Chapter 1630
Good things are good, right? (5)
Zhuge Jain, looking slightly older and more disheveled, nodded as he walked in.
“He accepted.”
“Oh?”
Chung Myung said, sounding surprised.
“He accepted it so easily?”
“…”
Zhuge Jain’s face twitched slightly.
“I have a small question.”
“Yes.”
“What does the General think of the division leader position?”
“Well, there are many ways to put it, but if I don’t beat around the bush, I think it’s a… shit receiv-”
“That’s enough.”
Zhuge Jain smiled broadly, cutting off Chung Myung’s words. No more should be said or heard.
“Now we just need to decide on the vice-leaders.”
“Well, that’s already settled, isn’t it? Just fill them all with Hwasan’s people…”
“That won’t work.”
“What? Why not?”
“Didn’t I tell you earlier? Young Lord Namgung must be a vice-leader also.”
“Hmm…”
Chung Myung crossed his arms and fell into deep thought.
Chung Myung’s mutterings could be heard in the ears of others: ‘Oh, this is becoming a headache. Still, a fool might be better than some others… But that person sometimes goes crazy and becomes unmanageable.’ However, everyone desperately ignored what they heard.
“Well, there’s no other choice. Even so, it would be difficult not to give one position to Namgung clan.”
“And we also need to favor Jongnam.”
“It’s enough to give them the division leader position! Why take the vice-leader position too? Don’t be ridiculous!”
Hyun Jong looked astonished at these words.
“But… didn’t you say we could give one position to Jin Geumryong?”
“That was before Jongnam took the division leader position!”
“…”
“And after thinking about it, Geumryong is not an option.”
“Why?”
“Geumryong is like a less socially adapted Dongryong. Jin Geumryong is basically just a version of Dongryong with all the worst traits and none of the brains.”
“Why am I being dragged into this!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Even so, comparing him to that person! They don’t even look alike except for their faces!”
“Hmm?”
Chung Myung tilted his head to the side.
At that, immediate backlash came without Chung Myung needing to say anything.
“Actually, there are some similarities.”
“Though Sasuk is somewhat better.”
“What?”
Baek Cheon looked ready to explode with betrayal, while Hyun Jong cleared his throat with a cough.
“It’s a bit much to say there’s no resemblance at all.”
“…R-Retired Sect Leader?”
Jo Geol shrugged his shoulders.
“After thinking about it, isn’t Jin Geumryong just a less beaten version of Sasuk? Chung Myung created that person.”
“An undeniable major achievement.”
“…”
Baek Cheon, having heard Jo Geol and Yoon Jong’s final comments, looked utterly defeated as if the sky had fallen upon him.
“Whether it’s a more wretched Sasuk or a more accomplished one, Jin Geumryong’s personality is a mess. What would happen if such a person took on the vice-leader position?”
At those words, Baek Cheon, who had been slumped over, suddenly lifted his head and smiled broadly, though he still couldn’t give up disparaging Jin Geumryong.
“It would be a mess.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Yoon Jong sighed deeply as he looked at the next Sect Leader of Hwasan and the top sword of Hwasan, who were snickering and laughing. He then turned to Chung Myung.
“Still… during this Anhui campaign, he led Jongnam relatively well. We received some help from him.”
“That’s not enough.”
Chung Myung shook his head.
“I’m not dismissing Jin Geumryong, but this is a matter of experience. If it was enough to just have a name and a position to delegate command, we wouldn’t have created the position of vice-leader.”
“Hmm.”
It was a reasonable statement. Even if Namgung Dowi and Jin Geumryong had equal skills, their experiences were vastly different.
Namgung Dowi, who had experienced Maehwado, Hangzhou and Hainan, couldn’t be compared on the same level as someone who had only swing a sword once after lifting Bongmun.
“Then… what about Lee Songbaek?”
“Really, it’s not just a matter of character.”
“…But you only criticized his character.”
Though Chung Myung said that, his expression showed some interest in Lee Songbaek. However, he soon shook his head.
“Still, it won’t work. He hasn’t proven himself.”
“Hmm.”
“This war isn’t about nurturing someone new.”
Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed with a cold light.
“It must be a position to prove one’s worth.”
“…”
Chung Myung’s words settled heavily among the people.
Eventually, Yoon Jong nodded.
“So?”
“Sasuk and Sahyeong. And that one.”
“…At least let me be called ‘Sahyeong.’”
Jo Geol’s timid protest went unheard by Chung Myung.
“The remaining one is the problem… They will absolutely refuse to think outside the box. Should we really make Soso the one? Soso has other tasks. Hmm.”
Chung Myung scratched his head vigorously. While others might not know, he himself was not confident about persuading Yu Iseol. First, the conversation had to be possible for persuasion to happen. As soon as he started, Yu Iseol would surely shake her head and refuse.
“Hmm? Why Iseol?”
“Yes?”
“What’s wrong with Iseol?”
“…”
Chung Myung’s gaze shifted to Hyun Jong.
“Huh?”
“Yes?”
“Oh…”
The eyes of Hwasan’s disciples, looking at Hyun Jong, suddenly sparkled with light.
“So that’s an option.”
“Right? Sasuk?”
A peculiar smile appeared on the lips of Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Geol.
“So, Yu Iseol has agreed to take one of the positions.”
“…”
“Isn’t that right, Iseol-ah?”
Hyun Jong, with a gentle smile, looked at Yu Iseol sitting next to him. Yu Iseol’s head moved slightly, just a tiny bit.
“Yes…”
Yu Iseol’s expression remained blank. However, Five Swords, familiar with her, could read the discontent hidden behind that blank face.
“It seems like she doesn’t like it.”
“It looks like she really hates it.”
“Could it be that bad?”
At that moment, Yu Iseol’s eyes turned toward the three people. Five Swords, sensing the malice and killing intent in her gaze, quietly lowered their eyes. Making an enemy of Yu Iseol was not a good idea if one wanted to live well in Hwasan.
“Is this settled, then?”
Chung Myung hesitated to answer immediately.
“Chung Myung-ah?”
“Hmm.”
Chung Myung rubbed his cheek.
‘Will it be okay?’
The ideal vice-leader was not just someone with a strong martial arts. They needed to be in sync with him and communicate most effectively. At the same time, they should also have the ability to lead the members of the division to the best of their ability.
Yu Iseol’s martial prowess was beyond question, but could Yu Iseol truly lead people and facilitate smooth communication?
Though there was hesitation, there were no other options. There was no more time to delay.
“It can’t be helped. Then the last remaining vice-leader position should be assigned to Sago-”
At that very moment.
“Is there still a position available for me?”
Everyone’s heads snapped around toward the door.
“Monk!”
“Monk Hye Yeon!”
The Five Swords, who had been seated, sprang up and rushed toward him.
Hye Yeon, with a haggard face, stood at the entrance.
“Well….”
Despite the eagerness to rush over, standing in front of him made it hard to find the right words, and they struggled to speak. Seeing the hesitant Five Swords, Hye Yeon smiled warmly.
“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”
“Oh, no. It’s not a worry.”
Baek Cheon, with a serious expression, asked,
“Are you alright, Monk?”
“Yes.”
Hye Yeon nodded slowly.
“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”
A look of relief spread across everyone’s faces.
Hye Yeon, who had retreated immediately after returning to Hwaeum, had caused them much worry, though they didn’t speak of it. It was especially frustrating since they couldn’t do anything to help.
Yet, true to form, Hye Yeon had overcome that immense suffering in just a few days.
“Amitabha. Is there a place for me to fight? Dojang?”
Chung Myung, catching his gaze, chuckled and smiled.
“It’s too late. Baldy.”
Hye Yeon smiled back.
“How amusing. With a skull-like face of yours…”
Hye Yeon’s deep-set eyes seemed to speak of the great suffering he had endured. But ultimately, people grow through their suffering. If he had overcome it all, Hye Yeon was surely stronger than ever before.
“There’s one vice-leader position left.”
“…”
“Can you do it?”
Hye Yeon stood quietly, reciting a short, solemn chant. It was a chant that appeared profoundly devout and heavy.
“If that’s the only remaining position, then it can’t be helped. I will do my best in any role. That’s… perhaps a way to atone for the sins Shaolin has committed against the world.”
Usually, Chung Myung would have had something to say, but this time he nodded silently. It was a conclusion reached by Hye Yeon after much deep contemplation. Therefore, whatever it was, it had to be respected.
“Then, regrettably… Sago will have to be removed from the vice-leader position. Is that alright?”
At that moment, Yu Iseol’s head shook vigorously up and down. Not only that, but she also looked at Chung Myung with an extremely eager expression.
“…Seems like it’s a good outcome?”
“I’ve never seen Sago nod so vigorously before.”
“Even I’ve never seen that.”
Baek Cheon shook his head. Although he secretly hoped Yu Iseol, from the same Baek generation, would take a position, but there was no point if she disliked it so much.
Yu Iseol was at her best when she was true to herself. Even without the vice-leader role, she would excel in any position.
“So, is everything settled now?”
“Well, there’s just one minor thing left to handle.”
“A minor thing? What is it?”
At that moment, Chung Myung looked at the prospective vice-leaders with a strangely significant yet mischievous expression.
“There will be one leader and one vice-leader assigned to each division.”
“That’s right.”
“Then, one of the people here will have to join the same division as that person.”
“That person means…”
The faces of Five Swords turned ashen.
“Jongli…”
“Jongnam’s Jongli Gok…”
The stern face of Jongli Gok appeared in their minds.
Anyone assigned to the same division as him would have to face him and coordinate opinions until the end of the war.
“Sahyeong.”
“Yes?”
“Just thinking about it makes me uneasy.”
“I feel the same way.”
Their already uncomfortable relationship had been made even more so recently, when Jongli Gok formally apologized to Hwasan. Now, having to stay with him until the end of the war?
“…How about sending Young Lord Namgung?”
“…”
“Or perhaps we could send Monk Hye Yeon instead?”
Jo Geol resisted.
He knew it well. Since Jongnam had already expressed such a stance, one of the vice-leaders from Hwasan had to be assigned to work alongside Jongli Gok. This would dispel any concerns within the alliance and fear of discord between Hwasan and Jongnam.
Yes, he knew that clearly.
But despite understanding all of this, Jo Geol’s vigorous resistance was…
“Geol-ah.”
Tap.
Baek Cheon’s hand was placed on Jo Geol’s shoulder.
“Please.”
“…”
Yoon Jong’s hand also found its place on Jo Geol’s opposite shoulder.
“You’re the only one.”
“…”
Tears welled up in Jo Geol’s eyes. Lately, he seemed to be seeing such scenes more frequently.
“Sa-Sahyeong… Sasuk.”
As he tried to protest with a tearful face, Yoon Jong gave a benevolent smile.
“Geol-ah.”
“Yes?”
“If you were unhappy, you should have joined earlier.”
“…”
“Hang in there.”
“…”
…You bastards.
Tears welled up in Jo Geol’s eyes, shimmering clearly.
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