Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1673. Isn't this what you wanted? (3)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
The standoff between the smiling man and the stiff-faced man continued briefly.
"I'm curious. How did you know?"
Jang Ilso tilted his head as if puzzled.
“That I am here?”
“One can know.”
An even voice leaked out from the mouth of the old Taoist, Heo Do Jin-in.
"I thought and thought again. For the past few years, about you alone."
"Tsk, tsk..."
Jang Ilso slowly shook his head. An expression of clear displeasure appeared openly on his face.
"An old man's attention just feels uncomfortable, you know."
Heo Do Jin-in's eyes were endlessly dark.
The Wudang elders he had brought also stared with tense faces at the man in red robes standing before them.
'R- Really...'
Jang Ilso was here. Right before them, close enough to grab if they reached out.
They descended the mountain at Heo Do Jin-in's direction, but honestly, they had been half-doubtful. But just as Heo Do Jin-in said, they had encountered Jang Ilso here.
It was an almost absurd result.
Who could have imagined that just by passing through the enemy’s attacks, they could face Jang Ilso so easily?
No one in the world knows, but perhaps at this moment, Heo Do Jin-in had the upper hand in the battle of wits against Jang Ilso. Even if Jang Ilso was ignorant of Heo Do Jin-in or let his guard down, the outcome would have been the same.
And perhaps... they might achieve results beyond simply being ahead in the battle of wits.
The great feat of capturing Paegun Jang Ilso.
That immense glory that could restore Wudang's tarnished honor to the very pinnacle of the martial world in one stroke.
'Indeed... As expected of Sahyung.'
In a situation where everyone was distracted by the war itself, only Heo Do Jin-in had penetrated the essence of this war.
That neither the fire attack burning the mountain nor the enemy invasion driving the disciples to death was the key to deciding victory or defeat.
The one holding the key to decide victory or defeat on Mount Wudang now was only one. The man before his eyes, Paegun Jang Ilso.
“Well, anyway...”
Jang Ilso leisurely looked around at the burning Wudang. Though there was quite a distance from here to the battlefield, the noise from there was reaching here vividly.
"Honestly, I'm a bit surprised."
“...”
"Even if you predicted I am here, I didn't expect someone in a position to defend the mountain to abandon it and descend personally. What kind of wind blows our old-fashioned Taoists, hm?”
Jang Ilso smiled briefly with his eyes.
“Even at this moment, your precious young disciples must be dying and dropping dead, you see.”
At those words, Heo Do Jin-in briefly glanced toward the mountain. Then he fixed his gaze back on Jang Ilso.
It was not incorrect.
On that mountain, Wudang's disciples were still bleeding even now. Perhaps his role might be to stand there, lead everyone, fight together, and die.
But Heo Do Jin-in didn't believe that was truly the right path. That would be nothing more than simple self-satisfaction.
What he must do was none other than stand here. Right before that man, in the most dangerous place under heaven.
"I simply know what is more important."
Heo Do Jin-in said as if spitting the words out.
"I can't repeat the mistake committed by being unable to endure a brief momentary pain. Thanks to you, I realized. That sometimes there are times one must endure and hold out."
“...”
"To save Wudang, I can endure even the pain of my entire body burning in hellfire. That's the karma I must bear."
“...Hm?”
Jang Ilso's eyes narrowed. At that gaze like a snake filled with venom, Heo Do Jin-in's heart began involuntarily pounding.
Jang Ilso, who was staring intently at Heo Do Jin-in's face, parted his lips slightly and revealing his white teeth.
"People, you see... Sometimes they're quite foolish. To the extent they don't even know well what they want or what they are doing.”
“Enough with the nonsense...”
"Is that really what you wanted? Does it seem so?"
Jang Ilso’s gaze shifted to behind Heo Do Jin-in. Wudang elders he had brought were lined up. The most critical forces of Wudang, who should have been in the middle of fighting if things were normal.
What does it mean that they're here?
"Pigs with twisted guts are utterly desperate to cover what they truly desire with plausible wrapping. Great cause, chivalry, justice, future... They cover it with such nauseating words and believe it themselves.”
“Paegun.”
"But... I can see. What you truly want. Your desire hidden in those words covered in sweet sugar. You just...”
Jang Ilso made a gesture as if drawing a line across his own white, straight neck with his fingernail. That single gesture silenced everyone and drew their attention. Jang Ilso harbored a deep sneer.
"Want this neck."
Heo Do Jin-in's face froze cold as ice.
"You..."
"Any other words are just excuses attached as you please. Your inner heart is different, isn't it? Since it's just us here, be honest with yourself.”
Jang Ilso's small whisper strangely reached clearly to everyone's ears here. Each word of his made Heo Do Jin-in recall the past. That cruel cliff, that horrifying disgrace.
Squeeze.
Heo Do Jin-in added strength tightly to the grip holding his sword.
All of that can be redeemed. If only he had that man’s neck... all his mistakes will be washed away, and Kangho won't hesitate to elevate Wudang again in the highest seat under heaven.
That neck can reduce sacrifices.
That neck can reclaim Wudang's future.
That neck can wash away all his mistakes.
Only that neck... That...
It was then.
“What’s with all that solemn resolve?”
As Heo Do Jin-in was sinking into the abyss, Jang Ilso's voice suddenly pierced his ear. It was an indifferent and languid tone.
"Perhaps you think you've made some great move that will turn the tide of this battle? Hm? Do you think something will change just by standing in front of me?”
That supremely condescending tone pierced straight into the heart of the now-aged Heo Do Jin-in.
“...Paegun.”
"You seem to be mistaken. Coming this far is praiseworthy, but that doesn't mean something changes."
Jang Ilso was laughing. No, sneering.
At Heo Do Jin-in, who finally stood here after making the decision to abandon his disciples with bone-carving pain. At his choice. And furthermore, at him.
"Do you know why?"
“...”
“Because the one standing before me now is merely you, Heo Do.”
It was a remark that could be dismissed as just a simple and light provocation.
But strangely, upon hearing these words, the greatest crack appeared on Heo Do Jin-in's expressionless face.
“Hahaha.”
Jang Ilso, who didn't miss this change, laughed eerily.
“How unsightly. An actor remaining on stage not knowing his role has already ended! He's the only one unaware that no one is watching him anymore.”
Pareureu.
Heo Do Jin-in's sword trembled faintly for a moment.
He had been waiting for this moment alone. Hadn't he endured the seclusion for this very moment?
Yet now, after turning a blind eye to his disciples' deaths and the burning temple to finally face him, Jang Ilso wasn't even treating him as a worthy opponent.
Heo Do Jin-in gritted his teeth and spoke calmly.
"Such provocation tactics..."
However, Jang Ilso clicked his tongue and let out a cold laugh before he could even finish. A flash of contempt shone in his pale eyes.
"Provocation tactics? Tsk, tsk. This is why old people. Do you still think you have value worth that? Hm?"
“...”
“How pathetic.”
What really angered Heo Do Jin-in was not Jang Ilso's words themselves.
It was Jang Ilso’s eyes. Indifferent eyes looking down on something worthless. It even seemed like something akin to pity looking at something very pitiful and primitive was lurking within him.
Those eyes were completely twisting the temper of this old Taoist who had practiced aloofly all his life.
“Jang... Ilso.”
"Packaging what you threw away because you couldn't bear it as ‘patience,'’ and calling what you gave up on because you couldn't overcome it ‘sacrifice’?"
Jang Ilso chuckled.
“Truly insignificant. That thing called the Tao (도(道)) as well.”
“You...!”
Heo Do Jin-in gritted his teeth.
“What do you know…!”
"Ah."
Jang Ilso slowly waved his hand.
"I'd like to play more, but... I have things to do on my end as well. I don’t have time to waste on a withered old man who’s just waiting for his day to die.”
Kararak.
The rings on his fingers rubbed against one another, releasing an eerie sound.
“If you simply cannot accept it, then confirm it with that old body of yours. Just how meaningless the time given to us all equally has been for you.”
Heo Do Jin-in's hand holding the sword trembled.
"Now... I'll make sure you regret those words."
“I'm sure you will.”
“Jang Ilsoooooooooooooooooo!”
Heo Do Jin-in's sword flew towards Jang Ilso like a ray of light.
* * *
"Strategist?"
“...”
“What is it? Is there perhaps some kind of problem…?”
The adjutants tense up when Ho Gamyeong, who had been issuing commands, suddenly fell silent. However, Ho Gamyeong didn't even glance at them and just stared fixedly at the top of the mountain before darkening his eyes and speaking.
“It’s easy.”
"Yes?"
“Far too easy.”
For a moment, doubt crossed the adjutants’ faces.
Easy? The assault on the enemy lines was still dragging on.
Though Thousand-Faced Gentleman stepped to the forefront and they gained a bit of momentum by deploying Sun Palace's forces, that was all. Considering Ho Gamyeong's known stance of never permitting complacency under any circumstances, the situation hardly warranted such a description.
One of the adjutants spoke cautiously.
"Their resistance is still fierce, Strategist."
“It shouldn't be just ‘fierce’. The opponent is Wudang.”
"Ah..."
Ho Gamyeong narrowed his eyes.
When the enemy feels weaker than anticipated, two possibilities arise. One, a trap. And the other…
'They divided their forces? No. This isn’t a situation where they could aim for the rear. Then….’
Ho Gamyeong’s gaze shifted toward below the mountain, or more precisely, somewhere beyond the mountain that could not possibly be seen from here.
Eventually, a hardened voice leaked from Ho Gamyeong’s mouth along with a sigh.
“I see. They are targeting Ryeonju-nim. No, have they perhaps already reached him?”
“What? S- Strategist. What are you saying right now…!”
The adjutants' faces turned ashen. They too were capable enough to assist Ho Gamyeong in military strategy, so they couldn't not understand Ho Gamyeong's meaning.
"W- We must send reinforcements at once…"
"That's enough."
"Huh?"
Ho Gamyeong let out a cold sneer.
“The best move they could come up with was that….”
A brilliant move? No, something like this doesn't even deserve to be called a move. It was merely the desperate struggle thrown recklessly by one who has lost the momentum for victory.
“Even if they realized they needed to target the tiger, if the one biting at its tail is merely a dog, it will only end up bitten back to death instead. Not knowing their place and thinking they were the tiger, how foolish."
Or… It could mean that the wounds suffered by Heo Do Jin-in were greater than Ho Gamyeong had anticipated. To the extent that someone who possessed sharpness would decline (영락(零落)) this much.
He has already seen it countless times. The sight of those captivated by the past losing themselves.
Anyway, thanks to that, he seized an opportunity.
“Listen.”
“Yes, Strategist!”
"Commit all available forces. We take that cliff within the next quarter-hour."
"Yes!"
The adjutants began to move busily. Ho Gamyeong still kept his gaze fixed on the cliff. He ruminates on his foolish choice.
The ones burning Wudang were neither Evil Tyrant Alliance nor the Sun Palace.
It was none other than them. They have ended Wudang’s history with their own hands at this moment. With an irreversible choice.
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