Only He Was Worthy (4)
“Sect Leader!”
At the voice calling him, Heo Do-jin-in turned his head. His brow immediately creased.
A group of people in black martial robes was running toward them, with a cluster dressed in green and blue following close behind.
It was a bizarre combination, but Heo Do-jin-in recognized who they were at a glance.
“Mount Hua…….”
A faintly restrained voice slipped from Heo Do-jin-in’s lips. In the current Jianghu, there was no one that noisy except Mount Hua Sect.
Of all people, they had run into the very sect he found most troublesome on the way to Black Dragon Clan.
“……What shall we do?”
At Heo Sanja’s question, Heo Do-jin-in’s eyes flashed.
“There’s no reason to avoid them. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
Soon, a strange smile touched the corners of his mouth.
Come to think of it, he had not seen Mount Hua in person since the martial arts tournament long ago. He had only heard rumors about them.
I should see for myself what they’re really like.
Having made up his mind, Heo Do-jin-in said shortly, “Heo San.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“I should meet with Mount Hua Sect.”
“……Sect Leader. There’s really no need for that…….”
Startled, Heo Sanja began to dissuade him at once.
It wasn’t that meeting Mount Hua was uncomfortable.
As an orthodox sect, they didn’t divide rank and status as rigidly as the righteous sects of the evil path, but an invisible hierarchy still existed. Wudang’s prestige and strength were far beyond Mount Hua’s. By rights, it should be Mount Hua coming over to greet them, not the other way around. If Heo Do-jin-in took the initiative, he might only end up bolstering Mount Hua’s pride for no reason.
Perhaps guessing what Heo Sanja was thinking, Heo Do-jin-in replied with slight displeasure, “Are you still hung up on such things?”
“……Sect Leader, but…….”
“Forget meaningless formalities. What matters is what can be gained.”
Cornered by that answer, Heo Sanja could only nod reluctantly.
Once Heo Do-jin-in had made up his mind, further argument would be nothing but a waste of breath.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
As Heo Do-jin-in changed direction, the Wudang disciples following behind him also turned in unison and headed toward Mount Hua.
Meanwhile, Hyun Jong let out an involuntary groan at the sight.
Hnnngh.
The momentum radiating from Wudang’s elite made it hard to breathe.
Wudang…….
These were people who had fought real battles. They weren’t deliberately releasing their aura to intimidate anyone, but an unmistakably heavy, solemn air naturally flowed from them.
“They’re coming this way, Sect Leader.”
“I know.”
Hyun Jong swallowed dryly and watched them closely.
In the past, he might not have even found the courage to stand before Wudang’s Sect Leader. But Mount Hua was no longer what it had once been, and neither was his own standing.
Now, as the Sect Leader of Mount Hua and the盟主 of the Heavenly Alliance, he had to show a fitting dignity.
But…….
Cold sweat soaked Hyun Jong’s back.
His position had clearly changed. Yet just as certainly, the way those men looked at Hyun Jong must have changed as well—if not more so.
The gaze Heo Do-jin-in sent from the front weighed heavily on Hyun Jong’s shoulders.
Then—
“Why are they creeping up like that, looking for scraps or something?”
At the voice that shattered the tension, Hyun Jong turned slightly to look behind him.
At some point, Chung Myung had come up right behind him, both hands resting on the back of his head, staring lazily at Wudang.
“……Chung Myung.”
“Looks like their asses are on fire too. If this were old times, they’d have ignored us and walked right on by.”
“…….”
“Sect Leader.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t be too hard on them. They must be burning up inside these days, so let’s be generous and accept them. They’re our descendants if you think about it, aren’t they?”
“…….”
Hyun Jong stared blankly at him for a moment, then let out a laugh that was more disbelief than amusement.
In all the world, only Chung Myung could speak of Wudang like that. Not even the Abbot of Shaolin would dare look down on Wudang so casually.
“Phew.”
In any case, thanks to him, the pressure constricting his chest seemed to vanish like a lie. He could now look at Heo Do-jin-in, who was approaching, with a much lighter expression.
As the distance between the two sects shortened, their steps naturally slowed. Heo Do-jin-in approached Hyun Jong at an unhurried pace.
Hyun Jong quietly brought both hands together and offered a respectful salute.
“I greet the Sect Leader of Wudang.”
“I am Heo Do of Wudang. I greet the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”
Heo Do returned the greeting with a formal clasped-fist salute. After bowing deeply, he lifted his head and spoke with a kindly expression.
“It seems this is the first time we have met since the martial arts tournament for the younger generation, Sect Leader.”
“That is correct. I am greatly pleased to meet you again.”
The customary greetings passed back and forth, and Heo Do-jin-in smiled pleasantly.
“Back then, I never imagined Mount Hua would rise to such fame. Congratulations.”
“You flatter us. However much Mount Hua may have made a name for itself, how could we ever be compared to Wudang, the Dipper of the martial world? We merely happened to be lucky.”
“Hahaha. Isn’t excessive humility just another kind of pretension? Sect Leader, you are now the alliance lord. If you still call it luck, then your Heavenly Alliance disciples will be pounding their chests in frustration.”
“Everyone was kind enough to look favorably upon me. Had the alliance lord been chosen purely by skill and reputation, how could I possibly have taken that seat? It feels like the burden alone is enough to drag my shoulders down.”
Listening to the exchange, Jo Gul whispered to Yoon Jong, “Senior brother, senior brother. Their words are super soft and polite, but somehow it feels terrifying, doesn’t it?”
“Gul.”
“Yes?”
“……Shut your mouth. If you cause trouble here, I really will grind your bones to powder.”
“……Yes.”
Jo Gul quietly clamped both hands over his mouth.
Then Heo Do-jin-in glanced at the people standing behind Hyun Jong.
“If I may, could I ask who those people are standing behind you?”
“They are from the seventy-two mountain bandit factions of the Green Forest.”
“……I see.”
Heo Do-jin-in nodded wordlessly. That was the extent of his reaction.
Hyun Jong, who had expected him to make some pointed remark about bringing evil-path people along, looked at him with a slightly odd expression.
He hadn’t expected Heo Do-jin-in to say nothing about that at all.
“Is something the matter?”
“Ah…… I thought you might have something to say.”
At Hyun Jong’s answer, Heo Do-jin-in simply laughed.
“With your noble virtue, Sect Leader, you have even managed to educate those Green Forest ruffians, have you not? I am only envious. Even if I pursued the Dao my entire life, I don’t think I could ever come close to you.”
“……You overpraise me.”
Hyun Jong bowed his head in embarrassment.
Heo Do-jin-in smiled with obvious satisfaction and looked over the Mount Hua disciples.
Sharp.
Their faintly radiating presence was no less formidable than Wudang’s. Of course, it lacked Wudang’s gravity and, at first glance, even felt somewhat light. It could not be called the profound, solemn energy of the Dao even if one tried…….
And yet it is clear and free.
An unexpected thought rose in his mind.
Since when did heaviness and solemnity come to represent the Dao?
Wasn’t the Dao supposed to be free of all fetters in the first place?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Heo Do-jin-in gave a grave nod and looked back at Hyun Jong.
“At the martial contest in Wuhan…….”
At the mention of Wuhan, Hyun Jong’s face stiffened.
The contest in Wuhan.
For Mount Hua, it was a pleasant memory, but for Heo Do-jin-in it must have been an utterly miserable one. And yet he was bringing that up in front of Mount Hua anyway.
“I was deeply displeased when our disciples were made to lose face.”
“……We were merely fortunate.”
Hyun Jong answered with some discomfort, but surprisingly, Heo Do-jin-in’s expression remained mild.
“I had secretly thought much the same. But after seeing Mount Hua’s disciples today, it seems that it was never luck alone.”
Heo Do-jin-in once again clasped his fists toward Hyun Jong.
“I am learning much from you, Sect Leader.”
“Please don’t say such things. I have done nothing at all.”
“If the Sect Leader had done nothing, how could Mount Hua have reached this day?”
Just as Hyun Jong was about to offer another humble denial, Heo Do-jin-in’s gaze settled precisely on someone else.
“Isn’t that right, Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”
“Our Sect Leader is a pretty amazing person, yeah.”
“Haha. That is what I mean.”
“As expected, only someone of the Wudang Sect Leader’s caliber would notice that right away! This is why people have to aim high in life.”
“Hahaha!”
“Hehehehe!”
The two of them laughed face-to-face, looking for all the world as if they were getting along famously.
But their eyes, despite the bright expressions on their faces, were sharp and cold as they measured one another.
“I hear you defeated Heo Gong?”
“Yes. With skill.”
“…….”
For a moment, Heo Do was left speechless. He glanced at Hyun Jong, but Hyun Jong had already clasped his hands behind his back and turned his gaze toward the distant sky.
I can’t do anything about that one, so you handle it yourself.
“With skill…… yes, skill. Heo Gong is not the sort of man you can defeat through luck.”
“No. He was really impressive.”
“And the one who defeated such a man is even more impressive?”
“Hehe. I didn’t necessarily mean it like that, but if you put it so directly, it’s hard for me to deny it. Ahem!”
“…….”
Heo Do-jin-in swept his gaze over the Mount Hua Sect once more, but no one could meet his eyes. Their disciples, embarrassing to present anywhere, were now puffing out their chests in front of the Wudang Sect Leader himself.
I want to hide.
I feel like I could die of embarrassment.
“Haha.”
Heo Do-jin-in laughed out loud and nodded.
“Good. There is nothing strange in calling something great when it is great. Even Laozi said that needless etiquette corrodes human affairs.”
At his frank words, Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Heo Do-jin-in.
“Still, you’d do well to be careful. Our kids are training through meals and sleep alike just to beat you lot, you know.”
“Challenges are always welcome.”
“Challenges, huh…….”
Heo Do-jin-in savored the words for a moment, then smiled thinly.
“Since you say that, if our children challenge you next time, don’t be annoying and back out.”
“Uh…… I can’t promise that.”
“Hahaha. Then it can’t be helped.”
Heo Do-jin-in ended the light conversation and said to Hyun Jong, “There are many things I would like to discuss, but we are in the midst of hurrying along our path, and I regret that we cannot linger for more conversation.”
“I am sure there will be another chance.”
“Yes. Then I will come calling again and seek your guidance.”
Heo Do-jin-in offered a respectful salute.
“Then.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
As Hyun Jong returned the salute, Heo Do-jin-in turned away without the slightest hesitation.
“Let’s depart.”
“Yes!”
Leaving Mount Hua standing there, Wudang moved off first at a run. Only after their backs had grown a little distant did a deep sigh escape Hyun Jong’s lips.
“……A great man indeed.”
There was no way he didn’t know how much Wudang hated Mount Hua.
And yet Heo Do-jin-in never once lost his courtesy or respect. In fact, he had even praised Mount Hua highly.
Hyun Jong wondered whether he himself could have done the same.
So this is what the Sect Leader of a great orthodox sect should be like.
A man who kept his posture low, yet from that very humility radiated a power that overwhelmed the other side. If Heo Do-jin-in had bared his teeth openly, Hyun Jong might not have felt this pressure at all.
And Wudang, who stood behind him, also showed none of the feelings they must have harbored since the last martial contest.
We still have a long way to go.
Neither he nor Mount Hua were yet enough to stand alongside Wudang.
“Hmmm.”
Meanwhile, Chung Myung, standing with his arms crossed as he watched Wudang’s departing backs, curled one corner of his mouth.
So you’re still acting smug, huh?
Heo Do-jin-in and the Wudang people had not committed any rudeness.
And yet that was exactly why Chung Myung found Heo Do-jin-in’s attitude irritating. The ability to remain proper and correct meant they still had room to spare.
“Let’s see how long that room lasts.”
Chung Myung’s eyes, fixed on Wudang, were razor-sharp.