Chapter 1119: I've Already Prepared Everything For That! (Chapter 4)

"Hmm..."

Chung Myung sighed deeply as he faced Tang Gunak. Tang Gunak, sensing the profound concern in Chung Myung's appearance, asked.

"Has your thinking changed a bit?"

"No, it's not that."

replied Chung Myung.

Tang Gunak looked at him with a puzzled expression. In response, Chung Myung smiled and said.

"I thought it was this kind of person who would become the head of the family."

"...What's suddenly..."

Chung Myung rested his chin on his fist.

"Well, Elder Hyun Young seems to think that way. Right now, I might dislike it, but eventually, I'll probably become the sect leader."

"..."

"It seems even Sect Leader thinks like that sometimes."

Tang Gunak laughed bitterly. In his view, not having such thoughts would be even stranger. Currently, Chung Myung's influence in Moun Hua surpassed even Hyun Jong. Even if Baek Cheon or Yoon Jong became the sect leader, it wouldn't be difficult for Chung Myung to turn them into mere scarecrows if he set his mind to it.

It wasn't a matter of whether Chung Myung had such intentions or not; what mattered was the fact that he could. Considering how significant this fact could be for the sect, Tang Gunak couldn't help but worry. After all, he had already experienced difficulties due to the Council of Elders' reluctance to let go of power.

"I think I can guess what you're thinking."

In Tang Gunak's opinion, it might be better to consolidate power in Chung Myung alone rather than dividing it. You wouldn't be able to tell from the past current Chung Myung, but the current Chung Myung subtly took care of people.

"But that's a useless idea."

"Hmm? Why do you say that?"

"Because I will never become the sect leader."

Tang Gunak couldn't understand Chung Myung's expression at all.

Certainly, Chung Myung might not consider himself ambitious for power. But in Tang Gunak's eyes, the Chung Myung he saw was someone who, if things didn't go his way, would explode and demolish any obstacle in his path to set things right.

Could you really say such a person had no ambition for power just because he didn't pursue it directly? It might seem acceptable now, but...

Tang Gunak, lost in thought, asked calmly.

"What if, in the future, Yoon Jong, who becomes the Sect Leader, acts completely contrary to your thoughts?"

"Huh...?"

Tang Gunak, slightly surprised by Chung Myung's confusion, pressed him further.

"If he, as the Sect Leader, insists on carrying out actions that you see as clearly detrimental, what will you do?"

"..."

"At that time, what will you do?"

"I will try to persuade him."

"And if he doesn't respond to persuasion?"

Tang Gunak's voice held no highs or lows. Emotions seemed buried, making his words even more distinct.

"Will you submit by force, or will you simply allow him to continue down the wrong path?"

Chung Myung couldn't readily provide an answer. This time, Tang Gunak spoke with a slightly admonishing tone.

"If you're going to step back, you must also relinquish your power. If you're not willing to let go, then you shouldn't step back. If you yield, it only makes it harder for everyone else."

"Hmm."

Chung Myung pressed his hand against his chin.

'He probably knew.'

However, just because one understands doesn't mean they will necessarily act upon it. People often postpone things that are not immediately in front of them. Even if they know that something postponed will eventually become a greater problem, they still put it off.

"So, rather..."

"No, there seems to be a misunderstanding."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak. His somber expression was incongruent with the seriousness of their conversation.

"If such a situation arises, I'll just leave it alone."

"...You?"

"Yes. What's so strange about it?"

"Isn't it obvious? From what I know, you're not the type to endure seeing the sect taking the wrong path."

"That's correct."

"Then it's a contradiction."

"No, it's not. The premise of Gaju-nim's question seems to be wrong."

Tang Gunak appeared puzzled by this statement.

"The premise is wrong?"

"Yes."

Chung Myung spoke with a face devoid of any hint of wavering.

"If such a situation occurs, there's no need for hesitation. I must be wrong, and Yoon Jong Sahyung must be right."

"..."

"I've tried persuading as much as I can, but if he doesn't change his mind, it means I'm wrong. Yoon Jong Sahyung isn't someone who will purposely go down the wrong path, and he's not someone who can't recognize his own mistakes from others' words."

Tang Gunak wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

"Does that make sense? Everyone makes mistakes and commits wrongs."

"Yes, that's true. However...Sahyung at that time is not a person, but a Taoist, not a disciple, but a sect leader."

"..."

"People make mistakes, but sect leaders don't. I will make it so."

Tang Gunak was at a loss for words.

'What in the world...'

How could someone trust another person to this extent?

"What about Baek Cheon Dojang?"

"Ah... Sasuk is a bit different. That person is trustworthy in times of war, but in normal times he's a bit pretentious."

"..."

"If he does something stupid, I'll immediately bring him down and change him to Yoon Jong Sahyung. Of course, before that, he'll probably be stabbed to death by Iseol Sago and be dragged out."

"Huh..."

Chung Myung couldn't hide his amusement while looking at Tang Gunak's bewildered expression.

"Do you understand now? Why I can't become a sect leader."

"..."

"I felt it today after listening to what Gaju-nim said. 'Ah, a sect leader does things like this, and a sect leader must think about things like this.' Well, then, I definitely shouldn't become a sect leader."

"Can't you do that too?"

"I'm not that kind of person."

Chung Myung chuckled.

"You asked if I would regret it, right?"

"That's right."

That was the start of this conversation. Wasn't it regrettable to give the Self-Cultivation Pills to someone outside the Mount Hua lineage? The answer to that question was now coming.

"I wouldn't regret it at all."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Chung Myung shrugged.

"That's why I'm telling you. I don't know about the future of Mount Hua. I've tried to figure it out, but honestly, I still don't know. And no matter how much I try to figure it out, I don't think I can truly take care of it."

"Then why not?"

"Some things work in the head, and some in the heart."

Tang Gunak was momentarily speechless. Chung Myung clapped his hands.

"So, instead of taking care of future generations whose faces and futures are unknown, and not knowing when or how things will turn out, I'd rather use the Self-Cultivation Pills now to save even one more person. From my perspective, that's a hundred times better."

"...That's an incomprehensible statement. No matter how important the current disciples are, the future prosperity of Mount Hua and..."

"There's no comparison."

For a moment, Tang Gunak flinched. The voice of Chung Myung, who interrupted the conversation and entered, carried an inexplicable eeriness.

But looking at Chung Myung again, he was still grinning.

"Or, you can make it like that. As a price, make each surviving disciple more valuable than a hundred Self-Cultivation Pills. Make them someone who can pass on more than that to future generations."

"..."

"Wouldn't that be enough?"

Tang Gunak eventually nodded reluctantly.

"I don't know, truly."

"That's why I'm telling you. It's not something I'm good at. Can you guess what I realized this time?"

"What is it?"

"I don't have to do everything. Each person just needs to do what they're good at."

Chung Myung turned his head and spoke, looking at the training grounds.

"Baek Cheon Sasuk will lead and develop Mount Hua. There's no one better at it than him. Yoon Jong Sahyung will fill in the lacking Tao in Mount Hua. The person with a higher reputation might be Sasuk, but the person who will have a greater impact on future generations will be Yoon Jong Sahyung."

"..."

"Iseol Sago will become the textbook for Mount Hua's sword. Just her presence alone will change the attitude of future generations towards the sword. Jo Gol Sahyung... Well, that guy might just swagger around, but a sect also needs someone like him, don't you think?"

"Hmm..."

"And Gaju-nim's daughter will be the one to cultivate lacking female disciples in Mount Hua. She might not be as good as Sasuk or Sago in handling crises, but she communicates well, serving as a channel to convey words that we can't directly say to Sasuk or Sahyung."

Chung Myung shrugged.

"The rest is the same. Baek Sang Sasuk will enrich Mount Hua's finances, and the other Chung disciples will vividly pass on their experiences to future generations. Everyone has something they need to do. There's no one we can afford to lose."

Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung again with a somewhat renewed sentiment.

Because he had never thought that Chung Myung would look at each of Mount Hua's disciples so carefully.

In the process, another question arose.

"Then, what do you exist for?"

"Me? It's obvious."

Chung Myung smiled, baring his teeth.

"A sword that cuts down Mount Hua's enemies."

"..."

"I'll do anything to cut down those who threaten Mount Hua right now. The Self-Cultivation Pill? I wouldn't hesitate for that. If saving one disciple who is now part of Mount Hua requires it, it's not just a hundred Self-Cultivation Pills, but even a thousand wouldn't be too much. What's so great about those things."

A deep sigh escaped Tang Gunak's lips.

"I thought I knew you fairly well, but... I still don't understand."

"You just need to know one thing."

"...What are you talking about?"

"I also sincerely need the Sichuan Tang Family as much as that."

Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung with a slightly sullen face. But still, looking at the smiling face, he found himself smiling without realizing it.

"...If you're going to pamper us, please take good care of us."

"Of course. Naturally."

Tang Gunak, who had been looking at Chung Myung with a strange look, got up and took a step.

"Are you going?"

"It's not fun to watch a predetermined match."

"It's interesting in its own way. Well, see you later."

As Tang Gunak turned around, he opened his mouth.

"And... I'll clarify one thing."

"Yes?"

"You said you're a sword that cuts down Mount Hua's enemies?"

"Yes."

"...You're not a sword that cuts down enemies if you would exchange a thousand Self-Cultivation Pills for one disciple."

"..."

"That would be a protector sword. A sword that protects Mount Hua."

With that statement, Tang Gunak silently moved forward. He felt Chung Myung's gaze on his back.

'I couldn't ask.'

Tang Gunak slowly closed his eyes.

There was one thing he really wanted to ask. But it was a question that Tang Gunak himself couldn't bring himself to ask.

'Everyone grows perfectly and leads Mount Hua in their own positions. I understand that it's ideal.'

Certainly, the clearly defined Mount Hua Sect would undoubtedly become an immensely great martial arts sect. Perhaps it would be one of the greatest sects in history, never to be seen again.

However, if Chung Myung's role was to be the sword protecting Mount Hua, if he was the sword that cuts down Mount Hua's enemies... In a world where Mount Hua's enemies have disappeared, where did Chung Myung's place lie?

In a world that no longer needed a sword, what should he live for?

'Does he really think that the role of the Sect Leader doesn't suit him?'

Or...

Tang Gunak soon raised his head.

That was a story too far into the future. Yes, it was still too far away. It wasn't a story that those who still had many mountains to climb would bring up.

Tang Gunak briskly walked away, gradually distancing himself.

And behind him, Chung Myung observed. It was an endlessly dark gaze that sank into the distance.