Chapter 1004: All of a Sudden (Part 4)

As the sun dipped across the Yangtze River, painting the world in a deep red hue, the disciples of the Namgung Clan were scattered across the courtyard of Jangwon. To say that they were mingling with the surroundings would be quite an odd expression, indeed... However, one couldn't deny what had already happened.

Namgung Dowi turned to survey the surroundings with a dazed expression. The swordsmen all had vacant looks on their faces.

'That's how it should be.'

The shocking part was not the defeat, and there was no need to feel wounded pride. After all, the Mount Hua Sect had become a formidable sect that could no longer be ignored. Even if they were called Namgung, there was no reason for them to feel shame in losing to the Mount Hua Sect.

However, the reason why none of them could regain their composure was not the result but the process.

Not a single person had emerged victorious. It would have been more acceptable if they were all inexperienced novices who knew nothing about honor. They could have simply raised their voices, saying, "What's so great about losing in a mere brute force against them?" Unfortunately, they were the disciples of Namgung who knew the value of honor.

'It must be a shock.'

Even though these were highly skilled individuals who had withdrawn from their training due to severe injuries, it did not diminish the shock. The members of the Mount Hua Sect who had mercilessly defeated them were not much younger than them. 

And, above all...

"Huff!"

"...?"

"Puff..."

A blood vessel popped on Namgung Do-Wi's forehead.

 Although this situation was clearly what he had hoped for, seeing Chung Myung's big round eyes with both hands covering his mouth made him feel indescribably angry from deep inside.

"Euhehehehe!"

In the end, Baek Cheon politely scolded Chung Myung.

"Chung Myung."

"Hmm?"

"Mocking the defeated goes against the way of a gentleman. Stop it."

"Oh my. Look at Dong Ryong being merciful because he won."

"No, it's not that..."

"Well, it's clear by the way your lips are twitching, right? Why don't you just say, 'Namgung Clan is nothing special. It would have been better with the Southern Edge Clan,' and laugh honestly?"

"...?"

Namgung Dowi stared blankly at Baek Cheon.

Over there, dojang? Why aren't you turning your head around? Is there any reason to not show us your expression now?

Dojang?

Chung Myung chuckled lightly and said, looking around at everyone.

"Well, it was a bit bland, though."

"...."

"Now that we've won, you shouldn't have any complaints, right?"

Naturally, there should be no complaints. Anyway, it was a fair and square match, and Namgung had chosen to participate in it.

But human emotions don't always flow reasonably.

"Oh?"

Chung Myung directed his gaze at someone who was looking at him with discontent.

"Do you have something to say?"

"...."

Namgung Dan stared at Chung Myung with an embarrassed expression, then continued speaking.

"It's not so much about being unsatisfied as... I can't understand why this result came about."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung blinked his eyes. Namgung Dan spoke with a puzzled expression.

"We've been training our best up until now. We've forgotten rest, overcome the desire to take it easy, and pushed ourselves relentlessly. Otherwise, we couldn't have become Namgung's disciples."

"So?"

"But... I just can't understand why there's such a difference..."

Namgung Dan bit his lip.

Ironically, he might have been able to accept this if it happened before experiencing Plum Blossom Island. However, after experiencing Plum Blossom Island, he couldn't comprehend this situation even more.

"We've experienced firsthand how miserable someone without power can become. We can assure you that our determination to win is no less than that of any other sect."

"...."

That's why they gave their all in this match. It wasn't just out of spite. They knew it as well. In order to place the Namgung Family back on the rock as it used to be, they had to work harder than anyone else.

Yet, they couldn't help but feel their insides twist with such a devastating defeat.

"What did we do wrong?"

Namgung Dan asked with boiling frustration. Naturally, the forceful tone in his voice grew louder. If they were martial artists, anyone would have a heart that pounded in this manner. However, Chung Myung's response to those words was nothing but apathy.

"What did you say?"

He wiggled his ears and snorted.

"...."

Dismayed by his overtly apathetic response, Namgung Dan slumped his shoulders. The Five Swords looked at him with faces of extreme disdain. While they could potentially enjoy their victory from a winner's perspective, they had been through the same experience countless times. As a result, they empathized with his emotions first.

At that moment, Chung Myung flicked his finger.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Come here."

Namgung Dan walked hesitantly towards Chung Myung.

"Come closer."

"...."

Drawing even nearer, Namgung Dan gazed at Chung Myung with a perplexed look.

Chung Myung raised his hand.

"I'm going to hit you on the head from now on."

"Yes?"

"Try to block it."

"...."

"I've told you, and you have the will to do it, so of course, you can block it, right? Isn't that so?"

In an instant, flames leaped from Namgung Dan's eyes.

'You can't just ignore people to such an extent!'

No matter how much Chung Myung was a formidable fighter, being told the exact location he would be hit and how the attack would be carried out, it was more absurd that he couldn't block it. It wasn't as if he had received a beating purely based on their respective martial skills!

"Alright....."

Kuung!

Thump.

"Dan-ah!"

"Aigo! Namgung Dan!"

The swordsmen of the Namgung Family, who were at the back, rushed forward in panic and quickly helped up the fallen Namgung Dan. 

"Are you okay?"

"It think he's dead."

"I heard bells ringing in my head!"

Chung Myung watched the scene unfold and clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

A look of pity filled his eyes as he directed a sharp comment towards them.

"Willpower?"

"...."

"These lunatics are blabbering about some nonsense. Hey, you insane fools! You're fighting for your lives, and yet you're talking without thinking. Can you find someone who fights halfheartedly?"

"...."

"Even evil sects have willpower! Who in the world doesn't have any determination? Why? Do you think your enemies will be scared and surrender just because you're determined?"

The speechless swordsmen bowed their heads.

"Willpower is meaningful when you're training. It won't make your sword stronger just by straining your eyeballs. You're supposed to do that during your regular training."

"...."

"And you've been wasting your regular training."

At that moment, Namgung Dowi raised his hand. Chung Myung turned his head slightly.

"Why...no, why?"

"Just speak comfortably."

"Hehe. How can I..."

"That would be more comfortable for me as well."

"Khehe. If you put it that way..."

Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders and asked again.

"So, why?"

"It's because I can't understand, Dojang. Speaking it out loud in such a situation might seem absurd, but Namgung's training has never been easy. We've really worked hard."

"Well, that's true."

Chung Myung nodded as if admitting it.

"But why does Dojang say that we wasted our regular training...?"

"Because it's the truth."

"Um... yes?"

Chung Myung chuckled.

"Can you say someone who practices punching all day has worked hard just because they practiced all day?"

"No, you can't."

"What you've done is just like that."

In fact, it wasn't entirely the Namgung Family's fault. The reason why the Mount Hua Sect was so strong? It was quite simple. Chung Myung stuck by the side of each of his disciples, driving them like hell. Did that mean only Chung Myung could do it?

'No.'

Even if you weren't as accomplished as Chung Myung, if you reached the highest position in a sect, you could easily turn such novices into proper swordsmen.

"Your seniors couldn't show you the right path."

Namgung Dowi's face stiffened.

"Those words are difficult to accept. Gaju-nim cared for us more than anyone else."

"I know."

"But why..."

"It seems like you can't understand. Respect and devotion are completely different."

Namgung Dowi looked at Chung Myung with a face that clearly indicated he was not following.

"Namgung Hwang... no, your previous patriarch must have thought that the best way to look out for you was for him to become stronger."

"Ah..."

It was only then that Namgung Dowi's face showed a sign of understanding.

Why didn't Namgung Hwang raise them properly?

It was simple. To make sure he became stronger himself instead of spending time raising those who hadn't reached that level yet would be much more beneficial for the Namgung Family.

And this wasn't a story limited to just the Namgung Family. All the martial arts sects in the world followed a path similar to the Namgung Family. That's how much power one absolute master could impart to a faction.

Take Mount Hua, for example. No matter how strong Baek Cheon becomes, or how much Yoo Iseol improves, even if Mount Hua's disciples become stronger than they are now, they would never enjoy the same prestige without Chung Myung.

"But..."

Namgung Dowi still couldn't fully accept it. How can a renowned sect continue through generations like that?

Understanding that, Chung Myung responded with clarity.

"It seems like you can't understand. You don't really need to put in the effort to teach."

"Um... yes?"

"Just gather them up and teach them roughly, they'll naturally sort themselves out."

"...?"

"Namgung's Three Families mostly consist of minor clans. How many of those who entered the minor clans turned and returned to my family after failing to win in competition?"

"Well..."

Chung Myung shrugged.

"That's right. Those who entered and failed to win in competition are called the minor clan in places other than our family. Those who failed turned into the minor clan and expanded their power to the outside, while those who won in the competition moved up. That's the basic method of a renowned clan."

"..."

So how do the lower generation disciples grow then?

'No need to specifically grow them.'

When it came to renowned clans, newcomers flocked like clouds. As a result, there would usually no shortage of talent among them. Those talented individuals would rise up on their own, and further up the ranks.

This was how Mount Hua operated in the past as well. Wasn't Chung Myung someone who came out that way in the first place?

"Then... is Mount Hua different?"

When that question was raised, Chung Myung hesitated for a moment. Then, after a while, he slightly squinted his eyes.

"...Is it different?"

Namgung Dowi was greatly taken aback.

Huh... Could it be, are those tears?

"Is it different? Did you ask if it's different? Is it? Is Mount Hua different now? Mount Hua?"

"Yeah, that guy's broken again."

"Sasuk, let's dry him out."

"...."

Chung Myung wiped his eyes and muttered.

"It's okay… You don't know because Namgung is a rich sect whose disciples will pour in if they stay still. Is there any way that a person like Jo Gol would know the feelings of a sect that has to pick up and use everything they can?"

"Well, why should I get hurt again!"

"Jo Gol, be quiet."

"To be honest, I agree with that comment."

"Hoo!"

Chung Myung took a deep breath. After sorting out his surging emotions with great difficulty, he looked at Namgung Dowi, Namgung Dan, and the Namgung Family's swordsmen behind them and said.

"You don't need to understand."

"...."

"You'll understand when you go through it. You're in a position where not a single person can afford to fail now, right?"

Chung Myung chuckled.

"So just leave it to me. I'll take care of it. I'll take good care of it."

"...."

The gates to hell had opened for the Namgung Family.