Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 963

A red sun rose over the wide Jang River, like a sea. Sunlight spread across the water, bright and strong.

It was beautiful to see, but instead of feeling happy, the people watching felt worried and heavy inside.

Beopgye watched the sun rise, his eyes shaking with fear.

“M-Monk Superior…” Beopgye stopped, unable to speak. He didn’t know what words to use.

Beopgye knew how Beopjeong felt. He probably understood the Monk Superior better than anyone else here. Even Beopgye had expected Beopjeong to act before this day’s sun appeared.

Beopjeong simply turned around without a word.

The Shaolin disciples stood still, like statues made of stone. Their faces showed deep sadness and worry. In just a few days, they looked old and tired, like old wooden carvings of Buddha, not like living people.

The spirit they had when they came to the Jang River now felt like a very distant memory.

Buddhists are supposed to carry the world’s pain. But was this the kind of pain they should carry?

Buddhists suffer to help others, to save living things. But who were they saving now? Weren’t they all being led towards disaster?

Beopgye looked at Beopjeong again with bloodshot eyes.

“Monk Superior.”

“Monk Superior!”

Only then did Beopjeong slowly look at Beopgye. Beopgye bit his lip tightly. Beopjeong’s face was also not much different from the disciples behind him. He seemed to have aged ten years in that short amount of time.

But why?

Even while looking at such Beopjeong, he no longer felt any pity.

“Shouldn’t we do something?”

“……”

“Something! Shouldn’t we do something, anything!”

Beopjeong looked at Beopgye with unfocused eyes.

“Monk Superior! At this rate⋯⋯.”

“I know.”

“Monk Superior⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯.”

Beopjeong turned his head again without answering, looking only at the Jang River. The ships surrounding Plum Blossom Island were watching them indifferently.

‘How could he not know?’

If the Namgung family was destroyed, Shaolin would be hurt forever. Not just a simple cut, but a deep burn. A wound that would stay until Shaolin was forgotten.

But…

‘So what am I supposed to do?’

Just take one step. Taking one step towards that water is not that difficult. If he gives the order, the Shaolin disciples will fight bravely against those evil villains without the slightest hesitation.

But.

‘Isn’t that just for my own satisfaction?’

That place is a trap. A prepared pit of fire. What Jang Il-so is aiming for from the start was not Namgung. He is cutting off Namgung’s limbs, taking them hostage, holding a knife to their necks, and only aiming for those who will come to save them.

Yes, Shaolin.

One cannot even fathom what kind of malice is lurking in that surging blue water. The moment they step in, everything Jang Il-so has prepared for them will tighten around Shaolin’s neck.

Why do I think that?

Because it’s too obvious.

If Jang Il-so had wanted to, he could have replenished his forces as much as he wanted during these five days. Hao Clan and Black Demon Fortress have not yet revealed their presence on this Jang River.

If only they had appeared here, Beopjeong’s choice would have been much easier. After all, one cannot jump into something that is realistically impossible.

But Jang Il-so did not replenish his forces any further.

As if he would never break the subtle hope that Shaolin had. He was subtly maintaining his forces, tempting Shaolin to jump towards Namgung at any moment.

Crack.

Beopjeong gritted his teeth.

‘A coward?’

Beopjeong is the one who wants to attack more than anyone else right now. The blame for everything that has happened here will fall on Shaolin, and Beopjeong, no less.

Is it difficult to order them to attack and say that Shaolin sacrificed their lives like straw for the sake of righteousness? Is it really difficult to wail and cry out in front of the corpses of the dead Shaolin disciples, shouting about Shaolin’s righteousness!

Then Beopjeong will remain as the most righteous man under the heavens. Even if Shaolin collapses, Beopjeong’s name might be talked about forever in this history of the Jianghu.

But what does it matter?

Doesn’t he know? What happened to Mount Hua, which dragged the sect to the brink of destruction for the sake of righteousness!

Did the Jianghu really protect those who were incinerated with the Heavenly Demon at the summit of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?

Cheong Mun.

The name of Great Hyun Sword Cheong Mun can never be forgotten. He is the one who gave everything to save this Jianghu.

So, is that Cheong Mun happy in the underworld right now?

Absolutely not!

‘He must be wailing desperately.’

He is probably shedding tears of blood. He is saying that he should never have made such a choice.

It was the ghost of that Mount Hua that was holding Beopjeong back.

If that ridiculous person called the Mount Hua Sword Master had not suddenly appeared, Mount Hua would have been completely ruined by now. No one in the world would have remembered the name of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect of Mount Hua.

Who can force that terrible sacrifice on their sect! Who!

“Monk Superior!”

“Th-This⋯⋯.”

It was at that moment that Beopjeong was about to glare at Beopgye with bloodshot eyes.

“T-There, there!”

“⋯⋯.”

At Beopgye’s urgent gesture, he quickly turned his head. And he saw it.

A small boat was already alongside the massive Black Dragon Ship. And a man jumped from the Black Dragon Ship onto that small boat.

“Jang⋯Il-so⋯⋯.”

Everyone knew who it was instantly. Even from far away, his clothes were impossible to miss.

Following Jang Il-so, a small boat carrying one more person slowly approached them. It was as if they were leisurely enjoying a boat ride on this Jang River.

Crack!

The sound of someone grinding their teeth clearly pierced Beopjeong’s ears.

His heart began to beat faster and faster. His heart, which had not even been heard because his blood seemed to have dried up, suddenly pounded and pushed blood to the top of Beopjeong’s head.

Tyrant Jang Il-so. The one to blame for everything!

It was like a demon in human form, coming closer with no guards.

“Th-This⋯⋯.”

Blood vessels stood out on Beopjeong’s face.

His eyes were stained red as capillaries burst from how much force he was exerting.

And that anger was not only felt by Beopjeong. Everyone occupying the banks of the Jang River glared at Jang Il-so with all the malice they could muster. That murderous intent alone would have been enough to stop the heart of an ordinary person.

But Jang Il-so, in the midst of that terrible murderous intent, was just relaxed.

Splash.

The liquor bottle in his hand shook, making a heavy splashing sound.

Sitting on the small boat, he enjoyed the malice directed at him and leisurely drank the liquor straight from the bottle. The liquor that flowed down his mouth dripped onto the Jang River.

“Kkeueu⋯⋯.”

Beopjeong, unable to contain his anger, clenched his fist. Red blood dripped and seeped into the ground as his nails dug into his palm.

‘How far are you going to go⋯⋯!’

How much more do you have to mock people to be satisfied!

Even the devil that the Buddha faced wouldn’t have been this cruel!

The boat, which had been approaching them so slowly, finally stopped. Only about twenty yards away. A position where someone like Beopjeong could rush in and attack in an instant if he wanted to.

“Lord.”

Jang Il-so, who had been looking at the Jang River with a nonchalant face, glanced back at Ho Gamyeong. His eyebrows were slightly distorted, as if revealing his uncomfortable mood.

“Let’s go a little further. Shouldn’t those old men hear my voice more clearly?”

“It’s not that they’re old and deaf, but that they can’t hear even if they have ears, so this much should be enough.”

“Tsk.”

Jang Il-so shook his head as if he didn’t like it.

“You have too much fear.”

“⋯⋯It’s just that Lord is too fearless.”

Ho Gamyeong smiled slightly and added.

“And I’m supposed to be a coward when it comes to matters related to Lord. Isn’t that my role? And Lord should cherish that precious body a little more⋯⋯.”

“Okay, okay. Enough nagging.”

Jang Il-so waved his hand as if he was fed up and slowly got up.

Clink.

The sound of the ornaments he was wearing colliding with each other could be heard clearly. Jang Il-so stood close enough that any fighter could attack him in an instant. He looked arrogantly at the fighters from the Nine Sects who were staring angrily at him.

“Th-This⋯⋯.”

Everyone’s faces were now as distorted as they could be.

Who here wouldn’t know what it means to come within striking distance without proper escort?

Their stomachs churned as if they had swallowed a burning charcoal whole. Everyone glared at Jang Il-so with faces like hungry ghosts.

And at that moment.

Jang Il-so held out the liquor bottle in his hand and shook it lightly.

“Anyone want a drink?”

It was a languid voice.

In an instant, Beopjeong’s blood ran backwards.

But Jang Il-so was just enjoying Beopjeong’s face as if he was having fun.

“If you’re just going to watch, it would be nice to have a drink and enjoy the view of the Jang River. Like a snack with the scenery. Right, Gamyeong?”

“Those righteous fools wouldn’t know anything about enjoying life.”

“I guess so. Tsk tsk. How unfortunate. They’re just stiff.”

Jang Il-so brought the liquor bottle to his mouth as if he was disappointed. And he drank the liquor as if to show everyone. The liquor that had formed on the end of his red lips flowed down his chin.

It was a bizarre sight.

Jang Il-so, the leader of the Evil Alliance and the biggest enemy of the Nine Sects, was right in front of them. But no one on the riverbank moved to attack.

It was as if their feet were glued to the ground with glue, and they were just blankly watching Jang Il-so drink in front of them.

“Hmm.”

After a while, Jang Il-so took the liquor bottle away from his mouth and made a satisfied sound. The sight of his white teeth being revealed between his blood-red lips was truly eerie.

“At least⋯⋯.”

He scanned everyone on the riverbank and chuckled. There was blatant ridicule in his voice.

“I thought there would be at least something.”

“⋯⋯.”

“I guess I thought too highly of you. No, no. Should I say I underestimated you because I didn’t know you could be this cruel?”

“Ugh⋯⋯.”

Jang Il-so slowly nodded his head.

“At this point, there doesn’t seem to be a need to divide the righteous and the evil. We can’t be as cruel as you, only looking for our own way to survive⋯⋯. I guess I learned something from you.”

“Jang Il-so!”

It was the moment when Beopjeong burst into a shout that seemed to burst his throat.

“Watch closely. You hypocrites who talk about chivalry and righteousness with your mouths.”

Jang Il-so’s chilling voice pressed down on them.

Snap.

Jang Il-so shrugged his shoulders, lightly flicking his fingers.

“I’ll give you a reward for standing on that ground and enduring it. As of this moment, Namgung will disappear from the world.”

“Uh⋯⋯.”

“Listen. To that scream. That shout. That resentment. Right here⋯⋯.”

The corners of Jang Il-so’s mouth turned up as far as they could go.

“Hold on tight to the lives you saved by ignoring your own hearts.”

After a while, the boat carrying him slowly turned its bow. Jang Il-so cast his gaze slightly back and said.

“Or⋯⋯ would you like to kill me now? You great righteous heroes of the Orthodox Factions?”

“⋯⋯.”

“Hahahahahahahahahahat! Ahahahahahahahahat!”

They felt ashamed, defeated, and guilty. It was a terrible mix of feelings. As Jang Il-so’s back moved away, the rising sun seemed to follow him.

Then, the ships that had been lined up, watching the Nine Sects, all turned at the same time. They moved towards Plum Blossom Island, towards the Namgung family waiting there.