Chapter 1471: The Fruits Of Labor (Part 1)

"... Honestly, this is pretty amazing."

"I agree."

"I'm questioning if it even makes sense."

Jo Gol, Yoon Jong, and Tang Soso nodded at each other, acknowledging the situation. There was always a reason behind Chung Myung's seemingly reckless actions. Even when they heard about leveling Hwaeum's mountains and establishing a headquarters there, they thought it could somehow work.

But what happened here surpassed even their extraordinary expectations.

"... Anything can happen when you roll it."

"Usually, it doesn't work like this. Usually. Where is this..."

"Even if there were a thousand Mount Hua people, they couldn't have done it like this. It seems the key was having individuals who could be utilized in various ways."

"That's... right."

No one could argue.

While that fact was significant, the main reason for the abnormal shortening of the construction period was that the heads of each sect were being driven like slaves.

Everyone knows how to cut corners. There is not a person under the sky who wouldn't want to do more for less effort, even if they were a robust laborer.

But...

'How do the heads carry out their responsibilities while being dragged around?'

Even Seol So Baek, who lacked sheer strength, joined the group breaking rocks by freezing them and smashing them. Anyone with a sense of awareness wouldn't dare think of playing around.

"Is this intentional?"

At Jo Gol's question, Yoon Jong awkwardly smiled.

"Well. Even if it is, it's not like..."

"I knew it. Definitely."

Yoon Jong quietly closed his mouth in agreement. He had been thinking the same thing.

'So, in the first place, we shouldn't have given him a position like Chief.'

The sect leaders probably didn't know. That one decision led to these results.

"Well... Anyway, as long as the results are good."

Everyone nodded at Yoon Jong's casual words. But only Jo Gol had a troubled expression.

"That's true, but... Chief."

"Hmm?"

"But, isn't this a bit excessive?"

Jo Gol pointed to the distant horizon.

To add a little bit of exaggeration, where a city was being built with the intention of stretching all the way to the horizon.

"... Isn't it too much?"

"..."

"Is he really planning to build a real city? That mad bastard?"

***

"Ah, you really can't understand my words! Does it matter if the roof is a bit twisted? I don't get it."

"Mm... Chief. If it twists like this, it will eventually leak. Then the floor rots, and it will be uncomfortable for the people living..."

"Uncomfortable?"

Chung Myung's eyes blinked.

"These people are getting too comfortable! Huh? Back in my day, I used to lie in the fields and sleep even if it poured rain! What? Uncomfortable because it leaks?"

"... When was that?"

"Noisy! If there's a hole, just put some boards over it, smear mud, and repair it as needed! How many houses need to be built now? We're wasting time here. We need to add another hundred today."

"A hundred more houses? Chief, that's difficult. The sun is already setting..."

"If the sun sets, so what? Do the martial artists stop working just because the sun has set?"

"We need to sleep too."

"It's okay, it's okay. Not sleeping for one or five days won't kill them. I've tried it all."

Tears flowed down the dusty cheeks of those stuck to the building.

When Chung Myung initially said that he would build a headquarters with the craftsmen of Tang Family, everyone was overjoyed. But...

"Uh, a courtyard should go here. Chief! If it's like this, there's nothing we can do..."

"Not needed. Just build houses."

"Then, shouldn't we build the houses a bit bigger? Without a courtyard, if we stick them like this... or at least build a wall..."

"Wall? Waaaall? Sharing is caring! How precious and good is that?"

"No, but..."

One of the workers carrying wood looked at the houses being built.

The size was not even half of the Tang Family's buildings, and these houses were rapidly growing in rows.

'Do other sects usually live like this?'

It's unlikely. In fact, wasn't it the Tang Family who repaired Mount Hua's buildings back then? It wasn't like this at that time...

Well, let's assume it's possible. It's not a job to consider the convenience of the people who will live in a hurry.

But they've already built enough houses to accommodate the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Why continue to expand?

"Do I hear the sound of brains turning?"

"Hi, hiik!"

"When people work, they should be free of distractions! The same goes for training! Empty your mind and focus on the task!"

Not catching a single ghost, but that human, instead of being caught by the ghosts, has already had his hair grabbed dozens or hundreds of times by hateful ghosts. [idk]

Chung Myung looked around with bloodshot eyes.

"Anyway, whether they are craftsmen or sect leaders, I don't like any of them! All of them are too slow! What kind of work is this..."

"Chung Myung."

"What?"

Reacting sharply, Chung Myung momentarily flinched. Then he quickly gathered his hands politely.

"Hehe. Did you call, Sect Leader?"

Seeing this, everyone opened their mouths in unison.

'That disgusting human.'

'Wow, did you see his expression change just now?'

'If he had been sent to the Imperial Palace, he would have become a legendary traitor.'

Receiving Chung Myung's polite gesture, Un Am forced an awkward smile.

"Well, um... Is everything going okay?"

"Yes, of course! Naturally!"

"... Shall we take a short walk then?"

"Yes!"

As Un Am took Chung Myung and left, everyone let out a collective sigh.

"...Do we have to keep experiencing this in the future?"

"Isn't there another way?"

"Should we just live as commoners and forget about it?"

"That's fine, but you need to build that house."

"...Damn it."

On the other hand, Un Am, who was walking, let out a forced cough.

"Well... I think I need to do something too."

"Ah. What are you talking about? Managing people and making sure everything is going well is such an important task."

Yes. It wasn't a wrong statement. If only Chung Myung hadn't run around like a madman, doing everything Un Am was supposed to do.

"Maybe I should do something as a Sect Leader..."

"Ah. The Sect Leader of Mount Hua has his pride. Such trivial tasks are..."

At the sound of Tang Gunak's voice from the side, Un Am looked at Chung Myung with a sullen expression.

"...beneath him."

Chung Myung, ending his words in a mumble, subtly avoided Un Am's gaze. Un Am sighed.

"I know you're considerate of me, but still, I want to be with them."

Chung Myung scratched his head.

"I understand what you're saying, but Sect Leader is already working hard enough."

"What kind of talk is that?"

"The people who are most anxious right now are not the workers, but the original residents of Hwaeum."

Un Am nodded involuntarily at these words.

From the perspective of Hwaeum residents, the neighborhood that was getting along fairly well was undergoing a sudden change, so they couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Right now, the Hwaeum residents are probably thinking that a bunch of martial artists will with weapons come in there."

"True. And isn't that a valid concern?"

"It's going to be scary, of course."

Un Am stared at Chung Myung for a moment. This part was something he hadn't thought about. So far, the people of Mount Hua and the people of Hwaeum have gotten along so well.

"So, it's important for the Sect Leader to show some composure. Regardless of what reality is, if they feel like Mount Hua can control the martial artists coming in from now on, it will give them a sense of security."

"Um."

"Martial artists are just martial artists. We are humans who can't farm on our own. Without the cooperation of Hwaeum's residents, even a splendidly built fortress would be useless, right?"

Un Am smiled strangely as he looked at Chung Myung.

"...Why are you doing that?"

"Well, I wonder. Why would that be?"

Un Am was different from Hyun Jong. He knew that Chung Myung was superior to him in every aspect. Because he himself wasn't that great.

However, even though he knew this fact, it felt strange once again. The Chung Myung who just watched from the side, and the Chung Myung who became the chief, were clearly different.

"Got it. So your point is that it's better for me to roam around, monitoring them as if I'm carrying the burden. Not because I'm incompetent."

"Yes! Of course. Hey, incompetence? I haven't even thought about that."

"Yeah. I see."

Un Am smiled wryly.

"Of course, even now, Great Sect Leader could be doing a better job and be overworked, right?" [not sure]

"Uh... is that so?"

Chung Myung pretended to be indifferent. Un Am shook his head.

There was no way a child of Chung Myung's stature was only aiming for that. Perhaps this entire procedure was a process to clearly establish to the people of Hwaeum and other sects that the sect leader of Mount Hua was now Un Am, not Hyun Jong.

Un Am, who had considered saying a few more words about it, shook his head soon.

Just leave it. Just do what this guy wanted him to do. Even trying to understand with the intention to help could be a hindrance.

"Can I ask one more thing?"

"What, just one? You can ask a hundred more."

"For someone so busy, you seem to be fidgeting a lot?"

"Ah. I got injured during training."

Un Am chuckled at Chung Myung's natural answer.

"As far as I can see, there seem to be enough buildings already."

"It's still not enough."

"I knew you'd say that, but... even so, it seemed like all the areas that each sect could use have already been built?"

... Chung Myung did not deny those words and awkwardly smiled.

"You noticed?"

"I may not be better than you, but I'm not stupid. While the master spent his life observing external signs, I spent my life observing internal signs.

What are you trying to do? No matter how you look at it, this place doesn't feel like an ordinary fortress. It may not have taken the form of a fortress due to hasty construction, but even so, there should be the basics of a fortress... No matter how I look at it, this place feels like a real city. Moreover, a city that has yet to extend its walls."

Chung Myung nodded slowly at the words.

"That's right, Sect Leader."

Un Am frowned subtly at his casual acknowledgment.

"What are you thinking? Why try to build a city here? As you know, this is not a terrain where a city can develop. Trying to make this place like Xi'an...?"

"Oh, no, that's not it."

Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders.

"I know that a city is not something you build just because you want to."

"...Huh? But still?"

Un Am stared at Chung Myung as if asking what he meant.

In the meantime, they had reached the outskirts of Hwaeum.

A road connected to other areas stretched out. It was a place that was too familiar to the people of Mount Hua.

Chung Myung grinned.

"Isn't it about time they arrived?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Now they're coming."

"Huh?"

Un Am turned his gaze towards where Chung Myung pointed.

'What's coming...'

His eyes widened significantly.

"That... is..."

A distant horizon. A vague group of people could be seen approaching.

Un Am felt it. Those who were approaching now didn't have the slightest hostility, no, before even considering them as enemies... they weren't even martial artists.

Chung Myung chuckled.

"It seems like that side has also turned on their brains. If I could have achieved it by just being smart enough, I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble. It will come now. The fruits of labor."

...Hearing that, Un Am clenched his fist unknowingly.