It was not too difficult to find where Mount Hua was hiding. Because there were already people in the streets near Wudang Mountain, criticizing the Wudang Sect.
-The Wudang is the first sect of Taoism recognized by others. Then, shouldn’t they be setting an example for the other sects?
-The fee they received from the field near the mountains and the protection fee they got from the shopping sites are too high. Such an act tarnishes the beautiful name passed down to them from the ancestors. How can the Taoists covet riches!
-Are the current Wudang people the ones we know of? If that is true, how can a person called the sect leader not even show up in the world?Alll latest novels at novel35.com
-Since the world is in chaos right now, they should handle their position. Wudang Mountain isn’t the Wudang Sect. It belongs to everyone, from farmers who sell their goods to those who buy their goods. One day, such things happened. And then one after another, they began fights in the drinking houses killing people.
Many of the things which the people talked about were over a glass of alcohol and they were not the real things which had happened.
In particular, the part where Wudang was collecting excessive taxes for the sake of protection and rents—
-Farmers near Mount Hua are paying 5,000 bronze coins and the merchants are paying 4,000 for protection. On the other hand the Wudang Sect is asking for 10,000 from the farmers and 6,000 from merchants!
-At this point, it is impossible to tell whether they are Taoists or merchants greedy for money. The reputation of the first sect in the world isn’t for martial arts and their nature but in their ability to collect money!
If one listened to it, everyone would be shocked, but if they confirmed it closely, it was a typical instigation of a crowd. It was nothing else.
The difference between the rent and protection tax right now was because the Wudang’s land was much wider than the land under Mount Hua. There were more farms and the yield was greater too.
In addition, the scenery near Mount Hua might be beautiful, but the farmland was barren, and in Wudang Mountain the warriors often help to organize the water paths. Compared to Mount Hua, who only rented land and took rent, it was natural that Wudang would get more. The same was true for the protection tax.
In addition to that, the merchants have “gift money,” and it was often exaggerated by saying that they paid 70 coins to the Wudang Sect and then paid another 100 to the temple.
On the surface it was to make the Wudang Sect look greedy, but it was agitation to make the local people get bewildered.
However, when the ones who represented them began to openly criticize the Wudang Sect, the closeby farmers and merchants...
“Can we continue to stay like this? I mean, I have to say no.”
“Oh my, what are you talking about? Don’t you see who they are? Just one fist of theirs is enough to take us down.”
“And well, even the Wudang would notice because everyone is talking. Wouldn’t it be bad for us if they reduce the protection tax and go lax.”
Neither disagreeing nor agreeing with the words, they just sat cross armed. Everyone knew what this was.
They could not simply move because of the laws or the rules of Kangho.
“It could be Mount Hua.”
This was the preparation work to move ahead to another sect’s protection.
Those who were not normally members of Mount Hua, nor had any experiences with Mount Hua, were speaking of this.
It was the ulterior move to get at least one position under Mount Hua before Mount Hua attempts to move on to be the best sect in the world.
As a result, the official disciples of Mount Hua moved cautiously in the start and resulted in changing people’s minds.
One day, this strange movement had overheated, and anyone could see that things were going over the edge.
“Woah, did you see that?”
“I’ve never seen such a beauty.”
This small commotion—A woman who appeared near the guesthouse where the disciples of Mount Hua were staying. Her appearance was so beautiful and vivid, like someone drew it with a brush.
“Raising a flag? What is written there?”
“Flag? Where is...”
She hung up this flag banner with white letters on black background in front of the lodging where she lived without saying anything, and the contents were...
-In order for the Sleeping Dragon to ascend to the heavens, it needs to rain. The cloud blooms.
Sleeping Dragon, Ascension, and Rain—
If one looked at the writing there, it was like poetry written down but there was something which could not be overlooked.
“Must be of Kangho, and could be here to meet someone.”
“Are they calling for Mount Hua?”
“Should I try talking to her?”
At the sudden appearance of this attractive beautiful woman, everyone in Mount Hua turned their attention to her.
And that, in particular, were the direct disciples of Mount Hua. Elder Goo Jong-myung’s first disciple came ahead.
“Even though the times are bleak, the flag is quite strange. For what reason did the lady come here?”
He, who had been hot from the start, spoke to the woman standing near the flag.
Shhh
Huk.
When the woman looked up, Lee Soo gasped.
The pale skin, the sight which would make a man hide in shame, the mood which hid behind the clouds—
The subtle glances looked around, Seol-Hwi had already run into Goo Jong-myung several times before. But the positions of their meetings were completely different.
He was called the right hand man recognized by others, and the elder who leads Mount Hua.
“Should it be lord Seol-Hwi? Seeing you in person, you surely are one devoted to it. What business does the person attending the Fourth Disciple have with me?”
Goo Jong-myung must have already known about Seol-Hwi. Goo Jong-myung had a completely different attitude from the past, and handed over with courtesy.
There was respect which was different from the past.
Seol-Hwi’s heart was confused. This was a world seen by those with power.
“I would like to offer you a proposal which you cannot refuse.”
“Well...”
Goo Jong-myung frowned.
An offer which could not be refused? This was often used to dominate other persons.
Thud!
Of course, Goo Jong-myung got up from the seat, but he did not walk out.
“Do not get me wrong. I have no intention of intimidating you. I am really just trying to give you a good offer.”
“...”
Goo Jong-myung’s suspicious eyes glanced at Seol-Hwi several times. But the conclusion was obvious. From their point of view, it was not necessary to completely rule out other cases.
They knew then. The end of this fight would be the final battle between the First Disciple and the Fourth Disciple.
“Nice. Let’s listen to it once.”
Thud
He sat down after looking at Seol-Hwi for a while. And after a couple hesitant glances, he picked the tea and gulped it.
Poison or not, he did not seem to consider it a threat, or maybe he did it on purpose to look confident.
“I am going to ask you. Is there a reason why you need to strike down the Wudang Sect now?”
“What do you mean to gain by asking that?”
Goo Jong-myung frowned and asked.
“It is as I asked. Is there any reason why you should attack now? And is there any reason why you need to use the dangerous power on the side now?”
“Dangerous... you seem to be speaking about them.”
Goo Jong-myung understood what Seol-Hwi was intending to say. About the End Demon and his followers there.
“Well... if I can use it, it is best to do it. It is a complex issue you see. If you have a merit to gain, you need to hand something over in the right means.”
“You mean...”
“However, there is no need to avoid being helped right now. The public sentiment is working well too, and there is no reason for the head sects to sacrifice themselves due to the fact that these secret troops serve as shields.”
“You are being honest. Thank you for that.”
Seol-Hwi smiled slightly at those words.
The Mount Hua Sect had crossed up in all levels. But he was not hiding it, and this meant they could negotiate.
“Then I will ask again. What if there is a way to proceed without fighting?”
“...What do you mean now?”
“The Fourth Disciple of the sect believes that it is important to prevent this fight. As you know if the Wudang Sect collapses, what remains is just Shaolin. If Shaolin collapses, what remains will be the last target.”
“It is like a cat afraid of mice. Whatever we do, it will work. There is no need to attack your sect.”
So he knew of it too.
The Mount Hua Sect was also calculating the risk of fighting the Demonic Sect, so the worst outcome would not come.
“Thank you for the honest response. Now the calculations come.”
“I am glad you liked it. So... what do you suggest?”
“...”
In response to Goo Jong-myung’s blunt words, Seol-Hwi gasped a little. If this went wrong, then the simulation would come right away.
So, while the negotiations were possible, he had to make the most of them.
“I fully understand the ambition of wanting to be the first sect for the Mount Hua Sect. But yesterday’s allies can be the enemies of tomorrow.”
“...”
“The moment you gain the highest status, from then on, the person to keep in check will be the End Demon of our sect. Are you prepared for that?”
Goo Jong-myung’s face went stiff at that question.