Chapter 1364: Indeed, You Have A Generous Heart (Part 4)

Baek Cheon's gaze turned to a distant place. Everyone had already hidden themselves behind the house so as not to be seen.

He didn't expect something like gratitude.

He wasn't asking for the grain they had for free, right?

He didn't even ask for a fair exchange... No, he wanted the chance to buy grain even if he had to pay more than a fair price.

Was that really too much to ask for?

Unconsciously, Baek Cheon glanced at Yoon Jong. Whenever he lost his way as a Taoist, Yoon Jong was the one who served as his guide. But even Yoon Jong's expression was more rigid than usual.

So, perhaps Baek Cheon's feelings of betrayal and anger were not just because of his narrow-mindedness.

"I apologize..."

Hyeong Wook bowed deeply, as if admitting his lack of dignity. His face was reddening as if it would burst with shame and guilt.

Even though Baek Cheon knew blaming him would be meaningless, he eventually spoke.

"I didn't realize that it was such a difficult request."

"…Sir."

Hyeong Wook closed his eyes tightly as if acknowledging the lack of dignity. There was no way it could be such a difficult request. At least, not for him.

Of course, as the old man said, helping them might bring trouble later. But even in situations where danger could arise, they had always helped the villagers without hesitation.

Helping wasn't natural just because someone was strong, nor was turning away natural just because someone was weak.

But he couldn't do anything. Even those who had paid close attention eventually said that it would be better if they did not help.

The danger ahead, as mentioned by the old man, was much more significant than the grace already given.

"What… what should I say…"

Hyeong Wook mumbled, and the old man inside the house came out again, cautiously. He examined Baek Cheon's expression and bowed his head. There was no sense of triumph or pride. It was just an expression that prayed that Baek Cheon's judgment had not been distorted.

"Gentlemen..."

The old man spoke with a trembling voice. Understanding the meaning of that tremor, Baek Cheon let out a bitter laugh.

"Don't worry."

Although he could not get rid of the hint of coldness in his voice, Baek Cheon spoke as politely as possible.

"We are not the Evil Sect that kills as it pleases. You don't have to worry about us acting violently."

"Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen!"

The old man, who hastily expressed his gratitude, glanced at Baek Cheon again.

"Please don't think too badly of us."

"...What do you mean?"

"We also know that from your perspective, what we're doing is ridiculous. But we have no choice."

Baek Cheon silently stared at the old man. A sorrowful expression appeared on the old man's tired face.

"The righteousness that gentlemen like you talk about is something only powerful people or those who can afford to give can do. How can those who are struggling to survive worry about others' situations and open the way for others? I'm in a hurry myself."

Baek Cheon's eyebrows slightly raised. He could endure everything else, but this statement was hard to bear.

It was not like they were here to help these people out of leisure because they were part of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Righteousness…

"Let's go."

A voice was heard briefly. When he turned around, Chung Myung was scratching the back of his head.

"I guess I was in a hurry too. I didn't think about it. I should have taken into account in advance that the situation here was not good either. Tsk. I'm getting old. I should just die when I get old."

"Chung Myung..."

"Let's go. We said we should leave quickly without attracting attention. It's more comfortable for both of us that way."

Baek Cheon felt a sudden relief.

Normally, Chung Myung would have been furious at times like this. But now that Chung Myung had said that, there was nothing more to say.

"Looking at it, it looks like we ate almost everything..."

Chung Myung glanced at the people of Southern Island and said.

"If you've filled your stomach, let's go. In fact, we don't have much time."

"...That's right."

"Hurry up and get ready. After we leave, these people will have a lot to do."

Baek Cheon still had a lot to say, but in the end, he sighed deeply and replied.

"Okay… let's do that."

He felt sick to the stomach. It was a bitterness that couldn't be expressed in words.

"You don't have to pay for the grain you ate..."

"No."

Baek Cheon stared at the old man with a firm gaze.

"We will exactly pay for it. That's what we should do."

His emotionless voice somehow sounded a bit pitiful.

Those led by Baek Cheon left the village. The atmosphere was quite different from when they had left the village before. No one dared to speak out.

Even the disciples of the Southern Island Sect, who didn't know the situation well, couldn't easily open their mouths.

"Are we just leaving like this?"

In such a situation, someone boldly spoke, and it was Im Sobyeong.

"Yes?"

"Isn't the result the same anyway? Since there's surplus grain, we can just take some, throw in some money, and the outcome is the same as if we had traded. It's a rational deal, isn't it?"

"..."

"Then, even if something happens, they can claim that we only forcibly took their grain, and we won't be guilty. It seems reasonable to anyone, so let's turn back now!"

Baek Cheon chuckled. It might indeed be reasonable. It might be a path where no one gets hurt.

However, they couldn't choose that path. If they casually said that anything was fine as long as the result was the same, it would be admitting that they were no different from the Evil Tyrant Alliance they were currently fighting against.

"Ugh!"

At that moment, Jo Gol burst out.

He knew that he couldn't do anything as Im Sobyeong said, but it seemed like he couldn't contain his bursting frustration.

"Shouldn't a person have at least a bit of conscience!"

"..."

"Do we have any strength left to help others? Even if they don't repay the favor, can't they at least consider our circumstances?!"

"Enough."

When Baek Cheon weakly interjected, Jo Gol clenched his teeth.

"...It's unfair, it's unfair."

"..."

"We didn't expect anything like repayment, but still... still, there's something like that, right? Still..."

Baek Cheon was about to say something, but he shook his head without uttering a word. In reality, his inner turmoil was not much different from Jo Gol's. Speaking at length with such a confused mind would only reveal his inner thoughts.

Since Baek Cheon didn't respond properly, Jo Gol's gaze now turned to Yoon Jong.

"Are you not angry, Sahyung?"

"Anger... "

In response to Jo Gol's question, Yoon Jong calmly shook his head.

"I am not angry."

"...No resentment at all?"

"I am not angry; I am just confused."

"Huh?"

As Jo Gol looked puzzled, and Yoon Jong, after glancing at the sky, spoke.

"As a Taoist and as a member of a righteous sect, I believed that we should help and protect the common people because they possess goodness. I thought we should use our small strength to guard them against persecution by the powerful."

"..."

"But today, for the first time, such thoughts crossed my mind. It's not just about the people in this village; it applies in any situation."

"Yes."

"If the ones we want to protect are not good people... Why should we exert so much effort to protect them? Just because we are stronger?"

"..."

"The idea that we shouldn't expect repayment for our help may be because there is no way to receive that repayment... Yes, that's what I feel."

His voice was calm, but the content was incredibly weighty, especially coming from Yoon Jong. It was a moment when everyone was immersed in their own thoughts.

"I've heard such words before."

All eyes turned to Chung Myung. To the guy in front who was walking as if he had no regrets.

"Common folks aren't as good as you think. Their power is weaker than you think, and their moral principles are generally insignificant."

"...Aren't you just insulting them?"

"But that's precisely the reason we must protect the common people."

The Mount Hua disciples, who had been quietly listening, furrowed their brows. They couldn't quite comprehend. Why should they protect people who seemed so insignificant?

"Because they were once people who could be good."

"...?"

"What the old man said is not wrong. Most people cannot even afford to keep their own goodness. And that happened because those with power didn't protect them."

Yoon Jong watched Chung Myung's back as he spoke, his face showing a stern expression.

"Good people remain good even without help. But small acts of kindness toward those who aren't good might lead them toward goodness. Taoists are people who do not let go of that small possibility, and righteousness is an attempt to change the world by giving what one has."

Chung Myung's gaze, which had been murmuring, turned towards the sky, as if following something in the distance.

"To be honest, I still don't fully understand those words. I only know one thing: our ancestors did not uphold righteousness because they didn't know that, but they tried to protect it even knowing."

That was the end of Chung Myung's words. There was nothing more to add. He didn't say they should do the same or that it was the right path. He simply conveyed what he had heard.

But everyone who heard those words was lost in their own thoughts. What were they truly trying to achieve?

And then, a loud voice echoed.

"Wait a moment! Sirs!"

A large voice came from behind. Hyeong Wook was rushing towards them, carrying something on his shoulders.

"Huh! Huh! Huh!"

Running with all his might, Hyeong Wook gasped for breath as he approached them. Baek Cheon blinked in confusion.

"No, what...?"

"This, this is it!"

Hyeong Wook lowered the large sack from his shoulder. There was a thud.

"It's grain. Please take it."

"What?"

Hyeong Wook's face still showed a guilty look.

"The villagers decided not to, but this is my share. What can I do when I've decided to give my share?"

"Oh, no..."

Baek Cheon looked perplexed, alternating between the sack of grain and Hyeong Wook.

"We can't possibly accept..."

"Please take it!"

Without listening further, Hyeong Wook deeply bowed. His appearance was reminiscent of his father, but the feeling was entirely different.

"I can't do much because I'm weak. But at least I can do this. Please take even this."

"..."

"The villagers are not bad people. They're just... Just scared. Please don't judge them too harshly."

"Hyeong sir (兄丈)..."

"It's insufficient, but please take this. I'm truly... truly sorry."

Baek Cheon looked down at the sack of grain with mixed feelings. It was cheap grain, and for this many people, it would barely be enough for a handful each.

However, the sentiment contained within was by no means trivial.

In silence, Baek Cheon stared at the sack of grain, then hesitantly lowered both hands and encircled it. And then, with a complex emotion, he deeply bowed.

"...Thank you. We'll accept it gratefully."

The hands forming a fist trembled faintly.

The road ahead was long, and time was pressing. However, everyone standing there silently looked at the sack placed between Baek Cheon and Hyeong Wook.

Inside that worn-out sack were a few handfuls of insignificant but infinitely precious grain.