"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword!"
As Hong Daegwang burst into the room, Chung Myung's eyes widened sharply.
"Seriously, what is this beggar doing here? Does he think this place is his front yard?"
"Wha-what? Now is not the time to discuss such things, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword!"
"What again?"
"N-Namgung Family!"
As the name "Namgung Family" was mentioned, the eyes of everyone in Baekma Hall sharpened.
"The Namgung Family is surrounded by the Su Lo Chae!"
"...?"
Chung Myung didn't show much of a reaction to this news. So Hong Daegwang came running up, looking frustrated, and shoved his face forward.
"Their main force is trapped in Plum Blossom Island and surrounded by Su Lo Chae's ships! If we don't do something right now, we could all be wiped out. Are you even listening to what I'm saying...?"
"Ah, you're so noisy! Shut up!"
Chung Myung pushed Hong Daegwang's cheeks with his fingertips. If it had been someone else running up like that, he might have thrown a punch, but since this man was a beggar living a life rolling on the street, he wanted to minimize their areas of contact.
Mount Hua's disciples nodded in agreement with a satisfied smile.
"Chung Myung has good manners. Even using his hands."
"Yeah. I thought he'd just kick him."
"The kid has become much better. He would have crushed him with his shoe soles back in the day. Quite an improvement."
"…."
Hey, is this what good manners were like?
Were these Mount Hua kids going through some kind of darkness? That thought briefly crossed Hong Daegwang's mind, but it wasn't important for him right now.
"So, what should we do?"
"Do what?"
"Namgung Family! The Namgung Family!"
Chung Myung looked at Hong Daegwang in disbelief.
"The Namgung Family, what about him?"
"What should we do, whatever it is?"
"About the Namgung Family?"
"That's right!"
"Why me?"
Hong Daegwang's pupils shivered.
"Because everyone is going to die! Don't you understand?!"
"Oh, my. Yeah, whatever. Tsk, tsk."
Hong Daegwang's mouth slowly stretched into a smile.
"But..."
Before he could say anything more, Chung Myung interrupted him with an expression full of annoyance.
"But why does this old man think I'm some sort of a magic fairy? He rushes in every time there's a problem and whines!"
"..."
"If they rushed in there without thinking and got surrounded, they should figure it out themselves. It's no like they're three-year-olds. If they cause an accident, should I be the one fixing it for them?"
"Well, that's true, but still..."
"That's why I'm asking, why did those guys even go there in the first place? If they wanted to drive someone crazy, they should've done it elegantly. How could they just boldly enter such a place? They say even catfish thinks it can jump when the loach does it. If I do it, do they think hey can do it too?"
It was understandable why Namgung Hwang was mistaken.
Three years ago, it was difficult to even compare the Mount Hua Sect to the Namgung Family in terms of power alone. However, seeing that part of Nokrim, not even Mount Hua, occupied the island and kept Gangnam and Su Lo Chae in check at the same time, they must have thought that was possible.
'Of course, it only looks like that on the surface.' [Chung Myung's thoughts btw]
But the reality of Plum Blossom Island was different. Plum Blossom Island was a result of a treaty between Jang Ilso and Chung Myung to meet their needs.
It wasn't a place where enemy attacks could be defended easily, but because there were no threats of attack, they didn't need to defend it.
'Once Mount Hua retreated, the treaty disappeared. Now Plum Blossom Island is a piece of land that's like a cornered wild beast.'
If the Evil Tyrant Alliance and the Righteous Sects had a competition to occupy the island, which side would be favored?
'The Evil Tyrant Alliance, which controls Su Lo Chae, would be able to take the island without a doubt.'
So that's why he [Chung Myung] and Im Sobyeong left Plum Blossom Island before the war broke out.
But they rushed headlong into such a dangerous place without thinking...
If you're weak, you'll get hit; if you're ignorant, you'll get hit; if you fool around, you'll get hit... Oh, let's leave that last part out.
Anyways, wasn't it the law of Kangho that if you're ignorant, you're going to get hit?
'But back then, didn't the Namgung Family guys have some kind of plan?'
To his knowledge, the usual troublemaker was typically the Peng Family, and the Namgung Sect had the role of dealing with them. But what on earth happened over the last hundred years for the Namgung Sect to end up in such a state...
"Wait a sec."
"Huh?"
"I was just wondering, but you have information on that guy, Namgung Hwang, right?"
"Huh? Namgung Hwang? Yeah, why?"
"Who was his mom?"
At that moment, Hong Daekwang's eyes widened to the point where they couldn't get any wider.
"M-Mount Hua's Divine Dragon. O-Of course, I know you wouldn't mean any harm, but still, that seems a bit over the line..."
"Ah, damn it!"
Chung Myung abruptly kicked Hong Daekwang away and rolled him over.
"This guy is making people into bastards out of the blue! Do I look like that kind of guy to you?"
Hearing this, the disciples of Mount Hua all nodded with pleased expressions.
"It's possible."
"Even more so."
"He's known for committing atrocities as easily as breathing."
But what about these kids?
"It's not about that, it's about the family! The lineage! The lineage!"
"Ah, the lineage?"
Hong Daekwang, who let out a sigh of relief, searched his mind.
"Let's see... as far as I know, the mother of the current Namgung Hwang is from the Peng family..."
"Ah, I see?"
Yes. That's right, after all.
Wherever that bloodline goes.
Only then did Chung Myung speak with a refreshed expression, as if the unsolved mystery had finally been solved.
"That's why. I was wondering why someone like that came out of the Namgung Sect."
In a typical sect, that could happen. A sect is where people gather around a single value.
But a family is where blood continues. When people with similar temperaments receive similar education, they inevitably become similar, don't they?
Of course, even considering that Namgung Hwang had some traits from the Pang family, it was a bit excessive...
"Chung Myung."
"Yeah?"
At that moment, Baek Cheon of the Five Swords approached Chung Myung and asked, "What do you think will happen? Do you think the Namgung Family can escape from there?"
"It'll be difficult."
"...So what happens now?"
"Well... that's..."
Chung Myung stroked his chin.
"It went pretty much as expected, but there's a bit of a twist to it."
It was clear that the Namgung Family was in serious trouble. People of this era haven't experienced large-scale warfare, and as a result, they might not have fully understood the importance of terrain.
Of course, they may have learned martial arts, but they probably believed they could overcome anything with their own strength.
"The Namgung Sect's advance into Plum Blossom Island was predictable, but the problem is the Black Dragon King."
"Black Dragon King?"
"He looks like the guy that would charge directly into Plum Blossom Island as if he's saying, 'Let's fight to the death'....he's surprisingly old-fashioned. Like an old raccoon."
"They say you shouldn't judge people by their appearance..."
Baek Cheon agreed with this statement. Based on what they saw three years ago at Janggang, the Black Dragon King looked like a complete loser. Who would have ever imagined this situation, where the Black Dragon King leading the Su Lo Chae and Namgung Hwang leading the Namgung Sect would face off like this?
"If this Black Dragon King turns out to be as short-tempered as we think and rushes to exterminate Plum Blossom Island by taking advantage of the encirclement, it might actually open up a path for Namgung."
Baek Cheon's complexion darkened as he listened to Chung Myung's words. Whenever Chung Myung said something like this, he would always have a different scenario in mind.
"If."
With a voice that had grown darker, Baek Cheon spoke, "What happens if the Black Dragon King and Su Lo Chae have no intention of entering the island? Does it turn into a battle over whose reinforcements arrive first?"
"Logically, it might turn out that way. But... it won't."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because the Black Dragon King knows that as well."
"What do you mean...?"
Baek Cheon, who was momentarily puzzled, suddenly seemed to realize something.
"That... I see. I get it now."
Jo Gol, who couldn't understand their conversation, looked at them with a puzzled expression and asked, "Sasuk, what are you talking about? Please explain it so that I can understand."
"... Namgung Sect is likely aware that the Black Dragon King, who is surrounding him, would have an advantage if reinforcements arrive."
"That's right. That person can't be a fool."
"But think about it. What if, in the Black Dragon King's eyes, it appears that reinforcements from the Righteous side will arrive first? Would he just release the prey trapped in the trap without a fight?"
"... No, he wouldn't."
Baek Cheon pursed his lips slightly.
"At the very least, he would try to weaken Namgung Sect's forces as much as possible before reinforcements arrive. Engaging in a standoff and just waiting for time to pass isn't going to happen."
Chung Myung nodded.
"Black Dragon King's perspective is different. If the Evil Tyrant Alliance arrives first, it spells doom for the Namgung Familly, but if the Ten Great Sects arrive first, it's just a somewhat more troublesome situation for the Su Lo Chae."
"Because they're on the river?"
"Yes."
Chung Myung's lip curled up slightly.
In the past, when having such conversations, Chung Myung's mouth would be busy with explanations. But now, Baek Cheon understood the situation first and gave his answer.
"Anyway, Namgung can only hold out. For now, that's all he can do."
"Can he really hold out?"
"Namgung Hwang is a madman, but he's not stupid. He can at least hold out. The problem is..."
Chung Myung's face twisted slightly.
He paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully, and then slowly continued.
"Do you know when people collapse?"
"...?"
It was an unexpected remark, but Baek Cheon couldn't respond with a different question because he sensed an inexplicable heaviness in Chung Myung's voice.
"People collapse when hope is lost."
Chung Myung sneered lightly.
"I'm curious too. I wonder if that calculating guy who's preparing for war would be willing to risk his life to save the Namgung Family."
No names were mentioned explicitly, but everyone present could easily discern who Chung Myung was referring to. No one was in the dark about it.
"W-Well... you don't think...?"
"It's just a thought, just a thought. It hasn't happened yet."
Chung Myung waved his hand as if to calm the atmosphere, but despite the casual and carefree gesture, his gaze was dark and deep.
"But if..."
Chung Myung paused slightly and continued speaking
"If in the one in a thousand, one in a thousand chance that what I'm thinking actually happens..."
The mood grew heavy.
"The Namgung Family will live and end up seeing hell."
A moment of silence descended. No one could speak.
"Well, we can just eat good food and enjoy tasty treats."
"Chung Myung. Then shouldn't we do something?"
"Huh?"
"If the Namgung Family is really in danger like that..."
"Sasuk."
Chung Myung interrupted Baek Cheon's words.
"When you step onto the battlefield, you take responsibility for all your judgments."
"...I see."
"Those who think that I will help in the face of danger are the same people who expect others to help when they're in peril. That complacency takes lives."
Baek Cheon remained silent.
"That's the nature of the battlefield, and that's the nature of war. Don't forget that. If you don't want to see my brothers die because of a careless judgment made by me..."
"Got it."
Chung Myung nodded and shrugged his shoulders.
"Keep a close eye on everything. Someday, it may be something we have to experience."
Everyone swallowed dry saliva, feeling their throats burning for some reason.