Chapter 155 :

<Black Flame Dragon Amid the Chaos (5)>

Seeing the children’s faces turn pale as they listened to Hyeseong and Jang Ujae, I laughed in disbelief.

‘I can’t believe there’s still an old man around who uses the Mind-Seizing Word-Binding Command.’

This sonic art was created by combining the Demon Path’s Mind-Commanding Art with the effects of the Lion’s Roar. Since its roots lay in the Demon Path, Shaolin Temple shunned it.

The art’s purpose was also so sinister that even monks were reluctant to use it. That alone gave me a pretty good idea of how much the old monk called Hyeseong liked to lord it over others.

The Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers, Saryeon, Seong Moran, and even Namgung Seonhwa, who had learned the Namgung Family’s cultivation method, were all unable to move. Hyeseong must have used the Mind-Seizing Word-Binding Command quite often.

I spread my Jade Purity Heavenly Star Power and dispelled the command’s energy.

“Phew …”

“ …What was that?”

“I could barely breathe for a moment.”

As if their voices had suddenly been released, the onlookers began talking again. Deep furrows formed between Hyeseong’s brows.

“Do you realize that Lay Patron Jin Sowoon is insulting the Buddha?”

I tilted my head.

“You were speaking informally to me just a moment ago. Why are you suddenly being so polite? It’s awkward.”

“And aren’t you the one insulting the Buddha, Great Master Hyeseong?”

Hyeseong had no intention of getting involved in what had happened in Yueyang.

“What?”

“Isn’t that right? Was what Academy Student Jang Ujae asked for really such a big deal? He simply asked you to visit his sect and show that Yujang Sect was an ally of the righteous martial world. Was that so difficult?”

It was obvious that his promise to return to the Martial Alliance and call a meeting was a lie, too.

What better justification could the Martial Alliance ask for than the destruction of a small or mid-sized sect like Yujang Sect?

They were probably planning to let the heretical martial world run rampant for now, so they could later reclaim control of Yueyang.

“I can’t understand why you would stand by when you know people are going to be sacrificed.”

Hyeseong and the members of the Righteous Path Association glared at me.

Ignoring their contemptuous looks, I continued.

“Or do you think their sacrifice is simply to be expected?”

“ …You brat!”

“I’ve heard enough!”

They didn’t bat an eye when others were bleeding, yet they reacted at once when something offended them.

Did they really think that we and they stood on different ground?

“Enough!”

At Hyeseong’s roar, the members of the Righteous Path Association could barely conceal their anger.

“Lay Patron Jin …”

“I told you I don’t like being called that.”

“ …Heh.”

After a brief, easygoing smile, Hyeseong spoke.

“Even if you are a disciple of a Daoist martial sect, you are no different from any other living being in the eyes of the Buddha. The same is true of Lay Patron Jang Ujae. Even if his sect is not an official ally of the Martial Alliance, from the Alliance’s perspective he is still a companion walking the righteous path.”

As Hyeseong continued in a kindly manner, the onlookers found themselves nodding along.

“Just as you said, Lay Patron Jin, I could intervene personally. But what if doing so caused even more casualties elsewhere?”

“Where has anything like that happened?”

As far as I knew, there was nowhere in the martial world facing a bloodbath worse than Yueyang.

“It’s happening in Sichuan.”

That lunatic monk.

Hyeseong looked at Jang Ujae.

“I, too, regret the situation. But in Sichuan, there are beings who have concealed their identities for decades and are now targeting the entire martial world.”

I could barely keep from laughing at Hyeseong’s lie.

You people don’t feel any sense of urgency about that right now!

“Of course, I know that the righteous sects of Yueyang, including Yujang Sect, are in danger. That is why I will do everything I can.”

“That’s very reassuring.”

They say an old fox’s teeth are sharper than a young tiger’s.

Somehow, Hyeseong had found a justification for staying out of the situation and persuaded everyone.

Jang Ujae, who had been listening, seemed to have no strength left. He knelt on the ground, bent forward, and wept.

Hyeseong didn’t even look at him as he spoke.

“Then how about this?”

Hyeseong looked at me with a smug expression.

“Your name is already known throughout the martial world, isn’t it? You should personally get involved in what’s happening in Yueyang. Besides, you’re the current representative of the Martial Academy. Don’t you have a duty to help Academy Student Jang Ujae?”

I couldn’t help laughing hollowly.

So he was trying to shift the responsibility onto me?

“ …”

Hyeseong smiled smugly.

He certainly had the political skill to rise to the rank of elder in the Martial Alliance.

But compared to those Sojeong Unit bastards, who were always trying to swindle their fellow members out of their monthly pay, he was an amateur.

An amateur monk, was he? Let’s see how he likes being taken apart piece by piece.

“Are you sure?”

Hyeseong’s smug smile vanished, and his eyes widened at my question.

“I’m asking if you’re sure you’re fine with people saying that a Taeul Sect disciple solved the problem that Shaolin couldn’t handle and ran away from.”

“ …”

Hyeseong’s expression hardened, then quickly shifted again.

“Is this not for the peace and safety of the martial world? If the people can be protected by tarnishing Shaolin’s name, then nothing could make the Buddha happier.”

He was no easy opponent.

If you asked me, Hyeseong belonged in Beijing, not Mount Song.

How could a man who ate nothing but vegetables have such a slippery tongue?

“I am only worried. The fate of Yujang Sect rests in your hands, Lay Patron Jin. I pray you don’t fail. If you do, it could cause trouble not only for Yujang Sect, but for your position as Academy representative as well.”

He didn’t mean a word of it.

Didn’t he worry about going to hell after lying like that?

Fine. Let’s see how far you’ll take this.

“I can’t say you sound sincere.”

“ …What?”

“Do you perhaps want me to fail?”

Hyeseong looked around and laughed as if the idea were absurd.

“Of course not. As I said, I would only regret it.”

“Wouldn’t it actually suit Shaolin if small and mid-sized sects like Yujang Sect all disappeared?”

“ …”

“Then it would be easier for Shaolin to enter Yueyang later, claiming it had come to bring justice to a city ruled by the heretical factions.”

Hyeseong’s expression began to twist.

“How dare you say something so disrespectful …”

“Then will you make me one promise? In front of our companions in the martial world, promise that Shaolin will never enter Yueyang, no matter what happens.”

“ …”

Hyeseong stared at me with such a cold expression that he seemed to have forgotten everyone around him was watching.

“So you can’t promise that after all?”

A laugh escaped me.

“ …What are you talking about? More than anything, I hope for the safety of Yujang Sect and the other righteous sects in Yueyang.”

“But you still can’t make that promise, can you?”

“ …”

The corners of his lips began to twitch.

At this rate, I might end up in hell before Hyeseong did.

“Then say a prayer for the righteous sects of Yueyang. You’re so good at those, after all.”

Not to be outdone, Hyeseong pressed his palms together in a reverent pose I hadn’t seen from him before.

“Amitabha.”

I’d never heard an “Amitabha” that sounded so insincere.

‘It’s just like that day.’

Still bent over and weeping, Jang Ujae couldn’t even bring himself to wipe his tear-streaked face. The feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed him.

It was the day he first saw the Bloodflame Dragon everyone had been talking about.

Jin Sowoon had been furious at the injustice before him.

Jang Ujae had risked his younger sister’s future just to obtain his Academy admission token. Jin Sowoon had thrown dozens of those tokens onto the ground without a second thought and shouted:

—If even the Martial Alliance has forgotten what it means to be fair and impartial, and has become a group that only looks after its own interests!

He had said it right in front of the Elder Council, the highest authority in the Martial Alliance—and, by extension, in the martial world.

—Then I refuse to enroll in the Academy according to your wishes. No, even if you order me to enter, I won’t!

Jang Ujae had been unable to move for a long time after witnessing that shocking scene.

Considering that Jin Sowoon came from Taeul Sect, which was considered inferior even to Yujang Sect, he had said something that no one in the world—not even Jang Ujae himself—would dare to say.

It was the kind of audacious declaration only a truly great man could make.

From that day on, Jin Sowoon had become Jang Ujae’s goal.

A man as bold as him—or at least one who could stand with similar confidence.

That was Jang Ujae’s goal.

He had worked desperately to unite the Academy students who belonged to no faction, hoping to create a group that could represent their interests and stand alongside Jin Sowoon.

Although he belonged to the Hundred and Eight Peaks, he hadn’t joined the Twelve Peaks. And even though he was friends with Namgung Seonhwa, he hadn’t joined the White Path Association.

Knowing it would be difficult, he’d still made an enemy of the Righteous Path Association and stubbornly pursued what he wanted.

Jang Ujae had always hoped to stand beside Jin Sowoon, who was so upright. But reality had been far from forgiving.

A letter from his sect had arrived:

—The heretical gangs in Yueyang are growing stronger. After Wudang withdrew, Diancang took its place again. Try to establish ties with Diancang.

The letter from his sect had forced Jang Ujae to realize that he couldn’t pursue only his own goals and dreams.

Faced with the cold reality, he hadn’t been able to move forward as boldly as Jin Sowoon.

When Jin Sowoon was having the hardest time, Jang Ujae hadn’t gone to him.

Even when everyone turned their backs on Jin Sowoon, Jang Ujae hadn’t been able to support him.

‘But … even so, why …?’

Tears burst forth from him in a rush of shame.

Once again, he hadn’t raised his voice against Master Hyeseong of Shaolin, the greatest pillar of the martial world.

This time, he hadn’t done it for himself. He’d done it entirely for someone else.

He hadn’t held back from speaking harshly even to someone stronger than him.

That only made Jang Ujae feel even more ashamed.

During his conversation with Master Hyeseong, he’d been able to predict what would happen.

Yujang Sect would disappear from the martial world.

It was clear that neither Master Hyeseong nor the Righteous Path Association would do anything for them.

Now all Jang Ujae could do was watch as Yujang Sect—his sect and his family—vanished into history.

“Your name is already known throughout the martial world, isn’t it? You should personally get involved in what’s happening in Yueyang. Besides, you’re the current representative of the Martial Academy. Don’t you have a duty to help Academy Student Jang Ujae?”

His disappointment deepened at Master Hyeseong’s attempt to push the Academy representative into a matter that neither the Righteous Path Association nor the Martial Alliance would handle.

No matter who Jin Sowoon was, there was no way he could get involved in something like this.

He was also a disciple of the small Taeul Sect.

If he said he would get involved just to satisfy his pride, he’d be taking on a grave risk for no reward.

And yet—

“Are you sure?”

Once again, Jin Sowoon shattered Jang Ujae’s expectations without hesitation.

“I’m asking if you’re sure you’re fine with people saying that a Taeul Sect disciple solved the problem that Shaolin couldn’t handle and ran away from.”

And then he reached out to him.

As if this had always been his own problem.

He pledged to step in without the slightest hesitation.

‘Why …?’

Something deep in Jang Ujae’s heart surged up.

Because he’d shown such a shameful side of himself in front of Jin Sowoon.

Because his past actions toward him had been so cowardly.

Because unlike Jang Ujae, Jin Sowoon still shone so brightly.

He couldn’t bring himself to lift his head.

Even after the Righteous Path Association had left and the crowd had dispersed, Jang Ujae could only keep his head bowed.

“Academy Student Jang Ujae.”

He heard Jin Sowoon’s voice.

It was still firm, confident, and weighty.

“Let’s get up.”

“ …”

Jang Ujae couldn’t bear to show him his face.

Perhaps sensing how he felt, Jin Sowoon comforted him again.

“You can’t save your sect while you’re lying there.”

Jang Ujae bit his lip and slowly got to his feet.

His face was a mess of tears and snot, but he didn’t care at all.

“Are you really going to help us?”

“Are the other Academy students not here with you because they want to help you?”

“But … but when you were having the hardest time, Representative, I … I couldn’t stand by you. I don’t deserve your help.”

“Haha, I thought you were going to say something serious. You weren’t the only one who turned your back on me then.”

The way he said it so casually only made Jang Ujae feel more ashamed.

“And who could have stepped forward easily in a situation like that?”

Then what about you?

Why were you able to step forward so easily this time?

The questions rose to his throat, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

Just hearing Jin Sowoon say this made him feel so reassured.

It was as if all the worries he’d carried had been resolved.

Relief surged through him like a rising tide.

The dock was empty now; everyone had left.

A clear voice, as pure as jade beads rolling across a silver tray, let out a long sigh.

“Phew … I knew this would happen from the start, but you did at least think of a plan before jumping in, right?”

At Seong Moran’s words, the Academy students turned their attention to Jin Sowoon.

A genius who had shattered the Soul-Destroying Formation at Maling Plateau.

A prodigy who had passed the Martial Examination with only his junior disciples beside him.

An administrative genius who single-handedly ran a massive Academy.

Everyone held their breath, waiting to hear what he would say.

And, as if to meet their expectations—

“Uh … let’s take a look at the situation first.”

Jang Ujae shook his head as if to clear away his thoughts.

He must have been seeing things because he’d cried so much that he’d grown weak.

“Don’t tell me you got involved with Mukhyul Gang without thinking at all?”

Jin Sowoon nervously licked his lips.

“ …It’s not as if I could just walk away, was it?”

My Jin Sowoon couldn’t possibly be that thoughtless. He couldn’t. No way …

Jin Sowoon scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.

“ …I did think of something. Don’t worry too much.”

“ …”

“ …No, I mean it! Do you think I’d jump in without a plan?”

His words didn’t sound very convincing.

Her feelings of reassurance froze over and melted away like snow.

Ilgak, walking at the very back of the group, glanced behind him several times. At last, he seemed to make up his mind and approached Hyeseong.

Just as Ilgak was hesitantly about to speak, Hyeseong asked first:

“Speak.”

“ …Yes?”

“Don’t you have something you want to say? Go on.”

“ …I was thinking that maybe I should go show my face there, at least briefly.”

When Master Hyeseong looked at Ilgak without replying, Ilgak hurried on.

“O-of course, I’ll be back soon. If I hurry …”

“Why would you go there?”

Ilgak offered the excuse he’d prepared in advance.

“ …If Yujang Sect survives, won’t people look down on Shaolin? If I go and show my face, at least—”

“Do you think Yujang Sect will survive?”

“If they get help from here and there …”

Master Hyeseong gave a derisive chuckle.

“Do Mukhyul Gang and Cheukbu Palace seem like easy opponents to you?”

At Ilgak’s puzzled expression, Master Hyeseong continued.

“They are heretical sects that have been expanding their influence in Yueyang for over fifty years. Do you think they’re just some street thugs?”

“ …”

“They weren’t afraid of Yuwol Gate or Changseong Sect just because those sects had Diancang behind them. Nor were they afraid of Diancang, so far away.”

Then what had the heretical martial world been afraid of all this time, if not Diancang?

“The Martial Alliance.”

“ …But if they were afraid of the Martial Alliance, wouldn’t they still be holding back now?”

“Tsk. This is why I’ve always said that we shouldn’t teach the children at the main temple meditation alone.”

Master Hyeseong grumbled, then chided him.

“The tide of events has shifted from the righteous side to the heretical side. They know that, for now, the Martial Alliance can’t easily show up in Yueyang.”

“ …”

“If you look at one wave, you can predict the tide—but all that will do is keep you from getting wet.”

“If you truly wish to sail into the vast sea, you must learn to read the world. Do you understand?”

“ …I’ll remember.”

Master Hyeseong chuckled softly.

“Perhaps after you return from Sichuan, you’ll be able to take the representative’s position. Prepare yourself.”

“ …What?”

“Jin Sowoon … that boy will be swept away by this current.”