Chapter 1621
With our blood and our lives! (1)
Moyong Wigyeong could only watch everyone in a daze.
‘How did it come to this…?’
The atmosphere was different at the start. It seemed it would end with criticizing Chung Myung’s unreasonable proposal and securing their respective shares.
But the situation had completely changed because of Jongli Gok. Now, Moyong Wigyeong found himself in the most awkward position.
If only Zhuge family had sided with him, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. But with Zhuge family joining Hwasan, he was now absurdly at the forefront of the anti-Hwasan faction.
A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat trickled down. Could Moyong family really stand in opposition to Hwasan?
‘No. Not yet. It’s not over yet…’
Moyong Wigyeong subtly glanced at the outer sects. The first to express their rejection of Chung Myung’s proposal were the Beast Palace and the Ice Palace. If he could amplify their voices…
He particularly focused on Seol Sobaek. It seemed unlikely to reason with Maeng So, so it seemed more feasible to align with Seol Sobaek, who was younger and perhaps less rigid in his thinking.
However, whether unaware of Moyong Wigyeong’s desperate gaze or simply uninterested, Seol Sobaek was deep in thought with his head lowered.
After a while, Seol Sobaek raised his head, looking hesitant as he turned to Han Imyeong beside him.
“Um…”
“Do as you wish, my Lord.”
“Huh?”
Before Seol Sobaek could finish his sentence, Han Imyeong replied. Seol Sobaek’s eyes widened in surprise, and Han Imyeong smiled gently.
“The Palace Lord holds the lives of all the members of the Ice Palace in his hands, and you are none other than the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“…”
“I know. The reason you rejected Chung Myung Dojang’s proposal was out of consideration for my dignity.”
“Elder…”
Han Imyeong smiled again.
In truth, Seol Sobaek had no particular reason to reject Chung Myung’s proposal. He had nothing to lose.
Outwardly, Seol Sobaek was the Lord, but the one who effectively commanded and managed the members of the Ice Palace was Han Imyeong.
In such a situation, it wasn’t easy for Seol Sobaek to strip Han Imyeong of his command and hand it over to Hwasan.
“You are a very kind person, Palace Lord. However… sometimes that kindness goes too far, and you try to read others’ minds without asking. If you had discussed it with me even in passing, I would have supported your decision without hesitation, whatever it was.”
Various emotions flickered across Seol Sobaek’s face.
“Are you feeling conflicted?”
“…A little.”
“Then don’t force yourself to find a reason. Just listen to your heart. Sometimes, that leads you in the right direction.”
Seol Sobaek closed his eyes as if contemplating something. Watching him, Han Imyeong discreetly let out a bitter smile.
If you look at it closely, Seol Sobaek owes nothing to the Ice Palace. On the contrary, the Northerners, under the order of the former Palace Lord, pursued and tried to eliminate him. They have never given him anything. Ironically, it were the Five Swords of Hwasan who helped and guided Seol Sobaek. Seol Sobaek probably feels closer to those five than to the Northerners.
Seol Sobaek always worried because of the friendship he built with them. He feared that his personal feelings might lead him to make decisions unfit for a Palace Lord, causing suffering to the Northerners.
Han Imyeong, watching from the side, could not easily offer advice. He was, after all, just someone who assisted the Palace Lord. In the end, the most crucial and final decision had to be made by Seol Sobaek alone. Whether young in age or lacking in experience, it is the destiny of those who ascend to the position of a Palace Lord.
Seol Sobaek, who had finished his contemplation without any urging, opened his eyes. He looked straight at Hyun Jong and Chung Myung.
“I have one question.”
“Please, ask, Palace Lord.”
“Can you guarantee that Cheonumaeng… no, Hwasan will ensure that outer palaces joining the alliance will not be discriminated against?”
“Palace Lord, that’s only natural…”
“No. We can’t.”
Hyun Jong’s affirmative answer and Chung Myung’s negative answer came out simultaneously. Naturally, all eyes turned to Chung Myung.
“…Can’t you?”
“Yes.”
Chung Myung looked straight at Seol Sobaek.
The current Seol Sobaek is no longer the child of the Northern Sea that Chung Myung knew. He now sits here as a mature young man and the lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Thus, he should be treated with the respect befitting his position.
“We will make an effort. We will do our utmost to the best of our ability. But there is no way to instantly change the long-standing perceptions of people from their roots. If such perceptions could be changed with a single command from above or a few harsh words, there would be no reason to struggle like this.”
Seol Sobaek said nothing and waited for him to continue.
“However, despite that, we will make an effort. We will strive to ensure that the foolish acts of the past are not repeated. Someday, we will look at each other without such prejudices. And it is clear that we are not the only ones who need to make an effort for this.”
This meant that the Ice Palace also had to take a step forward. If they remained coiled up in the cold, isolated land of the Northern Sea, the perception of them would never change.
Seol Sobaek also looked directly at Chung Myung and asked.
“Do you think, as you said, that the barriers can be broken down?”
Chung Myung nodded firmly.
“It may not be perfect, but it will be a better relationship than it is now.”
“…”
“If we don’t start, nothing will change.”
Seol Sobaek, with a face that revealed no thoughts, neither agreed nor disagreed. He just stared at Chung Myung for a long time.
Finally, he spoke.
“We, the Northern Sea Ice Palace, will set aside our previous stance and join forces with Hwasan.”
A small smile appeared on Han Imyeong’s lips.
“As the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, I hereby transfer all the authority of the Ice Palace to the alliance until this war is over. This will be communicated to all the palace members and will not be changed by any authority.”
Just as Chung Myung was about to nod slowly, Seol Sobaek added.
“However, Dojang, I ask for one promise. Prove that your words were not just sweet talk for the people of the Central Plains, and that all of this was indeed to reduce sacrifices.”
Seol Sobaek’s eyes were now unwavering. Chung Myung answered softly but more clearly than ever.
“I will.”
Only then did Seol Sobaek nod.
‘Well done, Palace Lord.’
Han Imyeong silently praised him, smiling gently. After a long time, it finally felt as if Seol Sobaek had become the true Lord and ruler of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Letting go is something only those who possess can do.
It was now that he cast aside the excuse of immaturity and was ready to take responsibility for his choices.
“Then, Palace Lord of the Beast Palace.”
“…”
“Don’t you think your answer should change?”
At Seol Sobaek’s bold words, Maeng So sighed, showing a hint of frustration.
“Hwasan and all… Why are young people these days so different from the old times?”
“…I agree with that.”
“Same here.”
Hyun Jong, Tang Gunak, and even the other leaders also sighed deeply.
It wasn’t about debating right and wrong.
It was a scene where Chung Myung turned the bomb thrown by Baek Cheon into a torrent, sweeping everything away. And Seol Sobaek was fanning the flames. Could anyone have imagined such a scene in the past?
Maeng So’s complaints and small laughter slightly eased the tense atmosphere inside. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice that commanded everyone’s attention.
“During the past war against Demonic Cult, Geomjon of Hwasan and Amjon of the Tang clan blocked Demonic Cult’s army from advancing to Yunnan.”
A few eyes widened slightly. While this was a well-known fact within Cheonumaeng, it was an untold story outside of it, unknown to many.
“Back then, the relationship between the Central Plains and the outer regions was worse than it is now. They regarded each other as enemies and even rejoiced in each other’s downfall.”
There was no hint of a smile on Maeng So’s fierce face.
“In such a situation, the fact that Demonic Cult targeted the Beast Palace might have been seen as good news to the people of the Central Plains. But Geomjon and Amjon risked their lives to block them. If it weren’t for them, neither I nor the Beast Palace would be here today.”
Various emotions passed over everyone’s faces.
“It is because of the grace received at that time that I stand here now. What dissolved the antagonistic relationship was not a torrent of words but the actions of those two, risking their lives. The single act of Geomjon and Amjon nearly a century ago changed the world as it is today.”
Maeng So smiled slightly as he spoke.
“Of course, I am not Geomjon. I am neither capable of nor destined to do such great deeds.”
His gaze landed on Chung Myung and stopped.
“But even in today’s world, there are people who say things like, ‘Borders mean nothing; what’s important are people.’ I can guess that Geomjon of the past stood before Demonic Cult with the same thought.”
Chung Myung unconsciously clenched his fist under the table. Maeng So continued.
“I too rejected the alliance’s proposal. I still believe the world has not changed that much. However…”
This time, Maeng So’s gaze shifted from Chung Myung to Hyun Jong and then to Tang Gunak.
“If now is the time for the Beast Palace to repay the debt we owe to Hwasan and Sichuan Tang Clan, and if today’s Hwasan and Tang clan share the same spirit as Geomjon and Amjon of the past, the Beast Palace will stand with the two sects. Not to break down barriers, but to prove that we, too, can sacrifice ourselves.”
Maeng So’s calm yet resonant voice echoed through the conference room.
“What do you think?”
As Maeng So’s question returned to him, Tang Gunak cleared his throat lightly.
“In truth… it’s difficult for us today to know what our ancestors thought when they stood against Demonic Cult. But…”
Tang Gunak took out eleven daggers from his sleeve and laid them down.
“I do know the spirit in which they fought. To protect. To be willing to risk one’s life to save even one more person.”
Tang Gunak lightly stroked the polished handles of the daggers before looking up.
“If you ask whether that spirit still resides in the Tang clan, I would undoubtedly say yes.”
Now only Hyun Jong’s answer remained. As both Maeng So and Tang Gunak looked at him, Hyun Jong let out a faint hum before speaking.
“Can we, today, even attempt to emulate the high righteousness of our ancestors? We simply strive to live lives that would not bring shame to them. That spirit still resides in Hwasan. And it always will.”
It was indeed a very Hyun Jong-like answer. Maeng So turned to Chung Myung and subtly asked the question he was most eager to pose.
“And what about you? Can you become like them?”
Chung Myung was momentarily stunned, then let out a small laugh. Maeng So might have asked seriously, but from Chung Myung’s perspective, it was quite an amusing question.
The answer was clear.
“I’m not doing all this just to become like them.”
“…Then?”
“I need to surpass them.”
Chung Myung’s nose twitched slightly, as if he were revealing the aggression and ferocity of a beast.
“Being just like them isn’t enough. I need to do much better than they did. Otherwise, how could I face those who lived in the past?”
Maeng So laughed, his large body shaking.
“This is why I can’t help but admire you, General!”
The past and present are connected. They are the same but different, different but not truly so. The fierce energy of a beast that radiated from Chung Myung’s face was reflected in Maeng So’s as well.
“The Beast Palace will prove it. The spirit of Maehwa Geomjon of Hwasan and Amjon of the Tang clan does not reside solely in Hwasan and the Tang clan. That spirit is alive in our Beast Palace as well. With our blood and our lives!”
It was a declaration that made the blood boil with fervor.
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