"What? The Kangho Murim world?"
"What are you talking about?"
As eyes filled with blame and scorn turned toward him, Im So-Byeong clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Such a lack of awareness."
"…I think it's not that we lack awareness, but that our minds are absent."
Namgung Do-Wei, watching this scene from a short distance, was sweating so much that his back was soaked.
'Is it really okay for him to be like that?'
Still, he is the Green Forest King who rules all the mountains of the Central Plains.
Of course, the Green Forest King is somewhat younger, frail, and a bit… well, a little immature than expected, but still, the Green Forest King is the Green Forest King. Normally, a mere disciple of Mount Hua wouldn't be allowed to speak so bluntly…
"Tsk!"
As expected, Im So-Byeong showed a strong sign of discomfort and clicked his tongue loudly. Namgung Do-Wei tensed and shrugged his shoulders at that reaction.
"This is why you shouldn't talk with uneducated folks! What do these sects know? They don't even know what the Four Books and Three Classics are. Just reading Taoist scriptures, how could they possibly grasp the noble meaning of Confucian scholars?"
"Noble Confucian scholars?"
"This is why Confucius said, 'A gentleman does not speak of strange powers, disorder, or spirits.' One should not converse with peculiar Taoists."
Baek Cheon looked at Im So-Byeong with a dumbfounded expression.
"Is that something a bandit should be saying?"
"Heh heh. Confucius said that if one observes the Nine Thoughts and Nine Behaviors, one is a gentleman. So what does mere origin matter? If you want to refute me, at least master the Three Classics first."
Hearing that, Baek Cheon snorted.
"It seems the Green Forest King doesn't know well."
"Yes?"
"The Book of Changes (I Ching), one of the Three Classics, is a must-read for Taoism."
"…Really?"
"Tsk tsk. This is why the Evil Sect is like that. How could a wild sect member raised in the mountains possibly grasp the noble meaning of Taoism?"
Eventually, Namgung Do-Wei's head drooped. He gave up trying to interpret this insane conversation.
"Anyway!"
Im So-Byeong, as if never discouraged, brightened the mood and spread his fan wide.
"The conversation between the Alliance Leader and Taoist Chung Myung is simple. It means that in facing the Demonic Cult in the future, they will not break the foundation of the Heavenly Friends Alliance."
"So what does that mean?"
"What is the foundation of the Heavenly Friends Alliance?"
"Well…"
Baek Cheon glanced at his comrades. They all awkwardly cleared their throats and turned their heads. Baek Cheon grimaced. The answer was his responsibility.
"It's hard to say I know for sure… but isn't it about being with trusted friends?"
"Exactly."
"…Oh, really?"
"…"
Im So-Byeong gave a contemptuous look, and Baek Cheon quietly turned his head away.
"…It's accurate, but one must add something. The most distinctive feature of the Heavenly Friends Alliance is that it does not discriminate by status or origin."
Baek Cheon nodded in agreement.
That is the biggest reason why the Heavenly Friends Alliance is now considered a sect among the Justice faction.
"From the start, the Heavenly Friends Alliance was like that. Though it is called a prestigious sect in the murim world, isn't it true that some secretly despise the Sichuan Tang family?"
"Who the hell says that?"
"…Soso, calm down, don't curse him."
"It pisses me off."
"Whoa whoa. Now, be good."
Baek Cheon gave a wry smile. Though Tang Soso ground her teeth, this was an unavoidable fact.
The Sichuan Tang family is definitely a prestigious and powerful one. No one can deny their status and skill.
However, because they use poison and assassination, the murim world subtly regards them as cowardly and tends to see them closer to the Evil Sect, despising them.
They just can't say that openly in front of the Sichuan Tang family members.
"It's not just the murim world. Since old times, Sichuan Tang has been a despised land even in the Central Plains."
"…Well, that's…"
Im So-Byeong shrugged his shoulders.
"What about the Beast Palace and the Northern Sea? They are called the Five Outer Palaces, but the distance between them is twice that between the Central Plains and them. They can't be grouped as one. The intention behind grouping them is clear."
"…"
"Those who are not from the Central Plains."
Baek Cheon silently nodded. This is also true. The term 'Five Palaces of Outer Wall' contains contempt for those not from the Central Plains.
"So the beginning of the Heavenly Friends Alliance was a mix centered on Mount Hua, a sect abandoned by Central Plains, gathering despised and neglected sects… Ah, no. Yu Yiseol's sect. Please put down that sword. I'm not doing this out of ill will…"
Yu Yiseol glared at Im So-Byeong with her sword half drawn, as if daring him to continue.
"Didn't even trashy Evil Sect guys like the Green Forest get involved?"
Only then did Yu Yiseol sheath her sword and nod.
Im So-Byeong felt somewhat wronged at those words, but what could he do? That sword ghost is scary.
"So what is the identity of the Heavenly Friends Alliance? Justice faction, heretics, foreign powers, Evil Sect, Taoism, secular families… Oh my, there are even apostates here. Should we count them as Buddhists?"
"Who are you calling apostates, who!"
"They gathered all kinds of things in the world, identity or whatever, and just said 'We're all friends' and stirred it all up. Do you know what that's called?"
"A mess."
"Destruction."
"A mixed stew."
"No, no."
Im So-Byeong grinned.
"The world calls that the realm."
"The realm…"
Baek Cheon murmured. Im So-Byeong tapped his neck with his fan. A smile still lingered on his lips.
"The Heavenly Friends Alliance embraces everything. As long as the two words 'trust' are fulfilled, it doesn't discriminate by origin or status. That means anyone can belong to the Heavenly Friends Alliance."
"…That's right. They even accepted bandits."
"Exactly."
"That's what I mean."
Im So-Byeong looked hurt at Baek Cheon, but Baek Cheon showed a miraculous expression that said, 'What? Did I say something wrong, bandit?' and rubbed salt in the Green Forest King's wound.
"…Therefore, the Heavenly Friends Alliance doesn't need to divide its forces. If necessary, it can embrace everything within."
"Well, it's easier said than done…"
"And the amazing thing about the Heavenly Friends Alliance is not just that. Though it mixes the most diverse people, its cohesion is actually the strongest among the three forces, isn't it?"
Baek Cheon nodded.
The Nine Great Sects, on the verge of fragmentation, are not even worth discussing.
If you interpret cohesion broadly and include those suppressed by Jang Ilso's presence, you might rate the Evil Sect Alliance higher, but by common sense, the strongest cohesion among the three forces is undoubtedly the Heavenly Friends Alliance.
"This place is insane. Think about it. No matter how much the Demonic Cult invades, disciples of Mount Hua and Shaolin—two sects with the worst relations in the realm—are joining forces, and Namgung, the leader of the Five Great Families, adds his strength. Even I, the Green Forest King, was dragged here."
"…"
"The heads of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, and the Green Forest King. Do you think this is a combination that can naturally mix?"
"…No, I don't think so."
Baek Cheon scratched the back of his head. It had seemed natural until now, but in fact, this was an unreasonable situation.
If all those people could get along so easily, why would martial warriors distinguish between Justice faction and Evil Sect, prestigious and minor sects, and thoroughly reject each other?
Even within the same Justice faction, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families are divided and subtly check each other.
"But in the Heavenly Friends Alliance, that is possible. So the Heavenly Friends Alliance doesn't need to conform to others' thoughts. It just needs to accept them inside! What does that mean?"
"Well, what does it mean?"
"It means there's no need to become a member of the Alliance. If it just expands its power, the Heavenly Friends Alliance itself will become that Alliance. Whether it's the Nine Great Sects or the Four Sects Alliance, it can just swallow them up. Not a forced patchwork union, but pushing them under the Heavenly Friends Alliance."
"…"
"Heh heh heh heh. I thought he was a big shot, but I never imagined he had such great ambition. Can't beat him, indeed. Heh heh heh heh."
Im So-Byeong's eyes turned to Chung Myung on the eaves, clearly excited.
But Baek Cheon felt something was off about his words.
And at that moment, Yu Yiseol, who had been silent, spoke.
"That it's different from before."
"…Hmm?"
Baek Cheon turned to Yu Yiseol. She was looking not at Baek Cheon but at Chung Myung.
"Mount Hua failed. Completely."
"…"
"Before, we thought it was because of ungrateful people. But that's not it. Mount Hua failed because it was alone."
Baek Cheon nodded. This aligns with what Chung Myung said.
"So this time will be different. Mount Hua is no longer alone. Even if not as strong as before, there are those who will fight alongside and protect each other. So don't be afraid. Because you can do it."
Everyone nodded. Though clumsy, these words resonated with them much more.
"Right. If Mount Hua was alone before, it couldn't have done anything within that alliance."
"But now it's not. The Sichuan Tang family will do their best to help us."
"Not just the Sichuan family. So even if we form an alliance, we don't need to bow our heads. Mount Hua is no longer just a single sect, but a representative of the Heavenly Friends Alliance."
Baek Cheon sighed deeply.
'The homework is piling up.'
In the past, Chung Myung would have explained in detail so everyone could understand what he said, even if annoyed. Isn't that how Chung Myung is?
But this time was different. He just dropped the topic and stepped back, as if telling them not to follow blindly but to think for themselves.
"Everyone will have different interpretations."
"…"
"But I think that's right. After all, an alliance is a place where people with different thoughts coordinate those thoughts."
"Yes, sasuk."
"I think so. What Samae said is right, and what the Green Forest King said also… has some chance of being right."
"…But the treatment seems too different in acceptance."
Baek Cheon ignored Im So-Byeong's words and spoke.
"But I think this: the core of the conversation between Jang Ilso and Chung Myung is just the Heavenly Friends Alliance itself. The Heavenly Friends Alliance was created for mutual protection. Such a place should not force sacrifices on each other in the name of protecting the murim world. That would fundamentally go against why we created the Heavenly Friends Alliance."
"…That's a correct statement."
"It will be a hard path. Chung Myung says that he must protect the realm from the Demonic Cult's claws and protect everyone he wants to protect. It will be a thorny path. So…"
Baek Cheon raised his head and looked at Chung Myung again.
The full moon above softly illuminated Chung Myung.
"Let's help him. We are also those who want to protect him."
"Yes, sasuk."
"Yes, sahyung."
A gentle smile appeared on Baek Cheon's lips as he looked at Chung Myung.
Everyone doesn't need to think the same. What's important is to trust each other and try to protect each other.
That is the alliance, that is the league, that is the sect.
Yes. That is family.