Jo Gul clenched his fist tightly. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. He had merely come to pay his respects and happened to hear words that slipped out.

But it didn’t much matter what intent the voices inside had; the content was a hundred times more important than that.

Something welled up in his chest.

Someone grabbed his shoulder hard as he was about to rush in without thinking.

Jo Gul spun his head back, unable to hide his strong emotion. He seemed ready to shout in anger, but the moment he recognized who held his shoulder, his head fell limply.

Baek Cheon.

He shook his head with the most resolute expression.

Baek Cheon signaled for silence and dragged Jo Gul back. The strength in his grip conveyed a will that would not tolerate resistance.

Jo Gul was pulled away powerless until he was well away from the Sect leader’s quarters. Only then did Baek Cheon release him and look at him sternly.

“Did I not tell you that whatever the Sect leader chooses, you must follow without complaint?”

“But... but, sasuk.”

“They have agonized ten times more than you and their chests ache a hundred times more. It’s not something you can change by shouting, crying, and clinging.”

“....”

Jo Gul’s shoulders slumped.

‘...Damn it.’

Why didn’t he understand? He knew Baek Cheon’s intent and had steeled himself all the way here. Still, his emotions trembled beyond his control. He valued the Heavenly Friends Alliance more than he had realized.

And others besides Jo Gul felt much the same. Though none could openly agree, the Five Swords standing nearby also wore grim expressions.

“Sigh...”

A helpless sigh escaped from Yoon Jong’s lips.

“It’s something we’ve considered to some extent... but having it happen right in front of us feels strange.”

“Is that so?”

Baek Cheon stared at Yoon Jong.

“You said you couldn’t choose, but it seems in your heart you had already partly let go of the choice.”

“....”

“Yes. It’s better than being indecisive.”

As Baek Cheon dismissed it as if it were nothing, Jo Gul could no longer hold back and raised his voice.

“Sasuk. This still isn’t right, is it?”

Baek Cheon turned to Jo Gul without a word.

“I know this is a problem with no answer. But could you at least hear our side...?”

“Presumptuous.”

Those words were cut off by Yu Yiseol. She glared at Jo Gul with an icy look he had not seen before. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Jo Gul flinched.

“Sago...”

“That is something the Sect leader has to choose.”

He could not bring himself to speak and bit his lip repeatedly.

“Samae is right.”

“Sasuk...”

And Baek Cheon was twice as stern as usual.

“Aren’t you a disciple of Mount Hua?”

“....”

“The one who decides Mount Hua’s direction is none other than the Sect leader. Asking disciples for their opinions is also the Sect leader’s choice, not an obligation he must fulfill.”

“But...”

“If you are a disciple of Mount Hua, even when something goes against your wishes you must trust and follow the Sect leader’s words. Do I have to explain even that obvious point to you?”

Jo Gul hung his head helplessly. Watching him, Baek Cheon slowly shook his head.

“Mount Hua has granted its disciples powers that other sects could scarcely hope for. That is because the Sect leader is exceedingly admirable. You should be grateful for that; you must not assume the things you’ve enjoyed are your inherent rights.”

“....Yes.” 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Yoon Jong, who had been listening, spoke with a displeased face.

“Do not push Gul too hard, sasuk. He speaks out of distress, does he not?”

“Being upset doesn’t give you license to say anything.”

“Then perhaps you should tell him to keep his mouth shut always?”

A brief silence fell. Baek Cheon looked at Yoon Jong with unreadable eyes, but Yoon Jong did not budge under that gaze.

Their gazes clashed briefly in the air.

“I understand you dislike Gul quibbling over the Sect leader’s choice. But wasn’t Mount Hua precisely the place that allowed such things from the start?”

“Allow?”

Yu Yiseol, who spoke in place of Baek Cheon, narrowed her eyes slightly.

“License for recklessness.”

“....”

The two in white-ware robes and the two in blue-ware robes faced each other like opponents. Just as the air seemed to settle, Tang Soso muttered weakly.

“...Perhaps they couldn’t bear to hear it?”

All four turned to Tang Soso.

“If they listen... if they decide together, they must all bear that responsibility together, after all.”

“....”

“If they listen...”

Yoon Jong shut his eyes tight.

He let out a deep, deep sigh, then opened his eyes and bowed his head to Baek Cheon.

“I’m sorry, sasuk. I spoke thoughtlessly...”

“No. Do not worry about it.”

Baek Cheon dismissed it lightly, but Yu Yiseol’s gaze at Yoon Jong and Jo Gul remained cold. Yu Yiseol’s deep affection for Hyun Jong made her still displeased that anyone would challenge what the Sect leader had decided.

Baek Cheon spoke in a stern voice.

“Listen up, everyone.”

“...Yes.”

“They could not have been unaware that we were listening from outside.”

“....”

“Yet they did not stop speaking because they meant for us to hear and know first. We should be grateful for that consideration.”

“....Yes.”

After staring at the two for a moment, Baek Cheon spoke.

“There is no perfect choice that satisfies everyone in the world. In the end, one must push forward the direction they believe to be better. Those who do not choose and do not take responsibility should not judge those who took on the responsibility.”

“We’ll remember.”

“Good.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“Return to your quarters. The Sect leader will call us soon.”

Baek Cheon turned and left without waiting for a reply, radiating a cold air. Yu Yiseol, Tang Soso, and Hae Yeon watched him go with some discomfort and then departed.

“...I’m sorry, sahyung. It’s because of me.”

Left alone with Yoon Jong, Jo Gul sighed and apologized, but Yoon Jong shook his head firmly.

“Don’t. It’s not for you to apologize. Wasn’t Mount Hua a place where anyone could speak their mind in any situation?”

“...Still.”

“Enough.”

Yoon Jong lightly patted Jo Gul’s shoulder.

“You are fine as you are.”

“...Sahyung.”

He gave Jo Gul a quiet smile, then watched Baek Cheon walking away in the distance.

He understood. Yes, he understood. From the standpoint of the senior, believing the Sect leader’s choice and quelling any possible discontent was Baek Cheon’s role. Still... ‘At least you shouldn’t have said it that way, sasuk.’

Yoon Jong, who had been staring at Baek Cheon’s shrinking back, turned away with a cold expression.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The two walked wordlessly and listlessly toward their quarters.

As early morning passed, two people walked slowly toward the residence where the Heavenly Friends Alliance resided.

Beop Jeong in saffron robes symbolizing Shaolin, and Jong Ri-Hyung following behind as if to escort him.

Jong Ri-Hyung glanced at the unusually relaxed Beop Jeong and smiled faintly.

“You seem in good spirits, abbot.”

“...Do I?”

Beop Jeong, rare for him, looked slightly embarrassed.

“I’m embarrassed. Perhaps my face betrayed me because a matter we’ve agonized over for so long is finally being resolved.”

“Haha. How could it not be so?”

Jong Ri-Hyung replied with a laughing tone that held a trace of triumph.

Beop Jeong rarely showed emotion in his expression; how could such a giant be otherwise? Yet the Heavenly Friends Alliance was such a sensitive matter that even he could not conceal his feelings.

Jong Ri-Hyung asked.

“We can expect a favorable answer, right?”

“We shall.”

He nodded at the answer, though one concern made him furrow his brow slightly.

“However, abbot—while I trust your words, I still worry. If what you say is true, that Mount Hua’s Sword Saint is someone you cannot predict where they’ll turn next...”

“That will not happen.”

Beop Jeong shook his head.

“I understand your worry. The Heavenly Friends Alliance is of a strange composition: the Sect leader of Mount Hua, the lord of the Tang family, the leader of the Green Forest, the successor of bandits, and the princes of Outer Wall gather there—yet the direction of that Alliance is decided by a very young child.”

Jong Ri-Hyung nodded.

It was baffling, but considering what Mount Hua’s Sword Saint had done over time, one could not simply dismiss it as wrong.

“The Mount Hua’s Sword Saint is capricious—at least from the outside. So you fear he may change his mind in an instant, do you not?”

“Indeed. We’ve seen and heard so much...”

“But this time such a thing will not happen.”

“Yes?”

As Jong Ri-Hyung repeated the question, Beop Jeong shook his head.

“Because the Sect leader of Mount Hua is none other than Hyun Jong. An ordinary leader might shirk in such matters, unable to bear the consequences of his choice.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Hadn’t Jong Ri-Hyung thought similarly? This matter’s repercussions were too great for a single Sect leader’s will to manage.

“But Hyun Jong never backs down in such times. He knows that if he delays his choice, all the responsibility will fall on the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

“Ah...”

“Amitabha.”

Beop Jeong murmured a Buddhist chant quietly.

“Thus Hyun Jong will never cede the authority over this choice to the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint. Even if the Sword Saint tries to change his mind, this time the Mount Hua Sect leader will press him down with his authority. Then even if problems arise later, he can shoulder the disgrace and step down to protect Mount Hua and the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

“...To that extent...”

“He is a remarkable person. That is why he is worthy of respect.”

Beop Jeong said softly and sighed.

“This time Hyun Jong’s disposition will guide everything along the proper course. Fortunately for us, the Sect leader is a peerless sage and gentleman, and, strangely, the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint of the world somehow respects his sect leader’s authority.”

“Truly exquisite.”

Jong Ri-Hyung kept nodding.

Beop Jeong praised his luck while flattering his companion, but the real feat was his ability to perceive the other’s nature exactly and lead him into a situation where he could not retreat.

“So put aside your aloofness toward them. They are now one family who must face enemies together. Shouldn’t Sect leader Jong Ri-Hyung set the example first?”

“I will remember, and I will remember this again.”

“Amitabha.”

Beop Jeong smiled faintly, looked at the Manor for a moment, and then walked on calmly.

“Let’s go. There’s no point in dragging time.”

“Yes, abbot.”

The two walked toward the manor.

As they neared the manor, Beop Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘Now everything will be set right.’

They had come a long way around, but in the end it might have produced a better result than arriving sooner.

The sects belonging to the Heavenly Friends Alliance had grown stronger than before, and Shaolin and the Nine Great Sects were now able to embrace them fully.

‘Now only the final stitch remains.’

There must be no lapse. As he checked the final step in his mind, the gates of the manor finally opened.

A group with hardened expressions came out to greet Beop Jeong and Jong Ri-Hyung.