Chapter 1451: Please Take Care Of Us From Now On (Part 1)

Chung Myung's lips slightly parted as he gazed at Tang Gunak in silence for a while. However, whether because he hadn't organized his thoughts yet or for some other reason, his mouth soon closed without uttering a word.

Chung Myung raised his eyes to meet Tang Gunak's gaze, as if trying to see through his true intentions. However, Tang Gunak met his gaze with unwavering eyes, showing no signs of wavering.

"No, that..."

Chung Myung vigorously scratched the back of his head.

"If we abolish the position of the vice-lord and establish the position of the chief..."

"Currently, all the authority the vice-lord holds would transfer to the chief. In name, he would be the second-in-command of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. In that case, I would also be in a position to follow your orders."

Chung Myung blinked.

"The one who knows that..."

"But that's only in name."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung made a curious face.

Well, that was right, it was too much...

"Although the position of the lord exists above the chief, the decisions will be made by the chief. So, in essence, the chief will be the one with real power in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"..."

"That's right, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword."

Large droplets of sweat formed on Chung Myung's forehead.

"That..."

Chung Myung, scratching his head once again, spoke to calm Tang Gunak.

"I understand your feelings, but it doesn't seem to be that urgent. First, calm down a bit and..."

"Do I look agitated right now?"

"...No."

Rather than being agitated, he seemed excessively composed. It felt like not a single drop of blood would come out even if you pricked him with a needle.

"This a conclusion I've reached after thorough consideration. So, regardless of any opposition, this will happen. I'll make sure of it."

Chung Myung turned his head sharply.

However, the Five Swords, who would've provided support at times like this, and Hyun Jong, who should've stepped in because he couldn't assign that role to Chung Myung yet, weren't present in this situation.

"So, this is why you brought me here."

Chung Myung, completely blocked from any escape route, let out an awkward laugh.

"Haha... I understand Gaju-nim's opinion, but... since we need to discuss with other sects, let's talk later."

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword."

Tang Gunak stared at him as if determined not to let Chung Myung go like this.

"Ascend to the position of the chief."

As Chung Myung struggled to find the words to respond, Tang Gunak turned his head to look at the disciples of the Tang Family.

"I've been contemplating a lot yesterday. However, it wasn't about the future of the Tang Family as you think. The decision was rather easily made. What tormented me was why we ended up in this situation."

"..."

"At least from what I've seen, your state of mind is not inferior to Jang Ilso. No, I think you can see more. The difference must lie in one thing. Jang Ilso is someone who manipulates arms and limbs, cutting off anything that cannot become limbs. But you're different. You limit your role to hands and feet."

Chung Myung's face slightly hardened.

"You can't fight properly within that limit. The incident in Southern Island was the same. If you could have mobilized all the power of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance without considering the circumstances of other sects, this wouldn't have happened."

"Your thoughts are too extreme."

"To put it the other way around, the current hardships of the Tang Family are the result of my failure not to actively put you in that position despite knowing that it's the right path."

Tang Gunak's eyes sank.

"If there's something wrong, we need to change it before making more mistakes."

"No. I..."

"Didn't you agree a moment ago? That the Heavenly Comrade Alliance needs a capable leader."

Well, he thought Tang Gunak would do that...

Chung Myung finally let out a deep sigh.

"I understand what you're saying, but... there are too many things to consider. There's the issue of Mount Hua monopolizing the power within the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, the problems arising from the shift from equal relationships among sects to a vertical hierarchy, the fading identity of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance..."

As Chung Myung rambled on, Tang Gunak's eyes narrowed.

"You seem to be misunderstanding me right now. Do I sound like I'm trying to persuade you?"

"Uh?"

"In the alliance, there's only one way to establish a position like the chief. Enthronement. It's when the sects in the alliance endorse it. "

"...Huh?"

"So, your opinion doesn't really matter. What matters is whether the leaders of the alliance endorse the person taking that position or not."

"...Huh?"

"And look, they are coming. The ones who need to make that decision."

Chung Myung looked in the direction Tang Gunak's gaze fell with vacant eyes. In the distance, a series of groups were rushing towards them. Other members of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance separated from Nanjing.

"...What?"

Chung Myung blinked his wide-open eyes.

"That's right."

Tang Gunak decisively opened his mouth.

"I, Tang Gunak, the head of the Sichuan Tang Family and vice lord of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, hereby endorse Chung Myung as the chief of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

Out of Sichuan and into the fields of Shaanxi.

The sect leaders who had rushed all the way from Nanjing to deal with the drastic change in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance looked at Chung Myung, who was standing as quietly as a sack of barley, with cautious eyes.

"Hmm."

"Hmm."

The Beast Palace Meng So wrinkled his big eyes. It seemed like he didn't like the sudden words.

"...Establishing the main headquarters of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance in Shaanxi, gathering all members of the sects in one place... Entrusting the command for them to the disciple of Mount Hua, Chung Myung, who has taken the newly established position of the chief?"

Each decision was not easy for each sect to accept from their perspective. Meng So's eyes twisted a bit more. Seeing that expression, when Chung Myung was inwardly delighted, Meng So opened his mouth and spoke in a grumbling voice.

"It's not a necessarily a bad thing?"

"As expected...what?"

Chung Myung blinked his round eyes, but Meng So just nodded his head.

"It seems like a good idea."

Why? Why is that a good idea?

Did his taste go bad after enjoying the water in the central region for a while, as someone who came from Yunnan?

Soon after, Namgung Dowi nodded his head in agreement.

"If the position of the chief is established, and Chung Myung Dojang takes that position, the Namgung Family has no objections. We also agree to go to Shaanxi. We've been thinking that staying in Anhui is too dangerous."

"...Your late father wouldn't think that, would he?"

"I am now the head of the household."

"Wow..."

That rebellious bastard...

Just as Chung Myung was about to vehemently object, Seol Sobaek raised his hand.

"The Ice Palace also agrees."

"..."

He didn't think he would be able to talk it through with that guy anyway.

So, now there was only one hope left.

"Hmm. Establishing the position of the chief... I feel like we've had a similar discussion before."

Im Sobyeong, receiving Chung Myung's eyes brimming with expectation, opened a folding fan he had gotten from who knows where and covered half of his face.

"Even though there have been similar discussions several times before, do you know the reason why a decision hasn't been made, head of the Tang Family?"

"Of course."

Tang Gunak nodded calmly. And as if that wasn't enough, he added further clarification.

"Depending on the situation, I, the head of the Tang Family, may have to follow the orders of someone who is just a disciple of Mount Hua. And it will not be a request but an order. And even if I don't like that order, I must obey it."

"You know."

"I've made that determination."

"Really, have you made that determination?"

Tang Gunak firmly locked eyes with Im Sobyeong.

"I see."

In response to that gaze, Im Sobyeong let out a resigned sigh.

Tang Gunak was the head of the Sichuan Tang Family. It wasn't easy to unconditionally follow Chung Myung's orders, considering the status, position within the family, and even the seniority within the sect.

However, Tang Gunak declared that he had firmly made that determination.

"Even if the chief asks me to lead the Tang Family disciples and jump into a pit of fire, I will do so. Because I believe it would be the right thing to do."

"Mm-hmm..."

Im Sobyeong folded the fan and gently tapped his hat.

"Tsk. With this atmosphere, you just can't hear different words only from the Evil Sect. We're already in a position to be excluded."

"You've never been excluded."

"Anyway, Nokrim also agrees. Well, if that guy decides, the bandit bastards won't be able to go against him. Do as you please. Boil them, roast them."

Im Sobyeong raised both arms in a sign of surrender, thoroughly shattering Chung Myung's last hope.

Except for the leader of the Ghost Sect, who wasn't present, everyone agreed. Now, only one person remained undecided. Tang Gunak turned his gaze to the last remaining person.

"Um. Gaju-nim, what do you mean..."

Hyun Jong's face turned red. Apparently, this opinion didn't sit well with him. But Tang Gunak looked at him and opened his mouth with a deep voice.

"Please wait a moment, Maengju-nim."

"...Huh?"

"We are currently collecting opinions from the leaders of each sect. And Maengju-nim, you are not the current leader of the Mount Hua Sect."

Hyun Jong momentarily made a bewildered expression. Come to think of it, Tang Gunak seemed to be subtly avoiding his gaze.

Following his eyes, Hyun Jongs turned his head and saw someone making a strange expression.

"What does Sect Leader think about this?"

"Well."

In the eyes of everyone, Sect Leader Un Am, who received attention, smiled awkwardly. But soon, he opened his mouth with a firm tone.

"If it were the former Sect Leader, he would surely not be pleased for a disciple of Mount Hua to take on such a heavy duty. Haven't I also received the teachings of the former Sect Leader?"

Hyun Jong reacted with surprise, and Tang Gunak's face stiffened slightly.

"Well, that's..."

"But."

As Tang Gunak was about to retort, Un Am quickly spoke up.

"I'm a little different from the former Sect Leader. If it's good, there's no need to refuse a gift, right?"

"What, what?"

Hyun Jong looked at Un Am in surprise, but Un Am avoided Hyun Jong's gaze and continued.

"Anyway, as the current head of Mount Hua, I would like to say..."

A bright smile appeared on Un Am's lips.

"I agree."

...Hyun Jong opened his mouth wide and looked at Un Am. But he couldn't argue with those words. Although the Great Sect Leader was higher in status than the Sect Leader, it was by no means above the Sect Leader in terms of authority.

Now the authority of the Sect Leader belonged entirely to Un Am.

"...I raised a tiger cub..."

"Shh, please be quiet. The guy in the back room!"

"Even if he's a Sect Leader! Where's the dignity of a Sect Leader!" [not sure]

"..."

Hyun Jong, who had been mocked by the two elders of Mount Hua, Hyun Young and Hyun Sang, clamped his mouth shut.

"Well, now that all the sects have agreed."

Tang Gunak nodded leisurely, as if it were natural, and looked at the one person who was still standing awkwardly like a sack of barley.

"Understand? From now on, you are the Commander in Chief of the Mount Hua Sect."

A proud smile appeared on Tang Gunak's lips.

"Please take care of us from now on, Chief."

...Chung Myung's eyes trembled.