Chapter 1472: The Fruits Of Labor (Part 2)

"The White Sword Sect (白劍堡) has expressed their intention to join!"

"From the Qinghai Sect (靑海門) too, there's news. They are already leading their disciples and heading towards this place."

Beopgye nodded in approval. Contacts from the sects willing to join the Ten Great Sects were still pouring in without a break.

"These are good news, Bangjang."

However, instead of responding to Beopgye's words, Beopjeong was deep in thought.

After a moment, he glanced at the one who reported.

"Hyedo (慧度)."

"Yes, Bangjang."

"How many sects have expressed their intention to join today?"

"...Thirty-two."

It certainly was not a small number. However, Beopjeong didn't seem pleased this time either, frowning.

Sensing something, Beopge asked cautiously.

"Bangjang, is there an issue?"

But instead of answering, Beopjeong gestured towards Hyedo.

"Are there sects that joined without sending messengers? How many are they?"

"Oh... you mean today?"

"Yes."

"... About sixteen."

"You said sixteen?"

"Yes, Bangjang."

"What about yesterday?"

"Yesterday?"

"How many sects joined yesterday without prior notice? I mean, those who didn't send messengers in advance."

"Um... it was around twenty, I believe. I'll check it again.."

"Twenty?"

However, Hyedo couldn't move. The expression on Beopjeong's face as he repeated the word "twenty" felt uneasy.

"Does this mean that the sects joining today are merely around sixty?"

Hyedo closed his mouth. He was just the one reporting, so he couldn't respond to this question.

"...Beopgye."

"Yes, Bangjang."

"Immediately reconfirm the situation. If it seems strange, it's not just an ordinary situation."

"Yes."

"If things were as we expected, there should have been almost twice the number of sects knocking on the door of the Ten Great Sects by now. But the current number doesn't seem significantly high, does it? What's the delay for? I'm getting impatient."

"Bangjang... sixty is not a small number."

"Can't you hear me telling you to check the situation immediately?"

As Beopjeong sharply revealed his anger, Beopge flinched. At that moment, Hyedo, who had been observing Beopjeong's reactions, cautiously spoke up.

"I'm not sure if what I saw is what Bangjang is thinking, but..."

Beopjeong turned his head sharply towards him.

"What did you see?"

"Well... I felt that the sects from nearby Hubei and Hanam are not joining as easily as expected."

"What?"

Beopjeong looked at Hyedo as if he couldn't believe it.

"What does that mean? In this situation, they should be the most urgent ones. What are they thinking, delaying decisions at a time like this?"

"But..."

At that moment, Beopgye spoke up with a slightly furrowed brow.

"Could it be that they are still deciding between the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Ten Great Sects?"

"Nonsense!"

But Beopjeong firmly denied it.

"Such a thing can't happen."

"Bangjang, however..."

"It's not about pride. The situation has surpassed a mere power struggle. Hubei is already under our protection, and Shaanxi has become their territory, hasn't it?"

"That's true... Bangjang."

"But how did they manage to join Shaanxi? What's the reason for those sects to choose Hanam over us?"

"Well... Sect Leader, it may not be a matter of pride, but..."

"Check the situation immediately!"

"That's true, Bangjang."

"But how did they manage to join Shaanxi? What's the reason for those sects to choose Shaanxi over us?"

"Of course, Bangjang's words are correct. However, there are those who may feel that Shaanxi is a bit safer, don't you think?"

However, Beopjeong remained firm and resolute.

"That, too, is an impossible scenario."

"..."

"While Shaanxi may not be safer, even if it is, can they escape to that extent just because it's safe? They are not Shaolin, and they are not Wudang either. They are not the kind who would leave for a distant Shaanxi because it's dangerous and then return nonchalantly."

"Uh-hmm."

"Unless it's a truly life-threatening situation, who knows. But if not, in the end, those who have something to protect in the land they've been living on will choose to stay, observing the familiar surroundings of their people. Think about it. If the righteous sects left the commoners in the region in danger, then returned, who would welcome them?"

Large sects like the Ten Great Sects could sustain themselves through their own businesses. However, small and medium-sized sects had no choice but to run their sects with the money paid by those learning martial arts under their sects.

But were there not multiple sects in one region? In such a situation, who would fear the sect that withdrew? There were plenty of other options.

Therefore, their maneuvering was not as free as one might think.

"But, Bangjang, isn't this actually happening?"

"What other reason could there be? We need to figure it out quickly..."

"Uh..."

At that moment, Hyedo, looking at Beopjeong's expression, spoke up again.

"I have some guesses, but..."

"Guesses? What are they?"

"It's not certain... You might need to see for yourself first."

As Hyedo stood up, Beopjeong's gaze followed him.

After a while, Beopjeong, following Hyedo, arrived at a place outside the bustling district of Hubei, a plain village. Beopjeong blinked his eyes with a slightly dazed expression.

"....What is this?"

There were carts being loaded and people carrying large bundles on their backs. Hyedo spoke cautiously.

"They are refugees."

"Refugees?"

Hyedo nodded.

"Yes. Given that this place will soon become a battlefield, it's natural for people to leave, isn't it?"

"What does that mean? Didn't we promise to protect them? We've already conveyed that nowhere in the world is safe!"

"Yes, that's true, but..."

Hyedo sighed heavily.

"While that may be true for the martial artists, where would the commoners hear such words?"

Beopjeong's eyes trembled slightly.

"Bangjang's words are all correct. Leaving is difficult, and returning is even more challenging. However... that's the story of those who have nothing to protect other than their bodies. For those who have something to protect..."

For a moment, a bitter smile escaped Beopjeong's lips.

The reason was twofold. One was understanding Hyedo's words. The other was realizing that he had no knowledge of such a situation.

It wasn't that Beopjeong had no interest in those who were not martial artists. He considered managing the public sentiment of Hebei important and occasionally went beyond his temple to inspect the people.

'Wasn't it considered stable enough?'

But he had never thought of going to such a place. So, he learned something new. The area where he lived was the wealthiest among the non-martial artists in Hobuk. The thoughts of the wealthy in that area and those who were currently evacuating may not align.

Missing that was undoubtedly Beopjeong's mistake. But...

"But how does their evacuation relate to your guess?"

"....Can't you see over there?"

Hyedo pointed somewhere. At the end were unarmed martial artists. They were assisting those evacuating by loading goods onto the carts.

"What are they doing?"

"I happened to see this scene while passing by... Until now, I thought they were just helping those preparing to evacuate. But now that I think about it, it seems like they are even escorting those leaving."

"Escort?"

Beopjeong said as if it didn't make sense.

"Escorting! Why would they escort those going from a dangerous place to a safe one..."

But he couldn't finish his sentence. 'Escort?' One thought flashed through his mind. Seeking agreement, he looked at Hyedo, who lowered his head awkwardly.

"...Where are they going?"

"..."

"Where are they evacuating to?"

Hyedo couldn't answer. Beopjeong, chewing on his lips, walked towards those who were already leaving with their belongings, and with a stern voice, he asked.

"Amitabhul, may I ask a question?"

Those who were walking with tired and weary faces noticed Beopjeong and were startled, quickly bowing their heads.

"Oh, venerable monk, what brings you here? We would like to help, but given the situation, what we have is..."

"It's not about that."

Even upon seeing Beopjeong, what they thought of was not a Shaolin disciple but an ordinary Buddhist. To the simple villagers, the mention of the Shaolin sect coming here was just a passing remark for them, and they had no mental capacity to think about it.

"Where are you heading right now?"

The person who heard the question chuckled and replied with a bitter smile.

"Well, of course, we're evacuating. It's said that soon the Evil Sect guys will invade here, turning it into a battlefield, isn't it?"

"...Evacuating, but where to?"

"Isn't it obvious? We're heading to Shaanxi."

Beopjeong's hand hidden in his sleeve twitched for a moment.

"Why Shaanxi? I've heard that Shaanxi is equally dangerous, even if not more."

"Yes, people say that... But still, wouldn't Shaanxi be better? After all, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is there."

"...Isn't there also the Ten Great Sects here in this area?"

"Yes?"

But the person who heard that couldn't understand it at all, looking at Beopjeong with a face that seemed to say, 'I don't understand the reason for mentioning Ten Great Sects here.' Beopjeong was bewildered by the puzzled look, trying to remain calm.

"The Ten Great Sects also promised to protect this place, didn't they?"

"Oh..."

Only then did the person seem to understand, nodding slightly as if he had just understood. However, Beopjeong saw it. The emotion contained in the eyes of the person, transitioning from consideration for the monk to a clear sense of wariness.

"Yes, that's true. But we just..."

It was inevitable. Even if it was subtle, Beopjeong, the leader of the Shaolin, couldn't miss the movements of the commoners.

At that moment, Beopgye and Hyedo approached from behind, causing him to shrink even more.

"We just... heard someone say something. Yes... We ignorant folks don't know anything, do we?"

Beopjeong closed and opened his eyes, looking at the frightened commoner in front of him.

"Hyedo."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Understanding his intention, Hyedo carefully took out a small purse from his sleeve and handed it to Beopjeong.

"Please use this on your path to the Buddha."

"No, no, venerable. We... don't usually do this kind of thing..."

"Take it."

When Beopjeong tightly handed over the money, the man turned away several times, looking fearful. Even though he provided travel expenses, the man's fear of Beopjeong was clearly felt.

Watching those who were quickly walking away, Beopjeong let out a bitter laugh.

"...Shaanxi. Heading to Mount Hua."

"..."

"They are going to Mount Hua, and countless sects are leaving this place under the pretext of protecting them. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Bangjang..."

"Why is that?"

Beopjeong muttered in disappointment.

"That the Heavenly Comrade Alliance lacks the power to protect them is already known throughout the world. The moment Sichuan fell into the hands of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, it should've been understood throughout the world that only we have the power."

"..."

"But still, why are they still clinging to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance? Why?"

It wasn't anger, disappointment, or even contempt. What was conveyed in Beopjeong's voice was simply confusion.

Something unexpected. Something incomprehensible even after seeing it.

What disrupted Beopjeong's perfectly calculated plans were those he had never considered would make a difference in the world.