Why Is That Man Here? (5)
“You get information incredibly fast, don’t you?”
At Chung Myung’s remark, Beop Jeong smiled faintly. It was the kind of smile that looked infinitely benevolent, but to Chung Myung’s eyes, even that smile was ugly.
“I sit in a position where such things come naturally. There is much one learns, even without trying to know.”
“Are you some kind of beggar?”
“No.”
Beop Jeong shook his head.
“It is true that the Beggars’ Sect does much for us, but it is not everything.”
Chung Myung studied Beop Jeong’s expression quietly, as if checking whether he was telling the truth. Then he let out a small sigh.
Well, there’s no particular reason for him to lie here.
Information always had a way of leaking out somehow. Besides, the fact that the Beast Palace Lord had visited Sichuan, and that the Tang Family had welcomed Mount Hua, was not the sort of thing that could be hidden even if one tried.
“So what’s the problem with that?”
Beop Jeong slowly shook his head at Chung Myung’s question.
“I did not say it was a problem.”
“Then what?”
“Only that it is somewhat regrettable. Mount Hua was once one of the Nine Great Sects, a sect that gazed over the world from on high, was it not?”
“Yes. And your side kicked us out.”
“To be precise, it was the previous generation.”
“Yes. Your previous generation kicked us out.”
Chung Myung and Beop Jeong’s gazes collided fiercely once more in the air.
“Amitabha…”
With a slight sigh and a chant of Buddha’s name, Beop Jeong spoke as though this were troublesome indeed.
“Mount Hua Divine Dragon. Please understand this poor monk’s position. If the elders made a mistake, how can I judge that decision now?”
At those words, something gleamed in Chung Myung’s eyes.
It was not an outright apology, but the fact that the word “mistake” had come from Beop Jeong’s mouth was meaningful enough. It meant that the stiffest neck in the world had indirectly acknowledged their wrongdoing.
That alone is impressive, I guess.
From Beop Jeong’s perspective, it was probably enough to make his insides rot black. He had committed no crime himself, yet he would be carrying the blame for what his predecessors had done.
If Chung Myung had been in Beop Jeong’s shoes, he would have run straight to the Hall of Inquiry and smashed the whole place to pieces.
Right, Senior Brother?
- Go on, you bastard! Let’s see you do it!
“You seem awfully worked up.”
“What did you just say…?”
“Ah, no. Nothing.”
Chung Myung waved a hand lightly.
Beop Jeong stared at him for a moment, then sighed and continued.
“In any case… that happened far too long ago. It is too ancient a matter to judge right and wrong by today’s standards.”
“Do we really need standards? It’s not like we have to ask Shaolin’s permission every time we do something.”
“Of course not. But as I said earlier, the world is not so simple.”
Chung Myung snorted.
“That’s how the abbot sees it, not the world.”
Beop Jeong’s brow twitched.
Chung Myung’s words had apparently grated more than expected. As if to prove it, Beop Jeong’s voice that followed was noticeably sharper.
“Listen here, sir.”
“Yes?”
“How much of the world do you think you understand?”
Chung Myung stared at Beop Jeong as though he had just been struck on the back of the head.
This… I’ve seen more than you have, you damn bald monk!
The curse rose to his lips, but he swallowed it down.
Damn it, he’d finally gotten used to this body and was living pretty decently these days, and yet this guy kept tripping him up at every turn.
I should’ve smashed those monks’ heads back then!
Those bastards!
They didn’t manage their descendants, did they? Huh? Did they actually want the Great Hero Hall to collapse or something?
When Chung Myung said nothing, Beop Jeong slowly shook his head and spoke in a tone that was almost patient.
“The world is a far more frightening place than you think. Do you know why?”
“Beats me.”
“Because interests are at stake.”
“…”
Even as Chung Myung tilted his head at an angle that was practically insolent, Beop Jeong did not grow angry. If anything, his voice softened, as though he were trying to calm a stubborn child.
“No matter that I am the abbot of Shaolin and lead Shaolin itself, I cannot resolve every matter in the world exactly as I wish. Especially not in times such as these.”
“What’s wrong with these times?”
“Have you forgotten? What is happening in the Northern Sea?”
“…”
With a grave expression, Beop Jeong chanted Buddha’s name.
“Amitabha. The Jianghu has not yet escaped the fear of the last war. The sects that nearly faced extinction still flinch at the mere mention of the Demonic Sect.”
“Hmm.”
Hyun Jong, who had been listening quietly to the exchange, finally spoke.
“What does that have to do with this matter?”
“Sect Leader.”
Beop Jeong let out a sigh as if the matter were difficult to explain.
“The greatest lesson the righteous factions learned in the last war was that no single sect can ever face the Demonic Sect alone. In fact, if we wish to minimize the damage, every force we can gather must come together without distinction, even the evil factions and the sects beyond the frontier.”
“So you mean…”
“Yes.”
Beop Jeong nodded.
“Those who lead the Jianghu do not want division. Unless there were already troubling movements in the Northern Sea, they might have let it pass, but in a situation where another war could break out at any moment, they would not welcome a new power emerging. If necessary, they would use force to stop it.”
As he glanced at Hyun Jong, a bitter look crossed Beop Jeong’s face.
“And unfortunately, that sort of movement has already begun.”
“Hnngh.”
Hyun Jong frowned and raised his voice slightly.
“By what authority do they claim the right to interfere in Mount Hua’s affairs? Who gave them such power!”
“Sect Leader… when interests are involved, all of that becomes meaningless.”
“…”
“If they have a pretext of preparing for disaster, and if there is actual damage to be feared from the rise of a new force, then no one will easily step back.”
“You mean the Nine Great Sects?”
“Would you think the Five Great Families would be any different?”
“…”
“This matter is not nearly as simple or straightforward as you think.”
Just as Beop Jeong said that much, a crooked voice cut in.
“You’re dancing around the point a bit.”
Chung Myung tilted his head.
“So what exactly are you trying to say? You didn’t rush all the way over here just to tell us to stop what we’re doing, did you?”
“Of course, I am in no position to advise that.”
Beop Jeong shook his head.
“...And even if I did, you would not listen, would you?”
“Probably not.”
At that absurdly calm answer, Beop Jeong squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
There were countless people in the world, but only one could remain this brazen in his presence: the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.
Truly, he’s different every time I see him.
The sect leader was such a calm and serious man, so how had this wretch of all things come out from under him?
But regardless of Beop Jeong’s thoughts, Chung Myung remained perfectly at ease. And he thought:
Well, it’s the obvious story.
He had already expected resistance from the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families. Had he not already discussed this with Tang Gun-ak and Maeng So?
People never wanted to give up the privileges they already held.
It was just that the backlash had come faster than expected.
Beop Jeong resumed in a serious tone.
“Then there is only one way.”
“A way?”
“Yes, a way. Every matter requires justification. For Mount Hua to claim its rights, it needs justification. And for me to shield Mount Hua, I too need justification.”
At those unexpected words, Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.
Shielding us?
“So the abbot is saying you’ll help Mount Hua?”
Beop Jeong smiled gently.
“Would there be any reason not to?”
“Oh?”
Interest flickered in Chung Myung’s eyes.
“Then what’s the condition for that justification?”
“Did I not already say it?”
“Pardon?”
Beop Jeong looked at Chung Myung with a spine straight enough to seem unshakable.
“Go to the Northern Sea.”
“…”
Compared to that, Chung Myung’s face turned subtly sour.
And there was a reason for that.
What, did you hide some sacred dumpling in the Northern Sea or something?
This was the Northern Sea, that was the Northern Sea—why did every problem in the world somehow lead to the Northern Sea?
Seeing Chung Myung’s expression, Beop Jeong slowly rolled the prayer beads in his hand.
“As I already said before, the situation in the Northern Sea is far from normal. I have tried in my own way to resolve it, but there is no path in sight.”
“Even Shaolin can’t do it?”
“This is not something that can be solved by force in the first place.”
Beop Jeong let out a small groan, as though his head were pounding.
“Of course, if one were to force their way through, it might be possible. But if that happened, the Northern Sea and Central Plains would be forever split apart. That would be the worst outcome of all.”
“Hmm.”
“I hear you are very close to the Beast Palace Lord. Then perhaps you can make use of that connection and go to the Northern Sea, no?”
Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.
How much does this guy know?
Shaolin’s information network truly could not be dismissed.
“Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”
“Yes.”
“Go to the Northern Sea. Find out what is happening there. If you do, I will support you as much as I can so that your own efforts are not hindered.”
At Beop Jeong’s words, Hyun Jong frowned.
“Abbot.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Why are you going so far? In my humble opinion, more than anyone else, you, as the head of the Nine Great Sects, would not wish for a Western alliance to form.”
“Indeed.”
Beop Jeong nodded solemnly.
“And yet that does not make this strange. I do not wish for a Western alliance, but neither do I wish for the Demonic Sect to rise. The position of Shaolin’s abbot is one that must work for the safety of the world, whether one wants to or not. So I must discard the small to seize the great.”
“Hmm.”
With that, Beop Jeong closed his eyes slightly and went on chanting Buddha’s name.
On the surface, he appeared to be waiting tensely for the other side’s reply, but his true thoughts were a little different.
He cannot refuse this.
Mount Hua was staking everything on binding together the sects of the Western Region into a new force. If that was so, then before the matter could become concrete, they would naturally hate interference from other sects the most.
If Chung Myung had even a shred of reason, then this was a proposal he had to accept.
But then—
“I’ve felt this for a while, but you do have a talent for talking around things.”
“Hmm?”
Beop Jeong’s eyes flew open. Chung Myung, with a thoroughly annoyed expression, scoffed.
“Don’t go around acting like some monk who’s trying to scam people. Buddha would be pissed.”
“…”
What in the world was that supposed to mean? Beop Jeong blinked, completely at a loss.
Scam?
Had this brat just called Shaolin’s abbot a scammer?
“W-what are you saying…?”
“If your mouth is crooked, speak straight. None of that adds up.”
“...What doesn’t add up?”
At the question, Chung Myung snorted and said, “Just a moment ago, you said that even Shaolin’s abbot can’t do whatever he wants, and that you can’t just ignore the opinions of other sects. But now you’re saying if we just go to the Northern Sea, you’ll solve everything for us?”
“...I said I would try.”
“That’s pretty stingy, isn’t it?”
“…”
Beop Jeong looked at Chung Myung with an increasingly flustered expression.
“You keep talking as though you’re making sacrifices for all the people under heaven, but isn’t Shaolin the one in the most trouble now that traces of the Demonic Sect have appeared in the Northern Sea?”
“…”
“You already made a complete fool of yourselves at the Heavenly Great Contest, so your prestige has taken a hit. If you stand there helpless while traces of the Demonic Sect appear, your authority is going to sink straight to the bottom.”
“...Amitabha.”
Beop Jeong quietly chanted Buddha’s name, but unlike before, it sounded somewhat hurried.
Chung Myung curled the corner of his mouth in a smirk.
“So if the matter in the Northern Sea gets resolved, the place that benefits the most is none other than Shaolin. And if Mount Hua is the one that steps up and resolves it, then Shaolin benefits even more.”
“...And why is that?”
“It’s obvious. ‘Look, Mount Hua may be tying together the other sects, but in the end, didn’t they go to the Northern Sea after listening to Shaolin? Mount Hua is still under Shaolin’s influence.’ It’s the perfect situation for that kind of nonsense, isn’t it?”
“…”
In the end, Beop Jeong ran out of words and stared straight at Chung Myung.
If anyone else had been here, they might have accused Chung Myung of exaggerating. Or perhaps dismissed it as groundless speculation.
But Chung Myung was someone who had already experienced all of that with his own body.
The safety of the Jianghu my ass.
If these bald bastards were the sort who actually cared about that, they should have stopped the Demonic Sect when it came barreling toward Mount Hua. Back then they’d only watched from behind, and now what? Safety? Safety my ass.
What a load of crap.
Chung Myung snorted.
He did not believe in these grand, noble-sounding words.
“In the end, Shaolin losing its control over the Jianghu is where all the trouble started. Abbot, you want to resolve the matter in the Northern Sea and reclaim that lost control. Solving the Demonic Sect issue would be a huge achievement, after all. That’s why you ran over here so frantically, isn’t it?”
Beop Jeong clicked his tongue softly.
“...Indeed.”
There was a faint resignation in the eyes that held Chung Myung’s gaze.
“Sir, you have an unusually sharp eye for some things.”
“It’s obvious.”
Chung Myung shrugged.
By this point, Beop Jeong had no thought left of hiding his intentions, and his eyes sharpened as he went straight for the core of the matter.
“Then what will you do? Will you refuse?”
“I’m just making this clear. Very clear.”
“Hmm?”
Chung Myung lifted the corner of his mouth.
“This isn’t Mount Hua humoring Shaolin’s proposal to solve a problem. It’s Shaolin asking Mount Hua for a favor in order to solve the problem. We need to be clear about that.”
“...What difference does that make?”
“What do you mean, what difference? Has this old monk never done business before?”
Chung Myung sprang up as though offended and glared.
“Requests come with payment. That’s basic! What kind of idiot thinks he can get something for free just by asking?”
“…”
“Wow, you really were planning to smooth this over with a few words, weren’t you? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Shaolin used to have some sense of decency back in the day!”
How do you know what Shaolin used to be like?
No. That wasn’t the important point.
“So then I should resist the pressure from the Nine Sects…”
“Do you really think Mount Hua is going to so much as blink if those guys try to pressure us? They’ve got eyes too, so they’re not going to come charging at us with swords in hand. So what does it matter?”
Chung Myung waved a hand dismissively.
“…”
“So don’t give me that vague, cloudy nonsense. Put something proper on the table. You keep talking about letting us into the Nine Great Sects or blocking pressure from the Nine Sects or whatever, but you’re just trying to talk your way out of paying.”
As the flood of words hit him, sweat began to bead at the back of Beop Jeong’s head.
Had he ever been humiliated like this in his life?
“So… no, wait. Then what exactly does Mount Hua want as compensation?”
At that question, Chung Myung leaned back. Reclining arrogantly in his chair, he lifted his eyelids just a little and said, almost disdainfully, “Abbot.”
“Hmm?”
“How much of the world do you know?”
“…”
Beop Jeong’s eyes shook violently.
It was the very question he himself had thrown out earlier.
“The world isn’t all that complicated. No matter what kind of compensation is on the table, there’s really only one thing that’s absolutely certain.”
“...One thing?”
“Yes.”
Chung Myung raised a hand and joined his thumb and forefinger into a circle.
That was…
“Money.”
“...”
“Isn’t it so much easier when you just set an amount instead of wrangling over all kinds of conditions? Right?”
“...”
“How much are you paying?”
Beop Jeong’s pupils were now trembling as though they had lost their way.
No one had ever told the abbot of Shaolin to hand over money.
“R-relics should be enough for Mount Hua, I would think?”
“Hahaha. Abbot, you’ve just been polishing Buddhist scripture on a mountain, so you probably don’t know much about this…”
“...”
Chung Myung smiled with a look of satisfied amusement.
“Money is better the more of it there is.”
“...”
“More is good, and even more is better.”
At a loss for words, Beop Jeong turned helplessly to Hyun Jong for rescue.
But contrary to his hopes, Hyun Jong only smiled kindly and looked away.
Beop Jeong felt as if he’d been struck hard on the head.
They’re in on it.
They’re all in on it.
Chung Myung grinned.
“If it’s about preserving Shaolin’s dignity, then even a thousand gold pieces wouldn’t be too much, right? Let’s hear how much you think Shaolin’s worth.”
A groan escaped Beop Jeong’s mouth.
But who was he? He was the abbot of Shaolin. He was not so easily defeated.
“...You said money?”
“Yes.”
“Then treasure would do as well, would it not?”
“Huh?”
Beop Jeong reached out and picked up the wooden chest resting on the floor. Then he took out the object Chung Myung had seen once before and placed it on the table.
“This may not be enough to settle everything, but could it not reduce the price somewhat?”
The Purple Jade Divine Sword.
The moment Mount Hua’s sacred treasure landed on the table, fire lit in Hyun Jong’s eyes.
But—
“Ah, that?”
Chung Myung looked utterly indifferent.
“Doesn’t cut it.”
“...Doesn’t cut it?”
“Yep.”
Beop Jeong looked at Chung Myung in growing confusion, checking repeatedly to see whether this was a bluff.
“...You’re not saying this alone would pay the whole price, only that it should reduce it a little? Are you saying Mount Hua’s sacred treasure isn’t worth that much?”
“If it had been a month ago, I’d have taken it and given you a discount.”
“...What’s different between a month ago and now?”
Chung Myung snorted and undid the sword at his waist, placing it on the table.
Thunk!
Sching!
Then he drew it halfway and showed it to Beop Jeong.
“Sorry, customer. We no longer handle our old product line.”
“...”
At the sight of the Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword, gleaming with an almost impossible brilliance, Beop Jeong’s mouth fell open.
“Keep that one. Bring the money.”
“...”
Beop Jeong sagged in defeat right there on the spot.
There, before him, stood a Daoist who was trying to strip a monk naked.