Chapter 1537: It Will Be Okay (Part 2)

In the early morning, the inn that the Mount Hua Sect had rented as a dining hall. Despite the bustling atmosphere that should have filled the restaurant, a deep silence pervaded.

Clatter. Clatter.

Even though there were dozens of people gathered for a meal, the sound of spoons occasionally touching bowls was the only intermittent noise. It felt unnaturally loud, enough to startle anyone.

In the almost suffocating stillness, the faces of the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect gradually turned pale.

'This is driving me crazy.'

They were enduring it. They were definitely enduring it.

No matter how much disciples of the Mount Hua Sect could chew rocks and digest steel, the food pushed into their throats in this atmosphere wouldn't be properly digested.

'Sahyung.'

'What?'

'What about that story?'

'Are you crazy? What are you talking about in this atmosphere?'

The disciples of the Mount Hua Sect exchanged glances almost frantically, their mouths forming shapes without actually uttering a word.

Usually, they were supposed to take advantage of the opportunity in the morning to talk about how excessive the current training was. It wasn't just complaining. Because the training was so hard ahead of the war, people often said that they would be the first to leave before the war.

Jo Gol, who usually readily listened to and relayed such words, had become a bit difficult lately due to his soaring reputation. He even had the nickname "Light-Splitting Sword."

So today, instead of approaching Jo Gol, he decided to skip him and discreetly talk to Yoon Jong, who had a relatively good temperament...

Clatter. Clatter.

The atmosphere at the table where Yoon Jong was seated was peculiar.

The Five Swords, including Yoon Jong. More precisely, the Chung-line disciples sitting at the table were not engaged in any conversation other than the occasional sound of spoons scraping against bowls.

To be fair, it was a common occurrence.

Fighting or confrontation between disciples was expected. It would be stranger for there not to be friction when gathering these energetic individuals in one place.

Even Jin Tae, who was currently looking around, had fought with countless disciples before.

They exchanged punches during sparring, and there were even several instances where they drew their swords just before a duel.

So, the phenomenon itself wasn't particularly surprising...But this was the first time that Chung Myung and Yoon Jong were at the center of this intense confrontation.

'Had there ever been such a match-up?'

No matter how hard he tried to recall, there wasn't.

Of course, the Five Swords had fought a lot. In fact, they had fought so ruthlessly that others wouldn't dare to mention their names.

It was a joke among the disciples of Mount Hua that the development of the Mount Hua Sect was marked by the long history of the fierce struggles of the Five Swords.

But there was no lingering resentment. If there was dissatisfaction, they immediately cursed and exchanged blows. They were not individuals who would remain silent so coldly.

'It's suffocating. Really.'

Still, Jin Tae and the others around him were better off. The guys who sat at the table with the Five Swords were scratching the bottom of their pathetic bowls as if they might faint at any moment.

Jin Tae thanked the heavens that he didn't join them. If he had eaten there, he would have undoubtedly collapsed with his eyes rolled back.

Thud.

At that moment, Chung Myung put down his spoon.

"I'm done."

Yoon Jong, who glanced at him, said calmly.

"Eat a bit more. You also need to train."

"It's okay. What's the hurry in the morning?"

"Alright."

With that statement, Chung Myung got up and left the dining hall.

It was a completely ordinary conversation. If someone unfamiliar were to hear it, they might think it was a warm conversation between a Sajil who had lost his appetite at morning and a Sahyung worrying about him.

However, no one in this place accepted it that way.

Thud.

At that moment, Yoon Jong also put down his spoon.

"I'll go first."

A moment later, the sound of the door closing was heard. As soon as that happened, the sound of exhales escaping from various places in the dining hall followed one after another.

It felt like proof that the origin of the suffocating atmosphere from a little while ago radiated from Chung Myung and Yoon Jong.

"Hey, your face turned blue."

"...Sahyung's face is dark as if he's dead."

"Really?"

"He's not breathing, so what else could it be."

Everyone sighed deeply with faces that seemed like they were about to die. In that atmosphere, Tang Soso stabbed Jo Gol's side and gestured with her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"...What?"

"Hurry and go see."

Jo Gol made a bewildered expression.

"No, I'll figure it out on my own. Why should I..."

"Go see."

"Ugh..."

Reluctantly, Jo Gol got up, wrinkling his face as if he were going to meet his doom. In truth, it wasn't just Tang Soso ordering him around; he himself felt that it might be necessary to have a conversation.

"Sahyung, what happened?"

"What?"

Jo Gol caught up with Yoon Jong quickly and poked the back of the latter's head with his thumb, but the response he got was a shrug. Jo Gol furrowed his brows.

"Why are you like this? You're not a kid, so why are you doing this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't act all aloof for no reason. If you fought, just resolve it. It's not just one or two times that Chung Myung's done something unreasonable."

"..."

"He's sharp-tempered now because of the current situation. If Sahyung understands, what's the problem? Why escalate it like this?"

Upon hearing this, Yoon Jong's steps came to a halt. Yoon Jong, without looking back at Jo Gol, spoke calmly.

"Fought..."

"No, I mean, it's not that Sahyung should fight with him by throwing punches, but rather, he's just.."

"I'd prefer it that way."

"...What?"

"Don't worry about it. Neither he nor I have hurt feelings towards each other."

Jo Gol's face stiffened even more. It meant that they had distanced themselves from each other without even fighting.

"Seriously..."

As Jo Gol hesitated, Yoon Jong spoke calmly with a face that seemed like a needle wouldn't penetrate. [ig it means it's stiff lol]

"We just realized that we have different perspectives. There's nothing wrong."

"Sahyung."

"I'll go first."

With that statement, only a stunned Jo Gol was left behind. He couldn't move as if frozen until Yoon Jong disappeared into the distance. By the firmly closed mouth of Sahyung, it could be inferred that this was not just a minor dispute. It was a serious matter.

"What is this..."

Not at any other time, but now, with the war looming, Yoon Jong and Chung Myung in conflict. It was a big problem.

"This is crazy."

Jo Gol scratched his head in frustration.

"What should I do..."

Mediation was not Jo Gol's usual role; it was always Yoon Jong's role. However, with the person who usually handled mediation standing defiantly like that, the solution became unclear.

Having been together for a long time, Jo Gol knew. Despite Yoon Jong's reputation for being friendly, he was, in fact, quite stubborn. If someone were to choose the two most stubborn people in the Mount Hua Sect, Jo Gol wouldn't hesitate to pick Chung Myung and Yoon Jong.

But seeing those two looking at each other as if they were cows and chickens, the situation was serious. It was unclear how long it would last.

"Sigh..."

Jo Gol exhaled a sigh until the ground seemed to split open. He turned his body.

He was going to meet Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon was the only person who could do something in this situation.

"So?"

"What?"

However, Baek Cheon's reaction to the situation conveyed was a bit... no, quite different from Jo Gol's expectations.

"Are you telling me to chase after and mediate between two guys who fought?"

Baek Cheon stared at Jo Gol with indifferent eyes. Jo Gol lost words for a moment.

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

When you think about it, how absurd was this?

Only two third-class disciples fought with each other. There really was no other description for such a thing other than 'only.'

And yet, asking someone like Baek Cheon, who was known as the Deputy Sect Leader of the Mount Hua and is also a martial artist, to mediate. Jo Gol scratched the back of his head.

"I agree with you. Well... This might sound ridiculous. Especially at a time like this."

Baek Cheon stared at Jo Gol silently, as if telling him to continue.

"But, Sasuk... that's..."

Jo Gol sighed, tousling his curly hair.

"It doesn't seem like a simple emotional quarrel. I'm not sure about Chung Myung, but Yoon Jong Sahyung is not the type to engage in such cold wars."

Yoon Jong was a highly respected figure in the volcano. He wouldn't instigate a cold war with Chung Myung just because he was in a bad mood.

"So... if this continues and... if it becomes something that affects the future, it could be a problem, so Sasuk should somehow..."

"Let's clarify."

"Yes?"

"First of all. Why do you think Chung Myung is at fault?"

"What? I didn't say...,"

"You said it. Yoon Jong is not the type to engage in emotional quarrels over trivial matters. So, is Chung Myung that type of person?"

Jo Gol remained silent.

No, of course, he couldn't be described as broad-minded, but he wasn't someone who would make a mountain out of a molehill either.

In terms of boldness, he might be broader-minded than anyone else in Mount Hua.

"...I was short-sighted."

"Both of them aren't like that. Yet, despite that, there is a situation where they cannot compromise with each other. It's not a problem that can be solved with simple mediation."

Jo Gol bowed his head deeply.

He went to Baek Cheon knowing this. However, Baek Cheon's solution wasn't much different.

"And secondly."

"Yes, Sasuk."

"Is that something I should do?"

"Yes?"

Jo Gol, slightly flustered, raised his head. The unexpected words were surprising, but Baek Cheon's cold, stern face was even more surprising.

"Answer me. Is this something I should do?"

"Sasuk?"

"It's a matter between the two third-class disciples. Should I step in and reconcile them?"

"No, it's not like that. But, it's not just a matter between third-class disciples. It's also about Chung Myung."

Perhaps it wasn't just a matter of importance within the Mount Hua Sect. It's a conflict between none other than Chung Myung and the Five Swords.

But as Jo Gol was about to say that, he hesitated and closed his mouth.

He realized.

The moment he said it, it would appear to be claiming that only those under the Five Swords' name were the most important.

That was something that should never be said as a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.

Even if it were true.

Startled by having his inner thoughts revealed, Jo Gol didn't know what to do. Baek Cheon quietly spoke up.

"What if I can't do it?"

"What do you mean...?"

"Are you going to see Sect Leader?"

Jo Gol flinched. Flustered, he kept his mouth shut.

"And if that doesn't work? Are you going to see Great Sect Leader In and ask him to scold them?"

He understood that it meant not to make a fuss like a child.

But... why was Baek Cheon so cold?

It seemed like a different Baek Cheon than he knew.

"I don't quite understand why you're saying that, Sasuk. This seems so..."

"Jo Gol."

"Yes?"

Baek Cheon spoke to Jo Gol with a cold---no, a heavy expression.

"What if I'm not here?"

"...Huh?"

The air between them suddenly felt heavy as lead.

"What will you do if I'm not here?"

That short sentence pierced Jo Gol's heart mercilessly.

It felt like something that had been pressed down for a long time was now seeping through the crack.