Episode 286


    “Senior, why are you here?”


    “I heard that the hero who saved the Volcanic Sect is visiting the Maeng’s headquarters. Shouldn’t Ie out to meet him?”


    Sohyeongeom’s eyes as he looked at us were full of goodwill.


    It seems that he wanted to show his sincerity to me for rescuing the survivors of the Volcanic Sect, including Plum God Sword.


    I felt proud.


    With this, it can be said that all debts owed to him have been repaid.


    “But why didn’t I call you?”


    “What do you mean?”


    “I asked Namhakgeom (嵐虐劍) that friend to send troops, but why did he not contact me in any way? “Even if I had sent just one letter, I would havee forward myself.”


    “The junior couldn’t understand the feelings of the senior. sorry. “I was so out of it that I didn’t even think about it.”


    “I didn’t mean to question you. “There is no need to apologize.”


    In fact, I didn’t call it on purpose.


    Because I didn’t know where it would go, just one small hook was enough.


    Of course, I wasn’t nning on telling those thoughts out loud.


    There is no reason to breakbor.


    “Elder!”


    “How are you?”


    Cheongyeong Dojang, Cheonpyeong Dojang, and Cheonwoo Dojang, all disciples of the Hwasan Sect, prostrated themselves before Sohyeongeom.


    Sohyeongeom was not only an elder of the Maeng n, but also an elder of the Hwasan faction.


    “I’m d you’re safe.”


    “Many of my disciples died or were injured.”


    “But didn’t you guys survive safely? “It must have been a blessing from Heaven and Earth.”


    “…….”


    Let the solemn atmosphere prevail for a while.


    Sohyeongeom let out a long sigh, looked back at the teacher standing next to me, and said.


    “Are you the teacher of the Sichuan branch leader?”


    “That’s right.”


    “You have a great disciple.”


    “You are a worthy disciple for me.”


    “These are not words that shoulde out of the mouth of an expert who has reached the absolute peak.”


    “…….”


    Heukeungdae, a military unit directly under Sohyeongeom, joined the party.


    To put it bluntly, whether their joining was beneficial to the movement, it was not.


    Because the escort troops were already overflowing.


    Other than the size of the group growing, nothing particrly changed.


    ‘but.’


    I took turns looking at Master and Sohyeongeom, who were chatting lightly with smiles on their faces.


    The current situation was worth it just because the two people got to know each other and became closer friends.


    There woulde a day when this meeting would be beneficial to Master in the future.


    Many, many, many.


    The regr sound of horses’ hooves pierced my ears.


    ‘It feels good.’


    I hummed to myself and looked out the window.


    Pouring sunlight, wide fields, and a blue sky without a single cloud in sight.


    The scenery in my field of view was no different from before, but I no longer felt bored.


    I had a gut feeling.


    I believe that I will be able to gain a lot through this trip to Honam.


    * * *


    When we arrived at Maeng’s headquarters, Pang Mun-hwan, the unitmander of Hyeonmudae, came out and weed me and my group.


    “Long time no see.”


    “It’s been a while. “He suffered severe internal injuries and hisplexion doesn’t look very good.”


    “I think it will take some time to recover.”


    “I hope you get well.”


    “thank you.”


    phut!


    Is it because of poor health?


    Today, Pang Mun-hwan’s hand patting my back felt spicy.


    Frowning and stroking my back, I unpacked my luggage at the hotel I was guided to and threw myself on the bed.


    I quickly fell asleep.


    It seemed like he was tired without knowing it.


    ‘Is this how an ordinary person who has not learned martial arts feels on a long distance trip?’


    I can’t believe it was such a difficult journey even though it was afortable journey where I didn’t even lift a finger.


    I felt like I had a little idea of how sorry the Master must have felt when he moved to Sacheon with his wife.


    When I woke up after cking out, the sun was already rising outside the window.


    I felt absurd.


    No matter how tired you are.


    I can’t believe I was asleep for six full hours.


    As I was fixing my hair after returning home, a knock on the door reached my ears.


    When I opened the door and went outside, Pang Mun-hwan greeted me in a cheerful tone.


    “Did you get a good restst night?”


    “After unpacking my luggage at the hotel, I fell asleep. “When I woke up, it was morning.”


    “I don’t know how the heavenly dragon became so weak.”


    “That’s right.”


    After chatting with Peng Wen-hwan, I headed to the Meng Jubu conference room.


    Having been on this road several times, it now felt familiar.


    There were far more people in the conference room than expected.


    At the head of the table sat the Murim lord Hua Baek, and behind him was the general general Zhuge Huan.


    All of the Four Gods were present, and many elders who were known to have heavy hips were also present.


    “See you, Lord.”


    “Wee.”


    Artist Joo motioned for me to take a seat.


    After politely wrapping my arms around me, I sat down on the chair and all the gazes of the middle school students were focused on me.


    “First of all, let me say thank you for responding to my call despite being sick.”


    “no. As a member of the Order, it is natural to respond to the Lord’s call. “I’m just sorry that I couldn’t respond to the summons sooner.”


    Although he says this, in fact, there was nopulsion at all in the summons that Joo Baek gave me.


    If it weren’t for Master’s arrival, my visit to the main temple would have been a long timeter.


    “You made a big contribution this time. Thanks to this, Meng’s prestige has greatly increased.”


    “…….”


    “No one here will be able to deny your merit. Of course, we should give him an appropriate reward.”


    “Before proceeding with the merit award, there is one thing I would like to point out.”


    The identity of the woman who opened her mouth as if she had been waiting was none other than Jujakdaeju.


    She said, ring at me with sharp eyes.


    “There is one thing I would like to ask the Sacheon branch leader.”


    “Please speak.”


    “I heard that you have learned Geumgong (禁功). Is this true?”


    I didn’t answer right away and took a pause.


    It felt like what wasing wasing.


    Originally, martial arts called Geumgong are all ssified as magic arts, regardless of their type.


    Of course, it was a serious crime that could not be tolerated for a person belonging to a group to learn magic.


    Until now, no one has questioned me about this.


    Because there was no one around who wanted to get into trouble with me by mentioning an ufortable topic.


    However, this is the headquarters of the Maeng.


    It was a ce full of ghosts who felt ufortable with my presence and felt the need to keep me in check.


    To them, the rumor that ‘Cheonryong had mastered magic’ would have been an excellent justification.


    I was sure.


    In addition to the jujakdaeju, there are probably quite a few people who are looking for an opportunity to bite me.


    “Your reply iste. “I asked if the rumor was true.”


    “It’s true.”


    I nodded and answered, and in an instant, the entire conference room was filled with a buzzing noise.


    Even though Commander-in-Chief Zhuge Huan called for silence, the noise hardly subsided.


    Some elders raised their voices and insisted that I be punished.


    Based on the logic that merit is merit and aplishment is aplishment.


    “…….”


    I didn’t make any excuses and just quietly observed the situation.


    At a time like this, there was no need to say useless things and throw food to the wild cats.


    After some time had passed, the atmosphere calmed down slightly.


    Juhwabaek, who swept the middle school students with an annoyed expression, asked me a question.


    “May I ask how you learned gold gong?”


    “I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that. “I promised the teacher I would keep it a secret.”


    I came up with an answer that seemed to have something to it, but in reality, it was nothing more than a usible excuse for those who misunderstood my past.


    Isn’t it impossible to reveal the truth as it is?


    “rude!”


    “Lord! “You should never pass it up!”


    The atmosphere, which had barely calmed down, soon heated up.


    This time I just watched the scene without saying anything.


    In times like these, we had to push forward shamelessly.


    ‘There will never be a proper punishment given anyway.’


    The news of Cheonryong’s activities spread throughout the central ins.


    It was a situation where people’s attention was focused on me.


    At a time like this, what would happen if news spread that the upper echelons of the Meng had punished me?


    ‘Everyone in this ce probably knows. If you’re not careful, you may face bacsh while trying to maintain discipline.’


    The Murim Alliance had to be a just and fair group.


    At least externally.


    ‘In the end, checks are just checks.’


    All they can do is put pressure on me and see if I can.


    Since it was not a real threat, there was no reason to be intimidated.


    “Quiet! Be quiet!”


    Only after Zhuge Huan shouted several times did the atmosphere calm down again.


    Juhwabaek let out a small sigh and asked, tapping the table with his index finger.


    “Is there anything you want to say?”


    “I have no intention of making excuses. It is an undeniable fact that I have learned gold gong. Even if you deprive me of my qualifications as a monk, I have nothing to say. “If you give me disciplinary action, I will dly ept it.”


    Is it because Artist Joo is openly showing signs of difort?


    There was a strange tension in the conference room.


    Everyone just looked at each other and did not open their mouths first.


    “I don’t think it will be a big problem.”


    The one who broke the silence and took the lead was none other than Man Rik-kun (萬力拳).


    He, who had not said a word until now, opened his mouth and the attention of the middle school students focused on him.


    Master Suzaku frowned and raised his voice.


    “What do you mean there is no problem!”


    “Strictly speaking, the Geumgong practiced by the Sichuan branch leader is not a martial art based on demon energy.”


    “Even so, a magic craft is a magic craft!”


    “Although Geumgong is ssified as a magic craft, mastering it does not mean you be a madman. And considering the contributions made by the Sacheon branch leader, wouldn’t it be okay to cover up some of the mistakes?”


    “I think the same thing. “If we punish the Sacheon branch chief here, what will the leaders dispatched to the front think?”


    Immediately, people appeared who sympathized with the im of full power.


    I inwardly raised the corner of my mouth.


    I knew it would end up like this.


    ‘Perhaps the reward will be slightly reduced or it will only amount to a nominal disciplinary action.’


    I thought it turned out better.


    This time I found out for sure.


    Who are the people within the group who have animosity toward me?


    ‘I guess I’ll have to ask Hao Mun to gather information about them.’


    Sohyeongeomdo, Namhakgeomdo, Manjunggeomdo, and Unhakgeomdo.


    Each person added a word, lending strength to Man Power-kwon’s remarks.


    There were a few people who resisted until the end, but they could not go against the trend.


    Joo Hwabaek, who organized the opinions of the middle school students, spoke as if making a deration.


    “I order the Sacheon branch leader to be ced on probation for two months for the crime of learning a forbidden martial art and concealing it until now.”


    The term meant to rest and take care of one’s body for two months.


    This is what is meant by mild punishment.


    match!


    Joo Hwa-baek, who caught everyone’s attention by pressing his palms together, skillfully changed the topic.


    “Let’s get back to the main topic. Let’s each give our opinions on what kind ofpensation should be given to the Sichuan branch leader.”