Episode 1243. That’s all? (3)
“Keuuk hum.”
Geumyangbaek hurriedly calmed his voice. An ordinary person might not know this, but it is shameful for a warrior of the caliber of gold and silver to be in trouble because he cannot control his body properly.
But is there anyone in the world who wouldn’t be embarrassed even if they heard those words to their face?
What did you say?
“Now…”
After refining his breathing once again, Geumyangbaek asked back.
“Did you tell me to leave the old file room…?”
“yes.”
The answer came immediately, without a single moment of hesitation. So I was even more devastated.
Geumyangbaek was speechless again and stared at Baekcheon. Because I felt like I would make a mistake if I opened my mouth and spoke now.
What on earth is this guy?
What on earth is this person doing, bringing in the sacred object of volcanoes and boldly telling them to leave the old group?
‘Is there even one person in all of Kangho history who has heard this?’
To put it bluntly, there won’t be any. I can’t believe a friend who belongs to an old file room can kick out of the old file room on his own. This is something that no sane person could ever say.
Even the Demonic Cult that invaded the central plains, or the great factions of the Sapa that once brought bloodshed to the central plains but have now disappeared, would not have been able to easily say such words.
If you understand the meaning of the phrase ‘one group, one room’, it was something that could never be said. Especially if you know even a little bit about what effort Haenam put in to get into that old group.
That’s why…
‘No no!’
Geumyangbaek flinched for a moment and quickly erased the thoughts that came to his mind.
For a moment, I began to suspect that the reason Baekcheon said this was because of his ill feelings stemming from the fact that Haenam’s seat had originally belonged to Hwasan.
‘How can you have such foolish thoughts!’
This is a shameful thought to even think about.
These are the people who broke through Gangnam, which was no different from a limb, and came all the way to this place. Is there anyone in the world who could do something like this simply out of bad feelings?
Moreover, considering only the stories I have heard so far about Cheonwoo-maeng and Hwasan, this is nothing more than a shameful suspicion of So In-bae.
Geumyangbaek, who felt great shame for having had such a thought in his head even for a moment, opened his mouth in a very cautious tone.
“This Jangmun is so stupid… it is difficult to understand the true meaning of what Deputy Jangmoon said. “What was your intention when you said that?”
“That’s literally it.”
However, Baekcheon did not seem to consider Geumyangbaek’s feelings at all and answered just as firmly as the first time.
“Now, I recommend you to throw away the name of Gupailbang, which is nothing but a facade, and join us, Cheonwoomaeng.”
“No…”
“What on earth are you saying…?”
The elders of Haenam, who were guarding Geumyangbaek, murmured loudly. They too were looking at Baekcheon with an expression of bewilderment.
“What on earth are you thinking!”
“How can you say such a rude thing…!”
“quietly.”
“Hana Jangmun-in! “That is Tao…”
“Please be quiet.”
As Geumyangbaek spoke clearly, the elders cleared their throats and reluctantly kept their mouths shut. I felt so embarrassed that I intervened, but this was not a place where they could freely open their mouths.
Click.
Geumyangbaek remained silent for a moment and picked up the teacup in front of him.
“The car will get cold. “This tea is made from high-quality tea leaves grown in the high mountains of Haenam, so why not enjoy its scent?”
“thank you.”
Baekcheon smiled lightly at those words and raised his teacup. From holding the teacup to slowly savoring the tea, it was flawless and smooth.
“Are you interested in the tea ceremony?”
Baekcheon put down his teacup and smiled at Geumyangbaek’s question.
“I wasn’t leisurely enough to specifically learn about tea ceremony, but since Hyeon Jong-jin, a former scholar of Hwasan, enjoyed tea so much, I learned about it from over his shoulder.”
“Ah, to Hyeon Jong-jin… yes? “Has Hyeonjongjin come down from his position as Jangmunin?”
“I didn’t even know to tell you that. “The previous Jangmunin handed over the position of Jangmunin to Ungeomjinin, the current Jangmunin of Hwasan.”
“Huh…”
Geumyangbaek could not hide his embarrassment this time.
“Oh, by the way, it’s Hyun Jong Jin…. “No, the noble family’s Taesangmun…?”
“It’s not like that. Jang Moon-in is still healthy.”
“Ah…”
“It is difficult for me to understand all of his deep intentions, but I think he has decided that it is time to pass the position on to a younger generation.”
It was full of surprises. Just a little while ago, telling people to withdraw from the old group was absurd, but this statement was just as absurd.
‘You came down from the position of Jangmun on your own?’
At a time like this? This is something I don’t understand at all.
Now Kangho is facing a huge crisis. In this situation, is it really possible for the person who led the sect to step down and hand over his position to a later person? How much trust do you have to have in the disciples you raised to be able to do something like that?
As Geumyangbaek, I couldn’t even imagine it.
‘no. That’s not all.’
In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that the current volcanic power threatens even Shaolin. His actual power may still be less than that of Shaolin, but in terms of his influence on the powerful, there is a point where he clearly surpasses Shaolin to a certain extent.
There must have been a very long patience and wait for the volcano to become like this.
Is it really possible for the person standing at the center of the situation to retreat on his own after enduring and enduring the pain that felt like his whole body was being submerged in a swamp? How greedy must a person be for such a thing to be possible?
“⋯⋯You’re amazing.”
“I think so too.”
A sigh escaped from Geumyangbaek’s mouth.
‘The positions have become completely opposite.’
When we first met, Hyeonjong was not someone who dared compare to him. But now the situation has turned around. Now it has become difficult for him to even dare to step on Hyeonjong’s shadow.
He became an incompetent person who put Haenam on the verge of extinction, but didn’t Hyeonjong become the person who raised Hwasan, which was just a third-rate sect, into a great sect renowned throughout the world?
‘They say don’t worry about life.’
Geumyangbaek, who tried to push away the numerous emotions that were flooding in, spoke in a voice that seemed as relaxed as possible.
“I think I can understand why Director Jang Moon makes such a suggestion. “He is a person who has learned from a person like Hyeonjong Jinin who was detached from the world through long writings, so the names such as ‘Gupailbang’ and the like seem to be nothing more than a facade.”
“⋯⋯.”
“But Deputy Jangmun. I think we need to consider what the old file room means in the world and what people in the world think of the old file room. “What is a old file room?”
“I know, Jang Mun-in.”
Geumyangbaek quietly looked at Baekcheon.
It could be considered rude to cut off the conversation of a scholar from another sect in the middle of a conversation, but Geumyangbaek did not want to argue about such a thing right now. Rather, I was more curious about what Baekcheon would say next.
“You said you knew?”
“yes. Maybe I know better than Jang Mun-in. Jang Mun-in is the one who led Haenam, which became the old faction, but we were the ones who only looked up at the old faction from the lowest point.”
At those words, Geumyangbaek nodded without realizing it.
If you think about it, it hasn’t been long since that volcano reached its current location. I’m sure they too would have looked at Gupailbang with both envy and jealousy. And you probably dreamed that one day you would return to your old file room.
“And yet you’re telling us that?”
“yes.”
Baekcheon slightly closed his eyes. And he said it firmly, as if there was nothing to say.
“The reason is simple. This is because the current Gupailbang is a place where Haenam has no reason to hang himself.”
“⋯⋯Long sentence.”
“The reason I came here now…”
Baekcheon paused for a moment and looked at the elders behind Geumyangbaek. Then he made eye contact with them one by one and continued talking.
“The fact that we are not just an old file room proves that fact.”
A sigh escaped from Geumyangbaek’s mouth for a moment. After a long sigh, he spoke in a slightly slower tone.
“Of course, I cannot thank you all enough for coming this far away. “I would like to express my deep gratitude not only as a member of the Haenam faction but also as a person from Haenam Island.”
“⋯⋯.”
“But Deputy Jangmun. That and this are different. “That gratitude…”
“Bondi.”
Baekcheon once again interrupted Geumyangbaek.
This time Geumyangbaek also frowned in discomfort. However, Baekcheon’s words afterwards made him even more uncomfortable.
“The people who should have come here were probably the old group, not us.”
“⋯⋯.”
“The reason is simple. This is because those who use the name Jeong (正) have a duty to help those who are in difficult situations, no matter the situation.”
Baekcheon said that and looked around at everyone.
“That’s why we, Cheon Woo-maeng, also want to apologize to the people here.”
Baekcheon bowed his head deeply as he sat down. Geumyangbaek was embarrassed by that sudden action and shook his butt.
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden, Manager Jangmun!”
“You should have come a little earlier. We should have realized a little earlier that the situation in Haenam was not good and that Haenam needed our help. I can’t do that… “No, please forgive us for ignoring half of you even though we could have done that.”
“How can that be the fruit of Cheonwoo-Meng? Don’t do this, Deputy Jangmun! “Hurry up and raise your head!”
Baekcheon then slowly raised his head.
“Jangmun-in.”
“Yes, Assistant Manager Jangmun.”
“It may be presumptuous, but it makes no sense to say that it cannot be a fruit of blindness. Cheonwoomaeng originally raised its flag under the value of revering consensus. It is also a place where I have gained a lot from it. “He deserves to be criticized for failing to do what he should have done.”
Geumyangbaek momentarily felt as if he was being sucked in by Baekcheon.
Straight. It’s just straight.
Being upright can sometimes be said to be frustrating and frustrating, but at other times, it can be a force stronger than anything else in the world.
What Baekcheon stands for now, overcoming everything, regardless of the armed forces, justifications, and each other’s circumstances, is uprightness. With that alone, Geumyangbaek felt overwhelmed.
“That’s why I’d like to ask.”
Baekcheon looked straight at Geumyangbaek and asked.
“Where are the people who had to keep that agreement before anyone else now?”
“Jangmun Assistant Manager…”
“You must understand. no. “You have to admit it, Jang Moon-in.”
Baekcheon spoke coldly without a moment’s hesitation.
“Gupailbang abandoned Haenam.”
Those words became a dagger and cut into Geumyangbaek’s heart.