Tangmunjeon - Chapter 283



Only Noblemtl

Episode 283 released

After Elder Seop of the Open Heavenly Hall left, Yeongbo Jinin called in Hyungong and had a brief conversation.

“Hyungong-ah. Do you plan on going to Shaolin Temple and helping to open it?”

“My close friend Hong Ju-san is an open-minded person, so it is only natural that I would take risks to help him.”

“Okay, I understand what you mean.”

Hyun-gong expressed his intention to help Young-bo Jin-in open up.

Because I had to do it in front of Youngbo Jin, and I wanted to do it a little bit.

So, the party headed to Gaebong, where Gaebong’s headquarters was located, to help Gaebongdo and Shaolin Temple.

*

While leaving the party and heading to Gaebong, Dangmujin realized that Honggeolgae was acting a little strange.

‘Why is he doing that?’

As a martial artist advances in martial arts, minor changes are bound to follow.

For example, changes such as less unnecessary behavior, more refined breathing, and clearer eyes are representative. In some cases, the temples of some people become bulging.

By taking advantage of such subtle differences, martial artists can guess an opponent’s martial arts skills without having to actually exchange weapons.

However, Hong Geol-gae’s current state was going against such changes. In many ways, it could be said that he had become much more awkward than before.

It would be better if it had been like that from the day he became a top-notch player, but the problem is that he was fine until just a day or two ago.

‘Is something seriously wrong with that guy?’

Dang Mu-jin was secretly worried about Hong Geol-gae.

Hong Geol-gae hastily stepped into the next realm for his friends.

If something goes wrong with Hong Geol-gae, Dang Mu-jin, Namgung Myeong, and Hyeon-gong should also be held somewhat responsible.

Eventually, Dang Mu-jin, unable to suppress her worries, approached Hong Geol-gae and asked him.

“Jusan-ah. Is there a problem?”

“What’s the problem?”

“Well… what should I say? Your movements seem a little uncomfortable.”

“Oh, that?”

Unexpectedly, Hong Geol-gae’s voice was brighter and more refreshing than usual. He even seemed a little happy for some reason.

Dang Mu-jin asked back.

“Do you know what I’m talking about?”

“Of course. I was practicing hard.”

“···Practice? What are you practicing?”

“What is it? It’s just practicing behavior.”

Why would he practice such clumsy movements? It was a situation that Dang Mu-jin could not understand at all.

Hong Geol-gae began to tell his story with a proud expression.

“How did that happen···”

*

Two days ago, the day I left Mt. Mudang.

As always, Hyun-gong habitually checked on his friends’ condition.

‘Namgung Myung is ordinary. Dang Mujin looks restless. I sent Jeon Seo-gu to the house, but it seems like I can’t completely feel at ease. Well, it wouldn’t be strange if Dan Seol-yeong got scolded.’

Up until this point, there were no particular problems. However, there was one thing that stood out: Hong Geol-gae looked strangely depressed.

‘What’s going on?’

However, Hyun-gong did not approach Hong-geol-gae rashly and waited until night fell.

As expected, Hyun-gong’s prediction was right. Hong-geol-gae was worried, and even after Dang-mu-jin and Nam-gung-myeong fell asleep, he sat quietly and watched the fire.

Hyun-gong approached Hong-geol-gae stealthily.

“Hong Geol-gae. What’s wrong?”

Hyun-gong did not use the title Hong Bang-ju.

If Geulseon was alive, I would have called him Bangju half-jokingly and half-seriously, but after Geulseon passed away, the name Bangju became unnecessarily awkward.

For some reason, I felt like Hong Geol-gae was dead because he was called Bang-ju.

Hong Geol-gae answered hesitantly.

“No… Just.”

It’s not a completely dismissive reaction.

In times like this, if you try again, the answer will come out without much difficulty.

Furthermore, people tend to become somewhat more honest at night.

“It’s okay. You can talk openly. If it makes you uncomfortable, don’t talk.”

There was silence.

How much time had passed like that? Hong Geol-gae brought up a somewhat troubling story.

“As you know, Namgung Myung and Dang Mujin have been teasing me for quite some time. Almost three years? Namgung Myung, about four years.”

“I know.”

Of course, Hyun-gong also played with Hong-geol-gae.

However, he did not tease them as persistently as Namgung Myung and Dang Mujin. This was because he thought Hong Geol-gae would be of great help to him someday. Networking is a basic skill for a future leader of the shaman faction.

Hong Geul-gae muttered.

“Every time Namgung Myung and Dang Mujin teased me, I thought to myself, I should reach my peak first and tease those guys.”

“That’s understandable. So why haven’t you done that recently?”

After becoming a top-class martial artist, Hong Geol-gae would occasionally tease his friends by talking about martial arts.

Dang Mu-jin and Nam-gung Myung also accepted him rather well. They all knew that Hong Geol-gae had sacrificed himself for his friends, so it was only natural that they would accept him to that extent.

The problem is that Hong Geol-gae’s sorrow was not shaken off to that extent.

Since you know that your opponent is deliberately keeping up with your pace, you can no longer tease him or her freely.

“···This isn’t the situation I imagined. I was hoping for something a little more exhilarating.”

“Are you saying the reaction is weak?”

“okay.”

What Hong Geol-gae had hoped for was an experience that felt like the most thrilling part of an old tale.

For example, like the story of a secret inspector or a censor who quietly appeared and caught corrupt officials, or the story of an emperor who hid his true identity and quietly watched over the people before revealing his true identity, Hong Gyeol-gae also wanted to tease his friends by showing off his skills as an absolute master.

However, Dang Mu-jin and his party were just accepting Hong Geol-gae’s pranks.

This was because Dang Mu-jin and his party knew Hong Geol-gae too well, but in Hyeon-gong’s eyes, there was a bigger problem.

“Hong Geol-gae. You’re mistaken about something.”

“What is it?”

“Anyone can deceive. But deception is a skill. You are still too clumsy. You are not ready to deceive others.”

Hong Geol-gae’s ears perked up. In a way, this might be Hyun-gong’s specialty.

“In what way is it awkward?”

Hyun-gong presented his theories without hesitation.

“The essence of deception is one: to strike when the unexpected occurs.”

“I understand.”

“But you are not that clever or sharp by nature. Even if you show off your skills out of the blue, the result will be the same as now, just a subtle and disappointing result.”

“···I know that.”

A truly sobering diagnosis.

Hong Geol-gae decided to give up his foolishness. It may be regrettable now, but looking back, it will seem like a trivial prank.

But unexpectedly, Hyun-gong came up with a solution.

“I’m not saying give up. It might be hard to use against those guys, but it’ll be enough to fool other people.”

“What’s the story?”

“In the end, you want to fool your opponent and surprise them, right? If that’s the case, you just need to be a little more subtle in making them let their guard down. If you can make your opponent let their guard down, it’s not hard to hit the nail on the head. The important thing is the process of making your opponent let their guard down.”

“Just because I want it doesn’t mean the other person will let their guard down, right?”

For those who don’t know Hong Geol-gae’s talent, there’s no point in teasing him, but for those who do know, there’s no way they’d ignore Hong Geol-gae.

“There is a way. It is to imitate the actions or movements of someone who is lacking in wit.”

It was a radical change of thinking.

There are many cases where martial artists show off as if they have skills beyond their capabilities.

But up until now, Hong Geol-gae had never met a martial artist who hid his skills. It was a natural for martial artists to want to reveal themselves. Furthermore, it was not easy to hide one’s skills. It was a kind of habit.

But now Hong Geol-gae had enough skill to hide his true abilities. If he carefully observed and imitated the movements of someone who was inferior in martial arts, who would know?

However, there was something that was bothering me.

“···Isn’t that too petty?”

Then Hyun-gong answered immediately.

“You didn’t ask to be ignored, so don’t worry about it. You didn’t show off your abilities, you just acted humbly. Besides, those who ignore others with their high and low inaction need a sharp lesson.”

Moderate rationalization.

Of course, Hyun-gong was in no position to criticize someone who judged others based on their level of skill, but the story itself was very plausible.

Finally, Hong Geol-gae nodded with a satisfied expression.

*

“···That’s what happened.”

When the story ended, Dang Mu-jin looked at Hong Geol-gae and Hyeon-gong with a look of secret disgust.

Hyun-gong’s sophisticated narrow-mindedness was beyond the level of an ordinary person, and Hong-geol-gae, who agreed with such ideas, was no different.

Of course, Hong Geol-gae’s talents had some pretty plausible aspects. Even to Dang Mu-jin, Hong Geol-gae didn’t look like a martial artist at the peak of his power.

Even now, I feel like I’m somewhere between first-class and second-class. If I polish up my skills further, I might feel like I’ve never really learned martial arts.

Except for a very small number of experts whose skills surpass Hong Geol-gae’s, no one will notice Hong Geol-gae’s antics.

But it was so strange that a super-talented warrior would practice such a feat just to tease others.

‘Since Wuwei hastily advanced to the next level, is it balanced by personal regression?’

However, unlike Dang Mu-jin, Namgung Myeong looked at Hong Geol-gae with a rather serious expression.

I thought it was a talent that seemed to have many uses.

Namgung Myeong asked.

“What should I call that talent?”

Hong Geol-gae looked at Hyeon-gong. Hong Geol-gae wasn’t very good at naming things.

Hyun-gong thought while supporting his chin with his right hand.

I remembered hearing about the inaction of Jang Sam-bong, a shamanic monk from long ago.

The spirit of Jang Sam-bong Jin-in was so calm that even the random warriors who saw him thought he was someone who had not learned martial arts.

Of course, it is unlikely that Jang Sam-bong Jin-in would have practiced such a feat with subtle intentions like Hong Geol-gae, so it must have been a realm that only a martial artist who has reached the highest level can naturally achieve.

However, there was no term that accurately referred to such a state or condition.

‘What would be good?’

Suddenly, a Taoist term came to mind. It is a term that means returning and regaining one’s true self.

“Should I call it a counterattack?”

As is often the case with things that are of a shabby nature, the name itself was very plausible.

*

After some more time had passed, the group arrived in Gaebong without any problems.

Like other areas near the Yellow River, Gaebong was wide and flat, and the land was fertile and of excellent quality, so the peach trees were full of fruit.

Quite naturally, the faces of the people who opened the store were nicely plump.

‘Well, I guess they wouldn’t have based their base in an area with such poor openness.’

There was no worry or concern on people’s faces. When a civil war breaks out, people from small towns, or people who are easily entangled with the martial arts people such as doctors or field marshals, often get into trouble.

However, the situation is different in large cities such as Gaebong, Luoyang, and Chang’an.

Unless all the Sapa warriors have gone mad together, they cannot swing their swords at the ordinary people of Gaebong. If they do something like that, they will turn the local magistrate, governor, and even the royal family into enemies.

However, as I walked down the largest market street in Gaebong and entered a side alley, the situation changed.

‘As expected.’

It’s full of beggars with gloomy expressions. There are more than a few injured people.

Among the open spaces, there were many people wearing neat clothes of all kinds, but with slightly shabby expressions.

Hyun-gong asked, lowering his voice.

“Those people wearing clean clothes are also open, right?”

“That’s right. They’re the opening-up members of the Jeonguipa (Clean Clothing Faction). They’re tied up.”

Not all openness is beggarly.

Many of the unemployed are impressed by the open way of caring for the lowly and practicing cooperation, and they devote themselves to openness, but they do not necessarily want to become beggars.

They are called the Justice Party because they wear neat clothes. The majority of the Open Doors that run the brothels in Chongqing are of this type.

On the other hand, there are real beggars. They are called the Oui-pa (汚衣派) because they wear dirty clothes.

The Ouipa Open Society values ​​tradition, eats only begged food, and lives the life that is commonly associated with beggars.

However, not all the Five Elementalists were beggars from the beginning. Just as Hong Jie Gae’s teacher, Daepunggae Pengcheon, was a Kunlun Elemental Taoist in the past, but after dedicating himself to openness, he chose to live the life of an open-minded Five Elemental Taoist.

Likewise, Geulseon and Honggeolgae can also be called Ouipa.

When he thought about it this way, Dang Mu-jin felt a subtle sense of discomfort.

‘No, is Hong Geol-gae really a member of the O-ui faction…?’

When I first met him, Hong Geul-gae was a typical example of a filthy, smelly, begging food eater.

But today’s Hong Geul-gae is different in many ways.

Their clothes are somewhat shabby, but compared to the beggars of the Oui faction, they are quite clean. You could say that they wear well-maintained, worn-out clothes.

Since he washes himself often, he doesn’t smell, and he doesn’t only eat begged food like the other five cult members.

At some point, Hong Geol-gae started going into the inn with Dang Mu-jin and his party to eat.

‘···Hong Geol-gae, when was the last time you begged?’

The Gaepodos also looked at Hong Geul-gae with subtle expressions.

It is too shabby to be called a Justice Party, and too clean to be called a Righteous Party. Hong Geol-gae is a gray molecule and a bat between the Justice Party and the Righteous Party.

Sensing the unusual momentum of the party, one very dirty and untidy man approached the party with brisk strides.

Dang Mu-jin and his party naturally looked at each other’s waists.

Four knots. A law-abiding officer or a law-abiding officer of similar rank. Not as high as Honggeolgae, but still of fairly high rank.

The opening of the Oui faction was asked to the party leader.

“Who are you?”

“I am the party leader of Sacheonseong Seongdo. The guys next to me are my friends. Their names are Namgungmyeong, Hyeon-gong, and Hong Ju-san.”

“If it’s Dang Mu-jin… Ui-ryong? The eldest son of the Namgung Se-ga family, Seung-ryong sword, and even Gyu-cho-gae… Hmm! It matches the rumors exactly.”

“What kind of rumor are you talking about?”

“There was a story that the four best post-graduates in the Central Plains were hanging out together. There was also a brief story about their appearances.”

Oh Ui-pa’s openness was impressed by the faces of Dang Mu-jin and his party, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment when he looked at Hong Geol-gae.

‘My friends have great achievements, but why is their openness level so low?’ It was clear that they had this intention.

The moment he confirmed that reaction, a damp joy rose in Hong Geol-gae’s chest. The first deception was a clean success.

However, quite naturally, the Open Door of the Five-Faction faction did not humiliate Hong Geol-gae in front of the party. Hong Geol-gae was clearly their superior.

“You’re lucky to meet young heroes. What brings you to Gaebo?”

“I met Elder Seop at Mt. Mudang. He said that we would be of help, so I came running.”

Elder Seop and Seop-gu decided not to return to Gaebong right away, but to go around to other sects to ask for help.

That is to say, no one currently in Gaebong knows about Hong Geol-gae’s achievements.

Hong Geol-gae suppressed his fluttering heart.

“Hmm… Is that so? Since the lord of the ark is now out, I think it would be best to go to the guest house over there. Oh, by the way, Elder Heo of Hwahwanogae has become the new lord of the ark.”

“I heard it from Elder Seop. Thank you.”

Dang Mu-jin simply took a sip of the wine and headed to the guest house.

Hong Geol-gae enjoyed the subtle jealous gazes following him from behind. A gaze that seemed to imply, ‘I have four knots, and that guy has only five?’

Hong Geol-gae thought that life in Gaebong would be very enjoyable.

Hyun-gong asked.

“But why are you telling me to go to the guest house?”

“You’ll know when you go. Well.”

And as expected, as soon as I entered the guest house, I could understand why I was told to go there.

Inside the guest house were several monks from Shaolin Temple dressed in traditional attire.

“Aren’t you the current lord? I thought we’d meet someday if I was lucky, and now my chance has come in the midst of this chaos!”

“It’s been a while.”

Several monks were very happy to see Dang Mujin. They were monks who had previously developed ties with Shaolin Temple, such as Akgu Gyesung Cheongbok and Dalmadangju Cheonghwan.

Since that had already been seven years, the monks’ faces bore the unmistakable marks of time.

However, I was concerned that the number of monks was rather small. This was true even without famous people like Shaolin Temple abbot Shen Sheng and Wanli Monk Qing Yu.

“Where are the others?”

Dang Mu-jin asked Akgu Gye-seung Cheong-bok a question.

A monk who was one of the most picky people when Mokin Port was being repaired in the past, but who most actively supported Dangmujin after Mokin Port was repaired.

“There were some unfortunate incidents, but most of them were only out for a short while, so you don’t have to worry too much. Just sit over there and eat for a bit. Since this is an inn run by Gaebongdo, you don’t have to pay for the meal separately. The owner’s friends should also eat together first.”

“Yes.”

The party sat in a corner of the guest house, ordered some simple food, and waited.

While they were chatting like that for a while, Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong felt a subtle gaze.

‘Who is it?’

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong looked around and looked at the upper floor of the guest house.

The guest house was unusually a two-story building, with an open center like a splendid tower, allowing a view of the upper floors.

And then Dang Mu-jin and Hyun-gong found the owner of their gaze. A woman with blond hair and blue eyes was staring intently at Dang Mu-jin and his party. Of course, it was someone they had no familiarity with.

‘···What’s going on?’

There was no need to think long. When the eyes of the Dangmujin party met, the Saekmok woman turned her gaze with a blunt expression.

Hong Geol-gae asked.

“what’s the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

It’s not often that you see a person with a colored face, but it’s not the first or second time that it’s happened. Dang Mu-jin decided not to worry about it anymore and to concentrate on his meal.

But unlike Dang Mu-jin, Hyun-gong’s eyes sparkled.