Episode 8
“what?”
The man who spoke to Yeon Yeom-myeong, the Queen of Darkness, Dang Jeok-hwi, asked back, thinking that this was the most absurd thing he had heard in a while. Did the boy in front of me really know what he was saying?
It was a bit of a laugh, but it was none other than the family succession. Soon after controlling his expression, Dangjeokhwi opened his mouth.
“Surely you mentioned the Sogaju competition?”
“yes. “Yes, but.”
“…Did you really know what that meant? “You could possibly lose your life.”
“I know.”
Yeon Myeong nodded and answered.
Sogaju competition⎯
Simply put, it meant gathering boys from ten to fifteen years old within the party and competing against them. The competition lasted for a total of four years. The first three years were designed to involve strict training and time for each person to build up their martial skills, and the remaining year was designed to be a fierce competition for survival. Dangjeok-hwi’s warning that his life could be lost was not a lie.
As the position of head of the family had been vacant for a long time, this competition, which is said to have been promoted by the Presbyterian Church, hid the ugly side of the party family, known only to those in the know.
Yeon Yeom-myeong was also something that he immediately recognized when he recalled the Sogaju competition from the boy’s memory.
‘It must be my greed. ‘There’s no need to decide on Sogaju.’
It was like that.
If they were really concerned that the position of head of the family was vacant, they would have tried to appoint a head of the family rather than a small head of the family. That makes sense. However, the Presbytery wanted to determine the ‘Sogaju’ through competition. Not the head of the family.
I don’t know who will be chosen as the head of the small family, but since he is still young, it will take quite a while for him to grow up and become the head of the family. In the meantime, it will be the House of Elders that holds the power to control the family, as it has always done.
Moreover, the age limit⎯ The reason why participation was limited to boys and girls between the ages of ten and fifteen was because the elders’ blood relatives and disciples were in that age range.
In other words, it was an event created by a combination of the desire to continue their period of power for ten more years and the competition among elders for the position of the next head of the family. Sogaju competition.
The Queen of Darkness, Tang Jeok-hwi, was not unaware of this fact, but there was still no way. In a situation where the family power was so strong, rebelling against the Presbyterian Church was tantamount to cutting one’s own skin. As the person in charge of the Sogaju competition, I just wanted to proceed as fairly as possible. And I just hope that the child chosen as the head of the small family is someone who can really revive the Tang family.
After the Sogaju competition was announced, there were children who came here for a while. Since they do not know the true circumstances of the family, they apply for participation as young children. Most of those guys, if you warn them that they could lose their lives, there are 9 out of 10 cases where they get scared and back off.
But there was something different about the guy who came today. He had a look in his eyes that aroused expectations. Is he really the son of Dokbong?
‘I heard that you are incapable of learning martial arts.’
Dangjeokhwi looked at the boy closely. A year or two ago, when seen from a distance, it just seemed small and dwarfed. Of course, the dwarfism was still the same, but a certain kind of composure flowed from the boy. It felt familiar somehow. Dang Jeok-hwi thought it was similar to the temperament found in world-class experts, but quickly denied it. It can’t be like that. The other person, the boy in front of me, seemed to be just over ten years old.
Dismissing the sudden sensation as an illusion, Dangjeokhwi opened his mouth.
“Sister Dokbong… No, does your mother know? That you are participating in the competition.”
“I’m going to go back and tell you.”
“Are you saying you decide on such an important matter on your own without discussing it with your parents?”
“My decision is already firm, so it’s just a matter of order.”
“…….”
At this point, the other people around him, the warriors of the Dark King and the Dog King, looked at the boy, Yeon Myeong, with curious eyes. As elite members of the Tang family, they were more sincere about competing for Sojiajou than anyone else in the family. This was because they were not only in charge of running and supporting the competition, but also because this competition was an event to select who would one day become their master.
The boy who wanted to participate in the competition was showing quite a strong determination, so it was natural that interest would arise. Moreover, after listening to the words of the Queen of Darkness, Tang Jeok-hwi, I think he is a boy whose social status is also not ordinary. Although he has been under pressure from Gyeongwon City recently, Dokbongdang Jihye’s youthful qualities and skills were real. As Amyeongdae and Dokwangdae were affiliated with the family clan, Amdokjeon, I knew them better than anyone else in the family. She was not chosen as the next head of the family for nothing. If only half of her blood had been inherited…
Of course, making this assumption was only thought of those who did not know much about natural names. Anyone who paid even a little attention to miscellaneous rumors about the family would not know that Dokbong’s son had a constitution that made it difficult for him to learn martial arts.
at that time.
“Hoo. I came to see what all the fuss was about. Who is this? “Isn’t he Dokbong’s son?”
There was a middle-aged man who suddenly appeared. He was a man with impressive sharp eyes, and Yeon Myeong felt that his eyes were very familiar. Do you know each other?
‘Dang Ji-hyeok, the king of poison.’
Soon, Yeon Myeong found the other person’s identity in the boy’s memories. I also realized why the eyes looked familiar. He was the father of Tang Munchan. It seemed like he didn’t know what his son was doing yet. It has to be that way. Yeon Man-myeong had just come here after punishing three small demons.
“This is my first time having a private conversation. You know Moonchan, right? “I am that child’s father.”
“I see you, Lord Poison. “It’s a joint venture.”
Yeon Myeong calmly expressed his respect. Dang Ji-hyeok, who was looking at him strangely, came closer and said.
“It seems a bit different from what I heard from Moonchan. There is spirit in your eyes. This guy didn’t have eyes for people. So, what is the reason you came here? Are you sure you want to participate in the Sogaju competition?”
“Yes, but.”
“…okay?”
Unlike Dang Jeok-hwi, Dang Ji-hyeok was not that surprised and questioned lightly. He had a rather quick mind, but as soon as he heard Yeon Myeong’s words, he decided that it wasn’t that bad from his perspective.
Unlike the King of Darkness, the Great Lord of the Dogs, Dang Ji-hyeok, was completely on the side of the Presbyterian Church. This was inevitable because his uncle was in the position of Elder Lee. The reason he was able to assume the position of King Daeju in the first place was largely thanks to the influence of his uncle, Lee Jang-ro, the leader of the party.
‘This might be an opportunity to take down Dokbong.’
Dang Ji-hyeok thought. There was one thing that was a thorn in the side of the Presbyterian Church, which promoted the Sogaju competition. The existence of Dokbong Dangjihye. She is the daughter of the previous head of the family and the former head of the small family. Although she was unilaterally taken down by the Presbyterian Council for her responsibility, her legitimacy still remained with her. This was the reason why she could not easily issue an order of expulsion even in the Presbytery. If Dang Ji-hye came forward with her cause, there was a high possibility that the Soga-ju race would immediately turn into a controversy. The unanimous opinion of her elders was not to provoke her hastily. She said that since Ji-hye was also out and about in her residence, she should just stay quietly.
‘But if this guy participates…’
If the only son of Dokbong Tang Ji-hye, who has legitimacy, participates in the Sogaju competition, that in itself will give the appearance of legitimacy and authority.
What if Dokbong’s son falls there?
It’s just lack of skill.
He is not qualified to become the head of a small family and inherit the family.
‘It’s literally two birds with one stone.’
Moreover, Dang Ji-hyeok knew. The boy with a calm expression is actually close to a wreck who cannot learn martial arts. Also, since his son Dang Mun-chan was regularly bullying him, I thought he might have suffered from bone disease. Even if it was a child’s fist, it would have been too much for the criminal to handle since it contained so much strength.
Even if the boy competed in the Sogaju competition, it seemed absolutely impossible for him to achieve any significant results.
‘Maybe we should worry about survival first.’
No matter how they survived the three years of rigorous training, it was hard to believe that Yeon-myeong would survive the last year of the competition, when they would risk their survival and attack each other’s lives.
Dang Ji-hyeok said, thinking for a long time but making a decision in an instant.
“Dark King.”
“Please tell me.”
The King of Darkness, Dangjeokhwi, answered his call half-heartedly. The relationship between the two seemed strangely not good. It would have been even more strange that Dang Jeok-hwi, who had a secret antipathy toward the Presbyterian Church, had no hesitation with Dang Ji-hyeok, who was openly on the side of the Presbyterian Church.
Dang Ji-hyuk also didn’t seem to mind, as this had happened more than once or twice.
“Let me participate in the Sogaju competition.”
“What does that mean? Do you have anything to do? This is still a young boy’s stroke. “I just need to take good care of it and send it back…”
“He may be a boy, but he is a man. “Maybe it’s not an act of aggression, but rather an act of grandeur.”
“What nonsense… this guy…!”
Dang Jeok-hwi, who was about to say that he was not good at martial arts, suddenly felt strange. When the door to the Dark King’s Hall first opened, most of the warriors, including him, released a sharp burst of energy. An ordinary boy, or even a boy who has learned martial arts, wouldn’t be able to naturally receive that kind of momentum…?
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Meanwhile, Dang Ji-hyeok did not miss the moment when Dang Jeok-hwi paused and spoke eloquently.
“It’s a bud that hasn’t bloomed yet. It is only when time passes and spring comes that we will know whether the flowers inside will be in full bloom. Why would you crush this boy’s resolve with a single blow? This is a competition to select the person who will lead our party. “No matter what kind of extraordinary talent you have, if you have the qualifications and have the will to participate, you should encourage participation in the competition. It should not be prevented.”
There were many warriors nodding their heads at those words.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted towards Dang Ji-hyuk. Dang Ji-hyeok was said to be slightly inferior to Dang Jeok-hwi in terms of Ilshin’s martial arts level, but he had excellent eloquence. Elder Lee Tang Myeong-shin did not treat him with importance simply because he was his nephew. Dang Ji-hyeok had the talent to take advantage of causes and practical interests.
Meanwhile.
Yeon Myeong was listening to everything Dang Ji Hyeok said without missing a single word. If he had listened to him from the beginning without any preconceptions about party politics, he might have been thought of as a very fair and just person. However, Yeon Myeong knew the boy’s memories, the insight that came from many years of experience, and the mentality of the guy named Dang Mun-chan. Children are the mirror of their parents.
‘They’re probably trying to use competition to get rid of me. It won’t be a favor.’
It didn’t matter what the intention was. The opponent did not know that he was shooting himself in the foot.
There was one more reason why Yeon Myeong wanted to participate in the Sogaju competition. In fact, you could say that was the main goal right now.
“Ask me again.”
Dang Ji-hyeok speaks with a stern expression. To the boy who came to Amwangjeon alone.
“Dokbong’s son, Yeonmyeong. Do you really want to participate in the Sogaju competition?”
Answer carefully, because there is no turning back. As soon as the Queen of Darkness, Dangjeokhwi, finished speaking, the boy opened his mouth.
“yes. I sincerely hope so.”
Yeon Jeong-myeong’s eyes, bathed in sunlight, were full of confidence. A bold appearance for one’s age. The warriors in the hall gave different looks to the boy. Contempt, pity, concern, anticipation….
However, none of them could see through the true nature of Yeon Myeong.
Anyway.
In this way, Yeon Myeong officially participated in the Sacheon Dang family’s Sogaju competition.
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martial arts,
