Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1746

Tang Gunak, the head of the Sichuan Tang family, stared at the person sitting up straight in front of him.

“Alliance Leader.”

Hyun Jong. The Supreme Elder of Mount Hua, and the leader of the Heavenly Union.

What felt slightly awkward was that there was nothing between them.

People joked that Hyun Jong would offer tea even to his worst enemy. Because he loved tea so much, people in the Heavenly Union called him the ‘Tea-Loving Old Man.’

Hyun Jong wasn’t offering Tang Gunak a cup of tea. It was clear how deeply Hyun Jong was worried.

Tang Gunak watched the Alliance Leader and guessed Hyun Jong’s worries. Tang Gunak had to say something unpleasant. He sighed and spoke again.

“It’s meaningless now. We must stop the search.”

Hyun Jong, who had been silent, stared at Tang Gunak quietly.

“People are complaining more and more.”

“…….”

“I understand your regret, of course. But if Jin Dong-ryong of the Jin family has decided to hide, it won’t be easy to find him. You know his abilities best, don’t you, Alliance Leader?”

Even as he spoke, Tang Gunak tried to control his emotions.

Why wouldn’t he be regretful? But now was the time to put all of that aside.

“The Heavenly Union is an alliance.”

“…….”

“Some are anxiously waiting for news of Jin Dong-ryong, while others don’t even care. Forcing everyone to search in this situation is not good. All of this might make them resent you, Alliance Leader.”

Tang Gunak let out a long sigh and said the words he had been holding back.

“So now, a decision…….”

At that moment, Hyun Jong smiled bitterly.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? It’s not something to be proud of, but I have never once ordered anyone to find that fellow.”

Tang Gunak closed his mouth for a moment. That made sense. Mount Hua had not participated in the search until now.

“The leaders of the other sects started the search.”

That was natural.

The Heavenly Union was an alliance of different sects, so the Alliance Leader couldn’t make all the decisions alone.

If it was an urgent matter involving life or death, or the fate of the martial world, he might be able to use his power, but it was difficult to force people to do small things like searching for someone.

“And yet… taking responsibility for problems I didn’t even cause is my job.”

Tang Gunak sighed softly. He wanted to comfort Hyun Jong as a person, not as a subordinate. But that was impossible in the current situation.

“Isn’t that what it means to be the leader?”

“…….”

“Even though you didn’t order it directly, those who are searching will think it’s your command, Alliance Leader. Especially since this matter is about Jin Dong-ryong.”

Tang Gunak sighed briefly.

“Those who are doing something they don’t want to do often look for someone to blame, no matter what the truth is.”

As a person, he felt sorry for Hyun Jong.

At least Hyun Jong would feel responsible for all of this. And yet, Hyun Jong himself had to say that they should stop searching for the one who was most hurt by this.

He even had to admit he was wrong and stop the search, even though he had never given the order. How could he not feel sorry?

“Alliance Leader.”

“I will do so.”

Tang Gunak was surprised by the quick answer.

“……That’s what should be done.”

Hyun Jong’s voice was hollow. Because of that, Tang Gunak asked him a question, even though it felt ridiculous.

“……Are you alright?”

“What else can I do? I can’t tell what’s right anymore, so I have to believe what someone else says is right.”

Tang Gunak’s face hardened slightly.

“Alliance Leader.”

“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve just realized that I’ve never achieved anything on my own.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It was all done by the children. Baek Cheon and the others achieved it.”

Tang Gunak couldn’t say anything. He clenched his fist tightly without realizing it.

“And yet, I believed that I could find a better path than those children.”

Hyun Jong laughed, a hollow, empty sound.

“I had forgotten I wasn’t good enough. All I did was rely on what those children had accomplished. ‘Experience’ shouldn’t be an old man’s excuse, but I’ve been fooling myself with that word.”

“Please don’t say that, Alliance Leader. Things just didn’t work out well. It’s something that could happen to anyone.”

Tang Gunak spoke seriously, his face hardened. Hyun Jong’s heartbreak seemed greater than he had thought.

This wouldn’t do. The enemies are still dangerous, and it was troublesome for the leader to be like this.

Just as Tang Gunak was about to say something, Hyun Jong spoke first.

“Family Head, please take over as Alliance Leader.”

“All, Alliance Leader!”

Tang Gunak was so flustered that he shouted and stuttered. But Hyun Jong remained calm.

“That would be right for the Alliance as well.”

Tang Gunak, who was about to tell him to calm down, closed his mouth.

Calm down? Were those words really spoken because he couldn’t control his emotions for a moment? Was there even a hint of excitement in those sunken eyes?

“……Alliance Leader. First of all…….”

“I knew very well that the position was beyond my abilities. But everyone said it was alright, so I just assumed it was. I shouldn’t have fooled myself.”

“…….”

“Please do so. We must do so now, even if it’s late.”

It was at that moment that Tang Gunak sighed deeply.

Suddenly, it became noisy and chaotic outside. Tang Gunak frowned slightly, then paused at a thought that flashed through his mind.

Could they have found a trace of Baek Cheon?

“Wait a moment.”

Tang Gunak jumped up from his seat and headed outside.

When he opened the door, many people were already gathered in the wide training ground. Just looking at their faces, it was clear that something unusual had happened.

“What’s going on…….”

“Patriarch! It’s an attack!”

Before Tang Gunak could finish his question, a scream-like voice flew in. Tang Gunak’s eyes widened in an instant, and he asked sharply.

“An attack?”

“Those who went out searching are being attacked right now. Quickly, support them……!”

Had the Four Evil Sects launched an attack? In this situation?

“How many enemies are there? Have you identified them?”

“Right now, we’ve only received reports that they’re being attacked. We don’t know the number or identity of the opponents!”

Tang Gunak’s face changed rapidly.

‘Is it a full-scale war? Or…….’

Since they didn’t know the number of enemies, they couldn’t guess the scale of the battle.

‘No, if the entire force had moved, we would have known. It’s not a full-scale war.’

But could he be sure?

“Patriarch! Give us your orders!”

As Tang Gunak was frozen in thought…

“Damn it, everyone follow me!”

“What are you going to do?”

“What are you asking? We’re going to support them! Hurry!”

“The enemy…….”

“I’m going first!”

“Hey, you bastard!”

Tang Gunak turned his gaze sharply towards the commotion.

Before he knew it, he could only see their backs.

‘Jo Gul?’

He knew right away that Jo Gul was the one causing the commotion. The Mount Hua swordsmen were following behind him as he ran down the mountain.

‘That’s right.’

What was important was that the Heavenly Union members were being attacked.

Right now, most of the Heavenly Union’s forces were scattered throughout the Wudang Mountains searching. What if the enemy attacked in such a situation?

A chill went down his spine.

Perhaps they might suffer the same fate that Mount Hua had inflicted on the Four Evil Sects.

‘No!’

It was a terrible situation. The Heavenly Union was already showing cracks. One big blow could cause it to collapse entirely.

“Where is it?”

“News from Fang County!” someone shouted, bursting into the room.

A stern-faced man slammed his hand on the wooden table. “Sound the alarm for Wudang! Every group must send fighters to Fang County now! Go!”

“Yes, Master!”

*Whoosh!*

Tang Gunak moved like a fired arrow, racing towards the mountain path.

“I’m going first! Send everyone else quickly!” he yelled back.

“Yes!” came the reply.

Tang Gunak’s teeth gritted together, his jaw tight.

*This must not reach the Alliance Leader’s ears. I have to handle this.*

His dark green robes whipped around him as he ran, filled with his powerful energy.

“Attack!”

“It’s the Four Faction Alliance!”

Zhuge Gwan-oe’s blood ran cold. His face went white as ice. He pushed back, stumbling away, his heart hammering against his ribs.

*The Four Faction Alliance? Here?*

They were supposed to be far away, defeated! Why were they attacking again, so soon after their last loss? They must still be weak!

*What about the others?*

Zhuge Gwan-oe was already inside Wudang Mountain’s borders.

But his family members were still spread out in the villages below, searching.

If the enemy was here, so deep inside, what had happened to his family in those villages?

Zhuge Gwan-oe’s jaw clenched tight, his teeth grinding.

He couldn’t think about that now. He had to deal with the danger right in front of him.

“Retreat! Fall back!” Zhuge Gwan-oe yelled.

Retreat was a word he hated to say. He was a leader, not someone who ran. But he had no choice. They were only a dozen Zhuge family members left. The strange enemies charging towards them looked to be at least three times their number.

And the *feeling* they gave off… it was terrifying. If they tried to fight, they would be slaughtered.

“Retreat! Support will come! Run!” Zhuge Gwan-oe screamed, his voice cracking.

But even skilled fighters can’t run uphill faster than enemies charging down. Especially when they were scrambling up a steep mountain path.

*Crack!*

“Ugh!”

“Heeyaah!”

Zhuge Hae’s head flew off his shoulders before he could even scream. It spun in the air, his face frozen in shock and horror. Zhuge Gwan-oe saw it all, burned into his memory.

“Run! Don’t fight! Just get away!”

Anger boiled inside him, but Zhuge Gwan-oe forced out the words he knew he had to say. He had to save anyone he could.

*Whoosh!*

Two figures in blood-red robes lunged at him. Their robes flapped open, showing strange, hooked blades, short and wickedly curved. A cold, unnatural light gleamed from the metal.

*Clang!*

Zhuge Gwan-oe swung his sword, knocking aside the hooked blade aimed at his head.

*Clang, clang, clang!*

The hooked blade didn’t bounce away. It scraped and clung to his sword, making a horrible grinding noise.

“Haa!”

*Thump!*

Zhuge Gwan-oe gathered his inner power and shoved the red-robed figure back with a burst of force. He wasn’t trying to attack, just to get away. Escape was all that mattered now.

But as he jumped back, the hooked blade flashed down again, faster than before.

“Eek!”

Zhuge Gwan-oe twisted, raising his sword to block.

But he wasn’t aiming for the blade. He aimed for the arm holding it.

*Crack!*

His sword sliced into the figure’s arm. But something was wrong. Very wrong.

*What…?*

It didn’t feel like cutting flesh.

It was like stabbing into thick, sticky glue. Tough and rubbery. A disgusting feeling crawled over his skin, raising goosebumps.

*Swish!*

In that moment of hesitation, the hooked blade plunged down, ripping into his side.

“Aaargh!”

Pain exploded through him.

It wasn’t just a stab wound. Jagged edges tore at his flesh, and blood poured out, following the deep grooves in the strange blade.

*Bang!*

Zhuge Gwan-oe kicked out, slamming his foot into the enemy. He knocked the figure back, but the force sent him stumbling backwards too, crashing to the ground.

“Haa… haa… Ugh… Ugh…”

He pressed his hand hard against the gushing wound, his hand shaking.

“Aaargh!”

“Kraaah!”

Screams echoed around him. He pushed himself up, swaying, and looked around.

“Ah…”

His eyes widened in horror.

His family… they were everywhere, broken and still, their blood soaking into the ground.

“Still alive, are you?”

“Ugh…” Zhuge Gwan-oe groaned, his face contorted in pain.

“Should we rip out his heart now?” one of the red-robed figures sneered.

“Good idea. A nice offering.”

Despair crashed over Zhuge Gwan-oe, cold and heavy.

*The Blood Palace.*

Why hadn’t he seen this coming?

“Hurry up. If you’re too slow, the Sect Leader will use your skull as a drinking cup.”

“Yes, sir.”

The hooked blade glowed again, a sinister red light.

“Be honored to die by our hands.”

*Swae-aek!*

Zhuge Gwan-oe lifted his sword, knowing it was useless.

*This is the end.*

He stared at them, refusing to beg, refusing to show fear.

And then, he saw it.

The hooked blade, the blade that was about to kill him, suddenly snapped in two.

*…What?*

A flash of red light, like a phantom blade, sliced through the air.

It wasn’t the same red glow as the enemy’s robes. This was brighter, sharper. The red light cut through the hooked blade and slammed into the red-robed figure.

*KABOOM!*

The force of it was like a bomb. The figure exploded, showering the ground with chunks of flesh and blood.

“Ah…”

*Thump. Thump.*

Footsteps behind him.

Zhuge Gwan-oe turned slowly, even though he knew another enemy might be there.

And when he saw who was coming, he understood.

*Hwasan…*

The enemy in front of him was forgotten. He was already dead.

*…The Sword Saint?*

*Thump.*

Chung Myung walked past Zhuge Gwan-oe, his eyes cold as ice, scanning the scene. Dead bodies, wounded men groaning, enemies frozen in fear…

“Bad luck for you.”

*Scrape.*

Chung Myung dragged the tip of his sword across the ground.

“I’m in a terrible mood.”

“Plum Blossom Sword… Retreat!” one of the enemies stammered.

“Think of this as me working out my frustrations.”

Chung Myung’s eyes blazed with killing intent. He charged forward, a human arrow of fury.