Chapter 1156: The Sect Abandoned by All (Part 1)

When everyone seemed to be at a loss for words, only one reaction came out.

"Why is that?"

At that moment, Yoon Jong punched Jo Gol's chin without hesitation.

"Ugh!"

Yoon Jong clicked his tongue briefly as he saw Jo Gol fall to the ground in an instant.

"For once, act like a human...."

But at that moment, Jo Gol abruptly got up and shouted.

"No, it's not me!"

"Huh?"

Yoon Jong blinked in confusion, and Jo Gol defended himself with a face full of injustice.

"No, Sahyung! I'm the son of a merchant who lived decently in the upper district. Do you really not know where that place is?"

"...Really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense. That's an island, and the part marked with slashes between the land and the island is the sea."

"An island?"

"Southern Island."

Yoo Iseol still had a puzzled look on her face. However, Tang Soso couldn't solve the confusion either. The reason Yoo Iseol was bewildered at the moment was because she didn't understand why that person was pointing to Hae Nam Island, and even Tang Soso didn't know the reason. As Yoo Iseol's blank gaze and Tang Soso's suspicious gaze converged, Im Sobyeong grinned.

"Hehehe. Yes, that's right. This is the Southern Island."

"...Wait a moment."

At that moment, Baek Cheon intervened as if he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Southern Island?"

"Yes!"

"Really Southern Island?"

"Is your eyesight bad?"

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

Baek Cheon couldn't understand at all, but still, he opened his mouth with an expression that seemed to say, 'I have to ask.'

"Then, by any chance... the great sect that Great Master Nokrim mentioned, the place we can join. Could it be... no?"

"Hehe. Why not!"

Smack!

Im Sobyeong slapped the map with the palm of his hand and triumphantly exclaimed.

"In the world, there are countless sects, but there's only one great sect that takes the Southern Island as its base!"

"..."

"Yes! What's there to hide! It's none other than the Southern Island Sect!"

"Let's go."

"Yes, Sahyung."

"Do you know what's for lunch today?"

"I think it was beef today."

"Oh, good. Shall we go eat?"

"Sounds good."

"Then, I should go train too."

"Mm-hmm. Come to think of it, I still have some work left. I should deal with that first..."

As people began to rise from their seats with indifferent expressions, Im Sobyeong raised his voice even higher.

"Oh, no, why this reaction! I came up with such a brilliant strategy!"

"I'm hungry."

"Oh, my shoulder, injured from yesterday's training, feels stiff."

"Are we going to train again in the evening?"

"Listen!"

When Im Sobyeong shouted in frustration, Baek Cheon picked his ears and responded bluntly.

"I'll only listen if you make sense."

"That gentleman is something. To think I thought he was somewhat smart for a while."

"All bandits are like that. If they're so clever, should they live by banditry?"

Vehement criticism poured in. However, at that moment, Im Sobyeong swiftly unfolded his fan, covered his mouth, and smiled softly.

"Oh, dear, dear..."

As everyone frowned at Im Sobyeong gesturing, he continued to smile.

"Why is that gentleman acting up again?"

"Leave him be. Seems like some useless fuss."

Either way, Im Sobyeong didn't leave his own world.

"Hehe. A genius who is always ahead of his time must endure the jealousy and lack of understanding from those around him. It's only natural to face the challenges that come, so there's no need to be upset."

"...Ah, yes, yes. I suppose so."

"Let's eat. I'm hungry."

As people tried to leave, Im Sobyeong urgently lowered his fan and shouted.

"No! Listen to me first!"

"What's the point of listening? It's just nonsense anyway."

"No! Why are you saying it's impossible! People should think with all possibilities open! How much good thinking is blocked by closed prejudices and fixed ideas...!"

"No, this guy!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Baek Cheon raised his voice.

"You should speak sensibly! The Southern Island Sect belongs to the Ten Great Sects, so why would they join us? Why! Isn't this gentleman thinking!"

"We have two people from the Five Great Families here! Did you ever think that the Tang and Namgung Families would leave the Five Great Families and join forces with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"

"Huh?"

Im Sobyeong stated firmly.

"Just about five years ago, if someone had said that, they could have received certification as a madness anywhere in the world. It would have been fortunate if they were treated as a human!"

"Well..."

Baek Cheon's words faltered. In fact, it wasn't entirely incorrect. Because they were in the middle of the flow, everything felt natural.

However, to those who observed the movements of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance from a distance, wouldn't it be shocking for the Tang and Namgung Families to join the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?

"If even the Five Great Families can join us, why Ten Great Sects join us? Do those people wear golden crowns on their heads from birth or something? Damn it! If they belong to the Ten Great Sects, they belong! Why discriminate and ignore people..."

"Whoa, Nokrim. Not that way. You should talk without personal feelings."

"Oh, right."

When Beomchung calmed him down, Im Sobyeong muttered an 'Oops,' and his expression completely changed. Those who witnessed it narrowed their eyes a bit more.

"People of the Ten Great Sects eat the same food as us. Once you're a part of the Ten Great Sects, there's no guarantee that you'll be forever one of the Ten Great Sects, as the Mount Hua people directly demonstrated..." 

"What, you bastard?"

"Chung Myung!"

"Chung Myung! Be patient!"

"Get rid of that guy! Quickly! Why did you suddenly bring up that story and make a quiet child throw a fit?"

Terrified, The Five Swords and the elders pressed down Chung Myung. Madness was spewing out from Chung Myung's half-turned eyes.

"What? Kicked out of the Ten Great Sects? This bandit says that with a pierced mouth!"

"I didn't say you were kicked out..."

"But this bastard?"

"I told you to endure it!"

"Hey, hold on! Grab him tight! If he gets in a hit now, the Nokrim King's done for!"

Im Sobyeong wiped cold sweat and stepped back.

"C-cough. Anyways..."

Bang!

Im Sobyeong spread his palm and struck Southern Island on the map again.

"In order to understand what I'm saying, you need to understand the current situation the Southern Island Sect is in right now."

"Do we have to listen?"

"Do we have to?"

Various disinterested responses emerged, but Im Sobyeong persevered and continued.

"The part to pay attention to is here."

Im Sobyeong drew a line horizontally across the center of the large map.

No one present was unaware of what that line meant. It was a long line crossing the central region. The Yangtze River.

"The current Central Plains is divided into north and south by the Yangtze River. The southern part is dominated by the Evil Tyrant Alliance, while the northern part is much more influenced by the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Families."

"Hmm."

As familiar stories began, people gradually became interested.

"The Yangtze River flows through Sichuan, extending to the cross-mountain range that forms the boundary between Sichuan and Xijiang. In other words, when the Yangtze River is occupied, the path from below to above is completely blocked."

"What an obvious thing to say."

"Then look. Where are the Ten Great Sects located?"

"Well..."

Baek Cheon, who was about to respond harshly, suddenly changed his expression.

"Do you see?"

Im Sobyeong quickly took out a brush from his robe, opened the lid, and drew dots on the map.

"Do you understand?"

Baek Cheon nodded silently. Im Sobyeong shrugged and said,

"As you can see, most of the martial arts factions belonging to the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Families are concentrated above the Yangtze River. Emei, Qingcheng, and Diancang are located right above the Yangtze River, Wudang is in Hebei, Southern Edge Sect and Mount Hua are in Shaanxi and Shaolin is in Henan, all above Hebei. There's no need to mention Konglun in Cheonghae and Kongtong in Gansu."

"That's right."

It was nothing new. It was widely known that the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Families were centered around the northern region, above the Yangtze River. There was no need to reiterate what was already known.

Except for one place.

Im Sobyeong furiously drew Southern Island below the Guangxi province with the brush.

"How about here?"

"...It's in the south."

Of course, Southern Island was at the southernmost tip of the Central Plains.

Right. Only the Southern Island existed south of the Yangtze River. Moreover, it was isolated in the South Sea beyond the region dominated by the Evil Tyrant Alliance. It was in a position where it wouldn't be able to receive help from any sects.

"As you know, the Ten Great Sects and the Evil Tyrant Alliance have crossed an impassable river. It's just a matter of when they will reveal their teeth to each other."

"Well..."

"Then let me ask you one thing."

Im Sobyeong smiled, raising the corner of his mouth.

"Where do you think the war will start?"

"...?"

"Up until now, everyone probably thought the war would start at the Yangtze River. But... do you really think so?"

Baek Cheon remained silent.

"I have one question: do you really think that the Paegun would start a war leaving an enemy behind him?"

No, everyone here could be certain of that. Jang Ilso would never let those who could target his back stay alive.

"I assure you, the signal for war won't come from the Yangtze River. It will be from the Southern Island. To our eyes, the Southern Island Sect may seem isolated and in imminent danger, but for the Paegun?"

Chung Myung gently pushed away those who were still pressing down on him and sat up straight.

"....Is it like a separate unit hidden behind?"

"Exactly. While the forces are concentrated at the front, the main front, they'll appear to be in a position that can always attack the Evil Tyrant Alliance's territory and crush the rear."

Im Sobyeong chuckled.

"How about it, Dojang? If you were Paegun, what would you do with Southern Island?"

"I'm not that Jang Ilso bastard, so that question is a bit annoying."

"...."

"But...."

Chung Myung, with his chin raised, looked at Im Sobyeong with determination.

"Even if I were Jang Ilso... No, even if it weren't Jang Ilso, I wouldn't just leave Southern Island Sect alone."

"Sure...."

"But saying that the war would start from there is wrong."

"....What?"

At that moment, Chung Myung's voice sank slightly.

"I guess he would clean up that place before starting war."

"...."

"Right now, if need be."

With that statement, the atmosphere in the room became cold.