Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 78



Only Krnovel

78. Preparation (2)

I furrowed my brows, not knowing exactly what the word rotation meant.

So Je-heon looked at me as if he noticed that.

“Does the silent clan know how to fight?”

“I don’t know.”

“I see. It’s nothing. Since they can’t kill each other when there’s a conflict between the political parties, they decide by non-combat. Usually, when they can’t find a compromise, a reversal occurs.”

“Oh, I see.”

I understood. After all, conflicts are inevitable when living in the same Central Plains. It seemed like the system created by the Murim Alliance was intended to resolve such conflicts.

“But then, no matter what conflict arises, won’t the sect with the strongest military power always win?”

“That’s true. But we don’t know a better way. If you know of one, please let us know.”

In fact, even when merchants fight each other, it all comes down to who has more money. When you think about it in that light, it’s not that strange that the conflicts between martial artists often end up being fought through force.

“Then wouldn’t the nonpartisan party have the advantage?”

I looked back at Cheong-ui and said. The answer came from So Je-heon.

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a secret, but the truth is that spinning is not a fight that benefits anyone. If you suppress it by force, it’ll eventually lead to gossip.”

“That’s true. But didn’t everyone have a tacit agreement about that?”

“Because there are so many people in the world who talk nonsense after reaching an agreement.”

I had no choice but to acknowledge So Je-heon’s words. In reality, such people were scattered throughout the Sanggye like stars in the night sky.

If you win, there will be people who will say that you suppressed them with force, and if you lose, you will naturally be ridiculed. If you look into the root cause, the problem was that the conflict arose in the first place.

The fights of merchants are similar. If you simply press them with money, there will eventually be an aftershock. You have to fight after carefully considering legitimacy, justification, reputation, and public opinion. It seems that the martial artists are not much different.

“So it’s a fight with no winners.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“You should be a little more cautious. Of course, it wasn’t intentional, but the reputation of the nonpartisan faction will be tarnished.”

Sojeheon smiled brightly. I cracked my neck slightly.

This is something I can intuitively realize. This guy, the leader of the martial arts world, was scratching me for some reason. Was this why he called me?

I had heard of the name So Je-heon, but I didn’t know exactly what kind of personality he had or who he was close with. That meant he could be on the side of the Zhuge family. Thinking about that, I had to be very alert.

“But it is really strange. As far as I know, the Zhuge family leader is not the type of person to demand a turn just because of one of his disciples.”

“Wait a minute. Are you trying to say that all of this is because of Whiyoung?”

Cheong-ui cut off his words as if he was displeased. But So-je-heon smiled slyly.

“No, how could that be? Usually, these kinds of conflicts happen due to unavoidable circumstances on both sides.”

“The way you speak is strange.”

“Haha. It’s been a while since the neutral party took a turn, so I think you’ve become a little sensitive.”

Cheong-ui furrowed his brows. So Je-heon’s tone was truly cunning. He spoke in a way that made himself misunderstand, but treated others as sensitive.

It was a way of speaking that I really hated, but it was also a way of speaking that could effectively scratch people. I found out that So Je-heon was not only good with the sword.

“But it seems like there isn’t a winner?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Wouldn’t the credit go to the Murim Alliance for wisely managing the huge conflict between the two factions? It seems like the talent is being used by the shaman and the Jegal family, while the Murim Alliance is making the money.”

If it had been someone else, I might have just suffered in silence, but I was also an expert in this area.

Even I don’t have a very good feeling towards the Murim Alliance. It’s not that the Murim Alliance killed me in my past life, but it’s clear that they provided the cause.

Contrary to expectations, So Je-heon did not get angry and just shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

“I got caught.”

“That’s why the prestigious schools don’t bother to go to the rotation. They know full well that they have nothing to gain by fighting among themselves.”

Cheong-ui, who had been quiet, added. It seemed that Cheong-ui, who was one of the most personable people I had ever seen, was unable to control his facial expressions because of that. In the end, the round was just a mud fight.

“But we don’t necessarily want to do that either. From the perspective of managing the Jeongpa Murim, we want to avoid fighting as much as possible.”

“If there is peace, won’t the Murim Alliance become an unnecessary group?”

“I dream of the day when peace comes and the Murim Alliance is disbanded.”

It seemed that Cheong-ui was more embarrassed than Soje-heon by my blatant hostility. Still, Cheong-ui did not stop me.

“But since Zhuge Shiga has openly attempted to seduce, there’s nothing we can do about it. Rumors of a sedition between the Wudang faction and Zhuge Shiga have already spread widely in Nanjing.”

“Couldn’t they have spread it on purpose in the Murim Alliance? To show off their presence.”

“Oh, I don’t know what it was, but it seems I offended you, Muk So-hyeop. I apologize.”

“Okay, I’ll accept it.”

I received a simple apology. In fact, this was my goal. To get an apology from him, even if it was superficial.

“And thank you for teaching me. It helped me a lot.”

“You’re really good at dealing with people.”

I smiled. Even if you receive an apology and express gratitude, the order is important. If I had expressed my gratitude first, Sojeheon’s apology would have been meaningless. This is how you take the initiative in a conversation.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen such a sharp person among the shaman’s disciples.”

Sojeheon looked at Cheongui and smiled. Cheongui also smiled awkwardly. After all, there probably weren’t many people as fierce as me among the Taoist priests who lived leisurely and leisurely lives.

After that, the two of them sent me out, saying they had something important to talk about. In the end, I couldn’t figure out why Sojeheon had called me in. All he did was gently tease me.

It’s something that can be easily overlooked if you just think that he has a bad personality, but So Je-heon wasn’t someone who seemed so easy to take lightly. If he had a bad personality, he would have scolded me for being rude when I counterattacked.

Anyway, I left Samcheonggwan, went back to Gungdogak, and went straight to sleep. I was exhausted from not being able to sleep for several days because I was busy organizing the investment proposal.

I was so tired that I lost consciousness as soon as I laid my head on the floor.

***

“He seems like a sharp friend for a non-partisan to have.”

So Je-heon, who had been keeping his mouth shut, opened his mouth only after Muk Hwi-yeong’s presence disappeared. Cheong-ui answered calmly.

“Is that so?”

“So you accepted me as a disciple under your own name?”

“That’s not it.”

“Is it true that that guy really rejected the main disciple as rumored?”

“The embarrassing rumor has spread all the way to Nanjing.”

Sojeheon nodded. He would have been surprised if he had been, but after seeing Muk Hwiyoung, he thought that it could be possible.

“I think you’re a little greedy.”

Cheong-ui smiled brightly. So Je-heon flinched. As expected, he was the leader of the non-partisan faction. He was not an easy opponent to deal with.

“Did you get teased?”

“The leader doesn’t usually pick a fight with someone he’s interested in. Didn’t he do the same to Sima Jun-chi?”

“Ahem, you two are telling other people about what happened between you two. You have no faith. No faith.”

So Je-heon drank his tea, avoiding eye contact as if embarrassed.

“Anyway, I briefly crossed swords with you. You taught me really well. How could I not be drooling at the sight of that level of skill at that age?”

“We didn’t really teach them much.”

“Such humility again.”

“It’s not modesty, it’s the truth. He’s a friend who’s been learning martial arts for about a year now.”

Even So Je-heon, who was controlling his expression, couldn’t help but be surprised at those words.

“That’s against the grain? Even if you’re a genius, is that possible?”

“I don’t know about that. Anyway, don’t be greedy. That child is a non-partisan.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Sojeheon raised both his hands like that, but inside, his desire was burning. He was the one who had rejected the disciple of the main branch of the shamanist faction. It was because he had some intention. If he could just get that right, he could bring him to the Martial Arts Alliance.

The Murim Alliance was always short on manpower. This was because the martial artists with good talent and five virtues were usually held tightly by the Gupailbang and the Five Great Sages and would not let go.

‘I guess I’ll have to try and persuade her somehow.’

With that level of martial arts skills and speaking skills, he would definitely be able to hold a high position in the Murim Alliance. So Je-heon made up his mind and changed the subject.

“Anyway, I hope you prepare well for this rotation. Still, it’s fortunate that the nonpartisan faction is participating in this rotation. It seems like nothing unpleasant will happen.”

“That goes without saying.”

There was a hint of confidence in Cheong-ui’s words.

Indeed, if the Mudangpa and Jegalsega were to clash, one hundred out of one hundred would side with the Mudangpa. So Je-heon was the same.

What is disturbing is that the proposal for this rotation was made by Zhuge Liang.

“We are rather worried that the Zhuge Liang family may be using negative methods.”

“I completely understand. With the Murim Alliance as the director, such a thing won’t happen.”

“Please.”

The conversation between the two Myeongsuks ended there.

So Je-heon wanted to see Muk Hwi-yeong one last time, but he had to turn back after hearing that she had already passed out.

***

“Did you sleep well?”

It was the first sound I heard when I opened my eyes. When I looked in the direction of the sound, I saw Cheonghwa sitting on the chair.

“… … Haam.”

I stared blankly at the blue flower and yawned. Perhaps it was because I was so tired, but I couldn’t seem to get rid of it.

“Open your mouth wide in front of the teacher. You are doing a great job.”

“I guess it’s because I slept for a long time, my throat is a little dry.”

“Are you really asking me to bring it to you?”

“No way.”

I shook my head from side to side like a puppy that got wet from the rain. There was no better way to come to my senses.

“But why are you even watching me sleep?”

I asked while changing clothes.

“I’m afraid I might wander outside the party again.”

“When have I ever left without telling you, Master?”

“I think it’s about time now.”

“I feel sorry for my disciple.”

“Oh, really. Only at times like this do you call yourself a disciple.”

Cheonghwa glared at me as if she was dumbfounded. When I finished changing my clothes, the door suddenly opened wide.

“Priest!”

“It’s a surprise.”

At the door were my three disciples, Myeong-gyeong, Myeong-seong, and Myeong-jin.

“I’ve been sleeping for two days now, two days!”

“I stayed up almost four nights, so I can sleep well for two nights.”

“Is that a problem? There’s an urgent need right now!”

“What is it?”

“The rotation date has been set.”

Ah. Rotation. That’s what you said. But if it’s rotation, it’s a fight between the reputations of the Mudangpa and Jegal Se-ga, so wouldn’t the masters representing them come out? For example, someone like our teacher.

“You said you were going out too!”

While I was thinking complacent thoughts, Myeong-gyeong said something shocking.

“……yes?”

I looked back at Cheonghwa. She was smiling brightly.

The sad thing is, I had a feeling this would happen.