Tangmunjeon - Chapter 247



Only Noblemtl

Episode 247: The Meeting at Mt. Wudang

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju paused for a moment before continuing.

“As you know, the master of the dragon is the strange Yi Chung. He is often classified as a true and evil person, but rather than a true faction’s warrior, he is closer to a black person.”

“But he was not ignorant of the agreement.”

When Shin Seung, who was listening to the story, interrupted and said something, Tae-ui Geom-mun-ju nodded and continued the story.

“I have never met the person called Goei. However, since no one here disputes his claims, the story must be true. The problem is what happened afterward.”

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju cleared his throat and spoke.

“Six years ago, Yi-ryong went to Je-won with Go-ui. There, he killed Baek Chu-seo, the son of the Sword King and the head of the Je-won Baekga family.”

Jewon is not far from Hanam, where Shaolin Temple is located. Shin Seung intervened again.

“I also heard that Baek Ga-ju died. But is there any evidence that it was the work of Yi-ryong? If there is a witness, tell me his name.”

“There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. However, the Jewonbaekga clan was in decline, and with the exception of Yiryong and Goyi, there were hardly any people coming and going from Jewonbaekga. This is sufficient to raise suspicion.”

“By any chance, did the Yiryong and the Goyi escape from Jewonbaekga after the death of Jewonbaekga? I have never heard of such a story.”

“···That’s not true. The death of Jewonbaekgaju occurred about half a year after the monster and the dragon left Jewonbaekga.”

It’s a story too weak to be considered evidence.

Rather, the gap of several months seemed to prove the innocence of Dang Mu-jin and Goe-ui, so some of those listening to the story jeered at Tae-ui Geom-mun-ju.

However, Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju continued his story stubbornly.

“But if you listen to the story more, you will understand why I was suspicious. In the fall of the year that Jewon Baekgaju died, Yiryong and his men killed my father, who was the Taeyi Geommunju at the time, at Nogunsan. He committed such a heinous act in the name of helping the rebels. I held a grudge because of that.”

People nodded their heads without realizing it. If it was the death of a father, wouldn’t anyone have a reason to hold a grudge?

Of course, people still thought that the story of the Tae-ui-geommun-ju was weakly based. It was something that could have happened by chance or misunderstanding.

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju’s words did not stop there.

“Three years later in the fall, Yirong appeared in the north, beyond the Yellow River. There, Yirong assisted in killing the previous leader of the Gongdong faction, Muryangja. Coincidentally, Muryangja’s only disciple was the daughter of the head of the Jewonbaekga family and the granddaughter of the Sword King. Isn’t that a strange coincidence? It’s as if Yirong held a grudge against the Sword King, the most upright warrior of the Jeong faction.”

Someone refuted the story about the fetal examination.

“Yi Yong is only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. How can he hold a grudge against the Sword King who died twenty years ago?”

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju did not refute the objection and continued his story.

“Then, please listen to my story as if I had no grudge. In the winter of that year, when the Muryangja of the Gongdongpa were murdered and the Hwanggol Pavilion was burned down, Yiryong appeared at the Sima Family in Luoyang. Not long after, the Sima Family was also destroyed.”

Shin Seung, who was listening to the story, expressed his displeasure.

“I can’t go into detail here, but I have seen with my own eyes that the Sima Family has been carrying out sinister and evil deeds. Do you now think that the Shaolin Temple has abandoned its fair and just attitude and joined in the destruction of the Sima Family?”

“That’s not true. Who among the Jeongpa martial artists would suspect Shaolin? It’s just that the actions of the Yiryong seem extremely coincidental. In less than four years since Yiryong left for the martial arts world, four Jeongpa sects and families have collapsed.”

The story of Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju hints at the possibility that Dang Mu-jin deceived the Shaolin Temple and drove the Sima family to ruin.

After hearing the story up to this point, people began to feel uneasy.

Jewon Baekga, Taeui Geommun, Gongdongpa, and Sima Sega. As many as four places suffered critical damage or completely collapsed after becoming entangled with Dangmujin.

Although there is nothing strange when you look at each one separately, it is strange that the coincidences overlap four times.

Even if everything really was a coincidence, there is no way that a fifth coincidence wouldn’t occur in the martial arts world intertwined with the Demonic Cult.

The story of Tae-ui-geommun-ju’s secret investigation did not end there.

“About a year later, a strange letter spread throughout the Central Plains. I think you’ve all received it. It said that the leader of the Sapha clan, Hyeolwoogaek, was seeking a new life, and anyone with differing opinions should gather at the Tang family headquarters.”

This time, anger appeared on the faces of the Cheongseong faction’s Yeongheoja and the Ami faction’s Hyangbaeksaetae. Suspecting that incident was not much different from suspecting the Cheongseong faction and the Ami faction.

Before the Hyangbaek incident could be resolved, Tae-ui Geom-mun-ju quickly continued the story.

“That may be true. Isn’t it the same as guiding the unmanned Sapa of the Communist Party? However, I am a narrow-minded person, so I couldn’t overcome my doubts and went all the way to Sacheon. And I saw an amazing sight.”

The man closed his eyes. He seemed to know what would happen next.

“I saw the supreme master of the Demonic Cult, Sam-an-bul, there. That wasn’t the end. I also clearly saw many other masters of the Demonic Cult staying in the Tang Family. I can tell you this with my neck on the line.”

This was not a widely known fact. Only a few sect members who were close to Dang Mujin knew about it, and even if they did know about it, they kept it quiet and did not spread the word.

A clear suspicion appeared on the faces of those who were not familiar with Dang Mu-jin.

“Of course, that could be a coincidence. However, when you put them all together, it’s strange. There’s someone who unintentionally destroyed four sects and families of the Righteous Sect, embraced the warriors of the Evil Sect, and interacted with the warriors of the Demonic Cult. Coincidentally, he is the only witness who confirmed the changes in the Demonic Cult from the inside, and he claims that the Righteous Sect should join forces to attack the Demonic Cult. Doesn’t this situation seem a little strange? It’s something you should be suspicious of at least once.”

Finally, Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju spoke with emphasis.

“Finally, I would like to ask a more fundamental question. Is it really right to refer to the dragon sitting there as a political unmanned entity?”

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju smiled carefreely, as if he would have no regrets even if he died on this spot, and Dang-mu-jin pressed his throbbing temples.

‘You’re trying hard to tangle things up.’

I could explain them one by one, but it was hard to figure out where to start.

Hasn’t Dang Mu-jin lived a more eventful life than anyone else over the past years?

Even if I explained it, I didn’t know if it would be possible to drive away doubts from everyone’s minds. Doubts are like weeds with many roots, and no matter how many times you pull them out, they will grow back again.

Since Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju also knows that fact, he must be satisfied with the current situation.

The people who had gathered for the meeting looked at the party leaders. Their gaze seemed to be covered in a hazy mist.

Even the Kunlun School’s Yuyu Taoist monks looked flustered. If Tang Wujin had lied, there would have been no reason to attack the Demonic Cult first.

Hyun-gong thought about this and that and then looked at Yeong-bo Jin-in.

Yeongbo Jin-in waited silently, as if he had no intention of getting involved in determining right or wrong in this matter.

The reason Youngbo Jin-in covered up the grudge against Tae-ui Geum-mun-ju in the past was not because he thought that one of the two was right. He simply respected the life-or-death decision that had taken place between Tae-ui Geum-mun-ju and Dang Mu-jin.

“I said one thing-”

Just as Dang Mu-jin was about to let out a deep sigh and defend himself, a calm voice was heard from the side, cutting off Dang Mu-jin’s story.

“What does that mean?”

Dang Mujin looked at the owner of the voice. It was Yu Jinkwang, the swordsman of Neunggwang. Yu Jinkwang got up from his seat before Dang Mujin.

“I don’t know how everything happened. But I know one thing for sure about your story. I can’t ask the dragon to pay for what happened in the Gongdongpa. I killed Muryangja with my own hands, and it was the Gongdongpa’s warriors, not Dangmujin, who burned down the Hwanggolgak.”

“but-”

At the moment when Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju was about to refute, Yoo Jin-gwang’s index finger pointed at Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju.

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju instinctively froze. It wasn’t a simple threat. His fingers resembled arrows. Arrows that looked like they could be stuck in his throat at any moment.

Eugene Kwang said.

“Shut up. The dragon and I have listened to your long-winded nonsense.”

Eugene Kwang began to walk slowly among the people.

Before he began his explanation, he snorted and stroked my chin and cheek with his right hand.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say this to someone I killed with my own hands, but Muryangja was a bit of a shitty writer. I killed him because he deserved it. I don’t regret it one bit. Yiryong will understand how I feel. If there’s anyone who has a complaint, let me know. Let’s go outside Haegeomji together and come back.”

Yoo Jin-kwang looked at Baek Ya-hyo as he spoke like that.

It was so rough that anyone would be shocked, and so violent that anyone would think it was arrogant. However, Baek Ya-hyo’s expression was not filled with displeasure, but only with interest.

Yoo Jin-kwang continued his story in an even more forceful tone.

“The dragon killed the sword king’s son? There must have been a reason for that. Has anyone been interested in the sword king’s son and the Jewon Baekga these days? On the contrary, I’ve heard stories about the sword king’s son being a greedy bastard who ruined his family.”

There was an atmosphere in Yoo Jin-kwang’s voice that overwhelmed the audience.

Furthermore, even if it wasn’t overwhelming, it was a story good enough to have as a drinking snack. People listened to Yoo Jin-kwang’s words.

“The Sima Family was wiped out? They must have been quite the troublemakers. Didn’t His Majesty say that the Sima Family’s crimes were severe? Lastly, Taeui Geommun? Taeui Geommunju? That’s the first time I’ve heard that name here. But I’m sure they were trash who could compete with the other three.”

“that!”

As soon as Taeui Sword Master spoke, Yoo Jin-kwang glared at him. Taeui Sword Master hesitated again before Yoo Jin-kwang’s fierce gaze.

“If a foreman is pounding something, it’s probably iron. If a swordsman is swinging something and sweating profusely, it’s probably a sword in his hand. If a guy who’s already cleaned up three pieces of trash is cleaning up something again, there’s a high chance it’s trash. That’s just the way the world works.”

It was such a bizarre sophistry that everyone who heard the story burst into laughter. Hyun-gong was no exception.

Just as Dang Mu-jin was thinking about how to defend himself, Hyun-gong was also thinking about how to defend Dang Mu-jin.

The tongue is sharper than any sword in the world, so it takes just as much effort to block it.

However, Yoo Jin-kwang did not lead the story in a clever and detailed manner like Hyun-gong.

He was not the type of manager to compromise when something bothered him.

He wasn’t a criminal who worried about his reputation or worried about getting even a little bit of a raise.

Yoo Jin-kwang was a warrior who thought that if his opponent was holding a sword, he could just swing a sharper and faster sword.

Rather, that is why Yoo Jin-kwang’s story deeply penetrated people’s hearts. Among the people present, there was not a single person who was not a civilian.

Yoo Jin-kwang spoke to Baek Ya-hyo, the leader of the Gongdong faction, and Tae-ui Geom-mun-ju.

“It’ll be awkward. If you don’t agree with what I’m saying, then tell me here. Convince me right now. If you can’t convince me, then we can just go out of Haegeumji together. You won’t have to convince me when you come back.”

Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju’s hands trembled with fear and anger.

I came here prepared to die, but my mouth wouldn’t open. Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju felt fear and an unbearable sense of humiliation at the same time.

Moreover, this was an extremely rude story to hear even for Baek Ya-hyo, the leader of the Gongdong faction who had lost the previous leader.

Baek Ya-hyo spoke to Yu Jin-kwang with a slight smile.

“I’ve heard a lot about the people in the Jeomchangpa faction, but I didn’t know they were this bad. But when you’re a long-suffering man, shouldn’t you stop spouting out such irresponsible things? You probably have more than one life hanging on your tongue.”

Baek Ya-hyo’s story wrapped around Yu Jin-kwang like a snake’s tongue.

But instead, Yoo Jin-kwang just chuckled.

“The Jeomchangpa has always been like that. They never back down, they never change their story. They never use tricks to avoid danger. However, there are two reasons why the Jeomchangpa has survived and continued to exist until now.”

Eugene Kwang raised his fist. His index finger was extended.

“First of all, because I knew what was right.”

The stop was then extended.

“Secondly, because I knew who to trust.”

Yoo Jin-kwang returned to his seat and stood next to Dang Mu-jin.

“There is nothing more necessary for the Jeomchangpa’s unmanned staff. The same goes for the new recruits in Jeomchangpa, and for me, the eldest member. Everything else is just crude manners. I trust my eye for people. Jeomchangpa will stand by the Tang family even if it means turning the world into its enemy.”

People chewed over the story of Yoo Jin-kwang and the story of Tae-ui Geommun-ju.

And looking at the party leader, I looked back at the situation from the beginning.

As always, the judgment is yours.

But no one raised an objection in front of Yoo Jin-kwang.

Even those who couldn’t shake off their doubts had no intention of bringing up the subject in front of Yoo Jin-kwang. After all, even martial artists only have one life.

Because he liked this silence, Yoo Jin-kwang smiled contentedly.

Finally, Yoo Jin-kwang declared while pointing to the Tae-ui Sword.

“And finally, I’ll tell you. You, Tae-ui-geom-mun-ju Yang, as soon as you leave the shamanist faction, you will die with your heart pierced.”