1647 - Hurry and find it, quickly (1)

Jo Gol was at a loss for words, staring blankly at the person standing in front of him, who looked upset.

".....What did you say?"

"I asked why we have to do this nonsense."

Was he around forty years old?

The stern-looking middle-aged swordsman was glaring at Jo Gol with a dissatisfied expression.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Jo Gol let out a hollow laugh instead of answering.

Although he half-jokingly shouted that there was no hierarchy in Mount Hua, in reality, Mount Hua was not a sect without a hierarchy.

Moreover, the swordsman in front of him was twice Jo Gol's age.

Given the situation, even the world's best Jo Gol found himself speechless, unable to determine whether the man's claim was right or wrong.

"Is there.... a problem?"

When Jo Gol asked, rolling his eyes, the middle-aged swordsman snorted loudly as if it was absurd.

"Are you asking if there's a problem? You should be asking what isn't a problem. Can't you see it with your own two eyes?"

"Pardon?"

"How are we supposed to train here!"

The middle-aged swordsman, Moyong Banghwa, pointed behind him.

People dressed in various attires had stopped what they were doing and were looking this way.

Swordsmen, Taoists, martial artists, beggars....

The sight of them all mingling in the wide-training ground was so bizarre that it felt like the end of the world is near. It was that bizarre of a sight.

However, Jo Gol still tilted his head as if he didn't understand what the problem was.

"So, what are you trying to say...?"

"This is driving me crazy!"

Moyong Banghwa pounded his chest as if he were going to explode.

"Training! Training, I say! And not just any training, but training to prepare for war!"

"You... mean that? That's why we're training so hard now, isn't it?"

"Have you ever seen such an exasperating person! With people from other sects staring at us with such piercing eyes, how can we train here? All we can do is repeat the basic exercises that aren't even part of our secret techniques!"

"...yes?"

Jo Gol widened his eyes, truly at a loss.

Moyong Banghwa raised his voice.

"At such a critical time before a war, what kind of inefficient nonsense is this! What was the sub-unit leader thinking when he gave such an order?"

"Well..."

Normally, Jo Gol would have retorted, 'Why are you complaining to me about something that came from above? If you're that frustrated, go complain to them!' But now, he couldn't do that.

After all, Jo Gol was the sub-unit leader of the this group. He had an image to uphold and authority to maintain. He couldn't possibly admit that he was just following orders from above without any thought.

"Please calm down first. Just continue training, and it'll be fine."

"Noooo!"

Jo-gol flinched without realizing it at the intense reaction that came before he could even finish speaking.

"It's a secret technique, a secret technique! If we can openly train in front of outsiders, why call it a secret technique at all? Doesn't Mount Hua have that concept?"

Huh? Jo Gol wondered, tilting his head.

'Was it there?'

'There is a rule that says not to spread the teachings to others, but I don't think there was anything that said not to practice in front of others?'

If Chung Myung had heard such words.... he would have rolled his eyes and retorted that if it could be learned just by watching, it wouldn't be worth calling a secret technique in the first place.

'He might have just attacked them and even beat them up for slacking off because they don't want to practice.'

In other words, if this were Mount Hua, the argument would be dismissed as utter nonsense.

But unfortunately, this wasn't Mount Hua, and even more unfortunately, the others watching seemed to agree with Moyong Banghwa's reasoning.

".....So, what are you trying to say?"

"I can't train here any longer!"

"...yes?"

Jo Gol responded with a question he had repeated multiple times.

"No, what do you mean by that?"

"Why ask again when you already heard? I can't train here!"

Jo Gol stared at Moyong Banghwa.

"The rules of the Moyong Family state that secret techniques cannot be practiced where outsiders can see! But the sub-sect leader ordered us to train here, which is contradictory."

"That's..."

"And repeating basic training before a war is out of the question. It would be better to train alone somewhere out of sight."

"So now..... are you saying you intend to defy orders?"

"Defy orders?"

The sudden loud voice made Jo Gol flinch.

Moyong Banghwa's body trembled with anger, as if he was about to explode from frustration.

"...that..."

It seemed too genuine to be an act. Jo Gol was increasingly at a loss for words.

"Do I look like someone who defies orders? How could you insult me like that!"

"No, what I'm saying is..."

"We're not just asking for an explanation from the sub-unit leader! Isn't Mount Hua supposed to be a place where things are discussed and adjusted without relying solely on authority?"

Though the subject had subtly shifted from 'I' to 'we,' no one pointed it out or argued against it.

Jo Gol fell into greater confusion.

"Did we?"

Was Mount Hua really like that?

Wasn't it just a place where Chung Myung beat everyone into submission? When was there any discussion or adjustment?

More importantly, why did this guy know more about Mount Hua than he did...?

Thud!

Moyong Banghwa stomped his foot hard.

"So, make an inquiry to the higher-ups or discuss it among the sub-sect leaders. Give me an answer I can accept."

"....."

"Isn't that the sub-unit leader's role!"

Jo Gol stood against the wall, unable to say a word, watching the retreating figure of Mo Yong Hwa.

As he observed the situation, the party members glanced around and slowly dispersed. Once more than half had left, the empty training grounds quickly became quiet.

"I...."

Jo Gol, who had been left behind with a punched-in face, hastily brushed his messy hair.

"Ah! Really, if it weren't for my temper!"

Jo Gol kicked the wall with frustration.

Thud!

"It'll break, man!"

"If it breaks, we can rebuild it!"

"Have you ever thought about not breaking it in the first place?"

"Sigh."

Yoon Jong's attempt to calm him down only made Jo Gol kick the ground even harder.

"I feel like kicking your mouth right now!"

"Yeah.... that's how we feel about you. Do you understand now...?"

"Are you fanning the flames right now?!"

Jo gol's loud voice cut through the tension, directing his anger at the group.

"And you, Sahyung? How is Sahyung's party doing?"

"Well, they seem more proactive."

"What? .....Really?"

Yoon Jong smiled.

"So proactive that the Beggar's Union suggested practicing the Dog Beating Stick Formation together."

"....."

"When I asked if we really had to do it now, h e said, 'If we don't do it now, are we practicing during wartime?'"

"The Beggar's Union?"

"Yes.... they are very free-spirited. Not bound by rules and regulations, they come and go empty-handed like wanderers."

"Please, let's keep the conversation short, Sahyung. You should head out."

"...ugh."

Yoon Jong clutched his head and trembled.

Jo Gol gave Yoon Jong a sympathetic look.

Jo Gol at least got beaten by the Mo Yong family, but Yoon Jong had to deal with the Beggar's Union. The psychological distance from the Mo Yong family was much greater than that from the Beggar's Union, which made the impact even harder to bear.

"Damn those bastards!"

Jo Gol looked increasingly furious as he thought about it.

They don't openly disregard us, but they subtly and persistently provoke us.

As if they're refusing to acknowledge us as vice-unit leaders.

"If they are going to do that, they should just oppose us outright!"

"They think their agreement with the headquarters and their own actions are separate."

"No one wants to be vice-unit leader! We were forced into it."

"Would they even consider that?"

A deep sigh escaped from the mouths of the two people who were talking at the same time.

"This is exhausting, really."

If they were of a similar age, they could at least engage in some roughhousing, but most of them were older than Chung Myung or Yoon Jong, making it difficult to treat them harshly.

It made them wonder if the so-called 'experience' in the martial world actually referred to the 'power of seniority.'

"Damn those bastards! If they want to pick a fight, they should go to the Sect Leader! Why do they take it out on us?"

".....Since the sect has been temporarily disbanded, the elders cannot come forward and say anything, Is this some sort of relief...?"

"Ugh.... it's annoying."

Jo Gol who was gnashing his teeth, as if recalling something, halted and turned around.

"Senior brother, is everything okay with our matters....eeeeek?"

In the darkness, the creak of turning around echoed, making Jo Gol jump back in fright.

"A g-ghost... No, Sasuk! What's wrong with you?"

"Are you sick...? No, my goodness. What's really going on? Your face looks like that bastard Jang Ilso."

It wasn't an exaggeration. Baek Cheon's face was ashen as floor was sprinkled on it, with dark shadows under his eyes, making him look ghostly.

He looked like he had put on makeup.

Baek Cheon who was looking at those two with swollen eyes, trembled his lips. Then he weakly nodded.

"Yoon Jong-ah...."

"....yes?"

"I don't know if it's rude to say.... No it definately is rude."

"Then don't say it."

"I'm envious of you because you're an orphan."

"Have you lost your mind, Sasuk?!"

Tue moment Jo Gol ran towards Baek Cheon as he was going to kick him away, a weak voice leaked out from Baek Cheon's mouth.

"My father keeps telling me to give him proper instructions."

"....."

"That damn Jin Geum Ryong bastard is standing next to me with his arms crossed and laughing."

Uh....

"Every time I speak, they ask, 'Is this what the vice leader thinks is right?' It's driving me crazy."

"Please, let's keep our swords sheathed, Sasuk. Even as human beings, we have some final dignity to uphold."

"Maybe there's a way to become an orphan?"

"No! There's no such thing! Get a grip, you insane fool!"

Jo Gol grabbed Baek Cheon and shook him vigorously. Yoon Jong could only shake his head at the sight.

How much pain must he be in to say something like that....?

"It's not that I don't understand, but this is too much."

Instead of preparing for the impending war, they're more concerned with petty power struggles. It's absurd.

Now, I'm genuinely curious as to how the world of Kangho was going.

"War is imminent, and they're doing this now? Every moment counts! We need to coordinate immediately. What is wrong with them!"

"....It might get better once the fighting starts."

"But I heard it was the same during the last war with the Evil Sect. Fighting fiercely at the front, while scheming at the back. It continued throughout the war, making everyone want to kill them all. Do you think people have changed in a hundred years?"

"Right. Hmm?.....Where did you hear that story?"

"That happened a hundred years ago. I've never heard of it."

"Huh.....Where did I hear it?"

Yoon Jong sighed as he watched Jo Gol tilt his head.

"Did this really continue throughout the entire war? Even with the enemy right in front of them?"

The mere thought of it was exhausting.

"What about the others?"

"The Namgung family's heir seems to be doing better."

"....They probably find it hard to confront him directly since he's the future head of the Namgung Family."

"Then Sasuk, why are we ....?"

"The situation is different there."

Yoon Jong sighed again.

He realized something new through this ordeal.

When people from all sides praised him as Great Swordsman or the talent of Mount Hua, he must have felt a sense of pride inside him.

While people praised Mount Hua's prowess and talent, it wasn't directed at Mount Hua itself but at the reputation of 'Mount Hua'.

Without that reputation, Jo Gol and Yoon Jong were just unknown figures in the martial world.

"Then.... Monk Hye Yeon might be better off."

"Of course. Being from Shaolin, a person renowned as a great talent, his situation must be different."

"Do-Doja! Dojang!"

At that moment, someone came running urgently. Upon closer inspection, it was an unexpected figure.

"Namgung Sogaju?"

"What's the matter?"

Namgung Do Wi ran up to them, looking frantic.

"Something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?"

"Hye, Monk Hye Yeon fought with someone."

"What?"

"Monk Hye Yeon fought our disciples!"

Yoon Jong, Jo Gol, and Baek Cheon exchanged glances.

"Why would he do that?!"

"I don't know."

"Put your sword down, Sasuk!"

Flustered, Yoon Jong grabbed his head and stood up abruptly.

"Let's go see what's going on."

They hurriedly followed Namgung Do Wi, their steps urgent.