Chapter 1732. What Is Right? (2)
"What did you just say?!"
"Gul!"
Yoon Jong quickly tried to calm Jo Gul.
"Wait, wait a moment. Don't get angry right away..."
But his efforts were in vain as Tang Soso's voice resonated again.
"Am I wrong?"
"What?"
Jo Gul's face twisted even more. Even Yoon Jong, who was trying to mediate, was surprised and looked at her.
"Soso, it seems you don't understand the meaning of what you're saying..."
"I understand perfectly."
"..."
"I know very well and I say it. Shouldn't Sasuk join the Southern Edge Sect?"
"Soso..."
Yoon Jong was stunned, while Jo Gul ground his teeth. Yoo Iseol, on her part, kept an unperturbed expression, as if she didn't know what to think at the moment.
Baek Sang and Hye Yeon, unable to intervene, could only bite their lips helplessly.
"Send Sasuk to the Southern Edge Sect?"
"Yes."
"Is that reasonable?"
"Why not?"
"Tang Soso."
"I don't understand."
Yoon Jong rarely raised his voice, but Tang Soso didn't back down an inch.
"Isn't it more important to save a life? As important as affiliation is, it can't be more important than a person. Does Sasuk become someone else by joining the Southern Edge Sect?"
"At least he would no longer be our Sasuk."
Yoon Jong replied firmly.
"The name Baek Cheon will disappear. That's a name given to a Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect."
"So what? A name is just a name. A title is just a title. The person we know won't disappear."
"Do you think it's that simple?"
"Is it that complicated?"
Even Yoon Jong maintained a cold attitude, which made Tang Soso shout in frustration.
"Has everyone gone crazy? It's just a change of affiliation!"
"…"
"Are we going to let him live the rest of his life like this just to preserve a title? Are we going to stand here, watching pitifully as he suffers?"
"Nobody said that!"
"Then what?!"
Yoon Jong was left speechless.
Although it wasn't his intention, he realized that, essentially, he wasn't saying anything very different from what Tang Soso had mentioned.
A cold silence settled between them. Finally, Tang Soso looked at Jo Gul and asked:
"So, do you think like Yoon Jong? Do you think it's better for Sasuk to live the rest of his life in this state than to let him join the Southern Edge Sect? Really?"
It's strange.
Jo Gul, who had shown the most opposition, now couldn't respond.
"Answer, Sahyung."
Jo Gul slightly clenched his fists.
For them, "Mount Hua" was invaluable. Perhaps no longer just a part, but almost everything for them.
But for Jo Gul, Baek Cheon was as important as Mount Hua.
"I don't understand."
Said Tang Soso with a voice as cold as ice.
"What's so great about Mount Hua?"
"…"
"I don't care if Sasuk is from Mount Hua or the Southern Edge Sect. For me, he's still Sasuk. The person I know as Baek Cheon. What matters is that he gets cured. That the person I value doesn't suffer."
She took a moment to calm her breathing and added:
"That precious Mount Hua…"
"Watch your words."
Tang Soso's words, said with great effort, were interrupted by a calm voice. Yoo Iseol was looking at her intently.
"It's not a light name. It's not something to be despised."
Yoo Iseol, usually quiet, spoke firmly. Tang Soso lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
She was emotional and didn't think before speaking. She knew the meaning of that name. She herself had contributed to giving it that meaning.
Yoo Iseol observed Tang Soso with a hard look before speaking.
"Sasuk will refuse."
Although her words were short, everyone understood what they meant.
"Yes, I know. But… we have to convince him. Somehow."
Tang Soso replied with an uncertain voice. She also had no confidence, but her concern for Baek Cheon was genuine.
Perhaps because of this, Jo Gul sighed. He scratched his head, clearly frustrated.
"So, should we convince Sasuk to leave Mount Hua to join the Southern Edge Sect?"
"…"
"Someone who has already decided to stay here? Someone who has made a decision?"
"Yes."
"Damn it."
Jo Gul cursed. He wasn't angry with Tang Soso. He was frustrated by the situation.
He sought someone else's opinion.
"What do you think, Sahyung?"
Yoon Jong replied without hesitation.
"It's nonsense."
"Really?"
"Just thinking about Sasuk in Southern Edge Sect clothing turns my stomach."
"Yes, even thinking about it is unpleasant."
"It's something I can't stand."
Although they had used disguises to infiltrate before, that was different. Yoon Jong sighed bitterly.
"But seeing Sasuk pretending to be okay is also difficult."
He sighed deeply. He didn't know what to do.
"What is right...?"
He couldn't know. Only one thing was clear.
"Soso."
"Yes, Sahyung."
"Is Sasuk getting better?"
"…No. It's difficult."
"Is he getting worse?"
Tang Soso didn't respond. Finally, Yoo Iseol asked the question no one dared to ask.
"So, how much longer will he live?"
The long silence was enough of an answer for everyone. After a while, Yoo Iseol looked at everyone with her usual calm expression.
"We don't need to agree. We're not children. We don't need to be told what is right."
After an unusually long explanation, Yoo Iseol concluded briefly.
"Act according to your beliefs."
"......"
"But if you're going to do it, do it well."
At that moment, a small resolution was reflected in everyone's eyes.
-----------------------
Those who face the Mount Hua Sect for the first time often feel bewildered.
The reason is simple. The Disciples of the Mount Hua Sect are modest compared to their reputation. Sure, this is expressed positively, but negatively, it can be said that they are too naive.
It's not that the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect are really naive. They have also gone through many experiences and have seen more than most sects have faced.
It's simply that the benevolent nature of Sect Leader Hyun Jong and the Elders has been inadvertently passed down through generations.
In short, the Disciples of the Mount Hua Sect know very well how to solve a problem, but they tend to be too considerate and are not able to carry out severe actions.
Baek Cheon experienced firsthand how that nature felt from the perspective of the receiver.
"Go away."
"Sasuk."
"I said go away."
Baek Cheon looked with clenched teeth at the person who had burst into his room.
"You too?"
Baek Cheon's face showed frustration, not anger, but clear annoyance.
"Of all people, you shouldn't be doing this."
The person in front of him was the one who would follow in Baek Cheon's footsteps as the next Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect.
Yoon Jong sighed deeply, with an apologetic expression.
"...I'm sorry."
"Did you all really agree?"
"We decided to act according to our own convictions."
Baek Cheon sighed, unable to hide his frustration as he looked at Yoon Jong. Despite his anger, he could understand the situation.
He looked at Yoon Jong with an incredulous expression.
"Okay, I understand... But if you're going to do it, at least do it well."
Yoon Jong had nothing to say.
He knew exactly how they could force Baek Cheon to join the Southern Edge Sect. The fastest and most effective way would be to attack his emotions.
Humans are emotional beings, and just by mocking Baek Cheon, who could no longer use his arms, they could reduce his attachment to the Mount Hua Sect.
Another option would be to pressure him physically, as in his current state, Baek Cheon couldn't defend himself.
There were many ways to do it. It didn't require great intelligence to think of them.
But the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect weren't ruthless enough to carry out those plans. They tried to persuade Baek Cheon in the best possible way, without hurting his pride.
Yoon Jong: "...Have we done very badly?"
Baek Cheon: "Yes."
Yoon Jong: "But Soso..."
Baek Cheon: "While she was unwrapping my bandages three times, she also talked to me endlessly about how it was a good decision to leave the Tang Family and join the Mount Hua Sect. She said it was worth changing at least once."
...Oh...
"Did Baek Sang Sasuk also come?"
"He said that Southern Edge is rich and that I would live well there. He even mentioned that, as a legitimate member, I could benefit from their riches."
"That crazy person."
"Sorry?"
"Nothing, nothing..."
"And Hye Yeon?"
"He said that being excommunicated isn't as bad as it seems."
Even crazier.
"And Sagu?"
"She kept staring at me before sitting in the corner of the room. In the end, I had to call someone to get her out."
"......Did they really get her out?"
"After three attempts, she stopped coming."
Yoon Jong sank into anguish. Despite everything, he felt that this was the best option. Perhaps, in the end, this sect had no future.
Baek Cheon asked indifferently.
"Are you not going to ask about Jo Gul?"
"To be honest, I'm afraid to hear."
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"...Thank you."
Yoon Jong sighed deeply.
It was to be expected. The Disciples of Mount Hua were like that. They had a lot of determination but lacked the courage to hurt others.
"Sasuk."
"Go away."
"What?"
Baek Cheon's face twisted. If his arms worked, he would be massaging his temples.
"I don't even need to hear what you have to say. Leave."
"At least listen to me..."
"I told you to leave."
Finally, Baek Cheon couldn't contain himself and stood up, kicking Yoon Jong.
"Sasuk! Don't use force!"
"Then hit me."
"I can't do that!"
"Then leave."
Baek Cheon kicked Yoon Jong once more, pushing him out of the room and shouting at him as he walked away.
"If you come back, I won't let you go!"
"See you tomorrow."
"Don't come back, bastard!"
Baek Cheon ground his teeth. Only when Yoon Jong disappeared behind a building did he murmur with a tired face.
"Idiots."
He knew those actions were born out of care and concern for him. If it weren't for that, they wouldn't be lingering near his room until so late.
However, Baek Cheon felt sad. He understood their intentions, but he couldn't help but feel useless in Mount Hua.
Sitting in silence, Baek Cheon looked up and spoke.
"Hey."
Looking towards the eaves of the building, where no one was, he spoke again.
"Do you have any liquor?"
Although it seemed like he was talking to the air, a voice responded from the eaves.
"I always have liquor."
"Where did you get it from?"
"There was a warehouse near the Sect Leader's residence."
He probably took something from the Wudang Sect's warehouse. Baek Cheon smiled.
"Give me a bottle. I feel like drinking a bit."
Lying under the eaves, Chung Myung weakly nodded.
"...Alright."
Next to him, there were several bottles of liquor and two glasses, as if they were already prepared.