Chapter 402
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**Chapter 402. This Shouldn’t Happen**
Monk Sanwol was surprised, but he didn’t rebuke Yeon Jeokha.
The relationship between Yeon Jeokha and Yang Sagang was already broken.
Whether he landed one more blow or not, the result would be the same.
“Stop. If you continue using force, I won’t be able to help you.”
Yeon Jeokha obediently retreated upon hearing Monk Sanwol’s words, which seemed full of goodwill.
The Taoist monk and Master Sanwol, recently appointed as the head of the Five Dragons Palace, had a different air than Monk Cheongseon.
He seemed more concerned about Yeon Jeokha than Yang Sagang.
Yang Sagang stopped groaning and only moved his eyes from side to side.
Monk Cheongseon, who had been defending him, was no longer there, so he was now cautious.
Monk Sanwol addressed him respectfully.
“Master Yang, do you wish to return to your room to rest? Or would you prefer to go to the clinic?”
Yang Sagang replied without hesitation.
“I think it will be difficult to train in this state. If you permit me, I would prefer to return home for treatment.”
He was saying he would leave the mountain.
Even so, he had the tact not to mention anything about revenge.
Monk Sanwol pondered for a moment and then nodded.
Unless he had committed a serious crime, the Wudang Sect couldn’t simply detain the son of a magistrate.
“I understand. But I think it would be best to inform Monk Cheongseon before leaving. What do you think?”
It was the least he could do, as the head of Icheolgwae should be aware.
“I will do that.”
Yang Sagang replied obediently.
It was better to convey his position to the Wudang Sect through him.
When Yang Sagang left, the onlookers who had been watching from afar also began to disperse.
Monk Sanwol told Yeon Jeokha:
“Master Yang’s father will not let this matter go. I will go see the Palace Leader, so be careful.”
“Are you telling me not to leave my room?”
“Haha. No, I’m just telling you to be careful so you don’t get into more trouble.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Monk Sanwol shook his head and headed towards the Five Dragons Palace.
Son Gain and Baek Seolyeon, who had been watching anxiously, approached Yeon Jeokha.
“Disciple, thank you.”
Baek Seolyeon didn’t say much.
She knew of his abilities, so she only felt gratitude.
In contrast, Son Gain’s face was full of worry.
“Master Yeon, thank you for helping me. But what will we do? Master Yang won’t stay quiet…”
“Everything will be alright. In the end, they’re just puppies. Lady Baek, isn’t that so?”
Yeon Jeokha winked at Baek Seolyeon.
It was a joke he used to make with his acquaintances during his time in Nokrim.
“Y-yes, puppies.”
Baek Seolyeon’s face flushed.
The fact that he, who was normally so reserved, suddenly acted so friendly made her heart beat faster.
Somehow, she felt closer to him.
But Son Gain wasn’t relieved even with Yeon Jeokha’s joke.
“Will it really be alright?”
“Of course. Disciple Yeon is the best in mystical arts within the Five Dragons Palace.”
Baek Seolyeon wanted to add that he was a master of the “Sword Control Technique,” but she refrained.
That was a secret that only a few people in the palace knew.
She didn’t want to share it with anyone.
Even if it were her adoptive sister.
***
Palseongak.
Icheolgwae.
Monk Cheongseon, in charge of Icheolgwae, spoke with an expression of shame.
“Master Yang, I’m sorry. I didn’t know Yeon Jeokha was so insolent. How dare he subdue me and beat you?”
“When I return home, I will definitely inform my father so that he pays the corresponding price. My father will inquire about the details at the Five Dragons Palace… Please tell him everything you saw today.”
“Don’t worry. I will make sure there is no injustice towards you. I’m only worried that your father will be disappointed with the palace because of this incident.”
“That won’t happen. But who was that monk? He was clearly on Yeon Jeokha’s side.”
“He’s the new head of Yeodongbin appointed by the Palace Leader. He’s also a confidant of the Leader. He’s probably protecting Yeon Jeokha because he’s a direct disciple of Cheongbullno. The relationship between the Seven Masters of the Five Dragons Palace was special. But still, not being able to distinguish between public and private matters… Tsk!”
Monk Cheongseon gestured in disapproval.
As someone outside the Palace Leader’s connections, he didn’t like how the Leader and Monk Sanwol handled things.
“If the Leader’s confidant is on Yeon Jeokha’s side, will a fair punishment be carried out?”
“That’s why I plan to bring the matter to the elders. If it goes to the elders, it will become a matter for the entire Wudang Sect, not just the Five Dragons Palace. The elders are not influenced by the Leader, so they will handle it fairly.”
“As you saw, it’s three against one. Won’t I be at a disadvantage?”
“Even if there were a hundred, it wouldn’t matter. When opinions are equal, the elders generally lean towards what benefits the Wudang Sect.”
“Ah…”
Finally, Yang Sagang’s face relaxed.
Even if Yeon Jeokha was a direct disciple of Cheongbullno, that only mattered within the Five Dragons Palace.
‘The elders of the Wudang Sect will not side with a lay disciple if it means antagonizing a magistrate.’
That was evident from Monk Cheongseon’s attitude.
His father was, without a doubt, an honored guest of the Wudang Sect.
‘The Wudang Sect will handle things on their own. What remains is revenge.’
He didn’t believe that the internal punishment of the Wudang Sect would satisfy his resentment.
‘I should go see my master.’
Although the Five Dragons Palace considered Yeon Jeokha the best in mystical arts, in the end, he was only a practitioner of mystical arts.
If it was the Five Dragons Palace, they could handle it.
Yang Sagang’s eyes, who had not yet witnessed Yeon Jeokha’s mystical abilities, gleamed fiercely.
***
Wudang Sect.
Five Dragons Palace.
Geumjeong Hall.
As soon as Yang Sagang descended the mountain, Monk Sanwol went directly to see the Palace Leader, Master Cheonmyeong.
“Welcome. I was expecting you.”
From Master Cheonmyeong’s words, Monk Sanwol knew that the rumors were already spreading.
After all, it was not surprising, given the commotion they had caused within the palace.
“Do you know about the fight between Yeon Jeokha and Yang Sagang today?”
“I heard about it in passing, but I don’t know the details.”
“Actually…”
Monk Sanwol conveyed the statements of both parties as fairly as possible.
Anyway, if it was investigated, everything would come to light, so there was no point in hiding it.
“…Master Yang met with Monk Cheongseon, in charge of Icheolgwae, and then descended the mountain.”
“So that happened.”
Master Cheonmyeong, the Palace Leader, accepted it calmly.
He knew Yeon Jeokha’s martial and mystical abilities, so he didn’t have much to say.
“But Monk Cheongseon said that this matter would not be handled by the Five Dragons Palace, but…”
“Did he say he would take it to the elders?”
“Yes. He said that the elders of the Wudang Sect would decide, so I suppose that’s the case. The elders prioritize the interests of the Wudang Sect, so I don’t know if it’s right to leave it like this.”
“The interests of the Wudang Sect…”
Master Cheonmyeong laughed.
It was evident that the Wudang Sect Leader knew Yeon Jeokha’s abilities.
It had been strange from the beginning.
After all, why would the Sword King, Namgung Byeok, recommend an unknown person to the Wudang Sect?
There had definitely been some understanding between the Sword King and the Sect Leader.
In the martial world, someone like Yeon Jeokha, an exceptional master, didn’t act without reason.
While Master Cheonmyeong laughed, Monk Sanwol was anxious.
“It’s clear that Master Yang did something wrong. Matters of love are difficult for others to understand, but he insulted and threatened a disciple of the Five Dragons Palace within the palace. Given his actions, what Yeon Jeokha did was not excessive.”
Monk Sanwol spoke passionately.
In the martial world, that kind of thing cost lives.
Honestly, Yang Sagang should consider himself lucky to have gotten away with just a few blows.
That only happened because they were in the Five Dragons Palace.
“Leave it like that.”
“Leave it like that? What will happen if the elders accuse him of disobeying a superior? They could expel Yeon Jeokha. Aren’t there people who would do that?”
“The elders expelling Yeon Jeokha? Hahaha! That shouldn’t happen.”
“Eh?”
Monk Sanwol looked at Master Cheonmyeong with eyes full of doubt.
No matter how much he thought about it, he didn’t see how Yeon Jeokha could avoid expulsion.
“Even if the elders demand it, the Sect Leader will not allow it.”
When he mentioned the Sect Leader, Monk Sanwol paused.
In the long run, it was true that the mystical arts practitioners of the Five Dragons Palace were necessary.
But would the Sect Leader fight against the elders to protect Yeon Jeokha?
Considering how martial artists used to look down on mystical arts practitioners, it didn’t seem likely.
“Until now, the Five Dragons Palace hasn’t received fair treatment within the Wudang Sect. Do you really think the Sect Leader will protect Yeon Jeokha?”
“He will. Yeon Jeokha is a treasure not only for the Five Dragons Palace, but for the entire Wudang Sect.”
“…”
Faced with those incomprehensible words, Monk Sanwol blinked.
Now they even called Yeon Jeokha a “treasure of the Wudang Sect.”
He asked for the reason, but Master Cheonmyeong didn’t give it to him.
Finally, Monk Sanwol had to retreat empty-handed.
Just as he was leaving, someone approached.
It was Monk Cheongseon, in charge of Icheolgwae.
The two exchanged a casual greeting with their eyes and passed each other.
After a few steps, Monk Sanwol looked back.
He saw Monk Cheongseon’s back entering the Palace Leader’s office.
Without a doubt, he was there because of Yang Sagang’s problem.
Monk Sanwol sighed as he continued walking.
He understood that Monk Cheongseon had the interests of the Wudang Sect in mind, but even so, it was too much.
Thinking about the background before right and wrong…
“All this is because the Five Dragons Palace seems weak.”
If the palace were more powerful, Yang Sagang would have been more careful with his words and actions.
As did the disciples of the Sangcheong Palace or the Taeheo Palace who came to learn martial arts.
***
Hubei Province.
Sipyeon.
Juksan County.
Magistrate Yang Hoju’s house was in chaos.
His eldest son, who had gone to the Five Dragons Palace of the Wudang Sect to learn mystical arts, had returned in a lamentable state.
Main Residence.
After listening silently to his son, Yang Hoju asked to confirm.
“So the one who left you in this state was a lay disciple named Yeon Jeokha?”
“Yes. He’s a direct disciple of an elder named Cheongbullno.”
“Did the monks of the Five Dragons Palace just watch as you got into this state?”
“Monk Cheongseon of Icheolgwae tried to stop him, but he couldn’t resist his strength.”
“What a disaster. A lay disciple subdued a monk/master of the Five Dragons Palace with brute force?”
“Yes. And he knew that you are the magistrate of Juksan County.”
“Crazy. Did he do that knowing you’re my son?”
“It’s embarrassing to say, but he even told me to go tell you.”
“I suppose there are no lies in what you’ve said so far.”
Yang Hoju stared intently into his son’s eyes, as if trying to discern the truth.
It was a matter related to the Wudang Sect, the dominant power of Sipyeon, so he had to be cautious.
“There’s no one who doesn’t have dust if you shake them. But I haven’t committed any crime that deserves to be beaten to this point by a complete stranger.”
“I understand. Let me take care of the rest. Rest and recover your strength.”
“Yes.”
Yang Sagang bowed and carefully withdrew.
Yang Hoju, who had been staring into space with furious eyes, slammed the table.
*Bang!*
“Master Cheonmyeong, you shouldn’t have done that to my son. After all the money I’ve donated!”