Chapter 1438: Yes, Remember This. (3)

It was, of course, Tang Gunak who spoke first.

“Thanks to Southern Edge Sect personally coming, the retainers’ lives were spared. I do not know how to repay this favor.”

At those words, Southern Edge Sect’s sect leader Jong Ri-Gok smiled faintly.

Though many years had passed since he sealed his gate, Jong Ri-Gok’s appearance seemed largely unchanged. In fact, he even looked younger than before the sealing.

“You flatter me. It was only right that we come.”

“It must have been difficult while you were closed off.”

“I was already thinking it was about time to lift the closed gate training anyway. And when I heard the Evil Sect’s forces were attacking the Tang Family, I couldn’t not come.”

At that, Tang Gunak bowed his head once more.

“We are simply grateful.”

“Please, Family Lord. We too are delighted that the first thing we did after opening the gate was to aid the Tang Family. Any sect that knows righteousness would naturally do the same…”

“Hah!”

A derisive snort cut the sentence off. Jong Ri-Gok frowned slightly and turned his gaze toward the source of the sound.

“Hmm…”

It was Chung Myung of Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.

Seeing him in such a mess, Jong Ri-Gok let out a low sound—not only because Chung Myung’s condition was terrible.

“It seems the young Taoist is uncomfortable.”

“No. Well, when Southern Edge Sect’s name and talk of righteousness come up, it just tickles my nose.”

“Chung Myung!”

The Five Swords hurriedly tried to stop Chung Myung. But he shrugged as if to say, what I said wasn’t wrong.

Jong Ri-Gok shook his head.

“The young Taoist hasn’t changed at all.”

“They say if a person suddenly changes, they’ll die. Come to think of it, the Sect leader doesn’t seem the same as before?”

“Aagh!”

“Shut that mouth!”

The Five Swords, alarmed, clamped a hand over Chung Myung’s mouth.

At that absurd scene, Jong Ri-Gok couldn’t help but open his mouth, then snap it shut and emit a weary sound. He had been about to scold reflexively, but remembered that the young sword master had risen to a position where he could no longer be reprimanded by him.

They say ten years can change a landscape, but there are limits. While Southern Edge Sect sealed his gate, Mount Hua and Chung Myung of Mount Hua’s Sword Saint had their standing changed as if heaven and earth swapped. That person was no longer Mount Hua’s young disciple.

Soon Jong Ri-Gok’s gaze shifted slightly to the side.

“Has the Sect leader become younger?”

“I was just about to say the same. It’s good to see you looking better, Sect leader.”

At Hyun Jong’s reply, Jong Ri-Gok wore a strange smile at the corner of his mouth.

There was still a clear awkwardness in Hyun Jong’s manner toward him. It was unsurprising—the two had maintained an uneasy relationship for decades.

Yet at the same time, he could clearly feel that while Hyun Jong’s attitude was prickly, there was no hint of being cowed.

‘Is this really Hyun Jong, the Sect leader of Mount Hua whom I knew?’

He had observed that man for over decades.

Therefore Jong Ri-Gok believed he knew Hyun Jong better than anyone in the murim world. In his estimation, Hyun Jong was rigid and inflexible—an incompetent Sect leader who watched Mount Hua crumble without acting.

He was also timid by nature, pretending to be kind but failing to make decisive choices when it truly mattered.

But before him now, none of that familiar image remained. The frivolous man who slouched and laughed hollowly was gone; in his place stood a Taoist exuding a strange authority.

And…

Jong Ri-Gok raised his head and looked at Mount Hua.

‘These children…’

Then he couldn’t help but let out a short, involuntary laugh.

‘Having sealed and reorganized the sect to this degree, I thought seizing domination of Shaanxi would be no trouble.’

What on earth had they gone through to change so much since the martial tournament?

Jong Ri-Gok spoke.

“…Sect leader.”

At that, Hyun Jong paused as if remembering something, then said.

“Ah. My apologies, Sect leader. There was a misunderstanding. I have stepped down from the position of Sect leader of Mount Hua.”

“…What?”

Jong Ri-Gok blinked in sudden confusion.

Although sealed, he hadn’t completely shut his ears and had heard roughly of Mount Hua’s external affairs. But this was the first he had heard that Hyun Jong had vacated the Sect leader post.

Hyun Jong smiled calmly and said.

“Un Am is now the Sect leader of Mount Hua.”

“…Already?”

Hyun Jong nodded quietly.

“It may be premature, but I judged it to be the right thing.”

“Hmm.”

Jong Ri-Gok’s expression shifted once more.

He didn’t want to admit it, but Mount Hua now was different from before. It was no longer a third-rate Shaanxi sect waiting to be retired; it was the dominant power of Shaanxi, renowned across the land.

So the role of Sect leader of Mount Hua of old could not be the same as it is now. A new world had come where simply being Mount Hua’s Sect leader allowed one to wield many things and draw admiring gazes.

And yet, after suffering all his life to attain these things, he would hand them straight to the next generation and step down?

‘I don’t understand.’

He had felt it for a long time: he truly did not fit with Hyun Jong. They would probably never understand one another.

Just as Mount Hua and Southern Edge Sect could never be forever close.

While the sect leaders probed each other with conversation, Mount Hua’s disciples were also looking at Southern Edge Sect with fresh eyes after seeing him again in years.

“…Don’t those brats seem quite different?”

At Jo Gul’s whisper, Yoon Jong frowned and replied.

“They sealed for a long time. Of course they’d be stronger than before.”

“No, sahyung. That’s not what I mean…”

Jo Gul made a displeased face.

Their skill had obviously increased. Wasn’t Southern Edge Sect a sect already counted among the leaders of the Nine Great Sects alongside Shaolin and Wudang before the sealing? Given how this orthodox path’s mastery grows exponentially over time, it would be strange if they hadn’t become stronger.

But the strangeness Jo Gul felt wasn’t due to technique. He couldn’t explain it, but the impression those people gave was somehow different from before.

“But those brats keep winking at us, sahyung?”

“…Don’t make eye contact.”

“Are you scared?”

“No, you idiot. It’s not that…”

“They say the beatings you took as a child last a lifetime.”

“…”

“Huh? Is that, is that for real?”

Jo Gul startled and spun to look at Yoon Jong.

“No, sahyung…!”

Thud!

At that moment Baek Cheon struck Jo Gul’s head and admonished him.

“Be quiet. Aren’t the sect leaders conversing?”

“…This is a bit unfair, sasuk.”

“Unfair is…”

Baek Cheon was about to add another word.

“What a state.”

A harsh voice, all too familiar and always grating, pierced his ears. Baek Cheon pinched his brow and turned his gaze.

So similar, yet so different.

Thus there stood a face that brought both comfort and discomfort simultaneously.

Meeting that slightly condescending gaze, Baek Cheon let out a deep sigh.

“Long time.”

At Baek Cheon’s remark, Jin Geum-Ryong merely regarded him inquisitively. Jin Geum-Ryong’s blade-like stare and Baek Cheon’s lake-like gaze crossed in the air.

Soon, a crooked smile appeared at Jin Geum-Ryong’s lips.

“It’s surprising you’re still alive.”

“…”

“If you covet beyond your ability, that’s what happens. One should know their place.”

“No…!”

An indignant Jo Gul tried to cut in, but Baek Cheon firmly held his head down.

“S-sasuk!”

“I think the same.”

“…Hm?”

Baek Cheon released the hand pressing Jo Gul and rubbed his own nape.

“Act out of your station and you might die unwell. But what can you do? It’s the world’s way that the one who sticks out gets hammered.”

Glancing briefly at Chung Myung, Baek Cheon looked back at Jin Geum-Ryong and smiled faintly.

I only hope you get hit a bit less painfully.

Jin Geum-Ryong stared silently at Baek Cheon. Frowning at his brother’s smiling face, he spoke coldly.

“Don’t rely on a flimsy reputation and rampage about. You’ll die that way.”

“…I’ll try.”

“You…”

Just as Jin Geum-Ryong was about to retort, someone quickly approached and spoke up.

“It seems sahyung is very pleased to meet his younger brother after so long.”

“Lee Song-Baek!”

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen sahyung talk so much. Hahaha.”

Lee Song-Baek smiled awkwardly, prompting Jin Geum-Ryong to frown.

“Tsk.”

Then he turned sharply and distanced himself from them.

Baek Cheon exhaled deeply and pressed his hand to his forehead, as if meeting Jin Geum-Ryong alone had drained his energy.

Lee Song-Baek spoke with a teasing tone.

“I butted in as if clueless, but it wasn’t idle talk. He’s genuinely happy to see you.”

“…That’s exactly the problem—I know that.”

Jin Geum-Ryong was that kind of man by nature.

If one were to spin his earlier words kindly, he meant: now that your fame has risen, if you overreach you could die—so restrain yourself.

Who else but Jin Geum-Ryong could make that warning sound so irritating?

“Good to see you again, Taoist Baek Cheon. Do you remember me?”

“…Of course I remember you, young warrior Lee Song-baek.”

It was impossible to forget.

To some, Lee Song-Baek might be just one of Southern Edge Sect’s swordsmen; to others, he was the one who made an impression at the martial tournament.

But what Lee Song-Baek meant to Baek Cheon was different, and thus unforgettable.

‘That damn man is an acknowledged warrior.’

A man with eyes not even at the top of his head but dangling toward the heavens had acknowledged him. And not just any sect, but Southern Edge Sect’s warrior. What more need be said to describe him?

And even if he had not known this man until now, from this moment on he could not forget.

‘There’s a presence…’

A presence that couldn’t be precisely described.

Not threatening, yet bearing considerable weight. Seeing that heft, even those with no special ties to Lee Song-Baek felt a sense of stability.

The problem was that this very sense of stability oddly grated on Baek Cheon.

‘…Is this the usual feeling Mount Hua’s warriors have when looking at Southern Edge Sect’s swordsmen?’

Baek Cheon couldn’t help but instinctively understand why Southern Edge Sect and Mount Hua had been unable to harmonize.

“Uhm… er, hmm…”

Lee Song-Baek opened and closed his mouth as if unsure what to say. Watching him, Baek Cheon slightly frowned.

Lee Song-Baek wasn’t looking at him. It could have felt like a slight, but Baek Cheon wasn’t particularly hurt.

Sometimes things matter more than mere martial prowess.

“Chung Myung.”

“What?”

Chung Myung, who had been waiting for a chance to butt into Jong Ri-Gok and Hyun Jong’s conversation, pivoted aggressively.

“Come here.”

“No, why?”

“…Just come.”

“Aye.”

Chung Myung trudged over to where they were, looking annoyed.

“What?”

“Pay your respects.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung’s eyes widened when he saw Lee Song-Baek standing before Baek Cheon.

“Oh? You…?”

“Taoist Chung Myung! It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

“You…”

“Yes!”

Chung Myung tilted his head to the side.

“Who… is he again?”

A brief silence followed.

Lee Song-Baek’s shoulders sagged. The others who had been watching their meeting dropped their heads slightly.

Baek Cheon’s face flushed hotly.

‘I’m an idiot for expecting something from him.’

Acknowledgment my foot…