Invitation to the Chatroom of the Gods - Chapter 84



Only Krnovel

Episode 84 – Kidnapping (2)

hijacking.

It was something he said to give Dang So-hyang a suitable excuse, like, “I don’t know, whatever happens, happens.”

I knew that Sacheondangmun would think badly of me.

I will not leave alone the kidnapper who kidnapped Dang So-hyang, the daughter of the head of the Sacheon Dangmun and the precious daughter of Ok-su-gyeong-ji.

I also knew that there was a possibility that there would be a hostile relationship with the Sacheondangmun.

Still, I was willing to take it if it didn’t make Dang So-hyang uncomfortable.

But why······

“Your Majesty?”

The situation was going so strangely, if not bizarrely.

First of all, I was terrified at the thought of being offered gold as a reward or something. I was saving up merit to purchase the elixir of the Supreme Elder, and now he’s just wasting it all away.

But I understood.

I could ‘understand’ that he wanted to give me the gold ingot as a reward for treating Dang So-hyang.

But I couldn’t understand why Dangbaekgun suddenly knelt before me.

It wasn’t just about kneeling.

It seemed like Dang Baek-gun was practically committing a grave sin, so why would I do that?

Unless I had committed a serious mistake, there was no reason for the head of the Sacheondangmun sect to kneel before me.

But Dangbaekgun has never done anything wrong to me.

From the beginning, it could be said that it was the opposite.

It was right for me, who had kidnapped Dang So-hyang without permission, to kneel before Dang Baek-gun.

Of course, I didn’t actually kidnap Dang So-hyang, but since I claimed to be the kidnapper, it was right for me to kneel before Dang Baek-gun and apologize.

But, what’s not enough is that Dang Baek-gun is kneeling······.

“Please, can you continue to kidnap our So-hyang?”

I was ‘asking’ if I could continue to kidnap Dang So-hyang.

······I really couldn’t understand what was going on.

No, where in the world would you find a father who asks for his own daughter to be kidnapped? And in front of his own daughter and the kidnapper.

“Eh···?”

As expected, Dang So-hyang also didn’t understand anything about what was going on.

Along with her stupid expression, I too was in a completely incomprehensible situation and just blinked my eyes.

Fortunately, as if he knew how we were feeling, Dangbaek-gun slowly opened his mouth.

“I would like to take So-hyang back to the family right now. However, I am so embarrassed to say this······.”

Dang Baek-gun with a gloomy expression.

“I can’t protect So-hyang.”

It was only then that I finally realized why Dangbaekgun had suddenly knelt before me.

Sichuan Tang Gate.

As one of the five great families that stand shoulder to shoulder with the Gupaeilbang, the Sacheondangmun could be said to be a family made up of blood relatives with the surname ‘Dang’.

However, unlike other ‘Segae’ where only blood relatives could become disciples or members, Sacheon Dangmun had the attribute of a ‘sect’ where anyone could become a disciple or member as long as their skills were recognized.

The size and power of the family increased by accepting other blood relatives, and this was the reason why it was the only one among the five great families to be called ‘Sacheon Dangmun’ and not ‘Dangsegae’.

Therefore, the authority of the ‘Munju’ in Sacheon Dangmun was not that strong.

For other Sega families made up of blood relatives, the word of the ‘head’ was the law and rule of the Sega family.

However, in the case of the Sacheon Dangmun, the power of the ‘elders’ rather than the head of the household was more powerful.

Rather than being a family tightly bound by blood relations, the clan had a strong sect-like character, and was run by the ‘elders’ rather than the head of the clan.

“Even So-hyang’s wedding… I couldn’t stop it. I could only watch with my eyes open as the family pushed So-hyang to the edge of a cliff.”

Although Dang So-hyang didn’t have much time left, it was clear that Dang Baek-gun was unable to protect her.

And now that Dang So-hyang’s condition has been cured.

“If you take So-hyang to the family now, the elders will never leave her alone.”

That would be the case, because from the perspective of the Sacheon Dangmun clan, Dang So-hyang was the best tool to revive the clan.

First of all, her beauty was like that.

Tang Xiaoxiang, the most beautiful woman in Sichuan and the most beautiful in the world, was the perfect tool for a political marriage.

Any man would covet her beauty, and she could establish connections with some of the most prestigious families in the world.

Furthermore, Tang So-hyang, who was once a body of a thousand poisons and now an extremely poisonous body, possessed the innate ability to use poison.

Sacheondangmun was able to develop poison skills by testing all kinds of poisons on Tang So-hyang.

With this, the poisonous skills of the Sacheondangmun would be able to rise to the ranks of the best in the world, and even the ten best masters in the world would have to tremble in fear at the poisonous skills of the Sacheondangmun.

And this.

“The Sacheondangmun······is that kind of family.”

It was the Sacheondangmun method.

A method that does not care about the means and methods to achieve the goal.

A way to choose the easy way to protect the family with the sacrifice and misfortune of just one person, rather than having the entire family come out and fight and shed blood.

It was the most rational and ideal method in terms of ‘efficiency’, and it could be said to follow the right path, but······.

“I can’t protect So-hyang.”

I didn’t follow my feelings.

Efficiency meant no waste, and emotions without waste could not exist.

So, Grandfather Park Jin-hyeon harshly criticized, saying, ‘I couldn’t bear to open my eyes and look at that dirty way of doing things.’

Just as a monk should leave if he doesn’t like the temple, Grandfather Park Jin-hyeon was disgusted by the way the Sacheon Dangmun used to operate, so he kicked the temple out of his own accord.

So, Dangbaekgun was not kneeling before me as the ‘master’ of the Sacheondangmun.

As the ‘father’ of an only daughter, she was kneeling before me and asking for a favor.

“Please, can you continue to kidnap So-hyang?”

He asked me to continue kidnapping Dang So-hyang.

The kidnapping was nothing more than a ‘pretext’. It was something I said thoughtlessly for the sake of Dang So-hyang, but it could have been an excuse to prevent Sacheon Dangmun from using Dang So-hyang as a ‘tool’.

In other words, Dang Baek-gun was asking me to protect Dang So-hyang from Sacheon Dangmun.

* * *

Although Tang Baek-gun was miserable, he knew that this was the only way.

I couldn’t drag my precious daughter, who had miraculously survived, back to the hell that was Sacheondangmun.

“Of course······I know it’s a difficult request.”

Of course, it was difficult for Cheongwoon to fight against one family alone.

No matter how great the Fire Dragon Swordsman was, there was no way he would not suffer damage if he was from the Sacheon Tangmun, one of the five great swordsmen.

Dangbaekgun would take the lead in blocking it, but if the elders continued to pressure him, Dangbaekgun would have no choice.

However, Dang Baek-gun knew that the elders of Sacheon Dangmun would be unable to do anything to Cheong-un.

Even if Dang So-hyang had been kidnapped by Cheong-un, Sacheon Dangmun would have been unable to do anything to Cheong-un.

Now, behind Cheongun, there was an ‘Emperor’.

The rumor that the emperor himself had come to meet Cheongun spread far and wide throughout the world.

And the patrol party of Sacheondangmun went one step further and knew what the emperor had said to the elders of the Murim Alliance.

-I don’t plan on getting involved in the affairs of the martial arts world, but if it’s related to Cheongun, I won’t just consider it as a martial arts world matter.

Even the elders of the Murim Alliance did not dare to even think of touching Cheongun. How could the elders of the Sacheondangmun be any different?

If it was simply the ‘Fire Dragon Great Swordsman’ who kidnapped Dang So-hyang, it was clear that the Sacheon Tangmun would have taken action somehow, but if the ‘Emperor’ was involved, the story would have been completely different.

Sacheondangmun couldn’t even dare to touch Cheongun.

Even if there was an excuse for kidnapping, there was no way for Cheongun to do anything to Dang So-hyang.

This was the only way to save Dang So-hyang at the moment.

“I’m sorry, So-hyang. This father is incapable… All I can do for you is kneel before the Great Swordsman and beg him earnestly.”

Dang So-hyang’s eyes shook greatly at Dang Baek-gun’s words.

But, Dang So-hyang was so pretty, even when she looked flustered, wondering who her daughter was.

That’s why······

“Our Sacheondangmun will change. I will change it.”

Dang Baek-gun was thinking of changing the Sacheon Dangmun. He was going to change the current Sacheon Dangmun for the sake of his one and only precious daughter, Dang So-hyang.

In fact, during that time, Dangbaekgun thought that there should be a family like Sacheondangmun.

Because the world of martial arts was so crazy, there were so many crazy people, and when dealing with those crazy people, you couldn’t help but become crazy along with them.

Just as you can’t avoid getting mud when fighting in the mud, you can’t always pursue justice and righteousness.

There had to be a political faction that operated in the shadows, and I thought that was the Sacheon Dangmun.

Dang Baek-gun thought it was a kind of ‘necessary evil’.

But recently, that idea has been mercilessly shattered.

Watching the steps of ‘Cheong-un’ right before his eyes, Dang Baek-gun was able to realize that his thoughts were completely wrong.

Cheongun did not simply pursue righteousness and justice. Even if it was against morality, Cheongun did not hesitate to follow that path.

It was similar to Sacheondangmun, but even so, the path to Cheongun was different from Sacheondangmun.

Cheongun valued the process more than the goal. Therefore, if there was even one sacrifice or misfortune, he would not hesitate to fight and shed blood.

I chose the difficult path instead of the easy one, and efficiency was nowhere to be found.

If you’re stupid, you were stupid. If you’re dumb, you were stupid.

That is why there was a ‘person’ left by Cheongun’s side.

At first glance, it seemed like a foolish and stupid road, but for some reason, people were gathered there.

Just as fish naturally gather in clear, deep water, many people were drawn to the vessel called Cheongun and joined it.

In this appearance of Cheongun, Dangbaekgun was able to find the true direction in which Sacheondangmun should move forward.

“Our Sacheondangmun will pursue the value of chivalry.”

It was clear that it would be a difficult and arduous road.

Trying to fix something that is wrong takes a tremendous amount of effort, mental strength, and external pressure.

Nevertheless, Dangbaekgun was determined to do it.

“I will risk my life to change the Sacheondangmun.”

The idea was to create a Sacheondangmun that no longer uses people as tools.

The idea was to change the perception of the Sacheondangmun as being mean and vicious.

In this way, for the father, Dang So-hyang would become a place of peace where he could rest his mind, and for the lord, she would become a strong supporter.

“I don’t know when that will be, but······Can you kidnap our So-hyang until then?”

Dangbaekgun earnestly asked Cheongun.

And although it was a rather difficult request, Cheongwoon’s answer came surprisingly quickly.

“There is one condition.”

condition.

Dangbaekgun waited for Cheongun to continue. However, Cheongun did not say anything. He just slowly approached Dangbaekgun and helped him stand up.

Only when Dang Baek-gun fully raised his body did Cheong-un open his mouth.

“I also had a father like you, Moonju. He would not have hesitated to give up his life for me.”

“······.”

“When my father passed away, I felt like I had lost the world.”

Cheong-un’s face as he spoke was filled with sadness and longing.

Although Dangbaekgun had never seen Cheongun’s father, he could immediately tell what Cheongun thought of his father and what he was thinking of him.

Soon, Cheongwoon’s eyes turned to Dangbaekgun.

“Your Majesty. There is no way to protect Lady Dang without risking your life.”

Cheongwoon slowly turned his gaze and looked at Dang Sohyang.

In the gaze that followed naturally.

Dang So-hyang was not looking at Cheong-un. Dang So-hyang was looking at Dang Baek-gun. Dang So-hyang’s eyes and expression, filled with a look of extreme worry, were directed at Dang Baek-gun.

Although he was an extremely incompetent father who never did anything right, Dang So-hyang still worried about him as a father.

She was truly a beautiful daughter, one that I would not mind putting in my eyes.

Soon, Cheongun’s words pierced my heart.

“The most certain way to protect Lady Tang is for His Majesty the King to remain alive and well.”

“······.”

“So, I ask you to take back your words about risking your life. Furthermore, I hope that you will not hesitate to ask for my help whenever you need it.”

“······.”

“If you promise me just this one thing, I will continue to kidnap the Tang princesses.”

······What, I had nothing to say.

I had a lot to say, but it felt like my throat was blocked and no words would come out.

Seriously, hundreds of words were lingering in my throat.

But only one word comes out.

“······Thank you. Really, really thank you······.”

All that was happening was transparent water droplets falling down from below the lowered Dang Baek-gun.

* * *

Tang Baek-gun’s tears showed no sign of stopping, and he looked exactly like Tang So-hyang, who would have thought they were father and daughter.

So, I could immediately see where all those tears Dang So-hyang shed came from.

In the end, the commotion calmed down only after Dang So-hyang, who could no longer stand to watch, took Dang Baek-gun away. But I didn’t want to disturb the reunion between the father and daughter, so I stayed behind all by myself.

“······How did it turn out so well?”

In fact, I confess now that I wish Dang So-hyang had stayed in the missionary office.

Dang So-hyang was an indispensable talent to Hye-min-dang, and now she is an indispensable person to me as well.

That’s why when they started talking about kidnapping, I wondered if this was right, but as I was wondering how the situation was going to turn out strangely, it ended up working out better than I expected.

It was quite a trembling, but in the end the lotus flower was not hurt, and the still water did not turn muddy, so what did it matter?

To put it simply, it could be said that things were somehow resolved well.

Of course, the immediate situation was resolved well, but in reality, it could be said that the situation was entangled in more complex matters.

“It’s the Sacheondangmun Gate···.”

It was known that Tang So-hyang was alive, and since I had taken Tang So-hyang in under the pretext of ‘kidnapping’ her, it was clear that there would be some kind of conflict with the Sacheon Dangmun.

Although Dangbaekgun said he would change the Sacheon Dangmun, it was difficult to change the family foundation that had continued for hundreds of years in an instant.

This was especially true for the Sacheon Dangmun, where the authority of the clan leader was weak.

So, it could be said that it was a somewhat headache-inducing situation······.

“······Hey, I don’t know.”

There was nothing I could do about worrying about it now. Worrying wasn’t something I was good at in the first place.

Worrying is something that only smart people like Dang So-hyang do, but to me, it was just a headache.

“My head already hurts.”

I shook off my worries as if they were nothing more than a dog. But my head still hurt so badly······.

“I should learn the Cheon-dun sword technique.”

It seemed like the problem could only be solved by moving my body.

I took out the folding screen from my bosom and unfolded it. Of course, I couldn’t learn properly because my internal energy wasn’t up to it yet.

“If I could just accumulate merit every day like I did today, I would be able to accumulate it quickly.”

It wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

It was because there were physical problems with Dang So-hyang and Park Jin-hyeon’s grandfather, but even so, ‘one month’ is 1,200 months.

In other words, it seemed like it would be possible to build up the internal energy needed to learn the Cheon-dun Sword Technique and accumulate 100 years’ worth of merit.

Anyway, if I learn the Cheon-dun sword technique now, I will definitely faint······.

“The lady will treat you.”

As expected, I could leave my worries to the smart ‘Dang So-hyang’.

So, at that time, I was about to go straight to the Taoist temple to look for Yeo Dong-bin.

“uh······?”

My hands stopped involuntarily at the strange words that suddenly appeared on the scroll.

To be exact, it is the merit of the Hwansan Gongdeok (功德) written on the upper right side of the scroll.

[Conversion of Merit] – 1,271 months and 22 days (+1,000 months)

······For some reason, the conversion merit value was extremely strange.

* * *

Guizhou Province.

Guizhou Province is a mountainous region with about nine sections, and the remaining one section being a plateau.

It was often called a ‘useless land’, and as a result, the ‘poor classes’ began to live together, and ethnic minorities who were persecuted in other regions or who could not overcome cultural differences migrated to Guizhou Province and lived there.

Due to this influence, in the past, there were people called Tosa (土司) who would elect their own leaders and form warlords to rule.

After the county system was implemented, it was promoted to a province and officials were dispatched directly from the central government, but it was only called a central government official.

In fact, it was no different from a place of exile for those who were pushed out of politics.

Perhaps because of this, there were many cases where the imperial family was not properly protected and was neglected when implementing policies, and they were somewhat vulnerable in terms of various benefits.

Since the surrounding area was entirely mountainous, there were no tourist attractions whatsoever, and since it was truly useless land, there were no resources produced on its own.

It could be said that the region that was neglected by the world was Guizhou Province······.

“The plague shows no signs of abating, so what should we do?”

The lord of Guizhou Province, Feng Ziming, had no idea what to do about the situation.