Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1659. I don't like those stupid guys (4)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Rest!"
"Huff! Huff!"
As soon as the word 'rest' fell, the running alliance members stopped in place and panted roughly. But they did not relax. In each of their eyes, there was a clear sense of vigilance rather than relief at being able to rest.
Jo-Gol widened his eyes and spoke to Yoon Jong.
"Huh? Everyone seems surprisingly lively? I thought they'd all collapse as soon as we stopped."
"Not everyone is like Mount Hua."
"...Isn't that insulting Mount Hua?"
“It's the truth, isn't it? You can't cover the sky with your palm. With eyes watching from all sides, they can’t afford to show weakness easily.”
“Hmm.”
Jo-Gol scratched his cheek.
Hearing it like that, Mount Hua really was a shameless sect. If Mount Hua's people had gathered here, whether people from other sects were watching or not, they would have poured out groans and plopped down right there.
“Besides, there will be a sense of crisis that Evil Tyrant Alliance might attack at any time.”
"But Sect Leader Hong is scouting for us."
"Would you believe that at face value?"
"...Uncle Hong would be scratching at the ground if he heard that."
"That's what they call reaping what you sow."
“That’s true too.”
f Hong Dae-gwang had heard, he would have screamed at the top of his lungs, ‘What did I do wrong!’ But... what could be done? Inheriting the position of sect leader of Beggar Union was his sin.
"But are we resting already?"
"...Not everyone is like Mount Hua."
The same answer, but this time with a different meaning. Jo-Gol glanced around subtly. Though acting composed, quite a few people could be seen having difficulty with their breathing.
'Already?'
Jo-Gol slightly lowered his voice.
"I don't know if it's just my feeling but..."
"You're right. It's not just your feeling."
Yoon Jong agreed before even hearing the rest. Jo-Gol blinked.
'Certainly...'
If they were Mount Hua disciples, this level wouldn’t affect them at all. Which meant the Mount Hua youngsters mixed into this crowd had far superior stamina compared to disciples of other prestigious sects.
It felt strangely unbelievable… and strange.
Of course, stamina wasn't everything for a martial artist. However, didn't this mean that Mount Hua as a sect now had an area where it clearly surpassed other prestigious sects?
‘When did we become like this….’
Jo-Gol wasn’t a sentimental person, but he remembered clearly the days when Mount Hua was on the brink of collapse. He couldn't help but feel a particular emotion.
Feeling somewhat awkward, Jo-Gol muttered.
"Maybe it just looks that way right now?"
"Amitabha. That's not so, Siju."
Just then, Hye Yeon approached them and shook his head.
“Since you are always together, you might not know well, but the stamina of Mount Hua Sect disciples is abnormal and has aspects that go beyond common sense. That is not something trained simply through martial arts. It is likely the result of that…”
"The result of harsh and prolonged abuse?"
“…So to speak… Yes.”
Jo-Gol felt a bit deflated.
So in other words, as compensation for that bastard Chung Myung driving people like hell demons, Mount Hua disciples had obtained stamina that could be proudly presented as superior anywhere under the heavens.
Should he laugh at this, or cry?
“I have mixed feelings.”
“What are you talking about?”
"That’s…."
Jo-Gol, receiving Yoon Jong's gaze, scratched his head slightly.
"In any case, Mount Hua having something that surpasses other sects is something to be happy about..."
"But?"
"...Never mind."
Jo-Gol was about to say something but shook his head in the end. Seeing that, Yoon Jong chuckled quietly.
He probably meant that it would be nice if the people he was going to fight alongside from now on were a bit more reliable. Because leading those whose stamina was lacking into battle is a heavy burden.
"Stamina isn't everything for a martial artist."
“Yes, I know.”
"And..."
Yoon Jong slightly raised his head and muttered something unintelligible.
“Just because it’s Mount Hua doesn't mean everyone has good stamina.”
"What?"
“…Some are even infinitely stupid, too.”
His gaze turned in one direction. Toward the thick bushes a bit away from where they were.
Sweat that had formed on his chin dripped down.
"…Huuuu."
Baek Cheon quietly steadied his breathing and wiped the sweat pouring down like a waterfall with his sleeve.
'Damn it.'
Although he can suppress sweat using his internal strength, even that has a limit. No, honestly, even that was becoming a burden now.
Baek Cheon silently wiped his sweat and lifted his head. He was about to exhale long again when a soft voice reached him.
“Here.”
Looking towards where the sound came from, Yoo Iseol was standing beside him, having approached without a sound.
“Take it.”
Baek Cheon silently looked at what she held out. It was a piece of white cotton cloth. Something he hadn't thought to prepare.
"...It takes internal strength. Even to dry clothes."
After a moment of silence, Baek Cheon took the cloth Yoo Iseol offered. And wiped the sweat wetting his pale face.
Yoo Iseol, who had been staring at him indifferently, slowly opened her mouth.
"You look struggling."
“….”
“It would have been twice as fast if only Mount Hua were moving.”
Baek Cheon nodded in agreement. Then he tried to return the cloth he had finished wiping sweat with to Yoo Iseol but hesitated and instead stuffed it into his sleeve.
He spoke to Yoo Iseol with a calm face.
"Then there would have been another method."
“What method?”
"You're saying that because you think I might fall behind, right, Samae?"
Yoo Iseol just stared at Baek Cheon with an expression that made it hard to guess what she was thinking.
She knew. Baek Cheon would not have fallen behind. Even if only Mount Hua Sect had set out. Even if his lungs were tearing, he would have pretended to be fine and run to the end.
That was the kind of person Baek Cheon was. And that was exactly the problem.
Yoo Iseol asked.
“Why?”
“….”
“You could just use a reasonable excuse and drop out. The place Sahyung stands isn't at Mount Hua's forefront, so there's no need to push yourself."
"A reasonable excuse?"
"If you don't have one, I'll make one for you. Right now."
Baek Cheon's gaze lowered slightly. Yoo Iseol was gripping the Plum Blossom Sword at her waist. Baek Cheon ended up chuckling.
“Are you going to give me an injury or something?”
“….”
“It’s alright, Samae.”
“….”
“There’s no need to whine over something like this, so thank you for worrying but you don't need to concern yourself."
Yoo Iseol moved her lips as if to say something, then paused. Only after a moment did she raise her head slightly and look straight at Baek Cheon.
"Right now, I'm not at Mount Hua's forefront."
“…….”
"So there isn't one. Someone who will protect Sahyung in a crisis."
Baek Cheon remained silent with a bitter face. Just the fact that Yoo Iseol, usually so taciturn and inarticulate, was saying this much showed how worried she was. No, setting that aside, it was conveyed even without words.
Yoo Iseol pressed as if urging him.
"Still?"
Baek Cheon's answer does not change.
"Yes."
"Why? Who you have to protect..."
“Samae. Is Samae the kind of person who only wields her sword for Mount Hua?"
Yoo Iseol shut her mouth. Baek Cheon, who had been looking into her eyes for a long time, nodded his head.
"Right. That might be the case. But..."
Baekcheon's gaze turned beyond her to the distant sky.
"I'm a bit... Yes, I'm a bit different from Samae. It's hard to explain."
Baek Cheon, who had been muttering as if to himself for a moment, gave a faint smile. Unlike before, a hint of playfulness remained.
"But I guess I haven't lived a pathetic life. To have a samae who worries about me like this.”
"Pathetic. More than enough."
“Is that so?”
Baek Cheon smiled and patted Yoo Iseol's shoulder. Then he passed by her toward the main group.
"I think I'll be late, so I'll go ahead first."
"Sahyung."
"If you're that worried, Samae can help me."
Baek Cheon stood in place without turning back and said.
"You see. I always thought I should become an outstanding person to lead and help others. Because I believed I could become someone superior and greater than anyone else in the world.”
Yoo Iseol stared intently at Baek Cheon's back.
Certainly, the Baek Cheon of the past had that aspect. No, perhaps Baekcheon hadn't changed much until recently. He had just realized the vastness of the world and had found something that took precedence over himself.
"Do you remember what I said to the saje and sajil then?"
"…No."
Baek Cheon looked back at Yoo Iseol. A small smile formed on his lips.
"I'll be behind you, so don't be afraid and fight."
“….”
"Each person may be lacking, but Mount Hua is not weak. We can complement each other's shortcomings, and any disciple of Mount Hua can stand at Mount Hua's forefront.”
Yoo Iseol bit her lower lip tightly. Baek Cheon smiled a bit more brightly.
"The me who said such things can't tuck tail and run just because my body has weakened a bit. Then I'd really become all talk. So... So, um..."
Baek Cheon scratched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m not wrapping this up very neatly, but anyway, that's how it is. Samae, I don’t think you need to be strong in order to fight. It’s not that the strong fight, but that those who fight become strong.”
“….”
"It may be hard to understand when I put it like this, but anyway, don't worry too much."
Baek Cheon turned his body to walk away again when Yoo Iseol's voice softly tugged at his ear.
“…Still.”
“Hm?”
“You’re all talk, even now.”
Baek Cheon didn't look back.
Yoo Iseol, staring intently at him as he walked to rejoin the group, clutched her sword.
* * *
"Are you really going to do this!"
A throat-rending scream burst from Heo Sanja's mouth. But the disciples in front of him did not even flinch at his anger.
“Y- You foolish and stupid rascals…!”
Heo Sanja wiped his flushed face, which looked about to burst, with a trembling hand.
If it were a few, he would try to subdue them by force, but that wasn't the case either. There were too many disciples stubbornly insisting before his eyes.
And even if he subdued them, it would only be for a moment here. How could he possibly drag this many people all the way to Shaolin?
"It's Wudang! Do you truly intend to sever Wudang's history with your own hands?!"
Heo Do Jin-in said it would be useless, but Heo Sanja couldn't let go so easily. He couldn't let even these people die here in vain, could he?
“Heo Gong! You daaamned!"
The more his desperate and anguished heart grew, the more Heo Sanja's fury had to turn toward Heo Gong, who seemed to be at the center of the disciples.
"How can someone who's an elder of a sect be so foolishly stubborn! A gentleman's revenge..."
"Is not too late even after ten years."
“….”
“Is that right?”
Before Heo Sanja could even reply, Heo Gong continued with a resolute face.
"But we are not gentlemen, Sect Leader. Revenge may not be too late after ten years, but the resolve of a broken martial artist cannot be rebuilt even if twice that time passes."
"Y- You punk..."
“I would rather be a man of righteous spirit than a man of wisdom. That is what we learned here in Wudang.”
"Is that what you call righteous spirit, you...!"
Just as Heo Sanja was about to burst out in furious rage.
"Sect leader! S- Sect leaderrr!"
Several Wudang disciples came running, pale as death. From their desperate expressions, Heo Sanja already knew what words would follow.
“It is Evil Tyrant Alliance! They have appeared!”
A boulder of despair settled in Heo Sanja's two eyes.
"And... it seems too late to flee now."
At that moment, Heo Gong turned and looked around at the disciples. Everyone was standing with the same eyes as Heo Gong.
"Those who fear death, retreat. No one will condemn you."
Silence passed.
Not a single person moves. No one retreated.
Righteous spirit is something passed down, but sometimes, it also blooms in someone's heart.
Wudang is the central pillar of Taoism that has led Kangho. Amidst old Taoist scriptures and faded rules, the disciples had come to understand the weight of the swords they held.
“Those who do not fear death, follow me.”
Heo Gong slowly drew his sword.
"Today, we will etch the two characters for 'Wudang' into their minds forever."
The swords everyone silently drew shone under the midday sun. Just like the spirit when the two words 'Wudang' first came into existence in the world.
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