Chapter 322
Chapter 322
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 322
Chapter Title: We Will Fight (1)
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"Yes. Come in."
I guided Un-hyeok to the student council reception room.
"You can sit over there."
"You're busy, yet you made time for me. My thanks."
We had barely settled into our seats when...
Un-hyeok cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke.
"Ahem. Might I trouble you for a cup of tea?"
At those words from Un-hyeok, my master snorted inwardly.
- Hah. I never knew that long-nosed fool Un-hyeok had such nerve. Asking you, Yong-un, for tea? You think it'd go down without sticking in his throat?
'He's just trying to ease the awkwardness.'
Un-hyeok.
His bad blood with Jeong-hyeon went without saying, and if I listed out every grudge between him and me, there'd be countless ones.
'Though I always came out on top.'
The funny part was that, being a man who respected authority, he'd clearly bowed his head since I was elected student council president.
'Though that applies to most cadets at Hyangran Hall.'
In any case, Un-hyeok and I weren't in a position to leisurely share tea.
Especially not from his perspective, who'd weathered far fewer storms than I had.
Pour...
As I poured tea from the pot, I got straight to the point to avoid wasting time.
"This situation must be a real ordeal for you too, Senior Un-hyeok. Shall we cut to the chase?"
"...You're as steadfast as ever, President Eon."
"I'll take that as a compliment. So, what's this about?"
"Nothing major. Word reached the academy about the commotion at the Murim Alliance between you and the other late-generation disciples who attended."
"And?"
"I heard various sects and clans submitted petitions on your behalf. Among those names was Wudang's. Is it true that Wudang's delegates petitioned for you?"
"It is. Wudang's name wouldn't be thrown around lightly, would it?"
As I answered Un-hyeok's question, my own curiosity piqued.
"Now I'm the one wondering. Why ask me? What are you getting at?"
"Ahem. I'm not here to pick a fight, so don't misunderstand."
"Duly noted."
"You're known for your sharp political instincts, President Eon. I came to ask if perhaps you'd orchestrated this through Jeong-hyeon."
Jeong-hyeon and Wudang already had emotions tangled in a messy knot.
No need to add needless misunderstandings.
"I didn't put him up to it. When other cadets were petitioning their families and sects, I figured Jeong-hyeon went to Wudang too."
At my response, Un-hyeok gulped down the tea in front of him and stood.
"I see. Then I'll ensure Wudang's other disciples don't misunderstand."
I said to Un-hyeok as he turned to leave.
"If I'd said it was my doing, what would you have said?"
"...I'd have offered you some advice."
"Advice?"
"I know it's absurd for me to advise you, but... I'd have told you that things between Jeong-hyeon and us won't resolve by force."
"Hm."
"You two are close to him, so it might seem like we're arbitrarily against the boy. But we have our reasons. It's not a simple matter."
I refilled Un-hyeok's teacup.
"Since the topic's come up, why not talk more before you go? Those 'reasons'—aren't they ultimately about Elder Taeheo-ja?"
Pour...
"From what I know, that former head of the Primordial Flower Palace tolerated black path factions to cover losses from his own desires. When his third-generation disciple bravely exposed it, rather than scorning it as the crime of extinguishing an ancestor's legacy, I'd call it praiseworthy."
"......"
"Don't misunderstand, Senior. Jeong-hyeon never told me this. I pieced it together from my duties."
At the mention of Taeheo-ja's name, Un-hyeok sighed and sat back down.
"...There are certainly those who see the act of reporting the former palace lord itself as the crime of extinguishing an ancestor's legacy. I can't deny it."
"Sounds like you're not one of them."
"I believe he committed a grave wrong that one pursuing the Dao should never do."
"Then why treat Jeong-hyeon so harshly if that's your view?"
"One, Jeong-hyeon utterly disregarded Wudang's precepts, and reporting it to the bureau... was a declaration that he doesn't trust Wudang's disciplinary system or precepts."
Un-hyeok's eyes burned with clear anger as he spoke.
"It lumped everyone who cherished him and had hopes for him as rotten. We're not the ones who cast him out. He pushed us away."
But it wasn't just anger.
The emotion in his eyes bordered on love-hate.
'...He went soft.'
Things between Jeong-hyeon and Wudang were indeed delicate.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ They weren't outright disruptive to academy affairs, just grumbled a bit.
So, I decided to shelve Wudang matters until Jeong-hyeon returned.
I focused on my duties as student council president and cadet.
First came midterms.
Through Dokgo-cheol, I leaked puffed-up, flimsy intel to the Blood Cult, packaged like gold.
"Cheol-ah."
"Yes, President."
"Leak this intel to the cult."
"Got it. I'll pass it exactly as is."
"Good. Keep my martial arts breakthrough under wraps. It'll breed suspicion more than benefit."
"Yes, sir."
I brainstormed ways to develop the four dorms' self-governing councils and cadets, along with support measures.
In spare moments, I laid groundwork with Elder Yeonghwan at the Demon Fang Alliance to revive the Pearl Eon Family's corpse soldiers.
Nearly a month flew by, and Jeong-hyeon and Namgung-yun returned from Shaolin.
"Young Master Eon, we're back."
"Yeah. Report your return."
"No one's here but us. What return report? Didn't you already report to the headmaster? Just go sit at your desks."
"Still, protocol."
"Jeong-hyeon should do it. Why you, Yun? By rank or tenure, he's senior."
"......"
"Haha. I asked him since you seem used to this, Young Master Namgung. Where's everyone else?"
"Your sense of dates hasn't caught up? It's Corpses in General Theory today."
"Ah, you and Lady Tang only have morning classes, while ours are packed solid."
"Yeah. I thought you timed it for today on purpose. Not planning to slack till the end?"
"Pardon?"
"Ha-seong said that guy's no real Daoist but still went to class."
"I-I had no such intentions!"
Jeong-hyeon waved his hands, protesting innocence.
Namgung-yun snorted, as if to say he wasn't that type.
Both had deeper eyes, subtly straighter postures, and changed auras.
"Looks like you both gained something from the Endless Cave. Your vibes have shifted."
"Both I and Jeong-hyeon endured the seven gates. But when we emerged, Venerable Woncheol said you'd cleared ten. True?"
"Yeah."
"As expected of Eon Yong-un."
"Primordial Celestial Lord. The seven gates were hellish for me, like my name stuck to the beehive. Truly impressive."
I nodded to the two and spoke again.
"Anyway, good work. Yun, head back to Hyangran Hall and rest. Jeong-hyeon, let's talk. Senior Un-hyeok visited while you were gone."
At the mention of Un-hyeok...
Namgung-yun left without a word.
Alone with Jeong-hyeon, he exhaled shortly and asked back.
"...Uncle Un-hyeok?"
"Yeah. Right after I got back from the Murim Alliance."
I recounted our conversation verbatim.
"...That's how it went. He said if I meddled, it'd only breed bigger misunderstandings, and left it at that."
"I see."
I showed him the missive from Wudang that morning.
"And today, Daoist Myeonghan sent this."
Jeong-hyeon skimmed it and spoke.
"In five days, an initiation ceremony for formally accepting the Dao boys as disciples. About time. Addressed to Demon Fang Alliance, but really for me."
"Same thought. Wudang's leaders must have plans, inviting you in. But from intel I've gathered, plenty of disciples still resent you."
"Expected."
"Someone might twist the proceedings against you. Your call? It's to the alliance, so we could reply you're busy."
Jeong-hyeon firmly shook his head at my suggestion—no need if unprepared.
"No. I'll go. Uncle Un-hyeok's right. Regardless of right or wrong, my hasty judgment hurt my seniors' feelings. As the party involved, I must resolve it myself."
"Sounds like you're going alone."
"Yes."
"Hm. Really prepared to face Wudang's elders and seniors?"
"Being with you, Young Master Eon, and bonding with your brothers taught me much. The Endless Cave gave new insights. I thought myself upright, yet I was fleeing from my seniors. No more."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Five days later.
I watched from afar as Jeong-hyeon, dressed formally, set off for Wudang with my brothers.
Among them, Eun Ha-seong spoke up.
"Sigh. Like leaving a kid by the water. Think Jeong-hyeon Daoist will be okay?"
Eun Ha-yeon retorted incredulously.
"That's rich coming from you, Ha-seong."
Cheon Jang-ho and Yong-myeong chimed in.
"Usually Ha-seong's the leaky basket over Jeong-hyeon Daoist, but today's worry is him. Right, Yong-myeong?"
"Young Master Namgung and Jeong-hyeon Daoist are both awkward with people."
"Why me?"
No one answered Namgung-yun's question.
As he tilted his head...
Eun Ha-seong looked at me.
"...In that sense, Brother Yong-un?"
"What sense?"
"Let's go."
"Where."
Playing dumb, Dang Ok-gi added.
"Duh! Follow Jeong-hyeon! Honestly, we're all thinking it, right?"
"He asked us to trust him."
Jegal Seol-ji followed up.
"We do. That's why we worry—because we care."
Truth be told, I was uneasy too.
"...The invitation wasn't strictly for Jeong-hyeon. It's to Demon Fang Alliance."
My subconscious slip drew a gleam from Woo So-rung.
"Night travel gear?!"
"What night travel in broad daylight? Change to training clothes, grab present irons, and regroup."
At my words, Brother So-cheon brightened.
"Oh! Training on the way? Nice!"
Cheon Jang-ho and Ye Haesu led the horrified protests.
"Shut it, Brother So-cheon. Yong-un hyung? On second thought, Jeong-hyeon Daoist will handle it."
"...Wait, juniors? Why'd it jump to present irons?"
"Like Brother So-cheon said, training en route. Even if caught, we have an excuse. Thirsty from training? Oh, let's grab water at Wudang. We're not strangers."