It’s not the 274th Jeongsa War, it’s the Jeongma War.
Becoming the leader of the martial arts world was Jin Ha-gun’s long-time dream.
I grew up watching my grandfather since I was little. I heard this countless times from people around me.
You must follow in your grandfather’s footsteps.
Of course, I thought I would naturally become the leader of the martial arts world when I grew up. However, my grandfather announced that he would hand over the position of successor to someone with the ability and qualifications.
So he tried and tried again. Becoming the leader of the martial arts world was Jin Ha-gun’s life itself. He couldn’t even imagine a life where he didn’t become the leader of the martial arts world.
But what? You’re giving up on being the leader of the martial arts world?
It was the most shocking thing Jin-ha had ever heard since he was born.
As Jin Ha-gun’s expression hardened, Hyeolcheon Doma and Kwon Ma glanced at each other. They could tell that Geommu Geuk had sent some kind of signal.
Since they had also been through it, they could guess what kind of state Jin Ha-gun was in now.
Visain was also sitting across from me, so he saw the expression on my face.
‘no!’
Of course, that doesn’t mean I interfered with their conversation.
But Seo Baek-jung, who was in a hurry, had no such courtesy.
Seo Baek-jung sent a message to Jin Ha-gun.
-What are you talking about?
I shouldn’t have interfered like this, but Jin Ha-gun’s expression was unusual.
-Please wait a moment.
Seo Baek-joong sensed something was wrong at the short reply. Jin Ha-gun told him to wait, but he couldn’t.
―If the leader of the Demonic Cult is up to any tricks, you must never let that happen!
Jin Ha-gun looked at Seo Baek-jung coldly at his transmission. His prayers as he led the elite organization of the Murim Alliance, the Destruction Corps, overwhelmed Seo Baek-jung.
Seo Baek-joong couldn’t interfere any further due to the sharp reaction. He had a bad feeling. His gaze turned to Geommu-geuk. From the moment he first saw him, he was not an easy opponent. Could Jin-ha-gun really handle the author? Seo Baek-joong had a gut feeling that a variable had occurred.
Jin Ha-gun sent a message to Geommu-geuk.
– You’re giving up your position as leader? What does that mean?
He tried to remain as calm as possible, but his voice was shaking.
-It means that if you obtain the Cheonhwamun, you will not be able to obtain the position of the leader of the martial arts world.
Jin Ha-gun’s heart, which he had tried to calm down, began to beat faster again. The word ‘Martial Arts Leader’ was like a weakness to him.
This is a trick. You should never let it go. Jin Ha-gun drank the drink in front of him. After calming himself down like that, he asked calmly.
-Tell me why.
The sword dance did not answer right away. Everyone around them focused on the two. Everyone felt that a very important conversation was going on between the two.
The swordsman sent a message to the Bloodthirsty Demon.
―You’d better not engage in useless talk while I’m here.
It seemed like the swordsmen were feeling uneasy. They were such experts that they could sense their emotional changes even if the air currents changed.
―It’s an era where older people can’t interfere even if they want to. They can only watch.
In response to Hyeolcheon Doma’s answer, Geomseon spoke in a sharp tone.
-When you have to interfere, you have to interfere.
The personalities of the two people clearly had similarities.
– So that’s why our school can’t strike the sect?
Geomseon smiled faintly, as it was a compliment that spoke highly of him, saying that he couldn’t be there.
-Why do you sacrifice so much for your juniors?
-It’s not about sacrifice, it’s about living the right life.
-You should live your own life too.
If someone else had said it, it would have been met with outrage. But Hyeolcheon Doma was an exception.
―What are you talking about now? I’ve lived like this my whole life. How could that life change so easily?
-It might change.
Blood Heavenly Demon’s gaze naturally turned to Geommu-geuk. Geomseon’s gaze also turned to Geommu-geuk and Jin Ha-gun, wondering what Blood Heavenly Demon’s last words meant.
At this moment, Jin Ha-gun was urging the sword dance.
-Tell me why!
Then Geommugeuk looked at him intently and answered.
-You know why, right?
The moment he heard those words, Jin Ha-gun’s heart sank. Geommu-geuk began to dig up what he had tried so hard to bury.
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze passed the sword dance and turned to the person standing far away. That person was Seo Cheong.
He killed an innocent person. Jin Ha-gun was constantly worried about what to do with him. When Seo Baek-joong first introduced his son, he didn’t even say a single friendly word to him because of those worries.
-What do you mean?
After asking, Jin Ha-gun regretted it. He had pretended not to know in the hope that there might be another reason.
‘shit.’
Even if it was for another reason, you shouldn’t have asked. You were the one who dreamed of becoming the leader of the martial arts world, so how could you pretend not to know in order to avoid the truth?
So, even if it was for some other reason, the sword dance precisely hit his weak point.
– That’s what Seo-cheong said.
Jin Ha-gun unconsciously bit his molars. Come to your senses! You shouldn’t stop him. Unfortunately, this wasn’t an opponent that would be able to handle that kind of determination.
– Didn’t you come knowing all the crimes he committed?
-I am…….
Jin Ha-gun tried to answer calmly.
-I was planning to think about what to do with him after finishing the Cheonhwamun matter.
-I’ll punish you later?
After a moment, Geommugeuk asked.
-Isn’t that not right?
The words of the sword dance came flying like a dagger and stuck in his throat. These were the words he had to say.
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You demonic cult, you sect, isn’t that wrong?
The Geommu-geuk felt Jin Ha-gun’s agitation. That’s why it’s hopeful. He’s still young. He still has a lot to learn and a lot to experience. If he’s a person who knows how to be shy, it’s okay. It’s okay to kick the blanket away in his youth.
The sound of the sword dance continued.
―The moment you obtain the Heavenly Flower Gate, you will fail the test given by the Martial Arts Leader.
-A test?
Jin Ha-gun’s mind suddenly snapped to his senses at the word test.
-Yes. This is the test of the leader.
-How do you know that?
-Because I met your lord.
– Are you telling me, your grandson, that you know the leader because you’ve met him many times?
-That’s right, the number of times we’ve met must be incomparable to you. But Jin Dae-ju.
The swordsman looked straight at him and asked.
-Have you been looking straight at your grandfather all this time?
For a moment, Jin Ha-gun flinched. Are you looking straight at your grandfather?
Of course I was watching.
The words didn’t come out right away. My grandfather… was… such a difficult person for me.
-What are you trying to say?
Jin Ha-gun’s voice rose slightly. His composure had already been broken, and he was getting excited.
―You’re saying that because we’re close, we don’t see each other as much? At least that’s how I felt.
Geommugeuk honestly conveyed what he felt. He knew that no matter how many verbal tricks he used, in the end, it was sincerity that moved the other person’s heart.
―I couldn’t see my father properly before. I couldn’t see him because I was scared, and I couldn’t see him because he was someone I could see at any time. I’ve only recently started trying to see him properly. That’s why I said that. Even if you see him a hundred or a thousand times, if you don’t see him properly, you might not know him as well as someone who has seen him once.
Their gazes met in the air.
Jin Ha-gun couldn’t deny what Geommu-geuk said. But he couldn’t blindly believe it either. His grandfather didn’t seem to think so, but he thought he might have fallen for Geommu-geuk’s trick. He was confused.
– I doubt you. How can you be sure that these words are not a ploy to take over the Heavenly Flower Gate?
Then the sword dance hit him right on the mark again.
-Then why do you look at me?
-What do you mean?
– If you have any doubts, you should see your grandfather. Shouldn’t you find the answer there?
―!
Suddenly, Jin-Ha remembered the time he went to say hello to his grandfather before leaving for this place.
Come to think of it, my grandfather never said a single word about the Heavenly Flower Gate. Not that we had to obtain it, or how we should behave.
He just said to me, “Have a nice trip.” Those eyes that were looking at me.
Are those eyes really the eyes of someone who is happy to have obtained the Heavenly Flower Gate without punishing the unjust?
no.
Maybe he knew. He just pretended not to know. It was something his master suggested for him. Could it be that his master said what he wanted to say?
Build a great foundation and become a successor!
Jin Ha-gun’s face turned red. Even if he pretended not to know, even if he made excuses about his master, he knew. He did it because he wanted to.
-The person who connected you with the Heavenly Flower Clan does not want you to become the leader.
Jin Ha-gun’s expression suddenly hardened.
The Geommugeuk was able to learn one thing through that reaction.
‘He is a person close to Jin Ha-gun.’
It must have been someone closer to Jin Ha-gun than Seo Baek-jung.
Jin Ha-gun trusted his master. He respected and followed him more than anyone else.
The reason the master suggested this was also to make himself the leader.
‘You must trust your master! You must not fall for the sowing of discord!’
Visain was watching Jin Hagun’s expression change from moment to moment.
What on earth did he say that made Jin Ha-gun, who was meeting him for the first time, so emotional?
Well, if you think about it, the answer is there. If you think about how your feelings have changed since meeting Geommu-geuk. What is happening at this drinking party is not a battle of Jeongsa but a battle of Jeongma.
The visa sign sent a message to the sword master.
-You are the greatest villain in this martial arts world!
-The transmission will be entangled, so transmit it later!
―No! Please get entangled and understand me nonsense.
Visain was surprised that he was saying such things. He really didn’t know that he was the kind of person who could joke like this with someone. He thought that with this ugly scar, he would never be able to have a real conversation with anyone.
In the meantime, Seo Cheong sent a message to Seo Baek-jung.
-Why are you so quiet?
– We are having a conversation over the phone.
-Someday I will take revenge on that cult leader. Father, please take revenge on me!
Seo Baek-joong felt sorry for his son who couldn’t even read the mood. He didn’t even say he would take revenge, but asked for revenge. He felt even more sorry when compared to the three successors.
But ultimately, it is your own responsibility to raise them this way.
-Don’t act rashly and stay quiet.
I thought that if I made a big position and passed it on to him, he would become a person worthy of it. It was a naive thought. Even if it was just a part of the effort that I put into raising Cheonhwamun, raising a child was a task that required even more effort than all of that effort.
The price for avoiding that responsibility was now being paid right in front of me.
– Just in case, should I run away quietly?
Seo Baek-joong sighed and answered.
-It’s already too late. So just stay still.
Meanwhile, the sword dance and Jin Ha-gun’s transmission continued.
-Okay, let’s say you’re right. Then why are you telling me this? To take over the Heavenly Flower Gate?
-Of course there is that reason, but there is an even bigger reason.
-What?
-I wish you were a person of principles.
A cold air gushed out from Jin Ha-gun’s body. He didn’t want to hear Mine talk about principles.
As he gained momentum, everyone around him became tense.
The Demon Squad raised their internal energy, and the Heavenly Demon Guard and the Thirteen Sadorang also raised their morale and prepared for a counterattack.
On the other hand, the sword dance was extremely calm.
―Later, when you and I become the leaders and the cult leaders, our decisions will determine the lives and deaths of thousands and tens of thousands of people. I hope we don’t make the wrong decisions then. You and I. Even that little cult leader over there. I hope you are a person who sticks to your principles.
Jin Ha-gun’s outstretched prayer subsided. He could feel it. The sword dance was speaking sincerely. His eyes were saying this. Be a good leader. So let’s not fight a war in our time.
‘I lost.’
It was a single word that came to Jin Ha-gun’s mind.
Whether Geomwugeuk’s words were true or false, it was his complete defeat. He had to admit it. Whether Geomwugeuk was a fraud or a real demon, he was at least better than him. He was someone he couldn’t handle.
‘I have to work harder. Ten times, a hundred times harder than I am now!’
If he wants to prevent the Murim Alliance from being taken over by the sword master in front of him when he becomes the leader someday.
Jin Ha-gun said calmly.
-I will be a person of principle. Not because you expect me to be. Because that is the kind of person I want to be.
-I believe you will become that kind of person.
-Are you mocking me?
―The ridicule should be directed at that guy like Seo Cheong. Shouldn’t it be directed at Seo Baek-joong, who is trying to protect that guy as his son? Isn’t that why we exist? If not us, who can stop the son of a huge sect like Cheonhwamun?
-You really are… … .
It was a complete defeat until the end.
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze suddenly turned to Bi Sa-in, who was sitting across from him.
Their eyes met. He was so absorbed in the sword dance that he didn’t even realize that he was looking at him like this.
Visain silently poured alcohol into Jin Hagun’s empty glass.
It felt a little different now than when I first sat across from him provocatively.
Jin Ha-gun drank the wine that Bisain had poured for him. He had never thought that the wine poured for him by the successor of Sapa would be so comforting.
It wasn’t just Visa that felt different.
Seo Baek-joong was looking at him with a strange look in his eyes. It was as if his eyes were asking him this.
‘You’re not going to go over to the Demonic Cult and try to get away from us, are you?’
Just then, the sound of sword dance came flying in.
-Are you worried about your promise with the Heavenly Flower Lord?
How quick-witted. Yes, I was worried. Just a moment ago, he had been telling me to trust him, but now I have changed my mind. I couldn’t open my mouth to say that. And it was even harder because there were so many people watching, not just the two of us.
-I’ll take care of it so you don’t get in trouble. Is that okay?
Jin Ha-gun’s words of dislike rose to the tip of his tongue. He didn’t want to be manipulated by Geommu-geuk any longer. However, he had to let go of Cheonhwa-mun. Only then would he have something to say to his grandfather when he returned.
How on earth do you plan on solving this without causing any problems? I was really curious about the solution.
At that moment when Jin Ha-gun nodded slightly, Geommu-geuk ended his long silence and opened his mouth.
“Come on, let’s have a drink and unwind.”
We all drank together. Everyone was curious about how the conversation between Geommu-geuk and Jin-ha-gun would end.
Geommugeuk put down his glass and said nonchalantly.
“This wasn’t supposed to get this big. As you all know, this incident started when our Lord Seo Mun-ju tried to protect his children who had committed multiple murders. I understand, it’s a natural law. However, the fact that the people who died were innocent… … .”
Then someone interrupted the swordplay.
“What does that mean?”
A person who lived his whole life for good deeds and negotiation was none other than Geomseon.
