Chapter 1361: Indeed, You Have A Generous Heart (Part 1)

"Over here."

Yugong spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, turning around. Unconsciously, he found himself biting his lips.

He had only said, 'Over here,' without gesturing in any particular direction. However, Ho Gakmyung was naturally turning his body in the right direction.

It seemed he had already perfectly interpreted the signal even before Yugong spoke. Yugong felt awkward in this situation.

It wasn't because Ho Gakmyung understood the signal unique to Southern Island, but rather the fear that his own value was diminishing. If Ho Gakmyung could fully interpret Southern Island's signal, Yugong would become entirely useless.

What would Ho Gakmyung say then?

"You seem lost in thought."

At Ho Gakmyung's words, Yugong twitched and turned around. It was still hard to figure out what he was thinking with his expressionless face.

"Worried you might be discarded as useless?"

Ho Gakmyung's words pricked Yugong's core.

"No need to worry about that. It is the righteous sects, not the Evil Sects, who use people and discard them when they become useless."

Yugong twitched again and checked Ho Gakmyung's expression. Despite not speaking out loud, Ho Gakmyung seemed to see right through him.

"The Evil Sect doesn't abandon people."

"...Are you talking about yourselves?"

"It's a natural principle. You may have a distinction between useful and useless humans, but the Evil Sect doesn't make such distinctions. After all, more than half are trash anyway."

Yugong fell silent. He couldn't figure out what reaction he should give. 

"So, even if you're called trash, as long as you show some effort, there's no reason to discard you. Even if you were to be a traitor of the righteous sect, for example."

"...Should I thank you for that?"

When Yugong asked, a subtle smile appeared on Ho Gakmyung's lips.

"What a strange reaction."

"..."

"The one who chose betrayal was none other than you. No one forced you."

Yugong bit his lips.

"If you want something, all you have to do is think of a way to get it. If you consider all the other cumbersome things, you end up losing everything."

Ho Gakmyung tilted his chin towards the front.

"So, stop thinking about useless things and focus on what you have to do. Determining your usefulness is not up to you but me."

"...Understood."

Yugong sighed, about to push forward again.

"And..."

"Yes?"

Swoosh!

Ho Gakmyung's thrown blade grazed Yugong's cheek. Its sharp edge left a long, torn wound on his cheek.

Thud.

Red blood flowed down his cheek and dropped from his chin.

"If you're going to do something, do it properly. If you've found something, don't hide it; report it. For example, if you notice a subtle deviation in their direction, it means they've chosen a new destination. Or, if the interval between leaving marks is closer than before, it seems their movement has slowed down a bit."

"..."

"You just have to report what you find. Interpreting is my job."

Yugong closed his eyes tightly.

"...Understood."

"Increase your speed."

Yugong gritted his teeth and moved forward. An expression of disdain and mockery flickered on Ho Gakmyung's face.

'Not even funny.'

Yugong was an undeniable traitor.

Initially, he might have stepped forward to save others, but now he was diligently betraying his comrades to survive. Yet, he still carried himself as if he had some last shred of conscience.

From the moment he betrayed his sect and betrayed his comrades, discussing the existence of conscience was meaningless.

Ho Gakmyung, who had been silently observing Yugong's back, soon erased any interest he had in him. After all, he was nothing more than a hunting dog. There was no need to know his psychology in such detail.

'What's important are those guys.'

Although the movements of the enemies had subtly changed, they were still within the expected range. In other words, the enemy hadn't yet realized that the pursuers were following the Southern Island's markings.

'No, even if they know, it doesn't matter.'

Once Jang Ilso had already started moving, their fate was predetermined. Ho Gakmyung's only task was to follow Jang Ilso a bit more closely.

Ho Gakmyung ordered the entire group to increase their speed and pounded forward.

❀ ❀ ❀

The village chief of the Heng Village (형가촌), an old man, gazed at the setting sun. Hyeong Wook, who was watching the scene together, softly spoke.

"It doesn't seem like today is the day."

At those words, the old man looked at Hyeong Wook with a hint of inquiry. Understanding the meaning in his eyes, Hyeong Wook bowed deeply.

"Let's start unpacking the baggage soon."

"Father, it's not yet—"

"You still cling to regrets?"

Hyeong Wook bowed even deeper. Despite the gesture suggesting compliance, his subsequent words still carried traces of lingering attachment.

"It hasn't been many days yet. You know it could take more than ten days, not just a day, to come from Gangbuk to here, don't you?"

"That's the talk of ignorant folks like us. Is it possible the riverside folks who claim they can cross a river in a day and even leap over mountains would take more than ten days for them to come here?"

"...Listen, those guys from the Evil Tyrant Alliance said they control that river. So, even crossing that river—"

"Tsk, tsk."

Before the old man finished listening, he clicked his tongue softly. Hearing this, a deep sigh escaped from Hyeong Wook's mouth.

"Why do you hold on to such attachments?"

"..."

"Of course, I'm grateful. If it weren't for them, I might not be alive right now, and the people of this village wouldn't have been able to avoid disaster. How can I express my gratitude in mere words?"

Hyeong Wook nodded in agreement. There was no way to repay those who saved them.

"But, son, don't expect more than that."

"..."

"It's not because those people are bad. They are truly exceptional individuals. But, you see, that's just how people are."

"They were different."

The old man shook his head again at Hyeong Wook's words.

"Ordinary people would help if they saw a rabbit trapped in a snake hole. They might extend a helping hand with compassion if they see it."

"..."

"but they won't check if there's any injury, open a way for it, or ensure its survival. Isn't that a natural thing?"

"But..."

"To those folks, we are just like rabbits. We can help them with sympathy if we see them, but we're just ignorant folks that they don't need to spend time watching over or helping. That's how it is."

"Father, they—"

"Why can't you understand? It's not because those people are bad. They are extraordinary beings. But that's just how people are."

"..."

"So let's stop it now. Because of unnecessary expectations, the people in the village can't do their work properly. Living with hope in a place where you might leave soon is not an easy thing. Those expectations could be poison for the village."

Hyeong Wook looked at his father with a complex emotion that was hard to express. His father had spent decades as the village chief of Heng Village. Before Hyeong Wookk was born, when he was too young to understand the ways of the world, and up to the present.

So, the perspective with which he viewed the world would be incomparable.

But usually, Hyeong Wook would bow his head and submit without a doubt. However, in this matter, he couldn't easily concede.

"I understand what you're saying, Father. And I know it makes sense."

"..."

"But... Father, they were really different. I still... want to believe a bit more."

A deep sigh escaped from Hyeong Wook's mouth. He still wanted to believe in the words of those who promised to help the villagers move to Gangbuk.

"Wait a bit longer. There must be something happening soon."

"Hmm."

The old man gave Hyeong Wook a pitying look. Everyone has times when they hold such expectations. Times when they hear the stories of heroes saving the suffering and feel admiration.

Hyeong Wook, when he was young, used to hear stories of legendary assassins, and his father used to tell him that he should grow up to be as outstanding. But if expectations are too high, disappointment can be equally great.

'In the end, it's poison.'

Stories are just stories. If those kinds of people really existed...

No, even if there were at least a few, the world wouldn't be as turbulent as it is.

But the old man couldn't bring himself to speak any more on the matter.

Once expectations are abandoned, what remains for the people of this village are days lived in silence under the ruthless dominance of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

Is it easy to tell those who, in their painful reality, are chasing even dreams that their dreams are insignificant?

So he had no choice but to wait for the villagers to finally give up and acknowledge reality.

The old man spoke with a sigh-tinged voice.

"All right, let's do that. But... we can't just let go indefinitely, so it's time to slowly..."

It was at that moment.

"Chief, Chief! Look, Hyeong Wook!"

Suddenly, the door to the house burst open and a man hurriedly entered.

"What, what's going on?"

"Did something happen?"

"Th, they came! Them!"

"Who are you talking about?"

"No, that…"

The person who came inside was so shocked that he stuttered as if he couldn't speak well and pounded his chest in frustration.

"Oh, they're here! The ones you were waiting for!"

"Waiting? I was waiting for those who came from Gangbuk..."

"Yes! The ones you called for!"

Although the words came out in a twisted manner, Hyeong Wook immediately understood its meaning.

"Are you saying that the martial artists who visited back then have come back?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"Why them?"

"They're in the front!"

"Huh?"

As Hyeong Wook blinked, not knowing what was happening, the man raised his voice again as if he was frustrated.

"Now they are back! They're looking for you up front! What are you doing? Hurry up and go out!"

The man, unable to overcome her frustration, grabbed Hyeong Wook's arm and dragged him.

"They, they came?"

"That's right!"

"Get out of the way!"

Suddenly regaining his senses, Hyeong Wook pushed the man away and rushed out. As he ran to the village entrance, he saw the figures of several individuals.

"Ah..."

For a moment, he almost didn't recognize them. Their appearance was so different from when he first saw them. Initially, they exuded a heroic aura with neat attire, but now, they looked disheveled, as if they had engaged in an unimaginable battle.

But their gaze remained unchanged from the first time.

"Hey."

Standing next to a tall man, a slightly smaller one grinned and shook hands.

"Uncle, how have you been?"

"Ah, the heroes!"

Hyeong Wook's face turned pale.

His father was wrong. They hadn't forgotten the villagers. That's probably why they returned.

"Sorry, but could we get something to eat?"

Though the request seemed out of place, Hyeong Wook immediately understood its meaning.

"Of course! Absolutely! Please come in. I'll prepare it right away!"

"Really?"

"Of course. Why would we skimp on grains on those who saved out lives?"

"That's...we have a big appetite, is that okay?"

"Any amount is fine."

Hyeong Wook replied again, and the smaller man, Chung Myung, turned around and said,

"It's fine! Everyone, come out."

As soon as the words were spoken, a group of armed individuals emerged from the back of the forest.

Approaching with light steps, even an approximate count revealed over a hundred people. Hyeong Wook's mouth involuntarily gaped open.

"Is this okay?"

"..."

"Heh. Indeed, you have a generous heart. We'll enjoy the meal."

Hyeong Wook was silent for a while. The face of Chung Myung looked... incredibly irritating.