Chapter 1135: Let's Get Closer Together! (Part 5)

Crack!

Baek Cheon, the last one standing, had an old coin stained with sweat stuck to his forehead.

Snap!

The wooden coin shattered into pieces, and Baek Cheon, foaming at the mouth, fell backward.

Thunk.

From his forehead, pure white steam rose.

After Tang Gunak broke Baek Cheon, who resisted until the end, he casually brushed off the hand that threw the coin.

"Indeed, Mount Hua Sect has perseverance."

"Compared to them, the Tang Family bastards don't seem to have much perseverance?"

"...Is that so?"

The Tang Family members, who were lying down, heard the short conversation and trembled. Even without lifting their heads, it was clear how Tang Gunak was looking down at them.

"Well, it can't be helped. Your guys were rolling down that dangerous mountain while the Tang Family kids were living comfortably on the fertile land of Sichuan. Can we even compare them?"

"...Are you saying that the Tang Family lacks venom because they lived in comfort?"

"Hahaha. That's a hilarious joke. Saying that the Tang Family lacks venom. Hahaha."

"..."

"Haha..."

"..."

"Wasn't that a joke?"

Kwang!

The sharp sound of Tang Gunak grinding his teeth echoed clearly. At that eerie noise, those who were lying down shivered again.

'No, that crazy guy...'

'Why is he triggering someone like that?'

While the fallen ones felt like vomiting blood, Chung Myung had never cared about such things in the past, and he wouldn't in the future.

"Oh, come to think of it, that might not be true."

"...What does that mean?"

Chung Myung shook his head, supporting the back of his head with his hand with his thumb tucked in.

"Come to think of it, it might not be because of the comfort. The Namgung Family, who grew up more comfortably and generously than the Tang Family, certainly have more perseverance."

"..."

"Then why is it so with the Tang Family? I really don't know. Is it bad luck? Or is it innate... cough."

For a moment, Tang Gunak's venomous gaze focused on Tang Pae and Tang Zhan. Those who were already keeping an eye on him quickly lowered their heads to the ground.

"…I suppose the reason doesn't matter. Changing the outcome is what's important."

"Well, that's true. But it's not an easy thing to do."

"Even if it's not easy, it has to be done. Somehow."

Transparent tears welled up in Tang Pae's eyes.

Today's Tang Gunak was different from yesterday. Of course, he had vigorously attacked them yesterday, but today, for some reason, he was running rampant as if he had a knife in his mouth.

Just thinking about Tang Gunak spitting out fire from his eyes made his pants wet, so why on earth was that guy triggering someone like that! Why!

That damn Taoist bastard!

Meanwhile, Chung Myung glanced at the scattered people and opened his mouth.

"Fortunately, there should be enough time. From the looks of it, it seems like they still need to be beaten for a while longer."

"I don't know if it's fortunate or unfortunate."

In response to Tang Gunak's words, Chung Myung smirked and shouted at the scattered ones.

"We'll be doing the same training tomorrow. Be prepared to come out properly."

"…."

"Well, even if you prepare, the result will probably be the same. Hehehehe."

Chung Myung turned around and left the training ground. The elders and Meng So followed behind him, catching a glimpse of the fallen ones.

The only one who didn't follow Chung Myung and stayed in place, Tang Gunak, opened his mouth with a frown.

"Sogaju." [Tang Pae, not Dowi]

"…."

"Sogaju."

"Yes, yes! Gaju-nim!"

Tang Pae raised his head with a start. At that moment, he faced Tang Gunak's gaze, which was chillingly sharp. Tang Pae trembled.

A gaze that had rarely been seen recently. Like the look Tang Gunak had before meeting Chung Myung. 

"Everyone has to do at least their minimum."

"Sorry, s-sir...."

"Is there anyone among you today who has shown themselves worthy of the name descendent of the Sichuan Tang Family?"

"…."

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword may have said it jokingly, but to me, it doesn't just sound like a joke. You have no reason to be impatient, no reason to be desperate, because everything is already given to you without you having to earn it."

Tang Pae silently lowered his head without speaking a word.

"As a punishment… Today, the Tang Family will fast."

"…Yes."

There was no room for excuses because they hadn't paid for their meals.

With an emotionless gaze, Tang Gunak looked around at everyone and soon left the training ground. At the same time, Tang Pae, who had been holding on, collapsed as if his strength gave out and slammed his head on the ground.

After a while, Jo Gol, groaning, lifted his body with effort.

"Ughhh....They got us."

His voice was full of frustration and fatigue. Jo Gol, glancing at the person collapsed next to him like a corpse, spoke.

"Sahyung."

Still getting no response, he extended his foot and prodded Yoon Jong's side.

"Sahyung, are you alive? Sahyung."

Poke. Poke.

"Dead?"

"...I'm not dead, asshole."

"Oh, no. I thought you were dead again."

"....Ugh."

A groan escaped from Yoon Jong's mouth.

If he had any strength left, he would have turned the kicked that bastard Jo Gol without mercy. But now, he was exhausted to the point where even if the Evil Tyrant Alliance, not Jo Gol, were to rampage he couldn't do anything. Above all, the top of his head where he received a punch from Chung Myung hurt so much that it was difficult to even open his mouth.

How on earth did that guy, Jo Gol, have the strength left to make fun of him after going through the same thing? That guy got beaten twice as much.

"But isn't this a bit too harsh?"

"What?"

"Well... I mean, speaking frankly. We're up against Chung Myung, Tang Gaju-nim, and even the Elders. What kind of strategy do we have against them! This isn't training. It's a beating disguised as training."

"What are you suddenly talking about? You've always been getting beaten."

"Huh? Come to think of it...."

Jo Gol tilted his head. Meanwhile, Yoon Jong sighed deeply. He didn't say it out loud, but he was thinking the same thing.

If viewed in terms of numbers, it might have seemed natural for them to win, but, as emphasized repeatedly, a difference in numbers didn't hold much significance in Kangho.

An adult can exert at most ten times the strength of a six-year-old child. However, that doesn't mean that an adult is exactly ten times stronger than a child.

It wouldn't happen, but if an adult were to seriously attack six-year-old kids, wouldn't they be able to overwhelm a hundred, not just ten?

The difference between the absolute experts in the Kangho and those below them was even greater.

At least Mount Hua had faced such situations several times, having hung out with Chung Myung for such a long time, but the problem was...

Yoon Jong glanced at those sprawled on the ground. He couldn't see the expressions of those lying down, but he could see the faces of those lying on their backs looking up at the sky.

Yoon Jong came to a neat conclusion.

'They've given up.'

The person who confidently wrote a perfect answer in the exam hall and left with assurance of passing, only to realize that he had not even written his name on the answer sheet that night, wouldn't he make such a face when he realizes?

No, rather, the condition of those individuals seemed somewhat worse, to the point where their faces looked drained of spirit. Yoon Jong fully understood their feelings.

'We were like that at first too.'

Despite that Kangho is overflowing with martial artists, it's surprisingly difficult to find someone recognized as a peak expert anywhere. Even if a sect has one or two, that sect can be treated as a prestigious one.

So, even though there are many martial artists Kangho, most have never seen the face of a peak expert in their entire lifetimes.

Those who belong to a prestigious sect have relatively better circumstances because they have the opportunity to see the elders of their sect.

But even those prestigious elders, busy with improving their own skills, won't easily mingle with children who are like swarms of flies. At most, they might give a few teachings to talented children for play.

'Seeing those disciples almost faint after being rushed at was quite amusing.'

It would be strange if their spirits didn't leave their bodies after experiencing the energy of a peak expert firsthand.

"Ugh."

At that moment, Baek Cheon, who had fallen last, staggered and stood up, swaying his upper body.

"As expected, Sasuk, you recover quickly."

"Well, he's the one who gets beaten the most."

"True. I've had my fair share of beatings, but it's nothing compared to Sasuk."

Hearing the words of praise/mockery, Baek Cheon twisted his face.

"Darn it..."

He grinded his teeth.

'Just dealing with Chung Myung alone drove me crazy.'

Facing Chung Myung alone, who could sweep through a whole Mount Hua Sect, was not an ordinary task. However, in the midst of that, Meng So, who drew more attention than Chung Myung because of his massive size, was leaping like a beast, and in between, Tang Gunak's hidden weapons were flying.

The moment they discovered a gap, the elders of each sect would fill it, making the situation helpless.

Of course, the number of those receiving training has also increased, but...

"It's holding us back."

At Yoo Iseol's straightforward words, Baek Cheon empathized deeply.

'I'd rather not have them.'

He had never imagined a scenario where allies would become hindrances. But that absurd situation was happening in this training ground.

Although they had developed themselves perfectly to face Chung Myung, it turned out to be of no use. Others interfered in the direction they moved, and the chaotic atmosphere of other sects was spreading directly to the Mount Hua Sect.

He even thought that the situation would have been better if Mount Hua alone had dealt with Chung Myung, Meng So, and Tang Gunak without the rest.

'Was war supposed to be this complicated?'

He'd always thought that all you had to do to win was build a stronger army. But what he'd seen on this training ground today was enough to fundamentally change his thinking.

'Concentrating too much power in one place can be detrimental.'

So what was he supposed to do? Joining forces would hinder each other, and not joining forces would leave them unable to deal with a powerful enemy.

"Isn't it ... that each sect has no choice but to move separately, with a few people going around to support where they're being pushed?"

Baek Cheon nodded heavily at Yoon Jong's words.

He wasn't wrong. In a situation like this, that was the best. But that's why....

It was just then.

"Damn it!"

One of the Beast Palace disciples jumped to their feet, his face puffy with anger.

"Why do you keep flitting in front of us? The Palace Lord is no match for the likes of you! Even a real sword can't penetrate his body, so what are you going to do with a wooden sword?"

Jo Gol's eyes widened at those words.

"Did you just say that to us?"

"Yes, you Mount Hua bastards, what are you doing blocking our way with your stupid fluttering swords? You're the reason we can't fight properly!"

Mount Hua's disciples gaped. Blocking? Who the hell was he to talk about blocking people?

"No...."

But there was no need to argue with him. Because there were other people who were offended by those words.

"What a bunch of muscleheads talking bullshit. If you hadn't gotten in the way and let us and the Mount Hua Sect join forces, things would have been much better."

"What, because you guys both use swords?"

"That's just the truth, and you guys are no help!"

The Ice Palace immediately took Mount Hua's side.

Im Sobyeong, who was listening, snorted.

"If that's the case, you two can just fight it out."

Namgung Dowi then gritted his teeth and interjected.

"Don't criticize our allies, why create room for division!"

"Oh my. The handsome Namgung spoke to this dirty Evil Sect bastard. We should let the Imperial Palace know."

"...What?"

They blatantly sneered at each other and passed the blame. The emotional rift between them had become so deep that even in this situation, they were gnashing their teeth at each other.

Baek Cheon sighed deeply.

'I'm not sure if this is right, Chung Myung.'

His gaze traveled to where Chung Myung had left.