What On Earth Is This Guy? (1)

It was silent.

No, in fact the word “silent” doesn’t quite fit.

Injured and poisoned people kept groaning and screaming, the sounds constantly echoing.

And yet, it felt quiet.

Those treating the wounded, those helping, and even those preparing to move on had no words to offer.

Because they had realized the truth.

They had fought the enemy until now.

They had desperately broken through foes who stood in their way, driving swords into throats that still beat, fighting again and again.

It had been unbearably hard and terrifying, but at least then the enemies had also been desperate to stop them.

Paradoxically, that gave them hope.

Because those desperate battles were proof they were moving in the right direction.

But moments ago, the formidable foe who had blocked their path for the first time had willingly given way.

As if ready to strike again at any moment.

As if saying, you couldn’t escape even if we didn’t desperately block you, so there’s nowhere to run.

That made everyone here face the reality.

Gwak Hwan-So pushed his internal qi into the lower abdomen of his sahyung, who trembled from the poison.

Even while desperately helping the wounded, his mind was busy with other thoughts.

‘Can we survive?’

Is there truly light at the end of this road?

Perhaps… perhaps they’ve already stepped into a bog from which there’s no escape.

The more they struggled to get out, the deeper they’d sink…

Gwak Hwan-So bit his lip.

‘What kind of foolish thoughts are these?’

He came knowing the chance of returning alive was almost nil.

They had come to prove something.

To show the world that those who bear the name of the Southern Island Sect would not be helplessly beaten by the enemy.

There was no need to be crushed again just because they had reconfirmed what they already knew.

“Sahyung.”

Lee Ja-Yang had come up without them noticing and spoke. Gwak Hwan-So asked,

“…How are things?”

“The Tang Family are here, so we can somehow treat the poisoning. If we had been alone, there would have been nothing we could do.”

“…That’s a relief.”

A sigh of relief escaped Gwak Hwan-So’s lips.

‘If the Tang Family hadn’t been here…’

He realized anew how reckless and naive it had been to try to resist the Four Sects Alliance in Southern Island.

If they had made a last stand on the Southern Island, even using the terrain to their advantage, they would have been swept away unilaterally.

They didn’t even have a way to immediately detoxify the enemy’s poison—what could they have done?

Those with strong internal qi can drive out poison.

It’s common knowledge in the murim world.

But that’s only true when the body is intact and one can focus their cultivation entirely on expelling the poison.

How many such people are there in Southern Island?

Every time poison was discussed, he wanted to tear out his own tongue for having once bragged that training would make poisoning nothing.

What on earth had he thought he knew to speak so easily?

“But… the poison can be detoxified, yet the wounds…”

“That would be the case…”

They weren’t poisoned by inhalation but pierced by weapons smeared with poison.

Even if the poison hadn’t been applied, the wounds were lethal.

Recovering such injuries quickly is impossible.

“How many dead?”

“…About four.”

“At least that’s somewhat fortunate.”

Gwak Hwan-So, who had answered indifferently, flinched and fell silent.

’Somewhat fortunate?’

Four people were dead.

Four people they’d stood face-to-face with for at least ten years were dead.

And yet he had said “fortunate” without emotion.

A deep revulsion washed over him.

He thought of how he’d accepted the deaths as mere numbers without even verifying who the four were.

“Let’s move.”

At that voice, Gwak Hwan-So turned his bloodshot eyes sharply.

There was no longer leisure to hear pleasant speeches.

Nor did he want to hear the usual platitudes that the battlefield is always like this…

But Gwak Hwan-So was struck dumb for a moment.

Namgung Do-Wei. He was looking on with a sorrowful gaze.

“We cannot delay any longer. We don’t have much time. If we don’t move, we’ll lose more people.”

Gwak Hwan-So had heard it before.

That the Namgung Family had lost over half their strength on Plum Blossom Island.

That they had barely escaped the hell of Plum Blossom Island with Mount Hua’s help.

There Namgung Do-Wei had lost family, and even his father.

He had already endured a situation far worse than their current reality.

Yet he hadn’t fled; he walked back into this hell of his own accord.

How could he do that?

He hadn’t thought it so grave before, but after witnessing this, Gwak Hwan-So understood.

How utterly irrational Namgung Do-Wei’s actions were.

“…Namgung’s young lord.”

“Yes.”

“…Are you alright?”

It was a somewhat abrupt question.

But Namgung Do-Wei met Gwak Hwan-So’s gaze as if he understood and answered calmly.

“Of course I’m not alright.”

“…”

“But what can be done?”

Namgung Do-Wei’s gaze was composed.

“This isn’t just about Namgung and the Southern Island Sect. If we can’t deal with the Four Sects Alliance, eventually everyone under heavens will suffer the same fate.”

“But…”

“If turning away and fleeing would solve it, we’d of course do that too. But if we can’t, there’s only one option: don’t look away, face it.”

Gwak Hwan-So’s shoulders trembled.

Seeing his look, Namgung Do-Wei spoke with a slight awkwardness.

“Of course, I speak as if I know, but I’m not claiming to have innate certainty. I’ve only seen and learned.”

Namgung Do-Wei glanced toward Chung Myung and Baek Cheon.

They seemed to be discussing the direction ahead; the atmosphere was serious.

After looking that way for a moment, Namgung Do-Wei shrugged and continued.

“To be honest, I still don’t know. What I should do, what the best path is.”

“…”

“But there are people who do know. So we have no choice but to follow. I believe that someday I’ll see what they see.”

He paused, exhaled, and slowly nodded.

“Yes. That’s all.”

That was why he stood here.

“…I don’t understand.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. Even I don’t fully understand what I’m saying.”

Namgung Do-Wei smiled faintly and patted Gwak Hwan-So’s shoulder.

“But one thing I know is that those who lead others must not wear that expression.”

“…”

“Even if you’re exhausted, confused, or torn inside, your outward expression must remain steady. That way others won’t be shaken as well.”

Gwak Hwan-So nodded.

It was true.

Many people here were looking to him.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Gwak Hwan-So hauled his heavy body up.

He immediately joined Geum Yang-Baek, who was urging the disciples on, and began helping.

Namgung Do-Wei watched for a moment, then, with a pained look, turned toward Baek Cheon and Chung Myung.

It would be difficult.

Though he spoke confidently, Namgung Do-Wei himself had been helpless and anguished when his family began dying on the Plum Blossom Island.

Facing the sight of someone you laughed with yesterday dying in screams before your eyes is a shock not easily borne.

Time doesn’t wash it away as if nothing happened.

No matter how dulled, it remains as a scar in the heart and never disappears.

If this war continued, eventually the wounds and scars would cover them, and the heart would vanish.

“Acting Sect Leader.”

Baek Cheon turned to Namgung Do-Wei.

“The number of those unable to move has increased considerably.”

At that, Baek Cheon nodded gravely.

Namgung Do-Wei asked,

“…What do you intend to do?”

The question carried much meaning.

It was something they couldn’t bring up before others, but Baek Cheon and Namgung Do-Wei were leaders of their sects.

They had to consider all circumstances.

“We’ll lead everyone and leave.”

“Our speed will slow.”

“I know. Still, we’ll lead everyone.”

“…Understood.”

There were many things he wanted to say.

If they led all these wounded with them, shaking off the pursuit of the Ten Thousand People Clan’s main force would become even less likely.

Then truly everyone might be in danger.

But Namgung Do-Wei said nothing. All choices belonged to Baek Cheon.

And before that, Baek Cheon could not be unaware of all these facts.

Namgung Do-Wei simply wanted to ask one thing.

“Acting Sect Leader.”

“Yes, young lord.”

“What does Southern Island Sect mean to you?”

Baek Cheon looked Namgung Do-Wei squarely in the eye at that question.

Silently watching him, Baek Cheon slowly opened his mouth.

“It is no different.”

“…”

“From Namgung.”

Namgung Do-Wei, silent for a moment, snorted with a laugh.

It was a simple, honest answer.

Until now, he had thought Baek Cheon excellent in every way but lacking the sage-like qualities expected of a sect leader.

But that, too, seemed to be Namgung Do-Wei’s mistake.

He was no different from Namgung.

Indeed. In retrospect, Mount Hua had no real reason to come all the way to Plum Blossom Island.

But Namgung Do-Wei regarded them as a ray of light and begged on his knees, and Mount Hua didn’t hesitate to stake their lives for his plea.

What more need be said?

These were their true natures.

The light Namgung Do-Wei had seen was blinding.

He wanted to become like that himself.

But stepping into that light, he understood.

They were like candles.

Burning themselves to emit light.

And precisely because of that, they were even more dazzling.

“What is the plan?”

“It’s not different from the beginning.”

Baek Cheon said firmly.

“Judging by the enemy’s movements, another defensive line must be being set up ahead.”

“The Green Forest King said the same.”

“We break through.”

“…”

“There’s no time to go around. The main force led by Ho Ga-Myung has likely reached nearby by now. Besides, they know our movements in detail, so there’s no way to flee.”

“Acting Sect Leader. I’m not trying to oppose you, but won’t that be no different from what we’ve done so far?”

“It will change.”

The reply came not from Baek Cheon but from Chung Myung.

Namgung Do-Wei looked at Chung Myung with curiosity.

Chung Myung said, without further explanation, again with certainty.

“It will change.”

Namgung Do-Wei stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded.

If Chung Myung said so, no more explanation was needed.

Namgung Do-Wei firmly trusted that man: Mount Hua’s Sword Saint Chung Myung.

Namgung Do-Wei lightly tapped his chest.

“Then I’ll stake my life as well. I will break through no matter what.”

Seeing Namgung Do-Wei’s bright smile, Chung Myung snorted a laugh.

“You novice.”

For the first time in a long while, a small smile bloomed.