Chapter 1354
It’s just the way it turned out. (4)
As Jo Geol’s gaze swept over them, Baek Cheon, Im Sobyeong, and Yoon Jong all discreetly avoided eye contact and lowered their heads.
“Are you people with thoughts, or without brains? Huh!”
“Well…”
“Um…”
“Even if you’re in a daze, you still need to take care of things! How can you just leave him behind without making plans on how to join us? Is that any way to behave? Huh?”
Of course, there was no room for excuses in this situation. Those listening to the reprimand couldn’t help but wonder what had led them to commit such foolish acts.
However…
“That’s why I can’t afford to even lose consciousness! If I take my eyes off for a moment, accidents happen! How can I relax, huh?”
The one making this sharp remark was none other than Jo Geol, poking at their consciences with a needle. It was a day they never thought would come – to receive a scolding from Jo Geol.
“I trusted Sasuk, but… haaaa. You should trust the trustworthy.”
Baek Cheon’s head drooped weakly.
But instead of offering comfort, Jo Geol, having left both blood and tears in Gangbuk, was even more relentless, jabbing at Baek Cheon’s slumped shoulders.
“Just bowing your head won’t solve anything, you know? We need a plan, a plan!”
He was right. Eventually, Baek Cheon silently glanced at Im Sobyeong by his side. Unfortunately, Im Sobyeong was of no help at all.
“I… I can’t believe I overlooked such a basic thing… I’m on the same level as Baek Cheon Dojang…”
Who does he think he is?
Baek Cheon rolled his eyes, but Im Sobyeong seemed utterly despondent, showing no signs of feeling anything at all. It was as if his soul had completely left his body. Baek Cheon couldn’t bring himself to urge him to come up with a plan.
With a troubled expression, Baek Cheon turned back to Jo Geol.
“Uh, can we discuss this somewhere else for a moment?”
“Sasuk.”
“Hmm?”
“I finally understand why Chung Myung gets all worked up and curses whenever he sees Sasuk.”
…You don’t really need to understand that.
“What on earth… Aaaah!”
Before Jo Geol could shout out in frustration, he screamed and grabbed his mouth. The sheath of a sword suddenly flew from the side and hit him in the mouth.
“…Quiet. My head is pounding.”
Yu Iseol lowered the sheath she was holding and leaned her forehead against Tang Soso’s shoulder, feeling weak.
“No, no, Sago! Your head…”
“It’s too loud.”
“…”
While Baek Cheon could be confronted directly, Jo Geol, recognizing he couldn’t easily confront Yu Iseol, stopped his outburst and just frowned at her.
“Young Lord Namgung!”
At that moment, Namgung Dowi and his group joined them. The faces of the disciples of Haenam brightened at the sight. They had been worried they might have lost their way, but fortunately, they had found their way back properly.
However, the faces of the disciples of Hwasan turned a bit paler.
“Sasuk.”
“Sahyeong.”
“Dong Ryong-ah.”
“Who was that bastard just now?!”
Baek Cheon squinted his eyes, but quickly averted his gaze when met with everyone’s sharp glares.
Namgung Dowi, who had just joined them, asked directly.
“Has Chung Myung Dojang not yet joined?”
“…”
At that moment, Baek Cheon understood. He understood why Chung Myung occasionally looked at him as if he wanted to die. Saying someone lacks common sense must refer to this kind of situation.
“He hasn’t joined? Surely there’s a plan in place?”
“…”
“No plan?”
“…”
“No?”
“Well, um…”
Baek Cheon decided to say something just to try to divert attention.
“Don’t worry. He’ll come on his own.”
“Really?”
Everyone turned their gaze in one direction. Within those glances, Tang Pae smiled as if he knew something.
“Is there a plan?”
“It’s hard to say, but there might be.”
“Hard to say?”
Tang Pae scratched his nose nonchalantly. He felt it distinctly – the pervasive scent of the Tang clan’s Incense from Baek Cheon.
Tang Soso was no longer a member of the Tang clan, so she couldn’t use that incense, and Tang Pae himself had never used it.
Then, isn’t it clear who left this scent on Baek Cheon, without even needing to look into it?
However, the reason he couldn’t definitively explain the situation is because he couldn’t understand how Chung Myung could follow Tang clan’s incense.
If Chung Myung was able to take on this scent after receiving Tang clan’s teachings, then it would mean that someone from Tangga passed on the forbidden martial arts to Chung Myung.
‘Father wouldn’t have done such a thing…’
Tang Pae furrowed his brow slightly, lost in thought.
The principle of “If it’s not the right person – don’t teach it*“ [비인부전(非人不傳) – biinbujeon] is an absolute rule of Tang clan that not even the Lord can violate. If Tang Gunak passed on Tangga’s martial arts to Chung Myung, there would be nothing to say even if he were immediately ousted from the position of the family head.
It would be somewhat manageable if it were a family member, but what if it were someone else entirely?
‘Even if one were to abolish martial arts and sever all the body’s tendons, there would be no room for excuses…’
But who would dare to commit such madness?
It would be impossible unless it was done by someone insane or an overwhelmingly dominant figure to the extent that even the family head couldn’t do anything about it. However, there are no such madmen or powerful figures in Tangga right now.
‘I simply can’t fathom it.’
No matter what he says, it could become a problem later. With just one thoughtless remark, he could inflict a fatal blow to the authority of the family head. So, all he could do was mumble and chuckle lightly.
“Hey, Young Lord…”
“Oh, Hyeong! Please don’t laugh like a fool from the neighborhood and try to answer when someone speaks to you!”
Sensing a subtle change in Tang Pae’s laughter and noticing their cautious glances, everyone turned their eyes abruptly towards Namgung Dowi.
Namgung Dowi added with a hint of exasperation.
“Are you mute?”
“…”
Dowi, your temper seems to have gotten a lot worse… If the ancestors in the heavens saw this, they’d be saddened… No, if it were that father of his, he might have even liked it…
With no response forthcoming, a rare madness seemed to flicker in Namgung Dowi’s eyes.
“No…!”
But then.
“What’s with the tense atmosphere here?”
Gasp!
“Chung Myung-ah!”
Suddenly appearing like a ghost, Chung Myung startled everyone around him. He chuckled as he received everyone’s surprised looks.
“What’s up? You act like you’ve seen a ghost.”
The faces of Hwasan’s disciples turned sour.
“…He’s alive.”
“He didn’t die.”
“Ah, too bad.”
“…Late.”
Jo Geol furrowed his brow and asked.
“How did you find your way here? You can’t know how to read the signs of Haenam.”
“Tsk tsk. Well, you know, youngsters these days. There’s always a way for an old man like me. That’s called experience.”
“You’re the youngest one among us, you bastard!”
The ones at the forefront started bickering as if the situation was never that serious. The atmosphere quickly became lively. Gwak Hwanso, who had been following from behind, narrowed his eyes slightly.
‘They’re comrades…’
He could tell. Despite exchanging harsh words with each other, everyone was keeping an eye on Hwasan Geomhyeop’s physical condition.
He was engaging in battle alone from behind, so now they were meticulously checking to see if he had sustained any further injuries.
Moreover, with the appearance of Hwasan Geomhyeop, vitality returned to their eyes in an instant. Even though he hadn’t done anything in particular upon rejoining, his mere presence seemed to lift the spirits of his Sahyeongs.
‘Is that what they call camaraderie?’
Gwak Hwanso hated to admit it, but Haenam lacks such camaraderie among the disciples. The relationships forged over decades of living together are inferior to those of individuals who have only recently begun to fight together.
Gwak Hwanso finally seemed to understand why Chung Myung had never properly recognized Haenam as a fighting force and was only considering them as someone to be protected.
“What about Sect Leader?”
At Chung Myung’s question, Baek Cheon shook his head.
“He hasn’t joined yet.”
“Why? It doesn’t seem like there’s been any trouble.”
If there’s anyone who should excel at identifying the cyphers of a sect and trailing behind, it’s Geum Yangbaek. So, it’s definitely odd that they are joining the latest.
“That’s why.”
“Hmm?”
“He said he’ll take the rear position since he’s the best at recognizing the symbols.”
“Hmm?”
Chung Myung turned around. A faint smile played on his lips as he momentarily gazed into the distance.
“You ordered it?”
“Do you think I could instruct Sect Leader on my own accord? He himself volunteered for it. He said he’d join immediately even if any issues arose.”
Chung Myung nodded.
Until now, Haenam had simply waited for Baek Cheon’s commands or rebelled against them. But this time, they had made their own decision on what needed to be done.
It’s clear that they’ve prioritized guarding the rear with the elders who still have strength left, while sending the younger ones forward.
Those who had been carrying the burden and pretending to be noble began to risk their lives and step forward, willing to sacrifice everything to protect what needed protecting.
The battles spanning from the coast of Hainan, through the gorge, and extending all the way to Hundred Thousand Mountains had transformed them from elders to swordsmen.
‘Now I can finally put them to use.’
This alone could be seen as meeting the minimum criteria according to Chung Myung’s standards.
“What about communication methods?”
“For now, there isn’t any.”
Since communication would be handled from their end, there shouldn’t be any issues. Chung Myung nodded lightly, surveying his surroundings. He chuckled as he checked the status of those running behind him.
“What a mess.”
“…Honestly, yes.”
The situation was certainly not ideal. Many disciples from Haenam were injured and had difficulty moving, and even considering those left behind at the rear, their numbers had noticeably dwindled.
Carrying the unconscious people and running didn’t allow for much increase in speed. Overall, they resembled scattered soldiers fleeing after defeat, desperately seeking a way to survive. However, neither Chung Myung nor Baek Cheon were disappointed by this fact. In any case, they had succeeded in joining forces, and as a result, they were now sprinting through Gangnam, having broken through the encirclement of Sapaeryeon. Despite sustaining significant casualties, the victors of the fierce battle in Guangdong were undoubtedly Cheonumaeng and Haenam.
Chung Myung’s eyes sank seriously.
‘Let’s make it to the Yangtze River like this…’
For now, it seemed that there wouldn’t be any major issues until then, at least from what could be seen.
Yes, as long as there were no variables.
Chung Myung’s gaze turned towards the rear. A strange glint shone in his eyes as he gazed at the jagged mountain peaks rising ominously.
❀ ❀ ❀
Thud, thud, thud.
The crimson hawk perched on Ho Gamyeong’s wrist suddenly soared high into the sky, then swiftly shot off into the distant northern skies.
Ho Gamyeong slowly lowered his gaze to the person running before him.
“Huok! Huok! Huok!”
Ragged breaths escaped from Yu Gong’s mouth.
From the moment they first spotted the symbol until now, they hadn’t stopped running for a single moment. While others could simply run, he had to maintain his pace without faltering and simultaneously keep an eye out for the sect’s symbols.
Naturally, his stamina was rapidly depleting.
‘Damn it…”’
With his mind also in turmoil, everything felt like it was tormenting him from within and from outside.
At that moment,
“There, your symbol.”
Yu Gong jolted in surprise at the voice and lifted his head. Sure enough, carved on the large tree before him was the symbol of Haenam.
Just as he quickly interpreted the symbol and was about to speak,
“North…”
“It’s the same as earlier. It’s northeast. Keep going.”
For a moment, Yu Gong stared blankly at Ho Gamyeong. Ho Gamyeong, unchanged in expression, returned his gaze.
“Is there a problem?”
“…No, there isn’t.”
Yu Gong quickly averted his gaze. Ho Gamyeong’s cold voice echoed in his ears.
“It’s best not to be clever. If you don’t want to see your entire family torn apart and killed.”
Yu Gong bit his lip until it bled. A profound sense of dread began to well up in his eyes.
He was in the palm of Ho Gamyeong’s hand. He felt like he could never escape from that giant palm.
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