Episode 42. Han Ibi, who was giving the traditional
greeting of the Cheongseong faction, turned around in embarrassment. So Eun-ri, who was next to him, wasn’t even looking at him.
Han Ibi thought.
‘I thought we might be getting closer now, but there’s no way… I guess it’s because I’m with Master…’
For some reason, I felt uncomfortable.
But then I thought while shaking my head excitedly.
‘Anyway…’
Then, it was Han Ibi wandering around looking for a place where no one could see her.
* * *
Hong Gu-geum, a long-time scholar of the Cheongseong faction, opened his mouth.
“This day has finally arrived.”
“That’s right. “The flow of time is like flowing water and I can’t control it.”
“Before the long essay contest… I called you to have a quick chat among ourselves.”
“yes. “Long story, adult.”
I heard two people answer at the same time.
One person was Elder Lee Shin-song, a priest and strategist of Hong Gu-geum, and the other was Nam Cheol-hong (南澈洪), Hong Gu-geum’s immediate disciple.
Hong Gu-geum said.
“Oh, that’s right. Before we begin… How is that Zongga family kid doing these days?”
Lee Shin-song lightly shrugged his shoulders and said.
“yes. Long story adult. “He has no limits.”
“How much?”
“yes. “I’m just killing time without doing anything else.”
“What about the Sichuan Tangmun incident?”
“Hmm… The party does not want this matter to spread. It is being handled in utmost secrecy. I guess something terrible happened to Yeosik…”
“Okay. “There is nothing good about offending the party, so it would be better for us to stop joining for the time being.”
“All right. “Long story, adult.”
“By the way, what about the warning they gave about this guy named Zhongli-mei? “I’m sure it has something to do with this incident, right?”
Lee Shin-song lightly scratched his cheek, thought, and then answered.
“We will have to look into the connection later, but no matter how you look at the warning issue, I think the people of Sacheondangmun are unreasonable. “That guy can’t do that.”
“So… like I said, you’re just wasting food.”
“That’s right.”
“Then, now let’s get ready to let it out.”
“All right. “Long story, adult.”
“good. Was there anything else going on?”
Lee Shin-song raised his eyes as if he just remembered something and answered.
“ah. Now that I think about it, it seems that the only person he is close to is ‘So Eun-ri’. “There are quite a few disciples who saw the two of them in the back of the restaurant.”
Hong Gu-geum’s face was very distorted.
“If you are So Eun-ri, are you a disciple of Fu Jia?”
Lee Shin-song nodded.
“That’s right.”
Hong Gu-geum said.
“Anyway, they said they were getting together… But what’s the difference between the two of us hanging out together?”
“Of course I do.”
Hong Gu-geum seemed to look around for a moment and then said.
“How are the elders now?”
Shinsong Lee said.
“After Bok Yeon-hwa returned yesterday, things are not going well. “It turns out that he had been agitating the elders long before that.”
Hong Gu-geum frowned again.
Lee Shin-song continued.
“Among the seven elders, the ones that are certain are me, Nam Cheol-hong, and Ha Bong-rye.”
“Isn’t that something that goes without saying?”
“It seems that Elder Seo Ui-jae has recently turned his mind to reincarnation.”
Hong Gu-geum snorted and said.
“You’re a stupid friend from beginning to end. “Am I going to spend my life wiping after others?”
Hong Gu-geum said.
“What about that friend Jin Kyung-jo?”
Then Lee Shin-song said with a troubled expression.
“Well… Elder Jin is out of town right now…”
Nam Cheol-hong added at that time.
“That’s right. I am on Elder Bok’s side. I also tried to appease him several times, but…”
Lee Shin-song intervened.
“How can I use the word appeasement when I don’t even know which bean field my heart is in?”
“That’s true, but for some reason I…”
Hong Gu-geum then screamed. It wasn’t high, but it had a harsh tone.
“So what are you going to do? “If things continue like this, won’t we be able to guarantee selection?”
At that time, Nam Cheol-hong said with a meaningful smile.
“Don’t worry too much. “I’ve thrown out a bait, so you’ll hear some good news soon.”
When Lee Shin-song turned his head towards Nam Cheol-hong, Nam Cheol-hong only nodded slightly to Lee Shin-song.
“If things continue like this, this long writer contest will also be…”
Hong Gu-geum said, stroking his beard as if he were disapproving.
The Cheongseong faction had a unique custom when it came to inheriting the Jangmun position.
The Cheongseong faction believed that the upper limit at which a scholar could take care of his disciples’ affairs with a clear mind was 70 years of age, or his 70th birthday.
So, before that, the next Jang Moon-in will be elected.
So, the seven elders vote before their 70th birthday to elect the next elder.
This innovative long-term election method was also a long-time pride of the Qingcheng faction.
That means it was like that from the beginning.
Now, as time goes by, this tradition has transformed into a bad practice that encourages fights between factions within the clan.
Currently, the Qingcheng faction is divided into two factions.
Originally, it was the heyday of Hong Gu-geum and his faction. There was no such thing as a faction to oppose.
However, many things changed when Bok Yeon-hwa returned to the Cheongseong faction.
Bok Yeon-hwa’s innovative tendencies, who had experience in advanced schools, worked well for Cheongseong’s young disciples.
Hong Gu-geum’s original purpose was to extend his power by making his puppet, Nam Cheol-hong, the next general.
However, the unexpected variable repetition was causing a serious setback.
Anyway, today is the election day of the next Jang Moon-in.
The conservative faction, including Hong Gu-geum, had recently gathered a little earlier and were trying to guess ‘their cards’ as the situation took an unusual turn.
Sigh.
There was a person who appeared with the sound of a wooden door opening.
People, including Hong Gu-geum, looked at that side with somewhat surprised expressions.
Lee Shin-song said without hiding his displeasure.
“I guess you came much earlier than your scheduled time.”
“I thought they might have gathered early and had a chat, so I came out in a bit of a hurry. “If it’s an interesting story, please join me.”
A person appears with a cold smile.
It was a repetition.
There was silence for a moment.
Considering the content, it is natural that everyone has become dumb.
Bok Yeon-hwa gained even more momentum.
“Why isn’t everyone saying anything? “You’re not trying to say that I’ve come to a place I shouldn’t have, right?”
Just as Hong Gu-geum was about to say something with a bitter smile, Nam Cheol-hong attacked first.
“Elder Bok. Could that be possible? We were just chatting about various things. “We were just surprised that Elder Bok arrived earlier than the scheduled time.”
Bok Yeon-hwa also smiled meaningfully and said.
“is it so? If you’re not all old, it looks like you don’t get much sleep in the morning. I can’t believe they gathered together this early and just had a chat. “It’s such an important day.”
Hong Gu-geum said.
“Elder Bok. “It looks like you were so nervous that you couldn’t sleep.”
Yeonhwa Bok answered with a straight face.
“sure. Of course. “Today is an important day on which the future of the Qingcheng Sect depends.”
Hong Gu-geum said, waving his arms as if nothing was wrong.
“As expected, you are serious in everything. But be careful, because if you keep pulling it tight all the time, you might get tired.”
Yeonhwa Bok said.
“I will take this long advice from an adult to heart.”
Then, while looking at the sun rising outside the window, he spoke.
“It will start in about an hour or so.”
Shinsong Lee said.
“okay. Elder Bok.”
Then he got up from his seat and continued speaking.
“I’m sure everyone isn’t awake yet… so I’ll go get some tea. “It would be nice to have a cup of tea and talk comfortably.”
Bok Yeon-hwa nodded and answered.
“great.”
Lee Shin-song left the room with an uncomfortable and uncomfortable expression.
The people who remained there also felt uncomfortable.
Nam Cheol-hong thought.
‘It looks like this viper-like bitch came out early in the morning to distract us so we can’t plot in advance.’
Not long after, Lee Shin-song came in carrying a teapot and a teacup.
Squeak!
The sound of tea being poured echoed throughout the hall. That’s why they were having such an awkward time.
It was a moment when the old idiom, “One angle, one fall, three fall,” really touched my skin.
The person who caused a stir in that uncomfortable silence was Seo Eui-jae.
As always, he waddled inside, carrying his huge body with a friendly smile on his face.
“Oh my. They said they would leave early… but it looks like everyone had trouble sleeping. “He is really diligent.”
No one responded. This is a rehash of a conversation that has already been discussed several times.
Seo Ui-jae was a little embarrassed, but smiled again and sat down in the prepared seat.
The next elder to arrive was Ha Bong-rye. He was also a member of the conservative camp, a faction of Hong Gu-geum.
Next is ‘Ki Baek-up’ with a somewhat grumpy expression.
He was similar to Lee Sin-song and was ranked just below Jangmun-in.
However, he was a person with a very lively spirit and a great desire for innovation as much as other young people.
Wouldn’t it be natural to say that we belong to the progressive camp?
Among the seven elders of Cheongseong, the person who came second late was Baek Beom-sang.
He was a very unique person, and he seemed to be at odds with the Qingcheng faction by nature.
Elder Baek Beom-sang had the appearance of a fashionable man. He was very tall and handsome, and his actions were uninhibited and free-spirited.
“Hey. It looks like everyone came except me. “I’m sorry about this.”
When Baek Beom-sang spoke with a smile, Lee Shin-song answered.
“It’s okay. Because there is still one left. “Elder Jin Gyeong-jo has not arrived yet.”
“okay. “I heard you went out on a trip.”
Shinsong Lee said.
“Anyway… it seems that Elder Jin will not be able to attend today.”
Then Nam Cheol-hong nodded with a strange smile.
Hong Gu-geum said.
“If Elder Jin does not arrive by the time the guarantor arrives, I will treat him as abstention according to the regulations.”
It was then.
A sound came from the entrance.
“I hope it’s not too late.”
It was an old man wearing a stylish light blue robe.
Hong Gu-geum, seeing this, jumped up and ran to him, holding his hand and greeting him.
“welcome. Chae Daehyeop. Long time no see.”
The old man called Daehyeop Chae also smiled and responded.
“Hongjangmun. Yes, it seems like five years have passed. “I am this old, but Hong Daehyup still corrects me.”
(Continued in the next part)
