Chapter 1151: Well, If It’s Absolutely Necessary. (1) |
“Position?”
Chung Myung’s reaction was rather indifferent.
“Is that really necessary?”
He looked around at those seated in the room and said.
“Well, even without that, everyone roughly knows who plays what role. There’s no real need…”
Then Namgung Do-Wei snapped and said.
“No, isn’t that a discussion just among us?”
“…Huh?”
“Just imagine if a war breaks out! The Four Sects Alliance invade. Then what will the small and medium sects along the Yangtze River do?”
“Won’t they all line up with us to fight alongside the Heavenly Friends Alliance?”
Chung Myung looked at Namgung Do-Wei with a slight expression of admiration and said.
“Wouldn’t those people go to the Nine Great Sects?”
“…”
Namgung Do-Wei was momentarily speechless and stared blankly at Chung Myung. The Five Swords nodded their heads and added a word each.
“If it were me, I’d side with the Nine Great Sects too.”
“Honestly, that’s overconfidence. To survive, you have to side with the Nine Great Sects.”
“Shaolin versus Mount Hua. Nine Great Sects versus Heavenly Friends Alliance. Eh, there’s no need to think about it.”
Namgung Do-Wei’s eyebrows twitched.
“Where does that confidence come from?”
“Sahyung, isn’t that guy from the Namgung Family? People from the Namgung Family usually think they’re no worse than Shaolin.”
“…Really?”
“If not would they act like that otherwise?”
Those bastards? Namgung Do-Wei barely suppressed his rising anger. In debates, the first to lose their temper loses. At times like this, he had to do his best to appear rational.
“Well… that might be true, but depending on the situation, wouldn’t there also be some who can’t join the Nine Great Sects and fight alongside us?”
“…I suppose so?”
Chung Myung reluctantly agreed with a reluctant voice. His will clearly showed, ‘I don’t know what nonsense this is, but since I said I’d listen whether it’s nonsense or not, I’ll endure it for now.’
“Think about it. Can those people know who’s who and properly follow orders?”
“Hmm?”
Those listening nodded as if acknowledging the point.
“Makes sense.”
“Hmm. That’s a problem I hadn’t thought of.”
“But… isn’t it just a matter of roughly following what others do? People have some sense, don’t they?”
Hearing that, Namgung Do-Wei slightly opened his mouth and looked at Jo Gul. Jo Gul asked bluntly.
“What’s that look? Like you’re saying ‘I didn’t expect the word ‘sense’ to come out of your mouth’?”
“Wow, you’re like a ghost.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, nothing.”
Namgung Do-Wei coughed loudly and continued.
“Of course, if people have sense, that might work. But efficiency drops. And think about it: an elder of a famous sect with white hair gives orders, then suddenly a very young kid jumps out shouting that it’s wrong and that they should go this way.”
“Uh…”
“Then whose orders should be followed? It’s hard to decide…”
“The young kid.”
“The young brat.”
“The very young and rude brat.”
“The one who’s the most annoyed among them.”
Namgung Do-Wei blinked at the almost simultaneous answers.
“Why, why?”
He was genuinely confused and asked again. Then Baek Cheon smiled contentedly.
“Is there anyone else in the Heavenly Friends Alliance who ignores the elders, gets annoyed, and only says what he wants?”
Wow, that’s really convincing.
Namgung Do-Wei was convinced. Then he quickly regained his composure.
“Th-that’s true, but that’s only known among us! Outsiders know the title of Mount Hua’s Sword Saint but don’t know what Taoist Chung Myung’s looks like.”
“Excuse me, Young lord.”
“Yes?”
“…We never said it was Chung Myung.”
“…”
“…”
Namgung Do-Wei looked back at Chung Myung with trembling eyes.
Chung Myung smiled faintly as if saying, ‘Oh? So that’s how you saw it?’ Namgung Do-Wei instinctively avoided his gaze.
“Ahem, ahem.”
At times like this, it’s best to quickly change the subject.
“Anyway… to prevent confusion among those who don’t know that person well, a system and positions are necessary.”
At that moment, Yu Yiseol raised her hand.
Everyone was startled and looked at her. Even Tang Gunak couldn’t hide his surprise. Yu Yiseol had attended countless meetings before but this was the first time she tried to voice her opinion.
“W-well… okay. Speak, Yiseol.”
“Do they really not know?”
“…Huh?”
“Him?”
Yu Yiseol turned her head and looked at Chung Myung.
Yu Yiseol’s words were only two short sentences, but they convinced everyone.
“…Honestly, can they not know?”
“If you still don’t know, you’re not a martial artist.”
“Maybe they don’t know his face, but if they see that young brat rampaging in Mount Hua, even a passing kid would say, ‘Ah, that’s Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.’”
“If you don’t know Chung Myung, shouldn’t you have lived with your ears plugged?”
Namgung Do-Wei closed his mouth.
Thinking about it, that wasn’t wrong. The notoriety—or rather, the fame—of Mount Hua’s Sword Saint was very high. Though it feels like an old faded story now, at one time, when he was called the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, he was recognized as the best upcoming martial artist in the world…
“Since the Hangzhou Demon Fire incident, he’s become even more famous beyond comparison.”
The opponent is none other than the Demonic Cult.
In reality, he fought alongside Jang Ilso against the high priest, but even the Heavenly Friends Alliance couldn’t reveal that truth plainly, so they just said Chung Myung and other members defeated the high priest.
The Four Sects Alliance claim that Jang Ilso captured the high priest.
Anyway, even the Nine Great Sects dare not openly dispute this fact, so the news that Chung Myung defeated the high priest has spread throughout the world.
Perhaps the name Mount Hua’s Sword Saint, Chung Myung is even more famous than the Heavenly Friends Alliance itself?
You can tell how famous a warrior is by walking through small alleys. If kids swing sticks shouting ‘Plum Blossom Sword Technique’ and ‘Mount Hua’s Sword Saint,’ then it’s all over.
“Th-that…”
Namgung Do-Wei was at a loss for words and hesitated, causing people to click their tongues.
“Young lord you tend to obsess over unnecessary things…”
Im So-Byeong did not miss this opportunity.
“Children from established families are always eager to not avoid unnecessary formalities. Since you’re the young lord of the Namgung Family, how much more so? If the Namgung Family became the leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, even the janitor would have a position, like ‘Estate Environment Management leader’ or something.”
“Ugh…”
Getting hit by Im So-Byeong feels three times worse than from others for any human. He wanted to argue but since the example was poorly chosen from the start, he had no excuse.
But then, kind-hearted Hyun Jong saved Namgung Do-Wei.
“Hmm. It’s not something to be responded to like that.”
Everyone looked at Hyun Jong.
“Not everyone in the alliance is as famous as that Chung Myung guy, right?”
“That’s right, Alliance Leader.”
“Actually, positions create authority, so I don’t really like it either…”
Hyun Jong looked at everyone with a slightly embarrassed face.
As a Taoist who follows the teaching to let everything flow naturally, he wasn’t fond of limiting and subdividing people’s roles.
“Still, I agree that where people gather, appropriate positions are necessary. Problems can arise when elders of different sects have conflicting opinions.”
“Indeed…”
“It’s a sensitive issue.”
Tang Gunak and Meng So too nodded in understanding.
There isn’t much quarrel among sect leaders because some tacit rules have been established. But elders of each sect often can’t move beyond their own perspectives.
If there’s time to coordinate opinions, it’s not a big problem. But in war, where the situation changes moment to moment, small conflicts can cause big problems.
Especially…
“Most of the damage won’t be to us but to the small and medium sects fighting alongside us. We shouldn’t overlook this just because it doesn’t affect us much.”
“Hmm.”
“In that sense, Young lord of Namgung family made a very good point.”
“Alliance Leader…”
Tears of gratitude streamed from Namgung Do-Wei’s eyes as he looked at Hyun Jong.
Indeed, such deep thought and warm consideration, a character perfect for the leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance!
Earlier, Im So-Byeong talked about the Namgung Family becoming the leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, but that would never happen.
Originally, Namgung Hwang was one of the most arrogant people in the world. Even his son Namgung Do-Wei thought so. But even Namgung Hwang would have had to give up the leader position after meeting Hyun Jong.
It was truly fortunate that Mount Hua led the Heavenly Friends Alliance. Having such a person as leader…
“…But.”
At that moment, Chung Myung spoke with a slightly suspicious voice.
“Huh?”
“No, well… I’m not opposing, but I suddenly have a fundamental question.”
Tang Gunak asked with curiosity.
“A fundamental question? What do you mean?”
“Well… you seem to be saying it’s important to protect those small and medium sects.”
“That’s right.”
“Do we have to care about their lives too?”
“…”
“Frankly, what have they done?”
“…”
“…”
Everyone was speechless and looked at Chung Myung. But he tilted his head as if he truly didn’t understand.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Well…”
At that moment, those stunned stared blankly at Chung Myung, then all closed their eyes tightly. Even Hyun Jong covered his face with both hands, unable to say anything.
How… how did such a person come out under Hyun Jong? And how is everyone here taking orders from such a person?
Chung Myung wasn’t completely oblivious; he looked around and subtly changed the subject.
“Well, if it’s absolutely necessary, I won’t oppose…”
“Excuse me, Namgung’s young lord.”
At that moment, Jo Gul quietly spoke up.
“Yes? Yes, Taoist Jo Gul.”
“If we follow the young lord’s words, that guy will also take a reasonably high position, right?”
Namgung Do-Wei turned his head to look at Chung Myung and thought for a moment.
Chung Myung huh, Chung Myung…
“I… suppose so?”
No matter how much he thought, there was no way to exclude that person. If it’s about efficiency, giving him a position like a general so that everyone except the sect leaders obeys his orders…
As he continued thinking, Namgung Do-Wei suddenly realized the seriousness of the situation and froze. His face instantly turned pale.
‘He’s even going to wear a hat for the nonsense he does now?’
That person?
Jo Gul hurriedly raised his hand.
“I, I oppose…!”
“Oh, really?”
But at that moment, Chung Myung didn’t miss the flow and suddenly interrupted.
“So if you don’t listen to me, does that make you a rebel?”
“…W-wait a moment. I…”
“Then I agree.”
Chung Myung’s mouth curled into a sly smile.
“Let’s create that position or whatever it is.”
At that moment, everyone’s sharp gaze pierced Namgung Do-Wei.
Only then did Namgung Do-Wei realize what he had done. His soul began to leave his body.