Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1252. And to live! (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Hainan. Those who now wish to abandon these words, and those who wish to meet their life's end holding these one word in their hearts.
All those who once held the two letters Hainan in their hearts looked at Geum Yangbaek and Gwak Hwanso with bated breath.
But the two showed nothing more. They merely remained silent, as if suggesting it was no longer their turn.
The silence of these two men conveyed a realization to everyone who bore the name of Hainan.
To join and fight to the death—or to remain here and watch others fight. The choice was theirs and theirs alone.
Thus, neither Geum Yangbaek nor Gwak Hwanso pressured them. They did not raise their voices to declare that this was the only righteous path. After all, only oneself can choose what the final moments of their life will look like.
"Huu."
The deep silence was broken by the faint sound of a sword being drawn.
Step, step.
Drawing his sword, Lee Jayang stepped forward and stood beside Gwak Hwanso. He said nothing, but his presence beside Gwak Hwanso spoke volumes: if it was Gwak Hwanso’s duty to protect the back of Geum Yangbaek, it was his duty to stand at Gwa Gwak Hwanso’s side.
Those stirred by this sight bit their lips.
Step, step.
A few more swordsmen stepped forward to join them.
One, and another.
Though it was a mere few steps—a short distance in reality—the journey felt infinitely long and daunting for those who took it.
Perhaps they still don't properly understand the meaning of this path. They might come to regret it in their final moments because of these few steps they're taking now.
Nevertheless, they walked. Few could articulate their reasons in words. They simply believed it was what they must do.
Step, step.
Beyond one and two, dozens stood beside those who shared the same name. Raising the swords they had carried by their sides all their lives, they reaffirmed their resolve.
One more. And another.
Like waves crashing against the shore, more and more added their will to that of Geum Yangbaek and Gwak Hwanso.
But not everyone felt the ardent enthusiasm at this sight.
"…Sahyung."
Yoo Gong bit his lip slightly at Go Hong's trembling voice.
'Why…'
Why, now of all times, did they have to pull something like this?
It was supposed to be over already. By holding the excommunication ceremony and descending to worldly life, they could have cleanly severed all ties between him and Hainan.
And yet, at this moment, this ridiculous display was unfolding before his eyes.
Those who stepped forward, and those who remained rooted in place.
The contrast was painfully stark.
Sect Leader Geum Yangbaek said he wanted to spare those leaving the sect the burden of an excommunication ceremony. However, from Yoo Gong’s perspective, this scene was far more humiliating than any ceremony could have been.
At least an excommunication ceremony requires the courage to step forward while suppressing one's own shame. They could be seen as brave for choosing disgrace by being excommunicated over senseless death.
But not with this scene.
In the scene Geum Yangbaek had created, those who would turn their backs on Hainan could do nothing but stand frozen like petrified statues, watching the backs of those who pledged to give up their lives for Hainan.
What made it even more shameful and painful for Yoo Gong were those very backs.
Originally, those who chose to leave Hainan would have stepped forward to bear the brunt of the scornful gazes. They should have departed under looks that cursed them as cowards and eyes that sought to feel some sense of superiority. Those gazes, the hostility contained within them, would have helped steady Yoo Gong's resolve.
But at this moment, those stepping forward didn’t look back.
No one among them looked back at those left behind. No one spared even a glance at those who had forsaken Hainan. To those who had already decided to move forward, the ones staying behind had ceased to matter entirely.
This fact made it unbearable for Yoo Gong.
"Sahyung... What should we do?”
Go Hong, perhaps sensing this atmosphere, asked Yoo Gong restlessly. His face was filled with anxiety.
But Yoo Gong only turned on him with a chilling rebuke.
"Why are you asking me that?"
"…What?"
“Didn’t you hear what Sect Leader said? It’s up to each of us to decide.”
"B- But Sahyung..."
Yoo Gong cut him off and refused to entertain him further, biting down on his lip as his cold gaze fixed on Geum Yangbaek.
‘How much more miserable must you make us feel before you’re satisfied, Sect Leader?’
Through this occasion, Yoo Gong came to understand painfully. The fact that sometimes, goodwill could be more agonizing than malice.
Even at this moment, more people joined those who had stepped forward. But not everyone did so. Finally, after no one else seemed willing to move for a long stretch of silence, the elders—silent all this time—joined the lines of those who had stepped forward.
The number of those who stepped forward was slightly more than half of the sect members.
Yet that also meant nearly half had chosen not to stay with the sect until the end.
Though the numbers were nearly equal, the atmosphere was worlds apart.
Those who stepped forward didn't bother to glance at who remained behind them. All they see was the sect leader who has staked everything on the one word ‘Hainan’, the guests who came from far away to walk this path together, and the treacherous road they must traverse.
But those who remained behind could see only the backs of those who had pledged to walk the path they couldn't choose. Unable to face forward, they lowered their heads in silence.
Then Geum Yangbaek turned toward those who had chosen to stay and spoke.
"There's no need to bow your head."
What Geum Yangbaek uttered was neither condemnation nor rebuke.
“If risking one’s life is a form of courage, then suppressing one’s fervor and choosing to survive is also a form of courage. No one can condemn that choice."
He gazed quietly at those who remained, then slowly closed his eyes.
"However... from this moment forward, you are no longer disciples of Hainan. Though we won't forcibly seal your Dantian or reclaim your martial arts, you are forbidden from using Hainan's martial arts, and your names will be erased from the sect records."
Everyone understood.
That this was the path that would protect those who remained. If they used Hainan’s martial arts carelessly, Evil Tyrant Alliance would surely track them down and kill them. If that were to happen, even if those heading to Gangnam drew attention away, Hainan could not avoid calamity.
But the human heart was not so simple. Even knowing that these words were meant to protect them, their hearts still ached.
“Even if you are no longer disciples of Hainan Sect, the fact that you are people of Hainan Island, living together on this island, will not change. We will head to Gangnam to protect our name. Those who remain, please protect the life of Hainan Island people here."
The heads of those remaining bowed even lower.
No matter how nicely it was wrapped in words, they were ultimately nothing more than turncoats who abandoned the sect's name. And no one understood that more clearly than they did.
Perhaps it would have been easier to bear if they were showered with anger and condemnation. But Geum Yangbaek did none of that. He simply calmly wished for their lives to continue.
And that made those left behind feel even more ashamed.
“Descend the mountain.”
Those who had been lost in the rushing torrent of emotions looked up at Geum Yangbaek with a start.
"There is nothing good in prolonging farewells. Go down the mountain now. With that, your ties to us will be severed.”
“Se-Sect Leader…”
"Go."
With those final words, Geum Yangbaek closed his eyes firmly.
The hesitant disciples bit their lips and began to bow. And then, one by one, they began to bow on the spot. Finally, having paid their final respects to the sect leader, they turned and trudged toward the mountain gate with their shoulders slumped.
The disciples left.
Some shed tears, some bowed their heads as if they had committed a crime, some swore, and some others pounded their chests in frustration as if unable to contain their anger.
Those who turned away and those who refused to look back.
Once they had shared the same dreams, believing without doubt that they were family, but now their paths diverged. Never to converge again.
And Yoo Gong, who remained until the very last of the last, simply bit his lips while watching those who shouldered the name of Hainan Sect.
His heart says to leave, but his feet won't move.
After a long while of staring, Yoo Gong finally bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and spoke.
“Don’t think staying there makes you so great.”
Even Yoo Gong himself wasn’t sure why he was saying such things.
In truth, there was no reason to criticize them. No reason to force the issue. By his reasoning, he had made the rational choice, and they were just fools who had made the wrong one. If so, shouldn't he just mock them and leave?
“We’re not leaving because we’re cowards. Don’t let yourselves feel too superior.”
Lee Jayang furrowed his brows.
"You…!"
But just as he was about to say something, Gwak Hwanso lightly grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.
"…Sahyung."
“Let it be.”
Gwak Hwanso shook his head and looked at Yoo Gong.
" Yoo Gong."
"…"
"I have a favor to ask."
"What…"
"After we leave, please check on Hainan Sect's halls from time to time."
Yoo Gong glared at Gwak Hwanso with a distorted expression.
"I am no longer a disciple of Hainan Sect."
"I know."
Gwak Hwanso smiled brightly.
"But for the sake of the time we spent together, couldn't you do at least that much?"
Yoo Gong stared silently at Gwak Hwanso, then abruptly turned away. Then he walked toward the gate without looking back again.
Watching him go, Lee Jayang gritted his teeth audibly.
"That damned..."
"Leave it."
Though his gaze lingered on Yoo Gong’s retreating back for a moment longer, Lee Jayang eventually turned away. There was no need to pay them any more attention now.
"Sect Leader."
Those who chose to leave had gone. Nevertheless, Gwak Hwanso spoke on behalf of those who remained, vowing to protect the name of Hainan Sect.
“What should we do now?”
"Hmm."
Geum Yangbaek nodded and looked to the side. Among those who received his gaze, Lim Sobyeong stepped forward.
“Now! From this moment on, you’ll all be very busy. First, head to the nearest coast and gather all the ships—”
"Should we procure ships?"
"No."
"What?"
Im Sobyeong let out a wicked grin.
“Not procure. I want you to destroy every single one of them.”
"…Huh?"
"All of them! Leave nothing! Whether they're fishing boats or whatever, destroy them all!"
"…What?"
"Move!"
"……"
There was a feeling that something quite different from what they had expected was about to unfold.
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