What we’ve done is finally bearing fruit. (2)

“Baeggeombo [백검보(白劍堡) – White Sword Fortress] has expressed their intention to join!”

“Yeon Tong [연통] from Cheonghaemun [청해문(靑海門) – Blue Sea Gate] has also sent word. They’ve already set out with their disciples and are on their way here.”

Beop Gye nodded approvingly. The messages from the sects eager to join Gupailbang kept coming without interruption.

“These are good news, Abbot.”

But instead of responding immediately, Beop Jong remained deep in thought, pondering silently.

Then, after a moment, he glanced at the messenger who delivered the report.

“Hye Do [혜도(慧度)].”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“How many sects have expressed their intention to join us today?”

“…Thirty two, Abbot.”

Thirty two.

It was certainly not a small number. However, once again, rather than showing delight, Beop Jong furrowed his brows in concern.

Sensing something, Beop Gye cautiously inquired.

“Abbot, is there any issue…?”

But instead of responding, Beop Jong gestured towards Hye Do.

“Aren’t there sects joining without sending an envoy? How many of them are there?”

“Um… do you mean today?”

“Yes.”

“…There are about sixteen of them.”

“Did you say sixteen?”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“Are you certain about the number sixteen?”

“Um… yes, I’m sure.”

“What about yesterday?”

“Yesterday? Um… there were about twenty, I believe. Those who didn’t send advance notice, that is.”

“Twenty?”

However, Hye Do couldn’t move. He felt uneasy seeing the expression on Beop Jong’s face as he repeated the word twenty.

“So, are you saying that the sects joining today amount to less than fifty?”

Hye Do remained silent. He was merely the messenger, so he couldn’t provide any answers to this question.

“Beop Gye.”

“Yes, Abbot?”

“Immediately reconfirm the situation. Something strange may not be just an ordinary occurrence.”

“Yes?”

“According to our expectations, by now, nearly twice the number of sects should have knocked on the door of Gupailbang. But isn’t the current number significantly lower? Something doesn’t add up.”

“Abbot… sixty isn’t a small number.”

“Can’t you hear me telling you to confirm it?”

As Beop Jong sharply expressed his anger, everyone flinched. At that moment, Hye Do, who had been constantly observing Beop Jong’s mood, cautiously spoke up.

“I… I’m not sure if what I saw aligns with Abbot’s thoughts…”

Beop Jong turned his head sharply towards him.

“What did you see?”

“Well… it seemed to me that the nearby sects of Hubei and Henan weren’t readily joining.”

“What do you mean?”

Beop Jong looked at him incredulously.

“What nonsense is this? They should be the most eager in this situation. What could they possibly be hesitating about at a time like this?”

“Well, you see…”

At that moment, Beop Gye furrowed his brow slightly and spoke up.

“Perhaps they’re still deliberating between Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang…”

“Ridiculous!”

However, Beop Jong firmly shook his head in denial.

“Such a thing cannot happen.”

“But Abbot, what if…”

“I’m not speaking out of pride. The situation has already transcended mere power struggles. Hubei is already under our protection, and Shaanxi has become their territory, hasn’t it?”

“Yes… that is true, Abbot.”

“But how could they possibly join Cheonumaeng in Shaanxi?”

“…Of course, Abbot, you’re correct. But there are those who might feel Shaanxi is slightly safer, aren’t there?”

But Beop Jong still shook his head firmly.

“That, too, is impossible.”

“…”

“Shaanxi may indeed seem safer, but even if it is safe, can they just up and leave for there? They’re not Shaolin, nor are they Wudang. They’re not the kind to leave for distant Shaanxi at the slightest hint of danger and then casually return.”

“Hmm.”

“If the situation were truly dire, perhaps. But if not, they’ll eventually settle back into the familiar lands they’ve always lived in. Think about it. If the so-called Just Sects abandon the commoners in their region in times of danger only to return later, who would welcome them back?”

Large sects like those within Gupailbang can sustain themselves through their own businesses. However, small to medium-sized sects ultimately rely on the money paid by those learning martial arts under them to sustain the sect.

But aren’t there places where there’s only one sect? Who would fear the sect that withdraws from such a situation? There are plenty of other places to go.

That’s why their options weren’t as free as one might think.

“But, but isn’t this actually happening, Abbot?”

“There must be another reason. We need to figure it out quickly…”

“Well…”

At that moment, Hye Do glanced at Beop Jong and spoke up again.

“There’s a suspicion, but…”

“A suspicion? What is it?”

“It’s not certain… but I think you should see with your own eyes.”

As Hye Do stood up, Beop Jong’s gaze followed him.

A while later, Beop Jong and Hye Do arrived at a simple village outside the bustling main streets of Hubei. Beop Jong blinked with a slightly puzzled expression.

“…What’s this?”

They saw carts being loaded and people carrying large bundles on their backs. Hye Do spoke cautiously.

“They’re refugees.”

“Refugees?”

Hye Do nodded.

“Yes. With this place likely becoming a battlefield soon, it’s natural for people to leave, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean? Didn’t we promise to protect them? We’ve already announced that nowhere in the realm is safe!”

“Yes, that’s true, but…”

Hye Do sighed heavily.

“That might be true for the nobles, but how would the commoners hear such words?”

Beop Jong’s eyes flickered slightly.

“Abbot’s words are all true. Leaving is difficult, and returning is even harder. But… that’s the story of those who have something to protect here. For those who have nothing else to protect but their own bodies…”

For a moment, a bitter laugh escaped Beop Jong’s lips.

There were two reasons.

One was understanding Hye Do’s words. And the other was realizing he had no knowledge of such a situation.

Beop Jong hadn’t ignored those who weren’t of higher status.

He considered it important to manage the sentiment of the people in Hubei, and indeed, he often ventured beyond the palce he was staying at to observe the common folk.

‘I have considered the situation stable enough.’

But he hadn’t thought to come see places like this. So, he learned anew. He realized that in Hubei, where he resided, were the areas where the wealthiest lived. The thoughts of those affluent individuals and those now fleeing couldn’t possibly align.

Missing this was undoubtedly Beop Jong’s mistake. But…

“But what does them leaving have to do with your suspicions?”

“…Don’t you see over there?”

Hye Do gestured towards something. The ones at the end were armed men. They were assisting those fleeing, loading their belongings onto carts.

“What are they doing?”

“I happened to see it while passing by… Until now, I thought they were simply helping those fleeing with their preparations. But now that I think about it, it seems they’re even providing an escort for them.”

“An escort?”

Beop Jong spoke angrily.

“An escort! Why would those going from a dangerous place to a safe one need an escort…”

But he stopped himself before finishing his sentence.

‘An escort?’

One thought crossed his mind. He looked to Hye Do as if seeking confirmation, but Hye Do lowered his head in embarrassment.

“…Where are they going?”

“…”

“Where are they fleeing to?”

Hye Do couldn’t bring himself to answer. Beop Jong bit his lip, then approached the group of people preparing to leave and asked in a firm voice.

“Amitabha. I have a question, if you don’t mind.”

The people with weary faces, struggling with their burdens, were startled when they noticed Beop Jong, quickly bowing their heads in respect.

“Oh, venerable monk, what brings you here? We’d like to help, but given the circumstances, all we have..”

“It’s not about that.”

Even after seeing Beop Jong, these people think of ordinary monks, not Shaolin. Even the idea of Shaolin coming to Hubei seemed like a passing rumor to them, with no mental capacity to contemplate it further.

“Where are you heading to now?”

One of them, upon hearing the question, chuckled hollowly in response.

“Naturally, we’re fleeing. Haven’t you heard? This place will soon be attacked by the Evil Sects’ bastards, turning it into a battlefield.”

“…Fleeing? But where to?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re heading to Shaanxi.”

Beop Jong’s hand, hidden within his sleeve, twitched momentarily.

“Why Shaanxi? I’ve heard that Shaanxi is just as dangerous.”

“Yes, that’s what they say… But still, wouldn’t Shaanxi be better? They have Cheonumaeng there.”

“…But isn’t there also Gupailbang here?”

“…Yes?”

But the person who heard this looked at Beop Jong with a face that clearly showed confusion. It was as if they couldn’t comprehend why the term “Gupailbang” was being mentioned here.

Beop Jong, trying to maintain composure, spoke calmly.

“Didn’t Gupailbang promise to protect this place too?”

“Ah…”

Finally, with a faint sigh as if understanding, the person nodded slightly. But Beop Jong saw it. The emotions hidden in their eyes shifting from concern for the monk to suspicion.

“That’s right. That’s how it is… But we’re just…”

He understood. Despite being subtle, as the leader of Shaolin, he couldn’t afford to overlook the movements of the commoners, even those untrained in martial arts.

At that moment, Beop Gye and Hye Do approached from behind, causing the person to shrink back even more.

“We’re just… We have just heard someone say it’s better to go to Shaanxi… What would idiots like us know.”

Beop Jong closed his eyes. Then, looking at the frightened people before him, he spoke.

“Hye Do.”

“Yes, Abbot.”

Understanding his intention, Hye Do carefully took out a small purse from his pocket and handed it to Beop Jong.

“Please take this for your journey.”

“Oh, no, monk. We couldn’t possibly accept this kind of…”

“Please take it.”

As Beop Jong firmly pressed the purse into the man’s hand, the man hesitated and then turned away, mumbling.

Even though Beop Jong had provided exorbitant amount of money for their travels, the man’s fear of Beop Jong was clear in his movements.

Watching the quickly departing figures, Beop Jong let out a bitter laugh.

“Shaanxi. It’s Hwasan.”

“…”

“They’re heading to Hwasan, and countless sects are withdrawing from here under the pretext of protecting them. Do you understand what this means?”

“Abbot…”

“Why?”

Beop Jong murmured in frustration.

“The world already knows that Cheonumaeng lacks the power to protect them. When Sichuan fell into the hands of Sapaeryeon, it should have been clear to everyone that only we have the power to protect.”

“…”

“Yet, why do they still cling to Cheonumaeng? Why?”

There was neither anger nor disappointment in Beop Jong’s voice, but simply bewilderment.

It was something entirely unexpected. Something incomprehensible even after seeing it.

What had disrupted Beop Jong’s perfect calculations were those whom he had never considered would ever move the world.