Chapter 84 : Chapter 84

Chapter 84. It’s Not Over Yet (1)

The war ended.

The Sichuan martial world successfully repelled the invasion of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way and protected Sichuan.

There were many sacrifices, but the war ended in a state that at least met the minimum conditions to be called a victory.

And so—

“Everyone has worked hard.”

“Please, have a seat here.”

“Haha. Is it all right for beggars to be this tactless…?”

“Who would dare treat the chivalrous members of the Beggar’s Sect poorly?”

“I’ll pour it myself, Great Hero.”

One Beggar’s Sect disciple who had joined the drinking table looked shy as he took his seat.

“Hahaha. To think that in this lifetime, a beggar like me would enjoy such luxury. To even drink wine poured by a heroine of the Emei Sect…”

“It is merely proper courtesy and respect toward a chivalrous member of the Beggar’s Sect.”

“By any chance, do you have a man you’re seeing…?”

“It is merely courtesy and respect.”

In general, the atmosphere was warm and lively.

The Tang Clan Head opened up the clan estate and emptied the wine cellars, and when that still wasn’t enough, he contacted the brothels and taverns in Chengdu and gathered alcohol and food without restraint.

At the resulting banquet, Emei, Qingcheng, the Tang Clan, and the Beggar’s Sect all gathered, freely exchanging camaraderie and cups without regard for sect boundaries.

However, amid this boisterous atmosphere, there was exactly one table that stood apart.

Unlike the others who were drunk, laughing, and singing loudly, one table maintained a somewhat dignified mood.

It was the table where the representatives of each sect were seated.

Seok Gu, the Sichuan Branch Leader of the Beggar’s Sect.

Abbess Hyeonwol Somyeong of the Emei Sect.

Dang Myeong, the Poisonous Cloud Death God and Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Heonwonjin, the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect.

And finally—

“Shall we all drink as well, then?”

Though still young, not even of age, he was a man whose presence at this table no one found strange.

Han Cheong-un, the Clan Leader of the Limitless Gate, sat there.

“To our victory….”

As Han Cheong-un raised his cup, the other sect leaders followed suit and emptied theirs at the same time.

“Khuu— as expected, Geomnamchun really is best in Sichuan. That’s why I can’t leave my post as the Sichuan Branch Leader.”

Seok Gu spoke jovially, and Han Cheong-un smiled as he replied.

“Please come to Yueyang sometime. I’ll let you taste every famous wine under heaven.”

“Oh? I’m really going to come. Don’t complain later that it was just polite talk if I actually show up.”

“Of course.”

Han Cheong-un understood Seok Gu’s value well.

In the future, he would become the Beggar’s Sect Leader and lead the sect capably through war.

If he could draw him in, pouring out all the famous wines of Yueyang would be well worth it.

‘An unexpected gain from this trip to Sichuan.’

At that moment, Abbess Hyeonwol cleared her throat.

“Ahem. The chivalry and righteous resolve you displayed in Sichuan’s crisis deeply impressed me as well. Truly, my eyes were opened to the appearance of a new divine dragon in the martial world.”

Though it was praise through and through, Han Cheong-un knew.

Her expression suggested that she was about to say something rather uncomfortable.

“However, there is one thing I wish to ask.”

“Please speak.”

Abbess Hyeonwol sighed, as if she disliked even bringing this up, then opened her mouth heavily.

“Did you truly lend your strength to the Sichuan martial world with no personal interest at all, purely for the sake of chivalry?”

“…….”

“Or did you have another purpose?”

At her words, Han Cheong-un let out a small laugh.

In his past life, he would have answered without hesitation, ‘It was purely for chivalry. I have no other intentions.’

That truly had been his heart.

He believed it was right, and he devoted his entire life to practicing that righteousness.

But—

“That is not the case.”

Not anymore.

He had not forgotten chivalry and principle, but he was no longer blindly devoted to them.

“Hmm….”

As Abbess Hyeonwol pondered, Han Cheong-un met her gaze and spoke clearly.

“I supported the Sichuan martial world because I have things I want as well.”

“I see.”

“Are you disappointed?”

Abbess Hyeonwol shook her head and smiled gently.

“No. This monk is actually relieved.”

“Relieved…?”

“Yes. Because it means you still retain an untainted purity.”

“What?”

Han Cheong-un was the one taken aback.

Around them, others chuckled softly.

“That is certainly true.”

“My son-in-law hasn’t yet been too stained by the world.”

“My, to be this naïve….”

Their reactions only confused Han Cheong-un further.

He had openly admitted to having ulterior motives, fully prepared to be criticized.

Yet the response was so warm.

It was as if seasoned elders were smiling fondly at the innocence of a child who did not yet know the ways of the world.

Then Seok Gu drained his cup in one gulp and spoke.

“Hey, little brother Han.”

“Little brother?”

“Are you older than me?”

“No… I’m younger.”

If one counted his age before regression, it might be different, but now he was clearly younger.

Seok Gu nodded with satisfaction.

“Then you’re a little brother.”

“…….”

“Anyway, little brother.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

Let’s just go along with it.

“If Cheongheo were in your position right now, what do you think he would have done?”

“Comparing him to someone like that—”

“Just think about it.”

Grumbling, Han Cheong-un still thought it through.

Cheongheo—if it were him…

“Ah!”

Han Cheong-un realized it.

If it were Cheongheo, the moment Sichuan owed him a debt, he would squeeze every last bit of profit out of it.

He would sow discord within the Sichuan martial world, say different things to different people, and deftly fleece them from both sides.

He would never honestly say something like, ‘Yes. I have something I want.’

‘I was naïve.’

Han Cheong-un scratched his head and sighed.

Seeing this, the Qingcheng Taoist spoke.

“There is no need to be ashamed. If anything, we are the ones who should feel shame.”

“…….”

“Cheongheo of Wudang may be particularly excessive, but whether one is a sect leader of the Nine Sects or a clan head of the Five Great Families, who among us is unstained by the secular world?”

“You as well, Sect Leader?”

At Han Cheong-un’s question, the Qingcheng Taoist sighed.

“As you know, I made a grave mistake early in this war.”

“That was for the sake of the Sichuan martial world—”

“For the sake of Qingcheng.”

“…….”

“That was my true heart.”

The Qingcheng Taoist let out a deep sigh, then looked at the Tang Clan Head and Abbess Hyeonwol.

“As you both know, the Qingcheng Sect has long strived to become the foremost sect in Sichuan. That was Qingcheng’s dream and the aspiration of all its disciples.”

“I am aware.”

“Guanyin Bodhisattva….”

With regret in his voice, the Qingcheng Taoist continued.

“I wished to see Qingcheng rise as the number one sect in Sichuan in my own generation. To do so, I wanted to earn great merit in this war.”

“…….”

“That is why I led my fellow disciples and juniors into battle.”

“…….”

“For a Taoist to be blinded by worldly fame and achievement—how pathetic.”

“Is it all right to speak so frankly?”

“What does it matter? I will soon step down from the position of sect leader.”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

“Are you serious?”

The other three were startled by his words.

The Qingcheng Taoist smiled calmly.

“One must take responsibility. Responsibility…”

In this war, Qingcheng suffered the greatest losses in the Sichuan martial world.

Nearly all of its elders died, and among the first-generation disciples, almost all of the core strength was lost.

To recover its former power would require at least fifty years.

And for the Qingcheng Taoist himself, who had brought about this situation, stepping down to take responsibility was only natural.

“There is also a sense of relief,” the Qingcheng Taoist said to the others.

“By laying down the heavy burden of being sect leader, I can finally act honestly with myself, at least once.”

Then he looked straight at Han Cheong-un.

“While I am still the sect leader of Qingcheng, tell me this. What is needed for Qingcheng to repay the debt it owes you, with utmost sincerity?”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. If you wished, I would not begrudge braiding my own hair into sandals for you to wear.”

“I have no such strange hobby.”

He had never understood it.

Why did people think making shoes out of human hair was the ultimate repayment of a debt?

He did not need such disgusting footwear.

Instead, there was something he wanted.

“I have something I wish to ask, not only of the Qingcheng Sect, but of the entire Sichuan martial world.”

“And what is that?”

“Please trust me.”

At his words, everyone failed to understand for a moment.

Han Cheong-un continued.

“In the future, great storms will sweep through the martial world many times. What happened in Sichuan this time was only the beginning.”

“You mean it is not over yet?”

“Those of you who fought the unorthodox sects directly know this. They are strong.”

“Hmm….”

That was undeniable.

The Murim Alliance had assessed that the total strength of the unorthodox factions did not exceed thirty percent of the orthodox.

But—

‘That assessment was completely wrong.’

‘To think the unorthodox had gathered such power.’

“Tsk. We were complacent.”

As they reproached themselves, Han Cheong-un spoke.

“The unorthodox are strong. And the release of that overflowing strength may, in a way, be inevitable.”

“Do you think the clash between orthodox and unorthodox will intensify in earnest?”

“With the right trigger, it would not be strange at all.”

That was exactly what this Sichuan war had been.

In the original history, it became the spark of the First Orthodox–Unorthodox War.

Though things had been patched up for now, Han Cheong-un knew.

This was merely placing a lid on a boiling cauldron.

“War will inevitably intensify. When that time comes, please trust me.”

“‘Trust you’ is rather vague. To what extent are we to trust you?”

At Seok Gu’s question, Han Cheong-un nodded.

“You only need to trust me more than the Murim Alliance.”

“…….”

“…….”

Silence fell.

Only then did they realize that Han Cheong-un’s request was far greater than it first appeared.

This time, the Sichuan martial world had resisted the authority of the Murim Alliance before Cheongheo.

But that had been resistance toward Cheongheo as an individual, backed by the Alliance’s prestige, rather than toward the Alliance’s collective will.

Now, however, Han Cheong-un was asking them to place him above the entire Murim Alliance.

In effect—

“Little brother, are you trying to cause a split within the orthodox martial world?”

At Seok Gu’s words, Han Cheong-un shook his head.

“What would I need to cause?”

“What?”

“Wasn’t it already a mess?”

“……Ghh.”

Seok Gu sighed.

As the Sichuan Branch Leader of the Beggar’s Sect and an elder who had lived far longer than Han Cheong-un—

‘He’s not wrong.’

The Murim Alliance was already deeply divided.

With people like Cheongheo obsessed with political maneuvering and eyeing the next Alliance Leader position, it was already beyond saving.

Han Cheong-un addressed the sect leaders.

“To overcome the coming calamities, we must become one. I, Han Cheong-un, wish to serve as that center, inadequate though I may be.”

“For what purpose? To establish a new alliance and seize hegemony over the martial world—”

“To survive.”

“…….”

“So that even one more person may live!”

Seok Gu pressed his lips together.

It was hard to call it excessive worry when Han Cheong-un’s gaze was so serious.

“It seems I’ve sworn brotherhood with a real big shot.”

“Will you withdraw?”

“A wealthy little brother who buys me drinks? No, I can’t do that.”

Was that really the point?

Seok Gu drained a cup that had somehow been refilled, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and shouted,

“My answer is ‘Yes.’”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Life’s a gamble anyway. I’ve disliked what the Alliance has been doing for a long time.”

Though he spoke lightly, Seok Gu trusted his own judgment more than anyone.

‘This kid is different. There’s something different about him.’

The perceptive beggar was convinced.

He had to bet on Han Cheong-un.

“And I, too, agree with my son-in-law.”

“Clan Head.”

“You are the benefactor of the Tang Clan. And our Tang Clan never forgets a debt.”

“Even if it means standing against the Murim Alliance, I will trust you.”

“Thank you.”

As the Tang Clan Head spoke, Abbess Hyeonwol said,

“As for Emei…”

She paused for a moment, then said,

“Neutral.”

“Is that so?”

“I am sorry. But as the abbess of Emei, I must be cautious for the sake of Emei’s future.”

“I respect your decision, Abbess.”

All eyes then turned to the last person—the Qingcheng Taoist.

And the Qingcheng Taoist—

“Very well. Qingcheng will place its full trust in you.”

“Truly?”

“Of course. If you wish, I can even entrust you with Qingcheng’s Sect Leader Token.”

“……?”

That was unexpected.

The Qingcheng Taoist supported Han Cheong-un more fervently than anyone.

His attitude left Han Cheong-un flustered.

“What is it about me that you trust so much?”

“Didn’t I say it? I would do whatever I could.”

“……?”

“A man must keep the words he speaks.”

The Qingcheng Taoist.

He was the very image of a great Sichuan hero.