738 Chapter 1626: Good Things Are Good, Right? (Part 1)

"So what's going on?"

"They're changing the structure, aren't they?"

"Structure? Was there anything worthy of being called a structure in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"

"Well, they're changing that this time. They're completely overturning the Alliance system."

"How so?"

"They're establishing multiple units and planning to add in disciples of each sect regardless of affiliation."

"What? Really?"

"That's what they say."

The news of the changes in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's structure had stirred up the already bustling Hwaeum.

It didn't take long for the news to spread to every corner, as it was not a particularly vast or spacious place. Even without horses, rumors spread faster than the wind.

"Why would they do something crazy like this?"

"Yeah. Those Evil Sect guys might attack tomorrow, and they're talking about rearranging the board?"

"How does that help in the current situation? It would be ten times more helpful to swing a sword one more time during that time."

Some were negative.

"Maybe it's necessary."

"Wasn't the Evil Tyrant Alliance like that? Those guys who were scattered and disorganized became stronger under the Paegun. If it weren't for that, how could they have defeated Shaolin and the Ten Great Sects? I see it as a reasonable thing."

"If it's for reducing sacrifices, shouldn't we accept anything?"

Some were positive.

"...Will it get better?"

"I don't know. Whether this will be beneficial."

"Even if it's beneficial, there might be problems adapting to the new structure. Will it really work..."

"Don't the higher-ups have everything planned out?"

"They should, but..."

But most were just... vaguely anxious.

It was only possible to predict success and failure when things were predictable. For decades, Kangho had clear boundaries. So much so that it was rare for sects from different regions to interact closely.

And now, mingling with strangers? It was a bold choice whose outcome was unpredictable.

The only somewhat fortunate aspect was...

"What nonsense is this!"

Thwack!

A firm fist struck the table.

"I've been coordinating with my martial brothers all my life, and now suddenly I have to synchronize with people I've never seen before? Does that make any sense?"

"Let's calm down first..."

"And even mixing with Evil Sects and Outer Sect members? Does that mean entrusting our backs to bandits or those foreigners! Who knows what they'll do from behind."

"Shut up! Calm down!"

"How can I calm down in this situation!"

The man clenched his lips tightly.

"I can't accept this. This is nonsense. It's just doing good things for those Evil Tyrant bastards! What on earth are the higher-ups thinking?"

"...If you're so discontented, why don't you go and talk to the person who pushed for this?"

"What?"

"You can question the person who pushed for this."

"And who pushed for this!"

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword."

"...Who?"

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. The Chief of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"..."

"Why? Are you going to go and confront them?"

The man turned his head somewhat awkwardly after his bold stance earlier.

"Well... come to think of it, it doesn't seem like such a bad idea."

"Just a while ago, you were dismissing it as nonsense?"

"When did I! Do you have any proof?"

"...Pathetic."

While negative voices tended to be louder in divided opinions, at least within Hwaeum, there was no room for dissenting opinions.

Incredibly, the solid reputation built on Chung Myung's intolerant personality strongly blocked all dissatisfaction. With the fiery-eyed Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword waiting to pounce at any sign of trouble, with what audacity would one need to have to speak out recklessly?

After all, a person only has one life.

And so, everyone looked at the strategists with anxious eyes. At least if they were presented with basic information about the organization, they could have a proper exchange of opinions.

"How many days do you think it will take?"

"At least ten days, right?"

"Ten days?"

"No, Sahyung. Think about it. There's the issue of dividing all those people from various sects, the issue of considering the strength of each sect and finding suitable positions for them individually. How could that be easy?"

"Listening to you, it does seem that way... But still, to drag it on for ten days during such times."

"If it finishes within ten days, we should consider ourselves fortunate. Otherwise, it might stretch to a fortnight."

"Hmm..."

Anxiety crept into everyone's hearts. However, on the other hand, there were those who found solace in the fact. At least there would be time to prepare mentally.

However... as with everything that happened within in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, things did not go as expected.

* * *

"We're done."

"Oh! So it's finished?"

"...Yes."

"It took longer than I expected."

Longer than expected? Jaegal Jain swallowed back a curse that was about to burst from his lips.

For anyone else, the workload would have taken a hundred people at least fifteen days. And yet, two days was longer than expected. Longer than expected! This demanding fellow just...

"Still, well, this is enough to save face. Thank you for your hard work."

Chung Myung nodded his head towards Zhuge Zain, then shot a glare at Im Sobyeong as if reproaching him.

"Compared to that incompetent fool, you indeed worked hard."

"Incompetent?!"

Im Sobyeong spat fire.

"Watch your words, calling me incompetent! I can bear any other insult, but not that!"

"Did I say anything wrong? Sir Jaegal stepping up makes the work finish quickly. So this is why they say bloodlines can't be fooled, and such a person who's good for nothing but banditry steps up! It's fundamentally different, fundamentally!"

"Am I incompetent just because of that? Do you know how much I have to consider when I work? Even if there's a small mistake, those bandits will think I'm showing weakness and come running, not just a few, but a horde of them!"

Im Sobyeong fiercely pointed his finger at Jaegal Jain.

"If my last name were something like Jaegal or Sima [imperial family???], I wouldn't have gone through this hardship! It's not because I'm incompetent!"

"Were you born as Jaegal or Sima?"

"You, you..."

"Calm down, please."

Jaegal Jain wiped his cold sweat and tried to restrain Im Sobyeong's outburst. The reason he tried to prevent Im Sobyeong from being beaten instead of Chung Myung was because it was already clear long ago that trying to stop Chung Myung was futile. [not sure]

Im Sobyeong's anger hadn't subsided.

"And you!"    [talking to CM]

"What about me?"

"What help did you offer? Huh? Not waste time and draw lots? Is that something to say?"

"If we did that, wouldn't it have finished quickly? Besides, is there a faster and fairer method than drawing lots?"

"It may be fair. Everyone can go fairly to hell then!"

"But still, it's fair."

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Jaegal Jain nodded as if he had suddenly realized something. Indeed, there was no fairer outcome than that.

Although Im Sobyeong sent a gaze of 'Please say something!' Jaegal Jain remained coldly indifferent.

If you say one wrong word, you'd end up being screwed over inside. He had experienced enough to know that in this place, holding onto one's sanity was a disadvantage.

"It's not perfect, but... I've roughly got the outline. We need Maengju-nim's seal from here."

"Don't worry. I'll go get it right away."

Chung Myung lifted the completed five scrolls. Jaegal Jain hastily objected.

"Just a moment. Please listen to what others have to say till the end..."

"Oh, what now? I'm busy."

"We can decide on other things ourselves, but we can't choose the unit leaders ourselves. This part needs to be decided after consultation..."

Chung Myung chuckled as if it were nothing important.

"Oh, don't worry. What's there to discuss? I've already thought about it."

"You've 'thought' about it? Are you... serious?"

It could be a very rude question, asking if he had really thought about it. However, there was no sense of propriety left to consider asking it. The saying "like becomes like" wasn't wrong; everyone who came close to Chung Myung ended up becoming like Chung Myung.

"Don't worry about it. I'm serious."

Chung Myung chuckled as he put down the scrolls and picked up a brush. Then, he opened the first page of each scroll and wrote down several names in calligraphy in the blank spots for unit leaders.

"Huh..."

"Whoa, whoa?" 

"D-Dojang, wait! Just a moment! Hey, wait, this is really...!" 

"Enough! I'll go and get permission."

"Wait, just a moment! No, wait! You crazy person!" 

Im Sobyeong's lamentable plea was futile. Clutching the list with both hands, Chung Myung swung the door wide open and dashed away like the wind. 

There was a momentary silence. 

Shortly after, the two people, who had been holding their hands up in the air blankly, weakly lowered them and faced each other. At this moment, distinctions between good and evil sects and boundaries between noble and common were meaningless. 

"Is this... is this okay?" 

"...I doubt it." 

Simultaneously, sighs escaped from both of them. 

At that moment, Hyun Jong had an expression of deep concern.

By now, the brightest minds [hmmm...] of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance must have been pondering over the new structure. He knew full well how important and difficult the task was, which was why he felt anxious. However, unfortunately, Hyun Jong lacked the ability to assist them with that task. 

So he could only support them in his heart. 

'If only it were as easy as saying it...' 

Crack! 

"Stamp this, Maengju-nim!" 

Pfft! 

Hyun Jong spat out the tea he had been sipping straight into the air. 

"Ch-Chung Myung!" 

"It's done! The structure! " 

"Al... Already?" 

"Yes." 

Had they gone mad? Assigning teachers to the new students at the academy would surely take longer than this. 

"Here! Just take a look then stamp it." 

"Oh, no, can it be done so hastily..." 

"Oh, what's so grand about it that you need to drag it out? If you finish quickly, that's it." 

With a half-fazed expression, Hyun Jong reluctantly took the roster that Chung Myung thrust into his arms. 

'Is this even acceptable?' 

Was this how they normally made decisions? He needed to experience it to determine if it was right or wrong... 

With soulless eyes, Hyun Jong flipped through the roster. Suddenly, he flinched. 

'No. Wait.' 

Had he misread something? 

Hyun Jong went back to the roster he had hastily flipped through. So this... the unit leader written here, that meant the unit leader was... 

"...Baek Cheon?" 

Chung Myung vigorously nodded his head. 

"Dong Ryong is a bit unreliable, but he listens well." 

With trembling hands, Hyun Jong turned to the next volume. 

"...Yoon Jong?" 

"Likewise." 

"..." 

In the next volume, there was Jo Gol, and on another nervously turned page... 

"So, So... So?" 

"Oh, right. Honestly, I hesitated a bit. I thought about just giving it to Geumryong." 

Chung Myung chuckled. 

"But he's a bit unlucky. Since everyone's supposed to work with one heart and one mind, isn't it better to have good communication? Don't you think so?" 

Hyun Jong was completely speechless. With a peculiar smile, Chung Myung approached and whispered in his ear. 

"We can gain something good at this opportunity, and good things are good, right? You know, right? Great Sect Leader? Pretend, and it'll all be good? Right?" 

Hyun Jong, who was pondering those words in a daze, smiled happily.

"You rascal!"

"Ouch! Why! Why are you hitting me!" 

"Get out! You darned brat!"

The roster Hyun Jong threw with all his might hit Chung Myung squarely on the back of his head as he fled. 

Whenever the events of that day were recalled, they were primarily concluded with the words, "While Hyun Jong forgave the Southern Edge Sect, he couldn't forgive Chung Myung."