Chương 519: Chapter 1407: It Is Time to Wake Up From That Dream (Part 2)
Long eyelashes trembled delicately.
After a moment, the trembling subsided, and slowly, the tightly closed eyes opened.
The mysterious eyes, which seemed hazy and rejected anything, felt like they could draw one in with just a glance.
Those eyes were staring upward.
He could see the lavish carriage ceiling, adorned with treasures (貴寶) so rare that even a lifetime wouldn't be enough to witness their grandeur.
The silk, draped on the ceiling like waves, was the finest among the celestial silks (天蠶), surpassing even gold in its splendor.
The silk was adorned with precious jewels, and the cat's eye stones interspersed among them were so valuable that a single one could purchase a vast estate.
And that was not all.
The table within arm's reach was crafted from the highest quality wood fit for kings or rulers to use. Even the small cup placed on top was an item crafted by an artisan, carved entirely from jade.
Everywhere one could touch, every place one could step, everything worn on the body—nothing was ordinary.
Yet, in the eyes of the man who possessed all this, there was not a hint of desire or pride.
His gaze at endless treasures and valuables was merely dull and empty.
Was there really worth in those things? No, did those things truly have the value attributed to them?
The man's red lips curved into a small smile.
"As if..."
It was laughable to him.
Silk was nothing more than a slightly denser and more presentable cloth. What difference was there between silk and someone wearing a mat?
And those precious jewels? They were no different from the pebbles on the roadside. Just a bit more sparkling chunks of rock.
Even the ornate wooden cup, said to be too audacious for anyone other than an emperor or king to use, was merely made from wood with a slightly different color.
Would animals distinguish between jewels and pebbles? Would they care about the difference between straw and silk that they would fill their nests with? Would they climb trees and be concerned about the varying shades of color?
No, they wouldn't. Assigning value to such meaningless things and blindly believing in the value created and attached to them was a trait unique to humans.
Wealth, fame, virtue, faith, relationships, ideals... countless trivial things.
"Ha ha."
Faint laughter echoed.
Ultimately, value was something people arbitrarily attached. It could be detached at any time.
Yet, people forget that they themselves created that value and clung to it, even staking their most precious lives on it.
The man picked up the bottle on the table and slowly tilted it. Amber-colored rice wine (美酒) flowed into the jade cup (玉杯).
"Foolish and... stupid."
Those who rushed recklessly like moths to a flame and considered their act of throwing their lives into something valueless as noble.
How could he not laugh at such a tragedy-filled comedy of a world?
The man, savoring the spreading aroma of the alcohol, raised his cup. The faintly shimmering amber liquid reflected his figure.
Adorned with countless precious metals, covered in excessive makeup hiding his face, and wrapped in red and white silk, he laughed at his own reflection.
Jang Ilso mocked everything. But what he mocked most thoroughly was none other than himself.
The countless individuals lived outside the carriage, each pursuing something they believed to hold value. However, Jang Ilso, aware that all of it was meaningless, refused to let go of anything.
Even though he couldn't grasp the difference between ordinary fabric and silk, he wrapped his body in the most luxurious silk. Knowing that it made no difference whether cheap or fine liquor flowed into his stomach, he deliberately pushed only the most precious rice wine into his mouth.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Jang Ilso emptied the cup of liquor in one go.
Risking his life for worthless things, attaching himself to meaningless pursuits – if these were the conditions for being human, then Jang Ilso would be a more perfect human than anyone else.
His gaze moved towards the small square window.
People with their individual ideals gathered, some seeking righteousness, others seeking power, some seeking loyalty, and others seeking peace.
A thick conglomerate of diverse desires that would whirl together.
Like blood, Jang Ilso's lips, tinged with red, moved.
"Soon... I should prepare to meet it."
A whirlwind was approaching.
On the board he had created. Shaolin, Kongtong, Mount Hua, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, and even the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
It wasn't people and their lives that would die in that intense whirlwind. It was the ideals someone embraced. An empty illusion that one pursued, believing it had value.
For those intoxicated with ideals, the world would be sweet beyond imagination. Like a moth captivated by fire without even knowing its wings were burning. But now...
"It is time to wake up from that dream."
A radiant smile graced Jang Ilso's lips. Soon, the world would be covered in blood.
❀ ❀ ❀
"Huuk... huuk..."
No more sweat was pouring. His pale complexion, devoid of any vitality, vividly conveyed Kim Yang Baek's current state.
But his feet did not stop for a moment. Until the moment his breath was cut off, he would keep running.
Hyun Jong, glancing at Kim Yang Baek's state, subtly approached Tang Gunak and addressed him.
"Tang Gaju-nim..."
"It's impossible."
However, Tang Gunak, whether anticipating what Hyun Jong was going to say or not, shook his head without hesitation before Hyun Jong spoke.
"His dantian is broken, and the internal energy is reversed. There's no way to save him with Tang Family's medical techniques."
"...Wasn't it the Tang Family that saved Chung Myung when he was a half-corpse?"
"Maengju-nim. I understand your sorrow, but... we are not gods. There are things we can do and things we cannot."
"..."
"We were able to save Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword because he was someone who could endure the treatment. But Kin Yang Baek can not. You can't stop water from leaking from a cracked jar."
"Hmm."
Even though he listened, understanding did not come easily. After all, the visible wounds on Chung Myung's side were incomparably more severe. Yet Chung Myung could be saved, and Kim Yang Baek couldn't.
But Hyun Jong didn't add any more words. When it came to medical skills, he was practically an outsider, and Tang Gunak was one of the most renowned figures in the world. Would it be appropriate to contest medical matters against such a person?
In case there was a glimmer of hope, Hyun Jong turned to Tang Soso, but Tang Soso only shook her head and said nothing.
At that time, when Hyun Jong secretly sighed, Kim Yang Baek, who was struggling to follow them, suddenly staggered and vomited blood.
"Sect Leader!"
Startled disciples rushed to Kim Yang Baek, but he immediately waved his hand and opened his eyes wide.
"Keep going! Don't worry about me, run! Quickly!"
The faces of the Southern Island disciples turned pale. But it was an inevitability that they couldn't defy the Sect Leader's command. Eventually, they gritted their teeth and started running again.
At that moment, Guo Hansuo approached Geum Yangbaek.
"Sect Leader, lean on me!"
However, Kim Yang Baek stubbornly shook his head and silently continued running. Anxiously, Guo Hansuo followed him, grabbing his arm.
"Then at least your internal energy..."
"Don't do unnecessary things."
Kim Yang Baek forcefully pulled his arm away from Guo Hansuo's grip.
"Sect Leader! This is not the time to be stubborn! If you continue like this, you might really..."
"Die?"
"..."
"Did you want to say those words?"
As Guo Hansuo closed his mouth, Kim Yang Baek chuckled. It wasn't mockery. Despite his firm and composed demeanor, the warmth in Kim Yang Baek's eyes was clearly directed towards his disciples and Guo Hansuo.
"I also know that life is precious. If I could survive by dragging it out, I would have done so already."
Kim Yang Baek spoke with a gasp. However, even in the midst of that, his voice remained calm, and Guo Hansuo bit his lip.
"But if it's impossible, there's no need to strain yourself for my sake. We haven't even reached Gangbuk yet."
"Please don't say such things! Why should the Sect Leader die! While the disciples are still alive, Jangmun-in should also survive! Shouldn't you survive and reclaim the foundation of Southern Island in Gangbuk?"
Though Guo Hansuo's voice was watery, Kim Yang Baek just smiled and did not respond.
Guo Hansuo also knew. How futile his words were.
"Hansuo."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"I'm fortunate to have you."
Guo Hansuo's shoulders trembled. Kim Yang Baek, who coughed weakly, turned to look at him. His complexion was not just pale but tinged with a bluish hue.
"If you weren't here, I probably wouldn't have been able to close my eyes even if I died. But... with you here, dying doesn't seem so frightening. Haha."
"Sect Leader..."
A distorted laughter escaped from Kim Yang Baek's lips.
This was the road to death. In a situation where there was no longer a way to survive, he considered it enough to dance with his sword one last time. He saw it as the last duty left to him as the Sect Leader of Haenam.
But they were still alive. And perhaps, beyond that river, they could continue the name of Southern Island.
Now, why would there be fear in death?
Kim Yang Baek silently stared at Guo Hansuo. If Guo Hansuo managed to suppress the imminent burst of tears, his appearance would be reliable.
'He has changed a lot.'
From Guo Hansuo, he no longer felt a sense of immaturity. Although still young to become the Sect Leader, he undoubtedly lacked nothing to fulfill that duty. No, perhaps he could do even better.
So...
However, Kim Yang Baek swallowed back the blood oozing from his throat.
'Not yet.'
They hadn't reached a safe place yet. There was still a mountain to cross. The only reason he clung to this tough life was that, even if it was a hanging thread, his severed life was still needed.
If only he could send them to Gangbuk.
And then, if disciples survived, if they could continue the name of Southern island, he could laugh without regrets, even in the moment he collapsed into death.
'Now I understand.'
He looked at the three waves symbol engraved on his chest. And then, he forcefully pounded the ground.
"Exert your last strength! We just have to cross that river now!"
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
Hearing the tearful answers of the disciples, Kim Yang Baek smiled.
'Something more important than life.'
And that something was right beside him. So firm.
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