Don’t bow your head. (2)
Two days had passed.
During those two days, the monks of the Shaolin sect had not taken a single step away from where they initially settled. Not one of them had sat down, and none had left their positions. They simply stared intently with piercing eyes at Maehwado and the lines of Sapaeryeon* that blocked the path between them.
A stillness had settled in with no movement or sound, yet their inner turmoil was more intense than ever.
In the course of living, everyone encounters moments of inner conflict between reality and ideals. Going through those moments repeatedly is what it means to “live.”
However, Shaolin monks hadn’t experienced this typical process.
The threshold of the Shaolin sect surrounding them was too high for them to have experienced any ordinary suffering, and what they had learned as their ideals was too magnificent.
“…Abbot.”
One of the restless Shaolin monks, Hye Bang, directed a piercing gaze toward the island.
Beop Jeong, the Abbot of Shaolin, remained motionless, his gaze fixed forward. It was impossible to tell if he was listening to the question or not.
However, Hye Bang seemed to care little for such matters as he continued speaking.
“Are you truly going to let Namgung Clan’s people die like this?”
At that moment, a muscle in Beop Jeong’s neck twitched slightly. Hye Bang raised his voice.
“Abbot!”
Only then Beop Jeong slowly turn his head. He faced Hye Bang, who was pouring out his anger toward him.
“Well, what would you suggest?”
Hye Bang fell silent.
“Ask me directly. What do you think we should do?”
Hye Bang continued to remain silent.
“Do you believe we should fight against the Sapaeryeon? Do you see charging into that river and fighting against overwhelming odds, ignoring unfavorable terrain and being outnumbered, as the right course of action?”
Hye Bang clenched his lips.
There was no fault in Beop Jeong’s words. What they were about to do was akin to using straw to cross a river of fire.
But…
Hye Bang looked directly at Beop Jeong’s and said:
“Is that foolish?”
“Hye Bang!”
“Isn’t it you who taught me all these things, Abbot?”
Upon hearing this, Beop Jeong fell silent. His gaze wavered slightly.
“Shaolin must protect the Central Plains. What we should pursue is the path of both martial arts and Buddhist ways. You made that clear.”
“… “
“Is this the path to protect the martial way or the path to protect the Buddhist way?”
“Enough…”
“Were those just words? Abbot!”
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut?!”
The one who raised his voice wasn’t Beop Jeong but Beop Gye. He glared at Hye Bang with an angry expression.
“You can vent your anger all you want. But the Abbot must make a decision that could determine the lives of everyone here!”
Hye Bang bit his lips until they bled.
“Can you, for the sake of that noble righteous way, send all of the sahyeong and sajl to their deaths? Can you confidently say that’s the right thing to do?”
Hye Bang couldn’t bring himself to answer and lowered his head.
Beop Gye narrowed his eyes.
In this situation where they could neither do this nor do that, everyone’s hearts were twisted and festering. It would only get worse with time, like a deep scar left behind where an abscess had formed. Perhaps even after this situation ended, that scar might never truly disappear.
‘…Jang Ilso..’
Jang Ilso had already won.
Even if Shaolin monks were to leap across the river and rescue everyone, bearing the burdens of both Ten Great Sects and Namgung, the scars etched into their hearts would never heal.
Shaolin, armed with both Buddhism and diplomacy, advancing resolutely, might cease to exist from this moment onward. This entire situation was chilling, as it seemed to have originated from one person’s scheme.
Once again, a helpless sigh escaped from Beop Jeong’s lips. He could feel it — the eyes of his disciples, no longer the same as before – betrayal, deep-rooted distress and doubt in their gazes upon him.
Then, something fortuitous might have occurred for Beop Jeong.
Jongli Hyeong [종리형], leading the Kongtong Sect [공동파(崆峒派)], along with the beggars of The Beggars Sect [개방(丐幇)], arrived.
“What in the world has happened here?”
Amidst the procession blocking Maehwado, Jonglihyeong couldn’t conceal his discomfort as he spoke.
“On that island…”
“Yes.”
Beop Jeong nodded weakly.
“There are survivors from Namgung.”
At that moment, Jonglihyeong’s eyes dimmed slightly.
Survivors.
The words are not incorrect. However, the term “survivor” is typically used when referring to a minority who has survived in a situation of almost total annihilation by a powerful force, isn’t it? It had a very subtle tone.
“Those wicked bastards!”
They are also in a position to lead a faction. So, it was understandable why the Sapaeryeon might block the way there and keep Namgung alive.
“Are we too late?”
“…We came as fast as we could, but by the time we arrived, the Maninbang** had already taken control of the riverbank.”
“This… How did the Maninbang.. from Guangxi…?”
Jonglihyeong’s complexion noticeably darkened. Even with just the Maninbang and Surochae*** [수로채(水路寨)], the forces here were strong enough to not be easily dealt with.
But if these forces had secured boats and were occupying the river, it was unimaginable how many sacrifices would be needed to break through there.
Jonglihyeong asked,
“Is it possible to break through?”
Jao Gae [Elder of the Beggars Sect] replied with a heavy tone,
“Breaking through shouldn’t be too difficult. Do you think there would be any major problems if we put all available forces into it?”
“In that case…”
Jonglihyeong’s hope seemed to waver. But at that moment, Jao Gae abruptly extinguished that light.
“But this isn’t a battle to break through their encirclement. After breaking through the barricade reaching Maehwado on foot, we must rescue Namgung’s survivors and cross the river again.”
“…”
“It means we have to fight the same battle twice. The second time, carrying people with totally exhausted bodies.”
Sweat began to bead on Jonglihyeong’s forehead. Only now did he see how utterly absurd this situation was.
“What if we regroup our forces at Maehwado first?”
“We’d just be surrounded together. Do you think they’ll let us regroup without interference?”
“…”
“Then how about we procure boats ourselves?”
Jao Gae chuckled dryly.
“Do you think the enemy didn’t consider that? There probably isn’t even a single rowboat within a few hundred li. If we go further to find boats, by the time we arrive, the Namgung clan won’t exist on this river anymore.”
Beop Jeong nodded. While Jao Gae had a sarcastic side, he was also perceptive and quickly grasped the situation.
“So, what should we do?”
“What can we do?”
Jao Gae glanced at the anchored boats, or more accurately, at the people within them.
“Squeezing out every bit of strength, whether it exists or not, to rescue Namgung at the risk of our lives… Or we watch them die over there.”
“D-Die…!”
Jonglihyeong’s complexion turned deathly pale.
‘What on earth is this?’
While he had contemplated many scenarios as he rushed to the Yangtze River, he could never have imagined such an absurd situation.
“W-What do you think we should do, Abbot?”
Jonglihyeong finally asked, as he felt it was something he couldn’t possibly decide. Breaking through that solid defense and sacrificing countless lives, or watching Namgung’s clan wither away, were both unthinkable actions.
“…Amitabha.”
But Beop Jong shook his head.
“It doesn’t seem like something we can decide on our own.”
“T-Then…”
“Since Paeng Family hasn’t arrived yet, how about making the decision after they arrive?”
“Oh, that sounds like a good idea.”
Jongli Hyeong vigorously nodded.
However, Beop Jong’s words weren’t necessarily a judgment of right or wrong. He was just relieved that he could postpone the moment of decision that might determine the fate of their faction even a little longer.
In fact, upon a little reflection, blindly deferring the decision wasn’t the only option. Jongli Hyeong looked at the bewildered faces of the fellow members of their faction, who hadn’t yet fully grasped the situation.
‘Damn it…’
There wasn’t much time. Now, they had three days left. It was too short a time to decide their fate, yet it was excessively long to contemplate oneself in the face of this situation.
They had to wrestle fiercely with ideals and reality as if they were receiving punishment from this moment on.
What an utterly absurd situation this was.
Observing Jongli Hyeong, who was at a loss about what to do, Jao Gae furrowed his brow.
‘I was wrong.’
Unbeknownst to him, making a bold decision was a necessary skill. Postponing it endlessly wouldn’t make it the right decision. Furthermore, he already had a sense of what their decision would be based on the conversation they had just had.
But… Jao Gae didn’t really want to blame them. It couldn’t be denied that there was a subtle tension between the Ten Great Sects and Five Great Families. Did they have the loyalty to risk their lives to save Namgung, even if it meant staking not only their lives but also the fate of the faction?
This was something Jao Gae himself wanted to avoid.
Turning his gaze away from his self-derision and self-reproach, he stared at Maehwado.
‘Lord Namgung. How could you do such a foolish thing?’
Deep sighs and breaths escaped.
But he didn’t want to blame Namgung’s Lord either. Those who stood here were also in a state of mind where it felt like their hearts were being scraped with a knife. What would you say about Namgung, who had to endure all this situation while watching from that island?
It was unbearably cruel to call it the price to be paid for a single mistake.
Jao Gae, who had been silent, spoke with an emotionless face.
“It might be good to remember one thing.”
Beop Jong and Jongli turned to him.
“What choice you make ultimately depends on your hearts. However…”
Jao Gae slightly bit his lip and continued.
“The choice you make here, heaven will remember. And history will remember it beyond heaven.”
“…”
“May you make the right choice.”
With those words, he turned away. It was hard to stand facing them any longer.
It wasn’t because of hatred for those two. It was simply because looking at them made his self-hatred surge.
‘What am I saying?’
Wasn’t he a co-conspirator too? He might be the most cowardly one here, avoiding making choices, and speaking words that didn’t match his actions.
As Jao Gae stepped back, a beggar followed him.
“Should we report the situation to the headquarters?”
“…Yes, we should.”
However, with only three days left, even at the headquarters, they wouldn’t be able to make a decision quickly. It was indeed a harsh choice for Sect Leader, who didn’t have many days left due to old age.
“Then I’ll do that.”
“Just a moment…”
At that moment, Jao Gae bit his lip.
He knew it was something he should never do, but he had no choice. As an elder of The Beggars Sect, it was the path he shouldn’t choose, but as an individual, he had to bring up that topic.
“… Where did you say Hwasan was?”
________
*Sapaeryeon – 사패련(邪覇聯)
- 邪 (Xié): This character means “evil” or “heretical.” It is often used to describe something that is wicked or contrary to moral or ethical standards.
- 覇(Bà): This character can be translated as “hegemony” or “dominance.” It implies a sense of supremacy or being in control.
- 聯 (Lián): This character means “alliance” or “union.” It signifies a group or coalition of individuals or entities working together for a common purpose. But it’s different from maeng in Cheonumaeng.
Both 盟 (méng) and 聯 (lián) can be translated as “alliance” or “union,” but they are used in slightly different contexts:
- 盟 (méng):
• 盟 (méng) is often associated with formal, solemn, or sworn alliances. It implies a deeper level of commitment and loyalty among the members.
• It can be used in contexts where alliances are made with a strong sense of unity, common goals, and shared values. This character is associated with covenants, leagues, and solemn pledges. - 聯 (lián):
• 聯 (lián) usually denotes a more general or informal form of alliance or union. It can refer to various types of collaborations, partnerships, or coalitions.
• It may suggest a broader range of affiliations, not necessarily characterized by deep commitment or solemn oaths.
So generally speaking Sapaeryeon is something like Dominant Evil Coalition.
**Maninbang – Jang Ilso’s faction, 만인방(萬人房)
- 만 (萬): This character means “ten thousand” or a large number. It’s often used to indicate a multitude or an extensive quantity.
- 인 (人): This character means “person” or “people.” It represents individuals.
- 방 (房): This character means “room” or “hall.” It refers to a space or an area where people gather.
“Ten Thousand People Hall.” I’d prefer to omit the word ‘people’ and go with Ten Thousand Men Pavilion or something.
*** Surochae – the whole term was 장강수로채(長江水路寨) – Janggang Surochae, but in the novel it is almost always shortened to just Surochae – Waterway Fortress, meaning 18 waterway fortresses under the command of Black Dragon King.
Return of the Mount Hua 
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