Episode 154


    “They say the Sichuan branch cannot be trusted.”


    I red at Lee Deok-cheon with cold eyes and muttered lowly.


    It is said that awareness has improved to some extent, but most people still have a negative view of the Sacheon branch.


    I had no intention of denying that fact.


    However, I could not ignore the fact that the branch leader madements that were openly disparaging to the Sacheon branch in front of me.


    Regardless of whether it is true or not, it is extremely rude behavior.


    “I’m afraid you might misunderstand, so I don’t have any ill feelings toward you. Rather, I like it. “What you have done so far deserves praise.”


    “…….”


    “But we have to look at individuals and groups separately. I do not trust the group called Sacheon branch to any extent. Even if you suddenly ask me to trust you when I have shown myself for a long time…”


    Lee Deok-cheon, perhaps feeling uneasy about this reaction, looked at me and made an excuse.


    I continued to have a snowball fight with him without losing my expression.


    “It is said that reforms have been carried out recently, but Gasol and I do not know the details. “Am I wrong?”


    “Let’s get one thing out of the way first.”


    “……?”


    “Don’t belittle me.”


    “what?”


    “I told you not to treat me poorly. I think you’re misunderstanding something, but I didn’te to Isisegae for personal business. “I visited after going through the formalities to carry out official duties.”


    Lee Deok-cheon and I were spherical.


    Although we are not particrly close friends, we got to know each other through the process of roasting and boiling Baek Sang-hu, the owner of the Hwangryongmugwan, in order to enter the Hwangryongmugwan.


    At that time, Baek Sang-hoo was attending a social gathering hosted by Lee Sega.


    “Now to me…”


    “Matriarch. Distinguish between public and private affairs. “It would be troubling if you equate me with the applicant you saw five years ago and treat me like a subordinate.”


    Although I said it as if I was displeased, it actually didn’t matter to me whether Lee Deok-cheon treated me with contempt or respect.


    I wasn’t particrly hoping for mutual respect or treating everyone with respect.


    Until now, I have never felt ufortable because Sohyeongeom or Cheon Ga-ryeong used informalnguage toward me.


    The problematic part was that Lee Deok-cheon perceived himself as a ‘superior’.


    First of all, there was a need to correct that perception.


    At the same time, he takes the lead in the conversation by showing his difort.


    “…I was too rash. “I apologize.”


    “I know that the head of the family distrusts the Sacheon branch. But do you have any alternatives? In the end, someone will have to be given the role of notary public.”


    “What the branch manager said is correct. However, there is now that says Meng must act as mediator. “My family ns to ask Amifa for help.”


    “I understand that the head of the family is Amipah’sy disciple. Issues of fairness will arise.”


    Although the Amipa was a sect of female monks, there were quite a few men among they disciples.


    From the beginning, most sects did not distinguish between men and women when eptingy disciples.


    Shaolin Temple, volcanic waves, Bota Rock, and even Cheonghyeol Daomun.


    “Are you saying that Amipah will handle matters unfairly to amodate they disciples?”


    There is no way that the Ami faction, which is a pir of the martial arts faction and one of the old Daemun factions, would handle matters unfairly.


    It was truly miraculous logic.


    The problem was that this absurd im could not be refuted.


    If you use your mouth carelessly, you may end up being criticized for insulting Amifa.


    ‘He probably said the same thing to the Hong n head.’


    This was the reason why the Hong family was unable to actively oppose the Lee family’s ims and continued to waste time.


    This is why people had to have their backs.


    “The second issue is whether or not Amifa handles things fairly. In this case, you probably don’t know that the fact that the matriarch and Amipah are rted is itself a problem.”


    “I don’t see what the problem is. Amipa is a sect of monks who are not interested in worldly affairs. “Is there any force more suited to the role of mediator than this one?”


    The stories ran parallel paths.


    As I watched Lee Deok-cheon praising Amifa while subtly criticizing the Sacheon branch, I felt a creeping sense of irritation.


    With a sly expression and a sly tone.


    There wasn’t a single thing that didn’t bother me.


    ‘Should I crash into him?’


    That thought urred to me for a moment.


    For me now, overthrowing the Lee family was not that difficult.


    ‘No, that won’t work.’


    I took a long breath and suppressed the urge.


    Now I belong to a group.


    If you do things ording to your mood, problems are bound to arise.


    If something goes wrong here, how will we clean things up and what will we write in the report to be submitted to the higher-ups?


    ‘First of all, what you’re saying is usible, which makes me even more angry.’


    The biggest problem was that Lee Deok-cheon did not make up words that did not exist.


    It was an undeniable fact that the Sacheon branch had lost public trust a long time ago, and no one could know whether Amipa would take a biased attitude as Hong n Segaju had feared.


    After thinking in silence for a while, I gathered the documents in my arms and stood up.


    “I understand what the matriarch means.”


    “Don’t feel too bad.”


    “no. This decision must have been made after much deliberation on Lee’s side. “I’ll just go now.”


    “I will not see you off.”


    * * *


    On the way back to the Sacheon branch after leaving Lee’s family.


    I rxed my stiff shoulders and clicked my tongue.


    It didn’t matter to me how the fight between the Hong n and the Lee n would end.


    All I want is performance.


    I definitely had that thought at first.


    ‘I’m getting sick.’


    But now my thoughts have changed.


    I didn’t want to see things go the way Lee Deok-cheon wanted.


    ‘I don’t want to miss out on the work I’ve been working on.’


    Before I knew it, the world was bathed in twilight.


    I opened my eyes and climbed onto the roof of a nearby building.


    By kicking off the roof one after another, we were able to quickly reach the Sacheon branch.


    As I entered the office, I immediately called Damun and told him what had happened during the day.


    Damun smiled bitterly and epted the document I handed him.


    “I can understand the feelings of the Hong family to a certain extent. “Even though I know it’s an obvious move, I have no way to respond.”


    “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I hope Secretary Dam will visit Amipa with senior Changmyeong Pce.”


    “Amiphae?”


    Mr. Lee Se-ju trusted a ally named Amifa and treated me poorly.


    Then the way to get revenge was simple.


    All I had to do was get Amifa to my side.


    “Will Amifaply with the branch leader’s request?”


    “I will agree. “Amifa is currently in a debt to me.”


    “Ah…”


    I raised the corners of my mouth and let out an evil smile.


    I was already looking forward to seeing what kind of expression Lee Deok-cheon would make on the day of the match.


    * * *


    “wee.”


    “Amitabha Buddha. “This is how I get to meet the head of the Sacheon branch, who has a strong reputation.”


    The training hall within the Sacheon branch.


    A female monk with a shaved head spoke to me with a bright expression.


    I gave her a polite hug and thanked her.


    “It is an honor to meet Baegungeom (百澐劍), who is renowned as a 100-strong expert. Thank you for readily responding to my sudden request.”


    “no. The martial arts of the Lee family have their roots connected to the Amipa, so we cannot just ignore the dispute between the two families and ignore it as someone else’s problem.”


    A faint smile appeared on Baekwoongeom’s lips.


    The meeting to be held here today was jointly hosted by the Sacheon branch and Amipa.


    “…….”


    Lee Deok-cheon looked at me and Baekwoon Sword in turn with a puzzled expression.


    He seemed like he couldn’t understand how the situation hade to this.


    As I looked at hispletely embarrassed face, I felt like all the 10-year-old pain was gone.


    Damun, who appeared holding a beautiful red scroll with an antique pattern on it, stood on the podium and spoke.


    “You, please put your seal on this document.”


    A seal was ced on the newly prepared documents one by one.


    The document, which had increased from three to four pages, was handed out to each faction’s representative.


    “Now that both families have agreed, let’s get started.”


    Finally, the dance began.


    The Hong n and Lee n sent out elite members of selected families ording to pre-determined rules.


    I sat on a chair on the tform with Baekwoongeom and watched the dance.


    ‘It’s a rather boring match.’


    The head of the family, elders, other executives of the family, and hired foreigners were not allowed to participate in thepetition.


    It was a minimum measure to ensure that no one harbored resentment or dissatisfaction with the results of the meeting.


    Wouldn’t it be a big deal if Hong Kyun-seok or Lee Deok-cheon were to get injured while participating in a match?


    To conclude, it was the Hong family that ultimately won.


    So Ga-ju, who was participating in the fifth match, took a deep breath and held the sword to the opponent’s neck.


    “Are you willing to admit defeat?”


    “…I will admit it.”


    The soldiers on the Hong family’s side roared and embraced each other.


    The soldiers on Lee’s side lowered their heads with gloomy expressions.


    ‘The result is exactly as expected.’


    Iughed inwardly.


    The sight of Lee Deok-cheon, yelling at Gasol with a red face, came into view.


    There was one thing I learned while watching the match.


    While Hong’s fighters appeared to have thoroughly trained to win the match, Lee’s fighters appeared rtively unprepared.


    Presumably, Lee Deok-cheon had no intention of separating the dispute with a dance from the beginning.


    The reason I epted Hong Kyun-seok’s offer was simply to put out an urgent fire.


    If you think about it, from Lee’s Sega’s perspective, it was a match where even if they won, they would lose even if they lost.


    ‘Because the guy who farted was angry.’


    Perhaps the n was to use Amifa’s name to moderately pressure the Hong family and then move on?


    “house owner. “I have something to say.”


    Baekwoongeom quietly got up from his seat and approached Deokcheon Lee and spoke to him.


    I was curious about what he was talking about, so I overheard him and found out that he was saying, ‘Amipa, which requested support from Leessegae, is also responsible to some extent, so I will pay a portion of thepensation.’


    Lee Deok-cheon’s face, which had been heavily shadowed, brightened slightly.


    “…….”


    Before leaving the training hall, Lee Deok-cheon red at me with harsh eyes.


    I waved him off with a smile.


    * * *


    After finishing cleaning up.


    I moved to the living room with Baekwoongeom.


    Expensive Yongjeong tea and refreshments were ced on the table, and light chat took ce.


    Baekwoongeom put down the smoking teacup on the table and got to the point.


    “Aren’t you curious?”


    “What do you mean?”


    “What will Amifa, who has regained her lost vision, gift to the branch leader?”