Chapter 1244: Is That All? (Part 4)

The true source of human anger is when one is confronted with a truth they wish to avoid.

This sentiment resonated deeply with the people of Southern Island present in the room. Unwanted words they knew but didn't want to hear, events they wanted to turn their eyes away from. The young man named Baek Cheon had brought forth the truth they desperately wished to evade, throwing it in front of them.

As humans, their reactions were similar.

"What are you talking about!"

"Even if you come as a special envoy of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, your words are too harsh!"

"Can you take responsibility for those words?"

However, Baek Cheon didn't bother to argue with their intense reactions. He simply remained silent, listening to the pouring words. He gazed at each person expressing strong words.

To his calm reaction, the tense atmosphere gradually cooled. When there were no more speakers, Baek Cheon finally spoke up. His calm and composed voice cut through the agitated crowd.

"Do I truly need to explain why I said such things?"

His brief statement was both considerate and sharp, like a knife hanging on the edge of his tongue.

The fact that the Southern Island Sect had been abandoned by the Ten Great Sects was well known to those present. Those who hadn't given up their last hope were clinging to the possibility of some remaining warmth, and those discussing reality were trying to find a way to turn the hearts of those who had turned away.

No one here believed that the Ten Great Sects would actively help Haenam. The atmosphere froze when Baek Cheon pointed that out.

"Discussing righteousness, discussing justice."

Baek Cheon's voice penetrated the ears of those unable to make a decision.

"Going around in circles with pretty words, presenting grand meanings to assert righteousness. And confirming each other's positions politely without causing harm, then withdrawing."

"..."

"...Yes. They can do that. However..."

Baek Cheon's gaze shifted slightly backward. Through the slightly open door, the sight of the swaying trees and the Southern Island disciples guarding the doors, even amid the typhoon, could be seen.

"But now is not the time for that. Do you know what we saw on the coast on our way here?"

"...What did you see?"

"We saw numerous commandeered ships and newly built ones."

[Forgot to add this earlier: "commandeer" means "officially take possession or control of (something), especially for military purposes."]

At those words, Kim Yang Baek bit his lip.

"Did you say commandeered?" 

"Yes. Even small fishing boats were taken away without exception."

In an instant, the faces of everyone present stiffened. If ships were commandeered, there was only one thing that would follow.

Invasion.

There was no need to verify the truth. The fact that the Evil Tyrant Alliance's attack was imminent was something they could feel in their bones.

"Sect Leader."

Baek Cheon, who had been silently observing Kim Yang Baek, finally spoke.

"When the storm subsides, the Evil Tyrant Alliance will begin their advance towards Southern Island."

"…Deputy Sect Leader."

"There's no time to waste on pointless words arguing back and forth. That's why I'm here to convey our position. The Heavenly Comrade Alliance sincerely hopes that Southern Island will stand with us. We recommend Southern Island to cast aside the hollow righteousness and reach out a helping hand to those who truly need it. Not just a feigned alliance but a place where we can extend our hand to those in need."

Kim Yang Baek sank into deep thought, silent for a moment. Unable to bear the silence, the anxious elders whispered softly.

"Sect Leader, this is an unbelievable situation. Voluntarily withdrawing from the Ten Great Sects. This is unprecedented."

"That's right. Think about it. Even if Southern Island preserves its name, how will they handle the aftermath? How will the Shaolin or Wudang treat us?"

"What about the eyes of the other sects?"

The opposing view was formidable as well.

"Why bring up future matters now? Is there a future even after the Southern Island Sect falls?"

"The words he speaks aren't entirely wrong, are they? The Ten Great Sects are merely observing from a distance. It's only natural to join hands with those offering immediate help."

"Leaving the Ten Great Sects doesn't mean we'll become part of the Evil Sect, and if we align with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, we won't be overshadowed by the Ten Great Sects, right?"

As Kim Yang Baek fell silent, their voices grew louder. Kim Yang Baek, who had been listening to everyone with closed eyes, slowly opened them to gaze at Baek Cheon.

"Deputy Sect Leader."

"Yes."

"...It's quite an excessive request to ask someone to leave the Ten Great Sects voluntarily. I believe you're well aware of that fact."

"Of course."

"Making such a suggestion must be because you have firm convictions and beliefs. Isn't that right?"

"Yes. That's correct, Sect Leader."

Baek Cheon nodded heavily.

"I firmly believe that being with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is the right choice for the Southern Island Sect, both morally and practically, and it will bring a better future."

"Moral and practical, and... the future."

Kim Yang Baek scrutinized Baek Cheon and his companions with eyes that had sunk low. Indeed, they seemed to possess a future.

'Young ones.'

Looking at them now, the representatives of each sect were uniformly young. Someone might be angry at them for disregarding the Southern Island Sect, but Kim Yang Baek felt something new.

The Heavenly Comrade Alliance was changing, centered around the next generation. The Southern Island Sect had already fallen behind in that change.

He also wanted to see it. How the young martial artists would lead the Heavenly Comrade Alliance in the future. And if the young Sect Leader of the Southern Island Sect joined them, what kind of future it would be.

However, whether the future these young people had included the Southern Island was another question. [idk]

He spoke heavily.

"Speaking such words with my own mouth... it's embarrassing, but the current situation in Southern Island is too urgent to discuss morals and the future."

"Now, Sect Leader."

"Quiet."

A confused voice came from the back, but Kim Yang Baek raised his right hand slightly to quell the protest cleanly.

"Someone might tremble at Deputy Sect Leader's words, and someone might empathize with the future Deputy Sect Leader envisions... but honestly, those words don't resonate with me."

Baek Cheon nodded silently. The current situation in Southern Island was not favorable for discussing such things.

"It doesn't mean we won't discuss the future with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. However, isn't dialogue and negotiation possible when both parties are equal?"

"That's right."

"In that case, Deputy Sect Leader, I request you to honestly tell us what you've prepared. We..."

Looking straight at Baek Cheon, Kim Yang Baek asked.

"If the Southern Island Sect joins the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, what can the Heavenly Comrade Alliance do for us?"

After taking a short breath, Baek Cheon spoke.

"We don't have anything specific to promise."

"...?"

"If we must promise something, we can only say that, like now, when the Southern Island Sect is in dire straits and pushed to the brink, we will not turn a blind eye and will stand by to protect what needs to be protected."

Kim Yang Baek's eyes narrowed. Baek Cheon continued.

"And I believe that's more important than anything else. We can discuss and promise things when both sides don't have to endure risks for each other. When you joined the Ten Great Sects, did you expect them to ignore the Southern Island Sect in a situation like this?"

"...Of course, I didn't expect that."

"But we came all this way without such promises."

"...?"

"All we can offer is our faith. The 'comrade' in Heavenly Comrade is not a character for gain but a character that exists for the sake of being together in trust."

Baek Cheon's eyes gleamed firmly.

"What we can offer is that trust. We will be a presence that can help each other when needed, not just a relationship where we come together only when it's beneficial. If Haenam stands with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, we hope to build that kind of relationship."

Kim Yang Baek looked at Baek Cheon with a strange gaze. For a moment, a peculiar silence hung between them. In the moment when those around them were beginning to feel awkward, Kim Yang Baek spoke.

"Deputy Sect Leader."

"Yes."

"I'll ask directly. For our Southern Island Sect, which now has to face the final battle against the Evil Tyrant Alliance, is there anything that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance can offer?"

The elders looked surprised and stared at Kim Yang Baek. Unlike the usual Sect Leader they knew, Kim Yang Baek's words were too straightforward. It seemed almost too materialistic for someone who came a long way to help Southern Island. At that moment, Baek Cheon spoke.

"To resolve the current situation in Southern Island, what the Heavenly Comrade Alliance can offer is..."

All eyes focused on Baek Cheon's words. After a moment, Baek Cheon's voice rang out so vividly, and somewhat eerily, in everyone's ears.

"...nothing."

Shaaaaaaa.

All of a sudden, everyone realized that rain was pouring outside. The sound of rain, which hadn't been heard until now, started to fill the air. The chilling silence spread throughout the Great Sea Temple.

How long did the stifling silence last?

Finally, Kim Yang Baek's calm voice flowed.

"Immediately, tomorrow."

"..."

"What you can do for the sect that may have to take down that plaque is to create a relationship that can be helpful in times of need."

Laughter burst out of Kim Yang Baek's mouth.

"But in reality, they can't be of help in this matter at all?"

Baek Cheon closed his eyes.

There were many things he could say. Many things he wanted to say. But Baek Cheon didn't bring any of it to the surface. No, he couldn't. Because whatever he said wouldn't help the Southern Island Sect right now.

The advance of the Evil Tyrant Alliance was faster than they expected, and they had not made any preparations to stop them before coming to Southern Island.

"I'll ask again, Deputy Sect Leader."

Suppressing numerous emotions surging up, Kim Yang Baek opened his mouth.

"Are the ones sent by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance for Southern Island all the strength they have here? Or is there a separate plan to help the Southern Island Sect?"

In his words, there was a last, unspoken hope. However, Baek Cheon even cast aside that last hope.

"At the moment... The ones here are all, Sect Leader."

Even though the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's power was formidable, right now, only these ten individuals here could provide immediate assistance in the chaos that would ensue after the typhoon.

Ten people. It might not be a small number, but it was too inadequate to reverse the battlefield where one sect and one faction were fighting for survival.

Yes, it was too inadequate.

"Just..."

Kim Yang Baek, who couldn't bring himself to continue speaking, bit his lips.

"Is that all?"

A voice mixed with anger, disappointment, and despair spread coldly through the silence that had fallen over the Great Sea Temple.