferences. You figure out something to surpass Young Lady Tang, Young Lady Peng, and Young Lady Namgung.”
“Alright.”
Murong Heesu’s expression hardened with resolve.
She would not retreat.
After all, wasn’t there a saying?
Love was something to be won.
‘Martial arts won’t work, at least.’