Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1351. It's just how it was born. (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Hong Dae-gwang, who had become lost in thought, continued to speak, stammering.
“C- Currently, it is reported that Jang Ilso has left Evil Tyrant Alliance’s headquarters, accompanied by Red Hounds and other elites from Evil Tyrant Alliance. Whi- While the exact destination is unclear, the general direction appears to be south…”
“Are you certain?”
Hong Dae-gwang nodded vigorously without answering. The sweat pouring from him was so profuse that his urgency and tension were palpable just by looking at his face.
"Al- Although our Beggar Union has lost most of our information network in Gangnam, we haven't fallen so far as to be unable to monitor even Evil Tyrant Alliance’s headquarters. No, to be honest, we’re barely managing to monitor the headquarters… Ne- Never mind that!"
Hong Dae-gwang continued.
"Anyway, this is the first time Jang Ilso has moved personally since the Hangzhou Maayo Incident! Beggar Union is in complete disarray right now! Moreover, mobilizing Red Hounds and Myriad Man Manor's elites must mean that whatever they're planning, it must be on a massive scale!"
Throughout the explanation, Hyun Jong’s expression remained solemn.
Beggar Union still didn’t know the situation surrounding Chung Myung and Heavenly Comrade Alliance. That's why they can only interpret it this way. However, for Hyun Jong, who knew the situation of those who had gone to Haenam, Jang Ilso’s target was unmistakably clear.
“For Beggar Union to know of this, it means Ten Great Sects are also aware.”
Hong Dae-gwang closed his mouth like a mute and nodded.
Of course, Beggar Union still belongs to Ten Great Sects, and naturally, their information gets passed to Ten Great Sects. Strictly speaking, the fact that Hong Dae-gwang was delivering this information to Ten Great Sects could itself be problematic.
Yet even so, when speaking like this before Hyun Jong, Hong Dae-gwang couldn't help but feel as if he was committing some kind of sin.
Hyun Jong seemed to understand Hong Dae-gwang's feelings and offered him a deep bow of gratitude.
“Thank you. I imagine it must not have been easy to deliver this news.”
"Pl- Please don't do this, Maengju-nim!"
Hong Dae-gwang waved his arms in panic.
“This isn’t something I should be thanked for. A- And… gratitude should be reserved for outsiders. Though my position is ambiguous being from Beggar Union, how could I be a stranger to Mount Hua Divine Dragon... No, to Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?"
Hyun Jong nodded quietly. He could tell it wasn’t empty words, and he was grateful for that.
But now wasn't the time to leisurely express gratitude.
His gaze turned to the Yangtze River beyond the manor walls. The vast river was still dominated by the fleet of the water fortress.
If he had it his way, he would charge through that formation in one breath, but that was realistically difficult. Which meant time was even more critical. They needed to cross the Yangtze immediately through a place beyond the water fortress' reach.
Hyun Jong spoke.
“Sect Leader.”
"Yes."
"We have no time."
"I'll prepare for departure immediately."
"I apologize, Sect Leader."
Un Am shook his head firmly.
"I believe Master wasn't wrong in the slightest."
“....”
"If Mount Hua disciples were isolated in Gangnam, and that rascal Chung Myung were here, what would he have said?"
Hyun Jong's face turned blank for a moment. Un Am smiled brightly as he looked at the expression.
“If it were that rascal, he would have screamed at the top of his lungs that we must go to Gangnam immediately without even a shred of hesitation. He wouldn't have listened to anyone trying to stop him, and if all else failed, he would have gone to Gangnam alone without hesitation. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“...Sect Leader.”
"It's not because it's them that we go to rescue. Rather, it’s because it’s them that we even hesitated for a moment to consider if this is the right choice. Had it been others, would we have even deliberated?"
Hyun Jong nodded slowly.
What Un Am said was right. It would have been the same regardless of who was in danger.
“They are all our disciples, children of Mount Hua whom we must protect. There is no need for hesitation or doubt. If we are not prepared to sacrifice a hundred lives to save just one, then the title of ‘sect’ is nothing but an empty facade.”
Un Am's gaze turned toward the disciples.
“Isn’t that so?”
“That’s right, Sect Leader!”
There were no usual cheers, no muttering voices. Only determined voices rang out in unison.
Hyun Jong suppressed the overwhelming emotion rising in his chest and nodded.
"Right, let's go."
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
Hyun Jong's gaze turned to Tang Gun-ak.
“Gaju-nim.”
But before he could say anything, Tang Gun-ak shook his head.
“Please don’t ask us to stay behind and guard this place, Maengju-nim.”
It was as if he already knew what Hyun Jong was about to say and decisively cut him off.
"My children are there too. My children, more important than anyone else."
"But..."
"However, that's a secondary matter."
A cold light settled on Tang Gun-ak's face.
“If it’s for Tang Family, I can abandon my children’s lives at any time. However, as the patriarch of Tang Family, there is one thing I can never abandon.”
Tang Gun-ak’s expression was as cold and unyielding as iron.
"Those who dare touch someone of Tang blood must pay the price. That is the law of Tang Family, passed down for centuries, an iron rule that must be preserved in blood. That law takes precedence over the very existence of Tang Family.”
Ice-blue killing intent filled his eyes.
“Even if Mount Hua were not to go, Tang Family would cross the river. So please, don’t ask me to remain here.”
“Gaju-nim....”
One look at his face was enough to tell. There was no way to break Tang Gun-ak's resolve. He too had been holding back until now because of the name Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
“The laws of Tang Family are certainly well-known.”
At a voice from behind, both men turned to see who had spoken.
“But the sense of duty bound to those laws cannot possibly surpass the earnestness of Namgung Family right now.”
“...Elder Namgung.”
Namgung Myung nodded heavily.
"A sect doesn't disappear for not following its laws. But for Namgung Family, the existence of our Sogaju is more significant than the sect itself.”
Namgung Myung spoke with a face as cold as if wearing iron armor.
“It would have been best not to send him in the first place, but since things have come to this, we have no choice but to take the next best course. For Namgung Family, that option is to rescue Sogaju even if it means staking everyone's lives. There is no turning back.”
A biting chill radiated from Namgung Myung. Beside him, Namgung Dan also showed his agreement with a grave expression.
Namgung Family had already lost Namgung Hwang. They could not afford to lose Namgung Dowi as well.
"Namgung will go together."
Mount Hua, Tang Family, and Namgung Family expressed their will.
"Then Ice Palace will join as well."
“Elder Han....”
"We too cannot lose our Gungju. Doesn’t it make sense for one more sect to add its strength?”
But Tang Gun-ak firmly shook his head at these words.
“Ice Palace must protect this place.”
At this, Song Won of Ice Palace, who had been observing silently, flared up in anger.
“Why is that? Is it because we are not from this land?”
“Song Won!”
Han Yi-myung (한이명) thundered with a frost-like voice.
"What nonsense are you spouting! How dare you say such things when you've clearly seen how Heavenly Comrade Alliance people have treated us!"
“....”
"If you utter such nonsense one more time, I'll be the first to not forgive you."
Song Won bowed his head deeply. Han Yi-myung turned to Tang Gun-ak and bowed in apology.
"I apologize."
“It’s fine. I understand completely.”
To the Northern Sea Ice Palace, Tang Family might seem like fellow members of Jungwon, but in fact, Tangga was often looked down upon even in Jungwon for various reasons. So he understood these feelings all too well.
“There are two reasons why we cannot bring Ice Palace with us. One is that in the hot Gangnam region, the Ice Palace’s techniques will not be able to exhibit their full power.”
“...That’s....”
Even Han Yi-myung couldn't deny this. It was natural law that ice energy techniques weaken as one moves to warmer regions.
In normal circumstances, they might have boldly proclaimed that wouldn't matter, but with Evil Tyrant Alliance as their opponents, even those words wouldn't come easily.
“The second reason is that if this place becomes a no-man’s land, the enemy will be free to focus all their strength on us once we enter Gangnam. For us to return alive and set foot on this land again, we absolutely need a sect to keep them in check."
Han Yi-myung bit his lips tightly.
He desperately wanted to go and rescue their Gungju, but he was currently standing in for the Ice Palace's Gungju. Naturally, he couldn't ignore practical considerations.
If someone had to stay behind to guard their rear, it had to be Ice Palace. It was an undeniable fact that their current military strength and influence were lacking compared to the other sects.
Above all, what made Han Yi-myung hesitate was the concern that their joining might actually become a hindrance.
As if sensing his thoughts, Hyun Jong turned toward Han Yi-myung and bowed deeply.
"We will absolutely bring back Seol Gungju. So please, I ask you to fulfill your role here."
"...Understood."
In the end, Han Yi-myung took a step back.
Tang Gun-ak's gaze now turned to Maeng So, who had remained silent throughout.
“For similar reasons, I must also ask Beast Palace to guard this place.”
Maeng So's eyes filled with complex emotions. His lips twitched once before he asked Tang Gun0ak in a somewhat brusque tone.
"Does Gaju-nim believe Beast Palace too would be unable to exert its full strength in Gangnam?"
"That's not it. However... crossing the river stealthily while bringing those beasts would be impossible."
“....”
“And if someone must stay behind to guard this place, I believe there is no one better suited than Yasugungju-nim. You would be able to respond most swiftly whenever needed. If it’s Yasugungju-nim, even Tang Family can entrust this place to you without worry.”
Maeng So shook his head as if dealing with someone impossible.
Anyone who claimed that Sichuan Tang Family was ruthless and selfish was a fool. How could this person be called selfish or cruel?
“...So be it.”
With this, those who would go to Gangnam were decided.
Mount Hua, Sichuan Tang Family, and Namgung Family.
Maeng So asked with a slightly worried expression.
“Would three sects be enough?”
“It may not just be three sects.”
"Hmm?"
“…Nokrim won’t listen, no matter how much we try to stop them. Nokrim people will follow even if it kills them."
"Hmm."
Maeng So nodded, as if acknowledging the logic. Without Im Sobyeong, Nokrim was beyond the control of even Heavenly Comrade Alliance. They would undoubtedly act on their own will.
For the Nokchae, who had stayed by Im Sobyeong’s side even in the face of death, their decision was already made.
“Then now....”
"But you two, we cannot blindly head toward Gangnam.”
Namgung Myung spoke with a hardened face.
"Just crossing the Yangtze won't be easy. The river is completely controlled by the water fortress, and we don’t even have proper ships to cross it.”
"That's why we must hurry to secure ships."
“That’s not all. Even if we manage to cross the Yangtze unscathed, unless we know which path those who went to Hainan Island are taking to move north in that vast land of Gangnam, it’ll be like searching for a needle in the desert.”
Tang Gun-ak fell silent. The statement was certainly valid and difficult to refute.
"Namgung has already lost what should not have been lost once by letting emotions lead. We cannot repeat the same mistake twice."
The heavy weight of his words was impossible to ignore.
The corners of Tang Gun-ak's eyes twitched faintly. Though he tried to remain composed, he was just as agitated. So much so that he overlooked things he would have ordinarily considered.
“Then....”
“I know where they will head.”
Tang Gun-ak's gaze shifted to Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong continued calmly.
"So please just complete the preparations quickly. My discipline isn't deep enough to endure waiting long."
Tang Gun-ak and Namgung Myung stared at Hyun Jong in silence for a moment before nodding simultaneously.
“Understood, Maengju-nim.”
"We'll complete preparations immediately."
“Please.”
Hyun Jong bowed deeply.
The two immediately led their disciples toward the quarters where the remaining disciples were staying. Their movements were urgent, as though even the time to exchange pleasantries was too precious to waste.
Hyun Jong, lifting his head, didn’t watch them go either. His gaze was already fixed once again on the distant south.
'Chung Myung-ah.... All of you....'
He soon squeezed his eyes shut.
'Just wait a little longer. I'll be there soon.'
He could only hope, desperately and earnestly, that his silent voice would reach those who were weary and struggling.
|Note
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