Episode 926. This is my role. (1)
It feels like a sword made of thick flesh is touching my neck.
This sense conveys one fact.
‘It’s not just a threat.’
In fact, such a thing cannot happen. This makes no sense in common sense. But now the court’s sense speaks clearly.
If he gives the wrong answer here and now, Cheongmyeong may actually cut off his head.
‘Why do you do this?’
The court could not understand Cheongmyeong’s deep-rooted anger. What does Hwasan have to gain by defeating Shaolin?
“Amitabha…”
An expression of disapproval mixed with confusion flowed from the court’s mouth. He didn’t know that the end of his voice trembled slightly as he recited his displeasure.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
His frustrating feelings were fully revealed in the bad news. In order to resolve the situation they are facing now, Cheonwoomaeng’s cooperation is absolutely necessary.
However, if the Hwasan Sword Association, the center of the Cheonwoo Alliance, takes such a strong stance, there will be no way to attract them.
To begin with, Hwasan Swordsmen is a difficult person to predict. We never do deals that result in losses, and threats like threats never work. What on earth would you say to a person who threatens the head of Shaolin?
It is nearly impossible to sway interest through conversation.
If there is one weakness to the Hwasan Sword Association, it is only…
“Lord.”
The gaze of the court left Qingmyeong and turned to King Hyeonjong.
Hyeonjong faced the court with a dark face. Cheongmyeong’s shoulders shook for just a moment at the sound of Hyeonjong being called, and the court did not miss the reaction.
‘surely.’
The Hwasan Sword Association does not pay attention to anyone else in the world, but only respects Hyeonjong, the leader of Hwasan. It is difficult for the court to know whether it was because of the prestige of a monk or some other reason, but the reason is not important anyway.
The conclusion is that if you attack Hyeonjong, it may be difficult for even the Hwasan Sword Association to oppose you.
“What do you think, Lord? Do you agree with the Hwasan Sword Association?”
“Director, I…”
“Please don’t say that the disciples’ will is the master’s will. “If you are a leader, you would know that it is just an evasion.”
The court continued speaking quickly as if it would not give Hyeonjong time to think.
“And please don’t forget. I am now making a request to the leader of the Cheonwoomaeng, not the Jangmun of Hwasan. Even if the Hwasan Sword Association can represent the will of Hwasan, it does not represent the will of the entire Cheonwoo Alliance. Are you sure that the other factions of the Cheonwoomaeng will have the same intentions as the Hwasan Sword Association?”
“Hmm.”
Hyeonjong’s face was filled with deep sorrow.
What was weighing on his shoulders now was not the content of the court’s words, but their tone. The
tone was clearly different from the first time. He was full of determination to put pressure on Hyeonjong.
“If you lead a clan, you must sometimes be able to make decisions that are almost arbitrary for the future of the clan. Even if it seems frustrating and damaging right now, I think you will understand that in the end, it may be for the good of the sect.”
“This…”
Cheongmyeong’s face distorted.
He looked like he wanted to step in and strangle the court at any moment, but unlike before, he did not open his mouth without permission.
The court took a quick look at the scene and smiled inwardly. Certainly, the Hwasan Sword Association never challenges King Hyeonjong’s authority. The only snare that can suppress this unruly person is King Hyeonjong.
And Hyeonjong was actually a weak person.
Although it may be the Hwasan Sword Association, persuading King Hyeonjong was not that difficult for the court.
“When I ascended to the position of head of a sect called Shaolin…”
He continued calmly. I was gradually regaining my composure.
“The first thing I felt was the heavy weight.”
Hyeonjong lets out a low sigh. This is something that anyone who has ever become the head of a sect cannot help but empathize with.
“The burden of knowing that my choice could change the fate of Shaolin and the world. “Anyone who hasn’t been in that position can’t even guess.”
“Hmm…”
“Wasn’t the leader like that too?”
“….”
The court smiled.
“There have been more than a few times when I wanted to put everything aside and live as I wanted. “What gave me strength each time were the two letters, Shaolin.”
“….”
“Because I am the head of Shaolin, I must listen to what my disciples say. But sometimes, because you are the leader of Shaolin, you don’t have to listen to them. Moving according to your mood is surprisingly not difficult. What is really difficult is to persevere in what I want to do and think about the future of the clan.”
A calm yet powerful voice enveloped Hyeonjong.
After seeing that Hyeonjong’s expression had become a little more serious, the court slowly drove the wedge in.
“I am not asking for help without any conditions. Shaolin is a sect that does not forget grace. If you give us help as the leader of the Cheonwoo Alliance and as the Jangmun of Hwasan, Shaolin will definitely repay the favor. “I promise not only the return of Hwasan to the old faction, but also the authority that has not been given to any other faction.”
Kakak.
The prayer beads in the court’s hand were rubbing roughly. The sound makes those who were concentrating flinch.
The court, taking control of the surrounding atmosphere once again, smiled softly.
“If that happens, it will just be a set process for Hwasan to regain its past glory. It’s the same for everyone when children get stepped on. But shouldn’t a true leader be able to see beyond the children and see the future of the clan?”
Crack.
At that moment, a small sound was heard in the ears of the court. It’s probably the sound of the Hwasan Swordsmen grabbing something to hold back their anger. But the court held its gaze back on him with desperate patience.
Because at this moment, we have to completely exclude the Hwasan Sword Association in order to deal with King Hyeonjong.
“But…”
At that moment, Hyeonjong opened his mouth.
“Now, even if the volcano returns to its old state, what difference will it make?”
“A lot of things change.”
The court looked straight at Hyeonjong with sunken eyes. As if he was going to tell him the reality.
“Clearly, Tian Yu Meng’s momentum is amazing. So now the name of Gupa may feel small. But Lord Maeng. In the long history of Gangho, there must have been at least one or two places as big as Cheonwoomaeng.”
At those words, Hyeonjong’s expression changed slightly.
The court did not miss the opportunity and tightened the reins.
“There were places that had a reputation comparable to that of Old File Room, and other times, there were places that showed off their power beyond that of Old File Room. But now all that’s left is Gupailbang and Odaese. “What will happen to all the clans of the past now?”
Hyunjong’s fist, hidden in his sleeve, was quietly clenched. Because he knows that what he says is not wrong.
“Certainly, Cheonwoomaeng is an amazing place. But you probably know it too. Solidarity with the Sae-Oe faction cannot last for a long time. The moment that solidarity is broken, the reality that Hwasan must face is the nine factions and the five generations that have bad feelings toward Hwasan. And at that time, the relationship would definitely not be the same as it is now. Say it again…”
That moment.
The eyes of the court turned to Cheongmyeong for the first time since facing Hyeonjong. It seems that these words are not only addressed to Hyeonjong.
“It means that the moment the Hwasan Sword Association can no longer protect Hwasan, Hwasan must face a terrible reality that cannot be compared to the past. Jang Mun-in, do you really think that Hwasan will be able to survive even if you turn the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families into enemies?”
“This…”
Cheongmyeong’s face distorted and Hyeonjong gently closed his eyes.
These words pinpointed exactly what he was worried about.
The volcano has expanded its power with tremendous force. There was no way Hyunjong did not know that it was only because there was a being called Cheongmyeong. Therefore, Cheongmyeong was an infinitely grateful and precious being to him.
But if there is light, there is also darkness.
Hwasan became an extremely close relationship with the Sacheondang family and Nokrim, a faction of the new faction, but the relationship with the Odaesegawa, a faction of the old faction that represented the order of the existing strongmen, clearly deteriorated.
If Cheonwoomaeng can continue to expand with the same momentum as now, it won’t be a problem.
But what about the volcano that Qingming no longer exists?
Even if Cheongmyeong suffers a disaster during the war with the Sapaeryeon, or even if such a thing does not happen, what about Hwaseong after enjoying Cheongmyeong’s heavenly life?
Will it really be able to withstand the checks of the old faction and the five generations?
Probably not.
Hwasan has already developed beyond the limits of what it can do as a sect. Asking the same thing from those who will continue the volcano in the future is nothing but violence in the name of expectation.
A terrible weight that was difficult to express in words weighed down King Hyeonjong.
If you can watch all of this while he is alive, you don’t have to worry. But how much life does he have left?
Now he can make a choice, but the price of that choice must be fully paid by the rest.
Is it really right to force future generations to shoulder this great burden just for a brief moment of relief? Can the giants who have supported the powerhouses for the past hundreds of years really willingly make a choice that causes them to have bad feelings toward the volcanoes?
The court spoke while looking at Hyeonjong, who was lost in thought.
“I hope you understand what path is truly for the volcano. Lord Maeng…. No, Jang Mun-in!”
It was the last wedge.
There was a long silence. Everyone just waited for Hyeonjong’s answer.
Hyeonjong, who had been contemplating for a long time with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He then looked at Hwasan’s disciples who were looking at him.
There were many different expressions on each face.
Some people are looking at him earnestly, and others are giving him utmost trust. Also, someone’s eyes are filled with dissatisfaction at being listened to like this, and someone is thinking deeply about something.
It would be the role of the person who carries the name Jang Moon-in to find the right path among the many thoughts and meanings.
In the meantime, he has left countless choices up to them.
It was because he knew that he was too weak to make a choice alone. But at this moment, Hyeonjong had an intuition.
This is entirely a choice given to him.
Postponing this is nothing more than shifting that responsibility to young disciples.
It’s a lonely fight. It is a penance that feels like walking alone on an eternal night road without being able to see an inch in front of you.
However, King Hyeonjong knew of one star that would brighten the darkness. Above that sky, there is one star that shines brighter than anything else.
“Bangjang.”
After finishing his worries, Hyeonjong looked at the court and opened his mouth.
“I clearly understand the frequency of what the manager wanted to say.”
“If you do that…”
“If you fight with Shaolin now, the future volcanoes may have to go through a painful time. “Maybe we will have to go through a great crisis and have the name of a volcano that has barely survived disappear forever.”
The court nodded deeply, feeling satisfied within itself. Hyeonjong certainly seemed to understand what he meant.
“Then isn’t the choice you have to make as the head of a sect very simple?”
“Yes, boss. “It’s so simple.”
Hyeonjong faces the court with a calm face.
At that moment, the court straightened its back without realizing it. This is because King Hyeonjong, who was always kind and gentle, conveyed a spirit that was difficult to resist.
“There was an interesting anecdote when a disciple of the text visited Yunnan in the past.”
“…yes?”
However, what came out of Hyeonjong’s mouth was an unexpected story. The court frowned.
“What is that all of a sudden…”
“It is said that the disciple in the text who saw people in need in Yunnan sold the plum sword he was carrying to obtain grain and distributed it to them. “No one told me the truth, but the disciple himself revealed the truth to me and asked for forgiveness.”
Then, the eyes of the five swords all turn to Yunjong. Yunjong’s face instantly turned bright red.
Hyeonjong also looked at Yunjong and smiled.
“The Beast Palace Lord told me what happened back then. “I will now tell you what the disciple said to the Beast Palace Lord.”
“….”
“If the glory of Hwasan makes people living in the world more comfortable, all of Hwasan’s disciples will be able to proudly boast of that glory. However, if it only remains in the glory of Hwasan, Hwasan will just become a sect that can be replaced by another sect at any time.”
The court’s face hardened.
On the other hand, Hyeonjong’s face was soft, as if he had shaken off all illusions.
“The most important thing for Bangjang Huashan is not to leave a facade. “If Hwasan cannot leave a will to pass on to future generations, no matter how great the glory he enjoys, it is just another sect with Hwasan’s name.”
“….”
“If you choose to continue by defeating the right, the volcano will no longer be a volcano. Rather than watching a volcano that has changed so much, I would rather see the end with my own eyes. “That is…”
Hyeonjong’s eyes were filled with wisdom. It was a wisdom that was difficult to face even in court.
“It is my role that I have dared to serve as a senior citizen of Daehwasan, even though it is extremely inadequate.”
A voice that was low and quiet, but filled with irresistible confidence, penetrated the ears of the court.
“Please go back, boss. “Hwasan will not respond to your request. If you wanted to change Hwasan’s will, the head of the house should have brought sincerity instead of logic.”
It was a declaration by King Hyeonjong, a long letter from the Great Hwasan faction.
