Nevertheless. (4)

“Stop spewing nonsense and get lost.”

“Show some respect, you ignorant bastard.”

“Respect?”

Baek Cheon glared fiercely at Jin Geumryong.

“Respect is something you show to someone worthy of it. Asking a disciple of Hwasan to join a team made by someone from Jongnam? You need to talk sense if you want anyone to even pretend to listen.”

“Is there any reason why that can’t happen?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes grew even fiercer. However, Jin Geumryong merely shrugged lightly, as if he couldn’t comprehend Baek Cheon’s reaction.

“As far as I know, there are no such restrictions when forming teams.”

“…”

“I’m not part of Cheonumaeng, so I don’t see why I need to explain this to you, but your precious Alliance seems to have long abandoned sect distinctions. So, it wouldn’t be strange for Hwasan’s disciple to join Jongnam’s team, would it?”

“Move aside.”

Baek Cheon attempted to walk past Jin Geumryong, as if he had heard enough. Jin Geumryong reached out and gently but firmly grabbed his shoulder.

“Little brother.”

“I told you to get lost….”

“I’m offering you a favor here.”

Jin Geumryong’s gentle gaze intertwined with Baek Cheon’s blazing eyes in midair.

Baek Cheon fiercely shook off Jin Geumryong’s hand from his shoulder.

“What nonsense are you spouting now, talking about favors?”

Jin Geumryong smiled faintly.

“You’re consistently slow to understand. I’m saying that I’m placing you in a position suited to your abilities.”

Baek Cheon pressed his lips tightly together.

“You don’t have the capacity to handle the lives of others right now, do you? Shouldn’t you consider those who unwillingly join your team? It would be a tragedy if the team leader’s incompetence led to their deaths.”

“You…”

“You may be a foolish brat, but as your older brother, it’s my duty to look out for you. So stop being stubborn and just follow my advice.”

Baek Cheon silently glared at Jin Geumryong.

Jin Geumryong continued to meet Baek Cheon’s gaze with a smile. He looked like an adult humoring a tantrum-throwing child.

That expression endlessly grated on Baek Cheon’s nerves.

But instead of arguing further, Baek Cheon brushed past Jin Geumryong in silence. As Baek Cheon walked away, Jin Geumryong, still wearing his enigmatic smile, called out to his back.

“Let me know if you change your mind.”

Baek Cheon walked away without answering.

Jin Geumryong watched Baek Cheon’s retreating figure until he disappeared from sight. He clicked his tongue and turned around. At that moment, an unwelcome voice reached his ears.

“Don’t you think you’re the one being too rigid and clumsy, Sahyeong?”

Jin Geumryong’s face immediately hardened.

He turned around with eyes as sharp as blades.

“You’re lurking around and eavesdropping like a rat.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping. It’s your fault for discussing such matters so carelessly in a public place, Sahyeong.”

Lee Songbaek, who was treated like a rat, let out a deep sigh.

Well, it made sense that Jin Geumryong would react this way, as most others wouldn’t dare approach when he and Baek Cheon were snarling at each other like they wanted to tear each other apart.

But before considering such things, shouldn’t he first reflect on his own nature, which makes him lose half his rationality when it comes to matters involving his younger brother?

“Why are you doing this?”

“What?”

“Wouldn’t it suffice to just say you’re worried?”

“Me? Worried about him? Nonsense.”

“It’s not that strange to want to keep your injured brother close and protect him when he’s headed to the battlefield, is it?”

Of course, the fact that this injured younger brother is practically the archenemy of Jongnam and the Vice Sect Leader of Hwasan is quite strange, and it’s even stranger that the future Sect Leader of Jongnam so casually discarded the important matter of sect loyalty. But right now, those things aren’t the point.

“Did you really have to upset your brother like that? There must have been a thousand ways to say it more nicely.”

“You must be seriously mistaken.”

“Then why did you suddenly decide to form a team? You didn’t even consider it until just now.”

Jin Geumryong narrowed his eyes and glared at Lee Songbaek.

“If you have time to spew nonsense, go swing your sword a few more times. I have no intention of playing along with the third-rate script you concocted with your dull mind.”

Truly, Jin Geumryong’s tongue was as sharp as his blade. Lee Songbaek sighed deeply. How could the Jin family be so twisted?

“So, you said all that just to tease him?”

“…I just wanted to prevent him from causing trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“If he goes out and gets himself killed, there’s nothing to be done. He’s a grown man. But leading others into defeat is a different matter. It’s even worse if there are unnecessary casualties because he hid his condition.”

Jin Geumryong stared intently in the direction Baek Cheon had disappeared, clearly still displeased.

“No matter how much he left Jongnam on his own, he is still a Jin. His foolish actions will tarnish the Jin family’s reputation.”

“You’re not worried about your brother being hurt by all this?”

Jin Geumryong glared at Lee Songbaek with a twisted expression.

“Have you started behaving like those Hwasan brats now that you’re mingling with them?”

Lee Songbaek took a step back, raising his hands slightly to show he had no intention of arguing with Jin Geumryong.

After all, interfering in family matters was indeed crossing a line.

“I’m just saying that your approach won’t work. If you want to persuade Baek Cheon Dojang, you’ll need to change your methods.”

As Lee Songbaek spoke, he couldn’t completely release the tension he felt. He fully expected Jin Geumryong’s wrath to be directed at him.

However, Jin Geumryong’s response was unexpected. Instead of getting angry, he looked up at the distant sky.

“Persuade, huh…”

His low voice drifted out as he gazed at the sky for a long time.

“There’s no way that would work.”

“…Yes?”

“Do you know what kind of person Jin Dongryong is?”

“…”

“He’s the one who left home out of spite and took refuge with our ruined enemies.”

“…Ah.”

“Yes, it’s possible. Emotions can override reason when you’re young. But as he saw the miserable state of our enemy sect, instead of returning, he coolly manipulated them to secure the position of their top disciple. Now he even aims to become the Sect Leader of that sect. Do you think an ordinary person could do that?”

Lee Songbaek was momentarily dumbfounded.

He had never seriously considered it before, but from Jin Geumryong’s perspective, this was… something else.

“And you think you can persuade someone like that?”

Jin Geumryong scoffed.

“Do you think I would have left him alone if that were possible? I’ve tried coaxing him, reasoning with him. I’ve even offered him what he wanted. I’ve beaten him to the brink of death. Yet even with his limbs broken, he told me he’d rather die.”

Lee Songbaek felt dizzy as he took in the situation.

Wasn’t it remarkable when you thought about it? Jin Geumryong was the one who suppressed every disciple of Jongnam to suit his temper. He was naturally suited to stand above others. Even those much older than Baek Cheon didn’t dare to defy Jin Geumryong.

Yet, even in his weak and powerless days, Baek Cheon had never succumbed to Jin Geumryong’s pressure.

“Someone like that wouldn’t suddenly start listening to me now.”

“Then why…?”

“I spoke unnecessarily.”

Jin Geumryong cut off Lee Songbaek’s question and asked in his usual cold manner.

“How many are supposed to come here first?”

“From the main sect? Ten or so that Sect Leader decided to send immediately should almost be here by now. However, more will come once the agreement with Cheonumaeng is conveyed. But why…?”

Lee Songbaek flinched mid-sentence.

Sure enough, Jin Geumryong nodded.

“Good. Split the arriving group in two. One part comes with me. You lead the other.”

“Sahyeong, are you really…?”

Instead of answering the obvious question, Jin Geumryong left Lee Songbaek and walked away.

❀ ❀ ❀

“That’s enough.”

“B-But Lord Tang! We also…!”

“Enough!”

Tang Gunak cut them off with an icy determination.

“I told you that being able to quickly secure people is also a skill.”

“Ugh…”

It was a true statement, leaving no room for excuses.

Of course, gathering people involves numerous variables, but on the battlefield, variables appear with every breath. There was nothing more to say.

And…

“I… I’m alive.”

Jo Geol, who narrowly escaped the line of fate, was drenched in cold sweat. If he had been just a bit slower, he would have been left behind to sweep the yard while everyone else went ahead.

“Damn.”

“I wish we had arrived a bit later.”

“Ah! That’s why I asked you to let me take a quick bathroom break!”

However, the responses from the second-generation disciples of Hwasan, who were half-dragged along by Jo Geol, were far from favorable.

“Hey, you guys! Do you have so little faith in me?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

“Could you at least think a little before answering?”

Meanwhile, the rest of Five Swords had so many volunteers to deal with that they had to select a few from the overflowing numbers.

“Why am I the only one treated like this…?”

“Sahyeong, do you really not know?”

“How would I know?”

“…This is a disease too.”

The second-generation disciples all shook their heads in disbelief.

“Everyone who has been selected, line up. Hurry!”

“Yes!”

At Tang Gunak’s command, the groups that had been scattered around the large training ground quickly formed lines.

There weren’t many of them. Considering the prestige and scale of Cheonumaeng, which uses the entire city of Hwaeum as its headquarters, they were only a handful.

But their presence more than made up for the small numbers.

‘…Jongnam.’

Tang Gunak’s gaze settled on Jongnam, standing in a corner of the training ground as he surveyed the lined-up participants.

‘Could it really be…?’

He hadn’t expected them to take such an active role. While their skills were undeniable, Jongnam had always moved strictly for their own benefit.

Tang Gunak thought he might need to revise his personal evaluation of Jongnam as he glanced behind him.

“Alliance Leader.”

“Yes.”

Hyun Jong stepped forward in front of Tang Gunak. He gave everyone a sweeping glance and then began to speak in a low, yet powerful voice.

“Time is of the essence, so I will be brief.”

Hyun Jong, the Alliance Leader of Cheonumaeng, was a man who commanded respect without demanding it, creating an air of authority. Everyone’s eyes on him were earnest and serious.

“Remember one thing. Right now, someone’s son, someone’s daughter, someone’s parent is waiting for your help.”

His voice resonated with everyone.

“But. You are also someone’s son or daughter, someone’s sibling, and someone’s parent.”

Yoon Jong slightly closed his eyes, knowing the underlying meaning of those words.

“So!”

Hyun Jong’s fervent voice spread out.

“Make sure to come back alive. You must!”

Yoon Jong clasped his hands together in a formal gesture and responded firmly.

“Yes!”

Then, filled with determination, the members of Cheonumaeng set out in all directions, with the rising sun at their backs.