Chapter 77

Chapter 77

The value of a person is an abstract thing.

There are people who say all people’s value is equal, but most don’t truly think that way deep down. Right now, how many people can say the value of a child from a slum is the same as the value of a king or noble?

Values are not equal, so there is superiority and inferiority. That superiority and inferiority is abstract, so it’s not something that can be clearly defined.

That’s why Muryeonggaek was always someone who thought his own value wasn’t very high.

After Namgung Su left huffing and puffing, and even the Muryeongwando left with Dan Riyeon.

Muryeonggaek, who had been maintaining silence, glanced around and kept sneaking looks at Baek Riyun. However, Baek Riyun just held up his teacup without saying anything.

“……Excuse me, Hero Baek, about this matter…….”

At Muryeonggaek’s cautious words, Baek Riyun immediately shook his head.

“That’s excessive.”

“……Pardon?”

“I’m not someone who should be called a hero. Please call me comfortably.”

At Baek Riyun’s words with a faint smile, Muryeonggaek stroked his relieved chest just in case. That’s because the other party was who they were.

‘To think I’d meet this person here……’

Those who are fast on their feet often deal with information.

This is natural in a way. If you’re fast on your feet, you can flee quickly and reduce the chances of being caught by enemies. Muryeonggaek, who earned the alias Shadowless Guest  because once he deployed his qinggong, even his shadow couldn’t be seen, was especially like that.

And to such a Muryeonggaek, Baek Riyun meant something more than being a former Changcheon Corps Commander or the Small Family Head of the Baek Ri Family.

Yes.

By the name Cheonra  that the Evil Path and demonic people gave him with fear.

“……Then, Young Hero Baek. Thank you for this matter.”

“I only did what should be done.”

Watching Baek Riyun answer nonchalantly, Muryeonggaek swallowed hard and continued speaking.

“But will you be alright? There’s no need to go this far for someone like me’s honor…… No matter how outstanding Young Hero Baek is, the opponent is the Namgung Family…… isn’t it?”

“It’s fine. In the current situation, the Namgung Family, or rather someone like Namgung Su, can’t do anything.”

“……Pardon?”

“Think about the situation.”

Thud!

Baek Riyun, who put down his teacup, tapped the table with his finger and began explaining quietly.

“The current political situation is extremely chaotic. With Muryeon Hall winning the first gate, the discrimination that had been hushed up until now has surfaced, and as a result, public opinion among the small and medium sects, or individual martial artists who thought they were living oppressed, is worsening. But in this situation, if there’s friction between the Namgung Family and the Muryeongwando, what will happen?”

“……The conflict will ignite?”

“Exactly.”

The situation is a bomb, and the Muryeongwando are the fuse. If you don’t want to deliberately set off the bomb, you shouldn’t light the fuse.

“In the current state, even if the opponent were the Murim Alliance Leader instead of Namgung Su, they can’t carelessly touch the Muryeongwando. If they do, the Murim Alliance might split into pieces. It means the war with the Sado Alliance and such would become irrelevant.”

If it were only Muryeonggaek and the Muryeongwando, they could stir up trouble and quickly smooth it over. However, if Baek Riyun, who has many friendly figures in the Murim Alliance, also steps in, they can’t just dismiss it as groundless.

“Namgung Su can’t act rashly. At least not until this competition ends.”

“……Such calculations.”

Muryeonggaek, quite impressed by Baek Riyun’s words, scratched the back of his head and smiled bitterly.

“Then, that’s fortunate. If Young Hero Baek’s honor were tarnished by such a trivial matter, that would also be a problem…….”

The moment Muryeonggaek nodded as if relieved and began listing words of relief.

“What’s fortunate about it?”

“……Pardon?”

“There’s nothing fortunate about it.”

Baek Riyun’s face, which had been wearing a faint smile all along, hardened.

“It seems Senior Muryeonggaek thinks of himself as an insignificant person. Isn’t that right?”

“……That’s.”

That’s right. Isn’t he actually an insignificant person?

Compared to Baek Riyun before his eyes or Namgung Su who left, he himself is an insignificant martial artist. The kind that can be found anywhere, who has no skills except being fast on his feet, that kind of martial artist.

To Muryeonggaek, who inwardly thought so and lowered his head, Baek Riyun continued in a firm voice.

“I don’t care however much you judge your own value. My eyes aren’t accurate enough to interfere even in subjective self-evaluation.”

“However, if not elsewhere, at least here in this place, in this place at least, you shouldn’t become servile or shabby.”

A master is like a parent.

Disciples regard their master as heaven and trust and follow them. Because it’s the disciple’s role to follow in the master’s footsteps and eventually surpass them.

But if such a master’s back appears shabby, what would the disciples think?

Would they think it fortunate that they’re easy to catch up to, easy to surpass?

That can’t be.

“Dan Riyeon is an outstanding child. She’s calm in all matters, deeply considerate of others, and excellent at grasping situations.”

It’s because of that she can take on the command role even while unable to speak. She puts in dozens, hundreds of times more effort into understanding others than other people.

“Such a child trusts and follows you. Then at least in front of that child, you shouldn’t become shabby. Because you are that child’s master.”

Looking at Baek Riyun cutting decisively, Muryeonggaek, who averted his eyes, muttered bitterly.

“……But Namgung Su’s words weren’t wrong. Young Hero Baek. I abandoned my mission and…….”

“Do you regret it?”

“I asked if you regret that decision, abandoning your mission and saving the villagers. Would you want to change it now?”

“……That’s.”

No.

Even if he returned to that time, Muryeonggaek would have made the same choice. The five hundred lives he could save right away wouldn’t be less precious than the thousand lives he might save in the future.

If he hadn’t saved them, Dan Riyeon would have ended her life there as demon food. Not just Dan Riyeon, but countless people would have become demon prey.

Sacrificing the few for the many—Muryeonggaek can’t make such a decision. He thinks he shouldn’t make it.

“Be confident.”

Baek Riyun spoke decisively and looked at Muryeonggaek.

“A person’s value isn’t determined by the level of their martial arts. It seems you don’t know that, so I’ll teach you a bit with this opportunity.”

“……What do you mean by teaching me……?”

“The second gate of the competition. Flag Breaking.”

They say a child is a parent’s mirror. That means a disciple is no different from a master’s mirror.

“I’ll show you. How much potential Dan Riyeon has.”

“How much potential you have.”

Baek Riyun, who finished speaking, stood up from his seat and turned his back. Soon after, a quiet voice settled in.

“Make sure to watch.”

At Baek Riyun’s figure closing the door and leaving, Muryeonggaek stared blankly at that back.

An endlessly confident back that he didn’t have.

Muryeon Hall.

“I’m going to train.”

“A, at this hour?”

At the appearance of Seomun Cheok, who spoke with eyes that seemed to spew demonic energy not long after returning, Unjin blinked his eyes.

“There’s no time to rest even for a moment. I’ll definitely win this competition.”

“……But didn’t Munjunim tell you not to train today? Shizhu. If you go to train now, you’ll be breaking that promise…….”

“Has midnight passed?”

“It has. Now the promise is over. No one can stop me. Do you intend to?”

“I, I won’t stop you. I said I won’t.”

At the appearance of Seomun Cheok looking at him intently while gripping his spear shaft coldly, Unjin broke out in a cold sweat and raised both hands. It seemed like murder might happen if he tried to stop him.

“……Ahem, Seomun Cheok, are you going to train? Should I go too? I was just thinking I wanted to move my body anyway.”

“Is Shizhu Oh Ryeong really okay after drinking that much alcohol? It’ll be meaningless training.”

“What are you talking about? Originally training is best done after getting properly drunk. Seonwoo Gang, are you going?”

“Mm. There’s something I thought of, so I want to organize just that before sleeping.”

“Shizhu Seonwoo Gang too…… Keu, keuhm. Then I’ll go too.”

Those gathering together chatting and heading to the training ground saying they’ll train.

All the Muryeongwando moved without a single person missing to prepare for the competition. And Dan Riyeon, who was watching such people from the shadows, quietly hid behind a wall and crouched down.

‘……Everyone’s so kind.’

It hasn’t been long since talk came up that they did well enough considering they got this far.

Of course it was a joke, but it’s true that after winning the first gate, the Muryeongwando’s tension and motivation weren’t as much as before. After all, didn’t they achieve one victory against the Mujeongwando whom they had never beaten before?

Of course they should give their all for the remaining two gates, but even if they lose, they can hold their heads high. That perception was openly spreading among the Muryeongwando. Should I say it’s like someone fighting with their backs to the river gained a place to retreat?

But what about the comrades now?

‘The atmosphere……‘

The atmosphere itself has changed.

They can’t lose. That determination is evident. The relaxed atmosphere from just before has completely disappeared, replaced by Muryeongwando armed with blade-like fighting spirit and resolve.

The reason for that needs no explanation. Only one thing changed in the meantime.

‘……Namgung Su’s words aren’t wrong.’

Dan Riyeon, who crouched down hugging her knees, buried her head. A sense of inferiority rising from deep in her heart.

She couldn’t deny it even as her master was being insulted. While it was wrong that the Master was cowardly, everything else was all true.

She can’t do anything except being fast on her feet. She also can’t win without receiving Baek Riyun’s commands. At most she might be able to cling to an enemy’s feet, but that’s it.

She’s weaker than others. It would be even more so if the space to maneuver is narrow. That’s why she couldn’t deny it.

She thought she couldn’t.

……Until Baek Riyun said those words.

‘The work of two people…… can I do it?’

The bet wasn’t finalized. Namgung Su left after seeing Baek Riyun.

However, everyone around heard Baek Riyun’s words. That Dan Riyeon can accomplish the work of two people. That he’ll show it.

Can she do it?

‘……It’s not whether I can do it, I must do it.’

That’s the way to help Baek Riyun who expects that from her, and the only way to elevate Muryeonggaek’s honor. However.

How?

Trudge.

Dan Riyeon, who had been deeply lost in thought with her head buried in her knees, flinched at the sound of footsteps she suddenly heard. Even though everyone had clearly left for the training ground, footsteps could be heard.

She doesn’t want to show an unsightly appearance. With that feeling, Dan Riyeon instinctively curled up her body. Smaller, more inconspicuously. And.

When she thought the footsteps could no longer be heard.

“What are you doing here, Noona?”

At the young voice she heard, Dan Riyeon cautiously lifted her buried head just a peek.

“The other hyeongs and noonas all went to train.”

Seowoo was looking at her with bright eyes.