Episode 952 Don’t bow your head. (2)
Two days passed.
And during those two days… the Shaolin monks could not move a single step from their initial position.
No one sat down and no one left the seat. All he could do was stare with bloodshot eyes at the fleet of Sapaeryun that stood between him and Maehwado Island.
Although there was silence without any movement, their hearts were shaking more violently than ever before.
As we live in the world, there comes a moment when everyone is distressed by the gap between reality and ideals. ‘Living’ means repeating those moments and finding your own position.
However, today’s Shaolin monks have not gone through such a normal process.
The threshold of Shaolin surrounding them was too high and the ideals they learned were too great for ordinary suffering.
“…the room manager.”
One of the Shaolin monks could not stand it anymore and looked at the court with bloodshot eyes.
Hyebang (慧訪).
In the past, he visited Hwasan to deliver the invitation for the secret martial arts competition. A crushed voice came out of his mouth.
“Are you going to just watch like this?”
“….”
The court did not move, with its eyes fixed forward. I couldn’t tell if I was listening to him or not.
But Hyebang continued as if that didn’t matter.
“Are you really going to let the people of the Namgung family die like that?”
Then the court’s neck muscles twitched slightly. Hyebang eventually raised her voice.
“Bangjang!”
Only then did the court slowly turn its head. And then he looked directly at Hye-bang, who was pouring out her anger towards him.
“What if I do that?”
“….”
“Don’t ask me backwards. “What would you like me to do?”
“….”
“Do you think we have to fight against that evil spirit like this? Do you think it is right to ignore the extremely unfavorable battlefield and the forces that are being pushed back and jump into that river and die?”
Hyebang bit his lip.
There is nothing wrong with what the court said. Jumping into that river now is no different from jumping into a fire while carrying hay.
But…
Hyebang soon looked straight at the court and spoke.
“Is that foolish?”
“Hyebang!”
“Isn’t it the head of the house who taught me like that?”
At those words, the court fell silent again. The eyes wavered slightly.
“…Shaolin must protect the central plain. What we must pursue is Buddhism, but we must not lose sight of it either. “You definitely said that.”
“….”
“Is this the way to protect Buddhism? Or is this the way to keep the agreement?”
“Stop…”
“Was it just words? “Bangjang!”
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut?”
The person who raised his voice was not the court, but the legal community. He glared at Hyebang with an angry face.
“All you have to do is vent your anger. “But you have to make a decision that will risk the lives of everyone here!”
Hyebang bit her lip until it bled.
“Would you be able to drive all the capital punishment and the magistrates to their deaths for the sake of that arrogant agreement? “Can you confidently say that that is right?”
Hyebang could not bear to answer and lowered his head.
The eyes of the court closed quietly.
Everyone here is feeling twisted and festering in a situation where they can’t do this or that. It will only get worse as time goes by. Just as a dark scar remains where suppuration occurs, the scar may not disappear forever even after this situation is over.
‘…Jang Il-so.’
This is why I am afraid of Jang Il-so.
Jang Il-so has already won.
Even if Shaolin were to jump into the river and rescue Namgung with Cheonwoon on his back, the scars on their hearts would never heal.
Shaolin, which had been moving forward without hesitation with the two weapons of Buddhism and convention, may no longer exist from this moment.
Thinking that this whole situation was a plan that came from just one person’s head gave me chills and made it difficult to breathe.
A helpless sigh escaped the court’s mouth as it opened its eyes again.
I could feel it. The disciples’ eyes looking at him are no longer the same as before. The agony and disbelief that was rooted within them was clearly revealed in the way they looked at the court.
And then something happened that may have been fortunate for the court.
Zhong Li-hyeong, who leads the joint inspection, and Jao-gae, who has rallied the beggars of openness, have arrived.
“What kind of situation is this?”
“…Amitabha Buddha.”
Looking at the fleets blocking Maehwa Island, Jong-ri-hyung spoke up, unable to hide his discomfort.
“On that island…”
“Yes.”
The court nodded weakly.
“There are survivors from Namgung.”
At that moment, Zhao Gai’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Survivors.
It’s not wrong. But isn’t the word ‘survivor’ usually used to refer to a small number of people who survived a power that has already been completely destroyed?
It was a very subtle tone.
“Those wicked bastards!”
They are also in a position to lead a sect. So there was no way I couldn’t understand what the Sapaeryun was thinking of blocking that place and keeping Namgung alive.
“Are you late?”
“…We came as quickly as we could, but by the time we arrived, Ten Thousand had already occupied the river.”
“This… how could the Ten Thousand Peoples Room in Guangxi be like this…”
Zhong Li-hyung’s complexion visibly darkened. Maninbang and Surochae alone are strong enough to be difficult to deal with with just the people here.
However, if those people had even secured boats and occupied the river, I couldn’t even imagine how much sacrifice they would have to make to break through there.
Zhongli-hyung asked.
“…is it possible to break through?”
Zhao Gai answered harshly.
“It’s not that difficult to break through. “If I put all my energy into it, will there be any problem?”
“Then…”
Zhongli-hyung smiled as if he had seen hope. But at that moment, Jaogae suddenly extinguished the light.
“But this is not a battle to break through the siege. “After breaking through the area they occupy on our own, we must reach Maehwado Island, rescue Namgung’s survivors, and then cross the river again.”
“….”
“It means having to fight the same battle twice. The second time is to carry people one by one with an exhausted body.”
Sweat began to seep on Zhong Lihyeong’s forehead. Only then did I truly see how absurd this situation was.
“What if we gather our strength first at Maehwa Island?”
“We are just surrounded together. Are you going to let them gather their strength?”
“….”
“Then how about we get a boat too?”
Zhao Kai chuckled.
“Couldn’t the defeated army have thought of that? There probably isn’t even a single ferry boat within a few hundred miles. “If we go further than that and get a boat, by the time we arrive, the surname Namgung will no longer exist on the Yangtze River.”
The court nodded. Zhao Kai certainly had a cynical side, but like an open-minded elder, he was able to grasp the situation quickly and accurately.
“Then what should I do?”
“Whatever.”
Zaogae looked at the ships deployed. To be precise, it may be aimed at the people inside.
“Either we must use all the power we have and risk our lives to rescue Namgung… or we have to watch them die over there.”
“It’s like dying…!”
Zhong Lihyeong’s complexion turned pale.
‘What on earth is going on?’
As I rushed to the Yangtze River, I pictured many situations in my head, but I could never imagine such a ridiculous situation.
“What do you plan to do, bar manager?”
Jong-ri-hyung ended up asking that question.
This is because he thought that this was not something he could make a decision on. I couldn’t bear to break through that iron-clad defense and make countless sacrifices, but I couldn’t bear to watch Namgung wither and die like this with my own eyes.
“…Amitabha Buddha.”
But the court shook its head.
“I don’t think it’s something we can judge alone.”
“Okay then.”
“Since Paengga has not arrived yet, I think it would be a good idea to make a decision after we get to Paenggaju.”
“Oh, that sounds like the right idea.”
Zhongli-hyung nodded vigorously.
However, the words were not really uttered based on judgment as to whether the court’s words were right or wrong. He was just relieved that he could postpone the moment of decision that might decide the fate of the sect even just a little bit.
Actually, if you think about it a little, it wasn’t something to be relieved about.
Zhongli-hyung looked back at his fellow disciples who were confused as they had not yet fully grasped the situation.
‘Damn it…’
There is so much time.
There are now three days left. It was too short a time to decide my fate, but it was an excessively long time to reflect on this situation.
From now on, they must struggle intensely between ideals and reality, as if they were being punished.
What kind of ridiculous situation is this?
Zhao Gai frowned as he looked at Zhongliheng, who didn’t know what to do.
‘Wrong.’
Of course, decisions have to be bold. There is no way that a decision made over and over again is the right one.
Moreover, I felt like I could already get a glimpse of what their decision would be from the conversation they had.
But… Zhao Gai didn’t necessarily want to criticize them.
It cannot be denied that there has been a subtle conflict between the nine factions and the five generations. Would these people be loyal enough to risk their lives to save Namgung?
While risking not only your own life but also the fate of your clan?
This was something that Zhao Kai also wanted to refuse.
Faced with cynicism and self-destruction, he turned his gaze towards Plum Island.
‘Namgoong family. ‘How could you be so foolish?’
A deep sigh and sigh escaped.
But deep down, the head of the Nangung family also didn’t want to blame him. The people standing here also feel as if their hearts are being scraped out with a knife, but what can be said about Namgoong’s feelings as he has to endure and watch all of this happen on that island?
It was an extremely harsh price to pay for just one mistake.
Zhao Kai, who had been silent, opened his mouth with an emotionless face.
“I think it would be good to remember one thing.”
Court and Zhong Li-hyung turned to look at him.
“What choice you make is ultimately up to the two of you. But…”
Zhao Kai bit his lip slightly and opened his mouth again.
“The world will remember the choices you two made here. And history will remember it throughout the world.”
“….”
“I hope you make the right choice.”
After saying those words, he turned around and left. Because it was difficult to stand facing them anymore.
It wasn’t because I hated those two people. However, when I looked at them, my self-loathing soared.
‘What did I say?’
Isn’t he also a sympathizer? He may be the most cowardly person here, leaving off the choice to them and only speaking politely.
As Jiao Gae retreated, a beggar followed him.
“Shall we report the situation to the headquarters?”
“…That should be it.”
However, if there are three days left, the headquarters will not be able to make a decision easily. This is truly a harsh choice for an open stock owner who has little time left to live due to old age.
“Then I will do so.”
“Wait a minute…”
At that moment, Zhao Kai bit his lip.
I know it’s something I should never do, but I have no choice but to do it. It was a path he should not have chosen as an open-minded elder, but as a military man, he ended up saying that.
“…Where did you say the volcano was?”
