Chapter 1236: Who Came? (Part 1)

Guo Huanso (郭歡騷) stared at the scene before him with a cold, rigid face.

In the Great Sea Temple (大海殿), a place only accessible to Jinsan [idk...the first class disciples?] disciples, individuals dressed not in the martial attire of Southern Island Sect but in the civilian robes of Saga were seated.

Guo Huanso clenched and unclenched his fist in silence. Anger surged through him. 

It wasn't because outsiders had entered a place where only Jinsan disciples could enter. It was because the people wearing civilian clothes were none other than the Jinsan disciples of the Southern Island Sect.

"You. I heard you decided to leave Southern Island."

Guo Huanso finally spoke, and as he did, some disciples glanced around cautiously before hesitantly responding.

"Yes... Sahyung."

Guo Huanso bit his lip for a moment before speaking again.

"Do you what it means to leave the sect?"

If he had asked this question with such a stern face on a regular day, everyone would have been intimidated. Guo Huanso was not only the chief disciple of Southern Island but also known for his rough and hasty temperament.

Of course, everyone still felt awkward around Guo Huanso. However...

"...What else can we do?"

Now, unlike usual, they were boldly saying things they wouldn't have dared to before.

"So, what are we supposed to do...? We don't know when the Evil Tyrant Alliance might attack, and there's no way we can win in a fight."

"You..."

"We understand. We know that in times like this, we should be ready to die together. But... sorry, Sahyung. We're not courageous like you."

"Is that what you call courage?"

"Don't blame the disciples too much, Sahyung."

Before Guo Hansuo could say anything more, someone else interjected.

"It's not about courage."

Guo Hansuo turned towards the person who had intervened.

"We are not monks who have left the secular world. Southern Island Sect's disciples all have families. Do you know that the disciple Gohong, who just spoke, has an elderly grandmother at home?"

"..."

"Maintaining loyalty to the sect is essential, but sacrificing our lives for it isn't genuine courage, right?"

The expression vanished from Guo Huanso's face. Although he seemed genuinely angry, this time, they didn't retreat easily.

"Sahyung may not understand our feelings since he doesn't have a family. If you're going to be angry or curse, go ahead. But don't be unreasonable. Filial piety is just as crucial as the loyalty we owe to the sect."

At that moment, Lee Ziyang (李子陽), who had silently guarded Guo Huanso from behind, smirked.

"I didn't know that Yugong (庾供) Sahyung had a grandmother. Hasn't it been a while since your parents passed away?"

"Ziyang!"

"I'm just speaking the truth. So, everyone planning to leave the sect now has families and loved ones to protect, right? What about those without families or parents? Are they just worthless bastards?"

There was a sneer on Lee Ziyang's face.

"If you're just running away because you're scared, why talk so much? If you're going to curse or get angry, do it. Don't you hate hearing it to your face?"

"Don't speak recklessly!"

"Sahyung, it seems you're not aware, but I'm carefully choosing my words right now. If I had spoken carelessly, one of us would have drawn a sword by now."

"..."

"Whether it's departure or death, I hope they decide quickly. I wish Sahyung could understand my feelings as someone who, while respecting the law, must call a criminal a criminal."

Yugong bit his lip, glaring at Lee Ziyang. Just as Lee Ziyang seemed about to scoff again, Guo Huanso intervened.

"Enough."

"...Great Sahyung, that person..."

"Yugong got married not too long ago."

"What's so great about that!"

"His child has just turned one hundred days old. An infant who can't even recognize his father's face."

At those words, Lee Ziyang momentarily lost his words, and his lips trembled.

"However much... "

"Enough."

Guo Huanso lowered his head with a heavy expression.

"This is a decision made in the main text. One individual disciple should not debate right or wrong over a matter concerning the sect's departure. Isn't this what Sect Leader decided after deep consideration?"

Lee Ziyang turned his head away with an uncomfortable expression. However, he no longer vented his anger on Yugong or Gohong.

More than anyone, Guo Huanso, who would usually scold and criticize them with the loudest voice, couldn't speak further, considering the sentiment behind those words.

Guo Huanso stared at the two people for a moment and sighed as if it were a breath.

"I might have been misunderstood. I have no dissatisfaction with you leaving the sect."

"Well, then..."

"But, as it is between people, there are certain minimal etiquettes to be observed between disciples and the sect."

Guo Huanso looked at those in the robes with a cool gaze.

"Have you officially undergone the departure ceremony?"

"..."

"I heard you requested the departure ceremony from Sect Leader and decided to hold it when the typhoon subsides. Isn't that right?"

"...Yes."

At least on that matter, they all avoided eye contact, feeling a sense of shame.

"In other words, until the departure ceremony takes place, you are still considered disciples of the Southern Island Sect. However..."

Guo Huanso's gaze became even colder.

"Why don't I see the Three Waves on your chests that should be there?"

The Three Waves (삼파랑) - three wavelike patterns engraved on the chest of the Southern Island Sect's disciples' attire. It was the symbol of Southern Island and the pride of the Southern Island disciples.

However, the ones in the robes naturally lacked the pattern on their chests.

"This place is where only Jinsan disciples of Southern Island can enter. You all know that, so you probably still consider yourselves disciples of Southern Island. But why did you come here in such attire?"

"We..."

Guo Huanso spat out his words.

"I understand your perspective. I'm not blaming your decision to leave the sect. However, just like between people, there should be a minimum level of respect shown by those who are prepared to leave. It's not only a matter of respect for the companions who have lived together under the same roof until now, but also a matter of respect for the sect that has been a fence for you."

Those in the robes bowed their heads deeply.

There was no room for excuses. Originally, they planned to leave the sect today after receiving the departure ceremony. However, due to the sudden typhoon, they couldn't leave Southern Island.

It felt awkward to put on the robes again that they had once discarded.

But as Guo Huanso mentioned, if they had thought that, at least, they shouldn't have set foot in this Great Sea Temple. This place was only open to those who considered themselves Jinsan disciples of the Southern Island Sect, after all.

"If you can't put on the robes of Southern Island again, and if you don't have the intention to engrave the Three Waves on your chest again, at least go out now. This place is for disciples of the Southern Island Sect."

Even those who seemed to be trying to argue couldn't speak after seeing Guo Huanso's face. And one by one, silently, they left the Great Sea Temple.

Guo Huanso let out a long sigh. As those in the robes left, the Great Sea Temple looked remarkably empty.

'This can't be all of it.'

Even those who had been watching quietly would probably join the procession quietly after the departure ceremony was held. Or maybe, one morning, they would simply disappear.

How many would remain? How many would be here tomorrow, and how many the day after? After a week, would half of them still be here?

Lost in thought, he soon chuckled.

'What else is there to think about.'

There was a time when everyone shared the same dream. The dream of making Southern Island into the greatest sect in the world. A grand dream to show the central sects in the Central Plains, who looked down on the country bumpkins of Southern Island, how powerful and extraordinary Southern Island truly was.

However, now that dream was being swept away like a sandcastle on a beach. All that remained were fools who couldn't bring themselves to abandon the already collapsed dream.

"Jahyang. What about the third-class disciples?"

"...I've finished preparing to send those crying disciples off by hitting their butts. Those youngsters who don't know anything should be sent away."

"Good. You did well."

A blatant contempt passed over Lee Ziyang's face.

"Even those youngsters, who used to walk around proudly, shoulders squared, while eating away everything in Southern Island and swearing to die with Southern Island, are now running away."

"... "

"It seems growing old doesn't make you any wiser, Sahyung."

"Enough."

This time, as Guo Huanso nodded, Lee Ziyang spoke disdainfully.

"Are you pretending to be a good person now? Sahyung was the angriest in the past."

"What's the use of getting angry when nothing will change."

"Isn't it because you're too angry?"

Guo Huanso didn't answer. Perhaps that was indeed the case. However, he soon lowered his head.

"Those who want to leave, let them go."

"... "

"I am the head disciple of Southern Island. The people I should care about are Southern Island's disciples. Why should I care about those who refuse to be Southern Island's disciples?"

Lee Ziyang chuckled.

"Then the only people Sahyung would care about are the stupid people on Southern Island. The ones who say they'll throw away their lives for Southern Island."

"That's why I have to care. Because they are stupid."

Guo Huanso laughed softly. It was as he said. Until the end, those who remained were the most foolish and thoughtless ones in the vast Southern Island. Those who said they would break rocks with eggs.

"Still, we gained something, didn't we?"

Lee Ziyang shrugged, saying.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't make Southern Island the greatest sect in the world, but we might be evaluated as the sect where the stupidest people in the world gathered."

"That's what you call a gain..."

"It's better to leave something than nothing. Isn't it?"

Lee Ziyang shook his head. A smile crept onto Guo Huanso's lips as he looked at his dark, grim face.

"Sure. Well, that's not entirely wrong. Even if we search the whole world, there won't be anyone as foolish as us."

"That's right. If we became the best at something, isn't that enough?"

The two of them chuckled as they looked at each other. There was a mixture of self-mockery and awkward pride in their expressions.

And then, at that moment...

Bang!

"Sahyung! Great Sahyung!"

The door of the main hall was flung open as if it would break, and a soaked disciple from Southern Island Sect rushed in, breathless. Guo Huanso exclaimed in surprise.

"What is it! What's going on?"

"They're here! They're really here!"

"Who? Don't tell me it's the Evil..."

"Mount Hua! The Mount Hua Sect is here!"

"... Who is it?"

"Oh dear! The Mount Hua has arrived! They've reached the front gate!"

For a moment, Guo Huanso's gaze passed through the open door. The storm was raging fiercely.

"...They've come here?"

Lee Ziyang, too, muttered in a bewildered voice.

"...Are they really insane?"

At that remark, Guo Huanso's mind suddenly snapped into focus.

"Let's go!"

He rushed out into the storm without hesitation.

"Sahyung! Let's go together!"

Lee Ziyang and the other disciples followed him in haste.

Crash!

The pouring rain stung their faces like needles. However, there was no time to pay attention to such trivial matters.

"They've come here?"

Piercing through this typhoon to Southern Island, where they didn't know when they might clash with the Evil Tyrant Alliance in war?

There was a limit to stupidity. At that level, it wasn't stupidity but madness. Really, it didn't make sense.

However, at that moment, the image of the Mount Hua Sect he had encountered in the past came to mind—the faces he had seen at the martial arts competition, fierce yet dignified.

And the countless stories about the Mount Hua Sect that had entered.

Boom!

In the eyes of Guo Huanso, who was running with all his might, the scene in front of the mountain gate came into view. Southern Island's disciples, unsure of what to do, and in front of them, about ten people.

'R-Really...'

It was indeed a torrential rain. It was impossible to see clearly how much was pouring down, and their vision was blurred.

Guo Huanso, who reached the mountain gate, slowly came to a stop. In front of him were the ten or so people who stood confidently.

"...It's cold!"

"At least we're here?"

"Even so, how do we deal with the cold! Damn it, I survived and came this far!"

"How long do we have to wait?"

"I'm never peeing southward again!"   [...I'm not going to explain...google it yourselves lmfao...]

"...Food. Can someone get me some food?"

...No. Whether it was a drowned rat or beggars who had starved for months, it was impossible to distinguish what kind of annoying creatures were complaining about everything.

At that moment, someone who was openly complaining turned their head and looked at Guo Huanso.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"That guy from back then..."

"That ignorant country bumpkin!"

"Who are you calling a country bumpkin, you bastard!"

Guo Huanso couldn't help but shout.

A bizarre guy with a headdress like seaweed stuck to his forehead stepped forward. He took a step forward confidently and then struck a pose.

"I am Baek Cheon, the Deputy Sect Leader of the Mount Hua! I've come here as a special envoy of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Please allow me to greet the sect leader!"

Rumble!

Terrifying thunder roared through the sky as if responding to his words. Baek Cheon, with a pale face, looked at the sky and spoke again.

"...If possible, before we get struck by lightning, quickly..."

"... "

"Hurry."

Guo Huanso thought. He was somewhat different from what he had thought. No, very different.