Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1429. So is this sword a failure? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Tang Gun-ak stared at Chung Myung with a hardened face.
Chung Myung's expression was calm. Now he truly seemed as if nothing was wrong. As the one who knew Chung Myung's condition best, Tang Gun-ak couldn’t possibly be unaware of how recklessly he was pushing himself.
So there was only one thing he could say.
“Heavenly Comrade Alliance. I appreciate your consideration. But I will decline that proposal.”
Chung Myung, who had been groaning and rubbing his waist, tilted his head slightly to look at Tang Gun-ak.
“What?”
"...We will not go to Tang Family."
“Hah.”
Chung Myung exhaled a short breath and asked indifferently.
"Why?"
“Because it is the right thing to do.”
“The right thing?”
Tang Gun-ak nodded heavily.
"I am deeply grateful for your concern for Tang Family. But Tang Family cannot bear that burden. Could more blood shed because of the lives of a few Tang Family members?"
“....”
"...Let us go to Jeomchang. That is the right choice."
Tang Gun-ak's tone was firm. But his heart felt as though it was being sliced with a blade.
He knew. Now that Chung Myung had woken up and stated this, no one would oppose going to save Tang Family. That just by remaining silent, he could go save his family.
But Tang Gun-ak couldn't do that. Because he was Tang Gun-ak that he couldn’t.
“Ga- Gaju-nim. Even when Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword says this much…”
“Silence!”
Tang Pae, who was trying to change Tang Gun-ak's mind in this gap, deeply bowed his head at the cold gaze of Tang Gun-ak.
"My decision will not change. So this time to Jeomchang... Are you listening to me right now?"
"Yeah, sure. Go ahead. I’ll listen."
Even when Tang Gun-ak spoke with utmost seriousness, Chung Myung's reaction was anything but serious.
After picking his ear with his pinky finger, Chung Myung blew on the finger he pulled out, then turned to look at Tang Gun-ak with a blank face.
“Don’t you have anything else to say?”
Tang Gun-ak's face trembled for a moment.
He had forgotten. No, he hadn’t forgotten... Despite not forgetting, he had forgotten. That this man was originally this kind of person.
“You done?”
“You…”
Just as Tang Gun-ak was about to say something, Chung Myung called out to Baek Cheon with a dull expression.
“Hey, Sasuk.”
"Huh?"
“Did something weird happened while I was asleep?”
"Whatever nonsense you mean?"
"No, I don't think someone would’ve shoved poison into that Tang Gaju yangban’s head, but why is he putting on such heavy airs?"
“Eii, poison or whatever, hasn’t Tang Gaju always been like tha… Ah. Pardon me.”
Receiving a glare, Baek Cheon hurriedly coughed falsely and subtly averted his gaze. Tang Gun-ak’s face distorted miserably.
‘This...’
How reliable was Baek Cheon when Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword lost consciousness? It was to the point where he thought he would have no more wishes if Tang Pae could just follow half of him.
But as soon as Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword came to his senses, that trustworthy figure disappeared without a trace, and a person who looked like a local thug was standing there.
The others were the same.
The moment Chung Myung regained consciousness, the blade-like momentum surrounding Mount Hua relaxed as if it were a lie. Even Jo-Gol, who had looked ready to swing his sword in fury at any moment, was now grinning foolishly.
“No, so what’s the conclusion?”
“I’m saying we must go to Jeomchang!”
In a moment of irritation, Tang Gun-ak shouted nervously.
“If we don’t go to Jeomchang, Bop Jeong will surely hold us accountable for it. Someone of your caliber wouldn't be unaware of that, would you?"
“I don’t know the exact situation… but yeah, I guess?”
"Then why are you being stubborn?"
“No, I didn’t know you had a sense of humor.”
“What?”
Tang Gun-ak stared blankly at Chung Myung.
“No, think about it. How can someone who knows the Great Bald King so well say something like that?”
A flicker of doubt crossed Tang Gun-ak's face. What was this punk talking about now?
Then Chung Myung continued.
“Let’s say we go to Jeomchang like that guy wants and save them? Do you think the Great Bald King will be overcome with gratitude, streaming tears while saying, 'I see Heavenly Comrade Alliance in a new light! Now we are brothers bound by blood! Let's fight against Evil Tyrant Alliance together!' Is that what you think will happen?"
Tang Gun-ak was momentarily speechless.
And the answer to that question came from the others and not Tang Gun-ak.
“No way.”
“How could that be?”
“Amitabha… He’s not that kind of person.”
Tang Gun-ak stared blankly at Five Swords as if he was struck. Even Hye Yeon was shaking his head.
Chung Myung clicked his tongue.
“At best, we’ll get something like, ‘I’ll overlook this one time’. So what do we even gain? That Ten Great Sects look a little more favorably upon Heavenly Comrade Alliance? What are we giving up for something like that?"
“...Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”
“Get a grip, you yangban.”
Suddenly, a sharp momentum burst forth from Chung Myung. Caught off guard, Tang Gu-nak instinctively stepped back.
But Chung Myung's momentum soon disappeared as if it were an illusion, and what was left in its place was Chung Myung grinning mischievously as usual.
"If you feel blood rushing to your head, let some out. There are plenty of needles lying around. I know from being stabbed myself that it works wonders.”
Chung Myung chuckled and glanced at Tang Soso. The large eyes of Tang Soso who had been silently biting her lips was streaming with tears.
Startled, Chung Myung quickly turned his head and muttered.
“…Why is she crying now, my gosh.”
Chung Myung cleared his throat and this time looked at Hyun Jong instead of Tang Gun-ak.
“Sect Leader.”
“N- No, I’m Grand Sect Leader right now....”
“Stop listening to the nonsense of a confused man and let’s go already. Let’s go quickly. You should know how to scold the child when he throws a tantrum. Why are you listening to every little detail? It's a waste of time."
“...I’m sorry.”
Hyun Jong found himself reflexively apologizing at Chung Myung’s blatant reprimand. Though he wasn't quite sure what he'd done wrong, looking at that face with its crumpled expression somehow made him feel he should apologize.
"Anyone else have something to say?"
No one opened their mouths. Then Tang Gun-ak bit his lips tightly.
“This right now is…”
"Geez, you’re persistent. Fine, if you’re so set on it, take whoever wants to go and head to Jeomchang. But I doubt anyone here will follow you, Gaju-nim."
At those words, Tang Gun-ak unconsciously looked back at his own people.
The elite of the Tang family all turned away from his gaze as if saying they would absolutely not go to Jeomchang. Just a moment ago, they seemed ready to jump into the fires of hell at the order of Tang Gun-ak.
“...These rascal....”
“I’ll accept punishment.”
Tang Pae spoke on their behalf.
"Even if we have our limbs cut off for insubordination, we will endure it gladly. But Gaju-nim. No, Father."
Tang Pae faced Tang Gun-ak with a gaze more upright than ever before.
“I remember what Father told me. You clearly told me this: The patriarch of Tang Family must be someone who can do anything for Tang Family, right or wrong."
“....”
"That’s why I cannot obey Father. I will go to rescue my family. That is my decision as sogaju and as a member of Tang Family."
Tang Gun-ak bit down softly on his lower lip. After glaring at Tang Pae for a long moment, his eyes shifted to the person who had caused this entire mess. Tang Gun-ak, who had been breathing heavily as if about to explode in rage, eventually just sighed.
"How do you intend to bear the consequences of this?"
“....”
"You must be right. I’m sure you are. Even if we go to Jeomchang, Bop Jeong will never look kindly upon us. But that’s still not the same as becoming true enemies with them. And the way all the people of the world look at us will also never be the same again. How will you bear that? Who will pay that price..."
“Me.”
Tang Gun-ak's eyes suddenly widened. Yet Chung Myung remained utterly composed.
“Who will bear it, you ask? I will. It’s obvious.”
“....”
"Go ahead and let them curse at me all they want. Since when have I done just to please others? I've always been a person who lives life the way I wanted anyway. What's the big deal now."
“Yep, he does.”
“A bit too much. No, way too much.”
"As a human being, he should've at least cared a bit about how others look at him, shouldn't he? How can someone live like that?”
“But these bastards?”
When Chung Myung glared, Five Swords flinched and turned their heads. After shooting them a glare, Chung Myung looked back at Tang Gun-ak.
He knew too. Why Tang Gun-ak trying to go to Jeomchang right now.
But Chung Myung, for the life of him, go along with those words.
Because he knew the kind of hell awaited those who sacrificed what should never be sacrificed for the sake of the ‘greater good’. He knows all too well how painful that is.
So he couldn't push Tang Gun-ak into that hell.
“I’ll die for the sake of the world. That’s a hero. I greatly respect people like that. But..."
Chung Myung's face twisted.
"A person who shouts that you must die for the world is just an idiot and a stupid. Even more so if the person they're shouting that to is their own family.”
Beneath his wide sleeve, Tang Gun-ak's hand trembled faintly.
"And if a friend acts like an idiot, you beat some sense into them. Isn’t that right?”
Under Chung Myung's unwavering stare, Tang Gun-ak finally shut his eyes tightly.
"You."
"Yes."
When he opened his eyes again, the look in Tang Gun-ak's eyes was as if they were burning.
"Are you truly prepared to bear the consequences of all this?"
“....”
“Are you doing this not just out of pity for us, but with the determination to shoulder all of the consequences? Is that truly so?"
Instead of answering, Chung Myung shouted.
“Sasuk!”
“Yes!”
Baek Cheon threw Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword that he had been holding onto the whole time to Chung Myung. Catching that sword, Chung Myung immediately drew it out and swung it. The sword in his hand drew a clear line and landed right at Tang Gun-ak’s neck.
The green tassel dangling from the sword’s pommel swayed violently.
Chung Myung spoke as if growling.
"If I were trying to avoid responsibility, I wouldn’t have picked up a sword in the first place."
Chaeng!
The blade was smoothly sheathed once more. Chung Myung's sword, made by Tang Family, hung again at his waist. In the place where the sword originally belonged.
“So. Stop talking nonsense and say what you should say. What you were meant to say as the patriarch of Tang Family.”
A complex and strange light flickered in Tang Gun-ak’s eyes. Beneath his sleeves, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
These were the words he had most wanted to say yet couldn’t bring himself to utter.
Tang Gun-ak bowed his head deeply.
"Please go to Tang Family. Tang..."
He forced down the surge of emotion rising in his chest and spoke again.
"Please help Tang Family."
"As much as needed."
Chung Myung grabbed Tang Gun-ak's shoulder tightly, then spun around and shouted toward Mount Hua.
"Did you hear that, you bastards!"
"Uooohhhh!"
“No time to waste! Let’s go!”
A razor-sharp momentum erupted once more. The elite members of Tang Family, who were finally able to go where they needed to go, gathered all their energy.
Those who had been exhausted regained their vitality like a tightly drawn bowstring. The change was too immense to have been wrought by a single person.
"Let's hurry and go, Chung Myung!”
“You were giving us hell, but now you’ve come to your senses! You’re okay now, right?”
"We’re not too late if we leave now, yeah?"
Amidst people from here and there speaking to Chung Myung with smiles, Jo-Gol came over with a cheerful look. Chung Myung smiled brightly as he looked at him.
“Before that, Sahyung.”
"What?"
“Carry me.”
“...Huh?”
“My legs gave out.”
“....”
“Hurry.”
...Is this bastard really okay? Jo-Gol's shoulders slumped weakly.
|Note
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