Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1364: You Really Are Generous, After All. (4)

Baek Cheon’s gaze turned toward the distance. Everyone had already hidden themselves behind the house so they wouldn’t be seen.

I did not expect any reward.

I didn’t ask them to give their grain away for free, did I?

I only wanted a fair price, no, I wanted the chance to buy the grain even if we had to pay more than that.

Was that really too much to ask?

Baek Cheon involuntarily looked back at Yoon Jong. Whenever he lost his way as a cultivator of Taoist, Yoon Jong was the one who set the standard. But Yoon Jong’s expression was also harder than usual.

If so, then the sense of betrayal and anger Baek Cheon felt now wasn’t simply because he was petty.

“I’m sorry...”

Hyung Euk bowed his head deeply as if ashamed. His face was flushed, as if it might burst from embarrassment and guilt.

Even knowing it was pointless to blame someone like this, Baek Cheon finally spoke.

“I didn’t realize it was such a difficult request.”

“...Chivalrous guests.”

Hyung Euk shut his eyes tight.

It couldn’t have been a difficult request. At least, not to him.

Of course, as the village chief had said, helping them might bring danger. But hadn’t these people helped the villagers without hesitation even when it could have made them dangerous?

Being strong doesn’t obligate you to help, and being weak doesn’t justify turning away.

But there was nothing he could do. Those who had been watching the situation ultimately said they’d prefer not to help.

The future danger the elder spoke of resonated far more than the grace already bestowed.

“Wh-what am I to say...”

While Hyung Euk stammered, the elder inside the house came out again, cautiously. He glanced at Baek Cheon and bowed his head. There was no sense of triumph or smugness, only a pleading expression that Baek Cheon’s temper remain intact.

“Righteous warriors...”

The old man spoke in a trembling voice. Understanding the meaning behind it, Baek Cheon let out a hollow laugh.

“There is no need to worry.”

Though a chill remained in his voice, Baek Cheon spoke as politely as he could.

“We are not the Evil Sect that slaughters on a whim when displeased. You needn’t worry that we’ll act brutally.”

“Thank you. Thank you, righteous warriors!”

The elder hurriedly thanked them, then again sneaked a look at Baek Cheon.

“Please... don’t think of us as bad people.”

“...What do you mean?”

“We know it must seem absurd from your position. But we have no choice.”

Baek Cheon looked at the elder silently. A weary sorrow settled on the man’s tired face.

“The mercy you speak of is something only those with means can afford. How can people who struggle to survive care about others’ situations or provide them a path to live? I myself am desperate right now.”

Baek Cheon’s eyebrow twitched. He could endure many things, but this remark was hard to tolerate.

The Heavenly Friends Alliance didn’t help them because they had plenty to spare. Charity is...

“People like us can only pretend to die if commanded. That’s what we’ve seen; it’s the world we’ve lived in.”

Just as Baek Cheon, unable to hold back, was about to speak,

“Let’s go.”

A voice called briefly. Turning around, they saw Chung Myung scratching the back of his head.

“I guess I was in too much of a hurry. I had no thought. I should’ve considered that their circumstances here weren’t good. Tch. I’m done for too. When you get old you ought to die.”

“Chung Myung...”

“Let’s go. We are asked to leave them without drawing attention, so we should go quickly. It’ll be easier on everyone that way.”

Baek Cheon felt strangely deflated.

If it had been any other time, Chung Myung would have raged wildly, but hearing him say that, Baek Cheon had nothing more to add.

“It looks like most of you have eaten...”

Chung Myung glanced over the Southern Island Sect people and said.

“If your bellies are full, it’s time to leave. We don’t actually have much time, do we?”

“...That’s right.”

“Tell them to prepare quickly. They’ll have a lot to do once we’re gone.”

Baek Cheon still had much to say, but he finally answered with a deep sigh.

“Alright... let’s do that.”

His chest burned. It was an indescribable ache.

“You needn’t pay for the grain you ate...”

“No.”

Baek Cheon looked the elder firmly in the eyes.

“We will pay exactly what the grain is worth. We must do so.”

His emotionless voice sounded somehow a little sorrowful.

Led by Baek Cheon, they left the village.

The atmosphere was markedly different from when they’d left this village before. No one spoke rashly.

Even the Southern Island Sect’s disciples, who didn’t fully know the circumstances, couldn’t miss the mood and kept quiet.

“So shall we just leave like this?”

In that situation, the one who boldly spoke up was Im So-Byeong.

“Of course?”

“Isn’t the end result all that matters? There’s grain left—why not take some and throw them money? The outcome would be the same as a willing trade.”

“...”

“Then they could claim that if anything happens later, we robbed them of grain, and thus bear no guilt. It’s obviously reasonable; let’s turn back right now!”

Baek Cheon snorted. That might indeed be the reasonable path, one where no one suffers.

But they couldn’t choose that path. If they said the end justified the means, they’d be admitting they were no different from the Four Sects Alliance they were fighting.

“Argh!”

At that moment Jo Gul shouted angrily.

He knew, like Im So-Byeong suggested, they could act that way, but he couldn’t contain his rage.

“A person should at least have some conscience!”

“...”

“We didn’t help because we had strength to spare on our journey. Even if they can’t repay, they can at least show us some consideration, can’t they?”

“Enough.”

“Before they looked at us with naive, tear-filled eyes! Now they won’t even show their faces until the moment they leave! If people like them become warriors, the Evil Sect will...”

“I told you to stop.”

When Baek Cheon weakly snapped, Jo Gul clamped his mouth shut.

“...It’s because I’m frustrated. Because I’m wronged.”

“...”

“We didn’t expect repayment, but still... still there are things like that, you know. Still...”

Baek Cheon started to say something, then shook his head and fell silent.

In truth, his feelings were no different from Jo Gul’s. Speaking at length in such confusion would only reveal his thoughts.

When Baek Cheon didn’t properly answer, Jo Gul’s gaze turned to Yoon Jong.

“Isn’t that right, sahyung!”

At those words, Baek Cheon also looked at Yoon Jong.

Yoon Jong might say something different.

“Aren’t you angry, sahyung?”

“Anger...”

Yoon Jong calmly shook his head at Jo Gul’s question.

“It’s not anger.”

“...Not some kind of living Buddha or anything.”

“It’s not anger; I’m simply confused.”

“Huh?”

When Jo Gul looked puzzled, Yoon Jong glanced up at the sky and spoke.

“As a Taoist, and as a member of the Justice faction, I believed we should help and protect the common people because there is goodness within them. They are decent folk oppressed by the powerful, so I thought we should lend whatever strength we can.”

“...”

“But today, for the first time, that thought occurred to me differently. Not just regarding that village, but in any case.”

“Yes.”

“If those we aim to protect are not good, then why risk our lives to protect them? Simply because we are stronger than them?”

“...”

“The saying that we shouldn’t expect repayment for our acts of charity—perhaps it stems from the fact that there is no way to receive that repayment in life. Yes, that’s the thought that comes to me.”

His voice was calm, but the words were heavy, especially coming from Yoon Jong. Everyone fell into their own thoughts.

“I’ve heard a saying like that before.”

All eyes turned to Chung Myung, the one walking at the front as if he had no regrets.

“Commoners are neither as good nor as remarkable as people imagine them to be. Their strength is weaker than expected, and the morals they preach are often trivial.”

“...Isn’t that almost an insult to them?”

“But that’s precisely why we must protect them.”

The Mount Hua disciples who listened quietly frowned. They couldn’t understand—if the people were truly that insignificant, why protect them?

“Because they are people who could have become good.”

“...”

“The old man’s words are not wrong. Most people don’t even have the luxury to keep their goodness. That’s because those with power did not protect them.”

Yoon Jong watched Chung Myung’s back as he walked and spoke, his face stern and thoughtful.

“The good remain good even without help. But small acts of kindness toward those who are not good might lead them toward goodness. A Taoist is someone who doesn’t let go of that small possibility, and charity is the attempt to use what one has to change the world.”

Muttering, Chung Myung’s gaze lifted to the sky, as if following something far away.

“Honestly, I don’t fully understand it either. I know only one thing: our predecessors didn’t give because they didn’t know—they gave because they knew and still chose to protect.”

Chung Myung’s words ended there. He said nothing more.

He didn’t tell them they must do the same or that it was the right path; he merely relayed what he’d heard.

But everyone who heard it fell into thought, wondering what they truly intended to do.

It was then.

“Wait, please! Righteous warriors!”

A loud voice came from behind.

Hyung Euk was running hard, carrying something on his shoulder.

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

Hyung Euk, breathless from running, stood before them, panting. Baek Cheon blinked, not understanding.

“No, why...?”

“Th-this!”

Hyung Euk set down a large sack he’d been carrying on his shoulder. It thudded.

“It’s grain. Please take it.”

“Huh?”

Guilt still filled Hyung Euk’s face.

“The villagers decided not to, but this is my share. If I’m giving my share, what choice do they have?”

“Ah, no...”

Baek Cheon, taken aback, looked between the sack of grain and Hyung Euk.

“This is something we cannot accept...”

“Please accept it!”

Hyung Euk bowed deeply without waiting to be heard. The gesture seemed reminiscent of his father’s, yet felt entirely different.

“I’m useless, so this is all I can do. Please allow me to do even this.”

“...”

“The villagers aren’t evil. They’re just... just fearful. Please don’t see them only as bad people.”

“Sir...”

“It’s insignificant, but please take this. I’m truly... truly sorry.”

Baek Cheon stared at the sack of grain with a complicated feeling. It was cheap grain, probably only enough for a pinch for each of the many people.

But the heart contained within it was by no means insignificant.

Silently looking at the sack, Baek Cheon clasped his hands in salute. Then, with utmost respect, he bowed deeply.

“...We will gratefully accept it.”

His hands trembled faintly as he saluted.

They had a long road ahead and little time.

Yet everyone there silently gazed for a while at the sack between Baek Cheon and Hyung Euk.

At the few humble but most precious measures of grain inside that tattered sack.