Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1677. Just Believe (1)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Yoon Jong came to understand. That when truly swept up in great bewilderment, one loses not only words but even thoughts.
'Why?'
It felt as if his mind had gone completely blank.
Why was Jang Ilso here? Why?
Nothing else came to mind other than that question. It felt as if the man in the red robe before his eyes had completely encroached upon his world.
"Uh..."
And it seemed Yoon Jong was not the only one like this.
Jo-Gol, Hye Yeon, Namgung Dowi, and even Baek Cheon were speechless and stared blankly at Jang Ilso. It felt like the world had stopped.
The presence of Jang Ilso, sitting leisurely as if living in a different world, made all these people freeze.
There was only one person moving in that desolate world.
Step.
The sound of Chung Myung's footsteps echoed like thunder in everyone's ears. It was also a sound that awakened their frozen minds.
Chung Myung's voice struck Yoon Jong's mind like pouring ice water.
“Good liquor, you say… You seem overflowing with leisure."
Then it belatedly entered his eyes. Chung Myung's back was already standing ahead of them facing Jang Ilso.
Ttuduk.
Yoon Jong’s muscles, which had stiffened with tension without him realizing, released all at once. His frozen brain began to turn again.
'Was he waiting to stop us?'
No. No.
The number of people Jang Ilso had brought wasn't large enough for that. No matter that he was Paegun Jang Ilso, trying to stop Heavenly Comrade Alliance with that number would go beyond recklessness and amount to suicide.
Then why was he sitting here so calmly? What in the world was he thinking?
Then, as if reading Yoon Jong's doubts, Jang Ilso gently stroked the liquor-filled cup with his fingernail and spoke.
“Despite how I may look, I am a person who knows manners, you see.”
Tok.
As he lightly pushed the cup, it slid smoothly across the tea table and stopped on the opposite side. As if the cup was prepared for the person who would sit there.
"To receive Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword of the world, shouldn't I at least prepare some fine liquor?"
Jang Ilso stared at Chung Myung with a bright smile. Then Chung Myung faced such Jang Ilso with a crooked smile.
“You have no idea how to treat a guest. You intend to treat me with merely liquor?”
“Hm, you are still a greedy child. But don't worry. That's why I've prepared a gift for you."
"...Gift?"
“Bring it.”
Doubt and wariness flashed through Chung Myung's eyes. Evil Tyrant Alliance martial artists behind them parted uniformly to the left and right. Through the gap, a person dragged something out.
'A person?'
It was a man half-conscious in a miserable state.
“...What is....”
"Huh?"
At that moment, someone among Heavenly Comrade Alliance members shouted in shock.
“H- Heo Do?”
"What?"
Everyone who had widened their eyes in surprise looked closely at the person being dragged out. An old man with swords embedded in his limbs as if to sever the muscles.
He really was Heo Do Jin-in.
"Th- This is crazy!"
Unlike the past, his completely white hair and face soaked in blood confused everyone for a moment, but there was no doubt.
The person being dragged out by Red Hound right now was undoubtedly Wudang's former sect leader, Heo Do Jin-in.
Kwadang!
Red Hound threw Heo Do Jin-in down like an old pair of shoes.
“That dog-like bastard!”
As Jo-Gol tried to rush forward with resentment, Yoon Jong gritted his teeth and grabbed his shoulder tightly.
"Don't act recklessly!"
“But Sahyung!”
"Calm down!"
"Guh...."
Jo-Gol trembled violently with rage.
It was true he didn't think highly of Heo Do, but regardless, he was once the sect leader of Wudang. He didn't deserve to be subjected to such humiliation by mere Evil Sects.
Jang Ilso chuckled as he watched such Jo-Gol.
“My, oh my... I don't understand why you're angry. Isn't it a fine gift? I thought you'd be touched."
"Shut your damn mouth, you bastard!"
"No need to be so angry. It's an appropriate example."
Jang Ilso glanced at Heo Do Jin-in. It was an indifferent gaze without any emotion.
"Those who don't know their place always believe everything can be achieved through desperation alone. But that's not true. The way to obtain what you want is not to wish for it, but to seize it.”
Jang Ilso’s gaze shifted from the half-dead Heo Do Jin-in and fixed on Chung Myung.
"You... seem to know that well?"
Countless people remained silent. They watched Heo Do Jin-in barely clinging to life and Jang Ilso behind him touching the liquor cup in silence. Silence like dead mice settled between them.
The one who broke the silence was none other than Jo-Gol's voice filled with killing intent.
“Let’s attack.”
"...What?"
"I don't know what that bastard is thinking by showing his face here, but an opportunity like this won't come again! Now is the perfect time to sever that bastard's head!"
“....”
“We just need to kill him! If we kill just that one bastard, isn't it all over!”
Yoon Jong's eyes shook violently.
That's right.
Jang Ilso stands here with only a small force. Of course, it would include Red Hound of Myriad Man Manor and the elites he personally cultivated, but doesn't our side have almost the entire strength of Heavenly Comrade Alliance?
"Before we miss the opportunity, right now..."
"Then what about Wudang?"
"...Yes?"
Jo-Gol snapped his head around at the unexpected voice. Namgung Dowi asked again.
"If we waste time here, what happens to Wudang?"
"R- Right now, something like Wudang..."
Jo-Gol was about to speak but flinched instead.
Who cares about Wudang? That was something he must never say out loud. No, it was not something he should even think. Human lives could never be treated that way.
Jo-Gol clenched his fists tightly.
“But if we let Jang Ilso go, more people will die.”
“Wudang is waiting for us now...!”
“Stop.”
Before the argument could truly begin, Baek Cheon’s short voice cut them off. He then stared at Jang Ilso with a cold expression and spat out his words.
“That’s not it.”
"Hm?"
"...It's not that simple."
He bit his lips tightly amid everyone's gazes.
'Jang Ilso.'
Can they catch him? If Jang Ilso fights them fair and square, of course they could kill him. But what if Jang Ilso decides to flee with all his might right now?
‘…It’s not easy.’
No matter the numerical advantage, catching a small number of individuals with superior skill was difficult. Mount Hua has already proven this time and time again... Yes, several times.
That position has now been reversed.
They can try, and if they succeed, it could be a truly unprecedented feat.
But what if it fails?
They would lose everything. Heavenly Comrade Alliance misses the chance to save Wudang, Wudang's legacy will be destroyed, and they would even lose Jang Ilso himself.
That was a blunder incomparable to any defeat Heavenly Comrade Alliance has suffered until now.
An alliance was ultimately also made by people gathering. After such an event, could the members still trust the leadership? Could the already loose cohesion truly be maintained afterward?
The more bone-chilling fact at this moment was that it had been only a few days since the alliance reorganized its structure. With this rabble of a force, barely filled out just to make up numbers, was it really possible to pursue Jang Ilso?
Baek Cheon's fingertips trembled as he hurriedly calculated in his head.
'Damn it!'
Now he could see it too. How much had been packed into this seemingly absurd stage. How terrible a poisonous fang this baffling move holds.
Baek Cheon's gaze turned to Jang Ilso leisurely filling his cup. Right, above all that bastard was the problem.
'He's not in his right mind.'
No matter how perfect the calculations behind it, how could someone calmly throw himself out as bait before this many enemies? How could he, without changing his expression, place a blade to his own neck and make the enemy dread him instead?
‘…Have we been fighting against a guy like that until now?’
It felt as if the blood throughout his body was turning cold. The red hue seemed to grow, threatening to engulf his entire field of vision.
And then.
“There are sayings that are common but contain something like truth.”
Chung Myung's calm and composed voice woke Baek Cheon’s mind.
"Like the saying that those who love gambling inevitably face ruin."
“Haha. Right. How true!"
Jang Ilso burst into hearty laughter, then smiled faintly as he looked gently at Chung Myung.
"However... It's a bit ridiculous coming from you. Isn't it?"
Chung Myung chuckled. Certainly, these words felt like they stabbed him right in the heart. Without turning his head, he spoke to the person behind him.
“Sasuk.”
"...Yes."
“You understood, right?”
Much was omitted, but Baek Cheon nodded silently. He could roughly understand. He understood what situation they were in.
"Go."
"What?"
But this statement alone wasn't immediately comprehensible.
“We cannot afford to be held back and waste time. That would mean dancing exactly to that bastard’s tune.”
“But Jang Ilso....”
“What he wants is me.”
“....”
"Then I'll just give him what he wants."
Chung Myung walked towards Jang Ilso indifferently as if no further discussion was needed.
“Chu- Chung Myung!”
Baek Cheon, who was about to grab Chung Myung in shock, soon withdrew his hand and gritted his teeth.
'Those who love gambling face ruin.'
Now Baek Cheon understood. Those words weren't directed at Jang Ilso. They were words meant for Baek Cheon.
Pouring everything into catching Jang Ilso right now was literally a gamble with uncertain results. The fate of the alliance shouldn't be left to such a gamble.
The best choice that can be made now was to utterly ignore the bait placed before their eyes. No matter how great the bait.
But that doesn't mean they can just leave Jang Ilso and his group alone. Otherwise, they'll come after the alliance’s back.
Then what's the best move Heavenly Comrade Alliance can make now?
Just as they have offered themselves as bait, Heavenly Comrade Alliance must also throw out a bait they cannot ignore and then withdraw their main force.
Namely, the bait Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung.
That was the conclusion he barely reached amidst numerous conflicts. A conclusion that some hadn't reached yet, and the majority hadn't even thought to make, but Chung Myung and Baek Cheon had already reached it before their eyes even met.
“...Yoon Jong-ah!”
"No."
Baek Cheon was about to order Yoon Jong to stay here with his halls, but Chung Myung cut his words short.
"I alone am enough."
“You bastard! Does that make any sense?”
Baek Cheon shouted in anger, but Chung Myung didn't elaborate. He merely spoke briefly and moved forward.
"Go."
In the past, Chung Myung would have tried to explain the situation to Baek Cheon and make him understand. But now, Chung Myung only offered a few brief words.
Yes. As if he believed that Baek Cheon would understand without any further explanation.
Udeudeuk.
Baek Cheon clenched his fist until it bled.
Even in the midst of that, Chung Myung calmly approached Jang Ilso. Each step was leisurely beyond measure.
'Really...'
But Baek Cheon saw it. The sight of Red Hound lined behind Jang Ilso flinching as Chung Myung walked, each revealing their killing intent.
Just as Heavenly Comrade Alliance felt pressure and fear from Jang Ilso, they too are feeling the same emotions toward Chung Myung.
Chung Myung passed the fallen Heo Do and stood across Jang Ilso. Then he plopped down into the chair prepared there.
The sight of Jang Ilso and Chung Myung sitting face to face across a small tea table was something that had never existed before, and never would again.
Chung Myung picked up the cup placed before him. There was no hesitation in his motion as he drank.
Tak.
He set down the empty cup on the tea table and briefly shared his impression.
“It’s good liquor. Enough to be a waste on the likes of you.”
"I'm glad it pleased you. I've prepared plenty, so drink as much as you like."
Righteous and Evil Sects.
Gangbuk and Gangnam.
No, perhaps archenemies beyond such boundaries.
Those two were calmly sharing a drink. It was such surreal sight that not only the people of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, but even the people of Evil Tyrant Alliance stood half-dazed.
Only Baek Cheon, who had been fiercely watching that scene, opened his mouth.
"Let's go."
“Sa- Sasuk?”
“Acting Sect Leader! What’s the meaning of this?"
"Don't forget what we must do."
Baek Cheon's gaze suddenly left the bizarre scene and turned to the burning Mount Wudang. His nails dug into his palm.
"Save Wudang. That's what we must do."
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