Chapter 987: I Didn't See Anything (Part 2)

Although they had moved away from the river with high momentum, the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family hadn't actually moved very far.

To take care of the severely injured Namgung Family, they needed to set up a shelter nearby. The village constructed by the Tang Family was suitable for housing both the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family, given their circumstances.

"But it still feels like we're too close to the Ten Great Sects. Won't it be uncomfortable?"

"Uncomfortable? Those bastards over there with broken legs are uncomfortable. Why should we be uncomfortable?"

"That makes sense."

And so, they set up at Jangwon, a manor once used by the Nokrim. They had little time to unpack, but by the time the sun had set, they had managed to stabilize the wounded. 

The wounded, that is, not the Mount Hua Sect.

"The more I think about it, the angrier I get. That crazy octopus-head bastard!"

Chung Myung's eyes blinked rapidly.

"What? Collusion? What the hell? That crazy middle-aged bastard is claiming it's a conspiracy! I want to shove a wedge down his big mouth! Where is he talking trash from?"

"Ahem, Chung Myung."

"What?"

Baek Cheon cleared his throat quietly. He understood his anger, but the harsh words directed at the leader of the Shaolin were making him uncomfortable.

"Talking like that to Kangho's elder is a bit too much."

"You don't think he's lost his mind?"

"That's not what I meant... It could be an illness. Dementia, for instance." 

"..."

Jo Gol, looking puzzled, asked Yoon Jong, who was beside him.

"Sahyung, can you get dementia on deserted islands?"

"I used to think that you couldn't, but after today's events, I guess you can." 

"Ah..."

If it were in the Mount Hua Sect, this conversation would seem quite ordinary to anyone familiar with their customs. 

However, there was just one minor problem: there was now a shiny, bald man in front of them.

Hye Yeon, who couldn't bring herself to join in on the conversation, was just shedding a cold sweat.

Then, as if to add to his anxiety, a spark flew.

"Hey. What do you think, you good-for-nothing?"

"Oh, Amitabha... W-what are you talking about?"

"It seems like Bangjang has gone completely bonkers. What do you think?"

Hye Yeon closed his eyes tightly. As someone with eyes, he couldn't help but witness everything that had transpired between Mount Hua Sect and Shaolin. He had nearly blurted out profanities in front of the sect leader when Beopjeong tried to lump them into a group with the Evil Sect. If that had actually happened, it would have become a moment of unprecedented disgrace in Shaolin's history.

"Huh, what do you think?"

Hye Yeon was in agony. Even though he could no longer consider himself a part of Shaolin, Beopjeong had been like a father to him. However, he couldn't just gossip freely in front of others.

Of course, Cheong Myung didn't consider Hye Yeon's situation. Instead, he thrust his face in front of Hye Yeon, with his head crooked and his earlobes twitching.

"Are your ears stuffed? Your head is shiny, so are your eardrums shiny as well?"

Jo Gol whispered to Yoon Jong once again.

"Sahyung, wouldn't you hear better if your eardrums were hairless?"

"I'm not an audiologist, but up to there..."

Hye Yeon pursed his lips as he glanced at the two of them.

I hate those guys, I really do.

"Why can't you answer?"

At that moment, Baek Cheon, who had been quietly watching Cheong Myung, narrowed his eyes.

"Chung Myung."

"Oh, what now?"

"Monk Hye Yeon seems to be finding it difficult to answer. Stop asking."

Cheong Myung furrowed his brow, but before he could swear, Baek Cheon calmly said,

"People are like that. Even though his body is with the Mount Hua Sect, if his heart is with Shaolin, what can we do about it? We should even understand that much to truly call us friends."

"Oh, is that so? Are you still fond of Shaolin?"

Hye Yeon changed his mind. He hated that Baek Cheon the most...

"Hiyaaaa. turns out I was raising a tiger cub. So, are you going to say fight us and say that we formed an alliance with the Evil Tyrant Alliance? If you look closer, doesn't this kid seem like a spy who works for Beopjeong and dug his way into the Mount Hua Sect?"

"Hmm?"

"What?"

"Hmm?"

The gazes of the Five Swords all focused on one place. Hye Yeon, who had been blinking, jumped up.

"W-Wait, did you say 'spy'? How could a Buddhist monk do such a thing?"

"Why not, you bastard! Your leader, just by looking at him, seems like the type who would even sell out his own country! You've seen that appearance, and still, those words come out of your mouth? You think Shaolin people are born with a clean conscience?"

"W-Well..."

Cold sweat poured down from Hye Yeon's head.

"So, did you see your Bangjang's behavior earlier, or not?"

"I... I..."

"Right, you did."

"I... I didn't see anything."

"..."

At that moment, everyone stared blankly at Hye Yeon. Hye Yeon closed his eyes tightly once again.

"Is that right? You didn't see?"

Chung Myung, who stood up and looked triumphant, immediately hit Hye Yeon on the head.

"Ow!"

"Hold him!"

"I knew it would be like this!"

The terrified Five Swords held back Chung Myung who rushed at Hye Yeon.

"Let go! You guys let go! I'll go shut up that little bastard! This is why you don't catch black-haired beasts! What? You didn't see anything? You bastard! I guess those eyes are useless, so why don't I take them out today?"

"Chung Myung! Calm down!"

"Hey, are you going to beat someone because of that?"

"That's right, Chung Myung! I don't know about the others, but Hye Yeon isn't a black-haired beast! He doesn't even have hair." 

"..."

"..."

Instantly, a stillness washed over the scene. The charging Chung Myung, the ones restraining him from behind, the group from the Five Swords—all of them stared in disbelief at Jo Gol.

"....Why?"

"This madman."

"Amazing."

"Siju, that's a bit..."

"Shut up, you bastard!"

Chung Myung opened his eyes again and made another aggressive move towards Hye Yeon.

Such events were practically everyday life at Mount Hua now, and no one paid much attention to the commotion. Well, almost no one.

Meanwhile, Namgung Dowi watched in astonishment as Chung Myung seemed to be tearing Hye Yeon apart with his eyes.

'What?'

Is that the person I think it is?

Just then, as he observed the scene, he spotted a Tang Family member passing by.

"Um, excuse me, sir"

"Yes?" 

"Is he always like this?"

The Tang Family member raised his head to look at Chung Myung and the others. He replied with a somewhat troubled expression.

"Well... you'll get used to it soon."

With a somewhat embarrassed air, he patted Namgung Dohwi on the shoulder and quickly made his way.

Chung Myung was now completely beating down Hye Yeon. This unbelievable spectacle caused Namgung Dowi's eyes to well up with tears.

'Come to think of it...'

He had always seemed to be that kind of person.

Yeah, the Martial Arts Competition... the Martial Arts Competition... That's right, the Martial Arts Competition!

'But no matter how you look at it!'

Wasn't it just yesterday that this very man displayed a heroic performance by defeating the Black Dragon King on Plum Blossom Island? The image of him from that time was still vividly etched in Namgung Dowi's mind.

But now, that very man...

"Die, die, you rat bastard!" 

"I'm not a rat!"

"Not a rat? Where's the bald guy in the robe? Grow some hair, or take off your clothes! You should do one of the two!"

"Well, that's..."

He's like that.

Yeah, he was really like that.

In his head, he knew it was the same person, but it felt like his heart couldn't accept it.

"Oh, calm down, man! Why vent your anger about Shaolin on a monk... huh?"

At that moment, Yoon Jong spotted a dazed Namgung Dowi.

"Oh, how do you do?"

"Uh, hello... How do you do, sir."

Yoon Jong greeted him politely, but Namgung Dowi's expression was quite absent-minded.

"What's this? Wasn't that person injured? Why are you crawling again?"

When Chung Myung's attention shifted to him, Namgung Dowi quickly cleared his throat. Humans were strange creatures, and there were things that had to be done.

"Sir, I've come to express my gratitude formally."

Namgung Dowi bowed deeply.

While watching this scene, Chung Myung turned to Baek Cheon and asked.

"Sasuk."

"Hmm?"

"Are kids from prestigious families normally like that? Repeating their greetings so many times?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Well, Sasuk comes from a deeply rooted noble family in the Southern Edge Sect."

"Not really, you idiot! I'm a Mount Hua person through and through from my bones!"

"That, that... He looks just like a noble brat. Tsk tsk. Betraying the name Dong Ryong, which your parents bestowed upon you."

"I don't want to hear that from you!"

Oh, right.

He was Mount Hua's Righteous Sword who cleared the way through the Yangtze River against the pirates back then.

At that time, he looked so cool and reliable.

'But wait, his real name is Dong Ryong?'

A person's name didn't necessarily have to match their appearance, but at this level, wasn't the face and name so dissonant that they were fighting each other by the collar?

"Yeah, well, being polite isn't a bad thing."

Chung Myung replied dryly, shaking his head. Contrary to his words, his eyes had a clear look that said, 'Where can I possibly use this youngster who's engaging in useless acts?' Clear enough to be easily seen even from the Namgung province. 

"So, is the matter settled?"

"No, it's not."

Namgung Dowi kept wiping away the sweat that kept forming on his forehead.

"I came to express my gratitude properly now that I've become part of your family."

Namgung Dowi deeply bowed again.

"Please, guide me with many teachings."

He was deeply convinced.

'Mount Hua has become even stronger.'

He knew very well what the original level of Mount Hua was. Just a few years ago, they were just a small sect with no reputation.

'And during the Martial Arts Competition, they were merely a sect with good reviews.'

But this time, what Mount Hua had shown at the Yangtze River completely shattered Namgung Dowi's previous thoughts. In just a few years, they had become a sect that was at least equal to the Namgung family, if not stronger.

It might be absurd in terms of common sense, but there was no denying what he had seen with his own eyes.

'In other words, it means that Mount Hua knows the best way to rebuild a sect in the world right now.'

So, no matter what, they must stick closely. Even if half of the Namgung Family's legacy had crumbled, they must learn from Mount Hua and Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword.

'Chung Myung Dojang will definitely help us. Definitely.'

Namgung Dowi thought that.

The problem was...

"Sasuk."

"Hmm?"

"What's he talking about?"

"He's saying to take good care of him since he's joined the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"So, what's all this about?"

"He said in front of the Shaolin sect leader that he'd beat up the Five Great Families and join the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Weren't you paying attention?"

"Oh, that?"

Chung Myung nodded as if he finally understood.

"Yes, that's right."

Namgung Dowi gazed at Chung Myung with a bright face.

"So, in the future..."

"Hey."

"Yes?"

Namgung Dowi, who was about to bow his head again, hesitated then straightened up and looked at Chung Myung.

And he saw.

With his head cocked to the side, Chung Myung stared at him with a face that seemed to contain all the absurdity in the world.

"Join?"

"...Yes. Join..."

"Who accepted you?"

"What?"

Chung Myung wagged his ear and then snapped his fingers.

"I won't allow it."

"What?"

"I said I won't allow it."

"..."

The problem is... Chung Myung was an even stranger person than Namgung Dowi had thought, which is quite unfortunate.