“What?” “Yes?” “Hng?” “Oh?”
“What is Sect Leader saying?”
Although the reactions were different, the emotion behind them was the same.
Mount Hua’s disciples, who gathered around Hyun Jong, blinked their eyes. It’s as if they couldn’t understand what they had just heard.
Those who were staring at Hyun Jong with blank, dumb faces turned to each other. Judging by everyone’s confused expressions, it seemed they hadn’t misheard Hyun Jong’s words.
“Um... Sect Leader?”
Baek Sang carefully spoke and tilted his head slightly. “If... I... didn’t mishear... um...”
Although he brought it up with difficulty, his eyes kept scanning the surroundings. It was to make sure that he understood the situation properly.
He had hoped he’d heard incorrectly, but all the Sahyung who met in his eyes nodded slightly. That he is right.
“Um... Did Sect Leader just say... That... The sect are to enter Bongmun......?” Baek Sang had to laugh in disbelief at his own words.
Going into Bongmun.
What kind of nonsensical talk is this...
“...Yes.” “Eek?” “Yes?”
“What did Sect Leader say?” “Us?”
As confirmation came, Mount Hua’s disciples erupted all at once. Of course, the one who exploded most violently was Jo-Gol.
“No, Sect Leader! What sin do we have committed? Did Sect Leader commit fraud somewhere without our knowledge... Uggyaaak!”
“Jo-Gol, you son of a beast! This punk Jo-Gol!” (It seems to be a pun. “????, ? ???! ??? ????!”)
Yoon Jong, who grabbed Jo-Gol by the collar like a bolt of lightning, struck him repeatedly on the chin, knocking him unconscious.
“Keuhum.”
Holding the limp Jo-Gol in one hand, Yoon Jong covered his mouth with the other hand and cleared his throat gently. The left and right were in perfect disharmony, but no one had the presence of mind to pay attention to it.
“......This is quite sudden, Sect Leader. I assume Sect Leader has own reasons, but to announce the Bongmun of the sect out of the blue...”
Everyone nodded vigorously.
As eyes demanding an explanation poured down on him, Hyun Jong slowly turned his head. After a movement without any strength, the place where his gaze was placed was, of course, the place of Chung Myung.
In the midst of all this, Chung Myung is smiling gleefully.
Jo-Gol, who almost half fainted, let out a terrifying scream, shook off Yoon Jong and rushed to Baek Cheon, gripping him by the collar.
“What have Sasuk done? Hey, man! What the hell have Sasuk done!”
Even though the absurdity of the Sajil grabbing his Sasuk occurred, Baek Cheon did not get angry. No, it would be correct to say that he couldn’t. He just tried to ignore Jo-Gol’s fiercely burning gaze with an awkward expression on his face.
“No... Why are you bastard accusing me?”
“Is it the fire’s fault when a fire breaks out? It’s the fault of the person who started it, right? What’s wrong with that bastard! Sasuk is at fault for exciting this crazy guy!”
Although it sounded like nonsense, all the disciples of Mount Hua fervently agreed. Even Baek Cheon secretly acknowledged his own guilt.
“I didn’t think it would come to this...”
How can an ordinary person understand the thoughts of a madman?
Bongmun is not the name of some neighborhood dog, and the sentence of ‘lightning on a blue, dry sky’ fit this occasion the most. (??? ? ?? ? ??? ???, ???? ????? ???? ?? ? ?? ?? ?? ???.)
“...Sect Leader. No, what on earth did Sect Leader hear to make such a sudden decision?” Yoon Jong stared blankly at Chung Myung and Hyun Jong alternately, clearing his throat and
opening his mouth.
“Of course... Um... if Sect Leader commands it, as disciples, we must follow. But we’d like to know the reason at least.”
“That’s what we’re saying...”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“This....”
Hyun Jong’s eyes began to moisten.
Seeing this, Yoon Jong couldn’t bring himself to press any further. Yoon Jong turned his head violently.
“You explain, you goblin bastard! Why on earth would Sect Leader suddenly say we’re closing the sect! It’s not like we have committed any crime!”
“That sounds strange.”
Chung Myung picked his ear with his pinky finger and then blew air on the tip of it.
“Bongmun isn’t for me to decide, I’m just a powerless third-class disciple.”
“Third-class disciple? Powerless?”
That disgusting bastard.
“And what, does Bongmun really have to do something wrong? Those Ten Great Sects bastards lock their doors and hide when they commit sins to avoid getting cursed at; they do it like eating rice. Originally, Bongmun is something you do whenever you want to.”
“So why do it now!”
Baek Sang quickly came forward to support Yoon Jong.
Chung Myung, who pointed one by one to the last disciple, said calmly.
“Because we’re weak.”
“....”
Silence hung in the air. Everyone’s face hardened.
The atmosphere changed in an instant as if someone had touched the reverse scale. It was Baek Sang who broke the silence.
“...I understand.”
Staring intently at Chung Myung, he still seemed unconvinced as he opened his mouth.
“Obviously, we are lacking. We did not perform well in this battle either. All we could do was
hold on to everyone’s ankles and hang around.”
“Right.”
“But Chung Myung. There’s a time for everything. Of course, it’s natural for a martial artist to focus on training, but isn’t this the time to look at something bigger?”
Baek Sang sighed.
“I understand your impatience, but in one year... No, in just half a year, Mount Hua’s standing will solidify dramatically. Evil Sect Tyrant has made a three-year non-aggresion pact, there’s no reason not to wait for another half-year, is there?”
“Half a year?”
“Yes, half a year!”
Baek Sang looked fiercely at Chung Myung.
Being a member of Finance Hall, he studied Mount Hua’s finances, learned how the world works, and watched the flow of businesses that Mount Hua holds.
That’s why he knows. More clearly than anyone here.
Just how big of an opportunity Mount Hua currently has in its grasp.
If it were any other sect, all disciples would rush in to seize this opportunity with all their might. But aren’t they about to kick this opportunity away, even stomping it into the ground?
He couldn’t understand the situation at all.
“What’s the good of waiting for half a year?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? First, financial power! And reputation! Plus, numerous sects wanted to ally with Mount Hua and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. There’s also honor and standing!”
“....”
“In a single stroke, Mount Hua could be doubled! Tripled! Perhaps even quintupled! Isn’t this what you’ve been longing for! And yet you’re talking about sealing the gates after finally reaping the rewards of our sacrifices!”
Chung Myung looked at Baek Sang silently. Baek Sang, who was anxious for no reason, suddenly raised his voice.
“And this isn’t just about the present! If we wait just a little longer for our reputation to ripen and open our gates to accept third-class disciples, talented children will flood in from all influential families! That will guarantee Mount Hua’s future!”
“....”
“But why would you kick away all these opportunities? Why, for God’s sake?” Everyone agreed with Baek Sang’s words.
Anyone can see that Mount Hua is currently on an unprecedented large wave. If we can ride this wave well, it’s not a dream to become on par with the Ten Great Sects.
“Tell me. Surely you’re not going to say that a sect needs nothing but martial arts? I don’t think that’s what you’re gonna say.”
Everyone looked at Chung Myung’s mouth. In each of their eyes was a firm resolution not to back down easily this time.
Chung Myung stared at everyone with slightly dark eyes. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“Financial resources. Good reputation. Great fame. As you all know, I really like such things, am I?”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Why would Sasuk ask if Sasuk knew? I have said it already, Sahyung is weak. Because Sasuk is weak.”
“This....”
Baek Sang gritted his teeth and spoke with anger at the same answer. (?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???.)
“Give us a proper answer!”
“This is the answer. Because Sasuk is weak.”
“Hey, this punk!”
“Can’t you understand?”
At Chung Myung’s cold question, Baek Sang momentarily shut up. This is because the weight of the voice was significant.
Chung Myung spoke softly but clearly in the silence.
“It’s up to here. Surviving through luck.”
His cold gaze swept over everyone.
“Next time....”
Those who met his gaze trembled.
“Someone here will definitely die.”
At that moment, everyone’s mouth was tightly shut.