Chapter 1628: Good Things Are Good, Right? (Part 3)

"Excuse me!"

"..."

Hyun Jong stared blankly at the document laid out before him.

A list of stamps...? No, on the long scroll-like document, there were a series of unidentifiable prints.

"Handprints (手決)?"

"They revoked their authority, so wouldn't it be strange to use the sect leader stamp? So I got their handprints!"

Chung Myung extends his stomach with a face saying, 'Did I do well?' Hyun Jong's eyeballs trembled at the sight.

"This... uh..."

Hyun Jong asked full of doubt, anxiety, and suspicion.

"Did the Sect Leaders... personally handprint these?"

"Then, surely I didn't have to stamp it in their place, right? Hey, where in the world would there be someone audacious enough to forge the handprints of the sect leaders?"

"...Right."

"It seems so."

"Then it's alright."

The heads of those present in the throne room nodded in agreement. It wasn't that there wasn't anyone audacious enough, but rather, there wasn't 'anyone else' audacious enough. 

Unfortunately (?), judging by the different sizes of the handprints, it seemed unlikely that they were forged. Even if someone else could attempt forgery, it would be impossible to forge the enormous handprint of the Beast Palace Lord, which seemed to be struggling even now to break free from the scroll.

"So, did the sect leaders all voluntarily stamp this?"

"That's right?"

"And did they know what the handprints were for?"

"Agh, it's written here! Why are you so suspicious? You weren't like this before!"

"..."

Chung Myung. Who do you think this is all because of?

Hyun Jong sighed deeply, glanced at the handprints, then tilted his head.

"This one has six fingers?"

"Perhaps they shook?"

"This one seems crushed as if someone forced it..."

Chung Myung smiled contentedly.

"That...perhaps... they were enthusiastic?"

"..."

"..."

Hyun Jong's cheeks trembled.

"Does that even make sense! You rascal!"

"Aiyo!"

The inkstone resting on Hyun Jong's desk flew into the air. Chung Myung casually dodged the flying inkstone.

"There's no need to look. It's obvious you coerced, persuaded, and threatened the weak(?) sect leaders who barely even understood what was written to forcibly stamp these handprints!"

"Really, that's not true!"

"What else could it be! You rascal!"

Jo Gol, who was watching them turn the main hall into a mess, subtly asked Yoon Jong beside him.

"But Sahyung."

"Hmm?"

"Can the words 'sect Leader', 'weak', and 'coercion' usually be associated?"

"Can they?"

"... Right?"

Jo Gol looked at Chung Myung, who was avoiding Hyun Jong's punches with a worried face. It didn't make sense... It should, but...

"Calm down, Chief."

Tang Gunak intervened to stop Hyun Jong.

"Oh, no. Sir Gaju-nim, this!"

"Anyway, it's true that the sect leaders stamped their handprints. You don't think they really did it because they couldn't withstand Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword's threats, do you?"

"..."

Hyun Jong couldn't answer this question. Even though he had doubts, if he were to answer 'yes', wouldn't that be disregarding all the sect leaders affiliated with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?

"That... might not be the case, but..."

"Regardless of the process, the fact that the handprints were stamped means they were willing to take responsibility for what they said."

Tang Gunak got up from his seat and walked slowly towards the door.

"If that weren't the case, by now, everyone would have come to protest to Maengju-nim. But look."

Click.

Tang Gunak opened the door to the Alliance Lord's room.

"..."

Thud.

And the door that had opened closed several times faster than it had opened.  [...]

Click. 

Tang Gunak shamelessly locked the door swiftly with a skillful hand movement, worthy of the title as the head of the Tang Family. He cleared his throat slightly before turning around.

"Hmm. Right now, that's not what's important."

"No, wait. Just now, outside, there was definitely..."

"There was nothing there."

"But I'm sure I saw something..."

"There was nothing."

"..."

Hyun Jong's beard trembled slightly. He felt like he saw the sect leaders outside the momentarily open door and gnashing their teeth... but...

Hyun Jong tightly closed his eyes.

'No. Let's pretend we didn't see it.'

What difference would it make if he saw it or not... Seeing it... 

"Phew."

Hyun Jong's gaze returned to the scroll with the stamped resolutions. The process was highly suspicious, but nonetheless, it couldn't be denied that the handprints were stamped here. As Tang Gunak said, those sect leaders wouldn't have just obeyed willingly if they truly had no power to resist the commands.

Though there might have been discontent, ultimately, they showed a willingness to follow whatever decision was made.

But that support didn't lighten Hyun Jong's heart.

"Hey, you."

"Yes?"

"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

"I'm trying to win."

"..."

Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung, speechless.

To win.

It was a poor response. But for Chung Myung, there was likely nothing more to add. Literally, it was just about winning, choosing the best strategy to minimize sacrifices. What other reason could there be?

The one needing more reasons wasn't Chung Myung, but Hyun Jong himself, who still wasn't free from the dignity, responsibility, and gaze of outsiders.

"Ugh."

Hyun Jong groaned softly and glanced at Tang Gunak. Upon doing so, Tang Gunak chuckled.

"Are you laughing?"

"I'm sorry I can't be of help, but this matter is entirely for you to decide, Maengju-nim. So, it's likely that no strategists or other sect leaders will step foot here."

It seemed like he was going to say something...

"...Are Gaju-nim's thoughts still the same?"

"Yes."

Tang Gunak nodded firmly.

"I understand the concern over how radical it is. But... if it were my decision to make, I wouldn't hesitate."

"May I ask why?"

"Hmm."

Tang Gunak cleared his throat slightly.

There had been reasons stated numerous times before, but right now, Hyun Jong probably wanted a more honest insight into his thoughts.

"In the world, there are countless reasons for things."

"Yes."

"But sometimes, all those reasons and justifications become meaningless. It's just one word in front of everything else."

"Just one word...?"

"Righteousness (대의)."

Tang Gunak looked at Hyun Jong with a determined gaze.

"In truth, reasons and justifications are only needed by those who haven't established true righteousness. I believe that in front of the righteousness discussed by Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, everything else is meaningless."

A subdued voice came from Hyun Jong's mouth.

"Righteousness..."

Hyun Jong closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. Though it may have been a short time, no one here disturbed his pondering.

"...Chung Myung."

Finally opening his eyes, Hyun Jong addressed Chung Myung.

"I understand what you're trying to do, but as the leader appointed by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, I cannot allow this. The disciples of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance are not here to be tools of Mount Hua."

Chung Myung's face stiffened slightly.

"The position of a leader carries responsibility. In such a position, we cannot seat those who are still inexperienced. The leaders of each unit will be chosen from the leaders of the sects who share the will of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

As sighs of helplessness seemed to escape from Chung Myung and Tang Gunak, Hyun Jong spoke again.

"Instead, what about this?"

"...Yes?"

"The individuals you recommended. Those guys..."

Hyun Jong's gaze turned to Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gol.

In his eyes looking at them, it wasn't fear, but trust.

"Appoint them as vice leaders of each unit, and let them oversee the leaders. Then, wouldn't you be able to make the quick decisions you want?"

"Huh?"

"Oh..."

Chung Myung's mind began to spin rapidly. Since those who would become unit leaders were among the leaders who stamped the handprints, they wouldn't necessarily try to hinder the judgments of those who became vice leaders.

Although it would create a somewhat cumbersome process, what he was trying to do wouldn't collapse.

"Indeed... In that case, it seems like we can somewhat alleviate the dissatisfaction of each sect."

"Most likely."

Tang Gunak nodded in admiration. If Chung Myung hadn't brought the handprints, it might have been difficult for the Five Swords to voice their opinions to the leaders. But now that they had agreed for the the Five Swords to lead the units in principle, ignoring their voices would burden the leaders as well.

Ultimately, by slightly relinquishing authority, they also lightened the burden of responsibility.

A chuckle escaped from Tang Gunak's lips.

If such opinions had come from someone else's mouth, they might have been judged as a very political move. But Hyun Jong likely had no such intentions. It was just his way of subtly considering those who shared the alliance's intentions, ultimately deriving a delicate strategy.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm."

Chung Myung scratched his cheek for a moment, then nodded soon after.

"It's a bit troublesome, but it doesn't seem like a big problem. Instead!"

"Yeah?"

Chung Myung smirked.

"Let me choose the people who will become the unit leaders."

"Huh? Why?"

"I can choose well."

Chung Myung's lips twisted wickedly.

"I already looked at their expressions when they stamped the handprints."

"Their expressions?"

"Yeah, well. Some stamped gracefully, while others were rebellious. If we appoint the leader from those who stamped gracefully..."

"You were rebelling, you rascal! You said no earlier!"

Hyun Jong's inkstone, which had just returned to its place, flew through the air again. Chung Myung deftly dodged it and stumbled to explain.

"Oh, no! I didn't mean that kind of rebellion..."

"What you're doing now is rebellion! Come here! Can't you come over here, you brat!"

While Hyun Jong raged and Chung Myung darted away, Tang Gunak shook his head.

'Looking at their expressions beforehand?'

He must have expected that Hyun Jong would come up with this answer. The process of stamping the handprints was probably to pre-select those who would cooperate with the Five Swords, even after becoming unit leaders.

How far did he think before starting this?

"...in the palm of the Buddha."

Tang Gunak's head trembled again. 

Chung Myung ran, Hyun Jong chased, and Tang Gunak shook his head. The situation was complex, but the answer was out. 

However.

In this theatrical situation and the series of decisions, one of the carefully laid cards cautiously spoke up.

"Um, but..."

"..."

"..."

"Our opinion...?"

But that disappointed voice was drowned out by the commotion in the room.

"No, well..."

Jo Gol's hand reached out futilely into the air. No... if they were going to make decisions like this, shouldn't they at least consider the opinions of those directly involved who would suffer the backlash from the leaders above and the stares of those below?

Thunk.

Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon's hands rested on Jo Gol's shoulder.

"Just give it up."

"Now that it's come to this, let's just take it easy."

All of a sudden, they became penniless vice leaders in command of people who were twice as rich. [not sure lol]

"...Why is it always like this?"

"What can one do? We just have to adapt."

"..."

Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gol.

A collective, sorrowful sigh escaped from their mouths.