Chapter 1150: I’ve Done Everything I Needed To. (5) |
“Young Lord, where are you going?”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Do-Wei hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
‘What should I call this? A senior meeting? An executive meeting? A clan leader meeting?’
He was on his way to Mount Hua’s Sword Saint calling all sect leaders together, but he couldn’t think of a proper way to explain it to others.
‘Come to think of it, it’s quite chaotic.’
Generally, alliances have very strict rank distinctions. While sect leaders are collectively called so because it’s hard to assign them specific ranks, elders and senior members who work within the alliance usually have designated positions.
But strangely, only the Heavenly Friends Alliance had no such positions. Chung Myung’s free-spirited nature and Hyun Jong’s refusal to enforce such structure contributed to all of this.
‘Is it because the sect leading the alliance is the Taoist sect?’
‘Anyway, the more I see it, the more unique this place is.’
“Young Lord?”
“Ah, um… yes. The Mount Hua’s Sword Saint is calling.”
“Ah, you’re going to the boss group meeting.”
“…What meeting?”
The person who answered calmly was elbowed by someone beside him, causing him to suddenly stop talking.
“Ah, it’s nothing. Please have a good trip.”
“…”
“Please go and come back safely.”
“Y-yes… alright.”
As the family members bowed and greeted, Namgung Do-Wei turned around as if pushed.
‘Boss group?’
Well, how should he put it…
‘No. Even so, we…’
It didn’t seem like a proper term for those handling the major affairs of an alliance…
‘Wait a minute.’
Namgung Do-Wei stopped his hesitant steps forward.
So… there are many people, but the exact ranks are vague, and everyone with ability just roughly takes care of things… usually, the group just mindlessly follows the direction roughly decided by the smartest leader…
“…It’s a band of mountain bandits.”
No wonder it felt both strange and familiar! This is a mountain bandit group, this is!
Of course, the retainers probably didn’t call it the boss group for this reason, but it means they had a similar feeling.
‘This, this can’t go on!’
Shaking with determination, Namgung Do-Wei lit a fire in his eyes and quickly moved toward Hyun Jong’s quarters where the meeting was held.
‘I must change this!’
He engraved this firm resolve in his heart.
“Is everyone here?”
Having gained enlightenment and regained his composure, Namgung Do-Wei surveyed the surroundings with cold eyes.
‘Come to think of it, the people gathered here were strange from the start.’
All things in the world require proper form. Without it, people confuse public and private matters. All evils in groups arise from this confusion.
But look at this gathering. Aren’t the people here too disorderly?
“Seems like almost everyone is here?”
“…”
That very person is the problem. Namgung Do-Wei, who always looked at Chung Myung and the Five Swords with affection, today looked sour.
‘Taoist Chung Myung is unavoidable, but honestly, aren’t the others definitely problematic too?’
Don’t misunderstand. Namgung Do-Wei doesn’t think this because he dislikes them. He believes the Five Swords have the right to voice opinions on alliance affairs. But the problem is that without any rank, some come and some don’t as they please.
So…
“Yes, Sahyung. It seems everyone is here.”
Even Tang Soso is here, Tang Soso! And she’s not even one of the Five Swords!
‘No, recently, is she called one of the Five Swords?’
There were signs before, but Chung Myung cannot be lumped together with the other Five Swords.
Of course, the Five Swords are now somewhat embarrassing to call future warriors. Only Hae Yeon and Namgung Do-Wei can somewhat compare their skills at that age.
Those once called the Five Dragons are now handled by Yoon Jong or Jo Gul without Baek Cheon needing to intervene. Honestly, Tang Soso might even handle them. So the Five Swords are indeed formidable.
But Mount Hua’s Sword Saint Chung Myung is not someone to be discussed at that level. To find someone who can match him one-on-one, you’d need the top warriors from each sect.
‘Honestly, that seems difficult too.’
Those who saw Chung Myung fight the high priest alongside Jang Ilso cannot deny that Chung Myung’s skill is greatly underestimated.
Perhaps only ten people in the world can face Chung Myung. How can such a person be lumped under the name Five Swords?
So people gradually excluded Chung Myung from the Five Swords. They called the rest the Four Swords and often went on missions together. Recently, Tang Soso, who struck a cooperative blow at Plum Blossom Island, was quietly included, though unofficially.
‘Fine. Let’s say Mount Hua is like that.’
“No, the Green Forest King hasn’t arrived yet.”
Then why is that man here? Namgung Do-Wei looked at Tang Pae with slightly twisted eyes.
This is a sect leader-level meeting! So why is Tang Pae, the young lord of the Tang family, sitting here as if it’s natural? Tang Gunak is already here!
“Oh dear! I’m a bit late.”
“Ahem. Greetings.”
Namgung Do-Wei’s cheek twitched.
His gaze then fixed on Iron General Beon Chung, who followed the Green Forest King. Until now, he admired his armor-like appearance, but once annoyed, everything about him became irritating.
‘That person isn’t even an elder in the sect!’
If you are bringing someone to train, that should be an elder or something, so why bring that person to the meeting? Clearly, he’s not needed for a meeting that requires brains!
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“…Nothing.”
Namgung Do-Wei turned his head away with a deep sigh. His gaze now fixed on the root of all evil.
“Are you all here?”
That person. That very person! The root of all evil!
Namgung Do-Wei stared with sharp eyes at Chung Myung, who spoke in a nonchalant tone.
Everything has a cause. All this happened because that person, with the absurd title of Mount Hua’s third-class disciple, leads meetings without any proper rank.
Tang Pae, the Five Swords, and even Beon Chung!
Even if you object to their presence, the sentence ‘The Mount Hua’s third-class disciples are here too, so why single me out?’ refutes all complaints.
‘Something is definitely wrong here.’
The alliance will face more challenges ahead. So it’s necessary to establish a firm system now, for the Heavenly Friends Alliance.
“The reason I called everyone today is to discuss future matters.”
Chung Myung looked around and continued.
“For now, the major problems seem resolved, so we need to talk about what to focus on next.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Gunak nodded.
“You think the disciples’ training issues are basically settled?”
“Yes.”
“…The day has finally come.”
Everyone sighed simultaneously. It felt like finally finding light after a long, endless cave.
“But what do you mean by discussion?”
“Just as it sounds.”
Chung Myung shrugged.
“So far, we’ve done what had to be done. It was urgent.”
“That’s right.”
Those who watched Chung Myung push things forward with suspicion now agree it was necessary.
Originally, the Green Forest, Namgung, Five Palace warriors, and Central Plains people should never come together, but recently they interact without formality.
‘Though the lack of formality is problematic.’
Anyway, the integration is fortunate. What if the alliance went to battle without this process?
‘Just imagining it is terrifying.’
Tang Gunak shook his head.
He already experienced the destructive power when different sects united at Plum Blossom Island. If the Tang family hadn’t supported Mount Hua properly or Mount Hua hadn’t protected Tang at the front, the battle would have been very different.
Not just for harmony here, but for the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s future, the rigorous training was necessary, even if it felt like hell.
“The urgent fires are out, so now we must think about what to do next.”
“Hmm, indeed.”
The reactions split into two groups.
The first group admired, thinking, ‘So the Heavenly Friends Alliance actually discusses and pushes things together.’ Mostly those from Ice Palace or Beast Palace, who haven’t experienced Mount Hua much.
The second group was…
“Why have meetings? You’ll just do whatever you want anyway!”
People like the Five Swords distrusted the meetings Chung Myung held.
“When did I?”
“When? When? When did you say?”
“Tsk tsk tsk. That’s why you’re short-sighted! I’ve gathered everyone’s opinions without bias through meetings.”
“Sasuk.”
“Huh?”
“Is the prejudice I know different from the prejudice that guy talks about?”
“You’re stating the obvious stuff again. The only thing Chung Myung says that means the same as us is ‘I’ll smash that guy’s head.’”
“Ah, now I understand things a bit.”
“But really, these guys?”
When Chung Myung got angry, Hyun Jong reached out, grabbed his collar, and subdued him.
“I share the same thought.”
Those indifferent to Chung Myung’s words immediately sobered when Hyun Jong spoke.
“Speak, sect leader!”
“No! Look at the different attitudes! Are you discriminating between people now?”
“…Isn’t that necessary?”
“Huh? Uh… right. Yeah, we should discriminate a bit.”
No matter what, I shouldn’t be treated the same as the sect leader. Absolutely not.
Everyone sighed watching Chung Myung nod in sudden understanding. When will that guy ever mature?
Hyun Jong smiled gently and said.
“You’ve all worked hard so far.”
“No, alliance leader!”
“Everyone rushed here so much that the Heavenly Friends Alliance couldn’t properly do its duties. Let’s take this chance to bring up issues we’ve thought about and discuss what parts of the alliance need fixing.”
“As for things to fix…”
“I think just one person needs fixing?”
“But that Evil Sect bastard?”
“I didn’t say who. Why, are you speaking out?”
“Come out!”
As the quarters descended into chaos, Namgung Do-Wei boldly raised his hand. Hyun Jong nodded.
“Speak, Young Lord.”
“First!”
Namgung Do-Wei spoke vigorously.
“I believe we need to organize the chaotic Heavenly Friends Alliance system and establish proper ranks!”
He looked around at those present and declared.
“Even to fix this disorderly situation as it is.”
Some who felt guilty quietly averted their eyes.