Chapter 1610: Even When I Open My Eyes, It's The Same (Part 5)

In front of the hall where the meeting was taking place, Jaegal Jain stood with a furrowed brow.

SInce Jong Rigok followed obediently, he had no choice but to come. Yet, Jaegal Jain couldn't feel good about being ordered around by such a young kid.

'Arrogant...'.

Jaegal Jain would have tolerated if even Hyun Jong or Tang Gunak were putting on a show with that fake humility. [not sure] How disorganized must the Heavenly Comrade Alliance be for such a simple task to be mishandled?

When he opened the door and entered, he would clearly see a scene unfolding. However, it didn't matter.

'Let me relieve my frustration!'

With gritted teeth, he forcefully opened the door with a rough touch, expressing his discomfort with his calloused hands.

However...

"Hey, did you eat turtle stew? Why are you so late!"

Jaegal Jain's jaw slackened slightly as he entered. A youngster with irritation written all across his face was pointing a finger at him.

'What's this?'

He was too shocked to even get angry. It even made him wonder whether he made a mistake. "Did I say something?"

"Is there anyone else who arrived late besides you?"

As the rat-sized youngster stared fiercely, Jaegal Jain was left speechless. [not sure lol]

"Huh..."

Jaegal Jain, who kept letting out a sigh-like laugh, was about to say something when the youngster interjected again.

"Have the others grown boils on their feet, hopping around so early? It's been a while since you heard the order, hasn't it? Why now, overflowing with such leisure! Ah, is being late just once not enough for you?"

Jaegal Jain's composure was disrupted.

"This...!"

As the angered Jaegal Jain was about to shout, Jong Rigok, who was behind, gently touched his shoulder, dissuading and quietly stepping forward.

"I apologize. I'll come a bit earlier next time."

"Yes. Sect Leader can communicate quite well."

"...This side has many circumstances, too."

Chung Myung nodded as if understanding.

"Well, it can't be helped."

"..."

Veins on Jong Rigok's forehead slightly swelled. He had tried to endure, as he anticipated this situation, but it was inevitable to be angered.

How did such a person crawl in right next to Southern Edge mountain!

"Ahem."

Jong Rigok cleared his throat, coughing out his frustration, and found a seat. Then, he gestured to Jaegal Jain and Moyong Wigyung who were still standing.

"Please sit."

"Sect Leader."

"There isn't much time, is it not true?"

After a moment of uneasy silence, Jaegal Jain, with an expression of displeasure, finally took a seat. Moyong Wigyung also followed suit, casting a glance at them.

Watching them, Chung Myung briefly clicked his tongue, then spoke.

"Anyway, everyone is here."

"Sorry."

As the door opened, Southern Edge's Jin Geumryong and Lee Songbaek entered. Chung Myung frowned.

Not missing this, Jaegal Jain inwardly rejoiced.

'This guy!'

At this moment, it was clear that the young disciples of Southern Edge would be questioned on whether they had the qualifications to participate in this place! If Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword also came out, Jaegal Jain could attack Chung Myung's age and seniority.

"Under the protection of the righteous sects, I will make sure to show the reality to this arrogant fellow."

Jaegal Jain eagerly anticipated Chung Myung's words. And finally...

"I see. It's amazing how fast you were." [the sass is back]

"We came as soon as we heard, I came..."

"Oh my! Even Sect Leader came first. Goodness, it's the first time I've heard of a disciple arriving later and making Sect Leader wait. Even if the river [Kangho] flows backward, it's still water! It wasn't like that in my time!"

Thud, thud.

Jin Geumryong gnashed his teeth and placed his hand on his sword. However, Lee Songbaek discreetly grabbed Jin Geumryong's wrist, trying to dissuade him.

"...You can't win with words anyways, Sahyung. If you're not really going to draw your sword, just endure it."

"...Hmph."

Jong Rigok, sounding more upset, spoke in a harsh voice.

"Don't waste time and sit. This is a place where important people are present."

Jin Geumryong, who had been holding on despite Lee Songbaek's dissuasion, couldn't stubbornly resist Jong Rigok's words and took a seat. Of course, amidst this, he didn't forget to glare at Chung Myung as if he were going to kill him.

From the perspective of Jegal Jain, who had been anticipating a major collision, this was a situation where he couldn't help but go, 'Huh?'.

The first time Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword made his name known was by defeating Jin Geumryong of the Southern Edge Sect. So, there must be accumulated resentment between them. Moreover, considering the relationship between the Southern Edge Sect and Mount Hua, there was no way it could smoothly pass like this?

However, Chung Myung, with his arms crossed, showed only an unsatisfied expression, and there seemed to be no intention of driving away the two.

Jaegal Jain, who had become impatient as nothing was going his way, could not hold back and quietly opened his mouth.

"...Can the two from the Southern Edge Sect participate in this gathering?"

"What?"

"Considering their positions... we can't really call them central figures. Wasn't this supposed to be a meeting of the central figures?"

Jin Geumryong and Lee Songbaek's faces stiffened.

Jegal Jain pretended not to notice their faces. Although it appeared that he had unintentionally attacked Southern Edge, the opportunity was too great to just pass it by.

"Don't misunderstand. It's not that there is any dissatisfaction with their attendance, but rather about their qualifications..."

"Qualifications?"

Chung Myung tilted his head crookedly.

Then, in an instant, some people in the conference room started to avert their gazes from Chung Myung and whistle while looking away.

"Qualifications? Qualifications?"

"...What's suddenly gotten into you? Even if it was something unspeakable..."

"Well, it's fascinating, you see."

Chung Myung grinned and glanced at Jong Rigok.

"It seems unnecessary to fight with the Evil Tyrant Alliance, Sect Leader, don't you think?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Just a few days ago, those who stuck close to the big bald guy cursed at us as if their lives depended on it are sitting here discussing qualifications. It seems like the world is going to end soon anyway. Is there anything else besides chaos? This is chaos. In such a situation, is it really necessary to go through hardships and fight?"

Jaegal Jain's face turned truly reddish. He seemed about to scream.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"..."

The laughter from the side silenced Jaegal Jain. It was none other than Jong Rigok who burst into laughter at Chung Myung's words.

"Well, Sect Leader!"

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to."

Jong Rigok coughed to suppress his laughter, while subtly avoiding Jaegal Jain's gaze.

Chung Myung sneered and threw a jab.

"If we're talking about qualifications, the two of you here are probably the least qualified."

He didn't give Jaegal Jain a chance to retort.

"As for these two? They certainly have qualifications. The two here are the ones who saw the horrors of the battlefield before anyone else. More than 'anyone else,' I would say."

Under the table, Jaegal Jain's hands began to tremble. It was because the meaning of Chung Myung's words was unclear.

'This bastard…'

His teeth ground together.

Since Southern Edge and Mount Hua were close rivals due to presiding over neighboring territories, he attempted to take advantage of it and launch an attack. However, because that guy suddenly defended Southern Edge, his appearance became comical!

But it wasn't easy to refute immediately. The more he did it, the more it would remind everyone of his mistakes.

After Jaegal Jain became quiet, Chung Myung provocatively clicked his tongue.

"A person should have some shame."

"..."

"Well, I don't really understand what makes that person so angry he keeps criticizing others. It seems like his temper is a problem. Should I just...?

"Well, well. Chief, calm down for now. This isn't a situation to get angry, right?"

"I'm not angry?"

"Right, right. I get it. I understand."

"No. It's not because I'm angry. I just pointed it out because what they did was not only unfunny but also ridiculous. Anybody looking at us from the outside would think that this was Hanam, and those gentlemen were the rulers here, wouldn't they? It's just so absurd, seriously..."

"Yes, yes. I get, I get it."

Tang Gunak urgently consoled Chung Myung, dripping with sweat. And he thought.

'I knew it would be like this.'

He thought Chung Myung was enduring it quite well when Jaegal Jain was maintaining such an attitude, even when the latter was repeatedly showing impoliteness toward Hyun Jong.

Perhaps Chung Myung stored it in his heart, intending to bring it up now. This is why one should always be cautious with someone who holds grudges.

"Tsk."

Chung Myung clicked his tongue loudly and scanned everyone.

"So, now we're all here for real, right?"

Thunk!

"Sorry! I received the message late..."

Chung Myung face-palmed as Baek Cheon violently kicked down the door.

"Ugh, darn it. I should just leave and die."

"..."

Meanwhile, Jaegal Jain took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

In fact, he knew.

The reason his words were accepted until now was that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance had somewhat considered him in their own way. The moment they withdrew that 'consideration' and attacked his mistakes, his position would rapidly diminish.

When consideration disappeared, what remained were two evaluations: the shattered pieces of the Five Great Families and a cause for the defeat of the Ten Great Sects.

Therefore, Jaegal Jain quickly tried to consolidate Southern Edge and the Moyong Family. Even if the justification disappeared, with power, he could retain the right to speak.

However, that annoying brat seemed to understand his intentions and gave him a slap in the face even before the meeting began. All eyes were watching.

He hadn't even properly refuted that statement, so now his position was almost shattered.

'It won't end like this.'

If that was the case, there was only one way left. He was the head of the Jaegal Family. Armed with logic, he was confident that he could suppress that reckless guy with words.

"But why did you suddenly gather everyone like this?"

Jong Rigok happened to open the door.

"We needed a meeting."

"Haven't we already had one?"

"Could we call that a meeting? Everyone just said what they wanted to say, and it was over."

"Hmm."

Jong Rigok nodded as if agreeing with that statement.

Certainly, the only thing left after the meeting was speculation about the existence of a traitor. Of course, that one thing was quite significant.

"Does that mean you've figured out the identity of the traitor?"

Jong Rigok's eyes sharpened as they fixed on Chung Myung. The gaze of everyone was directed towards Chung Myung.

"As long as there's a traitor within the righteous faction, any measures we take are meaningless. That's why we couldn't continue the meeting. If there's a spy, our strategies might be exposed, and if there's a traitor, they could stab a comrade in the back. Even so, seeing you urgently gather everyone like this, it seems you've discovered the identity of the traitor, haven't you?"

Various emotions flickered in the eyes of those present: curiosity, anger, worry, and a strange uneasiness. 

Among all those gazes, Chung Myung... chuckled softly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you saying weird things? What does it matter if there's a traitor?"

"Huh?"

Jong Rigok seemed to have no intention of hiding his surprise.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you know the identity of the traitor, or are you saying you don't know?"

"No, how would I know that? Do you think I can actually divine things just because I'm a Taoist?"

Chung Myung snapped in annoyance.

"If I had that skill, why bother swinging a sword so hard? I could just plant a flag somewhere and make a fortune!"

To the unexpected answer, Jong Rigok lost his composure and couldn't say anything to save face.

"Do you not know?"

"Yeah. I don't."

"Then... why did you suddenly gather everyone at this late hour?"

"This is why it's such a mess."

"..."

Chung Myung chuckled and said.

"The important thing is not whether there's a traitor or not."

"What kind of nonsense is that? The existence of a traitor is not important?"

At that moment, Jaegal Jain stood up, cutting off Chung Myung's words and his eyes glared bloodshot.

"What?"

"Can you take responsibility for that statement?"

Jaegal Jain shouted, and his eyes were so fierce that even blood vessels appeared.

Watching that, one corner of Chung Myung's mouth raised in a sneaky smile.