Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1417. Even if it's meaningless (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Bop Jeong, who had turned and started walking away, bit down hard on his lips.
The vast expanse of the Yangtze River came into his eyes, but it did nothing to ease the suffocating tightness in his chest.
“Bop Kye!”
“Yes, Bangjang!”
“Send word to Beggar Union! Spread this news to Sichuan by any means necessary! No matter what!”
“Ba- Bangjang.... But it may already…”
“I know that!”
“.....”
Bop Jeong's sudden shout silenced Bop Kye, who stood with a stunned expression faces. Bop Jeong glared at him, took a deep breath, and spoke again.
“Qingcheng and Emei may already be too late, but if the message is sent quickly enough, Jeomchang might still have time to retreat. Now is the time we must grasp at even the slightest straw!"
"U- Understood, Bangjang!"
Bop Kye nodded vigorously.
As he hurried to prepare a letter for the Beggars' Union, Jongni Hyeong cautiously stepped closer to Bop Jeong's side.
“Bangjang...”
Bop Jeong turned a cold gaze toward him. Jongni Hyeong flinches at the sight of those eyes but musters his courage to speak again.
"Do you really intend not to go to Sichuan?"
“.....”
"I understand, Bangjang. That it's already too late. But as you just said yourself..."
"You mean perhaps if we hurry, there might be a way to save them."
“Tha- That’s what I’m saying. No matter how fearsome Paegun and Evil Tyrant Alliance are, those are Qingcheng and Emei we’re talking about! They wouldn’t fall so easily!"
A sigh escaped Bop Jeong.
Even after all this, Jongni Hyeong had yet to abandon his bad habit of underestimating Evil Sects.
Even after all they had endured.
Certainly, the names of Qingcheng and Emei were renowned. But the power of Paegun they now faced far surpassed that prestige. At best, a handful of survivors might escape. And even if they did, what difference would it make to rescue them?
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes, Bangjang.”
"It’s not that we won’t go, it’s that we can’t.”
“Sorry? What do you mean?”
Jongni Hyeong asked back with a blank expression.
"Where do you think Evil Tyrant Alliance forces that withdrew from here are heading?"
"W- Well, naturally to Sichuan, wouldn't they?"
"And if they aren’t?"
"What?"
"What will you do if they do not head to Sichuan?"
A question arose in Jongni Hyeong's eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t grasp what Bop Jeong was implying.
Seeing Jongni Hyeong's reaction, Bop Jeong shook his head and continued.
“They’ve withdrawn from Nanjing, but they haven’t actually begun marching toward Sichuan yet. The same goes for water fortress’ fleet. They too have withdrawn from here, but they still occupy the Yangtze River."
“...Then?”
"Yes."
Bop Jeong nodded heavily.
"If we rashly head to Sichuan, they will surely push toward Henan."
“Tha- That’s....”
Jongni Hyeong's gaze turned to Evil Tyrant Alliance army that was maintaining a distance.
Certainly, as Bop Jeong said, their withdrawal speed had clearly slowed, positioned to change direction at any moment.
"E- Even without Jang Ilso being here?"
It was not Bop Jeong but Peng Ye who answered those words.
"Paegun may not be here, but Black Ghost Fortress, the remnants of Myriad Man Manor that headed for Hainan Island, and the small and medium Evil Sects still are."
“.....”
“And even with just that level of force, sweeping through the now undefended Henan wouldn't be much of a challenge.”
Jongni Hyeong looked at Peng Ye with a dazed expression.
“Th- Then…”
He muttered as if finally understanding the situation.
"Are you saying that even though we clearly know they are trampling Sichuan, we can't withdraw from here?"
“.....”
"Wha- What kind of situation could lead to this? How..."
It felt like sinking into an endless bog.
The trap Jang Ilso had laid would not easily let them go. The cost of stepping into the snare he had prepared was far too great. A foot once sunk in mud would only sink deeper, no matter how hard one tried.
“Amitabha.”
Bop Jeong recited a mantra in a low voice, his face contorted with barely contained fury.
All of this had been caused by the reckless movements of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Yet the ones suffering for that foolishness were none other than Righteous Sects.
The destruction of Qingcheng and Emei was certain, and even Jeomchang was in danger.
Even if we say that the damage suffered by Heavenly Comrade Alliance is nothing more than the destruction of a party with its main force missing?
Of course, given Tang Family's nature, where poisons and hidden weapons comprise over seventy percent of their strength, having their sect destroyed was no small matter. But it could not compare to the annihilation of three entire sects.
What pained Bop Jeong the most was the fact that he could only watch the annihilation of these three sects.
'In the end.'
A hollow laugh escaped Bop Jeong’s lips.
‘We lose everything despite having committed no wrongdoing, and they gained Hainan Sect even after doing what should never have been done.’
How was he supposed to accept this absurdity? Should he say they were right because they ultimately gained an advantage?
“Then...”
Jongni Hyeong asked with a pale face.
"A- Are you saying there's nothing we can do? Bangjang?"
Upon hearing those words, Bop Jeong turned his head and looked at Evil Tyrant Alliance.
After staring at them for a while, his eyes slowly shifted toward Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
Something they could do.
What they could do...
"There is something."
Bop Jeong's eyes sank low.
At that moment, everyone fell silent. The atmosphere flowing from Bop Jeong made them hold their breath. After watching Heavenly Comrade Alliance with indifferent eyes for a while, Bop Jeong finally opened his mouth.
"Something that we... can do."
Hyun Jong, who had been silently watching the departing Ten Great Sects, turned his head weakly.
'It hurts.'
They were words like blades. Words that seemed forged to wound people. But what weighed even heavier on Hyun Jong was the fact that none of it was wrong.
Perhaps this entire situation was ultimately born of their own arrogance.
That's why he can't blame them for not helping. He could only clutch his bitter feelings.
"Don't make such a face, Maengju-nim."
Hyun Jong turned toward the voice. Hainan Sect Sect Leader Geum Yangbaek was looking at him with profound eyes.
"Sect Leader..."
“If it weren’t for Heavenly Comrade Alliance, if it weren’t for those who rushed to Hainan Sect, not a single one of Hainan Sect disciples here would be alive.”
Geum Yangbaek looked at his disciples and shook his head.
"If Maengju-nim blame yourself, would we not become those who survived in vain?"
"That... wasn't my intention. I'm sorry, Sect Leader."
"No. It’s just.”
Geum Yangbaek speaks with renewed conviction.
“No one in the world would say Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s intentions were wrong just because the outcome did not turn out as desired.”
“.....”
"And now isn’t the time for self-reproach. Shouldn’t we be focusing on helping Sichuan?"
Hyun Jong looked at Geum Yangbaek with astonished eyes.
His life was already hanging by a thread. Even someone untrained in martial arts could see that. But Geum Yangbaek was speaking not of himself, but of Sichuan.
"Sect Leader... First, your body..."
"No."
Geum Yangbaek shook his head.
"I’ve lived long enough. What matters now isn’t me, but Sacheon.”
“No. But still....”
“I know.”
Geum Yangbaek looks at Hyun Jong with resolute gaze.
“Because I know all too well what it feels like to be in a desperate situation where no one comes to help. Heavenly Comrade Alliance reached out to us. But right now, Sichuan has no one, right?"
“.....”
"Let's go, Maengju-nim. We'll help too. Even if it's nothing more than a meaningless struggle, when it's about someone's death, shouldn't there be at least one who would fight a meaningless struggle for them?"
Hyun Jong's head eventually nodded.
He knew.
Regardless of the outcome, their task was predetermined. No matter how meaningless, they could not avoid rushing to Sichuan.
With his mind made up, Hyun Jong turned his head and looked at the leaders of the other sects.
"Since Ten Great Sects have withdrawn, we must find a way to Sichuan on our own. How....”
"Impossible."
Im Sobyeong cut off Hyun Jong's words firmly.
“Nokrim King.”
“I understand your feelings, but there’s no way. Unless Ten Great Sects fight with us, breaking through that defensive line with just our forces is too difficult. Even if we break through, we'll suffer casualties throughout the journey to Sichuan while under constant attack, and the moment we arrive in Sichuan, we'll be annihilated by a coordinated attack from all sides."
A cold statement. But utterly realistic. Especially for those who had already suffered the same ordeal to make it here, the truth struck even harder.
“Th- Then can’t we just cross the river?”
Im Sobyeong's eyes grew cold at Namgung Dowi's words.
"Do they look completely withdrawn to you?"
“.....”
At those words, Namgung Dowi turned his head and looked at Evil Tyrant Alliance. Those who had been retreating had already stopped. While maintaining a distance from which they could charge again at any moment.
"Ho Gamyeong must have already joined them over there. . They’ll try to buy as much time as possible. If we recklessly attempt to cross the river, they’ll undoubtedly attack us from behind."
The sight of Evil Tyrant Alliance’s ships still looming on the Yangtze made everyone grit their teeth.
“Then....”
"We can’t move until they’ve fully withdrawn."
“There must be something we can do! Are we supposed to just stand around and watch?”
Namgung Dowi shouted in frustration, but Im Sobyeong didn’t even blink.
"They cannot attack first either. And when Shaolin bangjang calls for support from Beggar Union and others, they'll realize their disadvantage and withdraw. It’ll be a day at most....”
"But that'll be too late!"
Kwang!
Jo-Gol stomped the ground, releasing intense energy waves in all directions. But Im Sobyeong merely looked at everyone with a cold face.
“Reality is reality.....”
"Not all of us need to go."
The voice that cut through his words made Im Sobyeong turns. Baek Cheon's pale face appears in his eyes.
"Not everyone needs to go. Nor can everyone go."
"Dojang."
"Cover our retreat. We’ll cross the river. I will lead those quick on foot and go to Sichuan.”
Im Sobyeong stared at Baek Cheon with an incredulous expression.
With a face that looked like he could crawl into a coffin at any moment, what nonsense this person talking about?
“Is that possible?”
Im Sobyeong’s face twisted with barely suppressed fury. Just how far was this man planning to push himself?
“Seriously!”
“Whether it is possible or not.”
“.....”
Baek Cheon looks at Im Sobyeong resolutely.
"That's all you need to say. Nokrim King."
“.....”
Several people stepped up behind Baek Cheon. Their expressions making it clear that no amount of persuasion would stop them.
The fact that these were the most severely injured among them made Im Sobyeong’s stomach churn.
“...Impossible.”
“Nokrim King!”
“Sichuan is not Hainan Sect. Just a few people won’t change anything. You’ll just die a pointless death!”
"We have to at least try....”
"Trying doesn’t mean shit when it’s impossible!"
“.....”
Just as Baek Cheon bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Amitabha.”
A voice chanted from not far off. Clearly different from Hye Yeon's voice, everyone was startled and turned their heads at that sound.
Bop Kye.
The second-in-command of Shaolin had somehow approached them closely. It seemed they hadn't noticed due to the intense argument taking place.
"Wh- What?"
“Amitabha. I am here to convey Bangjang's words."
“His words?”
Everyone stares blankly at Bop Jeong. What else does Bop Jeong have to say to them now?
“If you truly intend to go to Sichuan.”
“....Yes?”
Bop Kye proclaimed with profound eyes.
“We of Ten Great Sects will hold off the remaining Sapaeryeon forces here with our full might. You must gather your elites and cross the river."
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Wh- What are you saying..."
"We will secure your retreat. But in return.”
A majestic voice flowed from Bop Kye's parted lips.
“Even if it’s already too late for Qingcheng and Emei, you must definitely save Jeomchang.”
“.....”
“Can you do that?”
Hyun Jong's complexion hardened.
|Note
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