Chapter 1139: Still, What Can You Do? (Part 4)

The next day.

"Yincha."

Chung Myung stretched his shoulders energetically.

"Now, let's see who I can beat up today."

Chung Myung was in high spirits, but Tang Gunak's and Meng So's expressions were not as bright and energetic as Chung Myung's.

"...Are you not tired?"

"Tired?"

Chung Myung glanced at Tang Gunak and Meng So, whose faces showed evident signs of fatigue.

Of course, the moment they entered the training grounds, their faces would morph into that of austere martial artists, but here, they didn't need to put on such an act and exert themselves.

"No way. What have you done to make you already tired?"

"Ah...."

"Youth is scary."

Meng So and Tang Gunak shook their heads.

Aside from Chung Myung's martial strength, his indefatigable stamina was something they couldn't match.

"We're dealing with children, but you're not whining, are you?"

The two men shook their heads in disbelief.

"It's not a big deal once, but... after two or three times, it's not easy to get up in the morning."

"Human beings don't recover perfectly just by sleeping, do they?"

Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

"When a war starts, you might have to fight for a month or two without rest, not just three or four days. Are you going to say the same thing then?"

Chung Myung slowly tilted his head.

"It looks like the elders all have similar thoughts. Later on, when there's a war, and I'm getting old and can't keep fighting as much, the moment I say I'll go to the back and rest, the dinner table will be cleared. If you don't want to be the old man in the back room, hold on even if everyone else dies."

"Mm-hmm."

"Ugh...."

A series of pained sounds leaked out of the elders' mouths. Their stomachs turned inside out, but they couldn't argue with him because nothing he said was wrong.

"It shouldn't have been so hard in the first place."

Tang Gunak smiled bitterly at that.

'Not hard....'

In a way, he was right. The disciples weren't that hard to deal with them. As long as you didn't show any signs of weakness and continued to suppress them.

'Moreover... the more we repeat, the better we become.'

It was clear that they, too, were learning how to deal with the disciples, whether with their bodies or their minds.

"It's easier said than done."

At that moment, Meng So spoke up.

"They may find it unfamiliar to face people like us as in a group, but on the flip side, we haven't experienced facing so many of them as enemies either. It's the same for us."

Everyone nodded at his words.

"That's true. Who in the world would have such an experience? Even if one practices facing a sect, the number wouldn't exceed five. We need to adapt as well."

Meng So spoke in a subdued voice, but Chung Myung cut in sharply.

"Well then, we should adapt."

His expression was cold, as if he didn't need to listen to Meng So's words.

"If there's something to adapt to, just adapt. Do you really think that the blades of the Demonic Sect or the Evil Tyrant Alliance will only avoid you, aiming at everyone else?"

"Well, I mean..."

As Meng So hesitated for a moment, a strange light flashed in Tang Gunak's eyes.

"...In the future, do you think we'll frequently find ourselves in such situations?"

"It's not about whether it happens frequently or infrequently. The important thing is that it's inevitable."

As if that wasn't enough, Chung Myung added.

"The weaker side has to do something."

"..."

"We can sit arrogantly at the back, letting our subordinates deal with the lower ranks and just target the enemy's leaders. If we move like that, before we even meet the enemy's leaders, all the kids will be dead."

At those words, the faces of Tang Gunak, Meng So, and the elders stiffened slightly.

"Then ultimately, those who are able to make up for the lack of power will have no choice but to make up for it. If a real war breaks out, there will never be a time when you can sit back and leisurely assess the situation. Never."

Chung Myung's eyes narrowed slightly.

"There are only two choices. Either justify biding your time while watching the kids die upfront. Or, fight at the very front, eating mud, and see how far you can go."

"Um..."

"Which side will you choose?"

The elders were about to answer something, but Chung Myung waved his hand to stop them.

"Ah, forget it. If I ask like this, everyone will answer that they will fight at the front line anyway. But in reality, there aren't many people who actually do that. Most get scared and retreat, and those with enthusiasm don't know how far they can go, and end up dying first."

"Heh."

So Chung Myung said with a dry smile.

"That's why, take this opportunity to get used to it. What it's like to face an army."

Tang Gunak let out a wry smile.

"I feel it all the time, but you're very demanding."

"So does everyone in Mount Hua."

"...So it's going to explode inside you." [not sure]

Tang Gunak shook his head lightly.

Teaching them while also seeking one's own improvement was an excessive demand. But wasn't it a duty that couldn't be avoided if you wished for the growth of your disciples?

"There's nowhere else in the world where such training is done."

"So be it."

"..."

"The problem isn't just among masters. Strangely enough, even ordinary people who start out as low-ranking disciples don't understand the people below them once they reach a higher level. They swear countless times that they won't be like that, but later on, they say things like 'You don't understand because you don't know,' or 'You'll understand after going through it.'"

Tang Gunak cleared his throat awkwardly. Because inside, he felt a twinge of discomfort.

"If they don't know, you can just explain it to them, and if you understand first, you can explain it in a way that others can understand. But just saying that they'll understand later... isn't that just an excuse for taking the easy way out?"

"Yeah..."

"So, it's not just them who need to change."

As Tang Gunak was about to say something, Meng So scratched his head awkwardly.

"We've heard enough nagging. Let's go quickly. It might be more comfortable to deal with them than to get scolded by you."

"Yeah!"

Chung Myung didn't mince his words.

Whether viewed from their positions in Kangho, their external appearances, or their ages, these two were not people who should listen to nagging from Chung Myung. Objectively, it was amazing that these two would willingly listen to Chung Myung, a third-class disciple of Mount Hua, nag them without showing any signs of displeasure.

Chung Myung knew that too and didn't push it too far.

'Well, whatever. There's too many things to worry about.'

In the past, if he said, 'What do you want?' or even 'Shut up and just do as you're told!' no one would dare to speak up in front of him. Now, he had to delicately communicate with people to avoid hurting their feelings as much as possible.

'Sahyung. This is how I live.'

- Do you now know how I felt when I tried to talk to you without making you upset?

'No way. That's different from this.'

- You rotten...."

Chung Myung shook his head and headed to the training ground.

'Will it be the same today?'

The fastest way to change people was to point out the problem to them. However, even with that method, nothing might change sometimes.

This wasn't something he could solve by pointing it out; they had to figure it out for themselves.

'It won't be that easy.'

Patience was required. The same patience that Cheon Mun held, who waited and waited even though he knew that Chung Myung wouldn't change easily.

"Hoooo."

Chung Myung took a deep breath in his spot.

He couldn't afford to be impatient. Although he hated the phrase "the more urgent you are, the slower your progress is" he had to engrave it in his heart for now, again and again.

"Alright."

Chung Myung nodded and confidently stepped into the training ground.

"Well, are you ready to have fun today too…huh?"

However, the moment he entered the training ground, he stopped abruptly. Chung Myung's head tilted slightly.

"What's going on?"

The scene before his eyes was quite different from usual.

Until now, each sect had gathered separately, waiting for them. But what Chung Myung saw now was undeniably an organized formation.

At the forefront stood Beast Palace, with the Namgung Family behind them ready to intervene at any moment. Behind them, the Tang Family was prepared to make a move, and Ice Palace and Mount Hua were holding their swords to their left and right like wings.

It was a basic formation, but it clearly showed that they had prepared something.

"Hmm?"

"Ho..."

Meng So and Tang Gunak, who followed behind, also looked at the scene with interest.

Chung Myung discreetly covered his mouth with a fist, not wanting to reveal the corners of his mouth that were curling upwards involuntarily.

'Faster than I thought.'

He had certainly expected that Baek Cheon, along with the Five Swords and Im Sobyeong, wouldn't just take the beatings lying down. But he didn't think it would happen this quickly.

'They say children's growth is always faster than what parents anticipate... Turns out I'm still human.'

Everyone was growing day by day, and it only felt slow when observed up close.

Chung Myung's gaze shifted to Baek Cheon, who exuded confidence, now wearing a satisfied smile. After scrutinizing him, Chung Myung turned to look at Nokrim behind the Tang Family, particularly Im Sobyeong.

Confirming that Im Sobyeong was shrugging his shoulders, Chung Myung adjusted his expression and lowered his hand.

"What's the use of being like that in this situation...?"

The words that came out of his mouth were not complimentary praise but rather a blatant mockery.

"What difference does it make?"

"Well?"

Baek Cheon chuckled in response to Chung Myung's taunt.

"Who knows, what will change? That eloquent mouth might end up with a knife stuck in it."

Namgung Dowi politely commented.

"You might experience an unexpected defeat."

Of course, the Tang Family didn't fall behind.

"Even if everything fails, avoiding getting poisoned would be difficult, right? The same goes for Tang Gaju-nim!"

"Huh?"

When Chung Myung looked around as if saying it was ridiculous, Im Sobyeong, who was fanning himself in the back, raised his voice.

"I always say this!"

His voice penetrated everyone's ears.

"Winning or losing is a problem for later. First, let's just get a punch in that damned face!"

"Yeah!"

"For God's sake! Then, we can sleep soundly tonight!"

"Please! Please! Pleeeease!"

Before the fervor could die down, Im Sobyeong directed the fan he was holding towards Chung Myung.

"If you're so confident, then why not come?"

"Confident?"

"Or why else are you standing there in the back? Are you scared?"

"Oh... really?"

Chung Myung chuckled and gripped his sword.

Srrrk.

Slowly, the Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword emerged from its sheath. Witnessing this, everyone swallowed hard.

"Looks like you're quite confident."

Chung Myung stood with Tang Guank and Meng So on his left and right. Behind them, the elders followed with laughter.

"Well, it just means the beating will last a little longer. I'll make you understand the difference in skill, you bastards!"

Shouting loudly as Chung Myung rushed forward with his sword, Im Sobyeong exclaimed,

"Step on him!"

"Kill him!"

"Justice will prevail! Evil ones!"

Everyone rushed forward with fiery determination in their eyes. Chung Myung lowered his stance slightly. Hidden from their eyes, a faint smile crossed his lips.