Read Novel Full Chapter 1239: Who Did You Say Has Come? (4)
Chapter 1239: Who Did You Say Has Come? (4)
“What should we do, sahyung?”
“...”
“Sahyung.”
Go Hong looked at Yu Gong with desperate eyes.
“Didn’t you say there would be no support? You told us to get off the sinking ship, didn’t you?”
“...”
“But if people suddenly arrive like that...”
Unable to stand Yu Gong’s refusal to answer, Go Hong finally raised his voice.
“If they actually stop the Four Sects Alliance with their support, what will become of us...”
“Speak as if you can make sense!”
Yu Gong glared.
“Is the Four Sects Alliance some household dog? Do you think a few people arriving could stop them?”
“But they must have thought things through; they wouldn’t come to Southern Island with no plan. Besides, the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s momentum is said to be so strong that even the Nine Great Sects feel threatened — rumors have reached the Southern Island...”
“Nonsense.”
Yu Gong cut off Go Hong’s worried words at once.
“Even if they threaten the Nine Great Sects, so what? This is the Southern Island. It’s land even Shaolin can’t reach. What could the Heavenly Friends Alliance possibly do here?”
“...That may be so, but...”
“Don’t worry. At most they’ll show their faces and leave.”
“Would they really come all the way here just for that?”
“Better than doing nothing, I suppose.”
“True...”
Irritation crossed Yu Gong’s face.
‘The situation’s gotten filthy.’
The timing was incredibly unfortunate. If they’d arrived just one day earlier, they could have waited to decide after seeing the situation. If they’d arrived after the typhoon calmed, they could have made waves and withdrawn in advance.
But arriving while everyone’s feet were awkwardly stuck forced an unwanted and uncomfortable cohabitation.
‘Why now of all times.’
The expelled disciples were already receiving cold stares.
And then, while the disciples were declaring they’d leave the sect of their own accord, people from afar arrived in Southern Island. Naturally, the eyes on the disciples who demanded expulsion grew even colder. Even those who had previously accepted the reality with resignation now looked on icily.
Why wouldn’t they?
Even Yu Gong himself, if he were opposed, would have pointed and criticized. People from other sects value loyalty — they would have spat curses, calling those who forget Southern Island’s favors like beasts.
“Th-there, sahyung...”
“Why.”
“I mean, one in a thousand, no... one in ten thousand, perhaps.”
Go Hong spoke in a slightly frightened tone.
“If Southern Island... no, if our main hall, with their support, miraculously stops the Four Sects Alliance — even if that’s one in ten thousand — what happens to us?”
Yu Gong couldn’t answer that.
What would happen? How could one know without seeing it?
The moment that happens, the disciples who requested expulsion would be branded traitors. In a Southern Island that repelled the Four Sects Alliance and rose in status, they’d be openly ostracized.
Being expelled from the Southern Island faction means it would be hard to live and plant roots in this Southern Island. At least within this island, the Southern Island faction holds more influence than the Tang Family in Sichuan or the Namgung Family in Anhui.
“Sahyung. Wouldn’t it be better to cancel the expulsion even now...”
“Cut the stupid talk!”
Yu Gong snapped irritably.
“Do you think those damn bastards, just a handful, could stop the Four Sects Alliance!”
“...”
“In this situation, even if warriors — who fought the Demonic Cult a hundred years ago — personally came, he couldn’t stop the Four Sects Alliance.”
“That may be, but still...”
“And! If you cancel the expulsion? Do you think anything would change? The river’s already been crossed. At best you’ll be treated like spineless ingrates who cling to wherever benefits them.”
Go Hong sighed deeply. He knew, too: even if they changed their stance now, the stain branded on them wouldn’t disappear.
Once they’d voiced the intention to leave the sect, they could never truly return as Southern Island disciples.
“So don’t worry about it.”
“...”
“When the typhoon calms as planned, hold the expulsion ceremony and descend the mountain. Then live the rest of your life forgetting about Southern Island.”
Go Hong bowed his head deeply.
Yu Gong, who had been staring at him, sighed and spoke.
“Go Hong.”
“...Yes, sahyung.”
“Think of your elderly mother at home. She’s already frail — how would she live if you died suddenly?”
“...Yes.”
“I may not be important, but you haven’t done anything wrong. You don’t need to bow your head like a sinner. No matter how important the main hall is, is it more important than the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) parents who gave you life?”
“Sahyung, you have a child too, don’t you?”
“...I’m just afraid.”
Yu Gong smiled bitterly.
“Maybe because I grew up without a father, I’m afraid my child will grow up called ‘fatherless.’”
“Sahyung...”
Yu Gong turned his head and stared at the pelting wind and rain.
Southern Island often experiences typhoons. But that doesn’t mean people grow used to them. No matter how many times you endure them, typhoons remain frightening. A sudden typhoon on the South Sea can turn calm waters into hell in an instant.
How many lives has that hellish sea claimed?
“When my child was born, I thought I wanted to raise them properly. I don’t want them to live longing for a father whose face they can’t even remember, like I did.”
“I understand. No, everyone will understand.”
“...Understand?”
Yu Gong snorted and laughed.
“It’s just an excuse. I’m simply not brave enough to die. But is that so wrong? Everyone fears death.”
“...”
“So if you’re going to leave, don’t leave any regrets.”
“Yes, sahyung.”
Go Hong nodded heavily.
Though he said that, Yu Gong’s mind wasn’t at ease. What troubled him most was Go Hong’s question.
If Southern Island miraculously repelled the Four Sects Alliance, what then?
Gwak Hwan-So?
No, the great sahyung would never seek revenge. He’s quick to anger, but he’s also magnanimous.
But the other disciples?
Would they tolerate those who abandoned the sect in crisis and fled for their lives walking proudly on this Southern Island soil? Even if Gwak Hwan-so tried to stop it, wouldn’t they find ways to slight them?
He could endure the persecution thrust upon him; he had to. But what about the lifelong humiliation his child would suffer?
Growing anxious, Yu Gong asked softly.
“So... what are the outsiders doing now?”
“They seem to have settled their belongings in the guest hall for now. It’s very late, isn’t it? The official talks with the sect leader will probably be tomorrow morning.”
“Is that so?”
Yu Gong thought for a moment and then stood up.
“Let’s go see.”
“...Yes?”
“We should at least see why they came. Sitting here among ourselves won’t do anything but make us stew.”
“Hah, but sahyung. There are others there...”
“Our faces are already known anyway. Are we going to hide in a room until the typhoon stops?”
“...”
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Yu Gong threw open the door. Rain poured like a deluge, but it wasn’t the time to worry about that.
‘Even if they’re thoughtless, they won’t be ignorant of Southern Island’s situation; they won’t try anything immediate. They’ll likely keep a respectful distance and play it cool.’
That was what Yu Gong was thinking. If his guess about the visitors’ intentions was right, they’d need witnesses to testify to the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s kindness even after Southern Island’s possible annihilation.
‘If things go well, we might join hands.’
Resolved, Yu Gong stepped forward without hesitation.
“...Sahyung.”
“...”
“Um, sahyung?”
Yu Gong didn’t even hear the call; he stared blankly at the guest hall. What was happening inside defied common sense.
“Kuhahahahaha!”
Someone who had taken a hearty gulp slammed down their cup loudly.
“What the hell! Do you brew your liquor with water here? It’s bland! Bland!”
“...Chung Myung. Liquor is always brewed with water.”
“Oh, really?”
People were sprawled everywhere. Among them were some Yu Gong had never seen and some he knew well. That is...
“Ugh... I’m... dying...”
‘Why is that guy acting like that over there?’
What shocked him most was seeing Ja-Yang — usually so sharp-tempered that everyone kept their distance except Gwak Hwan-So — almost senseless, crawling on the floor.
No, the others were the same.
So not only the visitors to Southern Island but even Southern Island’s own disciples were all sprawled, senseless.
Just from the shattered, empty liquor jars rolling about, one could guess what had happened here.
“...They drank?”
Well, guests can be served liquor. It’s only natural to offer food and drink to visitors.
What was truly incomprehensible was why Southern Island’s disciples were the ones sprawled in the guest hall where the guests should be resting after eating and drinking.
“That damn... the drink’s something else...”
“Loosen your twisted tongue and speak properly.”
And amid the senseless sprawlers, two people sat facing each other, staggering as if about to topple, holding cups.
“...great sahyung?”
“Th-that person looks like the Sect leader’s disciple of Mount Hua I saw at Shaolin before. Why are the two of them...”
Gwak Hwan-So and Baek Cheon stared at the cups in their hands with glazed eyes. Then, as if by agreement, they drank them down in one.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
“Th-that... that...”
The two emptied the cup-sized liquor without leaving a drop and then dropped their cups as if throwing them away.
“...I...”
“won...”
Thud!
And the two collapsed to the side at the same time.
Snoring, sleep-talking, and someone groaning together formed a strange cacophony filling the guest hall.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Just half a day ago, tensions were sharp with mutual distrust. How could they be so loose in such a short time?
And mingling with the visitors who had come to Southern Island for the first time.
As Yu Gong tried to guess how things had come to this...
“What the—? They’re all out cold? These kids are so weak to liquor. Tsk!”
Someone leaning against the wall, sipping, looked around with glazed eyes.
“Oh.”
Then he noticed Yu Gong and Go Hong standing in the doorway and grinned.
“Want a drink too?”
Yu Gong was momentarily speechless. Go Hong quickly whispered then.
“Sahyung. It’s the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint. I remember clearly.”
“...Mount Hua’s Sword Saint?”
That guy?
“Don’t stand on there — come and have a drink. There’s no one entertaining here, it’s lonely. We should treat our guests, right?”
“...”
“Sahyung...?”
Clenching his expression, Yu Gong stepped inside and sat opposite the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.
“I’m Yu Gong.”
“Chung Myung.”
Chung Myung grinned and raised a jug of liquor.
“You’re late, so start by taking three cups.”
Yu Gong silently lifted his cup.