Chapter 1208: Now, The Sect Is Finally Back On Track! (Part 3)

"Errachaaaa!"

Kaga kaka kaka!

Tang Pae's eyes widened. It was because the wrist that blocked Tang Zhan's dagger was throbbing. Tang Pae glanced at the end of his arm was still trembling and said.

"... Why so much power?"

"Hehehehe, isn't it natural, hyun-nim?"

"Natural?"

"Look. Hasn't Baek Cheon Dojang finally ascended to the position of Deputy Sect Leader of Mount Hua?"

"... Is there anyone in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance who doesn't know that? What does that have to do with that and your energy?"

"Why are you so slow..."

"Hmm?"

Tang Zhan said with a meaningful expression.

"There have always been young lords in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, like Namgung Sogaju or Prince Seol, but Baek Cheon Dojang is clearly different."

"... Different how?"

"He's the only one that received his position even though his predecessor hasn't officially retired."

The Tang Pae, hearing that, tilted his head.

"So what does that have to do with your energy?"

"Oh, hyung-nim, what should I do when the person who will become the next head of the family is so slow? This incident is not just about the appointment of Mount Hua's new Sect Leader. This is the beginning of a generational shift throughout the entire Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"Huh?"

When Tang Pae narrowed his eyes as if to say, 'What bullshit is this?' Tang Zhan chuckled.

"If a similar thing had happened in another martial arts faction, it would have just ended as that sect's business. But what happened at Mount Hua doesn't end there. Probably other Sect Leaders are also starting to think about the next generation now.

So, at a time like this, it's important to stand out! If you do well now, you might catch Gaju-nim's eye and quickly take a position!"

The Tang Pae, who had been listening absentmindedly, said with a troubled face.

"Zhan-ah."

"Yes?"

"...Stop the bullshit and do what you were doing well."

"Hyung-nim."

"Why?"

"Look around once. See who doesn't understand the situation right now."

"Huh?"

Following Tang Zhan's gesture, the Tang Pae looked around briefly.

"Yaaah!"

"Take this!"

Internal power was a bit overcharged... no, excessively overcharged, and the hidden weapons were flying through the air at breakneck speeds.

Of course, it was a good thing that everyone was putting their heart and soul into the sparring, but...

'Their eyes have gone bad, really bad.'

Anyone watching those flashing eyes could guess the dark intentions they harbored. The voice of Tang Zhan reached the ears of the Tang Pae, who had lost words.

"Well... Gaju-nim may not have any special intentions like the disciples think. But... can we really just ignore them when they're all acting like this?"

Cold sweat broke out on the Tang Pae's forehead.

"Crazy bastards..."

It seems like they had collectively lost their minds.

"Aaack! Is this guy really throwing a needle at my nose?"

"It's your fault if you can't avoid it!"

"Okay! Bring it on!"

With a disheartened expression, the Tang Pae, looking at the scene in front of him, turned and left the training ground.

"Where are you going?"

"If I stay here, I might go crazy too."

"Give up and accept it, hyung-nim."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

With a tired face, the Tang Pae swiftly left the training ground. As soon as he turned the corner, he encountered a familiar face. Seeing the expression of the other person, he felt a moment of camaraderie and unease simultaneously.

"You too?"

"...Looks like the Tang Family is in serious trouble."

Namgung Dowi and the Tang Pae sighed deeply as they faced each other. As they held similar positions, they got along quite well like brothers in private. 

"What on earth is this chaos about?...There's not a single day where the winds are calm."

"That's true."

"Is the same for the Namgung Family?"

"As you know, I've been putting all my efforts into managing the family after inheriting it from my father, who passed away after the Plum Blossom incident."

"Indeed."

"As a result... I couldn't properly fill the positions that the elders who passed away used to hold..."

The Tang Pae closed his eyes. He could roughly guess how the situation had unfolded.

"Suddenly, these guys started swinging their swords in front of me, not only challenging me but also drawing their swords during meals, yelling and training in the middle of the night..."

"...Seems worse than us."

"The Tang Family seems a bit better off."

"We don't have any vacancies... who knows. What Gaju-nim is experiencing may be different."

The two sighed deeply again.

"It's not a bad thing."

"That's right. It's a good thing."

In reality, having disciples train with passion and proudly promoting themselves was something to be welcomed from the perspective of the leader of the martial arts sect.

"...It would be nice if they were a bit less intense."

"That's true."

The problem was that these guys had no idea when to stop. In fact, the Tang Family and the Namgung Family were not originally like this.

The Tang Family, due to their nature of handling hidden weapons and poison, tended to lean towards a cautious and calm approach. Similarly, the Namgung Family, as a representative noble family, was a symbol of dignity.

"This is all because of Mount Hua."

They sighed for the third time. There probably wouldn't be anyone else who could understand each other as well as these two.

"So, are you also on your way to escape?"

"Huh? Escape? No, I'm on my way to the training grounds right now."

"...You're not running away?"

"Well, that's not it. If Namgung is training, can't I try it too?"

"...I see."

Turning away from Namgung Dowi's subtly scrutinizing gaze, Tang Pae quickly walked.

"...This way."

"Oh, yes! You know it?"

As they headed towards the open space on the opposite side of the training ground, many things came into their view. Ice Palace members slashing their swords, releasing cold air, and Beast Palace members flexing their muscles, showing off their strength even in broad daylight.

'All the same.'

'They're all the same.'

At this point, couldn't they just merge into one martial arts sect? Apart from learning different martial arts, they were all equally abnormal.

The two, who had been shaking their heads, suddenly saw a strange sight.

"Huh?"

Both of them raised their heads at the same time.

By now, the Namgung Sect's swordsmen, who should have been in the midst of training, were huddled on the sides, glancing towards the training ground.

"...What are they all doing right now?"

"Oh? So, Sogaju-nim!"

The swordsmen who were standing straight turned to look at Namgung Dowi.

"You said you were going to practice?"

Namgung Dowi asked with confusion. The reason he didn't get angry even though he saw them wasting time after going to practice first was because the spirit of those who left for the training ground was great. Surely, if a dragon appeared, they would have the momentum to beat him up and boil a pot of soup right away...

"Uh, we, we can't go in there."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"It's a bit difficult to explain. You have to see it for yourself..."

Namgung Dowi, with a puzzled look, pushed through the crowd. The moment he turned his head slightly towards the training ground, a strange scene caught his eye.

"Kwaaaah!"

Kwung! Kwung! Kwung! Thud!

Something that flew from the front crashed successively onto the ground, sprawling miserably. Well, not just sprawling. Recognizing the identity of the slumped figure, Namgung Dowi gasped in horror.

"Jo, Jo Gol Dojang!"

Jo Gol passed out with his eyes closed, pure white foam bubbling from his mouth.

"Is he, is he dead?"

"It seems so."

"No, no, what is this..."

Perplexed, Namgung Dowi raised his head suddenly. And he saw it. The formidable swordsmen of Mount Hua, now recognized as the strongest in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, all flopped down in a miserable state. And standing among the victims, a colossal entity exuding great malice.

'Heavenly Demon...?'

No, that couldn't be. The swordsmen of Mount Hua would rather face the Heavenly Demon right now. It was better than dealing with that deranged human.

"What?"

His eyes flipped back and forth. His slightly parted lips seemed to emit white steam.

"Muugakjuuuu?" ["Mugakju" = Chief of Martial Arts (position held by Hyun Sang), I didn't translate it this time]

"..."

"Who said who would become the Muuakju?"

The disciples of Mount Hua glared at each other, as if ready to fight.

'Which bastard was it?'

'Who said something stupid in front of that guy?'

'I'll kill him! I will definitely kill him!'

Just as there was no point in blaming a hurricane, just as resenting a downpour was meaningless, blaming the deranged actions of that person was futile.

It was better to find out the cause that led that monster to act out.

Unfortunately, the culprit who turned the scene upside down was already unconscious, having received a blow to the jaw.

"Mugakju? Elderrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?"

"..."

"If Deputy Sect Leader looks like that, you guys should get your act together! These Taoists are going blind just for rice gruel!"

Of course, the words were not wrong. However, the fact that it was Chung Myung who said it made everyone feel sad.

"You guys deliberately messed up Mount Hua. What? Who becomes Muugakju? Who? You guys!"

There were plenty of things they would like to say. However, who could confidently speak to the deranged Chung Myung, who was rolling his eyes and having a fit?

Just when everyone was about to give up.

"Uh, well... Chung Myung...?"

Yoon Jong raised both hands in a gesture of peace, showing an awkward smile on his face. Approaching Chung Myung cautiously, his movements resembled someone cautiously extending a hand to a furious cat.

"S-Sasuk didn't have any bad intentions. He was just sincerely contemplating the future of the sect, and naturally, it kind of... well... Yeah, that's it! Depending on how you look at it, it's a good thing, right? Right?

So, let's, um... put down the sword and talk, okay?"

'Well done! Excellent, Yoon Jong! He shines!'

'As expected of the next Sect Leader!'

Everyone cheered for Yoon Jong, their eyes shining with hope.

"...A good thing?"

"Yes, that's right. A good..."

Kwoooooooong!

Thud.

"Oh my god, Yoon Jong-ah!"

"How can you fall in just one hit?"

It seemed that even an outstanding Taoist who was capable of guiding a criminal onto the Taoist path was incapable of reforming a demon resurrected from hell.

Yoon Jong fell, twitching. White steam rose from his head.

"Now, Dong Ryong became the Deputy Sect Leader. Isn't that a good thiiiiing?"

Chung Myung rolled his eyes completely, making the white of his eyes visible.

"Oh, yeah! Let me tell you what a good thing is for you guys today!"

"Eeeeeeeeek!"

"Jump! Quickly!"

"Where are you going, you bastards!"

Chung Myung rushed forward. But then...

"Hey, you little...!"

With a tremendous roar, Hyun Jong suddenly appeared, his beard fluttering as he leaped!

"Sect Leader!"

"Oh my, Sect Leader! Why are you coming now?"

"This rascal did it! This bastard!"

Bypassing the complaining disciples, Hyun Jong rushed to Chung Myung and skillfully caught his ears with his golden hands. [?]

"Ouch! Ouch! Sect Leader! My ears! Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

"You little rascal! Just follow me!"

With a firm grip on his ears, Hyun Jong dragged Chung Myung away, who continued to wail about his ears falling off.

Meanwhile, Tang Pae, who had been watching the scene as if observing a play, opened his mouth with a half-dazed voice.

"...Sogaju."

"Yes?"

"...When is our departure?"

"Today... it's tonight."

"Yeah. That's right."

Silently, the two of them gazed at the distant sky and quietly murmured.

"Stay strong."

"...Yes."

The fact that the greatest obstacle on the way to Southern Island may not be the Evil Tyrant Alliance dawned on two people.