1646 - So are you happy? (5)

"Sit down."

Despite Cheong Mun's words, Chung Myung stood still without moving. Cheong Mun glanced at him briefly. His stance, clutching his talisman and looking this way, seemed firmly dissatisfied.

Cheong Mun sighed softly and asked.

"Why are you acting this way?"

"Why are you even talking to those things? You know very well they're not human."

Chung Myung ground his teeth slightly. An explicit sigh escaped from Cheong Mun's mouth.

"Watch your language. The walls have ears during the night and the day...."

"Let them hear."

"....."

"No, I don't think they can hear me well enough. Should I speak louder so the whole world can hear?"

Cheong Mun groaned as if he had a headache.

"Alright, alright, just sit down."

"Sect Leader!"

"Sit down."

When Cheong Mun repeated his words, Chung Myung grumbled but pulled out a chair and sat down. In the meantime, he pulled out a new chair, not the ones the others had sat on, as if he didn't want his body to touch where they had been.

Cheong Mun quietly observed the grumbling Chung Myung.

Being able to live so whimsically even at this age is quite a remarkable skill, isn't it? Usually, one would gradually be worn down by the world's storms.

No, that's not right. If you think about it, this is also a sign of being worn down and becoming rounder. If it had been the young Chung Myung, he would have barged in and struck the sect leaders on the head with a wooden sword.

That sight would have been quite something.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Keuhum!! Nothing."

Cheong Mun's face flushed momentarily, and he cleared his throat loudly. No matter how frustrated he was, it was a thought unbefitting a Taoist.

Now, Cheong Mun, who had corrected his complexion, with a stern face, called Chung Myung seriously.

"Chung Myung-ah."

"....."

"Chung Myung-ah."

"...ugh."

Chung Myung frowned as if already tired of the nagging that would follow.

"Don't be so disrespectful to the sect leaders."

"....."

"Of course, I actually understand."

"Do you?"

"The fact that you are intentionally acting threateningly to make my job easier by using your presence as a target. I always..."

Cheong Mun stopped talking. Chung Myung was making a face as if to say, 'Me? Me? Did I do such a thing?' and then quickly avoided eye contact.

"I am grateful for that."

"Well.. whatever... as long as you know."

"..okay."

Cheong Mun shook his head.

Whether Chung Myung intended it or not isn't that important. What's important is that because of Chung Myung's presence, Cheong Mun can breathe a little easier.

If Chung Myung were not in Mount Hua, Cheong Mun would be fighting a battle at least three times harder. They only compromise at appropriate points because they are wary of Chung Myung.

At that moment, Chung Myung asked in a firm voice.

"So what do you plan to do now?"

"...Hmm?"

"You said you would get support, but you got mocked instead. Are you just going to keep cleaning up after those bastards?"

Cheong Mun gave a bitter smile.

"Bastards? They are the leaders of sects representing the martial world. You shouldn't..."

"Enough. Isn't our Mount Hua the only one suffering? Our disciples have wounds that never heal."

Cheong Mun closed his mouth at those words.

"Let's just withdraw."

"Chung Myung-ah."

"Those damn bastards have never fought the Demonic Sect properly. If we just notify them that we are regrouping and pull out from the front lines, later they will come crying to us for help. Why can't a smart person like you understand such a simple thing?"

Instead of answering, Cheong Mun sighed. Chung Myung's voice grew louder.

"We're doing all the work, so why do we have to watch those damn bastards act all superior? If this continues..."

"Chung Myung."

A resolute voice escaped Cheong Mun's lips. Chung Myung, who was venting his frustration, shut his mouth tightly.

"Do you think I don't want to do the same? Do you think I don't feel enraged by their behavior?"

"....."

"I, too, want to show them what we're made of. But who will take responsibility for the suffering of the innocent people if we withdraw?"

"Innocent people, innocent people! That damn excuse again!"

"Chung Myung!"

"Damn it! Why is that our responsibility? It's their responsibility! We are doing all the fighting while they just watch! Oh, is it really our fault that we didn't fight better?"

A sad feeling passed through Cheongmun's gaze as he looked at Cheongmyeong.

Unable to contain his rising anger, he huffed and puffed. He looked ready to run to the sect leaders who had left and yell at them.

However, Cheong Mun knew that Chung Myung's reaction was not just because he couldn't control his temper.

"....Are you upset and heartbroken because your disciples are getting hurt and wounded?"

Chung Myung bit his lip tightly.

"That's not it."

A bitter voice escaped from Cheong Mun.

"I feel the same. If I were to..."

"Then why!"

"But, Chung Myung, if we abandon our duties to vent our anger, families will suffer, and their pain will increase,"

Cheong Mun said softly.

Chung Myung couldn't say anything, staring at Cheong Mun. He could see the sorrow on the face he had known all his life. Chung Myung sighed with an annoyed face.

"Do you understand?"

Cheong Mun asked.

"Damn, I understand, but..."

Chung Myung grumbled under his breath. But he did not push further against Cheong Mun.

"We learned martial arts to protect," Cheong Mun continued.

"And are we the only ones who learned? What about those bastards?"

Chung Myung retorted.

"They too must fulfill their roles soon."

"Seriously..."

Unable to hold back his frustration, Chung Myung rubbed his face roughly with both hands.

"No, Sect Leader! Do you trust those bastards? Do you really believe in them after all they've done?"

"Enough."

Cheong Mun said firmly, sighing as he hardened his resolve.

"The Demonic Sect is strong."

"....."

"You, who are directly facing them, know this best. But what's more important is that the Demon Sect hasn't deployed all their forces yet."

Chung Myung nodded in agreement.

"If they fully commit, we can't stop them alone. We need the combined strength of all sects to stand a chance."

"....Yes."

"But if we fight among ourselves before that, what will happen? We'll be defeated before we even get a proper chance to fight. Everything will end."

"....."

"I'm sure they know this too. They'll have to move when the time comes. I just hope that before that, our mutual animosity doesn't deepen."

Chung Myung let out a sigh.

"Yes, you're right, Sect Leader."

"....."

"You're always right. But why must we bear the full burden of maintaining these relationships and ensuring the villagers' safety?"

"It won't be for long."

Cheong Mun said, shaking his head.

"The unrest is unsettling. Whatever they're plotting, soon those sects will prepare their own attacks. When that time comes, we won't have the luxury of thinking about such things."

"....."

"So endure a little longer."

Chung Myung stared at Cheong Mun, then suddenly scratched his head.

"Answer me honestly, Sect Leader. Do you really trust those bastards?"

Hyun Jong nodded.

"Yes, I do."

"No, Sect Leader!"

"I don't believe they'll sacrifice themselves for us. I don't believe they'll give their all for our sake."

"....."

"But I do believe they don't want to be destroyed either. They don't want to lose. When there's no other choice, they'll fight their best. I just..."

Cheong Mun's words were filled with firm determination.

"I just wait for that time."

A heavy silence settled between them. Chung Myung narrowed his eyes as he watched Cheong Mun.

"And if those bastards continue to act like this until the very end?"

"....."

"Whta if those damn bastards remain cowardly and self-serving, even in the face of disaster? If they're more pathetic than you think? Will you regret your trust then?"

"I won't."

"How can you be so sure? Look at what they've done!"

"I've judged it."

Chung Myung was momentarily speechless at the resolute tone that he hardly believed his ears.

After a moment, a soft smile spread across Cheong Mun's face.

"So just bear with it a little longer, Chung Myung."

"....."

"If you can't trust them, trust me. I don't believe only perfect people can uphold their morals. Even selfish and pathetic people can, when pushed, become true warriors."

Chung Myung let out a deep sigh.

"Fine, I'll endure. But..."

He picked up the sword he had placed on the table and stood up.

"I don't know how complicated it is, but anyway, I just have to fight like I've been doing up until now, right?"

"....."

"I will endure as long as I can. But what you should know, is that I cannot continue to hold out"

"I understand."

"That's all."

Chung Myung shook his head as he didn't want to argue anymore and headed for the door.

"Chung Myung-ah."

"...yes?"

"Don't hate them too much."

Cheong Mun's sorrowful voice stopped Chung Myung in his tracks.

"They're just trying to protect their sects, like we protect Mount Hua. Their methods are different, but their hearts are the same."

"....."

"They are afraid because they love their sect, and they do not want to come forward because they care for their students. It may be difficult to say whether that method is right, but their love for their students is no different from ours."

"Sect leader...."

"Okay. Then...."

"I don't know, Sect leader."

Chung Myung said in a slightly chilly voice.

"You might love Mount Hua, but I'm not as attached to it as you are."

"....."

"If everyone were like you, your words would be right. But if everyone were like me, your hopes would be misplaced. Let's just hope that's not the case."

Chung Myung opened the door and left.

Left alone, Cheong Mun slowly closed his eyes, pondering Chung Myung's words.

'It's heavy.'

Chung Myung can't win alone. Mount Hua can't win alone. In the end, they have to increase their strength. All the strength of the martial world must unite to face the Evil Sect.

Someone must hold the center. No matter how difficult and exhausting it may be.

'Yes.'

Cheong Mun's hope rested on one thing: the inherent goodness in people.

***

Chung Myung was lost in thought, staring at the ceiling.

He remembered a distant dream and felt a faint warmth at his fingertips.

Like someone reciting a mantra, Chung Myung muttered.

"Sect Leader..."

He wanted to ask, if he ever met Cheong Mun again,

"Did you believe in yourself until the end?"

Perhaps... the answer is needed not for Cheong Mun but Chung Myung himself.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Chung Myung wiped his eyes roughly and stood up.

'There's no time to dwell on the past.'

His current situation was no less dire. Perhaps even more severe.

Back then, Chung Myung believed in Cheong Mun. Now, the people of Mount Hua believed in Chung Myung as Cheong Mun had believed in him.

So now is the time to fight the given reality.

Chung Myung gripped his sword tightly and stepped off the bed.