Chapter 68
Episode 68: Lee Gongja until the end.
“There are five disciples of Subhonmazon in total, but among them, considering their age and ability, the strong candidates for the succession battle are the first disciple, Yang Yang, and the third disciple, Cheongseon. For reference, Cheongseon is a woman..”
I asked about Seo Dae-ryong’s report..
“The reputation of the two within Seo Hwan-jin is?”
“Due to his age, experience and martial arts skills are more transferable, but Cheongseon is more popular within Seohwanjin. Compared to her youth and beauty, Yang Yang has a vicious personality, and several demon magicians have already been injured by him. Some even died. Nevertheless, the dead soul mazon cherished him and there was a high possibility that he would become his successor, but now the situation has changed..”
“Investigate both of them individually. Martial arts, property, abilities, hobbies, even human relationships. without exception.”
“All right.”
“Who will the leader of Pungcheon choose??”
Seo Dae-ryong opened his eyes wide at my question..
“Does the Pungcheon religious leader choose one of them??”
“huh. So, I also sent you information about the disciples of the Soul Mazon..”
“Why??”
“Because I told you to get involved in Seo Hwan-jin’s succession battle..”
“oh my god! What are you planning again? no way?”
Seo Dae-ryong, whose thoughts were stuck somewhere, sent a message..
―Are you going to kill the Pungcheon religious leader too? Or transfer? Even Cheongseon?
―Am I a murderer? Kill them all.
Only then did Seo Dae-ryong feel relieved..
“Thank goodness.”
“Everyone is worried that I'm going to kill someone, that's how I am these days..”
“Who else cared? Master?”
“Master?”
“ah! Senior citizen of Hyeolcheon Doma.”
“I still don’t call my elders master.?”
“Yes, you didn't allow it..”
However, Seo Dae-ryong seems to be treating him as his master. I saw the word master coming out without realizing it..
I felt that Seo Dae-ryong was falling more and more in love with Doma. Well, Seo Dae-ryong must have already fallen in love with the sight of Hyeolcheon Doma reading a book..
“So who will the leader of Pungcheon choose??”
“how would i know?”
“How do you know if you don't know, even though you are a genius at admissions at the top of your class??”
“I studied hard and was admitted to the top of the class, but I'm not a genius..”
“I told you he was a genius?”
“That's what each Lord said..”
“At that time, you nodded while looking smug.?”
“I admit it. In my heart, I also have a bravado that I can't help. So please downgrade me from a genius to someone who is good at practical work. Instead, we will make sure to investigate the two people..”
Seo Dae-ryong bowed and left the office..
* * *
“So who should we support??”
In response to the Pungcheon cult leader's question, the shackled man was only looking at the sound bell..
“Why are you looking at that servant like that? The evil spirit engraved on the bell is like a horse.?”
Then the shackled man blurted out.
“how did you know?”
“Why is this so scary??”
“Sometimes he talks to me.”
“What do they say?”
The shackled man said, looking blankly at the evil spirit..
“why do you live like that?”
silence for a moment.
“So what did you answer??”
“In the past, I answered that I live like this because I am a narrow-minded and greedy person..”
“now?”
“perhaps… … I answered that I don't think it's necessarily because of that person..”
“So say something?”
The man in shackles said nothing. When I urged him once more, the man in shackles looked pitifully at the leader of Pungcheon..
“What do you keep asking? What does the sculpture say? Are you crazy?”
The head of the Pungcheon Church made a bewildered expression..
“Cancer, it's strange that I don't get it. Sooner or later I'll be sitting there and having a conversation with that carved demon. Why are you being ignored like that? Why? You little devil, you know because you've been watching!”
“This is Cheongseon.”
“What a surprise! Please take the basic approach and stab me!”
Although he was a man with unpredictable shackles, he was a precious person who gave answers like this when needed..
“Why Cheongseon? From what I can see, it looks like Yang Yang will be the successor..”
“Then choose that person..”
The shackled man closed his mouth as if he had nothing more to say..
The leader of Pungcheon quietly went to his side..
“Why Cheongseon??”
“Just choose to transfer according to your confidence. How long will someone like a religious leader follow what others say??”
“That's good, I'll do my best with a blue line..”
The leader of Pungcheon believed in the shackled man like a rock. There was no need for a reason. Because there was a past that he showed so far..
“You mean Cheongseon? So how can I make her my disciple??”
“I don't know that either.”
“What if you don't know?”
“Wouldn't it be weirder to know that while being tied up here like this??”
“but. That too.”
However, the leader of Pungcheon did not say that he would release his shackles. Even though we've said all sorts of things, we've never said anything..
If you take off the shackles, the man will quickly leave himself. Who in the world would like someone who made something like this and stay? The moment you release it, it's over. That's why the term "loosening the shackles" was an absolute taboo in the Pungcheon cult..
“Should I visit Cheongseon??”
“Are you going to go and say something??”
“Become my disciple. Is it too overbearing? I allow you to become my disciple. how?”
“So, I will be a good disciple..”
“Then what should I do??”
“Try changing your situation. An old man whose true intentions are unknown comes and suddenly asks you to become his disciple. If you were a religious leader, you would fall for that.?”
“No way.”
“The same goes for others. It just can't happen..”
“I guess you have to pay for what you say.?”
The shackled man nodded..
“Will I become your master and teach you martial arts? If you're going to pay, you'll have to pay there..”
“It's an old way of thinking. The price is paid by those who are more earnest..”
“I don't like it. Now I want to receive, not give. By nature, I am a person who much prefers receiving! Come pack a bunch of things to fill my stomach and tell me to learn! They tell me to be on my knees all day begging in the yard!”
The shackled man told me to give it all, but it wasn't as easy as it sounds..
“If a price has to be paid, the target should not be Cheongseon..”
“Then who?”
“Gongja Lee will want more new items here. Last time I was looking around at a new building, there were some things I noticed..”
“damn!”
“The scientist will come back with the answer this time too..”
“Are you a scientist again??”
The shackled man spoke calmly to the sighing Pungcheon religious leader..
“I will be a scientist until the end..”
* * *
As Seo Dae-ryong said, at least he was definitely good at practical work..
We have conducted a detailed investigation into Yangyang and Cheongseon. We investigated not only their homes and families, but also their martial arts level, their personalities, interpersonal relationships, and even their favorite foods..
“However, in the process of investigating Cheongseon, I discovered one strange thing..”
“what point?”
“Cheongseon met Saujong a few times..”
“Saujong?”
An unexpected name popped out.
“yes. Since we don't have any contact, I'm reporting this just in case..”
Seo Dae-ryong knew that I also had a relationship with Ilhwa Geomjon, so he is reporting separately..
I remembered the end of Saujong..
He fell under the spell of sedition and tried to kill Ilhwa Geomzon, but ended up dying. It was a death in which it was never revealed whose magic was used..
‘ah! That was Cheongseon’s soul-searching technique.!’
A conclusion that comes naturally.
“Two people dating each other!”
Seo Dae-ryong was surprised by my words. I wasn't surprised that the two of you were dating, but I was surprised that I guessed that fact in one sitting..
“how did you know?”
Saujong liked Ilhwa Geomzon. What if you were caught in the process of dating Cheongseon? His death must have been the result of Cheongseon's jealousy and anger. In particular, Cheongseon was young, and if a man loved an older woman, the wound to his pride would be so deep that it would pierce his body..
That's not the only reason I'm judging you for dating..
The person who told me where Daebop Sim's bodies were buried earlier, and the person who stole Neunghyu's fan and put it there, must have been Cheongseon. These were things that could not be figured out or accomplished unless one was a disciple of the Subsoul Mazon. Also, if you weren't dating Saujong, there's no way he would have leaked such important information..
Everything seemed to fit together, but I couldn't tell Seo Dae-ryong this fact..
I jumped up from my seat..
“I guess you're thinking of changing the situation again..”
“How did you know?”
“Because your eyes have changed. Footnote, why are you looking for a genius? Gakju is a genius..”
“I'm not a genius. I'm just trying to keep my head down and not miss out on anything that could be beneficial. We need someone who knows how to use a big head, not one like this. There is a big difference between having such a person in an organization and not having one..”
“I don't know, but anyway, you're amazing..”
“I don't know what I don't know. I found out thanks to your research. Even if I find a genius, I won't exchange you for that person..”
“I guess so. You'll have both anyway. But where are you going??”
I was already walking out of the office..
‘To get sick of it!’
This too was something I couldn't tell him..
* * *
That's how I met the leader of Pungcheon Church..
His residence was the scene of an incident, and as a member of the Netherworld, I had an official reason to come and go at any time..
“Welcome.”
“How have you been??”
“I enjoyed the material you sent. Thank you.”
“you're welcome.”
While exchanging greetings with him, I glanced at the shackled man..
He lowered his head and didn't look at me, but every time I see him, I get the feeling that our relationship is not just passing by like this..
My eyes turned to Pungcheon Bridge again..
“Have you found a way to enter the battle for Seo Hwan-jin's successor??”
“Not yet.”
“You must hurry. The mazons will soon step in and select a successor..”
“As you know, here I am in shackles just like that man. It's not easy to even meet Seo Hwan-jin's successors..”
I nodded in understanding..
“Which of the candidates would you like to have as your disciple??”
“This is Cheongseon.”
Judging by the fact that he wasn't surprised by my answer, it seems he had already reached that conclusion with the shackled man. It was indeed so..
“We also decided that Cheongseon was suitable..”
I say it's because of Saujong, but why did that shackled man choose Cheongseon??
“But there's no way to convince her.”
“What if I can make Cheongseon come directly to the religious leader??”
“When you come to me?”
“I am asking you to become my disciple. I will cook rice and feed you..”
“If you do that, I don't have anything more to ask for..”
“Please give me something new instead..”
The bright expression on the face of the Pungcheon religious leader became dark again..
“You are so shameless..”
“It's not shameless; it's natural. Asking someone to do something based on friendship or loyalty without receiving proper compensation was something that was common in my father's time..”
“I am also from that time..”
“You must acknowledge that times have changed. I also know that I, the person sitting in front of me, am a person these days. If you don't like this, you should harden like a fossil and live only looking at your good places..”
Of course, because he did not want that kind of life, the leader of Pungcheon frowned..
I persuaded him in a gentle tone..
“This job involves dealing with young people, so please leave it to me. I will produce a result that is worth the effort..”
“Think about it for a moment.”
“That's right.”
I pretended not to notice and looked at the new object, giving time for communication to pass between the shackled man and the Pungcheon religious leader..
Eventually, the leader of Pungcheon Church said to me,.
“Okay, I'll take your offer..”
He looked disapproving, but it seems he was eventually persuaded by the shackled man..
“She even came to him and asked him to accept her as his disciple. It is the leader's ability to elevate her to the position of Majon..”
“If I still need help then, I'll come back and ask for supplies. I'd rather just take it all now!”
“I wish I had the ability to do that. For me and for the teacher..”
I got up from my seat. I politely said hello to the Pungcheon religious leader and gave a passing glance to the shackled man and left..
That way I went looking for a person..
The person who held the key to this matter was Sau Jong..
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