Chapter 1546
Nevertheless. (1)
A naive impulse, a childish dream… It’s not that. Even if it were, it wouldn’t matter. The impetuousness of a child may cause frowns, and the dreams of someone who has nothing may invite ridicule, but Yoon Jong was neither a child nor a person who has nothing.
The elders couldn’t say anything. Even Hyun Jong.
They knew that adding blunt words to Yoon Jong’s fervent yet cold resolve, as sharp as a well-honed blade, would only reveal the pettiness of their own actions thus far.
“Yoon Jong…”
In the end, it was Baek Cheon who spoke. But he too only opened his mouth and then closed it again.
I understand your feelings, but now is not the time to be stubborn.
He had intended to say that and still thought it was the right thing to say.
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. How many times had Yoon Jong heard such words and swallowed his resentment? And now, to say that directly to him felt impossible.
Whether it was because he had matured or because he could now see what he hadn’t seen before, Baek Cheon didn’t know.
He only hoped it wasn’t just the fear that comes with having more to protect.
No one dared to speak. Agreeing with Yoon Jong seemed childish, yet they lacked the courage to suppress him.
Sensing everyone’s hesitation, Yoon Jong spoke.
“I do not wish to cause the Alliance any trouble with my short-sighted thoughts.”
“…”
“But I believe it is something someone must do. So please, do not stop me and let me go. That is all I ask.”
Finally, Baek Cheon spoke with a sigh in his voice.
“That can’t be done.”
“Sasuk.”
“I’m not denying what you’re saying. But you cannot go alone.”
“I… “
“No matter what you say, it’s not possible. If you insist on going alone, then you’ll have to go through me first. Not before my head rolls.”
Yoon Jong bit his lips.
If Baek Cheon had argued using his authority, Yoon Jong would have resisted it immediately. But right now, Baek Cheon is not acting as Vice Sect Leader, but as Sasuk who is concerned about his Saje. How could right or wrong be discussed here? At that time, someone suddenly threw a question.
“So it’s impossible for him to go alone?”
Baek Cheon turned around, a person stood there with a calm face.
“May I ask? If not alone, would you send him?”
“That’s…”
“No, let me rephrase the question. If he doesn’t go, would you stop us if we go?”
Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly.
Gwak Hwanso, representing Haenam, was attending the meeting with a firm gaze directed at Baek Cheon, more resolute than ever before.
“Gwak Sohyeop, this is…”
“Come to think of it, although we did request to join Cheonumaeng, it seems we’ve never properly held a ceremony.”
There was no other way.
From the moment they had left Hainan Island until now, they had never had the time for such an occasion.
“If we go, will you send him along?”
“Gwak Sohyeop.”
Before Baek Cheon could voice his concerns, Gwak Hwanso shook his head.
“Please don’t stop us. No, even if you try to stop us, we must go.”
“Why is that?”
Gwak Hwanso glanced briefly at Yoon Jong.
“Because we have forgotten.”
“…What?”
“Not always, but sometimes. And now, more often than not.”
Gwak Hwanso slowly nodded, his expression dark.
“No, not anymore. Now, there are more times when we don’t think about it than when we do.”
Immediately, everyone’s expression darkened. They realized whom he was referring to – those left behind on Hainan Island.
They had tried to console themselves, convincing that Hainan was not crucial anymore, that Sapaeryon would not have the power to vent their anger on Hainan.
But was it really so?
No one could know for sure.
Perhaps they left them alone to focus on the war, or maybe they wielded their cruel blades as a warning.
Whatever choice Sapaeryeon made, all the people here could do was to hope for the safety and well-being of those living on Hainan Island.
“I don’t mean to vent or lament. I just came to realize something. There wasn’t a single thing wrong with what he said. It was so painful and bitter, but now I live accepting it as it is.”
“…”
“We lost so many brothers and even our Sect Leader. Honestly, I was always unhappy. Abandoned by the Just Sects, attacked by the Evil Sects, I kept wondering why we alone had to suffer such injustice and pain.”
Some of Five Swords nodded in agreement. They couldn’t help but empathize, having felt the same way in the past.
“But I realized how foolish that was thanks to Yoon Jong Dojang’s words. The ones who suffered the most are those who remained in Hainan, yet we abandoned them and acted as if we were the most miserable people in the world.”
A laugh tinged with self-mockery escaped. Feeling heartbroken by that laugh, Hyun Jong consoled Gwak Hwanso.
“Gwak Sohyeop, don’t blame yourself. Wasn’t it something beyond our control?”
“Yes, that’s right, Alliance Leader. We lacked the strength and the ability. There was no other choice back then. But now,”
Gwak Hwanso looked at Hyun Jong and quietly asked,
“Is it still the same now?”
Hyun Jong remained silent. Determination was clear on Gwak Hwanso’s eyes.
“Haenam is still lacking and insufficient. We don’t have the capability to retake Hainan Island, and all we can do is hope that our heartfelt regret reaches those suffering beyond the sea. However…”
Gwak Hwanso took a moment to catch his breath before continuing.
“Now, we have the means. We have people we can save and help with our own strength.”
“Gwak Sohyeop…”
“If we stay here with our backsides glued to our seats when we could be reaching out, wouldn’t that mean we are admitting that we are ultimately too afraid to rescue the people of Hainan?”
Hyun Jong closed his eyes. He knew that Gwak Hwanso’s words would inevitably steer this meeting in a direction no one wanted, yet he couldn’t bring himself to stop it. How could he?
Gwak Hwanso gripped the sword at his waist tightly.
“Unlike Yoon Jong Dojang, I have not yet taken pride in my sword. I have neither achieved anything nor protected anything. I still don’t fully understand the grand reason for wielding this sword. But, there is one thing!”
Gwak Hwanso clenched his teeth faintly.
“I know that we must not show such a disgraceful sight to the late Sect Leader who passed away unjustly.”
“…”
“Haenam will go to rescue Anhui.”
At that moment, someone interrupted.
“No, that’s presumptuous, Gwak Sohyeop. That is not Haenam’s responsibility.”
Gwak Hwanso sighed.
If anyone else had said such things, he would have burst out in anger. But if it was that person speaking, he could understand. In fact, it was impossible to discuss this without mentioning him.
“I will go,”
said Namgung Dowi, his expression grim, spitting out his words.
“If everyone else chooses not to go, I will endure it. Even if I have to stab my own leg, I will endure. But if someone does go, it cannot be without Namgung clan.”
The leaders let out long, trembling breaths. Things they had forcibly suppressed were now erupting and spreading, like a dam breaking in random places and spewing water.
Cheonumaeng is young. Therefore, it sometimes moves with its heart before logic.
And now, this meeting was being led not by Hyun Jong, the Alliance Leader, nor by Tang Gunak, the Vice Leader, but by the young warriors of each sect.
“This is…”
Tang Gunak pressed his temples as if he had a headache.
Then his sharp gaze turned to Yoon Jong, who had been the catalyst for all this. Yoon Jong faced him calmly. It was not a calmness born from being without fault. It was the determination of someone willing to accept any punishment for this matter.
It was… self-assurance.
Tang Gunak started to say something but then stopped. Whether he wanted to reprimand or praise, even he could not tell.
Moreover, as he began to speak, those beside Yoon Jong, as if to protect him, took a step forward.
It was Jo Geol and Tang Soso. It might have been an instinctive movement, but that single step was enough to silence Tang Gunak.
The two stared at Tang Gunak with slightly tense expressions. It was clearly an intention to protect Yoon Jong, but Tang Gunak interpreted it a little differently.
Their eyes seemed to ask him if he had forgotten the anguished feelings when Chengdu was attacked. If he had forgotten the heartache when they had to abandon Chengdu.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten, and he could never forget.
Even if they reclaimed Chengdu and got rid of Jang Ilso, painting the Tang clan’s signboard red with his blood, it would not be enough to wash away all the resentment.
Tang Gunak let out a low sigh.
“How could I not understand your feelings? If I could do as I wished, I would have buried my bones in Sichuan back then. But those who dragged me here at that time…”
He chuckled softly as he spoke.
Thinking about it, it really was unreasonable. Their logic changed at will, and their stance flipped back and forth.
Even so, he could not blame them.
“Vice Sect Leader.”
“Yes, Lord Tang.”
That’s why Tang Gunak called Baek Cheon.
Here, the leaders of the Central Plains and those who would lead in the future were mixed together. There seemed to be no one other than Baek Cheon who could understand both sides and find a way forward.
“What should we do?”
Baek Cheon glanced back.
There was the calm Yoon Jong, the stern-faced Jo Geol and Tang Soso, Yu Iseol whose thoughts were still unreadable, and even Chung Myung had his eyes closed.
Baek Cheon, having looked at everyone, fixed his gaze on Tang Gunak.
“Not sending them is the right choice.”
“Sa-Sasuk!”
Tang Gunak narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge Baek Cheon’s intent.
“Why?”
“Because Nokrim King’s words aren’t wrong – if we lose to them, we’ll lose everything.”
Yoon Jong didn’t immediately counter this – instead, he lightly clenched and loosened his fist. He simply looked at Baek Cheon’s back – the back of someone who had endured much more and harbored an even stronger resolve.
“Then, should we follow that?”
“Sending them is also the right choice.”
“…What?”
Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong’s mouths dropped open. Baek Cheon spoke calmly.
“Losing, sacrificing, those are ultimately kinds of losses. But Cheonumaeng wasn’t created to pursue profit.”
“Listen, Vice Sect Leader!”
“Both are correct. Saying one is right doesn’t make the other wrong.”
Tang Gunak let out a faint groan. Of course, that was true. But such obvious words didn’t solve anything.
“So, what should we do?”
“If two are right, then wouldn’t three also be right?”
“…What did you just say?”
“If three are right, then four would be too.”
Baek Cheon, dressed in his white uniform, smiled broadly.
In that moment, Tang Gunak felt inexplicably overwhelmed by Baek Cheon, despite the absence of any overt force or intimidation.
“If you ask me to choose the right answer between the two, I can’t. Because neither is wrong. But why do we have to limit ourselves to that?”
“Baek Cheon-ah…”
“Everyone is here.”
Baek Cheon looked around at everyone in the meeting room.
“Don’t ask what we should choose. The directive you should have given us is to find the best way. To find a way to save those in pain without losing to our enemies.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
Baek Cheon shook his head.
“I don’t know. But it’s better to spend time finding a better way than wasting it on emotional disputes and confirming differences in stance.”
“…”
“Cheonwumaeng now includes people from various sects. It might be impossible with just my experience and thoughts, but if we put our heads together, it will be different. Even if it’s clumsy and rough, surely we can come up with at least one usable plan.”
Hyun Jong and Tang Gunak stared at Baek Cheon, not just out of shock. It was simply…
“I aim to be not only the leader of Hwasan but also the best swordsman under the heavens, a strict yet compassionate teacher, and someone whom my disciples can always trust and follow.”
“It’s too much, Sasuk.”
“You’ve already messed up a few.”
“Failure.”
“You little…”
Baek Cheon ground his teeth and turned sharply, causing the Five Swords to flinch and quickly pretend to be distracted. Calming himself, he looked ahead and continued speaking.
“Achieving all of that is difficult, but not impossible. It may be hard and arduous, but I will somehow try to make it happen. But why does Cheonumaeng have to choose just one path?”
A helpless laugh escaped from Im Sobyeong.
“Hah… They say the real madman is someone else.”
Five Swords nodded in agreement. Baek Cheon looked directly at Hyun Jong and Tang Gunak and spoke clearly.
“Give the order.”
“…”
“Then we will find a way. No matter what it takes, by squeezing out everything from everyone here. It won’t be perfect, but it will be a worthwhile answer.”
A laugh escaped from Yoon Jong’s lips like a gust of air.
‘Sasuk.’
To him, Baek Cheon’s back seemed larger than anyone else’s in the world at that moment.
“Talk is easy.”
But Tang Gunak coldly dismissed Baek Cheon’s suggestion.
“If it were possible to do both, why would we be troubled? We are struggling because it’s impossible, aren’t we?”
“Lord Tang.”
“The issue arose because of a lack of strength in the first place. It’s not something that can be solved with strategy. We cannot solve two problems at once.”
Baek Cheon exhaled deeply and bit his lips slightly. Then, it happened.
“Then, we just need to increase our forces.”
Tang Gunak’s gaze shifted. Chung Myung, who had been silent, spoke lazily while slouched in his chair.
“If we can’t handle both due to a lack of strength, we just need to increase our strength.”
“…If that were possible, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
“It is possible.”
“What? Possible?”
Tang Gunak was taken aback.
“Yes, it is.”
“How? Have you perhaps called the Beggars Sect?”
Chung Myung grimaced.
“The Beggars Sect? Those beggars aren’t much of a force! We’d be lucky if they don’t waste our food.”
“…”
“There are other people. Those who are lazing around, yet extremely powerful.”
“…What are you talking about…”
“No need to explain. They’ve just arrived.”
Just as Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong were about to ask what he meant, someone burst into the room.
“Retired Sect Le-! No, Alliance Leader! We have visitors!”
“Visitors? What do you mean, visitors?”
The conference room door swung open, revealing a familiar… no, a very familiar face.
“You, you! Why are you here? This is insane!”
Yoon Jong saw it. The proud face of Baek Cheon, which had inspired so much respect just moments ago, now twisted into a comically pained expression.
Of course, it was understandable.
“A mouth is for speaking, not barking. You still haven’t learned that, have you?”
“Urgh…”
The person who had instantly infuriated Baek Cheon to the point of collapse bowed respectfully with a face that looked exactly like Baek Cheon’s.
“Jin Geumryong of Jongnam. I extend my greetings, Alliance Leader.”
It was as if a bomb had been dropped in the middle of Cheonumaeng.
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