Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1255. And to live! (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
The blue waves rippled across the sea.
Small dots appeared beyond the horizon, gradually growing larger and more distinct.
Though it might not seem like a particularly remarkable scene, the disciples of Hainan Sect felt a breathtaking pressure.
As people who made their living from the sea, they knew the moment they saw it.
Those approaching ships were unlike any they had ever seen before.
"Evil Tyrant Alliance..."
A groan-like voice came out of someone's lips.
The once bustling crowds froze in place, all staring blankly at the approaching ships.
Though they had burned with determination to throw away even their lives to oppose Evil Tyrant Alliance, the moment they witnessed Evil Tyrant Alliance's fleet approaching with their own eyes, an inescapable sense of despair and fear crept over them.
Fear was contagious.
Especially in moments like these, it spreads faster than anything else. Just as someone standing on the shore unconsciously began to step back and retreat.
“Those damn bastard is so familiar I’m almost glad to see them now.”
Chung Myung's indifferent voice penetrates their ears.
"…No matter what, to say that you’re glad seeing Evil Sects bastards."
"We have been seeing them too often."
"I'm the same, Sasuk. After seeing this sight till we were sick of it on the Yangzi River, it feels strange seeing it again so far away. It’s starting to feel like every Evil Tyrant Alliance bastard lives on a ship.”
“…You’re not wrong.”
Chung Myung snorted.
"In any case, those punks don’t seem to learn. After all the thrashings they took while on ships, they’re still coming on ships?"
"How else are they supposed to reach an island?"
"They should swim!"
"...Chung Myung-ah. Not everyone in the world is as unhinged as us.”
"Not unhinged. Practical!”
"Even if all rationality in the world died, that still wouldn't count as rational..."
Hearing their conversation, Hainan Sect disciples began casting puzzled glances at Chung Myung and the disciples of Mount Hua.
Seeing these people calmly accepting a situation that filled others with nothing but terror, one name naturally rose in their minds.
Plum Blossom Island.
Right, that was the name.
'Come to think of it...'
Plum Blossom Island—a remote island on the Yangtze surrounded by Eighteen Water Fortress’ forces.
Mount Hua had charged onto that island without a moment's hesitation and rescued Namgung Family from despair. That feat alone had cemented Mount Hua’s unshakable reputation.
Upon reflection, wasn't there a striking resemblance between that situation and this one?
Of course, the circumstances weren’t exactly the same. On Plum Blossom Island, it was Mount Hua that had defeated Evil Tyrant Alliance, but now these people are just a part of Mount Hua, and it was Hainan Sect who must truly face and fight against those enemies.
However…
There was one thing that was undeniable: in a situation like this, the disciples of Mount Hua were the most trustworthy allies anyone could hope for.
As this realization dawned on them, their hearts felt somewhat lighter than before.
Moreover...
"Should we just beat them to death the moment they land?"
"Then why the hell did we bother making a plan, you birdhead!"
I know. But seeing them approach pisses me off. The nerve of those bastards."
"No. They don't know we're here, remember?"
"They don’t? Then we should teach them with a good beating!"
"...Please, just stop."
Watching these people making jokes rather than being intimidated by Evil Tyrant Alliance's fleet, a sense of defiance welled up in their hearts too.
They are the descendants of the seamen who fought against the sea.
Even if their martial prowess was not the best, they had always prided themselves on courage unmatched by any other sect in the world.
How shameful was it then, that they had shown even a moment of fear upon seeing the enemy?
"If you’re really planning to attack the moment they land, count us in."
"Huh?"
When Chung Myung turns his head to look, Gwak Hwanso said with a grin.
"When it comes to grudges against Evil Tyrant Alliance, no one harbors deeper hatred than we do."
Chung Myung chuckles upon hearing that.
"You’ve got guts. But what if you end up dead?"
"If we were afraid of dying, we wouldn't be here in the first place."
"Oho?"
At Gwak Hwanso’s response, the expressions of Hainan Sect disciples grew resolute.
He was right.
Everyone who had come to this place had already resolved to lay down their lives.
So why should they be afraid now of all times?
"...When you think about it, attacking and dying on our own terms might be better than being hunted down like rats."
"That would be more satisfying, for sure."
"I've got a lot built up too, so I wish I could just stab those bastards in the neck once…"
"You can say that again."
A fighting spirit gradually filled everyone's voices.
Not because they had forgotten their fear. Death was still frightening, and Evil Tyrant Alliance was still terrifying.
But if fear would change nothing, then succumbing to it was not an option.
Everyone understood this and tried to summon even the slightest bit of courage.
Only then does Chung Myung smile upon the sight.
"I get the feeling, but... for now..."
Chung Myung, whose complexion had completely changed, looked at Im Sobyeong with indifferent eyes.
"Since someone put their sincerity into making plans with their nasty brain... I guess we should follow the plan for now."
"...Your generosity is overwhelming."
Im Sobyeong said through gritted teeth, suppressing his boiling stomach.
"Gwak Daehyup. Are the preparations complete?"
Gwak Hwanso quickly assessed the situation and nodded.
"Two ships remain, but the work is nearly done. It’ll be finished soon."
"Please hurry. And please move everyone on the beach to their designated positions, except for the minimum necessary. It won't do us any good if they spot a crowd of people on the shore."
"Yes!"
As Gwak Hwanso quickly issued orders, the disciples on the beach ran toward the back.
"Footprints!"
At that moment, Im Sobyeong suddenly screamed.
"Erase your damn footprints! Footprints! Are you trying to announce to the whole world that we were swarming this place like lunatics?"
Startled by these words, Hainan Sect disciples hurriedly rubbed out the messy footprints left on the beach.
"Tsk."
Im Sobyeong clicked his tongue in clear dissatisfaction.
Just as a meticulously constructed dam can collapse from a single small hole, he knew that it was these minute details that could unravel an entire strategy.
"Move!"
"Yes!"
Im Sobyeong swiftly inspects the condition of both ships and shorelines.
"Are you certain they'll land here? If we make all these preparations and they suddenly veer off somewhere else, it’ll all be for nothing."
"Ho Gamyeong must have come."
"Yes?"
Namgung Dowi tilted his head at this seemingly out-of-nowhere response.
"This is something Myriad Man Manor cannot afford to leave any loose ends. Ideally, Jang Ilso would come in person, but he’s tied up with affairs at Evil Tyrant Alliance headquarters, so Ho Gamyeong must have come."
Im Sobyeong continued as if this wasn’t even worth deliberating.
"Jang Ilso might be an unpredictable lunatic, but Ho Gamyeong is someone who pursues practical benefits in a straightforward manner. Unless he knew we were here, he wouldn’t go out of his way to create a risky situation elsewhere. They’ll definitely land here."
Namgung Dowi stares at Im Sobyeong with blank eyes.
It wasn’t the logic that surprised him, but the sheer confidence in his voice
This man, who so often seemed baffling and inscrutable, could exude an undeniable presence in moments like this that renders any rebuttal impossible.
'So this is the dignity of a sect leader.'
Namgung Dowi nodded his head unconsciously. Although Im Sobyeong annoyed him most of the time, moments like this were worth learning from. Im Sobyeong was definitely not someone to be taken lightly...
"What if they really land somewhere else?"
"We run! Without even looking back!"
"…"
Im Sobyeong's face suddenly distorts.
"If they’re landing elsewhere, that means they already know we’re here and have prepared accordingly. Fighting back half-heartedly will just get us slaughtered. Heads sliced clean off, swish, swish!"
"N- No. No matter what, with people still remaining, just us running away would be..."
"No, what is this idiot spouting! Henan or no Hainan, why should I care? I need to survive first!"
Never mind.
He must have been mistaken earlier. There's no way there could be anything to learn from such a person.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the distant fleet maintained its course, approaching their shoreline in a straight line.
"Preparations are complete!"
Im Sobyeong checks the situation on the shore one last time with his sharp eyes.
"Good!"
Seemingly satisfied, he raised his hand and gave the signal.
"Move to your assigned positions! And remember, no one acts before the signal! Understood?"
"Understood!"
The disciples of Hainan, led by Gwak Hwanso, ran with all their might toward the bushes beyond the shore.
"Let’s move too!"
"Understood!"
Baek Cheon turns his head to take in the approaching fleet with his own eyes and nods.
'We've done everything we could.'
Now, all that remained was to act according to the plan. Any minor variables would have to be handled as they arose, just as always.
"Let’s go!"
"Understood!"
Mount Hua Sect disciples spring forward, leaping over the undergrowth and charging toward the mountain ridge connected to the shore as planned.
Jo-Gol, staring at Baek Cheon’s back as he ran ahead, shook his head.
"Sasuk has really improved his acting skills."
"Even I thought he looked composed."
"I was worried my legs would give out."
"Same here."
There was no way they weren’t nervous. Even for them, Evil Tyrant Alliance and Myriad Man Manor were still fearsome and formidable opponents.
Usually, they at least had the confidence of fighting alongside Mount Hua supporting their backs. Now, they were in a situation where they had to coordinate with the disciples of Hainan Sect, a sect they had never trained or fought alongside before. How could they not be nervous?
And yet, the reason Baek Cheon kept up with Chung Myung’s banter, trading silly jokes, was that the disciples of Hainan Sect were undoubtedly even more frightened and tense than they were.
It was human nature to determine one's attitude by watching the back of those who lead.
This was why Baek Cheon couldn’t afford to show any signs of nervousness. At least outwardly, he needed to appear calm and composed, brimming with confidence.
Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong fully understood Baek Cheon's intentions. They also recognized how much effort he was putting into maintaining this facade.
"This way!"
"Yes!"
As they ran, the group followed Im Sobyeong’s lead and concealed themselves in a recessed area of the ridge.
The approaching fleet was still a distance away, but the tension made everyone instinctively crouch low, only daring to lift their heads slightly to watch the incoming ships.
"...They're huge."
"Yes. Just like we saw before."
Ships they had seen once.
But seeing them approach directly was a completely different experience compared to seeing them docked at a harbor.
The sharply rising bow of the ships seen head-on felt like swords aimed directly at them.
"Sasuk."
"Yes."
Baek Cheon nodded.
"They’re coming."
As chill settled over Chung Myung's gaze.
Chwaaaak.
Finally, the fleet of Evil Tyrant Alliance sliced through the turbulent waves and reached the shore where the defenders lay in wait.
Splash!
The sound of massive anchors plunging into the water transforms the atmosphere of this shore.
Into that of a battlefield.
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