The Return of the Sw Chapter 73 : Let’s Settle It. -03

Chapter 73: Let’s Settle It. -03

“Was it sothing important?”

“Please read it.”

“Hmm.”

At Ban Hojin’s response, which seed to say that he would understand once he saw it rather than offering an explanation, Damhyeon looked steadily at his disciple with deep-set eyes.

Then he reached out his hand.

Judging by Ban Hojin’s expression, it did not seem like he would explain even if pressed, so Damhyeon first picked up the book placed on top.

Flinch!

The mont he turned the first page, Damhyeon twitched.

It was because a familiar na appeared right from the very first page.

Even so, Damhyeon did not hastily question Ban Hojin.

Instead, with focused eyes, he began rapidly checking the contents written in the book.

Thump.

Having finished reading the first book in an instant, Damhyeon imdiately opened the second.

Then he read straight through the third book as well.

After closing the final page, Damhyeon let out a deep sigh.

Ban Hojin silently observed him.

“Was it the Geum Family Estate?”

“Yes. I have a bit of a connection with the Second Young Lord. Perhaps because I helped him, he inford

of this. Of course, it is a secret from others. I was told it was sent only to

as soon as it was written. It was sealed when it was first delivered as well. I was the first to see it, and Master was the second. Still, I think verification is necessary.”

“You showed this to

because you judged it couldn’t be resolved within the bounds of Beopmu, correct?”

“No. I thought Master should know first.”

Damhyeon’s gaze grew heavy.

However, it was not the expression of soone agonizing over a decision.

What seed like a big matter to Ban Hojin was not so to Damhyeon.

“I want to hear what you think.”

“I don’t have the authority to decide.”

“True. But surely you can voice your opinion.”

“If soone commits a wrongdoing, they are punished; if they commit a cri, it is only right that they bear responsibility befitting it.”

At those irrefutable words, Damhyeon nodded.

In truth, he had not agonized either.

He was simply astonished.

He had not expected an entirely unforeseen person to be involved.

“It seems I only ever show you my unsightly side.”

“I don’t think so. Isn’t there a saying that you may know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the depth of one fathom of a person’s heart? When soone sets their mind to it, it’s only natural that it’s hard to uncover.”

“Still, it’s all my fault. It’s because I am incompetent and lacking in virtue.”

“I can guarantee there are no disciples who think that way. And precisely because of that, I believe we must be even more resolute. So might liken it to weeds, saying that even if you pull them out, others will grow again. But if you leave them alone, they will only spread wider and grow larger. If there are weeds, you should pull out every one you see.”

“How refreshingly straightforward.”

Damhyeon let out a hollow laugh.

But his eyes were not laughing at all.

Though he had already reached a decision to so extent, Ban Hojin’s words solidified his resolve.

He would proceed by the book.

“I’ve already spoken separately to the Geum Family Estate. Not many people know, and no one will chatter about the main temple’s internal disgrace.”

“Even so, it’s true we received help, so I’ll send a letter separately. Only the Second Young Lord knows, correct?”

“Yes. The Geum Family Head won’t know. The Second Young Lord’s people are also the Geum Family Head’s people, so they may be able to guess, but they won’t dig into the details. They’ll think there’s no need to poke a hornet’s nest.”

Damhyeon nodded.

Even if he were the Geum Family Head, he would not delve deeply without reason.

Information was certainly a source of power, but when wielding it, one had to choose the opponent carefully.

If wielded foolishly, it could backfire and bring disaster upon oneself.

“And matters of the main temple should be handled by the main temple.”

“So the virtue I’ve accumulated returns to

like this.”

“I think so as well.”

“Do you think the Second Young Lord will beco the Geum Family Head?”

“I believe the possibility is quite high. For now, it’s still evenly matched, but what’s important is that things have reached this stage.”

Though the advantage of being the eldest son still remained, in Ban Hojin’s view, the montum had already shifted to Geum Hoyeon.

In particular, those who had maintained neutrality were being drawn in one by one to Geum Hoyeon’s side, so unless he made a truly grave mistake, Ban Hojin expected that it would rely take ti for him to win smoothly.

“I’m curious how it will turn out as well. If possible, I’d like the side you chose to win.”

“I’m watching closely too.”

“There’s no harm in maintaining good relations with the Geum Family Estate. For your sake as well, later on.”

“Then I’ll be heading back now.”

Ban Hojin rose tactfully.

Having finished his business, he intended to return to his quarters.

At those words, however, Damhyeon showed a hint of disappointnt.

“So you’re saying you’re done with your business?”

“It’s not that, I just thought you’d be busy from here on.”

“It’s fine. Do you think anyone would flee? By the ti they try to clean things up afterward, it will already be over. If there were only circumstantial evidence, that would be one thing, but don’t we have physical proof like this? They’ll be moving by now. So finish your tea before you go.”

“Yes.”

Ban Hojin, who had been standing awkwardly, sat back down.

As he did, he mulled over Damhyeon’s words.

That line about them moving by now.

It could an only one thing.

‘He had already made his decision from the start.’

Though he was warm by nature, he was by no ans indecisive.

When cold judgnt was required, Damhyeon was colder than anyone, and as the Abbot of Shaolin, he had to be.

Of course, it ant cutting off master and disciple alike, but if one placed Shaolin and the disciple on a scale, which was more important was obvious.

‘I expected as much, but still.’

Slurp.

Perhaps no one knew Damhyeon better than Ban Hojin.

That was precisely why he had co to see Damhyeon the mont he confird the contents.

“The companions who ca with you were quite impressive.”

“They are indeed children overflowing with talent.”

“That too, but the bond they share with one another is considerable.”

“Two of them have reasons for that.”

“Even so, it’s not good to discriminate against the remaining two.”

He did not specify exactly who, but Damhyeon knew which two Ban Hojin was referring to, and which two were the others.

Though they were physically apart, he had still been steadily receiving news about Ban Hojin.

“I don’t discriminate. It’s just that the ti spent together is different, so there’s only a slight difference.”

“Still, even I find the three of them astonishing. To the point that I wonder where such people even ca from.”

“Bang Yi isn’t to be underestimated either.”

“But that child looks like he’ll need quite a bit of ti. That ti might be shortened because of you, though.”

Ban Hojin was slightly teased.

At the sa ti, he felt the weight of long experience.

He hadn’t expected him to discern that after eting Sunwoo Bang just once, so Ban Hojin’s eyes widened.

“I received word from the Murong Family Head. He said thank you, and that he was counting on you.”

“It was a valuable experience for

as well.”

“The Pang Family Head was extrely persistent. But that’s not sothing you need to concern yourself with. Instead, I have one request.”

“I’ll make an effort to visit often.”

At Ban Hojin’s words, Damhyeon smiled faintly.

Just like with martial arts, his perceptiveness was indeed quick.

Having given exactly the answer he wanted, Damhyeon nodded.

“A promise, then?”

“Yes.”

“I would like to personally see how much you’ve grown, but unfortunately, I don’t have ti today. So once matters are settled to so extent, let’s arrange an occasion.”

“Understood.”

Ban Hojin rose from his seat.

He understood that it ant he could leave now.

Still, he had no intention of returning straight to his quarters.

Like the saying ‘the one who tied the knot must untie it,’ since it had begun because of him, he intended to see it through to the end.

“I, I’ve been wronged! I only did what I was told!”

The inner grounds were noisy.

It was because Jang Pilsang’s shriek, almost like a scream, kept erupting.

However, the monk of the Disciplinary Hall who was gripping both of his arms remained silent.

No matter what Jang Pilsang said, he did not so much as flinch.

“Master!”

“If you are a disciple of Shaolin as well, be quiet. Don’t make needless noise.”

“B, but…!”

At the low but sharp rebuke of the Head of the Disciplinary Hall, Jang Pilsang hurriedly opened his mouth.

However, there was not the slightest hint of rcy in the Head of the Disciplinary Hall’s cold gaze.

Instead, he watched Jang Pilsang with chilling eyes, as if looking at a criminal.

“Let go! I’ll go on my own! First, I need to see Senior Disciple…!”

“Silence!”

As the aged voice drew closer, Jang Pilsang’s pupils shook.

An elder with whom he could be said to have a special relationship was being dragged away by a warrior monk of the Disciplinary Hall.

Seeing that sight, Jang Pilsang understood what was happening.

“Even if you go to see the Abbot, nothing will change.”

“Head of the Disciplinary Hall!”

“Lower your voice. From this mont on, Senior Brother is no longer an elder.”

“That’s nonsense!”

“Then you should have exercised so restraint. Embezzlent, breach of trust—and on top of that, fraud. As a Shaolin elder, what was it that you lacked so badly?”

The Head of the Disciplinary Hall clicked his tongue.

No matter how endless human greed might be, they were monks.

They were warrior monks who practiced martial arts, but that did not an they were not Buddhists.

That was why the Head of the Disciplinary Hall could not understand it.

“Let go!”

“Take him to the ditation Cave.”

“Yes.”

His martial arts were not crippled, but he had been sealed so that he could not use his inner energy.

Thus, Damu, who had once been an elder, was dragged to the ditation Cave with both arms restrained.

The sentence had not yet been decided, but judging by Damhyeon’s disposition, it was clear he would not be confined for just a year or two.

“Please forgive ! I only did what I was told!”

As Damu was dragged away without being able to resist at all, Jang Pilsang, who had been seized earlier, cried out desperately.

As if insisting that he was truly wronged.

Toward that Jang Pilsang, the Head of the Disciplinary Hall threw the booklet Damhyeon had handed over.

But upon seeing it, Jang Pilsang blinked rapidly.

“Th, this is…?”

“Read it.”

Though the Head of the Disciplinary Hall spoke, Jang Pilsang could not readily reach out his hand.

For so reason, the booklet that had fallen near his feet felt familiar.

Tilting his head at the strange, not-unfamiliar sensation, Jang Pilsang soon glanced at the warrior monks of the Disciplinary Hall standing beside him and picked up the booklet.

Then he imdiately began to read the contents.

Tremble, tremble.

He had only turned the first page, yet Jang Pilsang’s face went deathly pale.

The mont he saw it, he understood.

That all the corrupt deeds committed by himself, Damu, and several others were written in the book.

Even the evidence was included, and Jang Pilsang’s complexion turned ashen.

“Th, this can’t be….”

“What’s unbelievable is what you did. For a re lay disciple, you certainly had a lot of nerve.”

“Th, then what will happen to ?”

“The Abbot will decide. I’m rely taking you as far as the ditation Cave.”

Gulp!

Jang Pilsang swallowed hard.

Then his eyes darted about incessantly.

Though his cris were crystal clear, he still felt wronged.

Yet no matter how much he wracked his brain, he could not think of a way out.

“Take him.”

“Just once, please, just once show rcy! Never again, never again will I make such a mistake! Please forgive !”

“…….”

Though Jang Pilsang pleaded desperately, the expressions of the warrior monks dragging him away did not change.

They simply held him firmly on both sides and took him away in silence.

Ban Hojin watched that scene from afar.

“If you commit a cri, you should be punished.”

Even in the fad Shaolin, there existed an unseen discrimination against lay disciples.

Jang Pilsang knew that, which was why he was shedding tears and snot alike, but everyone knew that even that display was artificial.

Moreover, once all the comfortable living he had enjoyed was stripped away, Jang Pilsang’s future was effectively nonexistent.

“Can this be considered reform, I wonder?”