"That is absolutely out of the question."
Gong Mu-jin's eyes blazed with fervent loyalty. His voice sounded as if his blood was boiling over.
"Mount Hua is facing an unprecedented crisis right now."
The face of the person looking at Gong Mu-jin was equally dark and grave.
"And yet you're telling this disciple to abandon Mount Hua now? Mount Hua!"
Gong Mu-jin was unleashing anger the likes of which he'd never felt in his lifetime.
How could such a thing be possible?
He had been a member of Mount Hua since his earliest memories—memories so distant he couldn't even recall them. In his oldest recollections, he was already a disciple of Mount Hua. Mount Hua was his home, his sect, his everything.
So how could anyone tell him to abandon Mount Hua at a time like this?
"Countless disciples have been injured. The Demonic Cult has ravaged Mount Hua. I believe what I should be doing now is tending to those wounds and working toward Mount Hua's recovery. So how can you tell me to abandon Mount Hua? Would there be any child who abandons their parents just because they've grown old and sick? I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"Mu-jin."
Cheong Yeong-ja, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, quietly observed Gong Mu-jin before opening his mouth.
"I'm not telling you to abandon Mount Hua…"
"That's exactly what you're saying!"
Gong Mu-jin cut off Cheong Yeong-ja's words.
"If leaving Mount Hua now isn't abandoning Mount Hua, then what else would you call it! When parents are groaning in pain from their wounds, no child leaves home claiming they have business elsewhere. Are you trying to make me an unfilial son? I absolutely will not leave Mount Hua."
"Is that so?"
"Please understand this fervent, boiling loyalty, Sect Leader. There may be many important matters in this world, but doesn't everyone have their priorities? For me, my position as a disciple of Mount Hua is most important."
"I see, I see."
Cheong Yeong-ja nodded his head up and down with what seemed like a moved expression, then opened his mouth.
"So this isn't because you don't want to leave with Wei Yan-ho?"
"…"
"Anyway, even if you stay here, there's not much for you to do besides changing the kids' bandages, so you're just making excuses about love for Mount Hua because you don't want to suffer, right?"
"Ah, no, that's not…"
"The Sect Leader is giving you an order, but you're ignoring the Sect Leader's command while going on about love for Mount Hua?"
Cheong Yeong-ja smiled broadly.
"Our Mu-jin has grown up quite a bit."
Though Gong Mu-jin was already past forty, Cheong Yeong-ja looked at him as if he were a small child.
"Even daring to put on little acts."
"…"
But just because one looks at someone like a child doesn't necessarily guarantee a warm gaze. Faced with Cheong Yeong-ja's intimidating presence, glaring as if he'd tear him apart and kill him, Gong Mu-jin slightly turned his head to look at the sky.
'I've been caught.'
Despite putting everything he had into a serious performance, it wasn't working. While his desire not to go with Wei Yan-ho and to remain here was completely sincere, why wasn't his sincerity getting through?
"Do you dislike it that much?"
"…Sect Leader."
"What?"
"Do I really have to go?"
Seeing Gong Mu-jin's tearful expression, Cheong Yeong-ja sighed.
'To think this fellow has become like this.'
This was Gong Mu-jin, who had been the subject of much talk within Mount Hua for his tendency to pursue swordsmanship too extremely and his overly cold attitude toward people.
This was Gong Mu-jin, about whom people had said that even if he became Mount Hua's greatest swordsman, they wouldn't want to entrust him with Mount Hua's important responsibilities.
The reason was that they couldn't bear what might happen when someone who only knew swords and not people came to lead others.
Gong Mu-jin was so extremely clumsy at dealing with people that even Cheong Yeong-ja couldn't argue against this assessment.
But now…
'What is this, he's not even competent anymore.'
Where had that blade-like Plum Blossom Sword Ghost gone? Here was only a pathetic disciple throwing a tantrum because he didn't want to travel with a young fellow.
Cheong Yeong-ja smiled broadly and said:
"You're paying the price here for not seeing people as people."
"The punishment is too severe."
"But this is something only you can do."
Cheong Yeong-ja's face became serious.
"Mu-jin."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"From now on, the martial world will move with that fellow at its center."
"…"
Gong Mu-jin couldn't bring himself to deny it.
People can be strong. Of course people can be strong.
But shouldn't such strength operate within the bounds of common sense?
'Is he really getting even stronger?'
Gong Mu-jin was one of those who knew Wei Yan-ho's strength best. Wasn't Gong Mu-jin the one who had spent the longest time alongside Wei Yan-ho since he'd entered the martial world?
Gong Mu-jin had even crossed swords with Wei Yan-ho.
'He definitely wasn't this strong at first…'
Though it wasn't really his place to say this, having been knocked out in a single blow, Wei Yan-ho at the beginning was definitely not as strong as he was now. No, even without going back to the beginning, Wei Yan-ho when he fought Quan Ji to a draw wasn't this strong.
Though they called it a draw, that match was one where Quan Ji had shown mercy.
But in that short time, he'd become incomparably stronger than the Wei Yan-ho of that time.
It was unlikely, but what if Wei Yan-ho maintained his current rate of growth?
"A monster has appeared in the martial world. You know that, right?"
'He's not just any monster, Sect Leader.'
While Cheong Yeong-ja, who didn't know Wei Yan-ho's rate of growth, could only evaluate the current Wei Yan-ho, Gong Mu-jin, who knew well how much stronger Wei Yan-ho had become, could also evaluate the future Wei Yan-ho.
If time passed peacefully like this, there would come a day when all under heaven would have to watch Wei Yan-ho's mood.
"But fortunately, you have a connection with Wei Yan-ho. You could say it's a blessing heaven has bestowed upon Mount Hua."
'For me, it's a misfortune.'
"If heaven's will lies with him, then we too should naturally help him. As Sect Leader, I command you. You will now leave Mount Hua and remain by Wei Yan-ho's side. Watch what he does and learn from him. Perhaps the path to Mount Hua's development might emerge from him."
"That sounds like an extremely dangerous way of thinking, Sect Leader!"
Gong Mu-jin attempted a final act of rebellion.
"It's true that Wei Yan-ho is strong. But since when has Mount Hua pursued only strength? If we pursued only strength, how would we be any different from the Demonic Cult? Before weighing strength, we should weigh character, and before discussing swords, we should know how to discuss the Way—isn't that what makes us Mount Hua?"
Cheong Yeong-ja's eyes widened.
"Do you have the qualifications to say such things?"
"…"
"I sent you out into the world to learn about it, and you came back having sold your conscience."
"Ah, no, that's not it."
"Your scheming has improved, your scheming. I told you to come back a bit more well-rounded, and you became a con artist."
"…This is all that fellow's influence. That's why I'm saying I won't go."
Cheong Yeong-ja's expression changed completely.
"It's a good change. Someone who's going to lead a sect needs to know how to do such things too. Being unconditionally pure isn't always a good thing."
"…"
Cheong Yeong-ja was proving that very fact right now.
"Sect Leader, I really…"
"Mu-jin."
Cheong Yeong-ja smiled broadly and said:
"Do you want to get beaten before you go, or just go?"
"…I'll just go."
***
'What sin have I committed?'
Since he couldn't think of any particular sin he'd committed in this life, he must have committed great sins in his previous life.
Gong Mu-jin looked at Wei Yan-ho, who was wrapped head to toe in bandages, with a disgruntled expression.
Really, how should he put it…
That appearance.
Whatever good evaluation he'd had of Wei Yan-ho seemed to completely fly away at the sight of that appearance.
If you're a peerless master, you should have the bearing of a peerless master! Bearing!
"What kind of favor?"
When Wei Yan-ho asked again, Gong Mu-jin let out deep sighs.
'Just a couple months ago, I was the one frantically trying to keep up with you.'
It seemed like just yesterday that he'd spent all day pestering him for a sparring match, yet how could his evaluation of a person change so completely in such a short time?
Gong Mu-jin opened his mouth with tears in his eyes.
"I heard you're going to Guangdong."
"Ah, yes. I have to go home. I'm getting a bit tired now."
'You do look tired.'
Gong Mu-jin tried to shake off the strange thoughts rising in his mind and opened his mouth.
"Would it be alright if I came along?"
"Huh?"
"If it wouldn't be a burden, I'd like to accompany you to Guangdong."
Wei Yan-ho frowned slightly.
"The Demonic Cult is stirring right now, and you want to go to Guangdong? Are you going sightseeing or something? If you're a martial artist, you should be guarding this place in a situation like this!"
"…What about you?"
"That's why I'm going home to guard my house too. My house is in Guangdong, and Great Hero Gong's house is here."
Well, somehow the logic seemed to make sense…
Gong Mu-jin continued with a disgruntled expression.
"That's also a good method, but there are many other Mount Hua disciples here besides me, so there won't be any problems. So please let me follow along."
"Ah, I don't want to! You'll just bother people again asking for sparring matches."
"I won't do that."
"Really?"
Gong Mu-jin nodded with a deflated expression.
'Sparring only has flavor when there's some back-and-forth.'
Now, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't withstand Wei Yan-ho's single strike. If he flashed and found himself unconscious on the ground, what could he possibly learn from such a sparring match?
"But that's not for me to decide, is it?"
When Gong Mu-jin looked at Wei Jeong-han, Wei Jeong-han nodded.
"I've given permission."
"…What?"
"The Guangdong Wei Family has now become a place spoken of by people in the world. It would be nice if it could remain as it was before, but that's not possible. Someone of this person's caliber would be more than adequate as a retainer. He's also a good person."
"Hmm…"
Wei Yan-ho puffed out his cheeks slightly.
"Since the family head has decided so, I can't object."
For once, sensible words came from Wei Yan-ho's mouth, which felt somehow awkward.
"So it'll just be our family and Great Hero Gong traveling together?"
"No. Our Seol-hwa is also coming along…"
Wei Yan-ho clamped his mouth shut.
No matter how oblivious a person he might be, he could tell that if he asked why Lee Seol-hwa was also coming along, he'd be dismembered by glares alone.
"So Miss Lee Seol-hwa as well…"
"I'm going too!"
At Jin Ye-ran's urgent voice, Wei Yan-ho tilted his head.
"Why, Miss?"
"I-I had business to attend to in Guangdong. They say there are different medicinal herbs in Guangdong than here! I really wanted to research them!"
"…If you say so."
Wei Yan-ho nodded reluctantly.
"Then like this…"
"We're going too!"
The door burst open, and several people came rushing into the room.
"Beggar?"
"I-I want you to take me too, Wei Yan-ho! If I go back like this, King Beggar will beat me to death. Please protect me."
"Water Ghost?"
"…Ah, Father insists on staying by my side. It's not my intention, but since Father has commanded it…"
"Monk?"
"Amitabha."
Wei Yan-ho's face began to turn red. Finally, Wei Yan-ho's shouting voice burst out and echoed thunderously through the hall.
"What, is there something to freeload off of that everyone's clinging on and making a fuss! I'm not taking anyone! Why would other people follow us to our house!"
And so the people who would be departing were decided.