38 — It Is No Big Deal. (3)

……

The elder official holding a go stone flinched.

Did I just hear that right?

He gaped and turned his head. Leaning against the courtyard wall with a bored expression was a young man—Chung Myung.

That kid…? That brat who couldn’t be more than twenty—was he really spouting rude words in front of him now? Civil and military officials, even the Crown Prince, had always been careful around him.

“What did you just say?”

The elder official pressed at Chung Myung with an imposing glare.

“Did you not hear me? Say it again, now!”

With the bearing of a man who had once commanded countless subordinates, making that young taoist break down would be trivial.

But the reply he received was, he swore, the most absurd answer of his life.

“Has this old geezer gotten so old that his ears are clogged?”

“…W-what did you say?”

“Even if I tell you right to your face, you still won’t understand.”

As Chung Myung prodded his ear, the elder official was left stunned, unable even to summon anger.

“Bullshit, you miserable—bullshit! You old fart! Want me to say it again? Bullshit…”

“Eek! Subdue him! Subdue him! Tie him up!”

Startled, Mount Hua’s disciples leapt forward and pinned Chung Myung down.

“Let go! What did I say wrong!”

“Shove a gag in his mouth!”

“Shut up, you crazy bastard!”

“Mmph! Mmph mmph! Uuuugh!”

While Chung Myung was restrained, Baek Cheon cleared his throat and slid between the elder officials and the youth, shielding the scene. Then, as if nothing had happened, he smiled faintly and said,

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”

The elder officials blinked at his calm.

“Are you really going to let this go…?”

“It happens everywhere.”

Baek Cheon continued firmly.

“There are always mad dogs, aren’t there?”

“…”

“And where there’s a mad dog, someone will get bitten. If you’re bitten by a mad dog, lament your bad luck—arguing over why a mad dog showed up won’t change anything.”

The elder official, who’d just been insulted by Chung Myung, fell silent and stared at Baek Cheon in a daze.

Even a man who’d spent his life at court—where people metaphorically swallowed blades instead of rice—had never felt so embarrassed. In fact, no one had.

“Besides.”

“Yes?”

“May I continue?”

At Baek Cheon’s words, which shifted the mood, the elder official could only nod.

Mount Hua’s disciples shot Baek Cheon a silent round of applause.

So natural.

He’s a master at smoothing things over.

The way he steamrolls a situation is the best.

But Baek Cheon didn’t hear their praise; he quickly began to reason with the elders.

“If this were something we could report to the authorities or fix by effort, we would have. But you elders know better than anyone—this isn’t that kind of situation, right?”

The elder official, belatedly regaining his composure, cleared his throat.

He knew it too. Once those above press down with force, an ordinary complaint—even if justified—can’t change the outcome.

The world is such that right things sometimes get trampled by wrong things.

After glancing between Baek Cheon and Yu Han-Bin, the elder official sighed.

“It may seem cold-hearted.”

“Honestly, it is.”

“But we have no way. We’re already retired, aren’t we?”

“They may be retired, but their influence still lives on.”

“Nonsense. You don’t understand how harmful it is when retired officials meddle in worldly affairs, so you speak too easily.”

“…”

“It’s regrettable. Certainly regrettable. Do you think we don’t want to help? But you must know as well as we do.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes principle matters more than the immediate issue.”

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

The words were correct. Retired people clinging to power cause endless problems in any organization. Those who retreat into obscurity and refuse to meddle deserve praise.

There was no moral justification for acting otherwise. Once you raise the matter, the only option left is to confront them with force.

“Of course it may be hard to accept. You might think breaking principle to correct a wrong is right.”

“…That’s true.”

“But principles broken that way will be broken again for unjust purposes someday. Isn’t that why our predecessors warned against setting precedents?”

The other elders nodded gravely in agreement.

“So step back. We are only trying to uphold principle. Do not force those of us buried in obscurity to do wrong.”

“We…”

Just as Baek Cheon, clinging to hope, was about to speak urgently, it happened.

“Argh! So frustrating!”

“Now, grab him!”

“No, this bastard’s strong…”

“Aaah!”

Those pinning Chung Myung were flung aside one by one. He brushed off his clothes and stood.

“Chung Myung. J-just a moment.”

“Step aside, sasuk.”

Chung Myung glanced at the sweating Baek Cheon and clicked his tongue.

“If everything could be solved with nice words, why would wars happen? Did you think sincerity makes everyone understand?”

“That’s not it, but…”

“Your method is wrong.”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon tilted his head. Chung Myung looked at the elder officials as if they were filthy.

“Those old fossils will never change their minds. Even if they know I’m right, they’d rather get angry and spout sophistry than admit and change.”

“…”

“Of course not all old men are like that, but there are always people who wasted their lives getting old, aren’t there?”

“W-watch your words, you bastard!”

Baek Cheon, startled, glanced at the elder officials.

Perhaps Chung Myung was right. But who speaks like that to the very people involved?

“So come out. I’ll handle it from here.”

“Ah, no.”

“Enough. Sasuk won’t get us an answer. You still think those men are Confucian scholars.”

“…You’re saying that’s not the case?”

“No.”

“Then what are they?”

“A breed more ruthless than merchants. They’ll stop at nothing to achieve their aims and can be colder than anyone when needed.”

“What do you mean…”

A chill ran down Baek Cheon’s spine.

Politicians.

Chung Myung was right. Baek Cheon had pictured them as retired Confucian scholars; he’d believed that a sincere appeal might reach them.

But if their essence was that of high officials—those merciless men who did whatever it took to survive court life—was Baek Cheon’s approach really the right one?

“Do you understand? What was wrong?”

“…”

“So step aside. This is my specialty.”

Chung Myung grinned, slipped past Baek Cheon, and stood before the elders. With a relaxed expression he began.

“Alright. That’s enough preamble.”

The elders eyed him with interest.

“Wasn’t this conversation over?”

“Over? No, it’s just beginning.”

“…Beginning?”

“Then tell me.”

“Hm?”

Chung Myung looked at the elder officials and smiled mischievously.

“What do you want us to do for you?”

“…Huh?”

“Say it. What do you want?”

A look of disbelief crossed the elders’ faces.

“…You’re asking us that now?”

“Why? Is there someone else in front of me?”

They looked at one another, bewildered, as if to ask whether they had heard correctly. Then, seeing the same dismay mirrored, their expressions turned hostile.

“Are you mocking us? Weren’t you the ones who came begging?”

“So what?”

Chung Myung nonchalantly prodded his ear.

“What’s so important about that?”

“…What did you say?”

“Everyone should do what they’re good at. Merchants sell goods well, farmers farm well. And what about Taoists… uh, what are Taoists good at again? Huh? They must be good at something… uh…”

Mount Hua’s disciples turned away, covering their faces.

I want to die.

My disciple would be an embarrassment anywhere.

Having briefly gone off on a tangent, Chung Myung waved his hand irritably and continued.

“Anyway, the important thing is that you’re experts in bargaining. Right?”

“…”

“So think about it. What’s an appropriate price for this deal? You’ve made a life of bargaining—if you can’t handle this, what’s the point? Right?”

“Why should we be the ones to think about that?”

“Ugh, you frustrating old geezers! That’s how you’ll get something to gain! You men who’ve spent your lives on scholarship can’t even figure out something this simple? Do I have to spoon-feed you everything? Huh?”

Baek Cheon could no longer hold back; he was about to step in.

They should at least be given a convincing reason. Why would people who’ve achieved everything agree to a deal with Chung Myung?

But contrary to his expectation, the elder officials seemed intrigued by Chung Myung’s words.

“Indeed.”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon froze, staring at the old men in blank astonishment.

There’s merit to it?

Why are you convinced by that? Did some other conversation happen without me knowing?

But the elders ignored Baek Cheon’s confusion and looked straight at Chung Myung.

“And you?”

“Hm? What about me?”

“We assume we’re good at making deals. So what are you good at? We need to know before making any offer.”

“Me?”

Chung Myung curled the corner of his mouth and smiled confidently.

“Me… I’m someone who doesn’t particularly have anything I can’t do.”

“You should say you have nothing you’re good at, Chung Myung.”

“Except for beating people up.”

“He’s good at drinking too.”

“Can’t you be quiet? The elders are speaking, damn it!”

Chung Myung growled at Mount Hua’s disciples, then shrugged at the elders.

“Well, there are more than one thing I’m good at, but if I had to pick the best… there’s really just one.”

“What’s that?”

“Solving problems.”

Chung Myung snapped his fingers with a sharp sound.

“I’m a specialist at solving difficult problems. Whatever it is.”

“…”

The elders were momentarily lost for words.

Who else in the world would say something so brazen?

The same claim takes on a different weight depending on the audience. No one had imagined someone daring to say that to them.

Seeing their reaction, Chung Myung pressed on as if it were only natural.

“Now. I’ve said everything, so I’ll ask again.”

“…Ah, no.”

“What should I do for you?”

Chung Myung smiled broadly.

That smile, strangely, looked truly cool.