1140 — Still, What Can We Do? (5)

His breath rose to his chin. The heavy breaths were almost spat out continuously, “huff, huff.” Yoon Jong gripped his sword tightly as if to break it.

‘That bastard is tired too. If only the sword lands just once by luck!’

Flames burst from his eyes.

“Uraaaaah! Dieee!”

He swung his sword with all his might and charged forward. But even while pouring out all his strength, Yoon Jong secretly knew.

That “just once by luck” never comes through when needed.

Whoosh!

Chung Myung’s sword, extending like a sharp spear, instantly deflected Yoon Jong’s incoming sword.

And then.

Thud!

The handle of the Dark Fragrant Plum Sword that flew in consecutively mercilessly pierced Yoon Jong’s chin.

“Ugh…”

The dimming sky filled Yoon Jong’s vision.

‘Damn it…’

Thud.

In the end, Yoon Jong, the last one remaining, collapsed to the ground like rotten straw. Chung Myung sheathed the dark hidden sword and clicked his tongue shortly.

“You’re messing around, I see.”

“…”

“What? Revenge? Revenge? Do these bastards think the murim world is easy? Do you think the result changes just by setting up a formation and charging with enthusiasm? If you think so, why even train!”

Chung Myung gave a snort and scoffed as he lectured the sprawled fighters.

“A hundred years away! You kids!”

“…”

“Ahh, you lot with no progress.”

Chung Myung turned sharply. The two sect leaders and elders, watching the scene with stern faces, left the training ground with him.

As they confidently turned the corner of the training hall connected to the training ground, they all suddenly sat down on the floor.

“Oh dear…”

“I really thought we were going to lose.”

Even Meng So and Tang Gunak leaned against the wall of the hall, struggling to keep their balance.

“…That was dangerous.”

“This time it was really dangerous.”

Tang Gunak shook his head.

On the surface, it looked like an easy victory as usual, but this time it was really tough. Since their numbers were few, if they had lost momentum even once, they would have collapsed uncontrollably. If things had gone slightly differently, they themselves would have been lying there.

In that sense, they fought very well today, but…

“But, Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

“Yes?”

Tang Gunak frowned slightly seeing Chung Myung still lively and responsive unlike them.

‘He really has no limits.’

Physical strength aside, fighting repeatedly like this would surely wear down one’s spirit. Where does such calm mental strength come from?

“In my opinion… today it might have been better…”

“If we had lost on purpose?”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gunak quietly nodded.

Of course, no warrior likes to lose. In any situation, a warrior ultimately wants to win. So whether the opponent is his disciples or members of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, Tang Gunak did not want to lose deliberately. But…

‘Given the situation.’

They probably made a big decision today. They put aside old grudges with those they had fought with and made a magnanimous decision. But since the result didn’t change, their morale could be broken.

Usually, in such times, people blame others. When things go well, everything is enjoyable, but when things don’t, people start blaming others first.

“I think so too. Even if losing on purpose is out of the question, we should have given the impression that fighting together had meaning.”

Meng So stroked his chin and supported Tang Gunak’s words.

Hearing that, Chung Myung smirked.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Hmm?”

“You seem to think your disciples are too weak. We may scold them, but actually, they don’t falter when put to the test.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“See for yourself.”

Chung Myung gestured toward the training ground. Tang Gunak and Meng So quietly approached the corner of the hall and peeked out.

“The formation was wrong from the start! The Beast Palace can’t hold!”

“No, the Beast Palace did buy us some time, that part is true!”

“What good is buying time if you end up collapsing! To stop those monstrous fellows, the formation must be thickened! One of Mount Hua or the Ice Palace should give up offense and switch to defense!”

“Then the other side can attack comfortably without any sense of crisis! That only delays time but ultimately can’t win. Don’t you know the best defense is offense?”

“That’s just idealism!”

Those who were sprawled out had gathered in the center and were fiercely arguing. Meng So and Tang Gunak were exhaling heavily.

“Ah, damn it. My jaw still aches from the hit.”

“Maybe because I’ve been hit so much, now I can endure it a bit.”

“…That doesn’t sound like something you boast about.”

“Anyway!”

Jo Gul’s eyes lit up.

“Did you see Lord Tang panting today?”

“I did!”

“His breath was right up to his chin! I thought he was about to collapse! Hehehe!”

Tang Gunak got angry and tensed up, but Meng So gently grabbed his shoulder to calm him.

“What about the Beast Palace Lord? Wow! He’s so big that even moving his shoulder feels like an avalanche!”

This time, Tang Gunak quietly reached out and gently held Meng So’s trembling wrist.

“I didn’t do anything special, but today was really worth it.”

“At this rate, the day we land a real blow isn’t far off!”

“So let’s regroup! First, let’s think about what to do with those useless Green Forest guys!”

“Wait a minute. What about Mount Hua’s Sword Saint? Isn’t he the biggest problem?”

“Mount Hua folks will handle him somehow. Let’s not think about it.”

“No, why are you dumping that thing on us? What do you want us to do about that!”

Hearing the heated conversation, Tang Gunak and Meng So quietly stepped back. Their faces showed disbelief.

“Right?”

“Huh…”

Meng So seemed even more surprised than Tang Gunak.

“Those guys…”

Before they knew it, the Beast Palace members were mingling naturally with them. The Beast Palace is located in a very remote area even within Yunnan. Because of that, they rarely interact with ordinary people. Living only with beasts as companions, they traditionally don’t get along well with outsiders.

Those Beast Palace members were now talking casually not just with Yunnan natives but with Central Plains people, sitting half sprawled.

“I can’t understand it.”

It was enough to suspect Chung Myung had cast some magic.

“Usually, parents don’t really know their children well, and masters don’t really know their disciples well. They should know better, but strangely, they don’t.”

Tang Gunak and Meng So nodded while watching Chung Myung smile.

“So instead of worrying about them, you should worry about yourselves. You might end up embarrassed otherwise.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Nonsense!”

Chung Myung chuckled, turned around, and stretched.

“Well, that’s something we’ll have to see.”

Watching Chung Myung stroll away, Meng So and Tang Gunak shook their heads.

---

“Oh dear. Not a single part of my body is unscathed.”

“Gul… don’t take off your shirt in the diner.”

“We’re all men here, is there a problem?”

“There’s Soso too, isn’t there?”

“Ah, Soso is family.”

“Sahyung.”

“Huh?”

Tang Soso smiled brightly.

“I’ve never had a younger brother like a sahyung.”

“…”

“If I had a younger brother like a sahyung, I’d have buried him myself long ago. Be thankful you weren’t born into the Tang family.”

“…I’m always thankful for that.”

Sincerely.

At that moment, Baek Cheon stood up. Jo Gul sharply looked and asked.

“Huh? Sasuk, where are you going?”

Usually, Baek Cheon would wait for others to finish eating even if he finished first. So his sudden standing during the meal naturally aroused curiosity.

“It’s nothing. I have somewhere to stop by briefly. Eat your meal.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

Baek Cheon quietly left the restaurant. The others paid little attention and soon busied themselves chatting among themselves.

Baek Cheon walked slowly along the river. His gaze casually rested on the flowing water.

“Phew.”

A sigh escaped his lips.

The reason he took time to come to the riverbank was because his recent frustration had grown considerably.

‘How did that guy do all this?’

Mount Hua had been led by Chung Myung. But recently, Chung Myung hasn’t spoken much about what happens inside Mount Hua.

Of course, Chung Myung has to handle the entire Heavenly Friends Alliance’s affairs, so he might not have the time to care about Mount Hua’s internal matters. That could be one way to think.

But Baek Cheon knows. Chung Myung is not the type to act like that. If necessary, he would reduce sleep to do what must be done.

For such a man to lose interest this much means…

‘It’s a silent pressure telling me to handle things myself now.’

Baek Cheon sighed deeply once again.

He doesn’t feel burdened by leading Mount Hua itself. Of course, he doesn’t think he can do as much as Chung Myung, but he doesn’t need to do as much as Chung Myung anyway.

Besides, he doesn’t lead Mount Hua alone. His disciples and sasuk help him. Moreover, even Monk Hae Yeon subtly watches over whether the workload on him is too much…

‘It’s almost embarrassing to be whining like this.’

So he certainly doesn’t feel burdened by being the great disciple of Mount Hua. It’s the work he was supposed to do originally. The task he temporarily left to Chung Myung is finally returning to its place.

That’s not the problem. There was another reason making Baek Cheon feel frustrated.

Baek Cheon quietly grasped the hilt of his sword and then let go weakly.

‘I’m stagnant.’

The problem is himself.

During the three years of seclusion, he grew remarkably. But since then, despite many experiences, he hasn’t felt his skills improving.

At first, he wasn’t too worried. This was a matter time would solve. But at some point, Baek Cheon realized.

‘There is no time.’

Watching Chung Myung and Jang Ilso face the high priest, Baek Cheon painfully realized that the time when they must fight for their lives would come sooner than expected.

And when that moment comes, Baek Cheon knew he would be able to do nothing.

“Phew.”

Even with a long exhale, his suffocating feelings did not fade.

Baek Cheon is strong. Objectively, he is definitely strong.

Namgung Do-Wei, who carries all of Namgung’s expectations, and Tang Pae, confirmed as the next head of the Tang family, honestly are no match for him.

Right now, he might even be able to subdue Jin Geum-Ryong within ten moves. Baek Cheon has grown into an unmatched powerhouse in his class.

But still, the reason he feels frustrated is that such skill is not particularly helpful in the massive battles where these huge factions clash.

‘What should I do?’

His skill is insufficient, and time is short. One day, he might have to watch his other disciples die right before his eyes.

And perhaps that time is closer than he thinks.

That worry and anxiety led Baek Cheon here. Maybe seeing the wide river would ease his mind a little.

But even looking at the flowing river did not ease his mind at all. Instead, it only made him feel more suffocated.

He sighed repeatedly and walked along the riverbank. How long he walked like that was uncertain.

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon’s steps suddenly stopped. Tilting his head, he listened carefully.

“What is this sound…?”

His eyes shone sharply.

“The sound of weapons clashing?”

At this late hour, in a place like this?

Baek Cheon instantly silenced his presence and quickly ran toward the source of the weapon sounds.