Read Novel Full Chapter 1242: Is That Really All? (2)
Chapter 1242: Is That Really All? (2)
Geum Yang-Baek, who had been standing under the eaves of the pavilion, walked out with dignity and bowed deeply toward Baek Cheon at the front.
“Allow me to formally greet you once more. I am the sect leader of Southern Island Sect, Geum Yang-Baek.”
Watching that, Mount Hua’s disciples felt a peculiar emotion.
The sect leader of Southern Island. Nowadays the name doesn’t strike them as particularly imposing; they’d already faced too many great figures to be cowed by the title alone.
They were in a position to raise their voices and argue with Shaolin’s sect leader; what could Southern Island’s sect leader do that would be so special?
But that was because Mount Hua’s standing had changed now.
Only a few years ago, Southern Island’s sect leader had been someone who stirred complicated feelings among Mount Hua’s disciples.
He was both the object of resentment for taking the place Mount Hua ought to have held and the object of envy for leading a sect that was ascending higher than theirs.
Now, that man had stepped out from under the eaves and, standing in the rain, received Baek Cheon with his whole body exposed to the downpour.
“I am Baek Cheon, Acting Sect leader of Mount Hua. Thanks to the sect leader’s consideration last night, I was able to rest my weary body. I am grateful once again that you did not turn away a guest who arrived abruptly without notice and showed us kindness.”
Baek Cheon bowed politely, accepting Geum Yang-Baek’s courtesy.
That sight made Yoon Jong’s chest tremble involuntarily.
He knew why.
The courtesy Geum Yang-Baek displayed was not toward Baek Cheon personally but toward the office of ‘Acting Sect leader’ he held. Or perhaps it was being shown to his position as a ‘special envoy’ of the Heavenly Friends Alliance.
But what did any of that matter?
A few years ago Geum Yang-Baek hadn’t even paid attention to Mount Hua. The young disciples couldn’t hide their ardor, but Geum Yang-Baek neither disliked nor despised Mount Hua; he merely watched. That meant Mount Hua had not even been a threat to Southern Island.
Yet now Geum Yang-Baek himself stood in the rain to welcome Baek Cheon, giving proper honors to someone he’d already met once. That alone made it clear how much Mount Hua’s stature had risen since before.
“Please come inside.”
“It is an honor, Sect leader.”
Geum Yang-Baek led them into the wide-open main hall. Those waiting at the front carefully approached and handed facecloths to the Heavenly Friends Alliance party.
“What is this...”
“Shh.”
As the flustered Jo Gul began to speak, Yoon Jong nudged his side and gestured with his chin. He was pointing at Namgung Do-Wei. Namgung Do-Wei naturally took a facecloth and wiped the rain from his body.
Jo Gul followed suit and wiped off the rain, taking the hint.
“It’s nice to have at least one noble family’s gentleman among us.”
“Exactly. If we’d come alone, we’d have just stood there wondering what to do, wouldn’t we?”
“Truly, as expected of young lord.”
Tang Pae’s face contorted abruptly.
“I’m also the young lord of a noble family.”
“Ah. Right. But... why doesn’t it feel that way? Strange. Maybe because he’s too familiar to us?”
“It’s the face.”
For a moment, the three of them turned to the one who had just spoken.
“Why? Did I say something wrong?”
“...”
Tang Soso tilted her head as if asking why they looked at her that way. Everyone silently turned their heads away.
“...Let’s go inside.”
“Yes.”
Tang Pae’s shoulders slumped, and Yoon Jong kindly averted his gaze to give him some consideration.
“Please, sit.”
“Then, if you’ll allow my impertinence.”
At Geum Yang-Baek’s gesture, Baek Cheon sat on a prepared cushion. Only then did Geum Yang-Baek and Southern Island’s elders take their seats in a row at the front.
Barely had everyone sat down when Southern Island’s disciples brought trays with tea and light refreshments and set one down before each of Mount Hua’s disciples.
A bead of sweat began to form on Yoon Jong’s brow.
‘It doesn’t feel like it’s from the heat.’
Not long after, he understood why.
Although they’d cultivated pride as Mount Hua’s disciples, none of them had ever been formally hosted like this by another sect.
It was the sect leader and elders who received hospitality in Mount Hua’s name. But the moment the hospitality meant for that sect was directed toward them instead, the reality that they stood here representing Mount Hua and the Heavenly Friends Alliance hit them keenly.
A slight breathlessness came over him, but Yoon Jong straightened his shoulders even more. If they represented Mount Hua and the Heavenly Friends Alliance, they mustn’t appear intimidated by the atmosphere.
“A guest has come from a distant place over a perilous road, and we regret not being able to provide proper hospitality. But please understand that Southern Island’s situation is so urgent that we could not do otherwise.”
“We are grateful and overwhelmed by hospitality we never expected, and are at a loss for words at your remarks. Who in all the land has been treated like this in Southern Island? Leaving my position aside, as an individual it is something to boast about for a lifetime.”
Complimentary remarks passed for a moment. Mount Hua’s disciples, who would normally laugh that Baek Cheon’s tongue was nimble, now kept silent and listened intently, seemingly subdued by the atmosphere.
“Well...”
At that moment, Geum Yang-Baek cleared his throat slightly and shifted the topic.
“Forgive the impertinent question, but let me confirm [N O V E L I G H T] once more. You said you visited here in the capacity of Acting Sect leader of Mount Hua and also as a special envoy of the Heavenly Friends Alliance. Is that correct?”
“It is so.”
“It is not the virtue of a gentleman to doubt another’s words, but this place is far from the Central Plains, so news travels slowly.”
Baek Cheon smiled faintly and drew the Purple Cloud sword from his waist. Geum Yang-Baek watched his action without a word.
(Sound of blade sliding.)
Baek Cheon lifted the sword horizontally and slowly drew the Purple Cloud sword. When the white-hued blade was revealed, everyone let out a short exclamation; at a glance it was no ordinary treasured sword.
“This is Mount Hua’s sacred relic, the Purple Cloud sword. Mount Hua’s sect leader sent me with this relic to convey his intentions to you.”
Baek Cheon then spoke in a slightly embarrassed tone.
“However, proving that this sword is Mount Hua’s sacred relic...”
“No, acting Sect leader. That is a sufficient answer.”
At that moment Geum Yang-Baek erased the last bit of doubt lingering in his heart like a knot.
He had never once doubted that Baek Cheon came as Mount Hua’s Acting Sect leader. Baek Cheon was famed across the land as one of Mount Hua’s Five Swords. It was unthinkable that he would fabricate matters concerning the sect leader of Mount Hua.
Even if Baek Cheon had ill intent, the Mount Hua disciples who accompanied him or the leaders of other sects would never have stood by silently.
What he wanted to confirm, however, was how much authority the title ‘Acting Sect leader’ actually carried.
A sacred relic exists to exercise the sect leader’s authority in their absence. Sometimes a sect’s relic carries more authority than the sect leader themselves.
If that Purple Cloud sword was Mount Hua’s relic, it would not be an exaggeration to say Baek Cheon had brought all of Mount Hua’s authority in his hand.
Geum Yang-Baek swallowed dryly without realizing it, then quickly relaxed his expression as if remembering himself.
‘I’ve been nervous.’
He had not yet heard any words from them, yet merely facing Mount Hua’s Acting Sect leader had made him unable to maintain his composure.
After all, Baek Cheon was still a young man who hadn’t even reached half his years; there was no reason for Geum Yang-Baek, Southern Island’s sect leader, to be nervous in his presence.
Yet the reason he couldn’t fully relax was the white long robe and the plum-blossom emblem embroidered on his chest.
That those two symbols of the sect caused such tension meant Mount Hua had grown into something enormous even in their eyes.
Geum Yang-Baek drew a slow breath, smiled faintly, and began to speak.
“Acting Sect leader. How on earth did you come all the way here?”
To ease the tense atmosphere, it was best to start with small talk. Geum Yang-Baek continued, ready to respond with a bit of levity no matter what Baek Cheon said.
“If you intended to arrive at this time, you must have set out long ago; so why not give us prior notice? We would have come to meet you by sea; now we feel a little embarrassed as if we lacked manners. Ha ha.”
But Baek Cheon’s reply completely shattered Geum Yang-Baek’s intent.
“We came through Southern Lands.”
“...Pardon?”
“We crossed the Southern land directly by land.”
For a moment, Geum Yang-Baek was left speechless and stared at Baek Cheon in a daze.
Southern Land? Did he just say the Southern lands?
“...Acting Sect leader. The Southern Lands you speak of is...”
“We started from Hubei and came via Guangdong.”
Geum Yang-Baek’s eyes grew wider.
“G-Guangdong?”
“Yes.”
Baek Cheon smiled lightly and answered calmly. Geum Yang-Baek, momentarily forgetting his dignity as sect leader, blankly asked again.
“You crossed the Yangtze and came? And... did you pass through Guangdong, the stronghold of the Ten Thousand People Clan?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, no—why such a dangerous thing to do...? What on earth were you thinking?”
Not only Geum Yang-Baek but even the elders momentarily forgot themselves and began whispering among themselves. Some were astonished; others skeptical.
But Baek Cheon simply answered calmly with the plain truth.
“Because it was the fastest route.”
Geum Yang-Baek was left without words.
Whether the young man was bold or brazen, he only wore a gentle smile amid their reactions.
‘No...’
In truth, Geum Yang-Baek had something else he really wanted to say.
‘Is he sane?’
But this was not a place to say whatever one pleased, so he refined and softened his words as much as possible.
“W-what if you encountered misfortune along the way...”
“Of course that could have happened. But as you can see, we arrived safely, did we not?”
Yet Baek Cheon did not bother to soften his tone.
“And...”
Baek Cheon fixed his gaze on Geum Yang-Baek and the elders behind him and spoke.
“We were not the only ones in danger. It was Southern Island that was truly in peril.”
Everyone faced Baek Cheon, as if on the verge of being drawn in.
“If one is so preoccupied with their own safety while going to help those in danger, how can that be called proper assistance?”
Baek Cheon spoke calmly, yet with absolute firmness.
“That is neither Mount Hua’s way nor the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s way.”
Everyone straightened instinctively.
At that moment Geum Yang-Baek instinctively realized that the initiative of the conversation he had sought to gain had completely passed to Baek Cheon.
The young man, without leaning on Mount Hua’s power or authority, had simply overwhelmed the room by stating his will.
“So, Sect leader, please listen to what I am about to say without prejudice.”
Normally a pause would follow such words, and Geum Yang-Baek, expecting as much, began to nod.
But.
“For the future of the Southern Island sect and for the peace of the realm, we of the Heavenly Friends Alliance recommend that your Southern Island sect leave the Nine Great Sects and join the Heavenly Friends Alliance.”
“Gasp!”
Geum Yang-Baek choked and hastily clapped a hand over his mouth.
Truly, it was a blunt statement that struck the solar plexus with full force, without even the slightest attempt to soften the blow.