Chapter 1154
– Chapter 1154. Well, if it's absolutely necessary (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“…Kuhum.”
Tang Gun-ak cleared his throat loudly. Just thinking a little about it made it clear what Bop Jeong might be feeling right now.
“…Then Shaolin….”
"They'll figure it out on their own. Do we really need to worry about that too?"
Tang Gun-ak, who had tightly closed his eyes at those words, asked again in a subtle manner.
“But if it’s as you say, if they don't leave, we can't leave the Yangtze River either, right?"
"Ei, it's not exactly like that. In fact, we've already gained everything we could from this, so it wouldn't matter if we left."
“Huh? But you said earlier that they were the ones to decide?”
"That's a different story. By staying here, we keep those bastards from leaving first."
"…Really?"
Chung Myung nodded and chuckled.
"If just sitting tight causes them so much distress, why should I be the one to get up first? We should stick it out until they feel like dying."
“….”
"Fights aren't about winning. They're about making sure the people you can't stand get crushed."
Seeing Chung Myung, Tang Gun-ak thought again.
'Thank goodness we’re not enemies.'
If things had gone wrong when he first met this man and they had become enemies, wouldn't the situation that Bop Jeong is going through now have been experienced by none other than Tang Gun-ak? If that had happened, it wouldn't have just ended with a hole in his stomach.
"So let's just ignore them. It's not like they can do anything just because they're watching us intently. Actually, the real problem right now is not Evil Tyrant Alliance but Ten Great Sects. For the time being, all they can do is complain and grumble from a distance. The public sentiment is too unfavorable for them to pick a fight right now."
"I suppose that's true…"
Public sentiment might not be a tangible force, but it subtly pushes people forward. Especially when there's no justification, it often causes things to go awry.
Moreover, if it is Bop Jeong who prioritizes face and justification, then for a while, no matter what Heavenly Comrade Alliance does, Shaolin won’t make any moves.
'However….'
Tang Gun-ak was a cautious person. He thought carefully before speaking again.
"Still, it's not something we should be too complacent about."
"Yes?"
“Saying that they can’t move now is not much different from saying that they will eventually move. And if it’s the Bop Jeong I know, when the time comes, he might really…"
Tang Gun-ak stopped talking and closed his mouth. A look of bewilderment was evident on his face.
Chung Myung, who had been looking at him with his eyes slightly narrowed, continued his word.
"Appear as an enemy?"
Tang Gun-ak couldn't bring himself to answer either way. The impact of such a statement, spoken in this setting, would be too great.
'Enemy?'
Up until now, Tang Gun-ak has been in conflict with Shaolin many times from the perspective of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Sometimes supporting Mount Hua, and sometimes at his own will.
But what he had done so far was an extension of the conflict between the sects, and he did not truly recognize Ten Great Sects or Five Great Family as enemies. But today, the word 'enemy' almost came out of his mouth so naturally.
And it was in reference to Shaolin.
'Is this really a good thing?'
His perception had subtly changed without him realizing it. Perhaps this was because Heavenly Comrade Alliance had not yet decided on a clear stance on how to deal with Ten Great Sects.
“…Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”
“Yes, Gaju-nim.”
“There’s something I want to ask….”
At those words, Chung Myung shrugged.
"I think I know what you want to ask, but this doesn't seem like the right place, does it?"
Tang Gun-ak smiled bitterly as he watched Chung Myung read his mind like a ghost.
"Hmm, that's true."
"Well, honestly, that's up to them, not us, right? As you've seen, I've never been the one to treat them poorly first."
“….”
"What's wrong with you?"
“No, what…. It’s just….”
Tang Gun-ak, who was about to say something, soon burst into soft laughter.
"Yes, people have different perspectives."
“I’m glad you understand.”
It was better not to dwell on this any further.
"Alright, let's put that aside for now."
Those who understood and those who didn't both nodded at those words. Chung Myung shifted his gaze.
"So."
"What?"
Baek Cheon, who had suddenly become a target, blinked, not knowing what was going on.
"Your turn."
“…Why are you suddenly doing this to me?”
“It seems like we’re the only ones talking right now. Don't you have something to say? Surely, you must have had some thoughts."
Baek Cheon, who couldn't bring himself to say, "I wasn't really thinking about anything," made an awkward face as he tried to explain.
“I figured someone else would bring it up anyway, well..."
"Oh, you thought someone else would take care of it?"
Chung Myung said in a cold tone.
"Like we've said before."
"Yes?"
“Once you go into war, there’s no time to wait for someone to give you orders."
“….”
"You have to make decisions and act on them immediately. If you turn your head away because you can’t make a judgment, someone dies.”
Though he spoke casually, the meaning behind his words was significant.
'So, what you're saying is, let it be natural for you to think, judge, and express your opinions.'
Thinking that even one of these mundane meetings was in preparation for war, tension and a little frustration came at the same time.
“Well, while we’re on the subject…. I’m thinking of the small and medium-sized sects.”
"What about them? I was just..."
“No. That’s not what I’m saying. Rather than waiting for a war to break out and for them to join on their own, wouldn’t it be better to actively recruit them?"
“Huh?”
Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon as if he found it amusing and asked.
"Why?"
"That's what's been said. If Heavenly Comrade Alliance is not properly structured, they won’t know who to follow. If you think about it the other way around, if we don't already know who they are, it’ll be hard to give appropriate orders, won't it?"
"Oh…."
"Wow…."
Baek Cheon narrowed his eyes dimly at Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol's intense reactions.
“What? Why?”
"No, Sasuk. We're not mocking you..."
"It's just that it feels like it's been a long time since we've heard you say something like a true senior."
“….”
“Come to think of it, Sasuk used to be like this.”
"People even used to say you had the potential to lead Mount Hua. Now you're just the village’s foo—"
"…It might be in your best interest to shut that damned mouth of yours."
"Yep!"
Jo-Gol immediately shut his mouth. Baek Cheon gritted his teeth. Meanwhile, Yoo Iseol, who was silently nodding as if agreeing, kept getting on his nerves.
"It's not a bad idea."
"Indeed, just waiting passively isn't the best approach."
There were encouraging comments here and there. In particular, Tang Gun-ak and Maeng So showed positive responses.
“It is certainly important to accurately identify those who need to lead.”
“According to what Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword said earlier, most of them still seem to trust Ten Great Sects a little more, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to act proactively before we lose them. Before the public sentiment like now dilutes and they naturally accept Ten Great Sects again.”
"Hmm. I agree. Baek Cheon has given a good suggestion."
For the first time in a while, strength returned to Baek Cheon's shoulders.
In fact, wasn't he treated like a village idiot compared to his skills and abilities? When his abilities were acknowledged in this gathering of the leading figures of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, he felt like the confidence he once had in the past was returning.
'Yes, this is it...'
“Phew. That was pointless.”
A voice suddenly cut in, squeezing Baek Cheon’s returning confidence. When Baek Cheon turned around, Im Sobyeong, who was still leaning against the wall, was smiling and saying,
“Ah. my apologies, Baek Cheon Dojang. My mouth sometimes speaks nonsense."
Seeing Im Sobyeong slapping his mouth in an annoying way made him even more annoyed.
“…You said it was meaningless?”
“Yes. Well, that… It’s not that I think Baek Cheon Dojang’s idea is bad, but I keep getting the feeling that… It feels like you're just taking on a headache without any real gain. I'm well aware that it's a characteristic of political factions, but… Haha.”
"Could you explain why you think it's pointless? It seems to me that it would be quite helpful."
“It would be helpful, it would be. I mean, there’s nothing in the world that isn’t helpful, right? Even if the people here went outside and swept the courtyard, that would help with living."
Damn it, just say it’s not helpful, you punk. Baek Cheon's stomach churned. Dealing with Chung Myung alone was already difficult enough, but having Im Sobyeong around too made his stomach ache as if being pinched from both sides.
“Why do you think so….”
“You ask why? Of course, I'll tell you. It's not difficult to answer that."
Im Sobyeong straightened up from the wall and sat properly. The fan in his hand naturally snapped open.
“When you lose sight of the purpose of a meeting, that's when these pointless suggestions start to come up.”
"…Yes?"
“You resolve one issue, and then you start looking for something else to do. But what’s the main goal here?”
“Well… In order to organize Heavenly Comrade Alliance more efficiently and fight against Evil Tyrant Alliance….”
“That’s the problem, that’s it!”
Those who had been nodding their heads at Im Sobyeong's rebuke flinched.
“You’re just talking about such useless nonsense, and the meeting is going round in circles! You’re just wasting time!”
Those who had been nodding quickly stopped and fixed their gazes straight ahead, acting as if they had never agreed. And Five Swords, who had been nodding their head naturally, instead sided with Im Sobyeong and began to look at Baek Cheon with reproachful eyes.
A fire of frustration burned in Baek Cheon's chest.
‘Those disloyal bastards…’
Someday I will beat up you guys, Evil Tyrant Alliance or whatever. Really….
“It’s not about preparing to fight against Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
Thwack!
Im Sobyeong struck his hand with the folded fan.
“It’s to defeat Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
“….”
“When people start doing something, they feel reassured. They get a sense of relief knowing that they’re not just sitting idle and that they’re putting in effort. However, that sense of relief can sometimes ruin people. It makes them waste time on useless activities.”
“Um….”
“Let me ask you, if we create a new position, will we be able to defeat Evil Tyrant Alliance?”
Namgung Dowi flinched under Im Sobyeong’s sharp gaze.
"That…."
“Then? Will incorporating the smaller sects and organizing them into a system help you defeat Evil Tyrant Alliance?”
“It’s better than doing nothing…”
Baek Cheon’s voice trailed off. Even he knew that such actions wouldn’t significantly impact the situation.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Thwack!
Im Sobyeong hit his palm with his fan again and said,
“And these are the people leading Heavenly Comrade Alliance!”
Namgung Dowi and Baek Cheon’s faces turned bright red. It was hard to argue against the truth, but the fact that it was Im Sobyeong delivering the criticism made them feel even more ashamed.
When had they ever been lectured by thugs from Evil Sects?
“Still, Namgung Sogaju is slightly better.”
“Huh?”
Namgung Dowi looked at Im Sobyeong in surprise. Was that man actually going to support him…?
“It’s true that we need a position. Instead of wasting time gathering these people for meetings, it would be better to create proper military positions and put me in charge! Then you wouldn’t have to strain your dull minds and could just follow my orders without… argh!”
Im Sobyeong, who was hit by a flying wooden pillow, rolled on the floor and crashed into the wall.
“Anyway, that damn Evil Sects bastard never knows when to stay out of things and keeps crossing the line.”
Chung Myung shook his hand. Those who had been blankly watching flinched at the sight of Hyun Jong withdrawing his hand that he had extended.
Huh? Come to think of it, wasn’t that pillow originally over… on the Maengju’s side…?
Uh….
“But he’s not completely wrong.”
Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders and looked at the squirming Im Sobyeong.
“Alright, go on. Tell us what we should do if we really want to defeat Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
“After you’ve beaten me like this?”
“Oh, do you want more?”
“Ei, you rotten piece of shit.”
Wiping the blood from his nose with his sleeve, Im Sobyeong straightened his posture with a grimace.
Everyone looked at his mouth with nervous eyes.
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 76
Advance chapters of Infinite Mage : 24
|Note
Comments