Chapter 1452
Please take care of me from now on. (2)
Chung Myung glared at the people grinning at him.
“I mean… No, seriously, I’m genuinely curious… Is it normal to just haphazardly hand over such a position like a bunch of gamblers playing a trick? Is it usually like this?”
Tang Gunak glanced at the other sect leaders and shrugged nonchalantly.
“How would we know? None of us have done this before.”
“That’s right.”
“Actually, this is the first time I’ve discussed something like this with other sects.”
“…I’ve only recently become the head myself.”
Feeling overwhelmed, Chung Myung looked up at the distant sky.
‘This place is hopeless.’
The increase in responsibilities wasn’t the main issue. Well, it was important. It was, but…
“You want me to be the General?”
“You do like positions of power, don’t you?”
Of course, I like positions of power! But this is too much!
“No, but…!”
“Enough.”
“…What?”
As Chung Myung was about to start ranting again, Maeng So abruptly cut him off.
“I don’t understand why this debate is necessary. Isn’t this your main concern? If the authority is centralized, some will inevitably suffer losses.”
“Exactly!”
“If conflicts arise, it will lead to discord. That’s why Cheonumaeng has always made decisions without ranking its members, treating everyone equally. Even the responsibilities are shared!”
“Yes!”
“So, the decisions we all agree on should be prioritized above all else, right?”
“…Yes?”
Chung Myung, caught off guard, froze. He realized what Maeng So was leading to.
“According to that logic, you should become the General. It’s a decision we all agreed upon. Surely, you wouldn’t go back on your own words?”
“Huh…”
Chung Myung grabbed the back his neck, as if it was hard to breathe.
“If a mere disciple from one sect rejects the decision made by all the leaders, then this alliance has no reason to exist.”
Everyone looked at Maeng So in admiration. They had finally understood why Chung Myung described Maeng So as a bear on the outside but a fox on the inside.
“And… if we think about it, Hwasan made the same decision. Are you perhaps defying the order of your Sect Leader? Tsk tsk. To openly defy your Sect Leader in front of so many, what a disgrace.”
“What?”
Suddenly cornered, Chung Myung looked at Un Am with wide eyes. Un Am gave a warm smile.
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“It’s alright. Lord Maeng, you don’t need to pity me.”
Un Am said with a gentle smile.
Pity? Excuse me, Sect Leader?
“I haven’t been in the position of Sect Leader for long, and honestly, my martial skills are lacking, so I must accept it if my disciple doesn’t trust me.”
“Oh dear…”
“How unfortunate…”
“That’s too much.”
Despite the sympathy pouring from all sides, Un Am maintained a warm smile as if it were painted on. But behind him, a menacing aura surged. Un Geom, Hyun Yeong, and Hyun Sang, standing behind Un Am, exuded a killing intent as if they were ready to tear Chung Myung apart at any moment.
Even Chung Myung, normally fearless, felt himself shrinking under Un Geom’s bloodshot gaze.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant… It’s just that…”
At that moment, Im Sobyeong snapped open his fan and laughed heartily.
“Haha. Isn’t Hwasan a sect without hierarchy anyway? Hahahaha!”
Chung Myung opened his mouth and looked back at Im Sobyeong.
“That damn Sapa brat…”
“Eek. Scary. Baek Cheon Dojang, save me! Ah… Ignoring the Sect Leader’s words, I guess Vice Sect Leader wouldn’t do either?”
Crunch.
Baek Cheon’s fists trembled violently. Five Swords standing around him glared at Chung Myung with eyes that could kill.
“That bastard with no roots!”
“He should be locked up in the Plum Blossom Repentance Cave.”
“We should drive a sword into his skull!”
“Just kill him.”
Chung Myung, breaking into a cold sweat, looked around. At that moment, it was none other than Namgung Dowi who spoke up.
“Dojang. There is something I must say to you.”
“…Hmm?”
“You always care for us, but to put it simply, you also look down on us.”
“What’s with the sudden talk… No, what do you mean, Young Lord?”
“Why do you consider the decisions we make to be short-sighted, unable to see the bigger picture?”
For a moment, Chung Myung was at a loss for words. Namgung Dowi shook his head and continued.
“What you are agonizing over, we have already thoroughly considered. It is important to maintain the identity of Cheonumaeng and to avoid creating hierarchies among us. However, responding to the impending crisis and saving even one more life is equally important.”
It is difficult to balance both, especially in such a situation.
“That’s why we entrust that role to you.”
“I’m not that remarkable…”
“No, Dojang. It is not because you are extraordinary.”
“…What?”
“If we must risk our lives to follow someone’s command…”
Namgung Dowi looked directly at Chung Myung and spoke.
“Namgung clan wants the one who gives the orders to be you, Dojang.”
At those words, all the sect leaders nodded. They did not believe that Chung Myung would always make the right decisions. He was human, after all. He would make mistakes and errors in judgment.
But even if they had to sacrifice themselves due to those errors, they could accept it if the orders came from Chung Myung.
“I don’t trust you, Dojang. I trust the path you have walked until now.”
“…”
“Please.”
The unwavering gazes of the other sect leaders also focused directly on Chung Myung.
“Ugh…”
Reaching this point, there was truly no place to run. No, perhaps there never was a path to escape in the first place.
Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak one last time.
Tang Gunak calmly began to speak.
“As our clan was attacked and we came here, I did think a lot. Amidst all that deep contemplation, there was only one thing I held onto.”
“…What is that?”
“To not become someone who learns nothing from mistakes.”
Tang Gunak shook his head.
“Perhaps from the journey to Hainan until now, we have made too many mistakes and misjudgments. That’s why the situation has reached this point. But we cannot avoid change based on a baseless belief that things will be better next time. At the very least, I want Sichuan Tang Clan and Cheonumaeng to take one step forward tomorrow.”
“…”
“Become the General, Hwasan Geomhyeop. And do as you wish. No one will hold you back anymore.”
In Tang Gunak’s eyes there was a clear sign of trust. Chung Myung wanted to be the sword of Hwasan. But the world could no longer allow him to remain just a sword.
Tang Gunak also wanted to see it. When Chung Myung, who had chosen to be a sword wielded by another, became the master of that sword himself, what kind of world would unfold?
After a long period of contemplation, Chung Myung scratched his head, looking troubled. He scratched and tousled his hair so vigorously that his high ponytail became a disheveled mess.
“Ah…”
Nothing ever goes easily.
Chung Myung’s eyes turned to the sky. But the sky that met his gaze was indifferent and blue.
“Alright. I’ll do it! It’s not such a big deal!”
A contented smile spread across Tang Gunak’s face.
“Oh, good. You’ve made the right decision…”
“Since everyone is so eager to follow my orders! It wouldn’t be polite to refuse any longer. What else can I do?”
“…”
“But you know.”
Chung Myung glanced around at everyone. And at that moment, Tang Gunak saw it. The face of Chung Myung, which had been filled with annoyance, softened, and a peculiar smile spread across his lips.
Strangely, it was an ominous smile.
“I clearly refused. But it was all of you who insisted on putting me in this position. Don’t forget that.”
“…Uh?”
“So, whatever happens from now on isn’t my responsibility. I’m just doing what you all wanted. Right?”
A brief silence fell. Off to the side, Five Swords who overheard began to whisper among themselves.
“Doesn’t something seem a bit off about this, Sasuk?”
“A bit? Can you even call this a bit?”
“Geol… To be honest, I felt something was wrong from the start.”
“Right, Sahyeong? Honestly, giving that guy authority, it’s obvious what will happen.”
“True. But now that I think about it…”
Yoon Jong’s complexion turned slightly pale.
“We’re the only ones who know, just us…”
“This is why information is so important. My condolences.”
As Five Swords whispered, the anxiety on Tang Gunak’s face deepened. Chung Myung spoke with a smile.
“So, I can just do whatever I want and overturn everything, regardless of Gupailbang or Sapaeryeon, right?”
“No, Hwasan Geomhyeop. What I meant was…”
“General.”
“…Huh?”
“You should call me General, General!”
“G-General…”
“That’s right.”
Chung Myung nodded contentedly.
“Don’t worry. If that’s what you truly want, I’ll do my best. With all this support, what choice do I have? I must meet those expectations with all my might.”
The sect leaders urgently looked at each other. This was all happening because they didn’t know.
Why had Chung Mun, the person who recognized Chung Myung’s potential the most in the world, have never given him any authority? Why had he, even as a Hwasan’s elder, never been given even a minor leadership position? Why, even in the urgent situation of the Demonic Cult’s invasion, did Chung Myung always act alone without any subordinates?
“Well, for now…”
Chung Myung glanced around.
“Although there hasn’t been an official appointment ceremony, this isn’t the time to worry about such formalities. But since I’ve been elevated to the position of the General, I should get to work.”
“…Here and now?”
“Hey, don’t worry. It’s something simple. Do you think I’d ask for something grand in this situation?”
“R-right?”
For a moment, the faces of the sect leaders, which had been clouded with anxiety, brightened.
They had left Sichuan and entered Shaanxi, but they were still on the road. It wasn’t the ideal situation to do anything significant here.
“Hey, Sahyeong!”
“What?”
Jo Geol tilted his head.
“Go get some blank books and some writing materials.”
“Where am I supposed to find that?”
“Figure it out!”
“…Damn it…”
Jo Geol grumbled as he disappeared. Tang Gunak, looking uneasy, asked Chung Myung.
“But why do you suddenly need writing materials?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. Even while heading to Hwaeum, we can jot down a simple ledger, right?”
“…A ledger?”
“Yes.”
Chung Myung smiled contentedly.
“Just write down a summary of the assets each sect possesses as we go.”
“…A summary?”
“Yes, a simple one.”
“How simple exactly?”
“Come on, why ask something so obvious? We’re not going to be overly meticulous among ourselves, right? Just roughly.”
“What?”
“If you hide even a grain of rice, you’ll lose a hand.”
…The sudden chill made the sect leaders shiver.
“If we didn’t start, it would be fine, but once we begin, we must see it through.”
Chung Myung ground his teeth.
“Don’t worry. Now that we’ve started, I’ll make sure to finish it thoroughly.”
Tang Gunak smiled happily.
‘It feels like we’re the ones who are going to be finished.’
This was the right decision, right? Haha… ha…
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