Chapter 156 : Who Should One Follow? -01
Chapter 156: Who Should One Follow? -01
At Ban Hojin’s words, Sama Uiseong suddenly came to his senses.
From beginning to end, everything he had said was correct.
Regret and self-reproach were certainly necessary.
However, what mattered was timing.
In all things, there was a priority, and what needed to be done now was to identify mistakes and make up for shortcomings.
Blaming oneself and praying for the dead could be done later.
“Looks like you’ve finally come to your senses.”
“Thank you, hyung-nim!”
“Alright, let’s wrap things up and head back to the encampment. Rest is part of war too.”
After patting Sama Uiseong on the shoulder a couple of times, Ban Hojin began organizing the scene.
Right now, since the battle had only just ended, everyone seemed fine. But once the tension eased a little later, cries of grief would surely erupt.
Having experienced that well enough himself, Ban Hojin led the group back to the encampment.
Objectively speaking, the first battle was no different from a defeat, yet the atmosphere at their encampment was not bad.
Unlike the Shaanxi Murim side, the damage suffered by the Seonwu Family and the Murong Family had not been severe.
In contrast, the encampment of the Shaanxi Murim, set slightly apart, was heavy with gloom.
Their losses were close to a crushing defeat, and everyone wore grim expressions.
And here and there, the sound of weeping could be heard.
“The atmosphere really is completely different. But it’s not our fault.”
“I know. That it’s their own doing. But honestly, the ordinary disciples and regular members only followed orders. The ones who should take responsibility are alive, while those who obeyed the commands are dead… it doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Same here.”
Seonwu Bang wore a bitter expression.
He felt the same as Seo Jo-woon.
But even if they felt pity, it was not a situation where they could offer comfort.
Nor did they have the right.
“I hope they come to their senses this time and do better in the second battle. In a way, there’s still a chance left, isn’t there?”
“That’s true. Though I don’t know why they withdrew without finishing a battle they were on the verge of winning.”
“Perhaps they thought continuing would only increase their own losses? It’s true they were being pushed back, but it wasn’t as if defeat was completely certain. And hyung-nim, you didn’t step in properly either.”
“That goes for the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress as well.”
“They might have judged it difficult to settle things before sunset.”
Seo Jo-woon’s gaze turned toward the western sky.
Before they knew it, the sunset had dyed the clouds red.
“That’s a possible reason too. Let’s head inside. Looks like everyone’s here.”
“Yes.”
When they entered the large tent set up to serve as a meeting room, as Seonwu Bang had said, everyone who was supposed to be there had arrived.
Everyone except Seonwu Cheong and Murong Gung.
“Sit.”
“Are we late?”
“No. You’re right on time.”
“Uiseong looks better now.”
As he took his seat, Seonwu Bang examined Sama Uiseong’s face.
Despite having done more than his share in battle, his expression earlier had not been good, which had worried him. Fortunately, he seemed fine now.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Don’t mention it. Thanks to you, the Main House suffered minimal losses. This much is only natural.”
“Right. I felt it today too—why a military advisor or strategist is necessary.”
Sitting beside Jeong Iryong, who was the same age as him, Murong Cheok looked at Sama Uiseong with a somewhat burdened gaze.
Through today’s battle, he had personally felt how much difference the presence of a strategist could make.
And the others were no different.
Unlike Murong Cheok, they did not stare so openly, but all of them looked at Sama Uiseong with eyes filled with astonishment and admiration.
“Jo-woon, what about you? Did you find the answer?”
“I’m not sure if it’s the correct one, but I did reach a conclusion.”
“Let’s hear it.”
Before the battle had begun, Ban Hojin had singled out Seo Jo-woon and given him an order.
Unlike the others, he had told him to stay by Sama Uiseong’s side.
At the same time, he had posed a question.
Why had he given that order? He was to figure it out himself.
“I believe there are two reasons. One is simple—protecting Uiseong. The other… I think perhaps you wanted to train my eyes to see the whole picture.”
“Hm.”
“W-was I wrong?”
At Ban Hojin’s subtle reaction, Seo Jo-woon swallowed dryly.
Judging by his expression, it did not seem to be the correct answer.
The exchange between the two seemed interesting, as everyone else fell silent and focused.
“You’re close, but that’s not the right answer. Still, you’re headed in the right direction.”
“Ah…”
Seo Jo-woon glanced sideways at Sama Uiseong.
He had a feeling that if anyone knew the answer, it would be the clever Sama Uiseong.
However, having received prior instruction from Ban Hojin, Sama Uiseong deliberately avoided his gaze.
“Don’t look at Uiseong. I told you to find the answer, so you have to figure it out yourself.”
“Ugh!”
Seo Jo-woon let out a low groan.
There was no doubt the question had been asked because he needed it—because it would help him. Yet he could not grasp the answer at all.
“I don’t know. I’m sorry, hyung-nim.”
“No need to apologize. You were very close. I asked you this because I wanted you to learn how to protect. Your talent needs no words. But you have a tendency to focus only on what’s right in front of you. If you were going to live simply as a martial artist, that wouldn’t be a problem. If you were to live alone. But if you plan to establish your own clan one day, I wanted you to understand this.”
“Ah!”
“You’ve also never fought while protecting someone before.”
“That’s true.”
Seo Jo-woon nodded vigorously.
Not a single word was wrong.
“It’s not something hugely important, but I thought it was worth addressing at least once. And it’s also true that Uiseong is in danger. Today we fought on the outskirts, and since they don’t know much about him, no one targeted him. But next time will be different.”
“I’m prepared.”
“Being prepared doesn’t mean you won’t die. What matters is accomplishing what you’ve planned, no matter what. We’ll protect you, but in the end, you have to protect yourself.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
War was completely different from sparring or martial matches.
The battlefield was an asura’s chaos where life and death crossed paths.
Thus, Sama Uiseong steeled himself once more.
“Ahem! Hm!”
“Hmm-hmm!”
However, at that moment, the sound of someone clearing their throat came from outside.
At the deliberate throat-clearing, as if to announce one’s presence, everyone inside the tent turned their gaze toward the entrance.
“Please, come in.”
“You noticed?”
“When someone walks over while so openly revealing their presence, it would be stranger not to notice.”
“Ahem!”
As he pulled aside the tent flap and stepped inside, Peng Mancheol wore an awkward expression.
But he did not turn back the way he had come.
Rather, as if deciding to brazen it out now that things had come to this, he took a seat in an empty spot on his own.
However, Peng Mancheol had not come alone.
“I didn’t expect the two of you to come together.”
“We happened to run into each other on the way.”
“Happened to.”
Ban Hojin’s gaze passed over Namgung Ho and then moved to the Peng brothers—Peng Chu-yeong and Peng Juyeong—as well as Namgung Gwang.
It seemed far too deliberate to call it a coincidence.
“It’s not as if we’ve come somewhere we shouldn’t, is it?”
“I don’t believe we’re close enough to call it ‘our place.’”
“If we’ve fought together, that makes us comrades-in-arms. That’s more than enough to call it ‘our place.’”
Peng Mancheol deliberately emphasized those four words while being keenly aware of Namgung Ho seated beside him.
Anyone could see he was making it obvious.
Yet unexpectedly, Namgung Ho showed no particular reaction.
“There seems to be quite a gap between what the Family Head believes and what I believe.”
“What gap?”
“More importantly, what brings you here? The leadership meeting should be in full swing by now.”
“Do you think holding a meeting in this situation has any meaning?”
Peng Mancheol snorted.
The atmosphere there, unlike here, had been a spectacle for all the wrong reasons.
Having listened until now to nothing but people shifting blame onto others while denying any fault of their own, he let out an irritated remark and shook his head.
“How is the Mount Hua Sect Leader?”
“I’ve heard he has regained consciousness. They attempted to reattach his left arm, but it failed.”
Since the Blade King was practically the root cause of this entire situation, Sang Il-gi’s tone was cold.
Even so, he was curious about the condition, so he asked Namgung Ho. Judging by the answer, the wound seemed deeper than expected.
“At present, the Mount Hua Sect is like a house of mourning. He has regained his senses, but having lost his left arm, it will be difficult for him to display his full strength. It will likely take considerable time to adapt.”
Having personally witnessed Sang Il-gi’s martial prowess in today’s battle, Peng Mancheol chose his words carefully.
Age aside, in Murim, strength was paramount.
Since Sang Il-gi’s martial realm stood higher than his own—despite being called the Blade King—Peng Mancheol treated him with proper respect.
“It would be best to classify the Sect Leader as outside our fighting strength.”
“Whether he’ll accept that is another matter. He’ll probably insist that he can still fight. The Mount Hua elders will try to stop him. Even if he fights now, he won’t be much help. And they can’t afford to lose the Blade King as well.”
Peng Mancheol shrugged.
He could easily imagine what kind of conversation was unfolding in the other meeting tent at this very moment.
“So you fled here?”
“Fled? I simply came here because, at the very least, this place seemed less likely to waste time and more likely to come up with countermeasures.”
“In your opinion, Family Head Peng, does it seem likely that a solution will emerge?”
“If it’s you, even if there’s no solution, I feel like you’d somehow find one. And there’s a clever fellow here too.”
Not only Peng Mancheol but also Namgung Ho turned their gaze toward Sama Uiseong.
Even while fighting the Great War Gods, the two had seen it clearly—how the Murong Family and the Seonwu Family had fought.
“Uiseong is only eighteen. Isn’t it too much of a burden to place on such a young junior?”
“Even so, what choice do we have? The only ones we can trust right now are those here. Over there is a sinking ship.”
Though Sama Uiseong’s abilities were outstanding, he was still young.
Ban Hojin pointed that out, but Namgung Ho spoke with an expression that said there was no alternative.
“Is the atmosphere truly that bad?”
“It’s serious.”
“There’s no time for that.”
“Not everyone is rational. In fact, there are more who are emotional.”
Ban Hojin nodded.
He knew exactly what that meant.
“Have you thought of any countermeasures?”
“We were just about to when the two of you arrived.”
“Ahem! I simply didn’t want to keep watching that disgrace any longer.”
“I understand.”
“Then let’s begin our meeting as well.”
Perhaps slightly embarrassed, Peng Mancheol’s face had turned faintly red.
But no one pointed it out.
Instead, everyone’s gaze turned toward Ban Hojin and Sama Uiseong.
“Let’s each freely present our opinions. A good solution may emerge in the process.”
“Then may I share my thoughts first?”
“By all means.”
Sama Uiseong spoke carefully.
As if they had been waiting for it, everyone’s eyes focused on him at once.
All of them filled with expectation.
“The damage on our side is significant. But there’s one point we must address. The losses suffered by the Ironblood Fortress are not small either. Of the ten Great War Gods, four are dead. The six who survived cannot be in perfect condition either. And the number of ordinary Martial Artists of Ironblood Fortress has also been greatly reduced.”
“You assessed quite a lot in a short time.”
“Determining the strength of allied forces and enemy forces is the most basic of basics.”