Episode 484
I cleared my throat as I looked around at the thousands of martial artists lined up below the podium.
I wondered if I should give a speech to boost the morale of my troops ahead of our departure, but that was far from my taste.
‘We decided to pass on such a burdensome role to the Buddha who will join us soon.’
Sometimes, there are words that are short and concise that leave a big impression on the other person.
A powerful voice echoed throughout the area.
“I will tell you right here.”
The stares pouring in as soon as I open my mouth.
I drew an arc around my mouth and spoke back as if making a declaration.
“I will catch the Demon Cultist. “Please know that I will not give up that role to anyone.”
Wow!
Cheers erupted.
My heart swelled as I saw the dancers responding so passionately to my playful remarks.
I couldn’t help but feel proud as the things I had accumulated over the years were visualized and placed in front of my eyes.
“I’m leaving.”
The destination is Hanam.
The march to put an end to the Great War against the Righteous Demons has begun.
* * *
“What would you like to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t think you’re asking because you don’t know.”
A pond where carp showing off their golden scales swim.
In the pavilion in the center, two old men were sitting facing each other with a checkerboard between them.
“The spiritual dojo was kicked out of the monastery and returned to being a monk. “Did you feel nothing while watching it?”
“Isn’t it retribution? “What a shame that the person who committed a mistake had to pay the price.”
The identity of the old man who shoved the piece of meat into his mouth and put his chopsticks down on the plate was Master Baekmang, an elder from the Shaolin Temple.
The old man on the other side, drinking his drink and picking up a baduk stone, was Sohyeongeom, an elder from the Hwasan faction.
Two people who were famous for being the best at playing baduk in the Senate were engaged in a close battle on a smooth wooden board.
“There is no other opportunity than now to reduce the position of the Cheonan Inspector General.”
“I think so too. In that sense, the spiritual seal was too hasty.”
“Rather than being hasty, it would be timid and cautious. Before and after the start of all-out war. “There is no way he didn’t keep in mind that the weight of the work will change dramatically depending on when it is done.”
Perfect!
Baekmangdaesa, placing a white stone on the checkerboard, nodded slowly.
In the latter case, as the probability of success increases, the risk that must be taken also increases.
As a spiritual dojo, it would have been impossible not to assume the worst case scenario.
“Then I will ask. Are you a more courageous person than the spiritual seal?”
“no.”
“What a contradiction. “Didn’t you say just a little while ago that we need to keep the Cheonan Inspector General in check?”
“I don’t have courage, but I know what I have to do to protect my food.”
“Is that why you called me?”
“That’s right.”
“How about you do it yourself instead of asking me to do it?”
“You know, don’t you? “How do other elders view me?”
A bitter smile appeared on Sohyeongeom’s lips.
[Do not call me friendly. What if other elders misunderstand?]
[Yes, if you give it to me, it would be a great thing. You will be able to easily keep the most difficult enemy in check.]
[Scary guy.]
Until the Dragon King overthrew the Senate, Sohyeongeom maintained a close relationship with him.
The entire Hwasan faction even considered the Dragon King to be their benefactor because of the rescue of the Plum Flower God Sword.
Is it because of that?
For quite a long time, the elders had been ignoring Sohyeongeom.
It was safe to say that he was currently virtually isolated.
“well. “If you had made up your mind, you would have quickly erased their suspicions and captured them.”
“You’re overestimating. “I’m not that great of a person.”
“The reason we didn’t do that was probably because we needed to maintain the current structure.”
“······.”
“Say your true feelings. Is it true that you really came to me with a plan to slander the Cheonan Inspector General? “I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You have to fool the person you want to fool. “I guess he was trying to scare me.”
Perfect!
A furrow was carved between Sohyeongeom’s eyebrows.
In no time, the situation on the checkerboard became unfavorable.
It was literally a trick that caught the eye.
I could only think that I had read their entire intentions.
“I can’t stand up to the ambassador.”
“It seems like your acting skills are improving day by day.”
“My baduk skills have also improved a lot. “If you look at recent records alone, isn’t the win rate at 40 percent?”
“You still have a long way to go to catch up with me.”
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“It won’t be long before I will be holding a white stone.”
“My pride won’t allow that. For now, let’s just keep talking. “What do you have to offer me?”
Sohyeongeom, who emptied his glass of wine, entered Jango (長考).
In order to turn the situation around, we had to pay attention to every move from now on.
“Who do you think the enemy of the Senate is, Ambassador?”
“That’s a strange question. “Are there one or two people who show hostility to the Senate?”
“If you had to choose just one, what would it be?”
“That must be the Dragon King. “Aren’t all the elders paying close attention to his movements?”
“Do you really think that? “Our main enemy is the head of the Cheonan Inspectorate?”
“I guess your thoughts are a little different.”
Sohyeongeom picked up the black stone and put it down on the checkerboard.
Baekmangdaesa, who chewed and swallowed the meat, held out a cup from which I don’t know where it came from and said,
“I can’t stand just smelling it. “Please pour me a drink too.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind? If you are under the influence of alcohol, your judgment will be clouded. “You may end up losing your best chance of winning.”
“Are you worried about me now?”
“I just said it. “I regret losing what little alcohol I have left.”
“Behaving rudely.”
Master Baekmang, who took a glass full of alcohol and drank it, smiled happily.
Sohyeongeom, who was holding the empty bottle upside down and shaking it, licked his lips with regret.
“Everyone calls Director Cheonan a hero. Even the opposing elders cannot deny his merits and achievements. “Maybe that’s why we can’t see the most important essence.”
“nature?”
“Director Cheonan is a person with a completely different personality than the leader of the time. He is not interested in Meng’s reform.”
“So what you’re saying is that the Senate has no reason to oppose him?”
“It’s inevitable that there won’t be a fight. There are elders who have been directly affected, and even those who were ousted have come forward. But all this is just a process.”
“Tell me in a little more detail.”
“The current Murim Alliance has a structure of separation of powers, with three factions keeping each other in check. However, this will soon be broken. “Cheonan Gambu is a department that will eventually be disbanded once the war ends.”
“I don’t know. Will the Dragon King really be willing to let go of his power base?”
“I understand what you are concerned about, but he is not a great person who would go back on what he said and try to preserve the Cheonangambu.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Out of all the elders, the person who knows him best is probably none other than me.”
It was a statement that could be made because it was Sohyeongeom and not anyone else.
Master Baekmang’s eyes narrowed.
[I don’t know if this will be a satisfactory answer to you, but I will tell you one thing for sure.]
[I have no intention of aiming for the position of the next leader based on my experience as the head of Cheonan Gambu.]
A conversation they had in the past at Juru (酒樓) flashed through Sohyeongeom’s mind.
The wrinkled mouth twitched slightly.
If I hadn’t looked at Yeonsun at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to determine the route so clearly.
“It means there is no clear basis.”
Contrary to his indifferent reaction, Ambassador Baekmang’s entire attention was focused on what the other person would say next.
It was a decision made by Prosecutor Sohyeon, not anyone else.
I couldn’t just ignore it because there was no confirmation.
“I’ve thought this way since the decision was made to revive Cheonan Gambu. The Senate will have to compete with the ruling faction in the future. “We need to look at the future, not just now, but several years from now.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s not just competition. It’s a scramble. “The power structure of the Maeng will completely change depending on which faction absorbs and how much of the foundation the Cheonan Government has built.”
“The most important thing is which faction does Director Cheonan intend to join?”
“That’s right.”
What Sohyeongeom wanted to say was simple.
The status of Cheonan Gambu has already increased.
Now, the Senate must focus on conciliating them, even at the cost of blood loss, rather than asserting its pride or authority.
Just like the Maengju faction is doing.
“To put it bluntly, we are already falling behind the competition.”
“Because the leader who came up with the same idea as you has already defeated the player?”
“yes. But the good news is that the person involved, the Cheonan Inspector General, is not particularly interested in the position of Maengju.”
“······.”
“I’m sure it’s because I heard it from myself. It’s not too late. “I can pull it over here.”
“Why did you come to see me and not anyone else?”
“Because I thought only the ambassador would listen to my story.”
“Have you ever thought that I could stab you in the back?”
“I’m sure that won’t happen. “You are not someone who does not know what is a wise decision.”
Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! Perfect!
The two stayed silent for a while, concentrating only on baduk.
Only the sound of black and white stones being placed alternately rang out at regular intervals.
How much time has passed?
Sohyeongeom, who was tapping the edge of the board with a black stone, broke the silence and spoke first.
“Of course, the fact that the Cheonan Inspector General is in the Senate also means that those who previously had vested interests will have to be pushed out by him. but······.”
“but?”
“To put it bluntly, wouldn’t it be okay if it weren’t just us?”
Perfect!
Master Baekmang, who was staring at the black stone on the checkerboard, opened his eyes wide.
I pursed my lips and let out a laugh.
Due to an unexpected move, the favorable situation became tense again.
Anyway, this was an opponent I couldn’t let down my guard.
Sohyeongeom narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“Didn’t I tell you so? “This is all retribution for taking my alcohol.”
martial arts,
