Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1216

Everyone looked at Im So-byeong with new interest.

They often forgot because of his usual way of acting, but this man was one of the Shinju Opae (a group of powerful people) and the Green Forest King (a leader of mountain groups), who controlled all the mountains of the Central Plains.

How could a mountain path led by such a person be dangerous?

“But hasn’t the Green Forest already withdrawn from Jiangnan?” Dangpae asked.

Im So-byeong smiled casually and waved his fan.

“Would that be a problem?” he asked.

“Yes?”

“Even though the people have left, the mountains are still there. And no one knows the mountains as well as the Green Forest.”

Im So-byeong made a fist with his outstretched hand.

“No one knows the mountains in Jiangnan as well as I do. No matter how much the Four Seas Alliance tries, they can’t beat me in the mountains.”

“…Indeed.”

If Im So-byeong’s plans and the Green Forest King’s knowledge were combined, it seemed possible. Everyone was almost admiring him. Then, a casual voice came from a corner.

“So…”

It was Chung Myung. He looked like he was asking, ‘Why are you saying such nonsense as if it’s a big deal?’

“You talk big, but you’re just bandits who run away when the government troops show up. You’re good at hiding like rats,” Chung Myung said.

“The mountains’ paths and shortcuts are clear…” Im So-byeong stammered.

“So, that’s what you’re saying.”

“The Green Forest controls all the mountains of the Central Plains…”

“Controls my foot!” Chung Myung scoffed.

“They don’t control all the mountains. They just sneak around mountains that others don’t use. If they really controlled all the mountains, why don’t they build a stronghold in Mount Song? The Shaolin monks would be happy to have a neighbor!”

…

The people who had been admiring him began to whisper.

“Thinking about it, it’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

“A bit? There aren’t any strongholds in Mount Wudang or Mount Hua either. Or Mount Zhongnan…”

“Now that I think about it, there aren’t any strongholds in famous mountains.”

“All the famous mountains are taken by successful sects. How can bandits get in there?”

“Then it’s funny. They can’t even go to the Five Peaks. They only build strongholds in mountains that no one else wants, but they say they control all the mountains…”

Namgung Dowi looked at Im So-byeong and smiled strangely. Im So-byeong’s hand shook.

“Ahem! Well, maybe not all mountains, but I know the mountains in Jiangnan very well.”

“Know them well?” Chung Myung smirked.

“You hide and put up other guys because you’re afraid of being seen? Have you even been there yourself?”

…

“I don’t know why those heretics have to show off. If they didn’t show off so much, they would live ten years longer. Tsk tsk tsk.”

Baek Cheon tilted his head and asked, “Then isn’t that a good thing?”

“Huh?”

“Because the heretics die quickly.”

“Oh…”

Chung Myung looked at Im So-byeong again, as if that made sense. Im So-byeong’s face twisted.

“Are you even righteous people! You’re worse than heretics!”

“Whatever,” Chung Myung said.

Chung Myung ignored him and looked at the map that Im So-byeong had spread out.

“Anyway, to sum it up…”

“…Yes.”

“Going across Jiangnan is more dangerous than other routes, but we can get there very quickly, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“A dangerous and fast route?”

…

“Yes, yes. Dangerous and fast, that’s what you said.”

Chung Myung repeated it to himself and grinned. Everyone felt anxious. They looked to Baek Cheon, the acting leader of Mount Hua, for help.

‘Do something about it.’

‘He’s your disciple!’

‘You’re the acting leader, you have to do something!’

Baek Cheon felt the pressure and smiled awkwardly. He turned to Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah, I… I think I know what you’re thinking… Uh… We don’t need to choose a dangerous path, right? Right?”

“Hey, Sasuk. I’m not a complete idiot,” Chung Myung said.

“Huh?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, would I?”

“That’s right?” Baek Cheon’s face lit up. He sighed in relief, thinking that Chung Myung had finally grown up.

But then he saw Chung Myung’s face grinning brightly. It was an ominous grin.

“Yeah. Going around is the right thing to do,” Chung Myung said.

“…Right? That’s what I think too…”

“I don’t care. I won’t complain if you want to go comfortably. Of course, we might go all the way around by sea or land, face all sorts of problems, and arrive in Hainan to find that it’s been destroyed. But that’s not a big problem, is it?”

…

“We can go slowly, then. Jang Il-so will try to hurt the Hainan people once he’s settled. If he hears that we’ve split with Shaolin, he’ll think it’s a good chance to burn them all down, right? But that’s not our problem, is it? Sects are supposed to protect themselves.”

Cold sweat ran down Baek Cheon’s back.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. The sect can still survive. Mount Hua was once burned and revived, so why can’t Hainan do the same? Don’t worry. Hainan is by the sea, so the buildings aren’t as dry as Mount Hua. At least the pillars will remain.”

Now, others started to sweat as well.

“It’s nothing. They can become a third-rate sect for a hundred years and then rebuild. If there are ten disciples left, it will be like a family. How nice would that be?”

…

“Ah, of course, you will be blamed as the acting leader who threatened the sect leader to get the position, and the Supreme Elder who stepped down after hearing about that agreement. And the Cheonwu Alliance will be called losers and idiots. But we don’t need to take risks just because we don’t want to hear that, do we?”

“St-stop…”

“Hey. It’s okay, Sasuk. It’s not a big deal. Huh? Agreement? That’s just something we say in front of others! That’s how the world is. Isn’t it? We only shout that we can risk our lives for the sake of agreement when others are watching. Who keeps that when others aren’t watching? You can just pretend a little and still hear, ‘Ah, those guys were at least trying to do something!’ Isn’t th…”

“Let’s go by land!”

“Across the Yangtze River, damn it!”

“We’re going straight to Hainan! Straight!”

“Everyone shut up! Just go the fastest way!”

The terrified people urged Baek Cheon.

“Acting Leader! Let’s go by the mountain path!”

“N-Namgung Young Master. Calm down…”

“How can we calm down? If we don’t save Hainan in time, Namgung’s reputation will be ruined! Who will take responsibility for that? You?”

…

“No, the reason we were supposed to choose someone strong in martial arts was for this! Even if someone dies after being caught by the Four Seas Alliance on the way to Jiangnan, it’s not your fault. It’s the fault of the person who volunteered without being able to escape, so let’s just go!”

“No… When did you become so extreme…”

“It’s not extreme, it’s rational!”

Since when did that become rational?

“Hmm. You’re not really wrong,” Im So-byeong said, urging Baek Cheon.

“Logically, the safe route is best, but going to Hainan isn’t very logical to begin with.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s crazy.”

“But you’re the one who said we should do it, right?”

Everyone looked at Baek Cheon. He stepped back, embarrassed.

“Why are you questioning it now?”

“Some people are like that. They make a grand plan, but when it’s time to do it, they back out.”

Baek Cheon clenched his fist, trembling.

He was angry at Chung Myung and Jo Gul, who were hiding behind them and teasing him, saying, ‘Sasuk is scared.’

“Sasuk,” Yoon Jong said. He had been thinking silently.

“I know you’re unsure. But this isn’t something to worry about. If we arrive in Hainan too late, it will all be for nothing, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“We chose to go to Hainan because of our agreement. We couldn’t abandon Hainan, which was isolated and waiting to collapse, right?”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“You’ve already decided, but you’re still worrying. So, I’ll say it as your disciple.”

…

“Remember what you said. An agreement that doesn’t take risks is not an agreement. Those who try to keep an agreement should expect to take risks.”

“Amitabha,” Hye-yeon said.

“Yoon Jong is right, Acting Leader.”

…

“Make a decision.”

Everyone stared at Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon wasn’t the highest-ranking person there. Im So-byeong, Namgung Dowi, and the head of the Bukhae Ice Palace were all of higher rank. But everyone agreed that Baek Cheon would make the decision.

Baek Cheon accepted the responsibility and nodded.

“Let’s go to Hainan,” he said.

…

“The fastest way.”

Everyone smiled. Baek Cheon was about to smile back.

“He’s really doing it?”

“I don’t think he’s thinking straight.”

“He’s going to be the sect leader of Mount Hua? The future of Mount Hua is doomed.”

You guys told me to go that way!

“Well… I have to do what I’m told, right?”

“If anyone dies, it’s all Sasuk’s fault.”

“Hey. It’s hard to have the wrong Sasuk.”

The Five Swords clicked their tongues and turned away. Baek Cheon was shocked. Before he could speak, Chung Myung settled the situation.

“Anyway, that’s the decision. Green Forest King.”

“Yes.”

“Lead the way properly.” Chung Myung’s eyes were cold and sharp.

Im So-byeong stopped smiling and nodded firmly. “I will do my best.”

“Good. Let’s go then.”

Everyone looked at the wide Yangtze River and the land beyond. They would be heading there.

Namgung Dowi nodded and asked, “Where do we get a boat?”

“Boat? What boat?”

“…We need a boat to cross the Yangtze River, right?”

“Why are you talking like you’re rich? Why? Are we going to tell everyone that we’re going to Jiangnan by boat?”

“…Then?”

Chung Myung pointed to the river. “Submerge.”

…

“As quietly as possible, without making any noise. Gently. Without being seen by anyone.”

…

“Start.”

The group looked at the muddy Yangtze River, their shoulders slumped. The path of a hero is long and hard.