Chapter 1243: Is That All? (Part 3)

"Ahem, ahem."

Kim Yang Baek quickly cleared his throat. It was an embarrassing situation for someone like Kim Yang Baek, who, despite being a martial artist of considerable stature, couldn't properly control his own body and was now fidgeting.

But who in the world wouldn't be taken aback after hearing those words face to face?

What did he say? 

"Right now..."

After taking a moment to regulate his breathing, Kim Yang Baek asked.

"Did you instruct us to leave the Ten Great Sects...?"

"Yes."

The response came immediately, without a hint of hesitation.

This made the situation even more awkward.

Kim Yang Baek found himself speechless once again, staring at Baek Cheon. He refrained from speaking because he felt that if he opened his mouth now, he might make a mistake.

Who was this person, anyway?

What kind of person confidently utters the words to leave the Ten Great Sects while holding the sacred sword of Mount Hua?

'Is there even one person in the history of Kangho who has heard such words?'

Undoubtedly, no one had. Asking someone affiliated with the Ten Great Sects to leave voluntarily—this was an unthinkable statement. This was something that could not be said by someone with a sound mind.

Not even the mighty Demonic Cult that infiltrated the Central Plain or the formidable Evil Sects that once brought bloodshed to the Central Plains would casually utter such words.

Understanding the implications of the phrase 'Ten Great Sects' would make it an impossible request. Especially if one had any knowledge of the efforts made by Southern Island to join the Ten Great Sects, this would be even more inconceivable.

Therefore...

'No, no!'

Kim Yang Baek shook his head, quickly dispelling the absurd notion that crossed his mind.

For a moment, there was a suspicion that the reason Baek Cheon made the statement was because of resentment stemming from the fact that Southern Island's seat was originally Mount Hua's.

'How could I entertain such baseless thoughts!'

Even thinking about it was embarrassing.

These were individuals who had broken through the formidable defenses of Gangnam to come this far. Was there anyone in the world who could engage in such actions purely out of ill feelings?

Moreover, considering the stories heard so far about the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Mount Hua, this was nothing more than a groundless suspicion on the part of a small-minded person.

Feeling a great sense of shame for even briefly entertaining such thoughts, Kim Yang Baek spoke cautiously.

"This Sect Leader is dull-witted... it's difficult to grasp the true intention behind Deputy Sect Leader's words. What could be the purpose behind such a statement?"

"Literally as it is."

But Baek Cheon responded with the same firmness as before, not considering Kim Yang Baek's feelings at all.

"Now, discard the now meaningless name of the Ten Great Sects and join forces with our Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"No..."

"What on earth..."

Ignoring Kim Yang Baek's sentiments, the elders of Southern Island surrounding him vehemently protested. They too looked at Baek Cheon with expressions of disbelief.

"What are you thinking!"

"How can you say such things rudely..."

"Quiet."

"Sect Leader! That's too..."

"Be quiet."

When Kim Yang Baek spoke abruptly, the elders fell silent, reluctantly closing their mouths. Despite the awkwardness, intervening in this situation was not appropriate.

Sip.

Maintaining a brief silence, Kim Yang Baek picked up the teacup in front of him.

"The tea has cooled. It's made from good tea leaves grown in the mountains of Southern Island. How about savoring its fragrance?"

"Thank you."

Baek Cheon lightly chuckled at those words, raising his teacup. From the way he lifted the teacup to savoring the tea slowly, everything was flawless and smooth.

"Perhaps you have an interest in the tea ceremony?"

In response to Kim Yang Baek's question, Baek Cheon, who had set down his teacup, smiled.

"I haven't had the leisure to learn the tea ceremony specifically, but since Hyun Jong-jin, the former Sect Leader of Mount Hua, enjoyed tea so much, I learned a bit by observing from behind."

"Ah, Hyun Jong-jin... What? Has Hyun Jong-jin stepped down from the position of Sect Leader?"

"I didn't even mention that. Former Sect Leader Hyun Jong-jin has transferred the position of Sect Leader to Un Am-jin, the current Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect."

"Oh..."

Kim Yang Baek couldn't hide his bewilderment this time either.

"Uh, has Hyun Jong-jin... No, has the Great Sect Leader of the Mount Hua...?"

"It's not like that. Sect Leader is still in good health."

"Ah..."

"Although it's difficult for me to fathom all of his deep intentions, it seems he judged that it's time to pass on that position to the younger generation."

It was astonishing. Just a while ago, the request to withdraw from the Ten Great Sects was absurd, but this information was equally confounding.

'Stepped down from the position of Sect Leader on his own?'

At a time like this? It was simply incomprehensible. Currently, Kangho was facing a massive crisis. In such a situation, was it really possible for the leader guiding the sect to step down and withdraw from his position, entrusting it to a successor? How much trust must one have in the disciples one has nurtured to make such a decision?

For Kim Yang Baek, it was something he couldn't even imagine.

'No, that's not all.'

In fact, the momentum of Mount Hua was threatening even Shaolin. Although their actual power may not have yet surpassed Shaolin, considering the influence it had on Kangho, there was undoubtedly a point where it exceeded Shaolin.

To reach this point, there must have been truly long patience and waiting. Having endured the excruciating pain of being submerged in a swamp and finally receiving light now, was it really possible for the person at the center of it to voluntarily step back? How selfless must a person be for such a thing to be possible?

"...Impressive."

"I think so too."

A sigh escaped from Kim Yang Baek's lips.

'The positions have completely reversed.'

When they encountered each other earlier, Hyun Jong was by no means comparable to him. But now the situation had reversed. Now, it was difficult for him to even step into the shadows of Hyun Jong.

He had become an incompetent figure who led Southern Island into a crisis while Hyun Jong, who was once just the sect leader of a third-rate sect, had grown Mount Hua into a world-famous prominent sect.

'Life is full of unexpected turns.'

Suppressing numerous emotions that surged, Kim Yang Baek spoke with a voice that seemed to maintain composure.

"Deputy Sect Leader, I can understand why you make such a suggestion. Since you have learned from Hyun Jong-jin, a person who transcended worldly matters, names such as the Ten Great Sects must seem nothing more than a facade."

"..."

"...But Deputy Sect Leader, you should consider what significance the Ten Great Sects have in the secular world and how ordinary people perceive them. As for the Ten Great Sects..."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Kim Yang Baek silently observed Baek Cheon. Interrupting the words of another sect's Sect Leader could be considered incredibly impolite, but at this point, Kim Yang Baek didn't want to quibble over such trivial matters. Rather, he was more curious about what Baek Cheon would say next.

"You understand?"

"Yes. Perhaps I might know more about it than the Sect Leader himself. While the Sect Leader led Southern Island, which had become a part of the Ten Great Sects, we were merely onlookers from the lowest position, observing the Ten Great Sects."

Upon hearing those words, Kim Yang Baek unconsciously nodded.

Looking at it, the Mount Hua Sect hadn't been in its current position for long. Undoubtedly, they, too, must have gazed upon the Ten Great Sects with eyes filled with both admiration and envy as children. And at some point, they probably dreamed of returning to the Ten Great Sects.

"Yet, you would say such things to us?"

"Yes."

Baek Cheon slightly closed and opened his eyes. Then, with a firm tone, as if there was no need to elaborate, he continued.

"The reason is simple. The Southern Island Sect has no compelling reason to stay with the Ten Great Sects."

"...Deputy Sect Leader."

"The reason we came here now..."

Pausing for a moment, Baek Cheon turned his gaze toward the elders behind Kim Yang Baek. Then, looking into each of their eyes, he spoke.

"The fact that we are present here, instead of the Ten Great Sects, proves that fact."

A sigh escaped from Kim Yang Baek's mouth at that moment. After a long sigh, he spoke with a somewhat slower tone.

"Of course, to all of you who have come all the way here, there is not enough gratitude. As the Sect Leader of Southern Island and as a person from Southern Island, I sincerely express my deep gratitude."

"..."

"But Deputy Sect Leader, that's separate from this. That gratitude and..."

"Indeed."

Baek Cheon interrupted Kim Yang Baek once again. This time, Kim Yang Baek furrowed his brows in discomfort. However, what followed Baek Cheon's words made him even more uneasy.

"Here, we want to apologize to the righteous sects who should have come, not us."

"..."

"The reason is simple. Those who carry the name 'righteous' (正) have the obligation to help those in difficult situations regardless of the circumstances."

Baek Cheon said up to that point and looked around at everyone.

"Therefore, we, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, also want to apologize to those present here."

Baek Cheon bowed deeply as he said that. Taken aback by this sudden action, Kim Yang Baek was flustered.

"W-Why are you suddenly doing this, Deputy Sect Leader!"

"We should have come a little earlier. We should have realized a little earlier that Southern Island needed our help. If not for that... No, even if it could have happened, we half-ignored it."

"How can that become the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's fault? Please don't do this, Deputy Sect Leader! Please lift your head!"

Only now did Baek Cheon slowly raise his head.

"Sect Leader."

"Yes, Deputy Sect Leader."

"It may be presumptious of me to say this, but the statement that it cannot be the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's fault is not logically sound.The Heavenly Comrade Alliance originally raised its flag under the value of righteousness. It is a value we gained a lot from. Criticizing the Heavenly Comrade Alliance for what we should have done is only fair."

For a moment, Kim Yang Baek felt as if he were being sucked into Baek Cheon's words.

Upright. Just upright.

Being upright sometimes becomes stifling and frustrating, but at other times, it becomes a force stronger than anything in the world.

Despite having overwhelming power, influence, legitimacy, and in the absence of anything else, what Baek Cheon presented now was righteousness. Just that alone overwhelmed Kim Yang Baek.

"That's why I want to ask."

Baek Cheon stared straight into Kim Yang Baek's eyes and asked,

"Where are those who should have upheld that righteousness before anyone else? Where are they now?"

"Deputy Sect Leader..."

"You must understand. No, you must acknowledge it, Sect Leader."

Without a moment of hesitation, Baek Cheon spoke coldly.

"The Ten Great Sects abandoned the Southern Island Sect."

Those words became a dagger, piercing through Kim Yang Baek's heart.