It was often said that the eyes were the doors to the heart.
This was because the eyes were where a persons emotions were most clearly revealed.
Therefore, whenever Heo Sanja dealt with someone, he made it a point to look directly into their eyes.
However, at this moment, he didnt dare to meet the gaze of the person in front of him.
Tak.
The other persons fingernails lightly tapped the table.
Tak. Tak.
The sound, steady at first, began to accelerate slightly. And Heo Sanjas heart started to beat a bit faster.
Ugh.
So you lost.
The voice, finally reaching his ears like daggers, made him hold his breath as if he had been stabbed. The cold voice continued.
Heo Sanja.
Yes Sect leader.
Heo Sanja took a deep breath, raised his head, and then held his breath again.
Venerable Heo Do.
This was because an expression he had never seen on this manthe sect leader of Wudang and his sahyungwas being shown on his face.
Although it had been many years since they had worked together in Wudang, Heo Sanja couldnt recall the last time he had seen such a cold expression on this mans face.
With that cold look, Venerable Heo Do spoke slowly.
So you lost.
The sharp eyes did not leave Heo Sanja, who lowered his head once again.
I apologize, sect leader. I am truly embarrassed
This isnt something you apologize for, Heo Sanja.
His cold voice filled the room.
Speak now.
Why did you lose?
Heo Sanja could only gulp.
On the way back, he had pondered what he would report to the sect leader about what had happened. But in the end, he could only come to one conclusion.
Mount Hua
After mulling it over a couple more times, not wanting to admit it, he finally said it.
Mount Hua was much stronger than we expected.
Venerable Heo Do didnt show any particular reaction. He just looked at Heo Sanja quietly as if that wasnt a good enough answer.
The skills of the Five Swords of Mount Hua are already surpassing those of any normal first-class disciples of sects. Although the second and third-class disciples, excluding them, werent as good they were a match for the second-class disciples of ours. It would be impossible to guarantee that a good sect could win against them. And
And?
The skills of Mount Huas Divine Dragon made the other Five Swords seem like children.
You are saying Heo Gong was defeated just by a difference in skills?
Yes.
Heo Sanja bowed his head as if he truly felt sorry.
Even if we compete again, the odds of Heo Gong winning arent high. Even when the spar was over, Chung Myung didnt gasp for air.
Venerable Heo Do closed his eyes at this.
Heo Sanja tried to hold his breath so as not to disturb his ray of thoughts.
And after being lost in thought for quite some time, Venerable Heo Do opened his eyes. The sharpness he held, which was visible until a second ago, had vanished. But it felt like something heavier took its place.
They were stronger?
Yes.
Heo Sanja nodded slowly. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldnt think of anything else to say.
Reasons?
If he had to give reasons, he could bring up 10 more. If he had excuses to say, he would say them too. But he knew well that they couldnt be the real reasons or real excuses.
If one blamed themselves and confessed that it was their mistake, it might look like a responsible thing. But, this was an answer that would push the position of Wudang into a further mess, and that wasnt something Venerable Heo Do wanted.
The sky outside was so clean, without a single cloud, and yet such things didnt please him now.
Because I thought that maybe it wasnt just all words.
Sect leader.
This is all beyond common sense.
The complex emotions in the eyes vanished, and Heo Do regained his calmness.
If this was a mistake, he would have gotten angry for sure. If it happened because of Heo Sanja, the man would have been punished.
But this wasnt the mistake of anyone.
Regardless of what was right or wrong, Venerable Heo Do and Heo Sanja did their best for Wudang, and yet, they were trampled by Mount Hua.
I have always kept Mount Hua in check, even when everyone said I was being too much. There arent many people in the world who are as wary of Mount Hua as me.
And yet, even I couldnt have a clear idea about Mount Hua.
Sect leader this isnt your fault.
All that doesnt matter now.
A calm voice.
In order to handle the enemy properly, one has to acknowledge them. I will admit it. The potential of Mount Hua has exceeded both my prediction and my assessment. I thought the dagger they were aiming for was still far, but our throat has been cut, and blood is flowing.
Heo Sanja could only tremble as he listened to the soft words. Somehow, an eerie feeling seemed to grab his neck.
I looked down on Mount Hua.
After closing his eyes for a moment and calming his mind, Venerable Heo Do slowly opened his mouth.
The shock to the disciples will not be small, so focus your efforts to calm them down.
Yes.
Venerable Heo Do shook his head as he thought of something to say, Sometimes defeat can be good medicine. The loss was too great here to be comforted.
Heo Gong.
Uh?
Did he regain consciousness?
yes. Just before arriving
What did he say?
Heo Sanja clenched his teeth tightly before answering.
He locked himself in his residence and is constantly saying incomprehensible things about being wrong from the start.
Heo Do looked up at the ceiling in silence. Then, as if he had gathered his thoughts, he nodded with a calmer look.
I get it. You, too, go and rest.
please punish me for this, sect leader.
You?
Heo Do smiled.
Yes, sect leader.
If you need to be punished now, how much more should I be punished?
Just go out and have a look.
Yes.
I will tell you separately how to resolve this matter. Pay attention to ensuring that injured disciples can head back to their daily lives safely.
I will make sure to keep that in mind.
Heo Sanja got up and walked out.
Venerable Heo Do, now alone, looked at the room which was all cold and the broken table.
The miserable situation was on his mind, as well as the situation Wudang currently found itself in.
He slowly got up from his place, walked with long strides, and opened the door.
Huh
A peaceful scenery beloved by the elderly.
But Heo Do knew. This scene reflected the sweat and effort of their ancestors.
Just how much effort has Wudang had to exert to gain the status of being the best in the world?
However, now that he was here, that status was being shaken.
Was it wrong from the start?
Well.
What on earth went wrong here?
Mount Hua
Venerable Heo Dos face showed deep agony as he spoke a name he couldnt understand.