Chapter 1293: Now, This Is Just The Beginning (Part 3)

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Baek Cheon immediately surrounded and confronted Kim Yang Baek. However, Kim Yang Baek didn't immediately speak and instead stared at Baek Cheon with a complicated expression.

At that gaze, Baek Cheon could vaguely guess what Kim Yang Baek wanted to say.

'Were there six?'

It might not be accurate, but it should be around that number—the number of Southern Island disciples sacrificed on the way here.

For Baek Cheon, it was an especially painful number. Yet, no matter how much Baek Cheon empathized with that pain, it couldn't compare to the despair Kim Yang Baek must be feeling.

Kim Yang Baek's trembling eyes seemed to convey the agony he was enduring. Baek Cheon decided that he could endure a bit of bitterness if it meant understanding the despair Kim Yang Baek was experiencing.

At that moment, Kim Yang Baek extended both hands forward and politely surrounded them.

"I apologize for showing such an unsightly appearance."

A fleeting sense of bewilderment crossed Baek Cheon's face.

"As the Sect Leader of the Southern Island Sect, I failed to lead my disciples properly. I apologize for burdening Deputy Sect Leader Baek Cheon and others. Please forgive me."

Baek Cheon stared blankly at Kim Yang Baek. Not only Baek Cheon but also disciples from Mount Hua couldn't conceal their astonishment.

Of course, it couldn't be denied that Kim Yang Baek's mistake had burdened others. However, it was not easy for a leader of a martial arts sect to admit their mistake so candidly.

So, it was natural to be surprised.

"You don't have to say such things, Sect Leader."

Baek Cheon quickly shook his head and said.

"If Sect Leader hadn't quickly rectified the situation, the damage would have been even greater. So, please don't blame yourself."

In response to those words, Kim Yang Baek slowly looked up at the sky.

Baek Cheon couldn't offer more comfort. It was beyond the scope of his ability to guess what Kim Yang Baek was thinking at the moment.

However, at that moment, an angry voice resounded.

"Why is the Sect Leader apologizing!"

One of the Southenr Island Sect's elders shouted in an infuriated voice.

"If you're going to blame someone, blame them! What were you thinking to cause such a thing! If you hadn't rushed through the enemy lines, there wouldn't have been sacrifices in the first place!"

"Kwak Wol."

"Was I wrong, Sect Leader? Is this some kind of crazy stunt! We wouldn't have believed those youngsters in the first place, talking about Heavenly Comrades and whatnot..."

"Can't you shut your mouth!"

Kim Yang Baek glared at Kwak Wol with anger in his eyes. Kwak Wol tightly bit his lips until they bled. Suppressing Kwak Wol, Kim Yang Baek let out a deep sigh. Then he surrounded Baek Cheon again.

"I apologize. Because they lost their lifelong martial brothers… their emotions got the better of them. Please understand with a generous heart."

"No, Sect Leader."

Baek Cheon shook his head.

"Deputy Sect Leader."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"The casualties are entirely our fault. Deputy Sect Leader is not to blame."

"…"

"In the first place, we didn't come here just to survive. If we had stayed in Southern Island, we would have faced an even more difficult situation than now. How can we blame Deputy Sect Leader for that? However…"

Kim Yang Baek glanced briefly at the disciples who were practicing even in their exhausted state. Even though they were in the midst of martial arts practice, each one looked thoroughly worn out. Seeing those faces drenched in sweat and blood, Kim Yang Baek couldn't help but ask a breathless question.

"…Is it really possible for us to escape the siege like this?"

"Sect Leader, that's…"

"I know. It was a difficult task from the beginning. To achieve something challenging, naturally, we have to push ourselves."

Baek Cheon silently stared at Kim Yang Baek. Currently, Kim Yang Baek wasn't losing composure. On the contrary, he was calmly expressing his opinion more composedly than anyone else.

"But Deputy Sect Leader, if it's an impossible task… shouldn't we at least not die like this? The disciples of Southern Island crossed the sea to protect their honor, so even if they have to die, they wanted to preserve the name of Southern Island. So..."

Kim Yang Baek bit his lips tightly and continued.

"Isn't it inappropriate to let them die like rabbits being hunted? It would be more honorable..."

"Honor?"

At that moment, Chung Myung's chilly voice abruptly cut off Kim Yang Baek's words.

"Chung Myung."

Baek Cheon tried to interject, but Chung Myung didn't stop.

"Whose honor?"

"Well..."

"The Southern Island Sect's honor?"

There was a clear sarcasm at the corner of Chung Myung's mouth.

"Talking about honor sounds ridiculous."

"Chung Myung!"

"Sect Leader."

Chung Myung, with a cold gaze, looked at Kim Yang Baek.

"It seems you're greatly mistaken... A splendid death is something you find in stories."

"..."

"Even if you've accomplished something remarkable enough to leave a lasting impression, it's the same. Do you think there's a person who dies without a single regret at that moment? The thoughts of those who are about to die in their final moments are only one."

Chung Myung spat out.

"I just want to live."

Kim Yang Baek bit his lips.

"If you want to die proudly to protect the Southern Island Sect's honor, go ahead, Sect Leader. No one will stop you. Instead..."

Chung Myung's eyes, full of vitality, pierced through Kim Yang Baek.

"Don't force such nonsense like an honorable death on our disciples with your meager authority. We are going to save even one more person."

Kim Yang Baek lowered his head slightly.

Chung Myung, even after seeing such a sight, didn't express any sympathy. He merely glared as if to kill and then turned away. Watching Chung Myung moving further away, Baek Cheon let out a short sigh.

Chung Myung, having distanced himself from Kim Yang Baek, irritably scratched his face. Every time he heard words from those who couldn't grasp reality, it made his blood boil. Even though he knew that those who lived in a peaceful world couldn't fully understand the essence of war.

In the midst of his frustration, Chung Myung was about to grab the back of his neck, but suddenly, something was thrust beside his face.

"What... What is..."

"Drink."

Chung Myung was momentarily speechless.

Yoo Iseol, who suddenly presented a water bottle, still stared at Chung Myung with an expressionless face, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.

"Sago, we should be guarding... "

"Drink."

"No, I'm fine..."

"Drink."

Words didn't get through.

No, in the first place, expecting words to get through to Yoo Iseol was unrealistic. There was no way to win in this confrontation. Chung Myung silently accepted the water bottle Yoo Iseol offered.

As Chung Myung began to drink, Yoo Iseol finally retracted her outstretched hand and silently watched him.

"Hu."

Chung Myung, having emptied the water in one breath, extended the water bottle to Yoo Iseol again.

"Done?"

"Yeah."

Yoo Iseol calmly received the water bottle and tied it back to her waist.

"So now, let's go guard..."

"Not your responsibility."

An unexpected remark popped up as abruptly as the water bottle. Chung Myung silently stared at Yoo Iseol for a moment, then burst out laughing

"What are you talking about? Suddenly, out of nowhere. Anyway, Sago..."

"You can't save everyone."

"I know that."

Who else would know better than Chung Myung? Someone saying such things to him was absurd. However, Yoo Iseol looked at Chung Myung with dark, penetrating eyes without saying a word. Chung Myung sighed briefly, as if acknowledging her stance.

"...I know that, really."

Upon that, Yoo Iseol turned her body without any response. She returned to her position.

Chung Myung watched her with a slightly dazed expression, but there was no time for contemplation. Something flew towards his face again.

"What, again?"

Catching what was flying, it turned out to be a spotless white cloth.

Chung Myung's gaze darkened slightly. The cloth was turning red from where his hand touched it.

"Wipe your face. You don't look like a human."

"It's okay. It's just going to get dirty again anyway."

"Just do as you're told."

"No, it's not necessary."

"Wipe."

Seeing no sign of giving up, Chung Myung grumbled as he wiped his face with the cloth. The once white cloth quickly turned dark red.

Baek Cheon, who had silently observed, spoke up.

"How is it?"

"What?"

"Sect Leader's words weren't necessarily wrong, were they?"

"..."

"Whether it's an honorable death or not, I don't really know, but... I can see that they are struggling too much."

"At this point, it's better that way."

"...What are you talking about?"

"Angry, bursting inside, wanting to kill everyone."

Chung Myung spoke with a pitchless voice.

"It's better when you're filled with resentment. The fact that you're capable of getting angry at the tragedies and deaths means you can endure. The real hardship comes next."

Anger becomes a driving force. But when that anger turns into fear, people lose the will to resist.

"The moment you start thinking you might be the next one to die, the situation becomes more troublesome. We need to move as much as possible before that happens. From then on, physical stamina will not be the issue."

Chung Myung tossed the blood-stained cloth.

Being chased, being surrounded.

They didn't yet know the true horror that came from that. Rest was no longer rest, and even when you collapsed from exhaustion and slept, nightmares of a knife being thrust into your throat made you scream, leaving no room for recovering strength.

Until they reached that point, they had to somehow move at least one more step forward. If that didn't work, it would be annhilation.

Baek Cheon spoke.

"I've said it before..."

"Yeah?"

"I didn't lie when I said that if the situation worsens, we will abandon the Southern Island Sect or anyone else and run away. It was a sincere statement."

"...What nonsense are you talking about? That's obvious. Whatever happens to the Southern Island Sect."

Baek Cheon calmly looked at Chung Myung and then spoke.

"And that judgment will be mine."

"What are you..."

"Don't say anything different when the time comes. I'll drag you away even if I have to beat you up."

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon as if he couldn't understand.

"Does Sasuk think I'll risk my life for the Southern Island Sect?"

"You know everything in the world."

"Huh?"

"You know and understand things that no one can ever guess as if it were natural, and you do things that no one could ever imagine as if it were natural."

"...Suddenly, what..."

"But there's one thing you completely don't know. Do you know what that is?"

"...What?"

"Yourself."

Baek Cheon said with a stern face.

"So it would be the role of someone who knows you well to stop you. Keep this in mind. You have to follow my orders no matter what. The moment you go against my orders and act on your own, I will expel you in my capacity as the Deputy Sect Leader."

Chung Myung was left speechless with disbelief. Baek Cheon added calmly,

"It's not a joke. It's not a threat."

"... ."

"Remember that."

With that, Baek Cheon turned and walked away. Chung Myung, who had been staring at his retreating figure, looked up at the distant sky.

"Whether it's this guy or that guy..."

Their heads had grown so thick. 

[The Korean idiom "이제는 머리가 너무 들 굵어져 버렸다" can be translated as "Now the head has become too thick." This idiom is used to express that someone has become stubborn, closed-minded, or obstinate in their thinking. It implies that the person's mindset has become inflexible or hard to change.]