Human Experintation
“Following the Zhongnan Sect, even the Beggar Sect is now in our favor. The war situation is turning advantageous for us,” said Mu-jin.
At Mu-jin’s words, Ryu Seol-hwa shook her head with a regretful expression.
“Not entirely. The Jeomchang Sect has sided with the anti-Shaolin faction. We still haven’t figured out what conditions they offered to make them switch so quickly.”
“As expected… they won’t just sit back and take it.”
“Yes. Fortunately, although they reached out to the Namgung Family as well, their progress has been sluggish.”
“That’s typical for the Namgung Family.”
They were not the kind of people to submit or form alliances easily. It would be more plausible for soone to bow to the Namgung Family rather than the other way around.
Listening to their conversation, Jegal Jin-hee also nodded in agreent.
“That’s true. During the Yongbongji Conference, the negotiations for the Family Alliance broke down because of the Namgung Family.”
Jegal Jin-hee recalled how Jegal-hyeon had been troubled by the Namgung Family’s insistence that they should lead the Family Alliance, causing the negotiations to stall and eventually fail.
‘Was Jegal-hyeon preparing for a rebellion even amidst all that?’
As Jegal Jin-hee pondered this, Ryu Seol-hwa seized the mont to address her.
“Yes. Multiple factions are entangled at the base of the mountain, making things quite busy. If the head of the Jegal Family hadn’t joined, we would have struggled to manage on our own. By the way, isn’t it about ti for you, ‘young master’ of the Jegal Family, to return and assist?”
Though she smiled, Ryu Seol-hwa’s eyes did not reflect her amusent. Ryu Seol-hwa’s true reason for visiting Shaolin was to monitor Jegal Jin-hee, who had been staying there for several months.
Unable to leave a quiet cat on the stove, so to speak.
However, Jegal Jin-hee remained confident under Ryu Seol-hwa’s scrutinizing gaze.
“I also want to help, but it can’t be helped. I’m here on official business.”
Surprisingly, Ryu Seol-hwa didn’t pick at her words but instead agreed.
“Oh, I heard from the head of the Jegal Family. You’re here to set up formations in Shaolin and study external energy training thods with Mu-jin.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hmm. But I heard you have another official duty as well?”
“???”
As Jegal Jin-hee looked puzzled, Ryu Seol-hwa spoke with a triumphant expression.
“Have you been eting often with Mu-gyeong?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Oh? Didn’t you know? The head of your family ntioned sothing between you and Mu-gyeong…”
Feigning ignorance, Ryu Seol-hwa began to speak, but Jegal Jin-hee quickly cut her off.
“Cough! Let’s discuss that matter later.”
Jegal Jin-hee was certain. Her father, Jegal Gung, the head of the Jegal Family, had evidently not given up on Mu-gyeong.
“Is there an issue with Mu-gyeong?” asked Mu-jin, unaware of the situation.
“It’s nothing, Mu-jin. Don’t worry about it,” replied Jegal Jin-hee hurriedly.
Ryu Seol-hwa watched Jegal Jin-hee with a leisurely expression. Sohow, Jegal Jin-hee understood the implied threat in her gaze: she wouldn’t let her off easily if she did anything suspicious.
After a brief mont of their silent confrontation, Mu-jin turned his attention to Baek Ga-hwan.
“Ah, Baek Ga-hwan. If it’s alright, there’s soone I’d like to introduce you to today.”
“?”
“Yes.”
Though puzzled, Baek Ga-hwan followed Mu-jin, leaving behind his sister, Baek Ga-ryeong.
“Go ahead, brother. Since it’s related to you, I’ll go greet Mu-gung.”
“Sure. Be careful.”
Trusting Shaolin and Mu-gung, Baek Ga-hwan let his sister go without much worry.
After Baek Ga-ryeong headed to Hye-dam’s place where Mu-gung was staying, Mu-jin, Baek Ga-hwan, Ryu Seol-hwa, and Jegal Jin-hee went sowhere together.
They arrived at a training ground in Shaolin.
“Hup!”
There, Dao Yuetian was practicing his swordsmanship. The person Mu-jin intended to introduce to Baek Ga-hwan was Dao Yuetian.
‘How interesting that they et like this.’
Dao Yuetian, the protagonist of the novel’s second part, and Baek Ga-hwan. In the original novel, they would have t in a different ti and manner.
Mu-jin thought it might be better this way. In the novel, they had t after both had suffered the great loss of their families.
“Hup!”
Engrossed in training, Dao Yuetian didn’t notice the visitors until he finished and sensed their presence.
“Mu-jin?”
Panting from exertion, Dao Yuetian looked at Mu-jin and the others with a puzzled expression.
He had seen Jegal Jin-hee a few tis but was eting Ryu Seol-hwa and Baek Ga-hwan for the first ti.
“I hope we didn’t interrupt your training.”
“No, I apologize for not noticing the guests. It’s my fault.”
“Haha. It’s not rude when we showed up unannounced. Ah, this is Ryu Seol-hwa of Cheonryu Sangdan, and this is Baek Ga-hwan.”
“Hello, I’m Ryu Seol-hwa.”
“Nice to et you, I’m Baek Ga-hwan.”
“I’m Dao Yuetian of Cheon Seom Moon.”
After exchanging greetings, Mu-jin explained why he had brought them here.
“I wanted to introduce Baek Ga-hwan to Dao Yuetian.”
Dao Yuetian and Baek Ga-hwan exchanged curious glances.
They wondered why Mu-jin would introduce them, but trusted he had a reason.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Likewise. By the way, how old are you this year, Baek Ga-hwan? I’m twenty-one.”
“I’m nineteen. Thanks to Mu-jin, we’ve t, so if it’s not rude, I’d like to call you brother.”
“Then I’ll call you younger brother if it’s alright. Haha.”
“Please do, Dao brother.”
“Alright, Baek brother.”
Perhaps it was the trust they had in Mu-jin, or their intertwined fates, but they quickly ward to each other despite just eting.
As Mu-jin watched the bond forming between two of his favorite characters, he joined their conversation.
“Actually, I introduced you because I have a task for you in the future.”
“If it’s from you, Mu-jin, I’ll do my best.”
“Anything you need, just let us know.”
With both n agreeing without hesitation, Mu-jin explained their mission.
“In two or three years, once Dao Yuetian has perfected his martial arts, I want you two to establish a new faction in Guangxi Province.”
“Creating a righteous faction in Guangxi will require a lot of preparation,” noted Baek Ga-hwan.
Mu-jin shook his head.
“It won’t be a righteous faction. You will create a demonic faction.”
Mu-jin planned to assign them the roles they originally played in the novel: as agents infiltrating the demonic sect.
‘Knowing how they rose to power in the demonic sect in the novel, I can guide them.’
In the original tiline, they didn’t easily trust others, having fallen to rock bottom. The inhumane plots of the demonic sect wouldn’t easily deceive them.
But these were just Mu-jin’s thoughts.
Mu-jin expected them to question the strange mission, but instead:
“Understood.”
“You can count on us.”
Both n accepted the task without hesitation.
‘What?’
They should have asked why, but instead, they accepted it as if it was natural, surprising Mu-jin.
‘Ah… because I prevented those tragedies.’
Without those tragedies, both had beco more docile compared to their novel counterparts.
‘I hope they don’t get exposed by the demonic sect.’
Despite his worries, Mu-jin had to delegate this task. With so much at stake, he couldn’t handle everything alone.
“Alright. As you all know, our main enemy isn’t the demonic sect or the anti-Shaolin alliance. It’s the organization known as ‘Shinchun’.”
“Yes.”
“We’ve heard.”
“The problem is, because of Shinchun, we’re in conflict with both the righteous and demonic sects. If we keep taking hits like this, we’ll be at a disadvantage.”
“Ah! So you want us to create a demonic faction in Guangxi to cause internal strife within the demonic sects?”
“Exactly. The demonic alliance ford to oppose the righteous sects, so the Seven Pillars often clash when not fighting the righteous sects. I want you to exploit those conflicts and grow your influence.”
It was a dangerous mission with a high chance of failure, but the two n felt honored by the trust Mu-jin placed in them.
“To be entrusted with such an important task.”
“I’ll give it my all, even at the cost of my life.”
Mu-jin doubted their simplicity but misunderstood them. Despite being saved by Mu-jin, they had faced enough crises to beco cautious and mistrustful, except towards Mu-j
in, their savior.
Knowing it was an honorable request from their benefactor, they couldn’t refuse and felt a sense of duty.
“Mu-jin, are you really entrusting them with such an important task?” Jegal Jin-hee asked with concern.
She wasn’t underestimating them, but infiltrating the demonic faction and disrupting the Demonic Alliance required exceptional skills, at least on par with the Seven Pillars.
“We need more support and people.”
“More people an a higher chance of exposure to Shinchun. The sa goes for support. Contact increases the risk of being discovered. Besides,” Mu-jin paused, then continued with conviction, “Once Dao Yuetian masters his martial arts, he’ll be on par with the Seven Pillars.”
While Dao Yuetian was touched by this absolute trust, Jegal Jin-hee was shocked. She knew Mu-jin cared for him but didn’t realize he trusted him this much.
Feeling a competitive spirit, Jegal Jin-hee stepped forward.
“Can I verify his capabilities?”
“What do you an?”
“I want to spar with Dao Yuetian.”
Jegal Jin-hee revealed two fans hidden within her clothes.
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