Chapter 1217: Who Will Help? (Part 2)

"Enough."

"No, what did I say wrong?"

The elder who spoke seemed unwilling to hold back any longer, shouting with an enraged voice as if he didn't want to suppress his words any further.

"To speak frankly, if it were the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, things wouldn't have come to this. Even if they couldn't bring salvation to us, they wouldn't have ignored us for over a year as if we were non-existent!"

"Be careful with your words. Is it because there are no chairs over here? Gangnam is not sleeping..." [idk]

"Even if my words are crooked, isn't it necessary to speak them right away? Who created the Gangnam Non-Aggression treaty? Honestly, if they had thought about us even a bit, would they have agreed to such a treaty? Is this not proof that Shaolin doesn't consider us at all?"

"Stop it."

"In truth, isn't everyone thinking the same thing?"

The words fell like a bomb in the hall.

"Even though we're unwilling to say it, are we not all holding the same thoughts deep inside? Shaolin abandoned us. No, maybe not just now, but years ago!"

"... "

"Amidst such circumstances, what use is it to endlessly call out to the Shaolin, who won't even come to us?"

Frustrated sighs escaped here and there.

While no one openly spoke, who else could have different thoughts? The words spoken might have come back with an unbearable weight, so everyone had simply held them in.

The elder who was speaking bit his lips and spoke as if he was vomiting out his words.

"Instead of becoming a pitiful pawn in this loose alliance, it would have been better to commit ourselves to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance beforehand..."

"Why don't you tell me to shut up!"

At that moment, someone's shout echoed loudly, followed by an even stronger rebuke.

"Who wouldn't know that? Shouldn't you have said sensible things from the beginning? Do you really not know who the actual leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is?"

"But..."

"Mount Hua! Yes, it's Mount Hua! The original owner of this place we've occupied!"

"... "

"What did we do in Southern Island when Mount Hua was falling? Did we help them? Did we fight for them? No! Did we not rejoice at an opportunity that had finally come!"

Everyone's faces turned red.

It was a past event.

But they knew. Those who can draw a line under the past are those who have not been consumed by the past. For those who have enjoyed the drama of the Ten Great Sects, there was no way to escape responsibility for the choices of the past.

If, at the very least, someone had spoken out saying that what they were enjoying now was unjust, it might have been different. Those who were silent when they shouldn't have been didn't have the right to speak up even when the time came to speak up.

"That Mount Hua!"

The elder who was expressing intense emotions abruptly stopped himself.

"... "

"What good feelings would Mount Hua have towards us, people who have taken their place without lifting a finger to assist them during their downfall? Will they come to our rescue, claiming camaraderie and salvation over this vast distance?"

"... "

"Put yourselves in the shoes of the Mount Hua disciples now. Would you lament our current state? No! If we were in their position, we would be scheming to seize the opportunity and fill the void left by Southern Island, just as we did in the past!"

Some elders bowed their heads deeply. They were now acutely aware of what they had done. How did Mount Hua see them?

Amidst shedding tears of blood, while facing their downfall, what kind of bitter pill must they have swallowed witnessing Southern Island taking their place and arrogantly stepping forward?

"If people have dignity... "

The elder who spoke so far tightly sealed his lips. He knew it wasn't something to say as an elder of Southern Island.

A sigh escaped from Kim Yang Baek's lips, which had become chilled in the atmosphere.

"The past... there's no use regretting it."

Complicated thoughts lingered in his mind.

"What Jiyang [the elder] says has some merit. Before the situation became like this, if we had humbled ourselves before the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, things might have turned out differently."

"... "

"When you still have something in your hands, something to give, that's when you should apologize and sincerely repent. If we had done that, the situation might have changed. But... we have already missed that opportunity."

In Kim Yang Baek's mind, the image of Mount Hua he had seen on the stage was still vivid. While young disciples may not have known the resentment Mount Hua harbored, the older sect leaders and elders avoided meeting Mount Hua's gaze.

That look was just too embarrassing.

'Even at that time...'

The words of asking for forgiveness may be excessive, but at least they could have bowed their heads. They could have expressed genuine regret for feeling so sorry for what had happened.

But Kim Yang Baek couldn't bring himself to do it. Thus, all of this cannot be attributed solely to the sins of the previous generation.

Implicit accomplices may be worse than active participants. Those who want to avoid guilt while seizing benefits become implicit accomplices.

"Yes. In the end, it's karma."

Now, they were only paying the price for their actions. Unable to relieve the injustice of others despite being a righteous sect, seizing opportunity for personal gain... Perhaps remaining silent like this was more fitting.

But as the Sect Leader of Southern Island, he couldn't bear to say that openly.

After closing his eyes tightly for a while, Kim Yang Baek reluctantly opened his mouth.

"How are the disciples?"

"... They may not speak it, but everyone is unable to hide their anxiety."

"That's understandable..."

The pressure was too great, and this island was too lonely.

"Jiyang."

"... Yes, Sect Leader."

"There's no use dwelling on the past. It would be better to concentrate on what we can do now."

"... "

"If the Ten Great Sects won't help... if they have no intention of helping us, then we should seek salvation elsewhere. Let's send a plea to the other sects that may assist Southern Island."

Upon hearing those words, Jiyang smiled bitterly.

"Who would come?"

"... "

Even Kim Yang Baek probably didn't expect a response. But Jiyang couldn't accept even those superficial words.

"Jiyang... "

"If there were so many in this world overflowing with righteousness... Southern Island wouldn't be in this state right now in the first place."

Kim Yang Baek spoke with a sigh, his voice filled with bitterness.

"Still, shouldn't we grasp at even straws?"

"Sect Leader... there are no straws in the water we've fallen into. Even if we want to send a plea... there's no way to send it, isn't that so?"

Ultimately, Kim Yang Baek closed his eyes tightly.

He wanted to retort, to say something to shake off the sense of helplessness, but he didn't even have the energy to do that. Dealing with the limp body that sagged like a wet sponge was heavy and exhausting enough.

"Sect Leader, perhaps abandoning the island and escaping would be... "

However, Kim Yang Baek raised his head before he could finish hearing everything.

"Why pretend not to know? The ones we are most eagerly waiting for to leave this island are none other than the Evil Tyrant Alliance. The Gangnam Non-Agression treaty. Yes, that treaty that is strangling us applies to us as well."

"... "

"The moment we leave the island, they will have a reason to attack us. And... on the sea, we are just ordinary people, not Southern Island disciples. No matter how well we've mastered the martial arts, what can we do on the vast ocean?"

"Sect Leader... "

"Whether we reach Gangnam or head towards the sea, neither option guarantees a good outcome..."

"Does that mean we can't just sit here and wait to die?"

Kim Yang Baek fell silent. It was frustrating for him as well. But what could be done? Drinking saltwater when thirsty only prolongs death.

"But hasn't the terms of the treaty already expired?"

"... Considering the timeframe, it seems so. However, neither the Evil Tyrant Alliance nor the Ten Great Sects are publicly acknowledging that fact."

"Alright... that makes sense."

There was no need to publicly announce the fact that their relationship had reached a point where an immediate war could break out.

The Ten Great Sects found even mentioning the Gangnam Non-Aggression Treaty shameful, and the Evil Tyrant Alliance avoided discussing the matter to prevent immediate turmoil. Perhaps the official conclusion of the Gangnam Non-Aggression Treaty would be the day the Evil Tyrant Alliance's blades invaded Southern Island.

"There isn't much time left."

Even if they tried to avoid it, they could feel it. That day was approaching.

"Im Gyeom."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"... Send the young disciples who are still inexperienced beyond the mountain gates to return to Sagaro."

"... Sect Leader?"

"We can't stop those who want to bury themselves with Southern Island, but young children who don't yet understand what they're doing should be held back. There's no guarantee that their schemes won't reach Sagaro, but it's at least better than here."

In response, Im Gyeom bit his lip.

The words implied an acknowledgment that there was no longer a way for Southern Island to resist the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

"...I will handle it."

"And... if there are disciples who wish for consequences, let them have it."

"Sect Leader! That...!"

"People who want to live should live, don't you think?"

Kim Yang Baek nodded.

"It is enough for me, who holds Southern Island's foundation, to die. There's no need for others to do the same."

The determination in those words needs no further explanation. However, Jiyang could only sigh in frustration.

"What good will that do..."

"..."

"The Evil Tyrant Alliance isn't the kind to show restraint. They won't leave successors behind. After dealing with Southern Island, they will meticulously search, eradicate, and uproot anyone associated with Southern Island.

That's the way of the Evil Tyrant Alliance... and also the way of the Myriad Man Manor."

Jiyang's sigh-laden voice weighed heavily.

"What will someone without wings do when they go? They will go to Southern Island. Simply because they are from Southern Island..." [idk]

"... "

Kim Yang Baek's fingertips trembled faintly.

Annihilation.

The word he thought he would never face again so soon unexpectedly arrived and pierced him.

Despite how warm Southern Island was, he only felt cold and lonely.

"Why didn't I realize sooner that Kangho is such a ruthless place? Why didn't I know that their idea of righteousness was nothing but a plaything for the powerful?"

A weak laughter flowed from his lips.

"Hehehe..."

Laughter more sorrowful than tears lingered like a ghost over the meeting room for a while.