Chapter 114

Chapter 114

What is the most important value in the world?

When people are asked that question, each person answers with what they consider most important.

-Immediate happiness is the best.

-Well, let’s see. Isn’t it the pleasure of eating?

Commonly, it ranges from money, honor, and happiness to more specific things like the joy of eating, a sense of achievement, and trust between people—the values people prioritize differ from person to person.

When Seonwoo Gang was at Hyeolgeommun , he once asked his master such a question. What is the most important value in the world, what is most important to you?

-The most important value in the world. That’s a simple matter.

The answer that day became the only time since Seonwoo Gang became his disciple that he felt an emotion of ‘alignment’ with Daesageom .

-It’s rationality .

Kwaaaaang—!!!!!

‘How did it come to this?’

A collision of light against light.

Seonwoo Gang, who had been blankly staring ahead at the explosive sound tearing through the surroundings, thought. The bizarre spectacle unfolding before his eyes.

Baek Riyun was fighting alone. Against someone trying to kill him.

Due to his thoughts failing to keep up with the situation, Seonwoo Gang’s body came to an abrupt halt. The moment he saw this, two figures rushed toward him.

“Senior!”

“……Seohwa. Wangpal.”

“What are you doing! Step back. You’ll get caught up in it!”

Chaeeaeng!

Seohwa cried out and grabbed Seonwoo Gang’s arm while Wangpal drew his sword and kept watch over their surroundings. As if guarding something precious beside him.

“We need to fall back now. It’s too dangerous here.”

“While the Sect Master is fighting. Hurry!”

At Seohwa’s urging, Seonwoo Gang unconsciously stepped back a few paces, then cried out upon seeing who Baek Riyun was fighting. Because his opponent was someone familiar to Seonwoo Gang.

“Myeolak  Corps Commander……!”

Among the sixteen martial force corps that the Murim Alliance boasts, there are three strongest martial force corps.

The first is, needless to say, Cheonmu , directly under the Alliance Leader—monsters said to each match the level of an average Corps Commander or Vice Commander. The third was Changcheon Corps, which Baek Riyun once led, said to survive and return even when thrown into the middle of enemy territory.

And the second was Myeolak.

The modifier describing them is just one line.

The vanguard unit that stands at the forefront in the war against Magyo .

“We have to stop this!”

“If you go, you’ll get caught up in it. Senior!”

“I don’t care if I get caught up in it. If things continue like this, the Sect Master will……!”

Seonwoo Gang hurriedly shook off Seohwa’s arm and took a step forward to advance. However, Wangpal stopped his steps.

“Do not go.”

“……Wangpal. Seohwa. You don’t understand. How much of a monster that person is……!”

Seonwoo Gang gritted his teeth and pushed Wangpal aside. Because this was madness.

“The Sect Master is strong.”

Baek Riyun is strong.

Even compared to other martial force corps commanders, Baek Riyun’s strength has exceptional aspects. Cutting down a great yokai that has consumed sufficient terror in one strike, and breaking through a yokai territory alone are things not just anyone can do.

Certainly, Baek Riyun is strong. Much more so than is known to the world. Seonwoo Gang also knows this part.

Is Baek Riyun stronger than the Myeolak Corps Commander?

‘That can’t be……!’

It can’t be. Because the Myeolak Corps Commander is proudly listed among the Murim’s Hundred Great Masters.

And at the same time, he’s one of the few whose names are mentioned first when there’s a vacancy in the Ten Heavens .

“The Sect Master cannot defeat the Myeolak Corps Commander. No matter how great the Sect Master is……!”

The Myeolak Corps Commander is a martial artist superior to Baek Riyun in both experience and skill.

If the Myeolak Corps Commander truly intends to cut down Baek Riyun, Baek Riyun will inevitably be cut down.

Having finished assessing the situation, Seonwoo Gang gritted his teeth and exerted force to break the handcuffs attached to his hands. At the same time.

“If you don’t want to see the Sect Master die, move aside!”

The moment Seonwoo Gang pushed aside Wangpal’s shoulder and took another step forward.

“Even so, you can’t.”

“……What?”

“It means I won’t let you go even if the Sect Master dies.”

Seohwa blocked Seonwoo Gang’s path.

“Seohwa. It seems you don’t understand what situation this is.”

“No. I understand well. What situation this is now. Why the Sect Master cannot defeat that person.”

“Then……!”

“Do you think the Sect Master didn’t know?”

Seonwoo Gang’s words were blocked by Seohwa’s question. However, Seohwa continued speaking regardless.

“How strong the Myeolak Corps Commander is, whether the Sect Master himself can defeat the Myeolak Corps Commander…… the Sect Master knows such things better than we do. Because the Sect Master is an amazing person.”

He might be able to win.

There’s no need for such lip service. You can tell who has the advantage without saying it. Because he knows that unless Baek Riyun is prepared to kill the Myeolak Corps Commander, there can be no reversal.

“Still, the Sect Master chose to block the Myeolak Corps Commander. To save your life, Senior.”

Whether he can or cannot is unknown. However, Baek Riyun judged that it must be done. Then, what should be done from a disciple’s standpoint?

“I intend to trust the Sect Master.”

Isn’t that too simple?

“Does that answer your question?”

“……Why exactly.”

Looking at Seohwa’s eyes that were shining coldly yet warmly, Seonwoo Gang clenched his fist and bit his lip.

“……Why exactly are you all going this far. Everyone.”

“Because you’re the Sect Master’s disciple, Senior.”

“……I’m not even a formal disciple. Just a trainee. A trainee who’s only been together for a month or two.”

“Time isn’t necessarily what’s important. I haven’t been with the Sect Master for even a year either…… Perhaps he considers you an outer disciple?”

“Even so!”

Seonwoo Gang raised his voice and contorted his expression.

“Doing this to save just me…… it’s not rational.”

“Rationality.”

“That’s right. It’s not rational. Not at all!”

He knows how good a person Baek Riyun is. He knows how much he’s done for Muryeon Hall. However, that’s a story within the normal range.

“……Even if you save me, there’s no benefit to the Sect Master. Because everything I can do, the Sect Master can do as well.”

“But to save me, you have to give up a lot.”

Withdrawing from the Murim Alliance doesn’t just mean not receiving benefits as a Murim Alliance member. The key point is not receiving the Murim Alliance’s protection.

“The war between the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance has stopped. They can’t attack first. Then who will be attacked during that ceasefire period?”

“The sects in between the righteous and evil paths. Those that belong to neither the Murim Alliance nor the Sado Alliance……!”

Being attacked by the Sado Alliance without the Murim Alliance’s help?

It’s not just that level of story. If there’s justification, even if Murim Alliance-affiliated sects directly attack Uicheonmun, the Murim Alliance won’t mediate.

Even if an Orthodox sect attacks Uicheonmun for territorial expansion, the Murim Alliance won’t intervene.

“You’re weighing the lives of the entire sect just to save me alone. Do you think that makes sense……?”

That’s what this is about.

“This is insane.”

It’s irrational. Illogical.

Seonwoo Gang covered his face with his handcuffed hands and quietly trembled.

“I can’t…… repay it all…….”

The moment Seonwoo Gang murmured that.

“Damn it, what nonsense.”

“……Huh? Huh?”

At Seohwa’s voice, Seonwoo Gang doubted his ears.

“Who just…….”

“Of course it was me. I learned it from Oh Ryeong Unnie, how was it? Was it okay?”

“……Why did you learn that from Oh Ryeong, no. Huh?”

At a loss for words, Seonwoo Gang fumbled while Seohwa grinned and shrugged her shoulders. The words that followed immediately.

“What if you can’t repay it?”

“What?”

“What if you can’t repay it? You might not be able to repay it all.”

After pausing briefly, Seohwa continued.

“I don’t think grace necessarily has to be repaid.”

“……What does that.”

“Of course it’s good if you repay it. But grace isn’t something you lend like money.”

Does someone who bestows grace necessarily wish for it to be returned?

That’s not the case. Grace is someone’s goodwill, and human goodwill operates randomly.

“You know what? Originally, I was destined to die within three years.”

“……What does that.”

“They said I’d die soon because of my constitution. They also said it couldn’t be cured unless elixirs were poured in.”

Seohwa smiled brightly and made scissors with her index and middle fingers, waving them.

“My hands and feet were freezing to death. But the Sect Master saved me. Even though there was nothing I could do for the Sect Master.”

“If the Sect Master had calculated profit and loss when bestowing grace, neither Wangpal nor I would be here. I would still be waiting to freeze to death, and Wangpal would still be swinging a wooden sword at Baekgeommun. However.”

Now, Wangpal and Seohwa are here. Because Baek Riyun bestowed grace.

“So it’s not in the realm of profit and loss. If we must categorize it, it’s in the realm of whether you want to or not.”

“What do you want to do, Senior?”

What does Seonwoo Gang want to do?

What should I do?

After thinking briefly, Seonwoo Gang quietly closed his eyes. Something dark lying beyond the dark mental image.

He thought it was okay to die.

He thought this was enough, that he had no regrets now. Because he didn’t have to kill his master, because he didn’t have to be despised by his peers.

A good death, he thought that way.

Is that really so?

‘I was scared.’

Was he scared of dying?

No.

He was scared of living. He was scared of living and facing tomorrow.

He was afraid of incurring uncontrollable debt, and afraid that Baek Riyun, his peers, Seohwa, and Wangpal would suffer to save him.

‘I was scared of praying to be saved.’

In case the hope he held would crumble.

‘I was scared of my selfish self.’

In case others would suffer great damage because of him.

‘I was scared…… of accepting my death.’

He deceived himself. A good death. The best death. This is the best ending.

However, that was just a temporary measure.

“Before we came in here earlier, the Sect Master asked me to convey these words.”

Clearing her throat, Seohwa imitated Baek Riyun with a deliberately solemn voice.

“You can temporarily block a flowing river with a dam, but you cannot block it forever. The water will continue to flow, and there’s a limit to how much water a dam can hold.”

“The deed has already been done. Nothing will change now. Therefore.”

Raise your voice. The voice of Seonwoo Gang the human, not Muryeongwando or Geumgeomryong  Seonwoo Gang.

Slowly.

Seonwoo Gang opened his eyes and looked at the back of Baek Riyun fighting ahead. The figure of Baek Riyun exchanging sword strikes with difficulty while still blocking the Myeolak Corps Commander’s path.

And then.

“Sect……Master.”

He spoke in a completely cracked voice.

“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy, but though it’s truly shameless to say this now.”

Shameless. Selfish and irrational words.

However, the words he wants to say more than anything right now.

“I want…… to live.”

Seonwoo Gang bowed his head toward Baek Riyun who was fighting. That moment.

“Good.”

Kwaaaaang—!!!!!

Along with Baek Riyun’s voice piercing through his ears, a tremendous explosion erupted. The conversation that followed simultaneously.

“Phew. This is tough. I’ll stop for a moment. Myeolak Senior.”

“You’re as arrogant now as you were before. Do I have a reason to indulge you?”

“Of course. Myeolak Senior will have no choice but to stop. Because they should be arriving about now.”

At Baek Riyun’s voice mixed with laughter, Seonwoo Gang hurriedly raised his head to look at Baek Riyun. Then Baek Riyun glanced at Seonwoo Gang with a slight smile.

“Gang-ah. You have a very important mission.”

“A mission…… you say?”

“That’s right. A really very important mission. A mission only you can do.”

“……What is it?”

Saaaak!

Baek Riyun wiped the sweat beading on his forehead, sliced through the blowing wind with his sword energy, and directed his gaze forward. Baek Riyun speaking leisurely.

“Think about what to eat.”

“……What?”

“Didn’t I tell you? There’s a tradition where Muryeon Hall graduates get treated to alcohol and meat by their seniors.”

We should eat something delicious while we’re at it.

Saying that, Baek Riyun grinned and pointed his sword energy upward. 

“They’re here.”

The moment Baek Riyun finished speaking.

Kwaaaaang—!!!

A fierce cloud of dust rose at the execution ground’s main gate.

“Wh-what!”

“What’s happening……..”

Panicked people hurriedly moved away from the plaza’s main gate. A dust cloud spreading as if a bomb had fallen.

“Huff. Huff.”

From within it, the form of a youth breathing heavily brushed back his dust-covered hair and stared directly at Baek Riyun.

“Am I not…… too late?”

“That’s right. You arrived right on time.”

“……Then that’s fortunate.”

The youth who spoke dryly drew the spear from his back and swung it to dispel the dust cloud. The figures that gradually became visible.

“Isn’t that person Muryeonggaek ?”

“Muryeon Spear Demon  Seomun Cheok is there too!”

One by one.

The crowd who confirmed the identities of those who arrived began to speak loudly. The murmuring people.

“I recognize Muryeonggaek and Muryeon Spear Demon, but who is the person being carried on Muryeon Spear Demon’s back?”

“I wonder…….”

Doubt. Confusion. Unspoken expectation.

“What on earth is this……?”

To the festival of emotions sweeping through the assembly, Baek Riyun wore a faint smile. Soon, Baek Riyun bowed his head slightly toward Seomun Cheok.

“Thank you for coming such a long way even though you’re unwell. Senior.”

“I merely got carried here. Sect Master, please raise your head.”

Contrary to his words, a middle-aged man descended from Seomun Cheok’s back, sweating profusely as if in great pain, and placed both feet on the ground. The mouth that opened shortly after.

“Myeolak Corps Commander, it’s been a long time.”

“Speak informally.”

“Aren’t you my superior in rank now?”

“I have no hobby of hearing honorifics from a comrade.”

“Then I’ll do that.”

The middle-aged man lightly nodded at the Myeolak Corps Commander’s words, grinned, and nodded while breaking out in cold sweat.

“Your vitality is damaged. Did you use innate qi?”

“A little. Still, I’m good for another twenty years.”

“Seems like your opponent was a formidable enemy.”

“What if I had been careless?”

“I’d mock you that all those ignorant Daoist practitioners are like that.”

“That’s a painful remark. Fortunately, I wasn’t careless.”

A brief lull.

People blinked at the sight of the middle-aged man shrugging and conversing with the Myeolak Corps Commander.

“To see Hoan’s  Gwangyeon in such a state, my comrades will mock me.”

The moment the Myeolak Corps Commander spoke to the middle-aged man.

“Gwangyeon……?”

“Ho-Hoan’s Gwangyeon! He’s the Murim Alliance Akyang Branch Leader!”

The venue began to stir.

“If you’re injured, you should be recuperating, why did you crawl all the way to such a distant place?”

“Because I still have work to do.”

At the Myeolak Corps Commander’s blunt words, Gwangyeon wore a bitter smile and looked with difficulty at Seonwoo Gang standing blankly in the center. Seonwoo Gang staring blankly at Gwangyeon.

“Muryeongwando Seonwoo Gang. You don’t look well.”

“Branch Leader……nim. Why are you here.”

“That’s obvious. I received a favor, didn’t I?”

At Seonwoo Gang’s puzzled expression, Gwangyeon grinned and gave Baek Riyun a subtle look as if to say ‘begin.’ And then.

“I’ve heard the story. Let’s begin.”

“Is that acceptable?”

“Of course.”

The moment Gwangyeon’s permission fell.

“Then, I’ll do so.”

Baek Riyun nodded and turned his gaze toward Jegal Hwi.

“Murim Alliance Second Military Advisor Vice Military Advisor Jegal Hwi. This place is an execution ground and you are the overseer of the execution. Can I assume that you represent the Murim Alliance in this place?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then I should speak to you about matters related to this execution.”

“That would be the case.”

At Jegal Hwi’s dry answer, Baek Riyun grinned and slowly lowered his sword energy.

“Then I request of you, no, of the Murim Alliance.”

Next, the moment Baek Riyun’s mouth opened.

“As of this moment, I, Uicheonmun Sect Master Baek Riyun.”

The situation.

“Apply to the Murim Alliance for a pardon  review for Seonwoo Gang!”

Had changed.