Chapter 1246: That Is That? (1)

In the main hall where the Heavenly Friends Alliance party had left, the remaining elders were silent for a long while.

People do not usually break down while in despair, but when hope disappears. And what had just happened before their eyes was enough to steal even their last hope.

“Haa...”

Breaking the silence, Geum Yang-Baek let out a sigh.

“Order the disciples to descend as soon as the typhoon stops.”

“...Haven’t we already done so?”

“There must be some lingering attachment. When reality hits, some may change their stance.”

“...”

“The elders should also do the same.”

Geum Yang-Baek said as he looked around at the elders.

“Just because you’ve been with Southern Island Sect for a long time doesn’t mean you must share its end. Those who wish to leave, leave. No one will be blamed.”

At those words, a few elders grumbled.

“Where do you expect those marked to die to go? Without murim skill we can’t even net fish; if we return home we’ll be outcasts.”

“That’s right, Sect leader. The grandchildren won’t welcome a Southern Island sect member into the family. They’d fear being struck by the Four Sects Alliance’s wrath; with what face could we return to our families?”

Geum Yang-Baek snorted a laugh.

“Then why didn’t you act sooner?”

“...You should say that after giving us the time to act.”

The mood was less heavy than expected.

When they thought they might be able to do something, they aired grievances at one another, but once they realized there was nothing left to be done, even those feelings softened.

“What about the skills of those requesting expulsion from the sect?”

“They’ll have to be abolished.”

“Must we...”

Geum Yang-Baek shook his head.

“It’s not because I’m resentful of those children, but because I’m worried. Four Sects Alliance, that Jang Ilso, wants to strike Southern Island Sect first because he doesn’t want trouble left behind. Would he leave children trained in martial arts be allowed to remain?”

“...”

“If they are expelled and lose their martial skills, Jang Ilso wouldn’t bother to hunt them down and kill them. He is wicked, not stupid; he knows the value of able-bodied men who can work.”

The elders’ eyes grew forlorn. It made sense, but if that happened, there would truly be no one left in the world trained in Southern Island’s martial art.

They couldn’t erase what knowledge remained in their heads, but they knew how impossible it was to raise disciples without a single demonstration, so they could clearly foresee Southern Island’s fate after those deaths.

“Don’t leave behind any regrets.”

Understanding the elders’ feelings, Geum Yang-Baek muttered as if to himself.

“If heaven watches over us, it will somehow preserve a thread of life. Who knows? As Mount Hua once did, Southern Island might one day see a greater glory than now.”

“Yes, Sect leader.”

“It will surely be so.”

Hearing the elders’ words, Geum Yang-Baek managed a bitter smile.

He said it, but he too knew the likelihood was slim.

Rumble—

At the thunder, Geum Yang-Baek turned his gaze to the window. Wind and rain still lashed outside.

‘I wish the storm would not stop.’

With a bitter expression he looked out, then turned away resignedly.

“...So it’s just over?”

The drenched disciples, not even thinking to wipe the water from their bodies, looked at Gwak Hwan-So.

“No, sahyung. They came all the way from Northern region lands to here—did they really have no plan? If so, then why bother coming...”

“Why blame sahyung for that?”

Lee Ja-Yang answered irritably.

“If you want to complain, go directly to the Heavenly Friends Alliance and complain. You’re not brave enough to do that, so why pester sahyung?”

“No, that’s not what I mean...”

“What do you mean it’s not! It’s obvious...!”

“Stop it.”

Gwak Hwan-So lightly gripped Lee Ja-Yang’s shoulder to restrain him.

“You’re just speaking out of frustration.”

Gwak Hwan-So sighed and said.

“It seems the Heavenly Friends Alliance also did not expect Four Sects Alliance to attack so swiftly.”

“No, how could that...”

“We were on alert for Four Sects Alliance and coastal movements, but it’s hardly possible for those from distant Northern lands to know the local situation well, is it?”

“...”

“They were probably as shocked to see the Four Sects Alliance’s forces massing on the coast. Still, they came all the way here, so we should be grateful.”

After saying that, Gwak Hwan-So couldn’t help but chuckle.

He wasn’t someone who enjoyed defending others. At another time he might have been the first to reproach them. Yet oddly now, he felt no resentment toward them.

It wasn’t about principle or logic. It was simply that the shared cup of wine from one night lingered in his heart.

‘How amusing.’

How long had that time even been?

It meant he, too, had been that hurt by the contempt shown by the central lands. So he couldn’t help feeling affection for those who had come here in person.

“There’s nothing to blame them for. Haven’t they done what they could?”

“Honestly, I don’t know what they did! If this was the result, they shouldn’t have come at all. They only raised people’s hopes for nothing...”

“Don’t say that.”

Gwak Hwan-So ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) said in a bitter tone.

“Your father was a sailor too, wasn’t he?”

“...Yes.”

“Then you know: fathers often take their sons to see the sea and set sail, only to be caught by a typhoon and not return. It happens often.”

“I know.”

“The sea is heartless, not the father. Even if the choice ultimately cost both their lives, can you call that father foolish and point fingers at him?”

“...I understand what you mean, sahyung.”

Though said out of frustration, the other Southern Island Sect’s disciples didn’t truly resent or hate the Heavenly Friends Alliance. They were closer to feeling grateful.

For three years, abandoned in indifference and coldness, those who came to find them were the only ones.

They had told Southern Island, abandoned even by comrades, to stand together.

When it seemed no one in the world needed the Southern Island faction, they at least told them that they were needed.

“Ja-Yang.”

“Yes.”

“When the typhoon stops, pick a sturdy ship and prepare it so they can depart immediately.”

“...Do we have to do even that?”

Lee Ja-Yang, who had been grumbling, saw Gwak Hwan-So’s expression and sighed deeply.

“All right, fine. If you ask, we’ll do it.”

“Good. Do me that favor.”

If it had been another time, the man who usually complained most would have continued whining, so Lee Ja-Yang couldn’t keep up his grumbling.

“Also, just in case, prepare a couple more ships separately.”

“What? There are only about ten of them—what’s the point of preparing more ships?”

“There will be such people: those who don’t want to die but also can’t live in Southern Island while abandoning the Southern Island Sect’s name.”

“...Sahyung.”

“Just have them ready. That’s enough.”

Lee Ja-Yang bit his lip hard.

“...Understood.”

“Good.”

Having said that, Gwak Hwan-So closed his eyes.

‘Those who want to run away...’

Perhaps he was speaking of himself. If he could, if only he could, he wanted to run away right now.

To someplace where he could survive.

But he couldn’t. He was Southern Island’s chief disciple. If someone must shoulder Southern Island’s name and die, it must be Gwak Hwan-So.

“Think deeply, all of you.”

“Sahyung. We...”

“And don’t say anything you’ll regret.”

Gwak Hwan-So rose from his seat and walked outside.

The other disciples watching him also rose one by one with deep sighs.

“...It’s really as sahyung said.”

Amazement slipped from Go Hong’s mouth.

Yu Gong’s claim that they could do nothing proved true. Even the sect leader and elders hadn’t abandoned all hope, yet still...

“You’re remarkable.”

A strange relief rose in his heart. Yu Gong was the one who looked at situations so coldly. If such a person had decided to leave the sect, Go Hong’s choice couldn’t be wrong.

But unlike Go Hong’s constant admiration, Yu-gong showed no particular emotion.

“...Is that how it turned out?”

“Yes. The sect leader said that when the typhoon stops, those leaving the sect will be formally expelled. Their martial skills will be abolished instead.”

“That’s the right course of action.”

“It’s a pity to lose their martial art, but what can we do? It’s better than death.”

Yu Gong nodded.

This was something he had prepared for. Going down into clans with martial skills would be dangerous for them.

They must become insignificant. Only by becoming simpletons whom Four Sects Alliance wouldn’t bother to hunt down can they survive.

First they must survive; only then can they do anything.

“But how did you know? Those formidable ones came—did you really think they’d have no plan?”

“It’s not that they had no plan.”

“Yes?”

“Four Sects Alliance is simply that fast and terrifying.”

Go Hong tilted his head in puzzlement, but Yu Gong’s gaze was no longer on him. Yu Gong was merely staring blankly at the pouring rain.

Just as he had expected. Not a single thing had changed.

Since it wasn’t a situation to realistically hope for anything, of course it would turn out this way.

So in a way it was for the best. If an unnecessary variable had intervened, things could have gone awry. If they had clumsily brought troops, the sect leader might have harbored hope and, instead of sending disciples down, mobilized everyone to fight Four Sects Alliance.

It was fortunate that events proceeded as planned without such misfortune. Yet...

‘I don’t know. Why does it feel so bitter?’

You held on well, kid.Those words kept echoing in his ears. The arrogant kid’s remark strangely stuck in his mind and wouldn’t leave.

“What about the Heavenly Friends Alliance fellows?”

“They’re holed up in their room and won’t come out. They’re not shameless too—what can be done?”

“...I suppose so.”

Yu Gong slowly nodded his head.

Nothing had changed. Nothing would change. Everything would proceed as planned.

When the typhoon stops around tomorrow, they will leave, and Four Sects Alliance will trample Southern Island. Those who choose to share Southern Island’s fate will accept death, and those like Yu Gong and Go Hong who choose life will walk their paths ignoring the screams behind them.

With that, the name Southern Island faction will vanish from the world forever.

“Foolishly...”

“What?“

“Nothing.”

Yu Gong shook his head.

“Prepare in advance. Just because we’re impatient doesn’t mean the sect leader will be. Don’t delay and encounter misfortune—leave immediately after the expulsion ceremony.”

“Yes, um... hyung.”

“...Call me sahyung for now.”

“Ah... yes, I will.”

Go Hong awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

That night.

The typhoon covering Southern Island swept the land more fiercely than the day before, as if clawing at Southern Island with nails, desperate not to let go.

But when dawn came the next day.

“...It’s stopped.”

The fierce winds and torrential rain had stopped as if lying—they were still, like the cold and indifferent sea.