Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1028

Words are meant to share meaning. But sometimes, the feeling behind the words is even stronger than the meaning itself.

That was true of what Chung Myung had just said.

The meaning wasn’t small, but the emotion in Chung Myung’s words was even more urgent.

The price of waiting even one day.

Who could ignore the weight of those words?

Hyun Jong slowly opened his eyes and met Chung Myung’s gaze. Chung Myung’s eyes were calm, steady. There was no blame, no demand in them, just a quiet intensity.

But…

‘It’s different.’

The final choice might be the same. But deciding when you know what you are losing is very different from deciding without knowing.

Chung Myung was telling Hyun Jong that he needed to be ready for whatever would happen because of his decision.

That’s why he spoke so plainly.

“Just understand,” Chung Myung repeated, his voice low and firm. “Understand what is at stake when you delay this decision.”

“Thousands of…” Hyun Jong’s voice was heavy.

“…lives.”

The word hung in the air, making it hard for everyone to breathe.

How could anyone not tremble at such a thought? At least, no one in the Cheonwoo Alliance could.

“Clan Lord,” Hyun Jong said, turning to Tang Gunak. “What do you make of what Chung Myung just said?”

“Hmm.” Tang Gunak glanced at Chung Myung before speaking.

“Considering the Demonic Sect’s past actions, he’s not wrong.”

“Of course, we don’t know the full strength of this new Demonic Sect, so the impact might be different. But we can’t deny that civilian deaths will increase over time.”

“Then…” Hyun Jong prompted.

“Even if it’s not thousands…” Tang Gunak paused.

Hyun Jong knew what Tang Gunak would say next, even without hearing it. Hundreds of lives would certainly be lost.

Hyun Jong pressed his fingers to his eyes.

‘So that’s why.’

There were times he resented his predecessors. Times he thought they were too stubborn.

Others had retreated. Why did his ancestors risk everything to fight to the end? Why couldn’t they think more about the future? Hyun Jong had felt resentment towards them.

But now he understood. They didn’t have that luxury.

They knew what it meant for Mount Hua to fall behind. That’s why they hadn’t worried about the consequences and had risked everything to kill the Heavenly Demon and defeat the Demonic Sect.

If that was the case…

If his ancestors had made such a choice, what should Hyun Jong do, knowing the results of that choice?

Hyun Jong lowered his hand and looked at Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“I’ll be honest. I don’t know what the right choice is right now.”

“So, tell me what you think Mount Hua, and the Cheonwoo Alliance, should do.”

Chung Myung stared at him before speaking.

“It’s not about waiting for the Beggars’ Sect.”

Chung Myung paused, looking around at everyone.

“The Sapaeryeon has the information about Hangzhou. If we want to know what’s happening, we need to hear it from the most reliable source.”

“Sapaeryeon…” Hyun Jong sighed. He knew what it meant to get information from them.

The Nine Great Sects already suspected the Cheonwoo Alliance and the Sapaeryeon were working together. If the Cheonwoo Alliance asked the Sapaeryeon for information, it would only strengthen those claims.

Chung Myung knew this. But he was saying that even with that risk, they needed to get information from the Sapaeryeon as soon as possible.

“As you said, the Sapaeryeon might have the first information about Hangzhou, but can we trust them?” Tang Gunak asked.

Chung Myung shook his head.

“They’ll tell us the truth.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because they have no reason to lie. Giving us information means they want to involve us. They’ll likely exaggerate the enemy’s strength, not downplay it.”

“But…” Tang Gunak hesitated.

Chung Myung stared at Tang Gunak.

“Another person dies for every moment we wait.”

Tang Gunak took a shaky breath.

He was starting to understand how impossible this situation was.

Even with many beggars in Hangzhou, ordinary beggars couldn’t grasp the Demonic Sect’s power.

And the skilled members of the Beggars’ Sect who could assess the Demonic Sect had retreated from Hangzhou because of the Jiangnan Inviolability Treaty.

The Sapaeryeon was the only source of reliable information about the Demonic Sect’s current strength.

‘But…’

The most untrustworthy people in the world held the information. Tang Gunak was stuck, unable to move forward or backward.

He couldn’t trust the Sapaeryeon, so he had to verify the information. But the longer he waited, the more people would die.

How could he solve this?

“So, are you saying we should trust the Sapaeryeon and walk into danger in Jiangnan?”

“I’m just telling you the situation,” Chung Myung said, his gaze shifting from Tang Gunak to Hyun Jong.

“The choice is yours, Alliance Leader.”

Hyun Jong felt the weight of that gaze.

“There’s no perfect choice, Sect Leader,” Chung Myung said roughly.

“The world isn’t that simple. Choosing isn’t about finding the right answer, but deciding which way to go. Trying to find the perfect choice is the same as not choosing at all.”

Hyun Jong’s fingers trembled inside his sleeve.

“But that’s why there’s no wrong choice either. It’s just different.”

“The Sect Leader and Alliance Leader exist to make choices when there’s no right or wrong answer. Someone has to do it. Whatever you choose will be better than delaying the decision.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

That was true.

“So just choose. That’s enough. The members of the Alliance and the disciples will follow your lead.”

Hyun Jong felt a little relief.

“If so…” He was about to speak when Baek Cheon interrupted.

“Let me ask something.”

Baek Cheon, who had been silent, spoke. Hyun Jong saw a strange light in his eyes.

It was rare for Baek Cheon to speak first at a Cheonwoo Alliance meeting, especially interrupting Hyun Jong. Baek Cheon’s face was cold, almost murderous.

“If you decide to stay here and not confront the Demonic Sect…” Baek Cheon paused, looking directly at Chung Myung.

“What will you do?”

Chung Myung didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at Baek Cheon, staring only at Hyun Jong, urging him to decide.

“Answer me!” Baek Cheon demanded.

“Sect Leader,” Chung Myung said, ignoring Baek Cheon, which made Baek Cheon shout even louder.

“Answer me, you bastard, not the Sect Leader!”

His voice was full of anger. It was rude, but no one blamed Baek Cheon.

Everyone knew Chung Myung’s answer from his silence.

That bastard would go.

Even if it meant leaving everyone behind, he would go to face the Demonic Sect alone. The people of Mount Hua, and the Dang Clan, understood Chung Myung’s intentions.

Baek Cheon grabbed Chung Myung by the collar and pulled him close.

“The disciples and members of the Alliance will follow the Sect Leader’s orders?”

“Then what about you? Aren’t you a member of the Alliance, a disciple of Mount Hua? Do you not have to follow orders? You dog-like bastard!” Baek Cheon’s face was twisted with anger.

It was an expression no one had ever seen before.

“Answer me!”

Chung Myung met Baek Cheon’s gaze with indifferent eyes.

“Let go, Martial Uncle.”

“Martial Uncle? Do you even think of me as your Martial Uncle?”

“This damn bastard…” Baek Cheon muttered.

“Stop it! This is disgraceful!” Hyun Sang shouted, unable to watch any longer.

Baek Cheon bit his lip and reluctantly released Chung Myung, stepping back. But he continued to glare at Chung Myung.

It wasn’t just Baek Cheon. The other Five Swords also glared at Chung Myung with the same anger.

Hyun Jong looked around at everyone, his face stiff.

He couldn’t show any hesitation. He understood that.

He spoke in a firm voice.

“As the Alliance Leader of the Cheonwoo Alliance and the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I give an order.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked around the room, his gaze firm, befitting his position.

“The situation in Jiangnan is urgent, but entering without information is too dangerous. We need at least some information to decide what to do next.”

Chung Myung’s eyes darkened.

“The most reliable information will come from the Beggars’ Sect. We will discuss this with them and contact the Nine Great Sects nearby to cooperate. If we can’t get proper information from them, we will contact the Sapaeryeon.”

“One day,” Hyun Jong declared.

“All of this will take no more than one day. After that, we will decide how the Cheonwoo Alliance will respond. From this moment on, no one is allowed to leave their post. Everyone must stay in this manor and wait for the next order. This is an order as Alliance Leader. Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished!”

“We obey the Alliance Leader’s order.”

Everyone bowed their heads to Hyun Jong.

But Chung Myung didn’t bow. He looked at Hyun Jong with cold eyes.

No one knew what he was thinking.