Chapter 1635
Before everything disappears. (5)
Late at night, four people sat together.
Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, Jo Geol, and Hye Yeon.
They could understand each other with just a glance. But now, there was a strange unease on their faces.
“How was it?”
“…Are you really asking?”
At Baek Cheon’s question, Jo Geol let out a deep sigh.
“I have no idea what’s going on. My legs were shaking, and I could barely stand.”
“What’s with you, saying things like that?”
“Aren’t I human too? Do you see me as someone who walks around with my heart on my sleeve?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Jo Geol’s face contorted. But without the energy to argue, he slumped into his chair.
Just a while ago, they had faced the division members they were to lead in the future.
There were easily several hundred people. Who else would have the experience of being stared at with suspicion and doubt by so many?
“So…”
Yoon Jong, who was usually composed, had a slight tremble in his voice this time.
“We are responsible for the lives of all those people.”
“…”
Those words placed a heavy burden on everyone’s hearts.
Hundreds of lives. Are these people here really ready to bear that burden?
“Ah, that crazy guy. Seriously!”
Jo Geol grabs his head as if he’s about to tear it off.
“Why would he order me to do something like this!”
“…It’s not because we are extraordinary, but because we work together the best.”
“That’s the problem! What’s so great about working well with that guy? And why is he judging that on his own? Sasuk, have you ever felt you work well with that guy?”
“Of course… huh?”
Baek Cheon’s head twisted with a creak as he answered.
Work well together? With Chung Myung?
Huh?
“See! We constantly fight among ourselves because our opinions don’t match, and you’re talking about teamwork? Teamwork!”
“…You make a valid point.”
“Amitabha… It’s hard to deny.”
A collective sigh flowed from everyone’s lips.
“It felt like my stomach was twisting just leading a mere ten people.”
“Did you feel that way too?”
“Are you kidding me? I’d rather fight holding ten swords. If I take my eyes off them for a moment, someone might get hurt. What if I give a wrong order and someone dies? The bloodshot eyes from that time still haven’t faded.”
“Isn’t that because you couldn’t sleep?”
“Huh?”
Jo Geol tilted his head as if puzzled, and Yoon Jong shook his head. Normally, Yoon Jong would have scolded Jo Geol for his whining, but now he felt rather grateful for his presence. Without Jo Geol, he wouldn’t be able to share these thoughts so comfortably.
Jo Geol glanced at Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon before speaking cautiously.
“It’s just my thought… but maybe… hmm, shouldn’t we ask for a bit of a role adjustment?”
“Adjustment?”
“What we need to do… our responsibilities, I mean. Isn’t it a bit excessive? Maybe we could reduce some of the vice-leader’s duties and increase the division leader’s duties a little…”
Jo Geol quickly shut his mouth, bracing for the rebuke that would surely follow. But contrary to his expectations, no shout came.
‘Huh?’
Not only that, but Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong seemed to be pondering something even more seriously than he was.
“…You’re not angry?”
“Why would I be angry?”
“Well… for questioning a decided matter, or for seeming thoughtless, or lacking in spirit…”
“So you do understand.”
“…”
Yoon Jong gave Jo Geol a slightly reproachful look before turning his gaze to Baek Cheon.
“But it’s not an unreasonable suggestion, Sasuk.”
“Hmm.”
“Everything happened so swiftly and smoothly that we ended up here, but weren’t our opinions completely ignored in this matter?”
Baek Cheon nodded slightly, then looked at Yoon Jong with a somewhat somber gaze.
“If we could have expressed our opinions, wouldn’t we have done so?”
“I can’t give a definite answer. But at least we would have deliberated.”
“Why is that?”
“Because we’re too inexperienced and lack seniority.”
“…”
As Baek Cheon began to ponder, Jo Geol muttered under his breath.
“That guy expects too much from us in the first place. He keeps piling on new burdens before we even get used to the old ones.”
Jo Geol’s grumbling continued to spill out.
“Is it even reasonable for novices like us to command so many people? I don’t understand why the sect leaders and elders aren’t more opposed to this.”
“Amitabha… It’s because opposing wouldn’t make a difference.”
“Why not?”
“Haven’t we been through this countless times?”
“…”
That’s true.
Frankly, it’s not like the elders didn’t have complaints about what Chung Myung was doing. They just kept silent because there was no point in arguing, and it would only lead to more nagging. So they closed their eyes and let him do whatever he wanted, thinking, ‘Just do as you please, you damn brat.’
Looking back, most of the things Hwasan had done started that way. But this time, the matter was honestly too big.
“We should be given tasks we can handle! The only thing we’ve done is command about ten people our age or younger. How are we suddenly supposed to give orders to the elders of other sects?”
Hye Yeon nodded vigorously, as if he had never imagined such a thing.
It was fortunate that Shaolin was not involved in this matter. If Shaolin had participated and Hye Yeon had to give orders to Shaolin’s elders, he would have chosen to confine himself to the meditation hall instead.
“And even if we gave orders, would they listen? From the start, the way they look at us isn’t kind.”
“…”
At those words, Baek Cheon recalled the eyes of the division members who had been looking at him. Those uneasy gazes clearly contained a strange mix of jealousy and anger.
It would be the same for them.
All of this was decided through discussions at the top. Just as they had to take on their roles, those people were suddenly put in a position to receive orders from youngsters.
Who could accept that without discomfort?
“Sasuk.”
“Hmm…”
Yoon Jong looked at Baek Cheon with a stern face.
“I’m not saying we should undo everything that has been done so far. We know we don’t have the time for that. But at the very least, we need some safety measures, or at least a rough plan. If nothing else, we need a way for our voices to be heard.”
“…”
“Honestly, it feels like we’re drifting in the middle of the ocean. We have no idea where to look or how to proceed.”
At those words, Hye Yeon and Jo Geol nodded in agreement. Up until now, they had been in the position of receiving orders. So all they had to do was agree or oppose those orders.
But now, it’s different. They have no idea what to do next. That’s why their anxiety keeps rising.
“Sasuk?”
At Jo Geol’s prompting, Baek Cheon lifted his slightly bowed head. At that moment, everyone could see the strange smile that appeared on Baek Cheon’s lips.
“I find this quite interesting.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, so suddenly?”
“A young age, lack of experience, unproven skills.”
“…”
“Suspicious and annoyed looks from all sides. And yet, we must lead them and overcome the situation somehow.”
“What are you saying…”
“Doesn’t it sound familiar?”
Jo Geol and Hye Yeon looked puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind his words, but Yoon Jong let out an exclamation.
“Ha!”
“It is indeed similar…”
“Sahyeong. What is similar?”
“Chung Myung.”
“…What?”
“Chung Myung’s situation when he first joined Hwasan is similar to ours now.”
“Ah…”
Jo Geol nodded reflexively. Indeed, thinking of it that way, there were parallels.
In fact, Chung Myung might have been in a more desperate situation than they are now. They at least have a bit of reputation, but he was nothing more than a penniless beggar back then.
Even in such a situation, he managed to unite the sect and persuade the elders with just his abilities, creating Hwasan they know today.
“…He must have felt overwhelmed.”
“Exactly.”
Yoon Jong and Jo Geol muttered unconsciously. From an outside perspective, Chung Myung had seemed like a wild, incomprehensible beast. But now that they found themselves in a similar position, they understood why he had to fight so desperately.
If he hadn’t, nothing would have changed.
“Experience and wisdom. They’re nice words. But if he had waited until he had enough experience and wisdom to handle everything, what would have become of Hwasan?”
“Well…”
It would have probably fallen long ago.
No matter how capable Chung Myung was, he wouldn’t have been able to handle the many challenges that came later on his own.
“Would waiting have gained him wisdom?”
“…”
Everyone fell silent and looked at Baek Cheon.
“Would experience accumulate with time?”
“…Sasuk.”
“If ten years passed without any incidents, would I be much wiser and more mature than I am now?”
Baek Cheon slowly shook his head.
“I don’t think so.”
“Baek Cheon Dojang. That’s…”
“It’s true that it’s difficult. But it’s not impossible. Haven’t we already seen someone who accomplished it with our own eyes?”
“…”
“Is it really too much for him to expect us to do what he did?”
A sigh escaped from Yoon Jong’s lips.
It wasn’t an unreasonable expectation. But it was also an excessive one because they were not Chung Myung and could never become him.
However…
“We might fail.”
Baek Cheon looked at everyone with confident eyes.
“But before we say that, shouldn’t we at least struggle as much as he did back then? We can only talk about our lack of ability after we’ve shown that much desperation. No matter how hopeless our situation seems now, it can’t be more despairing than what he faced when he was cast alone into the vast sea called crumbling Hwasan. And above all else…”
Baek Cheon’s voice softened slightly, but the calm tone only made his words resonate more deeply.
“I want to be his strength.”
“…”
Baek Cheon smiled warmly.
“If there’s only one ship in the vast sea, it would feel lonely. But if there are five ships, it would feel a bit more reassuring. Isn’t he drifting in a rougher sea than we are? So, at the very least, we should have the loyalty to face the waves together with him, no matter how rough they may be.”
A calm, soothing voice.
It was a personal wish, devoid of logic or justification. Yet, this personal wish shook their minds more than any words they had heard so far.
“Ugh…”
Jo Geol scratched his head vigorously.
“Fine, let’s give it a shot at least.”
“We don’t have any immediate solutions anyway.”
“Amitabha. I’m sick of the sea, but if it were the Buddha, he would have jumped in without hesitation.”
Baek Cheon smiled warmly at them.
“Thank you.”
“…Although the methods are different, Sasuk, you seem to be becoming more like Chung Myung as time goes on.”
“No, the methods aren’t that different. The only difference is that he doesn’t hit people.”
“Amitabha. I agree.”
Baek Cheon chuckled.
“Let’s also convey this intention to Young Lord Namgung when he arrives. And… it would be best to assign Yu Iseol to assist him. That should make things go more smoothly…”
Baek Cheon immediately began discussing the subsequent strategies. Those present listened to his words with serious eyes.
He was leading them.
Even without being pushed, Baek Cheon had naturally started to take the others by the hand and lead them.
To Yoon Jong, that sight was dazzlingly brilliant.
But…
‘Sasuk.’
A brief sadness lingered in Yoon Jong’s eyes.
‘It’s not that I don’t trust you ten years from now; it’s that I can’t even think about ten years from now.’
Still, it couldn’t be stopped.
No one could extinguish a candle burning brightly before it went out. Not even Yoon Jong.
Unable to continue watching Baek Cheon any longer, Yoon Jong closed his eyes, hiding his trembling fingertips within his sleeves.
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