In the reception hall of Wudang.
In the center of the spacious hall, watched over by the statue of the Grand Elder, there was an unusually large round table placed, something rarely seen in Wudang, which typically emphasizes hierarchy. But no one had the luxury to marvel at the table, as their attention was fully captured by those seated around it.
They were all individuals who could not be ignored.
With the Ten Great Sects now effectively defunct, the leaders of the martial sects that could rightfully claim to represent the righteous factions of the world were gathered around this table in the reception hall of Wudang.
As Maengju Hyun Jong had not yet arrived, the one who held command over the Heavenly Comrade Alliance at the moment was, to put it bluntly, Chief Chung Myung.
However, to everyone's surprise, the person presiding over this meeting was Tang Gunak, who had relinquished his position as Vice Maengju to serve as an ordinary unit leader.
"Thank you all for gathering here."
Tang Gunak began with a formal greeting.
Given that the immediate crisis had been managed, this gathering should have been a celebration of victory and a chance to honour those who contributed. However, the tone of Tang Gunak's voice was far from bright. It was evident that he couldn't bring himself to speak with joy.
"First, I must express our gratitude to Wudang for providing this venue…"
Tang Gunak's gaze turned to the opposite side.
If his current seat could be considered the highest, then the seat opposite should rightfully belong to the master of this sect. But it was occupied by someone else.
"The former Sect Leader and the current Sect Leader have suffered severe injuries and regret that they cannot be with us."
"...I see."
Tang Gunak sighed deeply as he looked at Heo Gong, who was seated opposite him.
"I don't know what words of comfort to offer."
"Please don't concern yourself. It is fortunate enough that they survived."
Even as he spoke, Heo Gong himself had lost his martial arts.
The damage Wudang suffered in the recent battle was beyond words. It was questionable whether they could ever recover to their former strength.
Of course, thinking of the case of Mount Hua, it wasn't entirely impossible…
'But will there ever be another sect like Mount Hua in this world…'
Wudang must be well aware of this.
Nevertheless, Heo Gong remained calm and steadfast without the slightest tremor, which left a strong impression on Tang Gunak.
If only he hadn't lost his martial arts, he could have become a formidable talent…
"How is the condition of the former Sect Leader?"
"He will need at least several months to recover."
A trace of embarrassment crossed Tang Gunak's face.
Given the severity of the injuries, he should have taken action, but his attention was consumed by Baek Cheon's injuries, leaving him no mental space to attend to Heo Dojin's condition.
"I should have…"
"No."
Heo Gong, who could easily guess what Tang Gunak was about to say, shook his head.
"The former Sect Leader's injuries are not so much physical as they are… well, please don't trouble yourself."
Though Heo Gong's words were brief, they conveyed much. Tang Gunak could ask no further questions, knowing well that although Heo Dojin miraculously survived, most of the Wudang Elders who attempted to assassinate Jang Ilso did not return. Although they had taken down countless elite members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, it wasn't a worthless sacrifice…
"I promise on behalf of Maengju. The Heavenly Comrade Alliance will spare no support for Wudang."
"Your words are appreciated."
As Tang Gunak looked at Heo Gong's composed nod, he secretly exhaled a deep sigh.
'This should have been a different kind of meeting…'
They had won. They had completely thwarted the Evil Tyrant Alliance's plans, so calling it a victory was not an exaggeration.
Considering how the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the remnants of the Ten Great Sects had suffered continuous defeats against the Evil Tyrant Alliance, this victory at Wudang Mountain was nothing short of monumental.
But no one here seemed to take joy in their significant accomplishment. Perhaps it wasn't just because of the heavy toll Wudang had paid.
Tang Gunak's eyes met with someone across the table.
Yoon Jong.
His presence here wasn't particularly strange. The Five Swords of Mount Hua had occasionally participated in senior meetings before, with tacit approval from the elders.
However, the fact that only Yoon Jong was present, in place of someone who should have filled that seat, was unfamiliar even to Tang Gunak, who had known him for years.
"Acting Sect Leader. How is the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua…?"
Realizing that his tone and gaze might have come off as awkward, Tang Gunak looked away. At that moment, Yoon Jong spoke up.
"Due to poor health, I am here in his stead. I am inexperienced, but I ask for your understanding."
No one gave a proper response. It seemed that no words were appropriate.
The story of Baek Cheon's condition had been quietly passed around, and those who heard it officially acknowledged it with great sorrow, but found themselves unable to offer comfort easily. They knew that even their words of consolation might only add to the grief of those bearing the Mount Hua name.
Namgung Dowi, who had been hesitating to speak, finally opened his mouth.
"How is Baek Cheon Dojang…?"
"This is not a place to inquire about personal matters, is it?"
But someone suddenly interrupted, drawing everyone's attention. Chung Myung, slouched deeply in his chair, was glaring at them with darkened eyes.
"It doesn't seem appropriate to waste time here like this, considering how busy everyone is."
"Hm."
Tang Gunak nodded as if he understood. It was true that this wasn't a situation where they could afford to waste time.
"First… Military Strategist."
"Yes."
"Has the current position of the Evil Tyrant Alliance been confirmed?"
"As I mentioned before, they are currently camped in the southern part of Wuhan, not moving."
Im Sobyeong, the military strategist of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, replied in a cold voice.
"Wuhan…"
Tang Gunak muttered as if in pain.
Originally, Wuhan in Hubei Province was one of the regions where the influence of the righteous sects was strongest, a place where the Evil Sect wouldn't dare to set foot.
The reason was simple: Wuhan was the largest city in Hubei, and two of the most powerful sects in the world were in close proximity to it, that being the Namgung Family from Hefei and the Wudang Sect from Xiangyang.
However, with both having weakened, Wuhan had effectively become an ownerless city.
"Why haven't they taken over Wuhan? Surely they know there's no one there capable of stopping them?"
Moyong Wigyung asked, and Im Sobyeong let out a brief scoff.
"If you look at the person next to you, you'll get your answer. No need to ask me."
Moyong Wigyung looked puzzled at first, then turned to see Pungyeong Shin Gae sitting there with a somewhat reluctant expression.
"Oh, right."
Moyong Wigyung's face turned slightly red as he realized.
Indeed, while it wouldn't be difficult for the Evil Tyrant Alliance to occupy Wuhan, it would be a different story to completely control the large city. Once inside Wuhan, filled with countless buildings and people, they wouldn't be able to avoid the watchful eyes of the Beggar's Union. That's what Im Sobyeong was pointing out.
"Jang Ilso enjoys deceiving his opponents. Such a person wouldn't willingly step into a place like Wuhan, where his every move would be exposed."
Laughter erupted from various corners of the room.
The damage inflicted on the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Wudang was not small. But the damage to the Evil Tyrant Alliance was even more severe.
Yet Jang Ilso continued to move as if he had anticipated every turn, as if the defeat in this battle was insignificant.
"Damn it…"
Frustration and exhaustion welled up inside them, mixed with a faint sense of awe. The suppressed sighs that escaped from all sides reflected the collective mood.
At that moment, Moyong Wigyung spoke up.
"It's not all doom and gloom, is it?"
"Hmm?"
"In any case, we have won."
"..."
"Of course, I understand. There were several factors and perhaps some luck involved. We cannot say our losses were insignificant either. But one thing is certain: no matter how formidable they are, they are not beyond our ability to contend with."
Moyong Wigyung's voice carried a hint of excitement.
He couldn't help but feel elated. After all, he had witnessed firsthand the devastating defeat suffered by Shaolin, the Peng Family, and the Alliance.
The fear he had felt toward the Evil Tyrant Alliance was immense, so the excitement of defeating them was equally overwhelming.
"And haven't they suffered tremendous losses as well? Now, we are surely in a favourable position…"
"Well, are we really?"
At the sudden question, Moyong Wigyung turned his gaze with some displeasure.
It was Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, Chung Myung.
To be honest, Moyong Wigyung felt uneasy around this young man. Normally, he wouldn't even bother dealing with such a young person of lower status, but here, the position Chung Myung held was beyond Moyong Wigyung's reach.
But this time, Moyong Wigyung wasn't going to back down so easily.
"Are you saying I'm wrong?"
At least in this battle, he knew neither he nor Chung Myung had a significant role. In fact, Chung Myung might even know less about this battle than Moyong Wigyung did.
"'Wrong,' you say…"
Chung Myung, who had been reclining, slightly straightened his posture. At that moment, the air in the reception hall grew tense.
"Indeed, they have suffered great losses."
"..."
"The Hao Sect on the cliff lost nearly half its members, and the newly recruited Sun Palace Lord was severely injured. I don't know for sure, but the Sun Palace warriors likely didn't escape unscathed either."
Everyone seated nodded in agreement.
"And… they probably used up most of the explosives they prepared to target the Wudang Sect. Just that alone means the Wudang Sect has achieved an enormous feat. If we only look at it from this perspective, it's true that we've secured a complete victory, albeit with great sacrifice."
"Isn't that exactly what I'm saying?"
"Yes, if they had committed all their forces."
"…What do you mean by that?"
Annoyance spread across Moyong Wigyung's face. This man's tone was always strangely grating. Moyong Wigyung asked sharply.
"Are you saying because Paegun didn't personally participate in the battle?"
"..."
"Or perhaps because the… Blood Palace? Yes, the Blood Palace forces didn't join the battlefield later?"
"..."
"This is frustrating! Speak clearly, won't you…!"
"Doesn't Gaju-nim of the Moyong Family already know who was missing?"
There was a brief silence. The previously distorted expression on Moyong Wigyung's face suddenly turned pale.
"Ah…"
His trembling eyes looked at Chung Myung as if seeking confirmation. Chung Myung gave a brief nod.
"T-They…."
"What are you talking about, Gaju-nim of the Moyong Family?"
When Jong Rigok asked with a puzzled expression, Moyong Wigyung responded with a stiff face.
"Swordsmen… didn't stand out in this battle. Those who did were of poor quality at best."
"What does that matter?"
Isn't that to be expected?
After all, warriors of the Evil Sect seldom use swords. Maintaining weapons isn't a daily routine for them, so they prefer thicker, easier-to-maintain blades over delicate, easily damaged swords.
However, Moyong Wigyung's expression grew increasingly grave.
"I told you, didn't I? In Hubei… there were unknown swordsmen who blocked our path."
Jong Rigok's expression hardened as well.
"They were nowhere to be seen. If warriors of that caliber had been deployed at Wudang Mountain…"
The atmosphere grew cold.
Those who had been mildly elated by the superficial victory, and those who had been plagued by an inexplicable sense of unease, were now finally able to view the situation objectively.
"It doesn't really matter whether we won this battle or not."
Im Sobyeong's cold voice awakened everyone as if doused with cold water.
"What matters is what that guy… no, what that group is truly after."
"...Tell us more."
"Why didn't they deploy those forces in this battle?"
Im Sobyeong opened his mouth with a hardened expression.
"There are countless questions. But one thing is certain. It's something that has been proven time and again."
"..."
"No matter how our forces compare to theirs, if we can't uncover what Paegun Jang Ilso is plotting right now… we're bound to face a terrifying hell."
A chilling air swept through the room.
'Paegun.'
In this battle, he had done nothing. But his lingering presence continued to weigh on everyone, tightening its grip and never letting go.
That night.
Clink.
A half-cooled teacup was placed on the table.
"So…"
Jong Rigok looked at Jin Geum Ryong, who was sitting in front of him, with a heavy expression.
"You've conveyed the message to Baek Cheon… no, to your brother."
"Yes."
Jin Geum Ryong slowly nodded.
"I apologize for impulsively speaking out without consulting you first…"
"It's fine."
Jong Rigok waved his hand dismissively, as if there was nothing more to discuss.
"Sometimes the situation is more important than protocol. So, how did he respond?"
"For now…"
Jin Geum Ryong couldn't finish his sentence and closed his mouth slowly. Jong Rigok smiled faintly.
"You've done well. You've worked hard."
"Sect Leader."
"Let's just wait and see."
Jong Rigok rose from his seat and moved toward the window. Through the open window, the large moon hanging high in the sky was clearly visible.
"Heartache is like a wound."
He spoke as if to himself.
"The more you say it's fine, the more intense the pain becomes. Until it becomes all you can think about. Eventually, you won't be able to endure it any longer."
"However, he is… he is Baek Cheon."
Jong Rigok glanced back at Jin Geum Ryong.
"He is someone who can endure that pain."
Jin Geum Ryong's eyes held two emotions simultaneously.
A deep sadness for his brother, and an unwavering belief in him. A smile played on Jong Rigok's lips.
"Perhaps you're right. He is indeed an exceptional man."
"…Yes."
"But you've misunderstood me."
"Yes?"
Confusion filled Jin Geum Ryong's eyes. Jong Rigok spoke as if sighing.
"The one who won't be able to endure that pain is not your brother."
As he closed his eyes, his eyelashes quivered. He muttered to himself.
"If it were me, I would feel the same. Just as you are now."
Deep in the night.
In the silence that enveloped the room, in the wide courtyard, or even on the rooftop, several pairs of eyes gazed at the moon in the night sky. Each one carrying their own sorrow.