“Busted.”
“He’s going to get it now.”
The disciples of Mount Hua clicked their tongues from afar as they watched Chung Myung standing side by side with Baek Cheon.
“Sasuk seems really angry, doesn’t he?”
“Wouldn’t he be angry?”
“It’s a relief he’s not thrashing him, given sasuk’s temper.”
“If he beats him, he’d end up getting hit back anyway.”
“Still, sasuk is the type to hit first and ask questions later, right?”
Yoon Jong nodded in agreement at Tang Soso’s remark.
“True.”
So Baek Cheon is the only one at Mount Hua who can at least hold Chung Myung back by the ankle.
Namgung Do-Wei, who had been listening to the conversation nearby, tilted his head.
“But is there anything for the Acting Sect Leader to be angry about? Wasn’t Chung Myung blocking the rear part of the formation planned from the start?”
Jo Gul snorted.
“It was planned, sure.”
“Then why...”
“What are you going to say to someone who, when told to pull a few weeds in the yard, goes ahead and turns the whole yard over?”
“...”
“If he’d just blocked and fallen back moderately, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt, but he lost his head and charged forward, so he deserves to be chewed out.”
“Ah...”
“He’s probably going to be scolded rotten.”
“He should be!”
“I hope he actually gets properly thrashed this time.”
Namgung Do-Wei gave a wry smile as he looked at Chung Myung’s back.
What in Namgung Do-Wei’s eyes was an almost heroic act—Chung Myung standing alone against the Ten Thousand People Clan—seemed to appear quite differently to these others.
It was likely due to differing positions and perspectives regarding Chung Myung. To the current Namgung Do-Wei, Chung Myung is someone to admire. But to these Mount Hua disciples, he’s a sahyung and family.
No matter how right the action, no one likes to see their family risk danger. So their reaction was only natural.
However...
Namgung Do-Wei suddenly turned his gaze to Baek Cheon.
‘What does the Acting Sect Leader think?’
In truth, those standing nearby only needed to worry about Mount Hua’s Sword Saint as sahyung. But Baek Cheon was different. As the Acting Sect Leader of a sect, Baek Cheon had to consider Mount Hua and the Heavenly Friends Alliance, and could no longer live simply as Chung Myung’s sasuk.
Namgung Do-Wei, who effectively held the headship position of the Namgung Family, couldn’t help but know this. That’s why he was curious about what Baek Cheon would say to Chung Myung now.
Unfortunately, from this distance their low conversation couldn’t be heard clearly. He could have boosted his internal qi to listen, but that would be impolite.
So Namgung Do-Wei’s gaze simply fixed on the backs of the two standing side by side, from afar as they held an inscrutable conversation.
Baek Cheon, who had been silently staring at the sea, spoke first.
“How’s the body?”
“I’m fine.”
Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders and said as if it were no big deal.
“By tomorrow morning the wounds won’t even show; I’ll be fine. Those Ten Thousand People Clan bastards weren’t much.”
Baek Cheon’s gaze glanced subtly toward Chung Myung’s leg.
“Soso sounded like she thought otherwise?”
Chung Myung shamelessly spoke without trying to hide his wounded leg.
“Those physician types are always like that—making a fuss over nothing. If you live paying attention to every word they say, you’ll end up lying in a room doing nothing.”
Baek Cheon snorted a laugh.
“Soso would flip if she heard that.”
“I made sure she wouldn’t hear, that’s why.”
Chung Myung chuckled too.
Though he spoke like that, Chung Myung knew better than anyone how important Tang Soso was to Mount Hua. Few know how crucial physicians are on the battlefield better than Chung Myung. Besides, Dang Soso can fight as well.
Baek Cheon sobered and stared at Chung Myung as if he had something to say. Chung Myung quietly averted his gaze.
But it didn’t last long. As Baek Cheon kept his stare, a sweating Chung Myung finally burst out shouting.
“Ah, really! If you’re going to nag, just do it. Say it quickly so it’s over.”
“I’m not.”
“Ah, alright. I... huh? What did you say?”
“I said I won’t.”
Baek Cheon’s gaze fixed on the sea remained utterly indifferent.
Chung Myung blinked dumbly, his eyes wide. He’d waited this long and there was no sign of nagging—so it seemed Baek Cheon wasn’t lying.
Chung Myung slipped his head forward slightly to gauge Baek Cheon’s expression.
“Sasuk.”
“What?”
“Did you eat something bad?”
“...”
“I thought you’d be hammering something into my ears as usual.”
Then Baek Cheon looked Chung Myung squarely in the eye.
“Was it a situation where you could avoid overdoing it?”
“...”
“What do you think?”
Chung Myung shook his head.
“No.”
“Good. Then that’s settled.”
Baek Cheon didn’t want to criticize Chung Myung’s actions. Actually, to be precise, it wasn’t that he chose not to criticize him—he couldn’t.
How could he not understand after watching him for so long, through so much?
Chung Myung is the kind of person who believes in seizing the initiative in the opening clash. He believes in pressing down decisively so the opponent can’t ever perform at full strength afterwards.
For Chung Myung, what’s important isn’t the victory itself but how one wins.
Baek Cheon hadn’t understood Chung Myung like that before. Now he did. In a one-off fight Chung Myung’s attitude would be excessive, but war is different. War goes on.
The Ten Thousand People Clan will surely pursue them. They’ll have to fight across that Southern lands territory the whole way. So it’s better to leave as strong an impression as possible when you can.
If those who meet Chung Myung next automatically feel afraid, the subsequent battles will be that much easier.
That way you can reduce casualties even a bit. Maybe save one more person. Even at the cost of a few wounds Chung Myung takes.
A few wounds versus a ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) few lives.
There’s no need to compare which is more important. That’s Chung Myung’s way of thinking.
That’s why Baek Cheon, who’d watched him for so long, understood.
If there’s fault, it’s not Chung Myung’s. He’s always been like that. When he didn’t know that one could be angry with him, but now knowing it well, any blame lies with Baek Cheon.
Because he had shoved Chung Myung into something with an obvious outcome.
Then Chung Myung spoke nonchalantly.
“You’re overthinking things again, aren’t you?”
Baek Cheon frowned slightly in puzzlement, and Chung Myung snorted with a laugh.
“Don’t waste your worry on me sasuk, I am doing fine.”
“...You’re thinking about the cat and mouse, huh.”
Chung Myung chuckled. Baek Cheon spoke curtly.
“And don’t get it twisted about yourself.”
“Huh?”
“It’s neither regret nor self-reproach.”
“...”
“From the moment we decided to head to Southern lands, I expected this. I even considered worse could happen.”
He continued in a calm voice.
“I won’t, after having told you to take the risk with my own mouth, now pretend to be heartbroken or apologetic. If the same thing happens again, I’ll tell you to step forward without hesitation—even if others call me a bastard and spit on me. And...”
Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung with a hardened face.
“Even if it becomes the most dangerous thing for you.”
Chung Myung’s mouth curved up slowly. He smiled broadly, showing his teeth, and said with satisfaction.
“That’s how it should be.”
Those who stand above must be so.
Even if they suffer from the results of their choices, there must be no hesitation. That’s the path Chung Mun walked, and why Chung Myung still respects Chung Mun, despite sometimes clashing with him.
Chung Mun cherished Chung Myung more than anyone.
But at the same time Chung Mun was someone who, more than anyone, pushed Chung Myung into the abyss without hesitation. When Chung Myung returned wounded, Chung Mun’s face would contort with pain he couldn’t hide, and yet the next day he’d give Chung Myung absurd orders again.
Because they were in the midst of war. That cruelty was something a sect leader must have in wartime.
A sect leader who loves and cherishes disciples can be a very good leader—but not a great one. If they fear their disciples’ blood and only seek ways to avoid it, they’ll ultimately drive everyone into a more dangerous situation.
The leader of a sect must never be swayed by personal feelings. Even those he values most must be pushed into danger decisively if needed.
Especially in the turbulent times to come.
‘I’ve told you, Green Forest King.’
Chung Myung murmured that to himself and smiled.
How could he not expect it? Without having to spell it out, Baek Cheon already knew exactly what he had to do and what role he had to play.
“You remember, right? What the Sect leader said about you, sasuk.”
“I remember.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
“He said you’re the one who will wield the sword called ‘you.’”
“You know that well.”
Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon with slightly calmer eyes.
“One who worries the sword will be damaged while swinging it is unfit to be a swordsman. There’s only one thing to consider.”
“How efficiently to swing it.”
“Exactly.”
Chung Myung nodded slowly.
Those who hesitate in swinging will surely get hurt. And the price of a sect leader’s hesitation falls upon his disciples.
Baek Cheon was someone who knew that.
“There’s nothing to worry about. This isn’t something started without thought. I’m simply resolved to take full responsibility for all of this.”
Just as Chung Myung was about to nod,
“But you should know one thing as well.”
“...What?”
“What’s most important to you is protecting Mount Hua and Mount Hua’s disciples, right?”
“...”
“You’re prepared to do anything for that.”
“...But?”
Chung Myung’s expression darkened slightly.
Baek Cheon hesitated as if about to say something, then closed his mouth and slowly shook his head.
“No. Saying it won’t help. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Find out what?”
“Never mind.”
Baek Cheon lightly patted Chung Myung’s shoulder.
“Once we arrive we’ll have to move again. Rest at least until then.”
“No, what were you going to say?”
“I told you—you’ll know when the time comes.”
“This guy is so infuriating... Hey. sasuk! Hey! Hey, man! Where are you going? Tell me before you leave!”
Baek Cheon walked off without looking back, leaving Chung Myung behind. Chung Myung’s curses spilled into his ears, but he paid them no mind.
As he had said earlier, Chung Myung would know soon enough.
Heading toward the cabin, he saw the other Mount Hua disciples glaring at him with eyes full of displeasure.
A light laugh escaped Baek Cheon. Jo Gul ground his teeth and said,
“Sasuk. Did you give him a proper scolding?”
“Well... moderately?”
“Just that?”
“Are you joking? Do you think that would make him come to his senses?”
“Want me to give you a demonstration of what ‘properly scolding’ looks like? Huh?”
“Watch out... That’s the Acting Sect Leader.”
“Because he’s the Acting Sect Leader he should get scolded more... Ack! Why are you hitting me!”
Watching the noisy sahyung-sajaes, Baek Cheon gave a wry smile.
Yes. Chung Myung would find out soon.
To Chung Myung, Mount Hua is these people—but to them, Mount Hua is Chung Myung.
And... that these people too are ready to do anything to protect Mount Hua.
Just as Chung Myung is.
