Chapter 1474: The Fruits Of Labor (Part 4)

"Wh, What do mean by this the lodging?"

"Please come in."

"Yes?"

"If you stay outside like this, it will disturb the allocation of other people's lodgings. First, go inside and unpack your belongings. I will explain everything later."

The man nodded.

Not just that, even at this moment, new people were continuously coming in behind him. The bewildered expressions on their faces were similar to what he had just experienced.

"Well, let's go in."

"Yes."

Those who had swallowed their dry saliva cautiously opened the front door. And as they looked inside the building, their mouths involuntarily dropped open.

"What is this?"

Although the exterior seemed ordinary, honestly, he thought the interior would be like a warehouse at best. However, surprisingly, the inside of the building was quite decently furnished.

It wasn't about having beautiful decorations. It had everything arranged properly. Rooms were appropriately divided with walls, and on the wall side, there were beds installed where people could rest by just putting on blankets.

"Oh my god."

Turning to the guide, shaking the shoulders of the bewildered wife with trembling hands, he asked.

"Excuse me, but... is there some misunderstanding?"

"Huh? A mistake?"

"Yes. We didn't come here as guests but as refugees. Something..."

The man's expression became apologetic as he trailed off. The feeling of wanting to stay in a nice house was understandable. The child was tired, and he just wanted to sit down and rest without thinking.

But that wasn't possible. Those who had always lived by being taken away knew it well. The despair of having something taken away again, after considering it as theirs, was more devastating than when there was nothing to begin with.

If they were to be driven out again into a shabby tent after thinking they would live here, the disappointment would be indescribable. However, the answer to that concern was very concise.

"This is yours... um, the Chae family, right?"

The person who casually checked the nameplate said with composure.

"This is the lodging for the Chae family, and there will be no changes, so don't worry. Look. Other people are going to the same place, aren't they?"

The man from the Chae family blinked. Indeed, the people who had followed them inside had similar expressions to those of their family, and they were assigned to neighboring lodgings.

"Well, go in and rest for now. I'm busy right now, but I'll explain everything later, including what you need to do and various other things. Then."

"Just a moment!"

"Yes?"

As the man turned around, he glanced back at Chae.

"Can I ask one more thing?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"There's someone who came with me, where did that person go? That person went to another place in the middle."

"A person who came alone will be assigned to a different lodging. We can't provide the same size house to each individual."

"Right. Then?"

"Yes, they went to a shared lodging."

"Oh... So, everyone who came as a family is like this?"

"No."

"Huh?"

The man, glancing quickly at the front as if feeling urgent, replied hastily.

"The people assigned to this lodging are those with young children. Even if they are a family, we don't provide a separate house for each of them."

"Ah..."

The man looked at the child on Chae's back and said.

"It's difficult to take care of a child while living with others. You'll find out more about other things soon. Well then."

The man bowed his head and quickly moved away. Chae, looking dazed, looked back at the given lodging.

"It's not like we're possessed by a ghost."

"Hey, honey. We shouldn't be like this..."

"Right, right! We shouldn't be like this. Let's go in."

"But that's not it!"

"Huh?"

The wife, carrying the luggage, said in a frustrated tone.

"Shouldn't we somehow contact Hubei? Your brother didn't come with us, did he?"

"Oh, right. It doesn't matter if it's Shaanxi or there. It seems like more people will come in the future."

"That's right..."

Chae stopped for a moment.

"But even if we called them and came all the way here, if there's a shortage of houses..."

"Go over there!"

"Huh?"

Chae was startled. A wagon piled up with wood as if it were a mountain was rushing towards them violently.

"Move aside!"

Hastily stepping aside, the wagon passed them like an arrow. The wood, piled up to twice the height of an adult man, swayed as if it would collapse at any moment.

Creak! Creak! Creak!

Several wagons passed one after another. Chae, standing there inhaling dust, nodded slowly.

"It seems like there's a shortage of houses."

"Let's find a way to contact them somehow."

"Right. Let's go in for now."

Before entering, he saw a plaque beside the door. A plaque with the name written on it. He closed his eyes tightly and lowered his head.

"It's not like we're possessed by a ghost."

***

Chung Myung, who had climbed halfway up Mount Hua, raised his head and looked down at Hwaeum. People who had come from far away lined up were being gathered(?) one by one into Hwaeum.

"Hmm, it's not too late."

In response to Chung Myung's words, Jo Gol asked, surprised.

"Hey... did you know it would be like this?"

"What?"

"Did you know so many people would come? So, did you build so many buildings for this reason?"

"Then why did you think they were building so many houses?"

"Well... you're a bit excessive no matter what you do, so I thought you'd just keep building. Chung Myung-ah. But still, I'm your Sahyung. At least look at me with human eyes."

"You should talk like a human for me to see you as one."

Jo Gol, in tears, pointed to his left and right.

"Do you think I was the only one who thought that way? I think everyone else knew too. Sasuk, say something."

Baek Cheon smiled broadly.

"I knew."

"Me too."

"Me too."

"Amitabha. Obvious things."

Jo Gol was speechful. The resentful gaze towards his martial siblings seemed to resemble the eyes of those looking at treacherous traitors who sold out their country.

"These traitors..."

"Why do you bring it up first? It's not like you've been just hit once or twice."

Jo Gol's shoulders slumped at Yoon Jong's comforting words, which were not comforting at all.

Baek Cheon, who chuckled, looked at Chung Myung again.

'He's really a strange guy.'

While others were busy mobilizing against the Evil Tyrant Alliance, Chung Myung had looked elsewhere from the beginning.

Everything he did after returning to Shaanxi was, in a sense, preparation to accommodate refugees.

"How many more do you think will come?"

"Huh?"

"Refugees. At least twice as many will come, right?"

Chung Myung glanced at Baek Cheon with sullen eyes.

"Still, he used to have a bit of wit."

At that moment, Baek Cheon's face twisted slightly.

"Just answer directly! Don't add unnecessary comments before answering."

"Saying twice is too much. It's just the beginning."

Chung Myung smirked.

"Those who thought Shaanxi was the same will hear the rumors. No, the rumor is already spreading. The news they convey will only confirm that rumor."

"... "

"Unless they are people from the area who have no reason to go, they will consider this place first. Among them, even if only one-third comes... hmm."

Chung Myung's eyes glowed eerily until that point.

"That's right. We're still a bit short even now, so we need to cut down that mountain over there..."

Before the sentence could finish, Jo Gol grabbed Baek Cheon's collar.

"Why! Why are you saying useless things...!"

"...Sorry."

I didn't expect him to react like that. But this bastard, I'm still your Sasuk...

Baek Cheon shook off Jo Gol's hand and asked, shrugging his shoulders.

"What you're aiming for is probably the other sects coming together under that pretext. Some might secretly think that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is better, but it's difficult for them to openly break away from the Ten Great Sects."

"Half of that is correct."

"But it's not as simple as you think. As you know, feeding so many people is not an easy task, right? Mount Hua has gathered..."

"Huh? Feeding them? Me? Those people?"

Chung Myung turned his face with an expression of 'What nonsense is this?' Baek Cheon shuddered. Because his gaze showed a genuinely puzzled look.

"Well, what's the point then? Are you trying to starve them to death? Anyway, if people have come this far, we have to take responsibility until they return, right?"

"Return? Where to?"

At that moment, Baek Cheon saw it. 

An expression he recognized...a truly familiar expression began to appear on Chung Myung's face.

"Now this is home. What are you talking about? You can come as you please, but leaving is not an option."

"..."

"Let's see, we need to collect taxes from those newly built houses over there, and there's a lot to do to make everything work."

"Collect taxes? Hey, you! Those people are refugees!"

"Sasuk. It seems like there's a misunderstanding. Those gentlemen are the ones who came here as refugees, not the ones who got injured. Do you know what that means?"

"Huh... well?"

"Just a fortnight ago, they were laborers trying to find food with their bare hands and raising children. That's what they were."

Chung Myung's eyes filled with a sinister light.

"They are just people who migrated from Hubei to Shaanxi. If there's work for them here, why would they go all the way back to Hubei?"

"No, Chung Myung. You may not understand because you don't have a hometown..."

"Wow, what?"

"Goodness, look at this guy talking."

"Are you mocking Chung Myung for being an orphan? Did you leave your humanity in Gangnam?"

"No, that's not what I meant!"

Baek Cheon shouted with a flushed face.

"Everyone has a desire to return to their hometown! That's what I'm saying. You bunch of stray cats!" [?]

"Excuses."

"Look at his character, Amitabha."

Chung Myung chuckled while watching Baek Cheon in amazement.

"Oh, right. Yes, a love for the hometown."

"That's why..."

"But Sasuk, once you start farming, it takes at least a year, isn't that right?"

"Huh?"

Chung Myung's lips twisted wickedly.

"After plowing the field once, can you go back to your hometown?"

"You..."

"A good heart, a good heart."

Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders casually, looking at the astonished Baek Cheon.

"Those people are happy to have work, and we get money... no, we lend them land and collect taxes reasonably. And in the meantime, Hwaeum can develop too."

"No, you clearly said before. The terrain here isn't suitable for a large Hwaeum."

"Oh, right. Was it like that? How's the terrain now?"

"That terrain? Well..."

Baek Cheon blinked. Now, there was a vast plain stretching out as far as the eye could see.

"...It still amazing."

"People are doing this."

"If people see this irrigation system, they'll probably think it's crazy. It would be easier to dig a canal instead."

"Oh, you said it well. We're going to do that."

"Huh? That?"

"A canal."

At that moment, the heads of the Mount Hua disciples turned abruptly in one direction. Toward the distant river.

"No way..."

"Having a river near the city would solve it roughly, even if it's this one."

"..."

"Then farming will be easier, and we can secure more farmland to distribute to those gentlemen."

"...Are you talking about the Wei river up there?"

"Is there another river here?"

Silence ensued. Baek Cheon barely opened his mouth. He knew he didn't need to ask.

Even so, he had no choice but to ask.

"Then who will dig it?"

...Silence.

"Chung Myung?"

There was no response.

Baek Cheon's eyes, gazing at Chung Myung's back, became moist.

'Kill me, just kill me now.'

He seriously pondered whether it would be better to flee to Hubei for survival.