Cheon Mubaeck and Zhuge Seola quietly withdrew from the room.

The conversation between Neung-heo and Neung Jo continued until day and night changed, and the morning sun rose.

In the middle, there were rough shouts and curses, and sometimes it was quiet.

And then, occasionally, a small laugh could be heard.

Numerous emotions swirled. The wall that had been built up between them for 18 years. How could it be resolved in an instant?

Cheon Mubaeck just waited.

‘Neung-heo is not a child.’

Who would not look young in Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes?

Even the Sword Empress felt young when he thought about it. Would Neung-heo be any different?

Still, the current Neung-heo was a person who had been through all sorts of hardships and had experienced the bitter taste of life.

He would do well on his own.

How much time had passed like that? When the sun rose to the middle of the sky again, Neung-heo came out of the room with a tired look.

His skin was dry and the shadows under his eyes were dark. A strange heat was hidden in his fatigue, so Cheon Mubaeck guessed inwardly and smiled.

“Did it go well?”

Neung-heo answered bluntly. Seeing his red eyes, it seemed he had cried quite a bit.

“What’s there to go well? I just released a little of the lump in my heart.”

Although he said so, his relieved look was evident. Cheon Mubaeck smiled and said.

“Try swinging your sword now.”

“Now?”

“The path of the sword will look a little different.”

“…”

Neung-heo looked down at his sword for a moment and then nodded his head.

Because he had long since realized that Cheon Mubaeck’s advice was no different from gold and jade.

“Ah, my father is looking for you. I told him about the World Debate, and he said he would talk to you directly and then tell you.”

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head readily.

* * *

“I heard from my worthless son. I am Neung Jo of the Neung family of Qufu. A Confucian scholar of insignificant fame.”

Cheon Mubaeck took a fist and palm salute.

“I am Cheon Mubaeck of the Azure Star Escort Agency of Henan. My greetings are late. Thank you for welcoming me despite my sudden visit, and for giving me a place to rest and food.”

Was his posture and attitude quite impressive?

At his dignified and polite posture, a strange light flickered in Neung Jo’s eyes.

Unlike his son, who had become sloppy, wasn’t he a magnificent figure for a martial artist?

“I heard that you are the lord of my worthless son. I have no knowledge of the world of martial arts, so my knowledge is short, and I do not know how to treat you.”

“I am a worthless and ignorant martial artist, so please speak comfortably.”

At his upright conduct, Neung Jo was slightly impressed. Although it was a humble attitude, it also had dignity.

‘He’s a hero.’

The appearance of Cheon Mubaeck dressed in martial arts attire was literally a word that suited him better than anyone else. Moreover, his conduct was polite and disciplined, so Neung Jo had no choice but to soften his contempt for the martial artists he detested.

“There is no need to be humble. I heard that you are a hero with a great reputation in the martial world, so although I hold a brush and you hold a sword, if you have a reputation, it means you have a corresponding character. I heard from my worthless son. You want to participate in the World Debate?”

“That’s right.”

“…It’s a pity, but I have no intention of participating in the debate.”

“…”

Instead of a hasty rebuttal, Cheon Mubaeck was silent and stared at Neung Jo. Neung Jo was once again pleased with that attitude. Wasn’t he also quite serious? Neung Jo continued.

“This debate is an absurd topic. How can they hold a debate with such absurd content?”

“The topic, you say? I heard that what became a hot topic this time was because of a disciple’s diary.”

“That’s right. It’s thanks to Zai Wo’s diary. Do you know about Zai Wo?”

Asking a sudden question, Neung Jo quickly scanned Cheon Mubaeck.

Although he might have been flustered, Cheon Mubaeck answered calmly.

“He is one of Confucius’s disciples, and one of the Ten Philosophers of the Confucian School from the state of Lu. Although he is praised as a master of debate, he took morality lightly and was criticized by Confucius for not being benevolent (仁).”

“…That’s right.”

Neung Jo answered a little late.

Surprise appeared in his eyes. In fact, it was not a question that he had expected an answer to. Because the opponent was a martial artist. At least it was an answer that would come out right away only if one had read quite a few books.

‘Well, how can all martial artists only hold swords? There must be heroes who are like scholars with knowledge.’

Feeling his favorability towards Cheon Mubaeck rising little by little, Neung Jo continued.

“In Zai Wo’s diary, he is slandering Confucius.”

“Slandering, you say?”

“That’s right. The content is absurd and unbelievable. Although it is not a tone of criticism of Confucius, if you look at the content quietly, it is content that blemishes all of Confucius’s conduct and attitude that have been passed down until now.”

“Then it’s plausible that it would become a controversy.”

“Hmph. Even if the authenticity is so, the owner of the diary is Zai Wo. Zai Wo. The only person among the Ten Philosophers of the Confucian School who was disliked by Confucius.”

“In other words, are you saying that Zai Wo deliberately wrote false content out of resentment towards Confucius?”

Neung Jo’s eyes sparkled and he nodded his head.

In fact, it was not an easy thing to accept it so easily and to come up with an interpretation right away.

Because at least one had to know the relationship between Confucius and his disciple, Zai Wo.

To know their relationship, one had to read numerous ancient books in which their anecdotes were written. To read such books, one had to have the reading comprehension to grasp and analyze the meaning hidden between the lines.

Not only that. One had to have the knowledge and wisdom to reflect on the subtle principles hidden in the meaning of the words and to accept them as new teachings.

Neung Jo was quietly impressed.

“Have you read some books by any chance?”

“No. I have only read a little and have accumulated knowledge insufficiently. In the eyes of the head of the family, it is extremely lacking.”

His words and attitude were very serious. Sincerity was bound to be contained in a serious posture and voice. Neung Jo was newly impressed. He really thought that he had not read many books himself.

But without reading books, could he have such words and actions?

It was definitely humility.

Neung Jo looked at Cheon Mubaeck with new eyes.

‘This Neung-heo guy, he said he served a young guy as his lord. Still, there are some pretty good heroes among the martial artists.’

Neung Jo’s gaze softened even more.

In fact, the reason why Cheon Mubaeck knew the details…

‘It was quite a famous rumor. That the two of them didn’t get along.’

Because he was a living witness who had lived in that era.

In any case, Neung Jo, whose favorability towards Cheon Mubaeck had deepened, even smiled slightly.

“If it were a scholar who had devoted his life to academics, I wouldn’t know. But for a warrior who holds a sword and travels the rough martial world, that much knowledge is enough to be proud of. Straighten your shoulders.”

“Haha…”

“Anyway, I think that the content is absurd and just a one-sided claim without any room for consideration. Any scholar would know. But they’re holding a debate with that? That means it’s proof that they are admitting and accepting Zai Wo’s claim to some extent. So I will not participate in the debate at all.”

“I see.”

“But… I heard from Neung-heo. That you pulled him up when he was living as a beggar of the Unorthodox Alliance, and helped him gain a righteous reputation as a hero in the martial world.”

It was not a wrong statement. Although Cheon Mubaeck had not intended it, the moniker of One-Eyed Serpent was also being accepted as a hero.

It was a life completely different from his previous life. If he had not met Cheon Mubaeck, Neung-heo would have entered the Blood Demon Sect and become a demon.

Neung-heo also knew that well, and he emphasized that point to Neung Jo.

In fact, Neung Jo did not believe all of that. In his mind, martial artists were still considered lawless swordsmen.

But Cheon Mubaeck, whom he had actually talked to, was different.

‘His conduct is upright, and his prayer is unusual. His appearance is magnificent, his eyes have power, and his mouth has a gentle smile. He has an atmosphere that makes people feel comfortable without realizing it. He is a naturally good person.’

And he had made his wayward son a hero and had helped him form a family.

Neung Jo nodded his head. At least he was a person who had helped his son not to go astray.

What was the big deal about his young age?

He was a clear benefactor.

Then he should be rewarded sufficiently.

“Although I will not participate, the sight of numerous scholars holding a debate will be a great study for Gok. I will send Gok, so please go with him. Since he is a young guy, his older brother and the outstanding warriors will be a great help to him.”

“You mean this? Thank you.”

“I will register all of you as people of my school. Is that okay?”

“I am just grateful. But, what is that absurd content? Although it is a place to observe, I think I should know the content to some extent, so I ask.”

“A good attitude. Although you will not participate in the debate, you should know the flow. The content written in Zai Wo’s diary is truly lawless.”

Neung Jo, who had said that far, paused for a moment. As if he did not want to say it with his own mouth, he barely opened his mouth with a terrible face.

“To describe Confucius as a sword-wielding ruffian. Does that make sense?”

“…A sword-wielding ruffian?”

“That’s right. There are many contents that say that he taught the mountain bandits who were passing by with benevolence and propriety by making them kneel with a sword and holding a sword to their necks. How can he describe Confucius as such a lawless swordsman… ahem. It’s a sorry thing to say in front of you, but how can he describe Confucius as a martial artist? What is this if not absurd content?”

Cheon Mubaeck could not answer. Seeing his slightly reluctant expression, Neung Jo jumped to the conclusion that the content was absurd even for Cheon Mubaeck, a martial artist.

“Hmph. To say that Confucius is a martial artist. What reason is there to debate with this absurd content? It’s just nonsense and a lie. Tsk. It’s so absurd… What kind of martial artist is Confucius?”

* * *

“That’s really ridiculous content.”

Zhuge Seola’s eyes widened.

But she had no choice but to believe it, because that was the topic of the debate right now.

Cheon Mubaeck was able to enter the Kong Family Mansion with Neunggok.

The token of being a disciple of the Neung family of Qufu had opened the thick bolt of the Kong Family Mansion.

The World Debate was not something that ended in a short period of time like a martial arts tournament.

The date was not set, and the numerous scholars who had gathered would debate fiercely with each other, and when one argument was established, the head of the Kong Family Mansion would come out once every half a month and discuss that content.

Since Neunggok was still lacking to debate with those great scholars, he could only watch the scholars’ discussions.

“Hah. There are really scholars who believe that.”

Listening to the scholars’ conversation, they were really on fire with that topic.

“In a broad sense, it’s like this. The Kong Family Mansion side is dismissing it as absurd content, and the descendants of Zai Wo and the scholars who have inherited Zai Wo’s school are saying that there is a need to review the content truthfully.”

“Although the number of the Kong Family Mansion side is larger, the voice of the Zai Wo side is also loud. There must be some certain corner.”

From the Kong Family Mansion’s perspective, it was content that they had no choice but to deny.

To say that he had taught people not with benevolence and propriety, but by oppressing them with a sword.

Wasn’t this an insult to their ancestor?

But if they said it was a lie, the descendants of Zai Wo would be admitting that their ancestor was a liar, so it was natural that the debate would become fierce.

Since the honor of their ancestors was at stake, the Confucian scholars had no choice but to not back down an inch.

“In two days, the head of the Kong Family Mansion will come out in person and hold a debate.”

“That’s the chance.”

Although he had entered the Kong Family Mansion, it was a difficult task to meet the head of the Kong Family Mansion.

So Cheon Mubaeck considered the debate that would be held in two days as a chance.

But since he had to meet him one-on-one, Cheon Mubaeck was worried about what to do.

“If Confucius were a martial artist, then the people of the Kong Family Mansion, who are said to be his descendants, would probably have learned the martial arts that have been passed down, right?”

Zhuge Seola said as if she were curious. Of course, since there was a simple playfulness in her words, it was not that she really thought so.

“Then we can find out. Whether they are martial artists or not.”

“Huh?”

“Because we can feel their internal energy.”

“Ah…”

In an instant, Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes flashed.

A way to meet the head of the Kong Family Mansion came to his mind.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep