Chapter 1405: That Was Amazingly Splendid. (5)

It was an uncharacteristic reaction for Jo Gul, but no one bothered to single that out.

Just from the wounds on their bodies, one couldn’t help but know how harsh a road he and his companions had traveled.

Having gone through such things, even the legendary Jo Gul might have his temperament change…

“No, but what on earth were you thinking crossing the river? Are you sane?”

No, still, Jo Gul is Jo Gul.

“Gul-a… The former Sect Leader…”

“No, I’m not wrong, am I? What if you’d been caught doing that? You’d be dead for sure. You’re not under the illusion you have two lives, are you? Truly irresponsible, you lot. You only survived because you were lucky; if anyone had noticed you on the way here…”

Jo Gul scolded because Chung Myung was quiet. At that moment, Yoon Jong, carried on Hyun Sang’s back, muttered weakly.

“Elder… Could you move just a bit toward that bastard…? I can’t reach him…”

“Do be reasonable at times, Yoon Jong. He looks like he’s about to die even if you leave him.”

“…That would be fortunate then…”

Yoon Jong shook his head weakly. But what he really wanted to ask was the same as Jo Gul’s.

“But how on earth did you end up crossing the river?”

“There was nothing to debate. The Sect leader… no, the former Sect Leader insisted with sword in hand that we must cross the river and ranted.”

“The, the Former Sect Leader said that?”

“Yes. He berated us relentlessly.”

Yoon Jong opened his eyes wide and looked around. The other Five Swords also stared at him in surprise.

After exchanging glances, Yoon Jong watched Hyun Jong’s back as he ran while carrying Baek Cheon.

‘Not Elder Hyun Young, but the Former Sect Leader?’

In truth, if it had been Hyun Young, it would have been immediately understandable for them. Hyun Young is blunt by nature, and though he seems cold, when crisis strikes he wouldn’t hesitate to risk his life for his disciples.

But imagining Hyun Jong nagging and driving his subordinates to cross the river was hard. And he even managed to drive members of other sects?

“So you mean the Former Sect Leader’s berating was accepted by everyone from the other sects?”

“Do you think they only accepted it?”

Hyun Sang let out a hollow laugh as if the more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

“The head of the Tang Family and the Namgung elders actually scolded us several times for being late.”

“…”

“Moreover, originally the Ice Palace and the Beast Palace were supposed to remain north of the river, but when we came to our senses and turned, they were already following behind.”

“What?”

“No matter how we reasoned, they wouldn’t accept it. And there was no time to argue in the midst of it…”

For a moment, Yoon Jong felt dizzy. Thanks to Meng So and Han Yi-Myung, Chung Myung’s life had been preserved. But if things had followed the original plan, those two might not have been here at all.

Hyun Sang, as if knowing his thoughts, spoke.

“Isn’t it strangely providential?”

“…It is.”

Hyun Sang watched Meng So and Han Yi-Myung running ahead on alert and said quietly.

“We didn’t ask anyone to risk their lives for those in here. Yet those people chose of their own will to stake their lives.”

“…”

“And seeing them save that bastard Chung Myung here brought up many thoughts.”

Yoon Jong unconsciously gripped Hyun Sang’s shoulder with force. An indescribable resonance stirred within him. Hyun Sang’s low voice spoke softly.

“Sometimes, whenever Chung Myung and you lot get up to something, I used to think this: you could live comfortably without all that reckless behavior and rampaging—what worry drives the kids to go that far?”

Hyun Sang’s gaze moved to Chung Myung, who was being carried by Tang Gunak.

“But this time I feel like I saw the answer. Perhaps that brat wanted to see a scene like this happen.”

Yoon Jong, like Hyun Sang, stared at Chung Myung’s back.

‘He called it the Heavenly Friends Alliance…’

He had assumed the name was given without much thought. But now it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.

What Chung Myung had truly longed for was a relationship where, in times of crisis, people would drop everything and rush to help—where each would risk their life for the other.

So he acted that way himself, believing that if he did, others would do the same for him.

His reckless disregard for his own safety in favor of others ultimately saved Chung Myung’s life this time.

If those people hadn’t recklessly risked their lives for Chung Myung, he would not be among the living now.

What is one to call this situation?

Only a single word came to Yoon Jong’s mind.

“It’s Dao.”

“…I see.”

Of course. The ways of the world may seem empty, but in the end they proceed rightly. That’s the only way to put it. Of course…

“Luck plays a role.”

“…That is also true.”

One could put it cleanly and clearly like Yu Yiseol would.

Whether by heavenly fortune or otherwise, countless factors aligned so Chung Myung could live—and so could they; that fact doesn’t change.

Perhaps this memory will not fade for as long as they live.

‘Does that brat know?’

How many people risked their lives to save Chung Myung. Of course, unconscious as he is, he probably doesn’t know.

At that moment, Baek Cheon, who was carried on Hyun Jong’s back, turned his head and spoke.

“This is no time for nostalgia.”

“…Huh?”

“The danger isn’t over yet. You know the Ten Thousand People Clan’s main force is moving ahead, don’t you?”

Yoon Jong fell silent.

“If it’s Ho Ga-Myung, he’ll have contacted Jang Ilso. He’ll know exactly where we’re headed. That means, in order to leave the Southern lands, we’ll have to fight the Ten Thousand People Clan.”

Yoon Jong’s face hardened. Then Hyun Jong calmly corrected Baek Cheon’s words.

“Not only the Ten Thousand People Clan, but the Black Ghost Fort is coming as well.”

“…The Black Ghost Fort too?”

“Yes. And the Pirates are sailing the Yangtze river to the north. And of course the Lower District Sect will come, won’t they?”

Baek Cheon’s face turned grave.

“That means…”

Hyun Jong nodded.

“Yes. It’s not just the Ten Thousand People Clan blocking our path. The entire Four Sects Alliance is gathering at that Yangtze point.”

A deathly silence fell around Hyun Jong.

Those who had escaped death after meeting the Heavenly Friends Alliance, and those who had been elated after risking their lives to save comrades—at this moment they realized the reality.

The Four Sects Alliance. No matter how much one resisted awe, that name was overwhelmingly mighty.

At that moment Jo Gul spoke urgently.

“Ah, they haven’t fully gathered yet, have they? The Black Ghost Fort is still coming, and the Pirates are heading north! If we hurry, we might cross the river without facing them all. Right?”

Tang Gunak was the one who nodded at those words.

“The Taoist’s words make sense.”

“Y-Yes, as expected, Family lord.”

“If we hurry, it might be possible.”

“Then we must go quickly, quickly! Senior sasuk! What are you doing! Run faster!”

Jo Gul urged Un Geom on and made a commotion. Hyun Sang glanced at the scene and asked Yoon Jong.

“Yoon Jong. Shall I move aside for you?”

“…Please, I beg you. Even if I die, I want to kill that bastard and die…”

That jest brightened the mood for a moment.

Tang Gunak, who had been watching them with a small smile, suddenly let his eyes cloud over.

He wasn’t wrong, but there was one thing he didn’t bother to say.

No matter how fast they rushed, they couldn’t avoid the Ten Thousand People Clan that had already moved ahead. And Jang Ilso was among that clan’s main force.

Of course, no matter how formidable Jang Ilso might be, and regardless of the unknown strength of the Ten Thousand People Clan’s main force, it would never be easy for the clan alone to stop the Heavenly Friends Alliance.

“…What about the Green Forest King?”

Tang Gunak turned his head and looked for Im So-Byeong.

“Me?”

Brazenly, Im So-Byeong, carried on the Namgung Family elder’s back, glanced at Tang Gunak.

“What do you think?”

Frankly, it was still awkward to discuss openly, but with Chung Myung unconscious, no one else could see the whole board like Im So-Byeong. In terms of cunning, Tang Gunak had to concede several moves to Im So-Byeong.

“Hmm.”

Without needing more questions, Im So-Byeong understood what Tang Gunak sought an opinion on. He frowned, pondered briefly, and then spoke.

“Coldly speaking, the Ten Thousand People Clan won’t be the only force blocking our path. It’s that man himself who is moving the Ten Thousand People Clan.”

Tang Gunak nodded in agreement.

The Sichuan Tang Family is strong. The Namgung Family has lost much of its strength, but still retains power comparable to many sects. The Ice Palace, having sent only a few, might be iffy, but the Beast Palace’s force is formidable enough that most sects would hesitate to show their faces.

And above all, Mount Hua is involved here.

Right now, two people know best the strength Mount Hua possesses. One is Tang Gunak. The other is…

‘It would be Jang Ilso himself.’

He would never underestimate Mount Hua’s power. He might even rate Mount Hua above Tang Gunak. He always has.

“It won’t be easy, then.”

“Yes. Actually, it’s a foolish thing to do.”

Im So-Byeong scratched his temple with a broken fan.

Paradoxically, because the opponent is Jang Ilso, there’s a high probability no full engagement will occur. Jang Ilso hates taking losses. No matter the Four Sects Alliance’s stakes, he wouldn’t want to expend the Ten Thousand People Clan’s full strength just to stop the Heavenly Friends Alliance.

“If we think in the natural order… as long as we don’t arrive later than the Black Ghost Fort, we might cross the Yangtze without shedding a drop of blood.”

“If things go by the book?”

“Yes. If things go by the book…”

For an instant, similar expressions crossed Tang Gunak’s and Im So-Byeong’s faces.

What flashed in both their minds was Jang Ilso’s endlessly arrogant face, mocking the world.

“…It won’t end easily.”

“Probably.”

If things went by the book, no battle would take place.

But precisely because of that, Jang Ilso will definitely stand in their way. He always has.

Jang Ilso is the type to betray the assumed obvious method with an unimaginably unexpected tactic.

“Whatever happens, we must hurry.”

“Yes.”

Resolve settled on Tang Gunak’s and Im So-Byeong’s faces.

Jang Ilso’s moves are unpredictable. No one in the realm can foresee his plans.

Then at least they must reduce the number of plays he can make.

Reaching the Yangtze before the Black Ghost Fort and the Pirates join the Ten Thousand People Clan—that was the greatest task given to the Heavenly Friends Alliance now.

‘In the worst-case scenario…’

Tang Gunak subtly shifted his gaze. He saw everyone running with him. After taking each face in, he looked down at Chung Myung cradled in his arms.

‘The future of the Heavenly Friends Alliance must be preserved at all costs.’

That is the duty of those who survived and the responsibility of adults.

Tang Gunak, having exchanged looks with Hyun Jong, struck the ground with full force and sped up.

‘Only two hours to the Yangtze river!’

Their fate would be decided within those two hours.