Chapter 1246: That's One Thing (Part 1)

After the departure of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, the remaining elders were silent for a while. People don't collapse when they are in despair; they collapse when hope is gone. And what happened just a while ago was enough to take away even their last sliver of hope.

"Sigh..."

Breaking the silence, a sigh escaped from Kim Yang Baek.

"As soon as the typhoon subsides, order the disciples to leave."

"...Haven't we already done that?"

"Some still harbor illusions. When reality hits them in the face, some may change their stance."

"..."

"The elders are no exception."

Kim Yang Baek looked at the elders and spoke.

"Just because they've been with us in Southern Island for a long time doesn't mean they must stay until the end. Those who want to leave can leave. No one will blame them."

Some elders murmured in response. 

"What do you mean by saying those who have accepted their death will go wherever? Without martial arts, we are just a bother at home."

"True, Sect Leader. Our grandchildren won't welcome Southern Island folks entering their homes. With worries that we might face the thunderbolt of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, how can we return home with any decency?"

Kim Yang Baek chuckled.

"Well, you should have thought of that before."

"...It's not the time to say that now."

The atmosphere was not as heavy as expected. When they thought they could do something, they expressed emotions toward each other, but once they realized there was nothing more to be done, even those emotions softened.

"How about the martial arts of those who request forgiveness?"

"...They should be abolished."

"Well..."

Kim Yang Baek nodded.

"It's not because those kids are resented, but because we're worried. The reason the Evil Tyrant Alliance and Jang Ilso want to attack the Southern Island Sect is to leave no trace of the past behind. But will they just leave the kids who have learned martial arts alone?"

"..."

"If those who undergo the departure ceremony and have lost their martial arts, Jang Ilso won't necessarily try to capture and kill them. He's ruthless, but not foolish. He would know the value of skilled fighters who can work for him."

The eyes of the elders softened. Although the words were reasonable, if that happened, there would truly be no one left in the world who had learned Southern Island's martial arts.

One couldn't erase the knowledge in their heads no matter what, but knowing how incredibly difficult it would be to raise a disciple without any demonstrations, the elders couldn't help but clearly see what would happen to Southern Island's fate after their deaths.

"Let's not leave regrets."

Understanding the feelings of the elders, Kim Yang Baek spoke as if he understood.

"If heaven is watching, it will somehow continue the lineage. Do you happen to know? Just like Mount Hua, someday, Southern Island may experience a greater glory than it is now."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"It will definitely happen."

Listening to the words of the elders, Kim Yang Baek smiled bitterly.

He said it this way, but he also knew how slim the chances were. 

Kurururung.

As the sound of thunder reached them, Kim Yang Baek turned his gaze to the window. The storm was still raging.

"I hope the storm doesn't stop."

Looking outside with a bitter expression, he then sadly turned his head away.

* * *

"...So, is it just over like that?"

The drenched disciples, without even thinking about wiping off the water on their bodies, looked at Guo Hansuo.

"What, Great Sahyung? They came all the way from Gangbuk and really had no plan at all? If that's the case, why bother coming here in the first place?"

"Why are you blaming Great Sahyung for that?"

Lee Ziyang retorted irritably.

"If you want to blame someone, go argue with those Heavenly Comrade bastards directly. Where did you get the courage to question Great Sahyung?"

"No, it's not like that..."

"That's not what it is! Clearly..."

"Stop it."

Guo Hansuo lightly grabbed Lee Ziyang's shoulder to restrain him.

"It must be frustrating for you."

Guo Hansuo sighed and spoke, "It seems that even the Heavenly Comrade Alliance did not expect the Evil Tyrant Alliance to attack so quickly."

"No, how could that happen..."

"Although we're keeping an eye on the movements of the Evil Tyrant Alliance and the coast, wouldn't it be difficult for those far in Gangbuk to know the situation here?"

"..."

"Perhaps seeing the Evil Tyrant Alliance gathered on the coast, they were also taken aback. Nevertheless, since they've come this far, we should be grateful."

Having said that, Guo Hansuo smirked.

He was not a person who had a hobby of defending people. If it were another time, he might have been the first to step forward and scold them. However, strangely, now he couldn't find any resentment toward them.

It wasn't a matter of logic or reason. It was probably because the cups of alcohol they shared that night remained in his chest.

'How futile.'

How long was that time?

In the end, it meant that his heart was just as sore from the neglect shown by the Central Plains. Consequently, he couldn't help but feel affection for those who had come here in person.

"There's nothing to blame or not blame. Haven't they done enough?"

"To be honest, I don't know what they did! If that's the case, they shouldn't have come at all. They just got people excited for nothing..."

"Don't talk like that."

Guo Hansuo said with a bitter tone.

"Your father was also a sailor."

"Yes."

"Then, wouldn't you know? It's not uncommon for sailors who set out to sea for the sake of their sons only to be caught in a typhoon and unable to return."

"I know."

"The cruelty lies in the sea, not in the father. Even if, in the end, that choice took away a life of prosperity and comfort, can you blame and criticize the father as foolish?"

"I understand what you mean, Sahyung."

He said this with a heavy heart, but in reality, the disciples from Southern Island didn't particularly resent or hate the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Instead, they felt closer to gratitude.

For three years, they had been ignored and scorned, and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance was the only one who found them.

They even suggested joining forces with the abandoned Southern Island Sect.

Just when the Southern Island Sect thought everyone in the world didn't need them, they said, 'We still need you.'

"Ziyang."

"Yes."

"When the typhoon subsides, select a sturdy boat and prepare it. So they can leave immediately."

"Do we really have to do that?"

Lee Ziyang, who was grumbling, looked at Guo Hansuo's expression and sighed deeply.

"Yes, we have to. You can do it, right?"

"Alright. I'll consider it a favor."

Under normal circumstances, Lee Ziyang would have been the first to voice his complaints, but asked by the person who would typically complain the most, Ziyang couldn't continue his protest.

"And, just in case, prepare a few more boats separately."

"What? We're barely surviving, why do we need to prepare more boats?"

"There might be those who want it. Those who may not want to die, but they don't have the confidence to live in Southern Island after abandoning the name of the Southern Island Sect."

"Sahyung."

"Just get them ready. That will be all."

Lee Ziyang bit his lip.

"Alright."

"That's it."

Having said that, Guo Hansuo closed his eyes.

'Those who want to run away...'

Maybe those were words directed at himself. If he could, if it were possible, he wanted to run away right now.

To a place where he could survive.

But it wasn't possible. He was the Southern Island Sect's top disciple. If someone had to bear the name of Southern Island and die, it would have to be Guo Hansuo.

"Think deeply, everyone."

"Sahyung, we..."

"Don't say anything you will regret."

Guo Hansuo stood up and walked outside.

Watching him, the other disciples also sighed deeply and left their places one by one.

* * *

"...Really, it's just as Sahyung said."

A sigh of admiration involuntarily escaped from Gohong's mouth.

Yugong's words that there was nothing they could do were indeed correct. Even the leaders and elders, who hadn't completely given up hope, were in a situation where they couldn't expect much.

"Impressive."

A strange sense of relief welled up in his heart. The fact that someone like Yugong, who looked at the situation so calmly, decided to leave the sect meant that Gohong's choice was certainly not wrong.

But unlike Gohong, who kept marveling, Yugong did not show any particular emotion.

"...Is that so?"

"Yes. Sect Leader said that when the typhoon subsides, he will formally announce the departure of those who will leave the sect. In return, our martial arts will be abolished."

"It's the right decision."

"Losing martial arts is regrettable, but... What can we do? It's better than dying."

Yugong nodded his head.

This was something they had originally prepared for. Having martial arts and going down to Saga would be more dangerous for them.

They had to become insignificant. They had to become insignificant insects that the Evil Tyrant Alliance wouldn't bother to track and kill.

First of all, one had to survive before they could do anything, right?

"But how on earth did you know? With all those strong people coming, surely there wouldn't be no countermeasures."

"It's not that they have no countermeasures."

"Yes?"

"It's just that the Evil Tyrant Alliance is that fast and frightening."

Although Gohong couldn't understand, Yugong just smiled as if he didn't care, his gaze not on him but on the pouring rain.

That was as he expected. Nothing had changed at all.

Realistically, it wasn't a situation where they could hope for anything, so naturally, he thought it would turn out like this.

So it was definitely a good thing. If some unnecessary variable got involved, things could get messed up. If they had brought some troops carelessly, the Sect Leader might have hoped for something, and instead of letting the disciples leave, they might have all joined forces to fight against the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

With no unexpected accidents, things proceeded as planned, which was truly fortunate. However...

'I don't know. Why is it so bitter?'

- You did well, little friend.

Those words kept echoing in his ears. The arrogant remark that young one had casually thrown out strangely refused to leave his mind.

"How are the Heavenly Comrade Alliance guys doing?"

"They're holed up in their rooms and not coming out. They have no shame, so what can we do?"

"...That's true."

Yuggong slowly nodded his head.

Nothing had changed. Nothing at all. Everything would proceed as planned.

When the typhoon subsided tomorrow, they would leave, and the Evil Tyrant Alliance would trample over Southern Island. Those who chose to share the fate with the Southern Island Sect would accept death, while those like Yugong and Gohong, who chose life, would walk their own paths, ignoring the screams heard from behind.

With that, the name the Southern Island Sect would disappear from the world forever.

"Foolish..."

"Yes?"

"Never mind."

Yugong shook his head.

"Prepare in advance. We might not know if Sect Leader will be in a hurry. We shouldn't delay unnecessarily and run into unexpected situations after the departure ceremony. Once the ceremony is over, we should leave immediately."

"Yes...hyung-nim."

"...Still, call me Sahyung."

"Ah... Yes, of course."

Gohong scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

That night.

The typhoon that covered Southern Island swept more violently over the land than the previous day. As if clutching Southern Island with its nails and stubbornly refusing to let go.

However, when the next day dawned.

"...It stopped."

The fiercely blowing wind and torrential rain abruptly ceased, as if last night was a lie. Calm and indifferent like the sea.