Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 131

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 131

 

“You paid the price for replacing what you held as conviction with shallow tricks.”

 

“That’s right. Sometimes displaying wit is the right thing to do, but in cases like this, it would have been better to stubbornly stick to your own solid methods.”

 

“I understand!”

 

Jung Myeong had clearly explained it to him.

 

It was teaching as precious as jewels.

 

As if understanding him, Wave Blade struck his own head.

 

It was his unique habit that came out when he realized something new.

 

What Jung Myeong said was extremely sound reasoning.

 

It was the moment when such sound reasoning reached his mind.

 

“Ah, so in the end, my firm stubbornness becomes the strongest power. And this is…”

 

Empathy became understanding.

 

Understanding soon transformed into enlightenment.

 

Though it was a brief moment, Wave Blade instantly entered a state of self-forgetfulness.

 

Everyone noticed that he was gaining enlightenment.

 

Among those present here, who would dare to disturb Wave Blade in this state?

 

[Please provide Dharma Protection.]

 

[Yes!]

 

When Jung Myeong spoke to those present, everyone surrounded Wave Blade on all sides with one heart.

 

* * *

 

Enlightenment didn’t necessarily require a long time.

 

One meal’s time was sufficient.

 

With just that much, Wave Blade succeeded in consolidating his enlightenment.

 

“Ah…!”

 

“Have you gained something?”

 

“Yes! Thanks to you, I think I’ll be able to advance one step further.”

 

“Haha. That’s good to hear.”

 

Perhaps because he had gained enlightenment.

 

The spiritual light in Wave Blade’s eyes had become even deeper.

 

Where was the source of that enlightenment?

 

It’s Jung Myeong.

 

He could neither be unaware of this nor deny it.

 

He deeply performed a cupped fist salute, showing proper respect.

 

“Thanks to you, I gained great enlightenment.”

 

“What I gave you was merely sound reasoning. It was Pa Rok-do who digested it.”

 

Jung Myeong moderately accepted that courtesy and tried to stop him.

 

“Haha. Since you gave sound reasoning after real combat, wouldn’t that lead to deeper enlightenment?”

 

“My. It seems you’ve gained not enlightenment, but a Tongue Sword?”

 

“Perhaps it’s because I gained composure after rising up. My tongue that wouldn’t move now moves well.”

 

“Good.”

 

However, Pa Rok-do moved even his tongue that he normally wouldn’t, giving all the credit to Jung Myeong.

 

It was sudden sparring. It was sudden enlightenment.

 

However, there was no one among those present who didn’t know why such sparring had taken place.

 

“Thank you for accepting the sparring I unreasonably requested.”

 

“When people like you are settled in the Medical Clinic, how could I not accept?”

 

“Haha. You could have driven us away if you wanted to. But you still accepted.”

 

“How could that be?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Pa Rok-do and the other Martial Artists here had forcibly established themselves in this place.

 

Among them, Pa Rok-do was the first guest to engage in a martial duel with Jung Myeong.

 

What remained after that martial duel was something everyone present knew about.

 

“So this time, I’d like to be unreasonable once more.”

 

“What do you mean by unreasonable?”

 

“I will pay the price for the sparring.”

 

The price for sparring.

 

Pa Rok-do was calling it unreasonable himself as he requested it.

 

Jung Myeong shook his head at this.

 

“Ah… Aren’t you already paying the price once?”

 

“Yes. I am paying it. Though there isn’t much left anyway.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

The price for sparring with Jung Myeong.

 

That was for the one who lost in the martial duel to follow Jung Myeong’s words for a promised period.

 

Pa Rok-do had already fought such a martial duel in Anhui.

 

Though he hadn’t followed Jung Myeong since then.

 

‘Even if I follow him from now on, is there really a need to do it twice?’

 

One sparring match was enough.

 

Knowing him, wasn’t that why he had sparred with him every time in front of the inn in Anhui?

 

But now he was talking about a price again.

 

Even for Jung Myeong, who had first brought up the conditions for sparring, it was difficult to understand what his intention was.

 

“Actually, you don’t need to pay any price.”

 

“Haha. That won’t do.”

 

Besides, Jung Myeong no longer needed to receive such a price.

 

Previously, he had forcibly recruited martial artists because he lacked the strength to protect the medical clinic.

 

But now Jung Myeong had quite a few people as his forces.

 

It wasn’t that there were no shortages at all.

 

But even those shortages, he was calculating and preparing for them in his own way.

 

But Pa Rok-do here?

 

It was unexpected.

 

‘If he’s only going to serve for a few months and then leave, it would be troublesome.’

 

So he was about to refuse.

 

But his refusal was refused.

 

Perhaps not wanting to drag this out any longer.

 

Pa Rok-do immediately brought out the unreasonable demand he was talking about.

 

“As the price for sparring, please accept me for life if possible!”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I, Pa Rok-do, am confident I can do well. Please accept me. I’ll even abandon my position as Sect Leader of Hoehwa Sect and come. This is the unreasonable demand I’m talking about.”

 

“…Huh.”

 

That unreasonable demand was in a direction he had never imagined.

 

‘I thought he just came here obsessed with sparring…’

 

Wasn’t this the attitude of someone who wanted to serve a lord? No, according to Pa Rok-do’s words, it was no different from saying he really wanted to serve him as his lord.

 

‘What exactly did he see?’

 

Jung Myeong was surprised and flustered by this.

 

His gaze turned to the other passengers who had been behind Wave Blade.

 

Man-am-gun, Cheong Yeon-geom, and countless other martial artists filled his field of vision.

 

‘Surely… it can’t be?’

 

Upon seeing them, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

 

However, it was too absurd a thought.

 

Though he considered what he was thinking to be nonsensical, he asked just in case.

 

“Don’t tell me that everyone here has the same desire as Hero Wave Blade?”

 

A question asking if they had all gathered for this ridiculous nonsense.

 

The answers that came back were.

 

“Heh… this old man has no choice but to stick around anyway, doesn’t he?”

 

“I gained some insights during the journey to Gosan Sect. Please allow me.”

 

“I am…”

 

They were truly forced answers.

 

‘What in the world is this…?’

 

For Jung Myeong, it was quite a bewildering situation.

 

However, what was contained in their eyes was sincerity.

 

Sometimes even brushing sleeves creates a connection.

 

They say that meeting by chance three times is a destined relationship.

 

But for martial artists, isn’t it fortunate if they don’t draw swords after seeing each other three times?

 

Yet here was this situation, connected through several sparring matches and several encounters.

 

And now these people were stepping forward saying they would serve him.

 

Though there was the excuse of sparring, Jung Myeong clearly realized that their true purpose lay in this.

 

Their purposes and desires were surely different from each other.

 

Even Man-am-gun, who smiled slyly, he knew was not truly following him out of loyalty, but to repay the debt to Ju Tae-gong who had sent him to the Jusan Archipelago.

 

The others could be the same.

 

Their goal might be to gain enlightenment by Jung Myeong’s side.

 

Or it could be to join Jung Myeong, whose influence was greatly expanding, and enjoy wealth and glory beside him.

 

Either way, Jung Myeong couldn’t help but feel troubled.

 

‘What exactly do they see in me that makes them want to follow?’

 

He was also confused.

 

He was just a Gangho Physician.

 

He had become a Super Peak Level martial artist, but had not yet formed a proper force.

 

Though he had brought those from the Jeonjin Sect with him, he knew well that this didn’t immediately translate into power.

 

That’s why he had never even thought of embracing all these Martial Artists.

 

But for them to come forward like this first.

 

So he couldn’t help but feel confused.

 

However, the confusion was soon calmed, and what remained was deep emotion.

 

‘I don’t know for what reason they follow me. No, that doesn’t matter. What’s important is that they made that decision.’

 

For whatever reason, when someone tries to follow someone else.

 

Wouldn’t it be stranger if that itself wasn’t moving?

 

Especially for Jung Myeong, who had wandered for a long time as a Gangho Physician, such emotion was bound to last longer.

 

And at the same time, he realized he was placed at another crossroads of choice.

 

‘Is this the same as when I learned Young Lady Yeo Eun-so was from the Jeonjin Sect and decided to embrace them?’

 

Creating a Medical Clinic.

 

Walking his own path.

 

And then embracing those from the Jeonjin Sect on an even larger scale.

 

And after this.

 

The choice of whether to accept or not accept those who came seeking him.

 

Jung Myeong fully realized he stood at that crossroads.

 

Before his eyes lay the fork in the road of whether he himself would truly move toward forming a force or not.

 

‘Staying as things are wouldn’t be bad either.’

 

Even as things were, it was good.

 

His Medical Clinic had already established itself in Hangzhou.

 

As time passed, those defenses would become even stronger.

 

He would be able to ensure that those connected to him could somehow live stable lives.

 

‘But that’s all there is to it.’

 

However, there were limits.

 

He would only end up as someone who remained in Hangzhou.

 

No, that’s not all.

 

‘If this Blood Temple incident was caused by someone’s intention…’

 

If Hangzhou were to be shaken, he who had established himself there would also be shaken.

 

If he wanted to prevent this directly, there was only one answer.

 

‘I must possess power great enough that Hangzhou won’t be shaken. Power…’

 

In the end, he had to gain power.

 

Wasn’t this a crossroads of choice for that purpose?

 

Before that crossroads.

 

His hesitation wasn’t very long.

 

“If even I am acceptable, I will accept.”

 

“!!!!!”

 

He accepted those who had come to find him.

 

As soon as that decision was made, many Martial Artists including Pa Rok-do paid their respects to him.

 

Man-am-gun stood directly before him.

 

‘Hehe… Was this inevitable? This is why that bastard Ju Tae-gong sent me here!’

 

Man-am-gun wore an expression that seemed to understand yet not understand, and smiled knowingly.

 

* * *

 

At the time when Jung Myeong made his new choice.

 

“Let’s have a talk for a moment.”

 

“Hah… I haven’t been able to keep watch properly lately. I’ll have to strengthen the defenses again.”

 

Receiving an unexpected visit, there was another who stood at a crossroads.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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