Episode 1244 That’s all? (4)
People get truly angry when they are faced with a truth they want to ignore.
That was exactly how the Haenam people here felt.
It was something I knew but didn’t want to hear, but I wanted to look away. The truth that this young man named Baekcheon was thrusting in front of them and shouting at them was the truth they wanted to avoid.
And since they are also human, their outbursts were the same.
“What are you talking about!”
“No matter how much you say you came as a special envoy of Cheon Woo-maeng, what you say is too much!”
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
However, Baekcheon did not bother to elaborately refute the intense reaction. I was just silent and listening to the words pouring out. Staring at each and every one of them spewing out harsh words.
As he reacted so indifferently, the heated atmosphere gradually cooled down.
Baekcheon waited leisurely until no one else spoke, and only then did he open his mouth.
A cold, calm voice was thrown among the excited people.
“Do I really need to explain why I said this?”
Those briefly uttered words were both considerate and a knife on the tip of the tongue.
Those here know best that Haenam was abandoned by the old group. Those who did not give up their last hope were just relying on whatever warmth might remain, and those who discussed reality were just looking for ways to change the minds of those who had turned away.
There is not a single person here who thinks that Gupailbang will actively help Haenam.
“Discussing the agreement and discussing the degree.”
Baekcheon’s voice penetrated the ears of those who were unable to control their excitement.
“Going around in circles and discussing things in good terms. We are saying in grandiose terms that we are right. “And we must politely confirm our positions and withdraw without hurting each other.”
“⋯⋯.”
“yes. You can do that. But…”
Baekcheon’s gaze glanced backwards. Through the slightly open door, I could see the trees shaking from the raging typhoon and the Haenam disciples guarding the outside despite the wind and rain.
“But now is not the time. “Do you know what we saw on the shore on our way here?”
“…What did you see?”
“I saw a lot of ships being requisitioned and new ships being built.”
At those words, Geumyangbaek bit his lip gently.
“Did you say requisition?”
“yes. “Even a small fishing boat was towed away.”
The faces of everyone in the battle suddenly hardened. Once you commandeer a ship, there is only one thing that follows.
Invasion.
There is no need to check the authenticity. They had already felt with their own skin that the Sapaeryeon attack was imminent.
“Jangmun-in.”
Baekcheon looked at Geumyangbaek quietly and opened his mouth.
“The moment that typhoon stops, Sapae-ryeon will begin its advance toward Haenam.”
“⋯⋯Long sentence.”
“We don’t have time to waste on gossiping about each other. Therefore, we would like to simply convey our position. Cheon Woo-maeng sincerely hopes that Haenam will also join us. “I encourage you to once again make the name Haenam known in a place where you can reach out to people who really need help, rather than just a superficial agreement.”
Geumyangbaek was deep in thought and was silent for a moment. The elders, who were impatient and could not stand the gap, whispered softly.
“Jang Moon-in. This is ridiculous. You voluntarily left the old file room. “This is unprecedented.”
“you’re right. Think about it. Even if the name Haenam is preserved, what will happen afterward? “How will those Shaolin and shamans treat us?”
“What about the eyes of the world?”
Of course, the opposing position was also formidable.
“What are you going to do by bringing this up now? Even after Haenam falls, is there an afterlife?”
“It’s not wrong, right? Gu File Room is just watching from afar. “It is natural to join hands with those who can help right away.”
“Leaving the old group doesn’t mean we become a sect, and if you’re a Cheonwoomaeng, we’re not that far behind the old group, right?”
As Geumyangbaek fell silent, their voices gradually grew louder. Geumyangbaek, who had been listening to everyone with his eyes closed in silence, slowly opened his eyes and stared at Baekcheon.
“Jangmun Assistant Manager.”
“yes.”
“⋯⋯It is a very excessive request to voluntarily leave the old file room. “I’m sure you know that.”
“of course.”
“I guess the reason I’m making that kind of recommendation is because I have strong confidence and conviction. “Isn’t that right?”
“yes. That’s right, Jang Moon-in.”
Baekcheon nodded heavily.
“I have no doubt that working with Cheon Woo-maeng is a choice that will bring justification, practicality, and a future to Haenam.”
“Justice, utility, and… the future.”
Geumyangbaek quietly looked at Baekcheon and his companions with sunken eyes. It certainly seemed like they had a future.
‘You’re young.’
Now that I see it, the people representing each phylum are all young. Some people may be angry because it is a treatment that ignores Haenam. But Geumyangbaek felt something new.
Cheonwoomaeng is changing centered on the next generation. Haenam is already behind that change.
I missed him too. What will Cheonwoomaeng, led by those young warriors, look like in the future? And what would it be like if young Jangmun from Haenam were among them?
However… whether the future they had existed in Haenam was another question.
He opened his mouth heavily.
“I am embarrassed to say this with my own mouth, but the current situation in Haenam is too urgent to discuss justification and the future.”
“Now Jangmun-in.”
“quiet.”
A panicked voice was heard from behind, but Geumyangbaek gently raised his right hand and neatly silenced the opposition.
“Some people may be moved by the words Mr. Jang Moon says, and others may sympathize with the future Mr. Jang Moon envisions… but honestly, those words don’t really resonate with me.”
Baekcheon quietly nodded. The current situation in Haenam is too bad to discuss such things.
“It doesn’t mean I won’t discuss the future with Chen Yu-meng. But aren’t dialogue and consultation only possible when both sides are equal?”
“That’s right.”
“In that case, I ask you to speak frankly about what you have prepared, Deputy Jang Moon. “We…”
Geumyangbaek looked straight at Baekcheon and asked.
“If Haenam is with Cheonwoo-maeng, what can Cheonwoo-maeng do for us?”
Baekcheon took a deep breath and spoke.
“We can’t promise anything in particular.”
“⋯⋯.”
“If I have to make a promise, I can only say that when Haenam is in crisis and cornered like now, I will never turn away and protect what I have to protect.”
Geumyangbaek’s eyes narrowed. Baekcheon continued.
“And I think that’s more important than anything else. When you don’t have to take risks for each other, you can say anything and make any promises. “Did you expect when you were staying at Gufileilbang that they wouldn’t help Haenam in this situation?”
“⋯⋯Of course not.”
“But we came this far without any such agreement.”
“⋯⋯.”
“That’s all we can do for you and that’s all we ask for. Cheon Woo-maeng’s friend is a letter that exists to be together in trust, not for gain.” Baek-cheon’s eyes brightened resolutely. “What we can give you is that trust. “We will not only be together when it is beneficial, but we will become people who can help each other when you need each other.” Geumyangbaek looked at Baekcheon with strange eyes. At that moment, a strange silence passed between them. Just as the elders guarding Jang Mun-in were about to sense something strange, Geumyangbaek opened his mouth.
“Jangmun Assistant Manager.”
“yes.”
“I will ask you directly. “Is there anything Cheonwoomaeng can do for Haenam, which now has to fight its final battle with the Sapaeryeon?”
The elders looked at the golden silver in astonishment.
This is because, unlike the long-time writer they had always known, what Geumyangbaek said now was very direct. It was also an overly snobbish thing to say to someone who came a long way to help Haenam.
Baekcheon said then.
“What we, Cheonwoomaeng, can do to solve the situation that Haenam is facing right now is….”
Everyone’s eyes were focused on Baekcheon’s mouth. After a while, Baekcheon’s voice sounded so clear and eerie in everyone’s ears.
“⋯⋯No.”
Shoot ahhh.
Everyone once again realized that rain was pouring outside the door. I began to hear the sound of rain that I had never heard before. A chilly silence spread throughout Daejeon.
How long was the suffocating silence?
Finally, Geumyangbaek’s calm voice came out.
“Right away, tomorrow.”
“⋯⋯.”
“What we can do for the sect that may have to take down that plaque is to create a relationship that can be helpful when they need it.”
Laughter burst out of Geumyangbaek’s mouth.
“But actually, I can’t be of any help in this matter?”
Baekcheon closed his eyes.
There is a lot that can be said. There are countless things I want to say. But Baekcheon didn’t dare say anything out loud. No, I couldn’t take it out. Because no words will help Haenam now.
The advance of the Sapae-ryeon was much faster than they expected, and they arrived at Haenam without any preparations to block the Sapae-ryeon.
“I will ask you again, Assistant Manager Jang Moon.”
Geumyangbaek opened his mouth, suppressing the numerous emotions rising up.
“Are the people sent by Cheon Woo-maeng to Haenam the only ones here? Or is there a separate way to help Haenam?”
There was an expectation in those words that I could not shake off until the very end. But Baekcheon failed even his last hope.
“For now… those are all who are here, Jang Moon-in.”
No matter how powerful Cheonwoo-maeng is, there are only ten people here who can immediately help in the tribulation that will come after the typhoon.
Ten people. It may not be a small number, but it is a very shabby number to change the battlefield where one faction and one force are fighting for survival.
okay. It’s so shabby.
“At most…”
Geumyangbaek, unable to continue speaking, bit his lip.
“Is that all?”
Voices mixed with anger, desperation, and despair spread coldly throughout the silent Daejeon.
