Chapter 1245: Is That All? (Part 5)

The bewildered voices of the elders echoed throughout the area.

"Only ten?"

"Are these the only ones present here?"

"How could this...?"

The Heavenly Comrade Alliance party, guarding Baek Cheon, was rather surprised by these reactions.

"...Sahyung. Why is everyone acting like this?"

When Jo Gol whispered the question, Yoon Jong chuckled bitterly in response.

"Perhaps... they thought we were just an advance party."

"An advance party?"

"Since it's unimaginable that only ten people came all the way to Southern Island... they might have thought we traversed the sea ahead of everyone else."

"Oh..."

Jo Gol looked at the elders of Southern Island with a perplexed expression.

While Jo Gol might have found it somewhat perplexing, for them, this reaction was entirely natural. From the perspective of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, they sent renowned figures and leaders of various sects to show the utmost sincerity. However, from Southern Island's perspective, it was unimaginable that individuals of that caliber would venture alone without any accompanying disciples. This was beyond common sense for the Kangho, let alone the secular world.

Therefore, they naturally assumed that there were other people who came with them. It was a misunderstanding born out of the inability to scrutinize each other's situations in detail.

"So why did you come all the way here!"

"Abandoning the Ten Great Sects and joining the Heavenly Comrade Alliance? Are you trying to use a doomed faction to the last drop, even its final name?"

"This is utterly reckless!"

The anger of the elders flared up like a raging fire and poured onto the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

Some were surprised by this vehement reaction, their eyes widening. Others frowned. Despite being cornered into a desperate situation, showing such a reaction was unexpected, considering their sacrifice for them.

"Enough..."

"Sect Leader! How is this any different from saying you'll strip the fur off a sick tiger!"

"They won't offer help, but they'll take that name! Why are we being treated like this..."

"Enough!"

At that moment, Kim Yang Baek's voice erupted like a wild beast's roar.

The elders, who had been dumbfounded, looked at Kim Yang Baek. It was the first time they had seen him so enraged, despite being by his side for a long time.

"The men who came to Southern Island... "

As Kim Yang Baek shot them a chilling gaze, the elders all bowed their heads deeply.

"Even if what they did went against our expectations, the fact that they pierced through the enemy lines to help Southern Island remains unchanged. Isn't that right?"

"Sect Leader..."

"In a situation where those who should help us are standing apart, they are scolding those who at least wrote their names and offered their hearts. Is this how the true nature of Southern Island's elders is revealed?" 

The elders couldn't bring themselves to look Kim Yang Baek in the eye and bowed their heads even lower. Seeing them like this, Kim Yang Baek let out a small sigh. He turned his head back to Baek Cheon and spoke.

"I apologize for showing such an unsightly scene. Everyone here is desperate..."

"No, Sect Leader. We should have prepared more..."

"No. I just appreciate your understanding."

Kim Yang Baek smiled wryly. However, unlike before, there was a distinct shadow in his smile.

"Deputy Sect Leader, I understand your words."

"Sect Leader, but still..."

"No."

Kim Yang Baek shook his head.

"Just because you didn't bring people along doesn't mean you lack sincerity. We simply had unwarranted expectations."

"..."

"Even if those wretched elders say you came to exploit our names for the Heavenly Comrade Alliance..."

"Oh, that's..."

"Yes, I understand. It's unlikely. Although I am the Sect Leader of Southern Island, I don't think Southern Island's name is significant enough to mobilize everyone here."

Kim Yang Baek chuckled wryly.

"If by any chance you came with such intentions, their courtesy was excessive to the point of considering it proper etiquette."

Kim Yang Baek seemed resigned, as if he had given up. Baek Cheon bit his lips in thought.

Then, Kim Yang Baek slowly shook his head.

"However, Deputy Sect Leader, I apologize, but we will refuse the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's suggestion."

"Sect Leader..."

"The reason is simple."

At that moment, Kim Yang Baek slowly raised his head and looked up at the ceiling. Although his gaze was directed at the ceiling, he was probably contemplating something else.

"We are part of the Ten Great Sects in name, but the Southern Island Sect can't truly be one of them. We were hastily inserted to fill the gap left by the Mount Hua Sect."

His words carried a tinge of self-pity, but his tone remained firm.

"Because of this, even though we belonged to the same Ten Great Sects, we faced implicit discrimination. And perhaps underlying that discrimination was contempt for us, the islanders of the South Sea."

"That's..."

"Islanders are not trustworthy. Islanders have no faith. Islanders betray as easily as eating, and their attitudes change like the sea."

Kim Yang Baek laughed bitterly.

"Perhaps it's an emotion that those close to you may find hard to understand. And... maybe even the Ice Palace won't comprehend it. What do those who are discriminated against have to endure in order to be included among those who discriminate?"

Baek Cheon, as if indicating his lack of understanding, asked Kim Yang Baek.

"But, Sect Leader, then there's even more reason not to hesitate, isn't there? As you mentioned, no matter how hard the Southern Island Sect tries, it is far from becoming a true member of the Ten Great Sects. But the Heavenly Comrade Alliance does not discriminate against sects. They've even recognized Nokrim as a member of the alliance. So..."

Baek Cheon stopped himself from speaking further. He felt that urging this again was futile, but more than that, it was because Kim Yang Baek was smiling wryly. That smile bothered him.

Kim Yang Baek said.

"Deputy Sect Leader, what do you think faith is?"

"Uh...?"

"Exactly. What do you think faith is?"

Baek Cheon couldn't answer immediately. Answering what faith was would be too easy, but right now, Kim Yang Baek was probably asking about something else.

When Baek Cheon didn't respond, Kim Yang Baek said.

"I think faith is proven at the very end."

"..."

"Deputy Sect Leader. Southern Island has been a sect that has been difficult for others to trust for a long time, a sect that might turn away someday. No matter how loudly we called for cooperation and how we defended ourselves by saying otherwise, their deeply rooted prejudice did not disappear." [idk last phrase]

"..."

"It's not just about discussing Kanho's affairs. The Southern Island Sect is a place that has power, but the people from Southern Island are without power. They are discriminated against and plagued by prejudice simply because of the color of their skin and the fact that they don't live on the mainland."

"Sect Leader..."

"However, if we, the Southern Island sect, were to join hands with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and abandon the Ten Great Sects, what do you think they would say?"

Kim Yang Baek didn't wait for Baek Cheon's answer and continued.

"Then that's how it is."

"..."

"Indeed, those islanders are truly unreliable."

Kim Yang Baek, who had paused for a moment, raised his head.

"Deputy Sect Leader, we are not fools. We are not so foolish as to not know that the other sects in the Central Plains, including the Ten Great Sects, have already abandoned Southern Island. Even though we knew, we had no choice."

"Sect Leader, they were the ones who betrayed trust in the first place."

"Even if that's the case, what difference does it make? In the end, the only fact that remains is that Southern Island did not uphold its faith."

A sigh escaped from Baek Cheon's lips.

"If we, the Southern Island sect, join hands with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance in the end... We can expose the fact that the righteous sects have no faith left in the Ten Great Sects to the entire world, but... The contempt faced by the remaining people will only intensify. People have a way of magnifying the small flaws of others more than their own big mistakes, don't they?"

Even Baek Cheon couldn't refute that.

"Thank you, Deputy Sect Leader. Regardless of the reasons, there is nothing else to say but to express gratitude for coming all the way here, risking danger."

Kim Yang Baek bowed deeply. Baek Cheon hesitated to reach out his hand to stop him but withdrew it again.

Because Kim Yang Baek continued to speak in that state.

"Unfortunately, from Southern Island's perspective, we cannot accept that proposal. The Southern Island Sect may end like this, but the people of Southern Island still have to live on. Please understand Southern Island's position, considering even that point."

"...Of course, I understand."

Baek Cheon said with a bitter expression.

"Then... what will you do now?"

"Well, I'm not sure."

Kim Yang Baek smiled calmly as he raised his head. Thanks to Baek Cheon's persuasion, he felt strangely clear-headed.

"Some will leave, some will surrender, and those remaining will stand up to prove themselves. And my job is to be with those who stand up to prove themselves."

"... "

"When I thought there was a way to live, I thought I could fight against prejudice all my life. If I had to change my position at least once, it would have been okay. However, if the end has already been decided, it should end in a way that will be worthy of the name Southern Island Sect."

Baek Cheon closed his eyes with a heavy heart.

'I should have come a little earlier.'

There was nothing he could do. That's why he couldn't say anything.

Whatever he said now, it would only be an insult to Southern Island.

"The typhoon will soon pass. Living on an island for a long time naturally teaches you that."

Kim Yang Baek looked around at Baek Cheon and the others.

"When the typhoon subsides, leave the island. We may have to bury our bones here, but you don't have to. Even if they don't leave, they won't chase after a small boat leaving the island."

Jo Gol unconsciously gripped his thigh. That indifferent remark felt strangely piercing.

"So... if you return to the Central Plains, please tell them one thing. The Southern Island Sect has upheld its faith in the Central Plains and the Ten Great Sects and fulfilled its duties as a righteous sect."

With closed eyes, Kim Yang Baek spoke quietly.

"That would be enough."

Baek Cheon, who had not taken his eyes off Kim Yang Baek, turned his head for the first time and directed his gaze to someone. However, the person who received his gaze only returned a stare without emotion.

Baek Cheon sighed briefly and slowly stood up from his seat. Then he bowed towards Kim Yang Baek.

"I have understood Sect Leader's intentions."

Kim Yang Baek also stood up and faced Baek Cheon.

"I wish you a safe journey back to the Central Plains."

The bitter end of the seemingly pointless meeting was a complete breakdown.