Chapter 5
The Northern He Army attempted to outrun Amcheonhoeju by climbing the ridge..
The atmosphere was solemn due to the sacrifice of Son Il-san at the opening of Geumju..
Although his body was as tired as wet cotton, he strengthened his legs so that Son Il-san's death would not be in vain..
However, soon after hearing a report, even those confident steps lost strength..
“Ugh, ugh.!”
Gaekedo was trying to say something with tears and snot running down his face..
This is an open road left at the foot of the mountain to report the results..
I had ordered them to return in case of annihilation or something similar, but the problem was that it was too fast..
It hasn't been that long since I started climbing the mountain.
You should have arrived at least half past midnight..
“Come to your senses!”
Shin Do-gyun calmed down the openness.
He looked like a grown man with tears in his eyes, but he didn't look ugly at all..
He must have been more upset than anyone else about not being able to come forward even though he was directly watching the victims being sacrificed..
“Will you make the deaths of your brothers, including Geumju Bonggae, in vain?!”
“……!”
Gae Gae Do came to his senses after hearing Shin Do Kyun’s shouting..
He wiped away his tears with his blood-and-dust-covered sleeves, and only then was he able to report..
“Over 400 people, including Geumju Bonggae! We were wiped out!”
The atmosphere in the Northern Hemisphere became as cold as ice..
In particular, the disciples of openness were on the verge of exploding..
I knew what would happen, but it still feels different to face reality this directly..
‘already?’
Shin Do-gyun's face darkened and died..
“How long did you last after contact??”
“Just a tip, just a tip.”
“Huh!”
Hong Jin sighed loudly and recited a Buddhist sutra..
Seomun Lee Jin’s face was cruelly distorted..
‘no!’
Shin Do-gyun barely held back a scream..
‘Ban Si-jin, no, let alone two sides, it is one side.?’
Even if it was bad, it couldn't have been worse than this..
The situation was worst.
Ban Si-jin had no expectations, but he had no idea that Lee Gak would not be able to withstand it either..
I wasn't familiar with the terrain around here, and there were a lot of trees around, so it wasn't easy to escape..
When you fall, you will inevitably get caught if you run out of stamina and have no end in sight..
“Shit!”
Someone finally couldn't hold back and vented their anger..
“Does this mean dog death??”
“If I had known it would be like this, I would have been fair and square.……”
“That's a dog's death.”
Starting from the shout, a wave of agitation swept over our troops..
Although no one was saying anything, they were mentally and physically exhausted from the continuous chase..
Above all, the mere existence of Amcheonhoeju was a source of pressure..
My fear and anxiety skyrocketed as I heard the news that the openness had just been wiped out in an instant..
“don't stop!”
Shin Do-gyun shouted to calm him down..
“The comrades of the opening and closing of this week have bought us some much-awaited time..
Please keep in mind that if you stop or hesitate here, you will be tarnishing their noble sacrifice..”
“……”
Everyone kept their mouths shut at Shin Do-gyun's words..
“Even if it's just to save time, this moment……”
Rustle.
“Who are you?!”
It was then.
I could feel the presence of people coming from the bushes on the side..
Because everyone was so sensitive, the atmosphere quickly became dangerous..
“Hee hee hee hee!”
As we cut through the bushes, a frightened mother and child appeared..
“Please... … Please save me”
Even though the murderous intent was concentrated on the woman who appeared to be a mother, she did not manage to run away and instead held her young son in her arms as if to hide him..
“citizen……?”
Seomun Lee Jin frowned..
‘no……’
Shin Do-gyun looked at the hat and remembered something bad..
For just a moment, the gaze passed through Hong Jin..
“Wooden Amitabha Buddha. I'm very sorry if you were very surprised..”
Hong Jin came out to reassure the mother and child..
“Theravada is called Hongjin of Shaolin Temple..
Please rest assured that I have no intention of harming either of you..”
“Cow, Shaolin Temple?”
The woman's fear lessened slightly when she heard the word Shaolin Temple..
As a temple that was both a martial arts sect and the center of Buddhism in the Central Plains, it was an organization that the general public could feel safe about..
“Is now the time for this??”
Seomun Lee Jin gave Hong Jin a stinging look..
“I'm sorry. It'll just take a moment.”
Hongjin smiled bitterly..
“We were only passing by so don't worry..
I apologize once again for surprising you, even though I didn't intend to..
Please forgive me with a generous heart..”
“Oh no……”
“Tree Amitabha Buddha, thank you.”
Hongjin sat in front of the mother and daughter and greeted them at eye level..
“By the way, judging by his behavior, it doesn't seem like he's an herbalist... … Why in a place like this……?”
“Well, that… … This child said he was going to the mountain behind me to play, but I was worried because he didn't come back as time passed.……”
The smile was erased from Hongjin’s mouth..
“no……”
Shin Do-gyun muttered inadvertently..
‘There is no way for an ordinary person, much less a woman, to go that far, not even a martial artist. That means……’
Shin Do-gyun couldn’t bear to continue his thoughts..
“Is there a village near here??”
“yes yes… … If you go over that hill behind you, you'll be out soon..”
My heart sank..
“Let's leave right away!”
Seomun Lee Jin raised his hand and shouted..
The mother and daughter shrank their necks in shock..
“please wait.”
Preface: Hong Jin said as if Lee Jin was finished speaking..
“What are you waiting for??”
Seomun Lee Jin’s eyes shone fiercely..
“Too much time has passed already..”
“There is a village in front of here.”
“Know. What does it matter? Just pass by.
Amcheonhoeju is only interested in us..”
“Even though I'm not good at strategy, it doesn't mean I don't know anything..”
Hongjin stood up and looked back..
“What if, what if. No, there is no need to say what if. Given the circumstances, we will not be able to escape the chase, and will eventually be caught up by the Amcheonhoe..
After that, there will be a fierce battle... … Regardless of victory or defeat, they will need a place to supply and reorganize..”
Shin Do-gyun sighed without realizing it..
“If they win, they will occupy the nearby village to repair damage and restore health..
Even if we are defeated or the chase is prolonged, if there are any wounded, we will send them to the village to recover or contact Hefei to report on the situation. Am I wrong??”
“wrong. We learned of the existence of the village by accidentally discovering that hat, but there is no way they will be found if we send them away..”
“The tracker doesn't just follow the trail in front of him..
They may check other escape routes, or send reconnaissance in advance to check to avoid being caught. Don't you know that there is a military camp called Cheon Gi-seong next to Amcheonhoeju?.”
Hong Jin refuted Seo Moon Yi Jin’s words..
Seomun Lee-jin sighed, “Whew,” then walked forward and grabbed Hong Jin by the collar..
“Oh, like that!”
“death penalty!”
The Shaolin Temple seemed to be holding their breath or showing fiery anger..
No matter how much of an alliance they formed, they had no choice but to rebel when they grabbed the collar of the chief monk, not just anyone else..
Hong Jin looked sideways towards the Shaolin Temple and calmed him down..
‘It's ruined.’
As soon as Shin Do-gyun saw the mother and child, he expected a situation like this and felt anxious..
“Listen carefully, Shaolin Master..”
Seomun Lee Jin looked at Hong Jin and growled lowly..
“You may be the leader of Bukdu Shaolin, but you are just a middle schooler..
You can't save everyone unless you're Buddha..
Since this is an unavoidable situation, I have no choice but to give up..”
“What do you mean it is an unavoidable situation??”
“Are you asking about words? Don't you know very well what situation we are in now?.”
Seomun Lee-jin opened his eyes and shouted..
“Behind us, the greatest disaster in the world, Amcheonhoeju, is approaching closely at this very moment. Due to the sacrifice of Son Il-san just now, our already weak military power has been reduced, and above all, we do not have a hero named Na-ri, who is a good swordsman or a traitor.!”
Can not help it.
It really is an unavoidable situation..
All I could say was that I was just extremely unlucky..
“How many people do you think there are in this village buried in the mountains??
At most, about two hundred people..”
“Those two hundred people are not people.?”
“Yes, it is a person. Weak people who have nothing to do with us and have no power to save us.!”
Seomun Lee Jin touched his forehead with Hong Jin..
“It is a fight for the fate of Murim..
This is a fight that will determine the fate of the future relationship, and you're going to ruin it all for the sake of some unrelated idiots you just found in passing? Don't be like that!”
I can't understand political factions and sad factions..
their ways are different.
That's why we were at odds for a long time.
“Please ask again. What are you going to do??”
“I'm going to save it. If you don't want to, you can step away..”
“Six o'clock! why!”
Seomun Lee Jin looked straight into Hong Jin’s eyes..
Hongjin closed his eyes for a moment at that question..
‘Death penalty, what would you have done if it was the death penalty??’
I ask the dead and dead brother-in-law.
And Hong Jin opened his eyes again and answered the question..
“Because it's not related.”
The head of Shaolin Temple continues his speech..
“We cannot allow people who are not involved in the martial arts to die because of the martial arts war..”
Hongjin said while holding Seomunjin’s wrist..
“There is no reason to help people.”
“Are you thinking of playing hero??”
“not a hero.”
Hongjin said to Seomun Lee Jin.
“It's just one part of Shaolin Temple..”
“I can't listen to you!”
Seomun Lee Jin threw Hong Jin to the floor..
“Me, that guy!”
“death penalty!”
A cry filled with anger came from the Shaolin Temple..
“Listen carefully, Shaolin Temple.!”
Seomun Yijin shouted when he saw the group of Shaolin monks..
“If you don't want to be left behind, leave alone those stuck-up minds who don't even know how to see reality and follow along..”
“Brain Seungdo! Watch your mouth!”
An old monk with an expression that was far from merciful shouted..
“Gyeyulwonju, Hyejeong.”
Seomun Lee Jin called the name as if he had said it well..
“Well, if you are in charge of the laws of Shaolin, you are better than someone with a soft brain. Judge calmly.”
Gyeyulwon is the only strict place in Shaolin Temple, which promotes mercy..
He was cool-headed and objective to the extent that he had jurisdiction over the law..
“Realistically, do you think it's really correct??”
“……”
Hyejeong could not easily answer Seomun Lee Jin’s question..
“I'm fine, Lord Gyeyulwon..”
Hongjin wrapped Hyejeong's hand in worry..
“Isn't the master just guiding the direction of Zen meditation and not the one who can tell the Shaolin monks to do this or that? The death penalty cannot be forced into crisis due to the stubbornness of the poor..”
Hong Jin is not unaware of reality either..
I knew the reason for Seomun Lee Jin’s protest and his own actions..
“So, Lord Gyeyulwon… … No, Hyejeong Sasuk.
Please take care of this after this..”
Hongjin smiled bitterly and apologetically..
‘ah……’
When Hyejeong saw Hongjin, a memory from the past came back to her..
‘death penalty……’
The execution of the head of the room did not refer to Hong Jin..
It was Hye-man who was revered as the most powerful monk of all times..
When Hyejeong saw Hongjin, she thought of Hyeman..
To be honest, you and Hye-man didn't really get along..
Hyeman valued mercy and forgiveness.
As a preceptor, his position was different from that of emphasizing the law and emphasizing mercy and forgiveness..
Looking at the leader's personality, he was a better match for Hong Go than Hye Man..
‘Honggo, the former head of the unit, was well aware of the pros and cons..
Anyone who was a problem to Shaolin was sentenced to at least ten years of face-to-face training, or if the crime was not good, they were locked in prison for eternity..
Whether he regretted it or not, he did not forgive at all if it became a problem..’
Honggo believed that the Shaolin Temple should be completely flawless and insisted that anything problematic should be eliminated..
However, it was so severe that even Gyeyulwonju, who was known for being strict, thought this was not right..
Then at some point, Hyejeong realized.
Shaolin has changed from before.
‘If you control with fear rather than mercy and forgiveness, what is the difference between you and a magician? That's not right.’
Impression law is in existence.).
There is no law above people.
Person under the law).
There are people above the law.
“I'll ask you just one thing.”
Hyejeong patted the back of Hongjin's hand and asked..
“Why does the head of the house try to save them even at the cost of his life??”
“Well, it has to be that way, isn’t it?.”
Hongjin answered without hesitation..
“They only have us.”
Straight eyes shined transparently.
“If we abandon them, who will save them?.”
Hyejeong drew a smile on her lips at Hongjin’s words..
“That's right. That's right.”
The old monks around Hyeja Bae opened their eyes wide..
Hyejeong is famous for not changing her expression, let alone smiling..
In fact, I have never seen Hyeja Bae, which I have been seeing for a long time..
“Noe Seung-do, I will answer your question..”
Hyejeong said to Seomun Lee Jin.
“As you said, this is an act of throwing away one's life..
But you can't turn away when you see people in trouble..”
“I'm an idiot when it comes to water!”
Seomun Lee Jin looked from Hyejeong to the group of Shaolin monks..
“Shaolin Temple, it seems like all of your superiors are assholes. There's no point in talking any more, so those who don't want to be left behind should follow me.!”
“I'm fine too.”
Hongjin also looked back and said.
I was afraid that the executioners might hesitate, so I added courage..
“Fear is a natural emotion.
Even if I'm the head of the room, I can't ignore your wishes..
I can't criticize and I have no right to criticize..
So do whatever you want..”
“……”
Shaolin Temple monks looked at each other.
It seemed like they were looking at each other, but it was an illusion..
“Are you saying the manager doesn’t need our help??”
“Could that be possible?.
The enemy we will face in the future is disaster and death..
Honestly, I wish I could get help from at least one more person..
But like I said……”
“That's it. I will stay.”
“Theravada will also remain..”
“Then me too.”
“If the death penalty comes forward……”
And then one or two people started raising their hands..
There was still fear in their eyes..
“No, why……”
Hongjin also widened his eyes in embarrassment..
“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared.”
someone took a step forward and said.
It's not that martial people or monks of Shaolin temple are not afraid of death..
“Then why……”
“Didn't the manager tell you?.”
“They only have us.”
“You're talking shit!”
Seomun Lee-jin turned his back and walked away..
“Shin Do-gyun! This is what happened, so I used the Shaolin Temple as bait to retreat.!”
“Ha, but……”
“I'm sure it's not like you're going crazy either.!”
Seomun Lee-jin glared at Shin Do-gyun with piercing eyes..
“If you're from Guizhou and have a flexible mind, don't you know what's going to happen? If not, are you planning on making everyone die??”
“Okay!”
Shin Do-gyun could not refute Seomun Lee-jin’s words..
Among political figures, their thinking is flexible and their focus is on survival rather than beliefs..
If I were swayed by emotions and stayed here, I would have died long ago..
Abandoning allies in the melee of Gwiju happens frequently..
Sacrificing the few for the survival of the many.
It's a natural thought for a commander..
“It's just as he said..”
Hong Jin tapped Shin Do-gyun on the shoulder..
“This is what happened, we will take our time..
So I'd like to ask you to do this.
Shouldn't someone call for reinforcements and make this situation known?.”
“Then I'm sorry……”
One hour is not enough.
The time lost in the argument just now was almost like a waste..
It's not a question of persuading or not..
It was foolish to even think about persuasion itself..
“Then, I would like to ask the monks who are still too early to die..”
“room manager!”
“What would happen to Shaolin if we lost you too?!”
Hyejeong scolded with wide eyes..
“I would like fifty people, please..”
Murimmaeng 500, Openness 500, Geumui Swordsman 100, Seomunse 600.
And fifty Shaolin monks were reorganized..
One thousand seven hundred and fifty people decided to leave separately..
It was decided to mainly distribute Hye-ja and Hong-ja..
“How long will you last with two hundred and fifty people?.”
Seomun-jin chuckled before leaving..
“Thank you for your concern. There are a lot of trees, so we will try to make the most of this terrain..”
Hongjin answered with a slight smile..
“If you give up your lives here, do you think the Amcheonhoe will not be able to see the nearby villages??”
“Yes, if we were to remain in such large numbers, there would be no need to search the area since it would be clearly visible from afar. And I'll follow your footsteps.”
“done!”
Seomun Lee Jin turned his back and left, as if he didn't want to talk anymore..
Shin Do-gyun bowed and bowed..
The gesture showed a certain level of respect..
“……”
Hong Jin watched 1,750 people leave, wiped the smile from his face and turned his back..
‘execution……’
The previous Shaolin leader, Honggo, came to mind..
‘If it had been the death penalty... … I'm sure you ignored that village..’
Hong Jin knows Hong Go’s personality well..
Of course, he doesn't know anything about corruption either..
It was because Joo Seo-cheon hid it until the end so as not to cause confusion..
In order to avoid being used as a tool of propaganda by the Amcheonhoe, care was taken to ensure that if even a little bit of information got out, it would turn into nonsense..
Anyway, aside from these facts, I was confident that I knew it well, even if it wasn't as good as Hyeman's..
Part of it is because he is a death brother who has been with him his whole life, but it is also because he assisted him after becoming the head of Shaolin..
‘The main forces of Shaolin are gathered here..
If it is destroyed here, the Shaolin Temple will regress again..
If you are sentenced to death, you will never see that happen..’
I didn't know that Honggo was crazy enough to commit adultery, but I knew that he was at a level that couldn't be ignored..
I thought that if Hongo was at a level where he was obsessed with the recluse beyond loving him, he would abandon innocent people considering what would happen in the future..
In fact, it was a death sentence that cried out that Shaolin Temple should be the best, and wasn't that at odds with the distribution above?.
‘but… … That can't be possible. No, that doesn't work..’
People who don't know if it's clouds or waves are coming from under the mountain..
“Master Shin Seung and Master Hye-man, who passed away, said that we must always save and guide sentient beings..”
Hongjin looked down and continued speaking..
“With a thousand hands and a thousand eyes, I will help all living beings with a thousand hands, and with a thousand eyes I will see those who need to be saved..”
“Wood Amitabha Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva……”
Monks inadvertently memorized the name of Bodhisattva.
Just right. Just right. Just.
Even in this urgent moment, it could be said that it was monk-like to carry a wooden table..
When someone started banging on the wooden table, the monks of Shaolin Temple rolled their prayer beads with their hands joined together and recited Buddhist sutras..
There were no birds chirping, no insects whispering as they gnawed on the trees..
A moktak sound rang out in the forest..
It was such a pure sound..
The distracting thoughts that were dizzying my head disappeared and gave me comfort instead..
And after half an hour, the sound disappeared for an instant..
It stopped suddenly, as if it had been eaten by something..
“Hoo.”
Someone mutters, “I’m here.”.
Two hundred and fifty people open their eyes.
“Hmm!”
For a moment, my breathing stopped..
My blood froze cold..
The creatures around here also lowered their heads..
As soon as the leader of Dark Heaven appears, the air changes..
The blue-green tree is turning dark..
The light disappeared and darkness came.
No, it is more accurate to say that it was not hidden arbitrarily, but that it was eaten..
“Next to the openness……”
Amcheonhoeju’s eyes lit up..
“Is it the Shaolin Temple or the West Gate??”
“What did you just say……?”
Hongjin looked surprised, then quickly turned around..
“Preface Lee Jin!”
“Noiseungdo!”
Monks other than Hong Jin were also surprised..
The man who turned his back before anyone else, Seomun Lee Jin, was standing with the group of Sapa lined up behind him..
“Why……?”
“Don't be mistaken..”
Seomun Lee Jin glared at Hong Jin and said.
“How much time can it take for only two hundred and fifty people?.
Even if you are Shaolin of the Big Star, you are overly self-conscious. This is because I thought it would be beneficial to hold on for a little while by adding a little more strength..”
Hongjin made a blank expression at Seomun Leejin's words, but then bowed half-way in greeting with an emotional expression on his face..
Seomun Lee Jin did not respond to Hong Jin's greeting, but instead looked at the warriors and Shaolin Temple members who followed behind him..
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