Chapter 1648
Find it quickly, quickly. (2)
“Let’s hurry up!”
“Alright, alright!”
Yoon Jong snapped irritably as Jo Geol kept urging him on, stomping hard on the ground. The fact that Monk Hye Yeon had beaten someone up was no ordinary matter. In fact, before considering its severity…
‘Is this even possible?’
If it hadn’t been Namgung Dowi who brought the news, he would have laughed it off. It was that hard to believe.
They hadn’t been running long when the large training ground came into view. People were gathered in a large circle, and several individuals were lying on the ground at the center. Among them, Hye Yeon stood with his hands lowered.
“What?”
“…Is this for real?”
It was clear to anyone that Hye Yeon had attacked and knocked down those lying on the ground.
Shocked, Yoon Jong, Jo Geol, and Baek Cheon leaped over the heads of the gathered crowd into the training ground.
“Monk!”
“What’s going on here?”
Hye Yeon, who had been chanting with his eyes closed, opened them at their arrival. His usually large and gentle eyes were now filled with a gloomy aura.
“You’re here.”
Baek Cheon quickly inspected the fallen people.
‘This is…’
This wasn’t just a case of sparring gone wrong. The injuries were from proper attacks, leaving the victims unconscious. As Baek Cheon saw the blood trickling from the fallen’s mouths, his face paled.
“Monk, what happened?”
Instead of answering Baek Cheon’s question about the situation, Hye Yeon shook his head and spoke of a different thing.
“I have committed a sin.”
“No, Monk!”
“It seems my pent-up anger hasn’t been resolved. I lost my composure. I seek repentance. Please restrain me.”
“R-Restrain?!”
Baek Cheon was struck dumb with shock.
However, Hye Yeon’s claim of having ‘committed a sin’ couldn’t be easily dismissed. While Hye Yeon held the title of vice-leader, it didn’t grant him the right to beat up members from lower ranks.
‘This…’
Baek Cheon’s face grew even more serious. He had a premonition that this incident might escalate more than they expected.
The fallen people wore various types of clothing, indicating that Hye Yeon had simultaneously assaulted disciples from multiple sects. In Gangho, laying hands on disciples from other sects was akin to declaring a challenge against the entire sect.
Even though they were all affiliated with the same alliance, would they be willing to overlook this situation?
“Monk, please don’t do this…”
“Please, Baek Cheon Siju.”
Hye Yeon’s eyes trembled. Baek Cheon spoke firmly.
“…If you’ve committed a crime, you must be punished. That’s only natural in Cheonumaeng. However, it is also customary to first determine the circumstances before imposing any punishment. You must explain what happened.”
At that moment, a short sigh escaped Hye Yeon’s lips.
But that was all – he seemed unwilling to provide any explanation, remaining silent.
Baek Cheon, frustrated, was about to press further when one of the onlookers shouted,
“What circumstances could there be?”
Baek Cheon’s gaze shifted toward the voice.
“The truth is… the vice-leader suddenly flew into rage during the discussion and attacked others! Everyone here saw it with their own eyes!”
Baek Cheon’s face hardened.
Voices of condemnation began to erupt from all directions.
“That’s right. Others only got involved while trying to stop the vice-leader! Clearly, the vice-leader attacked first!”
“Punishment must be administered!”
Even amidst the uproar, Hye Yeon remained pale and continued to chant without offering any rebuttal.
‘This…’
Baek Cheon’s face grew increasingly troubled.
This was problematic. If things continued like this, they would have no choice but to drag Hye Yeon away regardless of the situation.
But what would Hye Yeon’s position be if that happened? Could he still maintain his authority as vice-leader and lead these people after such an incident? The situation was too serious to simply ignore…
At that moment, Yoon Jong asked with a cold gaze.
“What was the discussion about?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you say there was a discussion before this happened? What was that discussion about?”
“Is that really important right now?”
“If it’s not important, then there’s no reason not to say it. Is it difficult for you to explain?”
“That is…”
Baek Cheon nodded in agreement with Yoon Jong’s point. It was indeed something they needed to hear.
Under Yoon Jong’s piercing gaze, the person who had been frowning and hesitating finally spoke.
“We were discussing Shaolin.”
“…Shaolin?”
At the mention of Shaolin, Yoon Jong’s face turned ashen.
“Just that… Tsk.”
The speaker, apparently emboldened, raised their voice.
“This whole situation was caused by Shaolin. We were merely discussing why we should trust the words of someone from Shaolin under these circumstances.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Did we say something wrong?”
Seeing Baek Cheon’s dumbfounded expression, the speaker, now agitated, shouted back.
“Just how many people have died because of what Shaolin did! And now, a Shaolin disciple, one who enjoyed the Abbot’s favor, dares to lead others with such a face! How can we trust and follow someone like that? We don’t know what might happen!”
“…”
“To be blunt, how can we be sure that this person isn’t colluding with the Abbot?”
“Does this bastard think that just talking is enough?”
“Geol!”
Yoon Jong grabbed Jo Geol’s shoulder firmly, preventing him from drawing his sword in anger.
“Let go, Sahyeong! This guy is just running his mouth…”
“Quiet! Shut that mouth!”
“…”
Jo Geol reluctantly stopped but glared at the speaker, grinding his teeth. The speaker, frightened by the killing intent, stepped back.
Baek Cheon, though not as visibly agitated as Jo Geol, had an eerie coldness in his eyes.
“Is this what you call a ‘discussion’?”
“…”
“You’re just seizing on a pretext to push someone into a corner.”
“Is that wrong?”
“What did you say?”
Under mounting pressure, the speaker began to shout defiantly.
“So, are we wrong in what we said?”
“Of course you are wrong, you idiot! How dare you speak of conspiracy about someone like Monk Hye Yeon! I could tear your mouth apart…”
“Enough!”
Yoon Jong shouted at Jo Geol and grabbed his shoulder again. Baek Cheon sighed deeply and said.
“Monk Hye Yeon is vouched for by the Alliance.”
“…B-But…!”
“Suspecting such a person is ultimately the same as doubting the Alliance, and it’s no different from accusing the senior members of the Alliance and the leadership of Cheonumaeng of being utterly incompetent.”
As the mention of the seniors was brought up, the face of the one speaking so loudly turned pale in an instant.
“Th-that was not my intention!”
“Then you understand what went wrong, don’t you?”
Now truly at a loss for words, a brief silence followed. The hesitant speaker was about to subtly change the subject. Others, who had remained silent until now, began to speak up.
“Is that really important right now?”
A person nearby, who seemed to be a member of Zhuge family, interjected with a cold and arrogant tone.
“Vice-leader is now obscuring the essence of the matter. Even if the logic of the presenters was flawed, and even if it wasn’t with good intentions, the crucial fact remains that Monk attacked people after the argument, doesn’t it?”
These words momentarily left Baek Cheon at a loss for words.
“If we do not discuss the right and wrong of this matter here, how is it different from saying that it’s permissible to attack the opponent if you win the argument? Isn’t the reason why the Alliance can be the Alliance that all matters are handled according to the rules and laws? If individuals can use personal feelings to commit violence against the members of the Alliance, what sets us apart from those wicked Evil Sects?”
A look of embarrassment crossed Baek Cheon’s face.
There was no fault in what was said. Furthermore, others around seemed to nod in agreement with the words of this member of Zhuge family.
“…So, what is it that you want?”
“You seem to be making an odd request. Do we have any desires? We simply…”
Zhuge Yeon [제갈연(諸葛演)], the speaker, continued calmly.
“I only wish for everything to be handled justly according to the rules of Cheonumaeng. Isn’t it only right for the one who has committed a crime to be punished as per the Alliance’s principles?”
“That bastard, till the end…!”
“Stop!”
Even so, Jo Geol, who was furious, was equally anxious and troubled. He knew very well that Zhuge Yeon’s words weren’t entirely wrong.
After all, it was Hye Yeon’s fault for using force when he couldn’t hold back. It would be difficult to cover up and defend this.
“…Must it be pushed to this extent?”
At Baek Cheon’s words, Zhuge Yeon let out a small, derisive laugh.
“You spoke of tearing down the walls of the sects, yet it seems that for the members of Hwasan, personal connections are of great importance?”
“…”
“If those with power act in such a manner, what can someone powerless like me say? Let’s just see whether the rules of Cheonumaeng or personal connections hold more weight.”
At those words, all eyes in the training grounds turned to Baek Cheon.
Everyone knew who was going to make the decision here. Everyone knew who would be held responsible.
“What will you do?”
Even passersby had gathered, curious about what was happening. Amid the many gazes, Hye Yeon slowly spoke.
“…Dojang, please restrain me. It is the right thing to do at this moment. Everything is my fault.”
“…”
“Quickly, it must be done.”
Baek Cheon let out a short sigh without realizing it. Then, reluctantly, he nodded.
Zhuge Yeon spoke calmly, as if it was only natural that things had turned out this way.
“Yes. It must be done. Only then will Cheonumaeng be truly just…”
“That’s nonsense.”
“……What?”
“I said it’s nonsense.”
Zhuge Yeon clenched his teeth and turned his head, trying to see the face of the person who had suddenly provoked him. However, upon seeing the face of the person now crouched beside him, he turned pale with shock, unable to muster any anger.
“Ge… General?”
Chung Myung was looking up at him with his characteristic sullen expression.
“Listening to all this, it seems I’m hearing a lot of nonsense.”
“…Yes?”
“Hey.”
“…W-why are you-“
“Do you even know the rules of the Alliance? Have you ever properly seen them?”
“…Well, that is…”
“I never scattered them around, so how do you know anything about them? Are you saying you somehow sneaked into Alliance Leader’s quarters and spied on him?”
Zhuge Yeon shook his head with resentful expression.
“How could that be?”
“Then why are you talking nonsense, you little brat!”
Thud!
“Argh!”
Chung Myung, still seated, kicked Zhuge Yeon’s shin. Zhuge Yeon, unable to resist, fell to the ground, rolling in pain.
Chung Myung then slowly rose to his feet.
“You’re all making a huge fuss. Huh? Do you think you deserve a punishment?”
He scanned the surroundings, and everyone quickly lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact.
Jo Geol whispered softly to Yoon Jong.
“Sahyeong, that guy’s eyes rolled back.”
“I saw it too.”
“Shouldn’t we stop him?”
“…Why?”
“Uh….”
Jo Geol, glancing between Yoon Jong, Baek Cheon, Hye Yeon, and Chung Myung, slowly nodded in agreement.
Well, there was no need to insist on stopping him…
“Alright, punishment. I don’t mind that.”
Chung Myung grinned.
“Let’s see you all receive your punishment, you little brats.”
His eyes, which had been twinkling with mischief, were now completely rolled back.
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