Read Novel Full Chapter 1162: What Should We Do. (2)
Chapter 1162: What Should We Do. (2)
The atmosphere in the room was very strange.
Of course, to those present, Beop Jeong was not a stranger. Hadn’t Beop Jeong visited Mount Hua several times before to initiate talks?
However, usually the ones who spoke with Beop Jeong were either Hyun Jong or Chung Myung. This was the first time he sat with so many people. So the atmosphere was inevitably delicate. No one dared to speak first.
Naturally, it was Hyun Jong who broke the silence.
“I should have served some tea, but I was unprepared.”
“Not at all, Alliance Leader.”
Beop Jeong smiled gently.
“It seems this is the Alliance Leader’s residence, and it is quite modest. It reflects your character perfectly.”
“It’s just that living away from home, I haven’t properly furnished it. It’s not modesty.”
“Haha. You remain humble. I feel ashamed whenever I see you, Alliance Leader.”
“Put some saliva on your big mouth... gulp! cough!”
Those who naturally covered Chung Myung’s mouth smiled awkwardly, while Yu Yiseol and Tang Soso poked his ribs from both sides.
“......”
When Beop Jeong looked at Chung Myung with an expression saying “You’re something else,” Hyun Jong, his face flushed red, apologized on his behalf.
“I’m sorry... As you know...”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
Beop Jeong chuckled softly.
“The eccentricities of ordinary people are rude, but those of heroes become legends, don’t they? Mount Hua’s Sword Saint already has that qualification.”
Hyun Jong sighed deeply. A truly proud disciple, but sometimes, really, truly embarrassing.
“I have nothing to say...”
“It’s not just words.”
“Yes?”
Beop Jeong smiled gently and said.
“Considering what Mount Hua’s Sword Saint has accomplished in Hangzhou and for the world, I should be the one showing respect before him. Isn’t it obvious who has helped the people more?”
“......”
“So please don’t mind.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Hyun Jong answered reluctantly, his mind becoming a bit busy.
‘What is he thinking?’
Of course, he couldn’t fully grasp Beop Jeong’s true intentions, but there was no pretense in his words or attitude.
Therefore, Hyun Jong didn’t know how to respond. His feelings were already hurt, but he couldn’t just be disrespectful.
“Abbot.”
“Please speak, Family Lord.”
Tang Gunak looked sternly at Beop Jeong and spoke.
“It’s good to exchange kind words, but why have you come here?”
“Hmm!”
The one who cleared his throat unpleasantly was none other than Jong Ri-Hyung.
“They say the Tang family lord is the second-in-command of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, and his power is indeed great. Seeing someone who isn’t even the Alliance Leader urging the abbot is telling.”
Tang Gunak glared silently at Jong Ri-Hyung, who met his gaze without backing down.
“That’s right. I was just too eager with joy.”
But their brief confrontation was naturally eased by Beop Jeong’s gentle voice.
Beop Jeong slowly bowed deeply in respect.
“First, on behalf of the Nine Great Sects, I express gratitude to those who subdued the calamity in Hangzhou.”
“How...”
“It was a partnership that will be remembered. My insight was limited; I did not expect you to accomplish this so excellently.”
“......”
“And please forgive me for my narrow-mindedness in not coming sooner to express thanks.”
“What are you saying, Abbot? We are just grateful you came here now.”
As Beop Jeong continued to humble himself, Hyun Jong’s posture lowered even more.
Seeing this, everyone present deeply felt the power of the Shaolin Abbot’s position. Despite all the insults and gossip, just having the Abbot sitting before them made them nervous, especially with such respect shown.
“If you’re just going to thank us after it’s over, you should have helped from the start.”
“Chung Myung!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
He seemed calmer now, so they let him go, but Chung Myung snapped. Baek Cheon quickly tried to cover his mouth again, but Beop Jeong nodded obediently.
“You’re right. I was foolish.”
“......”
“And the one who should receive this thanks more than anyone is you. Thank you.”
Chung Myung, who had been staring blankly at the bowing Beop Jeong, suddenly glared fiercely.
“Ah! I got it!”
“Uh, huh?”
“You bastard, you’re the leader of the Lower District sect!”
“...Huh?”
“Where do you think you are, daring Evil Sect bastard acting like the bald... gulp!
cough!”Chung Myung was dragged away again. This time Yu Yiseol, Tang Soso, and even Hae Yeon joined in poking his ribs.
“Ughhh!”
But those trying to stop Chung Myung were equally bewildered. Especially Jo Gul and Tang Soso looked at Beop Jeong with faces that clearly thought, ‘Did this guy eat something wrong on the way here?’
“Is it strange?”
Understanding their feelings, Beop Jeong asked Hyun Jong with a smiling face.
“Rather than strange...”
Hyun Jong covered his mouth and coughed softly before continuing.
“You seem a bit different from before, so I’m a little taken aback.”
“You need not think so. I just stepped back a little and observed from behind.”
“From behind?”
“Amitabha.”
Beop Jeong quietly nodded.
“Though I knew that the greatest danger for a martial arts practitioner is their ego, I had unknowingly been trapped by mine. I have only just realized it.”
“......”
“Everyone pursues their own good. Forgetting that a different good is not wrong, I was forcing only my own good.”
“...Abbot.”
“If what I thought was wrong turned out to be right, I should have admitted my mistake... Yes, Alliance Leader. But I could not accept it. So I shouted that what was not wrong was wrong. The more I did, the more my delusion grew.”
Hyun Jong shivered. What Beop Jeong said resonated with Mount Hua’s way.
Beop Jeong smiled softly.
“So I let go. Isn’t it just emptiness around us?”
“Yes, Abbot. Yes.”
Hyun Jong nodded in agreement.
“Then today...”
“I came to apologize and to make one more proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes, a proposal.”
Beop Jeong said with a smile.
“After letting go of everything, I realized what I am doing now, and that because of my ego, everyone is going down the wrong path.”
Hyun Jong hesitated and asked.
“Do you mean that all of us are on the wrong path?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“How...”
“...Amitabha.”
Beop Jeong closed his eyes, softly chanted, then slowly opened them. Meeting Hyun Jong’s gaze steadily, the seriousness within made Hyun Jong tense.
“I believe Alliance Leader knows better than anyone the current situation in the Central Plains.”
Seeing Hyun Jong nod, Beop Jeong continued.
“The south of the Yangtze suffers from the Four Sects Alliances’ villains, who will soon invade north of the river. And after a hundred years, the Demonic Cult has reappeared. The phrases ‘like a candle in the wind’ and ‘on the edge of a cliff’ are not exaggerations.”
“Hmm, that’s right.”
“But what about us who must protect the Central Plains? We only keep clashing with each other.”
As Chung Myung’s eyes sharpened again, Beop Jeong spoke with slight self-mockery.
“I know that most of the fault lies with me. That’s why I came to apologize. I’m truly sorry. I am too lacking...”
“Ah, no, abbot. How could it be only your fault? Mine is great as well.”
Beop Jeong smiled gently.
“Hearing that from you, Alliance Leader, I feel even more ashamed. Having lived in a well, I thought the world would flow as I wished it should. Knowing otherwise, I should have reflected and accepted it, but I couldn’t let go of my tiny pride and twisted my view of the world.”
“Abbot...”
Hyun Jong looked at Beop Jeong with trembling eyes.
If the Shaolin abbot humbles himself this much, shouldn’t his sincerity be trusted? Even Jong Ri-Hyung sitting beside Beop Jeong couldn’t hide his surprise at such words.
“Then, your proposal is...”
“Originally, when the Four Sects Alliance flourished and the Demonic Cult rose, what should we have done? The answer was obvious. We just failed to recognize each other and took a long detour.”
“......”
“Therefore, I propose to you, Alliance Leader, that it’s not too late. Before irreversible events occur, why not unite now?”
Hyun Jong nodded without hesitation.
In truth, this was what Hyun Jong had long wished for. He just couldn’t trust Beop Jeong and the Nine Great Sects, but if they humbled themselves and wanted to cooperate, why would he refuse?
“If the abbot says so, naturally the relations...”
“No, Alliance Leader.”
“Yes?”
But Beop Jeong shook his head firmly.
“That is not enough. Do you know why I could not accept nor embrace Mount Hua?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Because it was not mine.”
The ambiguous words made Mount Hua disciples frown, but Beop Jeong clarified.
“To be precise, it was because we were not under the same fence. When I realized what I thought was united was not, I felt resentment and anger. Yes, this is all my fault. But, Alliance Leader, the world is not only for the capable. Some are as ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) lacking as I am.”
“...That may be so.”
“To such people, the unity of the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Powers, and the Heavenly Friends Alliance feels like mere formality. They pretend to be friendly now but will eventually split again.”
Everyone listening nodded. Even they themselves would find it hard to escape that perception.
“Then what do you propose?”
“We must abandon it all. Let go of what we hold. And first, we must tear down the fence. There is only one way to do that.”
Beop Jeong smiled gently, uttering words like thunder, bewildering, yet perhaps long hoped for.
“Disband the Heavenly Friends Alliance and return to your original places. Shaolin formally requests Mount Hua’s return to the Nine Great Sects.”
A gasp of shock escaped from the mouths of those present, instantly filling the room.