Yoon Jong was frozen in place. He had heard the words, but they didn't make sense. His mind was blank, as if he had become a fool.
A new situation began to unfold right before his eyes.
As soon as Hyun Jong's words were spoken, the Elders stood up and moved toward Baek Cheon. Two of them grabbed Baek Cheon's arms and pulled him in different directions.
"Uh…"
What am I seeing right now?
Jo Gul fidgeted, unable to hold back any longer. Tang Soso firmly held down his shoulders.
To Yoon Jong, this scene felt like a farce. It all seemed unreal.
'What are they doing…?'
What is happening right now?
Riiiiip!
Baek Cheon's martial robe was torn apart.
The robe of Mount Hua. The attire that proved one was a disciple of Mount Hua, and which only a Mount Hua disciple could wear, was mercilessly destroyed.
The red plum blossom embroidered on the torn robe entered Yoon Jong's view. The plum blossom seemed to fill his vision, overshadowing his drunken and dazed sight.
"Sasuk…"
The faces of the Elders, grimly biting their lips. The back of Baek Cheon, drooping as if he had lost all will to resist…
Everything seemed ridiculous.
Hyun Sang, with a hardened face, grasped Baek Cheon's Plum Blossom Sword.
According to the rules, the sword should be used to sever Baek Cheon's tendons and veins. It symbolized that everything acquired from Mount Hua was being reclaimed by Mount Hua.
But Hyun Sang simply held the Plum Blossom Sword and turned his body away.
Hyun Young, unable to hide his sorrow, fidgeted but eventually turned his head as well.
The only thing left was Baek Cheon, his back fully exposed, his long hair disheveled and hanging down.
'This must be a lie?'
"Do something…!"
A voice that seemed to come from underwater barely reached his ears.
When he slowly looked back, Jo Gul was grabbing Chung Myung by the collar. Jo Gul's face was contorted, not out of anger, but seemingly out of fear and helplessness, like a child.
"Do something!"
Jo Gul desperately looked at Chung Myung and pointed toward the battlefield.
But Chung Myung, with a stern face, said nothing. The contrast between Chung Myung's emotionless eyes and Jo Gul's intensely pleading eyes was stark.
Yoon Jong found himself strangely laughing.
It felt unreal. It was absurd. There were no tears. No matter how he tried to rationalize it, it just seemed awkward, but the laughter wouldn't stop.
"Do something!"
The shouting faded. The world grew muffled as the buzzing noise spread endlessly around.
Everything felt like a dream.
---
Hyun Young and Hyun Sang, having left the battlefield, headed to a different place, one where they would not be seen by others.
At the door of Hyun Jong's quarters, Hyun Young quietly spoke.
"Chief."
"Chief… please open the door."
There was no response.
As he sighed and was about to call Hyun Jong again, Hyun Sang shook his head and stopped him. He then carefully pushed the door open.
Creeeak.
The unlocked door creaked open. Through the partially opened door, Hyun Jong's seated back was visible.
Today, that back looked particularly small and lonely.
"Chief…"
Hyun Young's voice, filled with sorrow, escaped from his lips.
Honestly, it was a familiar sight. Hadn't they overcome such harsh trials at Mount Hua? Sadness and despair were not unfamiliar to them.
But today… today, Hyun Jong's back seemed different from what Hyun Young had seen before.
It looked blurred and faded. Or perhaps, it had just withered away.
Hyun Young, after staring at Hyun Jong's back for a long time, struggled to approach. Even then, he could not bring himself to touch his body and merely sighed deeply.
"Chief, you did well."
"..."
"It may be difficult now, but… someday that child will understand. The Chief's heart."
Hyun Jong did not respond but fixed his gaze out the window. The sunlight pouring in was blinding. It was chilling.
Perhaps that's why. It was too hard to look at.
"It must be different. Those who look at the road ahead and those who look back at the road they have walked must see things differently."
"Chief…"
A hollow voice escaped Hyun Jong's lips.
"However… Hyun Young, I am afraid."
"..."
"That I drove that child away from this path, not for the child's sake, but… because I was afraid to see someone trying to walk the arduous path I once walked."
"Chief…"
"That scares me."
Hyun Young sighed deeply once more. Hyun Jong asked.
"Was it the right decision?"
Hyun Young slowly shook his head.
"It probably wasn't."
"..."
"It wasn't a decision that the leader of Mount Hua should make. This incident will deeply wound the remaining disciples. Perhaps, you have blocked the path they could walk."
"...It might be so."
"It could be considered the worst decision made by a Sect Leader."
Hyun Jong nodded calmly, as if he had expected that. His thoughts were not greatly different. Baek Cheon was indeed a necessary figure for Mount Hua.
"So, are you disappointed?"
"No."
Hyun Young answered plainly and without hesitation.
"Rather, if the Chief had not made such a decision, I would have been disappointed. What could be done? The Chief is such a person, and that is how we have lived."
Hyun Jong remained silent for a moment. Eventually, his shoulders, which seemed the heaviest in the world, began to tremble slightly.
"Chief…"
As Hyun Young was about to speak again, Hyun Sang held his shoulder. Looking back, Hyun Sang quietly shook his head.
Eventually, Hyun Young nodded, understanding.
"Don't blame yourself too much, Chief."
"..."
"I will visit again tomorrow."
The two left the room quietly without saying more.
Tap.
With the sound of the door closing, Hyun Jong was left alone in the room again. He then looked once more at the sunlight streaming through the window.
'Primordial Heaven Sovereign…'
Though it was only a small handful, it was dazzling.
---
Time was hazy. He couldn't tell how much had passed.
When he came to his senses, a significant amount of time had passed, and Yoon Jong had returned to his room. Uninvited guests were there as well.
"..."
A stifling silence hung in the room. No one dared to break the silence.
Perhaps the emotions were too intense to be captured by mere words, or perhaps the burden was too great to bear.
---
"…This is absurd."
Even Jo Gul's voice, breaking the long silence, was faint.
"Is this… Is this really happening, Sahyung?"
"…"
"Is this really the case?"
Yoon Jong could not respond.
They, too, thought Baek Cheon should be sent to the Southern Edge Sect no matter what. But this situation was different. No one had ever considered such an extreme measure as exile.
There is a significant difference between squeezing out the pus from a wound and amputating the entire affected area.
"Exile… This can't be right, this can't be… This is truly unacceptable."
Muttering with a desolate expression, Jo Gul bowed his head deeply. He seemed unable even to get angry.
After much hesitation, Yoon Jong finally spoke.
"…What does Sasuk say?"
"He is still there."
Tang Soso answered in a weak voice.
"Since that time… he's been there continuously."
Yoon Jong squeezed his eyes shut. It was understandable. He could not accept it. He could not come to terms with it.
"Damn it…"
Jo Gul buried his face in his hands, washing his face roughly.
Even someone as hot-tempered as him knew that this matter could not be resolved by mere anger or outbursts. Hyun Jong's stance was that firm.
They could not oppose Hyun Jong.
Thus, in such moments, the only solution left was to think of one person.
"…Chung Myung? What does he say?"
Everyone, lost in their own thoughts, turned their gazes to Yoon Jong in unison. Jo Gul's face twisted in a grimace.
"The chief says that he cannot do anything about what was decided. That it is the minimum line to be kept as a disciple of Mount Hua…"
Yoon Jong found himself biting his lips uncontrollably.
It was undeniable. Everyone knew that fact and could only turn away without doing anything.
But still…
"Perhaps it is for the best?"
"…Pardon?"
The disciples of Mount Hua looked back at Baek Cheon.
Their sharp gazes made him flinch momentarily, but soon, Jo Gul seemed to collect himself and spoke.
"For Sahyung, that is."
"What kind of talk is that?"
"You all know. That person… if it wasn't for this, he would never leave Mount Hua."
"…"
"It is a sad matter for us, but for Sahyung…"
"Are you saying this even after hearing Sasuk's words?"
Yoon Jong asked sharply. Baek Cheon bit his lips slightly.
"Then? Do you want Sahyung to wither away in Mount Hua as is?"
"That kind of talk…"
"You may value Mount Hua more than Sahyung, but I! I…"
Jo Gul trailed off, unable to continue.
"I don't know, damn it."
He spat out curses and rubbed his face vigorously.
It was not that they had different perspectives. They might not even know what they were thinking. It was that confusing and sudden.
Silence fell once more. Although confusing, they too did not know the nature of this confusion.
Faint twilight filtered through a small window.
As the light gradually reddened and blurred, enveloping the room in darkness, the silence continued.
---
Jin Geum Ryong, observing the meeting, seemed frozen in place.
His gaze remained fixed on a single person throughout. A person who neither moved nor attempted to tidy his torn clothes.
Perhaps from the moment the clothes were torn and the Chivalrous Sword was taken, Baek Cheon's time had stopped.
And as Baek Cheon remained frozen, so did Jin Geum Ryong.
"Sahyung."
Even as Lee Song Baek's concerned voice brushed past his ears, Jin Geum Ryong did not turn his gaze.
An unknown rage surged from deep within.
It might be due to the miserable sight before him, or perhaps because of Baek Cheon's wretched situation.
It was truly paradoxical. Even though he clearly knew that he was the one who put Baek Cheon in this state, an inexplicable frustration enveloped him.
'Dear friend…'
Jong Rigok's words were right.
It was not Baek Cheon who could not endure his situation. It was those who watched over him.
To cherish so much that one has no choice but to abandon. To care so deeply that one has no choice but to push away. To value so highly that one has no choice but to obstruct.
Just like Jin Geum Ryong back then.
"…Let's go."
"Sahyung."
"I need to see the Sect Leader."
Jin Geum Ryong, who had tightly clenched his lips, finally turned his body.
"Baek Cheon's dojang…"
"Now, it's Jin Dong Ryong."
"…"
"He will eventually come to the Southern Edge Sect. And when that happens…"
Jin Geum Ryong's voice carried complex emotions.
"He must be given everything he lost up until now. It will be only a short while until then. Just a short while."
With that, Jin Geum Ryong walked away decisively. Lee Song Baek hesitated for a moment, then turned his head. It was hard to leave Baek Cheon, who was sitting alone in the darkened hall, looking so lonely and desolate.
Lee Song Baek thought that Baek Cheon's back sometimes resembled Jin Geum Ryong's.
If Baek Cheon could come to the Southern Edge Sect as Jin Geum Ryong said, it might turn into a blessing in disguise. At least, he would not appear as lonely as he did now. Neither Baek Cheon nor Jin Geum Ryong.
But…
"Sahyung, in this world… there are people who do not break."
A deep sigh finally escaped from Lee Song Baek's lips.
As he tried to take a step that would not fall off, I Song Baek momentarily hesitated and turned his head, as if sensing something.
Someone was approaching Baek Cheon.
'Chung Myung.'
Lee Song Baek watched Chung Myung silently walk toward the unmoving Baek Cheon. But soon, he turned away.
It was not a conversation he dared to interrupt.
Pat. Pat.
Chung Myung stood before Baek Cheon.
The dim moonlight partially cast over his face. The eyes looking down at Baek Cheon held no clear emotion.
As if emotions were inherently absent from a statue.