"Phew. That was really dangerous this time. If we had slipped up, we would all have been dead."
Baek Cheon blinked as he looked at Chung Myung, who was grinning slyly while speaking. Feeling Baek Cheon's gaze, Chung Myung asked, "What?"
"…Nothing."
After a brief silence, Baek Cheon shook his head, suppressing the urge to say, 'I'm just curious what's going on in your head that you can still laugh in a situation like this.'
"But… did the Four Sects Alliance really just leave?"
"Do you think they pretended to leave?"
"No. That's not what I mean…"
Baek Cheon slightly turned his head to look toward the horizon—the direction where Jang Ilso and his group had disappeared. A subtle unease still lingered in his eyes.
"It seems too easy for that guy to have withdrawn."
"That is an unavoidable choice even for Jang Ilso."
Hearing the voice beside him, Baek Cheon turned his head. Im So-Byeong was holding a fully opened fan and wearing a meaningful smile.
"Because the fire has fallen on his feet."
"…Fire?"
"Yes. More precisely, it's the fire he himself started."
Seeing Baek Cheon's confused look, Im So-Byeong kindly explained.
"Jang Ilso was already gradually devouring the Pirates' troops, whose Black Dragon King had fallen from power. Now, unexpectedly, the high priest Dan Ja-Kang has also fallen, so it's no exaggeration to say his workload has doubled."
"Hmm. Are you saying a rebellion might break out within the Four Sects Alliance?"
"Ah, that's unlikely. Both the Pirates and the Black Ghost Fortress have lost their leaders. A rebellion requires a clear focal point. But…"
Im So-Byeong suddenly snapped his fluttering fan shut.
"Another scenario can happen."
"Another scenario?"
"Yes. Defection."
"Defection?"
Other Mount Hua disciples who were listening closely also looked at Im So-Byeong with puzzled expressions. He smiled slightly.
"It may be hard for those from the Justice faction to understand, but the Evil Sect members aren't very loyal to their places. Many don't even like being affiliated with their sect, and among them, quite a few will leave the sect whenever they get the chance."
"Ah."
"What holds them in place is the presence of their leader and the punishment for defectors that is enforced. So those afraid of falling out of favor with the leader try to leave the sect when it becomes chaotic."
Baek Cheon nodded as if he understood.
"Indeed, it's unimaginable for the Justice faction."
"Conversely, from our perspective, people like Baek Cheon of Mount Hua are harder to understand. Mount Hua was already a ruined sect long ago, and staying there brought no benefits to anyone."
"Because I wasn't trying to gain anything."
Im So-Byeong smiled bitterly at Baek Cheon's calm answer.
This is probably a gap that can't be bridged even by talking all day. It's not a matter of right or wrong, but of values a person holds.
Im So-Byeong scratched his head with his fan.
"The conversation drifted a bit, but anyway, the Black Ghost Fortress also relied heavily on the Desolate Gold Elder's control. Once news of his death spreads, chaos will naturally ensue. Many will try to take advantage or defect from the sect."
"Indeed…"
"So Jang Ilso can't help but be busy. What he wants is to absorb the Pirates and Black Ghost Fortress's forces completely, leaving not a speck behind. He probably won't have the mind to look elsewhere for a while. After all, the area he must directly manage has multiplied several times."
Only then did everyone nod.
"On the other hand, it might be a fortunate story."
"Yes?"
Im So-Byeong asked back as if wondering why that conclusion was drawn.
"Isn't it that Jang Ilso will also find it difficult to move for a while? Even for him, completely controlling all the forces of the Black Ghost Fortress and Pirates won't be easy, as you said."
If domination means putting them underfoot, it's not hard for Jang Ilso. But preventing defectors and fully managing their forces is more complicated than expected.
Even the great Jang Ilso will likely be tied down for a while.
"Indeed. That's what you meant. It's not wrong."
Im So-Byeong nodded vigorously. Then Baek Cheon added to Yoon Jong's words.
"Moreover… the Desolate Gold Elder died, and the Black Dragon King lost an arm, right? That's like losing two absolute warriors who were already scarce on the Four Sects Alliance's side, so their losses are significant."
"That's also true."
Im So-Byeong smiled.
"Certainly… even if the Ten Thousand People Clan mobilizes all their power and uses all of Mount Hua's strength, chaos is inevitable for now."
"As expected…"
"But Yoon Jong, do you truly understand what that means?"
"Yes?"
Yoon Jong's face looked a bit puzzled. Im So-Byeong spoke with a meaningful expression.
"Certainly… the Four Sects Alliance will suffer internal strife for a while. Considering Jang Ilso's nature, a lot of blood might be spilled in the process. The Four Sects Alliance's overall strength might even decrease compared to now."
Everyone swallowed dryly at those words.
Such changes always come with bloodshed. Those who want to maintain the existing order always resist change.
But… Jang Ilso is not someone who will coax or appease them. He will crush them thoroughly so they never resist him again, just as he showed the Pirates an example at the Yangtze River.
"When all that ends, the Four Sects Alliance will be completely different from before. The loosely allied Four Sects Alliance will disappear from the world. In its place will appear a complete Evil Sect, moving in perfect unison at Jang Ilso's command as a single sect."
It will truly be the Evil Sect united under the Ten Thousand People Clan. Of course, they won't use the name Ten Thousand People Clan again due to symbolism.
Somewhere, the smell of blood seems to linger.
"Since even the Lower District sect's Lord has surrendered to Jang Ilso, no one can stop him anymore. At most half a year. Within that time, Jang Ilso will unite all the Four Sects Alliances under him. After that…"
Everyone knew what came next.
"Jang Ilso will surely eye his next prey. He is someone who never knows satisfaction."
The phrase 'at most half a year' pierced everyone's hearts.
Everyone here watched carefully to see what kind of man Jang Ilso was.
Dan Ja-Kang and Heaven Killer, the two high priests, had shown terrifying power. But the last thing etched in the minds of those present was, without doubt, Jang Ilso.
"Could it be cooperation…"
"No."
Before Yoon Jong could finish his hesitant words, Chung Myung's firm voice cut him off.
"That won't happen."
Everyone turned to Chung Myung.
"Jang Ilso is Jang Ilso. In the end, he's just an Evil Sect bastard. Cooperation with such a guy was impossible from the start."
"…But this time it was possible."
"Because interests aligned. But they won't cooperate with us to stop the Demonic Cult. Especially not when that guy leads the Evil Sect."
Yoon Jong sighed.
He didn't fully understand why Chung Myung spoke so decisively. But if he was that certain, then it was probably true. It always had been.
"Half a year…"
Chung Myung murmured quietly. His gaze darkened. In truth, even half a year was a generous estimate. He knew how short that time was.
"Alright."
He lifted his head and looked at the other disciples.
"Let's return first. The sect leader must be worried about us. Even if we have much to say, let's postpone it for now."
"Mm, okay."
"Understood."
The Mount Hua disciples also nodded obediently. They still had many questions, but this was the Southern land. It wasn't a place to talk comfortably. They could talk more after leaving the Southern lands.
"Now then, first…"
"Wait a moment."
"Uh?"
Chung Myung stopped abruptly and looked at the one who spoke. Un Geom stood calmly, looking at him.
"What is the matter, Un Geom senior sasuk?"
Before answering, Un Geom stared at the desolate Hangzhou land with a stern face.
"I worry whether it is right to say this to you in such a situation. So consider this not as an order from a superior, but just my opinion, and answer me."
"Yes, senior sasuk. Please speak."
"I feel uneasy about just leaving like this."
"Yes…?"
Baek Cheon asked with a puzzled face. Un Geom answered bitterly.
"Haven't too many died? Even those who had nothing to do with the murim world, just living their lives."
A moment of silence passed. Everyone became solemn. They had been comforted by surviving successive crises and had momentarily forgotten what had happened here.
"I know the situation is difficult. Maybe it's selfish of me to put you in danger again by bringing this up. But… if possible, I want to hold at least a simple requiem here for those who died unjustly. Would that be alright?"
Baek Cheon closed his eyes tightly. Sometimes he forgets that they are Taoists before warriors, and what must be done before winning.
'Sasuk.'
While everyone else forgot, only Un Geom did not. Each time, Baek Cheon realized anew that he still had a long way to go to follow the masters.
"I think I'm fine…"
"We must!"
Before Baek Cheon finished, Chung Myung answered firmly.
"We were weak and insufficient to save the people here, but at least we must comfort their souls. That is the duty of one who has become a Taoist."
Watching the situation as they prepared to leave, Im So-Byeong spoke with a worried face.
"Um…? This is the Southern land, and we still don't know how the Four Sects Alliance will respond…"
"We must."
"Damn it, stupid bastard. I forgot that. I would have kicked the ground if we had just left."
"Exactly."
"What should we prepare first? We should start quickly, I think."
"The place first."
"Hey? Can you hear me? Hey?"
The Mount Hua disciples, except Im So-Byeong, started bustling about. Even Hae Yeon raised her voice with a flushed face.
"I'll help too, sasuks!"
"You don't know the requiem rites done at the Taoist temple."
"I'll do anything that requires effort. But after it's over, please let me chant at least one sutra for them!"
"That's only natural."
Watching the lively Justice faction members bustling and moving about, Im So-Byeong looked up at the sky with a hollow gaze.
'Maybe Jang Ilso is a bit more sane than these guys?'
It was truly a difficult matter to judge.