I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 120

The *Bongmun* (봉문) of a sect literally means locking the doors and completely ceasing all external activities. No one goes out, and the entry of outsiders is also prohibited.

If it’s a punishment for wrongdoing, it resembles house arrest. If it’s a self-imposed measure, it’s like seclusion.

Unless the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts sects] announces the Tang Family’s wrongdoing, it’s merely a decision made by the Tang Family themselves.

For the Nine Great Sects [the most powerful martial arts sects], *Bongmun* (봉문) isn’t a major blow since they’re secluded in the mountains, cultivating the Tao [a philosophical concept emphasizing harmony with nature] and training martial arts. However, if a family operating in the secular world doesn’t engage in external activities for several years, its influence drastically decreases.

“Will they accept it?”

Chwige thought it was a reasonable disposition, but the Tang Family might disagree.

“It depends on who delivers the message.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“If I were the one deciding on *Bongmun* (봉문), Tang Neung wouldn’t accept it. Don’t you think? He probably sees me as a rival.”

When Moryonghwi said that, Paeng Dongho snorted.

“Rival? Once *Hyeongnim* (형님) [term of respect for an older brother or senior male] moves his sword, the Tang Family’s *Jarang* (자랑) [boast or pride], ‘Mancheonhwau’ [likely a martial arts technique], will disappear without a trace.”

Moryonghwi looked at Paeng Dongho and smiled.

“About three or four needles will be stuck in my leg, right? Anyway, it’s not a competition of martial arts but a matter of family versus family. If it’s my decision, the Tang Family will never comply.”

Chwige understood Moryonghwi’s intention.

“Do you want to mobilize the Nine Great Sects?”

Moryonghwi nodded.

“If Shaolin, Wudang, and Hwasan step forward, wouldn’t they accept it?”

“There should be a *Myeongbun* (명분) [justification or rationale] for *Bongmun* (봉문), shouldn’t there?”

“Isn’t it martial arts? If Tang Neung, the head of the family, announces that he’s entering *Pyeogwan Soolyeon* (폐관수련) [secluded training] and *Bongmun* (봉문), people will accept it.”

Chwige considered it for a moment and raised another concern.

“The timing is delicate. *Bongmun* (봉문) right after the Mukdohoe [likely a criminal organization] appears in Sichuan.”

“I know what you’re worried about.”

If the Sichuan Tang Family locks its doors, the already established Mukdohoe might cause trouble in Sichuan. To catch the rampaging Mukdohoe, someone has to step forward.

Not only the small and medium-sized sects that will clash directly but also the Emei Sect (峨嵋派) and Qingcheng Sect (靑城派), whose headquarters are in Sichuan, will have no choice but to intervene.

“I’ll take care of the Mukdohoe. Even if the Tang Family does *Bongmun* (봉문), I’ll ensure they don’t cross the line.”

Chwige looked suspiciously at Moryonghwi, who was smiling slyly.

“Do you have a clever plan?”

“Clever plan? Even if the Black Moon Society [another criminal organization, possibly an ally of Mukdohoe] is simple and ignorant, would they ignore the words of the Murim Alliance Leader? I’ll tell them firmly.”

“*Hyeongnim* (형님). This isn’t simple. If you make a big noise about suppressing the Mukdohoe, all the arrows will come back to *Hyeongnim* (형님) if things go wrong.”

Paeng Dongho said worriedly, but Moryonghwi was confident.

“*Sadon* (사돈) [term for in-law]. I’m not so short-sighted as to make a big noise about something I can’t handle. Put your worries aside. Heo-heo.”

Moryonghwi thought of Lee Hak-lin. That guy would listen to him.

“Okay, then send people to Shaolin, Wudang, and Hwasan. Let’s give it a try.”

Chwige nodded and stood up.

At this moment, Moryonghwi quietly added one more word.

“Chief Inspector, shouldn’t the Beggars’ Sect [a sect known for gathering information] be more active?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“You know that letter was from Jo Gwangyun, but you still don’t understand? How is Jo Gwangyun faster than the Beggars’ Sect? What if our Murim Alliance ends up just following Jo Gwangyun’s lead?”

Chwige’s face turned red.

Jo Gwangyun isn’t someone who collects information quickly; he’s someone who *produces* information. The Beggars’ Sect, which collects information, can’t be slower than such a person.

Moryonghwi’s intention was to further strengthen the surveillance of Jo Gwangyun, which Chwige understood.

* * *

As soon as Noh Hyegwang heard that a messenger from the Beggars’ Sect had visited, he ran to the Head Disciple’s residence.

“I’ll go.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I heard the Beggars’ Sect visited? They usually just send letters, but if they came in person, isn’t that a summons from the Murim Alliance?”

The Head Disciple frowned.

“You’re as dull as a bear, but how do you find opportunities to go down the mountain so well?”

“I’m not saying this because I want to go play. I’m not saying I want to go down the mountain to see how that guy who ate the precious *Yeongdan* (영단) [a mystical pill] is doing. If the Head Disciple personally takes a step to see just one *Sokga* (속가) [lay disciple], would that be appropriate?”

The Head Disciple sighed and said.

“A very important thing has happened in the Murim Alliance. Hwasan, Wudang, and even Shaolin have been called to handle it. Do you have the confidence to face and handle that matter fairly?”

Noh Hyegwang stopped smiling, put his hands together, and bowed politely.

“I will never do anything to tarnish the name of Hwasan.”

“At times like this, your mouth is so eloquent. Tsk, tsk.”

The Head Disciple clicked his tongue and untied the greatsword from his waist, throwing it to Noh Hyegwang.

Noh Hyegwang grinned as he received the sword, and the Head Disciple waved his hand as if he didn’t want to see it.

“Go, go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Watching Noh Hyegwang’s back as he quickly turned and ran, the Head Disciple smiled.

He knew the details of the Tang Family’s affairs but didn’t say anything.

He wanted him to judge only what he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears. And the Head Disciple believed that Noh Hyegwang, whom he knew, would come to a fairer conclusion than himself.

Being the Head Disciple of Hwasan for a long time, he tends to favor Hwasan’s interests over fairness.

“By the way, I wonder if I accepted too remarkable a disciple…”

The Head Disciple thought that the *Sokga* (속가) disciple Jo Gwangyun would either be a great blessing or a great disaster for Hwasan.

There is no middle ground for him.

* * *

“Oh, my, this is absurd. The Alliance Leader asked for them, but the Head Disciples didn’t even show their faces, and only sent young kids? Did you guys plan this?”

Paeng Dongho said with a smile to the three men bowing before him.

“Should I take it as a formal notification that you guys are the next Head Disciples of Shaolin, Wudang, and Hwasan?”

“No. The Head Disciples can’t leave their headquarters, so we came instead. Next Head Disciple? That’s presumptuous.”

Yu Gyuseong of the Wudang Sect said quietly.

All the first-generation disciples of Wudang number twelve. They are called the Twelve Swords of Wudang (武堂十二劍), and Yu Gyuseong is their eldest senior brother.

He’s being humble, but the fact that he’s a likely candidate for the next Head Disciple remains unchanged.

“I will meet the Black Moon Society of Sichuan that you mentioned after seeing the Alliance Leader.”

The one who speaks quietly is Gonggyeon (空見) of Shaolin.

His martial arts may not be the best in Shaolin, but he has attained great enlightenment and is called a Divine Monk, making him a potential leader of Shaolin.

“Sichuan Black Moon Society? Why is the Sichuan Black Moon Society involved with the Murim Alliance?”

Noh Hyegwang looked around, not knowing what was happening, and Paeng Dongho clicked his tongue.

“Did the Head Disciple just tell you to go?”

“He said the Alliance would inform us.”

“Hoo… Okay. We have to tell you.”

Paeng Dongho slowly recounted the story of the Sichuan Tang Family. Everyone frowned as he continued.

“Great Man. There is one question that remains.”

Yu Gyuseong spoke softly.

“How did you arrest the six Black Moon Society members of Sichuan?”

“Huh? Ah, someone caught them and brought them in.”

“Can’t you tell us who that someone is?”

Paeng Dongho smiled playfully at Yu Gyuseong, who was quietly questioning him.

“I can only tell the Head Disciples. You guys don’t need to know yet.”

“Understood. I apologize.”

Paeng Dongho felt uneasy watching him quietly step back without changing his expression. The young man is too composed.

“Okay, let’s go for now. Let’s hear the Tang Family’s atrocities directly from the mouths of those guys locked in the prison.”

Paeng Dongho took them to the Murim Alliance’s damp prison.

The six Black Moon Society members had no loyalty to the Tang Family. The Tang Family was just an outlaw group that oppressed and extorted them.

They *털어왔다 (Teol-eo-wassda)* [revealed/divulged] everything they remembered, and some even mentioned specific amounts. It was a detailed account that didn’t need further prompting, but Yu Gyuseong, with his *까다로운 (Kkadaroun)* [fastidious/picky] personality, asked trivial questions to the point where others frowned.

“Hey, let’s do it *적당히 (Jeokdanghi)* [moderately/appropriately]. I’ll tolerate questions about the date of contact, but what good will it do to know what they ate when they met?”

Noh Hyegwang, who couldn’t stand it, grumbled, and Yu Gyuseong bowed politely.

“I apologize for the inconvenience. I also believe their statements are true, but I’m verifying them in case they’re slandering the Tang Family. By asking trivial and detailed questions repeatedly, lies are more likely to be exposed.”

Yu Gyuseong turned to Paeng Dongho and continued.

“Great Hero, please take the two of you and return. I can handle the verification alone.”

“Hey, friend. Is there anything left to verify?”

Even Paeng Dongho was frustrated.

“Yes.”

He wanted to grab him by the hair and drag him out, but he couldn’t because Yu Gyuseong’s attitude was polite.

“Then I’ll ask again.”

Yu Gyuseong continued to ask questions, ignoring the others who were *울화통 터지는 (Ulwah-tong Teojineun)* [frustrated/fuming].

“You said you met on the fifth day of June and handed over the money, right?”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Then tell me everything you remember about your actions from morning to evening that day.”

Even Gonggyeon (空見) of Shaolin, who seemed patient, bit his lip.

It was difficult to understand why he was asking about the events of that day in detail when he only needed to confirm that the *상납금 (Sang-nap-geum)* [protection money] was paid.

Noh Hyegwang gritted his teeth, determined to see how far this *답답한 (Dapdaphan)* [frustrating/dense] guy would go.

As the man in prison recalled and told the story from morning to night, Yu Gyuseong smiled and said.

“Tell me the story of that day you just told me in reverse.”

“Yes?”

The man blinked, not understanding.

“I mean, tell me the story of that day in reverse order, from before you went to sleep to when you woke up in the morning.”

The imprisoned man didn’t understand, and neither did the men who were observing. At this point, Noh Hyegwang became curious.

Telling the story of a day in reverse?

The man slowly told the story of that day in reverse.

Yu Gyuseong, who was listening quietly, nodded.

“I am convinced that you are telling the truth. Thank you for your cooperation with the extensive questioning.”

Yu Gyuseong bowed politely to the Black Moon Society members, who were essentially criminals, and looked pleased.

“Did I take too much time? I apologize. Now that everything is settled, shall we leave?”

Paeng Dongho was also curious.

“Hey, why did you check that? I mean, telling it in reverse.”

“Ah, yes. It’s easy to fabricate a day’s events with lies, but it’s difficult to recount a fabricated day in reverse on the spot. Unless you practice, the order will become confused. If it’s the truth, you might hesitate while searching for memories, but the order won’t be mixed up.”

Everyone’s mouths were wide open.

They couldn’t imagine such words coming from Wudang’s top *검수 (Geomsu)* [investigator/inspector].

Noh Hyegwang carefully examined the *집요한 (Jip-yo-han)* [tenacious/persistent] Wudang *검수 (Geomsu)* [investigator/inspector]. He was eager to know how that guy, who looked like a *백면서생 (Baeng-meon-seo-saeng)* [pale-faced scholar/inexperienced intellectual] to anyone, rose to the top of Wudang.

When they came out of the prison and entered the Alliance Leader’s office, Moryonghwi smiled and welcomed them.

Since the matter was important, the greetings were *간단히 (Gandanhi)* [briefly/simply] concluded, and they went straight to the point.

“Tell me your opinions? Ah, there’s one thing I need to emphasize. Remember that your words carry the same weight as the Head Disciples’ words.”

As soon as Moryonghwi finished speaking, Noh Hyegwang proudly held out his sword.

“The Head Disciple entrusted this to me. You can trust it.”

Moryonghwi sighed as soon as he saw Noh Hyegwang’s face.

The sword of the Hwasan Head Disciple is trustworthy, but I don’t trust that guy at all.

End