Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1429

Scary.

That was the first thought that came to Hyun Jong’s mind.

It was hard to explain why, but a chill went down his spine. Abbot Beop Jeong of Shaolin was the one who filled Hyun Jong’s mind.

‘In that situation…,’ he thought.

Was Beop Jeong able to foresee this far ahead?

No, that couldn’t be. No matter how great Beop Jeong was, he couldn’t have predicted that the Tang family would abandon their home and flee, and that the Four Great Evils would split into two groups.

Yes, that made the most sense.

But….

‘Then isn’t it more of a problem?’

If all of this wasn’t planned, then Beop Jeong only had one intention: to send them away and save Mount Hua at all costs, right?

But what if Mount Hua and the Tang family turned their backs on Mount Hua? What would Beop Jeong do?

“Disaster…,” Hyun Jong almost said the word before he even finished thinking it.

The result could only be described as a disaster. The Nine Great Sects and the Heavenly Union would become enemies forever.

‘What should I do about this….’

This was a terrible crossroads.

Even if Beop Jeong had planned this, it didn’t change things. He took a risk to help them escape. They shouldn’t ignore what he did.

But he couldn’t abandon the Tang family either. Abandoning the Tang family was like abandoning the foundation of the Heavenly Union. Wasn’t the Heavenly Union about not abandoning friends in any situation?

No, even if the Heavenly Union allowed it, Hyun Jong couldn’t allow it.

Hyun Jong’s hands trembled. He felt the weight of the decision pressing down on him, making his hands shake.

If he chose the Tang family, he would break his trust to choose his friends. If he chose Mount Hua, he would have to ignore the sacrifice of his friends instead of keeping his trust.

How could he choose?

However, there wasn’t even time to think. If the Myriad Man House started chasing the Tang family and the remaining Four Great Evils headed to Mount Hua, they had to change direction immediately and chase after them. Otherwise, both would be sacrificed.

“S- Supreme Sect Leader, this is…,” Unam’s voice trembled as if he understood the situation. It was at that moment that Hyun Jong, who couldn’t choose, closed his eyes tightly.

“Hoo….”

A low sigh, small but very clear, pierced their ears. Hyun Jong turned his head and saw Tang Gun-ak with a calm face.

“There is no way… There is no way.”

“Family Head….”

“We must go to Mount Hua, Union Lord.”

Hyun Jong’s eyes widened.

“F- Family Head, what are you talking about! Right now, the Myriad Man House, that Jang Il-so, is chasing the Tang family! If we don’t help, they….”

“As I said,” Tang Gun-ak replied in an extremely calm voice.

“The Tang family is not that weak. Even the Myriad Man House cannot catch and kill them all. Those who can live will live.”

However, Hyun Jong noticed that Tang Gun-ak’s voice was trembling slightly. In fact, Tang Gun-ak’s voice was trembling so clearly that even someone with no tact could tell.

“Family Head….”

“If we don’t go to Mount Hua, we will give them an excuse. The Abbot, who hasn’t liked the Heavenly Union but has maintained a good relationship because there’s no reason not to, will criticize the Heavenly Union.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly, vividly imagining the scene in his head.

But….

“Of course, trust is important. But… that’s not everything. Family Head, how….”

“Union Lord,” Tang Gun-ak cut off Hyun Jong’s words.

“We can’t let our relationship with the other groups get worse! Not now, of all times!”

“……”

“We must go to Mount Hua.”

Hyun Jong turned around with a blank face, looking at the Tang family elites who were following Tang Gun-ak, not his own disciples.

The people Jang Il-so was chasing were, broadly speaking, the Tang family, but more specifically, their brothers, parents, and children.

Tang Gun-ak’s words meant leaving these people to die at the hands of the Demonic Sect. It was too cold, too ruthless, and too heartbreaking.

But none of the Tang family members protested. They were just biting their lips, tearing at their thighs, and enduring the situation.

Because they knew.

They knew that Tang Gun-ak, who had to make this choice, right or wrong, was in the most pain. So they gritted their teeth and endured the pain of their hearts being torn apart.

Even Tang Pae, the young master of the Tang family.

“How….”

“You must go to Mount Hua! Supreme Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked at the person who spoke with trembling eyes.

It was Tang Soso. She, the youngest of Mount Hua and Tang Gun-ak’s daughter, continued to speak, trying to stay strong even as her chin trembled.

“That’s what we have to do.”

“Soso-ya….”

“It’s not something to worry about….”

At that moment, someone grabbed Tang Soso’s shoulder and pulled her back.

“……”

Tang Soso, surprised, turned her head and saw Yoo Iseol standing there with a blank face.

“Stop it.”

Her voice sounded emotionless, but it was full of worry. Tang Soso’s shoulder shook at the voice.

“No. No, Sa… We have to go to Mount Hua. To Mount Hua.”

“I know, so stop it.”

“We didn’t come here with our strength alone. But we can’t cause any damage. The Tang family is not such a place….”

Yoo Iseol quietly pulled Tang Soso and patted her shoulder. Tang Soso, unable to continue speaking, lowered her head.

Silence.

A deep silence fell between them.

“Supreme Sect Leader.”

It was Baek Cheon who spoke.

“I understand the situation… but is it really difficult to divide the troops?”

Hyun Jong’s face changed at Baek Cheon’s words.

It wasn’t because he was angry, but because a terrible temptation had come to him. Maybe dividing the troops would give him a chance to save both. A chance to not lose either one.

Even if they all failed, wouldn’t he at least be able to excuse himself for having tried?

It was too tempting, enough to make even Hyun Jong waver for a moment. But Hyun Jong desperately pushed the temptation away.

“That won’t work. If we aren’t careful, Mount Hua and the Tang family could be defeated separately. If that Jang Il-so knows we’ll move like that and sets a trap, there will be no way to deal with it.”

Baek Cheon lowered his head.

His thoughts weren’t much different. He was just shaking off his remaining regrets.

“I understand, Supreme Sect Leader. So, shouldn’t we go help the Tang family?”

“Baek Cheon-ah….”

“It’s not just the Tang family. Judging by the timing, there doesn’t seem to be anything big going on, but there’s also Gul’s family in Sichuan. If we go to Mount Hua, something might happen there too.”

At those words, Hyun Jong flinched and looked at Jo Gul.

Then Jo Gul shouted at Baek Cheon, looking angry.

“Why are you suddenly talking about my family!”

“It’s important.”

“Why is it important! Everyone else is fighting for their lives, and you’re telling me to go protect my family? If I go there, do you think my father will praise me? He’ll be angry that he has such a useless son!”

“Gul-ah!”

Jo Gul turned his head and looked at Hyun Jong.

“Don’t worry about my family, Supreme Sect Leader. They aren’t martial artists.”

Hyun Jong bit his lip.

He understood Jo Gul’s intentions. But did that mean he could just leave them alone?

“However, I also agree that we should go to the Tang family. We have to protect them! They can’t fight! It’s our duty to protect the weak.”

“The situation in Mount Hua isn’t good either.”

“Hyung!” Jo Gul shouted at Yoon Jong’s answer.

“If we have to help the weak, Mount Hua is the same. Just because we aren’t close and they aren’t part of the Heavenly Union, putting them on the back burner is….”

“Are you saying it’s not about righteousness?”

“No.”

Yoon Jong looked at Jo Gul with determined eyes.

“It’s wrong to only help the people we like best. Everyone is important, no matter who they are.”

“Damn it! What a great Taoist you are!” Jo Gul growled and acted roughly.

“Then Hyung should be a Taoist! I’ll be a friend of the Tang family!”

“Gul-ah!”

“No, in the first place….”

Just as the two were about to argue, Tang Gun-ak spoke.

“There’s no time for this.”

His words silenced everyone.

“Disciple Jo Gul.”

“……Family Head.”

“Thank you.”

“……”

Jo Gul shut his mouth.

“And Disciple Baek Cheon too. But we must not go to the Tang family now. What we have to lose is too great.”

“Trust or something….”

“It’s not just trust. The biggest thing is how the world sees us. The idea that the Heavenly Union will help anyone, even if they aren’t part of it, will disappear.”

Baek Cheon flinched at Tang Gun-ak’s firm words.

He was trying not to think about it, but Tang Gun-ak was bringing it up on purpose.

“That means the righteousness that the world has believed in the Heavenly Union is shaking. In the end, they’ll think we only take care of our own people when things get tough. Who would believe in a place like that? If that happens, the Heavenly Union will lose what it can’t afford to lose. Compared to that….”

Tang Gun-ak spoke ruthlessly.

“The lives of those who can’t fight are a small part.”

“……”

He wanted to get angry. He wanted to shout, how could you say that? But no one could, because the one who said it was Tang Gun-ak.

“The Four Great Evils are no longer just a threat. They’re pushing a knife into the heart of the Central Plains. If the Nine Factions and the Heavenly Union are divided, it’s over. Jang Il-so will naturally widen the gap and set the world on fire.”

“……”

“Do as I say.”

“Family Head….”

“If you respect me as the head of the Tang family, please listen to me this time. At least let me choose the fate of my family.”

Everyone bit their lips and looked at Tang Gun-ak.

“Please.”

Tang Gun-ak lowered his head.

It was a desperate request. Who would ignore it?

Jo Gul, who had been shouting, Baek Cheon, who was determined, and even Hyun Jong, who was wavering, all looked away from that nod.

But not everyone.

“……Ugh.”

It wasn’t just one person.

“Damn it… It’s so noisy.”

“Chung Myung-ah!”

“Hey, you!”

Tang Gun-ak, who had been holding Chung Myung, straightened up. Chung Myung scratched the back of his head and looked at those running toward him, clicking his tongue.

“Are you okay, Chung Myung-ah?”

“Why? Do you want me to die?”

“No, you bastard. What are you saying….”

“I know, so get out of the way. This isn’t the time.”

At those words, the Five Swords stepped back, creating space between Chung Myung and Tang Gun-ak.

“I was wondering what happened… Jang Il-so is something else.”

“……You.”

“He’s making the Family Head say nonsense.”

Tang Gun-ak’s face hardened.

“You’re making a fuss over nothing. Hey, Sasuk.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“What do you mean, where to? It’s obvious.”

Chung Myung jumped up and grinned.

“We’re going to the Tang family. And while we’re at it, we’ll cut off Jang Il-so’s head.”

In that moment, the atmosphere changed for everyone.