Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1203

“What…”

Namgung Dowook began, his voice a little shaky. He shifted his weight, glancing at the stern face of Tang Gunak across the table. A nervous smile stretched his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Isn’t this… good? Hainan will see how sincere we are.”

Namgung Dowook truly believed it. What could show their good intentions better than the leaders themselves traveling to Hainan, he thought.

But Jo Gul leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. “Or… wouldn’t they be relieved if they didn’t feel like we were going to attack them?”

“Att-attack?” Namgung Dowook stammered, turning to Jo Gul, his smile vanishing. “What do you mean, threatened?”

“Think about it,” Jo Gul said. “The Cheonwu Alliance isn’t exactly weak, right?”

“…That’s right.”

To say they weren’t weak was an understatement. While the Cheonwu Alliance might not be as strong as the Nine Great Sects, they were still one of the top three powers in the world.

“The Namgung Clan and the Dang Clan were the mainstays of the Five Great Families. Plus, there’s Nokrim, one of the Shinjoo Opae, and even two of the Saeoe Ogung.”

“Hmm…”

“Can Hainan look down on any of them?”

“…Probably not.”

Hainan might be one of the Nine Great Sects, but it was the last to join, less than a hundred years ago. Hainan was clearly under more pressure in this relationship.

“And… the leaders of the Cheonwu Alliance are all going to such a sect, saying, ‘We’ve come with good intentions, so join us while we’re being nice about it.'”

Everyone imagined it.

The leaders of the Cheonwu Alliance, known for their quick tempers, surrounding the leader of Hainan.

“Uh…”

“This picture is a bit…”

“There’s even the head of a Demonic Sect.”

Namgung Dowook, sweating, said nervously, “W-we’re not threatening them, are we? We just think it would be good for Hainan’s future to be with the Cheonwu Alliance…”

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Jo Gul asked. “If you don’t join, we’re leaving. And if you don’t, the Shaolin won’t help you, so you’ll fail. Join if you don’t want to fail.”

“…”

“That’s a threat.”

The Five Swords started to murmur.

“It sounds like it when you say it like that.”

“Scary.”

“That’s really scary.”

“I’d be terrified.”

It was a relief that Tang Gunak hadn’t joined them. If you imagined Tang Gunak glaring at you while those people surrounded you, wouldn’t you offer up everything you had?

“…Senior Brother, isn’t this not really chivalry?” Yoon Jong asked.

“Tsk tsk. Foolish one. Don’t you understand yet?”

“Yes?”

Yoon Jong looked at Jo Gul with a confused expression.

“Real chivalry needs strength,” Yoon Jong explained. “If you can’t back it up, it’s just empty words.”

“N-no, what do you mean?” Jo Gul asked, eyes wide.

“If you don’t need to be strong to be chivalrous, it’s not really chivalry,” Yoon Jong said. “It’s just being nice.”

“Huh?”

Jo Gul’s eyes widened. It sounded like nonsense, but it made sense in a strange way. Seeing his expression, Yoon Jong nodded.

“It’s called chivalry because we shut them up and beat them up to solve the problem. And aren’t we on our way to do chivalry?”

“I guess so?”

“That’s right. So, of course, we have to use force.”

“Kuh. Junior Brother didn’t know that. Indeed, this is Hwasan-style chivalry.”

“No, you crazy guys!” Baek Cheon shouted, unable to take it anymore. Jo Gul tilted his head, looking puzzled.

“Senior Brother. The Sect Leader Representative says no.”

“Tsk tsk. Geol, you still don’t understand,” Yoon Jong said. “As the leader, sometimes I have to say things that are not exactly what I truly feel. It’s for the bigger picture.”

“Ah, you mean the true feelings are different.”

“That’s right. In the first place, wasn’t the one who came up with this plan the Sect Leader Representative? And when you think about it, the Sect Leader Representative is practically the founder of ‘Hwasan-style chivalry,’ isn’t he?”

“Indeed!”

“N-no!”

Tang Gunak, who had been listening quietly, looked up at the ceiling, as if he had given up on something.

‘I should have just joined hands with the Abbot?’ he thought.

Then at least the Abbot, not him, would have suffered this pain. When he thought about it, that might have been the best way to torment the Abbot, so why hadn’t he thought of that?

Tang Gunak sighed deeply and composed himself.

“In any case, this is not a story to be taken lightly,” he said.

Everyone looked at Tang Gunak, noticing his changed tone.

“I can’t fault the unity to head directly to Hainan… but it’s also true that the faces of those heading to Hainan are heavier than initially thought. Shouldn’t we call it an unprecedented event?”

“Hmm.”

“If the leaders who go to Hainan suffer an unexpected accident, the damage will be indescribable. The Cheonwu Alliance might even fall apart.”

Tang Gunak looked at the faces of the other leaders. Even as he said this, he knew he wouldn’t change their minds.

Who could he blame? The Cheonwu Alliance was a place where such people gathered. It was because of these people that he was with the Cheonwu Alliance.

“So, what’s most important is a safe return. Don’t forget what you’re carrying on your shoulders,” he said.

Everyone nodded.

Finally, Tang Gunak’s gaze turned to Baek Cheon. It was just a brief glance, but Baek Cheon understood its meaning.

Baek Cheon was the one who started this. So, if a problem arose, it would be Baek Cheon’s responsibility, even if he hadn’t forced it, even if the leaders had participated voluntarily.

It was a look of concern more than blame. Baek Cheon understood and nodded heavily.

Seeing his determination, Tang Gunak smiled slightly.

“But…”

Tang Gunak’s dignified voice filled the room.

“This is also a clear way to show the world the will and determination of the Cheonwu Alliance.”

“We have said we will take a different path from the Nine Great Sects. If that’s just words, then our choice will be seen as a selfish decision.”

Everyone nodded.

“I’ve learned that there isn’t always a right and wrong choice. A choice is just a choice. What’s important is proving that the choice was right.”

This was Tang Gunak’s true feeling.

The Cheonwu Alliance, Hwasan, and the Dang Clan had made many choices that went against the world. They had come this far because they had proven those choices were right through their actions.

He knew that if they ignored their hearts and only considered safety, they would become like the Abbot.

The Cheonwu Alliance had chosen to prove they were different from Shaolin. To themselves, not anyone else.

Tang Gunak pushed down his worries and looked at everyone with a determined face.

“So, go with dignity. In the name of the Cheonwu Alliance.”

The answer came as one.

“Yes!”

More passionately than ever.

❀ ❀ ❀

The negotiations between Shaolin and the Cheonwu Alliance had failed.

The Abbot of Shaolin, Beopjeong, wanted to fix the bad feelings between the two groups and unite against the coming chaos, but the Cheonwu Alliance refused.

Abbot Beopjeong was angry that the Cheonwu Alliance cared more about their own power than the world’s crisis. He said they would not work with the Cheonwu Alliance.

“The Demonic Evil Alliance is strong, and the Demonic Cult is moving again. It’s wrong to put your own position first. The Nine Great Sects condemn the Cheonwu Alliance’s actions.”

This news spread quickly.

People had different reactions.

“Is the Cheonwu Alliance being too much?” someone asked.

Another person became angry. “What? How can you insult the Cheonwu Alliance? Who always helps powerless people first? Who rushed to Hangzhou when the Demonic Cult was killing people?”

“I’m saying that the Cheonwu Alliance always helps people. If they joined the Nine Great Sects, it would be even better, so why refuse?”

“They probably can’t trust those Nine Great Sects! They watched their comrades die to save themselves!”

A middle-aged man frowned. “Even if the Nine Great Sects aren’t what they used to be, they’ve protected people for hundreds of years. They won’t just watch the Demonic Evil Alliance invade. Their own lives are at stake.”

“…Maybe not.”

“Then they should join forces and fight. I heard Abbot Beopjeong agreed to a lot. But they didn’t accept, so the Cheonwu Alliance must want something else.”

“Other things?”

“Greed. They regret their power. The Cheonwu Alliance is not small anymore.”

“You’re speaking carelessly! The Cheonwu Alliance has done so much for us.”

“Don’t be silly. The Nine Great Sects used to be like this. They used to do what the Cheonwu Alliance is doing now. They risked their lives to protect the world from the Demonic Cult!”

“Well…”

The person ran out of words.

There was a time when the Nine Great Sects were chivalrous. But everything changes.

“Even so, the Cheonwu Alliance hasn’t changed yet.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. If they wanted to protect people, they would have joined forces even if the Nine Great Sects refused. But they rejected the Nine Great Sects’ offer.”

“…”

“When the Demonic Evil Alliance invades, it’s better to be united. I’m disappointed in the Cheonwu Alliance this time.”

“That’s probably because your nephew is a disciple there. Look at your arm! It’s all twisted because you’re so angry!”

“What? Are you finished?”

“What! Did I say anything wrong?”

“You!”

The two men argued loudly, and the tavern became noisy. The people around them frowned but didn’t interfere. They had their own thoughts.

A beggar watched from a corner of the tavern. His dark eyes cleared as a server gave him some rice.

The beggar grinned as he took the rice and slipped out of the tavern.