Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1753. Because I, too, am a person who failed to uphold moral principles (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"What is the scale of the damage?"
"The confirmed casualties so far are about fifty. Of those, about twenty have become departed souls."
"Twenty... and fifty..."
Though Jaegal Zain's expression in reporting was quite calm, Tang Gun-ak's face, hearing this, hardened considerably.
Though it was a sudden ambush, the actual engagement wasn't that long. Considering that, the damage was far from negligible.
“What do you mean by ‘confirmed so far’?”
“There are those who have yet to return.”
“….”
"It's unavoidable since they were scattered across the wide mountain. Most are presumed dead, but we're pressing the search in case there are those who can't return due to injuries."
"...I see."
Tang Gun-ak's voice faded slightly.
The sect that suffered the greatest damage in this attack was none other than Jaegal Family. Naturally, the proportion of missing personnel would be highest among them as well.
"Don't spare personnel for the search."
“Of course. However….”
“Is there a problem?”
"It's not exactly a problem, but to search the mountain, we must naturally divide our forces. We're concerned that the same thing might happen again."
Tang Gun-ak let out a sigh unconsciously.
"Even so, we can't leave potential wounded unattended. If we increase personnel, the danger will decrease."
“I will proceed as you suggested. Oh, and there is one more thing you should know.”
"Yes?"
“Those who faced the Blood Palace are telling a bizarre story.”
“A bizarre story?”
"Yes. They say the Blood Palace bastards recovered from their wounds on the spot, even after being injured."
At that, Murong Wigyeong and Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, who had been silent all along, let out surprised voices.
“What in the world…?”
“Did you say recovery just now?”
"Yes. Moreover, since similar testimonies are coming from multiple places, it seems those who used the strange sorcery weren't just one or two specific individuals."
"How was this 'recovery' accomplished?"
"From what I heard, they seem to have implanted something in their bodies. Something like bizarre worms squirmed and instantly repaired wounds."
"This is..."
Murong Wigyeong’s face grew more serious than ever.
Kangho regards and rejects sorcery. Not because sorcery was treated as a trivial trick. Rather, all renowned veterans of Kangho know how powerful and dangerous sorcery that can't be dealt with by ordinary common sense was.
The reason they despise sorcery despite its power was that it always demands a price. Those obsessed with sorcery see their humanity wither away. It was common for them to become demons who casually committed acts unimaginable for a human being.
“Could it be because the skill level of those who faced them was low?”
"...Mount Hua's disciples have also conveyed the same."
"Even Mount Hua?"
"Among them was One Sword Splits Light, too. He said he was completely unable to deal with it.”
These words were like the final wedge.
One Sword Splits Light Jo-Gol. One of the most promising rising stars in the current Kangho.
In truth, his skill was already beyond the realm of promising rising stars. While it is impossible to measure martial power with absolute precision, looking only at the feats he had shown thus far, it wasn’t entirely absurd to compare him to the elders of great sects.
If even Jo-Gol couldn't handle them, this was a very serious problem.
At that moment, Wind Shadow Divine Beggar opened his mouth with a heavy expression.
“It’s difficult to understand. If there are many like that, then the strength of the Blood Palace cannot even be compared to what we initially thought. Perhaps…”
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar paused for a moment and glanced around cautiously. Then Beast Palace Master Maeng So chuckled and finished the words for him.
"The other four Outer Palaces probably can't even compare."
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar nodded slightly.
“But why haven’t they utilized such power until now? There would be no reason to hold back, would there?"
Those seated nodded in agreement.
If they had such fearsome forces, they could have won more easily in the great battle fought in Hubei. Yet Jang Ilso wouldn't have just left such people idle.
“The reason itself isn’t what matters right now, but if we consider it, there are about two possibilities.”
"Two?"
"Yes. One is if Jang Ilso can't completely control the Blood Palace. Even if Evil Tyrant Alliance is powerful, sects from beyond the border don't follow the rules of Jungwon to begin with."
Everyone nodded again. Even those present here couldn’t treat the Beast Palace and Ice Palace of Heavenly Comrade Alliance as they would ordinary sects. This was fundamentally different from the distance arising from them not being Jungwon people.
Murong Wigyeong pressed his temples firmly. His expression still showed that the doubts had not subsided at all.
"However, then why now..."
"Because of this situation. That's the second speculated reason."
"What?"
“Haven't Shaolin and Wudang lost their power?”
"Ah…."
Murong Wigyeong let out a hollow breath.
The power of sorcery was difficult to counter with ordinary martial arts. However, the reason sorcery was driven out of Jungwon was all too simple. It was because the sects that were the natural enemies of such sorcery were wielding the greatest power in Jungwon.
Shaolin, and Wudang.
Shaolin's Buddhist dharma and Wudang's Tao power were natural enemies of all evils. Any sorcery was bound to lose its power before them. But now, Shaolin has closed its gates after losing most of its strength, and Wudang’s very existence as a sect has become precarious.
"...Meaning those who learned sorcery no longer have reason to be wary of Jungwon."
"Precisely."
Tang Gun-ak was lost in deep thought. The situation was more serious than he had imagined.
'So that's why the damage was strangely high even in the brief engagement.'
If it were a situation arising from the inability to counter sorcery, it made sense.
"Isn't this truly a dire matter?”
“…It is certainly not something to be taken lightly.”
“Hmm….”
"What's done is done. The most important issue is that the same thing could happen again in the future."
A brief silence settled. Darkness descended on everyone's faces.
“Then… how about making a request to Shaolin? It doesn't seem like the time for them to be closed."
"That would be impossible."
"No, no matter how great their damage..."
"That's not what I mean. Not everyone who has learned Shaolin's martial arts can suppress sorcery. To suppress sorcery requires a necessarily deep understanding and training. But now Shaolin..."
The elder-level disciples who would have undergone such long training and possessed a deep understanding had been completely wiped out. The remaining Shaolin disciples' training depth was still shallow.
So, even if they somehow manage to bring them over, they won't be much different from those here.
"...Then Wudang wouldn't be much different either."
"That's correct."
"Damn it. That Heo Do bastard had to go and do something useless."
Murong Wigyeong openly spewed curses unsuited to his dignity. However, no one here restrained him. If Heo Do Jin-in hadn't mobilized the elders to capture Jang Ilso, causing such an enormous sacrifice, they wouldn't be in this frustrating situation.
"So..."
While those who failed to find a proper countermeasure were only letting out groans of pain, the sect leader of Southern Edge Sect, Jong Nigok, opened his mouth.
"Sorcery is sorcery precisely because it's difficult to counter. Just because we put our heads together doesn't mean an answer will easily come. But before that, I believe we should consider whether we even need to find that answer.”
“What do you mean by that?”
"No matter how great, it's still just sorcery. It's not impossible to counter. If cutting doesn't kill them, we can slice them apart, and if slicing doesn't kill them, we can crush them, can't we?"
A long sigh flowed from Jaegal Zian's lips.
"In principle, your words aren't wrong. In fact, it is said that Namgung Sogaju dealt with them in exactly that way.”
“Then there is no problem to worry about…”
“How many people would be capable of that?”
“….”
"Those present here could probably handle them easily. However, if the enemies' numbers aren't few, do you plan to go around finding Blood Palace warriors scattered across the battlefield one by one?"
Jong Nigok, struck speechless, soon let out a sigh.
Indeed, that was true. Heavenly Comrade Alliance's enemy was not just the Blood Palace.
Tang Gun-ak, who had been letting out low groans in a situation without a solution, suddenly turned his gaze toward Jaegal Zian.
“Wait. Then why did they retreat so easily?”
“That is precisely the issue for which this meeting was called. It is said that Yoon Jong, a disciple of Mount Hua, defeated the enemies using sorcery with a single sword strike.”
“Yoon Jong? Is that true?”
Tang Gun-ak blinked. Not Yoo Iseol, not Jo-Gol, but suddenly Yoon Jong?
Jaegal Zian's eyes gleamed slightly.
"It would be better to hear the details directly from the person involved."
Everyone nodded.
"...That's how it came about."
"Mm. Immortal Energy..."
Yoon Jong, who had rushed over after tending to the wounded, felt the weight of the gazes pouring in from all sides and slightly hunched his shoulders.
"How is it?"
“It is possible. Originally, the reason Wudang was the natural enemy of those using sorcery was that they could imbue their swords with Taoist power... that is, Immortal Energy. There is no reason why Mount Hua, being the same Taoist sect, cannot do the same.”
Of course, it wasn't a very precise explanation.
Mount Hua is a sect with stronger secular characteristics than Wudang. Compared to Wudang, which pursued the Tao in a closed environment, there was naturally some deficiency in utilizing Immortal Energy. That had been the common sense until now.
'Until now, that is.'
Jaegal Zian watched Yoon Jong with sharp eyes.
Using Immortal Energy can weaken an opponent's sorcery. However, this didn't mean they could be dealt with easily.
But hearing the explanation from the person involved and the testimonies of witnesses earlier, Yoon Jong seemed to have reached a level where he almost neutralized the opponent's sorcery.
That would mean Yoon Jong’s Immortal Energy surpasses even that of Wudang’s elders.
'Though it would be impossible if only following logic... It's not like impossible things happening at Mount Hua are once or twice.'
Jaegal Zian let out a short breath and opened his mouth.
“Let me ask you something first. Were you able to use Immortal Energy from the beginning?”
"The question is a bit ambiguous..."
"Hm?"
Yoon Jong looked directly at Jaegal Zian and answered.
"If you're asking whether I had such power to begin with, I must say yes. If you're asking whether I've been using it all along, I must say no."
Jaegal Zian immediately understood the meaning of Yoon Jong's words.
“I see. You possessed the power, but it is only now that you have become able to utilize it.”
“Exactly.”
"Then are other Mount Hua disciples the same as you?"
Yoon Jong thought for a moment and then spoke.
"Since the Tao we harbor differs, I cannot answer rashly. But I'm confident that, regardless of its magnitude, all who bear the name of Mount Hua harbor the same energy as I do."
“Then, can you draw out that power?”
"…Yes?"
Jaegal Zian glanced at the others. No one showed any sign of opposition, as if they had already entrusted everything to him.
"This is a very important matter. The fate of Jungwon might change depending on whether it's possible or not."
“….”
“As you may have realized, the enemy’s sorcery is tricky to deal with. The bigger problem would be that we don't even accurately grasp the scale of those using that sorcery. If a number we cannot handle is deployed on the battlefield?"
One didn't even need to think to know the answer.
Even Yoon Jong had been so flustered by the enemy's sorcery that he almost lost his life. If such monsters ran rampant across the battlefield, the damage was as clear as day.
"Do you understand?"
"…Yes."
“We must increase the number of people who can stand against that bizarre power, even if just by one more. This is the most urgent priority above all else.”
Yoon Jong didn't answer for a moment. Then Tang Gun-ak stepped in.
“…Yoon Jong Dojang. I understand it's a confusing situation right now. However, we're not leisurely enough to fully consider your sect's circumstances. Since we don't know when enemies will bare their teeth, preparing comes first."
Tang Gun-ak paused for a moment and gazed intently at Yoon Jong.
“And I believe that you are currently the only one who can do this, as you are practically the eldest disciple of Mount Hua. What do you think? Is it possible?"
His words carried multiple meanings.
Though Heavenly Comrade Alliance was in confusion now, Mount Hua was suffering even greater confusion. Baek Cheon's absence has shaken Mount Hua far more than everyone watching had anticipated.
The only one who could manage this situation was Yoon Jong. All of these implications were contained within Tang Gun-ak's words, and Yoon Jong surely understood them.
Yoon Jong bowed his head slightly without saying a word.
During the brief silence that followed, Tang Gun-ak and the other high-ranking members of the alliance all stared at him with earnest anticipation. The weight on Yoon Jong’s shoulders was immense.
Finally, Yoon Jong spoke slowly.
"First... please retract the words about being Mount Hua’s de facto eldest disciple. Everyone in Mount Hua, including myself, knows whose position that belongs to. No one can replace that person."
Thinking this was a refusal, a look of regret flickered in Tang Gun-ak’s eyes.
However, Yoon Jong soon raised his head and continued.
"However, if it's a duty I must shoulder not as the eldest disciple but as an ordinary Mount Hua disciple, I'll do my utmost to the best of my ability."
“….”
“Because that is what I must do right now.”
His gaze was calm and clear. Seeing this, Tang Gun-ak nodded deeply.
"I'll ask this of you."
"Yes."
For now, they had no choice but to rely on Mount Hua, and on Yoon Jong.
Tang Gun-ak sighed in secret.
'This isn't easy.'
Yoon Jong would do his best. However, given his seniority and standing, there would surely be limits.
‘In times like these...’
Tang Gun-ak shook his head as if to brush away the thought that instinctively tried to surface.
Perhaps those who felt Baek Cheon's absence most keenly weren't Mount Hua's disciples but the other senior members of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
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