Chapter 1754
I too am someone who couldn’t uphold my principles. (4)
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“Uuuuuuuugh.”
A groan escaped from Jo Geol’s lips.
“So, it’s like… consciously grasping and drawing out the energy that’s already inside but you couldn’t feel before…”
He mumbled as he awkwardly swung his sword again. Then, his face twisted into a grimace of frustration.
Since that distant time in his hazy memory, back when he used to torment his fellow disciples at White Plum Dormitory, he hadn’t once swung a sword in such an awkward manner.
“Ah, damn it! I can’t do this!”
He nearly threw the sword he was holding but stopped himself with a jolt.
No matter how angry he was, he thought throwing the sword to the ground was a bit too much.
At that moment, Yoon Jong sighed and spoke.
“Why are you causing trouble again?”
“No, it’s not like that!”
Yoon Jong’s expression practically had ‘I knew it’ written all over it. Jo Geol’s face flushed with anger, veins bulging on his forehead.
“I’m telling you, it’s not that easy!”
“I could do it.”
“That’s because you’re you, Sahyeong!”
Jo Geol, unable to bear the frustration, pounded his chest with his fists.
Anyway, Yoon Jong had this annoying habit of underestimating himself, which made things harder for others.
“Look! Can’t you see everyone’s going crazy here?”
At those words, Yoon Jong silently pressed his lips together.
It was true – even though he had explained the technique as simply as possible, none of Hwasan’s disciples standing in the training ground could easily draw out immortal energy.
“I’m telling you, it’s already there. You just need to….”
“Stop repeating the same thing and just tell us how to do it!”
“I’m telling you, this is how to do it…”
“Oh, Primeval Lord of Heaven. No wonder the Taoist sects are falling apart. It’s not for any other reason.”
Jo Geol sighed for what felt like the hundredth time and said,
“Putting that aside…”
“Hmm?”
“Is this really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
Jo Geol looked around.
The place they were standing in was a large training ground.
A place where, originally, Wudang’s disciples should be practicing their sword techniques, now filled with Hwasan’s disciples grunting and struggling as they swung their swords.
“This place….”
“You don’t need to worry about the fact that this is Wudang. Just because they’ve seen us a couple of times…”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Jo Geol let out a deep sigh.
“I know it’s something we need to do, but as you can see, Sahyeong, it’s not something we can master overnight, is it?”
Yoon Jong might have picked it up quickly, but not everyone else could be the same. In fact, Yoon Jong only figured it out because his life was on the line, forcing him to come up with a solution desperately.
If it weren’t for that dire situation, it might have taken him even longer than it’s taking the others now.
“What I mean is, with Sapaeryeon potentially making a move at any moment, is it really okay for us to be doing this here?”
“Then what do you think we should do?”
“Well…”
Jo Geol started to respond but trailed off. Yoon Jong watched him quietly for a moment before speaking.
“Even I know that it’s unlikely we’ll see significant results from this training right now.”
“What?”
“It’s possible that none of us will ever master it.”
“Then why are we even…”
“But isn’t it better than doing nothing?”
Jo Geol took another look around, feeling a bit of a new perspective.
He saw people struggling to draw out their internal energy as they wanted, clearly frustrated. Yet, on the other hand, this scene felt strangely familiar.
‘It’s just like Hwasan always is.’
Not too long ago, these same people were on edge, as if they were on the brink of death. But now, they seemed just like their usual selves.
Yoon Jong smiled gently.
“Right?”
Jo Geol, who was about to argue with a sullen expression, ended up just scratching his head instead. Yoon Jong continued speaking softly.
“That bastard Chung Myung once said something. When things get complicated and urgent, that’s the time to train.”
“…That crazy guy again.”
“Yes. Back then, I thought it was just the ramblings of a dead ghost who couldn’t train anymore… But when I asked him about it later, I found out it wasn’t nonsense after all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“For those who have made training a part of their daily routine, being in a training environment feels most like normal times. So, just by training, you can regain the state of mind you have during peaceful times, a sense of calmness. That’s just how the human body works.”
“…”
“When you think about it, it makes sense, doesn’t it?”
It sounded absurd at first, but the more Jo Geol thought about it, the harder it was to argue. After all, even now, his body felt a subtle vitality, something he didn’t feel when he was brooding over the complicated situation.
Jo Geol let out a small, incredulous laugh.
“So, you’re saying… instead of tackling the complex problems we can’t solve right now, we should just focus on the small tasks in front of us?”
“More precisely, it’s about starting with what we can do. Even if it seems insignificant, it’s better than standing still.”
…It’s absurd.
Hwasan has been in chaos ever since the incident with Baek Cheon. It’s like a disturbed beehive. On top of that, Hyun Jong, who should be resolving the situation, is nowhere to be found.
Outside, the threat of Sapaeryeon looms, ready to strike at any moment. In fact, just yesterday, many lives were lost in Sapaeryeon’s attack.
And in this situation, they should take a small step?
“What, do you have any complaints?”
Jo Geol just chuckled.
Chung Myung wouldn’t have done something like this. He would have insisted on doing something much more practical. Baek Cheon wouldn’t have made this choice either. Even knowing that there was no way out, he wouldn’t have given up on trying to solve the bigger issue.
So, this was clearly a different approach from the path Hwasan has traditionally chosen, a method that was unique to Yoon Jong.
But still…
“So, if I did have a complaint, would you listen?”
“No. I’d ignore it.”
“…Then why ask?”
Jo Geol grumbled.
He still wasn’t convinced this was the right approach. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were wasting their already scarce time on something pointless.
Yet, strangely enough, he felt a bit of relief.
Was it that until now, he had felt so suffocated he could hardly breathe?
He wondered if he had unconsciously been feeling the pressure all along. But just then, a dark shadow approached at a rapid pace.
“I’ve got it now, the trick.”
“Ah! I told you to cut it out, idiot!”
“This time, I really do.”
“You’ve said that at least ten times already!”
“No, seriously. I can feel it.”
“This is driving me crazy.”
“So it’s like this…”
“It’s exactly the same as before!”
As the disciples of Hwasan bickered in the central training ground of Wudang, Zhuge Jain subtly asked the person standing next to him,
“Do you think it’s possible?”
The one standing beside him was Tang Gunak.
Zhuge family and Sichuan Tang Clan were originally both part of the Five Great Families. Because of this, Zhuge Jain was already quite familiar with Tang Gunak. However, Zhuge Jain’s manner towards Tang Gunak now was noticeably more respectful than in the past.
The second-in-command of the Five Great Families had to acknowledge the difference in status between himself and the second-in-command of Cheonumaeng.
“Are you referring to their ability to handle immortal energy?”
“Yes.”
“If it were a power that could be easily mastered, sects that practice sorcery wouldn’t have persisted until now. Although we’ve acted as Lord suggested, I’m not sure if this endeavor will truly bear any fruit…”
Zhuge Jain wasn’t denying that Hwasan could use immortal energy. Yoon Jong had already proven that, and if any sect could, Hwasan might manage to find a few more who could handle this energy.
But dedicating most of Hwasan’s members to awakening their immortal energy seemed like a significant waste. Tang Gunak surely understood this.
So, Zhuge Jain thought there must be something he hadn’t considered…
But the answer he received was unexpected.
“The immortal energy itself doesn’t really matter.”
“…What?”
“It would be great if they could master it, but even if they can’t, it’s not like there aren’t other ways to deal with the situation. I believe Yoon Jong Dojang is aware of this as well.”
“Then why…?”
“Isn’t this good?”
Zhuge Jain’s eyes filled with doubt. Tang Gunak gestured forward with his chin, as if to direct Zhuge Jain’s attention.
“No matter what anyone says, the heart of Cheonumaeng is Hwasan. And that doesn’t simply refer to its military strength.”
Zhuge Jain quietly looked ahead. The loud noises of Hwasan’s training had drawn out the disciples of other sects from their quarters, and they were now gathering near the training ground, curious to see what was happening. Some had even settled in to watch.
It was considered rude to observe another sect’s training, but with Hwasan taking over the large training ground and causing such a ruckus, it wasn’t exactly something they could be asked to ignore. Hwasan, of course, was aware of this and likely expected it.
“Why are you leaving us out of the training?”
‘The Young Lord?’
Namgung Dowi, even going so far as to sound irritated, led Namgung clan into the training ground as if to lodge a formal complaint.
“Look, I told you, this isn’t that kind of training!”
“Training is training. What other kind could there be?”
“You can’t handle immortal energy if you’re not from a Taoist sect. Besides, Namgung clan doesn’t need it anyway.”
“Are you discriminating against us because we’re not a Taoist sect? I’ve always treated Yoon Jong Dojang like a brother!”
“That would be Baek Cheon Sasuk, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh, was it? Let’s not get caught up in the details.”
The atmosphere was growing more lively and chaotic, and more people were gradually gathering at the training ground.
“This used to be a common sight. Back then, Cheonumaeng was full of life. I’m simply trying to restore that.”
“In times like these?”
“Precisely because of times like these. If we lose ourselves now, we’ll just end up being swept away.”
“Hmm.”
Zhuge Jain slowly nodded in agreement.
Certainly, it wasn’t wrong. In war, ensuring that your forces can fully utilize their capabilities is far more important than relying on clever tricks.
“I understand what you’re trying to achieve.”
However, at the same time, Zhuge Jain’s gaze grew sharper.
“But if that’s the case, isn’t this just a temporary fix?”
“…”
“If Hwasan is the heart of Cheonumaeng, then the heart of Hwasan is Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
At the mention of Chung Myung, Tang Gunak’s expression subtly hardened.
“So, the reason Cheonumaeng isn’t what it used to be, and the reason Hwasan isn’t what it used to be, ultimately lies in Hwasan Geomhyeop’s silence, doesn’t it?”
Zhuge Jain’s eyes turned towards the training ground.
“It may seem lively and energetic, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s a forced smile. Am I the only one who feels that way because the one who should be there isn’t?”
Eventually, a sigh escaped from Tang Gunak’s lips.
“I feel the same way.”
“Then why…?”
“Because there’s nothing we can do.”
“What?”
“If there were something we could do to help, he would have asked us already. We’ve already tried… to help.”
Tang Gunak couldn’t possibly be unaware of the change in Chung Myung.
Everyone who knows him likely feels a strong sense of discomfort.
Is it because the current situation is so dire? No, that can’t be the reason. If anything, Chung Myung was the one who would usually rally and encourage those around him in times of crisis.
Yet now, he remains silent, even amidst the chaos that surrounds the Alliance.
There must be something – something others can’t even begin to guess.
Tang Gunak let out a deep sigh.
‘My friend, are we really unable to help you?’
A bitter light flashed in his eyes.
“For now… we can only trust and wait. That he will overcome this on his own. That’s all we can do.”
❀ ❀ ❀
Late at night.
Drip.
The room was filled with the sour stench of blood. It reeked as if it had rotted.
Eyes, tinged with an ashen hue, blankly stared at the blood that soaked his hands.
There was no sign of surprise, as if he was used to it. The black blood that had poured from his mouth was slowly drying up.
After a long while, the man… Chung Myung, finally spoke.
“Why, damn it…”
He bit down hard on his lower lip. Bright red drops of fresh blood slowly dripped down onto the dark, dried stains beneath.
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