“W-well... no, Acting Sect leader.”
Tang Gunak, speaking in a slightly flustered voice, gave a loud cough. He then barely regained a composed expression and sighed.
“Of course, I agree with the Acting Sect leader’s argunt that we must go to Southern Island.”
There is no room for disagreent here.
The Heavenly Friends Alliance had already resolved to take a different path from the Nine Great Sects. At the heart of that decision was clearly a journey to the Southern Island Sect. If they now hesitated to head to Southern Island, whatever they had said at the negotiation with Beop Jeong would be dismissed as re lip service.
So up to this point, it’s only natural.
“And I know that Southern Island’s situation isn’t a simple one to take up. If possible, we should hurry. But hurrying and being reckless are by no ans the sa thing.”
Baek Cheon also nodded, as if agreeing with that remark.
“Going to Southern Island is not to be taken lightly. We must reach the deep heart of Southern lands. Naturally, sufficient preparation and precautions are necessary. If we act hastily, we might ruin everything, won’t we?”
“I fully agree with Master.”
Baek Cheon nodded and looked at Tang Gunak.
“We must prepare thoroughly, whether to reduce sacrifices or to minimize damage.”
“But why...”
“Precisely because of that.”
“Hm?”
For a mont Tang Gunak tilted his head, not understanding Baek Cheon’s aning. Baek Cheon then calmly elaborated.
“Now, hurrying as much as possible is the way to reduce harm.”
“...Do you an to Southern Island?”
“No.”
Baek Cheon answered imdiately without a mont’s hesitation.
“Of course, shortening the ti will help the Southern Island well. But the reason we must truly hurry is not because of the Southern Island sect, it’s because of those who must go to Southern Lands.”
“...Explain that in more detail.”
“Our discussions about going to the Southern Islands have not been just for a day or two. Even if only a few within the Alliance spoke, words inevitably leak out, don’t they?”
Tang Gunak nodded as if acknowledging the logic of that statent.
“And recently even the Abbot learned of our intentions. The Abbot will have to explain to others why the negotiations failed, so it’s highly likely that this matter will be discussed.”
Tang Gunak finally nodded as if he now understood.
“You an our plan to go to Southern Islands could beco known to the Four Sects Alliance.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s not that I don’t trust those I spoke with. But words are like water; you can’t keep them contained forever. Even without ill intent. In fact, because there’s no ill intent, they leak out more easily.”
Tang Gunak’s face grew slightly serious. He thought the point made sense.
‘The Four Sects Alliance...’
If Shaolin hadn’t intervened things might have been different, but now the likelihood that their trip to Southern Island Sect could no longer be hidden had increased.
“This just got awkward.”
From the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s point of view, Southern land is essentially hostile territory. And if the Four Sects Alliance learns of their journey to their ho ground?
‘What was a scattered ground will beco a deadly ground.’
Tang Gunak, his face hardened, looked at Baek Cheon.
“Acting Sect leader.”
“Yes, Family lord.”
“I understand the Acting Sect leader’s words. But it’s true I have concerns. I can see why you’d say we must hurry because the situation could worsen, but...”
“You an it could look like rushing into a dangerous place unprepared.”
“Indeed.”
As Tang Gunak conceded, Baek Cheon opened his mouth again.
“I have considered that as well. But this ti, dragging our feet won’t produce a solution. While we deliberate, they will be devising counterasures.”
“Hmm. But...”
“And the one who will devise those counterasures is Jang Ilso.”
Tang Gunak fell silent upon hearing that.
Prepare strategies and et each other in opposition? Everyone here knows what that outco would be. On a battlefield where both sides are prepared, there is no one in the current murim world who can stand up to Jang Ilso.
“Of course I know. It would seem hasty and dangerous.”
Tang Gunak did not deny it; he rely listened to Baek Cheon.
“But until now the Heavenly Friends Alliance has spent far too much ti reconciling opinions and reaching consensus to find the best course. That thod may have been right so far, but from now on it will not be.”
Tang Gunak’s expression stiffened slightly.
He understood what ‘from now on’ ant. When the specter of war covers the murim world, the leisurely thod of everyone gathering to gather opinions and find an answer becos useless. What matters then are swift decisions and bold execution.
“Is that your view?”
“Yes, family lord.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
“But if that choice is wrong, it will produce irreversible consequences.”
“That’s why I suggested three days. I cannot find the best thod alone. But with those present here and three days to think, we may not find the best but we can find a reasonable second-best.”
“......”
“I think it’s necessary to appropriately compromise between the two approaches. We must avoid dogmatism, but we can’t stall for too long. From now on we must desperately find an answer within a limited ti.”
Tang Gunak lightly stroked his chin and fell into thought. At first hearing he had thought it rash without a plan, but on hearing the explanation it was a very reasonable proposal.
He looked at Baek Cheon with renewed eyes.
Even when he boldly presented his opinion before Beop Jeong he had seed extraordinary, but this man was certainly not ordinary. While others couldn’t move past the shocking event of Mount Hua’s new Acting Sect leader appointnt, Baek Cheon was clearly already thinking about the next move.
He may be rash and immature himself, but wasn’t it said that Mount Hua’s Sect leader cannot be such?’
Seeing him now, the aning of what Baek Cheon had said earlier beca clear.
“First...”
Tang Gunak frowned slightly and said.
“Just ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) to be sure, let confirm—this is Mount Hua proposing a suggestion in the na of sects affiliated with the Heavenly Friends Alliance, correct?”
“Of course. If there’s a better idea, we can change our position at any ti.”
“Understood.”
After touching on the necessary points, Tang Gunak asked again.
“You asked us to supply personnel—how many are you thinking? About how many per sect...?”
“As I see it, one per sect, and the total should not exceed ten.”
Tang Gunak’s eyes widened in montary astonishnt.
“You an to go to Southern Island with barely that many people?”
“Can we confront the Four Sects Alliance with manpower like that?”
Baek Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
“Even if a hundred or two hundred went, if they are surrounded by the Four Sects Alliance in the Southern lands they wouldn’t be able to fight back effectively. And if we mobilize enough troops to take on the Four Sects Alliance?”
“...A war would begin.”
“Yes, exactly.”
Baek Cheon stared at Tang Gunak with a resolute gaze.
“Therefore, the number heading to the Southern Island must be minimized.”
“But then they won’t have any resistance if discovered by them, will they?”
“That’s why they’d be limited to those who are confident in martial skill. And if possible, each sect should select people excellent in evasive techniques.”
“...Evasive techniques?”
“Yes.”
Baek Cheon spoke proudly, his face almost radiant.
“Because if they’re discovered, they must flee.”
“...”
“When fleeing, scattering in all directions raises the survival rate, so they must be people who can escape the Four Sects Alliance’s pursuit even alone. This is the top criterion.”
“Uh...”
It made sense. Ah, of course it made sense, but...
Tang Gunak ultimately failed to maintain his composure. He stared blankly at Baek Cheon and thought.
‘Has anyone who rose to the position of Sect leader ever uttered such words?’
Moreover, it’s normal for people to watch their words once they reach a certain high position...
Tang Gunak cleared his throat and nodded.
“So Mount Hua’s proposal is to prioritize quickly reaching Southern Island with a small number skilled in evasive techniques.”
“Yes.”
Tang Gunak stroked his chin and said.
“It seems like a good idea, but it also appears to lack a plan. First, if they reach the Southern Island, isn’t the primary problem that there’s no proper way to evacuate them safely?”
“That’s not sothing we need to worry about.”
“Huh? What do you an by that?”
At that mont, the corner of Baek Cheon’s mouth twisted oddly.
“By the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s usual thods, we’d perfectly plan even how to evacuate Southern island, but isn’t that actually aningless?”
“Why is that?”
“What if we prepare all that and arrive in Southern Island, and they say they don’t trust our thod and choose to stay there—what can we do then?”
“...Huh?”
Tang Gunak looked slightly stunned. Baek Cheon straightened his torso and spoke.
“The most important thing right now is to confirm the Southern Island’s intentions. What cos after can be discussed afterward. All of the current problems stem from communications with Southern Island being cut off after the Four Sects Alliance seized the Southern lands.”
“...The communication network, huh.”
“Yes. I think we should focus first on restoring that communication network.”
“Hmm. If that’s the case, then certainly it’s sowhat...”
Tang Gunak, who was about to nod, suddenly paused. Sothing felt odd when he thought it over.
“No... Isn’t there a contradiction in your words? If they declare they will stay in Southern Island, what aning does it have for us to build a communication network with them?”
A strange smile spread across Baek Cheon’s face at that question.
“We would have no aning in that case, of course.”
“But?”
“Family lord. It’s not always necessary that deeds be aningful. Sotis the value lies in doing good out of compassion, isn’t that so?”
“Compassion?”
“Think about it.”
Baek Cheon said, sounding genuinely pained.
“How tornted would others be to see a brotherly sect from the sa grouping isolated in enemy territory, cut off from proper communication?”
“One grouping? The Nine... Nine Great Sects?”
“Yes!”
A look of genuine compassion shadowed Baek Cheon’s face.
“If the Southern Island sect declared they’d accept a formal help, of course the Heavenly Friends Alliance proper would step in to help them. But even if they refuse, to just leave them there and turn our backs is not what people should do. At the very least, since we’re going to the Southern lands, we should restore the severed communications.”
“Have Shaolin and the Nine Great Sects personally receive the letter from the isolated Southern Island sect, so everyone in today’s murim world can know their situation. Isn’t that human decency and the duty of Taoists?”
“...Is that normally called duty?”
“Haha, Family lord.”
Baek Cheon smiled brightly.
“This is now Mount Hua’s way.”
Tang Gunak’s face grew openly displeased. Of course, as soone who is not a Taoist, it was odd for him to debate duty and decency in front of Mount Hua, but sothing seed off about the direction this was taking...
At that mont Tang Gunak’s gaze naturally turned toward one person. From the atmosphere alone, there was soone who would likely pick apart whatever Baek Cheon did. He was surely...
“Oh?”
And Tang Gunak saw it. Chung Myung, who had been glaring white-eyed a mont before, was now watching Baek Cheon with eyes bright and admiring.
“Not bad at all.”
“Heh heh, right?”
“If it goes well, even if it fails, we could paint the big bald head red.”
“This is the dignity of a Sect leader, my third class disciple.”
“Ugh... This ti I admit it.”
The tension in Tang Gunak’s eyes gradually drained away.
‘Is this really okay?’
He thought quietly. Once this eting ends he must sohow get a private audience with Hyun Jong.
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