It's a Good Day (2)
"A-Already?"
"Sapaeryeon?"
"Where are they heading?"
"Did Jang Ilso move personally?"
Voices burst out from every direction at once. The faintly tense atmosphere of the meeting hall shattered in an instant.
Under the torrent of gazes, Im Sobyeong nodded heavily.
"Yes. He moved personally."
Several people swallowed hard.
Yoon Jong unconsciously pressed a hand to his chest. A pressure impossible to describe washed over everyone present.
Jang Ilso moved himself.
No one here failed to grasp the weight of those words.
"Where did he go?"
"The destination isn't confirmed yet. But based on the direction of movement…"
Im Sobyeong's expression hardened slightly.
"It appears to be Henan."
"Henan? Why?"
Tang Gunak shouted in surprise.
"He knows we're gathered here. Why would he start with Henan, which is practically empty?"
"It isn't empty."
"…Hmm?"
Im Sobyeong shook his head.
"Have you forgotten? They already targeted Mount Song once before. They withdrew only because the situation turned unfavorable. That alone proves their intent—to erase what remains of Shaolin."
Those who had gone to support Shaolin before nodded grimly.
Blood Cult.
Baek Cheon's face darkened as memories resurfaced. If he hadn't arrived in time back then, Shaolin might already have vanished from the world.
"One failed strike doesn't mean they'll give up," he thought.
"Then… is Shaolin their target?"
"If it's Jang Ilso," Im Sobyeong answered without hesitation, "there's no doubt."
"I thought he'd strike us here," Hyun Jong murmured.
Im Sobyeong shook his head again.
"Jang Ilso never attacks where his opponent is prepared. He digs into wounds. He doesn't batter strong walls—he widens cracks until everything collapses."
Several nodded in agreement.
Looking back at his past movements, the logic was sound.
Among all places, Shaolin was the most deeply wounded. Other sects had been nearly destroyed—but those were no longer relevant as strategic targets.
"What should we do, then?"
"What kind of question is that?" someone snapped. "We support Shaolin. Are we going to stand by and watch those bastards devour them?"
"But… Shaolin…"
At that moment, Zhuge Jain—silent until now—spoke.
"I know many of you harbor resentment toward Shaolin."
The murmurs died instantly.
"I do as well. At this moment, I cannot say my feelings toward them are good."
He met the eyes of several people in turn.
"But allowing Shaolin to be annihilated is unacceptable. This isn't just about symbolism. The Silent Monks remain a powerful force of the Just Sects. Losing them would be an irreparable loss."
"…."
"If Cheonumaeng truly exists for Gangho and the world—not merely as a gathering of sects flaunting strength—then we must put aside old grudges and support Shaolin."
He paused.
Hyun Jong raised a hand.
"There's no need to say more."
"…Alliance Leader?"
"I have never once considered abandoning Shaolin," Hyun Jong said calmly. "They are also part of Gangho. They will fight beside us."
Silence followed.
Zhuge Jain stared in genuine surprise.
If one were asked who here held the deepest resentment toward Shaolin, the answer would undoubtedly be Hyun Jong—or Chung Myung. Chung Myung's anger burned hotter, but Hyun Jong's resentment ran deeper.
And yet—without hesitation—Hyun Jong chose to save them.
Baek Cheon nodded.
"The Alliance Leader is right. We helped Shaolin once already. There's no reason we can't do it again."
"Ugh… Sasuk," Jo Geol muttered. "Beop J— I mean, the Abbot should still be there, so do we really—"
"This isn't the time to weigh conditions," Baek Cheon cut in. "We're fighting Sapaeryeon, not drawing lines inside Cheonumaeng."
"…That's true."
Jo Geol fell silent.
Then—
"Wait."
Im Sobyeong frowned.
"Are you saying we should go help Shaolin immediately?"
Baek Cheon blinked.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Obvious?" Im Sobyeong's voice rose. "Did you really just say obvious?"
"…Shaolin is in danger."
Baek Cheon looked around, confused. No one answered him.
"No, Vice Sect Leader!"
Im Sobyeong snapped.
"If we rush to Shaolin now, it won't be Shaolin in danger—it'll be us."
"…What?"
"Have you already forgotten how Jang Ilso dismantled Paeng and Kongtong?"
Baek Cheon stiffened.
"He crushed them by exploiting disorganized command. He specializes in tearing apart forces that aren't unified. And look at us right now."
"…."
"We just imprisoned our own members for defying vice-leaders. Even Paeng and Kongtong weren't this chaotic when they were destroyed."
Each word landed like a blow.
"The vice-leaders can't fully control their divisions yet. Marching against Jang Ilso in this state would be suicide."
"He doesn't know our situation," Jo Geol protested weakly.
Im Sobyeong's eyes locked onto him.
"Why do you think he doesn't?"
"…What?"
"You think we can read their movements so clearly, but they can't read ours?"
"…."
"This move may very well be based on observing our disorder. If we charge into Henan now, we're walking straight into the tiger's mouth."
Tang Gunak exhaled slowly.
"…Unpleasant as it is, the Nokrim King is right."
"He has experience commanding unruly troops," Maeng So added. "His judgment carries weight."
Tang Gunak nodded bitterly.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We buy time. At least a few days. We must convey today's decisions to the Alliance and make everyone understand the urgency."
"How many days?"
"At least three."
"In three days," Tang Gunak said grimly, "Shaolin could already be trampled."
Im Sobyeong scoffed.
"Why would they be?"
"…What?"
"They won't be trampled if they're not there."
Tang Gunak froze.
"Send word to Shaolin. Tell them to abandon Mount Song immediately."
"…That's—"
"Waiting for an enemy you know is coming is stupidity."
"Do you think Shaolin will retreat?"
"If they don't, that's on them."
Tang Gunak stared at him, speechless.
At moments like this, the difference between them was undeniable.
"At any rate," Im Sobyeong continued coldly, "charging out now is impossible. Jang Ilso has already crushed sects by exploiting chaos. Repeating that mistake would make us unparalleled idiots."
"…."
"Shaolin already tasted defeat once. This time, they'll retreat."
His gaze demanded agreement.
Baek Cheon nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
Even if Beop Jong resisted, someone like Hye Bang would find a way.
"What are you waiting for?" Im Sobyeong barked. "Send the message now! Use the time Sapaeryeon wastes traveling to Henan. Vice-leaders, division leaders—train your people."
Everyone nodded, as if awakened from a spell.
Then—
"I don't understand."
All eyes turned.
Chung Myung spoke.
"What exactly are we discussing?"
"…What do you mean?" Hyun Jong asked.
"You concluded that because they're heading to Henan, they're targeting Shaolin. Right?"
"…Yes."
"What if they aren't?"
Silence.
"Why is the conclusion automatically Shaolin?"
"Because Henan is—"
Hyun Jong stopped mid-sentence.
Others realized it at the same time.
Shaolin was dominant in Henan.
But it wasn't alone.
"There's another sect," someone whispered.
"Yes," Chung Myung said quietly.
"To reach Shaolin, they must pass Wudang."
"…But Wudang is in Bongmun."
Chung Myung's voice turned icy.
"Do you think a closed gate stops them?"
"No. More importantly—do you think he would allow it?"
Silence crushed the room.
One name rose unspoken.
The man with the deepest hatred for Jang Ilso.
Currently in Wudang.
"Shaolin might flee," Chung Myung said. "But they won't."
"Not again."
❀ ❀ ❀
"Sect Leader…"
A neatly robed disciple spoke cautiously.
The Taoist seated before him did not move.
After a pause, the report was delivered.
"Sapaeryeon… and Paegun… are moving toward Henan."
The Taoist's eyes opened.
Cold surged within them—like a northern gale.
"Paegun?"
"Yes."
The Taoist rose slowly.
"It is time," he murmured, "to reclaim what was taken."
The blade-sharp aura filled the room.
This was Heo Do Jinin (虛道眞人) of Wudang.
And he had waited long enough.