Chapter 1429: So Is This Dagger A Failure? (4)

Tang Gunak stared at Chung Myung with a hard expression.

Chung Myung’s face was calm. He seemed truly unbothered now. But that couldn’t be. Tang Gunak, who knew his physical condition best, could not be unaware of how much Chung Myung was overexerting himself.

So there was only one thing he could say.

“Mount Hua’s Sword Saint. I appreciate the intention, but I must decline your offer.”

Chung Myung, rubbing his aching back, glanced over at Tang Gunak.

“What is it?”

“……We won’t go to the Tang Family.”

“Ha.”

Chung Myung exhaled shortly and asked nonchalantly.

“Why?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“The right thing?”

Tang Gunak nodded heavily.

“We are grateful for your intentions toward the Tang Family, but the Tang Family cannot bear that burden. Might not the lives of a few in the Tang Family lead to even more bloodshed?”

“……”

“……Go to Dian-cang. That is the right thing.”

Tang Gunak’s tone was firm. But it felt as if he were cutting his own heart with a knife.

He knew. Now that Chung Myung had stood and said this, no one would oppose going to save the Tang Family. By staying silent alone, they could go rescue their families.

But Tang Gunak could not bring himself to do that. Because he was Tang Gunak.

“Fa-Family Lord. The Mount Hua’s Sword Saint spoke so forcefully…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Tang Pae, who tried to sway Tang Gunak’s resolve in that moment, bowed his head deeply at the cold glare Tang Gunak shot him.

“My decision stands. So this time, to Dian-cang…… Are you listening to me now?”

“Yes, well. Go on. I’ll listen.”

Tang Gunak spoke with utmost seriousness, but Chung Myung’s response hardly matched the gravity.

Chung Myung picked at his ear with his little finger, blew on the finger he pulled out, then turned to Tang Gunak with a sulky face.

“Didn’t you have something else to say?”

Tang Gunak’s face trembled for a moment.

He had forgotten. No, he hadn’t really forgotten…… He had remembered that this man was always like this, yet it slipped his mind.

“Are you finished?”

“You…”

As Tang Gunak was about to speak, Chung Myung sulkily called for Baek Cheon.

“Hey, sasuk.”

“Huh?”

“Did anything strange happen while I was asleep?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“No, it’s not like someone put poison in the Tang Family’s Family Lord’s head; why are you all taking such a heavy tone?”

“Ah, it’s not about poison or anything. The Family Lord has always been like that… Ah. I’m sorry.”

Scolded, Baek Cheon hastily coughed and averted his gaze. Tang Gunak’s face twisted miserably.

‘That……’

How reliable Baek Cheon had been when the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint had lost consciousness—Tang Pae had thought he would be content if Baek Cheon led only half as well.

But the moment the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint regained his wits, that dependable image vanished, replaced by a loafer-like man standing there.

The others were the same.

The instant Chung Myung came to, the blade-like momentum that had surrounded Mount Hua slackened as if lying, and even Jo Gul, who had looked like he would slash at any moment, was smirking.

“So what is the conclusion?”

“I’m telling you, we must go to Dian-cang!”

Tang Gunak snapped irritably in that instant.

“If we don’t go to Dian-cang, Beop Jeong will surely exact a price from us. Someone of your standing cannot be unaware of that, can you?”

“I don’t know the exact situation…… But, I suppose so?”

“Then why are you being so stubborn?”

“No, I didn’t know you could also make people laugh.”

“What?”

Tang Gunak stared blankly at Chung Myung.

“Think about it. A man who knows that great bald one so well would say such a thing?”

A look of confusion crossed Tang Gunak’s face. What on earth was this guy saying now?

Then Chung Myung spoke.

“So if we go to Dian-cang and save them as that bald man wants, do you think the great bald one will be so moved he cries, saying ‘I’ve regained faith in the Heavenly Friends Alliance! Now we are brothers bound by blood! Let’s stand together against the Four Sects Alliance!’? Do you think that’ll happen?”

Tang Gunak was momentarily at a loss for words.

And the answers to that question came not from Tang Gunak but from others.

“No.”

“As if that would happen.”

“Amitabha…… He is not that kind of man.”

Tang Gunak looked at the Five Swords as if he’d been punched in the face. Even Hae Yeon was shaking his head.

Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

“At best, you’ll hear they’ll overlook it this one time. So what do we gain? The Nine Great Sects looking a bit more kindly on the Heavenly Friends Alliance? What are we supposed to give up for something like that?”

“……Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

“Snap out of it, you fool.”

A sharp presence surged from Chung Myung for a moment. Startled, Tang Gunak stepped back without thinking.

But that intensity from Chung Myung faded as if it were an illusion, leaving the usual mischievous smirk.

“If blood’s rushing to your head, cool it down. There’s plenty of spit around to cool you. I’ve been stabbed before; it works wonders.”

Chung Myung chuckled and glanced at Tang Soso. Tears streamed silently from Tang Soso’s large eyes as she bit her lip.

Startled, Chung Myung turned his head and muttered.

“……Why is she making a fuss and crying again?”

Clearing his throat, Chung Myung this time looked at Hyun Jong instead of Tang Gunak.

“Sect leader.”

“Ah, no, I’m the retired…”

“Don’t stand there listening to idle talk like a dazed man; let’s go. You should know how to scold the child if she throws a tantrum. Are you going to indulge every little thing? Such a waste of time.”

“……I’m sorry.”

Faced with Chung Myung’s blunt scolding, Hyun Jong apologized before he knew it. He wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong, but Chung Myung’s scowling face made him feel compelled to apologize.

“Anyone else have something to say?”

No one spoke. Tang Gunak bit his lip tightly.

“This is……”

“Persistent, aren’t you. If that’s the case, take whoever wants to go to Dian-cang can go. But I doubt anyone here will follow the Family Lord.”

At those words, Tang Gunak involuntarily looked to his own people.

The Tang Family’s elite all averted their eyes as if refusing to ever go to Dian-cang. These were the very people who a moment ago would have followed Tang Gunak into hell.

“……These bastards……”

“I will accept punishment.”

Tang Pae spoke on their behalf.

“Even if disobedience costs me arms and legs, I will endure it. But Family Lord. No, Father.”

Tang Pae met Tang Gunak with a firmer gaze than ever.

“I remember what you told me, Father. You clearly said the Family Lord of the Tang Family must be someone who, for the Tang Family, can do whatever is necessary, right or wrong.”

“……”

“So now I cannot follow your words. I will go save my family. That is my decision as the Young lord, as a member of the Tang Family.”

Tang Gunak bit his lower lip. After glaring at Tang Pae for a long moment, he looked at the one who had caused all this. He panted as if he might shout, then let out a sigh.

“How do you intend to bear this?”

“……”

“Your words may be right. No doubt of it. Even if we go to Dian-cang, there will be no day when Beop Jeong looks on us kindly. But that’s incomparable to truly becoming their enemies. And the way the world looks upon us will no longer be what it once was. How will you bear that? Who will pay that price……”

“Me.”

Tang Gunak’s eyes widened. Chung Myung, meanwhile, remained unruffled.

“You’ll ask who will bear it, right? I’ll bear it. It’s obvious.”

“……”

“If you want to curse me, go ahead. Since when have I only done things to look good for others? I always lived as I pleased. No need to be dramatic about it.”

“That’s true.”

“He went too far. No, he went way too far.”

“A person should care somewhat about others’ eyes. How can anyone live like that?”

“Seriously these bastards?”

When Chung Myung glared, the Five Swords flinched and looked away. After scolding them with his stare, Chung Myung returned his gaze to Tang Gunak.

He knew too. Why Tang Gunak wanted to go to Dian-cang now.

But Chung Myung would never agree to that.

He knew how a life turns into hell when one sacrifices what should not be sacrificed to achieve a cause. He understood how painfully agonizing that was.

So he could not push Tang Gunak into that hell.

“‘I will die for the world.’ That’s a hero. I admire such people. But……”

Chung Myung’s face contorted.

“Anyone who shouts that you must die for the world is just a fool and an imbecile. Especially if it’s their own family on the line.”

Beneath his wide sleeve, Tang Gunak’s hand trembled faintly.

“And if a friend acts like an idiot, you should rattle him awake by beating some sense into him. Isn’t that right?”

Under Chung Myung’s unwavering gaze, Tang Gunak finally closed his eyes gently.

“You.”

“Yes.”

When he opened his eyes again, Tang Gunak’s gaze burned like fire.

“Do you truly have the resolve to bear all of this?”

“……”

“Is this not simply out of pity for us, but with the determination to shoulder all responsibility? Is that really so?”

Instead of answering, Chung Myung shouted.

“Sasuk!”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon threw the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword he had been carrying to Chung Myung. Chung Myung caught the sword, drew it in an instant, and swung it. The blade traced a clear line and touched Tang Gunak’s throat.

The green tassel hanging from the halted tip of the blade shook violently.

Chung Myung growled as he spoke.

“If I intended to shirk responsibility, I wouldn’t have taken up the sword.”

Clang!

The sword was cleanly sheathed and slid back into its scabbard. Chung Myung’s sword, made by the Tang Family, hung again at his waist—exactly where it belonged.

“So stop the pointless talk and say what you need to say again. Say what you should have said as the Family Lord of the Tang Family.”

A complex, strange light flickered in Tang Gunak’s eyes. His fist, clenched beneath his sleeve, turned white at the knuckles.

The thing he wanted to say most—yet couldn’t bring himself to say.

Tang Gunak bowed his head deeply.

“Go to the Tang Family. The Tang Family……”

He swallowed the rising emotion and spoke again.

“Help the Tang Family.”

“Anytime.”

Chung Myung gripped Tang Gunak’s shoulder tightly, spun on his heel, and shouted toward Mount Hua.

“Did you hear that, you brats!”

“Oh!”

“No time to waste! Let’s go!”

A blade-like momentum burst forth once more. The Tang Family elite, finally allowed to go where they needed to, lifted their spirits with all their might.

The exhausted gathered regained vitality like a taut bowstring. It was a change too great to be the work of a single person.

“Hurry up, Chung Myung!”

“You were such a pain, but you pulled yourself together! You’re alright now, right?”

“It won’t be too late if we go now, right?”

While people smiled and spoke to Chung Myung here and there, Jo Gul also ran up with a bright face. Seeing him, Chung Myung grinned.

“Before that, sahyung.”

“Huh?”

“Carry me on your back.”

“……Huh?”

“My legs went weak.”

“……”

“Quick.”

……Is this guy really okay? Jo Gul’s shoulders slumped lifelessly.