"Is it really okay to just let it go like this?"
"What?"
"I'm talking about Southern Edge, Southern Edge!"
Jo Gol exclaimed incredulously. Baek Cheon simply shrugged his shoulders.
"The ceremonial sect leader decided not to make it an issue."
"Even so, we've been affected!"
Jo Gol seemed increasingly frustrated the more he thought about it. Baek Cheon glanced at him and remarked.
"But it does seem a bit suspicious."
"How so?"
Baek Cheon's expression seemed puzzled.
"You didn't know? At all?"
"...."
"I mean, we learned the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and occasionally thought of their sword techniques, didn't we?"
"I-I don't remember well... Wasn't it the other way around? Or was it not? It's been years..."
"...."
"Oh, don't give me that look! Why should I have to remember every single sword technique of those Southern Edge bastards?"
Even though Jo Gol vehemently defended himself, Baek Cheon's gaze remained fixed. This time, Jo Gol turned to Yun Jong for support.
"Could you please say something, senior brother! Did senior brother know?"
"I suspected."
"What do you mean by suspected?"
"If you're not a fool, you'd think so."
Jo Gol leaned his head against the wall in frustration. Then, he muttered to himself, "Yeah... am I the only idiot here? Am I?"
Yun Jong didn't even glance at him. Baek Cheon asked again.
"You suspected?"
"After learning the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, I occasionally remembered their swordsmanship. It was too similar no matter how you looked at it. I thought they must have had the same foundation in some way. But I didn't expect them to take it to such lengths. At most, I thought they might have learned practical swordsmanship from those who left Mount Hua."
"I see..."
Baek Cheon nodded heavily. He, too, couldn't imagine that Southern Edge would steal Mount Hua's martial arts in this manner. It was unthinkable for a sect with such pride and dignity to covet Mount Hua's martial arts.
"Soso would go berserk if she found out that Southern Edge had stolen Mount Hua's martial arts."
"Why does she keep doing that even though she's not part of the Tang Family anymore?"
"Because she's not part of the Tang Family anymore. And to be frank, Tang Family doesn't do that either. It's just that Soso is intense."
"...That's true."
Baek Cheon, thinking about Tang Soso while holding needles in both hands, already felt a headache coming on.
At that moment, Jo Gol perked up.
"Wait, does that mean Chung Myung knew all of this?"
"Most likely. Considering the private conversation between Chung Myung and Sect Leader Jongli last night, wouldn't they have discussed this?"
"Unbelievable... Even though Chung Myung knew that Mount Hua's martial arts had been stolen, he spared the Southern Edge disciples?"
"...I find it hard to believe myself."
If it were the Chung Myung they knew, he would have stormed straight to Southern Edge without stopping, even if it meant setting fire to the Ancestral Hall. No, if it had ended just like that, they would have shed tears and said, "Chung Myung has finally awakened," just from that degree.
But knowing this fact and still restraining himself? What could have made him exercise such restraint?
"...Life is full of surprises."
"That's for sure."
"Could there be some misunderstanding?"
"If they didn't draw their swords on the spot, it doesn't seem like a misunderstanding."
"That's true... Hm."
Jo Gol and Baek Cheon sighed in resignation, their faces showing they were at a loss. Only Yun Jong remained lost in thought, his face showing a mix of complicated emotions.
"So, are you really going to let it go like this?"
"Hmm."
Baek Cheon let out a slight groan before speaking firmly to both of them.
"First of all, you must supervise the junior brothers as much as possible to prevent any further trouble. I will firmly advise Baek Sang about the Baek generation disciples."
"Yes, elder brother."
While Yun Jong replied in a monotone manner, Jo Gol still appeared dissatisfied. Baek Cheon, sensing his inner discontent from his expression, sighed.
"Chung Myung resolved the situation in this manner because the tasks we have ahead are not going to be easy."
"...I see."
"The scoundrel Chung Myung acted as if he would help find another person after putting down his own character. Let's not hinder him if we can't help."
"*sigh*"
Jo Gol seemed to let out a faint groan as if suppressing his frustration.
"Anyway... it's likely that Chung Myung will be the one with the most headaches right now."
Both of them nodded at that remark. It was certainly going to be the case. While they may only discuss emotions, Chung Myung now had to materialize what he had done.
"Will things turn out well?"
"It's hard to say."
Everyone knew. Despite the dramatic resolution, the path Chung Myung was taking was by no means an easy one.
"We should hope that it wasn't just a reckless move without a plan."
"...And if it was a reckless move without a plan?"
"Well then..."
Baek Cheon chuckled brightly.
"Wouldn't it just lead to disaster?"
A foreboding silence descended. An unknown anxiety passed between Yun Jong and Jo Gol.
***
Understanding this situation required tremendous effort on Jegal Jain's part.
"Why... Why am I here?"
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand.
The face of Jegal Jain, the Emperor of Green Forest and military advisor of Heavenly Friendship Alliance, among numerous other titles, was contorted strangely even at this moment.
"Do you have anything planned?"
"No."
"Do you have any pre-planned strategies?"
"No."
"And yet you just decided to go ahead without any plan?"
"That's right."
Im Sobyeong grinned.
"Does that make any sense, you crazy idiot!"
"Why are you shouting like that! It's because of that evil sect guy!"
"Why are you even mentioning the evil sect or anything? What on earth made you commit such an act?"
"Whatever, it'll work out somehow, right?"
"Aaargh!"
Im Sobyeong screamed with a momentum that seemed to make blood spurt from his scalp. It was a scene devoid of dignity, but at this moment, Jegal Jain understood the evil sect member's heart tenfold.
"Why are you making such a fuss? Just divide them roughly by the number of people."
At Chung Myung's words, Im Sobyeong scratched his head as if blood were about to burst from his scalp. His crown twisted, and his hair became disheveled like a ghost.
"I must be crazy... I should have just been a mountain bandit."
"Then you would have lost."
"...Death would be better."
"Really? I could still help you now."
"...I'll think about it."
He hadn't expected a serious plan, but still, he thought there would be some outline. Who would have imagined there would be no plan at all?
"Ugh. Considering how much there is to consider..."
"No, I said roughly divide them!"
"There's no such thing as roughly in an alliance! Well, there might be something roughly like it, but..."
"...Anyone would think you're the one who created this mess. Since when have you been so attached to the alliance?"
"It's all because of you!"
As the mountain bandit roared vehemently and the horse snorted, Jegal Jain couldn't bear it any longer and awkwardly spoke up. If they continued like this, he wouldn't be able to say a word for the rest of the day.
"But, um..."
"Yes?"
"Why am I here?"
"Ah."
Chung Myung smiled brightly at Jegal Jain, who finally voiced the question that had been on his mind.
"It seems like you have a good head on your shoulders."
"What nonsense is this coming from the family lord of Zhuge Family under heaven! This ignorant sect member!"
"Who said that? Which bastard said that?"
"Did you see the writing the other day? You got everything wrong!"
"Do you have evidence? Huh? Do you have any evidence?"
Once again, a quarrel broke out. Jegal Jain looked up at the ceiling silently.
Perhaps it would have been better to listen to the stubborn complaints of Moyongwigyeong, who was still energetic. After waiting for a while, Chung Myung finally got to the point.
"Oh, it's nothing particularly remarkable."
"Yes."
"We need to rearrange our formation, and I think you would be good at it, sir family lord."
"...."
"Isn't that right?"
Jegal Jain didn't even have time to manage his expression. He asked hesitantly, "Are you asking me to participate in reorganizing the formation for the Zhuge Family under heaven?"
"No."
There was a relieved glimmer in Jegal Jain's eyes. Surely, this was an absurd request.
"Rather, take the initiative to do it. Take the initiative."
"Yes?"
"Even if it's messed up, it's better than having a mountain bandit bastard do it. Besides, you're a learned person."
Im Sobyeong became furious.
"What nonsense are you speaking! I'm educated too. I am a jujun (举人: successful candidate for the civil service examination)..."
"Ugh, it's so noisy!"
Chung Myung's thrown shoe hit Im Sobyeong's face. As Im Sobyeong fell back, Chung Myung cursed at him and then smiled at Jegal Jain as if to say, "When did it become like this?"
"Can you do it?"
Jegal Jain's eyes trembled slightly.
"Master, I... I am the family lord of Zhuge Family, newly entered into the heavenly sect. No, I have now resigned from the position of family lord, so I am just a newly joined member of the sect."
"Yes, so?"
"But are you entrusting such a significant task to me? Moreover, until recently, I have been at odds with the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. No, until just yesterday..."
Wasn't it just a moment ago that they were cursing at each other? This was an unimaginable request.
However, Chung Myung shrugged indifferently.
"Does that matter?"
"...Yes?"
"It's actually a good thing. People can't see everything objectively from within."
"Is that so..."
"Can you do it?"
Once again, Jegal Jain remained silent. Although the words were "Can you do it?" his eyes and momentum spoke differently.
"You have to do it, even if it kills you."
Jegal Jain couldn't overcome his astonishment and frustration and laughed bitterly.
"Are you saying I'm suitable for it?"
"Yes."
"Even if I'm suitable, does it not matter where I come from, what my background is, or what relationship I had?"
"Isn't that obvious? We didn't gather here to play children's games."
Yes, it was obvious. But Jegal Jain knew well that countless powers and rulers had collapsed because they couldn't do the obvious.
"...I understand what you mean."
He straightened his posture, unlike before.
"I'm not sure if I'm suitable, but I understand what I need to do. Jegal Mo will do his best to fulfill the orders of the military leader."
Chung Myung's eyes widened slightly.
"No. Haha, you don't have to be that serious..."
"Well, Heavenly Friendship Alliance is not in a situation to dawdle, is it? Oh, and the first thing you need to do is..."
Chung Myung smiled slyly.
'It seems like I've caught a big fish.'
He tried to make things easier, but it seemed like the work was only multiplying... No, it was increasing tenfold. Damn it...
With Jegal Jain joining, the restructuring of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance began to pick up momentum. But it was heading in a slightly different direction than the intentions of the one who brought him in.