Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1419. Even if it's meaningless (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Emei sect. (아미파(峨嵋派))
"You vile Evil Sects scum!"
"Do not underestimate Emei!"
Nuns with cleanly shaven heads and monastic robes swung their sharp swords with fierce determination.
But Evil Sects who had already tasted blood rushed in like starved wolves.
A grotesque dao from the Blood Palace, cloaked in a blood-red garment, shot from behind and pierced straight through one nun's body after another.
“Aaaargh!”
“Masteeeer!”
“You, you wicked....”
Blood gushed from her mouth, yet the nun still tried to raise her arm to swing her sword. But at that moment, the weapon embedded in her body twisted, viciously shredding her innards.
Paat!
Another life was extinguished in a fountain of blood.
Tears of grief streamed from the eyes of Emei's nun, Okdang Hyang (玉堂香).
'Master!'
The body of her lifelong master, Geum So (금소(金紹)), had been torn apart by the enemy's dao.
'Why....'
Why was this happening?
They had only sought to live quietly at the foot of Mount Emei, upholding their Buddhist teaching, so why did they have to endure such brutality?
She never once hated or antagonized anyone in her life. She lived with utmost care, even avoiding the death of the smallest creature.
That was the Buddha’s path, and the way of life a nun must follow.
What on earth were these people who so easily took others' lives and completely mocked life and death? How did they intend to bear the weight of such karma?
"You bastards!"
Kwaaaaang!
With a thunderous roar, Emei's Sect Leader Gwan Hae (관해(觀解)) struck the ground forcefully with her staff.
A terrifying surge of internal energy exploded outward, instantly drawing all eyes to her.
Eudeuk!
Gwan Hae's face, which had instantly drawn everyone's attention, was twisted terrifyingly like a divine general of Heaven.
It was hard to believe such overwhelming momentum was coming from an old woman with a deeply wrinkled face. She raised her voice as if to split the heavens.
"Have you no fear of Heaven's retribution?!"
The Blood Palace and Hao Sect disciple who had been running wild fearlessly paused for a moment and looked at her.
The Red Hounds sensed the atmosphere and began subtly narrowing their encirclement, licking their lips at the formidable opponent.
Then, a voice suddenly cut through the tension.
"To think the venerable Gwan Hae herself would step forward.”
Step. Step.
A man slowly walked directly toward Gwan Hae.
"Such an honor."
“Who are you?”
Gwan Hae frowned slightly and asked coldly.
In Kangho, one's age doesn't necessarily represent status and ability, but this man appeared incredibly young.
So young that normally, he wouldn't dare stand opposite Gwan Hae in such a situation.
Yet the man approaching her remained completely composed.
"I doubt you would know even if I told you."
“You are not Jang Ilso! Bring Jang Ilso here at once! I will hold him accountable for this massacre!"
The young man who stepped forward chuckled at Gwan Hae's declaration.
“Jang Ilso....”
A chilling blue gleam flickered in the young man’s shadowy eyes.
"Seems living secluded in the mountains has left you out of touch, old nun... Lord Ryeonju is no longer someone the likes of you can meet directly."
“You dare!”
"For facing the Emei Sect Leader, Grandmaster Gwan Hae (관해사태(觀解師太)), someone of my standing is more than enough."
Gwan Hae, about to unleash another thunderous command, suddenly sealed her mouth. She had noticed that the energy emanating from this young-looking man was not ordinary.
Though his face was exceedingly young, the energy he exuded was certainly not something one could feel from a young person. Anger settled on Gwan Hae's face.
“...You bastard! Thousand-Faced!”
“Hoo.”
A strange smile flickered across the lips of Thousand-Faced Gentleman, his features masked by the guise of a young man.
"To think the renowned Grandmaster Gwan Hae of Kangho knows this humble one's nickname..."
"You wretch!"
Kwang!
Gwan Hae once again struck the ground forcefully with the staff she was holding, as if to ward something evil.
"What exactly are you trying to do! Why are you doing this! What do you think you'll gain from all this! In the face of fleeting life, how do you plan to carry the burden of such sin....”
"Aaah."
Thousand-Faced Gentleman waved his hands as if bored of it.
"Your lofty sermons are wasted here, Grandmaster. There’s nothing but filth like us listening."
"You..."
"But one thing strikes me. Did you ask what we would gain?"
A grating laughter incongruous with his young face flowed out, sending chills down the spine.
"The martial world must have been so pleasant for you all this time. No one dared covet what was yours."
“....”
“But all we ever got were the scraps you let fall from your table. And you had the gall to call that peace.”
"So you would shed this much innocent blood for that!!”
Thousand-Faced Gentleman shook his head.
“Grandmaster Gwan Hae. You people have already enjoyed enough, so now you fear the afterlife, fear hell. But none of that matters to us. What matters is what we can seize here and now."
The two hands of Thousand-Faced Gentleman slowly lowered.
“Anyway, we’ve talked enough. The person behind me isn’t as easy-going as he looks, you see. If I dawdle any longer, I might lose my head.”
Gwan Hae's hand gripping the Divine Staff (신장(神杖)) trembled.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of Thousand-Faced Gentleman. She could handle him alone.
But the horde of Evil Sects standing behind Thousand-Faced Gentleman were something that Emei Sect's disciples alone could never handle.
How could they fully withstand those numerous evildoers when they faced them without preparation?
"What have we ever done to you..."
“Spare me your pitiful talk.”
Thousand-Faced Gentleman began walking toward Gwan Hae, slow and deliberate.
"Until now, it was only because you were stronger that we endured and suffered in silence. Now that we are stronger, you’re the ones who die. Isn’t that enough for Kangho?”
Gwan Hae shut her eyes tightly.
'So Emei will meet its end in my generation.'
No escape route was visible. If she could substitute it with just her own death, she would gladly do so, but those bloodthirsty wolves would never be satisfied with just her life.
'Had I known it would come to this...'
Regret surged like a tidal wave, but it was useless now.
“Geum Hwa (금화(金和)).”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Take the children and escape.”
"S- Sect Leader! That’s....”
“This is no time for argument!”
Gwan Hae’s command left no room for protest, not even the space for a needle to slip through. Geum Hwa bit down hard on her lip and nodded.
“I will obey.”
“Go! Now!”
"Yes!"
As Geum Hwa rushed away, Gwan Hae exhaled deeply.
'Is this also the Buddha's will?'
Everything was merely karma.
If Emei was paying for its karma, then it must be the sins they had committed returning to them.
The sin Gwan Hae had committed was the sin of not properly looking after those who suffered and groaned in the world.
And the sin Emei had committed...
A bitter smile flickered across Gwan Hae’s lips.
‘I cannot even bring myself to resent it.’
The sin of turning a blind eye to those who had once bled and fought for the world.
'If this is the karma, then I must accept it. But...'
How could the young disciples, who had just joined Emei, bear the weight of that sin? It was far too cruel a punishment.
"Oh Guanyin..."
If Guanyin were to save all living beings with compassion, surely she would extend her hand to Emei’s youngest disciples.
Gwan Hae could only believe so.
"Come, Evil Sects scum. Emei will not fall easily."
"An old nun with nothing but a sharp tongue! Attack!"
Thousand-Faced Gentleman conjured hundreds of after-images and charged toward Gwan Hae.
At the same time, elites of Hao Secy and Blood Palace warriors once again gained momentum and began to push back against Emei's nuns.
“Ryeonju-nim!”
A man prostrated himself behind Jang Ilso, who was calmly observing Emei’s destruction.
"Emei will be dealt with within moments."
“Mhm.”
Jang Ilso tilted his head slightly to the side as if wondering.
"How easy."
“....”
“It’s much simpler than I thought. It’s almost humiliating. I’ve been bowing down to people like this?”
Jang Ilso chuckled.
It was ridiculous.
It was true that they had prepared thoroughly, but no matter what, a sect like Emei should not have collapsed so easily.
By his calculations, this should have taken more time, and Evil Tyrant Alliance should have suffered greater sacrifices.
But when the lid was lifted, the battle turned out to be disappointingly one-sided.
It meant that Emei's strength had never lived up to its reputation.
While Evil Sects tore at each other in countless wars, the ones in Sichuan had been living leisurely lives, as if they were immortals untouched by the world. Like sheep who never thought they would be chased by wolves.
"Makes my stomach turn."
Jang Ilso laughed quietly. His expression was distorted and eerie, like that of an evil spirit.
The world is not fair.
Some are born into wealthy families, believing a tiny thorn in their finger is the most terrible thing in existence.
Some people are born in dirty cesspools, forced to slit throats just for a single meal.
He didn’t necessarily resent that truth…
"Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter."
Jang Ilso muttered to himself before asking:.
“Thousand-Faced Gentleman?”
"He's engaging Grandmaster Gwan Hae. With the Red Hounds supporting him, he'll soon sever the old woman's head."
“Hmm.”
Jang Ilso nodded and issued a command.
“Go tell Thousand-Faced Gentleman.”
"Yes!"
"Once Emei is dealt with, split the forces in two. Tell him to lead Blood Palace and Hao Sect and go take care of Jeomchang.”
“Hao Sect and Blood Palace… Both of them?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
At Jang Ilso's retort, the prostrated man hurriedly bowed his head even deeper.
"N- No! I will convey it as such!"
"Yes, yes. That will do."
Jang Ilso smiled gently.
"And tell our Myriad Man Manor to prepare separately."
“...Where to?”
"We’re going to collect a debt."
“...Pardon?”
Jang Ilso's gaze turned north.
“The wine I gave the Poison King back then turned out to be more expensive than I thought.”
He could have crushed Tang Family on his way down from trampling Qingcheng if he put his mind to it.
But attacking Emei, which had preserved its strength intact, was a priority over Tang Family without its main forces. Striking them before they could prepare upon hearing Qingcheng’s fate would minimize losses.
With Emei now somewhat settled, Jang Ilso finally had some leisure.
“Tang Gun-ak, Tang Gun-ak....”
A sinister light flickered in Jang Ilso’s eyes as he murmured the name.
The image of Tang Gun-ak who had alone invaded Myriad Man Manor, threatened him, and then just leave was still vivid in his memory.
"I’ve always wondered."
“....”
"Whether that expressionless face of Poison King would remain unchanged even if all those bearing Tang Family name were killed and their lineage dried up. Whether he could still spout that nauseating nonsense about friends and such even then."
The prostrate person's body trembled.
"This time, I’d like to find out. Hahahah! Ahahahahahah! Ahahahahahahahahahaha!”
A sinister laughter rang out thunderously, as if commemorating the annihilation of the renowned Buddhist Emei Sect. It was a maniacal laughter so loud one might want to cover their ears.
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