There’s no need for that. (3)

Hyeon Pung Gae shouted.

“Why aren’t you going!”

His cry was as desperate as if he were spitting blood, but half of the listeners remained indifferent.

“This is our only chance! While they are holding back Heavenly Demon, we must wipe out the remnants of the Cult! If we don’t, the Demonic Cult will always threaten the Central Plains again! You know this!”

“Deputy Leader.”

A cold voice from somewhere suppressed Hyeon Pung Gae’s fury.

“You know as well, to wipe out the remnants of Demonic Cult, we must endure enormous losses again. We might even have to prepare for mutual destruction.”

“Didn’t we prepare for that from the beginning!”

“It’s not too late to decide after we see what happens with Heavenly Demon. I too doubt that Geomjon can slay the Heavenly Demon, but there is always a slim chance.”

Hyeon Pung Gae’s face twisted in despair.

“And if Geomjon kills the Heavenly Demon? Are you saying we will just let them go?”

There was no response.

“You’re going to let those harboring enmity against the Central Plains go free? Those who will surely invade us again? Answer me!”

“Calm down, Hyeon Pung Gae.”

“Calm down? In this situation!”

“Demonic Cultists may be a threat, but without Heavenly Demon, they are ultimately just disorganized ragtags. Stirring up rabble unnecessarily is like poking a beehive.”

“Disorganized ragtags?”

Hyeon Pung Gae’s face contorted with anger.

“Then what about the disciples of Wudang who were killed by these so-called ragtags?”

“…Watch your words.”

“Surely the leaders are aware of the strength of the Demonic Cult and its Bishops? If we don’t uproot them, they will eventually invade the Central Plains again! Now is the only chance to eradicate their roots! Isn’t that why we sent them to Hundred Thousand Mountains? To create this opportunity with their lives!”

“D-Deputy Leader…”

“If we aren’t going to act, then why did we send the suicide squad to Hundred Thousand Mountains? What was the point of them climbing that mountain? We should have all gone together, instead of sitting here idly watching! You should have been up on that mountain too! Why are you here? Why are you here! Answer me!”

Hyeon Pung Gae shouted, almost as if he had lost his mind. It was as if he was ready to spit out his heart. Some turned their heads away, unable to meet his gaze.

Hyeon Pung Gae, filled with hatred, glared at them while they remained silent and still. The stark silence settled over the tense confrontation, shaken only by the wind blowing across the desolate land.

“Amitabha.”

Someone broke the silence with a protest.

“Deputy Sect Leader, please calm your heart.”

“Abbot!”

“We are not turning away out of fear. We are simply concerned about the possibility of everything turning into failure. If we bet everything and lose, what will become of the Central Plains?”

“What do you mean…”

Hyeon Pung Gae bit his lips until they bled.

Nonsense. It’s just nonsense.

If they truly cared about the future of the Central Plains, they shouldn’t let them go. That’s how Demonic Cult always operated. Once they invaded, they came back even stronger.

If they have to stop everything now, then next time, even if they bet everything, they will never be able to stop it.

He said it countless times. Countless.

That’s why Hyeon Pung Gae himself didn’t hesitate to sacrifice everything, right?

He forcibly sent his fellow disciples, who were like family, into the enemy’s midst. Even upon hearing that they were torn to shreds and killed, he couldn’t mourn even once.

He sent away a disciple who wouldn’t even leave a drop of blood behind to track the movements of Demonic Cult. That child didn’t leave a trace in this world.

They died. They died, and died again.

How many precious lives have been sacrificed to come this far?

“I’ll say it again, this is the last chance. There’s no other…”

“Enough, Deputy Leader.”

Someone coldly and calmly interrupted Hyeon Pung Gae’s words.

“It’s uncertain whether Demonic Cult will strike again. We shouldn’t risk everything for just that possibility.”

“What are you saying now…”

“No, on the contrary, because Demonic Cult might return, we shouldn’t risk everything now. If Demonic Cult returns and there’s no Gangho, who will stop them? If Heavenly Demon survives, and we’re not there, who will stop him?”

Hyeon Pung Gae gritted his teeth. The veins in his eyes bulged as he glared at the person standing before him.

“Then you should have said that from the beginning.”

“…”

“Already, you should have said that to those who went up to that mountain! You should have said, ‘While you risk your lives, we’ll just watch from here!’ We shouldn’t have deceived them with promises of risking our lives too!”

There was no response to his words.

“Is this really for the sake of the Central Plains? Can you say that what the disciples sacrificed their lives for isn’t just an excuse?”

“You!”

A furious voice, laden with threat, roared through the air.

“Everyone, please calm down.”

At that moment, a calm voice cut through the tension, pacifying the agitated surroundings.

“I don’t quite understand why the Deputy Sect Leader is saying this.”

“…Did you just say ‘why’?”

“This is already decided.”

“I haven’t heard anything…”

“Even the Sect Leader Mueum Shin Gae has agreed.”

Hyeon Pung Gae’s eyes widened in shock.

“What… what did you just say…?”

“It was stated that Mueum Shin Gae, the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, has agreed. So, do you really think we deceived the Beggars Sect?”

Hyeon Pung Gae’s legs momentarily weakened, causing him to stagger. Darkness enveloped his vision, and he felt as if the world was collapsing beneath him. The mention of the Sect Leader shook him to the core. In a dizzying sensation, Hyeon Pung Gae desperately managed to voice his question.

“Why… Why would Sect Leader… Why…”

Numerous eyes were fixed on him.

Sadness flickered in some eyes, but most remained indifferent, almost cold.

“We will observe the situation from here.”

“…”

“Sometimes, prioritizing cold reason over hot passion is necessary. Remember, you, Deputy Leader, yourself will become the Sect Leader. Keep that in mind.”

“…Huh.”

Hyeon Pung Gae let out a bitter laugh.

“Let’s be frank. It’s not about reason… but about gain, isn’t it?”

“Deputy Leader!”

“All the sect leaders want is for the war to end, isn’t it? It’s just about not wanting to waste lives, isn’t it?”

“Please…”

“Very well. That’s understandable. Who would argue against someone valuing their own life? But…”

Crash.

Teeth sunk into Hyeon Pung Gae’s lip. A thick drop of blood trickled down his clenched jaw.

“At least, they shouldn’t have been sent there like that.”

“…”

“At least, shouting for those with nothing but passion in their hearts to protect others’ lives with their own wasn’t the right thing.”

“…”

“At least! For those who couldn’t even protect their own bodies! You, too, shouldn’t have just yelled at them to fight alongside! You shouldn’t have preached about being ready to sacrifice everything like a dog! Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Hyeon Pung Gae pointed to a distant mountaintop with trembling fingers.

“You demand the strong to fulfill their obligations and being righteous from the weak! But what have you offered in return?”

A strange silence hung in the air.

“With that cowardly mouth of yours, answer me, where!”

“This…!”

Just as Hyeon Pung Gae was about to burst with rage, someone blocked his path.

“Deputy Leader.”

“What is it?”

“Then what about you, Deputy Leader?”

“…What do you mean?”

The one who posed the question flashed a wry smile.

“If you think that way, then shouldn’t Deputy Leader have fulfilled his duties as well?”

“…”

“While pushing the disciples of the Beggars Sect into hell one by one, what did you do, Deputy Leader? According to your words, shouldn’t you have been the first to risk your life?”

Hyeon Pung Gae’s body trembled.

“I…!”

“If only I were cowardly, it would be shameful, but if everyone in the world were cowardly, it wouldn’t be so bad. And Deputy Leader, at least we’re not hypocrites.”

“…”

“Acting no differently from us, yet preaching righteousness with that mouth of yours. You’re the hypocrite.”

“S-Shut your mouth!”

The man’s smile deepened.

“Since Sect Leader couldn’t fulfill his role due to injury, it’s up to the Deputy Leader to lead the Beggars Sect. So, if the Deputy Leader says it, they should naturally follow.”

He pointed to the mountain.

“Even if we don’t join, isn’t it easy for the Deputy Leader to prove his determination? Surely you won’t say that even reducing the number of the cultists is meaningless unless the Cult completely eradicated?”

Hyeon Pung Gae’s hand trembled.

“Prove it, Deputy Leader. That boiling spirit. That magnificent righteousness. Risk your life and the fate of the Beggars Sect.”

“We’ll spend the rest of our lives admiring the spirit of the Beggars Sect. How about it? Surely you have the courage for that?”

It was clearly a mocking remark.

But Hyeon Pung Gae could do nothing in response. He just trembled, unable to do anything but scream in his heart.

“Of course, the nobleman mocks the vile, but it’s ridiculous when the vile ones mock each other. Surely… you don’t consider yourself a great righteous master?”

“I… I…”

“Now there are only two types of people in Gangho: those who climbed that mountain, and those who didn’t.”

“…”

“In a world where everyone becomes blind, the one who opens their eyes gets stabbed. But fortunately, at least to me…”

The man’s biting mockery felt like needles piercing through Hyeon Pung Gae’s body.

“…It seems Deputy Leader also doesn’t seem to have any sight.”

The anger surged through Hyeon Pung Gae’s body as if all the blood had rushed to his head. But the man ignored the enraged Hyeon Pung Gae and looked up at the lofty summit of the mountain.

“The one blinded by righteousness adheres to that righteousness, the one blinded by gain adheres to that gain, and the one blinded by loyalty adheres to that loyalty. It’s funny how the world works. Hasn’t everyone failed to get what they truly wanted?”

As the man let out a faint chuckle and turned away, Hyeon Pung Gae seized the moment.

“…If.”

“Hm?”

“If someday you meet those who died first… what will you say then? What words will come out of your mouth?”

“Do you still believe in such talk?”

The man chuckled softly. After a while, a short disapproval replaced the answer the man was supposed to give.

“Amitabha. If it’s not me, who else will go to hell?”

“…”

“After all, life is about atonement. Sometimes, trying to avoid that pain only leads to greater wrongdoing.”

“This…”

“You should understand, even you, Deputy Leader. No, you must understand.”

Everyone turned away and distanced themselves from Hyeon Pung Gae. Though their steps weren’t fast, Hyeon Pung Gae couldn’t stop them or catch up.

“Uh…”

His legs gave out, and he sank to the ground, lost in thought. After gazing at the distant mountains for a while, he absentmindedly scanned his surroundings once more.

There, a small wooden club caught his eye. It was a memento from the disciple he had personally sent off to the afterlife.

A suppressed groan escaped from the lips of Hyeon Pung Gae.

“Ugh…”

For what had they died?

“Aha…”

What on earth did he send them to hell for?

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh!”

A beast-like roar echoed fiercely, but it reached no one’s ears and stirred no one’s heart.