Chapter 165: Now I Will Live According to My Will (3)
“Hyeonjeong”s Elder. Why is your expression like that? It”s been a while since you came here, isn”t it nice?”
Unlike Cheong-hae, Hyeonjeong’s expression was dark throughout.
This was because he was the only person who broke through the siege and escaped on that nightmarish day when the Mount Hua wave was collapsed by the Divine Demon.
It seemed like the screamed of executioners could still be heard everywhere.
“Everyone died before my eyes. Right here” I still can”t forget that sight.”
“Looking at Myeong-un”s execution, it looks like he”s trying to rebuild the sect. Don”t you want to go back?”
“”Why? For what?”
“The honor and pride of the Mount Hua Sect? Something like that.”
“Honor and pride… If you die while pursuing such illusions, you will die like a dog. You only have one life, right? I will decide how I will live and die.”
“What do you want to do?”
Hyeonjeong raised her head and looked at the sky. Her eyes shined brightly as he stared at the flock of clouds in the sky.
“What we are doing now. I have seen the people we saved on the battlefield shed tears of gratitude. My heart has never been warmer than that moment. When I think of the fact that I am with them in this changing world, I can feel alive.”
“It certainly seems that the Elders suits the constitution of the government military rather than the martial people.”
“Do you want to go back as a Cheong-hae priest? I heard it was your dream to become a plum blossom inspector?”
“I was excommunicated. I had no choice in the first place.”
“Well, that”s true too.”
The two looked at each other’s faces and smiled silently.
I was passing by the Mount Hua Sect’s grand demonstration and looking around. Everywhere I went, it stimulated their memories.
“That”s the place.”
Cheong-hae’s finger pointed somewhere. There was a small training ground surrounded by plum trees.
“Why do you have to do a checkup?”
Maegeomji . It was a training place for the top plum sword swordsmen of Mount Hua, and general disciples were prohibited from entering.
Hyeonjeong, who was a student at Mount Hua Sect, had never been near the area, but Cheong-hae already had experience with it.
“I was curious about what kind of place it was, so I went there and was beaten to death by the plum swordsmen. I had no intention of stealing martial arts skills… but I was even excommunicated.”
His face was full of bitterness. This was something that Hyeonjeong already knew. Rumors about the incident at that time spread widely within the Mount Hua Sect.
Hyeonjeong comforted Cheong-hae by patting his back.
“Still, it”s a bit too much, isn”t it? People like Maehwa Swordsmen are beating up the youngest member, Hang-ryeol, as a group.”
“It”s unfair, but I did something wrong, so what can I say?”
“No, it was still a bit harsh. Even gangsters wouldn”t do that.”
It was then.
Suddenly, Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae’s complexions hardened at the same time. Because a group of people was approaching from their side.
“It means we are worse than Walpae.”
A white gi decorated with a blue collar and a long sword with a plum blossom pattern. They were the first disciples of the Mount Hua Sect and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
Cheong-hae muttered reflexively towards the four approaching people.
“Death sentences”.”
“Don”t call it a death sentence for someone who has been excommunicated.”
Cheong-hae blushed and lowered his head.
The plum inspectors looked at Hyeonjeong, who kept her mouth shut, with disapproving eyes. Among them, the person with the highest ranking took a step closer.
“I heard that everyone died here except for us in the Martial Alliance. But why are you still alive? What did you do when the executioners were dying?”
“There was an order from Master Mun that all of Lee”s disciples should run away. I also managed to escape.”
“Do you believe that? Tell me the truth about why you were the only one who survived.”
“Because I was the strongest of them all.”
The plum swordsmen snorted at the same time. One of them approached with narrowed eyes.
“Then why did you go to the military instead of thinking about coming to the Martial Alliance and joining the brothers? Are you sure you didn”t betray our Mount Hua Sect?”
One of Hyeonjeong”s eyebrows twitched slightly. He said, taking a deep breath to calm his mind.
“All the people I served have died. Lord Mun, the elders, and even the teacher. That”s why I decided to leave. Now, I will live according to my own will.”
“Do you think the Mount Hua Sect is a third-rate neighborhood clique where you can come when you want and leave whenever you want?”
Hyeonjeong no longer wanted to be involved with the executioners in front of her. As we continued talking, I felt skeptical about Jianghu.
“Do you want to wash your face with gold powder?”
Gold powder taxation. It was an official retirement ceremony held by a martial artist to leave Jianghu, and if it was completed successfully, it means that one will be released from the martial arts relationship.
“That has never been allowed on Mount Hua. Kneel.”
“I don”t like it.”
Hyeonjeong”s eyes turned cold. And the plum swordsmen looking at him gradually began to get angry. In the past, this would have been unthinkable.
“It looks like you want to die.”
One of the people watching put his hand toward the sword. Then the person next to him stopped him and whispered.
“Achil”s execution, that guy is a government official anyway. If we kill him, we”ll be in trouble.”
“Before I am a government official, I am Hyeonjeong, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. Even the government cannot be involved in the affairs of a monk.”
Hyeonjeong did not avoid her gaze as if she would never give in. One of the plum swordsmen could not stand it anymore and kicked his knees repeatedly.
“Kneel, you bastard!”
Wow! Kwasik-!
Hyeonjeong’s legs shook as if they might break, but they did not bend. Not even the slightest moan came out of my mouth.
“Are you going to hold on?”
“Step on it!”
Two plum swordsmen from the left and right began throwing kicks.
Puff! Wow! Sigh-!
Hyeonjeong”s new brother was constantly shaking.
It was dangerous as if he would fall, but he gritted his teeth as if he would never give up.
“””.”
Cheong-hae, who was watching from the side, trembled with both hands. It was when I couldn’t bear it any longer and took a step forward.
Hyeonjeong, who was staggering, urgently stretched out her right hand and shouted.
“You don”t come forward!”
Even at this moment, two people were kicking him. And upon hearing his voice, another plum swordsman rushed towards me with her eyes rolling.
“Are you out of your mind?”
The new plum sword sword that approached me spun like a top around its left foot.
At the same time, the right foot rose like a thunderbolt. Hyeonjeong also knew. One of the retreat methods of the Mount Hua Sect was the Plum Blossom Seungcheongak .
His head twisted reflexively.
Paang-!
The shoe passed by Hyeonjeong”s face and blew out wind. Only a disciple of Mount Hua escaped the plum blossom sword’s retreat. That made them even more angry.
“Do you dare avoid it?”
Once again, an even stronger attack was launched against Hyeonjeong. But this time, he didn’t even move, as if he didn’t want to avoid it.
Immediately afterwards, a fist was driven straight into his abdomen. It was a blow full of power.
Wow!
“Ugh.”
Behind him as he lowered his upper body, two people simultaneously kicked the back of his knees.
Pajik-! Sigh-!
Hyeonjeong’s body, which had been holding on tightly, finally collapsed. And that was the beginning.
The four Plum Swordsmen began indiscriminately assaulting him around him.
Wow! Kwasik-! Kwaang-!
Hyeonjeong’s upper body looked like a reed swaying in the wind.
Cheong-hae’s eyes turned red and bloodshot as he watched. His right hand was already resting on the scabbard.
At that moment, Hyeonjeong, who had been beaten frantically, shouted once again.
“Don”t step forward little brother!”
It was Hyeonjeong who always called me a priest.
This was the first time he called me his younger brother.
“””Hyeonjeong”s Elder.”
I wanted to draw my sword right away, but I couldn’t refuse his request.
A painful memory of the day I was excommunicated. It even seemed like his own image and Hyeonjeong overlapped.
A stream of water flowed down Cheong-hae”s cheek.
The assault by the plum swordsmen continued for a long time. And yet you don’t even make a single moan. When the situation got to this point, the people who were hitting him were rather upset.
“Is this enough for today?”
“You damn bastard.”
“Never be out of sight again.”
The plum swordsmen who spat out one curse word after another shook their hands and turned their backs. At that moment, Cheong-hae quickly approached Hyeonjeong and supported her.
“Sahyeong, are you okay?”
“Yeah… I held it in well.”
“Why did they just get the Elders?”
Hyeonjeong slowly stood up, wiping her bloody mouth with her sleeve. My body even stumbled as if I was uncomfortable.
“With this, I have repaid all my debt to Mount Hua.”
“Then” next time I can just beat it up, right?”
It couldn’t help but feel awkward to see the three great disciples beating up the plum swordsmen.
Hyeonjeong sighed and smiled as if she had forgotten the pain.
“If it”s your turn to come.”
***
Yangheogak of Mount Huapa.
Here, discussions were continuing between the elders of the Martial Alliance and the military generals.
“Since the Battle of Yangyang City ended, the activities of the Divine Demon have completely stopped.”
So-mu grabbed the teacup and wet his mouth. Then he stared at Zhuge Shuing.
“The same goes for the legions of the State of Hui. They show no signs of attacking again after retreating. They must have an ulterior motive.”
“Yes, that”s for sure. The fact that the Hui Dynasty and the Divine Demon stopped moving at the same time is probably because they are preparing something. In times like this, we must not let our guard down and be even more prepared.”
So-mu nodded once as if he agreed.
“Please strengthen your defenses, and if you have any information, please let us know immediately.”
“I understand. If we need support, we should help each other. Just know that our Martial Alliance shares the fate of the government forces in Shaanxi.”
So-mu smiled meaningfully. The soldiers of the Martial Alliance did not name the country in general, but specifically pointed to Shaanxi. His true intentions were clearly visible.
“How much do you know?”
“Looking at the public sentiment in Hanzhong, it seemed inevitable that the master of the country would open the country. So we decided to bet on him. It was judged to be more trustworthy than Jin Hui”s Song dynasty or Won Gyu”s Po dynasty.”
This was something that was discussed internally not long ago. The possibility was only raised, but the Martial Alliance was already looking ahead to the next move.
However, if the situation or situation changed, they could change their attitude at any time.
“I don”t think it”s appropriate to discuss this now. So next time, I”ll invite you to the palace.”
“Anytime.”
There was nothing more to see here. After saying hello, So-mu stood up with Il-gwang.
It was about time to leave the royal palace and take a walk through the flower garden of Yangheogak.
“It ended faster than I thought. How was it to see the martial arts masters for the first time?”
“My body itched and I thought I was going to die.”
“Among them, you won”t be able to beat even half of them.”
“It”s because the captain doesn”t know me yet. I have never used my full power since I was born.”
So-mu looked at Il-gwang with suspicious eyes. Looking at his serious face, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Then, suddenly, Il-gwang”s expression hardened. I saw the crew waiting in front of the door.
“What”s wrong with your face? Did you get hit by some bastard?”
Hyeonjeong”s appearance was beyond words. Her clothes were torn in several places, and her face was covered in blood.
“It”s no big deal, brother. Don”t worry about it.”
Il-gwang”s face was distorted grimly.
“Shut up and lead the way right away. I”m going to pull out all of their teeth today, no matter what kind of bastards they are.”
“It”s really nothing.”
Il-gwang continued to huff and puff as if he was angry. It was the image of an older brother looking at his younger brother who had just been beaten somewhere.
At that time, So-mu walked ahead and spoke.
“Looking at the wound, it looks like he didn”t resist. Cheong-hae is fine.”
Il-gwang glared at Hyeon-jeong with an expression of incomprehension.
“Are you crazy? Why did you just get hit?”
“””.”
Il-gwang beat his chest as if he was frustrated with Hyun-jeong. He was the type of person who would calm down by putting down anyone who attacked him.
At that time, So-mu, who was walking ahead, asked again.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel relieved. I feel like I have finally let go of the burden on my heart.”
So-mu seemed to have a rough guess of the situation. He held his back, looked somewhere and muttered.
“Then I guess I should stop by the guest house and have a drink to commemorate the occasion. Is that okay?”
Hyeonjeong”s swollen face was drawn into a smile.
“Hehe. Good.”