Chapter 1646
So, are you enjoying this? (5)
“Sit down.”
Despite hearing Chung Mun’s words, Chung Myung remained standing. Chung Mun glanced at him briefly. His posture, arms crossed and staring in this direction, clearly showed his dissatisfaction.
Chung Mun sighed quietly and asked.
“What’s the matter?”
“Why are you even mixing words with those guys? It’s obvious they aren’t even human.”
Chung Myung gritted his teeth slightly. Chung Mun finally let out a blatant sigh.
“Be careful with your words. Night words are heard by the birds, and day words by…”
“Let them hear.”
“…”
“No, it seems like they won’t hear at this volume. Should I speak louder? So the whole world can hear?”
Chung Mun groaned as if in frustration.
“Alright, alright, just sit down.”
“Sect Leader Sahyeong!”
“Sit down.”
Chung Mun repeated again, and although Chung Myung grumbled, he pulled out a chair and sat down. He deliberately chose a new chair, not one that the other sect leaders had used, as if he disliked even the idea of touching where they had sat.
Chung Mun continued to watch Chung Myung with a steady gaze.
To be able to live so freely even at his age – perhaps that’s a remarkable skill in itself. Usually, one would be gradually worn down by the world’s trials…
No, that’s not quite right. Upon reflection, this too could be seen as having been tempered and rounded over time. The young Chung Myung would have stormed in and struck the sect leaders on the head with a wooden sword without hesitation.
That sight was somewhat…
“What are you thinking about?”
“Ahem!”
Chung Mun’s face reddened momentarily as he cleared his throat loudly. No matter how much frustration he felt, such thoughts were unbecoming of a Taoist.
After regaining his composure, Chung Mun called Chung Myung with a stern face.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“…”
“Chung Myung.”
“……Yes.”
Chung Myung scowled as if already fed up with the impending nagging.
“Do not act so rude towards the sect leaders.”
“…”
“Of course… I am aware of the situation myself.”
“Aware of what?”
“That you intentionally act intimidating towards them and it’s actually a consideration to use your presence as a shield to make my job a bit easier. In that respect, I always…”
Chung Mun stopped speaking. Chung Myung, who had been listening, showed a puzzled expression as if to say, ‘Me? Did I do that?’ before subtly averting his gaze.
“…I appreciate it.”
“Uh… Yes, well. Just knowing is enough.”
“…Alright.”
Chung Mun shook his head.
Whether Chung Myung did this intentionally or not isn’t of great importance. What matters is that Chung Myung’s presence has at least provided Chung Mun some relief.
Without Chung Myung, Chung Mun would have been facing a struggle at least three times more difficult. It’s fortunate that the others are at least willing to compromise at suitable points because they are mindful of Chung Myung.
At that moment, Chung Myung asked in a stern voice.
“So what are you going to do now?”
“…Hmm?”
“You said you would secure support, but instead, you’ve only earned mockery. Will you just continue to clean up after these scumbags?”
Chung Mun let out a bitter smile.
“Scumbags? They are the leaders of the sects representing Gangho. To speak of them…”
“Enough. If this continues, only Hwasan will keep suffering. The wounds on our brats’ bodies will never heal!”
Chung Mun fell silent at those words.
“I’m saying we should step back.”
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“Those damn bastards have never properly fought Demonic Cult. If we just inform them that we’re pulling back for maintenance and withdraw from the front lines, they’ll end up begging us in tears later. How can someone as smart as you not see something so simple?”
Chung Mun sighed instead of responding. Chung Myung’s voice grew louder.
“We’re doing all the work, so why should we watch those damn bastards act all high and mighty? At this rate…”
“Chung Myung.”
Chung Mun’s voice came out firm. Chung Myung, who had been complaining with an irritated expression, clamped his mouth shut.
“Do you think I don’t want to do that? Do you think I don’t feel the same outrage at their behavior?”
“…”
“Like you said, I too want to show them what we’re made of. But who will take responsibility for the suffering of the innocent people if we retreat?”
“Innocent people, innocent people! Damn those innocent people!”
“Chung Myung!”
“Damn it! Why is that our responsibility? It’s their responsibility! We’re the ones doing all the fighting while they just stand and watch! Oh, are we to be blamed because we couldn’t fight better?”
Chung Mun’s gaze on Chung Myung was filled with pity.
He couldn’t suppress the anger rising within him, breathing heavily, as if he was about to run to the retreating sect leaders and scream at them.
But Chung Mun knew that Chung Myung’s reaction wasn’t simply because he couldn’t control his anger.
“…Does it hurt your heart to see the disciples getting hurt and injured?”
Chung Myung bit his lip hard.
“It’s not that…….”
A bitter voice escaped from Chung Mun’s lips.
“I feel the same way, I do… If we’re talking about heartache, I’m no less than you.”
“…And yet!”
“But, Chung Myung. If we abandon our responsibilities to vent our anger, there will be those who have to lose their families, and their pain will be even greater.”
Chung Myung couldn’t say anything and stared intently at Chung Mun. He could read the sorrow on the face he had known all his life. Chung Myung sighed with an annoyed expression.
“Can you understand?”
“Damn understanding.”
Chung Myung kept muttering curses. However, he didn’t try to oppose Chung Mun any further.
“This is our responsibility as those who have learned martial arts.”
“Are we the only ones who have learned martial arts? What about those bastards? Are they scholars or something?”
“They too will have to play their part soon.”
“This is driving me crazy, really.”
Unable to contain his frustration, Chung Myung rubbed his face roughly with both hands.
“No, Sect Leader Sahyeong! Do you trust those bastards? Even after seeing what they’ve done so far, you still trust them?”
“Trust…….”
Chung Mun repeated the word as if muttering to himself, then sighed and hardened his expression.
“Demonic Cult is strong.”
“…”
“You, who are directly confronting them, would know this best. But what’s more important is that Demonic Cult hasn’t yet deployed all their forces onto the battlefield.”
At those words, Chung Myung nodded.
“If Demonic Cult starts to move in earnest, we alone won’t be able to stop them. All the forces of the Central Plains will need to be mobilized to stand a chance.”
“…That’s right.”
“But what will happen if we are divided before that? We will lose even before we get a proper chance to fight. Everything will be over.”
“…”
“They too must be aware of this fact. Eventually, there will come a time when they have no choice but to act. I just hope that before that time comes, our emotional rift with them doesn’t deepen.”
A sigh escaped from Chung Myung’s lips.
“You’re right. Everything you say is right, Sect Leader Sahyeong.”
“…”
“If only we didn’t have to bear all the responsibility of maintaining that damned relationship and ensuring the safety of the innocent people, then everything you say would be entirely correct. Absolutely.”
“It won’t be for long.”
Chung Mun shook his head.
“Their movements are suspicious. I don’t know what they’re aiming for, but soon they will be preparing a full-scale attack. When that time comes, we won’t even be able to think about what happens after the war.”
“…”
“So just hold on a little longer.”
Chung Myung, who had been staring silently at Chung Mun, suddenly began to scratch his head furiously.
“I might as well just die! Just answer me. Do you really trust those bastards?”
Chung Mun nodded.
“Yes. I trust them.”
“No, Sect Leader Sahyeong!”
“I don’t believe they will fight for us. I don’t believe they will act out of compassion.”
“…”
“But I believe that they do not wish for destruction either. I believe they do not want to lose. Therefore, when the time comes when they can no longer retreat, I believe they will fight with all their might. I just….”
A resolute determination was evident on Chung Mun’s face.
“I’m just waiting for that time.”
A heavy silence descended between them. Chung Myung stared at Chung Mun for a while, then narrowed his eyes and asked.
“What if those bastards keep acting like this until the very end?”
“…”
“What if those damned bastards keep looking out for themselves, and cowardly retreating out of fear? What if they turn out to be even more pathetic and worthless than you think? Will you regret it then, realizing you were wrong?”
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure? Considering what they’ve done so far!”
“I will make it so.”
Chung Myung was momentarily speechless at the unexpectedly resolute voice.
After a brief pause, a gentle smile appeared on Chung Mun’s face.
“So let’s hold on a little longer, Chung Myung-ah.”
“…”
“If you can’t trust them, then trust me. I don’t believe that only noble people can uphold their duty. Even selfish and pathetic people can do so, which is why it’s Tao.”
A heavy sigh escaped Chung Myung’s lips.
“You talk a good game, really.”
He grabbed the sword he had placed on the table and stood up abruptly.
“I don’t know about all the complicated stuff, but basically, I just need to keep fighting like I have been, right?”
“…”
“I’ll hold out as long as I can. But Sect Leader Sahyeong, you should know that even I can’t hold out forever.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Anyway, your words… Ugh.”
Chung Myung, as if he didn’t want to argue any further, shook his head and headed for the door.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t hate them too much.”
Chung Mun spoke in a bitter voice to Chung Myung, who turned back with a hardened face.
“They’re only trying to protect their own sect, just as we are trying to protect Hwasan. The way they go about it… their methods are just a little different from ours.”
“…”
“They’re afraid because they love their sect, and they don’t want to step forward because they cherish their disciples. It’s hard to say their way is right, but the affection they have for their disciples is no different from ours.”
“Their sect….”
“Yes. So, don’t….”
“I don’t know, Sahyeong.”
Chung Myung replied in a slightly cold voice.
“Maybe you feel differently, but I don’t care about Hwasan as much as Sahyeong does.”
“…”
“If everyone were like you, Sahyeong, your words would be right. But if everyone were like me, your words would be wrong. Let’s just hope it isn’t so.”
Chung Myung opened the door and walked out.
Left alone, Chung Mun slowly closed his eyes, mulling over Chung Myung’s words.
‘It’s heavy.’
Chung Myung cannot win alone. Hwasan cannot win alone. In the end, they need the strength of others. Only when all the forces of Gangho unite can they face Demonic Cult.
Someone has to hold the center. No matter how difficult and challenging that position may be.
‘The Tao….’
Chung Mun’s hope rested solely on that one thing, the inherent heart that any person would have.
❀ ❀ ❀
Chung Myung opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a long time. As he blankly recalled the dream, he brought his fingertips to his eyes and felt a wet sensation.
Chung Myung muttered as if reciting something.
“Sahyeong….”
He wanted to ask. If he ever met Chung Mun again….
‘Did you believe in yourself until the very end?’
Perhaps that answer was necessary not for Chung Mun, but for Chung Myung himself.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, he heard someone knocking on the door.
Chung Myung wiped his eyes roughly with his sleeve and pulled up his body.
‘Now is not the time to be lost in old memories.’
The situation he faced now was no less dire than the past. In fact, it might be even more severe.
Back then, Chung Myung believed in Chung Mun. But now, others believe in Chung Myung as he once believed in Chung Mun.
So now is the time to fight against the present reality.
Chung Myung grasped the sword at his bedside tightly and stepped down from the bed.
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