You can just leave it be. (4)
“As I suspected!”
Namgung Dowi grabbed Baek Cheon’s hand excitedly. Baek Cheon looked at him with utmost solemnity.
“Thank you! Thank you, Baek Cheon Dojang!”
“Uh, wait a moment…”
Baek Cheon tried to resist Namgung Dowi, feeling extremely uncomfortable, but it seemed that he had no intention of listening.
“I had a hunch, but indeed! I thought that Hwasan’s growth couldn’t be explained by the traditional methods.”
“…”
“So, it’s correct that everyone from Hwasan, including Baek Cheon Dojang, is learning sword from Chung Myung Dojang, right?”
“Well, it’s not entirely incorrect, but…”
“Thank you!”
Namgung Dowi released Baek Cheon’s hand and clenched his fist tightly.
“It seems like we’ve found a way to revive the Namgung Clan for sure.”
“But… Young Lord? Please calm down for a moment…”
“In that case, I’ll go and make a request to Chung Myung Dojang! Thank you!”
“Uh, wait a moment…”
However, Namgung Dowi rushed out without looking back, leaving Baek Cheon staring blankly at the scene. Those who remained behind stared at Baek Cheon with accusations in their eyes.
“Demon.”
“Devil.”
“He is pushing people into a fire pit.”
“Ah, come on, you brats! What do you expect me to do? He didn’t give me a chance to explain, he just heard what he want and left!”
Baek Cheon complained feeling injustice, but Ogeom’s gaze had already left him. They watched with pity as Namgung Dowi ran into the distance.
“…He’s going to regret it.”
“Yeah.”
“Poor guy.”
“That’s his luck, getting into accidents.”
Among them, Yoon Jong was the calmest.
“…Let’s follow.”
“Huh?”
Yoon Jong spoke with a face full of duty.
“If we couldn’t stop him from jumping into the pit, we should at least fish him out and dunk him in some water when it’s needed.”
“…”
It sounded somewhat oddly phrased, but Baek Cheon nodded.
“Right, let’s try to prevent a total disaster.”
Ogeom quickly chased after Namgung Dowi.
***
“Oh, don’t push!”
“Just a moment, let me see…”
“No, I said don’t push!”
Ogeom slightly opened the door to the hall where Chung Myung was, and they peeked inside the room.
Inside, a peculiar scene was unfolding. Chung Myung was seated as if he was a high-ranking official, and in front of him, Namgung Dowi was kneeling.
“It looks like a scene where they’re trying to bribe and request favors from a powerful government official.”
Like a corrupted bureaucrat…. no, Chung Myung looked a hundred times more sinister than that as he glanced at Namgung Dowi with a sullen face.
“So, you’re saying…”
“Yes, Dojang.”
“You want me to teach you the sword?”
“That’s right!”
Chung Myung smiled broadly.
“Not just you but Namgung Clan too?”
“Yes!”
“And me?”
“Exactly!”
“Haha.”
“Hahahaha!”
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Chung Myung and Namgung Dowi burst into laughter as if they had reached an agreement. Of course, Namgung Dowi was the only one who believed that they had reached an agreement.
“Has this guy gone insane?”
Thud!
“Agaaaah!”
Namgung Dowi, who had his face hit directly by Chung Myung’s flying kick as he leaped over the table, screamed and flew backward.
“I knew this would happen!”
Baek Cheon burst into the room after throwing open the door and managed to catch Namgung Dowi just before he slammed into the wall.
“No!”
Chung Myung roared as he landed on the floor.
“While I wasn’t looking, did someone lace the river with some kind of drug?! Is there not a single sane person here? Those Nokrim Sapa guys went to join Cheonumaeng! The Shaolin folks are just looking out for their own interests! And even Namgung Clan’s next head of the family? Martial arts? Seriously?”
“D-Dojang I d-didn’t mean that…”
“I’ve seen countless crazies in my life, but this guy is on a whole new level! Hey, you crazy lunatic! Does any of this make sense?”
Baek Cheon, who had put down sulking Namgung Dowi, raised his hand to cover his mouth and cleared his throat softly.
“Um… Chung Myung.”
“What!”
“I understand why you’re so excited, but Young Lord is in a hurry, so maybe this isn’t the right time for this. You should understand…”
“Sasuk.”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung spoke with a serious tone.
“If we continue like this and end up in utter ruin…”
“Why do you keep saying people fail when they’re anxious…”
“Anyway, we’ve failed. Utterly failed. All that’s left are the kids.”
“But what?”
“But amid all this, if that crazy Jo Geol, who survived the attack of Sapaeryeon, takes the kids and goes to Wudang to ask for swordsmanship lessons to save Hwasan, how do you think Sasuk would feel?”
“Is this guy insane?”
“Kyaah!”
Baek Cheon unexpectedly kicked Jo Geol’s side while he was standing there. Jo Geol, who had been kicked in the side out of nowhere, folded in half and flew, then crashed into something.
“Oh, a bit late…”
Yoon Jong put down the hand that had been covering his mouth again. This time, Baek Cheon was a bit quicker.
“Nooo!”
Jo Geol, who was groaning on the floor, blinked his eyes and turned his head towards Yoon Jong. When he did, Yoon Jong just gave him a faint smile and nodded.
Betrayed by the world, Jo Geol sat down, clutching his knees. Tang Soso patted his shoulder as if sympathizing.
“Yeah, you should have acted like a decent person.”
“Kak! Can you leave me alone?”
Baek Cheon coughed and glared at Namgung Dowi.
‘It’s not that.’
He hadn’t given it much thought, but when he put himself in his shoes and thought about it, there really was no one as crazy as that guy. I mean, seriously, who goes to another faction to learn swordsmanship?
Even Hyun Jong, who was famous for not letting his pride get in the way for the sake of Hwasan, didn’t ask Southern Edge to teach him swordsmanship. Even during that difficult time for Hwasan.
No, if such words were spoken, even Hyun Jong might have stuck a plum branch in his face right then and there.
Chung Myung foamed at the mouth and shouted,
“Hey, you crazy bastard! Where did you learn your swordsmanship? Namgung Hwang might just rise from the grave spouting water from the river with his mouth!”
“…My father hasn’t been buried yet.”
“Then go check, you bastard! He might be trying to break out of the coffin!”
Namgung Dowi flinched at Chung Myung’s threatening gaze.
Chung Myung shook his head in disbelief, clicking his tongue.
“The world is going to hell. Seriously, the world is going to hell. I mean, what happened in the last hundred years? Why are there only lunatics left in the world?”
Now these guys are scarier than Cheonma. Scarier than the Heavenly Demon, you guys!
However, Namgung Dowi began to defend himself as if he felt unjust.
“I’m not asking for teachings in Hwasan’s swordsmanship, Dojang.”
“Hmm?”
“No matter how crazy I may be, how could I ask for Hwasan’s swordsmanship?”
“Is that so?”
Chung Myung, who had suddenly become calm, nodded as if agreeing.
“That’s a relief. I was worried that I might have to throw you in the Yangtze River for the future of Namgung Clan, and make that uncle named Namgung Myeong into the next head.”
“…”
“Then what is it?”
“I naturally intend to learn Namgung’s swordsmanship. Namgung is not so weak as to covet another faction’s sword.”
“Well, it’s a bit weak.”
“…”
“Uh… no, whatever. Anyway, go on.”
“So, um…”
Feeling somewhat disheartened, Namgung Dowi stole a quick glance at his eyes and continued.
“What we want to request from the Dojang is not teachings in swordsmanship but experience in real combat.”
“Hmm?”
“I realized it keenly on Maehwado. To master swordsmanship without mistakes, to operate it perfectly, and to confirm one’s weaknesses through sparring with each other…”
Namgung Dowi’s attitude gradually became more serious.
Namgung Dowi’s attitude gradually became more serious.
“Just that alone won’t suffice for practical combat.”
Chung Myung looked at Namgung Dowi as if he found him interesting.
‘He’s a fun guy.’
With this recent incident, two thirds of the family’s strength was lost, including the elders, and even the clan leader was lost. Thanks to that, the timing for inheriting the family has been sped up by at least twenty years.
For an ordinary person, just enduring the current situation would be overwhelming. However, Namgung Dowi was thinking about the future.
“I may not bring up such matters in our current situation, but Namgung’s swordsmanship is definitely not muddy.”
Chung Myung nodded slightly. It wasn’t an entirely incorrect statement. If Namgung had truly been weak, they wouldn’t have been able to maintain the position of the greatest martial artist family in the world for so long.
“Even so, Namgung faced a major crisis this time because our swords were like swords in a well, ignorant of real combat.”
Namgung Dowi stared straight at Chung Myung.
“But Hwasan was different. Even though Hwasan’s disciples may not have experienced much real combat, they fought as if they had been through countless battles.”
Namgung Dowi clenched his fist tightly.
“Dojang.”
“…”
“Please help us. We must become stronger. And I believe there’s no one else but you who can fulfill that role.”
“Hmm.”
Chung Myung scratched his cheek with a peculiar expression. Then he spoke to Namgung Dowi in a solemn tone.
“Well, everything sounds good, but… let me ask you one thing.”
“Yes.”
“I understand the reasons, but in my opinion, can’t that be done without you personally coming to Hwasan?”
Namgung Dowi fell into silence.
“I say this because I don’t want to underestimate how dangerous this situation is. People in the world won’t necessarily consider all those circumstances. They might just think Namgung went crazy and decided to learn swordsmanship at Hwasan.”
“I understand.”
“Yeah, you should understand. You seem to know how dangerous this all is. So, I’m asking.”
Chung Myung spoke with a chilling gaze.
“Why are you doing all this when you know everything?”
Namgung Dowi bit his lip tightly.
“…I don’t want to lose anyone else.”
Chung Myung’s expression stiffened at his words.
“The existence of Sapaeryeon will make the world increasingly dangerous. Unless you choose Bongmun… No, even if we choose Bongmun, Namgung won’t be able to avoid them.”
Listening to this, Ogeom nodded. There was hardly anything wrong with that statement.
“My father told me.”
“…Namgung Hwang? Your family head?”
“Yes. My father showed me at the last moment. What Namgung’s family head should do.”
Namgung Dowi said firmly.
“The family head of Namgung is the one who protects the family’s bloodline.”
“…”
“I… I don’t want to lose a single member of my family anymore. I’ll do whatever it takes for that.”
Namgung Dowi raised his head and looked at Chung Myung.
“If I have to kneel, I’ll kneel. If I have to bow my head, I’ll bow my head.”
And he said while bowing his head deeply.
“Please help us, Dojang. Namgung’s sword will repay that debt!”
Watching this, Baek Cheon nodded silently.
‘Impressive.’
He felt ashamed about himself.
‘If it was me, could I lower my head like that for the future of Hwasan, to someone else?’
Namgung Dowi has lived a life of such high status that he can’t even be compared to Baek Cheon. Isn’t the position of the head of Namgung family something that anyone in Gangho would envy? However, at this moment, there was no sign of any hesitation in Namgung Dowi’s actions. Regardless of right or wrong, his attitude alone was certainly worth emulating.
“I won’t lose a single person….”
Chung Myung briefly pondered Namgung Dowi’s words and chuckled.
“Can you say such a dreamlike thing even after seeing hell?”
“….I think I should say it even more because I’ve seen it.”
A smile curled at the corner of Chung Myung’s mouth. However, Baek Cheon knew that the smile was not meant with ill intent. He had often smiled like that when they managed to achieve more than Chung Myung had anticipated.
“Well, fine. It’s not that difficult to enjoy beating them, as it’s a real battle, right?”
“Th-then?”
“You’re going to be a family member anyway – I’ll help you.”
“Th-thank you…”
He was about to bow deeply when he suddenly stopped. Chung Myung’s palm was extended where he had intended to bow.
“Do-dojang?…”
Namgung Dowi raised his head with a puzzled expression. Then he saw it. The satisfied… truly satisfied expression on Chung Myung’s face. After endless waiting and maneuvering, what would [강태공 – he was a military advisor, strategist]Kang Taegong’s face, who had finally caught a big fish after all the effort, look like?
“So.”
“….”
“How much are you willing to pay?”
“….Excuse me?”
Namgung Dowi’s eyes shook significantly.
“You said you didn’t want to lose anyone.”
“….”
“In other words, saying that means the value of one person’s life is that high, right?”
“…Dojang?”
“Well then, let’s find out.”
Chung Myung let out a mischievous chuckle.
“Namgung Clan’s Lord, how much can you offer to spare the lives of those noble warriors?”
“……”
“I hope you won’t disappoint. Namgung Clan is wealthy. Right?”
“……”
“Hehehehehe! Hehehehe!”
Chung Myung extended his belly and laughed aloud. Suddenly, a pure white weasel popped out from his clothes, climbed onto Chung Myung’s head, and screeched with the same posture.
Only after witnessing this incredibly bizarre scene, Namgung Dowi realized something had gone terribly wrong.
________
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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