Day after day. And another day.
After spending three days in Huaying, Chung Myung could finally admit it. There was no trace of Jang Ilso's influence here.
But he couldn't fully comprehend it.
Chung Myung's eyes, looking down at Huaying, were dull.
An uncomfortable and eerie sensation continued to gnaw at his heart. Chung Myung clenched his fists tightly.
A faint metallic smell lingered at the tip of his nose. It wasn't real. It was the scent of a past he had buried deep in his memories, something he didn't want to recall.
"No."
He closed his eyes slowly.
No.
It was true that everything beyond the realm of understanding he had experienced so far ultimately ended with those two words he didn't want to utter... but not yet. It couldn't be.
He opened his eyes and blankly stared at the blue sky.
Truly clear and sunny. Chung Myung bit his lower lip hard.
❀ ❀ ❀
"Have you returned, ceremonial sect leader?"
Seeing Un Am coming to greet him, Hyeon Jong nodded heavily. There was a tired look on his face.
"What about Chung Myung?"
"That⋯⋯."
Un Am turned his gaze without saying a word. It must be somewhere near the middle of Mount Hua.
Hyeon Jong nodded slightly with a thoughtful look.
He couldn't really understand what Chung Myung was thinking. Perhaps others felt the same way. They could only speculate that there was something incomprehensibly complex in his mind.
However...
"Huuh."
Hyeon Jong let out a heavy sigh. Un Am asked cautiously.
"We've heard the news. The deceased..."
"We'll take care of it and come back."
For the sects with survivors, they handed over the bodies of the deceased, while for the sects with no survivors or those who couldn't immediately come to receive the bodies in Hubei, they marked the bodies after burying them nearby.
That way, at least the bodies could return to their hometowns.
"The disciples will finish the remaining work and return to Huaying."
"Yes."
Hyeon Jong, who had been silently staring at Mount Hua, finally spoke.
"Gather all the middle-tier members of Huaying."
"Yes, sir alliance lord."
Hyeon Jong's heavy gaze closed as it contained the rugged landscape of Mount Hua.
❀ ❀ ❀
A heavy silence hung over the room.
With the Heavenly Friendship Alliance, Huaying, and the remaining middle-tier members of the Nine Sects gathered in one place, the situation was dire.
"Ugh..."
Feeling suffocated by the atmosphere, Hong Daegwang of the Beggars Union couldn't help but let out a groan. He wanted to say something, but Pung Yeongsin firmly grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
Hong Daegwang cursed inwardly.
"I might suffocate at this rate, damn it."
But he understood.
Despite being a member of the Beggars Union, who dealt with all kinds of information, this was the first time he faced such a serious situation.
Even he, who had rolled with the punches in the Martial Arts World for so long, couldn't remain unaffected. How much more so for the other middle-tier members?
"But it's not like I can just keep my mouth shut like this."
Hong Daegwang glanced briefly at Hyeon Jong and Tang Gunak. Since they were probably the only ones who could break through this atmosphere and speak up.
But unexpectedly, someone else opened the door to the meeting.
"In summary..."
It was Im Sobyeong, wearing a light green Hanbok. His calm voice resonated in the silent room.
"It's a major defeat."
His words were as sharp as a dagger.
"A major defeat isn't enough to describe it. It's a complete defeat, or... I don't know. I can't imagine what words can describe this defeat. In any case, it's an extremely bitter defeat. I can't even begin to imagine what we did to suffer such a loss."
The one who snapped at his words was Jegal Jain, the family lord of the Zhuge Family, who had followed Hyeon Jong here.
"Who are you?"
Im Sobyeong chuckled, meeting the sharp gaze directed at him.
"I could tell you anything, but isn't it basic courtesy to state your own identity before inquiring about someone else's status?"
The gaze that had been fixed on Im Sobyeong now shifted to Hyeon Jong.
"Who is that person, sir alliance lord?"
Hyeon Jong replied calmly, "That individual is the leader of Green Forest and also serves as the military advisor for the Heavenly Friendship Alliance, Green Forest King, Im So⋯⋯."
"Green Forest?"
Zhuge Family's Jegal Jain interrupted Hyeon Jong.
"Why is Green Forest here?"
There was blatant contempt and anger in his eyes.
"They fought in the war against the evil sect. Yet, here stands a Green Forest member, insulting those who risked their lives with such arrogance. Is this what the Heavenly Friendship Alliance condones⋯⋯."
"People who risked their lives."
But before Jegal Jain could escalate further, Im Sobyeong interjected with sarcasm.
"It seems like you're speaking as if you were the one fighting. Quite a spectator, aren't you?"
"This⋯⋯ filthy mountain bandit!"
Jegal Jain leaped up from his seat.
The momentum was enough to indicate how severe his intent was, how he had become the family lord of a prominent lineage. But even as he faced such killing intent, Im Sobyeong remained nonchalant, even more openly contemptuous.
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"Can't you shut your mouth?"
"While there are the dead, and those who need comforting, here stands someone who returned unscathed, trying to assert dominance. Do you understand why your clan has been so thoroughly defeated?"
"This⋯⋯!"
As Jegal Jain clenched the hilt of his sword, a chilly voice sounded from elsewhere.
"That's enough."
It was Tang Gunak.
He looked at Im Sobyeong sternly and admonished, "Please be careful with your words, Green Forest King."
Im Sobyeong, who was about to voice his dissatisfaction, simply shrugged his shoulders upon seeing Tang Gunak's face. It meant he had no intention to continue the confrontation.
Tang Gunak's gaze then turned to Jegal Jain.
"Zhuge Family lord."
"Yes, Tang Family Lord."
"If you're not satisfied with the appointments and methods of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance, you're free to leave."
Jegal Jain looked stunned for a moment, as if his words had caught him off guard.
Nevertheless, he hadn't expected that the family lord of the Tang Family, one of the Five Great Families, would take the side of the evil sect.
"Before Green Forest became part of the evil sect, Green Forest King was the military advisor for the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. Any questions or concerns about his status and intentions should be addressed to the Heavenly Friendship Alliance, not him or to me."
Jegal Jain's trembling hand slightly faltered. Watching the situation unfold, Moyong Upholders advised Jegal Jain to restrain himself.
"You were hasty, my lord. I understand your sentiments, but you must exercise restraint. Given the circumstances, now is not the time for this."
Jegal Jain found it difficult to calm his agitated mind and eventually sank back into his seat.
Then, he crossed his arms and gritted his teeth. Displeasure was evident on his face.
Tang Gunak nodded.
"Please continue, Green Forest King. Just."
He cautioned against provoking unnecessary turmoil.
"Yes, understood."
Im Sobyeong didn't want to pour energy into such trivial conflicts anyway. He resumed speaking as if there had been no confrontation.
"Shaolin suffered heavy losses, the cave sect was completely annihilated, and the Peng Family was also wiped out."
"Ugh..."
Hwang Jongui, representing the Heavenly Friendship Alliance's finances, let out a groan.
Shaolin, the cave sect, and the Peng Family.
The mere mention of these factions shook the realm under heaven. Yet, to learn that their elite members had all perished was shocking beyond measure.
"To achieve this level of accomplishment, the Four Tyrants Alliance lost⋯⋯ including the river bandit group, headed by the Black Dragon King. Well, the fodder they mobilized before that wasn't even worth calling sacrifices."
Just one river bandit group.
Against the three sects of the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families' three sects.
Anyone could estimate which side suffered greater losses.
Therefore, Im Sobyeong didn't bother to elaborate on this further.
"In conclusion⋯⋯ the Nine Sects and One Union have been completely disintegrated by this incident."
"⋯⋯."
"In terms of remaining forces within the Nine Sects and One Union, we have Southern Edge, the sealed sect Wudang, and Kunlun, which usually refrains from getting involved in Central Plains affairs. That's all."
A sigh finally escaped Southern Edge sect leader Jong Ligok, who had been enduring discomfort. He attended the meeting due to the circumstances.
In truth, saying that only three sects remained was somewhat ambiguous. There were probably more. Perhaps the Beggars Union⋯⋯.
However, the Beggars Union had essentially sided with the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. Among the Five Great Families, only Zhuge and Moyong remained.
"Wudang and Southern Edge. Moyong and Zhuge⋯⋯."
In practical terms, these were the only forces that could be counted on. And even among them, the sealed sect of Wudang might not be released anytime soon.
It was laughable.
That the once-dominant Nine Sects and One Union and the Five Great Families were now reduced to just four sects.
Im Sobyeong tapped his palm with a fan.
"In other words, the Martial Arts World as we knew it no longer exists."
This statement momentarily caught everyone's breath.
Not only the members of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance but also Jegal Jain, Moyong Upholders, and even Jong Ligok couldn't utter a word.
They had been burdened with the responsibility of fighting against the Four Tyrants Alliance whenever necessary and had endlessly opposed their methods.
But now, even that opposition had become a luxury.
The severe defeat made everyone realize that this was no longer a simple power struggle. If they couldn't stop the Four Tyrants Alliance, the righteous sects would truly perish, and the evil sects would dominate under heaven.
"Beok Jeong."
At that moment, Jong Ligok spoke coldly.
"Where is he right now?"
His gaze pierced Jegal Jain sharply.
"⋯⋯I'm not sure."
"Has he returned to Shaolin?"
"⋯⋯."
"Or is he still sitting there, lamenting?"
Jong Ligok's voice grew increasingly filled with killing intent.
"If he has harmed a senior sister like that, he should come and apologize with a knife to his throat, or at least come and explain. To bring the situation to this point⋯⋯ Where is he doing anything?"
"Please refrain from speaking so harshly, sect leader. The abbot has tried. However⋯⋯."
"Tried? Ridiculous. Is this what you call trying? Well, I suppose he must have tried! It would have been difficult to shove this many righteous sect members into the mouths of evil sects without trying very hard! Such a tremendous effort."
Jegal Jain, once again incensed, tried to stand up, but Moyong Upholders quickly restrained him.
"Please calm down."
"Is there anything to calm down about?"
Moyong Upholders sighed and looked at Jong Ligok.
"Sect Leader Jongli, you shouldn't speak like that either. At least the abbot tried to stop the evil sect. But didn't Southern Edge steadfastly ignore our urgent calls?"
"⋯⋯."
"When we were fighting with bloodshed, Southern Edge, which had divine immortals frolicking in its sealed sect, is now blaming the abbot. That's not right."
"Divine immortals frolicking?"
Jong Ligok's eyebrows twitched at the irritating words.
"And? Are you implying that joining in that filthy plan and getting dragged into it would have given Southern Edge the chance to open its sealed sect and ruin everything?"
"Sect leader!"
"Be thankful that Beok Jeong is alive. If he had died, the blame would have fallen squarely on you! What's there to boast about returning unscathed from a battlefield where everyone else died? Is that the honor of Zhuge and Moyong?"
"Sect leader⋯⋯. Your words are too harsh."
Hyeon Jong intervened, unable to listen anymore. Jong Ligok then turned sharply to him. But that was only for a moment. He soon chuckled.
"Yes, yes. Since the esteemed Heavenly Friendship Alliance Lord speaks, I should close my mouth."
"⋯⋯Sect leader."
"Yes. Please give your orders, sir alliance lord. Who wouldn't listen respectfully to the words of the greatest lord of the Martial Arts World, the Heavenly Friendship Alliance Lord?"
It was a clear and sharp response. Hyeon Jong closed his eyes. With everyone on edge, it couldn't be helped, but it still felt suffocating.
Watching the meeting oscillate between extremes, Hong Daegwang wrapped his head in his hands and tore at his hair.
"This mess is better than this."
Any hope he had tried to hold onto was being shattered moment by moment.
"Where did this man go amidst all this?"
Hong Daegwang turned his gaze to one side. The chair, obviously belonging to the master, was empty.