Vol 2 Chapter 51. It Will Be Different This Time (1)

Jeong ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍Seon let out a sigh.

‘Should I have just gone back?’

The reason he was having such thoughts was the pathetic sight unfolding before his eyes.

“So, what I mean is that even if we push the Namgung Clan Head as the Alliance Leader, only the Five Great Families will follow. You are planning to split the Murim Alliance.”

“That is practically a threat. If you are going to exclude our Five Great Families like that, why did you even call us? You Nine Sects should have just done it among yourselves.”

“That is not what I meant. My point is….”

Watching this endless, meaningless meeting unfolding before his eyes was torture.

He had intended to return to Gansu Province because he did not want to see this sight anymore, but even that had fizzled out due to Patrick, who had suddenly appeared.

However, as he continued to watch this spectacle now….

‘Going back would indeed be better.’

That thought raised its head again.

It was not just him; other sect leaders who maintained neutrality were also beginning to feel sick of this tedious waste of time. But just then….

“Abbot. Excuse me for a moment.”

The door to the conference room opened, and a Shaolin elder entered.

“Myungjin, what is it during the meeting?”

“I apologize. I have something urgent to tell the Abbot, so I came to find you like this.”

“What is the matter?”

“That is…. Well….”

To the elder who hesitated to answer, the Divine Monk spoke repeatedly.

“Speak. what urgent matter has occurred that you try to deliver a message even by entering during a meeting?”

“That is, well….”

The Shaolin Elder named Myungjin could not open his mouth easily.

If one is an elder of Shaolin, their mental cultivation would absolutely not be shallow.

The fact that such a person was showing such a disheveled appearance caused the Divine Monk’s expression to waver.

“Speak. Did the Unorthodox Alliance perhaps launch an attack?”

“No. That is not it. However….”

“What on earth is it? Speak clearly.”

As the Divine Monk sternly pressed him, Myungjin let out a sigh and spoke.

“I think you will have to see it for yourself.”

“What?”

“Such a thing…. It is my first time seeing it too, so I do not know what words to use to convey it.”

“…….”

Just what on earth was happening in this Shaolin?

* * *

Shaolin’s training ground.

Originally, the training ground is not a place open to outsiders.

However, since Shaolin was currently swarming with guests from the outside, they had opened up a few training grounds so that they could have healthy exchanges.

And right now.

If one were to ask what kind of thing was happening there….

“I ask everyone!”

Patrick was giving a speech in the middle of the training ground holding something in his hand.

It was not particularly a voice filled with internal energy, yet the sound was ringing out loudly.

And he continued speaking….

“Young people of the Gangho. Do you want the Number One Beauty Under the Heavens?”

“YES!”

“YES!”

“Do you want to be lovey-dovey and sweet with the Number One Beauty Under the Heavens? Do you want to be called by titles such as Older Brother, Darling, Husband, and so on?”

“YES!”

“YES!”

“Then pay the participation fee right now and register for the tournament over there.”

In the place Patrick pointed to, the disciples of the Twin Dragon Sect, including Mun Yul, had brought a long table and were accepting people’s registration for the tournament.

Under a banner that read ‘Participation Fee: Twenty Nyang of Silver’ above their heads, that is.

“Why are we doing this….”

Yun-a approached the despairing Mun Yul and spoke.

“Senior Brother, please endure it.”

“Could you endure this if it were you? This is Shaolin. And the Orthodox Murim has all gathered for the major affairs of the Gangho. Yet here… here… Urgh….”

Mun Yul felt severe pain in his chest and complained of agony.

It was a pitiful sight if one considered it pitiful. However….

“Still, we are better off.”

Yun-a continued cautiously.

“Look at Eldest Senior Sister.”

“Ah….”

At that moment, a lament of pity naturally escaped Mun Yul’s mouth. Right now, Persona was sitting on a chair behind the reception desk.

Sitting with a paper labeled ‘Prize’ stuck to her forehead, she was constantly muttering something with a vacant expression.

“If only he weren’t my master, really…. If only he weren’t my master, really…. If only he weren’t my master, really…. If only he weren’t my master, really…. If only he weren’t my master, really…. If only he weren’t my master, really….”

Mm, her condition is very bad.

Whether that was the case or not….

“Since ancient times, the Gangho is a place where one obtains what they want with power. Young people, challenge. And achieve! The winner shall possess the Number One Beauty Under the Heavens!”

“WROOOOAR!”

“WROOOOAR!”

“Shout! What do you want?”

“The Number One Beauty Under the Heavens! The Number One Beauty Under the Heavens! The Number One Beauty Under the Heavens!”

“The Number One Beauty Under the Heavens! The Number One Beauty Under the Heavens! The Number One Beauty Under the Heavens!”

Madness.

Aside from this word, it was hard to find any word to describe this scene.

The mouths of Shaolin’s Divine Monk and other sect leaders, who arrived at this scene late, dropped wide open.

And Patrick, who discovered them a step late, smiled brightly and spoke.

“You came?”

“Hohoho. Amitabha….”

The Divine Monk thought.

Oh, Great Merciful Buddha….

‘What on earth is that?’

* * *

“Evil-Breaking Swordsman! What on earth are you doing?”

The one who yelled loudly at Patrick was the Mount Zhongnan Sect Leader, who was the most stubborn even among the Nine Sects’ sect leaders.

Fitting his title of Zhongnan First Gentleman, he was a tremendous man of principles and hated things that went against rules or were wrong very much.

Naturally, there was no way he would mesh well with Patrick.

Patrick dug into his ear and spoke.

“Can’t you tell by looking? The 1st Scramble for the Number One Beauty Under the Heavens….”

“Do you think I am curious about the tournament name right now!”

“Then why did you ask?”

GRIND.

“I am not in the mood to joke right now.”

“Oh, is that so?”

So what?

Seeing Patrick’s expression saying that, Sect Leader Dowon almost drew the sword at his waist.

If this were Mount Zhongnan….

No, if it were anywhere but Shaolin, he would have truly drawn his sword.

However, this is Shaolin, and taking responsibility for this place is not his role.

“Abbot, are you okay, Abbot?”

“Ahem….”

“A person from another sect has arbitrarily opened a martial arts tournament in the middle of Shaolin. And such a frivolous and vulgar tournament at that.”

“Amitabha….”

“Do you truly intend to condone this indulgence as the Abbot of the current Shaolin?”

At Sect Leader Dowon’s words, the Abbot rolled his prayer beads and organized his thoughts.

“First, I wish to ask the Evil-Breaking Swordsman.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you open such a martial arts tournament? And in Shaolin at that.”

“Even if you ask why….”

Patrick shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

“I just did it because I could.”

It seemed like he was saying, ‘I woke up in the morning, so I should eat.’ The Divine Monk let out a sigh.

‘He is too free.’

Being unbound by authority and being self-indulgent are different.

Just as he was thinking that perhaps he had evaluated the Evil-Breaking Swordsman too highly….

“By the way, let me ask one thing too.”

“Speak.”

“Is there a rule that says a person from another sect cannot open a martial arts tournament inside Shaolin?”

“That is….”

“From what I know, when the Murim Alliance existed in the past, the Nine Sects and Five Great Families took turns hosting martial arts tournaments. At that time, the one overseeing the tournament was not the host party but the Murim Alliance.”

“Hmm….”

“In other words, there were plenty of precedents in the past where a sect lent their internal training grounds to open a martial arts tournament.”

“…….”

Is that so?

It is a fact learned for the first time.

And how does a person from the Outer Regions know so well about things that happened in such a distant past?

When the Divine Monk closed his mouth, Patrick grinned and spoke.

“Well, for me, if you just say not to do it, I can just not do it. I can just stop, but….”

If I can’t do it here, I can just open it bigger in Shaolin’s front yard.

Thinking such evil thoughts, Patrick spoke.

“So? Despite there being precedents that your ancestors set, you are displeased. Is that it?”

“…….”

“That is it, right? The ancestors were wrong and I am right. That is it, right?”

Among the sect leaders who were standing with their mouths wide open, Mount Zhongnan’s Sect Leader Dowon yelled loudly.

“That… what absurd sophistry is that!”

“No, sophistry?”

“Does that sound like it makes sense? When did we say the ancestors were wrong?”

“No, saying you prohibit an act in the current generation that the ancestors permitted is exactly that, isn’t it? The ancestors were wrong. Therefore, I, who am better and smarter than the ancestors, will correct it properly by demonstrating the spirit of reviewing the old to learn the new.”

“…….”

“Is that not it?”

“…….”

“Huh? Surely you weren’t trying to act like an old fogey with a mind of ‘Ah, I don’t know, I don’t like it. I hate this,’ without any particular thought, right? Right?”

“…….”

“Surely the Sect Leader of the Great Mount Zhongnan Sect would not live so thoughtlessly, right? Right? Right? Am I right?”

Go easy on him.

Due to the repeated interrogation, the Mount Zhongnan Sect Leader’s face turned pale and then began to turn black.

If he affirmed the Evil-Breaking Swordsman’s words like this, he would either be admitting his ancestors’ mistakes or become a thoughtless old fogey himself.

“Oho, why is there no answer? Yes? Please try answering? Zhongnan Sect Leader.”

He wanted to draw his sword instead.

The one who saved him from his predicament then was another person.

“Evil-Breaking Swordsman. Have you not forgotten the original purpose of coming here right now?”

“Uh…. Your name?”

“I am called Cheong San of the Mount Hua Sect.”

A figure called the Mount Hua Recluse, he is the current Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect. When he stepped forward and spoke, Patrick spoke as if it were unexpected.

“Living long enough lets me see the Mount Hua Sect Leader helping the Mount Zhongnan Sect Leader. You must have become a bit close now, right?”

The official dogs and monkeys relationship of the Gangho.

It is a saying referring to Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan.

However, as 200 years passed, that relationship had improved to some ext….

“Hohohoho….”

“Ha… Hahaha….”

It seems it has not.

Seeing the emotion of reluctance appearing on both their faces simultaneously, that is.

Cheong San let out a brief sigh and spoke.

“We gathered here for the unity of the Orthodox Murim and the formation of the Murim Alliance. We did not gather to open a martial arts tournament.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Indeed. So you too should immediately….”

“So, are there any results?”

“…….”

Instantly, Cheong San’s face changed as if he had chewed a handful of bugs.

“You people gathered and… maybe not day and night, but you were holding meetings every single day. So? Is there any progress?”

“Hmm, compared to the beginning….”

“Oh my? Is that so? So the Kongtong Sect Leader got pissed off and tried to storm out?”

“…….”

He has nothing to say.

Every day they are divided and only fighting over the position of Alliance Leader, so what progress could there possibly be?

Patrick looked at Cheong San and let out a sigh.

‘It’s obvious. Obvious. Without seeing it, they must have been divided and fighting while saying we will be the Alliance Leader.’

Human nature is truly funny.

Even though a whopping 200 years have passed, the exact same thing is repeating.

Patrick dug into his ear and spoke.

“Well, fine. Since it is you people. Let’s say you are holding an important… Pfft! Meeting.”

It was a tone that said, ‘Anyone can see that what you are doing is a useless waste of time.’

But the words that followed were even more scathing.

“But you see. While the Nine Sects and Five Great Families gather and hold meetings, what do people from other sects like us do?”

“That is….”

“Did you perhaps bring us along just as extras to make up the numbers? Because you need people to shout ‘Long Live’ when the meeting is all over and you hold a flashy opening ceremony?”

“No, that….”

“Ahem… hmm….”

The sect leaders’ faces turned the color of dirt.

In fact, for the sake of the sects’ influence and prestige, they did bring the maximum number of small and medium sects to Shaolin.

Then, what did they do after that??

They don’t know.

Because they had just been utterly neglected.

If one does not call this being an extra, what would one call it?

Looking around, it seemed there were quite a few small and medium sect leaders who sympathized with what Patrick just said and were nodding their heads.

Patrick glared at them sharply and spoke.

“Nine Sects One Gang and Five Great Families…. Impressive. I admit they are impressive. But you see.”

And Patrick’s following single remark was….

“You people are not the entirety of the Gangho.”

It became a huge stimulation to the small and medium sect leaders who were in the shadow of the prestigious orthodox sects.

‘Right. We came all the way to this distant Shaolin, so what is this waste of time?’

‘To tell us to just keep waiting.’

‘They are treating us like servants.’

In this sensitive atmosphere, Patrick shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

“Rather than wasting time meaninglessly, since everyone gathered like this, I intended to arrange an opportunity to show off the talents of the young generation who will shoulder the future of the Gangho, but….”

At that, the small and medium sect leaders’ eyes sparkled.

Right. Thinking about it, this is an opportunity.

Standing out in a tournament where the rising stars participate leads directly to brightening the future of the sect.

Above all, isn’t an event where this many people gather in one place a case that might happen once or twice in a lifetime while living as a martial artist?

If a disciple demonstrates excellent results here….

“Well, if you dislike it, what can be done? Let’s quit.”

Having finished speaking, Patrick grinned.

To the sect leaders of the Nine Sects and the heads of the Five Great Families, such a Patrick looked like a Great Demon.