Chapter 1737
Can they endure? (2)
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Hyun Jong gazed with sunken eyes at the person seated before him.
A young man in the pure white robes of Hwasan, his pallor unmistakably evident.
At the sight of that strikingly white figure against the backdrop of the dark, almost black floor, Hyun Jong thought of the word ‘majestic’ – in more ways than one.
A faded light.
Precarious, as though it might crumble at any moment, yet vivid enough that one dared not touch it carelessly.
‘A crane…’
A Divine Crane [선학(仙鶴)].
Hyun Jong wondered if the ancient sages had chosen the crane as a symbol of Taoism [도가(道家)] not merely for its beauty.
Such is the Tao. The path that one should follow, the most righteous way. But for that very reason, it is also a path that mortals find difficult to tread.
What difference is there between the life of a Taoist, walking the Path of the Immortals [선도(仙道)], and the image of a crane standing on its delicate leg, supporting its body?
But humans are not cranes. The crane, gazing at the world from atop the water, might appear serene to human eyes, but a human living like that crane would have to endure untold suffering.
Thus, the Tao is the most virtuous thing, yet also the most malevolent.
Thus, the Path of the Immortals is the ultimate symbol of sublimity, and at the same time, a horrific punishment.
Hyun Jong had to ask.
The Sect Leader of the Great Hwasan Sect, and the former Sect Leader of the Great Hwasan Sect.
He had lived a life as a Taoist [도인(道人)] that no one in the world could deny, but had he ever truly walked the Path of the Immortals?
Buddhism teaches that the world is suffering [고(苦)]. Living itself is an act of suffering.
Confucianism teaches that the world is chaos, and living is about restoring order.
Then, what does the Tao say?
If the world, as it is, is nature [자연(自然)], does that mean the suffering he endures, the suffering Baek Cheon endures, is all just a natural part of existence? If that’s the case, is accepting that suffering without resistance the Path of the Immortals?
If so, if that is truly the case, then what is the purpose of a Taoist’s life?
Can he truly be called a Taoist if he doesn’t even understand that?
“Disciple Baek Cheon.”
For this reason, Hyun Jong was uncertain.
“I dare to ask.”
He was unsure if he could provide the correct answer to the one who looked at him with those clear, unwavering eyes.
“Is it true that the Sect Leader has excommunicated me?”
It was Hyun Jong who gave that order. Un Am had merely nodded in agreement. Yet Baek Cheon mentioned the Sect Leader, not Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong’s will was personal, but the Sect Leader’s will represented Hwasan.
That’s why Baek Cheon asked. Is this truly the will of Hwasan?
“It is.”
And Hyun Jong nodded.
This might be overstepping of authority, it might be stubbornness. But Hyun Jong thought to himself:
Was it wrong?
The Tao teaches to follow the heart.
Even if all the laws and rules of everything he belonged to cried out that his actions were wrong, could he truly deny the guidance of his own heart?
“No. That is not true.”
But Baek Cheon denied it.
“That is the will of the retired Sect Leader, not the will of Hwasan.”
Hyun Jong’s eyes narrowed.
“No one can deny that retired Sect Leader has preserved the will of Hwasan most righteously. The disciples of Hwasan, and even those who are not the disciples, would agree. However…”
Baek Cheon looked at Hyun Jong with clear eyes.
“Even so, not all of retired Sect Leader’s intentions can be said to align with the will of Hwasan.”
“…”
An uncontrollable sorrow appeared on Hyun Jong’s face.
Those words were true. Unquestionably true.
But what does that matter?
Right and wrong only hold meaning for those who have resolved to walk the righteous path. For someone who has recognized that their own thoughts are mere stubbornness, how meaningless is a discussion about right and wrong?
“Even if you are correct.”
Hyun Jong’s voice rang out sternly. No, it whispered sadly.
“The one who enacts the will of Hwasan now is the old Taoist.”
“…”
“And the one who determines the way of Hwasan is also me.”
Hyun Jong declared firmly.
“Therefore, the decision will not change. As the rightful retired Sect Leader of Hwasan, I have been entrusted with the authority by the Sect Leader, and I have decided to excommunicate the Senior Disciple, Baek Cheon. I will accept no objections to this.”
A small tremor ran across Hyun Jong’s face. But his resolve remained unmistakably clear, an impenetrable iron wall with no room for even the smallest needle to pass through.
And naturally, Baek Cheon knocked on that iron wall.
“Why?”
“Because it is right.”
“I said it is not right.”
“Right and wrong differ from person to person. To me, this is right.”
“I have told you this is not the will of Hwasan.”
“But it is my will. And right now, my will is the will of Hwasan.”
It’s not that Hyun Jong didn’t know how to retreat. He was a person who knew all too well when to step back.
But it was precisely because of that understanding that he knew there are times when one must never back down. He had withdrawn from everything his entire life. But at this moment, he could not back down. Not for himself, but for the one standing before him.
“Retired Sect Leader,”
Baek Cheon asked again in a low voice, his face pale.
“For what?”
Hyun Jong closed his eyes.
Similar questions. Yet all different. Answering all of these questions would be a never-ending task.
Therefore, Hyun Jong did not bother with excuses.
“Baek Cheon.”
It was a name that should not be spoken.
The moment he was expelled and the Sect Leader acknowledged it, the name Baek Cheon was erased from Hwasan’s register of disciples. It was a name that no longer existed in the world.
But Hyun Jong deliberately called him not by his given name, Jin Dongryong, but by his Taoist name, Baek Cheon.
“This is a path for you.”
“That is sophistry.”
“It is also a path for all the disciples of Hwasan.”
“That is sophistry as well.”
“I do not wish to debate this!”
“Nor do I wish to engage in a debate.”
Baek Cheon’s piercing gaze bore into Hyun Jong. His eyes burned with an intensity like flames consuming life itself.
Even those who could not see his eyes felt Baek Cheon’s indomitable spirit. Behind him, beyond the wide-open doors, countless people were watching this dialogue.
A place that only the disciples of Hwasan could approach. And because of that, it was a place where only the disciples of Hwasan could clearly see with their own eyes.
‘Sasuk.’
Yoon Jong’s gaze fixed on Baek Cheon’s resolute back.
It seemed as if he might collapse at any moment, enough to make the onlookers’ hands sweat with anxiety. Even if he were in perfect health, facing the imposing presence of Hyun Jong and the elders of Hwasan would not be an easy task.
Yet Baek Cheon did not retreat a single step.
“For what purpose?”
Baek Cheon shouted firmly.
“What truly is the path meant for a disciple?”
“Baek Cheon!”
“Is excommunicating a disciple truly for their sake?”
“…”
“And is making a disciple reclaim their martial arts truly the path for them?”
Baek Cheon stretched out his hand – his now emaciated hand.
“If I could just hold a sword in this hand again, does it mean nothing else matters? Is that truly for the disciple’s sake?”
His voice did not waver in the slightest.
But to Yoon Jong, that unwavering voice sounded more like a desperate cry. Perhaps it wasn’t just Yoon Jong who felt this way. Perhaps everyone did.
There were no martial arts in that place.
Yet it was fiercer than any battlefield.
“That’s why you dare to defy the rules set by our ancestors!”
Hyun Jong’s eyebrows twitched.
“Are you willing to destroy everything Hwasan has built up until now?”
“Enough.”
“Would you even deny the life of the Sect Leader?”
“Baek Cheon!”
A booming shout erupted from Hyun Jong’s mouth.
But Baek Cheon did not back down. Even as his body trembled under the weight of Hyun Jong’s presence. Even as he bit his lip to stay conscious.
Yet, at some point, Baek Cheon’s fierce resolve began to wane.
Not because he was overwhelmed by Hyun Jong’s spirit, but because that very spirit seemed to dissipate. Undeniable sorrow appeared on Hyun Jong’s face as he looked at Baek Cheon.
“You have… a future.”
“…”
Hyun Jong knew. He knew all too well, having lived through so many years. He understood how brilliant Baek Cheon’s future could be, how much he was capable of achieving.
Having endured his own time of brilliance, marked only by sorrow, Hyun Jong could not turn his eyes away from what Baek Cheon stood to lose.
The impulsiveness of youth often takes much away.
Values are not eternal. What seems most precious now may one day fade with time. And when one looks back, they come to realize how invaluable those things, once thought insignificant, truly were.
“It may hurt a little now. No, it will be a pain that cuts to the bone. But you will come to realize that the pain you are experiencing now is better than the pain you would have faced later.”
“And how can retired Sect Leader make that choice?”
“Baek Cheon-ah.”
Hyun Jong let out a deep, heavy sigh.
“Life is long.”
“…”
“You can rise again. You can shine again.”
Baek Cheon’s face hardened.
“Retired Sect Leader.”
“Do you think it’s because it’s you? It’s not. My choice would have been the same for anyone.”
Hyun Jong’s eyes shifted beyond Baek Cheon to the disciples of Hwasan who were watching.
“The sect does not exist for people to serve it. The sect exists for the people.”
“…”
“This applies to everyone. I do not want Hwasan to hold you back. I do not want Hwasan to become a shackle for you. And it’s not just me – our ancestors who watch over Hwasan would never want that either.”
At that moment, Yoon Jong, who had been observing, found himself nodding involuntarily.
Yoon Jong flinched and turned to his side.
A man had appeared next to him without him noticing.
‘Chung Myung-ah.’
Chung Myung, who had recently been out of sight, was now standing beside him, silently observing the exchange within the hall. His expression was unfamiliar yet strangely familiar. Stoic and emotionless.
“Hwasan should be your shelter and your stepping stone. If it cannot be, then what value does the name Hwasan hold?”
“…”
“If it is nothing more than an empty shell, I will strip it away. If the name of Hwasan becomes a burden to you, then I will erase that name with my own hands!”
By this point, everyone understood. Whether his reasoning was right or wrong, Hyun Jong’s resolve would not waver.
To Hyun Jong, Hwasan was more important than anything. Yet now, he was even willing to cast aside that very name. How could anyone persuade someone who had made such a decision?
But could anyone blame him? Could anyone dare say he was wrong?
It was impossible to do so, and that was why they remained silent. It was impossible to do so, and that was why they felt such sorrow.
Two people who were not so different. Two people who, perhaps, understood each other more deeply than anyone else, now standing on parallel lines that would never meet.
Yoon Jong realized something.
It was no longer just the disciples of Hwasan who were witnessing this scene.
Hye Yeon, Namgung Dowi, Tang Gunak, and Pung Yeong Shin Gae. Even Baek Cheon’s older brother, Jin Geumryong, and Lee Songbaek were watching this scene unfold from not far away. Undoubtedly, Jongli Gok was also listening to all of this, witnessing Baek Cheon’s departure from Hwasan.
‘Sasuk.’
Yoon Jong bit his lip hard.
There was no way to change Hyun Jong’s mind. No, it shouldn’t be changed.
Everyone would understand, surely. They would understand the heart with which Hyun Jong was excommunicating Baek Cheon.
Yoon Jong’s own heart already cried out that this decision was not wrong. Hyun Jong was merely shouldering the burden that Yoon Jong and Five Swords could not bear.
‘But why does it hurt so much?’
As Yoon Jong struggled with his sorrow, trying to swallow it down, Baek Cheon slowly raised his hand.
That hand, like a withered plum blossom branch that never had the chance to bloom.
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