Chapter 21: Good Grief, the World is Going to the Dogs (3)
Chapter 21: Good Grief, the World is Going to the Dogs (3)
“Ooh….”
“Wow….”
“Oh my.”
The disciples, having confirmed the utility of the World Tree, let out exclamations of wonder.
Simply by performing energy circulation beneath the tree, their internal energy multiplied several times over, and their qi became remarkably pure.
This was far superior to any spiritual medicine.
While spiritual medicine could increase one’s energy, it couldn't purify and cleanse the energy within the body to this extent.
Except for Moon Yul, the rest of the disciples had only recently begun learning martial arts. Yet even these children could tell at once how extraordinary this World Tree was.
“Whoa… this is seriously incredible.”
“Does this mean we’re all going to become masters?”
“Huh? Really?”
Amidst the excited younger disciples, Moon Yul clenched his fists and muttered, “Masters? More than enough. Usually, just having this much internal energy is enough to keep you from being second-rate.”
While everyone was intoxicated by the festive atmosphere, there was one person whose expression remained dark.
“What is the matter, Sect Leader?”
It was Sect Leader Go Seok-hyeon. He had been staring at the World Tree with a grave expression until Patrick spoke to him.
“Bong Gong, this might just be a needless worry of mine, but I am actually quite concerned.”
“About what?”
“There is a saying in the Central Plains: ‘A treasure has its rightful owner.’”
“Ah, I know that one,” Patrick nodded.
Right. Even though this man is a foreigner from the World Beyond, he understands the logic of the Jianghu. The Jianghu is a lawless and dangerous place where—
“It’s a saying I quite like,” Patrick added.
“……?”
“I mean, it basically means if I’m strong enough, I can just take someone else’s treasure, right?”
“……”
“Back home, we call that a ‘total win.’”
Is the West where Bong Gong lives such a lawless land? Go Seok-hyeon wondered.
Misunderstandings about the Pangemonia Continent were steadily piling up. But that wasn't the point.
“Ahem. Once the world learns of this Divine Tree’s existence, many will covet it.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Our Twin Dragon Sect does not yet have the strength to protect such a precious treasure.”
“Go on.”
“Rather than letting my disciples shed blood in unnecessary conflict, it would be better if such a treasure didn't exist at all.”
At Go Seok-hyeon’s firm words, Patrick gazed at him intently. Go Seok-hyeon did not look away, meeting Patrick’s eyes calmly.
He’s serious.
Patrick nodded.
He really has no greed.
Patrick let out a small chuckle.
‘A treasure has its rightful owner.’ There wasn't a soul in the Jianghu who didn't know that proverb. And yet, whenever news broke that a secret manual of a past master or a rare spiritual medicine had appeared, countless martial artists flocked to the site like bees to honey.
Even though they knew full well they might die.
Humans who staked their lives on the desire to become stronger—that was the essence of those in the Jianghu.
But Go Seok-hyeon suppressed that desire for strength. Out of concern for his disciples' lives.
That’s a relief.
Patrick smiled.
When he reclaimed the Twin Dragon Sect, there were two reasons he kept Go Seok-hyeon as the Sect Leader. One was the loyalty he showed in protecting the sect until now, and the other was his character, which remained upright even after falling into the slums.
However, character is something that can change depending on a person’s circumstances. Even someone who silently maintained their integrity through harsh adversity can change when their situation shifts. Once their belly is full and they are draped in silk, suppressed greed often rears its head and transforms them.
Having seen many such people, Patrick had been inwardly worried about this. But…
Master, it seems I worried for nothing.
[It appears so.]
For once, he and his master were in agreement. Thus, Patrick spoke with a relaxed mind.
“The Sect Leader’s concern is perfectly valid. However, do not worry. The blessing of this World Tree can be enjoyed solely by our Twin Dragon Sect.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“To explain in detail… well,”
It was then. Patrick, who was about to explain to Go Seok-hyeon, stopped mid-sentence. He knit his brows in annoyance and spoke.
“An ill-mannered guest has arrived.”
* * *
“Ah….”
Demon-Subduing Divine Sword Jeongseon.
As the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, he stood with his mouth agape in admiration. Yun-gi, who had followed to guide him, asked, “What is it, Master?”
“Can you not feel it? Nothing at all?”
At his master’s question, Yun-gi looked around for a moment before answering, “Your disciple is dull-witted and cannot yet fathom your meaning.”
“That tree over there.”
Jeongseon’s finger was pointing accurately at the giant tree growing in the backyard of the Twin Dragon Sect.
Yun-gi tilted his head as he looked at the tree.
Was there always such a massive tree there?
Even from a distance, it looked like a tree of incredible age. But so what?
“Incredible. How can such a Divine Tree exist in this world?”
“A Divine Tree?”
While Yun-gi was wondering if it was really that amazing…
“I must see it up close.”
“Pardon?… Wait, Master!”
Before Yun-gi could stop him, Jeongseon utilized his lightness skill and shot forward in a single bound.
Yun-gi was shocked. The master he knew was someone who rarely used martial arts in front of commoners.
[A martial artist can be an object of intimidation to commoners, so it is best to refrain from using martial arts unless absolutely necessary.]
Was he not the one who taught his disciples this?
Yet here he was, unleashing high-level lightness skills to sprint right through the middle of the street. Yun-gi, left behind, began to run after his master a beat late.
“Master! You can’t! You have to stop!”
By the time he shouted, the Sect Leader of the Great Kongtong Sect had already leaped over someone else’s sect wall.
* * *
Jeongseon ran as if possessed.
The closer he got, the stronger the divine and holy energy radiating from that giant tree became. Just as he was about to reach the tree in a single leap…
Boom!
A streak of light flashed and lunged toward him.
It was a sudden attack, but Jeongseon was the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect. He didn't go down easily, drawing his sword to respond.
“Ugh….”
He managed to block it, but the impact left his wrists tingling. After landing on the ground immediately after parrying the attack, Jeongseon identified his opponent.
A foreigner. In that case…
He sheathed his sword and spoke.
“Are you the individual named Patrick, who defeated the Blood Wolf Wanderer Ma Jae-ho?”
To which the opponent responded…
“What did you just say?!”
He flew into a rage. He spoke as if he were truly offended.
“Where do I look anything like Young Master Patrick? Huh?!”
“Are you not him?”
“Ugh, this thief geezer is really pissing me off. Listen up. My name is Oliver. A proud Marquis of the Schneider Grand Duchy.”
“……”
What on earth is that? was the only thought that came to Jeongseon’s mind.
Oliver, seemingly unable to cool his temper, ranted on.
“I mean, of all the things to mistake! You mistake me for that Great Demon? Huh? You mistake a person for a demon?!”
“Well, that is, uh…”
“Mistaking the Young Master for me is the fifteenth thing I hate most in the—Gah!”
Thwack!
“You’re just asking for it. Asking for it.”
Patrick, who had appeared behind Oliver at some point, started by smacking Oliver on the back of the head.
“Ow, why’d you hit me? I caught a thief, so why hit me?!”
“A thief?”
“Well, if someone climbs over another person’s wall without permission, they’re a thief. Isn't that right?”
“You’ve got a point there.”
Patrick stepped in front of Oliver and stared at the opponent. He let out a smirk and spoke.
“The Kongtong Sect’s finances must be in dire straits lately. To think you’ve been reduced to acting like a common burglar.”
Jeongseon’s face turned red. In his excitement, he had indeed trespassed over another sect’s wall, which was his mistake.
My discipline is lacking. Haha… To make such a blunder because I was blinded by a divine artifact.
A mistake already made couldn't be helped. For now, he had to set things right.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jeongseon, the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect.”
“Hmm….”
Patrick quietly observed the man before him.
The Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Union. That said, Kongtong was generally considered to be in the lower tier of that group. The leader of the Nine Sects was Shaolin, followed by powerhouses like Wudang, Mount Hua, and Emei. The other sects usually had less influence by comparison. However…
Ho, the current Kongtong Sect Leader is quite something.
The level of the man who identified himself as Jeongseon was clearly a step above the Kongtong Sect Leader from the time when Patrick lived as the Radiant Dragon Hero Jincheon.
But that was that.
“What business does the Kongtong Sect Leader have with our sect? And by climbing over the wall, no less.”
“Ahem, ahem….”
As Patrick continued to point out the wall-climbing, Jeongseon’s expression became embarrassed.
“I apologize. My discipline was shallow, and I made a mistake.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should really work on that ‘discipline’ of yours.”
“Young Master, is having shallow discipline something to be proud of or some kind of get-out-of-jail-free card for priests here?”
“How could it be?”
“Then why does he say it so proudly?”
“I know, right? Tsk, tsk. It wasn't like this in the old days. Good grief, the world is going to the dogs. Truly going to the dogs.”
Listening to Patrick and Oliver, Jeongseon thought to himself: Should I just fight them?
Watching those two, a violent urge to show them what truly ‘shallow discipline’ looked like began to swell within him.
“Masteeeer!”
It was then. He heard the frantic voice of his disciple calling from behind.
Unlike his master, Yun-gi, who had at least entered through the gate, ran up in a hurry and asked, “Master! Are you alright?”
“I am fine. More importantly…”
Jeongseon said to his disciple, “Which one is the foreigner named Patrick you mentioned?”
“It is the man on the left.”
When Yun-gi pointed him out, Patrick shrugged and said, “What? You came looking for me?”
“That was the original purpose. However…”
“However what?”
Jeongseon politely clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed his head deeply. Then he spoke.
“Before that, would you allow me to examine that Divine Tree in your sect just once? I humbly request this of you.”
The Sect Leader of the prestigious Orthodox Kongtong Sect was making an excessively polite request. Normally, any sensible person in the Jianghu would find it impossible to refuse such a plea.
“Ah, so you were curious about our sect’s divine artifact. That’s why you were in such a rush that you hopped the wall.”
“Ahem… that is correct.”
It bothered him that Patrick kept bringing up the wall, but what could he do? It was his mistake. And since he had asked so politely, surely they would—
“Seeeeeeez-nooooooo.”
Wow, this brat really knows how to push buttons.
Jeongseon gritted his teeth inwardly and said, “I beg of you. I truly wish to see it just once.”
“That’s your problem. Didn't you hear me say it’s a divine artifact? Do you not know what a divine artifact is?”
“No, that’s…”
“Where do you get off, an outsider demanding to see another sect’s divine artifact? Huh?”
“……”
“Is that allowed just because you’re from the Kongtong Sect? Is Kongtong that high and mighty these days? Why don't you go to the Namgung Clan and ask to see the Clan Head’s wife’s face while you’re at it?”
“……”
It was frustrating. What was truly frustrating was that everything this black-market-thug-like man said was technically correct. His behavior was that of a total hoodlum who had tossed etiquette into an outhouse, but his logic was sound.
Thus, as the Sect Leader of the Great Kongtong Sect, he couldn't even offer a rebuttal. This reality was incredibly unfair.
How can such a person exist?
It was the natural thought everyone had upon meeting Patrick.
Just then, Yun-gi, the disciple, stepped forward with a furious face on behalf of his troubled master.
“Are you not being far too rude to the Sect Leader of the Great Kongtong Sect?!”
“So what? He’s your Sect Leader, not mine.”
“Is that the proper etiquette an Orthodox martial artist should show toward a senior of the Jianghu?!”
Yun-gi argued confidently. Even if they were from different sects, wasn't there a mutual etiquette that Orthodox factions should maintain? He tried to defeat his opponent with logic.
However…
“What? A senior of the Jianghu? Are you talking about generational rank?”
“Indeed. Regardless of sect, this person is…”
“You little brat! If we’re talking about rank, I’m practically—ugh, this is seriously making me lose it.”
Patrick pounded his chest as if he were the one being wronged. Seeing this, Yun-gi was flustered.
What is this? This look of genuine indignation?
Patrick began to rant and rave on the spot.
“Listen here, you punk! I’ve crossed blades with your ancestors, shared meals with them, drank with them—I’ve done it all, you punk!”
“What on earth are you…”
“Where does a little sprout I can’t even see get off talking about rank? A senior of the Jianghuuuu?!”
“……”
Yun-gi was bewildered. He had never met a person like this. Even with the Kongtong Sect Leader right in front of him, this man didn't care any more than if he were dealing with a one-knot beggar from the Beggars' Sect. He was a type of human Yun-gi had never seen, and he had no idea how to handle him.
As he stood there hesitating, unsure of what to do…
“St—Stop!”
Fortunately, someone possessing common sense came running over in a flurry. He quickly offered a fist salute and spoke urgently.
“I am Go Seok-hyeon, the Sect Leader of the Twin Dragon Sect.”
“Ah, I am…”
“Distinguished guests, please state your identities and the purpose of your visit.”
Quickly, before our Bong Gong completely loses his mind.
Sect Leader Go Seok-hyeon of the Twin Dragon Sect. He, too, was gradually adapting to the existence known as Patrick Schneider.