Chapter 1358: They're Coming (Part 3)

"⋯⋯Perseverance in Prajnaparamita (行深般若波羅蜜多時). Illuminating (照見) the Five Aggregates as Empty (五蘊皆空). Crossing over All Sufferings (度一切苦厄)."

Except for the sound of reading scriptures, the quiet room echoed. The voice of Beopjeong, who was reciting the Heart Sutra with one eye closed, gradually subsided.

"Crossing over All Sufferings..."

Beopjeong slowly closed his eyes.

"Bearing all pains as one..."

The Heart Sutra. Two hundred and sixty characters summarizing the essence of the Heart Sutra, which comprises over six hundred scrolls in the Tang Dynasty (眞言).

It is often recited as it contains the essence of emptiness (空), but at the same time, it is considered a common scripture because of its simplicity.

However, recently, Beopjeong had come to realize the profound meaning contained in the Heart Sutra once again.

"As one knows, so one sees... As one seeks, so one opens."

Crack.

The prayer beads in Master Jeong's hand made a clear sound.

The world is full of suffering, and a Buddhist is one who endures all kinds of suffering. Therefore, those who are not prepared to walk the thorny path should not call themselves Buddhist.

Nirvana is not beyond the turned corner but comes to those who endure and persevere.

The river of suffering he is currently crossing is nothing more than the inevitable hardship that a Buddhist must endure. So he must endure, endure again. Then, in the end...

But his endurance, unfortunately, did not continue.

"Bangjang."

At the sound that reached him, Beopjeong opened his closed eyes and looked at the person in front of him.

Beopgye was staring at him with a stern face.

"Will you really leave it as it is?"

A small sigh escaped from Beopjeong's mouth. It was frustrating to have him constantly holding on to a finished story.

"I told you, didn't I?"

"But, Bangjang."

Beopgye sighed and spoke again.

"Of course, I don't agree with the way of Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. He is extremely arbitrary and vicious."

Beopgye recalled the appearance of Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword in his mind. Certainly, from their perspective, Mount Hua Sect's Chivalrous Sword was someone they couldn't possibly associate with.

"But it is a fact that he has done a lot for the people. Considering his abilities, losing him now would be a great loss, wouldn't it?"

Beopjeong just stared silently without answering. Then Beopgye discreetly glanced around before opening his mouth again.

"Even if it's Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, his opponent is Jang Ilso. With the power of Heavenly Comrade Alliance alone, it may not be possible to rescue him. But if we reinforce our strength..."

"It's a finished story."

"Bangjang."

Beopgye bit his lip slightly.

"Why are you so opposed to him?"

Beopjeong's eyebrows twitched for a moment.

"Opposed?"

"Yes, Bangjang. I also know that Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword is not someone to blindly support. However...Bangjang, why does your way of dealing with Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword seem different from how you deal with others?"

"..."

"Even if the opponent is an evildoer, aren't you the one who said not to abandon even a small amount of mercy and the will to persuade?"

"..."

"But Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword is not even an evildoer. Though his methods may differ, he is not entirely without reason. To lose him, who is the focal point of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, just to face Evil Tyrant Alliance and Demonic Sect...."

"Beopgye."

In an instant, Beopgye couldn't continue his words and flinched. It was because Beopjeong's voice was incredibly cold.

"What would you do if there was someone who carried firewood on his back and jumped into the fire?"

"Well.."

"I would try to save him."

"..."

"But I cannot save someone who spreads oil and sets fire. Trying to save one such person would only push more people into suffering."

"Bangjang..."

"Although the Buddha embraced mercy for everything in the world, he did not show compassion to Mara, the one who deceives people."

"Do you mean he is Mara?"

Beopjeong shook his head slightly.

"Not exactly. Mara is a being filled with the intention to harm people, but he probably believes himself to be virtuous. That's why he can jump into the fire without hesitation."

"⋯⋯."

"But regardless of his intentions, if his actions result in the same consequences as Mara's, even the mercy shown to him becomes foolish."

A deep sigh escaped from Beopgye's mouth.

'How did it come to this⋯⋯.'

He, too, did not lack resentment towards Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. He had thought many times that if Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword had just bent their way once, the world would be much more peaceful.

But if he had hoped for Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword to yield, couldn't Shaolin have made the same choice?

Could Shaolin, instead of Mount Hua, not have respected and understood their intentions first?

'He firmly believes that only he is right.'

But wasn't that the same for Shaolin?

There was still no change in Beopjeong's face. Sometimes stern, sometimes gentle, his past face, filled with deep insight, remained the same.

However, Beopgye couldn't shake the thought that Beopjeong had changed a bit. It was difficult to pinpoint what had changed, but it was certain that it was not the same Beopjeong he had known in the past.

"Let's end this story here."

"Bangjang..."

In the end, Beopgye lowered his head and said no more. Even if he spoke here, Beopjeong would not change his mind. Knowing that, there was still lingering regret. Perhaps there was a lingering hope that all of this could be reversed and the right path found.

"Bangjang, if you just..."

When Beopgye couldn't dispel the last remnants of regret, he opened his mouth again.

"Bangjang! Bangjang, are you inside?"

A desperate voice echoed from outside the door. Reacting instinctively, Beopgye turned his head quickly and shouted.

"What's the matter!"

"The traces of Jang Ilso have been found again!"

"Come in immediately!"

Wide-eyed, Beopgye quickly got up as if even the waiting time was too precious, opened the door with a thud, and urged the person inside.

Then Hyejong (慧從) hurriedly entered.

"I greet Bangjang."

 "Okay. Has Jang Ilso's trail been found?"

"Yes! It's a message from the Beggar's Union!"

"Please speak."

"It is said that the beggars in Gangnam have discovered a large-scale movement of bandits hastily deployed to the south. They couldn't approach closely due to the danger, but they saw a splendid carriage pulled by four white horses, accompanied by individuals wearing white robes and others in deep red robes..."

"It's Paegun."

Beopjeong declared.

Of course, Jang Ilso was not the only person in the world who rode a fancy four-legged carriage. However, there was only one person in the world who could ride a carriage escorted by the elites of the Myriad Man Manor and the guards of Honggyeon.

"Yes! We are also confident about that. Oh, and behind them, numerous members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance are following."

Beopjeong's eyes sank deeply.

"How many are there?"

"Well, that's about two thousand soldiers..."

"Hehe..."

Beopjeong let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd, shaking his head.

Two thousand...

"Paegun has made up his mind."

With that level of force, it was a power that could wipe out traces of not only Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword but also several other sects. The people in Gangnam right now would find it challenging to handle even one Jang Ilso, and if they are followed by two thousand elite soldiers, the outcome was as clear as daylight.

Beopjeong asked Beopgye.

"What do you think?"

"..."

"Do you think it's worth saving Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, even if it means engaging in war with these two thousand elite soldiers of the Evil Tyrant Alliance? Is that one life more precious than the lives of over a thousand people who might be sacrificed in the war?"

"Beopjeong, I..."

"If it could be saved without any harm, I would have also contemplated. But this is not a problem to consider."

Beopgye couldn't say anything and bowed his head. Surely, he never imagined that Jang Ilso would mobilize such forces just to confront them.

If what was visible now was two thousand, the actual number of those currently in motion is incalculable.

"Why has it come to this..."

"The problem is that it's impossible to let them go."

Beopjeong raised his head.

"Crossing Gangnam might not necessarily be the wrong choice. I didn't expect it, so even that Paegun could have been caught off guard."

"..."

"But precisely because of that, Paegun had no choice but to move."

"Why..."

"Because defeat is not allowed for Paegun."

Beopjeong's voice was colder than usual.

"To conquer Gangnam, the absolute loyalty of the entire Evil Tyrant Alliance is required. He must be able to command them like tools. However, the Evil Tyrant Alliance was not originally those who devoted loyalty to someone. What made this impossible task possible is none other than the absolute status of Paegun, the myth of being undefeatable."

Beopgye nodded.

He seemed to understand.

Jang Ilso was the existence that brought victory to the Evil Sects, who had always lived suppressed by the righteous sects. Moreover, he was gradually suppressing and subjugating the righteous sects.

Therefore, the greedy members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance willingly offered their loyalty. After all, it was for a bigger and more significant victory, for more profits.

"But absolute status is like fragile glass that can easily shatter. It can crumble with just one defeat and setback. At this moment when Jang Ilso needs to control and mobilize the entire Evil Tyrant Alliance to take Gangnam and prepare for war with the righteous sects, if the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, led by Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, penetrates through Southern Island and crosses Gangnam, what do you think will happen?"

"Ah..."

Certainly, the myth of Jang Ilso always winning would collapse at that moment. If that happened, there would be a rapid increase in those who look at the ensuing war with the righteous sects pessimistically.

As the fervent heat subsided, a colder chill would settle in, even more so than usual.

"Do you understand? If he had run away, I wouldn't have pursued them. Instead, I might have let them go to set a trap for our internal discord. But..."

"You can't let people trample on your bedroom with mud on their feet."

"Sure. That's how it is."

Beopjeong said calmly.

"I don't know why Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword made such a foolish move, but he will never step foot in Gangbu alive. Even if we were to take action."

Beopgye tightly closed his eyes.

'It was a meaningless idea from the beginning.'

Once Paegun had firmly made up its mind, the outcome was already decided.

As Beopgye observed the gloomy expression on Beopjeong's face, Beopjeong clicked his tongue briefly. A strange sense of regret also touched his heart.

'Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword...'

Why did he make such a foolish choice? It was predicted that his arrogance would lead to his downfall, but not to this extent.

'It's a bit excessive.'

Although he should be considered an absolute target to be killed, even so, two thousand... Paegun was not someone with small ambitions.

"So, where are they now?"

"The last place their traces were found is east of Jinhyeon (进贤)."

"Jinhyeon?"

"A small village south of Payang Lake."

"I see."

Beopjeong nodded indifferently, as if it were inconsequential. But Beopjeong momentarily paused.

"...What did you just say?"

"Yes?"

"You said east, right?"

"That, well... yes."

Beopjeong's eyes shook significantly for a moment.

The southern part of Payang Lake. There was nothing strange about that. If they were to surround Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, it was natural to move south.

But why was the last confirmed location east of Jinhyeon and not south? They had no reason to move east.

"Did the information sent by the Beggar's Union mention where they are heading?"

"I, I didn't hear that, but... their direction is clearly..."

After a moment of silence, as if extracting a memory, Hyejong lifted his head with a sigh.

"Southeast! It was to the east!"

Beopjeong opened his eyes wide, bit his lips firmly, and said.

"...Confirm it again."

"Yes?"

"Go to the Beggar's Union immediately and find out their direction! Quickly!"

"But, Master, the Beggar's Union is..."

"Tell them we must find out their direction, even if it means sacrificing lives! No, I'll go myself!"

Beopjeong abruptly stood up and rushed outside.

"Bangjang!"

"Bangjang, what's happening? Bangjang!"

Although voices called out from behind, Beopjeong ran as if he couldn't hear them.

'Paegun'

Beopjeong bit his lips until they bled.

'What on earth are you thinking! You wicked bastard!'

In his mind, the vivid image of Jang Ilso appeared.

He was dressed in a splendid robe, his bright red lips stretched into a disdainful smile, and he burst into a mocking laughter. It was a harsh laughter.

The hallucination brutally stabbed at Beopjeong's ears throughout his run.