Chapter 1367: Do You Know What Shame Is? (Part 2)

"Sahyung."

"Hmm?"

Lee Ziyang, who had been running alongside the Mount Hua group, casually asked Guo Hansuo, who was beside him.

"Did you understand the conversation they had earlier?"

Guo Hansuo's eyebrows twitched slightly. At that moment, Lee Ziyang unfolded answers that Guo Hansuo didn't even ask.

"To be honest, I don't really understand. From what I heard, didn't they help the people in the village who were in danger of losing their lives to the Evil Sect while they were coming to Southern Island?"

"It seems so."

"So in the end, this means that even though the villagers received such a great favor, they weren't willing to even sell them grain?"

"That's right..."

As if not understanding what was happening, Lee Ziyang looked ahead. He was looking at the Heavenly Comrade Alliance members who were running ahead.

"But how can they be so indifferent? They just keep saying things that don't make sense."

Frustration was evident in Lee Ziyang's expression. Guo Hansuo, seeing this, asked casually.

"What would you have done?"

"Huh? What...?"

"If you were in the shoes of the Mount Hua people, what do you think you would have done?"

Lee Ziyang furrowed his brow and then answered.

"...I would have been furious and demanded retribution."

It seemed to infuriate him just to imagine it, and his voice was subtly heated.

"Shouldn't people appreciate favors? Saying thank you with their mouths, but when it comes time to help, acting as if there was no such obligation. How can we call such people human beings?"

"That's true."

"The difference between humans and beasts is that humans understand gratitude, right? Being grateful when receiving, but when it comes to helping, turning away as if there were no such obligation. Such people don't deserve help!"

Guo Hansuo nodded slowly as if to say he understood without necessarily agreeing.

"Sahyung, how about you?"

When Lee Ziyang asked, Guo Hansuo thought for a moment and chuckled.

"I probably would have done the same. You know, considering my temperament, it would be hard to endure seeing something like that."

"Is that so?"

Lee Ziyang nodded as if it were obvious. As if he wasn't the strange one.

"But... I don't understand. Do you think they would have felt differently from us? We were only imagining it, but since they experienced it themselves, they would have been more angry, not less."

"Of course."

"And, well... as you know, their temperament doesn't seem to be particularly mild compared to ours."

At that remark, Lee Ziyang's face contorted.

Honestly, they deserved that. They were just ruffians when he first saw them at the Martial Arts Championship, but now no one would consider them true Taoists.

Especially that Deputy Sect Leader was not only arrogant but insane enough to be considered one of the craziest people Lee Ziyang had ever seen in his life.

The memory of them boldly rushing in and starting a fight was still vivid. Weren't it those people who, just because their sect received some criticism, charged in with flipped eyes in Shaolin of all places?

'But why are they holding back now?'

Considering the situation, he understood that they couldn't make a big fuss or waste time. However, leaving a few biting words wouldn't have been that difficult.

At that moment, Guo Hansuo said quietly.

"I heard there is a saying in Taoism like this."

"Yes?"

"If you call the Tao 'the Tao,' then it is no longer the Tao."

Lee Ziyang furrowed his brow. What kind of nonsense was that?

"If that saying is correct, the moment you call a favor a favor, it's no longer a favor. When you say, 'I helped you, so you should repay me,' it means that the genuine favor you bestowed is no longer sincere."

"Huh...."

Lee Ziyang laughed as if it were ridiculous.

Does that even make sense?

Those who conduct righteousness are human. How can people continue something without any return, and how can they risk their lives for something without any value?

Isn't it because young martial artists dream of becoming heroes through righteousness, not for the sake of righteousness itself?

"Then, even if f bestow a favor and don't get it back, and even if you receive punishment, do you have to accept it as a matter of course?"

"...."

"Who would do that?"

"They do."

In an instant, Lee Ziyang found himself speechless. He could only gaze blankly at those running silently ahead.

"Of course, they're human too, so they can't always be in a good mood. But it seems like they believe they received sufficient repayment with just that one bag of grain."

"Are they insane...?"

Lee Ziyang's excessively candid and vivid reaction made Guo Hansuo chuckle.

His thoughts were not much different from Lee Ziyang's, but he seemed to have a vague understanding of why they thought that way.

"They probably hope that someone, who received their favor through their benevolence, can also become someone capable of benevolence without expecting anything in return."

"Will it really work out like that?"

"Immediately? Probably not. They'll just continue tirelessly. Then gradually, there will be people who understand the meaning."

Lee Ziyang raised his head with a somewhat annoyed expression.

While he understood the meaning, it seemed like an excessively idealistic path.

It's human nature not to easily let go of what they have, even when faced with strong individuals in front of them. How could they change?

"I think it's an unrealistic and empty dream."

Lee Ziyang spat out a laugh mixed with scorn.

"They may be grandly packaging it, but in the end, for saving dozens of lives, they barely got a single bag of grain and were driven away. Isn't that right?"

"..."

"The person who gave them that grain was just trying to save face. Do you think he genuinely feel grateful? People don't change so easily. Sahyung knows right? How ruthless and self-centered people can be."

Guo Hansuo nodded slowly.

Being individuals who had faced the harsh sea, he understood how selfish people could be when their lives and livelihoods were at stake.

"It's not about ignoring those people, but if you think that getting just that one bag of grain has changed anything, it's just a consolation to turn away from reality. Nothing has really changed."

"...Yes. That could be true." 

"Does Sahyung not think so?"

"To be honest, I also think your words make sense."

Guo Hansuo let out a bitter laugh.

He wasn't denying the path those people were pursuing, but the world was not that simple. Moreover, common people were not as innocent. If anything, they could be even more selfish due to having nothing.

Guo Hansuo glanced at the back of Chung Myung, who was running ahead. With the blood he had shed was dried and stuck to his clothes, Chung Myung's robes were such a mess that calling them rags would be an understatement.

'What you're trying to do might be even more difficult than placing the entire world under Mount Hua.'

And perhaps it would be in vain. It might only be an act of kindness that won't even receive proper acknowledgment. But...

"Even so, I want to believe that they are not wrong."

"...Why?"

"I just want to."

Guo Hansuo muttered softly and pounded the ground.

* * *

"Merciless..."

Baekbi's face (白匕) contorted.

Baekbi, who served as a guard and limb for Ho Gakmyung, had tortured numerous individuals and extracted information from their mouths.

The reason why the followers of the Myriad Man Manor feared the Commander, Ho Gakmyung, more than the faction leader, Jang Ilso, was largely due the work he had carried out under the water.

If caught in his hands, even if one was a strong-willed, just one tap was enough to make them open their mouth. If left to their own devices, they could be made to remember not only the moment they took their first steps, but even days of their infancy.

For Baekbi, making a powerless commoner speak was not a difficult task. No, it wasn't about making them speak; just allowing them a few breaths was sufficient.

It had to be done, without a doubt.

However, as Baekbi looked at the person who had collapsed in front of him, there was a visible sense of disgust in his eyes. Despite the constant pouring of blood, pus, and filth, the eyes that had always remained calm seemed to tremble faintly. [NOOOOO]

"How...?"

A sigh-like voice escaped, as if in despair.

In reality, it was hard to call the fallen figure in front of him a person anymore. Mangled and closer to a lump of flesh, it seemed almost out of vitality to writhe or twitch.

There was still a faint sign of life. The bloodstained chest rose and fell faintly. However, it was evident that there wasn't much time left.

Baekbi ground his teeth. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to grind the body of that bastard alive because he didn't confess. However, further torture was impossible. Just bringing his fingers close enough for contact was enough to make breathing difficult.

He had failed to extract information from this person. Undoubtedly.

"Ugh..."

At that moment, a sound, whether a sigh or laughter, leaked from the person's mouth. Baekbi closed his mouth and bowed his head to Ho Gakmyung.

"...I apologize."

Ho Gakmyung, after observing the person in silence for a moment, spoke with an expression of confusion.

"Strange."

"..."

"Did you consider the circumstances?"

"...Not exactly. I believe there was no shortage."

"If that's the case, then that man must be exceptional. Even you, who could make fierce warriors wail like children, couldn't open that bastard's mouth."

For a moment, a hint of anger flashed across Baekbi's face. Even the lords who ruled over regions, the ruthless killers, none could maintain silence before his torture.

And yet, this insignificant country bumpkin had completely resisted his torture. How should one describe this situation?

Tap.

Step by step, Ho Gakmyung advanced, and Baekbi sidestepped, lowering his head. Ho Gakmyung, walking at a measured pace, gazed down coldly at the barely breathing Hyeong Wook.

"Why endure to this extent?"

Once again, there was no reply. Ho Gakmyung lowered his body and whispered into the pierced hole where ears should have been.

"Don't you want to be comfortable? Even if you showed kindness to them, they've already left. There won't be any chance to meet them again."

"... "

"Just look away for a moment. Then, I will heal all your wounds and provide you with substantial wealth. This is the first time I've promised such a thing in exchange for information."

"..."

"In other words, it means I acknowledge you. You've done enough. Even if you open your mouth now, no one in the world will dare to blame you."

Surprisingly, Ho Gakmyung's words were sincere. He genuinely admired the person before him.

"Even if you die here like this, no one will acknowledge it. No one will admire you. Everything can only be obtained by staying alive."

"..."

"Now, it's the last chance. Answer. If you tell me where they went, I will immediately heal you and promise you a position and wealth that no one will dare to ignore. And I will spare all the villagers. I promise all of this in the name of the martial might of the Sapaeryeon."

Hu Jiaming's voice sweetly pierced Hyeongwook's ears.

"But if you refuse, you and no one here will survive. And even the people you risked your life to protect will not know that you died here so miserably. You sure don't want to die so worthlessly, do you?"

"..."

"So..."

Ho Gakmyung's eyes glowed coldly.

"Answer me. Where did they go?"

At that moment, a faint sound escaped from Hyeong Wook's mouth. A sound so small that even the martial artist Ho Gakmyung found it difficult to hear accurately.

"Tell me more precisely."

Ho Gakmyung brought his ear close to Hyeong Wook's mouth.

A faint sound oozed from Hyeong Wook's lips as thick blood flowed down. Fragile sounds seemed to spill out of his wide-open mouth.

"...Uh."

"Which way? Again."

"..."

"Tell me precisely. Quickly."

A glimmer of delight flashed in Ho Gakmyung's face.

Considering how rare it was for emotions to surface on his face, it was easy to imagine what kind of elation was brewing in his heart.

Amidst the breathless silence, Hyeong Wook's voice finally reached Ho Gakmyung's ears.

"... Fuck...eat... shit..."

For a moment, stillness descended.

Ho Gakmyung's face distorted slowly, like a demon.

"This...!"

With considerable force, Ho Gakmyung's fist struck Hyeong Wook's head.

Crash!