That’s why the world is interesting. (4)

In the bone-chilling silence, Baek Cheon looked at Beop Jong with a mesmerized expression. What did that monk just mutter? Did he mention an alliance? Cheonumang, with Sapaeryeon?

A surge of anger rushed through Baek Cheon’s veins, and his heart burned.

“This…”

As he was making his way towards the Abbot someone grabbed his shoulder and gently pressed him.

“Wait.”

It was Un Geom.

“Sasuk.”

“Sect Leader is the one to deal with this.”

But even Un Geom seemed to struggle with controlling his anger, as his remaining hand trembled on Baek Cheon’s shoulder.

It wasn’t just Hwasan that was astonished by Beop Jong’s words. Even his ally, Sect Leader Jonglihyeong, looked at the Abbot with a shocked and dismayed expression.

‘Alliance.’

Baek Cheon thought. What did that even mean? He was sure they had witnessed what had happened on Maehwado.

And then, breaking the silence, Hyun Jong spoke.

“I…,”

Hyun Jong began, his face devoid of anger or injustice. He simply met Beop Jong’s gaze with an emotionless expression. However, anyone who knew Hyun Jong even a little would recognize how much suppressed anger he held within.

“It’s difficult for me to understand what you’re asking right now, Abbot,”

he said, his tone devoid of emotion.

Abbot smiled in response to his words.

“That’s literally it.”

“…”

“Logically speaking, there’s no reason why Surochae and Maninbang wouldn’t attack Cheonumang as they escaped the island.”

“The reason is simple. We took the Black Dragon King as a hostage.”

“Is that so?”

Beop Jong turned his gaze towards the ship as if in surprise.

‘Now that I think about it.’

Beop Jong realizing that Hwasan Geomhyeop had not yet disembarked, nodded his head.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“Has it been answered?”

Abbot slowly nodded his head.

“No.”

Hyun Jong’s face turned cold in response to that answer.

“That’s not enough, Sect Leader.”

The hint of a smile disappeared from Abbot’s face.

“Surely, Sect Leader, you’re not implying that these enemies have some kind of deep trust in your actions? “

“Abbot.”

For the first time, anger appeared on Hyun Jong’s face. In truth, if he thought about it, Abbot’s doubts might be valid. The way they escaped the island might indeed appear unnatural to those witnessing it here. Hyun Jong wasn’t someone who couldn’t grasp that.

However, there was one reason he couldn’t suppress his anger right now: malice. At the end of Beop Jong’s words, there was a sinister malice seeping through. It wasn’t a desire for questions or a reasonable explanation. It was a malevolence that vowed to crush and trample them into the dirt, regardless of the answer.

“We risked our lives to rescue Namgoong.”

“I’m also thankful for Cheonumang’s efforts in rescuing Namgung. However…”

Abbot’s gaze shifted to Hwasan’s disciples lined up behind. He was looking at the young swordsmen, who stared at him with eyes full of murderous intent.

“So, who lost their life?”

“Abbot!”

Hyun Jong screamed, but the judge didn’t even blink.

“Isn’t this situation so unnatural? You invaded a place occupied by Maninbang and Surochae and escaped leisurely without making any sacrifices?”

Eventually, an uncontainable anger showed on Hyun Jong’s face.

What is this insane monk even babbling about?

“Logically, we can only think that there was some sort of agreement between Cheonumaeng and Sapaeryeon. Otherwise, are you claiming that Cheonumaeng’s power is so overwhelming that they don’t need to make any sacrifices against Sapaeryeon?”

The Abbot’s remained solemn. It was as if there was no personal bias, and the seriousness of his reproach made one naturally doubt whether Hwasan had done something wrong.

To make matters worse, the disciples of Kongtong and the Beggars Sect, who had been eavesdropping on this conversation, began exchanging glances among themselves. It seemed that there was a consensus that what the Abbot was saying was not entirely baseless.

“I can offer only one statement.”

Hyun Jong opened his mouth with a resolute expression.

“Hwasan did not compromise with Sapaeryeon. They simply couldn’t touch us because we took the Black Dragon King as a hostage.”

“Hmm?”

The judge’s eyes twisted strangely.

“So, does that mean…”

Upon seeing that look, Hyun Jong’s face momentarily paled. He understood what the Abbot was about to say.

“Is it that Cheonumaeng agreed to spare the Black Dragon King, an evildoer who was supposed to be executed, in exchange for escaping from Maehwado?”

Hyun Jong tightly shut his eyes.

The reason Hwasan had spared the Black Dragon King was because the vengeance belonged to Namgung. But in this situation, who would believe that story?

To those who had already accepted Abbot’s sinister claims, it would only sound like they begged for their lives by releasing an unparalleled villain as compensation.

It was too harsh for the current power dynamics to simply believe Hyun Jong’s words.

“Enough!”

Someone suddenly raised their voice at that moment. It was Jao Gae.

The Abbot’s gaze turned towards him.

“If you can’t believe Cheonumaeng, then perhaps you can believe me. I observed everything on that island. From what I saw, Cheonumaeng didn’t make any deals with Sapaeryeon!”

Jao Gae stared down the Abbot and spoke forcefully.

“I can swear on my name.”

But the Abbot merely nodded slightly. His eyes twisted strangely.

“Your name holds no value.”

“What are you saying now…”

“Didn’t it happen that you, Jao Gae, the Elder of the Beggars Sect, voluntarily gave up your position to prove your words?”

Instantly, Jao Gae trembled with suppressed anger.

‘That crazy monk!’

But he couldn’t refute. There was no point in arguing against baseless claims in the first place.

“And!”

Beop Jong frowned as he continued.

“Your eyes and ears cannot represent everything. If what I am worried about is true, the world must prepare for great catastrophe. Can you really take responsibility for all those words, Jao Gae?”

“Listen, Abbot!”

“It’s not your place to step in!”

With a heavy demeanor, Beop Jong pressed Jao Gae with a heavy force.

No matter how much Jao Gae wanted to save face, the Abbot was the leader of Shaolin. Once he decided to assert his authority, Jao Gae couldn’t do anything.

“Be cautious, Jao Gae. If they have indeed conspired with Sapaeryeon, then entering of Maehwado might have been a part of their plan from the beginning. It means we shouldn’t judge based only on what happened inside.”

“This…”

Jao Gae trembled uncontrollably.

But he couldn’t bring himself to speak any longer. He had sensed it. The Abbot had no intention of hearing his words.

‘How could this happen?’

Don’t you know Jao Gae? He couldn’t help but understand why the Abbot came out like that. Therefore, it was even more difficult for him to hold back his anger. It felt like bile was rasing in his stomach.

“I’ll ask again.”

Beop Jong turned to Hyun Jong and spoke.

“Is it true that you made an agreement with Sapaeryeon to release the Black Dragon King in exchange for your departure?”

Hyun Jong tried to remain as calm as possible. He had a gut feeling that if he lost his temper here, the Abbot would lead him as he wished.

“…It may seem that way. But it’s not something I would call an agreement.”

“Then, Sect Leader, it appears that Black Dragon King’s life is so important to Jang Ilso that he was willing to release both Hwasan and Tangga, and even Namgoong?”

“What is this…”

“And.”

Abbot’s meaningful gaze pierced Hyun Jong.

“As a price for saving the Black Dragon King’s life, you begged for your own life as well, I suppose.”

“Abbot.”

Quietly observing the situation, Tang Gunak took a step forward, as if he could no longer tolerate this behavior.

“How can you call that an agreement? If we look at it that way, hasn’t Shaolin also made an agreement with them on the Yangtze River, begging for their lives?”

Upon hearing this Beop Jong couldn’t hide his smile.

“That’s correct, Lord. Absolutely correct.”

In response to this, Tang Gunak’s expression hardened.

“And in exchange for that…”

The moment he saw the smile on Abbot’s lips, Tang Gunak realized he had made a mistake.

“Wudang took responsibility in Bongmun, and Namgung went into hiding. Shaolin also paid a hefty price. So, let me ask you this, if all these circumstances are no different from the past Yangtze river incident…”

The gaze remained subtly meaningful, but the Abbot’s voice now carried clear authority.

“Which faction within Cheonumaeng will pay the price for making an agreement with the evil factions?”

“This dog-like…”

Tang Gunak’s eyes flared with anger as he uttered harsh words. He now clearly understood what the Abbot wanted.

Recovering Shaolin’s previous honor was now impossible. On the contrary, if what had happened at Yangtze River spread throughout the world, no one would think of Shaolin as a faction with integrity. In contrast, Cheonumaeng’s name would shine even brighter, beyond Shaolin’s reach.

In a normal situation, they would have found a way to restore their honor and rise again. But now, the Abbot’s intentions were reversed.

Dragging Hwasan down with them to a filthy place.

Words are different from deeds.

Entering the Maehwado surrounded by Sapaeryeon and rescuing Namgung without harm would be a great feat. However, what if the rumor spread that Hwasan negotiated with Sapaeryeon to save the Black Dragon King in exchange for escaping the Maehwa island safely?

Dirt on a filthy person may not be noticeable, but dust on the pure body stands out vividly.

Realizing all these intentions, Tang Gunak glared at Beop Jong as if he wanted to kill him. Unlike Hwasan, Tangga was not originally deeply affiliated with Shaolin. But at this moment, Tang Gunak’s gaze was no different from that of someone looking at a traitor.

He had grown tired of that vile malice too.

The Abbot smiled knowingly.

“Please don’t get too excited. I don’t think Cheonumaeng is foolish enough to get involved with Sapaeryeon over such a trivial matter.”

Tang Gunak furrowed his brow. After pushing people around as he pleased, what was this nonsense?

“No matter how you think about it, it doesn’t make sense. Isn’t the value of the Black Dragon King’s life too insignificant compared to the names of Hwasan, Tangga, and Namgung? The worth of those three great factions cannot be exchanged for the life of a mere bandit.”

“Please, restrain yourself…”

“Perhaps not just the Black Dragon King’s life, but…”

At that moment, the voice that flowed from the Abbot’s mouth spread vividly across the entire Yangtze River.

“Unless they had already made secret agreements to offer more to each other.”

“This madman!”

Finally, Tang Gunak couldn’t hold back any longer, and he erupted with a thunderous roar.

They had risked their lives to enter Maehwado. Why should they receive such treatment?

However, this forced statement was inexplicably having an effect. The expressions of the disciples of the Gupailbang who followed behind the Abbot began to change strangely.

Perhaps it was only natural.

They had lived with pride in being ten great sect’s disciples. But this time, they could only watch as Hwasan displayed its prowess on Yangtze River.

Was it because they were weak?

That couldn’t be. No matter how strong Hwasan had become, they were still part of the ten great sects sect. There was no way they could be so inexplicably weak.

But how should they interpret the situation where Hwasan had defeated Surochae and rescued Namgung, in a circumstance they had not even laid a hand on?

No matter how you looked at it, it was too unnatural.

If the Hwasan hadn’t demonstrated highest morale until now, they might have already concluded that there was a conspiracy afoot, if it was another faction instead of Hwasan.

There was no trace of color in Tang Gunak’s face.

“Damn it.”

They probably wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t see the obvious hesitation in their own eyes.

The Abbot was now subtly provoking the pride of those who had watched Maehwa island from here.

They said three people cannot make a grand decision. But if so many people who were present here started to have doubts, their voices would undoubtedly gain power and spread.

‘What should we do?’

The most authoritative figure in Gangho should charge them, and the most trusted individuals in the world should break through the situation where they were being looked upon with suspicious eyes.

“Sect Leader.”

At that moment, the Abbot looked at Hyun Jong with a strange smile.

As if to drive in the final wedge.

“I’ll ask one last time. Did Hwasan really not make any agreement with the evil faction?”

Hyun Jong gazed up at the sky with a distant feeling.

‘It’s terrifying.’

It was so harsh and frightening. He thought he already knew about Gangho, but this intense malice sent shivers down his spine once again.

“I’ll say it once more!”

Hyun Jong was about to raise his voice with all his might, right at that moment.

“…so what if we made an agreement?”

A chilling voice pierced their ears.

The gazes of everyone by the riverside turned towards the source of that voice.

“What if we made an agreement?”

Chung Myung, Hwasan Geomhyeop. He was slowly walking towards them with a colder expression than the northern sea.