Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1219. Who would help? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Crackle! Crackle!
A whole wild boar spins round and round over the blazing bonfire.
Watching it absentmindedly, Tang Pae couldn't help but think, as natural as it seemed, just how pointless the thought was.
'Is this really okay?'
They're supposed to be hiding from people... Well, no one’s likely to stumble upon a fire in a cave clinging to the side of a sheer cliff, so it should be fine... But still...
"Tsk. If I knew this was gonna happen, I’d have brought some booze.”
“Were you haunted by a ghost that died from not drinking in a past life? This is Gangnam, man!"
"I can't even see a person's nose, so what's the problem?"
"...That's true."
When Tang Pae heard Chung Myung mutter, ‘If I’d known we would only be traveling through cliffs and mountains, I wouldn't have bothered getting tense,’ Tang Pae gave up on thinking altogether.
What pained him even more was that despite the seemingly carefree attitude of everyone—resting whenever they pleased—they were moving at least twice as fast as he had originally expected.
'If you think about it that way, I should actually be applauding how amazing it is, but......'
"It's cooked!"
"Ah, wait! It's still not cooked inside!"
"Then can't we just eat from the outside first?"
"....Are you a genius?"
"Let's eat!"
Watching Mount Hua disciples dive into the roasted boar, any remaining respect Tang Pae had for them evaporated completely.
Don't use Plum Blossom Sword Technique to cut boar, you damned idiots!
As Five Swords grated on Tang Pae’s nerves, Baek Cheon, who had been standing back as the acting sect leader, asked Im Sobyeong.
"So, how is it? Are we moving according to plan?"
"Hmm."
Im Sobyeong poked his cheek with his fan and responded.
“As for whether it’s going exactly according to plan, it's a bit tricky to answer. Of course, I did take into account some variables, but..."
Im Sobyeong turned his head with a blank face to look at Namgung Dowi. Watching him lying down and groaning, he made an expression of obvious contempt.
“That kind of variable wasn’t exactly in my calculations…”
"......"
Clearly, this wasn’t Im Sobyeong’s fault.
Even if he was a great person who could foresee the future, it would be impossible for him to predict Namgung Sogaju's fear of heights. In the first place, does it make sense for a sword warrior to have a fear of heights?
"Still... even taking that into account, we’re moving within the expected range. At this pace, we should reach the coastline leading to Hainan within five days.”
"Five days..."
Baek Cheon pondered briefly.
Crossing Gangnam in five days was an impressive feat. Even under normal circumstances, it would be questionable whether it was possible at all.
It was only because their group was composed entirely of top-tier masters that such a challenge could even be attempted.
Seol So-baek was a slight concern, but Chung Myung was essentially dragging him along, so that wasn’t too big of a problem.
So it's certainly good news, but...
“How about picking up the pace a little?”
Baek Cheon couldn't help but want to reach Hainan as soon as possible. Not only was the situation with Hainan Sect critical, but he also wanted to shorten the time he spent in Gangnam, where they never knew what would happen.
But Im Sobyeong firmly shook his head.
“We're already at the limit of our speed.”
"We could reduce the time for rest or sleep, couldn't we? There's no need to waste time like this...."
"No."
Im Sobyeong cut him off sharply as if the suggestion wasn’t even worth considering. He shrugged and explained further.
"Of course, I understand why Acting Sect Leader is anxious. But people have limits. No matter how extraordinary one is, it's impossible to maintain concentration for three days straight."
"...Right."
"Right now, caution is more important to us than speed. If our senses dull even a little, we might miss someone’s presence. In that case, it would be worse than moving slowly.”
Baek Cheon nodded slowly. hey weren’t just resting because they had found a cave—Im Sobyeong was managing their strength and stamina.
"Getting caught is a problem, but the aftermath is an even bigger problem. If it were up to me.... I'd roughly bury anyone, civilian or not, to silence them, but...."
"Aha, aiya!"
"Hey, you!" ("헤징어오!"/ I really couldn’t make sense of what these two actually trying to say.)
As Five Swords turned to glare at him, still chewing on their mouthful of meat, Im Sobyeong heaved a deep sigh.
"...What are you even saying?"
"This Evil Sects bastard is asking for death!”
"...Thank you for the interpretation. As I was saying, I can’t just silence anyone on my own whims, and we have no choice but to move forward without being discovered as much as possible. For that, adequate rest is also necessary."
"I understand."
Baek Cheon nodded, convinced.
‘He’s not wrong.’
He glanced at Namgung Dowi and Tang Pae.
While Five Swords might have some experience with grueling forced marches, this was likely the first time Tang Pae, Namgung Dowi, and Seol So-baek had been through something this intense. Though they tried to maintain their composure on the outside...
'It can't be easy for them.'
Traveling across sheer cliffs for an entire day wasn’t something the average person could even imagine. And they weren't just hanging onto the cliff—they were moving faster than a galloping horse.
All while not being able to neglect to keep watch on the surroundings, so their stamina must be rapidly depleting.
'Seeing how those guys are eating more than usual, they must be tense too. Well, who wouldn't be tense in this situation....'
"Ah, damn! I should've gotten just one bottle from Yasugungju!"
There is one... A human who threw the word 'tension' off Mt. Hua’s cliff and left it behind...
Baek Cheon heaved a deep sigh.
Right, Chung Myung was originally that kind of guy, but Im Sobyeong's complexion was definitely darker than usual too.
Despite trying to maintain a calm demeanor, his Nine Yin Severed Meridian meant that Im Sobyeong couldn’t possibly have the best physical shape.
"You're right... it’s probably best not to rush."
When Baek Cheon said this, Im Sobyeong chuckled.
"It seems that Baek Cheon Dojang has a lot to think about too."
"Well..."
"You don't have to feel so burdened. There’s no one here who can’t look after themselves.”
Just as Baek Cheon was about to smile and nod, Im Sobyeong looked back at Namgung Dowi with a deadpan expression.
"Except one."
"......"
At this point, it seems less about his background and more like a physiological aversion....
“In any case, it’s fortunate that the journey through Gangnam doesn't seem as dangerous as I initially thought. I was prepared for some battles along the way."
"Even for Evil Tyrant Alliance, finding ten people in this vast Gangnam is no different from finding a single grain of sand in a desert."
"I suppose so."
If the roles were reversed and someone asked Baek Cheon to mobilize Mount Hua Sect to find Evil Tyrant Alliance members hiding in Gangbuk, he would’ve probably kicked them in the head and asked if they were out of their minds.
"If there are risk factors, there would be only two."
As Baek Cheon looked at him with questioning eyes, Im Sobyeong's expression hardened slightly.
"That the man Jang Ilso is persistent enough to find that grain of sand in the desert if he sets his mind to it."
At Im Sobyeong's words, Baek Cheon felt a chill run down his spine for a moment.
Certainly, if it's Jang Ilso... if it's that Jang Ilso, it was not impossible.
"But there's no need to worry too much in advance. No matter how formidable Paegun may be, there's no way he'd imagine we’d set foot in Gangnam at this particular time."
"Well..."
“After all, could he even imagine someone crazier than himself?”
"......"
Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"Rather, the other side is more worrying..."
"....The other side? Are you saying there's another problem?"
Im Sobyeong made a reluctant expression at Baek Cheon’s question.
“Even if I told you, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. All we can do is hope that it doesn’t happen.”
Just as Baek Cheon was about to ask more,
"No! If you eat it all, what am I supposed to eat! You gluttonous pig!"
Im Sobyeong shrieked and dashed toward the roasted boar. The whole wild boar, which had been skewered over the fire, was rapidly losing its shape as it was devoured at lightning speed.
Baek Cheon shook his head with a sigh.
"It's not that side, it's this side."
“…How do you even know that?”
"Isn't it obvious at glance?"
Heavenly Comrade Alliance group, entering the thick undergrowth, looked around left and right as if amazed.
The trees were so densely packed that it was difficult to tell which direction was east, west, south, or north. Yet, Im Sobyeong, like a ghost, seemed to navigate through the forest with uncanny precision, guiding the group.
“This way?”
"I said this way!"
"Why are you getting angry..."
“Just follow behind! Stop trying to get ahead!”
"No, you're too slow..."
"What?"
Everyone slowly realized how versatile Im Sobyeong was in this kind of environment.
Ah, of course...
“Tsk. It would have been faster if we took the cliff route.”
"......"
“Thanks to someone! Tsk!”
His personality was worse than expected.
When Namgung Dowi became noticeably discouraged, Yoon Jong quickly changed the subject with an awkward expression.
"Anyway, you're amazing. To us, all these paths look the same, but you can distinguish and guide us. I thought you've never been here before."
"Huhuhuh. It's not that I'm amazing. For a bandit of Nokrim, this much is basic. If Nokrim that rules the mountains doesn't know the mountains, how can we call ourselves Nokrim...."
“Look. What a fancy way to say you’re good at finding hidden paths after scurrying around to avoid the government armies like rats.”
When Chung Myung shot back, Im Sobyeong slumped his shoulders. Seeing this, Yoon Jong shot a glare.
"This guy! Why are you crushing someone’s spirit? He’s been so helpful!”
“What are you talking about? Of course, Evil Sects bastards should be helpful!”
“Huh? Where did that come from…?”
“If they weren’t helpful, they’d already be dead!”
Oh....
"If an Evil Sects bastard isn't even helpful, why keep him alive? It'd be more beneficial to grind him up and use him as fertilizer!"
Wow... Chung Myung-ah Well, you're not exactly wrong, but... No matter how someone looks at it, you seem more like a man of Evil Sects yourself.
Baek Cheon silently patted Im Sobyeong's shoulder.
“Stay strong.”
“…Thank you.”
"So, why don't you break away like I did?"
Im Sobyeong was momentarily at a loss for words, his mouth slightly agape. Just as he was about to say something.
"Shh!"
Suddenly, Chung Myung's expression changed. He gestured for silence and carefully moved forward, parting the bushes gently.
The others held their breath and followed close behind.
Peering ahead, they saw a small path beyond the thicket, and along it came a slow-moving procession.
It was a large cart, and a group of men was guarding it.
But what drew their eyes most was the enormous banner attached to the cart, proudly bearing the character of "Pa" (破/Evil).
"....Evil Tyrant Alliance."
Tension flashed across everyone's faces instantly. They stared intently at the procession, suppressing their presence as much as possible.
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