Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1228. I Don't Know (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Are you not going to stand straight?”
"...."
"I said stand up straight?"
Hyungwook's expression was just blank with disbelief. Don't people each have their own common sense? Anyone would be bewildered when faced with a scene that deviates from it.
Of course, if one keeps an open mind, they could somehow understand.
Those terrifying warriors who took down the fearsome Evil Tyrant Alliance thugs in one strike are suddenly beating up their companion like exterminating a rat, and moreover, the one wielding such violence being the youngest-looking person among the group... that too could somehow be understood.
But still....
'Isn't this a bit too much?'
That same youngest-looking member berating someone else didn’t exactly come as another shock.
Except that the target of the scolding, looking properly chastened, wasn’t a person but a beast.
“If you go wandering off halfway, you’re dead meat.” (H: Or, dead scarf? Hehe.)
"...."
"If you think you can run at your own comfortable pace, I'll get myself a nice scarf. Got it? Die together if we live, die together if we die!” (H: I KNEW IT.)
"Chung Myung-ah. That’s let's live together if we live, die together if we die."
“Same difference!”
"That's very different...."
"Anyway!"
Chung Myung glared at Baek-ah as if he would devour him, then pulled something out from his robes and waved it in front of Baek-ah’s black snout.
"This is Ten Thousand Li Journey... Ten Thousand Li Pursuing... anyway, whatever it is that Beast Palace Gungju gave. You said you can smell this from thousands of li away, so if you're even a little late, you're so dead then. Got it?"
"...."
"I said, got it!?"
Baek-ah, with a small bundle tied to his neck, nodded with a sullen face.
"Tch!"
Chung Myung clicked his tongue and glanced at Baek-ah as if thoroughly unconvinced.
“Can I even trust you!”
Despite this unbelievable scene, those around remained completely composed.
"Well... Can't be helped. Off you go.”
Keek!
Baek-ah immediately turned around.
“I swear, if you don’t do it right… Hey! I’m not done talking! Hey!”
Baek-ah, not even looking back, sped off and vanished from sight in front of Chung Myung.
"Wow, look at that speed."
"Really fast."
"He’ll probably be back in a day at that rate. Wonder why he’s in such a rush?"
"...I guess he would rather run than listen to that nagging. Can’t say I blame him.”
"Agree."
Everyone shook their heads, watching Chung Myung shake his fist and yell after the now-distant Baek-ah.
Feeling disappointed to lose his target of torment, Chung Myung suddenly turned his gaze sharply toward Im Sobyeong. Im Sobyeong. flinched and quickly rubbed his swollen, bruised eyelids.
Chung Myung spoke.
"And you! If…”
“—If we don’t pull off a proper rescue, we’ll be dead too?”
"That...."
"And if I hear that rotten Evil Sects scum bastards mistreated people, you'll skin them alive, right?"
"The cli..."
"If the letter mentions to take a different path since the cliff we passed would be difficult for commoners to travel through?"
"...."
Chung Myung was speechless. Im Sobyeong opened his fan with a triumphant smile.
"Huhuhu! Who do you think I am! I, Nokrim King Im Sobyeong, as the right arm of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, will perfectly execute the comma... Kyaak!"
A flying scabbard struck the middle of his forehead, and Im Sobyeong rolled on the ground.
"Who's right arm, who! You Evil Sects bastard! How dare a bastard with 'Sa(邪/Evil).' in their name try to usurp the sacred body of a Taoist! I'm telling you, I used to be someone who wouldn't even drink water within five li of Evil Sects bastards, let alone share a table with them!"
Baek Cheon sighed as he watched Chung Myung beating Im Sobyeong like a rat again. Then, completely averting his gaze from that direction, he spoke to Hyungwook.
"Don't mind it."
"...Yes."
“More importantly…”
He composed his expression and said.
“No matter what, people will arrive to help you within five days at most. You just need to hold on until then.”
Hyungwook looked at Baek Cheon with an expression filled with conflicting emotions.
"Warrior-nim... I'm really... really sorry. I didn't mean to...."
"I know."
But Baek Cheon simply shook his head calmly.
"We didn't act reluctantly because of your reproach. It’s simply because we realized something we hadn’t known and sought to correct it.”
"How can we ever repay this favor...."
As Hyungwook couldn't finish his words from gratitude, apologetic feelings, and embarrassment, Baek Cheon silently smiled.
“If you’re truly grateful, then please tell the people in Gangbuk what you shared with us. If those there ask about the circumstances, just tell them exactly as it is, without adding or subtracting anything."
For a moment, Hyungwook's complexion became slightly pale.
He could imagine what kind of looks he would receive when these warriors' companions learned of his thoughtless and shameless actions.
But Baek Cheon shook his head as if he had guessed such concerns.
"They are not such people."
"...."
"The reason I make this request is because they too need to know what hardships people in Gangnam are experiencing and with what feelings they live."
Warrior-nim...."
“We’re not the great people you think we are. We’re just people who happen to know how to wield a sword a bit better than others. You may think we turn a blind eye even when we know, but often, it’s because we truly don’t know, and so we fail to act.”
"Ah…."
Hyungwook nodded as if he understood now.
"So please relay everything exactly as it is. That will be enough repayment."
Hyungwook nodded with a stern face as if swearing to keep that promise even if he might face criticism for it.
Seeing that solemn expression, Baek Cheon gave a gentle smile.
“Then we must be on our way now.”
"Though I'm an uneducated and ignorant man, I know enough not to delay with formal farewells those who shouldn't be held back. So I'll just pray with all my heart for Warrior-nim’s well-being."
“Yes.”
Those who had been watching their conversation from behind smiled at Hyungwook and turned around.
“Take care of yourself!”
Tang Soso waved with a bright smile.
Those who had received meals from her came out to the entrance to watch the departing Heavenly Comrade Alliance group, but still couldn't easily answer or greet them. They simply watched, unsure of what to do.
But Tang Soso bowed her head with an untroubled face and turned around. Because she knew their burden would grow if she kept looking at them.
"Let's go!"
"Yes."
Heavenly Comrade Alliance group disappeared in an instant.
The villagers left behind alternated between the path the group had taken and the pile of grain stacked in the village center.
In the silence, their faces showed a complex array of emotions that was hard to define.
“Hyungwook, you…”
"Don't say anything."
Hyungwook let out a deep sigh.
"I used to curse at those Evil Sects thugs, calling them beasts... but when it came down to it, I seem no different from beasts myself."
"...."
"Huu…."
Hyungwook, with slumped shoulders, headed toward the house where his father lay. The villagers stared at his retreating figure with complicated expressions.
Paaat!
With Im Sobyeong in the lead, they ran out like the wind.
An unexpected delay had cost them time. To make up for it, they needed to pick up the pace, even if it meant taking on a bit more risk.
Baek Cheon, who had been running silently for a while, glanced at Chung Myung, who was next to him. He had been staring ahead with an expressionless face the whole time.
Baek Cheon sighed briefly and looked forward again. This matter was undeniably his fault.
Due to his too narrow vision, he hadn't even thought of using someone who was right beside him. He had failed, not only as a leader of this group but also as the acting sect leader of Mount Hua Sect.
But something else weighed even heavier on Baek Cheon’s mind.
This time they could find a solution somehow because Nokrim King was there. But what if he hadn’t been there in a similar situation? Would there really have been a solution?
“You’re thinking too much.”
At that moment, a nonchalant voice pierced Baek Cheon's ears. Baek Cheon unconsciously sighed. Anyway... this guy never misses even the smallest thing.
Chung Myung said,
"No need to overthink it."
"...."
"Things in this world are never as clear as one thinks. There's absolutely no perfect answer that can satisfy everyone."
"...."
"But a leader must provide answers even in such circumstances. That’s what makes it so hard.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
"You're wondering what you should have done if Nokrim King wasn't there, right?"
"...How did you know?"
"Tsk, tsk. Dongryong, Dongryong. Why do you overestimate yourself so much?"
"...."
“Of all people, your face is the one that most obviously shows what you’re thinking, yet you believe yourself to be so deep and good at hiding your thoughts.”
"Ugh."
Chung Myung let out a chuckle and shrugged.
“Is there even an answer there?”
"...."
"It's stupid to try to find an answer to a question that has none."
"Then..."
"What's important isn't finding an answer that doesn't exist. It's not creating such problems in the first place."
"Huh?"
When Baek Cheon asked in a puzzled tone, Chung Myung exhaled deeply.
"That's what Mount Hua is for, that's what Heavenly Comrade Alliance is for."
"...."
"Drop that arrogant thought that becoming acting sect leader means you must shoulder everything and make all the right decisions. It’s not because Sasuk is lacking, but because no one in all of history has ever been able to do that alone.”
Baek Cheon pressed his lips tight.
“Even the founder and our ancestors knew how hard it was, which is why they established a sect and gathered people. And even that wasn't enough, so they joined forces with more sects and gathered opinions. When more people lend a hand, there’s more that can be done.”
Baek Cheon, who had been listening quietly, opened his eyes slightly wider.
He knew this too. No, rather he knew it too well.
Yet he had completely forgotten it.
"It wasn't something you could do because Nokrim King was there. It's that we could only do that much because we only had Nokrim King. If Yuryong Sect had come together, it would have been faster, and if several major sects had joined together, those Evil Tyrant Alliance bastards wouldn't have been able to act like this in the first place."
"...That's true."
"The answer Sasuk was trying to find is in the place Sasuk is heading now. Conducting chivalry isn’t all there is. If Sasuk makes more people believe in and practice the chivalry you believe in, it will become a world where problems without answers don't exist in the first place."
Chung Myung, who had been speaking quietly, suddenly clicked his tongue with an annoyed expression.
“So stop wasting your time on needless thoughts and just keep running forward. As Sasuk run, the day will come when Sasuk find that answer."
"...This little bastard is spouting off proper words."
"That's right."
"So impertinent to Acting Sect Leader!"
“Someone needs to put this brat in his place!”
"Oh, yeah?"
Playful voices poured out from behind. Baek Cheon smiled slightly. He seemed to understand the meaning of Cheongmyeong's words.
'There's nothing wrong with worrying.'
What's important isn't not worrying, but nonetheless firmly carrying through with one's path. If the act of pursuing chivalry were simple, why would the word itself be gradually vanishing from the world?
It was the path he had chosen, the path he believed in. So, all he could do was push forward with a little more confidence.
Because those running behind him now and those watching him from afar will help.
"...This isn't the time to waste on useless talk; let's hurry!"
"Yes!"
Baek Cheon sprang forward, kicking off the ground. The disciples of Mount Hua and the other sect leaders also followed closely behind.
Watching them shoot ahead, Chung Myung chuckled.
“They really are a handful, aren’t they?”
Thwack!
Finally, he too quickly ran after the group.
Their destination lay to the south.
Hainan, the farthest place from Jungwon.
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