Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1296. Is there a place to rest on this earth? (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Get out of the way!"
"Eu- Uwaah!"
A man was roughly shoved aside and went tumbling off the road.
"What! Who..."
The man who had raised his head in uncontrollable anger quickly drove it back down again.
Along the main road, figures brandishing sinister weapons were charging past with menacing momentum. One wrong glance in their direction could easily cost him his neck.
‘W- What on earth is going on here?’
He had only looked away for a moment, but when did those ominous things come here?
Only after the sound of hurried footsteps receded did the man hesitantly raise his head again to stare at the figures disappearing in the distance.
"What's all this about..."
"Brother, are you alright?"
Another man crouched low to the ground lifted his head and asked cautiously.
"...I'm fine, but what on earth has happened to make those people rush like that?"
"How would I know? It’s been a total chaos since this morning."
"Morning?"
"I’ve lost count of how many of those kinds have passed through already. Every single one of them had the look of someone being chased by death itself… You should count yourself lucky, Brother. Some poor soul blocked their path earlier this morning and got beaten so badly he still hasn't come to his senses."
"W- Were they from Evil Tyrant Alliance?"
"How could such rabble even be worth mentioning Evil Tyrant Alliance? They seem more like low-grade Evil Sects thugs to me."
Despite his dismissive words, the man’s face was painted with fear.
Even if it was just a bunch of third-rate Evil Sects, they are no different from the grim reapers to them.
How could anyone not tremble in fear when such menacing figures roamed the roads while brandishing weapons with murderous intent?
It wasn’t as if living under Evil Tyrant Alliance’s dominance had been peaceful, this level of chaos was unusual even for them.
“What happened?"
"What would common folk like us know? It's not like those bastards would tell us."
"That’s…”
"But this is the first time I’ve seen them look so frantic. Something must’ve happened. What’s strange is… that they’re heading south. Not north, but south. What could possibly be happening there?"
The man tilted his head in confusion.
He could understand if something big happened in the north where they face Righteous Sects.
But what could possibly happen in the south? The southern lands of Gangnam were under the control of Myriad Man Manor, after all.
"A big incident..."
It was always the common people who suffered the most when big incidents occurred.
When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold (순망치한/脣亡齒寒]). After Righteous Sects they had cursed as corrupt and money-grubbing were pushed out, these Evil Sects bastards' tyranny had begun to seep into every corner of the common people’s lives.
Deep down, they wished Gangbuk Righteous Sects would march toward Gangnam to drive out Evil Tyrant Alliance. However, they were anxious that their lives would become even more unbearable if that truly happened.
There wasn't any.
"Could it be Righteous Sects invading from the south?"
"Brother, have you lost your mind? Why would they invade from the south instead of the north?"
“That’s… isn't there something called a special strike force? You know, attacking from behind…"
"What a nonsense. They would’ve done it already if that’s possible."
"......"
"And! Since when have those Righteous Sects folks ever risked their lives like that?"
Well, that was true.
Certainly, life was better in lands ruled by Righteous Sects than those ruled by Evil Sects, but those pretentious Righteous Sects bastards weren't particularly interested in commoners like them either.
The man was about to nod in agreement when a faint voice came from a gruff-looking man nearby.
"Unless it's Mount Hua..."
"...."
At those words, several heads nodded in unison.
There wasn't a soul in Gangnam who didn't know how much Mount Hua, or Heavenly Comrade Alliance, wanted to grind Evil Tyrant Alliance to dust.
"Anyway, wake up from that dream. They won't come all the way to Gangnam."
"Ahhh..."
A heavy gloom settled over everyone's faces.
In the end, there was nothing they could do.
Unless Righteous Sects or the officials stepped in, there was practically nothing commoners could do.
What threat could they pose to people who could leap across rivers in one bound or shatter rocks with their bare fists?
Without a significant change, Evil Tyrant Alliance's rule was unlikely to collapse.
"Life is already unbearable as it is…"
“But still… Well. Paegun is bestowing benevolent rule in his own way. He even distributed grain this time."
"Benevolent?"
At that remark, the eyes of several men flared with anger.
"You call throwing us a few sacks of grain benevolent rule?"
“N- No. Many would’ve starved without that…"
"And where do you think that grain came from in the first place? It was ours! They strip us clean down to the last coin in our pockets, then when we're about to starve to death, they throw us a few pennies like they were doing us a favor. You call that benevolent rule?"
"This stupid yangban thinks he can say whatever he wants?"
"How dare you speak like that!"
The man who had spoken was quickly cornered by furious glares. The people's momentum seemed like they might grab and beat him at any moment.
Yet strangely, despite a situation that would make even the bravest person's knees weak, the man remained completely composed.
“So you're saying you're not grateful for the good deeds bestowed upon you by Paegun?”
"…W- Well, that's…"
"Uh...."
Those who had seemed ready to roll up their sleeves suddenly glanced furtively at each other.
It was because they had a gut feeling that even one wrong word here could lead to disaster.
If this man were to report what they had said to Evil Sects bastards...
Cold water poured over their chests, which had been boiling with anger. Their faces turned pale as they stammered out replies.
"H- How could that be? We're nothing but grateful."
"That's right! That's right! My family was saved by the grain Paegun distributed. What kind of person wouldn't be grateful?"
"Paegun has no fault. Has he not shown us great benevolence? All these misdeeds arise because those petty Evil Sects thugs who haven't even earned a place in Evil Tyrant Alliance fail to follow his intentions properly! Indeed!"
The men desperately changed their tone. The man who had been watching them let out a derisive snort.
"It would be best to watch your words. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Haha. Watch our words? We were just..."
"Pathetic."
As the man turned and walked away, the people ground their teeth in humiliation.
Only when the man was far enough away to be out of sight did they finally release their pent-up rage like a bursting dam.
"That dog-like bastard..."
"Those kinds of rats are worse than Evil Tyrant Alliance themselves. What, is he saying he's going to be Evil Tyrant Alliance's informant?"
“Informant? Those guys aren’t even considered informants. He's Evil Tyrant Alliance's dog, a dog!"
People's faces flushed red.
They felt bitter despite their words. They knew. Evil Tyrant Alliance didn't treat informants like that man with any special regard.
At most, they might receive a sack or two of grain thrown at their feet.
But they were in a position where they had to be wary of such dogs.
For those who were reported would vanish within days, all for the price of a mere sack or two of grain.
That truth filled them with fury and a deep sense of helplessness.
"People like that will suffer Heaven’s retribution! Heaven’s retribution!"
"That's right!"
"There's none to trust. None!"
But even as they vented their rage, their eyes darted around to check each other's faces.
The informant couldn't just be that one person. If someone among those present were to secretly report this, someone else might meet with misfortune.
“Ahem.”
Awkward coughs scattered through the crowd and they began to disperse.
The world had already changed to where one couldn't even speak what was in one's heart.
"Haa..."
The one man left shakes his head.
A world where everyone watches each other. Life might have been hard before Evil Tyrant Alliance reigned, but at least it hadn’t been this suffocating.
"How long must we live like this…?"
Just as the man heaved a deep sigh.
Tododododo!
"Huh?"
Perhaps because the surroundings had become quiet, an unusual sound reached his ears.
Todododododododo!
“That sound…”
The man turned his head towards the source of the noise.
At that moment, something blindingly white streaked past his face like a flash of lightning.
"Aaaagh!"
The man screams and tumbles backward.
"Wh- What was that!"
It felt as if a white bolt of lightning had brushed past his face.
When he lifted his head in shock and looked ahead, there was nothing there.
“Did, did a ghost just pass by…?"
Staring blankly ahead, the man shook his head.
It seemed that his recent days of hunger had finally driven him to hallucinate.
In the forest not far from where the man stumbled.
Tododododo!
Four adorably small feet pounded the ground at an incredible speed.
It was a comically cute sight at first glance, but to those watching from afar, it would look like nothing more than a white flash cutting through the forest.
Hek! Hek!
Just as Baek-ah was sprinting until his dog paws- No, weasel feet were sweating, something enormous leaped out in front of him.
"Graaaargh!"
A great tiger the size of a house!
Judging by its size, it must be a Mountain Lord (산군(山君)). No, it was an enormous tiger worthy of being called a mystical creature (영물(靈物)).
It must have been enraged by the intrusion into its territory as it had come charging forward in a fury.
Keuoonggg!
The great tiger blocking Baek-ah's path bares its incomparably sharp teeth and threatens him all its might.
It was such a tremendous roar that just hearing it made one's knees weak and every hair stand on end.
However, far from being intimidated, Baek-ah narrowed his eyes and ran towards the great tiger's face with his running momentum then hit the great tiger's head with his small head.
Kuuuuuung!
The sound was like a giant bell being struck.
The house-sized tiger falls to the ground with a pitiful yelp like a puppy.
Not satisfied with that, Baek-ah leaped onto the tiger's head and began hammering away with its tiny, walnut-sized paws, repeatedly smacking and stomping on the tiger's regal forehead where the symbol of '王' (king) was etched.
Kiiiiiiikkk!
Tears hang precariously from Baek-ah's intense eyes.
The resentment filling those eyes was clearly directed at someone but the tiger.
Kuaaanggg!
The great tiger was hit repeatedly without even being able to properly resist and tried to run away with its tail tucked in, but Baek-ah stretched out his small forelegs and grabbed the tiger's tail.
Then, instantly flexing his long waist, he swings the tiger and slams it into the ground.
Kwaaaaang!
The tiger trembles and then faints with its neck twisted.
Kiik! Kiiiiiiiik!
Baek-ah, who was glaring at the unconscious tiger with veins bulging, started swinging his short forelegs and squealing what sounded like a barrage of curses.
Then as if suddenly remembering something, he swiftly turns and runs away at full speed as if nothing had happened.
Tadadadadat!
Once again becoming a white flash, Baek-ah sprints through Gangnam, drawing out every bit of internal strength contained within his body.
Faster. Even a moment faster!
The message in the pouch tied around his neck must reach Gangbuk.
Before that annoying master of his stopped breathing.
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