novelraw Chapter 177 : Chapter 177
Chapter 177 : Chapter 177
Chapter 177 - Let's Just Do It
“Hey, don't push!”
“Let’s go in order! Are you not all people with business here!”
“Don't lose your companions while being distracted by other things!”
“Yes!”
Shaolin was indeed Shaolin. A vast crowd of people of various outfits and ages gathered and flowed like a running stream.
It was meaningless to check which sect they came from or which family they belonged to.
Because just everyone had come.
“Heh……”
Looking at the crowd from a distance, I swallowed a hollow laugh.
“So, you mean this entire procession is toward the entrance of Shaolin?”
To think it’s this crowded even on the way to Shaolin, not even inside. Unlike the other young talents, I had memories of visiting Shaolin several times. However, seeing Shaolin this crowded was a sight even I was seeing for the first time.
“Is that not evidence of how high the expectations for the martial arts tournament are?”
At Eung Gajin’s words, I asked again.
“Expectations? What expectations?”
“There could be various expectations. In the case of famous orthodox sects and prestigious families, it’s a good place to check the skills of the prospects they’ve raised, and for groups with weak power, they’ll judge whether the future situation can be reversed through this martial arts tournament. The onlookers will watch with expectations for what kind of prospects will appear.”
“Then, what about us?”
“Us?”
At my meaningful question, Eung Gajin fell into thought for a moment.
“If I had to say, would it not be an opportunity for experience and to make the name of the Diancang Sect known to the world again?”
“You’re wrong, Senior Brother.”
I stepped forward a few paces and turned my back. Naturally, all the young talents came into my sight at once.
“Listen well. the reason we participated in the martial arts tournament is not for experience or the value of our name.”
“?”
“Simply having done well in the tournament. That alone is insufficient. Yes, it certainly is.”
“Then what is it that you want?”
“Dominance.”
“…………!!!”
“I want you all to etch this in your hearts. we have come to literally dominate the martial arts tournament.”
At that majestic and confident ambition, the young talents were simply lost for words. Surprised by the scale of Shaolin, they had never really thought about their performance in the tournament. Was it not a place where all kinds of prospects who are famous in the Murim had gathered? But unlike the young talents, I had a clear sense of purpose.
“Advance to the Round of 16. All of you.”
“!!!”
“W-What?”
At that catastrophic instruction, the jaws of all four dropped to the floor.
“Hey, kid! Is the Round of 16 some child’s play?”
“There’s…… something called match-up luck too…….”
“Do you think the Round of 16 is some seat in a tavern’s main hall? Even for a seat in the main hall, you have to go early to reserve a spot.”
However, despite the fierce protests of my fellow disciples, I only picked my ear.
“Ah. Be quiet. All of you, advance to the Round of 16 even if you have to crawl. You know my personality, right? Those who can't advance will undergo training they have never experienced before on Diancang Mountain.”
Is this really a junior brother of the sect or a swindler? Uma had made all sorts of threats while doing the private loan business in Simao, but he had never heard of such absurd conditions as now. Jeong-i, who had been still all along, asked me.
“You really think we can do it, right?”
“If I thought it was impossible, I wouldn't have even brought it up.”
Even though I had been threatening them with a thug-like face just moments ago, I smiled brightly and looked around at my fellow disciples.
‘Certainly…….’
It was an absurd assumption, but Eung Gajin let his imagination run wild. Five of the young talents who reached the Round of 16 are from the same sect? No matter what anyone said, the hegemony of the next Murim would belong to their sect.
Thump.
As he pictured the five fellow disciples lined up in front of the people of the world, Eung Gajin’s heart surged violently. At that level, it wouldn't be just a matter of maintaining a lineage, but something worthy of being called a perfect 'resurrection'.
“Let’s just do it.”
“Senior Brother!”
Uma called Eung Gajin with eyes that asked why even the senior brother was like that.
“Even if Biyoung seems reckless, has he ever demanded something for which the estimation didn't come out? He must have said it because he thinks we can roughly manage it.”
“Do you really think five of us can be among the sixteen?”
“I can't guarantee it either. However……”
Eung Gajin smiled toward everyone with a reliable face.
“If we pull it off, how wonderful would that be?”
“…………!”
As even Eung Gajin showed enthusiasm following me, Uma could no longer protest.
Ptui!
After spitting on the ground once, Uma’s small eyes soon sparkled.
“Fine then. Whether I die during a duel or die while training with that bastard, it’s all the same. Let’s do it.”
“Keke. Senior Brother. Anyone would think I’m half-killing you under the guise of training.”
At my brazen words, everyone’s faces were filled with rage. How many times had they fainted while training, yet I was denying it like that? However, on the other hand, it was also true that they had come to exceed an ordinary level through that training. Right. Since things had turned out like this, let’s do it. Although their ways of expressing it were different, each of the young talents lit a new fire in their hearts. At that moment,
“Is that not the Diancang Sect over there?”
“What? Where, where?”
“Navy blue dance clothes with a red eagle pattern…… yes, it is!”
“The Diancang Sect? Did you say the Diancang Sect?!”
People who recognized the dance clothes of the Diancang Sect flocked toward my group.
“Ehh?”
Eung Gajin, and even I, had not expected this kind of reaction. Usually, this kind of popularity was only seen for famous swordsmen of the Nine Sects One Union or successors of the Five Great Families. It had only been a year since we recovered our main mountain, let alone being one of the Nine Sects One Union. Because of the people who flocked with excited expressions, my group could not even walk properly.
“Hah! I heard a new Jade-faced Quick Sword had appeared in the Jianghu, and it wasn't a false rumor. Look at this handsome man!”
“And what about the man standing at the very front? I thought the protagonist of the Heroic Tale I read yesterday had popped out!”
“Does the Diancang Sect look at faces when accepting disciples? How can the appearance of a swordsman be that beautiful?”
“I don't think that’s the case. Look at the ruffian-like man standing next to him.”
“Hup! He looks like he would use a sword like a ghost.”
Unfortunately, Jeong-i was the only one who had experienced this kind of interest and popularity. Even then, she was a popular person in a Gisaeng house, and she had never received cheers from people on the street. Even the peerless Biyoung was experiencing the blatant interest of the crowd from a close distance for the first time. Because I had always moved alone on paths where there were no crowds.
“Uh……”
“What should we do about this? At this rate, we won't even be able to walk properly.”
Indeed, because the crowd had gathered in a circle around the Diancang Sect, the path we were trying to take was completely blocked. Even during that time, the crowd was chattering this and that about my group. Since most of them were looking with favorable eyes, it was an awkward situation to force them to move. Actually, it was a good thing.
There were people everywhere who barely remembered the name of the sect, but now weren't the people of the world recognizing us like this? If the Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect had seen this, he might have been moved to tears. This scene of receiving admiration and praise from the people of the world was exactly the appearance of the Diancang Sect during its past period of revival. Of course. In the past and now, there are bound to be people who do not welcome such a situation.
Clack.
I held my sword in a reverse grip. Jeong-i asked me with an expression of disbelief.
“Don't tell me you're thinking of using the Shooting Flash Ambush Strike right now?”
“Why? I think right now is exactly the time to activate that technique.”
“If you want to become a public enemy of the Murim before the tournament, then go ahead.”
“Tsk.”
I smacking my lips and took my hand off the sword hilt. If I could, I wanted to blow away all these bothersome people. No. I get that you're interested in us. But shouldn't we be able to go on our way? Move it, already!!!
“Khahahaha! This is truly nothing but the state of a frog trapped in a well!”
At that moment, a familiar mad laugh was heard by my group. I turned my head with a welcome face. In my sight, a bizarre man with unkempt hair wearing rags appeared.
“Guardian Gwangyo!”
“Khehehe.”
Exactly as he looked when we parted on Diancang Mountain, the large figure in dirty clothes walked toward us staggering.
“It’s been a while? I didn't expect to see Guardian Gwangyo here.”
“I knew it.”
“Did the Beggars' Union also send their young talents?”
Then Gwangyo revealed his yellow teeth.
“Beggars are always short on time for begging. Things like martial arts tournaments are like a hand in a game of cards played by bastards with good fortunes.”
At those words, several people in the crowd turned red. It was because it was a remark that insulted all those who had attended the martial arts tournament. However, regardless of the uncomfortable atmosphere of the crowd, no one dared to step forward and give Gwangyo a piece of their mind. It was because an overwhelming pressure that felt like one's body would be torn apart just by saying anything was being emitted.
“Heng. Then why did Guardian Gwangyo appear in the card game?”
Then Gwangyo approached closely and whispered lowly.
“As long as I promised to succeed, I have to do what I'm told.”
“Aha.”
I chuckled as if I understood. Today's martial arts tournament was hosted by Shaolin, and further, it could be said to be a common event of the Nine Sects One Union. Although one was free not to have their young talents participate, as a pillar of the Nine Sects One Union, it was necessary for at least one observer to appear on the scene to save face.
Since they are the Nine Sects One Union and the Murim Alliance, not sending even a single person would be an act of disregarding them. Previously, Gwangyo had asked the Union Leader of the Beggars' Union for permission to join the Diancang Sect’s revenge, and the Union Leader, in exchange for granting his request, ordered him to participate in the Beggars' Union’s administration.
“Khehe. Anyway, why are you so restless like a puppy that needs to poop? Are you planning to be trapped here forever?”
“I can't do that. But there are just too many people.”
“Then watch closely.”
Gwangyo inhaled, and then gave a thunderous shout filled with internal energy.
“You insect-like bastards! Get lost already! From now on, I will pull out the necks of the bastards who block me and hang them in the marketplace!”
“Hiek!”
Gwangyo, who already looked like a tiger, burst into rage, and his momentum was truly nothing short of ferocious. A path opened up in front of Gwangyo as if the Red Sea were parting, and he turned back and shrugged his shoulders. At the clean solution without any superfluity, I clapped my palms as if I had gained an insight.
“Indeed. I’ve learned a thing.”
“……What exactly did you learn?”
Jeong-i pushed my back with a face that said she was appalled. Anyway, thanks to Gwangyo, the small difficulty was resolved, and they were soon able to reach the main gate of Shaolin Temple.
“Khehe. It seems my lodging is different from yours.”
“Because Guardian Gwangyo is of the Nine Sects One Union, and we are not.”
“Since it’s not an event that will end in a single day, we’ll see each other again. Besides, I feel more comfortable being with you guys than talking with old fossils.”
Well. I wonder if my fellow disciples would also welcome you? I had such a thought, but I didn't dare say it out loud.
“It seems a few of you have changed quite a bit. Tell me the details later.”
Guardian Gwangyo said so while looking over the young talents and then walked briskly inside the main gate. Although he pretended to be free in various ways, seeing him end the conversation quickly, it seemed he had quite a bit to do.
“Amitabha. Have you come from the Diancang Sect?”
At that moment, a monk who had been standing still at the entrance all along approached the group. It seemed he had waited silently until they parted from Gwangyo. Representing the group, Eung Gajin bowed his head.
“That is correct. We have come to Shaolin to participate in the martial arts tournament.”
“Welcome. This humble monk is called Goeng-geon. I will guide you throughout the martial arts tournament.”
‘Hoh.’
I whistled internally. A monk using the Goeng generational rank in this era would belong to the mid-level in Shaolin. I could glimpse Shaolin’s mindset toward the martial arts tournament.
“Wow…….”
Although it was the most cornered part of the Chuk Quarters, the mouths of the young talents who checked their quarters fell wide open. When on earth did they build all these lodgings? Although it was said to be a temporary space, the structure was incredibly sturdy, and not a single gap for the wind to enter was allowed.
Like ants entering a burrow, the scene where numerous people were distributed without confusion was also quite impressive. Perhaps Shaolin’s true value lies not in martial arts, but in this kind of administrative power and unity. I had such a thought as I stepped out of the quarters for a moment.
“Great Master Goeng-geon.”
Goeng-geon, who was returning after finishing his work, stopped walking.
“Young Hero Biyoung. Is there perhaps something uncomfortable about the quarters?”
“Ah. It’s not that it’s uncomfortable. I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”
“Please speak. I will help with anything as long as it isn't difficult.”
“I would like to know the list of the Nine Sects One Union who participated in this martial arts tournament.”
“Do you mean the young talents?”
Goeng-geon looked slightly troubled. He had too many other things to do to sift through and deliver all those people. However, I had no interest at all in the young talents from the start.
“No. You just need to let me know the leaders who brought the young talents.”
“The leaders……?”
As if trying to look into my inner thoughts, Goeng-geon’s eyes turned sharp. However, I just smiled innocently as I had from the beginning.