Chapter 517: Chapter 1405: Infinitely More Than Enough (Part 5)
Jo Gol's response was unusual for him, but no one bothered to criticize or point it out.
Just by looking at the wounds on his body, it was evident how arduous their journey had been.
Anyone who had experienced such events would likely undergo a significant change in temperament, even Jo Gol.
"No, but seriously, why did you cross the river? Are you out of your mind?"
Never mind. Jo Gol was Jo Gol, after all.
"Gol-ah...to Great Elder..."
"No, I didn't say anything wrong. What if you got caught? You'd be in deep trouble. It's not like having an extra life or something. What's the plan here? You guys are really clueless. You're just lucky you made it this far; if someone noticed you along the way..."
Chung Myung's silence only fueled Jo Gol's scolding. At that moment, Yoon Jong, leaning on Hyun Sang's back, weakly muttered.
"Elder... Can't you go a bit closer to that kid? I can't reach..."
"Hush, Yoon Jong. Just leave him be; he'll probably die soon anyway."
"Well... that's fortunate..."
Yoon Jong sighed weakly. However, deep down, he was as curious as Jo Gol about why Hyun Jong decided to cross the river.
"But seriously, why did you cross the river?"
"There's no need to explain. Sect Leader... no, Great Sect Leader insisted on crossing the river, brandishing his sword."
"Gr...Great Sect Leader?"
"Yes. Quite determined, he was."
Yoon Jong widened his eyes and glanced around. The other Five Swords were also staring at him in surprise. Yoon Jong observed Hyun Jong carrying Baek Cheon on his back, running ahead.
'Not Elder Hyun Young but Great Sect Leader?'
If it had been Hyun Young, they would have understood immediately. Hyun Young was straightforward and, despite his cold exterior, willing to risk his life for his disciples when necessary. But Hyun Jong pressuring subordinates and crossing a river? And influencing people from other sects too?
"Did the others accept Great Sect Leader's pressure?"
"Did they just accept it?"
Hyun Sang chuckled as if the idea was absurd.
"Tang Gaju-nim and the Namgung elders scolded us for being late multiple times."
"..."
"Besides, originally, Ice Palace and Beast Palace were supposed to stay in Gangbuk, but somehow, they ended up following us."
"What?"
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense. What can I say? We couldn't argue, and while we were at it..."
Yoon Jong's surroundings suddenly seemed dizzy. Thanks to Meng So and Han Yi Myung, they managed to save Chung Myung's life. But what if those two hadn't been here?
Hyun Sang seemed to sense Yoon Jong's thoughts and spoke.
"Isn't it truly coincidental?"
"Well... yes."
Hyun Sang, watching Meng So and Han Yi Myung running ahead with caution, continued speaking.
"They didn't ask anyone to risk their lives for them. Yet, they willingly put their lives on the line."
"..."
"And seeing them here, saving Chung Myung, it really makes you think."
Yoon Jong instinctively grabbed Hyun Sang's shoulders. An indescribable resonance echoed through his being. Hyun Sang's soft voice murmured gently.
"Isn't it strange? Sometimes, when you and Chung Myung are causing trouble, I've thought about it. Why go through all this trouble? Why not just live peacefully without going wild? What's there to worry about, risking your life like that?"
Hyun Sang's gaze turned toward Chung Myung, who was being carried by Tang Gunak.
"But now, I feel like I've seen the answer. Maybe he wanted a relationship where they could drop everything and run to each other's aid in times of crisis. A bond where they would risk their lives for each other. That's what he truly desired."
Yoon Jong also stared at Chung Myung's back.
'He called it the Heavenly Comrade Alliance...'
He had thought it was just a random name, but now it seemed there was more to it. What Chung Myung truly wanted was a connection where, in times of crisis, they could disregard everything and rush to each other's side, willing to risk their lives for one another.
So, he acted that way. Because he probably thought that if he acted like that, others would do the same for him.
Chung Myung's reckless actions, putting others before himself, ironically saved his life this time.
If they hadn't risked their lives as recklessly as they did, he wouldn't be alive by now.
How should one express this situation?
Yoon Jong could only think of one word.
"The Tao."
"...That makes sense."
Naturally so. Despite the world seeming futile, it ultimately moved in the right direction. That was the only way to describe the situation. Of course...
"Luck."
"...That's also true."
It could be neatly and clearly organized as Yoo Iseol said.
But the fact remained that numerous things aligned to allow Chung Myung and the others to survive. Perhaps this memory would not fade away as long as they lived.
'Does he know?'
How many people risked their lives to save Chung Myung? Of course, he wouldn't be aware, unconscious as he was.
At that moment, Baek Cheon, who had been carried on Hyun Jong's back, turned his head and said.
"This isn't a time for sentimentality."
"...Yes?"
"The crisis is not over yet. Do you know that the main force of Myriad Man Manor is moving forward?"
Yoon Jong closed his mouth.
"If it's Ho Gakmyung, he'll definitely contact Jang Il So. They'll know where we're heading. In other words, to get out of Gangnam, we'll eventually have to confront Myriad Man Manor."
Yoon Jong's face stiffened. At that moment, Hyun Jong calmly corrected Baek Cheon's words.
"It's not just Myriad Man Manor; it seems the Black Ghost Castle is coming too."
"...The Black Ghost Castle?"
"Yes. The Su Lo Chae is also advancing north along the Yangtze River. Well, of course, the Hao Sect will come too."
Baek Cheon's face became serious.
"Does that mean...?"
Hyun Jong nodded.
"Yes. What's blocking our way right now isn't just Myriad Man Manor. The entire Evil Tyrant Alliance is gathering along the Yangtze River."
A heavy silence descended around Hyun Jong. Those who had escaped the danger of death by meeting Heavenly Comrade Alliance and those who had risked their lives to save their comrades were now realizing harsh reality.
The Evil Tyrant Alliance (邪覇聯). No matter how they resisted, the name was too formidable.
At that moment, Jo Gol spoke urgently.
"Ah, they haven't completely gathered yet, have they? The Black Ghost Castle is coming, and Su Lo Chae is advancing! If we hurry, we might be able to cross the river without facing all of them. Right?"
In response, Tang Gunak, who was carrying Chung Myung, nodded.
"Dojang is correct."
"Indeed, Gaju-nim."
"If we hurry, it's possible."
"Then we need to go quickly! Sasuk-jo! What are you doing? You should run quickly!"
Jo Gol stirred up a commotion, waving his sword. Seeing that, Hyun Sang glanced at Yoon Jong and asked.
"Yoon Jong. Should we go to the side?"
"...Please, I beg you. Even if I die, that guy has to go down with me..."
At that jest, the atmosphere lightened for a moment. The eyes of Tang Gunak, who had been watching them with a faint smile, suddenly darkened.
It wasn't an incorrect statement, but there was one thing he didn't mention.
There's no way to avoid the fact that, no matter how quickly they moved, the Myriad Man Manor, who had already outpaced them, couldn't be escaped. And the main force of Myriad Man Manor included Jang Ilso.
Of course, no matter how formidable Jang Ilso was, and even if the power of Myriad Man Manor's main force was unknown, stopping the Heavenly Comrade Alliance solely with the Myriad Man Manor was definitely not an easy task.
"...What about the Nokrim King?"
Tang Gunak turned his head to find Im Sobyeong.
"Me?"
Im Sobyeong, shamelessly being carried on the back of a Namgung elder, glanced at Tang Gunak.
"What do you think?"
Honestly, it was still a bit awkward to discuss it in the open, but with Chung Myung unconscious, Im Sobyeong was the only one who could see the overall situation. In terms of strategy, Tang Gunak also had to admit that Im Sobyeong was someone he had to be wary of.
"Hmm."
Even without a specific question, Im Sobyeong understood what Tang Gunak was seeking an opnion on. Frowning for a moment in contemplation, he spoke.
"Coolly looking at it, Myriad Man Manor won't likely block our path on its own. The one moving Myriad Man Manor now is none other than him."
Tang Gunak nodded in agreement.
The Sichuan Tang Family was formidable. The Namgung Family may have suffered a significant loss in power, but they still possessed strength comparable to most sects. Although the few members from the Ice Palace might be a bit uncertain, the power of the Best Palace was powerful enough that most sects found it difficult to challenge.
And above all, there was the Mount Hua Sect.
Of all the people in the world, two knew best the power possessed by the Mount Hua Sect. One was Tang Gunak, and the other was...
'It must be Jang Il So himself.'
He would never underestimate the power of Mount Hua. Perhaps he would even evaluate it higher than Tang Gunak. He had always been like that.
"It won't be easy."
"Yes. Honestly, it's a foolish act."
Im Sobyeong scratched his head with a broken fan, reflecting on the situation.
On the contrary, since the opponent was Jang Ilso himself, there was a high probability that there would be no confrontation. Jang Ilso hated losing. Even though it might be an action under the name of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, he wouldn't want to engage all the forces of Myriad Man Manor just to stop the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"If everything goes as planned, if the Black Ghost Sect arrives later than Myriad Man Manor, we might be able to cross the river without shedding a drop of blood."
"If everything goes as planned..."
"Indeed. If everything goes as planned..."
For a moment, similar expressions came to the faces of Tang Gunak and Im Sobyeong.
Simultaneously, their minds conjured up the endlessly arrogant face of Jang Ilso, laughing at the world.
"...It won't end easily."
"Probably."
If everything went as planned, there would be no confrontation.
But that was why Jang Ilso would surely block their path. He had always been like that.
Jang Ilso was someone who took a method everyone considered obvious and would find a way to stab them in the back in an unimaginable way.
"However it turns out, we need to hurry."
"Yes."
Tang Gunak and Im Sobyeong steeled themselves for the task.
The number of Jang Ilso's forces was unpredictable. No one in the world could predict the numbers he would deploy.
So, at least, they had to reduce the number of troops he could deploy.
Reaching the Yangtze River before the Black Ghost Castle and the Su Lo Chae joinedthe Myriad Man Manor. That was the biggest task given to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance right now.
'In the worst-case scenario...'
Tang Gunak glanced sideways. Everyone running with him came into view. After observing each of their faces, he looked down at Chung Myung in his embrace.
'The future of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance must continue.'
It was the obligation of those who survived and the responsibility of the adults.
Sharing the same meaning through eye contact with Hyun Jong, Tang Gunak exerted all his strength into the ground.
'Just an hour until we reach the Yangtze!'
Their fate would be decided within that hour.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Bagel_Seeds
Bagel_Seeds 1 hr = 15+ chap?...things are not going to go well...
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