What kind of wealth and fame would I enjoy? (1)
“Hooho.”
“…”
“Hohohoho.”
“…”
“Hahaha. Hahahaha! Euhahahahaha!”
Continuously, Im Sobyeong’s laughter echoed throughout the room, leaving Jo Geol to watch him with a puzzled expression.
“Sahyeong.”
“What?”
“Why is he behaving like that?”
“Well… maybe he’s enjoying it.”
“Enjoying it that much?”
Jo Geol still couldn’t quite understand, looking at Im Sobyeong with a bewildered expression.
No, it’s understandable to enjoy good things, but…
“Euhahahahaha!”
Isn’t this a bit too much?
However, Im Sobyeong continued to burst into loud laughter without any concern, and seeing him laugh while looking up at the sky and causing a commotion, it was hard to associate him with the image of Nokrim King, who was usually frail and weak.
On the other hand…
“Why is he behaving like that?”
“What’s going on?”
“Him, him.”
Yoon Jong’s gaze shifted to the opposite side of Nokrim King. For the first time, they saw Chung Myung in a melancholic state. He looked so gloomy that it almost seemed like storm clouds were gathering above his head.
Sitting huddled in a corner, Chung Myung was scribbling something on the ground with a twig. Im Sobyeong happily burst into laughter when he saw him in this mood, as if he was triumphantly waving a flag, holding the written pledge in his hand.
“Euhahahahaha!”
Yoon Jong, watching the alternating scenes of Chung Myung digging into the ground and Im Sobyeong trumpeting the victory, shook his head in disbelief.
“This is a mess.”
“Indeed.”
At that moment, Baek Cheon approached Im Sobyeong with a smirk.
“Congratulations.”
“Oh! Baek Cheon Dojang! Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“…Are you really okay with this?”
“I’m more than okay!”
Im Sobyeong unfurled his fan dramatically.
“The harsh years of enduring humiliation and pain just to enter Cheonumaeng! The disgrace, the suffering!”
“…”
“Having received all that at once, how could I not feel good? Now, Nokrim is also a proud member of Cheonumaeng.”
“…Even though we decided to make it public later…”
“That’s not important. What’s important is that we finally have a shield.”
“When you say ‘shield’?”
In response to Baek Cheon’s question, Im Sobyeong smiled mysteriously.
“Think about it, Baek Cheon Dojang. If Nokrim wasn’t on good terms with Hwasan in this situation, what do you think would have happened?”
“Well… in that case…”
Baek Cheon pondered for a moment and then nodded. He understood what Im Sobyeong was getting at.
“It would have been really dangerous.”
“That’s right. Exactly. The relationship between orthodox and unorthodox factions is currently at its worst. On top of that, Gupailbang has suffered a great deal of humiliation from Sapaeryeon and needs a way to restore their honor. In this situation, if Nokrim wasn’t part of Cheonumaeng, Shaolin would have crushed us.”
This isn’t just about Shaolin. Many factions are seeking to restore their honor right now.
“While other evil factions can reasonably go down to Gangnam and join Sapaeryeon, it’s impossible for Nokrim. Nokrim is fundamentally a faction that lives by the mountains, right? And most of the mountainous areas in Central Plains are concentrated in the north.”
“That’s true.”
This means that among the massive factions existing in Central Plains, only Nokrim is the unique faction that operates mainly in Gangbuk as its base. Of course, Nokrim also operates in Gangnam, but its influence there doesn’t compare to its presence in the entire northern region.
“So, we have two choices. We can abandon all the hard-earned bases in Gangbuk and migrate to Gangnam, bowing down to Sapaeryeon. Alternatively, we can cut ties with Gangnam and survive in Gangbuk under the watchful eye of Gupailbang.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
“Surviving would be difficult.”
“Yes, that’s right. Even if Nokrim is strong, do you think we can handle only Gupailbang? If those orthodox guys decide to attack, it won’t take them even a month to wipe out all the bandits on this mountains.”
“…”
“And the other option is just as difficult. How can we, as humans, bow down to Jang Ilso, that devil?”
“…”
It’s well-known that Jang Ilso and Im Sobyeong are enemies, to say the least. Looking at it rationally, it’s more like Im Sobyeong, who was thoroughly beaten by Jang Ilso, is nursing a personal vendetta.
“But!”
Shhhhhk!
What was spread out this time wasn’t a fan but a written pledge with Hyun Jong’s seal on it.
“Now we are also proud members of Cheonumaeng! No matter how much they say we’re part of the evil factions, they won’t be able to touch us as members of Cheonumaeng!”
“…”
Tears welled up in Im Sobyeong’s eyes as he spoke passionately. Baek Cheon, somewhat flustered, asked,
“Why? Why are you crying?”
“No, it’s not that, Baek Cheon. It’s just that a sudden sadness washed over me…”
“What? Sadness?”
“Yes!”
Im Sobyeong looked into the distance with moist eyes.
“All those harsh years… The demons outside did everything they could to prey on us, and the idiots inside questioned why we had to serve the disciples of the orthodox sect… Elders said the predecessors weren’t like this! They said the Nokrim King isn’t qualified! They said Nokrim has gone astray!”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“No, no! All that suffering is over now! When I shove this pledge right in the faces of those elders, I’m so curious to see what expressions they’ll make! Uhahahaha!”
Baek Cheon discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took a couple of steps back. Im Sobyeong’s reaction was so intense that it was a bit overwhelming, but, well, he seemed to be enjoying it.
Still, Baek Cheon took another look at Im Sobyeong.
‘On the other hand… He’s quite something.’
In other words, Nokrim King seemed to have had some inkling from the moment he first met Chung Myung that something like this might happen eventually. That’s why he chose to join Hwasan as a faction that could become the Nokrim’s roof.
If Im Sobyeong’s choice had been delayed or made incorrectly by even a bit, the situation for Nokrim would have been far more grim compared to what it was now. Although he appeared to have many quirks, it was abundantly clear that Im Sobyeong, as the leader of Nokrim, had made the best possible choice.
On the other hand…
Baek Cheon turned his gaze to the opposite side. There, Chung Myung leaned on a tree stump, staring blankly at the sky. He looked quite forlorn, to the point where even the wicked demon seemed pitiful.
“Chung Myung?”
“…”
“I’m sorry?… Chung Myung?”
After calling him twice, his head slowly turned towards Baek Cheon.
“Sasuk…”
“Yeah, that’s right, Chung Myng. Are you okay?”
Baek Cheon swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat.
“What am I…”
“Hmm?”
“… What kind of wealth and fame would I enjoy?”
Chung Myung’s eyes were moist, and he couldn’t continue his sentence.
“I never thought I’d end up sharing a meal with the Sapa bastards. I’d rather raise maggots. No matter how much I try to justify it as a means to survive, how can I possibly eat with those Sapa scoundrels?”
“Come on, calm down.”
“Sect Leader has done too much! No matter how much your conscience pricks you…. Not just one or two, but those hoards of bandits… oh my how can I possibly eat with those Sapa bastards? Oh dear. Oh dear! What has happened to Hwasan? Hwasan is ruined. It’ll get destroyed…”
Baek Cheon was drenched in cold sweat, utterly shocked. While he had seen Chung Myung resort to the help of Nokrim quite often and was no longer surprised by it or found it irritating, this despairing and sorrowful Chung Myung was something entirely new.
“I should just die, bite my tongue and die. Why have I lived to this age to see this…”
“You’re still young, you crazy bastard! Why are you talking like an old man at the end of his life?”
Confusion was engulfing the scene. Observing this, Jo Geol, as if stating the obvious, commented,
“It must be quite a shock to end up sharing a meal with the Sapa.”
“That guy has a Sapa-phobia.”
He was already a guy who didn’t even treat Sapa as a human beings, but recently, thanks to the appearance of Jang Ilso, that symptom has gotten several times worse.
Still, Im So-byeong should qualify to be called a moderate faction, but if Chung Myung’s reaction was like this, one could only imagine how much he hated people like Jang Ilso or Black Dragon King.
“For now, let’s try to calm him down.”
“Can’t we just leave him alone?”
“I’m afraid if we leave him alone, he might start saying things like, ‘Hwasan’s principles are dead. In that case, I’ll drive Sect Leader away and become the new Sect Leader to reestablish Hwasan’s spirit.’ That kind of nonsense.”
“Well, firstly we need to find some sweets.”
There might be little chance of that happening, but the consequences of ignoring it were too terrifying to contemplate.
Chung Myung becoming the Sect Leader of Hwasan was not just a matter concerning Hwasan. It could be a disaster that would engulf the entire Central Plains. For the sake of peace in the Central Plains, and even beyond, it had to be prevented at all costs.
However, most of Hwasan’s disciples couldn’t contain their laughter as they watched the bizarre spectacle. It didn’t excite them much that Nokrim had joined Cheonumaeng. Over time, their aversion to Nokrim had diminished significantly.
So, they took delight in the fact that the once mighty figure was taken down a notch.
“That guy is finally getting a taste of his own medicine.”
“Now that Sect Leader has taken over, things might get easier for us.”
“Even this guy has such days.”
“There’s a day for the sun to shine even in a rat’s hole!”
At that moment, Tang Soso chuckled and said,
“That’s why I told you to be a bit more gracious, Sahyeong. It’s just that he’s got a bitter heart, so he’s getting a taste of his own medicine! Ho ho ho ho!”
“…Is it funny?”
“Ho ho ho ho!”
“I said, is it funny?”
“Uh… ho… ho ho.”
Tang Soso’s exaggerated laughter gradually froze into a forced smile as Chung Myung, who had been despairing, rose from his seat.
He spoke quietly.
“Sasuk.”
“…Yeah?”
Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung’s expression with anxiety.
“I’ve been thinking, and it seems like there’s one reason this catastrophe happened.”
“What is it?”
“It’s because we’re weak.”
“…Huh?”
Wait a minute? Weren’t we the ones who, just two days ago, leaped over that river… the Yangtze River in a single bound, smashed through the enemy’s defenses, and saved Namgung?
But we’re weak?
Baek Cheon’s eyeballs began to quiver.
“Chung Myung… I’ve been thinking, but I believe that judgment might be wrong.”
“No, it’s not.”
Chung Myung replied with a determined expression,
“Think about it – it’s a simple matter. If we could have just destroyed the Sapaeryeon and Gupailbang, we wouldn’t even have had to associate with those Sapa guys, right?”
“If one martial faction could handle everything, would that be Hwasan? That’s Magyo [Demonic Cult].”
“Oh, no!”
“Huh?”
A nearby scream startled Baek Cheon, and he inadvertently blocked his own mouth.
He realized what mistake he had made.
“…Magyo?”
“…?”
“Magyoooooooo?”
To make matters worse, Chung Myung’s eyes began to flash with madness. Those who saw that look in his eyes stared at Baek Cheon with immense killing intent.
“Oh, damn it. Even when I told myself not to say it!”
“This idiot! Knowing that he goes into a fit when he hears the word ‘Magyo!’”
“You should have just tied up his mouth!”
Baek Cheon, who received resentful gazes from all around, turned his head and looked up at the distant sky. Chung Myung muttered grimly.
“You’re right, Magyo. Yeah, Magyo. We have to defeat Magyo. So there’s no time for playing around here.”
With his eyes completely turned, Chung Myung gripped the Dark Plum Sword.
Baek Cheon hurriedly glanced around. He had intended to try and make Im Sobyeong calm him down, since he had triggered this entire situation.
But…
“Where did that yangbang go?”
“The Nokrim King? After the Magyo thing, he just hopped away like a rabbit.”
“…”
Ah. So life is to be lived like this… I’ve learned one more thing today.
Sssslung.
Chung Myung, with the Dark Plum Sword drawn, smirked and scanned everyone.
“Come.”
“…”
“It’s time for an enjoyable training session.”
The color drained from everyone’s faces.
_________
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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