A cold sweat trickled down Yun Jong's forehead.
Despite having overcome numerous battles and crises, he hadn't experienced such tension often. The pressure was suffocating, making it feel like his breath would stop any moment, and he would want to leave the place immediately.
Not only him, but even Jo Gol's expression next to him wasn't much different. Even that grumpy guy, who was usually nonchalant, seemed nervous, indicating the seriousness of the situation they were facing.
The tense silence and the palpable tension were overwhelming.
Amidst this, someone's voice flowed in, chillingly.
"Once again... let me reiterate."
The meticulously carved and crafted face of the master seemed strangely distorted now.
"What sect leader said... is just... the sect leader's perspective... it doesn't represent the viewpoint of all Southern Edge disciples..."
He trailed off hesitantly, then closed his mouth and clenched his teeth. It was as if he knew that speaking would be meaningless.
Regardless of gold or iron, there was one immutable law.
Once your logic crumbled, all that remained was force.
"Anyway! Don't think that anything will change just because such a thing happened! If you harbor futile thoughts, I will make you painfully aware of reality!"
It sounded like there was killing intent mixed in his words. But on the other side, the person who looked so similar to him remained relaxed, raising the corners of his mouth in amusement.
"What nonsense, you thief of the secret book."
"Grr..."
Feeling the tightening pain, Jin Geumryong grabbed his chest. His trembling hands were visibly shaking.
On the other hand, Baek Cheon, exuding composure, shrugged.
"Well, I mean... Don't worry too much, older brother."
"...What?"
Jin Geumryong momentarily questioned his own ears, as if suspecting them. After all, how could he be so shameless as to even bring up 'older brother' in this situation?
And indeed, Baek Cheon was Baek Cheon.
"Oh, well, I mean... What can you do when you're weak and inadequate? I understand your sentiments, really..."
"Senior brother! Don't draw your sword here! It'll be the end if you draw your sword here!"
Without hesitation, Jin Geumryong tried to draw his sword, but Li Songbaek threw himself forward, grabbing him and stopping him. His face, now drained of color, showed how surprised he was.
"Ugh..."
Jin Geumryong, with bloodshot eyes, seemed like he could devour Baek Cheon at any moment. However, Baek Cheon's calm demeanor only grew stronger.
"Oh my, are you going to stab me? Well... I guess that's possible, considering you're a sect leader."
"Se-senior brother! You said not to draw the sword!"
Watching this scene unfold, Yun Jong finally let out a long breath. It sounded like a deflating balloon.
"This is all right, Gol?"
"...It feels like something's seriously wrong."
As Baek Cheon laughed, Yun Jong saw him overlap with that guy's image. Jo Gol let out a sigh and pondered over it.
"But... maybe we can understand elder brother's feelings to some extent?"
... Yun Jong agreed with that. Even the proud Southern Edge disciples bowed their heads, so they couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
Jin Geumryong, who had been boasting with his sword drawn, finally sighed deeply after a while. But amidst this, when he saw that hated (yet so similar) face, something welled up inside him once again.
"At any rate..."
After finally calming down, Jin Geumryong straightened up abruptly. Then, he solemnly bowed his head towards Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon raised his eyebrows as Jin Geumryong spoke.
"I know this is an incident that occurred in the senior's sect, but this is a sin that all Southern Edge disciples should bear together. I am not the person who can represent Southern Edge, but..."
"There's no need for that. Young warrior Jin."
Baek Cheon interrupted Jin Geumryong's words with a firm tone.
"Just as young warrior Jin cannot represent Southern Edge, I cannot represent Mount Hua either. I'm just wearing the mask of a deputy sect leader. It wouldn't be right for us to dig up the story that your sect leader and the ceremonial sect leader have finished."
The calm yet forceful voice continued.
"If you truly feel that way, then you can repay your debt to the world, as the ceremonial sect leader suggested."
Jin Geumryong and Baek Cheon's gazes met head-on. In that brief moment, a complex emotion flickered in Jin Geumryong's eyes.
"...Thank you, Baek Cheon disciple."
"You're welcome."
Had he ever imagined facing Baek Cheon like this? Jin Geumryong sighed inwardly.
'I don't want to admit it, but...'
He thought. If he were in Baek Cheon's shoes, could he have nodded like that?
No. He definitely wouldn't have.
Even if they had reached a peaceful agreement from the upper ranks, he would have continued to press for the other's guilt, never allowing their eyes to meet again. No, perhaps he wouldn't have even acknowledged the elders' agreement.
But Baek Cheon wasn't like that.
He was handling everything calmly, considering Jin Geumryong's perspective. It was undoubtedly more burdensome for Jin Geumryong, but whether it was intentional or not, he couldn't deny that Baek Cheon's actions were beyond his capabilities to handle.
Now, he had to admit it. The younger brother sitting in front of him... no, Mount Hua's Baek Cheon had grown to the point where Jin Geumryong couldn't handle him anymore.
"But that's the perspective of Mount Hua's great disciple Baek Cheon."
"...Huh?"
Slightly taken aback, Jin Geumryong let out a startled sound. Baek Cheon, who had leaned back with arrogance, was now looking down at them with an unbecoming arrogance.
If Chung Myung had seen it, he would have thought, 'Here we go again, that unlucky guy.' with a face still left.
"Is that Mount Hua? Such a terrible sect? Such a shabby sect?"
"..."
"Oh, my. Southern Edge must be a very prestigious sect. So that's why you stole the secret book of that shabby sect so meticulously, huh? Oh, it seems the word 'greatness' means something different to you guys. Maybe you're too great that you have to make up words for it, huh? Oh, you must be so proud as the disciple of that great sect..."
Bam!
As Jin Geumryong roughly closed the door and stepped out, he breathed heavily. If he had stayed a little longer, he might have drawn his sword.
"That darn...!"
Where did he learn such a pathetic expression and such superficial speech? He used to be a person who kept his dignity and composure, at least at home.
As he tried to calm his boiling insides, the door slowly opened, and Li Songbaek followed suit. Taking a quick look back, Jin Geumryong quickly headed towards his lodging.
"Sh-Should I come with you, senior brother?"
Matching his steps, Li Songbaek quickly caught up. As they walked towards their lodging, there was a somewhat awkward atmosphere between them.
"Senior brother, about this incident..."
"I know. I wasn't that mature."
"..."
"I understand, so don't say any more."
Li Songbaek let out a deep sigh.
"But still, it's fortunate."
"What do you mean?"
"Baek Cheon disciple's words."
Jin Geumryong glanced at Li Songbaek. Li Songbaek spoke hesitantly.
"Actually, if Baek Cheon disciple had confronted you seriously, the relationship between Mount Hua and Southern Edge might have truly become icy. But even then, by jokingly addressing the matter, we can at least try to stick a label on it, don't you think?"
How could he not know how significant this incident was for Li Songbaek?
Seeking the secret book of another sect is something that could lead to war until only one person remains.
Handing over such significant matters so easily, how remarkable.
"It seems even the junior brothers are unsure how to view the disciples of Mount Hua at the moment. Amidst all this, the Baek Cheon disciple..."
"Yeah, he must know what he's doing."
"...Is that so?"
The influence of Baek Cheon is stronger than I thought. If we compare it only within the sect's influence, it wouldn't even come close to Jin Geumryong's influence on Southern Edge.
With someone like him diffusing the tension, it was clear that there wouldn't be any major issues between them for a while. Baek Cheon must have seen that and joined hands with Jin Geumryong.
"So, I feel a bit relieved."
"Do you really feel that way?"
"Yes?"
Jin Geumryong stopped in his tracks and stared straight at Li Songbaek. It was an almost piercing gaze.
"I asked if you really feel that way."
"...Senior brother?"
"What have we done to feel relieved? What did we do? Just because we bowed our heads in front of them for a moment?"
For a moment, Li Songbaek's face froze in realization.
"Think from their perspective. Can you understand and forgive someone who stole Southern Edge's secret book while wishing for Southern Edge's downfall and merely bowed their head in front of them?"
"That's..."
Jin Geumryong tightly bit his lips.
"Forgiveness is something you can hope for only after paying a proper compensation and price. Receiving forgiveness without conditions is merely seeking mercy. You thanked them for considering Southern Edge pitiable."
Li Songbaek silently nodded his head. Jin Geumryong, who had been scolding him, let out a short sigh and looked up at the sky. He felt stifled inside.
He knew he was immature but couldn't control himself. Even if Li Songbaek wasn't at fault, just scolding him felt wrong.
Li Songbaek cautiously asked, "Then... what should we do?"
"We must repay."
Jin Geumryong firmly replied, meeting Li Songbaek's gaze.
"Now that we've received such forgiveness, it's not about feeling relieved anymore. Until both us and them feel satisfied, we must repay them. Dignity is earned like that, not through others' forgiveness."
"...Can we repay for the wrongdoing we committed against the Dao?"
"If we can't fully repay in our generation, we'll repay in the next. If that's still not enough, then in the next. It'll be difficult, but it's a thousand times better than Southern Edge being a sect that lacks dignity."
Li Songbaek agreed and nodded heavily.
"Make sure to convey this to the junior brothers and junior nephews. If there are any who act disrespectfully, I will never forgive them."
"Yes, senior brother."
As Jin Geumryong glanced at Li Songbaek for a moment, he turned around and started walking again.
"Thank goodness..."
He thought about why he had poured his anger onto Li Songbaek. Maybe it was because Jin Geumryong had the same thoughts.
What would have happened if this incident hadn't occurred?
If he had become sect leader and found out about this, would he have had the courage to openly admit to all of this and bear the consequences?
He probably wouldn't have. Not just Jin Geumryong, but no one in the world would have dared to touch this powder keg.
So Jin Geumryong would have just let the guilt eat away at him in secret. Anyone... yes, anyone would have.
At that moment, Jin Geumryong thought of just one person and chuckled to himself.
"He would have casually brought it up and bowed his head without a care."
Thinking of his younger brother, so much like himself, he lowered his head.
"Am I following his path now?"
The bitter smile was bitter, but the feeling was refreshing.