739 Chapter 1627: Good Things Are Good, Right? (Part 2)

Chung Myung constantly pursed his lips in front of Hyun Jong, who seemed to embody the expression 'fluttering.'

"No... I didn't say anything strange..."

"What?"

"Just a moment, Gaju-nim! Fix it!"

Tang Gunak panicked and hastily restrained Hyun Jong. It wasn't as if he could do anything to that guy by drawing his sword, but he was worried that Hyun Jong's health might be affected for no reason.

Glancing at Tang Gunak holding on desperately, Hyun Jong snapped.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing, Chung Myung? Do you?"

"Of course, I do, don't I?"

"Why would someone like you do such a thing!"

Chung Myung's lips popped out again. If he was going to be angry no matter how he answered, he shouldn't have asked in the first place.

"No, what's the big deal? I just..."

"What's the big deal? What do you mean! Are you saying those kids are capable enough to take on the role of a unit leader? Seriously!"

"Of course, they know nothing and are ignorant, not to mention they do as they please, so it's understandable that you're not pleased."

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

Hyun Jong slightly closed his mouth. He didn't think much of it when he commented on their immaturity himself, but hearing it from him, it felt strangely irritating. To the children he raised...

"But it's the same the other way around, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Who do you think should be the unit leaders, Maengju-nim?"

Hyun Jong hesitated slightly before answering.

"Well... If I were to appoint a unit leader, not taking into account special positions like strategists or lieutenants, wouldn't it naturally have to be a senior member of a sect? Like Sect Leader Jongri or Moyong Gaju..."

"So those gentlemen are trustworthy?"

"Probably..."

Before Hyun Jong could continue, Chung Myung's words flowed out, interrupting him.

"What have those gentlemen done? They just have the title of Sect Leader, yet they've never even had a proper fight like the Evil Sect fellows. To be frank, those gentlemen have never experienced war or fought properly."

"..."

"Putting those pasty scholars (白面書生) in charge of so many lives? It's something they've never done before, but just because they've held the Sect Leader position until now, they'll do well somehow?"

Hyun Jong, who had been listening quietly, flinched slightly. It sounded like nonsense, but there was some logic to it. His mind began to feel complicated.

"No, but still..."

"No, Great Sect Leader! Even if our sect is not the most reputable, at least those individuals have countless experiences of risking their lives in battles. They've led our sect and elite members of the Evil Sect against the Demonic Cult, led us to Southern Island, and escaped to Gangnam. The fact that they have the ability to handle people even without me has been proven in this recent conflict with the Su Lo Chae."

"..."

"On the other hand, what have those gentlemen termed Sect Leaders proven? Their ability to manage a sect well? If so, we might as well use Eunha Guild Leader. At least those gentlemen handle money well."

Hyun Jong's upper body leaned back bit by bit. The opponent wasn't making an assertive statement, but he felt like he was being pushed back somehow. Eventually, Hyun Jong, who was cornered, quickly turned his head to Tang Gunak for salvation.

"Ga-Gaju-nim?"

"Yes?"

"What does Gaju-nim think...?"

His words were an urgent plea to somehow stop that nonsense.

But despite presumably feeling Hyun Jong's desperate plea, Tang Gunak's response was different from what was expected.

"I've thought about it myself, and I don't think Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword's words are necessarily wrong."

"...What?"

A sense of betrayal flickered in Hyun Jong's eyes. It seemed as if he was saying, 'How could you say that here? You traitor!'

With a slightly bitter expression, Tang Gunak elaborated.

"In the past, I would have opposed it without a doubt, but I've come to realize firsthand that the ability to manage a sect has little to do with judgment or leadership on the battlefield..."

His shoulders slumped. Hyun Jong tightly shut his eyes. Lips pulled taut, he realized he had asked the wrong person out of desperation.

"Ma-Master. I didn't mean it that way..."

"No, it's fine. It's a question you're entitled to ask. However... I genuinely believe there is merit in Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword's choice."

"...Do you really think so?"

Tang Gunak nodded heavily.

"If we had the room... Or, at the very least, if we had the luxury of preserving our dignity even a little, I might have opposed it. But isn't it not the case now? What we should prioritize right now is proven ability."

Hyun Jong felt a bit uneasy, but also strangely not displeased. After all, as someone who was both the Alliance Lord and the Great Sect Leader of Mount Hua, wasn't it something to be pleased about that Tang Gunak had acknowledged the abilities of Mount Hua's Five Swords to lead so many people, even if it was just empty words,?

But the fleeting feeling of elation crumbled in the face of Chung Myung's proud expression, which seemed to say, 'See? I told you so.'

Thanks to that, his wavering resolve became firm.

"No matter what, this is not right!"

"No! Even the Vice Lord agrees!"

"I am the Lord, you bastard!"

"Tyrant!"

"Quiet!"

Hyun Jong spat fire. It sounded plausible, but ultimately it was a temptation from the devil. One should never give in to it.

Hyun Jong addressed Tang Gunak sternly, as if to make him listen.

"If we follow this opinion, it means that not only the elders of each sect, but also the sect leaders, may have to follow their orders, depending on the circumstances, right?"

"...That's right."

"Does that make sense? Do you think the leaders of each sect will truly accept this?"

Tang Gunak fell silent as if contemplating for a moment, then sighed.

"They will have to accept."

"Excuse me?"

"They will accept. No, they must accept. If there's resistance, I'll make them accept."

Hyun Jong's mouth fell open in shock.

Tang Gunak spoke with firmness, as if it were a matter of course.

"After all, isn't relinquishing authority and power the meaning behind this? Resistance would only mean they were just paying lip service to relinquishing authority. They must accept this to prove their sincerity."

Hyun Jong blinked slowly with wide eyes.

The more they talked, the more resolute Tang Gunak's attitude became. And with that, Hyun Jong found himself sinking deeper into uncertainty.

"So... really?"

Chung Myung shrugged.

"Yes, really. Well, if there were alternatives, I'd consider another way. But for now, isn't this the best option? Or should Great Sect Leader think of another solution?"

"Well..."

"Ah. Just so you know, there are five seats available. You should consider that if we only select five of the sect leaders belonging to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance to fill those seats, two remaining ones might go on a rampage with their swords at our throats."

Hyun Jong's hands began to tremble.

He was a devil. This guy was the devil.

"What, what do you think?"

Unable to confront Chung Myung, Hyun Jong's gaze turned to Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gol, who were here at his behest.

They cautiously replied, as if sitting on pins and needles.

"...Unit leader?"

"Yes!"

"Us?"

"That's right."

"Why?"

Hyun Jong's anger dissipated at Jo Gol's response. He was making them the unit leaders. These things...

"No matter how you think about it, it doesn't make sense!"

"No, whether it makes sense or not isn't the point. We need to consider if there's a better alternative! There isn't one, is there? There isn't!"

"Ugh..."

A groan that sounded like surrender escaped. Hyun Jong's beard trembled.

"Hey, you! If we continue like this, what will the world's martial artists say! It's obvious! The decrepit Great Sect Leader of Mount Hua was so blinded by his greed he planted his young disciples as the unit leaders!"

"Oh, that could certainly happen! But Great Sect Leader, I believe we should learn from the Southern Edge Sect leader here."

"Huh? What...?"

Chung Myung grinned.

"The Southern Edge Sect leader also endured humiliation for the future of the sects, but now, isn't the Great Sect Leader no longer a sect leader? Sometimes, you have to endure humiliation... Uh!"

Chung Myung barely dodged a Plum Blossom Sword, which narrowly passed by his face.

"No, don't just throw a sword like that! What will you do if it leaves a scar on my pretty face!"

"I threw it because it's not pretty! If it were Baek Cheon, I wouldn't have thrown it!"   [BURN]

"...Ah. That's a bit hurtful."

Hyun Jong groaned and covered his head.

It seemed like he was just spouting nonsense, but Hyun Jong knew it wasn't just nonsense. Knowing that made his head ache.

"It's not right. No matter how you look at it, it's not right. There's no justification. This could cause chaos before anything even begins."

Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gol all nodded in unison like seals.

"Yes, Great Sect Leader."

"It's the craziest thing I've ever heard."

"We should speak reasonably! And anyway, why was Yoo Iseol Sago left out?"

"I don't think there will be Sago."

"What? So if we command, she'll follow?"

"Huh."

"...."

It's kind of ambiguous to deny, but... No, if we force her, she'll probably do it begrudgingly, but still, this just feels somehow... 

At that moment, Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon simultaneously placed their hands on Jo Gol's thick shoulders.

"Let's accept it."

"To be honest, what that guy says is true."

"....Is this really happening? Really?"

Why would you want to live as voluntary slaves!

Meanwhile, Hyun Jong was busy holding his head in his hands. Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

"So, you're saying you don't want to do it because you're worried other sect leaders might oppose it?"

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

"Then let's address that first, shall we?"

"What?"

"Just wait. I'll get permission. Tsk, there's nothing without doing it myself. Tsk, my fate."

"Wait, where are you going, Chung Myung?"

"I said I'd get permission, didn't I? I'm going to meet the sect leaders and get it. Tsk, even though I'm already busy! I'll be back soon!"

Chung Myung dashed out like a shooting star. Hyun Jong's eyes bulged out as if they were about to pop.

"St, stop him."

"Yes?"

"Go, catch him! Catch that crazy guy right away! Hurry!"

"Chung Myung, you bastard!"

"No, that shouldn't be said out loud!"

"For heaven's sake, act like a human being, Chung Myuuuuung!"

As the members of the Mount Hua Sect rushed out as if trying to put out a fire, Tang Gunak shook his head in dismay.

'What a hopeless sect they are.'

More importantly, to appoint The Five Swords as the unit leaders.

A hollow laughter escaped Tang Gunak's lips as he briefly contemplated the suggestion. In fact, Chung Myung's proposal wasn't as arbitrary as it seemed. Currently, there were likely no others in Kangho who had faced as many crises, and no others who had led people through those crises, as them.

Looking back, the Five Swords had been diligently preparing to lead people. Whether it was by their own will or through well-planned machinations by others, it was hard to say.

That meant...

'It means that this agenda didn't come about just from momentary strategem.'

Perhaps Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword had been preparing for this long before....

Tang Gunak interrupted the endlessly continuing thoughts with a shake of his head.

'That's too much of a stretch.'

That wasn't something within human capabilities. Even if he had prepared, he probably couldn't have matched the timing like this.

Whatever happened, if all of this went according to Chung Myung's will, it would be a sensational event in Kangho.

Even the seemingly invincible Jang Ilso would be left speechless.

'It's absurd, but honestly, I'm curious.'

Just how would the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, led by Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, look like when moving as a single body?

Tang Gunak's fingertips trembled slightly. It was a light excitement, but also an inevitable anticipation as a martial artist.