Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1023

The man looked at the scene in front of him. His face showed nothing. No sadness, no anger, nothing at all.

Dead bodies were all around. So many bodies. If you piled them up, they would be as tall as a mountain. But why would anyone do that? It was just a waste.

He slowly looked down.

Two bodies were ripped apart. Their weapons were stuck in the ground, left behind.

The ground was red with blood.

Even with all of this, the man’s face didn’t change.

He slowly raised his hand, staring at it. There wasn’t a single drop of blood on it. Then, he looked back up at the sky.

“Bishop.”

A Law Enforcer came closer and knelt down.

“Everything in this area is gone.”

The Bishop didn’t say anything. The Law Enforcer waited on the cold ground.

Finally, the Bishop spoke.

“…Isn’t it strange?”

“What do you mean…?”

The man, who used to be called Dan Ziqiang, looked down and said,

“It’s too easy.”

“…”

“The Order always wanted to destroy the Central Plains.”

“That’s right.”

“But they are so weak.”

The Bishop shook his head slowly.

“Are they weak? Or are *we* just too strong?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

The Bishop walked slowly across the ground covered in blood and bodies. His steps made a squelching sound.

“If it was this easy, why did the Order suffer for so long? Why did we starve and feel hopeless?”

“Because it’s the Order’s mission.”

“…Yes. A mission. Given to us.”

Because it’s what that person told us to do.

The Bishop’s eyes darkened.

‘I don’t know.’

Was it because he didn’t have enough faith? Or were the Order’s teachings wrong?

After seeing the Central Plains, which he had hated so much, the Bishop had a big question.

“Why did the Order fail?”

“…The Order didn’t fail.”

“Then let me say it differently. Why couldn’t the Order take over the Central Plains? Why did we have to hide in empty places? How could these weak people stop us?”

“…That is…”

The Law Enforcer was afraid to speak. He worried that his faith might be questioned if he said the wrong thing.

The Bishop smiled quietly when he saw this.

“You don’t have to answer.”

“…”

The reason must be simple.

Either the Central Plains had been peaceful for too long and had lost its strength… or…

The Bishop shook his head, trying to get rid of the bad thought. Shaking his head was an old habit.

When he looked up, he remembered the words he had heard so often.

– Our mission is to wait for that person to return. Don’t think. Don’t doubt. Only those who serve that person can have faith.

‘Old men…’

A hundred years had passed. The world had changed many times, but they just waited.

They believed in a ‘return’ that might never happen.

Could that be called life?

Can something that doesn’t think, doesn’t doubt, and only follows blindly really be called life?

He hadn’t always thought this way. He had always believed in the Heavenly Demon. He had served the Heavenly Demon since he could remember. He had learned to be happy waiting for that person and to be happy giving his life for that person.

The first time he questioned things was because of a small event.

Someone died.

It was someone who, like him, had never seen the Heavenly Demon. He was born after the war and saw someone who had only heard the teachings of that person die of sickness.

Those who wait will see the light of the return.

Okay. Let’s say that’s true.

Then? What about those who die without seeing that return?

What do they get? What do those who suffer through terrible training and a meaningless life get if they die before seeing the Heavenly Demon?

If they get nothing, why should the followers suffer?

Why?

The Bishop’s eyes were very dark.

No matter how much he asked, there was no answer. Only the words to believe and wait.

The leaders of the Order were old. They had lived through the last war. They were obsessed with the Heavenly Demon and didn’t allow any doubt.

How could he talk to people who would be honored to peel off their own skin and use it as a foot wrap for the Heavenly Demon?

So, Dan Ziqiang waited. He just waited silently. He tried to ignore his doubts and fill himself with faith.

But once you start to doubt, it never goes away. Doubt had been eating him up.

What if the Heavenly Demon never returns? Or what if he returns after he dies?

Then what was the point of Dan Ziqiang’s life?

A sword is useless if it’s never used. Who would want to be a great sword that is never used, just rusting and turning into scrap metal?

“Bishop…”

The Law Enforcer sounded worried.

“It’s not too late to turn back. Bishop. Even now…”

“Stop.”

Dan Ziqiang shook his head.

“Bishop.”

The Law Enforcer bit his lip.

“I don’t care about my life. I know that what you’re doing is another way to show your faith in that person.”

“But?”

“But they won’t see it that way. They don’t allow doubt. If you go any further…”

“Why? Are you worried that the old men will catch me and tear me apart?”

“…Bishop.”

“That’s not a problem.”

Dan Ziqiang looked into the distance.

“They are waiting for the return without going to the Central Plains.”

“Yes. That’s our mission.”

“Those who disobey the Heavenly Demon’s command will die.”

“That too…”

The Law Enforcer stopped talking. He understood what Dan Ziqiang meant.

Those two things were absolute rules that every follower had to obey. But…

“The moment they come to the Central Plains to catch me, the old men will be breaking their mission. They can never come here.”

Dan Ziqiang smiled sadly.

‘It’s all a contradiction.’

The Heavenly Demon’s teachings didn’t make sense. He only realized this after becoming a Bishop. The teachings they believed in were just a mix of short phrases that that person had said.

“There’s no need to doubt.”

Dan Ziqiang said seriously.

“If that person truly cares for us and leads us, he will answer us. I’m just trying to be a bell that rings for that person on behalf of the followers.”

“…”

Dan Ja-gang waited for an answer. When none came, he looked down at the enforcer.

“Speak,”

“⋯⋯Dare I⋯⋯.”

“Speak.”

The enforcer felt pressured. He bit his lip and spoke.

“If I may be so bold as to ask… if… maybe, just maybe… He doesn’t hear us… if He doesn’t come back soon… what will you do?”

Dan Ja-gang replied with cold eyes.

“That cannot be.”

“Bishop.”

“He will surely respond.”

He turned away from the enforcer.

But deep in his cold eyes, a flicker of doubt appeared.

‘If He does not answer?’

He had asked that question countless times already. But no matter how much he asked himself, the answer remained elusive.

‘I will know when that time comes.’

Dan Ja-gang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he suppressed the gloom rising within his heart.

“We have guests.”

Hearing those words, the enforcer jumped to his feet. He fixed his gaze forward with eyes as sharp as blades.

“They seem a bit different.”

A faint smile bloomed on Dan Ja-gang’s lips.

Maybe these guests would show him the real power of the Central Plains, something he didn’t understand yet.

“I will take care of them.”

“No. Leave them be. Let us hear them out first.”

Dan Ja-gang slowly stepped forward. The others seemed to know Dan Ja-gang. They charged straight at him.

Soon, warriors emitting an aura so intense it stung the skin lined up opposite Dan Ja-gang. There were over a hundred of them.

“Hmm.”

Before Dan Ja-gang could even open his mouth, a man stepped out from among them.

A middle-aged man with a cold expression wearing blue robes, Man Geum-daebu, finally faced Dan Ja-gang.

“Are you the one in charge?”

Dan Ja-gang did not answer.

But Man Geum-daebu, as if he had already heard, gave a signal without waiting further.

Then, those behind him brought large boxes and placed them in front of Man Geum-daebu.

Thud!

A dozen or so boxes, each the size of a human torso, were simultaneously overturned. The lids opened, and all sorts of precious jewels and gold bars poured out in a rush. It looked as if sacks of grain had burst open.

Dan Ja-gang looked at the treasure without interest. It was a huge amount.

“What is this?”

“A gift.”

“⋯⋯A gift?”

Man Geum-daebu slowly nodded.

“This is to welcome the infamous Demonic Sect. We could not possibly arrive without a gift. Think of this as a sign of respect from the Black Ghost Clan.”

A small smile graced Dan Ja-gang’s lips.

“What do you want?”

“Dialogue. And negotiation.”

“Dialogue, you say⋯⋯.”

When Dan Ja-gang did not continue, Man Geum-daebu spoke first.

“I wish to know what it is you desire.”

“Why?”

“If it is something we can provide, we may be able to cooperate.”

Man Geum-daebu’s eyes were dark, and it was hard to know what he was thinking. Dan Ja-gang slowly murmured.

“What we desire⋯⋯.”

Thud. Thud.

He calmly walked forward. Then, he picked up a handful of the ornaments placed on the ground.

“Bountiful.”

Crack. Crunch.

The ornaments in his hand were crushed and broken. Gold bent and twisted, and jewels turned to dust.

“⋯⋯Such a bountiful land. So much so that even these useless things that cannot be eaten hold value.”

“If you wish⋯⋯.”

But Man Geum-daebu was not at all flustered.

“The price could be mountains of accumulated grain. Or it could be land for you to live on.”

“⋯⋯.”

“I cannot guarantee that we can provide everything in the world. But we can provide most things.”

“Hmm.”

“Speak. What is it that you desire? It’s a good deal for you. What we want from you is small compared to what we’re offering.”

Dan Ja-gang smiled, his lips twisting.

“Grain, land, wealth⋯⋯ we need none of it.”

“Then?”

Man Geum-daebu did not waver.

It was clear that they wanted something. So there was no reason to be shaken.

“But⋯⋯ I believe you possess what I desire.”

Dan Ja-gang stared straight at Man Geum-daebu.

“Speak, infidel.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Are you famous across the Central Plains?”

Man Geum-daebu nodded with a blank face.

“My reputation is not low.”

“Yes. Indeed. Then that will suffice.”

Dan Ja-gang smiled brightly.

“Your death will surely be known throughout the world. Enough for everyone to know that we are here.”

The corner of Man Geum-daebu’s eye twitched for a moment, after remaining calm the entire time.

“What you desire⋯⋯.”

“Now shut your disgusting mouth, you infidel. Just exchanging words with you makes my ears feel like they’re rotting.”

Bloodlust began to pour from Dan Ja-gang’s eyes.

“All I want is your dying screams. Scream until you can’t scream anymore. Let your screams be heard everywhere.”

“You’re insane⋯⋯.”

Man Geum-daebu’s complexion changed instantly.

Dan Ja-gang’s madness seemed to choke him.

“Daebu!”

“Negotiations are off. Attack! Aim for his head!”

Still, it was fortunate that they faced the enemy’s leader right in front of them. If we kill him, the others will fall apart!

“Kill him!”

As Man Geum-daebu’s command fell, the Black Ghost Clan’s best warriors charged forward with killing intent.

But at that moment.

Kaaaaaa-BOOM!

A terrifying storm of demonic energy raged, centered around Dan Ja-gang. The black magic rose into the sky like a huge tornado.

Faced with that astonishing sight, the Black Ghost Clan’s elites, who had been charging forward, stopped suddenly.

“Uh⋯⋯ eugh⋯⋯.”

Was this really a sight created by a human?

Bloodlust poured out from the dark swirling energy.

“Only death will make you worthy!”

Dan Ja-gang’s demonic energy exploded outwards.