Anyone got anything else to say? (4)
Un Am extended his hands and clasped his fists in a respectful salute to everyone present.
“I am Un Am, currently serving as the Sect Leader of Hwasan.”
The Sect Leaders gathered there looked at him with solemn gazes.
How many people would even recognize the Taoist name [도호 – doho] Un Am? Compared to those who had made their names known throughout the world from early on, the name Un Am was as good as unknown. It was not a name that could dare stand alongside those seated here.
But not one among them dared to disregard Un Am.
They might not respect the man called Un Am. But they could not dare look down on the Sect Leader of Hwasan. Such was the immense standing Hwasan held in Gangho today.
“Thank you to everyone who has come such a long way, despite this sudden request.”
After bowing deeply, Un Am continued speaking. In his calm and composed tone, there was an ease not much different from Un Am’s usual self.
“The reason I have gathered you all here is partly to express our gratitude for your aid during the recent war, but above all, it is to discuss what lies ahead.”
At Un Am’s words, the gazes of the Sect Leaders changed. They sensed that this was where the true Alliance Assembly began.
“The damage from the war was great. There is far too much that we must do: to rebuild what was lost, and to help those who are still suffering from the aftermath of the war.”
Hyun Jong, watching from below the platform, felt his eyes grow moist.
‘Un Am-ah…….’
Every disciple of Hwasan was like a child or grandchild to him. There was not a single one he did not worry over. But if he had to choose only one upon whom his heart lingered the most, it could only be Un Am.
The one who had endured Hwasan’s long winter, only to willingly yield the glorious spring that had finally arrived to those who came after him.
Whenever Hyun Jong looked upon such a disciple, he could not help but feel sorry for him.
“…When you were this remarkable all along.”
If Hwasan had been a sect with just a little more prestige and power, might that child’s name have resounded throughout the world even before Baek Cheon and Chung Myung?
As such thoughts crossed Hyun Jong’s mind, his wrinkled face was tinged with both pride and sorrow.
“Why are you crying again? On a day like this, no less. Talk about bad luck.”
“…”
“Honestly, once you get old, all you do is cry. Ugh.”
The person he worried about most was certainly Un Am. And the person who annoyed him most was certainly this damned Saje of his.
“You really are a heartless old geezer.”
“Enough with that nonsense about feelings. Wipe your tears before anyone sees you. Do not cry for no reason in the middle of the ceremony and ruin the whole occasion.”
“I said I understand.”
While the two elders bickered behind him, Un Am continued to guide the atmosphere with his characteristic benevolent smile.
But there were also those who watched this scene – which might have held profound meaning for some – with emotionless eyes. Seated some distance away from the center of the platform, Cho Geosan, the Hundred-Faced Fox, kept his gaze fixed on Un Am as he spoke.
“What do you think, Shin Gun?”
Yeo Mugwang, the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord, who was seated beside him, stared at Un Am with an unreadable look in his eyes before answering in a flat tone.
“Mediocre [범용(凡庸)].”
“Hmm. Is that so? He is still the Sect Leader of Hwasan.”
The Illusory Phantom clicked his tongue briefly.
“There is nothing particularly lacking in him, but neither is there anything exceptional about him. He would not be inadequate as the Sect Leader of a small sect, but I would have to say he is not qualified to lead a sect that would speak of the affairs of all under heaven.”
It was an assessment cold enough to chill the bones.
“The others are much the same. My disappointment is great. Since Hwasan claimed it would speak for all under heaven, I had thought it might at least be comparable to Wudang in its prime.”
The smile on Cho Geosan’s face deepened slightly.
“It is not bad for us. If Hwasan as it is now were truly at a level where it could speak of Wudang in its prime, we would never have been given an opportunity.”
“That would not be so.”
“Pardon?”
“Perhaps in the past, but as I am now, even if Wudang of those days were to come, I could more than hold my own against them. There would be no one among them capable of stopping me.”
At those words, arrogant beyond measure, the Hundred-Faced Fox let out a hollow laugh.
But it was not a bad thing. The Illusory Phantom Divine Lord as he was now had the right to be arrogant. No, he needed to behave arrogantly. Only then would the Hundred-Faced Fox be able to seize his opportunity.
“Then I take it your intentions remain unchanged, Shin Gun. May we proceed according to the plan?”
“Fox [호리(狐狸)].”
“Yes, Shin Gun.”
“Do not keep trying to test me. There is a limit to how much I am willing to tolerate.”
Yeo Mugwang glared at the Hundred-Faced Fox with eyes faintly tinged by anger.
“Whether Hwasan is strong or weak, I would have come here regardless. So long as the only one in Gangho today who can face me after I have emerged from seclusion [Pyegwan] is that child of Hwasan.”
“Of course, Shin Gun.”
The Hundred-Faced Fox concealed a faint smile.
‘Anyone hearing him would think he were some seeker of truth [구도자(求道者)] who knows nothing but martial arts.’
If Yeo Mugwang had truly been such a man, he would never have sought out the Hundred-Faced Fox. Just as the Hundred-Faced Fox knew the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord well, the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord knew the Hundred-Faced Fox equally well.
The fact that he had sought out the Hundred-Faced Fox made the meaning behind his actions perfectly clear. The Illusory Phantom’s aim was neither the pursuit of the Tao nor martial arts, but power and prestige alone.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter to me. In fact, I’d prefer that you take such a position. While basking in your glory, I’ll manipulate the world from behind the scenes.’
Cho Geosan, the Hundred-Faced Fox, turned his gaze towards the platform. Un Am, with his plain and unassuming appearance, was still speaking in that same calm voice.
‘Annoying.’
The Illusory Phantom had judged that man to be ordinary. Cho Geosan had no particular disagreement with that assessment. But was being ordinary truly such a bad thing?
No, it was not. Being ordinary was, in turn, being familiar. Especially to those who were endlessly wary of their opponent’s strength, someone ordinary and familiar was by no means a bad thing.
‘There is nothing to be gained by dragging this out.’
He needed to move before the people gathered here began to accept that ordinariness as familiarity.
The Hundred-Faced Fox’s eyes took on a sinister gleam.
⠀
“And so…….”
Un Am paused for a moment and swallowed.
“I would like to discuss it with the Sect Leaders gathered here. How we might help more people before it is too late, that is.”
Having finished speaking, Un Am slowly swept his gaze across the Assembly. One of them raised a hand as he looked at Un Am.
“What method does the Sect Leader have in mind?”
“That…”
As it was a question he had anticipated, Un Am began to answer calmly. But someone’s voice cut him off in the middle of his sentence.
“With Hwasan at the center – no, at the pinnacle.”
At the loud voice that came from behind them, everyone turned to look towards the back.
“Select one sect in each province to serve as a branch, and have the other sects carry out the orders of their respective branches.”
Several Sect Leaders’ expressions shifted slightly as they looked at Cho Geosan, the Hundred-Faced Fox, who had stolen the answer from Un Am. They had recognized who he was.
“That is the most efficient method, wouldn’t you agree? In fact, I doubt Hwasan’s own plans differ much from this.”
Meeting the provocative gaze directed at him, Un Am instinctively realized something. The man had not raised this issue with good intentions.
“Would you reveal your identify first?”
“Ah, my apologies. The Sect Leader of Hwasan could hardly be expected to know an insignificant nobody like myself.”
Cho Geosan rose slowly from his seat. It was a movement that seemed to draw the eyes of everyone present towards him. Once he was certain that all attention had settled upon him, he smiled faintly.
“I am Cho Geosan, leader of a small sect known as Baek-ya Bang [백야방(白夜房) – The Manor of the White Night]. My fellow martial artists call me by the undeserved title of the Hundred-Faced Fox.”
Un Am’s expression stiffened.
‘Cho Geosan, the Hundred-Faced Fox.’
He had heard of him. He was a man of some ‘fame’ in Hubei. Though that fame was not entirely of the favorable sort…
Why had a man like that stepped forward so openly?
“What do you think, Sect Leader? Am I mistaken?”
“Hm.”
Un Am composed his expression before speaking.
“It does not differ greatly from what you have said.”
“Indeed, indeed. Just as I thought.”
Cho Geosan nodded as though it were only to be expected. Un Am asked in a heavy voice.
“Do you believe this system to be flawed, Sect Leader?”
“How could I?”
Cho Geosan, the Hundred-Faced Fox, smiled softly.
“It is an extremely efficient method. Since it would be impossible to manage every sect from distant Shaanxi, establishing bases of operations is practical. And if the Beggars Sect were to take charge of connecting those sects, it would become an even more impeccable plan.”
As though truly impressed, Cho Geosan swept his gaze over Un Am and the disciples of Hwasan behind him. Then he added slowly.
“However… There is one concern I cannot entirely dismiss.”
“A concern?”
“This measure is a means of connecting every sect under heaven efficiently, but viewed another way, it is also a system through which a single sect may issue orders to every sect under heaven. Of course, if we speak only of efficiency, there could be nothing better…”
As his words paused for a moment, tension settled over the vast training ground. As if savoring that tension, Cho Geosan let a crooked smile slip.
“Yet would not such efficiency only be possible when the sect issuing those orders is sufficiently capable and qualified to do so?”
The Sect Leaders who could no longer endure it began to murmur.
It was not because they agreed with Cho Geosan’s words. What he had just said was no different from declaring that Hwasan’s capabilities could not be trusted. And those gathered here were not people who could fail to recognize how blatant a provocation it was.
As everyone murmured amid a situation unfolding entirely differently from what they had expected – or far more aggressively than they had imagined – Un Am opened his mouth once more.
“That is an extremely accurate observation, Sect Leader.”
“Hm?”
“Hwasan is indeed a sect that falls short of being entrusted with such a responsibility.”
Cho Geosan looked at Un Am as though taken by surprise. But Un Am’s gaze was directed not at him, but at the other Sect Leaders.
“That is precisely why we need the aid and cooperation of those gathered here. Let me make it clear once more: this is an Assembly to seek that cooperation. It is not a place to discuss an order imposed by Hwasan Sect.”
It was a good answer. No, more than good – it was excellent. That is, if Cho Geosan had had any intention of accepting that answer in the first place.
“Hahahaha.”
Cho Geosan laughed in an exaggerated manner, as though drawing back to himself the attention Un Am had directed elsewhere.
“Sect Leader. Forgive my bluntness, but to my ears, that word ‘cooperation’ sounds like a demand for ‘loyalty’.”
“What do you…!”
Even Un Am could not hide his surprise this time. Was this not provocation taken too far? No, it was not mere provocation. Before an Assembly of so many prominent figures, he was disparaging Hwasan’s intentions. It was no different from declaring his hostility towards Hwasan.
Yet Cho Geosan continued speaking as though he felt not the slightest hesitation about what he was doing.
“Ah. There is no need to be so startled. I did not say it with ill intent. It is hardly such an extraordinary matter, is it? After all, Shaolin, too, once demanded loyalty in the name of peace.”
Several of the Sect Leaders nodded faintly, as though they at least agreed with that much.
“Cooperation, assistance, loyalty – call it whatever you like. But… well. There is only one thing I am curious about. Is Hwasan truly a sect qualified for such a role?”
“Sect Leader.”
“Please hear me out to the end. Hwasan’s contributions to the world are by no means small. I have no intention whatsoever of denying an obvious fact. But simply because you saved my life once, must I now trust and follow you regardless of whether you possess the ability to lead…? Is that not an entirely different matter?”
Cho Geosan looked around at those gathered, as if seeking their agreement.
At that moment, Un Am had no choice but to realize it. The gazes of the Sect Leaders who had maintained a favorable attitude towards Hwasan – whether sincerely or merely for show – were changing in a peculiar way.
‘Damn it….’
This was not why he had begun this meeting.
Yet at the same time, Un Am sensed something else. This rift would not disappear simply because he hurried to smooth over the present conversation.
‘What should I do……’
It was then.
“Damn, you really know how to twist your words.”
Someone’s irritated voice drove into everyone’s ears.
It was such a flippant and aggressive remark that it was hard to believe it had been spoken at a gathering like this. Naturally, every gaze converged in one place.
It was the young Taoist who had been standing behind Un Am. From those who recognized him came sounds that were somewhere between gasps of admiration and groans of disbelief.
“…Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“Why are you beating around the bush? You could’ve just said you think Hwasan is an easy target.”
Chung Myung stepped forward.
Watching this, the Hundred-Faced Fox could not help but laugh in disbelief.
‘He really is young.’
He had not expected him to take the bait so easily. A truly seasoned veteran would have concealed himself until the very end, never showing an opening in the first place.
“Well, if it is not the renowned……”
“Shush.”
The Hundred-Faced Fox, now feeling triumphant, tried to carry on, but Chung Myung casually waved his hand and cut him off.
“…”
For the first time, bewilderment showed on the Hundred-Faced Fox’s face.
“Sorry, but I’m the type who gets sick listening to people twist their words on and on again. So let’s just get to the point.”
“To the point..?”
“Come out.”
“Pardon?”
“Not you.”
Chung Myung jerked his chin towards the Hundred-Faced Fox. No, more precisely, towards the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord seated beside him.
“Tell that fellow next to you to come out. That was what you intended from the beginning anyway, wasn’t it?”
Chung Myung flashed a grin at the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord, who was glaring back at him.
“What? Why? Are you going to pretend otherwise now?”
“Dojang, we…”
“Ah, cut it out already.”
Chung Myung snickered.
“No matter how you try to dress it up, we both know what you are really after. You are only probing us because you think you can handle us easily enough. So let’s not waste each other’s time. It is easier for both sides that way, isn’t it?”
As Chung Myung finished speaking, his expression changed completely. The mischief vanished as though it had been washed away, and cold, ruthless light appeared in his eyes. Staring at them, Chung Myung growled through clenched teeth.
“Come out. I’ll smash you to pieces.”
At those violent words, the Hundred-Faced Fox involuntarily flinched.
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