Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1350. He says he’ll take that bastard's life (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Sasuk! What's happening?"
“Well. That....”
The faces of the Mount Hua disciples were unusually grave.
They were staring at the building that Hyun Jong was currently using as both his workplace and quarters. Just a moment ago, the senior members of Heavenly Comrade Alliance had all gathered in that quarter with stern faces.
“Isn’t something happening?”
"How would I know just because you're asking me?"
Baek Sang let out a frustrated sigh. Though he was clearly the eldest of the Baek generation with Baek Cheon absent, he hadn't particularly heard anything special.
But the other disciples, unaware of Baek Sang’s position, continued bombarding him with questions.
Jong Hwe asked again with a stern face.
“Could it be… something has happened to the sasuk and sahyung who went to Hainan Sect?”
"You blabbering punk!"
Fierce glares shot at him from all directions. The stinging gaze made Jong Hwe shrink his neck.
“N-no, I didn’t mean it like that, but still, since everyone…”
“It could be that Evil Tyrant Alliance is making a move, or maybe those Ten Great Sects bastards are pulling another stupid trouble!”
“Our Sahyung probably haven’t arrived in Hainan Sect yet. How could anything have happened already, you idiot?”
“Shut your mouth before I sew it shut.”
As Jong Hwe hung his head even lower, Baek Sang sighed again.
"Let's wait for now. Since the Sect Leader is involved, surely he'll give us some word once a conclusion is reached?"
“...Yes, Sasuk.”
But Mount Hua disciples' hardened expressions wouldn't ease. It was because Hyun Jong’s face had looked far more serious than usual when he headed to his quarters earlier. They wanted to believe nothing was wrong, but just seeing his expression made them instinctively feel that something had happened to those who had gone to Hainan Island.
“Sasuk, what if..."
"Don't ask."
“...Yes?”
Baek Sang spoke with a resolute face.
“I know what you’re trying to ask, but it’s pointless to question it. We have only one thing to do."
“Yes. Sasuk!”
Soon, firm resolve settled on the other disciples' faces too.
Their gazes shifted, now fixed firmly on the distant south.
Meanwhile, the faces of Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s senior members were equally grim.
“…You’re saying that Myriad Man Manor is pursuing them?”
“That is correct.”
Maeng So, who had seemed momentarily at a loss for words, spoke as if in pain.
“Myriad Man Manor....”
His face showed a hint of confusion for a moment.
"You're saying Myriad Man Manor personally moved to strike Hainan Sect in the rear? In this situation?"
Hyu Jong nodded silently. However, Maeng So asked again as if not satisfied with the answer.
“And you’re saying they started their attack right after Heavenly Comrade Alliance arrived on Hainan Island?”
“It seems that way.”
“Haah....”
A hollow laugh escaped his lips, one that didn’t match the severity of the situation. It was so absurd that he couldn't help but laugh.
Coincidence? No, this couldn't be explained as mere coincidence.
Originally, Heavenly Comrade Alliance couldn’t have reached Hainan Sect this quickly. Taking the normal route would have required at least several months of travel.
However, those dispatched by Heavenly Comrade Alliance arrived unusually quickly, and thanks to that, they were able to rescue and lead them away before Hainan Sect could be erased by Myriad Man Manor's hands.
“We thought they would attack Hainan Sect when the war began, but it seems that judgment was wrong…”
"They must have known too."
Tang Gun-ak spoke in a grave voice. Maeng So expressed doubt.
"Known what?"
“The fact that even if they attack Hainan Sect, Ten Great Sects will not move.”
Maeng So couldn't bring himself to respond.
In truth, his thoughts weren't much different. Thinking about it, Jang Ilso has an almost ghost-like ability to read people's psychology. There was no way someone like him would have overlooked the fact that Bop Jeong had no intention of waging a war for Hainan Sect.
“And right now, the reason doesn’t matter.”
Everyone's eyes were focused on Tang Gun-ak.
“What we need to focus on is the fact that the children who went to Haenam are being chased by Myriad Man Manor. In none other than Gangnam."
Maeng So felt a chill run down his spine.
Gangnam was the territory of Evil Sects. Who here wouldn't understand what it means to be chased by Evil Tyrant Alliance on their own turf? Even terms like 'walking on a knife's edge' or 'life-or-death situation' would be insufficient.
Maeng So's gaze fell on Hyun Jong.
“Then, what do you intend to do?”
Hyun Jong met his gaze directly. For a moment, Maeng So’s expression shifted subtly.
Though easy to overlook due to his seemingly dull appearance, Maeng So was the leader of the Beast Palace. And as the Beast Palace cultivates martial arts that utilize animal characteristics, their sensory abilities are second to none under heaven.
And those senses were telling him now. That the Hyun Jong sitting before them now was somewhat different from before.
“The letter the disciples sent said they plan to pass through Gangnam and head north to Gangbuk.”
Though the tone seemed calm on the surface, everyone knew there was a cold blade hidden within.
"When I first heard this news, the words that arose within me were words of reproach."
“...Maengju.”
“How could they make such a reckless decision? They could have simply left Hainan Sect and returned. Why stake their lives for Hainan Sect, a sect they have no deep bond with, a sect they’ve barely shared any warmth with? If this is what they call Chivalrousness, does Chivalrousness not mean reckless foolishness?”
Complex expressions appeared on everyone's faces. Hyun Jong was articulating the very doubts they had held but dared not voice.
“But immediately after, another thought struck me.”
“…What thought was that?”
“I realized that even in this situation, I was weighing right and wrong.”
For a moment, everyone's faces took on a look of bewilderment. It felt as if Hyun Jong had read their innermost thoughts.
“Even while those children were in danger, I was busy thinking about what they had done wrong and what they could have done better. Even in such a dire situation.”
Several faces turned red. In contrast, Hyun Jong's gaze was sinking even deeper into profound contemplation.
"You asked what I intend to do?"
“....”
“You ask the obvious. Of course, I will go to save the children.”
“T- To Gangnam?”
The faces of those gathered grew pale with shock.
Gangnam was the land of Evil Tyrant Alliance. Heading there would mean an inevitable war. And if they were to contest against Evil Tyrant Alliance with their current forces, they must be prepared for total annihilation.
Yet Hyun Jong had spoken of such a monumental decision without the slightest hesitation.
“Maengju-nim, this is not a decision to make emotionally!”
Hyun Jong nodded at someone's shout.
“You’re right. This isn’t something to decide based on emotion. We should carefully consider and decide what is right.”
“Maengju-nim....”
“But by the time we come to that conclusion, the children will no longer be alive. While debating right and wrong, we would lose what must not be lost."
Maeng So was sure at that moment. His sense that Hyun Jong had changed was not wrong.
"If there are matters to debate, it's not too late after everything is done."
“But what about the sacrifices? They are Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
"Those who do not wish to join, please protect this place."
"...Wh- What are you..."
“We don’t even have the time to convince everyone.”
Leaving those words behind, Hyun Jong stood abruptly.
In truth, Maeng So and Tang Gun-ak understood Hyeonjong to some degree..
But the others couldn’t hide their bewilderment. The Hyun Jong standing before them didn’t feel like the one they knew.
This wasn’t the Hyun Jong who always soothed others gently and listened to every opinion. The current Hyeonjong seemed to have no intention of listening to what others had to say.
“Your Majesty, please wait a moment....”
Those flustered by his sudden decisiveness tried to continue the conversation, but all their efforts were in vain. Hyun Jong, already on his feet, walked straight out without hesitation.
"Ma- Maengju-nim, just a moment..."
Surprised, everyone scrambled to follow him out. They had no choice but to chase after him since he showed no intention of stopping.
And those who went outside were bewildered for two reasons.
One was that Hyeonjong had truly left the pavilion without even sparing them a glance. And the other was that every single Mount Hua disciple had somehow gathered in front of the pavilion he had exited.
'Si- Since when?'
It didn’t seem like they had gathered knowingly. They too looked surprised at Hyun Jong's sudden emergence through the doors.
Hyun Jong silently observed the gathered disciples before turning his head.
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes, please speak.”
Un Am bowed his head respectfully.
"May I presume to step over Sect Leader authority and speak a word to the children?"
“I do hold the position of Mount Hua’s sect leader, but in no way does that title outweigh the deep relationship of a teacher to their disciples. Please do as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
Hyun Jong lightly bowed his head to Un Am in respect, then took in the Mount Hua disciples with his eyes.
"Disciples, listen."
"Yes!"
Every single Mount Hua disciple immediately knelt on one knee to show respect.
"Those who went to Hainan Sect are being pursued by Myriad Man Manor. In that Gangnam where they have nowhere to turn for help."
The disciples' eyes widened. But their gazes soon settled into a calm stillness, mirroring Hyun Jong’s own.
"And the path to reach those children is blocked by the forces of Evil Tyrant Alliance. Even risking our lives, there is no certainty we can save them. No, it’s more likely that we won’t be able to.”
The Mount Hua disciples stared at Hyun Jong without the slightest movement.
"So I ask you. Will you come with me to help those who went to Hainan Sect? Will you stake your lives on this worthless cause?"
Chaeng.
Baek Sang, kneeling at the very front, rose to his feet and drew his sword. Then silently, he brought his sword hand to his left chest.
To that chest where the plum blossom of Mount Hua, their symbol, was engraved.
Chaeng! Chaeng!
One after another, the sound of swords being drawn echoed here and there.
The Mount Hua disciples unanimously drew their swords and placed them against their chests. With resolute will that showed not even the slightest hesitation.
Hyun Jong nodded quietly.
Had even one person shown a flicker of hesitation, he would have turned back. Though he was the former sect leader of Mount Hua, even he did not have the right to force death upon his disciples.
But not a single one of them hesitated.
'This was what Chivalrousness meant from the start.'
What was right? What was wrong? What was efficient?
None of those matters. What matters is what they choose to do now, and whether there was any shame in what they wish to do.
If one must follow something merely because it was right, despite not wanting to do it oneself, that too isn't Chivalrousness.
All of Mount Hua's disciples were urging him on with their eyes.
As if they had long anticipated this moment as if they had already cast aside hesitation long ago.
Hyun Jong nodded heavily.
"Mount Hua will advance to Gangnam....”
Right at that moment.
“Maengjuuuuuu!”
Someone’s shout ripped through the air. Everyone turned in surprise to see someone leaping over the walls of the manor, running frantically toward them.
"What is it?"
"Th- They've moved!"
“Move?”
“Ev- Evil Tyrant Alliance....”
The blood drained from everyone’s faces.
They didn’t need to hear the rest to know what it meant.
Those heavy and sharp words struck their heads like a massive hammer.
“Evil Tyrant Alliance has moved!”
❀ ❀ ❀
Kuuuung!
The massive main gate of Evil Tyrant Alliance headquarters, which rarely opens, swung wide with a heavy rumble.
"Hmmmm."
The figure stepping through the gate wore a peculiar smile.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had an outing.”
Step. His foot stepped outside the headquarters.
The passersby who saw Jang Ilso, ryeonju of Evil Tyrant Alliance, suddenly appearing through the firmly closed gate, prostrated themselves in terror as if they had seen a ghost.
“So… I guess I should bring back something grand?”
Jang Ilso’s blood-red lips curved upward into a sinister grin.
“Something as big as Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword’s head! Hahaha!”
The hem of Jang Ilso's red robe fluttered greatly as he strode forward. Following close behind, Red Hounds and the elite members of Evil Tyrant Alliance marched forward with blazing eyes.
Their direction was southward, toward the land reeking of blood.
|Note
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