Chapter 1607: Even When I Open My Eyes, It's The Same (Part 2)

\"What about the others?"

"They've all returned to their assigned accommodations for now."

At Im Sobyeong's words, Tang Gunak let out a deep sigh.

Baek Cheon's words were like a bomb. Even though a mountain of issues still needed to be sorted out, that one statement swallowed up the entire agenda.

In that atmosphere, continuing the meeting was not easy, so they had to temporarily suspend it.

"Traitors..."

Tang Gunak muttered softly but quickly closed his mouth firmly. Then, he glanced at Hyun Jong.

Even without asking, the depth of the sorrow that had settled in his eyes was clearly visible. It was not difficult to guess his inner thoughts.

"How does the Commander view this?"

"Hmm."

Im Sobyeong, who was sitting across from Hyun Jong, and Tang Gunak, tapped his fan on his palm while speaking.

"It's reasonable."

"..."

"Indeed, there is no other possibility."

"Is there really no chance that Paegun trained his own forces separately?"

"If Jang Ilso had the power to do that, he wouldn't have formed the Evil Tyrant Alliance in the first place. He would have just defeated Four Great Evils with the Myriad Man Manor alone."

"..."

"And if, after the formation of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, Jang Ilso succeeded in training such individuals?"

Im Sobyeong shrugged his shoulders.

"Then, is there anything to worry about? We would have to run to Hubei immediately and beg for our lives."

A sigh involuntarily escaped from Tang Gunak's mouth.

"Don't say such things even as a joke. We might hear it in jest, but others won't."

"I guess you're saying it might not sound the same in the ears of others. I'll be careful."

Tang Gunak asked with tired eyes.

"But realistically, who could betray us?"

"Shall I mention the possible sects?"

"...No."

Talking about it would only deepen unnecessary suspicions.

The enemies were becoming stronger day by day, and just countering them was overwhelming. Now, they had to be wary of betrayal from within. All these situations raised a single doubt in Tang Gunak's mind.

'Can we really win?'

Perhaps the one who has been most concerned about Jang Ilso's existence but had ignored him the most may be none other than the Tang Gunak.

He had never considered that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Ten Great Sects would be cornered to this extent.

"...What are they doing now?"

"After occupying a few borderlands in Hubei, they haven't made any moves."

Tang Gunak nodded slowly. They also needed internal organization.

"Maengju-nim."

Hyun Jong, who was called by Tang Gunak, turned his gaze without saying anything.

"What are you thinking?"

"...Gaju-nim"

"Yes."

"...Betrayal means that those who followed the righteous path are moving according to Jang Ilso's will, right?"

Tang Gunak furrowed his brow slightly. Why suddenly say such obvious things?

"That's right."

"Why?"

"...Yes?"

"Why would they make such a choice?"

Tang Gunak was momentarily speechless. Hyun Jong spoke quietly.

"At that time, we had the upper hand. If they hadn't helped the Evil Tyrant Alliance, the Evil Sect wouldn't have won. But why did they make such a choice? It's not like they surrendered to them when we were in a disadvantageous position. So, what reason did they have to bow their heads to the enemy when we were in a sufficiently advantageous position?"

Tang Gunak's face stiffened involuntarily.

This was an aspect he hadn't considered. The fact that there could be a traitor itself was so shocking that he had been immersed in it.

"Righteousness..."

A fitting word.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason for betrayal. Moreover, individuals with such skills – why would they join forces with the Evil Tyrant Alliance?

"Could Paegun have made some secret deal worth considering? Like handing over Gangbuk..."

At those words, Im Sobyeong chuckled.

"A righteous faction becoming traitors based on the words of the Evil Sect. That's a story not even found in fairy tales."

That was true. The more one thought about it, the more perplexing it became.

'Like a ghost.'

Clearly present, yet utterly intangible.

"What exactly..."

Im Sobyeong, who had been contemplating for a long time, scratched his head as if annoyed.

"Where is the Chief now? We might need to hear the opinion of the currently craziest guy."

"..."

Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong found themselves unintentionally looking at each other.

❀ ❀ ❀

"...Traitors."

Moyong Wigyung murmured as if lost in thought. At that moment, Jaegal Jain asked,

"Do you believe those words?"

"I don't want to believe, but... there's no way not to believe, is there?"

"Even so, traitors..."

The faces of the two people engaged in conversation were endlessly serious.

Watching them, Jong Rigok quietly put down the teacup he had been holding. Then, he laughed incongruously.

As soon as they left, these two came to his abode.

It might be awkward, but Southern Edge was better than the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, who were utterly unsuitable.

Or perhaps, they needed someone to give them orders since they had never proactively done anything until now.

"What does Sect Leader think?"

Sure enough, Jaegal Jain subtly asked Jong Rigok.

"Before that... there's something I want to confirm."

"Yes, please go ahead."

"Did they really exist?"

"...Yes?"

Jaegal Jain stared blankly at Jong Rigok as if asking what he meant.

"The ones who blocked you. I'm asking if they really existed."

After a moment, Jaegal Jain's face brightened.

"Sect Leader!"

"Don't get too agitated. It's just a confirmation. Even if you had agreed on the words, I wouldn't blame you. At least then, we can say a mysterious force hadn't been added to the Evil Tyrant Alliance."

Jaegal Jain bit his lips.

"I have spoken nothing but the truth."

"Hmm."

Jong Rigok let out a sound of distress.

So, in the end, it meant that there were traitors.

At that moment, Moyong Wigyung opened his mouth with a troubled expression.

"I don't know if it's because I'm dense, but I don't understand this whole situation."

"What do you mean?"

"Irrespective of the appearance of unknown enemies, can we conclusively label them as traitors? It could be a third force that we are unaware of, attaching themselves to them."

Jaegal Jain sighed deeply.

"But if that were the case, there was no need for them to hide their identities, right? Yet, we clearly saw them making an effort to conceal their identities."

"Well, yes, but..."

Jong Rigok brought the teacup to his lips again. Talking further would just be speculation, repeating the same story.

"I have one more question."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"How did you fight them when you faced them? I heard they withdrew without inflicting significant damage. If a full-scale battle had occurred, it wouldn't have ended like that. How many of them did you personally engage?"

Jegal Jain's face slightly stiffened.

"That's... well..."

After hesitating, he glanced at Jong Rigok and reluctantly spoke.

"Ten... no, it may not even be ten."

Jong Rigok's hand, about to tilt the teacup, stopped abruptly.

"Ten?"

"...Yes."

"The number is over a hundred. However, in actual combat, only around ten. Yet, how were you so sure they were all experts?"

"Well, that's..."

Moyong Wigyung quickly intervened.

"They had aura, didn't they? Characteristics felt from those who have properly learned martial arts. They had that."

A faint smile appeared on Jong Rigok's lips.

"In the end, you assumed it based on what you saw with your eyes."

"No, no, that's a bit..."

Though Moyong Wigyung tried to explain himself, Jaegal Jain remained silent with tightly closed lips.

Now Jong Rigok could roughly understand the situation.

'Rational.'

It was true that the enemies were strong. However, what they had confirmed directly amounted to only about a dozen.

Even if others followed behind those dozen were just there to fill in the numbers, there was no way to confirm it.

Jaegal Jain had not deliberately engaged in combat with the unidentified ones.

There would be two main reasons for that.

Firstly, if they were to face the unknown forces and the sacrifice on their side was significant, the main force would inevitably lose, and there was no need to confront them directly.

And the other, more decisive reason was that they were not passionate enough to risk their lives against people whose identity they did not even know.

'Traitors...'

Jong Rigok desperately suppressed the laughter that was about to come out.

In this situation, regardless of who it was, it was difficult to deny the statement that they were traitors.

After all, actively wielding a sword wasn't the only definition of betrayal.

From the perspective of Beopjeong, who was shedding blood and tears, who was the real traitor?

"Sect Leader."

At the sound of the voice, Jong Rigok folded away his speculations. Now wasn't the time to pursue such things. He spoke calmly.

"In that case... the scope is broadening excessively."

"What do you mean..."

"Simply put, if one has the intention, it's not difficult. If you have around a hundred people and about ten skilled individuals, anyone could have been there. For example..."

Jong Rigok let out a mysterious smile.

"Right now, there might be those we cannot confirm within the wall." [Great Wall of China, i think]

Jaegal Jain's face stiffened.

"Sect Leader!"

"If not, those known to be in a faraway place, having not been involved in the Central Plain's affairs yet."

This time, Moyong Wigyung's face slightly paled.

"Sect Leader, what you're saying now..."

"Not that. Perhaps..."

Jong Rigok said calmly.

"The ones sitting in front of me right now could be them, don't you think?"

"..."

"..."

Now, looking at the two people who seemed to have frozen even to their lips, Jong Rigok burst into a small laugh.

"My point is, under such conditions, pinpointing is impossible. Anyone could be a traitor."

"Well... that's true."

"So, what exactly should be done to deal with it?"

"Well, I don't know."

Jong Rigok sighed and gulped down his tea in one go.

"It might sound a bit absurd, but I am someone who knows a bit about Mount Hua and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"The Heavenly Comrade Alliance... No, the Mount Hua Sect usually doesn't follow common sense in dealing with such cases."

"Huh?"

"Whether it's a people problem or a sect problem, I don't know."

Jong Rigok turned his gaze. Beyond the window, the towering Mount Hua could be seen. Looking at it intently, he chuckled.

❀ ❀ ❀

The crimson sunset spilled over the entire world.

Chung Myung, sitting at the edge of Mount Hua's peak gradually turned red as well.

In that stillness, a voice was heard behind Chung Myung, who was silently watching the setting sun.

"You're here."

Chung Myung turned around without a word.

"Those of Mount Hua always climb mountains whenever there is a chance. There's no one else who enjoys climbing mountains like you. How can you be here whenever you have time? You'll have to come down anyway."

Baek Cheon approached with a tired expression, shaking his head. Then, he sat down next to Chung Myung.

Chung Myung asked.

"What's going on?"

"What do you need for me to come?"

Without looking at Chung Myung, Baek Cheon replied, staring only at the sky that Chung Myung was looking at.

"I just came up to avoid the glares."

Chung Myung laughed, seemingly surprised by the absurdity of the statement.

"It seems you can feel glares."

"I'm a person with some awareness too."

"I thought you wouldn't notice because your face is so thick."

This time, Baek Cheon let out a light laugh.

Baek Cheon wasn't a traitor. He just mentioned the possibility of a traitor.

But people are always like that. They feel uncomfortable when thrust with realities they don't want to reveal, face, or deal with. They even point fingers and curse.

Eventually, once they accept the reality, the atmosphere would change, but for a while, he would have to endure uncomfortable glances.

"So did you run away?"

"Well, it's not really running away... just avoided for a moment."

"Why did you choose this place?"

"Well, I just thought of it."

Baek Cheon, who paused for a moment, turned to look at Chung Myung. A smile hung on his lips.

"Thinking that you might have received those looks until now."

"..."

The sunset became increasingly dim and red. A long shadow was cast over Chung Myung's face.