Chapter 1513: People Experience All Kinds Of Things As They Live (Part 2)

"Oh, they're coming!"

"What should we do!"

"What can we do! We have to fight back!"

"Lethal force, can we use lethal force? Is it okay to use lethal force?"

No one could answer that question. Using lethal force against Shaolin monks? That would bring about truly unbearable consequences. The burden that the disciples of Mount Hua had carried while fighting against the elders of the Beggar's Union, at this moment, became the same burden that they had to bear.

However, those witnessing the scene unfolding here couldn't help but have one question at this point. Was there really meaning in worrying about that 'burden'?

"Ah―mi―ta―bha!"

Woo-oo-oo-ooong!

A golden light, accompanied by a roaring flame, rapidly reached the elders in front. Startled elders hastily raised their staffs to block the approaching power.

Koo-oo-oo-ooong!

"Aaaaaaah!"

At the moment when the staff, surrounded by a blue light, clashed with the golden light, a scream that seemed to tear through the elders' mouths erupted. The force of the powerful blow shattered the elders' energy in an instant.

The elders, pushed by the force, bounced around like leaves caught in a typhoon, eventually crashing into the walls of the hall.

"W-what power is this…!"

But there was no time to marvel. In an instant, Shaolin monks, who had closed the distance, penetrated the formation of the elders.

Still Movement (靜中動)

Although it seemed slow, like a mountain, it was, in reality, faster than anything else. It was the essence of Shaolin martial arts, which was difficult to comprehend until experienced firsthand.

"I-Ik!"

One of the elders swung his staff toward the head of a Shaolin monk who had approached. There was a powerful energy behind the strike. However, he couldn't complete the swing and hesitated.

What if he struck and, perhaps, the opponent failed to respond in time? What if the head were to shatter? Could he handle the consequences?

In the midst of that moment of hesitation, fatal results were born on the urgent battlefield.

Tak.

The palm of the Shaolin monk, taking advantage of the opening, lightly touched the elder's chest.

"Hap!"

Koo-oo-oo-ooong!

The subsequent release of force shook the elder's insides into disarray.

"Cough!"

With a sound resembling air escaping, the elder's body crumbled in place. Although not fatally wounded, the disturbance in his energy made it impossible for him to move freely for a while.

"Ah-mi-ta-bha!"

Even in the midst of this urgency, a Shaolin monk, who had knocked down one opponent, soared through the air, searching for the next adversary.

Inside the hall, the yellow wind that had rushed in was truly sweeping away the previously stagnant atmosphere of the Beggar's Union.

"T-that, what…."

"What in the world…."

At the sound of a voice coming from next to him, Jo Gol, who was about to rush forward, glanced to the side. Baek Cheon, who had spit out what Jo Gol was about to say, was staring blankly at the Shaolin monks at some point.

"That's my role, though."

"...Isn't really amazing?"

"Well… that's true."

The Shaolin monks were literally beating the elders to pieces. Jo Gol looked at the scene for a moment and said as if something suddenly occurred to him.

"Come to think of it, haven't we been swearing and fighting with those guys?"

"…."

"…."

An awkward silence hung over the faces of the Mount Hua disciples.

"Think differently now…"

"Ah, hey! "What are you talking about!"

Yoon Jong, who was about to waver for a moment, shouted firmly.

"Isn't our situation different? Those gentlemen are not people who use swords, but rather gentlemen who fight with their fists. How can we, who must strike with a sword fearing the possibility of death, be compared to someone freely striking as they please?"

"...Still, taking that into account, isn't it impressive?"

"Well... yeah."

That's true. Oh, yeah.

"...We were truly ignorant, weren't we."

Of course, what they saw wasn't everything. It was true that the Shaolin monks were strong, but the elders hadn't yet fully displayed their abilities.

As everyone knew, in a fight, momentum accounted for half.

The shock of unexpected Shaolin attacks and the situation where they couldn't sincerely fight back against such Shaolin monks tied the hands and feet of the Beggar's Union elders. Therefore, it was safe to say that the Beggar's Union elders who fought against Mount Hua were different than the Beggar's Union elders who were fighting against Shaolin.

If that were not the case, these people, at the level of Beggar's Union elders, would not be so helplessly swept away.

"Ah―mi―ta―bha!"

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Well, it didn't seem like they had a chance of winning even if they brought out their full skills.

"It's like there's a hundred Hye Yeons."

"Honestly, that's a bit of an exaggeration."

"There's a hundred people like Hye Yeon."

"...That can't be denied."

As disciples of Mount Hua were shaking their heads, unexpectedly, someone leaped into the air.

"...Samae?"

Crack!

While everyone was admiring the dominance of Shaolin, it didn't seem to impress Yoo Iseol. Her back seemed to express, 'I don't really like this situation.'

Yoo Iseol, who leaped in one go, jumped down into the midst of the Beggar's Union elders.

Soon after.

"Aaaaaah!"

"What, what is it! Out of nowhere!"

Screams familiar to the disciples of Mount Hua began to spread.

"Sago We'll help too!"

"What are we doing! We have to fight too, Sasuk!"

"That's right! Let's go!"

Baek Cheon, who regained composure, nodded his head and readied his sword.

Although they were currently pushing forward with overwhelming momentum, the fact remained that they were outnumbered. If the Beggar's Union regained their senses and utilized their numerical advantage, the damage would be significant. They had to join the battle before the Beggar's Union elders could regain their composure.

"Charge!"

"Yes!"

Just as the disciples of Mount Hua, led by Baek Cheon, were about to unleash a fierce attack with their swords.

"Ooooo!"

Kwaaaaaaaang!

A golden aura shot up from the front one step ahead knocking down several scrambling elders.

"Monk!"

"This one seems quite excited!"

As Jo Gol said, Hye Yeon's face was oddly flushed. The fact that he was now fighting alongside his martial siblings seemed to have relieved him of the burden he had been carrying.

A smile formed across Hye Yeon's face before he realized it.

"Follow behind me..."

"Stay calm."

At that moment, suddenly, a voice reached Hye Yeon, making him startle and turn his gaze. Hye Bang, who had somehow pierced through the many elders, was standing nearby, smiling at Hye Yeon.

"Sahyung..."

"Have you been well?"

"I...I..."

Hye Yeon bit his lips with a face that seemed on the verge of tears.

"Ike!"

With a gentle swing, Hye Bang skillfully knocked away one raised staff and stood next to Hye Yeon.

"You did well."

"..."

"There's a lot I want to say, but it's not the right time. Let's finish the greetings after dealing with the situation."

"...Yes, Sahyung!"

"Deputy Sect Leader!"

"Yes!"

"Let's finish the formalities after the situation is under control."

"Understood!"

Baek Cheon nodded, swinging his sword. As Hye Bang suggested, the priority now was to clean up the elders and suppress the Beggar's Union coup.

"Charge!"

"Yes!"

The red plum blossoms from the erupting Mount Hua Sect and the golden energy emitted by the martial brothers of Shaolin merged together.

"...Whoo."

Watching the scene, Cheongmyeong shook his head, muttering to himself.

"That's why you can't underestimate those bald bastards."

It was pitiful to see the Beggar's Union now becoming an enemy against Shaolin. Laughter erupted at the sight of elders, who, just by encountering a charging Shaolin monk, were rendered helpless and fell.

As soon as they realized that even if they won, they wouldn't be able to resolve the situation, they lost the will to resist.

What were these people thinking when they initiated such an event without even preparing for the possibility of resistance?

"How..."

"Eh?"

In response to the voice from the front, Chung Myung turned his gaze back.

Ilho Shin Gae was looking at him with a face that seemed to be distorted to the extreme.

"How... why on earth were you able to recruit them?"

"Hmm?"

"Wasn't Shaolin an enemy of Mount Hua! Why is Shaolin helping you, of all things!"

That voice contained a sense of injustice, anger, and desperation. Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

"That's why the Beggar's Union, despite holding so much information, has never been able to lead a strong alliance. Tsk."

"Wha...?"

Tap.

Chung Myung lightly tapped his head with the tip of his sword.

"You've been stubborn since you were born. Use it. Use it, you fool."

"Ik...!"

"Well, in that pitiful head of yours, there's probably a lot of justification and influence. That's why you're missing the point."

"What do you mean I'm missing something?"

"People."

At those two words, Ilho Shin Gae's eyes wavered.

"People sway in the face of justification, and it is human nature to build power. You, who only see the world in terms of numbers, can never understand."

Chung Myung said, looking at Ilho Shin Gae as if he were pitiful.

"And even if you didn't know about such things, wouldn't it be normal to expect some preparation when I made a move? Do you think someone with a head like yours could become the leader of Beggar's Union? You're a guy who would ruin the Beggar's Union."

There were people like that in the world. People who believed they were excellent because they were leaders, not leaders because they were excellent. People who believed a written declaration would prove their abilities. [...this hits hard...]

"Yeah, you..."

Ilho Shin Gae couldn't overcome the sense of humiliation, and his whole body trembled. But he couldn't even utter a word of protest.

In that state, he reluctantly opened his mouth.

"Well... well! Was I just supposed to stay silent? That guy... Beggar's Union..."

"Ah."

Chung Myung cut off Ilho Shin Gae's words as if he didn't want to hear.

"Let's not talk nonsense when we already know everything about each other. Originally, you didn't start this with the intention of doing that, right?"

"What?"

"What nonsense."

Chung Myung chuckled.

"If you really were concerned and dissatisfied, you would have tried to change this system that could be shaken by one sect leader. By supporting a new young sect leader. Talking to them, listening to what they want."

"...?"

"Didn't you dislike that? Because you couldn't wield power directly. You weren't angry because the Beggar's Union was going the wrong way, but because the Beggar's Union wasn't going the way you want it to."

Chung Myung openly sneered.

"Guys like you, I know them well. People without abilities who are full of greed, trying desperately to inflate non-existent abilities. Guys who would do anything to get even a little bit of power."

Every word that poured out of his mouth was like a sharp blade.

"In fact, guys like you are so common that I would have just punched and gone away on a normal day. But... I've been hearing a bit annoying old story these days. I'm trying to forget it, but when I see you, I keep thinking about it."

"What are you talking about now?"

"What am I talking about?"

Chung Myung smiled lightly.

"It means you're a loser."

Then he moved forward by twisting his head left and right. Ilho Shin Gae shouted hastily.

"Surround him! If we endure a little longer, we can reverse the situation! Once the regular forces arrive, we can turn the situation around!"

Ilho Shin Gae's two eyes overflowed with venom.

But then, something strange happened.

The elders who moved like his limbs... avoided Ilho Shin Gae's gaze.

"You, you guys...!"

Looking at them, Ilho Shin Gae's face was filled with despair.

Ilho Shin Gae's words might be right. The situation could be reversed if the regular force joined.

But if that happened, everyone here would have to take responsibility for defeating Shaolin with force. No one here had the loyalty to protect Ilho Shin Gae in such a situation. The credit for the victory had long since disappeared from them.

"Poor guy."

Chung Myung clicked his tongue exaggeratedly as if he were pitiful.

The elders who had blocked the path between him and Ilho Shin Gae stepped aside. Ilho Shin Gae and Chung Myung confronted each other head-on.

"So, even if you become the sect leader, nothing will change much, will it?"

"Shut up, you bastard!"

Enraged, Ilho Shin Gae shouted as if having a fit.

"It's all because of you! You've ruined everything! I won't let it slide!"

He erupted with an enormous force and charged towards Chung Myung.

Watching his approach, Chung Myung smiled faintly.

"Well, now he looks like a tiger among dogs."

Compared to those elders, of course.

"But even so..."

Bang!

Chung Myung firmly planted his foot and lowered his stance.

"You're still a strong dog."

Pa-ah-ah!

Chung Myung's sword energy fiercely cut through the air, slashing through the momentum of Ilho Shin Gae's attack.

This scene resembled the downfall lho Shin Gae's ambitions.