Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1595

His legs trembled violently, forcing him to take another step.

Beopgye kept walking, even though he looked like he might fall any second. His body was badly wounded and exhausted, but he was determined to keep moving forward.

Thud.

Even though he was moving slower than a normal person and stumbling, Beopgye continued carrying Beopjeong on his back.

This was the last thing Beopgye could do.

But because of this choice, Beopjeong was suffering terribly.

“Aaargh!”

Another horrible scream echoed, someone was dying.

It was a voice Beopjeong knew. His body trembled slightly.

Another life lost. Another moment of despair. And another…

“Beop…gye…”

He wished he could pass out.

Then he could escape this pain, which was worse than being skinned alive. He wouldn’t have to hear his disciples dying to save him.

What was the point of saving him now? He had already lost everything. Some lives were worse than death, and Beopjeong’s was one of them.

This pain was like hell on earth. It felt like demons were inside him, ripping him apart, but he could not faint. It was truly hell experienced while alive.

“Let…me…”

He gripped Beopgye’s shoulder as hard as he could, but his grasp was weak.

“Please, Beop…gye…”

Put me down, so at least you can live.

He couldn’t even finish the short sentence.

Of course, Beopgye understood what he meant. But he didn’t let go of Beopjeong.

“Beop…”

“…Do you remember, Senior Brother?”

Beopgye stumbled, his legs feeling like they weighed a ton, and took another step.

His body was like a burnt-out candle, about to go out, but his voice was still calm.

“A long time ago…”

“…”

“…I wanted to run away from Shaolin.”

One step. Another step.

Beopgye’s voice was almost a whisper.

“I wasn’t very smart or quick to learn. Shaolin was hard for me. I still remember my fellow disciples sighing and the masters looking at me sternly.”

“Beop…”

“Back then, you took my side, Senior Brother…”

His voice seemed to fade, but it didn’t break. Beopjeong could still hear him clearly.

“I still remember what you said then. You said being dull is the greatest gift for a Buddhist. Because if you are dull, you won’t be distracted and can focus on Buddhist teachings. And because you are dull, you won’t be tempted by small things. So, you already had the good qualities of a great monk…”

Beopgye’s voice became clearer.

Beopjeong knew what he meant and buried his face in Beopgye’s shoulder.

“Do you remember?”

Even if Beopjeong could speak properly, he probably couldn’t have answered. Because he didn’t remember.

It was a strange thing.

Something one person treasured as an unforgettable moment, another saw as just a passing thing.

It was strange, but he couldn’t laugh. He felt sad.

“Back then, Senior Brother, you were talented and everyone in Shaolin expected great things from you. I was happy, really happy, that you acknowledged me. Maybe that’s why I was able to stay in Shaolin until now.”

What did it matter now?

After everything was gone.

His bad actions felt like a heavy mountain on his chest, making it hard to breathe. What could any of this mean?

“I’ll tell you now, Senior Brother.”

“…”

“…I hated you.”

Beopgye took another step.

He could tell.

These words weren’t for Beopjeong. Maybe Beopgye had even forgotten he was carrying Beopjeong. Without thinking, he was just moving forward.

Without cleverness, just being stubborn.

“You were someone who couldn’t do anything wrong. Watching you made me feel pathetic. So I followed the rules closely, because even someone as dull as me could understand and keep them.”

“Beop…gye…”

“To me, who could only follow the rules, you seemed so amazing. That’s why I hated you, and sometimes even disliked you. But seeing that all I want to do now is save you, maybe I liked you more than I thought…”

A weak, fading laugh was heard.

Beopjeong’s dry hand, holding Beopgye’s sleeve, trembled.

He didn’t want to hear these words.

“Looking back…”

A faint smile appeared on Beopgye’s face, which had been full of pain.

“That’s fate, I guess.”

Thud.

Beopgye’s legs gave way, and he fell to the ground with Beopjeong.

But he didn’t feel any pain anymore.

“Beopgye… Me… You…”

Beopjeong’s voice came from behind. But Beopgye ignored the desperate words and struggled to his feet. Then, he adjusted Beopjeong on his back.

‘Where should I go?’

Everywhere he looked was like a bottomless cliff.

No matter where he stepped, he would fall. There was no escape from the pain.

But Beopgye took another step on that faint, thorny path.

There, there would have been others.

His students, who he had met in many lives before.

At the end of that pointless death, what did they remember?

“Ami…”

He couldn’t finish the Buddha’s name, not just because he was exhausted.

‘Are you really watching?’

If so, why did you let so many people die like that?

A tear ran down Beopgye’s wrinkled face.

He didn’t stop walking. He didn’t know where he was going. He was just moving forward because he still had some strength left, just like he had lived his life until now.

“Sea of suffering…”

A mumbled voice was heard.

What was he carrying now?

Was it what he was trying to protect? Or was it hope? Or was he just carrying a hurt person who was moaning? Or was it his fate?

Maybe it was all of those things. He gradually lost consciousness.

“Live…”

Whoosh!

Just then, a blade flew from behind, aimed at Beopjeong’s back. Beopgye turned his body to protect Beopjeong.

Crack!

The blade cut into Beopgye’s body. He fell like a kite with a broken string, tumbling back onto the road. The sleeves holding them together were cut, and Beopjeong was thrown away.

“You blood-sucking things.”

Thud. Thud.

Red Tiger, covered in blood, walked closer, dragging his blade. Beopgye could hear him grinding his teeth.

“Did you think you could escape?”

The Shaolin disciples had blocked him. Even as corpses, they clung to him, so he had cut them all down.

Red Tiger’s eyes were full of murderous intent.

Beopgye pushed Beopjeong’s back.

“Go… Senior Brother.”

“Beopgye…”

“I said, go!”

“…”

“Never forget. You are the Abbot of Shaolin.”

With those words, Beopgye stood up. He didn’t wait for Beopjeong to answer.

Beopjeong knew that Beopgye had used all his strength.

But Beopjeong had to leave him. Beopgye would block Red Tiger even if he was torn apart. Even a piece of his flesh would try to stop the enemy.

Beopjeong gripped the ground.

He had to go. If he didn’t, their deaths would be pointless.

He struggled, scratching the ground. He couldn’t stand. Even now, his body wouldn’t obey him.

But he had to live. He had to survive somehow.

Beopjeong gave up on standing and crawled, dragging himself along the ground.

It was a sad sight, unimaginable for the Abbot of Shaolin. His fingernails were torn as he clawed at the ground, and his hands trembled as he dragged his heavy body.

The Abbot of Shaolin, Beopjeong, was crawling on the ground, begging for his life.

But Beopjeong rubbed his face, covered in blood and tears, against the ground, and kept crawling.

“Hoo…”

A sad, mocking laugh came from his dirt-covered mouth.

What was he trying to hold onto?

Something that was just an illusion when he had it alone. Why hadn’t he known what was more important?

A short cry of death was heard.

‘Beopgye…’

He couldn’t even turn his head. Beopjeong just pushed against the ground with his feet. Tears kept falling.

How could you believe in me so much?

Why didn’t you say anything bad to me until the end?

Even though you knew I caused all of this. Why didn’t you say one angry word and leave?

How could you leave without saying any of the angry things you must have felt?

“Hoo…”

He had to live.

Thud.

He heard footsteps coming closer.

But Beopjeong just reached out his hand, feeling the cold ice.

‘I am…’

Now he remembered.

His childhood. When he was curious and excited about the world. He remembered a young monk watching him. He seemed a little foolish and shy.

His junior brother, who didn’t smile much and was always a little shy.

‘Beopgye…’

Then, he remembered many other people.

His master, his disciples, and his junior brothers, the faces of those he shouldn’t have left behind.

“Ugh…”

Beopjeong reached out desperately.

As if trying to grab something he couldn’t get back.

Then, his hand fell.

Plop.

But his fingertips touched something other than the ground.

Beopjeong struggled to open his eyes. He saw something blurry.

Beopjeong stared and struggled to lift his head. He saw someone looking at him.

Their eyes were filled with a cold and quiet anger. It was cold, but ready to punish.

The person glanced at Beopjeong, who couldn’t speak, and then slowly walked towards Red Tiger, who had stopped coming closer.

Red Tiger, who had been grinding his teeth, slowly opened his mouth.

“Get lost, before I kill you.”

Red Tiger froze at the icy voice.