In the meeting room, sounds of discomfort escaped Jo Gol's lips involuntarily.
"Ugh, this darn guy..."
Ultimately, Chung Myung did not return to his quarters until daybreak. Those who had been waiting for him to return to his empty room had all come out to the meeting room, one by one, looking like dogs chasing chickens.
"Can you believe this guy...?"
Jo Gol grumbled, but Yun Jong didn't respond. He just sat there with a stern face, lost in thought.
Jo Gol considered making another comment but decided against it.
'The atmosphere is serious.'
Not only were they present, but also the gate masters affiliated with the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. And they all seemed incredibly serious.
Normally, before a meeting started, they would engage in small talk and smile at each other. But now, each one of them sat silently, lost in deep thought.
Thus, even someone like Jo Gol, who didn't usually care much about the atmosphere, couldn't find it in himself to speak up.
It was understandable. Honestly, what Chung Myung had thrown at them wasn't such a simple matter.
'I wonder how this will turn out.'
If he had been able to meet Chung Myung even for a moment yesterday morning, he might have been able to guess what would happen. But this time, he hadn't heard a word from him beforehand. He had no idea how things would unfold.
As he scratched his head in frustration, the closed door opened again, and Chung Myung walked in. Instantly, everyone's attention was drawn to him.
"You..."
Jo Gol instinctively stood up to say something, but Yun Jong grabbed his shoulder and pressed down firmly. It was a silent command to sit down and keep quiet. Jo Gol sat back down.
Chung Myung silently took his assigned seat with an expressionless face.
'What is he thinking?'
Jo Gol became even more confused. Honestly, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking just by looking at his outward expression.
The other gate masters also glanced at Chung Myung, who remained silent. It was clear that they were all thinking similar thoughts to Jo Gol.
Then, once again, the door opened wide, and Hyeon Jong and Tang Gunak entered.
"Good morning."
Hyeon Jong greeted the gate masters softly as he made his way to the main seat. Then, after scanning the people in the room, he nodded.
"Has everyone arrived?"
Just as Jo Gol was about to indicate the empty seat, Jegal Jain spoke up.
"Southern Edge's Sect Leader Jongli has not arrived yet."
"Hmm, I see."
The appointed time was slowly passing. If someone like Jong Ligok hadn't shown up on time, it could be interpreted that he had no intention of attending the meeting in the first place. Hyeon Jong inwardly sighed and nodded.
"Then let's proceed with the meeting without Southern Edge."
"Yes."
Hyeon Jong took a deep breath.
"I believe everyone has deeply considered the matter since last night. What do you think about the proposal made by the military leader?"
Silence fell over the meeting room once again. Everyone had surely spent the night contemplating, but no one was willing to speak up first.
After a moment of waiting, Hyeon Jong gently spoke up again.
"Personally, while there may be some martial aspects to the military leader's opinion, I think it's something worth considering from the perspective of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. Of course, to do so, we would need the cooperation of several sect leaders..."
"May I say something?"
Suddenly, someone's voice cut through the silence. Hyeon Jong's gaze turned to the speaker. There was a faint tension in his eyes. The first opinion voiced during a meeting often had a significant impact on the outcome, so it was natural to feel tense.
When their eyes met, Hyeon Jong felt a sense of relief. The speaker was much taller than the others. It was Beast Palace Lord Maeng So. He had a thick friendship with Chung Myung. Hyeon Jong could relax a bit.
"Please, go ahead, Sir Palace Lord."
"It seems no one is willing to speak first, so let me express the stance of Nanman Beast Palace first. In conclusion,"
Maeng So spoke with his characteristic deep voice. His gaze swept across the audience, ultimately landing on Chung Myung.
"Beast Palace opposes the opinion of the military leader."
"....Excuse me?"
Hyeon Jong couldn't help but interject, caught off guard by Maeng So's unexpected response. Quickly, he closed his mouth, realizing that he shouldn't voice his opinion or react carelessly. Nevertheless, Maeng So's answer was so unexpected that Hyeon Jong inadvertently made a mistake.
Ignoring Hyeon Jong's slip, Maeng So continued.
"I understand what the military leader has said. We also acknowledge that such measures are necessary for the Heavenly Friendship Alliance at this moment. However, what is necessary and what can be done are two different things."
As Maeng So's eyes met Chung Myung's in the air, Im Sobyeong politely asked the question that needed to be asked.
"May I inquire about the reasons?"
Maeng So nodded.
"There are no extraordinary reasons. However... the problem lies in trust."
"When you say 'trust'?"
Maeng So's gaze shifted to the middle-tier members sitting there.
"I may occupy a seat here, but ultimately, I am a person from beyond the Great Wall. I can never truly become a person from the Central Plains. Not speaking may lead to that conclusion. I'm sure there are some among those present here who feel uncomfortable with my presence."
Some faces subtly changed. It was difficult to discern whether it was due to their own unpleasant feelings or embarrassment at being pricked inwardly.
Hyeon Jong, looking somewhat awkward, spoke up.
"Sir Palace Lord."
"No, I'm not blaming anyone."
Maeng So interrupted before Hyeon Jong could say more.
"We were the same way. Until the military leader came to Yunnan, we built walls and rejected those from the Central Plains. We believed it was necessary."
"Ah."
Some individuals murmured. Maeng So spoke with a firm gaze.
"Now, we don't think that way anymore. We believe it needs to change. But... the walls still exist. Undeniable walls."
"...."
"Beast Palace can strive to overcome those walls. But if such Beast Palace scatters everywhere, palace members will be labeled as Nanman, not Beast Palace. I am not confident that palace members will be treated the same as other people from the Central Plains in such a state."
Maeng So's gaze now directly fell on Hyeon Jong.
"Nanman Beast Palace came to Yunnan because we trusted the Heavenly Friendship Alliance and Mount Hua. However... showing that same trust to others is something we cannot accept."
Hyeon Jong sighed faintly. Frankly, he hadn't considered Maeng So's position at all. Perhaps the relationship between the North Sea and the Central Plains was even further from his mind than the relationship between the Nine Sects and the Heavenly Friendship Alliance....
At that moment, someone raised their hand discreetly.
"You may speak, Palace Lord Seol."
Seol Sobaek glanced at Hyeon Jong and Chung Myung before speaking.
"I apologize... but, our Ice Palace Beast Palace is in a similar position. That's..."
Seol Sobaek continued with a slight bow.
"It's true that Ice Palace has received grace from Mount Hua and is with the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. However... we haven't received grace from other Central Plains individuals, nor are we close to them...."
Saying they weren't close was inaccurate. It would be more accurate to say they were distant, far beyond.
"Receiving the commands of such individuals is not an easy task for Ice Palace. If... if we could move together with Mount Hua or Nanman Beast Palace, we wouldn't oppose this matter. If that aspect is taken into consideration..."
Hyeon Jong closed his eyes. While he had left room for approval, ultimately there was no such option. If someone had to receive the commands of those who didn't want them, and if someone else could only receive the commands of those they wanted, then from that point on, new walls would arise.
It's absurd to create new walls to break down the old ones.
"…I understand."
But Hyeon Jong understood Seol Sobaek's feelings very well. At the same time, he realized his own mistake anew.
His focus was entirely on those who had newly joined the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. Even those whom he had considered to already have their hearts aligned with the true Heavenly Friendship Alliance had their own circumstances and positions. He should have met with them, even if it was just last night, to have an open and honest conversation...
A brief silence filled the meeting room. Tang Gunak broke the silence as if indicating that the situation couldn't continue like this.
"Our Sichuans Tang Family supports the opinion of the military leader."
As usual, his conclusion was concise. But sensing the probing gazes, Tang Gunak added.
"Additionally, personally, I intend to relinquish the position of Vice Alliance Lord of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance."
"Sir Family Lord?"
Hyeon Jong was surprised. Tang Gunak's expression remained unchanged.
"It would be fair. If others are relinquishing their authority, and if the Sichuans Tang Family can secure their safety through their position in the Heavenly Friendship Alliance, then it wouldn't be fair. My decision is firm, so I hope the Sir Alliance Lord won't oppose it further."
It was a resolute tone with no room for debate. And it was clearly a move supporting Chung Myung's argument.
"What about Nangong?"
Tang Gunak turned to Nangong Myeong as if his turn was over. Nangong Myeong looked uncomfortable as he shook his head.
"As I am not the decision-maker of the Nangong Family, I have conveyed the relevant matters to the Young Family Lord. The response... has not yet come."
That's understandable. It wasn't an issue that could be resolved in just half a day.
"Therefore, Nangong will remain pending for now."
"Is it difficult for the Elders to make a decision?"
"As you know..."
Tang Gunak nodded helplessly.
Among the righteous sects remaining beyond the Great Wall, the most supportive force for Chung Myung, besides Nangong Family, was the Sichuans Tang Family. But if even the Nangong Family withdrew their support, then there would be no clear supportive force for Chung Myung among the remaining righteous sects.
Tang Gunak found himself involuntarily suppressing a bitter smile.
"I was unconsciously dividing them again."
Despite working to break down walls, Tang Gunak found himself still dividing the sides between right and left based on Chung Myung. It was as natural as breathing.
He wondered again. Was this really possible? Did it have any meaning? Even he, one of those who understood Chung Myung's intentions best, couldn't move as Chung Myung wished?
Even their comrades from beyond the Great Wall, who had crossed boundaries together to come this far, were now drawing new lines just because the situation had changed slightly?
Tang Gunak's pitiful gaze turned to Chung Myung. He still stared at Heo Kong with an inscrutable expression, seeming to be lost in thought.
Tang Gunak unconsciously bit his lip.
If this meeting ended up being inconclusive, then undoubtedly the Heavenly Friendship Alliance would never be able to return to its former state. It would become nothing more than a spectacle of revealing hidden thoughts and exacerbating buried wounds.
And perhaps this act itself would become the biggest obstacle in the upcoming war.
Chung Myung must be aware of this. Yet, despite all the currents in the meeting room flowing unfavorably for him, he remained completely motionless.
"What are you thinking, my friend?"
Anxious, Tang Gunak tapped his thigh with his fingers.
People tend to lean towards the side with more voices. When the overall opposition grows louder, even those who were wavering tend to make up their minds. By this time, anyone should support Chung Myung...
It was precisely at that moment.
With a creaking sound, the closed door slowly opened, revealing a figure.
"I'm a bit late."
All eyes focused on the person who had just entered.
It was Jong Ligok.
With a determined and cool expression, as if he had firmly made up his mind, Southern Edge's sect leader walked in. Tang Gunak's gaze, which had been darkening, became even more somber as he looked at Jong Ligok.