Chapitre 553: Chapter 1441: What Should I Do? (Part 1)
"Sect Leader, are we really going to turn back like this?"
Jong Rigok frowned as Jin Chobaek approached unexpectedly.
"What do you mean?"
"About Diancang."
Jong Rigok fell silent. Jin Chobaek spoke again.
"Of course, even if we were to head to Diancang from now on, it might already be too late, but if we turn back like this, Kangho will criticize the Southern Edge Sect for abandoning its fellow sects."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Jong Rigok scoffed coldly.
"The world has changed since we went into Bongmun. Now, things like face don't matter."
"...That's certainly..."
"We've entered turbulent times. Survival in such an era is about developing skills and pursuing practical benefits."
Jin Chobaek nodded heavily. Jong Rigok looked at him with a strange expression.
"Why? Are you worried about the son you left behind?"
After a brief silence, Jin Chobaek let out a short sigh.
"You know I didn't mean it like that."
"You tried him. Your son is quite stubborn, I must say."
Jong Rigok clicked his tongue as if disappointed.
"He should have left something for Southern Edge in any way."
"I'm sorry."
"Why should you apologize? Children don't always follow their parents' wishes. But..."
"Yes?"
Jong Rigok stared ahead in silence for a moment, then muttered as if talking to himself.
"It's not just that one who's the problem."
It was a vague statement, but Jin Chobaek understood the meaning behind Jong Rigok's words. It wasn't just Baek Cheon; each disciple of the Mount Hua Sect was exceptionally sharp.
It was unbelievable that they were the ones who were once crushed by Southern Edge's disciples at the Mount Hua-Southern Edge competition.
"In just a few years..."
There was no choice but to bitterly laugh. While others in Kangho seemed to accept this change naturally, the situation was different for Southern Edge. Due to Bongmun, they had been isolated from the martial world for several years, making the extent of the change especially dramatic.
Then Jin Chobaek, with a voice filled with concern, spoke up.
"Sect Leader, I'm a little worried."
"What are you talking about?"
"At the moment... Yes, well, at the moment, I'm not too concerned. No matter how much the Mount Hua waves their tails, they're still a sect without proper elders, right?"
"That's right."
"They are just children with an inflated reputation at the moment. Mount Hua's power is still nowhere near that of Southern Edge."
Jong Rigok nodded. He thought the same way.
"But... in ten, twenty years, will it still be the same?"
"..."
"When the time comes for the disciples of Mount Hua to become elders, I'm concerned whether Southern Edge will be ahead of Mount Hua."
Jong Rigok chuckled.
"It seems your youngest son's fingers will hurt more than your eldest son's." [not sure]
"That's not what I meant."
"Is that so? But... you don't need to worry so much."
"Huh?"
Jong Rigok's eyes sank deeply.
"Do you know why it's hard to find a virtuous person in the world?"
"Because it's difficult to practice virtue?"
"Tsk tsk. Look here. The one who doesn't practice virtue because it's difficult is not a virtuous person, right? That's not a correct answer."
"Then...?"
"The reason is simple."
Jong Rigok let out a faint sneer.
"Because they are all dead."
At the unexpected answer, Jin Chobaek momentarily stared blankly at Jong Rigok. Seeing his expression, Jong Rigok burst into a small laugh.
"Why is that?"
"Sect Leader. What kind of..."
He tried to ask what sort of strange words they were, but Jong Rigok spoke faster.
"It's just a joke."
Jong Rigok chuckled as if it were a genuine joke, but Jin Chobaek knew. This statement was by no means a simple joke.
"Sect Leader. Perhaps Mount Hua..."
"Is there a need for that?"
"Huh?"
Jong Rigok shrugged his shoulders. Then, he uttered incomprehensible words once again.
"Listen, Chobaek."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"What do you think makes a good father?"
Jin Chobaek's face slightly tensed. He knew he wasn't a proper parent himself. If he were a truly good father, his son wouldn't be in Mount Hua now.
"Well, I..."
"I think the same way. A proper parent isn't someone who guides their child to know what is right, not someone who leads them down the right path. A proper parent is someone who protects their child no matter what."
Jin Chobaek glanced back. Jong Rigok, after staring at the same place for a while, continued.
"Look. Soon, the land we stepped on will be dyed red. Not only here, but many other places will be the same."
"...That will happen."
"My goal is simple. Among the blood that whets this ground, the blood shed by Southern Edge should be minimized as much as possible. To achieve that, I am willing to be a coward and a villain. What about you? Will you criticize me for being like that?" [yes.]
Jin Chobaek shook his head slightly.
"If I weren't a father, I might have."
"An interesting answer. Hahaha."
Jong Rigok laughed heartily, soaking the air with his laughter. The image of Hyun Jong came to Jong Rigok's mind again. In the end, a person's essence doesn't change. No matter how much Hyun Jong changed, he was still Hyun Jong.
"Don't be too late."
"...What do you mean?"
"Your son."
Jong Rigok laughed.
"If it's too late, you might regret it irreversibly. The arms of Southern Edge are generous enough to embrace at least one returned child, so don't miss the timing."
Jin Chobaek's face stiffened.
"By the way, this is not a joke."
"Sect Leader..."
"Let's go."
Jong Rigok increased his pace, surpassing Jin Chobaek. It wasn't because the road was urgent. It was because he didn't want Jin Chobaek to see the expression he was making now.
'Mount Hua.'
The world was not that simple.
Were there just one or two sects that once threatened to swallow the entire world with their reputation? But in the end, they couldn't handle what they had done and collapsed. Just like the current Mount Hua.
'It will be like that. Naturally, it should be like that.'
But what if... if that Mount Hua overcame everything? If they proved that they were a sect that could bear all that weight?
Then who in the world could stop them?
Jong Rigok's eyes darkened.
'It's like a dream.'
Such a thing wouldn't happen. Never.
❀ ❀ ❀
"Gaju-nim, we have gathered all the bodies, but..."
Instead of urging him with the rest of the report, Tang Gunak closed his eyes tightly.
The reason why the one reporting trailed off was obvious. Originally, the bodies collected here were supposed to be moved to Chengdu and buried at their temple. That would've been the appropriate treatment for those who sacrificed their lives to protect the family.
But now it couldn't be done. The Tang Family complex had already burned down, and the Myriad Man Manor had taken control of Sichuan.
"Bury the bodies."
"...Yes, Gaju-nim."
He was about to add that they should mark the graves clearly to make it easier to visit them later, but he quickly shook his head. Because all of that seemed pointless now.
And above all... Tang We, and those who perished here, wouldn't want that. At such a time, he would rather them gather the surviving disciples and strive for the revival of the family.
"Gaju-nim, now..."
Tang Pae, who approached to ask a question, closed his mouth at the sight of Tang Gunak's face.
Originally, what he wanted to ask was, 'What are you going to do now?' However, now he felt that asking such a question to Tang Gunak would be too harsh.
"Sogaju."
"Yes, Gaju-nim."
"Prepare for camping."
"...Here?"
Tang Gunak nodded.
"Night is coming soon. It is impossible to move exhausted people on the road at night. We will rest here for today."
"...Understood."
Tang Gunak looked at Tang Pae and spoke.
"And... as soon as the sun rises tomorrow, prepare everyone."
"Where do you plan to go?"
Tang Gunak didn't answer, but the Tang Pae nodded.
"Yes, I will do that."
As Tang Pae turned to leave, Tang Gunak, who had been silently watching, slowly raised his head.
'Well.'
The sunset came into view as the sky darkened.
'Where should I go?'
Darkness fell on the field.
Camping in a field without preparation wasn't as easy as one might think. Especially with children and women who weren't familiar with martial arts, it became even more challenging.
However, thanks to the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect, who were familiar enough with such tasks, they were able to prepare without much difficulty.
Women comforted and took care of crying children, while artisans skillfully set up tents to shield them from the wind.
Tap, tap.
Red sparks flew up from the various bonfires. The faces of the Tang Family members, who silently gazed at the bonfires, quickly deepened with solemnity.
After barely catching their breaths, the realization hit them again.
They had lost their homes and were now wandering.
And perhaps, they might never be able to return to Sichuan again.
A heavy air settled among the gathered individuals.
"I have brought pots and grains as you instructed. I will prepare the porridge quickly."
Tang Gunak nodded, and the Tang Family members hung pots over bonfires here and there. As Tang Gunak silently observed them, a voice reached his ears.
"Maengju-nim."
Hyun Jong had approached without anyone noticing. Hesitant to offer words of comfort, he cautiously spoke.
"Is there anything more we can help with?"
Tang Gunak faintly smiled and nodded.
"They may be tired from coming this far, but they are not useless. Now, the strength of the Tang Family's alone is enough, so do not worry."
Hyun Jong looked at Tang Gunak with newfound admiration.
How could he be so resilient?
If Hyun Jong had faced the same situation... if Mount Hua had burned with the enemy's attack and disciples were lost, he might not have been able to pull himself together until now.
Yet, amidst all this, Tang Gunak still maintained the dignity of the head of the Sichuan Tang Family.
"Gaju-nim."
"If you think negatively, there will be no end to it. We lost a lot, but lives were saved. Isn't that enough now?"
Hyun Jong closed his eyes.
Listening to these words, he felt that he, who had been disheartened by Jong Rigok's words, seemed too feeble. Tang Gunak, under much more difficult circumstances, was standing so resolutely.
At that moment, Tang Gunak respectfully bowed his head.
"More importantly... thank you."
Puzzled, Hyun Jong hurriedly protested.
"Why, why are you saying this, Gaju-nim!"
"If Maengju-nim had not made the decision, we could not have saved them."
"Where did I make such a decision? Please raise your head. Please."
Naturally, the voices of the two became a bit louder.
Watching this scene from a distance, Yoon Jong sighed.
"Gaju-nim is truly remarkable, Sasuk."
"What are you talking about?"
"Even after experiencing such an incident, he's no different from usual. I couldn't imitate that."
"That's why he's Gaju-nim."
Jo Gol frowned at his words.
"What's so difficult about that? Just do what you always do."
"...Gol-ah, people are having a conversation here."
"Yes? So what?"
"There. There's porridge over there, porridge."
"But this guy?"
The Five Swords began to playfully argue, and a wrestling match started.
Amidst the heavy air, attempting to avoid a serious conversation, exaggerated jokes, and forced atmosphere, everything mixed together.
In this chaotic place, Chung Myung silently stared at Tang Gunak. That back that seemed so firm.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone