***
Where and what changed?
In my past life, Gye Cheol-yeong dragged me to the banquet seat first even if I didn't step forward.
Because he had to boast about how excellent he was, as a lay disciple, compared to the true disciple of the Tae-eul Sect.
Why did it change? Because I beat up Gye Cheol-yeong? Because I made
Seong-ju-tak closed his mouth?
Then, will future events change like this too?
“What are you thinking about?”
On the way out of the accommodation, Jin Tae-san let out a word as if worried.
“Do not be hurt by wicked words.”
He says to let any words flow by. Would that solve all problems?
“Indeed, I pondered a bit about what kind of trap the Cheol-geom-mun had dug.”
Seong Mo-ran’s face, which had been kind all day, hardened.
“Our Cheol-geom-mun invites guests and digs traps?”
“Do you really know nothing? Or is your acting performance higher than your
martial arts achievement?”
“Ha, even during the day, it seems you have a great inferiority complex toward the Cheol-geom-mun?”
“Inferiority complex?”
Seong Mo-ran’s face was full of hostility.
“It is true that our Cheol-geom-mun regards the Tae-eul Sect as an eyesore. But isn't that understandable even if you change your position? But that doesn't mean the Cheol-geom-mun acts like a market hooligan.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“......You are crossing the line?”
“I will make a prediction. Perhaps, while the 60th birthday banquet is being
held, the Tae-eul Sect will eventually be led by the Cheol-geom-mun and thrown in front of people.”
“The Cheol-geom-mun is not that petty.”
“I also wish that were the case.”
“.......”
From then on, Seong Mo-ran had no words.
The pavilion guided by Seong Mo-ran was one of the largest pavilions.
As we entered, unlike the place where we ate, large tables were spaced at large intervals, and people were sitting here and there, elegantly enjoying alcohol.
“Oh! Young Lady Mo-ran!”
The men sitting at the table stood up at once and began to make seats.
Seong Mo-ran looked at such a scene dryly and said,
“This is Young Master Jin So-un of the Tae-eul Sect.”
Seong Mo-ran introduced me naturally, and I also greeted with a clasp of hands, but there were few people who clasped hands in return.
At least those who nodded were good, and there were also those who continued to talk to Seong Mo-ran as if they had no interest.
Seong Mo-ran walked toward the place where two seats were created, but I
separated from her and sat in the seat next to Sa-ryeon, who was sitting with a stiff face next to Gye Cheol-yeong.
“Why did you sit here leaving a wide seat?”
“There has to be someone to protect Sa-ryeon from people who are drunk.”
“Didn't you think I was sitting next to her to protect her?”
“If you had thought of protecting her, would you have thought of calling
Sa-ryeon out at this late hour?”
“This brat?”
Gye Cheol-yeong’s face turned red and blue, and Sa-ryeon, who was sitting with a stiff face in the seat next to him, said quietly.
“Why did you come here?”
“Why did you come?”
“I came instead because I was afraid you would cause an accident if you came, Sa-hyeong. The Kwae-hwa-dang Hall Master told you to be self-restrained.”
“When did I cause an accident?”
At my words, which weren't a big deal, Sa-ryeon chuckled for some reason.
“Does the Tae-eul Sect seem to get along without formalities between the
Sa-hyeong and disciples?”
A man wearing jade-colored silk from head to toe said spitefully.
Gong Chu-sim of the Man-su-jang. He was someone I had met in my past life.
“We strongly follow the manners, but we don't have formalities.”
“There are many people who mistake it for having no formalities when manners are shaken.”
Gong Chu-sim talks while meeting the gazes of the women around him. He wants to be empathized with, but there were no women meeting Gong Chu-sim’s gaze.
“Isn't it that one does not say there is no courtesy because a father and child have a comfortable conversation, and one does not say there is courtesy because one follows manners to someone one sees for the first time?”
“.......”
On the contrary, when I told the story, there were women who were holding back laughter and burst into laughter, and Gong Chu-sim’s face turned bright red.
Then, the expressions of the men sitting in their seats began to change
strangely.
They shared glances with each other and began to put down the alcohol cups they were holding.
‘Is it starting?’
The same thing happened in my past life.
It was just that at that time, my gaze was focused on Nam-gung San, so I didn't know at all what this meant.
I looked at Nam-gung San, giving them time to attack.
Gae-byeok-sin-ryong [Creation Divine Dragon] Nam-gung San.
As the eldest son of the Nam-gung Clan and a member of the Yong-bong-ji-hoe [Dragon-Phoenix Gathering], he is called one of the Jam-ryong [Sleeping Dragons] of An-hwi Province.
That meant he was the person with the greatest right to speak in this seat.
You can tell by looking at the Hyeol-rang-cheol-geom [Blood-Wolf Iron Sword], who is hard to distinguish from that rascal over there, acting gentle, which doesn't suit him.
“Come to think of it, it is truly mysterious. I know that the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild has had a close relationship with the Cheol-geom-mun since long ago, but seeing that you eventually went to the Tae-eul Sect, I think the halo of the ‘Baek-pal-bong’ is truly great.”
“.......”
Gu Yang-sa, the Juk-yeom-gong-ja [Bamboo Salt Young Master] of the
Cheong-juk-bo. He was the one who got into a fight with us during the day.
He glanced at Seong Mo-hyeon once and continued speaking.
“In fact, it’s the same situation for us, but the selection criteria for the Baek-pal-bong...... isn't that vague? There is a prominent righteous sect called the Cheol-geom-mun in Hap-bi, but looking at the Tae-eul Sect still in the Baek-pal-bong, it seems the Murim Alliance still has a long way to go.”
As soon as Gu Yang-sa’s words ended, other men agreed with his words.
“Indeed, that is true. The Murim Alliance must also awaken. How much evil do sects without qualifications commit under the position of Baek-pal-bong.”
“That is right.”
Every time they said a word, they looked at Seong Mo-hyeon, so it seems they
were firmly educated by Seong Mo-hyeon.
On the other hand, Seong Mo-hyeon was drinking alcohol as if it had nothing to do with him.
“The Tae-eul Sect is also here. Everyone, please be self-restrained.”
Seong Mo-ran spoke coldly with a bewildered expression, but there was no one who feared it.
Because it must have been something they did with Seong Mo-hyeon’s permission.
“Honestly, don't you think Young Lady Mo-ran is also a bit resentful? Even if you look at the whole An-hwi Province, all the rising new talents are gathered in the Nam-gung Clan and the Cheol-geom-mun. But it is the Tae-eul Sect that goes to the Martial Arts Academy comfortably. I think things like this should change.”
“That is right.”
“How many talents die every time to apply for the Martial Arts Academy.”
At the appearance of them nodding their heads one by one, Sa-ryeon’s expression sank even darker.
“Let’s hear the Tae-eul Sect’s position once.”
At Gu Yang-sa’s story as if urging, Seong Mo-ran intervened again.
“Stop it. They are guests who came.”
That the atmosphere of this seat revolves around Seong Mo-hyeon was something she, who is clever, could not have known.
Since Seong Mo-hyeon was not such a rascal as to commit evil alone at his
grandfather’s 60th birthday banquet, this meant that it was eventually talked about with other people above him.
Seong Mo-ran defended me hard, thinking that her sect would not be such thugs.
Yes, no, your sect is originally like this.
“Mo-ran. Don't block the words. Isn't this a seat gathered to have such
constructive discussions.”
At that time, Seong Mo-hyeon, who was drinking alcohol pretending to be gentle,said with a frown, and Seong Mo-ran answered with an absurd expression.
“Is this constructive right now?”
As she had been away from the large and small matters of the sect as a woman, she wouldn't be able to know the inside story.
“Shall we hear the story of the Tae-eul Sect?”
At Seong Mo-hyeon’s words, Sa-ryeon tried to say something, but her mouth wasn't opening easily.
I put down the chicken I was holding and opened my mouth instead of Sa-ryeon.
“I agree with that opinion. A pond can continue to maintain clean water only
when new water enters.”
Nam-gung San, who was drinking alcohol, also put down his alcohol cup for a moment.
“Hoho, then it means that the Tae-eul Sect also agrees that the Cheol-geom-mun of Hap-bi should enter the Baek-pal-bong.”
Gu Yang-sa said spitefully, and I immediately started digging through the library to collect information about the Cheong-juk-bo.
There was also an organization in Man-tong-bu [All-Knowing Bureau] that collects information about sects across the Kang-ho, and since the Cheong-juk-bo, which had many eventful things, had information written until relatively recently, it didn't take long to find it.
“Of course, on the premise that the new water is clean water.”
“Huh?”
“Well, for example, there is the Cheong-juk-bo here. The Cheong-juk-bo, which is emerging as a rising powerhouse in An-hwi Province, has already entered the Baek-pal-bong and has more to spare. But why couldn't they enter the Baek-pal-bong?”
“That must be because the existing Baek-pal-bong have been flattering the Murim Alliance so much.”
At Gu Yang-sa’s words, the men burst into laughter all at once.
“Well. If the Murim Alliance was such a trivial organization, it would have been ruined long ago.”
“Then there is a reason why our Cheong-juk-bo could not enter the
Baek-pal-bong...... is that it?”
“Cheong-juk-hyeol-sa [Green Bamboo Blood [N O V E L I G H T] Incident] that happened 60 years ago.”
“.......”
Those sitting in their seats tilted their heads as if they didn't know.
Indeed, it was before they were even born, and since the Cheong-juk-bo had desperately blocked the rumors, they had no choice but to know.
“Do those here not know well? A sword fight occurred between brothers within the Cheong-juk-bo over the seat.”
The atmosphere of the noisy hall sank as if cold water had been poured on it in an instant.
“To be exact, the second son of the Fort Master, who could not inherit the sect, harbored a wicked heart, killed his brother, and sat in the Fort Master’s seat, right? In that process, half of the warriors of the Cheong-juk-bo could not avoid death.”
“This brat!”
Crash.
Gu Jeong-gi, Gu Yang-sa’s grandfather, killed his brother and ascended to the position of Fort Master.
To eliminate future troubles, he killed all of his brother’s flesh and blood and
those who followed him.
The funny thing is that after that, the Cheong-juk-bo continued in the form of inheritance by the eldest son.
This shame was one of the shames that the Cheong-juk-bo hated the most.
“Cheong-juk-bo is a very excellent and strong sect. But if you ask me to entrust my back to the Cheong-juk-bo in a fight against the Heuk-do [Dark Path]...... Well.
Even if I have to go to the battlefield alone, I don't like that. Wouldn't the Murim Alliance also feel uncomfortable accepting such a person as a blood
alliance.”
“Come out! Did you think you could return alive after daring to insult our Cheong-juk-bo!”
“Look at this. I gave my opinion, but eventually, you are trying to draw your sword.”
Gu Yang-sa’s face was bright red, on the verge of bursting.
“It’s not that the Baek-pal-bong is not being replaced, and it’s not that the Murim Alliance is leaving the stagnating Baek-pal-bong alone. But holding a grudge against such things, isn't the problem that you can't properly see your own faults rather than the system being wrong?”
“I will kill you!”
As Gu Yang-sa tried to rush at me, Seong Mo-ran stood up from her seat and struck his Ma-hyeol [Demonic Blood Point] from behind him.
In the incident that happened suddenly, the atmosphere in the hall was very
messy.
“......What are you doing now? Gu Yang-sa of the Cheong-juk-bo is a guest who came to this seat by the invitation of the Cheol-geom-mun. Are you ignoring the Cheol-geom-mun?”
Seong Mo-hyeon, who had lost his mind, spoke coldly, and I said with an absurd feeling.
“Is our Tae-eul Sect an uninvited guest who came to ruin the Cheol-geom-mun’s banquet?”
“.......”
“Is it the Cheol-geom-mun’s way of treating guests to force the Tae-eul Sect, which didn't want to come anyway, to come through this Gye-ryong Merchant Guild and insult them?”
“What did you say......!”
Everyone, including Seong Mo-hyeon, who conspired with him, showed hostility, but there was nothing they could do.
Anyone could see that the origin of this work was the Cheol-geom-mun and his gang, and because the insurmountable wall called Nam-gung San of the Nam-gung Clan was sitting firmly, they couldn't just suppress the opponent blindly.
“......Dare you insult the Cheol-geom-mun in the Cheol-geom-mun’s house?”
“Puh.”
The words Seong Mo-hyeon spat out after thinking for a long time were absurd, and eventually, my laughter burst out.
Look at that Seong Mo-ran with a bewildered expression.
“You brat!”
Seong Mo-hyeon, whose face had ripened like a ripe persimmon, struck the table.
The food on the table bounced up by a span.
“If you were going to act so filthily, you should have applied for a friendly sparring match instead, shouldn't you. In any case, you would have been able to prove that the Cheol-geom-mun is stronger than the Tae-eul Sect.”
Lack of logic draws out feelings of anger.
“Dare you! Do you think you can return safely after saying such things in the Cheol-geom-mun!”
“Ah! By any chance, did you think that friendly sparring was too insufficient to give insults, find faults, punish, and take away the position of Baek-pal-bong?”
“.......”
The atmosphere became messy without any direction to deal with.
Seong Mo-hyeon tried to clean up this situation somehow, but it was impossible, and I clearly refused to be influenced by their play.
“......For whatever reason, it is a fact that you insulted the Cheol-geom-mun. I will apply for a duel with you.”
“.......”
Seong Mo-ran’s expression is not good.
She noticed that Seong Mo-hyeon made a bad move.
“Hahahahahaha.”
“.......”
In the eyes of the people in the hall who were looking at us with eyes of
contempt, unknown fear was lingering, and it wasn't that bad.
I stopped laughing and stared at Seong Mo-ran.
“In the end, was I right?”
“.......”
Seong Mo-ran could not even lift her head.
“Come tomorrow. How about the central training ground? Since most people will come when the banquet reaches its peak.”
“......Grind. Good.”
As I stood up from my seat, Sa-ryeon followed. Gye Cheol-yeong was sitting still as if to clarify that he had nothing to do with us.
“Come to think of it, looking at the fact that they didn't put a banquet table on the central training ground even while people were overflowing, it seems the Cheol-geom-mun had foreseen that a bloody fight would occur at the 60th birthday
banquet.”
“.......”
Everyone became mute and looked at Seong Mo-hyeon.
<><><>
Nam-gung San did not move.
No, he just drank alcohol calmly as if it didn't matter to him and watched.
The fight of the Baek-pal-bong is eventually a fight for rice bowls between the guys below.
It means it has nothing to do with them. Still, it is a bit questionable that he didn't say a word. Is it too blunt to have attended really because of a close relationship?
“What on earth are you thinking?”
Sa-ryeon’s face was becoming pale.
“Then...... should I have endured while they were insulting the Sect Leader and our Tae-eul Sect?”
“But.......”
“Even if I endured it, it wouldn't have ended with today’s seat. We would have had to stay here for a few more days, and we would have continued to be insulted tomorrow and the day after.”
In the end, since I exploded on the third day, this was eventually a predicted event. Anyway, it’s not my fault, but I still comforted Sa-ryeon so she wouldn't worry.
“Don't worry. Once I get beaten up a few times, it will end cleanly.”
I stroked Sa-ryeon’s head. Sa-ryeon liked having her head stroked when she was young.
“......Don't do it.”
“It was going to happen anyway.”
“Don't mess up my hair.......”
Come to think of it, her finely combed hair was slightly messed up by my touch.
“Ah, I’m sorry about this.”
Sa-ryeon, who suddenly lowered her head and shook her shoulders.
“Huh? A, are you crying?”
I fixed her messed-up hair again, but Sa-ryeon still didn't lift her head.
“Do, don't cry. Look, it’s back to its original state.”
“I told you not to do it... really....”
Sa-ryeon eventually sobbed and dug into my bosom.
My shoulder was quickly becoming damp.
“I, I told you I’m sorry.”
Maybe because she’s in adolescence, Sa-ryeon’s emotional changes were harder to predict than the Cheol-geom-mun’s conspiracy.