Episode 1252 And to live! (2)
Haenam. Those who are now trying to say those two letters and those who are about to face the end of their lives with those two letters in their hearts.
Everyone who had the two letters ‘Haenam’ at least once held their breath as they watched Geumyangbaek and Kwak Hwanso.
But the two didn’t show anything more. They just stayed silent as if it wasn’t their turn now.
The silence of the two people made everyone realize that Haenam’s name was in their hands.
The choice is now up to you: whether to join and die together, or to stay here and watch over them.
That’s why the two didn’t join in. I didn’t shout out loud that this was just. Because only you can choose what the end of your life will be like.
“after.”
At that time, the sound of a sword being drawn broke the deep silence.
Jerk. Jerk.
Lee Li-yang, with her sword drawn, stepped forward and stood next to Guo Huan-so. Didn’t say anything. I just stood by Kwak Hwan-so’s side. He was saying that if it was Kwak Hwan-so’s duty to guard Geumyangbaek’s back, it was his own duty to guard his side.
Those who were stimulated by that sight chewed their lips.
Jerk. Jerk.
A few more inspectors stepped forward and joined in.
One and another.
It is a short path that lasts only a few steps, but there are people who walk that infinitely long and distant path on their own.
Maybe you still don’t really understand the meaning of the road. You may end up regretting the few steps you take now at the last moment.
Nevertheless, they walked that path. There are probably few people who can explain the reason accurately in words. I just believe it should be that way.
Jerk. Jerk.
Not just one or two, but dozens of people stand next to those who share the same name. And I strengthened my will by picking up the sword that had been by my side my whole life.
another one. And one more thing.
Like waves washing up on the shore, one by one, more and more people added their will to the will of Geumyangbaek and Kwak Hwanso.
However, not everyone felt enthusiastic about the sight.
“…execution.”
Yu Gong slightly bit his lip at Go Hong’s shaky voice.
‘Why…’
Why do they have to do something like this now?
It was all over now. By holding the excommunication ceremony and going down to Saga, the relationship between him and Haenam could be completely resolved.
But this kid suddenly does something ridiculous like this in a place like this?
Those who step forward and those who stop in place.
The contrast was horribly stark.
Geumyangbaek, a long-time scholar, said he wanted to ease the burden of those leaving the sect by not holding an excommunication ceremony. However, from the perspective of a person of merit, this event was more humiliating than excommunication.
At least the excommunication ceremony is about suppressing shame and gaining the courage to step forward. It gives room for it to be seen as a more courageous act to come forward and excommunicate someone after being scolded than to lose one’s life by being swept away.
But not in a scene like this.
In this terrible situation created by Geumyangbaek, those who turn their backs on Haenam have no choice but to stand there like a dead stone. Watching the backs of those who pledged to sacrifice their lives for the name of Haenam.
What made Yugong even more humiliated and painful was their backs.
Originally, those leaving Haenam would have had to come forward and receive criticism. I had to leave this place amidst people criticizing me for being a coward and people trying to make me feel superior. The hostility in those eyes must have kept Yugong steady.
But those who stepped forward at this moment did not look back.
No one looks at those left behind. No one looks to criticize those who abandoned Haenam. For those who have already stepped forward and looked ahead, those left behind have become a matter of no interest.
That fact made Yugong difficult to bear.
“Death penalty… what should I do?”
He anxiously asked Yu Gong if Go Hong felt the same way. His face was full of nervousness.
But Yugong coldly pushed him back.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“…yes?”
“Didn’t you hear what Jang Mun-in said? It’s up to each person to make their own choice.”
“But, the death penalty…”
Yugong did not respond any further, biting his lip and glaring at Geumyangbaman.
‘How much more misery do you have to make people to feel relieved? Jang Moon-in.’
Through this opportunity, Yugong learned something painfully. The fact that sometimes kindness can make people suffer more than malice.
Even at this moment, more people joined the group in front. But martial arts wasn’t like that. Eventually, as the situation continued for a long time with no one coming forward, the elders who had been silent joined the ranks of those who were the last to step forward.
The number of people who came forward was slightly more than half of the members of the Munpa.
However, that also means that close to half of those who decided to leave the sect and not be with them until the end.
Although they were divided by equal numbers, the atmosphere was actually completely different.
Those who come forward do not bother to check who is left behind. What they saw was Jang Mun-in, who had risked everything on the two letters “Haenam,” foreigners who came from far away to join him on the path, and the rough road they had to navigate.
However, all those left behind can see are the backs of those who decided to walk the path they did not choose. Therefore, they could not bear to look straight ahead and lowered their heads.
You, Geumyangbaek, opened your mouth to those who stood to be left behind.
“There is no need to bow your head.”
What Geumyangbaek uttered was neither a scolding nor a reprimand.
“If risking your own life is courage, then suppressing your blood and deciding to survive is also courage. No one can criticize that choice.”
Geumyangbaek quietly looked at the remaining people and closed his eyes.
“But… from this moment on, you are no longer Haenam’s disciples. I will not necessarily abolish the Danjeon and retrieve the martial arts, but I will prohibit you from using Haenam’s martial arts and erase his name from the civil records.”
Everyone knows it.
That this is the path for those who remain. If they use martial arts clumsily, Sapaeryun will definitely hunt them down and try to kill them. If that happens, no matter how many people heading to Gangnam attract attention, Haenam will not be able to avoid the corruption.
But the human mind is not that simple. Even though I know these words are for their benefit, my heart aches for no reason.
“Even if you are not disciples of the Haenam faction, it does not change the fact that you are Haenam people living on this island together. We will head to Gangnam to protect our name. Those who remain are to protect the lives of Haenam people here.”
The heads of those who remained lowered even more.
No matter how well they package it, in the end they are just renegades who abandoned the name of their sect. They know it better than anyone else.
You might feel more at ease if you take your anger out on yourself and get cursed. But Geumyangbaek didn’t do that. I just hope that they can continue their lives calmly.
That fact further shamed those left behind.
“Go down.”
Those who were at a loss as to what to do with the swirling torrent of emotions looked at the gold and silver silver in astonishment.
“There is nothing good about a long separation. Go down the mountain right now. With that, I will consider our relationship with you to be over.”
“Now Jangmun-in.”
“Go.”
Geumyangbaek closed his eyes after saying those words.
Those who were watching him bit their lips. And then they started bowing one by one. Finally, after paying their respects to their teacher, they turned around and headed toward the mountain gate with their shoulders slumped.
The disciples leave.
Some people shed tears, while others lowered their heads as if they had committed a sin. Some people were swearing and others were hitting their chests as if they couldn’t control their anger.
Those who turn away and those who do not turn around.
They once had the same dream and had no doubt that they were family, but now their paths have diverged. So that they can never be combined again.
And Yugong, who remained until the very end, just bit his lip and looked at those who carried Haenam’s name.
My mind tells me to leave, but my feet won’t move.
Yugong stared at them for a while, bit his lip until it bled, and opened his mouth.
“Don’t think you’ve done anything great by staying there.”
Yu Gong didn’t really know why he was saying this.
Actually, there is no reason to criticize. There is no reason to be unreasonable. According to his thoughts, he made a rational choice, and they are just people who made a foolish choice. In that case, wouldn’t it be enough to just laugh at them and leave?
“Just because we are cowards doesn’t mean we are leaving. Just leave us feeling superior.”
Miss Lee frowned.
“I…!”
However, just as he was about to say a word, Kwak Hwan-so lightly grabbed his seafood and stopped him.
“…execution.”
“done.”
Guo Huanxiao shook his head and looked at Yu Gong.
“Gongong.”
“…”
“Please do me a favor.”
“What…”
“When we leave, take a look at the remaining palaces in Haenam at least once.”
Yu Gong distorted his face and glared at Guo Huanxiao.
“I am no longer Haenam’s disciple.”
“Know.”
Kwak Hwan-so grinned.
“But couldn’t you do that much with the affection we once had together?”
Yu Gong glared at Guo Huansao in silence and then turned around. And without looking back anymore, I walked towards the mountain gate.
Lee Ja-yang gritted her teeth as she watched that scene.
“That damned bastard…”
“Stop it.”
Lee Ja-yang glared at Yu Gong who was leaving the mountain gate and then turned around. Now you don’t have to worry about them anymore.
“Jangmun-in.”
Those who left have left. Nevertheless, Kwak Hwan-so spoke on behalf of those who remained, determined to protect the name of Haenam.
“What should I do now?”
“hmm.”
Geumyangbaek nods and looks to the side. Then, among those who received those gazes, Lim So-byeong took a step forward.
ruler! From now on, you all need to get busy. First, go to the nearby coast and get a ship…”
“Can we just rescue the ship?”
“No.”
“Yes?”
Lim So-byeong smiled
evilly. “Instead of rescuing us, please destroy all the ships on the shore. ”
“…Yes?”
“Everything! Not a single thing is left behind! A meat boat or something!”
“…Yes?”
“Move!”
“…”
I had an intuition that something different from what I expected was about to unfold.
