Chapter 1285: Who Came to Gangnam? (Part 5)

While Namgung Dowi and Tang Pae were taking care of Seol So Baek, all of the Southern Island Sect's disciples arrived at the coast.

It was just the beginning, but their faces were already pale.

"Is everyone okay?"

"...Yes, Sect Leader."

The voices responding lacked strength. The youthful faces held nothing but distrust.

'Why does it have to be like this?'

Even if they didn't dive underwater, wasn't the coast supposed to be empty? The Myriad Manor that should be the one to watch out for wouldn't be right here, but somewhere in the middle of the sea...

Even if there was a good reason for it, it was questionable whether it was justified to swim like this even before the fight began.

Wouldn't they exhaust themselves before even getting into battle?

"As soon as preparations are complete, we depart. Hurry up."

"Yes!"

As disciples of the Southern Island Sect suppressed their rising discontent and calmed their boiling spirits, Lee Ziyang, who had found some composure, spoke to Guo Hansuo.

"It seems like the kids have a lot of complaints."

"Complaints?"

Guo Hansuo slightly furrowed his brows.

"What kind of complaints are you talking about?"

"They probably feel discontent about being ordered around without any explanation, just told to move as directed."

"If it's an order from Sect Leader, it's the duty of disciples to follow it. Isn't that why they came all the way here?"

"If it's Sect Leader's command, then that's how it is."

Guo Hansuo slightly furrowed his brows.

"But all these orders are nothing other than Heavenly Comrade... No, precisely, the Deputy Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Baek Cheon Dojang, isn't it? Sect Leader is just following those words."

"...What are you trying to say?"

Lee Ziyang shrugged.

"I'm just saying that. No matter how capable they may be, how many of us here would happily follow the orders given by peers from another sect without question?:

Guo Hansuo turned his head to look at Lee Ziyang, who subtly raised both hands and shook his head.

"I'm not saying that's my opinion. It's just that the kids seem to think that way. Well, you know..."

There was no need for further explanation. Guo Hansuo knew Lee Ziyang's disposition well.

He detested giving authority to those without abilities.

In other words, it meant that he would follow the words of a competent person without complaint.

Since he had already seen Mount Hua and Baek Cheon's abilities, Lee Ziyang had no reason to feel discontent.

Seeing Guo Hansuo's expression, Lee Ziyang smirked.

"Don't make such a face, Sahyung. Isn't it natural for humans to be like that? We may voice our dislike for authority and always advocate for freedom, but when that freedom comes back to us, we feel discontent."

"..."

"Just, what I don't understand is that it doesn't seem like it would be that difficult to explain the situation to us, but it seems like those who are capable of that are deliberately keeping their mouths shut."

"There must be a reason."

"Yes, well. That's true."

As Lee Ziyang shrugged, Guo Hansuo let out a deep sigh.

And as if on cue, the disciples of Heavenly Comrade were also in the midst of discussing the same thing.

"...The gazes aren't pleasant."

"That's true."

"Shouldn't we at least explain reasonably? I was just observing, not something I had to do."

"Hmm."

Tang Pae sighed at Namgung Dowi's words. It wasn't difficult, but it was questionable whether they should make judgments on their own.

"Well, for now..."

At that moment.

"Have you all arrived?"

Fortunately or unfortunately, just before they were about to make a decision, Baek Cheon and Chung Myung returned. Baek Cheon subtly gestured with his eyes towards the back and spoke.

"We didn't see any traces of the enemy where we checked. It seems like the siege hasn't been set up immediately."

"Hmm. The news is probably late... Even if they know, it's difficult to properly organize a siege here with gaps in their troops."

"Yes. We should listen to what the others have to say, but I don't think there's a need to use a separate scouting team if there's no one watching. Depart as soon as the preparations are complete."

"Yes. Just one thing, Deputy Sect Leader."

"Yes?"

Namgung Dowi glanced toward the direction of the Southern Island Sect.

"It seems like the explanation was a bit lacking. When you have the chance, it might be better to explain to them in more detail..."

Baek Cheon's gaze turned towards the Southern Island Sect, and soon he nodded, as if he could guess how the situation was unfolding just by a rough look. He subtly turned his gaze to Chung Myung.

"What do you think?"

"He's well-fed."

Chung Myung snorted briefly.

"Leave it be."

"Yes?"

As Namgung Dowi asked with a surprised tone, Chung Myung replied in a low voice.

"So, are we going to inform and persuade them every time we make a decision?"

"That's..."

Chung Myung's voice became slightly chilly.

"It doesn't matter if they have complaints. It's not a place where those with discontent die, and those without survive."

"...I understand what you're saying. But, I'm just concerned whether that discontent might cause problems later."

"It's okay."

The one who accepted that wasn't Chung Myung, but Baek Cheon.

"They'll find out soon enough. This isn't a place where such thoughts can be entertained."

"..."

Baek Cheon looked at the Southern Island Sect's disciples with eyes that contained neither scorn nor indifference, nor even pity. Instead, it was a sense of camaraderie.

'I was like that too.'

Past Baek Cheon thought so. He had a pride in considering himself exceptional.

Even if his immediate skills weren't extraordinary, he believed his talent was second to none. Therefore, he believed that he could lead Mount Hua and spread its fame throughout the world.

What broke that pride was Chung Myung and, in a way, reality.

If Baek Cheon hadn't encountered the wall named Chung Myung, he would never have been able to break himself.

'And they're the same.'

No matter how much they resolved and struggled, the pride of being the Southern Island Sect's disciples, a member of the Ten Great Sects, wouldn't easily disappear.

Even if their skills were lacking, they would believe that others should treat them fairly with reasonable persuasion. But they would soon find out.

On the battlefield where it's killed or be killed, things like the fame and status they cherished are utterly useless, as Baek Cheon realized.

"Sasuk!"

At that moment, Mount Hua's disciples who had gone to scout in the forest returned.

"There doesn't seem to be any sign of the enemy nearby."

"We secured the predetermined points in advance. This area is safe."

"None. Enemy."

Baek Cheon nodded his head.

What he was trying to confirm was not the presence of the enemy, but rather how far the siege had been formed.

With the information they now had, the enemies had the leeway to tail them, but there was clearly no room for them to create a loose siege in this vicinity.

'But that means they are building a more solid siege behind us.'

Baek Cheon shifted his gaze to Im So Byeong.

"Nokrim King."

"Yes."

"Where do you think the enemy will form the siege?"

"Well, there's no need to think about it. They'll try to block one of these three places. The first is here. It was supposed to be our landing point, but that has been ruled out."

"Yes."

"The second is to block a wide area from Namnyeong to Gwangju, creating a circular siege."

"Hmm."

"But!"

Im So Byeong twisted his face.

"It's different considering Ho Gakmyung's nature. I think he'll try to seal the narrow passage connecting this basin to the inland at the Dam River without any gaps."

"It makes sense, but can't we bypass it through the sea? I don't think someone as shrewd as Ho Gakmyung would overlook that."

"Tsk, tsk. If we did that, he might even be grateful. The wolves blocking our path now are merely a distraction; the ones chasing us from behind are the tigers. If we go into the water and buy some time, Ho Gakmyung will welcome us when we return."

"Indeed."

As if understanding, Baek Cheon nodded in agreement.

"So."

Im Sobyeong turned slightly to look at the Southern Island Sect's disciples.

"If you've rested enough, it's time to move. Time has already been wasted enough."

"Understood. Then, let's mobilize our forces and move to the Dam River with all our might for now."

As Im Sobyeong nodded, Baek Cheon looked at the others.

Seeing no apparent disagreement, Baek Cheon immediately moved towards Kim Yang Baek.

"Sect Leader."

"Yes, Deputy Sect Leader."

Kim Yang Baek looked at Baek Cheon with a somewhat tense expression. His face was noticeably stiff, perhaps due to the tension from entering Gangnam.

"For now, we need to move with all our might towards the Dam River."

"Right now?"

"Yes. The enemies are trailing us, and it's clear that a siege is forming ahead. We can't afford to waste time."

Kim Yang Baek nodded heavily.

"Understood. But there's one thing I'd like to ask. What do you plan to do after arriving at the Dam River?"

"I'll decide that based on the situation at that time."

"Based on the situation..."

Kim Yang Baek's eyes briefly showed dissatisfaction. However, he seemed to think that it was pointless to discuss anything further in the current situation, so he quickly answered in a resolute voice.

"Understood. Don't worry."

"Yes. Please take care of it."

As Baek Cheon lightly bowed and turned to leave, Kim Yang Baek stared at Baek Cheon's back and opened his mouth.

"Tell the disciples to prepare to move."

"Yes, Sect Leader. However..."

One of the elders spoke in a somewhat hesitant tone.

"Is there really a plan?"

"..."

"I..."

"We didn't come here to live, did we?"

"...Yes. But if that's the case, wouldn't it have been better to fight to the death on the coast of Southern Island? I just had a fleeting thought that we might end up dying a meaningless death like this."

"..."

"They're just a dozen or so. Aren't we over two hundred? Considering the number of people, if we have to choose a place to die, wouldn't it be better for us to choose?"

"Enough."

Kim Yang Baek cut off the elder's words.

"Prepare to move."

"Yes. Sect Leader."

As the elders withdrew, Kim Yang Baek silently bit his lips.

It wasn't that he was angry with their attitude. It was because he himself was starting to feel uneasy due to similar thoughts.

'Human hearts are so fickle.'

How much had he seen of their abilities on the coast of Southern Island that distrust was already creeping in? Even animal cubs know what gratitude is. 

'No, it's not fickle.'

Kim Yang Baek closed his eyes.

'We just want to live.'

After they escaped once from the grip of the Myriad Man Manor, a longing for a life they had given up on arose. So, they keep seeking a way to live.

Who could blame that?

He just hoped that those small desires didn't grow bigger and ruin things.

"We're leaving!"

Kim Yang Baek, as if shaking off these misleading thoughts, raised his voice even more energetically.