Chapter 1138: Still, What Can You Do? (Part 3)

Everyone gathered around Im Sobyeong.

Witnessing this, Im Sobyeong wore an immensely satisfied smile, and Baek Cheon, too, smiled in response. This was a sign that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, which had walked the path of conflict and division, had finally started to come together as one...

"Why are you coming here? Crazy."

"...Yes?"

"Get out of the way! Just gather your heads! Heads only!"

Baek Cheon involuntarily looked around. Although he knew Im Sobyeong had spoken, he felt an eerie sense of deja vu, as if Chung Myung had spoken.

"For now, stand there with the two Sogajus."

"Yes."

"Umm."

"Representatives from the Ice Palace and Beast Palace should also step forward. As for Mount Hua... Well, just all five come up."

At that moment, Tang Pae raised his hand. 

"What's this?"

"Why is Mount Hua sending all five?"

Im Sobyeong's eyes glittered at the question.

"I was going to keep quiet because there are kids, but since you asked, Tang Family's Sogju-nim, are you confident that you can face them one-on-one?"

Tang Pae quietly lowered his hand.

"Shouldn't the strong be treated differently? Do I have to explicitly mention even this?"

"I apologize."

"Tsk."

Im Sobyeong fanned his face as if he were annoyed.

"And, uh..."

"Yes?"

"Should the Shaolin representative also come?"

Hye Yeon's face turned bright red.

"Uh... It seems like the Nokrim King is misunderstanding a bit, but I am not a representative of Shaolin."

"Then join as the sixth member of Mount Hua."

Upon hearing this, a deep sense of distress appeared on Hye Yeon's face. Not only was the idea of him being the representative of Shaolin absurd, but the notion of him joining as the sixth member of Mount Hua seemed very, very odd. Wasn't he in the middle of both?

Suppressing various doubts and distractions in his mind, Hye Yeon opened his mouth with a determined expression.

"Siju!"

"Yes?"

"...Let's at least make me the fifth."

"..."

"Being behind him is a bit much."

"Why... monk, why are you doing this to me?"

At Hye Yeon's blatant gaze, Jo Gol became angry and wore an expression of unjust suffering. However, excluding him, everyone nodded understandingly, as if comprehending Hye Yeon's sentiments.

"Then, as the fifth."

"No, are we deciding like this? What about my opinion?"

"Enough. You're too noisy."

"...A harsh world."

In any case, everyone gathered around Im Sobyeong. Regardless, Im Sobyeong was the only one here with a status worthy of representing a sect. Moreover, he was informally recognized as a military strategist of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Naturally, everyone had no choice but to lend their ears to his words.

However, the first words Im Sobyeong spoke after gathering everyone and asking for their attention instantly left them all dumbfounded.

"What are we going to do?"

"..."

"..."

Various emotions filled the faces of those gathered. Im Sobyeong, with a face that seemed to say, 'What do you expect me to do?' playfully waved his fan, leaving them all in a daze.

"Uh, well... King Nokrim."

"Yes."

"You didn'g have any countermeasures...?"

"Countermeasures?"

Im Sobyeong chuckled.

"I've been hit as much as I could, getting beaten to death, so where would I have countermeasures? If there were any, I would have used them beforehand. Do you think I enjoyed being hit so much that I kept it as a secret?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

When everyone needed someone to take charge, it was undoubtedly Jo Gol.

"No, you're smart! You must have had something in your head, right?"

"Oh, in my head?"

"Yes, in your head!"

Im Sobyeong chuckled while looking at Jo Gol.

"So, you've all just been getting beaten up until now, and it's a bit much to get beaten up more, and since it's too bothersome to use your heads, how about us, the Evil Sect guys here, come up with a brilliant plan that won't get you beaten anymore?"

"W-Well, it's not like..."

"It's people like you that are causing scholars to die!"

As Im Sobyeong was about to rush forward in anger, Yoo Iseol and Yoon Jong naturally grabbed him from both sides. Even though it was their first time doing this, it was surprisingly smooth and natural, like water flowing.

"Strategies? Do you think plans are made on the spot like that? Am I the kind of person who puts strategies in my pocket and takes them out whenever I want? Hey, you guys! If strategies were so omnipotent, why aren't scholars given preferential treatment from the beginning? I'm normally ignored because I can't use a sword and only rely on my brains, what? When it comes to this, what? I'm useless if I can't pull out a strategy on time?"

"Uh, no one said that..."

"These bastards think that strategists are some kind of gods! So, Zhuge Gongming succeeded in conquering the north? Why are you making such a fuss at me when you couldn't even do it!"

"No one's making a fuss..."

"Dirty swordsmen like you!"

Those who were looking at Im Sobyeong with empty eyes turned their heads towards Nokrim without realizing it. The Nokrim members were yawning with faces that seemed to say, 'Oh, that guy's sick again.'

"Uh...it happens every once in a while, don't worry about it."

"..."

Everyone was momentarily curious. What kind of life have these people been living?

"Ahem."

Baek Cheon coughed to refresh the atmosphere.

"So, the conclusion is... you don't have a solution right now?"

"If there was a solution?"

"Yes?"

Im Sobyeong spoke with a heavy face.

"If there is a solution, can you follow my instructions?"

"Well, of course..."

Im Sobyeong turned his head and looked at the Beast Palace members.

"Since you guys are sturdy, just roughly grab the arms and legs of Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword while enduring a few beatings. Of course, you might get your head cracked and your arms and legs broken in the process, but you'll win."

Before he could finish speaking, the Beast Palace members burst into protest.

"Why do we have to do that!"

Im Sobyeong looked at Baek Cheon with a sullen face.

"Did you hear that?"

Baek Cheon lowered his head with a grim face.

Come to think of it, since even Mount Hua didn't, the other sects had no reason to fully trust Im Sobyeong. No, even if they trusted him, they had no reason to endure greater losses for their own goals.

'It's really hard.'

Baek Cheon realized anew how challenging it was to reconcile the interests and principles of each sect and unite them. The more he experienced it, the more he doubted if it was really possible.

People, despite boasting grand ideals and walking the path everyone believes is right, won't sacrifice themselves unless it's absolutely necessary. If that were the case, why then would the world be full of conflicts?

"Tsk, tsk."

Im Sobyeong glanced at Baek Cheon and clicked his tongue. When Baek Cheon was about to smile in embarrassment, Im Sobyeong casually threw out his words.

"Hasn't the answer has already been given?"

"Yes?"

"What has the Dojang been doing so far?"

"What have we done...? Well..."

Hitting, kicking, tearing apart...

'...We've only been fighting.'

Suddenly, a sense of guilt surged up.

"Haah... Why does the Dojang always take only half?"

"Yes?"

"Did the Dojang do it because he wanted to? Who is the devil who orchestrated all this mischief?"

"Well..."

Chung Myung, of course.

Without adding the phrase 'who orchestrated all this mischief,' wasn't there only Chung Myung who was called a devil within the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?

"So why do you think that guy caused this situation?"

The answer immediately sprang from the Five Swords around, not Baek Cheon.

"Because of his dirty personality."

"To see us get beaten."

"To torment us."

"Because he's originally that kind of person."

Im Sobyeong twitched, seemingly about to say something, but Tang Pae and Namgung Dowi subtly added their words.

"Seems right."

"Actually, that person doesn't need a reason."

Im Sobyeong fell silent as if he had run out of words to say. In a situation where logic and eloquence needed to overturn their words, he couldn't find the logic to break their argument.

"Well... it might be... I mean, it's possible... No, it's natural. He was originally that kind of person."

He had suffered too much to say otherwise. Too much.

"In any case, isn't that not the entire reason?"

"If we try to think positively, it might be."

"So why did that devil... No, why did Chung Myung Dojang cause all this? Think about it! Think."

"Well..."

Baek Cheon furrowed his brows slightly.

The reason they were made to fight each other? Honestly, he didn't know. Was it to find out how much accumulated resentment there was between them?

"Then think in reverse."

"Yes?"

"Thanks to those fights, what did you learn?"

As Baek Cheon searched for an answer and carefully chose his words, Jo Gol spoke up with a heavy sigh.

"What did I learn? All I learned was how dirty those guys' personalities were and how to handle them a bit better."

"Well, that's true. But did you learn anything else because of those fights?"

"That's right."

"Huh?"

Jo Gol, who expected another scolding and was taken aback, looked at Im Sobyeong in surprise. Strangely enough, Im Sobyeong was nodding as if he had given a good answer.

"That's exactly it, that!"

"…What?"

"How can we better control each other?"

"…."

"That's essentially saying that you understand the weaknesses of other sects and what strengths you possess. It goes without saying that using your strengths to exploit the enemy's weaknesses is the basics of basics in martial arts."

Those who thought it was a valid point nodded their heads.

"What's wrong? I think I did well just now."

Jo Gol shouted desperately, his words completely ignored.

"And that statement means you also know what you can do. Haven't you felt it while getting beaten back all this time?"

"…."

"When someone like the Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword rushes in, what can you guys do? What would you like to do?"

The expressions of those who heard the words became serious.

"That's right…."

Watching those who were deep in thought, Im Sobyeong smiled subtly behind the fan that covered his face.

'Think about it.'

Just following someone else's instructions was not enough.

In the battlefields they will face in the future, no one can give immediate orders. To survive, it is important to fully understand the abilities of those around you in that situation and to quickly assess what you need to do.

Not following instructions but thinking and moving on your own.

Before knowing the enemy, one must first understand oneself and one's sect, as well as the abilities and characteristics of those who will fight together.

"The Tang Family…."

Before Tang Pae could say something, the Beast Palace interjected.

"We're not confident in rushing in and grabbing legs, but the Beast Palace is the best at buying time moderately."

"Oh?"

Im Sobyeong's fan shook pleasantly.

As the attention focused on him, the Beast Palace disciple scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"We may seem a bit messy and easy to misunderstand, but our martial arts, which mimic the movements of animals, are efficient at avoiding someone's attacks. That's the way of nature."

"Come to think of it…."

The Ice Palace, who had faced the Beast Palace the most, nodded in agreement.

"Good!"

Im Sobyeong folded the fan with a loud snap.

It was good that they spoke for the first time, but it was also significant that the Beast Palace, who always took a step back and observed, took the initiative to speak first, with an attitude of 'Let's see how much you'll recognize us.'

This meant that they understood what he said.

"The Tang Family can help, too. Stopping those who rush in is what we do best, and if the Beast Palace is rampaging in front of us, it makes it a little harder to attack, but we've...interacted with the Beast Palace a few times, so it shouldn't be hard to understand."

"But doesn't the Tang Family become vulnerable when they get too close to the enemies? I don't think getting too close is..."

"That can be covered by our Ice Palace, I'm confident we're good at defense!"

"No, I think it's a bit of a waste to use the Ice Palace for defense. Isn't the Ice Palace's swordsmanship more suited to offense? I'd rather have our Namgung Family be defense..."

"The Mount Hua Sect should attack rather than the Ice Palace..."

Once it started, it didn't take long for opinions to pour in from all directions. Not only those in the center of the room, but also those standing behind began to chime in.

Amidst the flood of words, sometimes fierce, sometimes gentle, Im Sobyeong quickly covered his mouth with his fan.

'Simple.'

Wasn't it simple how people would naturally become when they set a goal?

Smiling slightly, Im Sobyeong opened his mouth while folding his fan tightly.

"If this happens, no matter how they are…"

"Then we can use Nokrim as a shield!"

"Actually, since they're useless, a meat shield would be perfect!"

"Yeah! Isn't Nokrim more tenacious than the Beast Palace? Just push them in!"

Im Sobyeong's eyes caught on fire as he listened, speechless.

"What!? Are you saying Evil Sect bastards should be used as meat shields? You filthy righteous sect bastards!"

In this way, the bickering, fighting, and shouting among the Heavenly Comrade Alliance members continued until dawn that day.