Chapter 999: Just Leave It Be (Part 4)

"As expected!"

Namgung Dowi tightly held Baek Cheon's hands.

Baek Cheon looked at him with a profoundly troubled expression.

"Thank you! Thank you, Baek Cheon Dojang!"

"Oh, no, just wait..."

Baek Cheon was feeling uncomfortable and attempted to stall Namgung Dowi slightly, but it seemed that Namgung Dowi had no intention of listening.

"I suspected as much. I thought that the inexplicable growth of the Mount Hua Sect could not be explained by conventional means."

"..."

"Then everyone in the Mount Hua Sect, including Baek Cheon Dojang, is indeed learning martial arts from Chung Myung Dojang, correct?"

"That's not entirely wrong... I mean, there's nothing wrong with that..."

"Thank you!"

Namgung Dowi released Baek Cheon's hand and clenched his fist.

"It seems like we've found a definite way to revive the Namgung Family."

"That...Sogaju? Just calm down for a moment..."

"In that case, I will go to Chung Myung Dojang to make a request! Thank you!"

"Wait, hold on..."

However, Namgung Dowi rushed out without looking back. Baek Cheon was left standing there, and criticism was poured him him.

"Devil."

"Demon."

"He's pushing people into the fire pit."

"No, you bastards! What do you want me to do? He didn't even give me a chance to explain, he just heard what he want to hear and left!"

Baek Cheon grumbled as if he felt unjust, but the Five Swords' gazes had already left him. They watched Namgung Dowi running into the distance with sympathetic eyes.

"...He'll probably regret it."

"That's right."

"Poor guy."

"That's just his fate; accidents happen."

Among them, the calmest person was, of course, Yoon Jong.

"Let's follow him."

"Huh?"

Yoon Jong said with a face full of responsibility.

"If we couldn't stop him from jumping into the pit, we should at least help them out and give him some water when the time is right."

"..."

It sounded like a strangely discordant statement, but Baek Cheon nodded his head for the time being.

"Yeah, we should try to prevent him from getting burnt."

The Five Swords quickly followed behind the Namgung head.

* * *

"Ah, don't push!"

"Just wait, I need to check..."

"No, I said don't push!"

The Five Swords slightly opened the door to the room with Chung Myung and Namgung Dowi and peered inside.

Inside, a strange scene was unfolding.

Chung Myung was seated as if he were a high-ranking official, and in front of him was Namgung Dowi, who was somewhat kneeling.

"It looks like they're just here for bribery and to ask for a government position when you see it casually."

Like a duck to water... No, Chung Myung looked a hundred times more sinister than a duck to water [idk some Korean saying], was staring at the Namgung Family with his plump face.

"So, you say..."

"Yes, Dojang."

"You want me to teach you the sword?"

"That's right!"

Chung Myung gave a crooked smile.

"Not only you, but the Namgung Family too?"

"Yes!"

"Me?"

"Exactly!"

"Hahaha."

"Hahahahaha!"

"Ahahahahahaha!"

Chung Myung and the Namgung Family burst into loud laughter as if they understood each other's intentions. Of course, it was only the Namgung Dowi who thought they understood each other.

"Is this guy crazy?"

Pwoom!

"Ahhhhhh!"

Namgung Dowi, who was thrown into the air by Chung Myung's kick after jumping over the table, screamed as he flew backward.

"I knew it would turn out like this!"

Baek Cheon, who quickly opened the door and jumped inside, caught Namgung Dowi just before he hit the wall.

"No!"

Chung Myung roared as he stomped on the floor.

"Did someone put drugs in the Yangtze River without me knowing?! Are there no sane people around here? One of the Nokrim bandits wants to join the Heavenly Comrade Alliance! The Shaolin folks are just out for their own gain! And what about Namgung Dowi, the supposed heir? Martial arts? Martial arts, my aaaaaaaaaaass!"

"It's not that kind of 'Dojang,' it means..."

"I've seen countless lunatics in my life, but this guy is on a whole different level! Hey, you crazy lunatic! Does that even make sense?"

Baek Cheon, who had lowered Namgung Dowi to the ground, pointed his hand at Chung Myung and let out a faint cough.

"Ch-Chung Myung."

"What?"

"I understand why you're excited, but isn't Sogaju doing this because he is in a hurry? Can't you understand…"

"Huh?"

Chung Myung spoke seriously.

"If he continues like this, they will completely fail."

"Why are you talking about people failing again..."

"They're already doomed. Completely doomed. All that's left are the kids."

"..."

"Imagine this situation. How do you think Sasuk will feel if Jo Gol, who survived this situation, takes the children to Wudang and bows to them to teach them how to use a sword in order to save the Mount Hua Sect?"

"This bastard betrayed us!"

"Kyaah!"

Baek Cheon kicked Jo Gol's side, who was standing there for no reason, and suddenly, Jo Gol folded in half, flying through the air and crashing into a wall.

"Ah, one step late..."

Yoon Jong lowered his hand. This time, Baek Cheon was slightly faster.

"No, no!"

Jo Gol, who had collapsed on the floor, blinked his eyes and raised his head.

"Why are you hitting me? Why! I didn't actually do anything! But why!"

"You seemed like you would really do it."

Jo Gol, at a loss for words, turned to look at Yoon Jong. In response, Yoon Jong just nodded with a faint smile.

Feeling betrayed by the world, Jo Gol sat down on the floor, hugging his knees. Nearby, Tang Soso tapped his shoulders as if consoling him.

"That's right, you should always act like a human being."

"Grr, why don't you leave?"

Baekcheon cleared his throat and caught a glimpse of Namgung Dowi.

'Not that it's wrong.'

Jo Gol had never thought about it, but when he considered the situation from a different perspective, there really was no one quite as insane as this man. To put it bluntly, teaching someone from another faction martial arts?

Even Hyun Jong, renowned for being willing to sacrifice his pride for the sake of Mount Hua, never made such a request to the Southern Edge Sect. Even though Mount Hua was in a really difficult situation back then, if a disciple had made such a request, Hyun Jong would have probably stuck a plum flower branch in his face right there.

Chung Myung foamed at the mouth and shouted.

"Hey, this crazy guy. Where did you learn martial arts? Namgung Hwang, in the tomb, will jump up and spout water from the Yangtze River with his mouth!"

"...But our father hasn't been buried yet."

"Then go check, you idiot! He might be struggling to break through the coffin!"

Namgung Dowi cowered at the vigor in Chung Myung's expression.

Chung Myung shook his head as if he couldn't believe it.

"The world is about to end. Really, the world is about to end. No, what happened in the last hundred years? How come only lunatics are left in the world?"

Now, these guys were scarier than the Heavenly Demon. They're scarier than Heavenly Demon, you bastards!

However, Namgung Dowi began to defend himself, looking unfairly wronged.

"I-I'm not asking for the secrets of Mount Hua's martial arts, Dojang."

"Uh?"

"No matter how out of my mind I may be, how could I possibly ask for Mount Hua's martial arts instruction?"

"Is that so?"

Chung Myung's demeanor quickly became more composed, and he nodded as if to say that was right.

"Thank goodness. For a moment, I was contemplating whether I should forcefully shove you into the Yangtze River to make Namgung Myung become a new head of the Namgung family."

"...."

"What's wrong?"

"I will naturally learn the martial arts of the Namgung family. Namgung is not so weak as to covet the swordsmanship of other factions!"

"Well, you're a bit weak, though."

"..."

"Uh... no, anyway, continue."

"....So, what I wanted to ask of the Dojang... it's not an instruction in swordsmanship but an experience in practical combat."

"Uh?"

"I deeply realized it this time in Plum Blossom Island. Mastering swordsmanship without error, operating it perfectly, and verifying one's weaknesses through mutual sparring...."

Namgung Do Wi's attitude gradually became more serious.

"That alone won't suffice in actual combat."

"..."

Chung Myung watched Namgung Dowi with interest.

'He's an interesting guy.'

As a result of this incident, had lost two-thirds of the family's power and even lost the current head. As a result, the timing for succeeding the family had been moved up by at least twenty years.

If he were an ordinary person, he would be overwhelmed by the current situation alone. But right now, Namgung Dowi was looking ahead to the future.

"Although it's not the time to say such things in our current situation, Namgung's sword will never dull."

Chung Myung nodded his head slightly. It wasn't an incorrect statement. If Namgung were truly weak, they wouldn't have been able to maintain their position as the best in the world for so long.

"Nevertheless, the reason Namgung faced such a great crisis this time was because our swordsmen did not know how to use their skills in true combat."

Namgung Dowi stared straight at Chung Myung.

"But Mount Hua was different. Even though they haven't had much practical experience, they fought as if they had gone through countless real battles."

Namgung Dowi clenched his fist.

"Dojang."

"..."

"Please help us. We must become stronger. And I believe that there is no one outside the Dojang who can fulfill that role."

"Hmm."

Chung Myung scratched his head with a strange expression on his face. Then he spoke to Namgung Dowi in a somewhat hesitant tone.

"Well, it's all good... but let me ask one thing."

"Yes."

"I understand the reason, but in my opinion, it's something that can be done without the need for Namgung to learn from Mount Hua, right?"

"..."

"I'm saying this because I don't know how dangerous it is. People in the world won't consider all those circumstances. They'll just say that Namgung Dowi has gone mad and learned the sword from Mount Hua."

"I understand."

"Alright, you understand. I think you know all that. So, I'm asking."

Chung Myung spoke in a cold voice.

"With all this knowledge, why are you doing this?"

"..."

Namgung Dowi bit his lip tightly.

"...I don't want to lose anyone else."

At his words, Chung Myung's expression stiffened.

"The existence of the Evil Sect will make the world progressively more dangerous. Unless we choose Bongmun.... No, even if we do, Namgung will no longer be able to avoid them."

Listening to this, the Five Swords nodded in agreement. There was hardly anything wrong with that statement.

"My father told me."

"Namgung Hwang? Your father?" 

"Yes. My father showed me in his last moments. What the head of the Namgung clan should do."

Namgung Dowi spoke firmly.

"The head of Namgung is the one who protects the Namgung family."

"..."

"I... I don't want to lose a single member of my family anymore. I'll do anything to prevent it."

Namgung Dowi raised his head and looked straight at Chung Myung.

"If I have to kneel, I'll kneel. If I have to bow my head, I'll bow my head."

Then, he deeply bowed his head and shouted.

"Please help us, Dojang. Namgung's sword will repay that debt!"

Baek Cheon, who had been watching, nodded quietly.

'Impressive.'

It was enough to make him feel ashamed.

'If it were me, could I bow down like that to someone else for the future of Mount Hua?'

Namgung Dowi had lived as someone of a significantly higher status than Baek Cheon. Isn't the position of the head of the Namgung clan something that anyone in the martial world would envy?

But now, there was no sign of any arrogance in Namgung Dowi's actions. Regardless of right or wrong, that posture alone was truly admirable.

'Not losing a single member...'

Chung Myung thought briefly about Namgung Dowi's words and chuckled.

"Can you still say such a dreamlike thing even after seeing hell?"

"I think I need to keep saying it even more because I've seen it."

"The little one has grown up, it seems."

A smile appeared on Chung Myung's lips. But Baek Cheon knew that the smile was not driven by any malicious intent. When they exceeded Chung Myung's expectations from time to time, he would smile like that.

"Well, fine. If it's a real battle, it's not that difficult to have fun by beating them up."

"S-So, are you saying...?"

"In any case, you've become one of us. I'll help."

"D-Dojang!"

Namgung Dowi, with a face filled with emotion, looked at Chung Myung.

"Thank you..."

Namgung Dowi was about to bow deeply when he suddenly stopped. Chung Myung's palm came out where he was about to bow his head.

"D-Dojang."

Namgung Dowi raised his head with a puzzled expression.

And then he saw it.

Chung Myung was making a satisfied... truly, a satisfied expression.

It was as if Kang Taegong's face, who had finally managed to catch a carp after waiting and fishing for a long time... was like this. [probably some Korean story]

"So."

"..."

"How much can you pay?"

"...Excuse me?"

Namgung Dowi's eyes shook widely.

"You said you don't want to lose a single person."

"..."

"In other words, it means that the price of that one person, one person's life, is that expensive when spoken in reverse, right?"

"...Dojang?"

"Then let's find out how much you can pay."

Chung Myung let out a mischievous chuckle.

"I wonder how much Namgung's lord can afford in return for saving those nobles."

"..."

"I hope you won't disappoint. Namgung's lord is wealthy, after all. Right?"

"..."

"Hehehehehehehehe! Hehehehehehe!"

As Chung Myung leaned forward and laughed, and suddenly, a pure white marten that jumped out from his arms above his head took the same posture and laughed with a giggling noise.

Only after witnessing this inexplicable sight did Namgung Dowi realize that something was seriously wrong.