“Kuh, ahem.”
Geum Yang-Baek hastily cleared his throat. For an ordinary person, it might be forgivable, but for a martial figure like Geum Yang-Baek to lose control of his body and choke was a humiliating thing.
But who in the world would not be flustered after hearing those words spoken to their face?
What did he say again?
“Right now...”
Geum Yang-Baek adjusted his breathing once more and asked again.
“Did you... tell us to withdraw from the Nine Great Sects?”
“Yes.”
The answer came back instantly, without the slightest hesitation. That made it all the more bewildering.
Geum Yang-Baek was at a loss for words and stared at Baek Cheon. He felt that if he spoke now he would only make a mistake.
What on earth was this man?
What kind of person was he to proudly e bearing Mount Hua’s sacred symbol and brazenly tell them to leave the Nine Great Sects?
‘Across the whole murim world, has even one person ever heard such a thing?’
He could say with certainty that there hadn’t been. To tell a sect that belongs to the Nine Great Sects to kick off its own shoes and walk out; no sane person could utter such words.
Even the Demonic Cults that once ravaged the Central Plains, or the now-vanished gigantic sects of the Evil Sect that once brought storms of blood across the land, would hardly have dared to say such a thing.
If one understood the meaning behind the name Nine Great Sects, one could never say this. Especially if one knew even a little of the effort Southern Island put in to be accepted into that group.
Therefore...
‘No, no!’
Geum Yang-Baek flinched and quickly wiped away the thought that had popped into his head.
For a moment he had suspected that Baek Cheon had said this out of some lingering resentment; perhaps the position Southern Island now occupied had once belonged to Mount Hua.
‘How could I think such a cursed thing!’
Even thinking such a thing was shameful.
They had broken through a region as desolate as Southern lands to e this far. Who in the world would do such a thing out of mere ill will?
Moreover, considering everything that had been said about the Heavenly Friends Alliance and Mount Hua until now, such a suspicion was nothing but the shameful worry of a petty person.
Feeling deeply ashamed for even briefly entertaining that thought, Geum Yang-Baek spoke in a decidedly more cautious tone.
“This sect leader is dull... I find it difficult to grasp the true intent behind what the Acting Sect Leader has said. With what purpose did you say such a thing...?”
“I mean it exactly as I said.”
But Baek Cheon, apparently without consideration for Geum Yang-Baek’s feelings, answered as resolutely as before.
“We remend that you cast off the name of the Nine Great Sects, which is now merely a façade, and join our Heavenly Friends Alliance.”
“No...”
“What on earth are you saying...”
The elders of Southern Island who surrounded Geum Yang-Baek murmured angrily. They too looked at Baek Cheon with expressions of disbelief.
“What are you thinking!”
“How dare you speak so rudely...!”
“Quiet.”
“Hush, Sect leader! That is pletely...”
“Be quiet, all of you.”
When Geum Yang-Baek cut them off, the elders coughed awkwardly and reluctantly fell silent. Though they had been too stunned to stay quiet, this was not the place for them to blurt out whatever they pleased.
Click.
Geum Yang-Baek maintained a moment of silence and picked up the teacup placed before him.
“The tea will cool. It’s made from fine tea leaves grown on Southern Island’s high mountains—would you not enjoy its aroma?”
“Thank you.”
Baek Cheon smiled lightly at the words and lifted the teacup. From the way he raised it to how he slowly savored the tea, everything was flawless and smooth.
“Are you perhaps interested in the tea ceremony?”
Baek Cheon set the cup down and smiled faintly at Geum Yang-Baek’s question.
“I haven’t had the leisure to formally learn the tea ceremony, but elder Hyun Jong, the former Sect leader of Mount Hua, enjoyed tea so much that I learned the etiquette over his shoulder.”
“Ah, elder Hyun Jong... Excuse me? Did Elder Hyun Jong step down from the Sect leader position?”
“I failed to mention it. The previous Sect leader handed the position to Elder Un A, the current Sect leader of Mount Hua.”
“Huh...”
Geum Yang-Baek again could not hide his bewilderment.
“C-could it be elder Hyun Jong... no, is it your revered former sect leader...?”
“That’s not the case. The Sect leader is still in good health.”
“Ah...”
“I cannot fully prehend his deep intent, but it seems he judged that the time had e to pass the position to his successor.”
It was all astonishing. The earlier demand to withdraw from the Nine Great Sects was absurd enough, but this was equally bewildering.
‘He willingly stepped down from the Sect leader seat?’
In such times? It was utterly inprehensible.
The murim world now faced a tremendous crisis. In such circumstances, could a sect leader hand over the reins to a successor and step down? How much would one have to trust the disciples one raised to do such a thing?
Geum Yang-Baek could not even imagine it.
‘No. That’s not all of it.’
In fact, Mount Hua’s momentum was such that it could be said to even threaten Shaolin. Its actual strength might not yet match Shaolin’s, but in terms of influence on the martial world, there were certainly aspects where it surpassed Shaolin.
Mount Hua’s rise had surely been the result of long patience and waiting.
After enduring pain like the whole body sinking into a swamp and finally attaining glory, could the one at the center truly step down of his own accord? How free of desire would a person have to be for that to happen?
“...Remarkable.”
“I think so too.”
A sigh escaped Geum Yang-Baek’s lips.
‘Positions have pletely reversed.’
When they had met before, Hyun ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Jong had been hardly parable to him. But now the situation had turned. He could no longer dare to even step in Hyun Jong’s shadow.
He had bee the inept man who had brought Southern Island to the brink of annihilation, while Hyun Jong had raised Mount Hua—a third-rate sect once—into a great sect famed throughout the land.
‘Life is full of ups and downs, as they say.’
Suppressing the flood of emotions, Geum Yang-Baek spoke in a voice that tried to keep its posure.
“I can understand how the Acting Sect Leader might make such a proposal. Having learned under someone like Elder Hyun Jong who is detached from worldly affairs, names like Nine Great Sects probably seem like mere façades to you.”
“...”
“But Acting Sect Leader, you should consider what the Nine Great Sects mean in the secular world and how people view them. The Nine Great Sects are...”
“I know, Sect leader.”
Geum Yang-Baek stared quietly at Baek Cheon.
Interrupting another sect leader would be the height of rudeness, but Geum Yang-Baek did not want to nitpick about that now. He was more curious about what Baek Cheon would say next.
“You said you know?”
“Yes. Perhaps I know better than you, Sect leader. You led Southern Island into the Nine Great Sects, but we were the ones who could only look up at that Nine Great Sects from the lowest rung.”
At those words, Geum Yang-Baek found himself nodding without realizing it.
e to think of it, Mount Hua had only recently risen to its current position. They too must have looked at the Nine Great Sects with a mixture of yearning and envy, and dreamed of one day returning to that circle.
“And yet you say this to us?”
“Yes.”
Baek Cheon closed his eyes briefly and opened them, then spoke firmly as if there was no need to mince words.
“The reason is simple. The current Nine Great Sects are a place Southern Island has no need to cling to.”
“...Acting Sect Leader.”
“That we came here now...”
Baek Cheon paused, then cast his gaze toward the elders seated behind Geum Yang-Baek. Meeting each of their eyes, he continued.
“That it is us here, not the Nine Great Sects, proves that fact.”
A sigh escaped Geum Yang-Baek’s mouth. After a long exhale, he spoke in a slightly slowed tone.
“Of course, no amount of gratitude suffices for those who traveled this far. As the Sect leader of the Southern Island school and as a person of Southern Island, I offer my deep thanks.”
“...”
“But Acting Sect Leader, that is separate from this matter. That gratitude and...”
“Originally.”
Baek Cheon once again interrupted Geum Yang-Baek.
This time Geum Yang-Baek frowned in displeasure. But what Baek Cheon said next made him even more unfortable.
“Those who should have e here are the Nine Great Sects, not us.”
“...”
“The reason is simple. Those who bear the name of righteousness have the duty to help those in distress regardless of the situation.”
Baek Cheon said that and looked around at everyone.
“Therefore, we of the Heavenly Friends Alliance also wish to offer our apologies to those present here.”
Baek Cheon bowed his head deeply while seated. The sudden action made Geum Yang-Baek fidget in surprise.
“W-why are you doing this all of a sudden, Acting Sect Leader!”
“We should have e earlier. We should have noticed sooner that Southern Island needed our help, that Southern Island’s situation was dire. Forgive us for not doing so... No, forgive us for having half-turned away even when we could have acted.”
“How can that be a sin of the Heavenly Friends Alliance? Don’t do this, Acting Sect Leader! Raise your head at once!”
Only then did Baek Cheon slowly lift his head.
“Sect leader.”
“Yes, Acting Sect Leader.”
“With all due respect, to say it cannot be the fault of the Heavenly Friends Alliance does not make sense. The Heavenly Friends Alliance was founded on the value of upholding accords, and has gained much because of that. For such an alliance to fail to do what it ought is deserving of criticism.”
For a moment Geum Yang-Baek felt himself drawn in by Baek Cheon.
He was righteous. Simply righteous.
Righteousness can sometimes be narrow-minded and frustrating, but at other times it bees a force stronger than anything in the world.
Beyond military might, influence, rightful cause, and irrespective of circumstances, what Baek Cheon appealed to now was righteousness. By that alone Geum Yang-Baek felt overwhelmed.
“Therefore, I ask you this.”
Baek Cheon stared straight at Geum Yang-Baek as he asked.
“Where are those who should have upheld the accord before anyone else now?”
“Acting Sect Leader...”
“You must understand. No—you must admit it, Sect leader.”
Baek Cheon spoke coldly without a moment’s hesitation.
“The Nine Great Sects abandoned Southern Island.”
Those words struck like a dagger and pierced Geum Yang-Baek’s heart.
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