Chapter 1625: With Our Blood and Lives! (Part 5)

"Can we really end it like this?"

"What?"

"I mean the Southern Edge Sect, Southern Edge!"

Jo Gol shouted incredulously. Baek Cheon just shrugged lightly.

"Great Sect Leader decided not to make an issue out of it."

"Even so, we've been wronged!"

Jo Gol seemed increasingly unable to make sense of it. Baek Cheon glanced at him and said.

"But it's a bit strange, isn't it?"

"What?"

Baek Cheon's expression seemed puzzled.

"You didn't know? At all?"

"...."

"Even though you've learned the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and witnessed their swordsmanship with your own eyes?"

"Well, I re-remember... Wasn't the order reversed as well? Wasn't it? But that was years ago...."

"...."

"Oh, don't give me that look! Is there any reason I should remember the techniques of those damned Southern Edge guys?"

Despite the passionate protest, Baek Cheon's gaze didn't waver. Jo Gol turned to Yoon Jong this time.

"Can you please explain, Sahyung! Sahyung, did you know?"

"I suspected."

"Look at this! Suspected... What? You suspected?"

"...If one isn't a fool, they would."

Jo Gol leaned his head against the wall in frustration. Then, he muttered to himself, 'That's right...I am the only one being fooled, again, just me.'

Yoon Jong didn't even glance at him. Baek Cheon asked.

"You suspected?"

"Since learning the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, flashes of their swordsmanship occasionally came to mind. It seemed too similar no matter how you look at it. I thought they must have had a similar foundation. But I didn't think they would take it to this extent. I thought they might have just accepted those who left Mount Hua and restored their practical swordsmanship."

"Is that so...."

Baek Cheon nodded heavily. He hadn't imagined that the Southern Edge Sect would covet Mount Hua's martial arts in this manner. Was it so easy to think that a sect with such pride and dignity would desire Mount Hua's martial artists?

"...If Soso finds out, she'll go crazy, saying that the streams in Southern Edge will be poisoned."

"She's no longer with the Tang Family, why does she keep doing that?"

"Because she's no longer with the Tang Family. And to be frank, the Tang Family doesn't do that either. Soso's just intense like that."

"...That's a valid point."

Baek Cheon felt his head ache at the thought of Tang Soso foaming at the mouth with needles in hand.

At that moment, Jo Gol raised his head abruptly.

"Wait, does this mean that Chung Myung knew all of this?"

"Probably. Based on the circumstances, it seems Chung Myung and Sect Leader Jongri had a private conversation last night. Wouldn't this topic have come up then?"

"Unbelievable... Chung Myung knew that Mount Hua's martial arts were stolen by the Southern Edge Sect, yet he spared them?"

"...Even I find it hard to believe."

If it were the Chung Myung they knew, he would have immediately rushed to the Southern Edge Sect and extinguished them before any investigation. No, if it ended just like that, they would've shed tears and said, 'Finally, Chung Myung has awakened to the Tao.'

Yet, knowing this fact, he had endured until now? What on earth had restrained him?

"…All kinds of things happen in life."

"That's true."

"Could there be a misunderstanding?"

"Seeing that he didn't draw his swords on the spot, it didn't seem like a misunderstanding."

"That's true, right? Ugh..."

Both Jo Gol and Baek Cheon sighed in confusion. Only Yoon Jong was lost in thought with a complex expression on his face.

"So, are you really going to let this slide?"

"Hmm."

Baek Cheon made a slight groaning sound before speaking.

"To be honest, my insides are boiling, but... we're facing a big problem, so we should reconcile for now. We can discuss it later if necessary."

"But it's not like we can just say we want to reconcile, right? If those guys make a wrong move, it'll be catastrophic."

"We'll have to try to prevent that from happening. You should also convey the message to the Sajes properly. We don't want any unnecessary trouble."

Jo Gol reluctantly nodded.

"Well, if the Sajes see that Sasuk has decided, they'll go along with it. Outwardly, that is. But behind the scenes, they'll eventually say, 'It's because Sasuk is from the Southern Edge and is brothers with Jin Geumryong, so he let it slide...'"

"A traitor!"  [not sure]

"Oh, no! I'm not saying that! Why do you always assume I mean that?"

"Quiet!"

Jo Gol pouted at Yoon Jong's roar. Still, he couldn't help but feel a bit scared. Meanwhile, Baek Cheon remained composed.

"...We'll have to endure it. I just have to be honest. And... am I the only one who has known and endured this all along, apart from that Chung Myung?"

"Hmm."

Yoon Jong slowly nodded. Baek Cheon spoke firmly to both of them.

"For now, you two must supervise the Saejs as much as possible to prevent any issues. I'll make sure to firmly instruct Baek Sang and the Baek line to handle them."

"Yes, Sahyung."

Yoon Jong responded calmly, but Jo Gol still seemed dissatisfied. Baek Cheon sighed as he read the discontent in Jo Gol's expression.

"The reason Chung Myung resolved the situation in this manner is likely because the tasks ahead of us won't be easy."

"...I suppose."

"That testy bastard pushed down his temper to save one more person. Let's not grrt in the way, even if we can't help."

"Ughhhh."

Jo Gol groaned faintly, suppressing his frustration.

"In any case... even if I explode, he's the one who will explode more."

"...Right, Gol-ah."

"All right. Even those Sajes who can't empathize with Sasuk's stance will accept Chung Myung's decision. He's the one with the deepest grudge against the Southern Edge, so no one would confront such a person against a decision he made.

"Right. Make sure to convey that message. I..."

"I get it. It would be a bit difficult to come forward completely from your position. I understand."

While the disciples of Mount Hua didn't pay much attention, Baek Cheon himself felt somewhat uneasy about getting involved in matters related to the Southern Edge.

Baek Cheon sighed.

"In any case, the one who will have the most trouble with this situation is probably Chung Myung."

Both Jo Gol and Yoon Jong nodded in agreement. It was likely true. Even though they were discussing emotions, Chung Myung now had to deal with the consequences of his actions.

"Will it work out?"

"I'm not sure."

Everyone knew that although the situation had been dramatically resolved, the path Chung Myung was taking wouldn't be an easy one.

"I can only hope that it wasn't done without a plan."

"...And if it was?"

"Well..."

Baek Cheon smiled lightly.

"It'll only lead to ruin, won't it?"

An ominous silence filled the air. An unknown anxiety passed between Yoon Jong and Jo Gol.

* * *

Jaegal Jain struggled immensely to understand the situation.

'Why... am I here?'

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand.

The face bearing the titles of the Nokrim King and the Heavenly Comrade's chief strategist, among others, remained eerily twisted.

"Don't you have any plans in mind?" 

"No."

"You really have no plans prepared in advance?"

"No."

"And yet you decided we should just proceed without any plan?"

"Yes."

Im Sobyeong smiled brightly.

"Does that even make sense, you crazy bastard?"

"Why are you shouting like this! This Evil Sect bastard!"

"Why are we even discussing whether I'm an Evil Sect bastard or not? Why did you do such a thing in the first place?"

"It'll work out somehow?"

"Aaargh!"

Im Sobyeong roared, as if he were about to vomit blood. It was a sight devoid of dignity, but at this moment, Jaegal Jain understood the mind of this Evil Sect member all too well.

"Why are you making such a fuss? Just mix them up and roughly divide them by the number of people."

At Chung Myung's words, Im Sobyeong scratched his head vigorously as if blood would spurt from his scalp. His hat tilted, and his hair was disheveled like a ghost.

"I must be crazy... I should've just been a bandit."

"Then you would've died."

"...Death would've be better."

"Really? I can still help you with that."

"...I'll think about it."

While he didn't expect a serious plan, he had assumed there would be some semblance of one. Who would have imagined there wouldn't be any plan at all?

"Mm. There's so much to consider..."

"No, just divide it roughly?"

"An alliance doesn't operate roughly! There may be something like a rough alliance, but not roughly!" [idk]

"...Someone would think that you created the alliance. Since when did you have such a strong sense of attachment?"

"This is all because of who!"

Frustrated by the intense arguing between the bandits, Jaegal Jain, who had been silently observing, awkwardly interjected. If they continued like this, they wouldn't be able to say a word all day.

"But hey..."

"Yes?"

"Why am I here?"

"Oh."

Chung Myung smiled brightly at Jaegal Jain, who finally voiced his question.

"After chatting a bit, it seems like he has a good head on his shoulders."

"What nonsense is that to the head of the Jaegal family? A halfwit who can't even finish the Thousand Character Classic!"

"Who said that? Who's saying such things?"

"Last time I saw your writing it was all wrong!"

"Do you have proof? Huh? Do you have proof?"

Once again, a commotion erupted. Jaegal Jain silently stared at the ceiling.

It might have been better to listen to Moyong Wigyung's spirited complaints. After waiting for a while, Chung Myung finally got to the point.

"Ah, it's nothing particularly remarkable."

"Yes."

"We need to rearrange the alliance, and I think Gaju-nim will do it well."

"...."

"Right?"

Jaegal Jain didn't even have time to manage his expression. He hesitantly asked.

"Are you asking me to participate in restructuring the alliance?"

"No."

There was a glimmer of relief in Jaegal Jain's face. It certainly didn't make sense.

"Not to participate, but to take the lead. Actively."

"...Yes?"

"Even if it's a mess, it's better than being organized by bandits. Besides, you're a learned person."

Im Sobyeong snapped.

"What nonsense are you talking about! I've also been educated. Despite my appearances, I'm still a scholar..."

"Ah, so noisy!"

Chung Myung's shoe hit Im Sobyeong's face.  [lmfao the chancla treatment]

As Im Sobyeong fell backward, Chung Myung grinned at Jaegal Jain.

"Can you handle this?"

Jaegal Jain's eyes trembled.

"Uh, uh, Dojang. I am... um... the head of Jaegal family, who has just joined the alliance. Oh, no, now that I've stepped down from my position, I'm just a newcomer to the alliance."

"Yes, well..."

"But why are you entrusting me with such a significant task? Especially since I've been at odds with the Heavenly Comrade until recently. I mean, until just yesterday..."

Weren't you and I gripping each other's hair and hurling insults? This was something he couldn't bear to say.

But Chung Myung shrugged nonchalantly.

"Does that matter?"

"...Yes?"

"It's actually a good thing. People naturally can't see things objectively from within."

"Well..."

"Can you handle it?"

Once again, Jaegal Jain remained silent. Although the words were, 'Can you handle it?' the other's gaze and demeanor conveyed a different message.

'Even if you die, you must do it.'

Jaegal Jain couldn't overcome his bewilderment and laughed helplessly.

"Am I suitable?"

"Yes."

"Regardless of my background and past conflicts, it doesn't matter?"

"Isn't that obvious? We didn't gather here for child's play."

Right, it was obvious. But Jaegal Jain knew well that many powers and rulers had collapsed because they couldn't grasp the obvious.

"...I understand what you mean."

He straightened up more than before.

"I'm not sure if I'm suitable, but I understand what I need to do. I will do my best to fulfill the Chief's orders."

Chung Myung slightly flinched at the changed eyes.

"No. Haha, there's no need to be so serious...."

"First, we need the records of all sects affiliated with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, as well as the roster of personnel from smaller sects who have come to Shaanxi. Additionally, we require documents regarding the assets and provisions allocated to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Oh, please designate one person from each sect who is well-informed, they need to gather information about the martial skill levels of members within their respective sects and provide approximate information about factions that have not yet joined Shaanxi. It would be preferable to facilitate this through communication channels, and likewise, it would be beneficial to dispatch personnel from the communication department. This needs to be prepared urgently as a primary task, and next..."

Chung Myung's mouth gradually opened wider.

Incomprehensible words began to flow like a torrent, without pause. Chung Myung's eyes started rolling around restlessly.

"Chief? Are you listening?"

"Y-yes."

"We need to hurry. Isn't this a race against time? Oh, and the first thing you should do is..."

Chung Myung chuckled.

'It seems like I've gotten myself into a real mess.'

He tried to make things a bit easier, but instead, it's become... no, it's grown tenfold. Damn it...

With Jaegal Jain joining in, the restructuring of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance began to accelerate rapidly. It was moving in a slightly different direction from what the instigator had intended.