Chapter 1157: A Sect Abandoned By All Of Justice Faction. (2)

A strange atmosphere settled inside the room.

Chung Myung stared intently at the Southern Island drawn on the map.

“Did I miss something?”

No, that wasn’t it. Even if in his time the Southern Island Sect wasn’t part of the Nine Great Sects, he couldn’t have missed the fact that now the Southern Island Sect belonged to the Nine Great Sects and was located on Southern Island.

Still, the reason this fact didn’t remain in Chung Myung’s mind was because the Nine Great Sects were never a subject he needed to keep track of or coordinate with.

“That’s the Great Bald One’s responsibility.”

It’s hard enough to fully manage the Heavenly Friends Alliance alone; how could he also oversee the affairs of the Nine Great Sects?

But now, none other than Im So-Byeong was pointing out this very issue. Indeed, this was something Chung Myung found hard to consider.

Others also seemed to realize this situation was more serious than expected, so they stopped criticizing Im So-Byeong and fell into deep thought with serious expressions.

Tang Gunak rubbed his chin and spoke.

“So that means… the Southern Island Sect is currently in a perilous situation?”

“That’s right.”

“But there’s something I don’t understand. Even so, aren’t the ones who should resolve this the Nine Great Sects, and not us?”

Everyone nodded at that, but Im So-Byeong smiled meaningfully and said.

“Let’s think about it differently.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s look from the Southern Island Sect’s perspective. Those folks were living well on Southern Island. But one day, suddenly, the Nine Great Sects including Shaolin and the Namgung family… no, the Five Great Families…”

Im So-Byeong glanced awkwardly at Namgung Do-Wei and continued.

“They were fighting the Pirates along the Yangtze River but were suddenly forced by the Evil Sect to sign the Southern Lands Non-Aggression Treaty without any consultation. How do you think the Southern Island Sect felt?”

“It was a bolt from the blue for them.”

“They probably thought, ‘Are these people crazy?’”

“If it were me, I’d have gone to set fire to the bald head.”

It was not something that required deep thought.

The Southern Land Non-Aggression Treaty was a humiliating pact for the other Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, forcing them to avoid the Southern territory due to the Evil Sect’s pressure. But in reverse, it was only humiliation, not a real threat.

But how about from the Southern Island Sect’s perspective?

With just that treaty, the Southern Island Sect unknowingly became surrounded and isolated by the Evil Sect.

“Wait a moment. But wasn’t it the same before?”

“No, it’s different.”

Im So-Byeong answered Jo Gul’s question bluntly.

“Of course, Gangnam was previously dominated by the Evil Sect. But the difference between the Shenzhou Five Sects and the Four Sects Alliance is whether they recognized each other as enemies or as allies.”

“Ah…”

“Even with the Shenzhou Five Sects era, the Evil Sect is strong. But it was difficult for them to show that strength because they were enemies to each other. We also fought a war against those damned Ten Thousand People Clan bastards, didn’t we?”

Tang Gunak nodded heavily at those words.

“That’s right.”

“So even if the Southern Island Sect was geographically isolated, since the Evil Sect wouldn’t unite, they didn’t feel much threatened. And if the Evil Sect did attack, the Namgung Family, Wudang Sect, and geographically closer sects in Sichuan would immediately come to support them, right?”

“That’s likely.”

Tang Gunak nodded as if it was obvious. Even the Tang family would have dropped everything and headed to the Southern land if such a situation occurred. It was practically a promise between the Justice faction and the Five Great Families.

“But the moment the Southern Land Non-Aggression Treaty was signed!”

Swish!

Im So-Byeong’s brush once again drew a line across the Yangtze River on the map.

“No matter what happens to the Southern Island Sect, the Nine Great Sects cannot support them.”

“Ah…”

Only then did everyone understand the pressure the Southern Island Sect must have felt.

“For three whole years…”

“Yes, that’s right. The Southern Island Sect endured it for a full three years with a heart drying of blood, constantly anxious about when the Evil Sect might target them. And finally! That long, long three years is coming to an end…”

“Plum Blossom Island has erupted.”

“Yes. It exploded with a bang.”

Everyone’s gaze momentarily shifted to one side. Namgung Do-Wei bowed his head deeply, his face flushed red.

‘I never even thought about it.’

Of course, even if they had thought ahead, they couldn’t have stopped Namgung Hwang, but they had not considered at all what position the Southern Island Sect would be in when attacking the Evil Sect.

“The conclusion left by the Plum Blossom Island incident is one. The Gangnam Non-Aggression Treaty will end now… but that’s all. From now on, neither side can set foot on the other’s land. Didn’t Shaolin prove that directly during the Hangzhou Fire?”

“That’s right.”

Baek Cheon nodded strongly.

Shaolin, at that time, had effectively announced to the world that the Justice faction was reluctant to set foot on land dominated by the Four Sects Alliance, treaty or not.

“Then what position is the Southern Island Sect in now?”

Baek Cheon looked at the map with a stern face. What position? Well…

“They must feel abandoned.”

“Exactly.”

Im So-Byeong clapped his hands sharply.

“If Wudang had even considered Southern Island’s position, the Southern island Non-Aggression Treaty should never have happened. And if Shaolin had considered Southern Island’s position, they should have somehow stepped onto Southern Island land during the Demonic Cult’s rampage to signal that the Nine Great Sects could head to Southern Land if civilians or allies were in danger.”

Im So-Byeong sneered coldly.

“But neither happened.”

People’s shoulders trembled slightly. Putting themselves in Southern Island Sect’s shoes, they deeply felt the despair the faction must have experienced.

“Moreover, the Southern Island Sect was the last to join the Nine Great Sects, so they must have had an inferiority complex. On top of that, they were treated as if they didn’t exist. In such a situation, do you think they truly believe that just by maintaining their position in the Nine Great Sects, Shaolin or Wudang would come running to help them?”

“They wouldn’t.”

“Yes. Unless they’re fools, they wouldn’t. Unless the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were as united as before, how many sects would stand against the Four Sects Alliance to save the distant Southern Island Sect in this current state of internal division? I can say for certain…”

Im So-Byeong’s eyes grew cold. There was a bitter sneer about the reality of the Justice faction that always preached righteousness.

“There won’t be any.”

No one dared to speak rashly. They wanted to deny it, but everyone knew the reality was just that.

“Has Southern Land grown that vast?”

Suddenly, the map looked endlessly vast. To support the Southern Island Sect, one would have to cross that wide Southern land region vertically.

“This is impossible.”

Baek Cheon’s lips trembled slightly.

Actually, Hangzhou isn’t that deep into the Southern Lands. The problem is the long horizontal journey along the Yangtze River, not that it’s far from the river itself.

But the Southern Island Sect is completely different. To support Southern island, one must cross Southern lands, essentially the Four Sects Alliance’s stronghold, all the way to the sea.

“No, even if you reach the sea…”

“How do you get to the island?”

“…That means you have to find a boat to the Southern Island in the Southern lands, which is controlled by the Four Sects Alliance.”

“Moreover, if we depart after hearing that war has broken out, it will be over before you arrive. So we have to go in advance, right?”

Im So-Byeong nodded strongly and summarized.

“Yes, that’s right. So to help Southern island, those conditions must be met. You must be able to head to the South Sea even if Southern Island hasn’t requested rescue, and after breaking through the Southern lands, teeming with the Four Sects Alliance, you must find a way to reach Southern Island.”

Hyun Jong looked at the map with a stunned expression.

‘This is…’

This was not simply a matter of scolding the Nine Great Sects. Realistically, it was no exaggeration to say there was no way to help Southern Island from here.

“Green Forest King, this is…”

“Yes, I know. But that’s why it’s meaningful.”

Swish!

Im So-Byeong snapped open his fan and began speaking.

“The Southern Island Sect hopes for rescue, but realistically cannot imagine anyone coming to save them. Therefore, they are prepared for a desperate last stand and to die with their jade seals.”

“Hmm.”

“But at that moment!”

Im So-Byeong’s brush swiftly drew a line crossing Gangnam and reaching Haenam.

“What if we could help?”

“…”

“In a situation like now, where the Nine Great Sects’ power is weakening and the benefits of the name are meaningless, it wouldn’t be a dream for the Southern Island to leave the Nine Great Sects and join the Heavenly Friends Alliance on their own accord.”

Bang!

Im So-Byeong struck the map so hard that a part of the sturdy cloth map tore with a ripping sound.

“Do you understand?”

“…”

“It’s a defection from the Nine Great Sects. Something that has never happened once in the history of the murim world! Ah… of course, this means the first time a sect leaves on its own. A sect that was expelled…”

“Wait, is that guy for real?”

“Hey, Chung Myung! Hold it in!”

“This isn’t the time for that!”

“I’m pissed too, but let’s hear everything first and then kill him!”

Hyun Jong pressed down on the struggling Chung Myung and urged Im So-Byeong.

“Please continue.”

“Yes.”

Im So-Byeong glanced at Chung Myung with a somewhat irritating expression and continued.

“It’s not an easy story, but if it succeeds, all the martial arts sects in the world will witness the Southern Island Sect, part of the Nine Great Sects, throwing off their position and joining the Heavenly Friends Alliance on their own.”

“…”

“Do you understand what that means? You all just said why would a small or medium sect join the Heavenly Friends Alliance, and even if you were a small sect, you’d stick with the Nine Great Sects. Why do I say that? Because it’s the Nine Great Sects! Their history and reputation are hard to overcome in a short time, no matter how strong the Heavenly Friends Alliance becomes. But!”

Snap!

Im So-Byeong folded his fan in one swift motion and smiled slyly.

“It’s the Southern Island. Not a clumsy small sect, but the Southern Island Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects… will abandon the Nine Great Sects and choose the Heavenly Friends Alliance, declaring to the world that the Heavenly Friends Alliance is the more valuable place.”

“…”

“And then?”

Squeeeeze.

The tip of Im So-Byeong’s fan pressed gently on a part of the map. That spot was none other than Mount Song, where Shaolin was located.

“The balance between the Nine Great Sects and the Heavenly Friends Alliance.”

Screeech.

The fan moved sideways almost tearing the map. Everyone’s gaze followed the tip of the fan.

“Could change…”

Finally, the fan stopped. The long line it drew ended at Mount Hua in Shaanxi, where the Mount Hua faction was located.

“Couldn’t it?”

Im So-Byeong’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

“If that’s even possible, I think it’s worth trying no matter what sacrifices or costs it entails.”

Tap!

He lightly tapped his palm with the fan, smiled, and stepped back.

“That’s all.”

As Im So-Byeong finished speaking, a strange atmosphere began to fill the room—a mix of confusion, concern, and a peculiar excitement.