Episode 154
“They say the Sichuan branch cannot be trusted.”
I glared at Lee Deok-cheon with cold eyes and muttered lowly.
It is said that awareness has improved to some extent, but most people still have a negative view of the Sacheon branch.
I had no intention of denying that fact.
However, I could not ignore the fact that the branch leader made comments that were openly disparaging to the Sacheon branch in front of me.
Regardless of whether it is true or not, it is extremely rude behavior.
“I’m afraid you might misunderstand, so I don’t have any ill feelings toward you. Rather, I like it. “What you have done so far deserves praise.”
“.......”
“But we have to look at individuals and groups separately. I do not trust the group called Sacheon branch to any extent. Even if you suddenly ask me to trust you when I have shown myself for a long time...”
Lee Deok-cheon, perhaps feeling uneasy about this reaction, looked at me and made an excuse.
I continued to have a snowball fight with him without losing my expression.
“It is said that reforms have been carried out recently, but Gasol and I do not know the details. “Am I wrong?”
“Let’s get one thing out of the way first.”
“......?”
“Don’t belittle me.”
“what?”
“I told you not to treat me poorly. I think you’re misunderstanding something, but I didn’t come to Isisegae for personal business. “I visited after going through the formalities to carry out official duties.”
Lee Deok-cheon and I were spherical.
Although we are not particularly close friends, we got to know each other through the process of roasting and boiling Baek Sang-hu, the owner of the Hwangryongmugwan, in order to enter the Hwangryongmugwan.
At that time, Baek Sang-hoo was attending a social gathering hosted by Lee Sega.
“Now to me...”
“Matriarch. Distinguish between public and private affairs. “It would be troubling if you equate me with the applicant you saw five years ago and treat me like a subordinate.”
Although I said it as if I was displeased, it actually didn’t matter to me whether Lee Deok-cheon treated me with contempt or respect.
I wasn’t particularly hoping for mutual respect or treating everyone with respect.
Until now, I have never felt uncomfortable because Sohyeongeom or Cheon Ga-ryeong used informal language toward me.
The problematic part was that Lee Deok-cheon perceived himself as a ‘superior’.
First of all, there was a need to correct that perception.
At the same time, he takes the lead in the conversation by showing his discomfort.
“...I was too rash. “I apologize.”
“I know that the head of the family distrusts the Sacheon branch. But do you have any alternatives? In the end, someone will have to be given the role of notary public.”
“What the branch manager said is correct. However, there is no law that says Meng must act as mediator. “My family plans to ask Amifa for help.”
“I understand that the head of the family is Amipah’s lay disciple. Issues of fairness will arise.”
Although the Amipa was a sect of female monks, there were quite a few men among the lay disciples.
From the beginning, most sects did not distinguish between men and women when accepting lay disciples.
Shaolin Temple, volcanic waves, Bota Rock, and even Cheonghyeol Daomun.
“Are you saying that Amipah will handle matters unfairly to accommodate the lay disciples?”
There is no way that the Ami faction, which is a pillar of the martial arts faction and one of the old Daemun factions, would handle matters unfairly.
It was truly miraculous logic.
The problem was that this absurd claim could not be refuted.
If you use your mouth carelessly, you may end up being criticized for insulting Amifa.
‘He probably said the same thing to the Hong clan head.’
This was the reason why the Hong family was unable to actively oppose the Lee family’s claims and continued to waste time.
This is why people had to have their backs.
“The second issue is whether or not Amifa handles things fairly. In this case, you probably don’t know that the fact that the matriarch and Amipah are related is itself a problem.”
“I don’t see what the problem is. Amipa is a sect of monks who are not interested in worldly affairs. “Is there any force more suited to the role of mediator than this one?”
The stories ran parallel paths.
As I watched Lee Deok-cheon praising Amifa while subtly criticizing the Sacheon branch, I felt a creeping sense of irritation.
With a sly expression and a sly tone.
“no. The martial arts of the Lee family have their roots connected to the Amipa, so we cannot just ignore the dispute between the two families and ignore it as someone else’s problem.”
A faint smile appeared on Baekwoongeom’s lips.
The meeting to be held here today was jointly hosted by the Sacheon branch and Amipa.
“.......”
Lee Deok-cheon looked at me and Baekwoon Sword in turn with a puzzled expression.
He seemed like he couldn’t understand how the situation had come to this.
As I looked at his completely embarrassed face, I felt like all the 10-year-old pain was gone.
Damun, who appeared holding a beautiful red scroll with an antique pattern on it, stood on the podium and spoke.
“You, please put your seal on this document.”
A seal was placed on the newly prepared documents one by one.
The document, which had increased from three to four pages, was handed out to each faction’s representative.
“Now that both families have agreed, let’s get started.”
Finally, the dance began.
The Hong clan and Lee clan sent out elite members of selected families according to pre-determined rules.
I sat on a chair on the platform with Baekwoongeom and watched the dance.
‘It’s a rather boring match.’
The head of the family, elders, other executives of the family, and hired foreigners were not allowed to participate in the competition.
It was a minimum measure to ensure that no one harbored resentment or dissatisfaction with the results of the meeting.
Wouldn’t it be a big deal if Hong Kyun-seok or Lee Deok-cheon were to get injured while participating in a match?
To conclude, it was the Hong family that ultimately won.
So Ga-ju, who was participating in the fifth match, took a deep breath and held the sword to the opponent’s neck.
“Are you willing to admit defeat?”
“...I will admit it.”
The soldiers on the Hong family’s side roared and embraced each other.
The soldiers on Lee’s side lowered their heads with gloomy expressions.
‘The result is exactly as expected.’
I laughed inwardly.
The sight of Lee Deok-cheon, yelling at Gasol with a red face, came into view.
There was one thing I learned while watching the match.
While Hong’s fighters appeared to have thoroughly trained to win the match, Lee’s fighters appeared relatively unprepared.
Presumably, Lee Deok-cheon had no intention of separating the dispute with a dance from the beginning.
The reason I accepted Hong Kyun-seok’s offer was simply to put out an urgent fire.
If you think about it, from Lee’s Sega’s perspective, it was a match where even if they won, they would lose even if they lost.
‘Because the guy who farted was angry.’
Perhaps the plan was to use Amifa’s name to moderately pressure the Hong family and then move on?
“house owner. “I have something to say.”
Baekwoongeom quietly got up from his seat and approached Deokcheon Lee and spoke to him.
I was curious about what he was talking about, so I overheard him and found out that he was saying, ‘Amipa, which requested support from Leessegae, is also responsible to some extent, so I will pay a portion of the compensation.’
Lee Deok-cheon’s face, which had been heavily shadowed, brightened slightly.
“.......”
Before leaving the training hall, Lee Deok-cheon glared at me with harsh eyes.
I waved him off with a smile.
* * *
After finishing cleaning up.
I moved to the living room with Baekwoongeom.
Expensive Yongjeong tea and refreshments were placed on the table, and light chat took place.
Baekwoongeom put down the smoking teacup on the table and got to the point.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“What do you mean?”
“What will Amifa, who has regained her lost vision, gift to the branch leader?”