Chapter 1630: Good Things Are Good, Right? (Part 5)

Jaegal Jain, with a slightly aged appearance, opened the door and entered, nodding his head.

"They've accepted it."

"Oh?"

Chung Myung spoke as if it were curious.

"They took it that obediently?"

"...."

Jaegal Jain's face twitched slightly.

"I have a small question."

"Yes?"

"What do you think about the unit leader positions, Chief?"

"Well, um.... There may be various expressions, but if I don't sugarcoat it, it'll be a big deal..."

"Enough with that."

Jaegal Jain interrupted Chung Myung's words with a smile. No one should come out or go in anymore.

"So, now we just need to decide on the vice unit leaders."

"Well, that's already decided, isn't it? Fill it all with Mount Hua...?"

"That doesn't seem possible."

"No? Why?"

"Didn't I mention it earlier? Namgung Sogaju must take a vice unit leader position."

"Ugh..."

Chung Myung crossed his arms and grumbled.

Although Chung Myung's mutterings could be heard, saying, 'Ah, it's such a headache. But if it's him, he might be better than the others... Still, dealing with that guy can be unbearable now and then," everyone desperately ignored the words.

"Sigh. There's no other way. It would be a bit awkward if Namgung Sogaju wasn't given a position."

"And we also need to favor Southern Edge as well."

"We already gave them the unit leader position! Why try to take the vice unit leader position unfairly! Don't say ridiculous things!"

Hyun Jong gave a bewildered look.

"No... Isn't it you who said you could give a position to Jin Geumryong?"

"That was before Southern Edge took the unit leader position!"

"...."

"And upon consideration, Jin Geumryong won't do."

"Why?"

"Because Jin Geumryong is less developed than Dongryong. Jin Geumryong is just made by scraping off the most useless and stupid parts of Dongryong."

"Why are you dragging me into this?"

"Did I say anything wrong?"

"Even if that's the case, comparing with that guy! Except for the face, we're nothing alike!"

"Huh?"

Chung Myung tilted his head slightly.

Immediately, without Chung Myung needing to speak, backlash arose.

"In fact, they're quite similar."

"Of course, Sasuk is a bit better."

"What?"

Baek Cheon's eyes were about to turn with betrayal, but Hyun Jong coughed lightly.

"Somewhat... it's a bit hard to say there are no similarities."

"....Great, Great Sect Leader?"

Jo Gol shrugged his shoulders.

"I've been thinking, but isn't Jin Geumryong a less developed Sasuk? After all, Chung Myung created the latter."

"It's undeniably his greatest achievement."

"...."

Baek Cheon's face crumbled as he heard even the final comments from Jo Gol and Yoon Jong.

"Whether it's a worse or better Sasuk, anyway, Jin Geumryong is a person with a broken personality. What will happen if such a person takes the vice unit leader position?"

Upon that statement, Baek Cheon, who had been lying down, raised his head with a broad smile. Even in the midst of that, it seemed like he couldn't give up cursing Jin Geumryong.

"It'd be a mess."

"That's what I'm saying."

Smiling and laughing, Mount Hua's next sect leader and chief disciple sighed deeply and looked at Chung Myung.

"Still... In this recent trip to Anhui, we led Southern Edge quite well without any problems. We also received help."

"But that's not enough."

Chung Myung shook his head.

"I'm not disregarding Jin Geumryong, but this is a matter of experience. If authority was delegated based on reputation and position, we wouldn't have created the position of unit leader in the first place."

"Hmm."

It was a statement that was clearly understood. Even if Namgung Dowi and Jin Geumryong were considered equal in skill, what they had gone through was too different.

From Plum Blossom Island to Hangzhou to Southern Island, Namgung Dowi had experienced everything, while Jin Geumryong had only wielded the sword in Bongmun.

"Then... what about Lee Songbaek Sohyeop?"

"Indeed. It seems personality wouldn't be an issue."

"...It's a matter of needing personality."

Although he said so, Chung Myung's expression seemed somewhat intrigued by the mention of Lee Songbaek. But soon, his head lowered.

"Still not possible. He hasn't proven himself."

"Hmm."

"This war isn't about raising people."

Chung Myung's eyes emitted a cold glare.

"It is a place to prove what you have."

"...."

Those words descended slightly heavily among the people.

Eventually, Yoon Jong nodded.

"Then?"

"Sasuk and Sahyung. And that one."

"...At least call me Sahyung too."

Jo Gol's timid rebellion didn't reach Chung Myung's ears.

"The remaining issue is...Iseol Sago would never think about it, and do we really need to appoint Soso? Soso has other things to do. No."

Chung Myung scratched his head. While others might not understand, Yoo Iseol was the only one he wasn't confident in persuading. He had to start a conversation to persuade her. Once he brought it up, it was clear she would refuse with a shake of her head.

"Hmm? What about Iseol?"

"Yes?"

"What's wrong with Iseol?"

"...."

Chung Myung's gaze turned to Hyun Jong.

"Huh?"

"Yeah?"

"Oh..."

The eyes of the Mount Hua's disciples looking at Hyun Jong momentarily shone with excitement.

"Such an option exists."

"Right? Sasuk?"

Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gol's mouths curled into a special smile.

"So, we've decided to give Iseol a position."

"...."

"Isn't that right, Iseol?"

When Hyun Jong looked at Yoo Iseol with a gentle smile, Yoo Iseol's head nodded ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Yes...."

Yoo Iseol's expression remained unchanged. However, the Five Swords, familiar with her, could read the distorted soul of Yoo Iseol within that expressionless face.

'She seems to hate it.'

'She seems to dislike it a lot.'

'Is she really that against it?'

At that moment, Yoo Iseol's eyes turned towards the three people. Sensing the venom and vitality in her eyes, the Five Swords quietly lowered their gaze. It'd be a difficult task to survive in Mount Hua when you were at odds with Yoo Iseol.

"Is that settled then?"

Chung Myung couldn't answer readily.

"Chung Myung?"

"Hmm."

Chung Myung rubbed his cheek as if pondering.

'Is it okay?'

Being a unit leader wasn't just about having strong martial arts. They had to be able to communicate smoothly and be on the same wavelength. At the same time, they needed the ability to lead the members to the best of their abilities.

There was no doubt about Yoo Iseol's strength, but was Yoo Iseol truly capable of leading people and facilitating smooth communication?

There was hesitation, but there were no other options. They couldn't afford to delay any longer.

"Well, there's no choice. Then, the last remaining unit leader position is for Iseol Sago..."

It was at that moment.

"Is a position still available by any chance?"

Everyone's heads turned sharply towards the door.

"Sunim!"

"Hye Yeon Sunim!"

The Five Swords, who were sitting, jumped up and rushed to him.

Hye Yeon stood with a serene expression on his face.

"Um...."

Despite the joy of seeing him, when they actually stood in front of him, it wasn't easy to speak. Seeing the hesitant Five Swords, Hye Yeon smiled gently.

"I'm sorry for causing concern. I apologize."

"Oh, no. It's not a concern."

Baek Cheon asked with a stern face.

"Are you okay, Sunim?"

"Yes."

Hye Yeon nodded slowly.

"I'm fine. You don't need to worry."

Relief shone on everyone's faces.

They didn't say anything when he returned to Shaanxi, but how much agony had he gone through? They felt even worse inside because they couldn't do anything.

But was he really Hye Yeon? Despite experiencing such a great ordeal, he had overcome his suffering in just a few days.

"Amitabha. Is there a place for me to fight? Dojang?"

Chung Myung chuckled.

"You're late, Baldie."

Hye Yeon smiled warmly.

"It's amusing. With that skull-like face..."

The sharply carved eye sockets seemed to reveal how much Hye Yeon had suffered. But ultimately, people grow through pain. If he had overcome all of that, Hye Yeon would undoubtedly be stronger than before.

"There's one position left for vice leader."

"..."

"Are you up for it?"

Hye Yeon quietly assumed the clasped his palms together and briefly recited a solemn prayer. A prayer that seemed profoundly reverent and weighty.

"If there's only one position left, then there's no choice. I'll do my best in any role. That's... a way to repay the sins committed by us in this world."

Usually, Chung Myung would have said something, but this time he simply nodded silently. It was the conclusion Hye Yeon had reached after deep contemplation. If that was the case, then whatever it was, it had to be respected.

"Well, unfortunately... Sago will have to withdraw from the unit leader position. Is that okay?"

At that moment, Yoo Iseol vigorously nodded her head up and down. She even looked at Chung Myung with an intense gaze, filled with longing.

"...That's... good?"

"It's the first time I've seen Sago nod so vigorously."

"Me too. It's the first for me."

Baek Cheon shook his head. Despite inwardly wishing for Yoo Iseol to take on the position of vice unit leader, could there be any point when she was so vehemently opposed to it?

Yoo Iseol was at her best when she was being herself. Even if she wasn't a vice leader, she could still fulfill a role greater than that of a vice leader.

"So, is everything settled now?"

"Well, we just need to handle one very minor thing."

"A minor thing? What is it?"

At that moment, Chung Myung looked at the prospective vice leaders with a strange but mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"In each unit, there's one leader and one vice leader assigned, right?"

"That's right."

"Then one of the people here needs to be assigned to the same unit as that Sir."

"If it's that person..."

For a moment, the faces of the Five Swords turned pale.

"Jo, Jong Ri..."

"The Southern Edge Sect Leader..."

The solemn face of Jong Rigok came to mind.

The person assigned to the same unit as him would have to cooperate and interact with him until the end of the war. 

"Sahyung."

"Hm?"

"I... just thinking about it makes me feel sick."

"Me too."

It was already an uncomfortable relationship, but it became even more uncomfortable after Jong Rigok formally apologized to the Mount Hua Sect. And now they had to stick together until the end of the war?

"... What about sending Namgung Sogaju?"

"..."

"Or, how about sending Hye Yeon Sunim?"

Jo Gol resisted.

He knew. Since Southern Edge had already expressed its position, one of the prospective vice leaders of the Mount Hua Sect had to work beside Jong Rigok to dispel concerns about discord between Mount Hua and Southern Edge.

Yeah. He knew all that.

But despite knowing all of that, the reason Jo Gol vehemently resisted...

"Gol-ah."

Baek Cheon's hand rested on Jo Gol's shoulder.

"Please."

"..."

Yoon Jong's hand also gently rested on Jo Gol's other shoulder.

"You're the only one."

"..."

Tears welled up in Jo Gol's eyes. It seemed like he had been seeing scenes like this more often lately.

"Sa, Sahyung... Sasuk."

When he tried to offer some sort of resistance with tears streaming down his face, Yoon Jong gave him a compassionate smile.

"Gol-ah."

"Yes?"

"If you don't like it, you should've joined earlier."

"..."

"Cheer up."

"..."

...Bastards.

Clear tears welled up in Jo Gol's eyes.