So, youāre all gathered here. (1)
āUughā¦ā
The harsh sunlight stung his eyes. The thin, shabby makeshift tent couldnāt block the blazing sun pouring down.
āIs it morning? Orā¦ā
Barely regaining consciousness, Gwak Hoe reflexively raised a hand against the light pouring onto his face.
āUghā¦ā¦.ā
A groan slipped out on its own. Heād only moved an arm, yet it felt as if his whole body were being crushed. Heād felt something similar right after the battle, but the backlash that swept over him after a half day of sleep was nothing compared to that pain.
āGhhhhā¦ā¦.ā
āUhā¦.ā
It seemed Gwak Hoe wasnāt the only one suffering like this. Dying groans rose from all around. Listening only to the sounds, one might have thought this was not a barrack for the relatively unscathed, but rather a makeshift infirmary for the half-dead ones.
āI-Iām going to die.ā
āM-Myā¦ leg. My legā¦ā
āUghā¦ā¦.ā
In the midst of it, Gwak Hoe forced his eyelids up, clutching at his stomach that felt like it might split, groaning.
āā¦Still, itās a relief.ā
If he had to do anything with this body right now, even the word āhellā would not suffice to describe it. But the war was over. At least today, he could rest in peaceā¦
āHuh?ā
Just then, a bizarre sight caught his eyes.
āWhy is the tent coming closerā¦ā
Crash.
Before he could even finish being confused, the tent above him suddenly collapsed, the fabric sagging down to cover the disciples of Hwasan sprawled beneath it.
āAagh! W-What is this!ā
āAn attack!ā
The disciples of Hwasan panicked and scrambled out from under the tent. And there they came face to face with someone whose entire expression radiated sheer annoyanceā¦
āHuh?ā
āWhat the.ā
āWhy isnāt it Chung Myung?ā
They had, of course, assumed the culprit would be Chung Myung with that fiendish grimace of his, and they just stared ahead with blank faces. The one standing there with hands on his hips, looking down at them, was someone they hadnāt expected.
āS-Sasuk?ā
āS-Sahyeong? No, why?ā
Under everyoneās questioning gazes, Baek Cheon brought a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat softly. Then he opened his mouth and spoke in a somewhat bizarre tone.
āThe sun isā¦..ā
āThe sun?ā
āā¦already high in the sky!ā
The faces of Hwasanās disciples twisted in sheer horror.
āAll of you slacking off and lying around at this hour! What, did you come here for a vacation? Back in my day, it wasnāt like this! Back in my day!ā
āSasuk. Please…ā
āā¦.Has Chung Myung possessed him?ā
āJust look at how unnatural that tone is. Good grief.ā
For some reason it felt like watching a clumsy Peking opera, and the sensation made everyone shudder. Goosebumps rose all over their bodies.
āPlease, just do as you usually do, Sasuk.ā
āWhy are you acting like this, exactly?ā
Baek Cheon cleared his throat yet again.
āWhen young men have rested enough, they should get to work.ā
That, too, was the sort of remark Chung Myung would make. It was just unbearably awkward.
It was just then, as everyone stared at Baek Cheon with bewildered faces.
āHey, you!ā
In the midst of it, Baek Sang – the last to crawl out – forgot his pain, sprang to his feet, and jabbed a finger at Baek Cheon.
āDid we slack off! Did we! Weāve been working ourselves half to death and only just got half a day of rest!ā
Baek Cheon narrowed his eyes for a moment.
āHalf a day?ā
āErā¦ Uhā¦ā¦.ā
The force in his tone made Baek Sang instinctively avert his gaze.
āTo be preciseā¦ Maybe a whole day?ā
Like a dried squid curling in on itself, Baek Sang hunched his shoulders, and the expressions of Hwasanās disciples darkened further.
āAnyway. Thatāsā¦ thatās not whatās important right now.ā
Sensing the other disciplesā expectations turning to disappointment, Baek Sang pleaded desperately. But once their looks had soured, they wouldnāt change.
āIām the fool for expecting anything.ā
āā¦If youāre going to chicken out that fast, why point fingers in the first place, Sasuk.ā
āAt least meet his eyes when you talk back. Itās embarrassing to watch.ā
āShut up, you brats!ā
Overcome with embarrassment, Baek Sang snapped and shouted.
In truth, he had things to say as well. At Chung Myungās absurd bullying, Baek Sang could of course unleash a stream of curses. After all, isnāt he the one standing in the position of Sasuk? Even if it ended with him getting kicked for it, the justification was his.
Unfortunately, the man standing before him now was his Sahyeong – and Hwasanās undisputed head disciple. In authority, in standing, in skill, he was someone Baek Sang couldnāt even dream of challenging.
āRest? Sure, rest is fine. Itās not like Iām someone who refuses to acknowledge that, right?ā
āIt doesnāt feel like youāre acknowledging itā¦..ā
āYouāre already scolding us, though?ā
āWerenāt you the one who usually didnāt acknowledge it in the first place?ā
āTsk.ā
When Baek Cheon abruptly furrowed his brows, the disciples of Hwasan quietly looked away in a hurry.
āIād rather it be Chung Myung.ā
āWhatās gotten into that man all of a sudden.ā
āGiven what heās been through, we canāt even talk backā¦ This is driving me mad.ā
Having neatly swept away the faint, momentary flicker of resistance, Baek Cheon let out another awkward little cough and continued.
āResting is fine. But shouldnāt we finish what needs to be done before we rest?ā
āā¦What needs to be done? The war is already over.ā
āExactly.ā
Baek Cheon turned his head and fixed his gaze to one side.
Following his line of sight, the others found themselves staring at the wide-open field. Some looked ready to ask what he meant, but most understood instantly.
āUghā¦ā¦ā
āWell, uhā¦. it does hurt.ā
āWe still have to do what needs to be done.ā
Scratching their heads with embarrassed faces, they lifted their heavy bodies to their feet one by one.
No matter how much pain they were in, they were still alive. And all around them lay countless fallen comrades, abandoned on the cold ground.
If a man could see that and still pursue his own comfort – unless he were ignorant – he had no right to wear a Taoist robe [ėė³µ(éę)] and a Taoist crown [ėź“(éå ) – dogwan – taoist headwear].
āYeahā¦ We did rest a bit much.ā
āTrue. The sunās already high overhead.ā
āYou couldāve woken us a little earlier.ā
The disciples of Hwasan, embarrassed, muttered meaningless nonsense as they quietly gathered up their swords.
Watching them, Baek Cheon allowed a faint smile to spread across his lips. In that instant, the disciples felt as though the world had grown brighter before their eyes – for Baek Cheonās smile was that dazzling.
Wearing such a splendid smile, Baek Cheon added.
āFor reference, the Sect Leader has been gathering the fallen since early morning.ā
āā¦.What?ā
In an instant, the faces of Hwasanās disciples began to turn pale.
āAh, the Elders as well.ā
āEek.ā
āAh, noā¦ā
āWeāre doomed.ā
The smile that had looked infinitely dashing just moments ago now felt like a demonās grin.
āWhoever arrives last, letās have a separate little talk. Iāve had a lot to say lately anyway, and it seems catching just one unlucky soul will do.ā
The disciples of Hwasan snapped their heads around on reflex – towards Baek Sang, the second of Hwasanās Baek generation, who might at least call out this unfairness.
But all they could see was Baek Sangās back as he abandoned them and ran across the field.
āThat bastard!ā
āYouāre abandoning your fellow disciples?ā
āYouāve got to trust the right people. Move! Iām going first!ā
In the end, the rest of them, one after another, began to dash forward in a frantic race.
āOut of the way!ā
āDamn it, donāt you have any respect for your Sasuk?ā
āWhen my lifeās on the line, Sasuk or not doesnāt matter!ā
The sudden stampede of men running across the field in broad daylight drew the dumbfounded stares of disciples from other sects.
āā¦That place is never quiet.ā
āTell me about it.ā
And from behind the charging disciples of Hwasan, someone let out a low, weary sigh.
ā ā ā
Below is the original second POV of this chapter. The revised version of this POV is the next chapter after this one.
ā ā ā
āHas everyone gathered?ā
At Zhuge Jainās words, those seated nodded in silence.
Aside from the fact that there were empty seats, it looked no different from before. Yet the ravages of this war were written plainly on the faces of those assembled. Every one of them was badly wounded.
Zhuge Jain swept his gaze over the room once, then nodded.
āOriginally, the Alliance Leader should have presided over this meeting. However, due to severe internal injuries, he cannot be present.ā
āInternal injuries, you say. Has he, perhaps, been grievously hurtā¦?ā
At Jongli Gokās question, Zhuge Jain shook his head.
āIf he focuses on recuperation for a few days, it will be fine. In any case, you all know that Lord Tang, who usually presided over meetings in the Alliance Leaderās absence, alsoā¦ Suffered an unforeseen tragedy.ā
At the mention of Tang Gunak, everyoneās faces darkened at once.
Not everyone would have felt the same towards Tang Gunak. Some may have felt affection, some a quiet rivalry, and some may even have disliked him.
Yet, since they shared the bond of comrades who had fought together, the only fitting response to his death was solemn respect and regret.
āTherefore, I would like us here to first discuss the most urgent matters among ourselves.ā
Those listening nodded.
War does not truly end simply because the battle is over. In truth, the harder struggle begins only after the fighting stops. If the pressing issues were not swiftly resolved, Gangho would groan under the scars of war for far longer.
āSo it must be.ā
āMm. Indeed.ā
Believing he had their agreement, Zhuge Jain spoke again, his expression serious.
āTo start, we should deal with the most pressing discussion of merits firstā¦ā
āHahah.ā
At that moment, someone let out a dry chuckle. Zhuge Jain did not bother to hide his displeasure as he fixed his gaze on the source.
āIs there something amusing, Nokrim King?ā
āWell. Rather than amusingā¦ā
Im Sobyeong flicked open his fan and waved it lightly before his face.
āShould I call it amusing?ā
Zhuge Jainās expression hardened further.
āAmusing. And what exactly is so amusing?ā
āIām not sure itās something you particularly need to know.ā
āAnd if I insist?ā
Im Sobyeong showed a gentle smile that contrasted with Zhuge Jainās severe demeanor.
āWell. Seeing the folks whoād stood back as spectators until now, the moment the war ends, quietly slip a foot in to be the first to raise their voicesā¦ What should I call it – makes me think the Just Sects are at least the more straightforward lot.ā
āHey, now!ā
āTsk.ā
Expressions of displeasure surfaced here and there. Of course, Im Sobyeong still didnāt wipe the smile from his face.
But instead, Zhuge Jain eased his stiff expression and asked calmly.
āItās unfortunate that it looks that way to you. Why, is it that since Nokrim also had its share of exploits, you wish to be properly looked after?ā
āAs if that could be. If a Just Sect fellow who doesnāt know his place were to stick his spoon into the high gentlemenās table, well, heads have a way of flying.ā
Their gazes met in midair. It didnāt carry any obvious hostility, but it certainly wasnāt warm.
āThen what is it you want to say?ā
āSomething obvious.ā
Snap.
Im Sobyeong folded the fan he was holding. Then, tapping the cap atop his head with the fan, he said.
āWhether itās apportioning merit or handling the aftermath, the one who ought to do it should be the one to do it.ā
āā¦You mean to say I have no authority?ā
āNot so much authorityā¦ā
Im Sobyeong smiled faintly.
āā¦but rather, that itās beyond your station.ā
A flash of killing intent flickered in Zhuge Jainās eyes. As the others hesitated, unsure whether to intervene or simply watch, Im Sobyeong spoke with leisurely composure.
āHmm. Seems heās arrived?ā
āHm?ā
Zhuge Jain turned his head towards the direction of Im Sobyeongās gaze. The flap of the tent was pushed aside, and a man stepped in.
āSo, youāre all gathered here.ā
āā¦G-General?ā
āIf you were going to do something, you shouldāve told me. Iād have come sooner.ā
āN-No. Generalā¦ werenāt you injured?ā
āOh, the injuries?ā
Chung Myung scratched his chin.
āThe fighting is over. Itās not like a few scratches are going to kill me. Sitting in on a meeting hardly requires spilling blood, does it?ā
āā¦ā
āWhy? Have I come somewhere I shouldnāt have?ā
āTh-That could never be.ā
Zhuge Jain hastily lowered his head in a shallow bow, then quickly vacated the seat of honor he had taken, offering it to Chung Myung.
Chung Myung watched him for a moment before smirking faintly and taking the seat. A subtle but unmistakable tension filled the air as every gaze turned towards him.
After meeting each personās eyes without exception, Chung Myungās lips curved into a light smile as he spoke.
āWell thenā¦ shall we begin?ā
The eyes fixed on him held a tangle of complicated feelings.
________
so. um, yes, previously Zhuge Jain was described as dead in chapter 1839. yes, ive checked the raws several times, it was him. yes, ive checked these raws obviously and itās also him. yes, all the naver is roasting biga for the sudden resurrection of Zhuge Jain. i have nothing rly to say about this situation. if the chapter will be posted with corrections i guess i will have to tl it again.
(edit: they posted the revised version.)
________
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