Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1160. A sect abandoned by all other sects (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Abandoned? Samae."
Baek Cheon frowned and looked back at Yoo Iseol.
Five Swords are close enough to each other that they have nothing they can't discuss. Their bond, which has crossed the line of death together several times, might have been stronger than that of blood relatives.
But even if that's the case, Yoo Iseol's comments just now clearly crossed the line.
"This isn't a situation we created."
"Yes."
But Yoo Iseol only replied briefly, still with that emotionless voice.
“But the result is the same.”
“….”
“I was just asking.”
After saying that, Yoo Iseol fell silent. Perhaps, it could have been a topic that ended here. That might have been the case if those gathered here were skilled at managing their expressions and hiding their true thoughts.
But whether by unfortunate coincidence or a fortunate one, the conversation didn't end there.
"...What happens now?"
If Yoo Iseol who asked the question that needed to be asked, it was Yoon Jong who continued the conversation.
Yoon Jong's gaze was turned towards Im Sobyeong. The one who would understand this situation the best. No, rather, the one who could discuss the situation most objectively.
“Then what happens to Hainan?”
"Well."
Im Sobyeong scratched his head with the tip of his fan, looking troubled.
“Of course, Hainan Sect is not so thoughtless, so they probably realize that they would be the first to be harmed. Naturally, they would have made plans to escape. Only a fool wouldn't."
“Oh, of course….”
Then Im Sobyeong shrugged his shoulders and added.
"But if it were something they could do on their own, they would have already left Hainan."
Yoon Jong's expression, which had briefly shown a sense of relief, hardened again.
"They could still be assessing the situation..."
“In a situation like this?”
When Yoon Jong couldn't bring himself to answer, Im Sobyong continued in a nonchalant tone.
“This situation may seem like something that happened suddenly to us, but it is a reality that Hainan has been feeling for a long time. They likely realized a few years ago that they might end up in this situation. If I were the leader of Hainan Sect, I would have made a choice when the Plum Blossom Island incident occurred: either escape the island without looking back or try to strike at Evil Tyrant Alliance from behind."
"...That makes sense."
"The fact that they couldn't choose either option suggests that there was some reason for it. I don't know what that reason was. How could we know what’s happening three thousand li away? But... I do have a suspicion."
"And that suspicion is...?"
“There were some Evil Sects who didn’t join the Yangtze River situation until the very end.”
“Hao Sect?”
"Yes."
Tak.
Im Sobyeong lightly tapped his palm with his fan.
"Due to Hao Sect's nature of dealing with information, they are well-suited for monitoring a wide area. If you had any sense, you would have entrusted the role of monitoring Hainan to Hao Sect.”
"Wa- Wait. But munju of Hao Sect is in Hangzhou..."
"Would the munju need to be there to keep watch? The work is done by those below."
“….”
“Perhaps Hao Munju had been avoiding Jang Ilso’s pressure by using the excuse of monitoring Hainan Sect. But now, it became inevitable and they completely submitted to Jang Ilso."
Yoon Jong nodded, seeing the logic in his words.
"That means, in the end, Jang Ilso has likely already prepared to capture and kill the people of Hainan, no matter where they land. That meticulous bastard wouldn't have left a dagger at his back unchecked."
Jo-Gol tilted his head as if he didn't understand.
“No, if that’s the case, why didn't he just eliminate them earlier? There’s no reason to leave them alone until now..."
“Attacking a sect belonging to Ten Great Sects is tantamount to declaring war and turning the entire Ten Great Sects into a complete enemy. That would not have been an option for Jang Ilso. At least until Plum Blossom Island incident.”
At those words, Jo-Gol's mouth closed tightly. Instead, Yoon Jong asked again.
"It seems like the conversation has veered off a bit... So, what exactly is going to happen to Hainan Sect?"
"Well, I'm not sure why you're asking me that, Yoon Jong Dojang."
Im Sobyeong chuckled lightly.
“You know well, but still pretending not to know anything? Are you trying to act all virtuous because you feel frustrated by a helpless situation?"
Although the other Five Swords were annoyed at the sarcastic remarks, Yoon Jong just calmly replied to Im Sobyeong's words.
“I just wanted to hear Nokrim King’s opinion.”
His unwavering eyes stared at Im Sobyeong.
"My thoughts are incomplete and short-sighted. So, I want to hear the perspective of someone who reads the situation much better than I do. That way, we can make the right decision."
Im Sobyeong, who had been staring at Yoon Jong silently, suddenly scratched his head with an embarrassed expression.
“I apologize. I spoke out of turn.”
Im Sobyeong nodded and opened his mouth frankly.
“Jang Ilso is not the kind of person who leaves loose ends. And he is not the kind of person who would talk nonsense about subjugating the entire Righteous Sects to his own. What makes Jang Ilso truly frightening is that, although he might be an absurd dreamer with grand ambitions, the way he goes about achieving those dreams is terrifyingly realistic."
"Then…."
“Isn’t it obvious what method Jang Ilso would choose?”
Im Sobyeong's eyes turned gloomy and sank.
“No one will survive.”
“….”
"He’ll hunt them down and kill them even if it means going to great lengths. They will probably try to stop anyone who bears the name Hainan Sect, regardless of young or old.”
A dead silence filled the room. After a long while, the one who spoke was, as expected, Yoon Jong.
“…Is there a reason to go that far?"
"Well, if you want a reason, there certainly is one.”
Im Sobyeong answered as if it was no big deal.
“That way, when Evil Tyrant Alliance enters Gangbuk, won’t the rabble be unable to resist?”
"Rabble?"
"Small sects, wanderers, those who live in seclusion—anyone who might harass the main forces and target supply lines when Evil Tyrant Alliance crosses the Yangtze River into Jungwon."
Im Sobyeong clicked his tongue.
"From the perspective of Evil Sects, these are the ones who have repeatedly thwarted their attempts to conquer Jungwon."
"Ah…."
"It's about setting an example. They want to send a message that no one who opposes Evil Tyrant Alliance will survive, not even a single ant. If that happens, the small and medium-sized sects that would have naturally joined Ten Great Sects or Heavenly Comrade Alliance will hesitate, and the martial artists who are willing to risk their lives will think twice.”
Yoon Jong's face twisted in disgust.
“For just that reason… for just an example, they resort to such cruel measures?”
"Just for such a reason?"
However, Im Sobyeong glared at Yoon Jong with an ice-cold gaze that was unusual for him.
“Dojang, what do you think we’re doing now? Do you really think what we're doing is just some game, like neighborhood children playing soldiers with sticks?"
“….”
“This is war.”
It wasn't a surprising statement, but it was the first time it truly made the people in the room realize the gravity of their situation.
“In war, don’t think about discussing help and chivalrousness, Dojang. In war, victory is the way, and the victor is the chivalrous.”
“Even so….”
"Well, he's not wrong."
“Chung Myung-ah!”
"To be more precise, 'No one remembers the chivalrousness of the defeated' would be more accurate."
Yun Jong bit his lips in silence. Chung Myung looked at him for a moment before turning back to Im Sobyong.
“But that’s not all, is it?”
As Chung Myung looked at him with a piercing gaze, Im Sobyeong let out a small sigh and scratched his head.
"...Yes, that's true. In the past, I might have said that was all."
As Yoon Jong and Im Sobyeong each took a step back, the tension in the room eased slightly.
“Kuhum.”
And in that quiet atmosphere, Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth.
"...It's unfortunate about Hainan, but I don't think there's much we can do."
A long sigh escaped his lips.
“In the first place, Hainan is not part of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. In fact, if they had reached out to us first, it would have been different, but otherwise, offering them our help unbidden might be seen as presumptuous."
"Yes, it would be presumptuous."
The one who answered those words was none other than Baek Cheon.
"But, Tang Gaju-nim, if no one makes that presumptuous move, Hainan Sect will surely fall."
“Listen. Baek Cheon Do….”
"And."
Baek Cheon spoke in a soft voice.
"There were times when I desperately wished that someone would take such a presumptuous step to me."
“….”
"I couldn’t openly ask for help, and my pride wouldn’t allow me to bow my head, but deep down, I longed for it more than anything."
"That…."
“If we turn our backs on Hainan here, both Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Comrade Alliance have abandoned them. They will have nowhere else to turn for help."
Namgung Dowi, who had kept his mouth shut until now, also opened his mouth.
“I think so too.”
Namgung Dowi smiled brightly as he felt Tang Gun-ak's gaze.
"Thanks to such a presumptuous act of help, I am alive and here today. I understand more than anyone what it feels like to be surrounded and left with nothing but the expectation of death."
“Sogaju….”
"If you need someone to go there, just say the word. Namgung will not hesitate."
“Look here, Sogaju. "You, Namgung Sogaju, are the one who must rebuild Namgung Family..."
"I don’t believe that turning a blind eye to what needs to be done now for the sake of many future matters is the Namgung way."
“….”
“In that case, it would be more appropriate for Namgung to die for the righteous cause.”
Tang Gun-ak looked at Hyun Jong without realizing it. Hyun Jong merely closed his eyes with a stern expression.
When the frustrated Tang Gun-ak was about to say something, he heard a soft laugh in his ear.
Turning his head, he saw Chung Myung with a peculiar smile on his face.
"A sect abandoned by all the righteous sects in the world... Right. That sure sounds like a story I've heard before."
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”
Chung Myung's cold gaze pierced through Baek Cheon and Namgung Dowi at the same time.
"But make no mistake. Don’t think you can pay for that failure with something as trivial as your death. That failure could lead to the defeat of Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the victory of Evil Tyrant Alliance. If that happens, your recklessness will drag everyone here into hell."
“….”
“You think others keep their mouths shut because they don’t have the courage to ask for help? Grow up, you rotten little brats.”
Baek Cheon bit his lips and glared at Chung Myung.
"Then what exactly do you want to do? Just turn your back on them?"
"I…."
It was when Chung Myung was about to say something.
“Ma- Maengju-nim!”
Urgent voices poured in from outside the door.
“What's going on?”
Hyun Jong, who noticed the seriousness in the voice, quickly shouted and asked. And then, a statement that made everyone in the room doubt their ears was heard.
“Ba- Bangjang of Shaolin is on his way here!"
"…What?"
Hyun Jong's eyes opened so wide that it couldn't get any wider.
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 76
Advance chapters of Infinite Mage : 24
Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 10 Chapters
|Note
Thank you for the Chapter """