Southern Island. Those who now seek to abandon those two characters, and those who hold those two characters to their chest to meet the end of their lives.

All who once bore the name Southern Island held their breath and looked at Geum Yang-Baek and Gwak Hwan-So.

But the two showed nothing more. They simply remained silent, as if it were no longer their turn.

Their silence made everyone bearing the name Southern Island realize the situation.

Whether to join and die together, or to remain and watch over them here, that choice now rested solely with each person.

So the two did not urge anyone. They did not loudly proclaim what was right. Only each person could choose how their final moments would look.

“Huff.”

At that moment, breaking the deep silence, the sound of a sword being drawn — ssshhk — was heard.

Step. Step.

Lee Ja-Yang drew his sword and stepped forward to stand beside Gwak Hwan-So. He said nothing. He simply stood by Gwak Hwan-So’s side. If it was Gwak Hwan-So’s duty to guard Geum Yang-Baek’s back, then guarding his side was Ja-Yang’s duty, he conveyed with his posture.

Those spurred by that sight bit their lips.

Step. Step.

A few more swordsmen stepped forward and joined.

One, and then another.

A path of only a few paces, yet an endlessly distant road — there were those who walked it with their own feet.

Perhaps some still did not fully understand the meaning of that path. They might regret the final moment their few steps would bring.

Nevertheless, they walked that path. Few could precisely explain the reason in words. They simply believed it had to be done.

Step. Step.

Beyond one and two, dozens came to stand beside those who shared the same name. They lifted the swords they had kept by their sides all their lives and steeled their resolve.

Another. And another.

Like waves crashing onto the shore, more and more joined, adding their resolve to that of Geum Yang-Baek and Gwak Hwan-So.

But not everyone felt passionate about the scene.

“... Sahyung.”

At Go Hong’s reluctant voice, Yu Gong bit his lip lightly.

‘Why...’

Why now, at this late moment, are they doing such a thing?

The matter was already decided. By conducting the expulsion ceremony and descending to the family home, his ties with Southern Island Sect could have been completely severed.

So why would they suddenly pull such an absurd stunt in a place like this?

Those stepping forward and those who stopped where they were.

The contrast was stark to an extreme degree.

Sect leader Geum Yang-Baek had said he wished to spare those leaving the sect the burden of an expulsion ceremony. But to Yu Gong, this place brought a humiliation worse than the expulsion ceremony.

At least an expulsion ceremony is an act where one suppresses shame and steps forward with courage. It allows for the possibility that, rather than being swept away and die, stepping forward amid scorn to accept expulsion looks like a braver act.

But not in a scene like this.

In this cruel situation created by Geum Yang-Baek, those who would turn their backs on Southern Island could only stand like stones. They could only watch the backs of those who had vowed to throw their lives away for the name Southern Island.

What made Yu Gong feel even more ashamed and pained were those very backs.

Originally, those leaving Southern Island should have stepped forward to bear scornful gazes. They should have left under looks condemning them as cowards and trying to feel superiority. Those gazes and the hostility within would have steadied Yu-gong.

But at this moment the ones who stepped forward did not look back.

No one looked at those left behind. No one gave reproachful glances to those who had abandoned Southern Island Sect. To those who had already faced forward and stepped out, the ones left behind were out of mind.

That fact made Yu Gong unable to bear it.

“Sahyung... what do we do?”

Go Hong, sensing that atmosphere, asked Yu Gong restlessly. His face was full of anxiety.

But Yu Gong instead coldly rebuked him.

“Why are you asking me that?”

“...What?”

“Did you not hear the sect leader? It’s something each must choose for themselves.”

“B-but, sahyung...”

Yu Gong no longer replied; he bit his lip and glared only at Geum Yang-Baek.

‘How many more must you make miserable to feel satisfied, sect leader?’

Through this moment Yu Gong painfully realized that sometimes goodwill can hurt people more than malice.

Even now more joined the group that had stepped forward. But warriors were not so simple. When no one else stepped forward for a long while, the elders who had remained silent eventually joined the last line.

Those who stepped forward were a little over half the sect members.

But that also meant those who chose not to stay to the end and to leave the sect were nearly half.

Although the numbers were roughly equal, the atmosphere was completely different.

Those who stepped forward did not bother to check who remained behind. What they saw were the sect leader who had staked everything on the name Southern Island, the outsiders who had come from afar to walk that path with him, and the treacherous road they had to traverse.

But all those left behind could see were the backs of those who had resolved to walk the path they could not choose. So they could not bring themselves to look straight ahead and bowed their heads.

Then Geum Yang-Baek spoke to those who remained for his sake.

“Do not hang your heads.”

What Geum Yang-Baek uttered was neither reproach nor rebuke.

“If risking your life is courage, then restraining your bloodlust and choosing to survive is also courage. No one can condemn that choice.”

Geum Yang-Baek looked quietly at those who remained and closed his eyes.

“However... from this moment you are no longer disciples of Southern Island Sect. I will not forcibly seal your dantian or take back your martial knowledge, but you are forbidden from using Southern Island Sect’s techniques and your names will be erased from the registry.”

Everyone understood.

That this was the way to protect those who remained. If they clumsily used the techniques, Four Sects Alliance would surely hunt them down and try to kill them. If that happened, even if those heading to the Southern land drew attention away, Southern Island could not avoid disaster.

But the human heart is not so simple. Even knowing these words were meant to protect them, their chests ached for no reason.

“Even if you are no longer disciples of the Southern Island sect, the fact that you are Southern Island people living on this island does not change. We will head to the Southern land to protect our name. Those who remain, guard the Southern Island way of life here.”

The heads of those who remained drooped even lower.

No matter how well it was packaged, they were in the end traitors who had abandoned the sect’s name. They knew that truth better than anyone.

It might have been easier to be covered in anger and reviled. But Geum Yang-Baek did not do that. He simply calmly wished for their lives to continue.

That fact made those left behind feel even more ashamed.

“Descend the mountain.”

Those swept by the torrent of emotions startled and looked at Geum Yang-Baek.

“A long farewell does no good to us. Descend the mountain immediately. That will be the end of your ties with us.”

“S-sect leader.”

“Go.”

With those words, Geum Yang-Baek gently closed his eyes.

Those watching his expression bit their lips and began one by one to bow. Having paid their final respects to their teacher, they turned and trudged toward the mountain gate.

The disciples were leaving.

Some shed tears, some bowed their heads as if guilty. Some spat curses, and others, unable to contain their anger, struck their chests.

Those who turned away and those who did not look back.

Once they dreamt the same dreams and believed each other family without doubt, but now their paths had parted. Never to rejoin.

And until the very end, Yu-gong simply bit his lip and watched those bearing the name Southern Island.

His heart wanted to leave, but his feet did not move.

After watching them for a long time, Yu Gong bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and spoke.

“Don’t think that staying there makes you some great person.”

Yu Gong himself didn’t fully know why he was saying such things.

In fact there was no reason to blame them. No reason to be unreasonable. By his logic he had made the rational choice and they had only chosen foolishly. Shouldn’t he just laugh at them and leave?

“We’re not leaving because we are cowards. Keep whatever superiority you want to feel.”

Lee Ja-Yang frowned.

“You...!”

But as he was about to speak, Gwak Hwan-So lightly gripped his shoulder and stopped him.

“...Sahyung.”

“Enough.”

Gwak Hwan-So shook his head and looked at Yu Gong.

“Yu Gong.”

“...”

“I will ask one favor.”

“What...”

“When we leave, please inspect each of the remaining Southern Island pavilions at least once.”

Yu Gong grimaced and glared at Gwak Hwan-So.

“I am no longer a disciple of Southern Island Sect.”

“I know.”

Gwak Hwan-So smiled faintly.

“But out of the bond we once shared, can’t you do at least that?”

Yu Gong glared at Gwak Hwan-So without a word, then spun and walked toward the mountain gate without looking back.

Lee Ja-Yang watched him and ground his teeth with fury.

“That damned man...”

“Stop it.” 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Lee Ja-Yang glared at Yu Gong as he left the gate, then turned away. They no longer needed ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ to care about him.

“Sect leader.”

Those who would leave had left. Still, representing those who vowed to keep the name Southern Island, Gwak Hwan-so spoke.

“What should we do now?”

“Hmm.”

Geum Yang-Baek nodded and glanced to the side. Among those who met his gaze, Im So-Byeong stepped forward.

“All right! From now on you must move quickly. First, go to the nearest shore and get boats...“

“Should we just fetch boats?”

“No.”

“Sorry?”

Im So-Byeong gave a sly, wicked smile.

“Don’t fetch them, destroy every boat on the shore.”

“...What?”

“All of them! Not a single one left! Fishing boats, whatever — smash them all!”

“...W-what?”

“Move!”

“...”

A sense came over them that something rather different from what they expected was about to unfold.