Chapter 200 : It Has to Be Done Properly. -02
Chapter 200: It Has to Be Done Properly. -02
Shangguan Bo felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
The single remark casually thrown at him felt as though it had pierced straight through his heart.
However, the shock lasted only a moment. He quickly composed his expression.
So long as there was no clear evidence or witness, there was nothing that could truly bind him.
‘All I can do is probe like this. This is the best option.’
He had already suffered once at the hands of Damhyeon, so he had built up a certain resistance.
Thanks to that, he swiftly recovered his composure and put on an expression as if nothing were wrong.
“As expected, it was you! When I heard that the Monster King had been imprisoned in Shaolin’s dungeon, I somehow had a feeling it would be you. When everyone else said it couldn’t be, I alone believed so!”
“Because you were the one who sent the Monster King to me.”
“Khmm! I told you, I did not send him. I am innocent and wronged! Of course, I understand why you would suspect me. I know you had an unpleasant clash with my son. But listen. The Hao Sect cannot be trusted. They are rotten to the core. It wouldn’t be the first or second time they stabbed the Orthodox Murim in the back! It’s possible my son was caught in one of their schemes.”
Ban Hojin looked at him as though he were absurd.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but think it was impressive in a way.
To come up with such an excuse in such a short time.
“Do you truly think that makes sense? Ah, if one only listened to the Young Lord, perhaps they might think so. But the important matter right now isn’t the Hao Sect, is it? It seems you’ve forgotten the purpose of your visit. Or must I continue listening to the Family Head’s excuses and justifications? If so, please leave. I have no intention of listening.”
“W-wait!”
Shangguan Bo hurriedly cut him off.
Instinct told him that if he walked out now without resolving this matter, things would only worsen.
“I do not wish to hear anything else. Make your decision.”
“Now, now, don’t be so prickly. Let’s discuss this in a way beneficial to both of us. There’s nothing to gain by baring our blades at each other like this. I don’t think it’s right to press someone so harshly over a single mistake. As I said before, I admit it was our mistake. In the end, we were in the wrong, so I sincerely apologize. I am truly sorry.”
Forcing an awkward smile, Shangguan Bo spoke rapidly.
Then he shot a glance at Shangguan Jeok.
It was a signal to apologize at once.
But despite his father’s urging, Shangguan Jeok only bit his lip and could not bring himself to speak.
“So you intend to acknowledge only part of it.”
“What I mean is that what must be clarified should be clarified properly. I cannot admit to something I did not do.”
Suspicion might exist, but without proof, Shangguan Bo continued to deny it as he always had.
In truth, there was little else he could do at present.
“If we are to clarify matters, then let us do so properly. There is one more person besides me whom you must apologize to.”
“Are you referring to the Abbot?”
“No. The Rumor Lord of the Hao Sect.”
“……!”
Shangguan Jeok’s eyes widened like oil lamps.
The unexpected mention of someone he had never anticipated left him stunned.
And the same was true for Shangguan Bo.
He had not imagined that the name of Nan Hui-ju would be brought up here and now.
“The one who can be called the starting point of all this is the Rumor Lord of the Hao Sect, is she not? I merely happened to become involved. So if we are to conclude this matter, should not the three of us gather again as we did then? Even if it is only a partial apology.”
“…….”
Shangguan Bo, who had spoken so smoothly until now, found himself unable to respond.
Instead, he merely licked his lips, his gaze complicated.
As his thoughts grew tangled, his lips seemed to dry.
Unlike him, Ban Hojin remained composed.
“That is all I have to say for now. So when the Rumor Lord of the Hao Sect arrives, return then.”
“Must it truly go that far? The starting point may indeed have been that child, but what matters is the misunderstanding between you and us, is it not? If that is resolved, wouldn’t it suffice?”
As always, Shangguan Bo tried to steer the conversation in a direction favorable to himself.
In truth, the only reason he had come this far was because of Shaolin as a backdrop and Ban Hojin’s strength.
Otherwise, he would never have set foot on Songshan.
But at the suggestion that he bow his head to Nan Hui-ju as well, his face trembled faintly.
“I have no intention of receiving an apology alone. Nor do I wish to accept a partial apology. If you dislike that, then simply leave. And perhaps the next time we meet, it will not end with mere conversation.”
Ban Hojin spoke firmly, leaving no room for compromise.
At that, Shangguan Bo squeezed his eyes shut.
Despite all his efforts, the outcome had not changed.
He had thought that, separate from strength, the young man’s age would make him pliable.
That had been a misjudgment born of arrogance.
Ban Hojin was far from easy to handle.
Rather, he skillfully leveraged both his ability and his backing.
It was hard to believe he was only twenty-one.
“……Must it truly be this way?”
“If you dislike it, then leave.”
Meeting Shangguan Jeok’s clenched-teeth question, Ban Hojin raised a hand and pointed toward the exit.
As if to say they were free to walk out at any time.
Yet even seeing that, Shangguan Jeok merely flushed red and remained seated.
He knew well what consequences today’s decision would bring.
“For now, we understand.”
As heavy silence filled the room, Shangguan Bo finally spoke.
With that ambiguous answer, he rose.
Shangguan Jeok followed suit.
“I will not see you out.”
Ban Hojin’s words received no reply.
Maintaining silence, Shangguan Bo left the room.
The moment he stepped outside, his face twisted violently.
His pride had been thoroughly trampled.
“……Father.”
“We are returning for now.”
“Yes.”
Shangguan Jeok’s face was no less distorted.
Humiliation did not even begin to describe it.
What angered him more was that, even after being treated so, he could not raise his voice once.
That infuriated him.
‘For now, I endure it. But this debt will be repaid without fail!’
Following his father outside, Shangguan Jeok looked up at the pavilion with a face twisted like a demon’s.
As if he might devour Ban Hojin at any moment.
But he did not know.
From beginning to end, Ban Hojin had been watching it all.
Knock knock knock.
“Enter.”
“Yes.”
Though it was late, Ban Hojin visited the Abbot’s Quarters.
He believed Damhyeon would be waiting.
However, there was another guest who had arrived before him.
“Since this concerns my junior brother, should I not be informed as well?”
“Indeed. It is a matter entangled with Shaolin.”
Ban Hojin nodded as he faced Beopmu, who spoke with a faint smile.
If it were anyone else, perhaps not—but Beopmu had the right to know.
They were disciples of the same master, and Beopmu was the future Abbot.
“Have a drink. You likely couldn’t enjoy it properly because of those two.”
“I drank well enough. They were the ones who didn’t.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Knowing Ban Hojin’s temperament, Damhyeon had guessed as much.
Still, he had not expected him to truly act that way toward both of them.
“I heard from Master that the apology wasn’t even half-hearted. They firmly denied sending Danwi.”
“They said the same to me. Boldly called it a misunderstanding.”
“Hah!”
Beopmu wore an incredulous expression.
Even hearing it again left him astonished.
It was shameless beyond belief.
“They have nothing else they can do. He likely knows himself that he is spouting nonsense. And that there is no evidence. He relies on that.”
“Even so, for the head of one of the Ten Great Families, the Shangguan Family, to behave so craftily is disgraceful. If my junior brother’s sect had not been the Main Temple, and if his strength were merely on the level of one of the Four Dragons, he might have been gravely injured.”
Beopmu’s voice rose.
Fortunately, Ban Hojin’s strength exceeded what was known. Otherwise, he might still be undergoing recovery.
“That is likely true. That is why I did not remain silent either. It was clearly wrongful conduct.”
Though less outwardly heated than Beopmu, Damhyeon too had been deeply angered.
He knew well that it was only because Ban Hojin was strong that nothing worse had occurred.
And to that, resentment was added.
Even after wrongdoing, instead of admitting and apologizing properly, they had tried to exploit the lack of evidence.
Though he did not show it, Damhyeon was inwardly displeased.
“In my view, they still have not come to their senses. If they were in their right minds, they would never have approached it this way. They must know even now that we are exercising restraint.”
Beopmu did not conceal his anger.
That was how serious this matter was.
If things had gone slightly differently, Ban Hojin—who would one day firmly uphold Shaolin—might have been gravely harmed.
“Let us first hear Hojin’s account. Anger can come afterward.”
“Yes.”
“Very well. What did they say to you?”
As Beopmu gulped down tea as though it were cold water, Damhyeon asked.
Ban Hojin took a slow breath and gave a concise explanation.
“He tried to lead me into resolving it as a misunderstanding. So I did not accept the apology. I had no desire to accept a half-hearted one, and one person who ought to apologize was absent. So I told them to return when that person arrives.”
“The Rumor Lord of the Hao Sect, indeed. It was a matter that arose because of her.”
“That is why I have something to say to you, Master. I may have escalated matters on my own.”
“You are concerned Shaolin may suffer because of it?”
“Yes.”
Ban Hojin believed the condition he presented to Shangguan Bo was justified.
The problem was that Shangguan Bo was the head of the Shangguan Family.
He had already tried to manipulate matters today using that status.
Thus, Ban Hojin could not help but be concerned.
“There is no need to worry on that account. Have you done anything wrong?”
“No. I merely helped a friend who was in difficulty.”
“Exactly. Nor did you commit any wrongdoing as a disciple of Shaolin. That means the justification lies with you. And to be honest, even if it did not, I find their conduct displeasing.”
“I feel the same, Master.”
Beopmu, who had been listening quietly, added his view.
Even by cold and objective assessment, the Shangguan Family was at fault.
And given their conduct today, resentment had only deepened.
“If one commits wrongdoing, it must be corrected, and responsibility must be borne. I believe that is right.”
“You speak justly.”