Chapter 1815 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1815. If It Must Be Carried (15) ❀ ❀ ❀

Jin Songwon’s eyes trembled uncontrollably. The scene before him was hard to believe.

Describing the situation itself wasn’t difficult.

The Lord of the Namman Beast Palace, Maeng So, was blocking the King of the Southern Sea Sun Palace. The Nokrim King and the leader of Zhongnan were confronting the head of the Myriad Man House troops and the Thousand Faced Manipulator.

The situation wasn’t inherently complicated, but witnessing such a sight for the first time made it difficult to comprehend.

‘The Beast Palace Lord...’

Diancang was located in Yunnan, along with the Beast Palace.

As such, Jin Songwon, the leader of Diancang, knew well that just because they both resided in Yunnan didn’t mean they were comparable sects.

Despite their shared region, Diancang was recognized as part of Central Plains, whereas the Namman Beast Palace was merely treated as wild outsiders.

The exact reason for this wasn’t something Jin Songwon could pinpoint.

Perhaps it was simply because, unlike Diancang, the Beast Palace was located near the Yunnan border, closer to the Southern Barbarians (Namman).

Or maybe it was because many of the warriors of the Beast Palace were not of Central Plains descent but belonged to various ethnic minorities.

No... those might not even be the real reasons.

Regardless, one thing was clear, the Beast Palace was treated as an outsider force. Jin Songwon had witnessed firsthand how deeply rooted Central Plains’ discrimination against them was under the label of ‘outsiders’.

Some disciples of Diancang would often express relief that they hadn’t joined the Beast Palace. Even Jin Songwon himself had held similar thoughts in his younger days.

Therefore, he could somewhat understand why they harbored hatred for Central Plains and why they were so hostile toward it.

Yet now, Maeng So, the leader of that very Beast Palace, was fighting to save the young talents of Central Plains. Not only that, but he was fighting against those who, like him, were also considered outsiders.

Jin Songwon understood the profound significance of this unbelievable scene better than anyone else.

“....Beast Palace Lord.”

And that wasn’t all.

Compared to what was happening elsewhere, the actions of the Beast Palace Lord were actually quite reasonable. The fact that Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jongli Gok, and the Nokrim King, Im Sobyeong, were fighting side by side was even more shocking.

Righteous sect and evil sect, factions as incompatible as water and oil, who had built their power in complete opposition to one another—now standing shoulder to shoulder to save Tang Gunak.

Even within the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, not everyone was automatically comrades simply because they were grouped together. It was rare enough for harmony to exist even within a single sect, let alone between factions.

Yet here they were, doing the impossible. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, would he have dared to imagine it?

“Can you see it?”

Jin Songwon bit his lips tightly.

“I’m asking if you see it!”

Baek Cheon’s hands still trembled violently. He couldn’t even properly grasp his clothing, but he clung desperately to Jin Songwon’s collar.

The faint sound of teeth grinding filled the air, followed by Baek Cheon’s voice.

“I have never given up. Not once.”

It was a cliché, worn-out statement, tiresome even. But coming from Baek Cheon, it carried a different weight.

“Even when my dantian was shattered, even when I lost both arms! Even when I was expelled from my sect, and the internal energy I clung to for survival was eating away at my life, I never once threw everything away in despair and said ‘Let it be!’”

The sincerity struck Jin Songwon, leaving him breathless.

“And what about you?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes were bloodshot.

“I have nothing left. Yet here I stand. But you... you still have something, don’t you?”

“....Deputy Sect Leader.”

Baek Cheon grabbed Jin Songwon’s collar even harder.

“Open your eyes and look properly! If you have the courage to throw it all away, then at least have the courage to struggle!”

Hearing Baek Cheon’s desperate voice, Jin Songwon gritted his teeth and shoved Baek Cheon’s hands off with a forceful sweep.

Thud!

“Don’t you dare preach to me.”

“Sect Leader!”

“Anyone can spout such hollow words!”

Jin Songwon punched Baek Cheon in the face, sending him sprawling backward.

“Struggle? Even a cornered rat bites a cat. Do you think it’s easy for me to simply lie down and die?!”

Unable to contain the fury erupting from deep within, Jin Songwon roared.

“If you wanted to talk big, you should’ve done it sooner! We’ve already stepped onto a path of no return. You know that too! There’s no way we can be forgiven now! It’s impossible!”

Wiping the blood from his lips, Baek Cheon slowly got back on his feet.

“Who says it’s impossible? Who decided that it can’t be reversed, that it can’t be done?”

Jin Songwon glared at Baek Cheon, his lips tightly sealed.

“I’ve seen the impossible happen time and time again.”

“Stop it already...!”

“Can’t you see it with your eyes, sect leader?”

Instinctively, Jin Songwon’s gaze followed Baek Cheon’s words.

Yes, it was there—undeniably. Something impossible. Something he couldn’t have imagined mere moments ago was unfolding right before his eyes.

“The claim that there’s no way is just an excuse for the weak.”

“......”

“It will be hard. It might be unforgivable. We might never be forgiven. But so what? If forgiveness is out of reach, then we bow our heads until we earn it. No matter how humiliating that is, it’s a hundred times better than giving up, don’t you know that Sect Leader?!”

Baek Cheon shouted, his breath ragged.

“If you have the strength to shout and lament, why don’t you have the courage to bow your head?”

At that moment, a thought suddenly crossed Jin Songwon’s mind.

Why was this man so desperate? This wasn’t Baek Cheon’s matter. He wasn’t a disciple of Diancang, nor was he a blood relative. So why is he so.....

Then, Jin Songwon’s gaze landed on one person.

Cheong Myeong. He, too, was watching Jin Songwon with his sword lowered. No, perhaps he was actually watching Baek Cheon.

Jin Songwon let out a faint chuckle.

A sudden thought crossed his mind—that the relationship between this seemingly strong person and this seemingly weak one might be the exact opposite of what he had assumed.

It was absurd, but sometimes intuition could be closer to the truth than logic.

Jin Songwon spoke slowly.

“...Let’s say I change my mind. Then what about the children in Yunnan?”

It was a question no one could answer.

No one—except Baek Cheon, who responded without a moment’s hesitation.

“We have to save them!” 

“......”

“No matter what it takes.”

Jin Songwon couldn’t help but laugh. This guy... truly made him laugh in many ways.

“It’s impossible for me.”

“So what?”

“....What?”

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and spoke.

“There’s not a single thing I’ve accomplished in my life that I was capable of from the start.”

“......”

“It’s the same now. If it’s difficult for you, I’ll help. No, everyone will help!”

Jin Songwon let out a hollow laugh.

“......I am your enemy. Remember that?”

“I know.”

“I’ve committed unforgivable sins.”

“I told you, I know.”

“And yet...”

“Damn it! So what does that matter? The ones I need to save aren’t the ones who’ve sinned, but the children trembling in fear back in Yunnan! What does your sin have to do with saving those kids?”

For a moment, Jin Songwon’s gaze wavered violently. 

“If it’s too much for you, and if you truly can’t endure it...”

Baek Cheon squared his shoulders. 

“Then leave it to me. If it must be carried, I’ll carry it. Your sins and your fears.”

[tl note: ok guys, that was the title, so i think the next chapter will change the title]

What a ridiculous comedy this was.

Someone who couldn’t even hold a sword steadily without assistance, someone whose shattered dantian could break entirely at any moment, someone whose very life was crumbling from within... and yet he declared he’d carry Jin Songwon’s burdens.

The whole situation was laughable, but what was most absurd was that Jin Songwon couldn’t bring himself to ridicule Baek Cheon.

“Sect Leader.”

“......”

“Sect Leader!”

Jin Songwon’s focus, which had blurred for a moment, sharpened once again. But his gaze was now directed beyond Baek Cheon, toward someone standing silently at a distance.

“What do you think?”

When Jin Songwon asked, Cheong Myeong answered without hesitation, cutting through decisively.

“Utter nonsense. No different from a child throwing a tantrum.”

Jin Songwon nodded. It was no different from his own thoughts.

Baek Cheon had nothing. Only sheer determination, without any clear method. His words struck at one’s heart, but upon reflection, they were hollow.

“The world isn’t that kind. If he continues down this path, he’ll end up shedding tears of blood in regret. And it won’t take long.”

Jin Songwon agreed with that too.

Though they now stood with swords pointed at each other, their views of the world didn’t seem all that different.

“So, if you were in my shoes, would you trust him?”

Surprisingly, Cheong Myeong shook his head this time.

“No. But if I were you, I would listen to him.”

“......Why?”

“Because I’ve seen it.”

“......”

“I’ve seen how people ignore the ramblings of fools, thinking themselves smart and looking down on everyone else—yet it’s those very fools who stubbornly forge ahead.”

Cheong Myeong looked directly at Jin Songwon and answered calmly.

“That’s how I found out. When those so-called brilliant ones can’t do anything, it’s the fools who open the way. That’s all there is to it.”

Jin Songwon let out a bitter laugh.

‘Ridiculous nonsense.’

Open the way? Not even remotely convincing. Baek Cheon was shaking so badly he could collapse at any moment. The reason he’s been silent for a while now isn’t because he wants to give Cheong Myeong and Jin Songwon time to talk. It’s probably because he’s too weak to even open his mouth.

Isn’t he too weak?

If no one stood in his way, Jin Songwon could snap his neck in a single breath. Easily.

Yet even in such a state, Baek Cheon’s eyes glowed with unwavering clarity.

“Sect Leader...”

Baek Cheon approached Jin Songwon again. Jin Songwon lightly struck Baek Cheon’s chest with a palm strike.

Bugh!

Baek Cheon staggered back and collapsed, making his earlier struggle to stand seem futile. Jin Songwon sighed heavily. 

“No matter how much you rant, nothing will change. It’s too late to turn back.”

“That’s...!”

Jin Songwon looked up at the sky, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes.

“But the words that say that if you have the courage to die, you might as well struggle... that doesn’t seem wrong.”

With that, he turned his body.

“Nothing has changed. I am still your enemy. I will claim this grudge to the very end.”

With those words, Jin Songwon leaped into the air and disappeared into the distance. His figure quickly faded away.

He was probably going to regroup his disciples. He was no longer a sect leader who could command with just words, he’d have to act personally. Perhaps the process would be arduous.

As Baek Cheon tried to stand up again, his strength gave out, and he slumped back down.

“Haah...”

His hands trembled like aspen leaves.

It couldn’t be said that he had achieved the result he’d wanted. Coldly speaking, it wasn’t even half a resolution—more like a poorly stitched patchwork.

But even so...

‘I did it.’

Baek Cheon covered his face with trembling hands.

There was still.... something he could do. Perhaps the one who had truly been saved was himself.

Next Chapter

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