Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 128

Wei Lipshan’s eyes were red and burning. He hadn’t slept a wink all night. He stared up at the sky, where the sun was already climbing high. The morning air felt heavy, and his head throbbed.

*This is madness,* he thought again, rubbing his tired eyes.

Yesterday, Wei Lipshan had been drawn in by the energy of Chung Myung and his group. It was almost impossible for someone of his age and experience to be swayed by those young enough to be his sons, but those fellows were no ordinary people.

Chung Myung finally fell asleep. He had drunk all the liquor in the Hwayoung Sect’s warehouse! It was scary to think he would have drunk even more if his friends hadn’t stopped him.

‘Is this really alright?’

Yesterday, the disciples of Mount Hua had clearly gone too far.

Hadn’t they angered the Wudang disciples? Even Wei Lipshan wouldn’t be able to simply overlook such an insult.

If a battle were to break out today, the disciples of Mount Hua would certainly not be safe.

But…

Wei Lipshan cautiously opened the window.

He could see the disciples of Mount Hua already outside, basking in the sunlight. He could hear the birds chirping and smell the fresh morning dew on the grass.

“Haaaahhh…”

Jo Gul, yawning widely, spoke to Yoon Jong.

“When are they coming?”

“Didn’t they say they’d be here today?”

“The sun is already up.”

“They said they’d be here at that time yesterday, so there’s still quite a bit of time left. If you have nothing to do, go back inside and get some sleep.”

“I’ve gotten into the habit of waking up every dawn, so I can’t even sleep.”

“…That’s a rather sad story.”

Regardless of what his heart felt, his body had faithfully adapted to Chung Myung’s ways. The sorrowful truth was that Yoon Jong was feeling the same thing.

“Where’s Chung Myung?”

“He’s passed out. He drank so much, it would be a miracle if he were awake!”

“…Go wake him up. The Wudang bastards will be here soon.”

“Do you think he’ll wake up if I try to wake him?”

“Pour water on him, then.”

“…I’ll try.”

Wei Lipshan quietly closed the window.

‘Father, I don’t know anymore.’

He felt as though his deceased father was looking down at him from heaven with a disapproving expression.

Just then, the door opened and Yeom Pyeong and Wei Sohaeng entered.

“Father.”

“…What is it?”

“What should we do?”

“Hm?”

“The Wudang disciples will be attacking soon. Shouldn’t we fight alongside them?”

Wei Lipshan sighed deeply.

In truth, he had not yet decided what to do. It was Mount Hua, not the Hwayoung Sect, that had provoked Wudang. Having resolved to leave Nanyang in the worst-case scenario, the Hwayoung Sect could avoid significant damage if they didn’t participate in the battle and simply withdrew.

If he declared that he would leave Nanyang of his own accord, Wudang would no longer oppress the Hwayoung Sect.

But if they fought alongside them, they would have to be prepared for losses. Many disciples might shed blood. In particular, Wei Lipshan and Wei Sohaeng would have to abandon any hope of safety.

‘What should I do?’

Deep anguish tormented Wei Lipshan. He paced the room, rubbing his temples, unable to meet his son’s eyes.

In the end, unable to make a decision, Wei Lipshan looked at Wei Sohaeng and asked.

“What do you think we should do?”

It wasn’t a question he asked with great expectations. It was merely a casual question born out of his confused state of mind. But Wei Sohaeng’s answer was more serious than he had anticipated.

“I think we should fight, of course.”

“…Why?”

“They are guests, and we are the hosts. There is no such thing as a host entrusting the battle to the guests and watching from the sidelines.”

“…”

“And…”

Wei Lipshan waited for Wei Sohaeng to continue without prompting him.

“The reason I respected Father and cherished the Hwayoung Sect was because Father and the Hwayoung Sect had pride. Father didn’t begrudge supporting the ruined Mount Hua, and he didn’t expect anything in return. Because we are Mount Hua’s *Sokga*, their supporting families.”

“…That’s right.”

“Even if we are *Sokga*, disciples are still disciples. How can we just watch our martial brothers fight?”

Wei Lipshan subtly turned his head.

It was difficult to meet Wei Sohaeng’s eyes.

“I met with the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader sent his disciples to help the Hwayoung Sect without a moment’s hesitation. Their methods may not have been right, but their hearts are not wrong. Even if I die today, I will fight alongside them.”

‘How shameful.’

This was something he often said to his disciples.

But when faced with a crisis, he had turned away, while Wei Sohaeng was upholding what he had taught all along.

How could he not be ashamed?

“Yeom Pyeong.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Tell the disciples. Those who will fight, stay. Those who will not fight, return home now.”

“…Sect Leader.”

“Those who leave the Hwayoung Sect will not be held responsible in any way. And if the Hwayoung Sect survives today, they will be welcomed back without any conditions.”

“Then no one will stay.”

“No.”

Wei Lipshan smiled faintly.

“I will stay, and Sohaeng will stay.”

“…”

“That’s enough. We will fight bearing the name of Mount Hua.”

Yeom Pyeong shook his head.

“Please do so, you two.”

“Are you leaving?”

“I will fight bearing the name of the Hwayoung Sect, not Mount Hua.”

“…”

“The weather is nice, Sect Leader,” Yeom Pyeong said softly, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

After a long silence, Wei Lipshan smiled faintly and nodded.

“Indeed.”

A resolute determination flickered in Wei Lipshan’s eyes as he gazed at the distant sky beyond the window.

“It’s a good day.”

“Ughhh. I don’t feel well.”

“…Don’t drink so much!”

“Like a colt let loose!”

Chung Myung clutched his head.

“Ah, don’t shout. My head is ringing.”

“…How can you even think about drinking at a time like this? We have to fight soon!”

“I’ll sober up.”

Chung Myung spread his fingers. A translucent haze gently rose from his fingertips. He was extracting the alcohol toxins.

Baek Cheon watched the scene, then stood up. And in a tone that was different from before, a serious tone, he opened his mouth.

“Everyone, listen.”

“Yes!”

“Until now, I haven’t said anything about what you’ve done. But now it’s different. Today’s battle is not just our battle. Do not forget that we are fighting with the name of Mount Hua on our backs.”

“We will keep that in mind.”

Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, and even Yoo Iseol’s faces were filled with determination. Even Chung Myung nodded with a face devoid of laughter.

“The Sect Leader said that this event will be a signal flare to the world that Mount Hua has begun its external activities.”

Baek Cheon’s gaze fixed on Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung.”

“I know, I know. Gently…”

“No!”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung slightly widened his eyes and looked at Baek Cheon.

“If you’re going to do it, do it properly.”

“Oh?”

It felt strange to hear these words coming from Baek Cheon’s mouth.

“There’s no avoiding making enemies anyway. If that’s the case, it’s better to be thorough.”

“The Sect Leader told you not to, though.”

“Wasn’t it you who said you’d smash the Wudang leader’s head before that Sect Leader ascended to immortality?”

“Oho?”

Chung Myung subtly twisted the corners of his lips.

‘I like it.’

In the past, Baek Cheon was someone who excessively adhered to fairness and justice. But as a result of slowly influencing him over these two years, he has now learned to ignore the Sect Leader’s words… No, to interpret them in a slightly better way.

“Kuh. The state of our sect is improving!”

“…”

Chung Myung curled up the corners of his lips.

“But do you know what that means?”

“What meaning?”

“The meaning of Mount Hua starting external activities, I mean.”

“…Isn’t it just what it says?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“Moving externally means that we will also have interest in the outside. But what kind of external activities would Mount Hua have?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Don’t you know even after seeing the Hwayoung Sect?”

“Are you talking about *Sokga*?”

Chung Myung nodded.

“That’s right. We will increase the number of *Sokga* sects. Then the same thing that is happening now will happen with the roles reversed.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s a story that the good old days of just training are over.”

“Good old days?”

“That training was the good old days?”

“You’re crossing the line?”

Chung Myung flinched at the extreme backlash.

It was then.

Wei Lipshan, leading Wei Sohaeng and Yeom Pyeong, and about ten disciples of the Hwayoung Sect, approached with determined faces.

Wei Lipshan, arriving right in front of Chung Myung, clasped his hands towards Baek Cheon.

“Baek Cheon Dojang. I was out of my mind and failed to do what I should have done. I bow my head in gratitude to you and your party, who rushed here at once upon seeing the Hwayoung Sect’s difficulties, and furthermore, to Mount Hua.”

As Wei Lipshan deeply bowed his head, Baek Cheon immediately reached out and raised him up.

“Please don’t do this, Sect Leader. We have only done what we should have done.”

“I don’t know what the outcome will be today, but I will lead the Hwayoung Sect and fight alongside the Dojangs.”

The hesitation had disappeared from Wei Lipshan’s face. Seeing that good expression, Baek Cheon’s heart also felt at ease.

‘Indeed.’

It seemed that the Hwayoung Sect Leader truly had the qualities of a great hero. If Baek Cheon were to put himself in their shoes and see the state of those here, he wouldn’t have been able to readily step forward and say he would fight alongside them.

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

“Kuh!”

Chung Myung clapped his hands.

“As expected, you are a man of loyalty.”

“…”

It seemed that it wasn’t just Baek Cheon’s delusion that this loyalty sounded like ‘money’…

“But, um…”

Chung Myung scratched his head.

“The numbers are a bit…?”

“I told those who wanted to leave to leave.”

“And yet this many people remained.”

Chung Myung nodded.

“It’s a good sect. Good people.”

Everyone turned to look at Chung Myung, who sounded somewhat wistful.

“No, nothing.”

Chung Myung, who was about to say something, just smiled.

‘The Mount Hua of the past was like that too.’

It was just Chung Myung’s thought, perhaps.

Of course, the current Mount Hua would become like that too.

“But it doesn’t seem like there will be much for you to do?”

“…Pardon?”

“Um. How should I explain this? You’ll know if you just watch.”

Chung Myung shrugged and turned his head.

Soon, his gaze was fixed on the main gate.

“Looks like they’re coming.”

“You can already sense them?”

“They’re coming from up ahead. They’re taking their time, though?”

“…What a monster.”

Baek Cheon shook his head. He couldn’t feel anything yet, but it seemed that Chung Myung could see them as if they were within reach.

Well, was it only a day or two that he had been so ghostly?

“Alright, they’re here!”

Baek Cheon, along with Yoon Jong, Jo Gul, and Yoo Iseol, stepped forward and placed their hands on the swords at their waists. They had already said everything they needed to say, so Wudang would surely charge in without any questions.

“There’s no need to be nervous.”

Baek Cheon said quietly.

“Do not forget the training you have undergone. We will not lose to anyone. We are disciples of the Great Mount Hua Sect.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

“Yes, Martial Brother.”

The disciples’ eyes lowered. The playfulness they had shown until now was nowhere to be found. Only the cold and chilling appearance of swordsmen remained.

Baek Cheon also sensed the enemy’s presence.

“They’re here!”

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the wall surrounding the Hwayoung Sect. They could see the disciples of Wudang, wearing black robes, leaping high over the wall.

Three of them!

‘Let’s each take one for now…’

It was at that moment.

“Eura-cha!”

Just as a whirlwind seemed to rise from behind, something hazy flew towards the Wudang disciples who were crossing the wall.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Wudang disciples were knocked back out at twice the speed they had jumped in. They landed with comical thuds outside the wall.

The tension that had been taut in the four people’s bodies, as if they were about to rush out at any moment, drained away.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head as he watched the scene.

“Should I have let them come in first?”

“…”