Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1254. And to live! (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"What?"
When Chung Myung nodded, Gwak Hwanso hesitated a bit and asked.
"You’ve all decided to fight alongside us here, haven’t you?"
"I already said so. Want me to say it again?"
Gwak Hwanso quickly waved his hands.
"No. That's not it... I just mean, was that your intention from the beginning? Even if the negotiations fell apart, you were planning to fight as individuals?"
Chung Myung answered with an incredibly benevolent smile.
"No."
"…What?"
"I didn't?"
"…"
"I told you. We didn’t even know the situation would turn out like this until we arrived here. I knew that Jang Ilso bastard was crazy, but even madness has its limits. Who in their right mind would pull their forces back from the standoff at the Yangtze River to launch a full-scale invasion like some crazed lunatic? You would have to be completely unhinged."
"…Please stop saying ‘crazy’, Chung Myung."
"Just listening to you is making my head spin."
"Please understand. Every time Jang Ilso’s name comes up, the guy loses it a little."
Gwak Hwanso blinked in confusion.
"Then, after the negotiations broke down, you held a meeting and made the decision, is that it?"
"Nope."
"Huh?"
"There wasn’t really anything you would call a ‘meeting’?"
"…Then?"
"Just said we should probably get going soon, but nobody left. So that's just how it turned out."
"N- No. What kind of…"
"Man, you're making life complicated."
Chung Myung said indifferently.
"Did you guys follow your Sect Leader to Gangnam because of some grand logic or stance?"
"...No, not really."
Of course, there was some logic to it. But Gwak Hwanso couldn’t deny that his actions were driven more by impulse than by logic.
"Then why look for logic in us?"
"Can’t we live with some semblance of reason… please?"
"Evil Sects bastard, shut your trap."
"Urgh."
Chung Myung glanced at Gwak Hwanso and continued.
"Of course, we didn't start out planning to help somehow. But after some back-and-forth, some arguments, and a bit of shouting, somehow, we ended up sitting down and discussing how to fight."
"I was against it the whole time!"
"Someone please shut that Evil Sects bastard's mouth."
As Namgung Dowi dragged Im Sobyeong by the mouth away, Chung Myung continued speaking as if relieved.
"So it’s not a big deal."
"...How can you not think it's a big deal?"
"You really don’t get it, do you?"
"Yes?"
"As I said before, we're not doing this to die alongside you."
"……"
"After experiencing it firsthand, Gangnam's defenses were flimsier than expected, and it seemed there might be a chance if we do it right."
Gwak Hwanso just stared at Chung Myung with a dumbfounded expression.
"If you see someone drowning and flailing, isn't it human nature to try helping until your dying breath?"
"That's true…"
"The difference is just between what you consider 'until dying breath' and what we consider it. Don’t get any strange ideas. If things look hopeless and everyone here is about to die, we’ll run without looking back. That’s the kind of people who came to Hainan in the first place.”
"I understand what you're saying... but while it's easy to say, that's..."
"But this punk really doesn't understand what I'm saying?"
"What?"
"Is dying the end of it?"
"…What do you mean?"
"I’m asking if everything is over once you get to die in some glorious, self-satisfying way after taking full advantage of your life as a member of Righteous Sects. What about the rest of Righteous Sects? Are they supposed to bleed themselves dry fighting Evil Sects while you’re gone?"
Gwak Hwanso shut his mouth.
"Don’t make me laugh. You need to fight until your spine breaks. Even if you die, you should drag at least one more to hell with you. That's the minimum duty of those who acted proud while carrying swords."
"…"
“And stop doing stupid things. Do you really think Evil Secrs will just leave Hainan alone after you’re all dead? You’re supposed to be the ones holding out in Gangnam, but how do you not know how Evil Sects work? What a bunch of idiots, really."
Gwak Hwanso looked like he had been struck. However, Chung Myung clicked his tongue and turned away, striding off to another part of the shore.
Baek Cheon approached with a small smile and said to Gwak Hwanso.
“Don’t worry about it. That’s just how he speaks.”
"No. More than his tone..."
The content was more shocking.
'Those who remain.'
Gwak Hwanso had never considered it before. The only ‘left behind’ he worried about were the people of Hainan Island. They hadn’t thought about what would happen to Righteous Sects or how the fight would continue.
But even after they die, the fight continues. Especially these Heavenly Comrade Alliance members will fight Evil Tyrant Alliance until the very end.
It suddenly felt shameful to have only worried about the immediate surroundings of Hainan Island. How narrow-minded had he been?
Despite criticizing mainlanders so much for discriminating against islanders, when crisis struck, mainland affairs didn't exist at all in their minds.
"…We must fight."
Gwak Hwanso nodded firmly, his expression resolute. Baek Cheon smiled gently.
"That's enough."
"That’s, however..."
"Yes?"
“May I ask one more question?”
"Ask anything."
“Getting into Gangnam might be possible. But once we’re inside, the situation will change. They’ll know we’ve entered their territory.”
"Right."
"Then they'll obviously strengthen the Yangzi River defenses, but is it possible for us to break through it alone? Wouldn't it be better to detour through Yunnan..."
Baek Cheon shook his head.
"We'll have to break through in the end anyway."
"That's true, but..."
“The longer the route, the more we’ll suffer. If there’s any hope, it’s in reaching the Yangtze River as quickly as possible, before they can properly defend it. Besides…”
Baek Cheon's eyes darkened slightly.
"Stirring up chaos in the enemy's center and failing to extend that confusion to a standoff at the Yangtze will give them breathing room. If that happens... the probability of them doing unnecessary things will increase."
Gwak Hwanso kept his mouth shut.
He understood what he meant by 'unnecessary'. If they opted for a detour in their escape and gave Evil Sects the time to regroup, Evil Sects's wrath could be redirected toward those remaining on Hainan Island.
In that case, the damage that should have been borne by Hainan Sect would fall entirely on the island's residents. This was why Baek Cheon aimed to wreak havoc in the enemy's main base and march toward the Yangtze, forcing Evil Sects into intensified conflict with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. His goal was to prevent Evil Sects from even considering turning their forces back.
‘I didn’t even spare a thought for the mainland.’
And yet, these people were worrying about those left behind on Hainan, even in the midst of all this. That's why they were willing to take on more risk to keep Evil Tyrant Alliance's attention away from Hainan.
"…Is it possible?"
"Well, that remains to be seen. However..."
"However?"
Baek Cheon smiled meaningfully.
"No one here is eager to die. The first and foremost principle of Mount Hua isn’t upholding Righteousness or enforcing Chivalry. The most important rule is simply to survive."
It was just then.
"Look, look. See it finally paddling back, look at that!"
"Huh?"
Everyone turned their heads at Chung Myung’s shout.
In the middle of the now-calm sea, something small and white was swimming quickly toward them.
"Baek-ah!"
"Aigo, Baek-ah!"
"Oh my gosh, he really came back!”
Five Swords rushed to the shore. Tang Soso splashed into the water, lifting Baek-ah into her arms. Half-exhausted, Baek-ah hung limp in her grasp, tongue lolling out.
"Sahyung! He’s completely exhausted!"
"...How admirable."
"That's not admirable, that's stupid. If it were me, I wouldn’t have looked back and just bolted.”
"...That's why Baek-ah is smarter than you. Getting caught by that cruel person would mean really becoming fur cloth."
When Tang Soso carried Baek-ah to Chung Myung, Chung Myung grabbed Baek-ah by the back of his neck and lifted him up from Tang Soso's arms.
"Did you handle it well?"
Despite his exhaustion, Baek-ah seemed to snap to attention, nodding vigorously. Then he looked at Chung Myung with bright eyes full of pride, as if it was time for praise.
But as always, Chung Myung left those who had high hopes with a bitter betrayal.
"Now, now. Come to your senses."
Kiiii!
"See this? This?"
Chung Myung lightly shook a small cylindrical message tube in his hand before fastening it around Baek-ah’s neck. Baek-ah tilted his head in confusion, looking at the tube now fastened to his neck.
Kii?
“That's important, so deliver it properly.”
Kiit?
"Go now."
Baek-ah tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand at all. The way he tilted his small head while blinking his large black eyes was incredibly cute, but the reality behind it was rather tragic.
“Why can’t you understand? I said go back.”
Kii?
"What are you doing?"
Ki...it?
At that moment, everyone saw Baek-ah's snow-white face turning deathly blue.
'Isn't that fur? How can fur turn blue?'
'Did Beast Palace Gungju ever see something like this?'
'Who would believe this if we told them?'
At that moment, Baek-ah convulsed and screamed.
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!
While animals might understand human speech to some degree, humans certainly can’t comprehend animal language. Yet, somehow, everyone present instinctively understood the meaning of Baek-ah’s scream.
“That's cursing.”
“Definitely cursing?"
"Without a doubt, he’s cursing."
If Baek-ah could speak human language, it would undoubtedly be spitting out obscenities too vile to hear with open ears.
"But this little!"
Chung Myung picked up Baek-ah and hurled him away.
Kiiiiiieeeee!
As Baek-ah flew off, Chung Myung jabbed a finger in its direction and bellowed.
“I fed you until you were fat as a pig, gave you a roof over your head, and you repay me with this! Where do you get off snarling at me!"
"Chung Myung... If we’re being honest, he lived much better back in Yunnan."
"Really, he only suffered since coming with us..."
"It's probably wondering why he came with us. No, he’s probably been wondering that for a while."
Of course, there was no way Chung Myung could hear those words. Baek-ah, meanwhile, flipped itself mid-air and landed gracefully before wheeling around. Chung Myung grabbed Baek-ah and brought the small face right up to his.
"There's no time, so go quickly and... Ack!"
Suddenly, Baek-ah’s paw lashed out, smacking Chung Myung hard across the cheek. Chung Myung's head snapped to the side from the unexpected blow.
Cheers erupted around them.
"Oh!"
"He fought back!"
“Keueu, he held out for a long time. Honestly, it was about time.”
Chung Myung's eyes lit up and he glared at Baek-ah.
"This little cub?"
Kiiiiiiii!
The human-like beasts and the beast-like humans began to fight, swearing at each other.
Watching the scene unfold, Baek Cheon covered his face with both hands.
'Don't fight seriously with beasts...'
Even if it's a mystical creature.
Huuf! Huuf!
After their long scuffle, a panting Chung Myung grabbed Baek-ah by the scruff, gritting his teeth.
"Argh! If I didn't have things for you to do, I swear I would drown one weasel today!”
Kiii!
"Get this right. If you’re late, you’ll end up as roast meat, got it?"
Kiiiiieeee!
"Argh, shit! Stop talking back!"
Baek-ah, resisting until the end, finally nodded weakly with tears dropping. He seemed to have given up.
"Go! Hurry!"
Kiiiiiiiiiieeeeee!
Baek-ah let out a mournful wail, then dashed off toward the sea. Everyone watched in stunned silence as he disappeared into the waves.
"...He came all the way from the Yangtze, and as soon as he arrives, he has to go back."
“…Even for a beast, this feels excessive.”
"Sorry, we couldn't protect you."
"Condolences."
As everyone bowed their heads solemnly, Chung Myung continued fuming.
"Really, he’s getting more and more out of hand!"
'Heartless bastard.'
'Animal abuser.'
'Trash human being!'
It was when everyone was looking at the figure of Baek-ah moving away across the sea.
"…Sasuk."
"I saw it too."
At Yoon Jong's surprised voice, Baek Cheon responded with a tense voice.
Far across the sea where they were looking, a fleet appeared like tiny dots.
"...It's Evil Tyrant Alliance."
The somewhat relaxed atmosphere at the shore began filling with suffocating tension.
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