YM778.TV Chapter 913
The word that became the focus was not Plum Blossom Island, but ‘Gangbuk’.
The name Plum Blossom Island is very important to those living in the Yangtze River and to the merchant guild of Jungwon, but for the Gangbuk people who never leave their place of residence throughout their lives, Plum Blossom Island was still unfamiliar.
“Do you mean water fortresses set foot in Gangbuk?”
“That’s what I’m saying! They’ve occupied a city along the Yangtze River and are acting as if they own it!”
“Oh, how could something like that happen? Weren’t there agreements not to cross the river for three years? There’s still some time left before those three years are up, isn’t there?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re talking stupid. Was it a mutual non-aggression pact? It’s a Gangnam non-aggression pact! The Righteous Sects in Gangbuk cannot cross the Yangtze River, but it is okay for the Evil Sects in Gangnam to cross the river.”
“Ah…”
And the situation was enough to remind the public of how one-sided the pact with the Evil Tyrant Alliance was in the past.
“So what? Are they just going to stand by and watch this?”
“Is that possible? The treaty was about not attacking Gangnam, does it state that they can’t touch those who came to Gangbuk?”
“Yes! That’s how it should be!”
“No matter how humiliated Ten Great Sects is, it’s still the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family! It is the right thing to say. If they had avoided fighting at the Yangtze River in the first place, would they have lost to the evil enemies of Evil Sects?”
“Right! And it’s not like they were defeated! It was Chivalrousness!”
There were a few who wanted to say that the process and content of the Chivalrousness were no different from defeat, but eventually, those words went unspoken, and swallowed back down the throat.
This is because the atmosphere wasn’t favorable for pointing out such facts.
“Anyway, this is Gangbuk, no matter how much the Ten Great Sects are treated like a toothless tiger these days, aren’t tigers still a tiger? Would they just leave an intruding wolf cub in their territory? They’ll definitely try to kill it.”
“That’s right! Of course! How dare Evil Tyrant Alliance step on the land of Gangbuk?”
People who had been unanimously criticizing the Ten Great Sects for abandoning their dignity at the Yangtze River now stood in support of them at this moment.
The advance of water fortresses, or the Evil Tyrant Alliance, into Gangbuk was such scary news to them. No matter how dishonorable the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family were, it would be impossible to compare them with the other Evil Sects.
“Even beasts are scarier when they are injured. Wouldn’t Ten Great Sects or Five Great Family have been just looking for an opportunity to take revenge on the Evil Tyrant Alliance for the past three years?”
“Ahem, of course. They’ve been tied down by that ridiculous Gangnam Non-Aggression Pact. If it weren’t for that, they would have invaded Gangnam long ago and chopped off Jang Ilso’s head!”
“Tsk, tsk. I don’t understand. What’s so important about such a pact? If they had just ignored it and attacked, no one would have said anything.”
“Goodness, this man! If they can’t even keep their own words, how can they be called Righteous Sects? How are they any different from those barbaric punk of Evil Secst?”
“It’s just an expression, you see?”
“Anyway, the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family will definitely not sit idly by. Definitely not!”
Everyone believed. The Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family, who had been humiliated by the Evil Tyrant Alliance and disgraced their pride, will naturally seek revenge this time.
Although it was a disappointing performance, the expectations for the prestigious sect, which was once everyone’s pride, were still alive.
Moreover, there was a reaction borne out of fear that life could become a living hell if those prestigious sects failed to stop the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
Everyone in Gangbuk wanted the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family to come to the front and clean up the mess again, but….
Things didn’t just flow the way they wanted them to.
* * *
The solemn chill spread across Bop Jeong’s face.
“…What did they say?”
Bop Kye couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes and hung his head. Although he hadn’t done anything wrong, he felt guilty and embarrassed.
Forcing his stiff lips to move, Bop Kye spoke in a weak voice.
“We have received responses, but… there are only a few sects that are willing to come to Shaolin.”
“A few?”
“…Yes.”
Bop Jeong was silent for a moment. Only the sound of prayer beads rolling in his hands was heard regularly.
“Which sects refused?”
“That, that’s….”
A drop of cold sweat flowed down the forehead of the law community.
“First of all, the Beggar Union has expressed willingness to participate.”
“….”
“And… Kongtong is on its way to Shaolin. Kunlun has also agreed to come, but…”
“Because it’s Kunlun, they probably won’t be able to arrive on time.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
Kunlun Mountain, where Kunlun is located, is on the border of Qinghai and Xinjiang. As a result, the distance from Hanam alone is a whopping 7,000 Li. This is a further distance than the Outer Palace.
Therefore, Kunlun has been a member of the Ten Great Sects since the past but at the same time was in a subtly alienated position.
“As for Southern Sea Sect, as you know…”
“I know. They can’t come.”
Bop Kye nodded.
It is Southern Sea Sect that became the most dangerous place when the Evil Tyrant Alliance ruled Gangnam. They were based on Southern Sea Island, an island in the South Sea, and were currently unable to take a single step inland.
“So…”
Bop Jeong, who had been listening to Bop Kye’s continuous hesitation, eventually distorted its face.
“That’s not the only sect of the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family! Don’t drag your word and answer me directly!”
Startled by his outburst, Bop Kye quickly nodded.
“Yes, Bangjang! Dianchang, Emei, and Qingcheng sent a message saying that it is difficult to come to Henan.”
“…And the reason is?”
“That… They say that if Evil Tyrant Alliance flock to Gangbuk, Sichuan will become an ownerless mountain….”
Kkagak.
The prayer beads, which had been making a regular tapping sound, suddenly became tightly clenched and let out a harsh sound.
It wasn’t unreasonable.
However, what Bop Jeong originally requested was not for those sects to move to Gangbuk. It was a conversation with sect leader of the sect. Refusing to even have a discussion based on hypothetical scenarios was absurd.
“And?”
“…We received no response from the sects that went Bongmun.”
“Even Wudang?”
“…Yes.”
Bop Jeong looked up at the sky without saying a word. After staring at the clear blue sky for a while, he sighed and muttered with self-mockery.
“The term Ten Great Sects is originally about the conference of ten sects.”
“….”
“Yet in this critical situation, only three have stepped forward to discuss. Just three…”
“Bangjang….”
Watching him, unable to hide his disappointment, Bop Kye unconsciously clenched his fist.
Southern Edge Sect’s position was understandable.
They went to Bongmun before this happened and have maintained their position since then. Coldly speaking, they are exempt from any responsibility for this entire situation.
Southern Sea was also understandable. Given their situation, they had no choice.
But the other sects were different.
As well as Wudang which is now in Bongmun, the three sects of Sichuan are also responsible for this. In particular, Wudang and Qinghai, who participated in the Yangtze War, should not turn a blind eye to his words.
The only ones left were Kongtong Sect, Beggar Union, and Kunlun Sect, which was too far away to be of any use.
“What about Five Great Family?”
“…Hebei Peng Family sent a message that they would come to Shaolin. But Namgung Family still hasn’t answered….”
“….”
“Jaegal Family gave a positive answer that they would come to Shaolin depending on the situation… but Moyong Family has not sent any response.”
Bop Jeong shakes his head.
With Tang Family out of the picture, that left four of the Five Great Family. Among them, only Hebei Peng Family has expressed its intention to participate properly. Jaegal Family’s words to participate considering the situation are unbelievable. They’re the most cautious sect in the world.
“Bop Kye.”
“…Yes, Bangjang.”
“I won’t say it’s not my fault.”
“Ba- Bangjang.”
Bop Jeong, with a face as rigid as ice, opened his mouth.
“As Bangjang of Shaolin, I certainly made a big mistake. But… what kind of situation are we in? Does everyone really not understand what it means for the water fortresses to step into Gangbuk, and what situation it could lead to?”
That can’t be true.
They couldn’t possibly fail to foresee this, or they wouldn’t dare to call themselves leaders of the renowned sects. Never.
“And yet, at this moment, they only care for their own interests! Amidst all this!”
What angered Bop Jeong the most was this very fact.
The sects that have announced their participation are either directly related to Gangbuk or are too far away to have any influence on the outcome.
All the places that are just one step away from the disaster that is about to happen in Gangbuk are looking at each other and pulling their buttocks out.
“How can they even mention righteousness in this situation, how! Why…”
Bop Jeong, who was protesting, suddenly closed its mouth. As if he was trying to say something but couldn’t get it out of his mouth.
He seemed to have been unable to sort out his emotions for a while and bit his lip. Then he said,
“Bop Kye.”
“…Yes, Bangjang.”
“Tell me. Do you think their actions are forgivable?”
“…Bangjang.”
“Aren’t the opponent this time Evil Sects, not anywhere else? How can they think of their own gain in such a situation?”
Bop Kye pondered for a moment before lowering his head.
This was because the answer he had to give was too embarrassing and guilty to come up with on his own.
“Bangjang….”
“Tell me.”
“Breaking something that shouldn’t be broken is… Weren’t we first?”
“….”
Bop Kye spoke with his eyes tightly closed, unable to bear to look at Bop Jeong.
“I am… This is what I did. I was there… I should have prepared for death….”
Bop Jeong shut his mouth.
Because he realized that he was so overcome with emotion that he said something he shouldn’t have said.
“I too prioritized the safety of my disciples and Shaolin over my duties. How can I, in such a position, blame them?”
“That’s…!”
Bop Jeong tried to refute with something, but soon shook his head.
It was because he knew too well that no words could comfort Bop Kye, that no excuses could justify their actions.
“Even so, isn’t it too short-sighted! After Gangbuk burns, what happens next? It is obvious who will be next. Amitabha. Amitabha….”
However, the heated words of Bop Jeong soon became blurred.
He knew full well that the words he spoke were losing their power.
Bop Kye cautiously observed him and then spoke.
“Bangjang. If only the Yangtze River incident had occurred, there would certainly have been more sects who wanted to deal with the Evil Sects first. However….”
“…What does that mean?”
“You know… about the work of Mount Hua.”
When the word Mount Hua came out, the face of Bop Jeong became noticeably firm.
Bop Kye continued in a resigned tone.
“Nobody wants to be in the lead. The price of sacrificing one’s life for the sake of Chivalrousness and Jungwon… Isn’t everyone aware of it now?”
Bop Jeong’s face momentarily showed defeat.
“Hoho… ho.”
In the end, what came out of his mouth was a self-deprecating laugh. After a brief chuckle, he spoke quietly.
“… Original Sin.”
It was a word that echoes weights. Bop Kye looked at Bop Jeong with a worried look.
“…Bangjang.”
“Yes, you’re right. Who are we to blame….”
It was something that should not have been done.
It was something that should never have been done.
The incident left deep scars not only to Mount Hua but also Ten Great Setcs and Five Great Family. And it continues to this day, making everyone groan.
Neither Wudang nor Shaolin escaped that ghost.
Because they’ve seen with their very own eyes that the result of fighting at the forefront for chivalrousness is annihilation and abandonment.
Perhaps the real cause of the Yangtze incident lay there.
“…Send a message to Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
“Ba- Bangjang?”
“Let’s see what they say. Shameless and guilty as we are.”
Bop Kye nodded his head without a word. This was because he knew that adding words here would only make Bop Jeong more distressed.
“I will do so.”
As Bop Kye stepped down carefully, Bop Jeong’s face was clouded with deep remorse.
‘How did you endure….’
A small chant leaked from his mouth as he closed his eyes.
‘How did you endure such a painful time…’
The name ‘Mount Hua’ throbbed in his heart like a burning scar.