Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1438

“Alive?”

Dang Sang-soo, the chief manager of the Tang family, stared blankly at the retreating Myriad Man House and muttered. He had somehow managed to keep his family alive.

It was hard to believe, even seeing it with his own eyes.

The first group of fighters from Jongnam had arrived, and then the Mount Hua Sword Master had appeared. But the Myriad Man House warriors still greatly outnumbered them. If Jang Il-so had wanted to, he could have easily destroyed everyone.

But Jang Il-so retreated surprisingly easily. The retreat was so easy, it made you wonder why Jang Il-so even attacked in the first place.

They were alive. Yes, they were now alive.

‘Why?’

The situation was different from what he had expected. Even though this should have been good news, doubt came before relief. But Dang Sang-soo’s questions were soon answered by what followed.

“Chief Manager! Over there!” someone shouted, and he quickly looked up.

“Ah…”

His eyes widened. A group was rushing towards them, raising a huge cloud of dust on the dry land. The moment he saw the familiar figure at the front, Dang Sang-soo cried out tearfully.

“Lord Family Head!”

It was the Poison King, Tang Gunak. He was leading the elite warriors who had temporarily left the Tang Family. The Mount Hua swordsmen were with them.

“They are coming from over there, too,” someone said.

Dang Sang-soo looked north. Another group of martial artists was approaching. It was the first group of fighters from Jongnam. They must have been the swordsmen of Jongnam.

“It’s Jongnam! Jongnam is here!”

Strangely, Mount Hua, the Tang Family, and Jongnam arrived at almost the same time, as if they had planned it together.

“Ah…”

Only then did Dang Sang-soo understand why Jang Il-so had retreated without regret. No matter how many warriors he had, he could not have fought Mount Hua, Jongnam, and the Tang Family all at once.

Plop.

Dang Sang-soo’s legs gave way. They had escaped from the terrible Myriad Man House.

“Chief Manager!”

“Lord Family Head! He’s here!”

At Tang Gunak’s shout, Dang Sang-soo quickly stood up and shouted back. Tang Gunak rushed towards him.

Thud!

Tang Gunak stopped, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Lord Family Head.”

He saw the many dead bodies around him: the elders who had sacrificed themselves to stop the Myriad Man House, and the artisans who had died tragically. Those who survived were in terrible shape. Children cried, and exhausted women tried to comfort them, even though they were too weak to lift a finger.

It was miserable and tragic.

They had avoided total destruction, but the damage was great. Who would have thought the Tang Family would suffer so much?

“I’m sorry, Lord Family Head,” Dang Sang-soo said, tears filling his eyes. If he had been wiser, if he had acted faster, these people might not have died. What could he say in front of their bodies, now that he had met the Lord Family Head alive?

“I was foolish and couldn’t stop the family members from dying! I couldn’t stop the Tang Family from burning! My decision was too late, and I lost everything!” Dang Sang-soo cried, shaking.

“Please kill me, Lord Family Head! Me…”

Grip.

Tang Gunak gripped Dang Sang-soo’s shoulder tightly, as if to calm him.

“Don’t say that.”

“Lord Family Head…”

“People lived, didn’t they? That’s enough. People are more important than poison and hidden weapons.”

“…”

“You’ve worked hard.”

At Tang Gunak’s words, Dang Sang-soo collapsed, crying. Tang Gunak looked down at him and bit his lip.

“Find and help the injured and exhausted! Now!”

“Yes, Lord Family Head!” The Tang Family warriors, who had been angry, answered and scattered.

“Hak-ah!”

“Mother! Where are you, Mother!”

“Come here if you’re hurt! No, I’ll come to you. Just raise your hand!”

Tang Gunak watched his warriors become fathers and children again. Then he turned his head, noticing Chung Myung sitting alone, as if he didn’t have the strength to move. Tang Gunak sighed and walked over to him.

“Where is Jang Il-so?”

“He left,” Chung Myung said without looking at him.

“He smirked like he was great, then ran away without any regrets.”

Tang Gunak’s eyebrows twitched. He could imagine Jang Il-so’s expression. He quickly hid his emotions and said, “You’ve worked hard.”

“What?” Chung Myung turned to look at Tang Gunak, his eyes cold. Tang Gunak’s expression hardened.

“Everyone who was going to die has already died, so what did I work hard for? They could have lived if you had arrived sooner.”

“Those who would have died lived because we came, even late.”

“If only I had been stronger.”

“…”

“If only Mount Hua had been stronger, these people wouldn’t have died. If only I had been wiser, if only I had been calmer.”

Tang Gunak closed his eyes.

Tang Gunak was saddened by the deaths of his family members. But Chung Myung seemed to feel even more responsible. Tang Gunak opened his eyes and spoke.

“You…”

Just then, someone shouted, “Lord Family Head! Elder Dang-oe is here!”

Tang Gunak turned quickly. Dang-pae was holding Dang-oe, who had survived. Tang Gunak rushed over and took Dang-oe from him.

“What’s his condition?”

There was no answer. Tang Gunak bit his lip. He already knew. He had felt it as soon as he touched Dang-oe’s body.

“Elder…”

Tang Gunak looked down at Dang-oe. His dantian was destroyed, he was poisoned, and both arms were cut off. Even the best doctor could not save him.

Dang-oe’s eyes flickered. He seemed to recognize Tang Gunak and moved his lips. Tang Gunak understood and bit his lip again.

“Yes.”

Tang Gunak took a needle from his clothes and stuck it into Dang-oe’s body. This would give him strength for a short time, but he would die sooner. Like a candle burning brightly before going out.

“L, Lord Family…”

“Yes. Speak, Elder.”

Tang Gunak did not like Dang-oe. He had even hated him once. But those old feelings didn’t matter now. They disappeared like snow. How could he hate an old man who had sacrificed himself to protect his family?

“I’m sorry.”

Those were Dang-oe’s first words. Tang Gunak’s face hardened.

“Elder…”

“I was too foolish…”

Tang Gunak trembled as he held Dang-oe’s thin body. Dang-oe looked regretful.

“I’m leaving too big a burden on the Lord Family Head.”

“Don’t say that! Elder, I…”

Tears filled Dang-oe’s eyes.

“L, Lord Family.”

Tang Gunak squeezed Dang-oe’s hand.

“I’m listening.”

“The Tang Family has lost too much. It won’t be the same. So, Lord Family Head…”

“Yes.”

“Ignore the rules and do what you think is best. That’s what’s best for the family.”

“Elder…”

“In the end… it will be like this…”

Dang-oe looked at Tang Gunak, then turned his gaze to the family members. They were exhausted, but they were worried about him.

‘The Tang Family is here.’

The real Tang Family was not in the buildings inside the fence.

Suddenly, he saw a man walking towards Tang Gunak. A man he knew, but could never forget.

‘The Mount Hua Sword Master…’

He should hate him. But he didn’t. He was happy that he was protecting Tang Gunak. He remembered the words he had said.

The Tang Family needed someone like him now.

“Lord Family Head… Please take care of those people…”

“W, Elder!”

Dang-oe’s head tilted, and his body slumped. He was gone.

Tang Gunak looked down at Dang-oe and closed his eyes. His shoulders trembled.

But only for a moment. Tang Gunak carefully placed Dang-oe on the ground and stood up straight. He was the Lord Family Head of the Tang Family. He couldn’t be sad or overwhelmed by pain.

“Collect the bodies of the elders.”

“Yes, Lord Family Head,” Dang-pae said, sobbing.

He was not just an elder.

The Tang Family was connected by blood. Those who died were someone’s father, someone’s grandfather, someone’s brother, someone’s pillar.

“Lord Family Head…” Hyun Jong approached Tang Gunak and spoke carefully, not knowing how to comfort him. Tang Gunak shook his head.

“There’s no need to be sad, Alliance Leader.”

“…”

“We should be happy that we met again those we thought we would never see again. It’s all thanks to you. Thank you, as the Lord Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“Don’t say that. I’m just sorry.” Tang Gunak bowed deeply to Hyun Jong and turned.

He looked at those who had arrived but had not yet spoken.

“We must thank them first.” Hyun Jong nodded.

Jongnam.

If they had not arrived before the Heavenly Union, many more would have died.

Tang Gunak approached the Jongnam swordsmen. A man stepped forward to greet him.

It was the Heavenly Sword, Jongli Gok.

He was the leader of Jongnam, who had a bad relationship with Mount Hua.

“Tang Gunak of the Sichuan Tang Family greets the Sect Leader.”

“Jongli Gok of Jongnam greets the Lord Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

They bowed deeply. A subtle tension spread.