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His eyes were on the ships floating on the Yangtze River. The fleet looked leisurely at first glance.

But to Bop Jeong, they looked like wolf teeth. Sharp teeth that might lunge at him at any moment and bite his neck.

“Hmm.”

Bop Jeong’s eyes darkened heavily.

Nearly ten days have passed since Plum Blossom Island incident ended. However, Evil Tyrant Alliance did not bite any of the boats on the river.

The pirates were originally a group that made a living by plundering people passing through the river. It is bound to be a great loss to water fortress to keep these ships rather than plunder them.

However, Evil Tyrant Alliance is not attacking those ships despite the losses. That is why Bop Jeong couldn’t act either. He couldn’t lower his guard before the enemy sheathed their swords.

“…Jang Il-so.”

The hateful name flowed from the lips of Bop Jeong. Across the river, clearly visible, was the camp of Myriad Man Manor, where he would be.

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Step. Step.

Bop Kye slowly approached behind him as Bop Jeong stared at the river with dark eyes.

“Bangjang. The replies from Ten Great Sects have arrived.”

Bop Kye gently hinted, but Bop Jeong did not react in any way after hearing it.

“…Bangjang.”

Only after Bop Jeong called a couple more times did Bop Jeong finally glance over.

“What do they say?”

“Overall… many expressed intentions to send support to the Yangtze.”

Bop Jeong had a strange smile.

“But they didn’t specify when and how much support they would provide, did they?”

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“…Yes, Bangjang.”

Anger slowly rose on Bop Kye’s face as he answered.

Promises without specific details are just empty promises that can be changed at any time. Even though the situation has come to this point, they’re still hedging their bets.

“Of course, they would.”

But Bop Jeong just nodded his head indifferently, as if knew this would happen.

“What about the Heavenly Comrade Alliance part?”

“In general, they sent a reply that they share deep doubts about Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s actions.”

“Deep doubt….”

Bop Jeong chuckled softly.

Doubt. Such a convenient term.

If Heavenly Comrade Alliance had made some kind of secret pact with Evil Sects, they could claim to have been suspicious all along. If not, they could simply say they were glad their suspicions were unfounded.

Lukewarm. Yes, they’ve always been lukewarm on every issue.

“Bangjang.”

“It is as expected.”

As Bop Jeong lightly shook his head, a sigh escaped from Bop Kye’s mouth.

“How can you remain so calm?”

“Hm?”

Resentment was evident in Bop Kye’s voice.

“Of course, I’m not saying we’ve done everything right. There were undoubtedly mistakes and aspects that could have led to misunderstandings.”

“….”

“But at the very least, we are here on the Yangtze, facing off against Evil Tyrant Alliance, aren’t we? What should we think of the indifference they show us?”

Bop Jeong looked at Bop Jeong and smiled.

“Do you feel resentful?”

“…I….”

“There’s no need for resentment. People are naturally like that. A thorn in one’s own finger hurts terribly, but the death of someone thousands of miles away doesn’t stir any emotion.”

Bop Kye pursed his lips.

Their methods might not have been right. But they came here anyway with good intentions. To Bop Kye, the response they received felt overly harsh for their goodwill.

“So, are Bangjang saying we should just put up with this?”

Bop Jeong smiled and asked questions instead of answers.

“What do you think we should do?”

“….”

Bop Kye was momentarily speechless, staring at Bop Jeong.

When the Plum Blossom Island incident was in full swing, Bop Jeong had lost his composure. But now, in just a few days, he seemed to have regained some of the composure he had in the past.

“It’s a problem. A problem indeed. What to do with those who won’t listen?”

Bop Jeong murmured to himself, looking across the river.

“First of all, send letters again to continuously inform them about the situation here, and keep requesting support. If possible, it would be a good idea to also send a request to specify specifically what support will be provided.”

It was a detailed instruction. But even after hearing those words, Bop Kye could only sigh.

“…Bangjang. Even if we say that, will they offer anything?”

“They won’t offer anything. But that doesn’t matter.”

“Yes?”

Bop Jeong began to say something unexpected.

“People watching a fire across the river are not in a hurry. Perhaps they even watch things burning with amusement.”

“….”

“To them now, we’re just people running around trying to extinguish the fire across the river. There must be no reason for them to be in a hurry.”

Bop Jeong paused for a moment and then looked at Bop Jeong.

“Do you know what makes those people suddenly feel the urgency?”

“…I’m not sure, Bangjang.”

“It is to let them know that the fire may cross the river.”

Bop Jeong chanted solemnly.

“A fire across the river is entertaining because it poses no threat to me. But a fire at my own feet is no longer entertaining. Because that fire could burn my house, my fields, and eventually, my family and me.”

Bop Kye quietly nodded.

Of course, the reason why Ten Great Sects is not responding properly is partly because Shaolin’s control has weakened. However, the more fundamental reason is that they are unable to accept the existence of Evil Tyrant Alliance as a real threat.

‘Those three years ruined everything.’

If Jang Ilso had killed and eliminated everyone who was there during the Yangtze River disaster, Evil Tyrant Alliance might not even exist today. The remaining Righteous Sects must have tried to eradicate Evil Tyrant Alliance by any means possible.

However, Jang Ilso stayed in Gangnam for three years and quietly accumulated power. At some point, for a long time, it seemed only natural that Evil Tyrant Alliance existed beyond the river.

So, it became familiar. The existence of the flames burning across the river.

What’s familiar no longer feels like a threat. So no matter how much Shaolin shouts from here, it won’t be heard by them.

“Shouldn’t we inform them, Bop Jeong? About how dangerous the flames of Evil Tyrant Alliance are.”

“Yes. My thoughts were the same.”

“…Yes?”

Bop Kye slightly tilted his head at the calm voice of Bop Jeong. The response seemed a bit odd…

“Until recently, that is.”

And it confirmed that Bop Jeong’s subsequent words were not misheard.

Bop Jeong continued. His voice changed slightly.

“However, lately, I’ve started to think that perhaps I was the one with the wrong idea.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Maybe it wasn’t that they didn’t understand how fierce the flames were.”

Bop Kye still did not understand everything Bop Jeong said. Who wouldn’t understand how dangerous Evil Tyrant Alliance is?

“Contrary to what I thought, they seem to have even forgotten what fire is.”

“Bangjang?”

The corner of Bop Jeong’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Yes. It was a world without fire to begin with. Long enough for them to forget what a calamity is. No, it would be more correct to say that it was a world in which residual fires exist but terrible fires did not exist.”

“….”

“That’s why they forgot. What fire is. And why it should be feared.”

The eyes of Bop Kye looking at Bop Jeong were filled with doubt. At that time, Bop Jeong looked to Bop Kye. The eyes were eerily dark.

“Bop Kye.”

Startled, Bop Kye bowed his head.

“Yes, Bangjang.”

A soft voice came from Bop Jeong. It was slow and gentle, as if consoling a child.

“…Do you know how to teach someone who doesn’t know what fire is?”

“Well…”

“To make them feel it.”

For a moment, Bop Kye felt a shiver run down his spine. Bop Jeong continued calmly.

“To let them know firsthand how hot fire is, how painful it is when fire touches your hand, what happens when your flesh starts to burn in the flames.”

“Ba- Bangjang.”

“Of course!”

Bop Kye tried to say something, but Bop Jeong resolutely cut his word.

“It will hurt. It will be painful. But… Wouldn’t we be able to prevent people from foolishly walking into a pit of fire without knowing what fire is?”

“….”

Bop Kye fell silent like a person who had lost his voice.

Clearly, the faint smile on Bop Jeong’s face and the benevolent and gentle voice were the same. However, Bop Kye felt a clear ray of grudge in such Bop Jeong. So cold it seemed to freeze one’s heart.

Bop Jeong smiled at Bop Kye.

“Does my word seem too harsh?”

“Ba- Bangjang. I just….”

“Perhaps it is harsh. But one must not fear loss to be a Buddha.”

Bop Jeong took a Banzhang stance toward Bop Kye. It was a unique form of Shaolin where only one arm was raised, rather than the two palms with both hands.

“Why does Shaolin adopt Banzhang (??(半掌) /half-palm)?”

It was a random question. Bop Kye naturally knew the answer to this question. If one belongs to Shaolin, one must know.

“…To honor the Second Patriarch (??(二祖)).”

“Right.”

Bop Jeong quietly nodded.

Shaolin’s root traces back to Bodhidharma, but its spiritual origin completion lies with the Second Patriarch, Hyega (??(慧可)), while its martial art completion lies with the Sixth Patriarch (??(六祖)), Hyeneung (??(慧能)).

Isn’t the current Shaolin where all of those things continued?

“The Second Patriarch cut off one of his arms to attain enlightenment.”

“Yes, Bangjang.”

“In other words, to gain great enlightenment, one must be willing to give up an arm or so easily.”

“….”

“That won’t just be a story that only applies to those who belong to the Buddhist community. Sometimes, to gain something greater, one must be willing to endure smaller sacrifices.”

Bop Kye could not say anything.

Amidst the gentle atmosphere of Bop Jeong, there was an inexplicable pressure lurking. It was difficult to even breathe.

Bop Jeong, who assumed Banzhang stance, closed his eyes as if organizing his thoughts. Then, after a while, he opened his eyes again and said,

“Just let them know. That should suffice.”

“…Yes, Bangjang.”

“Send a reply.”

“Yes.”

Bop Kye bowed deeply and retreated. Somehow, he felt an urgent need to escape from there as quickly as possible.

Just as he was about to walk away, Bop Jeong, with his eyes fixed on the Yangtze River, asked in a low voice.

“How is Mount Hua faring?”

Bop Kye stopped walking and answered carefully.

“It appears that they have settled down not far away and are staying with Tang Family. There doesn’t seem to be any significant movement.”

“What about Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?”

“…It appears he’s recently been instructing the young sword warriors of Namgung Family.”

“He’s instructing Namgung?”

“Yes.”

Bop Jeong’s gaze slightly shifted upwards.

“…That child has decided to take Namgung under his wing as well.”

“….”

“You may go.”

With those words, Bop Jeong remained motionless. All he could do was stare at the Yangtze River flowing endlessly and indifferently.

Bop Kye, who watched the scene for a moment, was deeply saddened and retreated.

The eyes of Bop Jeong left alone were filled with the sparkling reflection of the Yangtze River.

“…It is said that the world is unfair.”

A hollow smile appeared on his lips.

“Amitabha….”

Finally, as he closed his eyes, nothing more could be seen.