"Anyway..."
Jo Gol continued to grumble impatiently, urging everyone along. Why was everything so complicated? If the world was complex, it was complex, but if it was simple, it was simple.
Jo Gol knew. All of this was just a process of people managing people. But lately, it felt frustrating to see the sides of the people he used to admire in a light that he found somewhat disappointing.
"Am I the only young bastard here? Just me."
Jo Gol muttered to himself, then surreptitiously looked around.
"Is this the right place?"
It probably was?
"Chung Myung. Is Chung Myung in there?"
He asked without waiting for an answer, pushing the door open. Regardless, he needed to see Chung Myung now. There were things he needed to say and things he wanted to hear.
But when Jo Gol pushed the door open and stepped in, he didn't see Chung Myung; instead, he saw other familiar faces. Very familiar.
"You're here?"
"...Huh?"
Jo Gol blinked.
"Sorry. I think I've got the wrong room..."
"This is the right room."
"Oh?"
About to retreat outside, Jo Gol hesitated and then stepped back in. There was a look of confusion on his face.
"So why is elder brother here?"
"This is Chung Myung's room."
"Oh?"
Just then, Jo Gol realized that the room wasn't empty. Apart from Baek Cheon, the skinny figure lying on the bed next to him was clearly Im Sobyeong, and the guy wandering around in front of them was undoubtedly Seol Sobaek.
Jo Gol had come to meet Chung Myung, but Chung Myung wasn't there, and instead, other people were bustling around.
"Come in for now."
"But Chung Myung isn't here."
"Trying to find that guy won't be easy anyway. He'll come if you wait. That's why everyone's here."
Jo Gol couldn't deny it and nodded faintly while letting out a sigh. As he closed the door and settled down next to Im Sobyeong's bed, Im Sobyeong grumbled irritably.
"It's already cramped in here!"
Jo Gol was at a loss for words.
...Did this guy even realize he was the Heavenly Friendship Alliance's military advisor? Coming here and idling around at such a critical time instead of meeting the alliance lord?
But in any case, they must all share the same sentiments eventually. Thinking that way made Jo Gol feel a little more reassured. With that in mind, Jo Gol faintly smiled. Or at least, he tried to...
"..."
"..."
"Ahem."
The atmosphere inside the room became uncomfortably awkward. Only then did Jo Gol realize.
'This group feels a bit strange.'
It might have been better if it were just him and Baek Cheon; then they could have had a frank conversation. But with other people around, they had to be cautious, and yet there wasn't much to talk about with others.
So, everyone remained silent, only exchanging awkward glances.
'Well...'
As the silence stretched on, Jo Gol's forehead began to bead with cold sweat, unable to bear this unbearable awkwardness any longer.
Then, a faint knock came from outside the door. Feeling like he'd just met his ancestors at Samdocheon, Jo Gol hurriedly rushed to open the door.
"Hey! Why now...?"
"..."
"...Are you here, senior brother?"
A heavier silence settled.
In front of the wide-open door, Yun Jong wore a three-times-more-awkward expression than those inside the room.
Jo Gol and Yun Jong avoided each other's gaze. After a painfully awkward farewell, it was indescribably uncomfortable.
"Um, did... Master Chung Myung come to see you?"
"Well... sort of."
"Then, um, would you like to come in first? We're all in the same boat here."
"Alright..."
Yun Jong awkwardly made his way inside, struggling to peel his eyes away from the wall. Only the sound of someone's breath circulated rhythmically in the small room.
In the end, Jo Gol couldn't stand the awkwardness and erupted like a madman.
"Argh! Seriously! Why isn't this bastard coming? We're all waiting here!"
"...I guess he doesn't understand waiting."
"Why are you so calm, elder brother? You weren't like this before! You'd be the first to complain if this were in the old days."
"Gol."
"Yes?"
"I didn't criticize you earlier than you."
"Lies!"
Jo Gol reflexively turned his head to shout, "Elder brother criticized first, senior brother!" but when he met eyes with Yun Jong, he flinched and turned his head back.
At that moment, Im Sobyeong, who had been lying down the whole time, sat up. She moved her stiff neck from side to side.
"There are things to do. Things to fix. Well, they'll eventually come. They'll need time too."
"If it's something that needs fixing, then don't cause trouble!"
"That's right."
Im Sobyeong nodded as if agreeing.
"Well, even if we can fight somehow without going to such lengths, it just stirs up trouble for no reason."
"Is this evil sect guy criticizing Chung Myung?"
"...Let's just agree on one thing, disciple."
Im Sobyeong sighed deeply. Baek Cheon, who had been silent, spoke up.
"How do you think it will turn out, Green Forest King?"
Im Sobyeong smiled and replied.
"The words are right, always the words."
"Hmm."
"In fact, well, everyone in the Heavenly Friendship Alliance probably wants their sect to shine the most, and no one wants to be a subordinate on someone else's side, right?"
"Right. But so far, there haven't been any issues because..."
"Because Jang Ilso hasn't prodded into that part."
Im Sobyeong lightly tapped her palm with the fan.
"The most fickle thing in the world is the human heart, so I can't predict when or what will happen, no matter how much we plan and strategize."
Baek Cheon sighed in agreement. That's why it made sense for Chung Myung to bring up this matter. If that bastard Chung Myung had experienced even more in that hellish place, then he must have seen and felt more.
"But..."
At that moment, Jo Gol interjected.
"I honestly don't fully understand, but will things really get better if we do as Chung Myung says?"
Im Sobyeong smiled and nodded.
"Oh my. I should have explained that first, considering you're here, Jo Gol disciple."
"It's not that I don't know... I mean, S-so-beak! So-beak doesn't know..."
"What kind of nonsense is that to say to Sir Palace Lord, you horse's snout-like bastard!"
"...That's not a Taoist way of speaking, senior brother."
Jo Gol looked crestfallen. It seemed like he was always the problem, always him.
Im Sobyeong shrugged and continued.
"Well, it'll be easier to understand if you think of it as restructuring rather than exercising command."
"Yes? Restructuring?"
"Command and organization. How's that? A familiar form, right?"
Everyone present nodded.
"If the gate masters agree to this matter, the Heavenly Friendship Alliance will establish new units called 'Causes' and 'Eachs,' and mix the sect members of each sect within them. Inside one 'Cause,' there can be members from Mount Hua, Tang Family, Green Forest, Ice Palace, and even Southern Edge."
"Let's leave out Southern Edge."
"...."
"Seriously."
Jo Gol said this, and if it were Im Sobyeong, she would have just laughed it off. But the reason Im Sobyeong didn't laugh was that it was Baek Cheon who said it.
"....Let's try our best."
"Thank you."
Im Sobyeong sighed and spoke again.
"Simply put, Chung Myung disciple wants to temporarily make the Heavenly Friendship Alliance into one sect. By dividing into new units and appointing household heads and hall masters again."
"What about the current gate masters?"
"They'll take positions depending on the situation. They could become household heads, hall masters, or even rise to positions like assistant household heads."
"...."
"The important thing is that even if they become household heads, they won't be able to command members of other Causes. That's the crux of this whole discussion."
Jo Gol scratched his head.
"So, if we do that, things will get better?"
"....Explaining it to a disciple until he understands would be endless."
"Don't treat me like a fool."
"I'm not treating you like a fool, I'm considering your comprehension."
"It's the same thing!"
"Oh? You understand this? You're improving."
"This bastard?" When Jo Gol subtly reached for his sword, Baek Cheon mercilessly slapped him on the back of his head.
"Stay still! You're being too rowdy."
"Yes... I was wrong again."
"You know it."
Jo Gol felt melancholic. At that moment, Yun Jong, who had been silently listening, spoke up.
"So, ultimately, the key is whether the gate masters can accept this."
"That's correct."
"It's unprecedented..."
"Well, actually, there are precedents."
At the mention of precedents, everyone perked up. Im Sobyeong shrugged her shoulders.
"In fact, this is a form that we're more familiar with. When the evil sects become really strong or when the Demon Cult goes crazy and the existing system of the Nine Sects and One Union and the Five Great Families is no longer effective, the righteous sects have created such systems before. It's called the Murim Alliance."
"The Murim Alliance..."
Baek Cheon let out a small exclamation.
"Well, of course, compared to what Chung Myung's disciple is suggesting now, the formation back then was nowhere near complete, but still, a similar form has been achieved before."
"So, why don't we just do it?"
"But it's not that easy, is it?"
Im Sobyeong shrugged her shoulders.
"Creating that incomplete system required a considerable amount of time, effort, and sacrifice, even for the sake of internal qi. But now, time is absolutely lacking."
Baek Cheon stared at Im Sobyeong intently.
"Are you saying it won't work, like Green Forest King thinks?"
"Yes. To put it bluntly, that's correct."
Im Sobyeong nodded slowly.
"But, well, someone like me, who has lived in a loose world like Green Forest, wouldn't mind either way."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"But, Baek Cheon disciple, even if Jo Gol disciple were to face death in the name of Southern Edge, could you not resent them and not regret it?"
Baek Cheon couldn't answer immediately.
"Handing over command means granting the power of life and death. Depending on how the commander uses it, people who shouldn't die might die. Without a relationship of trust within, where each trusts the other's abilities and acts for the sake of each other, this is impossible. But..."
Im Sobyeong shrugged.
"Is there really that level of trust in the Heavenly Friendship Alliance right now?"
"I, I do...!"
Before Jo Gol could erupt, Im Sobyeong cut in.
"I'm sure what you're saying is ultimately about 'under the people I believe in.' But trust isn't just about the other person's abilities. If you're going to choose someone to command you, ultimately, this new system will be meaningless without any trust."
"Ugh."
Jo Gol, who had just exchanged similar words with Yun Jong, could only groan in frustration. Yun Jong spoke calmly.
"So, in the end, it's difficult. The sir gate masters must also be thinking about all of this."
"That's right. However..."
"However?"
"No, never mind."
Im Sobyeong shook her head vaguely.
There's no variable? That's not true. But if someone has a clue to solve this impossible problem...
'But it's impossible.'
Neither side will find it easy to choose a path. It's like a river too wide to cross. Everything they've built up so far will make it impossible. All the paths they've walked so far.
'It's a pity.'
Im Sobyeong's gaze out the window was somewhat poignant. The face of Chung Myung, who had quietly come earlier, came to mind again.
---
"Hoo."
Chung Myung let out a long sigh. It wasn't an easy step to take. But he had to.
Chung Myung knows now too. It's because he believes it's the right path. Anyone can stubbornly insist that they're right and act arrogantly, lying down in opposition to others.
The important thing is how well you can implement the path you believe to be right. It's not about shouting for others to follow me, but about explaining thoroughly why they should follow me and persuading the other party.
So...
Chung Myung, who had been anxiously eyeing the closed door, finally knocked on it. The answer came back quickly.
"It's open."
Click.
The closed door opened. The person inside looked at Chung Myung and smiled. It was a faint but unmistakable smirk.
"Well, this is unexpected. I never thought you'd come looking for me."
"Is there nowhere I can't come?"
"That's not it. But it must have been a very difficult journey. Isn't that right?"
"Well, it was, but... well, now that I see your face, I think it was worth it."
"Why's that?"
"I realized something. I'm not the only one feeling uncomfortable."
"..."
"Maybe you're even more uncomfortable than I am."
"Is that so?"
"Isn't it?"
The eyes of the two clashed briefly, as if they were confronting each other. But soon, the person inside the room chuckled first. Right now, he had no reason to be on guard.
"Come in. I've been wanting to have a conversation with you anyway."
Jong Ligok, Sword Under Heaven, the sect leader of the Great Southern Edge Sect, stood up from his seat.