Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1428. So is this sword a failure? (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Terrifying.
This was the first thought that crossed Hyun Jong's mind.
It was difficult to explain the exact reason, but it sent a chill down his spine. The person who filled Hyun Jong's mind was none other than bangjang of Shaolin, Bop Jeong.
'In that situation....'
Did he foresee this far ahead?
No, no. That can't be. No matter how extraordinary Bop Jeong was, he couldn’t have predicted that Tang Family would abandon their home and flee or that vil Tyrant Alliance would split into two forces.
Right. That was the logical assumption.
But....
'Isn’t that even more of a problem?'
If this entire situation wasn't calculated, Bop Jeong's intention was surely just one thing. Somehow saving only Jeomchang.
But if what follows was a situation where Mount Hua and Tang Family turned their backs on Jeomchang. How would Bop Jeong react?
"Disaster..."
The word slipped from his tongue before his thoughts could fully form.
There was no other way to describe the outcome but those two characters: 'Catastrophe'. Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Comrade Alliance would forever be divided, unable to walk the same path again.
‘What should we do...?’
It was a cruel crossroads.
Even if there was no intention, the fact remains that Bop Jeong took a risk and created an opportunity for them to escape. To discard Bop Jeong’s expectations was inhuman.
But abandoning Tang Family wasn’t an option either. To forsake Tang Family was no different from abandoning the very foundation of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Wasn't Heavenly Comrade Alliance defined by never abandoning a comrade under any circumstances?
No, even if Heavenly Comrade Alliance permitted it, Hyun Jong could never.
Hyun Jong's hands trembled.
If he chose Tang Family, he would abandon his promise to Bop Jeong and the faith placed upon him. If he chose Jeomchang, he would uphold faith but close his eyes to his comrade’s sacrifice.
How can one possibly choose between those two?
But there was no time to contemplate deeply. If Myriad Man Manor was already pursuing Tang Family, and the remaining forces of Evil Tyrant Alliance were heading for Jeomchang, they had to act now. Otherwise, both would be lost.
"Gra- Grand Sect Elder. This is..."
Un Am's voice trembled as if understanding the situation. Just as Hyun Jong, unable to choose, clenched his eyes shut.
“Phew....”
A soft exhale.
A sound so quiet yet piercingly clear struck their ears. When Hyun Jong turned his head, he saw the composed expression of Tang Gun-ak.
“There’s… There’s no other way.”
“Gaju-nim....”
“We must go to Jeomchang. Maengju-nim.”
Hyun Jong's eyes widened.
"Ga- Gaju-nim! What are you saying! Right now, Myriad Man Manor and Jang Ilso are pursuing Tang Family's members! If we don't help them..."
"As I said."
Tang Gun-ak replied with a voice that was all too calm.
"Tang Family is not so weak. Even Myriad Man Manor cannot kill them all. Those who are meant to live will survive."
However, Hyun Jong did not miss the subtle trembling in Tang Gun-ak’s voice. No, perhaps even someone as oblivious as him could tell how visibly it shook.
“Gaju-nim....”
"If we do not go to Jeomchang, we will give them justification. Bangjang, who until now hasn’t been fond of Heavenly Comrade Alliance but kept a working relationship for lack of justification, will now raise his voice and denounce us without restraint.”
Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut. That scene vividly played out in his mind as well.
But....
"Of course, faith is important. However... that is not everything. Gaju-nim, how..."
“Maengju-nim.”
Tang Gun-ak cuts off Hyun Jong's words.
"We must prevent the rift with Ten Great Sects by any means. Especially in times like these!"
“....”
"We must go to Jeomchang."
Hyun Jong turned back with a dazed face. The people he looked at were not his disciples, but the elite of Tang Family who were following behind Tang Gun-ak.
Those currently being chased by Jang Ilso are broadly Tang Family members, but narrowly, they are these people's brothers, parents, and children.
Tang Gun-ak’s words meant they would leave those very people to die at the hands of the Evil Sects. Words too cold, too heartless, too painful.
However, not one of Tang Family objected to Tang Gun-ak’s words. They simply bit their lips, gripped their thighs, and endured the situation.
Because they knew.
Right or wrong, Tang Gun-ak, the one forced to make this choice, was suffering the most. So they gritted their teeth and endured the agony of their insides being torn apart.
Even Tang Pae, sogaju of Tang Family.
“How....”
“You must go to Jeomchang! Grand Sect Leader.”
Hyun Jong turned his trembling eyes toward the speaker.
Tang Soso.
The youngest of Mount Hua Sect and the daughter of Tang Gun-ak continued speaking, somehow holding on despite her chin trembling.
"Isn't this what we must do?"
“Soso....”
“This isn’t something to hesitate....”
At that moment, someone grabbed Tang Soso's shoulder and gently pulled her back.
“....”
Startled, Tang Soso turned her head and found Yoo Iseol’s expressionless face standing behind her.
“Enough.”
A voice that sounds emotionless but is filled with worry. Tang Soso's shoulders twitched at the voice.
“No. No, Sago… We must go to Jeomchang. To Jeomchang.”
"I understand, so stop."
“We didn’t make it this far on our strength alone. We can’t become a burden. Tang Family is not such a place..."
Yoo Iseol gently pulled Tang Soso and patted her shoulder. Tang Soso lowered her head, unable to continue.
Silence.
A deep silence fell between them.
“Grand Sect Leader.”
The one who spoke was none other than Baek Cheon.
"I understand the situation... but is it really impossible to divide our forces?"
Hyun Jong's face distorted at Baek Cheon's words.
It wasn’t out of anger but because a terrible temptation had visited him in that instant. Perhaps by dividing the forces into two, they might be given a chance to save both. A chance not to lose either.
Even if everything failed, couldn't he at least excuse himself by saying he made a minimal effort?
It was an overwhelmingly sweet temptation. So much so that even Hyun Jong of the world had to waver for a moment. But Hyun Jong desperately pushed away the temptation that had come to him.
“That won’t do. If we're not careful, Mount Hua and Tang Family might be individually defeated. If Jang Ilso knows we'll move like that and has laid a trap, we'll have no way to withstand it."
Baek Cheon bowed his head deeply.
His thoughts were not much different. He had simply brushed away remaining regrets.
“I understand what you mean, Grand Sect Leader. But if so, then isn’t going after Tang Family the right choice?”
“Baek Cheon-ah....”
“Not just Tang Family. There may not be a major issue seeing the timing, but Sichuan is also the hometown of that bastard Gol. If we go to Jeomchang, who knows what might happen there?"
Hyun Jong flinches and turns to Jo-Gol.
Then Jo-Gol shouted angrily at Baek Cheon.
“Why are you suddenly bringing up my house!”
“It’s crucial.”
“Why does that matter! While everyone else is fighting with their lives, are you saying I should go protect my house? You think my father would praise me for that! He would call me a disgrace and scream at me for being a useless son!"
"Gol-ah!"
Jo-Gol snapped his head to Hyun Jong.
“Please don’t consider my house. Grand Sect Leader. They are merchants and not martial artists.”
Hyun Jong bites his lips.
He understood Jo-Gol’s intent. But could he just leave them be?
"I do agree about going to Tang Family. We must protect them! It’s not like there are people to fight there! Protecting the weak is obviously our duty.”
"Jeomchang isn’t in a better position."
"Sahyung!"
Jo-Gol shouted at Yoon Jong's answer.
"If we’re to help the weak, then Jeomchang is no different! Just because we lack ties, just because they’re not part of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, it’s not right to push them to a lower priority....”
“Are you saying this isn’t Chivalrousness?”
"No."
Yoon Jong looked at Jo-Gol with resolute eyes.
"This is not Chivalrousness."
“....”
"Choosing only those you prefer to save is not Chivalrousness. There is no high or low among people. Whoever they may be."
“Damn it! A grand Taoist we’ve got here!”
Jo-Gol growled and flared up.
"Then be a sage, Sahyung! I will become a friend of Tang Family!"
“Gol!”
“No, from the beginning....”
Just as the argument between the two was about to intensify, Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth.
"We do not have time for this."
His words were like cold water thrown on everyone.
“Jo-Gol Dojang.”
“...Gaju-nim.”
“Thank you.”
“....”
Jo-Gol shut his mouth tightly.
“And Baek Cheon Dojang as well. But we cannot go to Tang Family right now. What we would lose is too great."
“Things like faith…”
“Not only faith. Above all else, the perception Kangho holds. The perception that Heavenly Comrade Alliance will help even if it's not a sect belonging to it would collapse."
Baek Cheon flinched at Tang Gun-ak's resolute words.
It was something he had tried not to think about, but Tang Gun-ak deliberately brought it out.
“That would mean the understanding that the world trusted in Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s sense of chivalry is shaken. In the end, they'll think that we also take care of our own people first when things get urgent. Who would trust such a group? If that happens, Heavenly Comrade Alliance will lose the one thing it must never lose. Compared to that…”
Tang Gun-ak spoke ruthlessly.
“Lives of those who can’t fight are just a small part.”
“....”
He wanted to get angry.
He wanted to shout ‘how could you say such a thing’. But no one could do that. Because the one who uttered those words was none other than Tang Gun-ak.
“The threat of Evil Tyrant Alliance is no longer a possibility. They are driving a blade into the heart of Jungwon. If Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Comrade Alliance divide in this situation, it's over. Jang Ilso will naturally widen that gap further and set fire to the world."
“....”
"Do as I say."
“Gaju-nim....”
"If you respect me as the head of Tang Family, then listen to me just this once. At least let me decide the fate of my family."
Everyone bit their lips and stared at Tang Gun-ak.
“I ask this of you.”
Tang Gun-ak bows his head.
It was too desperate a plea. Who could possibly refuse?
Even the shouting Jo-Gol, the resolute Baek Cheon, and even the wavering Hyun Jong turned their gazes away from that gesture.
But only one person.
“...Ugh.”
There was just one person who didn't.
“Fuck… It’s so fucking noisy.”
“Chung Myung-ah!”
“Hey, you punk!”
Chung Myung, whom Tang Gun-ak had temporarily put down, raises his upper body. Scratching the back of his head with one hand, he looked at the ones running toward him and clicked his tongue.
“You okay, Chung Myung?”
“Why? You wish I die?”
“No, you rascal. What are you talking about....”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Move aside. Doesn’t feel like this is the time for it.”
At his words, Five Swords was startled and stepped back. Space opened between Chung Myung and Tang Gun-ak.
“I was wondering if something’s been going on while I was out… Seems Jang Ilso really is something, huh."
“...You.”
“To make the head of the world-renowned gaju start spouting nonsense.”
Tang Gun-ak's face hardened.
"You're making a fuss over something that isn’t even worth worrying. Hey, Sasuk."
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
"Where?"
"Where else? Isn’t it obvious?"
Chung Myung jumps up and grins.
"We're going to Tang Family. And while at it, we'll cut off Jang Ilso's head too."
It was the moment the atmosphere shifted entirely.
|Note
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