Chapter 1247: That Is That? (2)

A still slightly cool air brushed his forearms.

Geum Yang-Baek stared up blankly at the clear sky.

‘How indifferent it is.’

Even Geum Yang-Baek, who had lived by the creed that most of life is decided by one’s own effort, had looked up to the sky a few times during his life.

But each time, the sky coldly ignored his wishes.

‘It wasn’t even that grand of a wish...’

He wasn’t asking for the typhoon to never end; he only asked that it blow just one more day—was that too much?

The Shelter of the Heaven is Vast; though Heaven’s net may be wide and sparse, nothing escapes it. Even so, Geum Yang-Baek couldn’t help but resent that wide, clumsy net now.

“Sect leader.”

At the voice behind him, Geum Yang-Baek gently closed his eyes.

Whatever rose in his chest, he was the Sect leader of Southern Island. He had to show the dignity of Southern Island’s leader until the end. It was his responsibility for all he had done and courtesy to those who had pledged to protect Southern Island with their lives.

“Guests from the Heavenly Friends Alliance?”

“Hwan-So already prepared a boat yesterday and said he told them where the boat is.”

“Hwan-So?”

“Yes.”

A sigh escaped Geum Yang-Baek as he pictured Gwak Hwan-So.

Just as sailors grow by facing storms, warriors seem to grow through crisis. Gwak Hwan-So, talented with the sword but hot-headed, had become someone capable of such consideration.

‘That makes it all the more tragic.’

If this crisis could be navigated and Southern Island’s legacy preserved, Gwak Hwan-So could become a far better sect leader than he could ever have been...

He was only regretful that he wouldn’t see that flower bloom.

“So, have they left?”

“We couldn’t confirm, but since they haven’t come back, it seems they left quietly.”

“Hmm.”

“Wouldn’t it be awkward to face each other and then leave?”

“...What’s there to be embarrassed about? I’m just grateful.”

Geum Yang-Baek let out a short sigh.

“Im Geom.”

“Yes, Sect leader.”

“Except for Four Sects Alliance, they will be the last people to have seen Southern Island.”

“...”

“Well? As Southern Island’s Sect leader, have I been all right?”

Geum Yang-Baek did not look at him, but Im Geom bowed his head with the utmost respect he could muster.

“You have been admirable, Sect leader. The envoys of the Heavenly Friends Alliance surely recognized that.”

“I see...”

Geum Yang-Baek gave a faint smile.

“Still, I’m glad that they were the ones to witness Southern Island’s end.”

“Is it because the Nine Great Sects will be busy hiding their shame, while they will rather try to make that shame known?”

“It’s not that.”

Geum Yang-Baek looked up at the sky again with a composed face.

“They will likely continue on a path of negotiation. They came all that way unwilling to refuse to help us.”

“...That seems likely.”

“If such people speak well of Southern Island, won’t the world remember Southern Island fondly as well?”

When Im Geom couldn’t even reply, Geum Yang-Baek clicked his tongue briefly as if he’d said something unnecessary.

“Prepare. We must hold the expulsion ceremony quickly.”

“There’s no need for the Sect leader to attend in person...”

“It’s always better to be certain. There’s no point making those who leave for the cities feel as if they’ve committed a crime. And going down by proper procedure will at least slightly increase the chance of avoiding Four Sects Alliance’s clutches.”

“Understood, Sect leader.”

Geum Yang-Baek turned and headed to his quarters.

‘My formal robes after a long time.’

And these formal robes would not leave his body until the moment he died.

A heavy tension settled over Southern Island’s disciples’ faces.

The moment they confirmed the typhoon had stopped, it hit them that Four Sects Alliance could strike Southern Island’s Southern Island Sect at any time.

“...Is war really going to break out now?”

“Yes. You heard then—they’re building a ship.”

“S-so that means they’ll come once it’s finished. How long will it take?”

“If people who don’t even know ships could recognize it as a ship at a glance, then at most a day. Hell, it might already be finished.”

“It takes at least five more days for a ship to take on saltwater! Isn’t that common sense, sahyung!”

“That’s for a ship intended for long-term use. If it’s only to shuttle to and from Southern Island, leaks don’t matter. It only needs to hold for a few days.”

Hearing that, the listeners sucked in air as if a dagger had pierced their guts.

“Once Southern Island is taken care of, there’s no need to ride the ship anyway. Four Sects Alliance aren’t fools—they’ll have thought of that.”

“So... does that mean Four Sects Alliance could attack as soon as tonight?”

“...If they’re in a hurry, yes.”

As more people grasped the situation, the tension swelled beyond control.

“Um...”

“Yes?”

“...Perhaps...”

A disciple, glancing around, quietly asked the person next to him.

“Is the list of those participating in the expulsion ceremony finalized?”

The one addressed glared at him with murderous eyes.

“Why? Are you going to beg the Sect leader to expel you now?”

“Ah, no, sahyung. Do you think I’d do that? I’m Southern Island to the bone.”

“But?”

“...But... I thought maybe among the other sahyungs, some might want that.”

The man sighed deeply upon hearing that.

‘He’s not wrong.’

He too was tormented by the same temptation.

If one is only expelled from the sect, one could at least live on. Then one could try to do something afterward.

If everyone dies, the Southern Island sect will vanish from the world. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to be expelled—if only falsely—and try to revive Southern Island?

So Yeo-rip, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snorted a laugh.

‘Seems like you really want to live.’

Seeing them rationalize expulsion as if not even dogs would bite them made him think so.

Sighing, So Yeo-rip suddenly opened his eyes wide—he had seen Gwak Hwan-So leaving the pavilion.

“Great sahyung! Where are you going?”

Gwak Hwan-So, who had half stepped outside, turned to So Yeo-rip.

“Are you going to prepare for the expulsion ceremony?”

“No, not yet.”

“Then...”

Beside Gwak Hwan-So, Lee Ja-Yang scowled and shouted.

“He’s going to clean the pavilion where those Heavenly Friends Alliance bastards stayed!”

“...What? Why...? We won’t use that place again, will we?”

So Yeo-rip asked incredulously.

The pavilion meant the guest hall—why clean it now? No guests would come to Southern Island again.

Receiving their puzzled looks, Gwak Hwan-So simply smiled shortly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll just go and come {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} back briefly...”

“He says it’s the last time, so he can’t leave it as is—it’s the last time! People should have a clean ending, and he won’t let any part of Southern Island end in such a state!”

Everyone in the pavilion stared at Gwak Hwan-So blankly.

But some of them, those preparing for expulsion, bowed their heads and couldn’t look him in the eye.

Lee Ja-Yang grumbled nervously.

“What a great senior disciple you’ve become. So what if that pavilion’s a bit dirty?”

“...I said I’ll go alone, didn’t I?”

“Enough! Are you planning to make me the ingrate who cleans while you slack off?”

“If you want to go, go; if you don’t, say so. You’re going anyway—what’s with all the complaints?”

“I’m frustrated, that’s all! You weren’t always this stubborn.”

“They say a person’s true nature shows at the end; apparently this was mine all along.”

“Nonsense...”

“Alright, let’s go. If you truly hate it, stay here.”

Gwak Hwan-So trudged off, Lee Ja-Yang followed, irritated, and nearly half the disciples in the pavilion leapt up and ran out.

“Sahyung!”

“We’ll do it.”

“You stay here, sahyung! This is obviously for us to do! Just tell us and we’ll take care of it...”

Gwak Hwan-So sighed.

“I’m restless too; let me do something about it.”

“We’re restless too. Then come with us.”

Gwak Hwan-So looked at the lined-up disciples and then nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go. If we all go together, we can finish before the expulsion ceremony.”

“Yes.”

Gwak Hwan-So said nothing more and moved on.

Even he found it absurd—cleaning in the middle of all this.

If he hadn’t felt it was the last time, he might not have thought so. But knowing it was the end, he couldn’t leave things in such a state.

This place had accepted him the moment he learned to walk and had shared his life since.

The pavilion might soon burn and vanish without a trace, but he wanted at least to make its ending neat. That was all he could do now. He was grateful to those who shared his stubborn thought.

‘In the end, all a sect leaves behind are its disciples.’

No one in the world would help them.

Even the residents of Southern Island have been distancing themselves from the Southern Island sect after grasping the situation. Yet these people were choosing to spend their last moments on the trivial task of cleaning the pavilion.

That’s what it means to be a sect, to be sahyung sajaes.

‘When I die, I’m with them.’

A small smile bloomed on Gwak Hwan-So’s lips as he reached the guest hall.

The guest hall, emptied of people, was utterly still. Its silence, as if even an ant’s footfall could be heard, made it look more than lonely—almost eerie. Gwak Hwan-So stood and took it in, silent for a moment.

“...Sahyung?”

“It’s nothing.”

Only after a companion called once did Gwak Hwan-So force a bright smile and call out.

“Let’s finish quickly. We’ll be short on time if we have to clean the sake bottles and the vomit stains too.”

“That was Ja-Yang sahyung who threw up.”

“W-who says that?”

“I saw it with my own two eyes.”

“You little—this is slander...”

Lee Ja-Yang’s face flushed crimson, and Gwak Hwan-So chuckled.

“You clean up what you puked.”

“Ah! I’m telling you it’s not me, sahyung!”

“Now! Everyone, hurry up!”

“Yes!”

Some disciples ran toward the entrance. Just as they reached for the door handle, the door suddenly flew open.

Thud!

“Gyaaah!”

A disciple who’d hit his face on the door fell backward, sprawled out.

“What the—?”

“Huh?”

Southern Island’s startled disciples widened their eyes and looked at the open door.

Chung Myung, who looked as if he’d just woken up with his hair in disarray and puffy eyes, scratched his belly with one hand as he came out.

“What’s going on—why are you all gathered here this early?”

Gwak Hwan-So, momentarily speechless, stared at Chung Myung.

Why is that man still here?

“Um...”

“Hey, you.”

At Chung Myung’s call, Gwak Hwan-So flinched and replied without thinking.

“Yes?”

“Where’s the kitchen here? Why didn’t anyone give me food?”

It was a moment when Gwak Hwan-So’s disbelief seemed to ascend to the heavens.