As expected, you have a big heart. (5)

“Then, we’ll be on our way.”

“Yes, sir. Please take care!”

Hyeong Wook bowed, showing his respect. Despite the tumultuous events, it was evident that Hyeong Wook was genuinely grateful. Thus, Cheonumaeng showed him the utmost courtesy.

“Oh, um…”

After finishing, Hyeong Wook awkwardly scratched his head.

“Um, could you… by any chance, tell me where you’re headed?”

Baek Cheon glanced at Hyeong Wook with strange eyes. Hyeong Wook hastily raised his hand and explained.

“Oh, that’s not what I meant. Why would I need to know where you’re headed? I just wanted to warn you to be careful if you’re heading upward along the mountain range.”

“To be careful…?”

“Even though this may be a remote area, it doesn’t mean we’re oblivious to what’s happening in the world. I heard there’s been some unrest in the northern regions lately, so if you’re heading north, it might be better to choose a different direction…”

Baek Cheon smiled at Hyeong Wook’s cautious words.

“Ah, I see what you mean. You don’t need to worry. We’re planning to head towards Nanjing.”

“Ah…”

Hyeong Wook quickly nodded.

“I-I apologize. You all have your own plans, and here I am, being ignorant…”

“Please don’t say that. We’re just grateful for your concern.”

Baek Cheon politely nodded.

“There are many things I would like to discuss, but… it seems we must hasten our journey due to pressing matters.”

“Yes, of course! You must indeed.”

“Then.”

Baek Cheon smiled warmly and waved farewell. As he turned away, the others followed suit, offering nods of acknowledgment to Hyeong Wook before turning and walking away together. Hyeong Wook stood there for a while, watching them until their figures disappeared into the distance.

Paaaaat!

The disciples of Hwasan at the forefront dashed forward like the wind. The steps that had felt heavy when they left the village now seemed much lighter.

Baek Cheon led the way, with Jo Geol closely following behind. Jo Geol’s gaze was fixed on the sack of grain resting on Baek Cheon’s shoulder.

Baek Cheon was carrying the grain, which wouldn’t even be enough if divided among so many. But it was as if he was carrying a treasure that must not be lost.

“…It’s quite remarkable when you think about it.”

“Hmm?”

Baek Cheon turned to look at him. Jo Geol’s eyes held a deeper intensity than before.

“I mean, the words of that man, Hyeong Wook.”

“Yeah…”

“Wasn’t he the most distrustful person in the village when we visited before?”

“Was he?”

“Yeah. I mean, other villagers were more hospitable, but that Hyeong Wook guy treated us like some robbers who came to show off their power.”

Baek Cheon pondered for a moment, recalling their first encounter with Hyeong Wook.

“Yeah, it seems like it.”

Indeed, Hyeong Wook hadn’t hidden his distrust when they first arrived in the village.

“But seeing someone like him acting like this now…”

“Was it strange?”

“Rather than strange…”

Jo Geol trailed off as if finding it difficult to articulate his thoughts. Fortunately, Yoon Jong stepped in with a more refined expression of what Jo Geol intended to convey.

“I think I understand the meaning behind what Chung Myung said earlier.”

Baek Cheon listened intently as Yunjong continued.

“Of course, just because someone shows hostility towards us doesn’t automatically make them evil, and likewise, showing kindness doesn’t make them inherently good.”

“That’s a given.”

“Yes. However… what changed that person’s attitude was the kindness we showed them before.”

Baek Cheon nodded silently.

Of course, there were concerns. It could be considered arrogance to deem gestures of goodwill towards them as righteous change. Therefore, Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong proceeded cautiously.

But what mattered here was not necessarily the righteousness, but the change itself.

As Chung Myung had stated, righteousness was not merely about making their lives comfortable… Perhaps it was about changing something.

It was still small and insignificant, but it might grow into something larger someday.

Perhaps they were now witnessing that potential with their own eyes.

“I believed that righteousness was changing the world. That’s why I was momentarily despairing and speechless at the villagers’ attitudes.”

“Yoon Jong-ah…”

“But come to think of it now, that’s true. Righteousness and goodwill may not directly change the world. But who’s to say they can’t make a slight difference in people?”

Jo Geol nodded at that.

Because he had seen it with his own eyes. He had witnessed someone changing.

“In the end, it’s people who change the world. Though it may take time, as individuals change, someday the world may be filled with kindness.”

“It’s difficult.”

“Isn’t that the Tao? If it were easy, there would be no need to strive for it throughout our lives.”

Baek Cheon glanced at Yoon Jong. His face was remarkably refreshed and brightened, unlike before. For Baek Cheon, it was merely a feeling of comfort received from Hyeong Wook, but for Yoon Jong, it seemed he had seen something unseen before.

For now, that’s enough.

“Let’s pursue the Tao a little later. It’s time to quicken our pace.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

“Supply didn’t come as expected, but… Let’s handle it as we go, depending on the situation.”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon picked up the pace. The wind brushed swiftly against their faces.

The image of the villagers turning away from them, the old man who had persistently pressed them politely until the end, and the apologetic expression of Hyeong Wook lingered in their minds. It seemed it wouldn’t fade away easily.

But now, all that remained was the weight of the hefty grain sack on Baek Cheon’s shoulders.

‘Let’s not seek answers.’

Perhaps neither he nor his Sahyeongs were mature enough to provide answers. No matter how renowned they were in the world and how important their tasks, they were still just young disciples.

How they should live to uphold the Tao they believed in would be a lifelong contemplation. So, instead of hastily judging, it was enough to simply remember. Someday, these memories, everything seen here, would all dissolve within them.

However…

‘Who could it be?’

Chung Myung occasionally mentioned someone he knew. Baek Cheon found himself increasingly interested in that aspect again.

Once, Chung Myung was believed to advocate for someone who didn’t exist in the world to convey his intentions. But recently, it became evident to Baek Cheon that there was indeed someone when Chung Myung referred to “someone he knew.” There was a profound sense of wisdom in his words, even to the extent that it was difficult to find in Chung Myung himself.

“It’s respect…”

He muttered, and Chung Myung, who had been running silently, tilted his head.

“Hmm?”

“No, never mind.”

“Seems bland.”

As Chung Myung stopped paying attention, Baek Cheon smiled bitterly.

‘Someday…’

And he slammed the ground with all his strength, holding tightly to everything that had emerged within him, not letting go of a single thing.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Gone.”

At the blunt remark, Yu Gong flinched. He stopped abruptly in his tracks, forgetting his frantic scanning of the surroundings, and stood still. Cold sweat began to form on his forehead.

Turning back with a creak, he met Ho Gamyeong’s indifferent gaze.

When their eyes met in the air, Ho Gamyeong asked.

“Is that so?”

Yu Gong’s fingertips began to tremble.

Ho Gamyeong was right. The sect’s symbols were nowhere to be seen anymore. Despite his desperate search, there was not even a trace.

He had considered the possibility of misinterpreting past symbols and misdirecting their direction, but it was highly unlikely. Ho Gamyeong had already thoroughly understood the cyphers of Haenam. It was impossible for both Yu Gong and Ho Gamyeong to make the same mistake simultaneously.

“The disappearance of the symbols means that they have fully joined forces.”

“Ah, perhaps we simply haven’t found it yet. If you could just give me a little more time…”

“Give you time?”

Ho Gamyeong calmly interjected.

“Do you believe you can find it?”

Yu Gong couldn’t bring himself to confidently answer. He knew he was stretching the truth.

Ho Gamyeong narrowed his eyes, and simultaneously, Yu Gong shrank back.

But fortunately or unfortunately, Yu Gong was of little concern to Ho Gamyeong at this moment. His mind was preoccupied with the sudden changes in Haenam and Cheonumaeng’s group.

‘Thinking rationally, they must have realized that we’re pursuing them.’

Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to suddenly join forces.

However, what bothered him was not knowing how they had become aware of the pursuit. While Yu Gong was doing his best to track them down, from Ho Gamyeong’s perspective, he had been maintaining a reasonable distance.

If there were no other variables, they shouldn’t have realized it by now.

“Hmm.”

Ho Gamyeong, who had been lost in thought for a moment, glanced at Yu Gong.

“What do you think?”

“Um…?”

“Why do you think they’ve stopped leaving the symbols?”

“How could I…?”

Ho Gamyeong narrowed his eyes.

“I’ve become curious again.”

“What…?”

The corner of his mouth hinted at a clear smirk.

“If pulling out one’s own claws and still expecting to understand what other wolves are thinking. I was curious if it was possible.”

“…”

“But it seems it was all in vain. Yes. A dog is just a dog after all.”

Yu Gong clenched his lips in humiliation and anxiety. Ho Gamyeong nodded coldly at his reaction.

“It’s confirmed. Your role is over.”

In truth, Ho Gamyeong’s words were uttered without any special significance. They were merely a statement to wrap up the situation.

But Yu Gong couldn’t accept it that easily. The combination of the words “dog,” “hunt,” and “end” brought to mind the phrase ‘Killing the dog after the hunt*’ in an instant.

The color drained from his face in a flash.

“So, back off…”

“S-Something! Something!”

Ho Gamyeong, who had been about to tell him to retreat, shut his mouth and looked at Yu Gong. Yu Gong desperately wracked his brain, fearing that his words might falter.

“T-There must be something they want to hide! Something they must never be caught for! Something that no one should ever discover their traces in the future!”

“…”

“They want to leave no deliberate traces behind. Whatever it is! There must be something they need to conceal, not to hide themselves but something else! So that means…”

Though Yu Gong’s words were scattered and unorganized, Ho Gamyeong understood what he was trying to say.

“Something they want to hide.”

An eerie gleam appeared in his eyes.

“It makes sense.”

Snap!

As Ho Gamyeong snapped his fingers, his subordinates swiftly approached from both sides.

“Search the area. Anything, no matter how small. Report anything that catches your eye. Time is of the essence. Do not waste any more than necessary.”

“Yes, commander!”

With Ho Gamyeong’s command, the subordinates dispersed in all directions.

Thunk.

Sweat trickled down Yu Gong’s face, forming droplets at the tip of his chin. Anxiety gnawed at his entire being.

Before the sweat could even cool, some of those who had dispersed returned.

“There’s a small village about ten li to the northwest.”

“A village?”

“Yes!”

Ho Gamyung briefly stroked his chin as he pondered.

“A village…”

Was that village somehow a place they wanted to hide?

It didn’t make sense. If they were chasing a different foe, this information would have been disregarded. But…

Ho Gamyeong, who had been staring intently at Yu Gong, slowly nodded.

“We’re moving.”

Once they arrive, they’ll know. What exactly is hidden there.