Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1158

A strange, heavy atmosphere settled in the simple room. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight that pierced through a crack in the wooden shutters, illuminating the large map spread across the table.

Chung Myung stared intently at Hainan Island marked on the worn map. Ink lines blurred slightly with age, but the island was clearly marked.

“Did I miss something?” Chung Myung frowned.

No. He knew the Hainan Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects now, on Hainan Island. He couldn’t have missed that.

He hadn’t thought much about the Nine Great Sects. They weren’t his problem. Shaolin could deal with them.

“That’s Shaolin’s problem,” Chung Myung thought. Managing the Cheonwoo Alliance was hard enough. He didn’t have time to worry about the Nine Great Sects.

But Im So-byeong was talking about exactly that. He pointed at the map with his fan. Chung Myung hadn’t even thought of it this way. He shifted, a flicker of unease in his eyes.

The others realized this was serious. They stopped teasing Im So-byeong and became quiet, their faces serious. Tang Gunak stroked his chin, his brow furrowed in thought. Baek Cheon leaned forward, his usual calm expression replaced by concern.

Tang Gunak finally spoke, his voice low. “Does that mean… the Hainan Sect is in danger?”

“Likely,” Im So-byeong replied.

“But,” Tang Gunak continued, “shouldn’t the Nine Great Sects fix this? Not us?”

Everyone nodded. Im So-byeong smiled, a knowing smile, as he spoke.

“Think about it from Hainan Sect’s view.”

“Huh?”

“They were fine on their island. Then, suddenly, the Nine Great Sects, Shaolin included, and the Namgoong Family… the Five Great Families…”

Im So-byeong, glancing at Namgoong Dowi, continued with an awkward expression.

“After fighting river bandits on the Yangtze River, they were attacked by the Demonic Sect. Then, without asking anyone, they made the Jiangnan Non-Aggression Pact. How would that have looked from the Hainan Sect’s point of view?”

“Like a complete surprise, I guess.”

“They must have been shocked.”

“If it were me, I’d be very angry at Shaolin.”

It was something that didn’t require much thought.

The Jiangnan Pact was shameful for the Nine Great Sects and Five Families. It stopped them from going into Jiangnan because of the Demonic Sect. But for them, it was just shame, not real danger.

But how would it have looked from the Hainan Sect’s perspective?

Because of the Jiangnan Pact, the Hainan Sect was now surrounded and cut off by the Demonic Sect, without even realizing it at first.

“Wait a minute. But wasn’t that the case before as well?”

“It’s different.”

Im So-byeong stated firmly in response to Jo Gul’s question.

“Jiangnan was always influenced by the Demonic Sect. But before, during the time of the Shinju Ohpae… the difference is this: now, they see each other as allies, not enemies.”

“Ah…”

“Even when the Shinju Ohpae was around, the Demonic Sect was strong. But they couldn’t use their power easily because they were enemies with everyone else. We even fought a war against those Demonic Sect people, right?”

At those words, Tang Gunak nodded heavily.

“We did.”

So, even though Hainan Sect was far away, they weren’t too worried. The Demonic Sect was divided then. And if they attacked, the Namgoong Family, Wudang Sect near the Yangtze River, and other sects closer to Hainan would help them right away, right?

“They would have.”

Tang Gunak nodded as if it were obvious. Even the Dang Family would have stopped everything and gone to Jiangnan if Hainan was attacked. It was almost a promise between the Nine Sects and Five Families.

“But the moment the Jiangnan Non-Aggression Pact was made!”

Whoosh!

Im So-byeong’s brush once again slashed across the map along the Yangtze River.

“No matter what happens to the Hainan Sect, the Nine Great Sects cannot support them.”

“Ah…”

Only then did everyone understand the pressure the Hainan Sect must have felt.

“For three years…”

“Yes. For three long years, the Hainan Sect must have been worried, always afraid the Demonic Sect would attack. Then, finally, as those three years were almost over…”

“The Plum Blossom Island incident erupted.”

“Yes. It burst open with a bang.”

Everyone’s gaze momentarily shifted to one side. Namgoong Dowi lowered his head, his face flushed red.

“I didn’t even think of it,” Namgoong Dowi mumbled.

Even if he had thought about it, he couldn’t have stopped Namgoong Hwang. But still, they hadn’t considered how the Hainan Sect would feel when they attacked the Demonic Sect.

“The Plum Blossom Island incident showed this: the Jiangnan Pact will end… but that’s it. Now, no one can go into the other side’s land anyway. Shaolin proved that in the Hangzhou incident, right?”

“That’s right.”

Baek Cheon nodded emphatically.

Shaolin basically told everyone that even without the pact, the good sects didn’t want to go into Demonic Sect territory.

“So, what position is the Hainan Sect in now?”

Baek Cheon stared at the map with a hardened expression. What position were they in? Well…

“They must be thinking they’ve been abandoned.”

“Exactly!”

Im So-byeong clapped his hands sharply.

“If Wudang had even thought a little about Hainan, the Jiangnan Pact should never have happened. And if Shaolin cared about Hainan, they should have gone into Jiangnan when the Demonic Sect got stronger. They should have shown that the Nine Great Sects would help if allies were in danger.”

Im So-byeong sneered coldly.

“But they did nothing.”

Everyone shifted uncomfortably. Thinking about it from Hainan Sect’s point of view, they could really feel how hopeless Hainan must be.

The Hainan Sect already felt less important because they joined the Nine Great Sects last. And now, they were being ignored. Would they really stay in the Nine Great Sects and believe Shaolin or Wudang would help them?

“They wouldn’t.”

“Exactly. Unless they are stupid. If the Nine Great Sects and Five Families were still united like before, maybe. But now they are divided. How many sects would fight the Demonic Alliance to save Hainan, so far away? I can tell you for sure…”

Im So-byeong’s eyes were chilling. They contained a cold sneer at the reality of the orthodox sects, who always preached righteousness.

“There won’t be any.”

No one could easily open their mouths. They wanted to say it wasn’t true, but everyone knew that was the reality.

‘Has Jiangnan grown this large?’

Suddenly, the map seemed endlessly vast. To support the Hainan Sect, they would have to traverse the wide Jiangnan from top to bottom.

‘Unbelievable.’

Baek Cheon’s lips trembled slightly.

Hangzhou wasn’t even deep inside Jiangnan. The problem was the long trip along the Yangtze River. But even Hangzhou wasn’t far from the river, right?

But the Hainan Sect was completely different. To go support that Hainan Sect, they would have to completely cross Jiangnan, which was no different from the Demonic Alliance’s lair, and reach the sea.

“No, even if they arrive at the sea…”

“How do they get to the island?”

“…That means they have to find a ship to go to Hainan Island in Jiangnan, which is controlled by the Demonic Alliance.”

“What’s more, if they hear that a war has broken out and then set off, it’ll be over before they even arrive. So that means they have to go in advance, right?”

Im So-byeong nodded emphatically and summarized.

“Yes, exactly. To help Hainan, they need to do these things: they must be able to go to the South Sea even if Hainan doesn’t ask for help. And they must find a way to reach Hainan Island, even after going through Jiangnan, which is full of the Demonic Alliance.”

Hyun Jong stared at the map with a dumbfounded expression.

‘This is…’

Hyun Jong thought. This wasn’t just about blaming the Nine Great Sects. Really, it seemed impossible to help Hainan Island from here.

“Green Forest King, this is…”

“Yes, I know. But that’s why it’s meaningful.”

Whoosh!

Im So-byeong unfolded his fan with a flourish and opened his mouth.

“The Hainan Sect wants to be saved, but they probably don’t think anyone will come. That’s why they are ready to fight to the death, a hopeless fight.”

“Hmm.”

“But at that moment!”

Im So-byeong’s brush drew a line that instantly crossed Jiangnan and reached Hainan.

“What if we can help?”

“…”

“If the Nine Great Sects become weak, and being part of them means nothing, then Hainan Sect might leave them and join the Cheonwoo Alliance by themselves. It might actually happen.”

Wham!

Im So-byeong slammed the map. He hit it so hard that a part of the map, made of sturdy cloth, tore with a ripping sound.

“Do you understand?”

“…”

“Hainan Sect leaving the Nine Great Sects. It’s never happened in Kangho history! I mean, a sect leaving by choice, not being kicked out…”

“Hey, is that bastard for real?”

“Chung Myung-ah! I told you to be patient!”

“This isn’t the time for that!”

“I’m pissed off too, but let’s listen to everything before we kill him!”

Hyun Jong, who had once again pinned down the struggling Chung Myung, urged Im So-byeong on.

“Continue.”

“Yes.”

Im So-byeong, with a face that seemed to be provoking people, glanced at Chung Myung and continued.

“This is not easy. But if it works, everyone will see Hainan Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, leave their group and join the Cheonwoo Alliance.”

“…”

“Do you know what this means? You all said it before. Why would a smaller sect join the Cheonwoo Alliance? Because they want to stay with the Nine Great Sects! Even if the Cheonwoo Alliance gets strong, it can’t beat the history and fame of the Nine Great Sects quickly. But!”

Tap!

Im So-byeong, folding his fan in one swift motion, smiled slyly and said.

“It’s Hainan! Not just any small sect, but Hainan Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects… leaving the Nine Great Sects to join the Cheonwoo Alliance. They will be telling the world that the Cheonwoo Alliance is better.”

“…”

“If that happens…”

Gently.

The tip of Im So-byeong’s fan pressed down on a part of the map. The place where the tip of the fan touched was none other than Mount Song, where Shaolin was located.

“The balance of power between the Nine Great Sects and the Cheonwoo Alliance…”

Zzzzzing!

The fan moved sideways, almost tearing the map. Everyone’s gaze followed the tip of the fan.

“Could shift…”

Finally, the fan stopped. The place where the fan, which had drawn a long line, stopped was none other than Mount Hua in Shaanxi, where the Hwasan Sect was located.

“Wouldn’t it?”

Im So-byeong’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

“If that’s possible, I think it’s worth doing, no matter what sacrifices we have to make, no matter what price we have to pay.”

Tap!

He lightly tapped his palm with his fan, smiled slyly, and took a step back.

“That’s all.”

As Im So-byeong finished speaking, a strange atmosphere began to circulate in the room. A strange atmosphere where bewilderment, worry, and a strange excitement were mixed together.