Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1338. What happened? (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Cold sweat trickled down Im Sobyeong's face.
“…We’ve been had.”
The terrain was formed by three mountains converging. The path naturally extended both to the left and to the right.
But what awaited them at the end was the same.
A sheer cliff.
Steep rock walls more deserving of the name 'despair' blocked the way between the mountains.
Even if they were in perfect condition, scaling such a cliff would be no easy feat. With their internal strength drained and their bodies utterly exhausted now, it wasn’t even worth discussing.
They could attempt forcing their way up the cliff, but the result was obvious. They would be slaughtered without resistance by the pursuers from Myriad Man Manor.
Climbing the mountain wouldn’t make much difference either. The steep slopes, rugged terrain, and dense forests would drain their stamina even further, leaving them even more vulnerable to attack.
In the end, this place was no different from being trapped in a jar sealed by cliffs on all sides. Im Sobyeong had led everyone to jump of their own accord into terrain sealed on all sides.
"How..."
The topography of Hundred Thousand Mountains was very difficult to grasp because the mountains were layered on top of each other. Even understanding what lies behind the mountain isn't easy.
This much had already been confirmed on the way to Hainan Island, and that was precisely why Im Sobyeong had chosen this area as their escape route.
But even he had not imagined that such sheer cliffs would be hidden beyond the mountains.
"Ho Gamyeong..."
Eudeudeudeuk.
He bit his lip until it bled.
He thought they had broken through the encirclement. He thought they had crushed all of the enemy’s traps. At least when it came to the art of war, he believed he was more than half a step ahead.
Because it had been so until now.
But in this moment he keenly realized. That from the moment they entered that gorge until now, they had been dancing in Ho Gamyeong's palm.
‘It wasn’t sloppy at all…’
He had assumed the hastily assembled forces were chaotic, capable of doing nothing more than swarming. But it wasn’t that they were incapable—it was that such a crude approach was all that was necessary. It was all part of leading them down this preordained path only Ho Gamyeong could see.
Would things have been different if they had avoided the gorge?
No, it wouldn't. A different route doesn't mean a different destination.
The timing might have differed, but they would have inevitably ended up here in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Why hadn’t he doubted it? Why hadn’t he been more cautious of Malice Heart Rakshasa Ho Gamyeong? Why had he thought he could always stay one step ahead if he just put his mind to it?
After all, Ho Gamyeong had accomplished far more than anything Im Sobyeong had ever achieved while leading Nokrim.
“No- Nokrim King.”
Geum Yangbaek's voice reached him. Im Sobyeong's eyes shook. For the first time in his life, he realized how terrifying it could be to have someone speak to him.
“What should we do now?”
Im Sobyeong gritted his teeth.
What should they do? He wanted to ask the same question. In this situation, what on earth could they possibly do?
The path ahead was blocked by towering cliffs, and thousands of armies were surging in from behind.
And the allied forces who had to face these enraged enemies had long since reached their limits. Their fighting strength had been depleted long ago.
“Nokrim King!”
Geum Yangbaek raised his voice again, but Im Sobyeong couldn’t answer.
Countless thoughts rushed through his mind, but any words he could muster seemed like they would only demoralize everyone further.
And then, Im Sobyeong saw it. No, he felt it.
The moment he hesitated to answer, something drained from the faces of Hainan Sect disciples who were staring at him. The fragile threads of hope they had clung to were vanishing into the void.
'N- No....'
What had kept their worn-out bodies moving was the hope that they could survive and the will to fight the enemy.
The moment they lost that hope and determination, they would become nothing more than cornered rats in a trap.
So he had to prevent them from completely losing their motivation, no matter what.
'But how?'
Should he tell them to fight their hardest and take even one more enemy to the afterlife with them?
Or should he tell them to embrace their inevitable deaths with solemnity and glory?
None of the art of war he had learned, none of the experiences he had lived through, could provide an answer to this question. All he could do was flounder helplessly in the face of impending despair.
It was then that someone’s calm voice broke through.
"Surrounded on all sides, eh..." (사면초가(四面楚歌))
It was Baek Cheon, who had fought off the pursuing enemies to the very end, arriving here bloodied and battered.
He didn’t seem rushed in the slightest as he slowly scanned their surroundings. He scrutinized the sheer cliffs and the surrounding terrain before nodding slowly.
“This place won’t work.”
Im Sobyeong felt strength suddenly drain from his body.
Im Sobyeong realized that he had been mentally relying on the acting sect leader to some extent, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
The moment words of negation left Baek Cheon's mouth, he felt the thread of hope he had been holding onto snapped.
Baek Cheon turned his body and gazed silently at the path they had entered from.
"Then there's no choice. We'll have to break through again and find another path."
Im Sobyeong doubted his ears.
What did that man just say?
Baek Cheon said calmly.
“Nokrim King.”
"Yes?"
"Are there many similar terrains in this area?"
It seemed like an out-of-place question, but Im Sobyeong quickly grasped Baek Cheon’s intent even in this situation.
“There shouldn’t be. If there were many places like this, Magyo couldn't have wage guerrilla warfare here..."
“That settles it."
Baek Cheon took a deep breath.
"So we just need to break through here and re-enter through a side path?"
“....”
“Am I right?”
Im Sobyeong couldn't bring himself to answer.
Of course, Baek Cheon was right. His words were indeed right.
Except for the small matter of having to break through the enraged main force of Myriad Man Manor to find another path.
“A- Acting Sect Leader. That’s....”
"Is there another way?"
Baek Cheon's calm question silenced Im Sobyeong's mouth again.
Another way? There can't be. If there had been, Im Sobyeong would have used it long ago.
There was nothing wrong with Baek Cheon's words. The only option they had now was to reopen that path. Unless perhaps...
“Is it just a matter of opening the path?”
Baek Cheon nodded without looking back at Yoon Jong's question heard from behind.
“It seems so.”
"Good that it's not complicated. Then, Nokrim King."
"Yes?"
“Take care of this one for me.”
Yoon Jong handed over Chung Myung he was carrying to Im Sobyeong.
“This....”
“Protect him with your life.”
Im Sobyeong received Chung Myung with a dazed expression. Yoon Jong then stepped forward to stand beside Baek Cheon without another word.
"Monk. Please look after our Sahyung."
“Dojang....”
“Hurry.”
Tang Soso too handed Jo-Gol over to Hye Yeon and was about to move forward. Jo-Gol desperately reached out and grasped Tang Soso's clothes.
“M- Me too....”
"Hm?"
“Me too... I can still fight... Ack!"
Tang Soso mercilessly droves her needle into Jo-Gol's hand that was gripping her clothes. Looking at the startled Jo-Gol, Tang Soso gave a slight smile.
“That should stop the bleeding a bit.”
“....”
"Take good care of yourself. You're really about to die, you know. Really, what a hopeless Sahyung."
Tang Soso quickly retrieved her needle and moved to stand beside Yoon Jong.
Everyone stared blankly at the backs of the three.
“Nokrim King.”
“...Yes?”
“We’ll hold off the enemies charging in. Lead everyone through the path we open. Namgung Sogaju and Tang Sogaju will assist you.”
“....”
"I trust you."
Im Sobyeong's pupils trembled ever so slightly.
How could they step forward so calmly, even in a situation like this?
Surely they know. This was nothing more than smashing an egg against a rock. No matter how hard they fought, it would be nearly impossible to avoid complete annihilation.
Yet they willingly stepped forward. Unlike him, who had been paralyzed by despair and didn’t know what to do.
Im Sobyeong immediately bit his lips tightly.
Logically, there was only one option available here. Leave the burden that was Hainan Sect behind and climb the cliff themselves.
Doing so would leave the disciples of Hainan Sect below as shields, allowing those climbing the mountain a chance at survival.
Could they not know this fact?
No, they know. They surely must know. No one would be more familiar with climbing cliffs than those from Mount Hua Sect.
But they all acted as though such a choice never even existed in the first place. They plan to protect Hainan Sect until the very end.
Foolish and naive.
But even Im Sobyeong, who had lived his entire life pursuing profit as a member of Evil Sects, couldn’t bring himself to say those words aloud. The same would be true for anyone else.
“Sasuk. It seems like there are quite a few enemies?”
"We'll have our work cut out for us." (“고생 좀 하겠구나.”)
“…You sure talk like it’s nothing.” (“⋯⋯말은 잘해요, 말은.”)
"How dare you be so rude to Sasuk."
Tang Soso’s hand trembled faintly as she bantered with Baek Cheon. Watching those hands, Im Sobyeong understood.
It wasn't that they were calm because they weren't afraid. They were suppressing the overwhelming urge to flee.
And that fact made Im Sobyeong’s heart ache even more. Even if others didn’t know, Im So-byeong did. He knew that his arrogance had brought about this entire situation.
If only he had harbored even a shred of doubt while outwitting Ho Gamyeong, they wouldn’t have walked into this trap so willingly.
Just as Im Sobyeong was about to say something.
“Let’s put an end to this, Acting Sect Leader.”
A composed voice flowed out. Everyone's gaze instantly turned toward the source. Geum Yangbaek, his complexion pale from poisoning and injuries, was looking at Baek Cheon.
"Please don't shame us any further."
“...Sect Leader.”
“You’ve already shown more than enough Chivalrousness for Hainan Sect. Asking for more would be nothing but disgrace.”
“Sect Leader, we can still…”
“Take the wounded and climb the cliff. We of Hainan Sect will hold the rear here.”
“Se- Sect Leader!”
Hainan Sect disciples looked back at Geum Yangbaek in surprise. But Geum Yangbaek simply answered calmly.
"Wasn't this what we decided from the beginning?"
Geum Yangbaek's gaze turned to Chung Myung, who was being carried on Im Sobyeong's back.
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword told us at least not to sit idly and wait for death. He told us to go to a place where we could die with honor."
“....”
"And I believe this is that place."
"Sect Leader. We can still..."
“Acting Sect Leader.”
Geum Yangbaek gave a gentle smile.
"Truth be told, I both agreed and disagreed with those words. I couldn’t grasp what was so honorable about charging into the enemy lines to fight and die.”
“....”
“But now I understand. There is little honor to be found in being annihilated by Myriad Man Manor in battle…”
Geum Yangbaek looked at Chung Myung and continued.
"Now I think I understand. What honor we must protect to the very end, what we must preserve at the last, and what our role truly is.”
Baek Cheon's shoulders trembled faintly.
Hainan Sect disciples stared at Geum Yangbaek without being able to open their mouths.
“You have protected us so far. You shed the blood we should have shed. You carried the burdens we should have borne. So at least... allow us to repay that debt."
Geum Yangbaek looked around at everyone and asked.
"Shouldn’t we?"
Light returned to the eyes of Hainan Sect disciples.
It wasn't that they couldn't understand this situation. They just needed that final resolve.
And now, Geum Yangbaek's words are giving them the courage to make that final resolve.
"Let's be true to Hainan Sect in our final moments. Wouldn't it be too shameful for us sea people of Hainan Sect to die after only receiving help from those who came from the mainland?"
“That’s right, Sect Leader!”
"We must do this!"
"In fact, aren’t we tired of running away!"
Hainan Sect disciples shouted as if pouring out all their pent-up frustration.
They had only fled without properly facing their enemies.
They couldn't accept that they would run away under someone's protection until the very end only to be struck in the back and die. That would taint even their final moments.
"If we are to go to the afterlife, we should at least have something to say to our Sahyungs who died before us."
Geum Yangbaek chuckled softly at the word.
"Well said."
They spoke more calmly and peacefully now than they ever had before.
Baek Cheon's face darkened at the sight.
There was no desperate determination visible. No surge of fighting spirit. But precisely because of that, their resolve seemed all the more solid.
To insist any further now would be an insult to them. Even Baek Cheon could see that much.
“Hwanso, Jayang!”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Gwak Hwanso and Lee Jayang, their eyes filled with firm resolve, stepped forward at Geum Yangbaek's call.
“You two will go with them.”
“...Yes?”
“Se- Sect Leader. What are you saying!"
“If even you two survive, then Hainan Sect annihilation won’t truly be the end. You must survive and someday make Hainan Sect’s name resound throughout the world again."
"Sect Leader!"
As Gwak Hwanso tried to protest vehemently, Geum Yangbaek firmly gripped his shoulder.
"I beg you."
“....”
Gwak Hwanso's shoulders trembled.
“Please, Sahyung.”
"Jayang Saje, I beg you. Don't let our deaths be meaningless."
“Survive.”
At the flood of voices and gazes, tears began streaming uncontrollably from the two disciples’ eyes.
They couldn't bring themselves to refuse. This wasn't the time to waste by arguing they wouldn't go.
And thus, they couldn’t even speak a word of refusal. That fact made it even harder for Gwak Hwanso and Lee Jayang to bear.
"Acting Sect Leader, I entrust them to you."
“...Sect Leader.”
Geum Yangbaek gave a faint smile and stepped forward.
As he passed by Baek Cheon, he whispered softly, just loud enough for Baek Cheon to hear.
"Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword must be kept alive."
Just as Baek Cheon bit his lip, unable to respond.
“...Cough.”
“Chu- Chung Myung!”
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword!”
Chung Myung, who was being carried on Im Sobyeong's back, coughed up blood and opened his eyes. His half-closed, hazy eyes surveyed the surroundings.
"...Where is..."
Chung Myung's gaze gradually grew clearer.
“We’ve been had.”
Im Sobyeong hung his head low. But what followed was different from what he expected.
“...As expected.”
Im Sobyeong raised his head in surprise.
Even so, Chung Myung's expression was so ambiguous that it was impossible to discern his true intentions.
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