Chapter 589: Chapter 1477: The Plan Was Sound (Part 2)
[Just found out---I bELIEVE "Hanam" = "Henan". Should've looked at a map earlier, haha...]
"...Where are they heading?"
A tent set up in the field, so extravagant that it was hard to believe. Jang Ilso, sitting in a large chair at the deepest part of the tent, furrowed his brows involuntarily.
"According to the information we've gathered."
In front of him, Ho Gakmyung, with an uncharastically awkward expression, continued with his explanation.
"The civilians of Hubei are forming lines and moving towards Shaanxi."
"Shaanxi?"
"Yes. And some northern civilians from Sichuan are also heading to Shaanxi."
Ho Gakmyung hesitated for a moment. The words 'refuge' or 'escape' wasn't quite appropriate. At least from their perspective.
"...They seem to be attempting relocation."
Questions arose in Jang Ilso's eyes. He lowered the cup he held to the nearby table and lightly stroked his chin with one hand.
"Going to Shaanxi?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"..."
A seemingly simple question. However, Ho Gakmyung couldn't easily provide an answer to that simple question. It was something that even his own mind couldn't comprehend.
"Gakmyung-ah, where are we right now?"
"We're at Zhangjiajie."
"Right. That's correct. We're in Zhangjiajie. A position where we can attack Hubei or Shaanxi if we decide. Isn't that so?"
"That's correct, Ryeonju-nim."
"But... the Hubei people, after packing up, are choosing Shaanxi for refuge instead of Henan or Hanbuk?"
"..."
"Ugh."
A groaning sound emanated from Jang Ilso's mouth.
"Those who only know how to dig the ground, what on earth are they thinking? Are they stupid, or is their way of thinking just different from ours?"
Jang Ilso sighed briefly. In the current situation, how the civilians were moving didn't seem particularly important. The crucial aspects were the movements of the Ten Great Sects and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. It was just a bit unsettling that something unexpected was happening.
"So, how are those Heavenly Comrade Alliance folks doing? They must have been embarrassed when the civilians suddenly rushed in. Won't they push them away since they've been making noise until now?"
"Well..."
"Hmm?"
As Ho Gakmyung couldn't readily answer, Jang Ilso narrowed his eyes.
"...The Heavenly Comrade Alliance is creating a large camp in Hwaeum to accommodate refugees."
"..."
Jang Ilso looked at Ho Gakmyung with a bewildered expression.
"They're accommodating them?"
"Yes. It seems they have prepared in advance..."
Ho Gakmyung mumbled, glancing at Jang Ilso's reaction. It was uncertain how Jang Ilso would take this information.
'Why on earth are they doing this?'
Accommodating refugees was by no means an easy task. Just keeping them alive consumed a considerable amount of grain and resources. For those on the brink of war, it was an option that should never be chosen, a path not to be taken.
But now, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance was actively engaging in this seemingly senseless act. As if they had collectively gone mad.
'Is this even possible?'
Even if someone blinded by the two letters 'righteousness' strongly argued for this, the leaders of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance couldn't all be fools. So, why were they endorsing this absurdity?
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand the situation itself. However, in a way, he could clearly understand how this situation had come about.
"Hmm."
Jang Ilso slouched slightly in his chair. Despite his lethargic posture, his eyes emitted a profound and gloomy light.
"Looking at the situation..."
"..."
Jang Ilso's lips, dyed in a deep red, twisted provocatively.
"It seems he completely put the Heavenly Comrade Alliance under his control."
Ho Gakmyung's head bowed slightly. He too had the same thought. Without judging it like this, there was no way to interpret the situation.
"In any case, it's troublesome."
Jang Ilso chuckled softly.
"I trampled on his hands and feet, but he came stabbing me in the back. After ridiculing us, saying that he couldn't do anything more than at the level of a third-class disciple, he suddenly snatches power into his hands."
It was a voice with a hint of youthful laughter.
However, Ho Gakmyung, only Ho Gakmyung, could discern something. As Jang Ilso continued speaking, the laughter gradually faded away.
"If he predicted this situation in advance..."
Jang Ilso stopped speaking. His gaze sank deeper, even deeper.
"No... No. It's not a prediction. He didn't predict or prepare for it. He probably guided it to happen this way."
"..."
Jang Ilso, who seemed to be contemplating something, soon reached out and picked up the glass of liquor on the table. Then, with a noticeably more relaxed expression, he took a sip of the liquor in the glass.
Watching this, Ho Gakmyung cautiously spoke up.
"Ryeonju-nim."
"Speak."
"Do you perhaps have a guess on what he's thinking? Why he's doing this?"
Ho Gakmyung forced himself to suppress the sigh that kept escaping.
The reason that the Plum Blossom Sword Demon was fearsome wasn't because he was insane. The real reason he was terrifying was that he was an 'insane person who couldn't be left alone.'
"Hmm."
When Ho Gakmyung asked, Jang Ilso looked straight at him. And in that moment, his calm eyes softened like the moon in a mist.
"Gakmyung-ah."
"Yes, Ryeonju-nim."
"Do we really need to worry about that?"
"...Huh?"
In response to that absurd question, Ho Gakmyung reflexively asked in return, surprised, and lowered his head slightly. Seeing this, Jang Ilso chuckled and continued.
"For us, this is all just fun, but there are some people who have caught fire on their own feet."
"Ah..."
The Ten Great Sects.
Certainly, among those who would be most bewildered by the current flow of events were them. For the Evil Tyrant Alliance, it was just the movement of Hubei's civilians to Shaanxi, but for the Ten Great Sects, it meant that those they were protecting were leaving to seek refuge under the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's protection.
"Perhaps by now, they are making a fuss, so send out some people appropriately. Let them find out or confirm things."
"I understand your meaning, Ryeonju-nim."
Ho Gakmyung nodded as if he understood.
"Alright, go."
"Yes, then."
Ho Gakmyung bowed deeply and left the tent.
Alone in the tent, Jang Ilso quietly gazed down at the figure floating on top of his glass of liquor. A man with a white face painted like a clown looked at him mockingly.
"Pitiful. You still don't know. No, you know and choose to turn a blind eye, right?"
Jang Ilso tilted his head slightly. His eyes, slightly hazy, stared blankly at the ceiling of the tent.
"The world is not such a kind place. Even if you give generously, nothing comes back."
For him, it was a good thing. Definitely.
The mistakes made by the opponents were nothing but gains for him. If his mind spoke true, he should be calling for a celebration.
However, Jang Ilso couldn't do that.
A frustrating feeling of an inexplicable constraint slowly tightened his chest.
"...It's troublesome. Bring more liquor."
"Yes!"
The servants quickly brought more liquor.
As Jang Ilso reached for the offered bottle, his touch was a bit rougher than usual.
❀ ❀ ❀
"Um, isn't there something we can do?"
"..."
"Bangjang. It's not just those ignorant... poor people anymore. Even those who have been living reasonably in Hubei are heading to Shaanxi one by one."
"..."
"Bangjang. Instead of staying like this, we need to do something."
"What should we do then?"
"Excuse me?"
"Then should we point a spear or knife at those who are leaving on their own feet and threaten them to stay here?"
Jonglihyung's mouth closed like a clam.
What Peng Yeop said was correct. They weren't officials or a royal court. They had neither the justification nor the authority to block the path of civilians. But Jonglihyung wasn't unaware of this, so why was he saying such things?
"I don't see it as a bad situation."
"Peng Gaju-nim. What...?"
"Formally, they are individuals who won't be of any help in the war. Since the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is taking care of them, there's no need to find fault."
"Well... that's true."
"These are people who need to be protected only formally. Without them, our range of movement will significantly expand. What's important now is to firmly consolidate the movements of the smaller sects."
Jonglihyung fell silent.
Peng Yeop's words were correct. There was nothing untrue in saying that all this was only beneficial for them. Yet, he couldn't help but feel frustrated.
'Is this really an acceptable situation?'
Civilians were leaving them. No, civilians were abandoning them. How strange a situation was this?
Righteous sects were a group of people who learned martial arts to protect the weak. However, weren't those weak individuals they should protect now refusing their protection?
Could one really view this situation, where roles have been reversed, without any concern?
"Amitabhul."
At that moment, a calm voice from Beopjeong was heard.
"This is not a pleasant situation. How can it be good that commoners trust the Heavenly Comrade Alliance more than the Ten Great Sects?"
"My point exactly."
"But."
Beopjeong looked at Jonglihyung with calm eyes.
"This is a facade for now. It's a time to consider practicality, not emotions."
"..."
"If you only think about practicality, it may not be entirely bad, as Peng Gaju-nim says."
Upon hearing this, Jonglihyung sighed deeply.
Was he so foolish that he couldn't understand this situation?
"First, we can't just stand by like this. Please ask your disciples to persuade those who are leaving. Emphasize that this place is safer than Shaanxi."
"...Understood."
"And... if there are those in difficult situations, release some of the stored provisions to help them. It's a gesture we should make."
"That..."
"Good idea! Bangjang!"
"Amitabhul."
Beopjeong nodded at Jonglihyung with a calm expression. Although Peng Yeop's face showed a slight dissatisfaction, he did not oppose Beopjeong's words.
"In any case, depending on how you look at it, it's not necessarily bad news. Rather, if you look at it calmly, it might be a quite favorable situation."
"Yes? Bangjang, why do you think so?"
"Because they are the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."
Jonglihyung frowned at the incomprehensible statement. Seeing his expression, Beopjeong smiled slightly.
"As you know, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is not a group that can stay still for a moment, right?"
"That's correct."
More precisely, it wasn't the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, but Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, Chung Myung.
"I, too, was surprised and bewildered when I first saw this situation, but now I'm rather grateful. If it weren't for the refugees, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance would have surely done something strange. Like attacking Sichuan this time, or like going to Southern Island before."
"Ah..."
"But now they won't have the leisure to do that. They are also busy handling the refugees, so they won't have the capacity to do anything else. Looking at it that way, isn't it better for them to be tied down here rather than in Shaanxi?"
"Well, that makes sense..."
Jonglihyung and Peng Yeop both nodded their heads simultaneously.
The unfolding events themselves were quite peculiar, but thanks to them, the uncertainty that Heavenly Comrade Alliance had had clearly been resolved. Seeing the two understanding his intentions, Beopjeong smiled gently.
"If there is anything lacking, we can settle it after winning the war. For now, let's focus on what needs to be done."
"Yes, Bangjang. We will do so."
"We will do so."
Hearing the responses from the two, Beopjeong nodded quietly. Inadvertently, his gaze turned to the northwest, where Shaanxi was.
'Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword.'
Beopjeong's eyes sank deeply.
'What on earth are they trying to do with those refugees?'
But Beopjeong didn't know.
That Chung Myung wasn't with the refugees in Shaanxi.
❀ ❀ ❀
"Uwaaaaah!"
"Hey! Chung Myung! That bird is too fast!"
"How do we chase that? Is this even reasonable?"
"Where are we? Are we still in Henan? I feel like I'm going to throw up already."
Watching his Sahyungs complain Chung Myung's face twisted.
"Did these guys only eat bird droppings? Stop talking nonsense and follow! If you lag behind, I'll personally twist your ankles!"
"Did these guys only eat bird droppings and then talk!"
"No, you crazy bastard! What kind of person chases a bird!"
"Runnnnn!"
Where the sun was rising.
In the midst of a war, the Five Swords led by Chung Myung advanced towards the distant eastern sky.
Leaving Kangho's eyes on Shaanxi far away.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Bagel_Seeds
Bagel_Seeds flustered ilso lowkey more attractive...maybe I just vibe with pathetic men...Reigen hehe
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