Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1361

“East?”

“Yes.”

Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung.

“Is that the only way?”

“Going into Gugang is like suicide. We’ll die before we even get to the Yangtze River.”

“Hmm…”

Baek Cheon nodded slowly, agreeing.

He knew Chung Myung was right. Gugang was a dragon’s lair, a very dangerous place. It was where the Four Evil Sects had all their power, ready to fight the Heavenly Union and the Nine Great Sects.

To try to go through such a place with so few people seemed impossible.

‘It would be better to just give up and die quickly. That would be easier than going to Gugang.’

Being brave is different from being reckless. This was more than reckless; it was foolish. He couldn’t risk the lives of so many people for nothing.

“What about going to the left? Wouldn’t it be better to change direction and go towards Yueyang? The Yangtze River is narrower there, so it would be easier to cross.”

“Oh?”

Chung Myung looked surprised. Baek Cheon’s face seemed to say, ‘Did this little kid actually have a good idea?’

“I’m your Martial Uncle, you little brat!”

“Yes, yes. You’re amazing, Martial Uncle.”

Chung Myung chuckled and shook his head.

“The idea isn’t bad, but we have to think about something else.”

“What’s that?”

“If we go that way, the Four Evil Sects will easily see us.”

“Is the east different?”

“Yes. After the Black Demon Fortress was destroyed, their spy network in the east is gone.”

“Ah…”

Baek Cheon understood what Chung Myung meant.

Before the evil groups joined together as the Four Evil Sects, the Jiangnan area was split into four parts.

The Myriad Man Manor was in charge of southern Jiangnan. The Black Demon Fortress controlled the east, the Hao Gate controlled the west, and the Surochae controlled the Yangtze River area.

So, the western part of Gugang that Baek Cheon mentioned was controlled by the Hao Gate. If they wanted to hide, that was the worst place to go.

“Of course, the Black Demon Fortress is still not easy, but their leader is dead, and their group is broken. They can’t control things as well as before.”

“That’s true…”

“And that Jang Ilso chose to gather everyone from the south instead of making the east stronger. So, eastern Jiangnan is like a no man’s land now.”

Yoon Jong, who had been listening, spoke carefully.

“Unless we stay in the mountains, we’ll have to go down eventually. Going east gives us a better chance to survive.”

“That’s right.”

Chung Myung nodded.

“There’s no other way. We have to go east. We’ll go to Nanjing without being seen.”

“Nanjing…”

Baek Cheon thought for a moment and then asked.

“Did you tell the sect leader… I mean, the Supreme Elder about this?”

“I wrote it in a letter.”

“Hmm…”

Baek Cheon looked worried.

Then they had no choice from the start. They could probably reach the Yangtze River on their own, but they needed the Heavenly Union’s help to cross it with the Hainan group.

Unless they could find another meeting place, they had to go to Nanjing, no matter what.

“Then it’s decided. We’ll get more supplies and go straight to Nanjing.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

“Understood!”

With a clear plan, the Mount Hua disciples felt determined.

The future still looked uncertain, but going to Nanjing seemed easier than going through Gugang. If they were lucky, they might not be seen until they got there.

“Then I’ll go first!”

“Hey, you’re not better yet!”

“I need to run to get better faster! Haa!”

Jo Gul ran ahead, and Yoon Jong shook his head and followed him.

Baek Cheon watched them and then asked Yoo Iseol carefully.

“Samae, are you feeling better?”

“I can run now.”

“Still, be careful.”

“…Even if I don’t want to…”

Yoo Iseol looked at Tang Soso, who was standing close to her. Tang Soso was glaring. Yoo Iseol looked pale.

“As you can see…”

“…I didn’t need to worry.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“Then let’s go quickly.”

He started running. A voice mixed with laughter came to Chung Myung’s ear as he was about to follow.

“It would be nice if things went that easily.”

Chung Myung turned and saw Lim Sobyeong, who was smiling slightly behind his fan. Chung Myung said roughly.

“You were dying, but now you seem better?”

“You know how it is in war, right? You win some, you lose some. If you just fall down when you get hit, you’ll get hit again. Gotta be tough and get back up!”

“…You could just die.”

Chung Myung laughed, surprised.

Sometimes the evil people seem weak, but other times they’re tougher than weeds. It was funny that Lim Sobyeong, who didn’t want to be evil, was acting more evil than anyone else.

Then, Lim Sobyeong said seriously.

“As you know, Headmaster.”

“…”

“That guy is definitely moving. By now, Ho Gamyung knows everything.”

Chung Myung nodded silently.

He was talking about Jang Ilso, the Defeated Monarch. If he didn’t know what was happening in Jiangnan, he wouldn’t deserve that title. Such luck would never happen.

As Lim Sobyeong said, Jang Ilso probably knew everything and would try to use the situation to his advantage.

‘He’s coming.’

Chung Myung remembered Jang Ilso’s wild laughter, an image that was hard to forget.

“What do you think?”

“About Jang Ilso?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you asking me?”

Lim Sobyeong scratched his head with his fan.

“To be honest, I can guess what Ho Gamyung is thinking.”

“Ah, you guessed but got your butt kicked?”

“That’s why I said roughly! I can’t know everything, but I know the direction!”

Lim Sobyeong looked sad and spoke quietly.

“This time, I knew the direction, but I couldn’t see the end…”

“Anyway, so what?”

“But I can’t understand Jang Ilso at all. I can’t even guess what he’s thinking.”

Lim Sobyeong looked frustrated, then glanced at Chung Myung and laughed quietly.

“But… it seems like you can understand Jang Ilso’s thoughts. You two are alike…”

“Should I check if you can still talk if I break your mouth?”

“Ha. Ha… Just a joke!”

Lim Sobyeong stepped back as Chung Myung showed his teeth. But he kept smiling.

“Anyway, what do you think, Headmaster?”

“How would I know what that bastard is thinking?”

“Yes, yes. It’s like me figuring out Ho Gamyung, right? But you can guess the direction, can’t you?”

“…”

“It’s important. Everyone’s lives might be at risk.”

Chung Myung frowned, but Lim Sobyeong added.

“Don’t think too hard, just tell me what you, as the Defeated Monarch, would do right now.”

“…First, go east.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s how you can bring in the Nine Great Sects.”

“Oh?”

“Anywhere in the east is fine. If I were Jang Ilso, I would avoid fighting the Heavenly Union directly.”

“…Avoid fighting the Heavenly Union?”

“Yes. If that happens, the Nine Great Sects will wait and then attack the weaker side to take advantage.”

“But couldn’t he deal with them one by one?”

“Dealing with them one by one means handling those who can’t move, not leaving those who don’t interfere alone.”

“…”

“If the Heavenly Union and the Four Evil Sects fight, then Beop Jeong will definitely attack the Four Evil Sects. Then the situation becomes clear. The Nine Great Sects will join Beop Jeong and attack the Four Evil Sects for glory and profit.”

Lim Sobyeong nodded.

That was how the orthodox sects were. They acted refined, but if they saw a chance to win and gain something, they would be greedy.

Compared to that, the evil sects seemed more honest.

“That’s what Jang Ilso wants to avoid. He wants a free-for-all. To do that, he has to make the situation chaotic. He has to bring in the Nine Great Sects.”

“Even if the Four Evil Sects have to fight twice as many people?”

“War isn’t just about numbers.”

“…”

“There’s a flow to it. That’s what he’ll think. If it were me, I would go east. I would make the Nine Great Sects want to fight.”

“What’s next?”

Chung Myung shook his head.

“Well… I’m not as crazy as that guy.”

“…I understand. So, Jang Ilso will be in our way.”

Chung Myung nodded.

“Probably.”

“Then… it’s simple.”

Lim Sobyeong chuckled.

“They won’t know exactly where we are, and Jang Ilso can’t block the entire Yangtze River area. We have to hope we can reach the Yangtze River by luck, or that we don’t meet them before that. It’s a 50% chance.”

Chung Myung’s eyes darkened.

Seeing his eyes, Lim Sobyeong knew he was right.

‘A gamble with their lives.’

It sounded scary, but it wasn’t new. They had done it many times before. It was easier than before.

“I understand. I’ll remember that and help you.”

“Okay.”

Chung Myung looked back at the Hainan disciples who were following. They looked tired but were still doing well.

The situation was as he expected. Not yet. But…

Chung Myung’s face hardened. He felt something bad was going to happen. His eyes started to boil.

‘What is this feeling?’

He hadn’t missed anything. He shouldn’t have. But he felt like he was missing something important.

He closed his eyes and opened them again, trying to calm himself.