Chapter 1248: That's One Thing (Part 3)

"Ah, no. That..."

At that moment, as the door opened, the other members of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance also revealed tired appearances.

"Sigh. The travel seems to have been more severe than expected."

"Hyung-nim. Isn't your body too weak? You must have eaten quality elixirs at the Tang Family." [ho, so tang pae is older than dowi]

"Don't talk nonsense. You were well-fed in Namgung. The Tang Family may have many poisons, but they lack elixirs. Eating there is like eating poison."

"Don't the people of the Tang Family use poison like elixirs?"

"...Where is such a baseless rumor spreading from? Do Tang Family members have poison in their veins instead of blood? If we eat poison, we die too! Just because Namgung swings swords, does that mean they won't die if the sword hits them?"

"Now that I think about it..."

Watching those who walked out while casually chatting, Guo Hansuo blinked his eyes with a blank expression.

"Why haven't they given us food?"

"Tsk tsk. How long do you plan to sit and wait for someone to serve you? After some time, of course, you go to the restaurant and eat yourself."

"They delivered food to us yesterday."

"It's a new day. It won't be the same as yesterday."

"Oh, it's like a sword." [?]

Why were these people still here?

Guo Hansuo's voice came out with a bewildered tone.

"Wait⋯⋯ What are you doing here?"

"Huh?"

"Didn't we prepare a boat for you to leave once the typhoon stops?"

"Really?"

Chung Myung scratched his head, looking inside the door indifferently.

"Sasuk. Did they prepare a boat for us?"

"Hmm? Oh, I heard that. They said they prepared a boat on the coast for us to use when leaving the island."

Baek Cheon walked out from inside.

Unlike others with disheveled clothes, Baek Cheon's clothes were still immaculate without a single stain. Guo Hansuo, who was staring blankly at the white robe shining brightly in the sunlight, frowned.

"Are you in your right mind?"

The answer to that question came from somewhere else.

"It's you who isn't in your right mind, you bastard."

"⋯⋯What?"

"If guests come, you should feed them! Even the Tang Family, who threw Mount Hua into disarray, wouldn't let guests go hungry!" [not sure here lol]

"Chung Myung. You shouldn't come to another sect and swear at them."

"These bastards aren't even comparable to Mount Hua!"

"Don't insult other sects."

Guo Hansuo grabbed his throbbing forehead. In a situation where the Evil Tyrant Alliance might attack at any moment, these people were casually talking about breakfast. Humans didn't have nerves made of whale tendons, but maybe these people...

"Ziyang."

"...Yes, Great Sahyung."

"Guide the guests to the restaurant. Tell them to prepare a meal."

"No, Sahyung. This is..."

"Do as I say."

"Yes..."

Ziyang glared at Chung Myung and his companions with a resentful look.

'They're going too far.'

In principle, there was nothing wrong with what they were saying. It was clearly against courtesy to welcome guests who had come from afar and not even provide them with breakfast. Under normal circumstances, there would have been a loud protest questioning how they handled such matters.

But were these normal circumstances?

The disciples of Southern Island now had to face the Evil Tyrant Alliance. Those remaining would fight and die, and those who escaped to avoid the Evil Tyrant Alliance would have to hold their breaths and accept their reign.

Everyone here already knew their fate. What would they think seeing the Heavenly Comrade Alliance members leaving Southern Island calmly as if they've finished their business? No matter how strong their determination was, their morale would inevitably drop.

'I thought they would understand even if I spoke reasonably.'

Lee Ziyang's gaze was fixed on Baek Cheon's face. Though he didn't consider him a fool, it seemed this oblivious individual didn't understand the meaning behind his words.

"...Please follow me."

Although a thousand fires raged inside him, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance had already been seen by the other disciples, so there was no other way now. They had to treat them appropriately and see them off. At the moment when Lee Ziyang bit his lips and turned around

"But why did you all gather like this from the morning? I'm not complaining though."

At Chung Myung's question, Lee Ziyang's head sharply turned. He couldn't endure it any longer and bellowed like thunder.

"Seriously?!"

"Ziyang!"

"No, Great Sahyung! Isn't this too much! If this isn't mockery, what is this?"

"Stop it!"

When Guo Hansuo opened his eyes and scolded, Lee Ziyang bit his lips tightly.

"Bang Hong (房鴻). Guide them."

"...M-me, Sahyung?"

"Why? Can't do it?"

"No, I can. I will do it."

Ji Jang turned his body. From behind, Kwak Hwan-soo's voice, trying to sound calm, was heard.

"...Sorry. We thought you had left, so we came to clean the rooms. We didn't know you were still here."

"Huh?"

"We'll handle the luggage, so go and have a meal. We'll prepare for your departure as soon as you come back."

Lee Ziyang knew that Guo Hansuo's temper was even worse than his. So, he couldn't help but realize how much patience he must have shown to say those words.

Faced with the calm reaction of his Great Sahyung, Lee Ziyang felt somewhat embarrassed about his hasty actions.

That's when.

"Sasuk. What are these guys saying?"

Chung Myung's voice, as if blatantly ignoring Guo Hansuo's words, rang out loud. This broke Ziyang's last straw.

'Enough!'

Lee Ziyang's eyes lit up, and he turned his body. This was Southern Island's last display, and regardless of the consequences, he wanted to fix the arrogant habits of that bastard.

But when Chung Myung and Baek Cheon's conversation reached his ears, it was so absurd that his strength drained away, leaving him speechless.

"Why clean a place that someone else is using well?"

"Chung Myung-ah. In a good inn, they clean the rooms even if someone is staying."

"That's an inn. This isn't an inn, right?"

"Well, that's true."

"Then it's impolite. Why rummage through someone else's belongings?"

"Hmm. That's a problem that needs to be considered. The customs of Shaanxi and Southern Island may not necessarily be the same."

Lee Ziyang lost even the strength to be angry and let out a hollow laughter. Guo Hansuo bit his lip and explained.

"That's not it. We're preparing the belongings for those who are leaving. If you want to leave the island before the Evil Tyrant Alliance attacks, time is of the essence. Don't you think there's no time to spare?"

Guo Hansuo gritted his teeth as he seemed no longer able to endure. However, Chung Myung just laughed.

"That's a story for when I leave." 

"So! Baggage... What?"

Guo Hansuo, who was about to yell, blinked his eyes in disbelief.

"Who's leaving?"

"..."

"These guys are hilarious. Does Southern Island treat guests like this? I never said I'm leaving with my own mouth, so why are they kicking guests out as they please?"

"Food costs a lot."

"In good conscience, we've been eating too much."

"All of that was eaten by Namgung Sogaju."

"Me? Me? Wow, me?"

However, the reactions of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance were indifferent. Guo Hansuo was momentarily tongue-tied, unable to say anything. Chung Myung pointed his finger and said,

"Hey, you."

"Yes?"

"Don't talk nonsense and guide us to the restaurant. Don't touch our luggage. Anyway, these days, the kids have no manners, no manners! Hey!"

"..."

"Lead the way!"

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"Oh... Yes."

Guo Hansuo led them to the restaurant as if possessed.

The disciples of Southern Island just stared blankly at their backs.

"Um... Sahyung."

"Yeah?"

"What should we do then? Clean? Or..."

Lee Ziyang's face twisted horribly.

* * *

"You're... not leaving?"

Guo Hansuo asked with all his might to avoid looking absurd.

Unfortunately, there was no one here who could give a proper answer to that question.

"No...is this raw meat?"

"It's a precious ingredient."

"But it's not cooked. Who eats raw fish?"

"That's how it's supposed to be eaten."

"Even the fishermen on the Yangtze River didn't eat like this! Even though the Dongjeong River of Anhui was right next to us, we ate cooked fish!"

"But they eat like this in the North Sea."

"No, they originally didn't eat it in the North Sea. That's why we fed it to them." [idk]

"Anyway, you ate it, right? As long as there's no problem."

"I guess this is how they usually eat here."

"No..."

When Namgung Dowi tried to somehow refute, Chung Myung's face twisted

"Just eat it, you bastard! Where are you complaining about fancy dishes! That's why you guys are so privileged! People have to be thrown in a corner and fed mud to become human!"

"What does being privileged have to do with this!"

"Shut up. You fucking rich bastard!"

Namgung Dowi tried hard to seek agreement from others with shaking eyes, unable to overcome the cultural shock.

But.

"Oh, it's chewy."

"It sticks nicely."

"It's delicious?"

The Mount Hua Sect members were already stuffing as much raw fish as they could into their mouths. Even Tang Pae exclaimed, "Delicious!" as he chewed on the fish meat.

'If it's edible, they'll even devour others' raw flesh.'

Was there no limit to their greed? Namgung Dowi clutched his aching stomach.

However, there was someone here even more vexed than Namgung Dowi.

"No! Please listen!"

"...Ah, I keep eating..."

"They don't even touch dogs when they eat."

"The culture in the Southern Sea is different."

Guo Hansuo grabbed his head. He wanted to commend his own patience for not swinging a sword at those snouts.

"Hey, are you stupid or something?"

"...Huh?"

Chung Myung, swallowing what he was chewing in his mouth, frowned.

"Why do you keep insisting on us leaving! Is food that precious?"

"Yes, it's... No, it's not that. The discussion is already over, and hasn't the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Southern Island Sect decided to go their separate ways?"

Baek Cheon nodded firmly.

"That's correct."

"Well, there's nothing left to do now, and there's no reason to stay here. Deputy Sect Leader has also assured Sect Leader that as a special envoy, he will convey the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's position to the alliance."

"That's correct."

Once again, Baek Cheon nodded. The only one feeling more stifled now was Guo Hansuo.

"But what do you mean, you're suddenly not leaving?"

Chung Myung interjected, hitting his chest.

"That's one thing, but!"

"Yes?"

"But why is this guy so clueless? Is he a bit stupid?"

Chung Myung scrunched up his face as if he was annoyed.

"Now, look. Let me explain. Negotiations with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance fell through, right?"

"That's right."

"Then all we have to do is convey the situation to Heavenly Comrade Alliance, right?"

"That's right!"

"Then our role is done."

"Isn't that what I'm saying?"

Chung Myung shouted in frustration.

"So! Since we've completed our mission, we can do whatever we want! The Heavenly Comrade Alliance is going, but I'm not going! Is that so difficult to understand? Don't you get it?"

Guo Hansuo was momentarily speechless. Understand? Why would it be like that? Watching him, Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

"You can't understand this simple thing? I'm going crazy, seriously."

Guo Hansuo pondered. What else should he say to this crazy person? Baek Cheon, who was listening, smiled and opened his mouth.

"After we finish eating, I would like to take another position."

"...Yes?"

"Not as an envoy of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, not as the Deputy Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect..."

Baek Cheon's gaze suddenly became deep and solemn.

"But as a martial artist who came upon hearing that comrades in the Central Plains were in crisis."

At that moment, goosebumps ran up Guo Hansuo's spine.