Chapter 1615
So we have no choice but to tear them down. (5)
The two men sat facing each other across a small tea table in the center of the modest room.
“A guest has arrived, but I have nothing to offer other than tea. Since I didn’t invite you, don’t criticize me for being stingy.”
“Of course not.”
The tea slowly poured into Chung Myung’s cup. He watched quietly and lifted the cup as soon as it was filled.
“Tea from the Sect Leader of Jongnam can’t be compared to any delicacies of the world.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
The cup in Chung Myung’s hand grew hotter and the tea began to emit steam.
“You seem to enjoy hot tea.”
“Yes, I can’t stand lukewarm things.”
Jongli Gok smiled faintly.
“Preferring something definite over something vague is a privilege of the young. However… if you enjoy tea that way, you miss out on both its aroma and taste.”
“I’ve heard that many times. So, I tried hard to enjoy tea properly. But…”
Chung Myung paused and then drank the nearly boiling tea in one gulp.
Thud.
He placed the empty cup back on the table with a twisted smile.
“You can’t change your nature.”
“That’s… truly unfortunate.”
Jongli Gok chuckled softly and refilled Chung Myung’s empty cup. Then he asked leisurely,
“So, what is this about?”
“There’s something we need to discuss.”
“We do?”
“Yes.”
Jongli Gok placed the teapot down and leaned back in his chair. However, it was only the posture that was different, his gaze remained sharply fixed on Chung Myung.
“You and I don’t seem to be in a position to have a conversation.”
“Is that what you think?”
“I know you are the General of Cheonumaeng. But Jongnam is not part of Cheonumaeng. So, what could you possibly…”
Chung Myung firmly interrupted him.
“No. I’m not here as the General of Cheonumaeng.”
“Then?”
Chung Myung’s gaze was briefly sharp and cold as he locked eyes with Jongli Gok.
“I’m here as a disciple of Hwasan. Simply as a member of Hwasan.”
A small silence fell in the room. Jongli Gok’s eyes briefly flashed with something, but it was only a fleeting moment. Maintaining his expressionless demeanor, he calmly replied.
“In that case… we have even less reason to talk, don’t we?”
“Do you really think so?”
Jongli Gok crossed his arms after a moment of silence.
“Your words and actions are contradictory. You claim to like certainty, yet you’ve been asking questions non-stop.”
“Do you find me insincere?”
“I won’t deny it.”
Chung Myung chuckled.
“Please understand. It’s just that… I came because it was necessary and something I had to do, but seeing your face…”
Grinding his teeth, the sound was audible. His actions were honest, even in front of Jongli Gok.
“…makes me want to cut off your head. I’m suppressing that urge right now.”
His killing intent was as raw and blatant as that of a wild beast. Jongli Gok smiled slightly as he faced it. This was not something one could say to the Sect Leader of Jongnam. Even if he was the General of Cheonumaeng and the famous Hwasan Geomhyeop of Hwasan.
If Jongli Gok chose to make an issue of it, he could potentially dismantle Cheonumaeng. It was an unthinkable remark.
Knowing this, Jongli Gok chose a different path.
“Still, it’s a relief.”
“What is?”
“Sometimes I wondered if I lacked dignity. I even questioned whether I deserved to be part of the Just Sects.”
A faint killing intent also flickered in Jongli Gok’s eyes as he looked at Chung Myung.
“How many times do you think I’ve wished that you, Hwasan Geomhyeop Chung Myung, simply didn’t exist?”
Jongli Gok’s hand, resting on the table, slowly clenched. The tightly gripped hand seemed to reveal his inner thoughts.
“If only you weren’t here. Yes… if only you disappeared. If you fought and died somewhere out there. Or at the very least…”
Joni Gok trailed off. It seemed he couldn’t bring himself to utter the final words. Chung Myung, who had been listening silently, spoke up in his stead.
“If even I were to cut off that head? Bearing all the shame and dishonor?”
Jongli Gok neither affirmed nor denied. But Chung Myung couldn’t be unaware of the meaning behind that silence. Jongli Gok, staring directly at Chung Myung, said.
“No matter how much I try to abandon it, it doesn’t get away. Even in this moment with you in front of me.”
There was no warmth in their gazes as they faced each other. A silence that felt a bit too long and an exchange of looks ensued. It was Jongli Gok who first turned his head.
“Why have you come?”
The murderous intent that had been seething just moments ago had been completely subdued, leaving only a coldness feigning indifference. Their eyes met calmly, and Chung Myung hesitated for a moment before speaking as if spitting out the words.
“I need… Jongnam.”
Jongli Gok’s eyes darkened briefly. As if trying to grasp the meaning of Chung Myung’s words, or perhaps searching for the hidden truth within them.
Then, he slowly shook his head.
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of nitpicking at the events of Hwasan now. If I don’t appear cooperative, it’s not because I have ulterior motives, but because pretending to be more amicable would be hypocritical.”
“…”
“To conclude, you don’t need to bother trying to win me over. At the very least, Jongnam intends to fulfill what we must do.”
Chung Myung’s voice flowed out coldly.
“No, we need more than that.”
“…More than that?”
“Full cooperation.”
Jongli Gok’s expression hardened at the unexpected words.
“No, perhaps even more than that.”
His gaze turned icy again.
“…Are you asking for submission?”
“It would be ideal if that were possible. But the idea of Jongnam submitting to Hwasan is something even I cannot envision.”
“…”
“But we can stand together. Putting down the swords pointed at each other.”
Jongli Gok, who had been staring blankly for a moment, laughed quietly. There were many emotions in that laugh: absurdity, surprise, mockery, and reproach.
“If you speak so frankly, then I’ll answer you honestly as well.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think Paegun was wrong. In fact, I believe he struck a very painful spot.”
Jongli Gok continued calmly.
“What you said was impressive. To tear down the barriers and suppress those pursuing selfish desires. But… that’s laughable. Who created those barriers? It was none other than us.”
Chung Myung did not answer.
“People want to create boundaries. They want to separate themselves from others, to divide ‘us’ and ‘them.’ It’s instinctual. Even if you forcefully break down those boundaries, new ones will simply take their place.”
Jongli Gok took a sip of tea to moisten his throat before continuing.
“The same goes for us. As long as two sects exist under the region of Shaanxi, we can never truly be ‘together.’ Not until one completely triumphs over the other.”
A cold, ruthless smirk played on Chung Myung’s lips.
“So you stole the secret martial arts manuals of a sect under enemy attack and allowed them to fall into ruin?”
“….”
“To achieve complete victory?”
Chung Myung realized anew as he walked to this place that he had never once questioned Jongnam about this matter.
He had neither condemned nor forgiven them. They were the same. They had never been condemned, nor had they sought forgiveness. They simply acted as if such events had never occurred, turning their eyes away and pretending nothing was wrong.
Burying something ultimately means hiding it. It is not a solution.
Jongli Gok, who had been silently gazing at the ceiling, looked straight ahead again. His expression, devoid of emotion, made it hard to guess what he was thinking.
“Are you expecting atonement? If that’s what you’re thinking, forget it. I have no intention of atoning.”
Chung Myung laughed softly.
Does he know? Does he understand Chung Myung’s current state of mind, or what he is enduring as he sits here?
“Still, you don’t deny it.”
“Spouting obvious lies would only make Jongnam look foolish.”
Jongli Gok closed his eyes slightly.
“But… that’s all. I won’t say that choice was wrong. If you came here to hear that from me, you might as well leave. I have nothing to say.”
Chung Myung, staring intently at him, asked,
“Is it so hard to admit it was wrong?”
“…”
“To say it was a mistake, something that should never have been done, and to apologize to the disciples of Hwasan who died because of it. Is saying that one sentence so difficult?”
Chung Myung’s voice, which had not carried much emotion, began to simmer. Or perhaps it was sinking. His voice, low and threatening, continued to flow.
“Say it.”
“…”
“We had to pay with our lives. We lost everything. But you, even if you admit it, you lose nothing. All you have to do is lower that proud head of yours once.”
“Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“Answer me. Why is it such a hard and painful thing to do?”
Chung Myung bit his lip. His face somehow resembled that of someone holding back tears.
“Among those Hwasan protected… were your people too.”
Under the tea table, Jongli Gok’s hand was trembling so slightly that it could only be noticed if observed very closely.
“I have never expected any reward. But at least I didn’t think we’d be betrayed. Humans don’t do that. At least, not those who wear the guise of humans.”
Jongli Gok, who had been listening silently with his eyes closed, let out a long sigh. That sigh soon stood before Chung Myung like a suit of armor.
“So, because we’ve committed a sin, Hwasan wants us to follow their orders without complaint this time? And then you’ll let it go as if it never happened?”
“I…”
“I refuse.”
Chung Myung’s face hardened slightly. Jongli Gok remained resolute.
“If that’s the deal, I have no intention of accepting it. Jongnam has never wronged Hwasan. All those actions were unavoidable choices. Therefore, there’s nothing to atone for or reflect upon. No matter what is said, the outcome won’t change.”
Jongli Gok shook his head slowly, looking somewhat weary.
“If we’re going to talk about the past, then we might as well stop here. I have nothing more to say. That’s my stance as the Sect Leader of Jongnam. Of course, if you wish to condemn me for this, I won’t stop you. Do as you wish.”
Chung Myung remained silent. Only his glaring eyes bore into Jongli Gok.
He had tried to understand.
The inferiority Jongnam felt towards Hwasan. The thirst for stronger martial arts. And even the choices they had to make in a situation they couldn’t handle on their own.
But no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t understand. And Chung Myung realized that perhaps he would never understand or forgive them.
“You need to speak correctly.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It’s not that you don’t want to admit it, but that you can’t. Because it’s not within your authority in the first place.”
Jongli Gok’s eyes sank as he stared at Chung Myung. He hid all the unbearable weight, the severe conflicts that were hard to handle, and the resulting danger.
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