“This....”
Ppudeuduk.
The sound of grinding teeth spread eerily.
Namgung Dowi glared at Chung Myung as if he wanted to devour him with his bloodshot eyes.
How much pain has he suffered since his crushing defeat to Chung Myung at the last Murim Competition?
It was a crushing defeat with no excuse. Thanks to this, Namgung Dowi who believed himself to be the best among the rising stars got his pride literally shattered.
But compared to the pain he experienced afterward, the pain of the defeat seemed like nothing.
All of a sudden, rumors spread even to Anhui, where Namgung Family was because everyone there saw him beaten. As a result, several marriage proposals he received daily suddenly stopped, and the pigeons that come and go disappeared as if they never existed.
Originally, most of those who sent marriage proposals to Namgung Dowi weren’t interested in him but rather desired their descendants to inherit the head position of the Namgung Family.
However, when rumors spread that ‘that part’ of him might have a problem, everyone collectively pulled away as if they had promised.
The shame and humiliation!
Recalling those embarrassing moments, he felt as if he had swallowed burning charcoal.
‘It’s all because of that bastard!’
Namgung Dowi is not a disgraceful man who bears a grudge over defeat.
But it wasn’t an ordinary defeat. It was the act of destroying all human pride, breaking it into pieces, putting it in a millstone, and grounding it to dust.
“Huft! Huft!”
Namgung Dowi took several deep breaths to calm himself.
He wanted to rush over and rip that face off, but there were too many eyes watching. No matter how angry he was, he had to maintain the dignity of the Namgung Family’s head...
“Aigo... There must be a problem seeing how you can’t talk. What am I supposed to do about this.......”
“No! There’s no issue!”
Namgung Dowi looked around and screamed in surprise.
Even so, the disciples of the Ten Great Sect, who had been listening to the conversation curiously, looked at his lower part momentarily before lifting their eyes again. Pity was evident on their faces.
Namgung Dowi’s face turned beet red.
“I- I’m perfectly fine!”
“... Really?”
“I said so!”
“Well, alright then....”
Chung Myung nodded slowly with a sympathetic look.
“That’s a relief, then. That’s a relief, but... Yeah. That’s a relief.”
“Believe me!”
“Aaah, I believe you. I really do. Also, don’t worry too much. It’s not like... It’s absolutely necessary, right? Being a direct descendant of Namgung Family, you can still get accepted into Shaolin or Wudang even if there’s an issue.”
“....”
“Right?”
Chung Myung looked back at Bop Kye and Heo Dojin and asked.
The two opened their mouths in a twist, feeling as if they had been dragged out of nowhere.
“Hm?”
“That, uh... Of course, but....”
Seeing the most famous Taoist and Buddhist looking flustered, Namgung Dowi’s face turned from red to purple.
Jo-Gol whispered softly to Yoon Jong.
“Mount Hua is also Taoist Sect, but won’t we accept him? We could get married, but it’s not a must.”
“Yeah but he’s annoying.”
“Ah....”
Dark veins appeared on Namgung Dowi’s forehead.
‘I can hear you, you punk!’
Anyway, none in this sect is right in the head!
“...Mount Hua Divine Dragon. You haven’t changed a bit. Even that attitude of looking down on people.”
“What do you mean I haven’t changed, man! When I’m so caring and sincerely worrying about others!”
Baek Cheon shook his head seriously.
“Chung Myung, that’s not worrying.”
“Oh, is it not? I thought that’s how it’s done.”
Namgung Dowi clenched his eyes and took a deep breath.
Despite reminding himself several times not to fall for that guy’s tricks, here he was again, humiliated. But it’s a relief that he doesn’t get kicked in the groin like before.
“Huu.”
Namgung Dowi, who managed to find peace of mind, said with a cold face.
“I’m glad you haven’t changed.”
“Huh?”
“...Let me thank you first. Thanks to you, I have clearly realized how much I have lived in a well.”
At first, he had denied it. If it hadn’t been for the surprise attack, he wouldn’t have been defeated so horribly.
But in the end, he had to admit it.
Mount Hua Divine Dragon, Chung Myung. His activities were constantly heard even in Anhui.
“Today might not be the day, but one day I shall have the opportunity to show you how sharp my sword has become.”
Namgung Dowi said coldly, looking at him with subdued eyes.
When he shouted, anger briefly flared on Namgung Hwang’s face.
“How dare a mere disciple, in front of Sect Leaders of each sect...”
“That’s the current situation.”
“....”
Namgung Hwang shut up and looked back at Bop Kye in disbelief.
He might be the head of the Five Great Family and the head of Namgung Family, but he cannot ignore Bop Kye, the second-in-command of Shaolin. Yet, that Bop Kye was now interacting with a third-class disciple. This only made Namgung Hwang’s angry appearance seem ridiculous.
‘What is this...’
It was certainly a surprising situation for Namgung Hwang, but Bop Kye had his own circumstances.
He has already seen Chung Myung and Bop Jeong talk several times. He couldn’t guess why, but Bop Jeong certainly respected and treated Chung Myung as a martial artist.
How could he, an elder of Shaolin, ignore someone respected by Shaolin’s Bangjang?
“Ha... You’re leaving us out?”
As Chung Myung glared and growled, Five Swords crept closer. Hyun Jong also prepared to shout right away.
However,
“Well, it can’t be helped then.”
“Huh?”
Unexpectedly, Chung Myung chuckled and turned around, walking away. He then started to unpack his belongings.
Baek Cheon looked at him with a puzzled look.
“What is he taking out-... A- a mat?”
Mat, sweets, rice cake, and... beef jerky?
Oi... Did you really bring those?
Suddenly, a pristine gourd was pulled out from the pack, and Baek Cheon closed his eyes in exasperation.
‘That madman even brought alcohol.’
‘We came for a battle!’
Chwaak!
The mat was smoothly spread out. Chung Myung calmly sat on top of it and began to lay out the food he had packed. He looked as if he had come to enjoy a flower viewing.
“What, what are you doing?”
“They’re telling us to just stand back and watch.”
“....”
“Well, if we’re going to enjoy the view, we should do it properly.”
“....”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Everyone said to just watch. What’s so wrong with me listening to them for once?”
“...That, there’s no problem, but....”
‘Is this okay? Is this really okay?’
Baek Cheon stared desperately at Hyun Jong with a look asking for help. Then Hyun Jong smiled and said to other sect leaders.
“Hoho, I apologize. My child has no manners.”
“....”
“Then we’ll provide support from the rear.”
“...Please.”
After the conversation, Hyun Jong slowly approached Chung Myung. Then he sat down and asked.
“Did you bring tea?”
“Hehe. I made sure to bring it in advance. Hey! bring the teacups!”
Then, tea utensils came out from somewhere and were placed in front of Hyun Jong. Hyun Young and Hyun Sang also sneaked up on the mat as if they had been waiting.
“Hmm. Since there’s nothing much to do.”
“I’m sure they’ll handle it well. Actually, it’s a little over the top for even us to join.”
“Yes, yes. You’re right about that.”
When the elders sat down, Chung Myung shouted loudly.
“Everyone, take out what you’ve brought and sit down! The view is good, and the breeze is nice, so let’s enjoy!”
Namgung Hwang, who was dumbfounded at the scene, contorted his face in agony.
‘Those damned ones...!’
This is clearly a situation where they pushed away and ostracized Mount Hua.
But now that those guys act like that, it became a situation where they had to fight in front of Mount Hua Sect who’s just playing and resting in the back as if giving them entertainment.
‘What kind of humiliation is this?’
It was like he was caught in a trap he set himself. But it’s also too embarrassing to nitpick this. Since Mount Hua stepped back just as they say.
There’s no room to intervene whether Mount Hua leans back and relaxes, stands guard with all their might, or even opens an alcohol party. It’s because they’re not from the Ten Great Sect or the Five Great Family. They belong to Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
“Keuhum.”
Namgung Hwang cleared his throat in annoyance.
“...Then let’s discuss our strategy.”
“Hmm.”
“...Let’s do so.”
While the leaders of each sect were having a serious discussion, boisterous voices continued to resonate from behind.
‘Damn Mount Hua Sect.’
Anyway, nothing ever went smoothly with those guys.