Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1217

The air in Hainan hung thick and heavy, like a wet blanket. Far to the south of the Central Plains, this huge island was once a place of exile. The heat beat down, and the dampness clung to everything, making life difficult in its own way, unlike the bitter cold of the northern lands.

Usually, the people born on Hainan lived peacefully, day after day. But now, a heavy cloud of worry hung over the island, darker than anyone could remember.

Not many people outside knew much about Hainan. But the island’s name was often mentioned because of a sect nestled on Mount Wuzhi (Five Finger Mountain): The Hainan Sect.

This sect had taken the place of the Mount Hua Sect as one of the Nine Great Sects.

Even though its history and power weren’t as great as the other traditional sects, it was still one of the Nine Great Sects. Just being in that group, even in the lowest spot, showed how important the Hainan Sect was.

The Sect Leader’s residence, usually the most revered place in Hainan Sect, felt heavy with gloom. Dust motes danced in the shafts of weak sunlight that pierced through the high windows, illuminating the worried faces of the elders gathered within.

“…Perhaps,” a voice said.

The voice, strained and low, continued with difficulty, “Has there been any contact?”

Geum Yang-baek, the Hainan Sect Leader, looked at the elders as he asked. But even though he was asking a question, his voice sounded like he already knew the answer.

“Not yet…” an elder replied.

The answer trailed off, as if it were too embarrassing to finish. It showed exactly how bad things were for Hainan.

“I suppose not,” Geum Yang-baek said with a short laugh. The bitter sound made the elders feel even worse.

“Sect Leader… It’s not time to give up hope yet. Maybe the message just hasn’t arrived. That’s possible, isn’t it?”

“What difference does it make?” Geum Yang-baek sneered.

“Does it matter if they want to help but can’t reach us, or if they don’t contact us because they don’t want to help? The result is the same.”

“…Sect Leader,” the elder said softly.

“If someone wants to contact us, if someone wants to save Hainan, what will change? They won’t be able to help anyway. Are we supposed to feel better knowing that people will feel sorry for Hainan after it’s destroyed?”

The elder lowered his head and didn’t say anything. He knew his words were just empty comfort.

Geum Yang-baek sighed. He was frustrated, but it wasn’t the elders’ fault. What could they do?

“What are the Wicked Alliance doing?” he asked.

“They haven’t made any moves yet.”

“…Or is it that we just haven’t seen them?”

Again, there was no real answer.

How could they know what the Wicked Alliance was doing? They couldn’t even send one disciple across the sea to Jiangnan.

Their information network was gone, and the Beggars’ Sect, who used to share information, had left Jiangnan long ago.

They were alone and cut off.

All they knew was what was happening on their island. People, news, even birds couldn’t reach them. Only big news from the outside world would arrive late.

“Sect Leader… Even though we haven’t heard anything, some sects will surely help us if things get bad. Shaolin won’t just sit and watch…”

“Is that so?” Geum Yang-baek interrupted, chuckling.

“Yes, that’s right. The Abbot has been ignoring Hainan on purpose, but I’m just complaining because I don’t understand his plan.”

“…”

“They’ll help us when things happen. I’m just too worried. Is that it?”

The elders closed their eyes.

Geum Yang-baek wasn’t usually sarcastic. He was known as a good man. But after being pressured by the Wicked Alliance for years, his words had become harsh, and his personality had changed.

He saw the elders’ discomfort and sighed again.

“…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t blame you.”

“No, Sect Leader. We know how much you’re suffering,” an elder replied.

The lines around the elders’ eyes seemed deeper, their shoulders slumped with defeat.

They all felt the same way.

How could they not resent the Nine Great Sects?

The Nine Great Sects weren’t just a symbol of power. They usually argued, but when there were foreign enemies or evil groups, they would unite. That’s why they had their reputation.

But since the Gangnam Non-Aggression Treaty, Hainan hadn’t received any help from the other Nine Great Sects. They had to face the Wicked Alliance alone, like a wolf showing its teeth.

“Has the Beggars’ Sect sent anyone yet?” Geum Yang-baek asked.

“…No, Sect Leader.”

“When was the last time a member of the Beggars’ Sect visited?”

“A year… Yes. A year ago.”

Geum Yang-baek stared at the ceiling.

“Has it been that long?” he muttered, then was silent for a long time before speaking again.

“No matter how strong the Wicked Alliance is, and no matter how great Jang Il-so’s power is… How can the Beggars’ Sect not send even one person?”

“Sect Leader…”

“Heh heh heh.”

Geum Yang-baek laughed quietly. The sad sound filled the hall.

“It’s ridiculous. They say a dog waits for its owner even after being abandoned. Aren’t we like that? We’re waiting for news from the Nine Sects, which may never come.”

It was a miserable thing to say.

He was the leader of a sect, one of the Nine Great Sects. He shouldn’t compare his sect to a dog.

But no one blamed him. Geum Yang-baek cared about Hainan more than anyone else.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“…”

“When the Wicked Alliance attacks, do you think the Nine Sects will help?”

“Th, that will happen. Of course, it must. Isn’t that the right thing to do?” an elder said.

“A sect like Shaolin can’t avoid sending help because of what others will think.”

Geum Yang-baek nodded slightly, but he didn’t seem convinced.

“Then I’ll ask again. Do you think Shaolin’s help will arrive on time?”

“That’s…”

No one could answer for sure.

They were pretty sure Shaolin would send help, but it wouldn’t arrive on time. Whether they were sincere or not.

“Shaolin wants a good reason and a good reward,” Geum Yang-baek said with a helpless laugh.

It was obvious.

“They’ll warn the Wicked Alliance and try to punish them. But… Will those who go to punish them really come deep into Jiangnan?”

“…”

“They’ll just put on a show at the Yangtze River.”

“Se, Sect Leader… Surely Shaolin wouldn’t do that…”

“Is our Hainan worth saving, even if it means hurting their own forces?”

Geum Yang-baek gritted his teeth.

“If the Mount Hua Sect hadn’t fallen so quickly, and if they hadn’t needed to fill their spot, would we really be one of the Nine Great Sects now? Our Hainan Sect, which they look down on as outsiders?”

Everyone was silent.

If Mount Hua hadn’t fallen, Hainan might never have joined the Nine Great Sects. Everyone knew it.

“In the end, even though we’re called the Nine Great Sects, we were just a sect to fill a spot.”

“Sect Leader…”

“Am I wrong?”

Geum Yang-baek was angry.

“Is it really because Shaolin can’t do it that they haven’t sent even one message to Hainan for a year?”

“…”

“That’s a sad thought. It means the Wicked Alliance is so strong that even Shaolin can’t do anything!”

“Sect Leader! Calm down. Shaolin won’t want the Nine Great Sects to fall apart. They…”

“That’s a funny thing to say. I guarantee that if the Mount Hua Sect had heard those words, they would have burst out laughing.”

No one could argue.

Even if a sect falls completely, the Nine Great Sects don’t fall apart. Another sect will just take its place.

Hainan had benefited from that. So why was it strange that the situation was now reversed?

“The Nine Great Sects will be criticized. People will point fingers and curse them. But will that last?”

“…”

“If they stop the Wicked Alliance, it will be seen as a necessary sacrifice, and the Abbot’s choice not to waste power on Hainan will be praised as a smart decision. Isn’t that so?”

“Sect Leader…”

“That’s how the world is.”

Geum Yang-baek laughed quietly.

“In the end, it will be forgotten. Just like the world forgot Mount Hua. Maybe even faster.”

Geum Yang-baek closed his eyes.

He knew how easily people could erase their sins. Hainan would now experience what Mount Hua had experienced.

What hurt him most was that Hainan, who had been part of that past, didn’t even have the right to complain.

As everyone felt miserable, a voice reached Geum Yang-baek.

“In that case, it would have been better to join the Cheonwu Alliance…”

Everyone stared at the elder who had spoken.

The elder hesitated, looking uncomfortable, then spoke as if he were venting.

“If it’s the Cheonwu Alliance, which invades even Jiangnan because the Demonic Sect has appeared… They wouldn’t abandon a sect of the same alliance just because it’s far away, would they?”

The atmosphere in the hall sank even further.