Chapter 914: There's No Other Way (Part 4)

"What...?"

"..."

"They're here?"

The head tilted slowly to the side. Seeing that, Hyun Jong unconsciously closed his eyes. He knew too well what that guy was thinking when he tilted his head like that.

"Ahem. So... it's from Shaolin."

"Ah, Shaolin."

"Yeah, Shaolin."

"Is it the Shaolin I know? The one where the bald-headed guys roam around the mountain called Seongsan or something, and gather together like a swarm of bees?"

Hyun Jong's gaze anxiously swept around the room. He was looking for another bald-headed guy here, but fortunately, everyone in the room had a full head of hair.

"Why are you doing that?"

Hyun Jong's gaze lingered on Hyun Young for a while, and Hyun Young gave him a puzzled look.

"Well..."

"Yes?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Choking back the words he couldn't bring himself to say, Hyun Jong averted his gaze. His eyes were moist. That poor guy has had a tough life...

*Cough*

Clearing his throat loudly, Hyun Jong turned his gaze back to Chung Myung.

"Yes, that Shaolin."

"Really?"

Chung Myung responded with a surprised expression.

"That Shaolin sent us an envoy? Unbelievable! I thought the only thing we'd be sharing now is warm punches and cool stabs, but an envoy! The attitude of a civilized person trying to resolve the problem through dialogue... between us and those rascals...."

"Oh, no. Chung Myung. No matter how it may seem, it's just a letter...."

"Yesssssss?"

Chung Myung asked, widening his eyes.

"Sect Leader! What is a letter?"

"The letter...

"It has something written in it, right?"

"Huh? Yeah, right. But why...?"

"Sending something written implies they understand it, right? Even if they're baldies from Shaolin, there's no way those guys could understand words. How can they send a letter?"

"...."

"If they could understand what's written, they wouldn't have been blabbering all this time! Bald guys can't read! They're all the same color!"

Chung Myung burst into an angry tirade, his words coming out in rapid succession.

In the midst of all this, Hyun Jong was grateful that there were no outsiders present here.

"...Yes. Strangely enough, they sent a letter. So, let's discuss the content a bit."

"Do we have to?"

"...Please."

With an earnest expression, Hyun Jong begged, and Chung Myung reluctantly nodded, clenching his fist.

"Okay, go ahead."

"Right. Right. Let's think... the letter of the Shaolin Leader Beop Jeong has arrived. It's not for Mount Hua but a message sent to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"And the content?"

"Uh-huh."

Hyun Jong hesitated slightly before revealing the content.

"They're concerned about the movements of the Evil Tyrant Alliance and want to discuss it. They've requested the presence of the leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance as well. Furthermore... your name is mentioned separately. They're asking you to make time to come to Shaolin."

After finishing his explanation, Hyun Jong quickly gauged Chung Myung's reaction. He expected him to foam at the mouth and throw a fit.

However, strangely enough, Chung Myung didn't show any particular reaction. He simply rested his chin on his fist, looking calm while keeping his arm on the table.

Hyun-jong, feeling slightly puzzled, cautiously asked, "Are you okay?"

Chung Myung responded, "Yes? What do you mean?"

Hyun-jong hesitated before continuing, "Well, it's just..."

It was a bit awkward to say it out loud.

Chung Myung smiled warmly, "Well, I think it's a good idea."

Hyun-jong asked, "A good idea?"

Chung Myung clarified, "Yes. In the end, they're telling both me and you to go to Shaolin, right?"

Hyun-jong agreed, "Yes, that's true."

Chung Myung continued, "So naturally, it's a good idea."

Chung Myung's bright smile had no trace of deception. Just as Hyun-jong was about to nod in relief, Chung Myung added, "Thinking that way, it's fortunate."

Hyun-jong asked, "Fortunate?"

Chung Myung replied with a grin, "After all, they're telling both you and me to go to Shaolin. Why wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Hyun-jong, relieved by Chung Myung's response, finally nodded in agreement.

Hyun-jong then heard Chung Myung mutter, "You're telling me to go break your head, and you think I won't go? That bald bastard! I'm going now!"

Hyun-jong protested, "Where are you going?"

As Chung Myung was about to spring into action, the Five Swords who had been waiting swooped in like flashes of light, grabbing him and holding him back. Their swift and coordinated movements showcased impeccable martial skills.

"Let me go? Don't let me go? Try it!"

"Where are you going, you brat!"

"Where do you think I'm going? Shaolin! They told me to come! The great bald king wants me to come! He said, 'Come here!' So why is there a problem?"

Chung Myung rolled his eyes and said, "This brat was quiet for three years, and now he lost his mind? Fine, I accept it! I'll show him why I've been training for three years! I'll carve Plum Blossom Martial Arts on his bald head, and then he'll become a Buddhist monk!"

"It's called Shaolin!"

"That's not what I'm saying! Why do you think I train for three years?"

Uh? Wasn't it because of the Evil Sect?

Hyun Jong rubbed his throbbing head and sighed. Then Hyun Young chimed in with a knowing tone.

"Chung Myung."

"Why are you bringing this up?"

"I think you need to consider it."

"Consider what?"

"Well, Sect Leader. What are your thoughts on this?"

"Hmm."

Hyun Jong pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Even if our relationship with Shaolin is not as it used to be, sending an envoy personally, especially regarding the issue with the Evil Tyrant Alliance, isn't it proper for us to visit?"

"My thoughts are a bit different," Hyun Young replied.

Hyun Jong gave him a slightly surprised look.

"As we saw during the Evil Tyrant Alliance's revival, Shaolin doesn't see us in a favorable light."

"But still, inviting us like this must mean there are other factors at play, don't you think?"

Most people have already realized that Shaolin's leader, who is the head of the Righteous Sects, shuns the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. They just haven't voiced it out loud.

At that moment, Chung Myung interjected with a straightforward tone.

"What do you mean by other factors? It's just a matter of setting the house on fire."

"Huh? Setting the house on fire?"

Hyun Young turned to look at Chung Myung. He muttered while removing the executioners hanging on his body.

"If the disciples of the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Families had responded properly to the call, would Shaolin have bothered with us? They sent an envoy because they couldn't get those guys to listen."

"...."

"Of course, they're probably holding on to the Buddha statue and weeping right now. Kihihihihihihihihi!"

"Chung Myung, finding joy in someone else's misfortune is not the way to enlightenment...."

"Well, in that case, all those Shaolin guys will end up in hell! When they go to hell, the Buddha will say, 'Oh, you guys! I came down here, especially for you!' and smack them with a sutra, don't you think?"

"...."

He should stop talking.

Hyun Jong was at a loss for words in the face of his unpredictable and rather dark-hearted disciple. At that moment, Baek Cheon raised his head.

"If your words are right, haven't you gotten what you wanted?"

"That's true."

"But why are you so angry?"

"No!"

After a brief return to calmness, Chung Myung's eyes sparkled once more.

"An arrogant brat telling our Sect Leader to come there!"

"...."

"Do you still think you can get away with that? Even if he came running barefoot and begged on his knees, what we have gone? Requesting his attendance? Just like that!"

"...."

Amidst Baek Cheon's loss for words, someone vigorously nodded.

'Samae?'

No, why are you doing that?

Even in this chaotic situation, Hyun Jong, who did not forget his duties as the leader, tried to calm the situation.

"Please, close your mouth, all of you..."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"If you say that, it's unfair to us, Sect Leader. There's only one person who spoke, so why are you doing this to us... Argh!"

Even though Jo Gol looked like a soaked puppy that had been beaten up by Yoon Jong after foolishly meddling and being pushed into a corner, nobody paid any attention to him.

"Since this is a letter sent to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, we will have to send a reply. What do you think we should do?"

"Let's just burn it."

"Ha, let's just burn it."

"Why are you all like this? Let's politely decline."

"Why not just go if they say so?"

In the end, a clear glint appeared in Hyun Jong's eyes. These guys are truly beyond help. They can't even be recycled.

"Sect Leader."

Amidst this, Baek Cheon opened his mouth solemnly. Nonetheless, Hyun Jong felt a sliver of hope left for Baek Cheon.

"All right, Baek Cheon. Go ahead and speak."

"Although it is true that Shaolin sent an envoy, there is no reason why we should comply with their request."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes, Master. If we calmly evaluate the situation, we can see that Shaolin has always ignored our requests or set conditions whenever they dealt with us. Is there any reason why we should do what they say?"

Hyun Jong nodded in agreement, as Baek Cheon's words were not wrong. However, the sorrow in his eyes still lingered.

"But I'm worried. Looking at the current situation, there might be a war coming..."

"War doesn't break out that easily."

Chung Myung was the one who threw in this statement.

"You can roar and fight all you want, but a war doesn't happen that easily, especially if there's something to lose. Whether it's Shaolin or anyone else, they don't want to incur any losses."

"...."

"One of the reasons why the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Families don't listen to Shaolin is probably because of that."

"Are you saying that they gathered there for nothing, a war might really break out?"

"Yes."

Jo Gol raised his hand with a puzzled look.

"No, but holding back doesn't mean a war won't break out. I don't think Jang Il-so will continue to be satisfied in Gangnam, right?"

"Jang Ilso hasn't made his move yet. "People tend to want to put off things even if they are inevitable."

"Right."

It was a statement that made sense. Jo Gol nodded.

"I mean, I used to sneak and drink alcohol, even though I knew I'd get caught if I did. Everyone wants to hide a little longer, right... Aaaargh! Why did you hit me?"

"You said you used to sneak alcohol!"

"In the past! Not this time! I've already been hit for that!"

"Then you'll get hit again!"

Ignoring Yoon Jong, who had grabbed Jo Gol by the scruff of his neck and was thoroughly scolding him, Baek Cheon continued.

"So, even if we don't listen to Shaolin's request this time, it doesn't mean there won't be any trouble for a while, right?"

"That's right."

"However, Sect Leader's concern makes sense. Shaolin is quite proactive. The atmosphere is a bit unusual."

"Sasuk."

"Um?"

"If Mount Hua was in the Ten Great Sects, do you think they would have gone out and fought the way Shaolin wanted them to?"

"That's..."

Baek Cheon's face twitched slightly at the end of the sentence. In the past, he might have answered that way, but now his answer was already decided.

"People are all the same. Shaolin listening to the leader of the Ten Great Sects is a story of a crisis. People always try to win against Shaolin at least once, no matter how much they use tricks."

"....That's true."

"Are these people, who usually have built up their emotions in ambiguous situations, suddenly following Shaolin's words without any hesitation? Haha, it's absurd. Maybe now, the Beopjeong monk has grown even more sagely and reasonable."

When he finished speaking, Chung Myung suddenly smiled at the memories that came to mind.

"Those crazy bastards."

Even when the demons from the Demon Sect were attacking right in front of them, if one stepped forward, another stepped back. It was just their nature. If those guys had moved decisively, the number of sacrifices would have been cut in half.

To Chung Myung, who had already learned how petty people could become when their lives and interests were at stake, what would happen in the future was quite clear.

"What about the Yantze River?"

"He'll probably give in reasonably and withdraw."

"....Even if that happens, won't the honor of the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Families really be tarnished?"

"Most people won't risk their lives for honor. Honor can be regained when it's lost, but once you lose your life, it's over. Probably, even if we let them go, they'll claim that they destroyed the Evil Tyrant Alliance at the end."

"Um-hmm."

"That's why war isn't something you can solve through discussion. Usually, one crazy person...."

Chung Myung was blabbering away when he suddenly closed his mouth. Then, he opened his eyes wider and looked bewildered.

"Why, why are you like that?"

Puzzled, Baek Cheon asked, and Chung Myung turned his blank face to him.

"Sasuk."

"Yeah? Why?"

"....What if a war really breaks out?"

Chung Myung turned his head to the side and muttered, "If we keep doing this...."

His expression changed oddly as he recalled the presence of the bomb he had forgotten about.

"Can Shaolin really catch fire for real?"

"What are you talking about, man!"

"Woah, I have to check first! Where is the beggar, where is he? Beggar!"

Chung Myung rushed out of the door without proper explanation, leaving the others to stare blankly at the place he had just left.

"What else is he thinking about?"

"We get it...."

"I'm hungry."

A collective sigh escaped from everyone's mouth.