Chapter 196

Episode 196

“Are you sure?”

“yes. Judging by the speed of movement, they said they would arrive at Jeomchangpa in two days.”

It was a faster trip than I thought.

I was prepared to waste more than a month.

‘Thank goodness.’

The longer I stayed at the Yunnan branch, the stronger the influence of those who were dissatisfied with me became.

I was the one who argued that it was better to carry out the mission as quickly as possible.

‘I thought that in the worst case scenario, we might have to give up trying to contact the Beast Palace and enter Nanman.’

Fortunately, it didn’t seem necessary.

I sighed inwardly and sank into the back of the chair.

“If I do, will it be okay for me to visit Jeom Changpa in two days?”

“yes. Jang Mun-in said he would provide a seat for you.”

“All right.”

I thanked the middle-aged monk who delivered the news.

After seeing off the Changyeon Dojo outside the branch, I headed straight to the training hall.

The mission was a mission, but there was something that had to be completed first.

Today was the day that Changin Dojang was scheduled to hold his last secret dance.

* * *

“.......”

Changin Dojang glared at Hong Seonghyeon with harsh eyes.

It seemed like they had become very angry after suffering two defeats.

‘It looks like there isn’t any room left.’

I laughed inwardly.

It was worth asking Hwang Ho-jin and provoking him.

‘It will be a dance that has great meaning for both Changin Dojang and Hong Seonghyeon.’

At the same time as the signal announcing the start of the dance, Changin Dojang kicked off the ground and rushed towards Hong Seonghyeon.

The pouring out of the four-day sword method.

Jeomchangpa’s visionary sword techniques flew in, filling Hong Seong-hyeon’s entire front.

Hong Seong-hyeon calmly attacked Shin-hyeong and swung his sword in return.

If Changin Dojang’s swordsmanship was fast and strong, Hong Seonghyeon’s swordsmanship was hard and solid.

It was like watching a battle between a spear and a shield.

“Sigh!”

A furrow was carved between Changin Dojang’s eyebrows.

Could it be that Hong Seong-hyun held up better than I thought and became impatient?

His movements became more rough.

The sword energy, which narrowly missed Hong Seong-hyeon, roughly skimmed the floor of the training hall.

Hong Seong-hyun was not intimidated at all and exploited the opponent’s gap.

wickedness!

The Changin Dojang’s uniform was split on the sword blade that rose diagonally.

Blood flowed from the shallow cut on the skin.

Whoops! Damn it!

Hong Seong-hyun, who focuses on Dojang and defense and occasionally launches counterattacks.

A sluggish fight continued.

‘You’re good at it.’

Hong Seong-hyeon was determined to lead Bimu into a long game.

On the other hand, Changin Dojang tried to reach a conclusion as quickly as possible.

‘also. Is Changin Dojo’s skill still at the top?’

The power of the attack, the sophistication of herbivorous skills, practical experience, etc.

In all aspects, Changin Dojo had the upper hand.

However, if you were to ask whether the difference was overwhelming, it was not.

The outcome of the game could have been overturned by minor variables.

‘Originally, it would be Changin Dojo that would have the advantage in a long-term match.’

However, the current Changin Dojang had no time to spare.

High pride made the conclusion hasten, and Hong Seong-hyun cleverly took advantage of the resulting gap.

The sword strike fell diagonally and was aimed at Hong Seong-hyeon’s shoulder.

Hong Seong-hyeon spun the new type like a thunderbolt and swung his sword to strike it down.

Kaang!

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

The next moment, Hong Seong-hyun and Shin Hyeong forcibly penetrated into the gap between their opponents.

A precarious posture, as if it would collapse at any moment.

“This is ridiculous. “With just this little money...”

“By the way, everything in this bag is gold coins.”

“Let’s just listen to the story first.”

The old man changed his posture in an instant and placed his clasped hands on the table.

“.......”

I said ‘pick’ and laughed.

He was a person who traveled dangerously for a long time and continued to do business with fortune-tellers.

It would be even stranger if such a person had no greed for money.

“The request I would like to make to you is simple.”

“Wait a minute, let’s just point out one thing.”

“Please speak.”

“From now on, when you call me, please use a different title.”

“yes? “What do you mean?”

“I mean it literally. “Now that I am no longer a member of the Beast Palace, I have no reason to be called an elder anymore.”

“...!”

I had a blank expression for a moment.

What kind of nonsense is this, saying that I am no longer a member of the Beast Palace?

* * *

Conference room in Yunnan branch.

I called the group together and told them what had happened at Jeomchangpa.

“I have good news and bad news.”

“You sound ominous from the beginning.”

Hwang Bo-gyeong, the elder of the Hwangbo family, frowned and muttered.

I calmly spoke back, as if ignoring that voice.

“Let me tell you the bad news first. “There is no way to contact the Beast Palace.”

“what?!”

“What do you mean!”

A buzzing noise spread throughout the conference room.

I scratched the back of my neck and sighed softly.

In a way, it was natural for them to react so furiously.

Not being able to contact them meant that they had to enter Nanman at the risk of being perceived as an external enemy by the Beast Palace.

It could be said that this was the worst situation that everyone was concerned about.

“I visited the Jumchang Sect today and met with the elder of the Beast Palace. He said this to me: “I no longer belong to the Beast Palace.”

“Huh.”

“It’s an embarrassing story.”

Yang Ho-Gon, the elder of the Shinchang Yang family, sighed.

I thought it was fortunate that the Beast Palace elder showed up sooner than expected, but things took an unexpected turn.

An image of a muscular old man laughing heartily without knowing what others were thinking flashed through my mind.

When asked why he gave up his position as an elder and left the Beast Palace, he answered as follows.

[The Beast Palace has changed. It is no longer a sacred place for warriors. It has become a disgusting land where charlatans run rampant.]

[.......]

To put it simply, he was so annoyed by watching the power struggle between the five factions that he quit his position as an elder.

Why does a person who values the honor of a warrior so much accept and swallow bribes with such relish?

“What’s the good news?”

Geomhu, a footnote from Botaam Biryonggak, asked as if representing the curiosity of others.

“You heard the bad news first, now it’s time to hear the good news.”

“Luckily, the old master said he would help us.”

“Labor and management?”

“I’m referring to the elder of the Beast Palace I mentioned a little while ago.”

“What help is an old man who is no longer an elder or anything!”

Hwang Bo-kyung shouted and pounded the table with an annoyed expression.

I looked back at him with cold eyes and warned him.

“Let me tell you this in advance. Never show such an attitude in front of labor and management. “It was difficult to obtain cooperation.”

“Now I have to cater to the barbarians.”

“.......”

“Let’s listen first. “How can he help us?”

Gamwon, the head of the Shaolin Temple’s Eight Great Houses, said while rolling his prayer beads.

I opened my mouth and thanked him with a wink for brightening the mood in a timely manner.

“The master said that although the position of elder was put down, the title of great master remained.”

“Daejeon Temple?”

“It is said that the title Daejeonsa has a special meaning in Nanman.”