C1657. I Like Fools Like That. (2)
The situation was moving so fast that his mind couldn't keep up.
"Hey, wait!"
Jaegal Jain immediately raised his voice.
First, he had to stop this ridiculous decision. The reason for jumping into a trap set by the enemy was: "We can destroy the trap completely, end of story!" Does that make sense?
"Chief! First, calm down."
"All the Budangju!"
However, Chung Myung shouted as if his voice was inaudible.
"Call your Unit members right now. Let's go!"
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"Move!"
As soon as Chung Myung's words were spoken, the Budangju sitting there jumped up and ran out.
"W-What?"
Jaegal Jain was stunned with wide eyes. Chung Myung's words continued.
"Damn it, finish the preparations so we can head to Hubei immediately. Now, as soon as possible!"
"I understand."
"I will follow the Chief's orders."
The Dangju immediately stood up. As Tang Gunak, Maeng So, and Pungyeong Singae responded immediately, Jaegal Jain got up a moment later, and soon Moyong Wigyeong also fixed his gaze on them and quietly lifted his butt from the chair.
"Hwang Jongwi-Dangju, who is in charge of the support group, will provide all the support you need! Let's hurry!"
"Of course."
The Dangju also left without delay.
After the storm passed, the only people left here were Hyun Jong, Chung Myung, and the two Commanders (Nokrim King and Jaegal Jain).
"Nokrim King!"
"Call me Commander, Chief."
Im Sobyeong extended his fan and covered half of his face. A deep smile appeared in his eyes, visible above his fan.
"I don't care."
Chung Myung looked at him silently and then directed his gaze to Jaegal Jain.
"Analyze and predict every move they might make and report to me."
"Of course I will, but..."
Snap!
Chung Myung snapped his fingers, and a golden bird flew in through the window. The golden bird flew in circles and landed gently on the back of Chung Myung's hand.
"Report through here."
Jaegal Jain hesitantly extended his hand and accepted the golden bird that Chung Myung was handing him.
"This golden bird... What is it? It belongs to the Beggars' Union..."
"It doesn't matter. Because I decided to use it in the Alliance until the war is over."
"Ah!"
Jaegal Jain, who was lost in thought looking at the bird, stared at Chung Myung with a perplexed expression.
"W-Wait a minute! If this bird comes to me, how do you plan to give orders to each side?"
"That will be fine. Because there are more."
"Yes?"
"Here!"
As soon as Chung Myung shouted loudly, the closed door burst open with a loud noise. What seemed like flashes of black and white flew into the room at a speed invisible to the eyes.
In an instant, something climbed up Chung Myung's body and landed on his shoulder, and he raised his head.
"...Weasel?"
It was a pure white weasel dressed in the black uniform of Mount Hua.
A feeling of confusion that couldn't be hidden appeared on Jaegal Jain's face. Chung Myung spoke while roughly scratching the weasel's chin with his finger.
"In terms of speed, it's faster than a bird, so you don't have to worry."
"Ah!"
Jaegal Jain nodded with a slightly strange expression. Just then, someone intervened with a deep voice.
"But... I thought you had forgotten about me."
Im Sobyeong gently waved the fan he had opened and said.
"Isn't the order you're giving now actually the order you should have given me, your best Commander?"
When he said "the best," it felt strong. Chung Myung looked at him while laughing for a moment and nodded as if he understood.
"Commander 'The Best.'"
"Yes!"
"Follow me."
"...Yes?"
"Come with me."
Thud.
The fan fell helplessly to the ground. At the same time, Im Sobyeong's face turned pale.
"Me? Why me?"
"You don't need to be here, because Jaegal Gaju-nim is here. You follow me. You will lead from the field."
"N-No, Chief! Do you know what a Commander is? A Commander works behind the scenes... Moreover! A Commander is the one who gives orders from behind!"
"Stop talking nonsense and follow me. If you don't want to get beaten."
...Im Sobyeong's shoulders slumped weakly.
Actually, he could tolerate being in that position. It wasn't that there was no Commander who led from the front line.
The problem was that the position he was occupying at that moment was none other than beside that damn Taoist bastard.
Heavenly Comrade Alliance... No, anyone who knew the current Kangho would never deny that the place where that damn Taoist bastard was, was the most dangerous place in Kangho.
But, would you take me to such a place? thought Im Sobyeong.
'I'd rather bite a sword and die!'
How can a weak scholar (?) survive in a place that even other lunatics from Mount Hua can't endure?
"Well, I think if Jaegal Gaju-nim goes with you as my replacement..."
"Don't talk nonsense, just follow me."
"...Hmm."
Im Sobyeong finally nodded soullessly. This was because he instinctively knew that if he refused once more, he would definitely be beaten with a fist, a kick, or a sword.
"Wait a moment, Chief. This..."
"Maengju-nim."
Just as Jaegal Jain was about to say something, Chung Myung turned around and spoke to Hyun Jong.
"Disciple of Mount Hua, Chung Myung. I will support Wudang. Please accept!"
A moment of concern flashed on his face, but Hyun Jong quickly erased it and spoke briefly with a determined expression.
"I allow it."
"Thank you!"
Whoosh.
Chung Myung turned around, looked at the wide-open door for a moment, and then dashed out like the wind. Without even looking back.
"Eh..."
Jaegal Jain looked back with an almost expressionless face.
"Well. Time to work."
Now, the only thing Jaegal Jain could protect was Im Sobyeong.
"Hey, wait a minute. Nokrim King."
Im Sobyeong, who was already immersed in worry, responded with a sullen expression.
"Yes?"
"H-How did this happen?"
"What do you mean how?"
"Until a moment ago, we were discussing whether this was right or not, whether it was good or bad..."
"Oh, that?"
Im Sobyeong let out a long sigh that seemed like it could blow the ground away once more.
"Well, we can share our opinions. Everyone has different thoughts."
"...Yes?"
"But the important thing is not to look back once a decision is made. Wasn't this Alliance made for that purpose?"
Jaegal Jain swallowed as he looked at Im Sobyeong's face, which was full of meaning as to why this Jaegal Jain was asking an obvious question.
"After the decision was made, you didn't look back?"
That was true.
But, was it that easy? If it were as easy as it sounds, which sect would find it difficult to experience internal conflict?
If there are a hundred people, there will be a hundred thoughts, and if there are a thousand people, there will be a thousand thoughts.
But, are you going to gather all the conflicting opinions in one meeting? Does it seem planned in advance?
"There's nothing to overthink." - Im Sobyeong said
"...Yes?"
"Think intensely, act simply."
Im Sobyeong picked up his fallen fan, folded it, and looked toward the door.
"It's a way learned firsthand by people who have been involved with that man. And... Hmm. Well, I don't need to say this."
Im Sobyeong didn't seem to feel the need to say anything more and left, leaving Jaegal Jain behind.
Jaegal Jain remained behind, daydreaming for a while. Although Im Sobyeong didn't tell him everything, he felt he knew what he was going to say.
'And so is the Heavenly Comrade Alliance now?'
He never thought something like this was really possible.
But, what if it really came true? What if the faction created by gathering all those idiots and mixing them could move like the wind with a single word from Chung Myung, like what happened before his eyes?
In an instant, goosebumps appeared all over his body.
What happened next was hard to predict. This was because this was the ideal expected by those who waged war even in their dreams.
Due to their high ideals, it was difficult to predict the impact that would occur if such an event really happened.
"T-Then, what should I do?"
"This is the information center."
"Yes?"
Jaegal Jain looked back. Hyun Jong looked at him and smiled.
"The information collected by the Beggars and the information sent by each side will be gathered here through the branch created by Chung Myung. The Commander can take care of it. Additionally, you'll be in charge of things that need to be handled from behind, like supply and support."
"Ah!"
"Maybe the fight here will be more intense. Are you prepared?"
Jaegal Jain looked at Hyun Jong in silence.
Although his disciples went to a place that could be a trap, a gentle smile appeared on Hyun Jong's lips.
But that smile didn't come from simple calmness. It was to convince Jaegal Jain.
At the moment he realized this, Hyun Jong seemed even larger in Jaegal Jain's eyes.
"Phew!"
Jaegal Jain let out a long sigh. He refined his clothes and faced Hyun Jong directly. Then he bowed his head, not pretentiously, but sincerely.
"Please guide me, Maengju-nim."
"Of course."
After receiving Jaegal Jain's greeting, Hyun Jong's eyes looked toward the wide-open door.
"We are gathering."
"Damn it, what should we call ourselves? The Second Unit has also gathered!"
"The Third Unit has gathered!"
"Our Unit too!"
The road to harmony.
It was just the entrance of a small town, yet it was the road to Mount Hua. It was a path that was familiar to someone, meaningful to someone, and boring to someone else.
There were many people lining up there.
The Units of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance couldn't even line up in the training hall that was three times larger than the main training hall of an ordinary sect. They lined up on the road leading to Huayin.
Standing in front of them were the Dangju and Budangju of each Unit.
The meaning was much greater than people in the world could guess.
The world has gone through various invasions and tribulations, and each time, the ruling parties unite to block the enemy.
However, never before or at any time has the wall between sects been completely destroyed. How many people understand what it means for people wearing different clothes, using different weapons, and having different titles to stand together without distinction?
However, there was one person who understood its meaning better than anyone. He was standing in front of thousands of soldiers marching.
Chung Myung, dressed in the black uniform of Mount Hua, looked at everyone and nodded slowly.
Anxiety appeared in the eyes of some, and determination shone in others. Maybe Chung Myung's internal thoughts were no different from those eyes. But...
Chung Myung's gaze suddenly turned back.
He could see the road leading to Huayin and the towering Mount Hua behind him.
Although it was a path leading to Mount Hua, it was also a path leading away from Mount Hua. A path that was always open in both directions.
He would continue along this path, and also retrace the path traveled.
This was different from the past. Different from the past.
Looking forward again, there was no longer any doubt in Chung Myung's eyes as he looked at the warriors of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
Although it wasn't enough, although it was still not enough, there was no doubt about moving forward. Now he knew that the time to discuss perfection would never come.
Chung Myung took a step forward. Then he looked at everyone and opened his mouth.
"When we return."
"..."
"It is when the war has ended."
This was a declaration that they would not set foot on this land again unless they saw the end of the war.
The faces of everyone filled with determination upon understanding its meaning.
"Let's go, everyone!"
"Yes!"
Without further hesitation, the soldiers of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, who shouted loudly but clearly, advanced.
There was nothing special about giving or receiving orders.
There was only one goal: Wudang.
This was the place where the battle that would determine the future of the world would take place.
