The consciousness sinks deeper and deeper.
As it sinks endlessly down and down, the body and consciousness become separated from each other and become increasingly distant.
A hazy, dreamlike consciousness, which was blurry but not completely disconnected, constantly looked for something.
��Cheong Mun����
Ttaaaaak!
��Aaaargh!��
At the sudden pain, Chung Myunga�?s eyes snapped open, clutching his head.
��Ouch! Just which bastard!��
��It��s me.��
“!!.”
He rolled his eyes and was about to throw a fit, but when he saw the person sitting in front of him, he quietly shut his mouth.
��Chung Myung-ah.��
��Yes?��
��People may doze off in life. It��s not that I don��t understand that.��
��Yes, that's right. Well, it��s not that big of a deal.��
��Indeed. However!��
The one sitting in the front.
An indescribable feeling of emptiness fell on the face of the Great Wise Sword ((??���??��2�(?��쨨3��???))) Cheong Mun, Sect Leader of Mount Hua Sect.
��It's not like I have lived long, but this is the first time in my life I've heard of someone dozing off while being disciplined, you stupid punk!��
��!How can that be my fault! It's because Sahyung is droning something obvious on and on.!.”
��What, this punk?��
When Cheong Mun gritted his teeth, the Sajes, including Cheong Jin, who were watching, yelled in surprise.
��Calm down, Sect Leader Sahyung!��
��Don��t beat him!��
Chung Myung smiled delightedly at the heartwarming sight.
Although they speak bluntly, those bastards still have quite a lot of respect for him��!.
“Then he will beat us later!”
��If you��re going to save us from being hit, then don��t hit him! We��ll get hit twice as much!��
��You might as well expel him from Mount Hua! You won��t even do that!��
“!!.”
a�?I saw who the last one was. I don��t know about anyone else, but you��re done for.'
Cheong Mun sighed deeply, holding the back of the neck.
“Are you a Taoist? Huh? Are you a Taoist?”
��Our Sahyung's sight must've deteriorated. I��m clearly dressed as one.��
“Are you a Taoist just because you wear the uniform, you punk?!”
Cheong Mun shouted.
��I sent you to subdue the demons tormenting the commoners!��
��I did subdue them. Did everything you asked, even wrecked them all. Then, instead being like this, you should be praising me!��
��Right. Well done, my Saje.��
Cheong Mun asked with a warm smile on his face.
“So, what did you receive from the grateful people?”
��Yes?��
��It seemed like they gave you something?��
��Oh, that?��
Chung Myung laughed shyly, scratching the back of his head.
��Well, I was about to leave, but they kept thanking me! said many would��ve bled from the demonic bandits if not for me.��
��So?��
��So they wanted to repay me, and I thought it��d be rude to decline their sincere gratitude. So, I!��
Chung Myung glanced around sheepishly.
��Took a little compensation for my hard work�� Aaaah!��
Chung Myung fell flat on the spot, avoiding the inkstone that flew as fast as lightning. The inkstone that passed by and narrowly grazed his head got embedded in the wall.
��No, are you trying to kill me?��
��If you could die that easily, I won't have to go through all this trouble, you damn bastard!”
Cheong Mun now picked up the tea table in front of him and hurled it.
When Chung Myung quickly rolled to the side and avoided, fire blazed in Cheong Mun��s eyes.
��Damage? Damage? Come, Let��s see who dies, you or me today! Cheong Jin! Go get the whip!��
��Yes!��
��You. Bring it here if you dare.��
��!Yes.��
��I said bring me the whip!��
��Yes!��
��You better think carefully. Think reaaaally carefully.��
Cheong Jin, who was stuck between two giants! No, between a giant and an evil spirit, was torn apart without being able to do this or that. Soon after, he looked at Cheong Mun and said,
��That! Sect Leader Sahyung.��
��What?��
��I think�� I��ve been kneeling for so long that I have a cramp in my leg. Maybe you should send someone else����
Cheong Mun glared dagger, but Cheong Jin only looked away, bowing his head.
a�?Authority is distant, but a fist is near.'
If Chung Myung��s calves catch fire, it is obvious that Chung Jin��s chin will catch fire later. Even if he gets hit, it would be better to get hit by Cheong Mun. That person beats someone mercilessly, so the situation will be even more serious.
��Ugh����
Looking at the Sajes avoiding their eyes, the sound of pain leaked out of Cheong Mun��s mouth.
��These commoners are already exhausted from the terrors of horse bandits! Instead of giving money and not receiving it back, you��re taking money and not returning it?��
What Cheong Mun said is certainly correct. Few people end their lives by repeating training within their sect all their lives. One way or another, accumulated force is bound to be expressed.
��And who bears the brunt of that power?��
“!!.”
��We're also people, Chung Myung-ah.��
Cheong Mun��s eyes sank gravely.
��Power without direction becomes oppression and violence. The reason for the Chivalrousness is not because of compassion. It is to set one��s own path properly. Power that forgets righteousness will eventually destroy oneself.��
��So�� you mean����
Chung Myung shrugged.
“You just have to beat up the bad guys.”
“!!.”
��Okay, okay. It��s okay if they don��t pay for the trouble. It��s just a few coins. I��ll be careful from now on.��
Cheong Mun sighed deeply at Chung Myung��s reply.
As expected, Chung Myung does as he is told. But it��s not because he understands. It��s simply because Cheong Mun wants it.
That��s not what Cheong Mun wants.
If Chung Myung only wanted to live with Mount Hua��s sword, that would be enough, but what Cheong Mun really wanted was for Chung Myung to stand upright as a person of the Tao.
Even if it��s unspeakably hard.
��Chung Myung-ah.��
��What?��
��Yes, you may forget everything else. But remember this one thing.��
��Yes.��
“You can��t do everything on your own.”
“!!.”
“No matter how strong you become, no matter how grand a height you reach, there are things you can��t do alone. If one day you are in such a situation, you, too, may be eager for someone��s help.”
“Me?”
Chung Myung tilted his head as if he couldn��t understand.
It would be hard for the current Chung Myung to understand. For now.
One who has never lost, never felt desperation from lacking, can��t understand the warmth of a selflessly offered hand.
“When the day comes that you feel powerless, that you despair in front of something you can��t do, then you��ll understand. You��ll understand how those commoners you helped felt.”
“!!.”
��Can you promise me that you will brandish your sword in Chivalrousness when that time comes?��
��Hng.��
Chung Myung scratched his head with a still unsure look on his face.
��Honestly, I don��t know, Sahyung.��
“I know. It��s not an easy concept for you.”
“But still����”
Soon after, he nodded in agreement.
“Right. If I come to feel that way�� if I truly experience it, I��ll do as Sahyung says. But I can��t guarantee it.”
“That��s fine. That��s enough.”
Cheong Mun smiled and nodded in return.
��Now go and return the money you��ve received.”
“��Uh, about that!”
“I know you spent it on drinks. Take the money you've hidden away and return every single penny..”
“!!.”
“Your answer?”
��Yes.��
Chung Myung pouts his mouth, but Cheong Mun just laughs.
��Good.��
“Then, I��ll be off.”
Chung Myung turned around. Then Cheong Mun added softly to his back.
��Oh, and��!.”
��Yes?��
“Return all the wealth you embezzled from the bandits to the commoners.”
“!!.”
Chung Myung��s body hardened like a stone statue on the spot.
After a moment, he turned back with an expression of utter despair.
��How, how did you��!.”
��Cheong Jin-ah.��
��!Yes.��
“Follow him and keep an eye on him to make sure not a single penny is stolen. Chung Myung, if you steal again this time, I will hang you upside down, so behave yourself!”
“!!.”
“Don��t contemplate whether being hanged or keeping the money is better. We��ll retrieve the money and hang you too if needed.”
��!Evil spirit.��
��Tsk.��
When sullen Chung Myung left the room first with his shoulders slumped, Cheong Jin sighed and asked carefully.
��Sect Leader Sahyung. Aren��t you expecting too much from Chung Myung Sahyung? Sahyung isn��t like us, is he?��
“I know. It won��t be easy. But!”
Cheong Mun looked silently at the door that Chung Myung closed.
a�?But one day��!.'
The day will come when Chung Myung understands the meaning behind his words.
Because he is, after all, Chung Myung.
A warm smile crept on Cheong Mun��s mouth.
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