Chapter 1657
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And I like those kinds of idiots. (2)
The situation was so urgent that their minds couldn’t keep up.
“Wa-wait a minute!”
Zhuge Jain raised his voice urgently.
First, he had to stop this ridiculous decision. Why would they jump into a trap set by the enemy with the reasoning, ‘We just need to break the trap’? Does that even make sense?
“G-General! First of all… please calm down!”
“Vice-leaders!”
But Chung Myung shouted as if he couldn’t hear him.
“Summon division members immediately. You have a quarter of an hour!”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
“Move!”
As soon as Chung Myung’s words fell, the seated vice-leaders sprang up and dashed outside like arrows.
“W-What?”
Zhuge Jain was left wide-eyed and dumbfounded. Chung Myung continued.
“Prepare for the division leaders to head straight to Hubei. Right now, as quickly as possible!”
“Understood.”
“We will follow the General’s orders.”
Division leaders rose immediately. Tang Gunak and Maeng So reacted right away, followed by Pung Yeong Shin Gae. Jongli Gok got up a bit later, and soon, even Moyong Wigyeong subtly lifted himself off the chair, observing the others’ reactions.
“Any necessary support will be provided by Master Hwang Jong-ui of the Support Unit! Hurry up!”
“Got it.”
Division leaders wasted no time and went outside.
After the storm-like moment passed, the only ones left in the room were Hyun Jong, Chung Myung, and the two military strategists.
“Nokrim King!”
“Please call me Military Advisor, General.”
Im Sobyong opened his fan, half-covering his face. A deep smile spread across his eyes, visible above the fan.
“Or, the First Advisor is also fine.”
Chung Myung shot him a brief glance before turning his gaze to Zhuge Jain.
“Analyze and predict all the possible moves they can make and report back to me.”
“Of course, I will…”
Snap.
As Chung Myung snapped his fingers, a golden bird flew in from outside the window. The golden bird circled above their heads once before calmly landing on Chung Myung’s hand.
“Report through this.”
Zhuge Jain reflexively reached out to accept the golden bird Chung Myung handed him.
“Is this the Ten Thousand Li Golden Dove..? It belongs to the Beggars Sect…”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll use it within the Alliance until the war is over.”
“I see…”
Zhuge Jain, who had been staring blankly at the bird, suddenly realized something and looked at Chung Myung.
“W-Wait a minute…! If this bird is with me, how do you plan to issue orders to the other divisions?”
“It’s fine. I have more.”
“What?”
“Come here!”
As soon as Chung Myung shouted, the closed door flew open with a loud bang. Something like a flash of black and white darted into the room at a speed that was almost invisible to the eye.
In an instant, the creature climbed up Chung Myung’s body and settled on his shoulder, lifting its head high.
“A… weasel?”
It was even dressed in the black uniform of Hwasan Sect.
A look of undisguised bewilderment crossed Zhuge Jain’s face. Chung Myung scratched the weasel’s chin roughly and spoke.
“In terms of speed, it’s faster than a bird, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Ah…”
Zhuge Jain nodded, his expression still somewhat puzzled. At that moment, someone interjected in a soft voice.
“But… it seems you’ve forgotten about me?”
Im Sobyong said, gently waving his opened fan.
“Shouldn’t the orders you’re giving now actually be directed to me, the First Advisor?”
He emphasized the word ‘First.’ Chung Myung, watching him laugh softly, nodded as if he understood.
“First Advisor.”
“Yes!”
“You’re coming with me.”
“…What?”
“You’re coming with me.”
Thud.
The fan fell to the floor, lifelessly. At the same time, Im Sobyeong’s face turned pale.
“Me? Why me…?”
“With Lord Zhuge here, you’re not needed. Follow me. You’ll be commanding from the field.”
“No, General! Do you even know what an advisor does? An advisor is supposed to stay waaay in the back… Yes? The back! The person who directs from behind!”
“Stop complaining and follow me if you don’t want to die.”
…Im Sobyong’s shoulders slumped.
In truth, going to the field was something he could accept. There had been strategists who commanded from the front lines before.
The problem was that the position he had been assigned was right next to that damned Taoist.
Anyone who knew even a little about Cheonumaeng – or the current Gangho – couldn’t deny that the place where that damned Taoist was would be the most dangerous place in the entire Gangho.
And he was being taken to such a place? Im Sobyong thought to himself, ‘I’d rather bite a sword and fall on it!’
Even the insane warriors of Hwasan couldn’t withstand that place, so how was a fragile scholar like him supposed to survive?
“Wouldn’t it be better if Lord Zhuge went instead…?”
“Stop talking and follow me.”
“…Yes.”
Im Sobyong eventually nodded lifelessly. He instinctively knew that if he refused one more time, a punch, kick, or sword would definitely come flying his way.
“W-Wait a minute, General. This is…”
“Alliance Leader.”
Just as Zhuge Jain was about to say something, Chung Myung turned around and saluted Hyun Jong with his fists clasped.
“Chung Myung of Hwasan Sect. I request permission to set out to support Wudang.”
A flicker of worry crossed Hyun Jong’s face, but he quickly erased it and spoke with a determined expression.
“Permission granted.”
“Thank you!”
With that, Chung Myung turned his body, briefly gazing at the open door before dashing out like the wind. He didn’t look back even once.
“Uh…”
Zhuge Jain watched his departing figure with a face almost devoid of spirit.
“Oh, this is driving me crazy.”
Now, the only person Zhuge Jain could cling to was Im Sobyong.
“N-Now, just a moment, Nokrim King.”
Already deep in worry, Im Sobyeong replied with a sullen face.
“Yes?”
“What… what on earth is going on here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just a moment ago, we were arguing back and forth about whether it was possible or not, whether it was right or wrong…”
“Oh, that?”
Im Sobyeong sighed deeply once more, as if the ground would swallow him up.
“Well, everyone can share their opinions. Each person has their own thoughts.”
“…What?”
“But the important thing is not to look back once a decision has been made. Isn’t that what the organizational structure is for?”
Zhuge Jain swallowed dryly as he looked at Im Sobyeong’s face, which was full of the meaning, ‘Why ask something so obvious?’
‘Not looking back once a decision has been made?’
Sure, the words were correct.
But how easy is that? If it were as easy as saying it, would any sect have internal conflicts and headaches?
If there are a hundred people, there are a hundred thoughts, and if there are a thousand people, there are a thousand thoughts.
And yet, you can instantly unify those scattered opinions? As if it had been prearranged?
“It’s not as complicated as you think.”
“…What?”
“Think intensely, act simply.”
Im Sobyeong picked up the fan he had dropped, folded it, and looked outside the door.
“It’s a method that those who have been entangled with that person have come to understand through experience. And… hmm. Well, it’s not necessary to elaborate.”
Im Sobyeong, feeling no need to say more, left Zhuge Jain and went outside.
Zhuge Jain was left standing there, lost in thought for a while. Although Im Sobyeong didn’t say everything, Zhuge Jain felt he understood the unsaid words.
‘And that’s the way of Cheonumaeng?’
He never thought something like this could actually be possible.
But if this really happened? If those ragtag groups, hastily thrown together, could move like the wind at Chung Myung’s command as they just witnessed?
A chill ran down his spine.
The aftermath was difficult to predict. It was the ideal that those who study military strategy dream of even in their sleep.
An ideal so high that its impact in reality would be unimaginable.
“So, what exactly should I…”
“You will handle the Intelligence Division.”
“What?”
Zhuge Jain turned around sharply. Hyun Jong was looking at him with a gentle smile.
“The information gathered by the Beggars Sect and the information sent by the various units will be funneled here through the network Chung Myung set up. You will manage that. Additionally, you will oversee the logistics, supplies, and all the other support activities that need to be coordinated from the rear.”
“Ah…”
“The battle here might be more intense. Are you prepared?”
Zhuge Jain looked at Hyun Jong in silence.
Despite sending his disciples into what could be a trap, Hyun Jong had a soft smile on his lips.
But that smile didn’t come only from composure. It was to reassure Zhuge Jain.
The moment he realized this, Zhuge Jain saw Hyun Jong in a whole new light.
“Phew…”
Zhuge Jain let out a long breath. He straightened his attire and faced Hyun Jong squarely. Then, with genuine sincerity, he bowed his head.
“I look forward to working with you, Alliance Leader.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Hyun Jong’s eyes, accepting Zhuge Jain’s bow, then turned toward the wide-open door.
“They’ve assembled.”
“Damn it, what should we call ourselves? Second Division [을(乙)]? The Second Division has also assembled!”
“Fourth Division [정(丁)] is all here!”
“Here too!”
The path leading into Hwaeum.
It was merely the entrance to a small village, but because it led to Hwasan, it was famous to some, meaningful to others.
Many people were lined up there.
The divisions of Cheonumaeng, which couldn’t even fit in a training ground three times the size of a typical sect’s grand training ground, were lined up on the road to Hwaeum.
In front of them stood the division leaders and vice-leaders of each division.
The significance of this was far greater than what the public might imagine.
Gangho had endured numerous invasions and calamities over time, and each time, the warriors of the world had joined forces to repel the enemy.
However, at no point in time had the walls between the sects ever been completely torn down. How many truly understood the significance of standing together, wearing different uniforms, wielding different weapons, and using different titles, without any distinction?
There was one person who understood this meaning better than anyone else. He stood tall in front of the assembled members of Cheonumaeng.
Dressed in the black uniform of Hwasan, Chung Myung scanned everyone and slowly nodded.
In some people’s eyes anxiety flickered, and in others determination burned. Perhaps Chung Myung’s inner thoughts are no different from those eyes. However…
Chung Myung’s gaze suddenly shifted back.
He saw the path leading to Hwaeum and the towering Hwasan behind it.
While it was a road leading to Hwasan, it was also a path that turned its back on Hwasan. The road was always open in both directions.
He would proceed down this path and eventually retrace his steps to return.
It was different from the past. It was different from then.
When Chung Myung looked back at the members of Cheonumaeng, there was no longer any hesitation in his eyes.
Even if it was insufficient, even if it was still lacking, there was no hesitation in moving forward. He now knew that the moment of perfection would never come.
Tak.
Chung Myunf took a step forward. Then he looked at everyone and spoke.
“When we return…”
“…”
“…it will be after the war is over.”
This was a declaration that they would not set foot on this land again until they had seen the end of the war.
Understanding the meaning of his words, determination filled everyone’s faces.
“Let’s move out!”
“Yes!”
Without anyone leading, the members of Cheonumaeng let out a loud but disciplined shout and began to march.
There was no need for special instructions or orders.
The goal was one: Wudang.
It was the place where the battle that would decide the future of Gangho would unfold.
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