Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 990

It wasn’t just Namgung Dowi, the unfamiliar man, who was sitting in the Heavenly Allied League meeting. Jao Gae felt completely out of place.

*Should I even be here?* he wondered, scratching the back of his head. He looked around the room, feeling awkward.

He’d followed them here for a simple reason. He’d said he was leaving the Beggars’ Sect for good. Going back now would look bad. But just standing around in plain sight wasn’t much better.

His plan was to hang around for a while. If he started to attract too much attention, he’d quietly disappear and find somewhere else to go.

Then, this morning, a secret message arrived.

Someone had delivered it directly to him. The message was short and clear: ‘Stay put.’ The Beggars’ Sect Leader’s official seal was stamped below the words.

“Damn it,” Jao Gae muttered quietly.

*Even though the old man is supposed to be sick in bed, he’s still quick to react,* Jao Gae thought, a little surprised.

Of course, he was no longer part of the Beggars’ Sect, but he still couldn’t ignore the Sect Leader’s orders. In the past, Elders like him had to give up their martial arts to leave the Sect. He wanted to return later, so he needed to stay hidden for now.

Well, that was fine. Even if it was a bit troublesome, it was still possible.

The real problem was what came next.

*So, why am I here?!*

Wasn’t this the Heavenly Allied League’s meeting place? Why was he, someone not part of the Heavenly Allied League and no longer with the Beggars’ Sect, sitting here?

He had simply come because the League Lord had called him, and he had sat down because he was told to. Then, a bunch of people had swarmed in, and it had turned into this.

What was even stranger was that none of these people seemed to find his presence odd.

*Is this really okay?*

The Heavenly Allied League was now a huge power, easily one of the top three forces in the martial world. Was it really alright for their meetings to proceed like this?

“The first thing we need to confirm is…”

At that moment, Hyun Jong spoke. Jao Gae cleared his mind and listened to his words.

“What are the Nine Great Sects currently doing on the Yangtze River?”

That’s right.

Jao Gae nodded, almost without thinking. Since they had just fought with the Nine Great Sects, it was important to check on that first. The Mount Hua Sect Leader certainly understood the situation.

“Um, has anyone checked on that, by any chance?”

…

…

A strange silence filled the hall.

Every time Hyun Jong looked at them, everyone avoided eye contact or looked innocent, as if to say, ‘Don’t look at me! I don’t know anything!’

“…No one has?”

“Ahem.”

Tang Gunak cleared his throat, his face red.

“The League Lord was so firm in his stance that it’s not easy to show our faces near the river again.”

“…I suppose so…”

By this point, Jao Gae’s mind was spinning.

Normally, meetings of the Nine Great Sects were like verbal battles. They used polite words to hide their true, sharp intentions. That was typical of their meetings.

But this meeting was, well…

*Haphazard? Or should I say, human?*

No, perhaps it was both. Maybe it was so human that it seemed haphazard.

“So, um… does that mean no one knows what the Nine Great Sects are doing right now?”

“Should we send someone to check now?”

“…Wouldn’t that be a bit awkward?”

“That’s true.”

This was the conversation between Hyun Jong and Tang Gunak, the two most important people of the Heavenly Allied League, which had turned the martial world upside down.

*Is this really okay?*

Hyun Jong, who had ordered the attack on Plum Blossom Island, had made Jao Gae’s heart, which was usually calm, beat faster…

At that moment, Chung Myung, who had been completely ignoring Im So-byung, turned his head sharply.

“Why are we talking about this amongst ourselves? There’s a beggar grandpa over there.”

As soon as he said that, everyone looked at Jao Gae.

Jao Gae, feeling the intense gazes, coughed dryly, as if he had choked.

“But didn’t that man leave the Beggars’ Sect?”

Baek Cheon spoke up, and Chung Myung scoffed.

“Left the Beggars’ Sect?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“Then why have beggar bastards been lurking around here since before sunrise?”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

“I thought they were from the Beggars’ Sect, here to give us information… Were they stealing our information, perhaps?”

Chung Myung smiled brightly and stared at Jao Gae.

“Isn’t that right?”

…

Jao Gae’s body trembled.

‘The Mount Hua Sword Demon.’

The sect that knew Chung Myung best in all the world was, of course, Mount Hua. But the place with the worst opinion of Chung Myung in all the world was not Mount Hua, but the Beggars’ Sect.

How many years had it been since the beggars of Hwayeom, who worked with Mount Hua, had cried because of the complaints and sorrows they heard?

Cold sweat ran down Jao Gae’s back.

‘What did Hong Daegwang say again?’

A great demon hiding behind the mask of a righteous sect? A leader of a heretical sect who had chosen the wrong side? A guy who would have become a legend if he had joined the heretical sects, but instead chose the wrong sect and was now doing flower arrangements with his sword?

“Why isn’t he answering?”

Among them, the words that Jao Gae remembered most clearly were these:

– That bastard doesn’t respect old people, he attacks them. He doesn’t care if they are men, women, young, or old. Don’t bother trying to save face in front of him and regret it after your head is bleeding. Just get out of his way.

At that moment, Jao Gae knew what he had to say.

“Listen here, young friend.”

“…Yes?”

He looked at Chung Myung seriously and spoke.

“I may not be part of it now, but I was once an Elder of the Beggars’ Sect. Just because I left the sect doesn’t mean I’m not experienced. I am an Elder of the Beggars’ Sect, and you are a third-generation disciple of Mount Hua, are you not?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

Crack. Crack.

Then, he smiled and asked.

“So?”

“Therefore!”

Jao Gae’s eyes flashed.

“I know a lot. Ask me anything! I’ll tell you everything!”

…

For a beggar, pride is a luxury.

“Currently, the Nine Great Sects are still not leaving the riverbanks of Jiujiang.”

“…Why is that?”

“Um. It’s a bit complicated.”

Jao Gae scratched his head.

“There are many reasons, but I think there are two main ones. First, the Surochae and the Myriad Man Clan have not yet left. The Surochae are still using their ships on the Yangtze River, and the Myriad Man Clan have landed but are camped on the riverbanks, as if they could move north at any moment.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

“So, Shaolin can’t easily leave either. The Yangtze River Treaty is still in effect, so they can’t cross into Jiangnan, but if they pull back, the Myriad Man Clan might take the opportunity to move north, right?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“He’s stubborn, after all.”

It’s best to heal wounds as quickly as possible, whether they are wounds on the body or wounds in the heart. Wounds that are not treated in time get worse and leave deep scars.

It seemed Jang Il-so wanted to keep Shaolin busy for a bit longer, so that the wounds they had suffered could get a little worse on the river.

“Secondly, there is no reason for them to leave.”

“Reason, you say?”

“Yes, League Lord. This is… um, I’m not sure if I should say this, but the Abbot of Shaolin…”

“The Abbot?”

As Chung Myung’s eyes started to move again, Jao Gae quickly changed his words.

“That Ab…bot bastard.”

Chung Myung nodded, satisfied.

“…Anyway, the Abbot asked all of the Nine Great Sects to come here, but not many sects agreed.”

“That’s right. That’s why they asked us for help, didn’t they?”

“It means they don’t have much power anymore. But if they went all the way to the Yangtze River and gained nothing… no, if they returned to Shaolin without doing anything at all, what would happen to their reputation?”

“…Hmm.”

Jao Gae continued, looking unhappy.

“Shaolin may no longer be able to say they are the leader of the Nine Great Sects. A leader can only claim that title when their orders are followed.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Jao Gae looked at Hyun Jong and nodded.

“I think the Nine Great Sects won’t be able to leave this riverbank until the Myriad Man Clan leaves. By now, the Peng Clan must have joined them, so that will be even more true.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong sighed. It sounded as if the battle was over, but the war was not yet over.

“Thank you, Beggar.”

“It’s nothing. I heard that everyone in the Heavenly Allied League has to earn their keep. I have to pay for the meals I’ve been getting.”

Jao Gae smiled and stopped talking, as if his job was done.

Hyun Jong turned to Tang Gunak.

“Clan Leader Dang.”

“Yes, League Lord.”

“What should we do?”

Tang Gunak thought for a moment, touching his chin, and then said.

“Actually, we don’t have a choice right now.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“There are too many people in the Namgung Family who are badly injured. They have only just gotten better, so if we move too quickly, their wounds will open again and get worse. Even the best doctors won’t be able to save them then.”

“Ah…”

“At least our Dang Clan needs to treat them here. To do that, it will be difficult to move for at least five days. So, I think we should treat the patients first and then watch the situation.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

“Thank you for your wise advice.”

“You’re welcome.”

Hyun Jong looked at the others and said.

“Our main goal in going to Plum Blossom Island was to rescue the Namgung Family, so let’s stay here until they can move on their own.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“But!”

Hyun Jong glared. Of course, he was only glaring at one person.

“You are not allowed to leave this place! Do you understand?”

“Ah, why not!”

“Why? Do you even need to ask? The Nine Great Sects are right in front of us. If you go outside, what do you think will happen? Do you think they’ll just let you go?!”

“Ah, I’m not a child…”

The moment Chung Myung complained, everyone who knew him well smiled.

“A child would be better.”

“Indeed. Much better.”

“At least a child wouldn’t stab a monk in the head with a sword.”

“What are you guys saying?”

Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung with a very suspicious look, then turned to Baek Cheon. His look softened, becoming as gentle and warm as ever.

“Wow! Look at that favoritism!”

“Quiet, you!”

Hyun Jong, showing another dramatic change in expression, seriously told Baek Cheon.

“Make sure this troublemaker doesn’t leave the place.”

“…I’ll need Junior Sister Yu, Baek Sang, Yoon Jong, Jo Gul, and Soso to watch him.”

“I’ll even assign Un Geom to you.”

“That should be enough.”

“No, I said I’m not going out!”

“I said be quiet!”

Chung Myung’s lips stuck out even further.

Hyun Jong, glancing at him with a very, very, very suspicious look, clicked his tongue and calmed himself.

“And next…”

This time, Hyun Jong looked at Namgung Dowi.

Namgung Dowi, who had been watching Chung Myung being scolded with a blank expression, was surprised and sat up straight.

Finally, Hyun Jong said the most important words.

“We need to talk about the Namgung Family joining the Heavenly Allied League.”

Feeling the tension in his body, Namgung Dowi swallowed hard.