Chapter 1388
You underestimate people. (3)
“This…!”
Jo Geol, his eyes bloodshot, was about to shout something. But before he could, someone grabbed his shoulder almost to the point of breaking it.
Turning around, he saw Yoon Jong shaking his head, his face stern. Seeing his expression, Jo Geol bit his lip tightly.
This wasn’t a request or negotiable opinion. It was an order handed down to them in the name of Hwasan’s Vice Sect Leader. Once the mention of “excommunication” was made, there was no room for compromise. Jo Geol knew it. He knew it.
But…
“Is this really necessary?”
Unable to hold back, the words slipped out. Baek Cheon nodded firmly again.
“Do not confuse what we want to do with what we need to do. What we must do now is clear.”
Jo Geol’s gaze darkened.
“Then at least I…”
“I would’ve said it.”
Baek Cheon didn’t even bother to listen further. His face was grim.
“There is no dissent. If you’re a disciple of Hwasan, follow my command. If you truly want to go, leave behind the plum blossom engraved on your chest.”
Jo Geol clenched his fist in anger at the icy tone.
“Sa…”
“I accept Vice Sect Leader’s command.”
But before Jo Geol could resist further, Yoon Jong intervened.
“Jo Geol. Move forward and clear the path.”
“…”
“Now!”
Jo Geol glanced between Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon before silently turning his body and moving forward. Without a word, Yu Iseol and Tang Soso, who had been silently watching them, followed suit and headed forward.
“Get out of the way, you bastards!”
With a shout filled with frustration, Jo Geol swiftly cut those blocking the path, and the group, which had momentarily hesitated, resumed their swift pace.
As they marched on, Baek Cheon turned to Yoon Jong beside him.
“Help me with Jo Geol.”
“Yes.”
“…Thanks for calming him down.”
“No need for such words. It’s only natural to follow Vice Sect Leader’s command.”
“…”
“And I don’t think Sasuk’s decision was wrong. In moments of conflicting intentions, everyone would perish. Even if it’s the wrong direction, we must persevere until the end, for even the thinnest thread of hope may emerge.”
Baek Cheon nodded. Yoon Jong’s words accurately captured the basis behind his decision.
And, in truth, more than anything else, Chung Myung wouldn’t want them to come to his rescue.
All they would likely face by throwing everything away and rushing in is the despairing face of the young man. Baek Cheon didn’t want to see that.
“However…”
Yoon Jong’s voice came a bit late. Baek Cheon turned to look at him.
“While the heart may strive to follow the path of the Tao, the body, being merely human, finds it burdensome. I understand that now.”
“…”
“I know that Sasuk’s decision is right, and I understand that it’s his best choice, but…”
Yoon Jong paused briefly before continuing.
“If by any chance Chung Myung dies and we safely escape to Gangbuk, I will never forgive you, Sasuk, for the rest of my life.”
“…”
“Even if it’s wrong.”
Baek Cheon’s expression remained unchanged, unaffected by Yoon Jong’s words. Yoon Jong rushed forward, leaving behind words that could be heard as admiration or even ridicule.
“You have become a true Sect Leader, Sasuk.”
Alone now, Baek Cheon closed his eyes for a moment. His eyelashes trembled faintly. But when he opened them again, there was no hint of hesitation in his expression.
“You two, take charge of the left and right.”
In response to his calm command, Hye Yeon and Namgung Dowi exchanged looks of disbelief. Yet after a moment, they sighed in unison and nodded, splitting apart.
Now, only Baek Cheon and one other remained.
“A wise decision.”
“…”
“I was concerned that Vice Sect Leader might make a rash choice, but it seems I worried needlessly.”
“As for Nokrim King…”
“Yes, yes. I’ll observe from the rear. Farewell then.”
Im Sobyeong muttered faintly as he withdrew to the back.
“Still, I thought Vice Sect Leader might have chosen differently.”
Baek Cheon remained silent. He merely suppressed the rage that felt as though it could erupt at any moment. He took long, deep breaths, making sure others couldn’t see. He clenched his teeth tightly.
‘Damn bastard…’
Blood seeped from his tightly clenched fist. His nails dug into the flesh of his palm.
Yet Baek Cheon hid his hand within his sleeve. From his expression alone, no one could tell what he was feeling right now.
“Hurry up. Let’s make it to the Yangtze in one breath! Faster, even by a moment!”
❀ ❀ ❀
Chung Myung lifted his head slightly to survey the enemies gathering from all directions.
“Hmm. Looks like there will be no problems.”
Looking at the situation in which the enemies were rushing in, it seemed that they had no regard for the other side. It meant there was nothing to worry about.
He had secretly feared that Baek Cheon might succumb to his emotions and make a decision akin to suicide, but fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t that foolish.
Indeed, if he were the type to make such choices, Chung Myung wouldn’t have let him become the Vice Sect Leader. All of Chung Myung’s actions stemmed from his complete trust in Baek Cheon.
Without needing to say it aloud, it was a firm belief that he would never make a foolish decision.
Chung Myung chuckled softly.
‘How long has it been?’
Without the need for detailed explanations, he believed that someone would understand his intentions and act accordingly. It wasn’t just about the person’s intelligence but about trusting the person themselves.
The face of one person came to mind.
The face of someone who had always believed in him, but always kept scolding and nagging.
“Ah, what nonsense. Impossible.”
Chung Myung chuckled and raised his sword. Although he was bluffing, the situation didn’t allow for any leisure. Baek Cheon’s right decision meant ultimately removing the obstacle of those persistent bastards focusing solely on him.
No matter how skilled Chung Myung was, overcoming this situation wouldn’t be easy.
“Well, still…”
“Dieeeee!”
With a single strike, he deflected the Dao of the charging Maninbang’s warrior and swiftly severed his neck. Hot blood spurted from the severed carotid artery. Simultaneously, Chung Myung, who had swiftly moved on, aimed at his assailant’s vital points and consecutively deflected the enemy’s flying blades.
“Just because it’s not easy doesn’t mean it can’t be done!”
If he had to die surrounded, if he had to sacrifice himself because the enemy focused solely on him, even twenty lives wouldn’t be enough for him in this lifetime.
Crash!
Like a downpour, red-clad members of Maninbang descended upon him from above.
“Maehwa Geomgwi, don’t let him escape!”
“Geomgwi [Sword Demon]?”
Thud.
Gripping the sword handle so tightly it threatened to break, Chung Myung thrust his sword towards the sky. Swiftly deflecting the raining spears, he mercilessly hacked at their exposed torsos.
“You should call me Geomjon, you fools. How can you say such a mean thing to an elderly person? Ridiculous. Tsk.”
He spat out the blood filling his mouth before glancing behind him.
‘Not yet.’
Just a little more. He had to wait just a little longer.
His goal wasn’t to escape from this place or to flee. If he fled too soon, the enemy’s forces would split. In that case, instead of chasing after him, the lagging pursuers would likely choose to pursue the main force.
To prevent that, he needed to draw in as many as possible, deeper into this area, never letting them take their eyes off him.
Then, there would be a chance for Hwasan and Haenam to cross the river. On the other side of the river there is Gupailbang, including Shaolin, tangled in a complex web, making it difficult for pursuers to track them down.
“Haaa…”
It was somewhat amusing.
Choosing to sacrifice the side he wanted to save more for the sake of more people was a choice that Chung Mun had once forced upon him. And Chung Myung never forgave Chung Mun for making that choice until the moment of his death.
Despite still respecting and caring for him, Chung Myung never managed to unravel that knot until the very end. Perhaps Chung Mun regretted that fact until his last breath.
But now, it’s none other than Chung Myung who is forcing that cursed choice onto Baek Cheon, just as Chung Mun did to him in the past.
‘I’ll have to apologize to Sahyeong in the afterlife if I meet him there.’
He had thought that if they ever met again, he would unleash his resentment first. If he had known it would come to this, he would have at least said he understood when he went to cut the neck of that Heavenly Demon bastard. Even if it were just words.
Would Baek Cheon resent him? Like he once resented Chung Mun in the past?
It’s possible.
But he must endure. And he will endure. He lacks nothing to become the Sect Leader of Hwasan. He’ll have to make countless more of these choices in the future.
Just like the Great Chung Mun.
“So, what’s left is…”
Chung Myung surveyed the enemies surging toward him like a tide.
“Chase him down! He’s alone! Don’t give him a moment’s rest!”
“…You underestimate people.”
As if being alone was such a great feat.
Now, there was no Tang Bo covering his back, but Chung Myung had become stronger than his past self.
There was no longer Chung Mun trying to protect him, but he had become someone who could protect others.
His past self could never grow up, but now he understood what mattered most.
“So it’s nothing new!”
Chung Myung’s sword sliced through the air like an illusion. Drawing plum blossoms with the tip of his sword, he tore through the attackers rushing towards him, shredding them to pieces in an instant. Then, like a snake darting through the bushes, he swiftly moved forward.
“Ooooh!”
Boom!
Poisonous powder [독분(毒粉)] exploded before him.
Taking a brief pause in his breath, Chung Myung lowered his body even further, passing through the poison.
Dozens of chained sickles flew at him from all directions through the black smoke, but Chung Myung cut through them all with a single stroke of his sword.
For a fleeting moment, he felt the sensation of his past abilities returning. It felt like he could do anything, like he could overcome anything. So, this much…
“There you are, you stupid bastard! Who will let you to fight alone?”
Chung Myung blinked and turned his head sharply.
But there was nothing.
No Jo Geol, running with distorted expression, no Baek Cheon, who seemed to aim to kill him, no expressionless Yu Iseol, no sobbing Tang Soso…
They were not there.
Chung Myung chuckled softly.
Thump!
Chung Myung, planting his feet firmly, shot forward.
At the end of a branch, a lone leaf swayed in the gentle breeze. Even as the wind subsided and the world returned to silence, the solitary leaf continued to sway.
Comments