Not only Venerable Gonggong, but Tang Gwan and Beomo as well were startled.

“Vice Alliance Leader?”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Tang Gwan with deep eyes.

“Clan Lord Tang knows as well. No matter how much noise our side makes, it will be difficult to seize victory in this election.”

Tang Gwan nodded with a sour face. Then, realizing he had nodded without meaning to, his expression twisted.

Venerable Gonggong cleared his throat.

“That is not something one can know for certain.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Of course. But there are things one can infer to a certain degree, are there not? As you know, Venerable, the Tang Clan of Sichuan as perceived by the people is fear itself.”

Blood and fear were forces difficult to replace.

But the Orthodox Path martial world prioritized reputation and chivalrous duty over blood and fear. At least outwardly, it did.

To entrust the Martial Alliance Leader’s seat of the greatest allied power of that Orthodox Path to the head of the Tang Clan?

It made no sense. Such a thing could not happen.

“Even if all twelve Service Lords support Clan Lord Tang, we will run into the wall of public opinion.”

“Mm.”

Venerable Gonggong’s eyes deepened.

“I had roughly expected as much, but was Clan Lord Tang’s candidacy indeed meant to set him up against ‘someone’?”

Admiration appeared on Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“Remarkable. To be honest, I did not think you would have seen that far.”

Venerable Gonggong sighed.

“Secular strife usually begins with the desire to gain profit. It is merely frustrating that such a thing is happening even inside the Martial Alliance, the greatest allied power of the Orthodox Path martial world.”

“Because it is the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ martial world’s greatest allied power, this sort of thing is all the more inevitable. If one becomes the greatest, one gains that much power.”

Strength entered Venerable Gonggong’s insightful gaze.

“Is what you desire power?”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“Power always comes with responsibility. I am a man already busy enough taking care of my own people. Even the position of Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps is burdensome enough right now.”

“Yes. You are not a person who covets power. Leaving aside your true heart, that is how I see you, and that is what I believe.”

“Thank you for thinking well of me.”

“And yet why is it that you have stepped into this fierce political arena and stained your hands with blood?”

Venerable Gonggong said blood.

He did not mean that people were actually being killed. In Venerable Gonggong’s view, desire and anger, conflict and wounds, were no different from seeing blood.

And right now, there were two people staining their hands with the most blood in the Martial Alliance’s internal political struggle.

Yeon Hojeong and Mo Yonggun.

“Because the people who ought to fight are all keeping quiet.”

“......?!”

“To you, Venerable, as someone who cultivates the Buddhist path, political struggle itself may seem meaningless. It too is conflict, after all. But fighting is not always bad.”

“If it is a fight of goodwill to find a better path, I too welcome it.”

“I do not believe there is such a thing as goodwill in a fight. Nor do I think the justice I have established is necessarily correct. However, if one intends at least to seek a better path, one must not hesitate to stain one’s hands with blood and filth.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

“It is easy to turn away and watch. But for one who possesses power to live leisurely, at least in an age of chaos, is a sin.”

“A sin?”

“It is a sin. If one has power, one must use that power correctly and strive to set wrong things right. Even if doing so means seeing blood.”

Venerable Gonggong’s eyes deepened.

“Is that your greater cause?”

“Before it is my greater cause, it is the truth of the age.”

“The truth of the age......”

“The masters of the Daoist and Buddhist paths often say this: if the Way rises one foot, the demon rises ten. The crooked and wicked always outpace the good.”

“.......”

“If one has power, then on the premise of ceaseless self-cultivation, one must strive so that the Way may rise three feet, seven feet.”

Venerable Gonggong silently watched Yeon Hojeong. Gradually, a smile spread over his face.

“That was a bitter teaching.”

“A teaching? That is more than I can bear.”

“They say that when three people walk together, there must be a teacher among them. Even a wise person must constantly lower himself if he wishes not to become a fool.”

Venerable Gonggong made a half-palm salute and bowed his head.

“Commander Yeon’s lecture has taught this old monk a great deal.”

Yeon Hojeong bowed his head.

“It was nothing more than a hot-blooded remark from an unripe young man. I am only grateful that you understood.”

“Heh heh heh.”

Though he did not show it, Tang Gwan clicked his tongue inwardly.

This brat was born with that tongue.

It was not enough that he had taken control of the flow of the conversation. He had even made Venerable Gonggong of all people bow his head.

That was not easy for anyone. Leaving aside whether one’s speech was simply eloquent, such a result could not be achieved without seeing through the other person’s position and ideology to some degree.

In that sense, Yeon Hojeong was certainly an extraordinary person.

Because he knew how to distinguish between when he needed to understand the other person, and when he did not need to understand at all.

But that means......

Tang Gwan looked at Venerable Gonggong.

The meaning of Yeon Hojeong’s words was clear. Saying that because those with power did not move, he had stepped forward himself to set the world right, ultimately implied that Venerable Gonggong should move even now.

Shaolin will move?

Venerable Gonggong continued.

“In your eyes, is Clan Lord Mo Yong so dangerous a person?”

“Yes.”

“And those with him?”

“To begin with, all the Service Lords are heads of sects that represent the Orthodox Path. All twelve of them have the power to change the flow of this political struggle.”

“I see.”

Venerable Gonggong nodded.

He looked at Tang Gwan.

“Clan Lord Tang.”

“Speak, Venerable.”

“Will you do your utmost so that the Martial Alliance can walk the right path?”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“Sorry, but I hate embarrassing phrases like greater cause.”

“Hmm.”

“What moves me is always myself alone.”

“I will ask again. Do you desire power, Clan Lord?”

“Power?”

Tang Gwan gave a mocking smile.

“I already reign as the emperor of Sichuan. Do you think I need power beyond that?”

“.......”

“I think differently from this half-baked brat. The more power one has, the better. But I already hold power that would make an emperor unnecessary to envy. Do you think I would cling to some headache-inducing Martial Alliance Leader’s seat?”

It was remarkable confidence.

In truth, the influence of the Tang Clan in Sichuan far surpassed that of Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect. Qingcheng and Emei were in the mountains, while the Tang Clan exerted influence in the secular world.

In other words, though limited to Sichuan, Tang Gwan’s claim that he held power no less than an emperor was true. If he intended to live his entire life only in Sichuan, Tang Gwan had no need to set foot in a political struggle like this.

“Then why have you entered the election?”

“Because I cannot stand seeing Mo Yonggun succeed.”

“Is that truly all?”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“Do I look that simple to you? Of course that is not the only reason.”

“Then......?”

“I do not want to tell you more than that.”

Venerable Gonggong smiled.

“For some reason, you seem much softer than when I met you before.”

Tang Gwan waved a hand as if annoyed.

“Think as you please.”

Finally, Venerable Gonggong looked at Yeon Hojeong.

“The position of Vice Alliance Leader is, as the name suggests, a position that assists the Martial Alliance Leader while coordinating between the Service Lords and elders.”

“That is correct.”

“In your opinion, do you think Clan Lord Tang will carry out that duty well?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“I do not know. I have not grasped the full extent of Clan Lord Tang’s ability either.”

“Heh heh. And yet you ask me to support him for Vice Alliance Leader?”

“Who can predict that someone will handle the position of Martial Alliance Leader or Vice Alliance Leader well? However, if a person with the least possible issues comes to hold real authority, then helping that person keep the Orthodox Path peaceful and respond to foreign invasions would be the right path.”

It was a principle-based answer. But that principle-based answer lit the fire of Venerable Gonggong’s resolve.

“......Good.”

Venerable Gonggong nodded.

“I will think about it. Of course, I mean that sincerely.”

They had not obtained a definite answer, but this alone was a great result.

Yeon Hojeong bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

“Do not. As I said earlier, this is something I too must think over. Besides, greater cause or whatever fine words one may use, coming here in advance to ask me to support you from behind is not, in itself, an action that looks good.”

“I know.”

“However, I know that you do not do things like this without reason. That is why I say I will think about it, so I hope you will neither expect too much nor be too disappointed.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Venerable Gonggong smiled at Tang Gwan and said,

“Whatever the reason, you must feel reassured as well, Clan Lord. To have such a talent with you.”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“He is a brat who might tear out my throat at any time. It chills my spine.”

“Heh heh. If even Clan Lord Tang of all people says that, Commander Yeon’s ability must truly be remarkable.”

“If he crosses the line, it is death. We are worse than enemies.”

“At least you are not enemies.”

“For the moment.”

Yeon Hojeong rose from his seat.

“I came without notice and disturbed your mind. Please forgive me.”

“That is fine......”

It was then.

Venerable Gonggong suddenly looked at Beomo.

Beomo’s eyes were fixed on Yeon Hojeong. Those burning eyes were filled with an indescribable emotion.

A strange smile appeared around Venerable Gonggong’s mouth.

“Commander Yeon.”

“Please speak, Venerable.”

“You were certainly right. Coming here without notice was one thing, but asking me to support you from behind, speaking of greater causes and truths—yes, you have certainly crossed the line.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled awkwardly.

“I apologize.”

“I listened quietly because I know your character and ability. However, what you have done is clearly a political operation. It is not upright. In principle, and to this poor monk as well.”

Puzzlement settled on Yeon Hojeong’s face. There was no reason to add such words when the conversation had already ended.

“Do you perhaps want something from me separately?”

Venerable Gonggong laughed heartily.

“Rather than saying I want something, could you grant one request of this poor monk? If you accept, I will forget today’s discourtesy cleanly.”

“Please say it.”

Venerable Gonggong pointed at Beomo.

“How does he look to you?”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Beomo.

Their eyes met, scattering invisible sparks.

The corner of Yeon Hojeong’s mouth rose.

“He seems to be someone who has properly cultivated orthodox Shaolin martial arts.”

From Beomo’s standpoint, it was an absurd thing to hear.

Venerable Gonggong burst into loud laughter.

“That is right. Since long ago, he has been one of our temple’s talents, recognized for his martial gifts. However, even after growing older, he has failed to govern the competitive spirit he possesses and has ended up being scolded by this aging martial uncle.”

“Haha.”

“What do you say? Green Mountain Tiger Commander, one of the Twin Tiger Gods called the greatest among the younger generation under heaven, who played a great role in defeating the Ming Clan of the Nine Provinces—could you offer some teaching to this stiff-headed Arhat?”

Tang Gwan clicked his tongue inwardly.

What a useless thing to do.

He knew that Yeon Hojeong’s hands were as vicious as those of the Tang family. He worried that, after coming here to ask a favor, everything discussed so far might turn to nothing.

Yeon Hojeong readily nodded.

“You have given me an opportunity to witness Shaolin martial arts. How could I withdraw? Rather, I am grateful.”

Beomo shot to his feet.

Yeon Hojeong pointed at the door with his thumb.

“Let us go.”