novelraw Chapter 163 : Chapter 163
Chapter 163 : Chapter 163
Chapter 163 - Who forced you with a knife?
“Sob……”
At someone’s cry, Cheongjin snapped.
“Will you not stop that at once!”
In stark contrast to the feast happening on one side, the atmosphere in the infirmary was like that of a funeral home.
The battered Ojin had just barely regained consciousness, and Elder Yubeop was still unconscious.
The swordsman who had been scolded for showing tears was the youngest of the third-generation disciples, Yongjin.
He was a precious person who had received nothing but praise and envy day in and day out.
To think that such a result awaited him on a dueling trip he had embarked on to show off his skills.
Defeat and shame.
They were not accustomed to any of it.
Although they did not cry out loud, all of the third-generation disciples swallowed their tears inwardly.
“Eum……”
Perhaps Cheongjin’s roar had reached his heart.
A low voice came from Elder Yubeop.
“Elder!”
“Elder!”
“Are you awake?”
The words a merchant had said a while ago were like a prophecy.
Yubeop did not want to open his eyes right now.
Wouldn't it be better to just die like this?
The path back, leading the young, defeated soldiers stained with despair, felt like a series of steep mountains.
Besides, how much more humiliation would he have to endure for the rest of his life?
An elder of the True Dragon Sect who had used killing moves against a promising youth of his grandson’s generation, and had been defeated even then.
Yubeop did not have the confidence to endure all of that.
“Let’s go…… back.”
But the most unbearable thing was that he still hadn’t been able to leave Diancang Mountain.
Yubeop wanted to escape this cursed space as soon as possible.
And if possible, he never wanted to set foot here again.
“You’ve only just woken up…… will you be alright?”
“It is better than breathing the…… air here.”
“……I understand. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”
At Cheongjin’s command, the third-generation disciples moved in perfect order.
The wounds on their bodies would heal if left alone, but if they stayed here, the wounds in their hearts would continue to fester.
“Elder. Will it be alright not to send a separate message to the Diancang Sect Leader?”
At Cheongjin’s question, Yubeop’s face became as heavy as lead.
To leave the mountain gate as if fleeing from the Sect Leader who had shown him kindness was a shameless act.
However…….
“I no longer have any shame left to lose.”
After saying that, Yubeop staggered and opened the door of the infirmary.
“Are you leaving right away?”
The Great Mother, who had been waiting at the door, asked with a worried face.
Was it because his mind was twisted?
To Yubeop, even such concern felt like a humiliation.
“Thank you for your care. Please give my regards to the Sect Leader.”
The Great Mother silently bowed her head as if she understood.
She had already been given a hint by Mujin of the Diancang Sect.
That he had suffered all the insults a martial artist could possibly face today.
“Please have a safe journey back.”
A farewell not with the Sect Leader, nor a martial artist, but with the Great Mother who managed the household affairs.
Yubeop had a bitter taste in his mouth, but he immediately started walking.
Yubeop was not an elder for nothing, and Hyeokri Chong was not called the Medicine Saint for nothing.
It was a wound that would have made it impossible for an ordinary person to even get up for several days, but Yubeop walked ahead quickly.
With his gaze still fixed forward, Yubeop spoke to his disciples.
“I alone will report what happened in today’s duel. You are to remain silent no matter what questions are asked of you.”
“Yes……”
Normally, he might have shouted, ‘what kind of voice is that?’.
But Yubeop was not in a position to say anything to others right now.
He couldn’t even distinguish whether the sharp pain coming from his chest was physical or mental.
The duel with Biyoung would be etched as the worst battle of his life.
‘The water is already spilled, but…… I must manage it somehow.’
No matter what he said, he wouldn't be able to convince the True Dragon Sect Leader.
But he couldn't just let things flow as they were.
He had to dilute the results of today’s duel as much as possible and change the subject to preparing for the next thing.
Especially since the martial arts tournament at Shaolin was coming up soon, wasn’t it?
If there was anything fortunate, it was that a big event was ahead.
“Amitabha.”
Yes.
The affiliation of that monk who was pressing his palms together towards them.
Shaolin wears similar clothes to their main sect…….
“…………Huh?”
It was by no means a misjudgment.
Just before leaving the mountain gate, a bald-headed man appeared in front of Yubeop.
“This humble monk is Gye-yeong from Mount Song.”
“You, you came from Shaolin?”
“That is correct.”
The usual Yubeop would have bowed politely.
But the timing was too, really too bad.
To meet a person from Shaolin on the day he suffered the greatest humiliation of his life?
“Your wound must have been quite deep. Will you be alright to leave like this?”
‘He saw everything.’
Yubeop silently ground his teeth.
“I apologize for the late greeting. This old man is Yubeop of the True Dragon Sect.”
“Amitabha. The Sword Cloud that the elder showed is still vivid in my eyes.”
This is why one should win a battle no matter what.
Even at Gye-yeong’s gentle words, an uncomfortable feeling welled up in Yubeop.
“What is there to say to a defeated general? But for what reason has Shaolin……?”
“This humble monk visited the Diancang Sect to deliver a letter from the Abbot. Normally, I would return immediately after delivering the letter, but……”
Gye-yeong replied with a slightly awkward expression.
“The Sect Leader suggested that I watch today’s duels before leaving.”
At those words, the third-generation disciples bit their lips.
Rumors passed from mouth to mouth are bound to lack credibility.
Especially, the people of Shaolin tended to place importance on what they saw and heard themselves.
It would have been better if Shaolin had heard about today’s duels through rumors.
Now that Gye-yeong had seen everything on site, it was truly irreversible.
The shame of the True Dragon Sect would be revealed to the entire world, not just on the streets but also within Shaolin.
‘Damn it.’
Elder Yubeop had to choose.
Should he leave the shattered pride of the True Dragon Sect as it is?
Or should he at least perform a minimal ‘suturing’?
Yubeop’s choice was,
the latter.
“Monk Gye-yeong.”
“Please speak, Elder Yubeop.”
“Today’s duel…… it will naturally be reported to the Abbot, right?”
Gye-yeong bowed his head slightly.
“That is my mission……”
“Then would you also deliver a message from this old man?”
“What kind of message are you referring to……?”
Yubeop swallowed once, as if he was very reluctant.
Down his throat went the humiliation and pride he had suffered today, along with the resentment of the next-generation disciples standing behind him.
“The True Dragon Sect still has many unfinished great talents. This old man underestimated the skills of the Diancang Sect’s next-generation disciples and brought along children with lesser skills among the third-generation disciples.”
“!”
“?!”
At those words, the third-generation disciples reacted even before Gye-yeong.
Their wide eyes were filled with shock, shame, and resentment.
They were the carefully selected talents from within the True Dragon Sect.
At a time when they should be boasting to others, to be introduced as lacking in skill?
“Is that so.”
Gye-yeong’s eyes turned to the third-generation disciples.
Yubeop tried to see what Gye-yeong was thinking, but the young monk, belying his age, did not easily reveal his emotions and thoughts.
‘How pitiful.’
Gye-yeong saw the flushed faces of the third-generation disciples.
Was his name Yongjin?
The youngest swordsman was shedding thick tears like chicken droppings.
Whether he couldn’t see them or was deliberately ignoring them, Yubeop once again delivered his request.
“Please convey that our sect’s elites will attend the upcoming martial arts tournament, and that it will be more worth watching then.”
“Amitabha.”
Is this what they call empty prayers?
It wasn’t a very believable story, but Gye-yeong pressed his palms together with one hand.
“I will deliver the elder’s words without omission. I will pray for the True Dragon Sect’s success in the upcoming martial arts tournament.”
“Please take care.”
Gye-yeong bowed his head and turned his back.
He quickly descended Diancang Mountain using the technique of Arhat Steps.
It was a speed that the True Dragon Sect party, with their many injured members, could not hope to catch even if they wanted to.
“………….”
Elder Yubeop felt a stinging sensation on the back of his head.
Having introduced the third-generation disciples who came with him as a subpar group, he could clearly see how they must be feeling.
“Do you resent me?”
“………….”
The answer did not come immediately.
Unable to watch any longer, Cheongjin finally managed to speak on behalf of the disciples.
“We do not.”
“Are you serious?”
“The victory or defeat of the disciples holds no meaning before the honor of the True Dragon Sect. We too will overcome today’s defeat and do our utmost to prepare for the upcoming martial arts tournament.”
“Thank you for saying so. Let’s go then.”
“Yes.”
Yubeop’s heart ached.
He was grateful and sorry to see them trying to understand his words.
But unfortunately, there would be no more chances for them.
Given the Sect Leader’s disposition, he would not send the next-generation disciples who had lost to the Diancang Sect to the martial arts tournament.
It meant he would be rubbing salt in the wounds of the already injured children.
‘Elder Mayeon…….’
Yubeop thought of Mayeon’s face throughout his journey back to the main sect.
When he said he would hold a duel at the Diancang Sect, Elder Mayeon had said he would not send his direct disciple.
He said he wanted to be cautious with the martial arts tournament ahead.
In front of him, he had said he respected his opinion, but inwardly, Yubeop had mocked Mayeon.
It was just a sect that had barely recovered from annihilation.
What was he so afraid of that he was coddling his prized disciple?
Even without Mayeon’s prized disciple, there were plenty of disciples who wanted to go to the Diancang Sect.
Even when crossing the gates of the True Dragon Sect, Yubeop had worn a bitter sneer towards Mayeon.
But now that he thought about it, the one who deserved the sneer was not Mayeon.
‘He was right.’
He realized it late, but the spilled water had already become a flowing river.
If he had known the skills of the Diancang Sect’s next-generation disciples and Biyoung were at this level, he would not have even started the duel.
But without a connection to the Diancang Sect, who could have predicted their skills?
Then, suddenly.
Flinch.
Yubeop reached a hypothesis.
‘Could it be……?’
A doubt surged in Yubeop’s mind as he replayed the past days.
He recalled the fact that Mayeon had frequently visited the Yi Family Clan with his second-generation disciple, Daebyeong.
Perhaps Mayeon already knew the skills of the Diancang Sect’s next-generation disciples.
Maybe that’s why he hadn’t sent his beloved disciple……?
‘That despicable…….’
For a hypothesis, it connected quite plausibly, didn't it?
Yubeop ground his teeth until they could break.
***
“Keo keo.”
Uma approached Biyoung, whose stomach was as big as a mountain.
“What is this, a person or a balloon?”
“You’re not much different yourself, Senior Brother.”
As Biyoung said, Uma’s belly was also bulging to the point that his martial arts uniform seemed about to burst.
Being a man of large build already, Uma looked like a giant bear.
“I came by because I have one question.”
“Ooh. What is it?”
“You definitely said it last time, didn’t you? That you thrashed a second-generation disciple of the True Dragon Sect at the Yi Family Clan.”
“I did.”
“You said there was an elder there at the time, too. Was the elder who came today that guy?”
“No. It was a different person. The elder I met at the Yi Family Manor was a man named Mayeon.”
Uma’s eyes narrowed even further.
“That’s what’s strange. If he had come for revenge, I’d understand, but why would he come with only a bunch of scrubs in tow when he clearly knew your skills?”
“Elder Yubeop didn’t seem to know about the past incident.”
“Then, are you saying the elder named Mayeon deliberately didn’t tell him?”
A bitter smile formed on Biyoung’s face.
“Well, every sect has its own circumstances, right?”
“……I’ve never seen such a dysfunctional family. If Yubeop finds out about this later, won’t a family feud break out?”
“Well. If I were Elder Mayeon, I think I’d answer like this.”
“What?”
“Did someone threaten you with a knife?”
Uma asked back with a bewildered face.
“What?”
“Who threatened you with a knife? It was a duel Elder Yubeop started on his own, and it’s not like Elder Mayeon instigated it, right?”
“That’s true, but……”
Although he didn’t know Mayeon’s face, Uma tried to imagine it.
A defeated soldier, thrashed to bits, goes to protest, but what would it feel like if his colleague was being a jerk, saying, ‘Did someone threaten you with a knife?’?
“If it were me, I would have killed him.”
At Uma’s words, Biyoung burst out laughing.