So What Am I Supposed to Do? (1)

"Boss! We’ve got trouble!"

A man shoved the door open and stormed into the room.

For a moment, the pungent reek that stabbed at his nose made him wince, but he quickly pulled himself together and shook the man lying on the floor awake.

"Get up, Boss! Boss!"

"Ugh!"

The one sprawled on the floor twisted his face in irritation. Then, without even looking at the man shaking him awake, he kicked out and sent him flying.

"Agh!"

Ignoring the man rolling across the floor, he barked, "Why the hell are you making such a racket first thing in the morning? My head’s about to split!"

"Maybe because you spent all night drinking, Boss!"

"If you know that, then get out!"

The man who’d been kicked didn’t seem the least bit upset, as if this wasn’t the first time. He sprang back to his feet and grabbed the man lying on the floor, shaking him again.

"This is no time for that! Just get up already!"

"...Did this bastard eat something strange?"

If it had been any other day, he would have backed off by now. The fact that he was making such a scene meant something must have happened.

"Ugh."

At last, the man grabbed his head and slowly pushed himself upright.

"Damn... feels like my skull’s about to crack."

"Then maybe you should just sober up. If the world hears that Yeop Pyeong, the Red Snake Blade, is whining over a hangover, they’ll laugh their asses off."

"Let them laugh. So what happened?"

"Zhongnan has closed its gates."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Yeah. Closed its gates... what?"

A murderous aura suddenly exploded from the body of the man called the Red Snake Blade.

"What did you just say?"

"Zhongnan has shut its gates! They’re banning all outside activity for at least the next year."

"...Have those bastards gone mad? Why the hell would they do that all of a sudden?"

"How the hell should I know? What matters is that they shut their gates."

"Really?"

The Red Snake Blade slowly sat up straighter.

"Open the window."

"Yes, sir!"

The man, Bang Seung, known as the Strange Fox, hurried to fling the shutters wide open. The heavy stink of liquor hanging in the room quickly rushed out.

"Hup."

The Red Snake Blade stood and walked to the chair, calm as though his earlier hangover had been a complete lie.

"Say that again, in detail. Are you sure they’ve really closed their gates?"

"Yes! Absolutely sure."

Yeop Pyeong glared at Bang Seung with open suspicion.

"How many things have you called 'absolutely sure' that turned out to be crap? If this goes wrong again, I’ll rip your mouth apart myself. You know full well that if we trust your word and Zhongnan breaks its closure, we’re the ones who’ll be screwed, don’t you?"

"This time I’m certain!"

"...And why is that?"

Bang Seung grinned.

"Because the Mount Hua bastards have opened a branch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠family in Xi'an and are taking in disciples there right now."

"...Huh? And Zhongnan’s branch families are just standing there watching?"

"Exactly! That’s what I’m telling you! The main Mount Hua sect is swarming all over the place, so Zhongnan can’t lift a finger! Which means—"

"...Zhongnan has no intention of breaking its closure."

"Yes!"

"Ho."

Yeop Pyeong stroked the stubbly beard on his chin.

So those Zhongnan bastards who’d leap awake at the mere word "Mount Hua" are just sitting there watching while Mount Hua runs wild in Xi'an?

If that was true, then Zhongnan really had shut its gates.

"Boss! This is an opportunity we can’t miss! Didn’t the sect leader say we absolutely had to seize Xi'an? That’s why we’ve been hovering around the area all this time."

"Right."

"Until now, Zhongnan has been too strong for us to find any opening at all, but if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be fine to make a hard move?"

"Hmmm."

Yeop Pyeong nodded slowly, lost in thought.

The sect leader really was unreasonable, wasn’t he?

What kind of place was Xi'an?

It was practically Zhongnan’s backyard, and Zhongnan was counted among the strongest of the Nine Sects and One Gang. How easy would it be to expand into a place like that?

Of course, territory wasn’t something so neatly divided by lines on a map, so what the sect leader meant was probably that they should just seep in gradually and find their footing.

But the problem was that those Zhongnan bastards were pathologically obsessed with guarding their turf.

If you stuck even a toe in, they’d come at you like rabid dogs and tear you apart, and there was no way to endure that forever.

Bang Seung said it was all because Zhongnan still carried the memory of having lost their home ground and been beaten down in the past, but that was none of his concern.

In any case.

"So this is our chance?"

"It is!"

"And when Zhongnan lifts its closure later, what then?"

"By then, we’ll already have pulled off a proper haul. What’s the problem? If they tell us to leave, we leave. Simple as that."

"True enough."

Still, Yeop Pyeong clicked his tongue as if something kept bothering him.

"You said the Mount Hua bastards are there. I heard Mount Hua’s been on a hell of a tear lately."

"Even so, aren’t they just youngsters? How could they compare to you, Boss? The moment they hear the name Yeop Pyeong, the Red Snake Blade, they’ll piss themselves and run."

"Stop kissing my ass. You idiot."

"Yes, sir!"

Yeop Pyeong stopped rubbing his chin and narrowed his eyes.

Still, that’s not entirely wrong.

People said the younger generation of Mount Hua was full of once-in-a-century prodigies, but they were still just the younger generation. How could a bunch of fledglings possibly make the Red Snake Unit of Maninbang, one of the Five Hegemons of the Jianghu, look nervous?

"Xi'an, huh..."

Yeop Pyeong bared his teeth in a grin.

"The sect leader’s going to love this. Get ready. We’re heading to Xi'an!"

"Yes, sir!"

The five great evil powers that ruled the world of martial artists.

One of the Five Hegemons of the Jianghu, the Red Snake Unit of Maninbang, began moving toward Xi'an, sensing opportunity in Zhongnan’s absence.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

"...Amitabha."

Seated in the reception room prepared at Hwayeong Gate, Hye Yeon softly recited the Buddha’s name. Even so, he did not forget to keep sneaking glances around him.

"Drink."

"Thank you."

He accepted the teacup Chung Myung offered with both hands, then quietly watched him.

"Heh."

Hyun Young chuckled lightly, clearly amused by the situation.

"So. You already visited Mount Hua, did you?"

"Please speak informally to me, Elder. I am only a humble monk of Shaolin."

"And you’re sure that’s all right?"

"Yes. That is proper."

Hyun Young smiled faintly and nodded.

He really was well-trained.

After watching Mount Hua’s disciples, who had long since sold off every scrap of decorum and were growing more and more like mountain bandits by the day, seeing a disciple of Shaolin felt almost like receiving enlightenment.

That didn’t mean he liked Hye Yeon, of course.

"Fine. Anyway, you said you already went to Mount Hua?"

"Yes. I met the sect leader and came after hearing his words. He said that what I seek is here, so I should ask permission here." Hye Yeon softly recited the Buddha’s name. "Amitabha."

Watching him do that, Chung Myung narrowed his eyes and asked, "Cut the crap. Why are you here?"

"Almsgiver."

Hye Yeon’s gaze fixed squarely on Chung Myung.

"I wish to stay here for a while."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung tilted his head.

"Why?"

"Amitabha."

Rather than answer right away, Hye Yeon quietly recited the Buddha’s name.

Truthfully, he had a great deal he wanted to say, but speaking it in front of these people would dishonor his temple.

"Because I believed my path lies here."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"...Pardon?"

Chung Myung’s face twisted at once.

"Man, these damn bald monks really do spout riddles every time they open their mouths! Somebody send him to a private academy and teach him how to talk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from scratch... mmph!"

"Ahahaha!"

Hyun Young laughed and clamped a hand over Chung Myung’s mouth.

"Now, now. Please be generous and understand him. You know ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how blunt our Chung Myung can be."

"I-it’s fine."

Cold sweat trickled down the back of Hye Yeon’s neck.

He’s even worse than he looked from the martial arts arena.

Back then, he had thought the man was simply furious, and that was why he had seemed so harsh. But now it looked like this was just how he was.

Then Hyun Young said, "But I’m afraid I don’t understand either. You said your path lies here?"

Hye Yeon nodded quietly.

"Yes. During the martial arts competition, I saw and felt many things. And... I realized that even my own temple, which I had always believed to be perfectly righteous, was not as upright as I had thought."

"Hmm."

Hyun Young nodded with a grave expression.

"Without resolving this question, I felt I could not move forward. That is why I wish to stay here and learn what path I should walk."

"Hold on. Learn what?"

"...Learn by seeing...?"

"Here?"

"...?"

Seeing how flustered Hyun Young looked, Hye Yeon only tilted his head in confusion. Was that such a strange thing to say?

"...So, to be clear..."

Hyun Young glanced at Chung Myung’s profile, then looked back at Hye Yeon.

"Who exactly do you mean to learn from?"

"...?"

Chung Myung stood there with his belly thrust out in total confidence, while Hyun Young’s expression seemed to say, Is this bastard out of his mind? Behind them, the Mount Hua disciples whispered among themselves.

Thrown completely off by their reaction, Hye Yeon looked from one person to the next.

Did I say something wrong?

Then Baek Cheon, who had been listening from the back, cleared his throat and spoke up cautiously.

"Um... Monk Hye Yeon."

"Yes. Please speak, Almsgiver Baek Cheon."

"Why, exactly, do you want to learn something from that bastard... no, from here?"

Hye Yeon drew in a small breath.

"Because I felt it was upright."

"Upright?"

When Baek Cheon repeated it, Hye Yeon nodded calmly.

"The Buddhist path, as well as the Daoist path, is a constant struggle against delusion. In the face of the countless questions that fill this world, it is never easy to uphold one’s own way. I, too, am merely a monk who wavers again and again."

"...?"

"But I felt an unshakable will in Chung Myung Dojang. So I wish to see with my own eyes how one can possess such an unwavering resolve, and to learn it."

"Hhhhmmm."

From the side, Chung Myung suddenly thrust his belly out again. Seeing that, Baek Cheon’s face twisted red and blue with emotion.

That’s not because he’s strong-willed, you fool!

That’s not something to admire!

A person was supposed to look around, second-guess themselves, and waver a little now and then!

To Baek Cheon, Hye Yeon looked as though he were strapping kindling to his back and gleefully sprinting straight into a fire pit.

What was the point of walking into hell with your own feet just because reality was hard?

Hyun Young, who had been listening, asked again, "And the abbot of the Gate of Ghosts allowed this?"

"He did not exactly permit it, but he did not stop me either. The Buddhist path must begin with straightening oneself first. Even if the abbot were to stop me, I should not hesitate in my choice."

Chung Myung openly dug at his ear.

"Can you make that shorter? Shorter!"

"...I simply came. He did try to stop me."

"See? That wasn’t so hard."

Chung Myung grinned with satisfaction.

But the Mount Hua disciples watching this scene had to fight down very unpleasant feelings.

Is it already starting?

That monk’s not right in the head either. What the hell is he thinking, trying to learn from someone like that?

And so another one is going down.

Hyun Young watched the reactions around him, then spoke.

"So... you wish to stay at Mount Hua and learn something here?"

"Yes, Elder."

"And the sect leader told you to come here and ask for permission?"

"Yes. He said the permission of the one I wish to observe and learn from is what matters most."

"Hmm."

Hyun Young’s gaze shifted to Chung Myung.

"What do you think should be done?"

"Well, there’s nothing to think about. If he came here on his own to roll around, there’s no reason to kick him out."

Roll around?

Hye Yeon tilted his head.

Did I say something like that?

Before he could ask, Chung Myung stepped closer and threw an arm around his shoulders, smiling with impossible warmth.

"Good timing. Good timing."

"...?"

"Hah. This is human connection. If you get to know someone however you can, they end up rolling over here of their own accord... no, I mean, you build a good relationship and all that. Right?"

"Y-yes, that is..."

"But!"

"...?"

Chung Myung’s smile took on a faintly strange edge. Looking Hye Yeon straight in the eye, he said, "There’s no such thing as a free meal at Mount Hua. If we feed you and house you, you’d better work properly in return."

"Amitabha. That is only natural, almsgiver. Shaolin, too, does not give free meals to those who refuse to work."

"Oh, yeah?"

Chung Myung smiled broadly and patted Hye Yeon on the shoulder.

"Then it’s easy. Just do a little work while you stay here, and there’s no problem!"

"You’re accepting me?"

"What’s there to accept? We’re all on the same side."

"Ah... Amitabha! Thank you, almsgiver!"

Color rushed back into Hye Yeon’s face.

He had come without any real plan, but he hadn’t expected to be accepted so easily. If they had turned him away, he had been prepared to beg for ten days or a month straight. Yet everything had been settled far more easily than he’d imagined.

Indeed, this is broad-minded beyond measure.

If a Mount Hua disciple had made a request like this at Shaolin, what would Shaolin have done?

Hye Yeon once again found himself thinking that Mount Hua was an unusually open sect.

"Then what work will I be doing?"

"Ah. Nothing much. Something really simple. Easy for you."

"...If you say simple, then..."

Chung Myung snickered.

"Don’t worry. You’ll understand soon enough, because we’re starting right away."

"...?"

Watching Chung Myung’s wicked grin, Hye Yeon gave an awkward laugh, still not understanding a thing.

The next morning.

Hye Yeon stared up at the sky with a vacant expression.

His face had gone so red that tears had begun to well in his eyes.

Instead of flower petals, plum blossom sword aura whipped through the air in all directions.

The crowd that had gathered like clouds roared in excitement.

"Is that really Monk Hye Yeon from Shaolin?"

"Would they really lie about something like that?"

"My God. A monk from Shaolin is teaching fist techniques in a Mount Hua branch? What the hell is going on?"

"What is there for us to think about? If he’s teaching, we just learn!"

"Damn the rest of it, I’m going to learn from him! Shaolin in Xi'an, of all things!"

Surrounded by the thunderous cheers pouring down on him, Hye Yeon finally squeezed his eyes shut.

Lord Buddha.

He felt, with agonizing clarity, that something was going terribly wrong, but by then it was already far too late to turn back.