It will be fine. (2)

Early dawn, the inn, used as a dining hall, was occupied entirely by Hwasan.

The dining hall, which should be bustling with people at this time, was filled with a heavy silence.

Clatter. Clatter.

It was only natural that it would be difficult to keep quiet with dozens of people gathered for a meal, yet the only sound was the occasional clink of a spoon against a bowl. Even that seemed too loud, causing everyone to flinch in surprise.

In the suffocating silence, the faces of the second-generation disciples turned increasingly pale.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

This is indigestion waiting to happen. For sure.

No matter how much they were Hwasan’s disciples who could chew on rocks and digest steel, there was no way they could properly digest the food forced down their throats in this atmosphere.

‘Sahyeong.’

‘What?’

‘What about that story?’

‘Are you crazy? How can you talk in this atmosphere?’

The second-generation disciples barely moved their lips, desperately exchanging glances.

Originally, they had planned to take advantage of this morning’s opportunity to speak up about the excessive training.

This wasn’t mere grumbling. As they were on the brink of war, the training had been so grueling that there were frequent complaints that they would collapse before the war even began.

Usually, Jo Geol, who was good at listening and conveying such concerns, had become a bit more difficult to approach lately due to his rising fame. After all, wasn’t he now the Flashing Blade?

So today, they decided to skip Jo Geol and quietly bring it up to Yoon Jong, who had a relatively good temperament…

Clatter. Clatter.

The atmosphere at the table where Yoon Jong was sitting was anything but normal.

At the table where Yoon Jong and Five Swords sat – more precisely, where the Chung disciples were seated – there was not a single word exchanged, only the occasional sound of a spoon scraping a porridge bowl.

If you looked closely, this was not an uncommon occurrence.

It was typical for the disciples to fight or clash. It would be more unusual if there were no friction, considering they were a group of vigorous young men gathered in one place.

Even Jin Tae, who was now watching cautiously, had fought countless times with his senior brothers until now.

There were moments when fists flew, and there were even several times when they were on the verge of drawing their swords.

So, this phenomenon itself wasn’t particularly surprising… but it was the first time that the intense cold conflict had centered around Five Swords and Chung Myung.

‘Has there ever been a time like this?’

No matter how much he racked his brain, there wasn’t.

Of course, Five Swords fought a lot. In fact, they fought so fiercely that others didn’t even dare to utter their names.

There was even a joke among the second-generation disciples that the history of Hwasan’s development was the history of the long struggle of Five Swords.

However, there were no lingering resentments. If they had complaints, they would curse and throw punches right away – they weren’t the kind to maintain such a chilly silence.

‘This is suffocating. Really.’

Still, Jin Tae and the others around him were in a better situation.

The ones who had cluelessly sat at Five Swords’ table were scraping the bottoms of their bowls with faces that looked like they might faint at any moment.

Jin Tae thanked the heavens that he wasn’t sitting there. If he had been eating at that table, he would have surely collapsed with his eyes rolled back.

Tap.

At that moment, Chung Myung put down his spoon.

“I’m done eating.”

Yoon Jong, glancing at him, spoke calmly.

“You should eat a bit more. You still have training to do.”

“It’s fine. Not hungry in the morning.”

“Okay.”

With that, Chung Myung got up and left the dining hall.

It was an utterly mundane conversation. An outsider might have thought it was a warm exchange between a senior worried about a junior who had no appetite in the morning.

But none of the people present interpreted it that way.

Tap.

At that moment, Yoon Jong also put down his spoon.

“I’m heading out first.”

Shortly after, the sound of a door closing was heard. Then, sighs of relief were let out all over the dining hall.

It was evident that the source of the suffocating atmosphere just moments ago was none other than Chung Myung and Yoon Jong.

“…Hey, your face is turning blue.”

“Your face is pitch black, Sahyeong.”

“Really?”

“It’s because you’re not breathing.”

Everyone sighed heavily, looking as if they were about to collapse.

In that tense atmosphere, Tang Soso nudged Jo Geol in the side with her elbow, giving him a meaningful look.

“What are you doing?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Go quickly.”

Jo Geol looked bewildered.

“Come on, they’ll handle it themselves. Why do I have to…”

“Just go.”

“Ugh…”

Jo Geol got up reluctantly, looking as if he were walking to his doom. It wasn’t just because Tang Soso told him to – he also felt that he needed to have a conversation about what was going on.

“Sahyeong, what’s this about?”

“What?”

Jo Geol, who had quickly caught up with Yoon Jong, asked with his hands clasped behind his head, but the answer he received was evasive. Jo Geol frowned.

“Why are you acting like this? We’re not kids.”

“I’m asking, what about?”

“Don’t be vague and avoid me for no reason. If you fought, just make up and move on. It’s not the first time Chung Myung has done something outrageous.”

“…”

“He’s under a lot of pressure with everything that’s going on right now. Can’t you just understand and let it go? Why does it have to be this serious?”

Yoon Jong’s steps halted at those words.

Without turning to look at Jo Geol, Yoon Jong stared ahead and spoke.

“Fought, huh…”

“I mean, it’s not like you and that guy had a physical fight. He probably just threw a tantrum…”

“I wish it were that simple.”

“…What?”

“Don’t worry about it. Neither of us harbors any ill feelings.”

Jo Geol’s face hardened further. So, they had drifted apart without even fighting?

“Just what…”

As Jo Geol stammered, Yoon Jong spoke with a composed expression that seemed impenetrable.

“We just realized we think differently. No one is at fault.”

“Sahyeong.”

“I’m going ahead.”

With those final words, Jo Geol was left dumbfounded.

He stood frozen, unable to move, until Yoon Jong was a distant figure far away. The rigid expression on Yoon Jong’s face made it clear. This was not a minor squabble. This was serious.

“What the hell…”

Of all times, Yoon Jong and Chung Myung are clashing on the eve of a war. This is a disaster.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Jo Geol scratched his head vigorously.

“What should I do…”

Mediation was never Jo Geol’s role. That had always been Yoon Jong’s responsibility. But now, the person who usually mediated was the one sharpening his stance, making a solution seem elusive.

Jo Geol knew well from their long time together. Despite Yoon Jong’s reputation for being amiable, he was incredibly stubborn.

If someone were to ask him to name the two most stubborn people in Hwasan, Jo Geol would pick Chung Myung and Yoon Jong without hesitation.

Now, these two were ignoring each other as if the other didn’t exist, making the situation serious. There was no telling how long this would last.

Sigh…

Jo Geol let out a sigh so deep it seemed to shake the ground as he turned away.

He decided to meet Baek Cheon. In this situation, Baek Cheon was the only person who could possibly do something.

“So?”

“Uh?”

However, Baek Cheon’s reaction after hearing the situation was quite different from what Jo Geol had expected. No, it was very different.

“So, you want me to go after those two and resolve their dispute?”

Baek Cheon looked at Jo Geol with indifferent eyes. Jo Geol was momentarily at a loss for words.

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Thinking about it, it was quite a ridiculous request.

It’s just a fight between two second-generation disciples. The only word that fits in front of that sentence is “just.”

And yet, asking someone as significant as Baek Cheon, who is practically the acting Sect Leader of Hwasan, to mediate?

Jo Geol scratched the back of his head.

“I understand. I know how absurd this sounds, especially at a time like this.”

Baek Cheon stared at Jo Geol silently, as if urging him to continue.

“But Sasuk, it’s just that…”

Jo Geol sighed, messing up his already curly hair even more.

“It doesn’t seem like a simple emotional fight. Chung Myung might be one thing, but Yoon Jong Sahyeong isn’t someone who would act this way over a petty issue, right?”

Yoon Jong was recognized by everyone in Hwasan as a good person. He wouldn’t start a cold war with Chung Myung just because he was in a bad mood.

“So… if this drags on, it could cause problems while we’re dealing with the upcoming events. That’s why I’m asking if you could somehow…”

“Let’s correct something.”

“Yes?”

“First.”

Baek Cheon looked at Jo Geol firmly and asked.

“Why do you assume Chung Myung is at fault?”

“What? I didn’t say that…”

“You said it yourself. Yoon Jong isn’t the type to get into emotional fights over trivial matters. Does that mean Chung Myung is that type?”

Jo Geol clamped his mouth shut.

No, of course, he wasn’t the most magnanimous guy, but at least he wasn’t the type to blow up trivial matters. If anything, he was capable of being the most broad-minded in Hwasan.

“…I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Neither of them are the type to act that way. If they’re behaving like this, it means there’s an issue they can’t compromise on. That’s not something that can be resolved with simple mediation.”

Jo Geol hung his head low.

He knew this, which was why he came to Baek Cheon. Yet, Baek Cheon’s response wasn’t much different from what he had feared.

“And secondly.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

“Is this really my job?”

“What?”

Startled, Jo Geol lifted his head. The unexpected question was surprising, but Baek Cheon’s cold, stern expression was even more so.

“Answer me. Is this something I need to handle?”

“…Sasuk?”

“This is an issue between two second-generation disciples. Do I need to personally step in and reconcile them?”

“No, that’s not it. But this can’t be seen as just a second-generation issue. After all, it involves Chung Myung as well.”

It might be the most important issue in Hwasan right now. The conflict among Five Swords wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

But as Jo Geol was about to say this, he paused and closed his mouth.

He realized it. Saying that would essentially mean claiming that only those under the name of the Five Swords are the most important in Hwasan.

As a disciple of Hwasan, that was something he could never say.

Even if it was true.

Caught off guard by having his inner thoughts exposed, Jo Geol was at a loss for what to do. Baek Cheon, who had been watching him intently, spoke quietly.

“What will you do if I can’t handle it?”

“Yes? What do you mean by that…?”

“Are you planning to go to the Sect Leader?”

Jo Geol flinched. He was so flustered that his mouth opened and closed without a sound.

“And if that doesn’t work? Will you go to the retired Sect Leader and ask him to scold the two of them?”

He knew Baek Cheon meant not to tattle like a child.

But… why did Baek Cheon’s words feel so cold?

It was as if Baek Cheon was someone entirely different from the person he knew.

“Why… I don’t understand why you’re saying this, Sasuk. Is this really such a…?”

“Jo Geol.”

“Yes?”

Baek Cheon looked at Jo Geol with a heavy expression, not cold exactly, but weighed down.

“If I’m not here.”

“…What?”

The heavy atmosphere pressed down on the space between them.

“What will you do if I’m not here?”

Those few words struck Jo Geol’s heart mercilessly.

It felt as though something he had been pressing down inside was beginning to seep out through the cracks.