Chapter 983: This Is Why the World Is Interesting (Part 3)

The swordsmen of the Namgung Family who had recovered the remains of the Sword Emperor Namgung Hwang wailed and collapsed from exhaustion. They were already pushed to their limits, making it even harder for them to hold on.

And those who remained helped them with all their strength.

"How are they doing?"

Tang Gunak looked at Hyun Jong with a calm gaze.

"There are many severe injuries, but fortunately, it seems there won't be any more lives lost."

"...That's at least some relief."

A sigh escaped from Hyun Jong's lips. Tang Gunak stated that it was fortunate, but Hyun Jong had doubts about whether this could truly be considered fortunate.

'Namgung has paid a price too heavy.'

They lost the head of the family and the elders all at once. Moreover, out of the group that had entered Plum Blossom Island Island, only a few survived. Considering that they had put nearly all their power into reaching Plum Blossom Island, these losses were devastating.

Hyun Jong looked at the unconscious Namgung Dowi. Despite appearing quite tired and wounded, he looked quite young with his eyes closed.

'The burden on his shoulders is too heavy.'

At this moment, he probably couldn't think about it. However, after the sorrow subsided and he regained his composure, reality would start to set in.

Most importantly, the main issue was that he had lost almost all the family's key figures. Although Namgung Myung was still alive, he was not yet capable of taking on the role of the family head.

Moreover, that wasn't the only problem. Even if Namgung Dohwi, who was considered the heavenly genius, could lead the Namgung family again, he was still too young. He would need at least ten years to be able to replace Namgung Hwang effectively.

'The powerful sects in the Kangho won't leave the Namgung Family alone until then.'

Hadn't he already experienced this with the Mount Hua Sect?

A brilliant reputation mired in history was rather detrimental to a powerless sect. After all, as a sect's popularity increased, the number of people targeting it would increase too.

Huge losses and the severing of their ancestral connections.

It was like...

Lost in thought, Hyun Jong shook his head.

'That will not happen.'

Because he couldn't just watch them suffer like that.

"Don't worry."

Tang Gunak offered a small smile.

The requesting attitude felt like entrusting one's own disciple to a mentor. It was filled with concern and compassion in his eyes. Considering that Hyun Jong's connection with the Namgung Family was relatively limited, how could he be so sincere?

'The more I see, the more remarkable he is.'

In fact, he wasn't the only remarkable one.

Tang Gunak glanced at the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect, who were now looking back at the Yangtze River from the railings.

'What's extraordinary is actually on this side.'

He was aware that the Mount Hua Sect had become stronger.

It would be more strange if the people trained by Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword for three years did not become stronger. However, the way they wielded their swords left even Tang Gunak surprised.

'What kind of training allows people to grow this exponentially?'

While it was natural for inner power to become stronger and techniques to become more refined, their strength couldn't be solely explained by such factors.

'At any rate, this person is truly remarkable."='

Tang Gunaak smiled slightly bitterly but turned his gaze back to the recovering patient in the room. To him, Mount Hua's unbelievable growth was a truly astounding and fascinating matter, and, on some level, he took pride in it.

However, from Jaogae's perspective, as a Beggar's Sect member suddenly thrust into the situation with the Mount Hua Sect, it wasn't easy to understand the current situation.

'Was the Mount Hua Sect really this strong?'

In his eyes, there was not a significant difference in them between when they entered Plum BLossom Island and the present moment. The Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family had rescued the Namgung Family from Plum Blossom Island without any significant losses. 

'...it's incredible.'

Mount Hua was now the leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. However, this didn't mean they were the strongest sect in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Everyone had thought so. At least until now.

There was only one reason why Mount Hua could lead the Heavenly Comrade Alliance were because they were the connecting point of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and represented its values. In other words, the practical military strength of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance had been handled by the Sichuan Tang Family.

But now...

'Not anymore.'

Once the events on this Yangtze River become known to the world, nobody would be able to think that way.

Now, the Mount Hua Sect had truly risen to become the acknowledged leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. They had become a true powerhouse that could be compared to the leading sects of the Righteous Sects.

'The question remains how they will respond to what happened...'

Jaogae's gaze turned toward the riverbank.

There, some remnants of the Shaolin and Kongtong sect, along with a few Beggar's Union members, were still camped.

* * *

Beopjeong watched the two ships approaching. His eyes twitched slightly.

'How did this happen?'

The people who had entered the island so confidently were now smoothly leaving it. The baffling part was that the Su Lo Chae, who should have been blocking their exit, were actually opening up to let them through.

'What in the world...?'

Beopjeong's lips trembled slightly.

He hadn't planned to wait forever. Once the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Cheonwoo entered Plum Blossom Island, there were only two possible outcomes: they would either die alongside Namgung, or they would successfully escape Plum Blossom Island Island and endure the attacks of the Su Lo Chae and the Myriad Man Manor on the chilling Yangtze River.

The former was entirely out of his control, but he would jump into the river without hesitation if the latter occurred to assist them instead of merely watching them die.

However, the situation deviated significantly from what he had expected.

'How...'

His eyes were filled with incomprehension.

'How can this be...?'

He stood on this side, and his judgment was not wrong. Even upon thorough review, he found no errors in his decisions. Going into Plum Blossom Island was akin to a suicidal act.

But now, everything he had done was utterly meaningless. As long as the Heavenly Comrade Alliance voluntarily entered Plum Blossom Island, his pragmatic judgment would become the foolish choice of a cowardly man, and the patience he had exercised until the end would become an act of turning a blind eye.

There was no way for the entire Ten Great Sects to avoid the ridicule and mockery of the world. No, the problem was not the Ten Great Sects at the moment.

"..."

Beopjeong glanced slightly backward. The disciples of Shaolin stood behind him, watching the two ships approaching without a single expression on their faces. They paid no attention to him.

Unknowingly, he clenched his fist.

These were the people who maintained their positions even when Hye Bang left. The fact showed that they still had faith in him at that moment. But even they were now ignoring Beopjeong.

'These foolish people!'

This was the time when Beopjeong silently cursed to calm down his boiling anger.

"...Bangjang."

Standing by and watching the situation, Jonglihyung looked at Beopjeong with trembling eyes. He was a senior member of a sect, and there was no way he could be so foolish as not to know how the situation was unfolding.

"What, what should we do now?"

"..."

Beopjeong remained silent, his lips sealed as if even a hundred mouths wouldn't be enough for what he wanted to say.

"If it was going to be like this, wouldn't it have been better for us to join when the Heavenly Comrade Alliance headed to Plum Blossom Island Island? If we go back like this, what will people think of us?"

Even as Jonglihyung scolded him, Beopjeong kept his mouth shut, seemingly prepared for this situation where words wouldn't be enough.

"Bangjang!"

"Please calm down!"

Beopjeong looked at him with an angry expression, and Jonglihyung hesitated for a moment under the sharp gaze.

Beopjeong bit his lip slightly and spoke.

"...They will arrive soon. Should we raise our voices?"

"Just one..."

"Please wait."

The ships were about to reach the riverside.

"It's not over yet."

A hint of blue light shone from Beopjeong's eyes.

Meanwhile, the ship carrying the Heavenly Comrade Alliance finally reached the riverside.

Thump!

The front of the ship slightly scraped the sand, making a sound like thunder.

Gulp.

In the eerie silence where you could even hear a dry swallow, everyone's gaze was focused on the ship.

"Be careful with the injured!"

"Yes!"

Sichuan Tang Family martial artists in green attire quickly leaped off the ship while holding the Namgung Family's survivors.

Jonglihyung closed his eyes.

'They really managed to rescue them.'

From a distance, it was impossible to know. Whether the Namgung Family was on that ship was a mystery. However, at this moment, the fact that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance rescued Namgung became an undeniable truth.

'Now, what should we do?'

It was something to be happy about, something to be ecstatically joyful for. However, Jonglihyung couldn't bring himself to feel pure happiness, as a sense of self-loathing washed over him, despite the fact that those who had suffered were now returning on their own two feet.

Perhaps those among the Kongtong sect standing behind him were experiencing the same emotions. Meanwhile, one after another, survivors from Namgung's group disembarked from the ship. Tang Family members who had cradled the unconscious survivors and carefully checked their conditions placed them gently on level ground.

Then, finally, the swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect emerged.

Dressed in black robes, they disembarked from the ship and stood silently in formation on the shore. No one uttered a word, and they didn't shift their gaze.

Perhaps it was a deliberate act of disregard for the people present here. Despite the heroic deeds they had accomplished and their return, not even acknowledging the presence of Shaolin and Kongtong was a clear breach of etiquette.

However, those present here were secretly grateful. They had no confidence to meet their gazes.

Right after them, the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, Hyun Jong, revealed himself.

Tak.

Beopjeong, who had been quietly watching what they were doing, took the first step.

In measured steps, he walked towards the Mount Hua Sect and bowed deeply towards Hyun Jong.

"You've worked hard, Sect Leader."

Hyun Jong smiled warmly, and while these two had endured intense conflicts before coming to the river, there was no trace of lingering resentment on their faces about the past events.

"You're welcome. I just did what I had to do."

Jonglihyung was briefly lost for words and bit his lower lip.

The words spoken by Hyun Jong contained common expressions of courtesy. However, the part that said "what I had to do" scratched at Jonglihyung's insides, and it seemed to hint that Shaolin hadn't fulfilled their duty.

Of course, Hyun Jong had no malicious intentions. Jonglihyung knew very well that Hyun Jong was not someone to intentionally ridicule or mock people in front of their faces. Yet, this lack of malice made Jonglihyung feel even more diminished.

Beopjeong's eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.

"However."

Slowly straightening his back, he cast a meaningful gaze on the Mount Hua Sect and the Kongtong sect. Then, he looked towards the still-occupying Su Lo Chae forces on the river.

"It seems you need to provide an explanation."

Hyun Jong's eyes briefly narrowed.

"Did you say an explanation?"

"Yes, Sect Leader. It could be a minor issue, or it could be significant."

"What is it?"

Beopjeong stared at Hyun Jong with cold eyes.

"If my eyes didn't deceive me, it seemed like the Su Lo Chae and the Myriad Man Manor voluntarily opened a path for the Heavenly Comrade Alliance to escape. Am I wrong?"

Hyun Jong remained silent, not because of the question's content but because he sensed the gravity of Beopjeong's words.

"As a fellow martial artist, I find it difficult to understand how such a thing could be possible."

"Bangjang, right now..."

"That's why you need to provide an explanation, Sect Leader."

As Beopjeong spoke with an intensity, his eyes narrowed.

"As to whether the Heavenly Comrade Alliance colluded with the Evil Sect on Plum Blossom Island."

For a moment, the atmosphere by the river turned icy.