Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1248

A slightly cool breeze brushed against his forearm.

Geum Yang-baek stared blankly up at the clear sky.

‘How indifferent it is.’

Geum Yang-baek believed his hard work controlled his life. He had looked at the sky a few times before.

But each time, the sky coldly ignored his wishes.

‘It couldn’t have been such a grand wish…’

Was it too much to ask that the typhoon not stop forever, but just blow for one more day?

People say fate is like a wide net, catching everything. But Geum Yang-baek now felt angry at this fate.

“Sect Leader.”

At the voice from behind, Geum Yang-baek closed his eyes tightly.

Whatever filled his heart, he was the Sect Leader of Hae Nam. He had to show the appearance of a Sect Leader of Hae Nam until the very end. That was the responsibility for what he had done so far, and the respect for those who had pledged to protect Hae Nam with their lives.

“The guests from the Cheonwoo Alliance?”

“Hwan-so prepared the ship yesterday and told them where it was.”

“Hwan-so did?”

“Yes.”

A sigh escaped from Geum Yang-baek’s lips as he recalled Kwak Hwan-so’s appearance.

It seemed that martial artists grew by facing crises, just as sailors grew by facing storms. Kwak Hwan-so, who had talent with the sword but was problematic because of his hasty personality, had become someone capable of such consideration.

‘That’s why it’s even more regrettable.’

If he could overcome this crisis and maintain the lifeline of Hae Nam, Kwak Hwan-so could become a better Sect Leader than he could ever be…

It was just a pity that he wouldn’t be able to see that flower bloom.

“So, did they leave?”

“I couldn’t confirm, but judging from the fact that they haven’t come back, it seems they left without a word.”

“Hmm.”

“Wouldn’t it be awkward to leave after seeing each other’s faces?”

“…What’s awkward about it? I’m just grateful.”

Geum Yang-baek sighed briefly.

“Im Gyeom.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Excluding the Four Factions Alliance, they will be the last people to see Hae Nam.”

“…”

“Did I do okay? As Sect Leader, I mean.” Geum Yang-baek asked, his voice softer now.

Im Gyeom bowed his head deeply.

“You were more than alright, Sect Leader. You were great. Even those Cheonwoo Alliance people could see it.”

“I see…”

Geum Yang-baek gave a faint smile.

“Still, it’s fortunate that they are the ones who saw the end of Hae Nam.”

“Is it because the Nine Great Sects will be busy hiding their flaws, while they will try to reveal the flaws of the Nine Great Sects?”

“It’s not that.”

Geum Yang-baek looked at the sky again with a detached expression.

“They will probably continue to walk the path of chivalry. They are the ones who didn’t hesitate to come all that way to help us.”

“…I think so too.”

“If good reviews of Hae Nam come from their mouths, wouldn’t the people of the world remember Hae Nam favorably?”

When Im Gyeom couldn’t even answer and remained silent, Geum Yang-baek clicked his tongue briefly as if he had said something unnecessary.

“Prepare it. We must hold the expulsion ceremony quickly.”

“There’s no need for you to go in person…”

“It’s always good to be sure. We shouldn’t make those leaving for the Four Great Families think they are wrong, especially since they are so determined. And going down the mountain through legitimate procedures will slightly increase the probability of avoiding the clutches of the Four Factions Alliance.”

“I understand, Sect Leader.”

Geum Yang-baek turned and headed to his residence.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve worn the formal attire.’

And this formal attire would not leave his body until the moment he died.

A thick tension settled on the faces of the Hae Nam disciples.

The moment they confirmed that the typhoon had stopped, they realized that the Four Factions Alliance could storm Hae Nam Island at any moment.

“…Is the war really starting now?”

“Yes. You heard it then. That the Four Factions Alliance is building ships.”

“So, that means they’ll come when it’s finished. How long will it take?”

“…If those who don’t even know what a ship is could recognize it as a ship, it’ll be a day at most. No, maybe it’s already finished.”

“It takes at least five more days to salt the ship! Isn’t that common sense, Senior Brother!”

“…That’s the story when you’re going to keep using the ship, and if you’re just going to use it to travel to and from Hae Nam, it doesn’t matter if it leaks. You only need to last a few days.”

Those who heard those words gasped as if they felt a sharp pain in their chest.

“There’s no need to ride a ship once Hae Nam is taken care of anyway. The Four Factions Alliance guys aren’t fools, so they’ll think that much.”

“Then… does that mean the Four Factions Alliance could attack as early as tonight?”

“…If they’re in a hurry, yes.”

As more and more people properly recognized the situation, the tension swelled uncontrollably.

“That…”

“Huh?”

“…Maybe that…”

One of the disciples, who was looking around, asked the person next to him in a small voice.

“Has the list of people participating in the expulsion… ceremony been finalized?”

The person who heard those words glared at the speaker with murderous eyes.

“Why? Are you going to ask the Sect Leader to expel you now?”

“A, no, Senior Brother. Would I ever do that? I am a Hae Nam person to the bone.”

“Then?”

“…Well… I don’t know about me, but I think there might be some senior and junior brothers who want that.”

The person who heard those words sighed deeply.

‘He’s not wrong.’

He was also suffering from the same temptation.

If they were only expelled, they could at least save their lives. Then they could try to do something after that.

If everyone died and disappeared, the Hae Nam sect would disappear from the world. Wouldn’t it be better to be expelled, even falsely, and try to promote the revival of Hae Nam?

So Yeo-rip (昭與立), who had been lost in thought, suddenly chuckled.

‘He must want to live quite badly.’

Seeing him rationalize his expulsion with such a dog-like thought.

So Yeo-rip, who had been sighing, suddenly widened his eyes. He saw Kwak Hwan-so leaving the main building.

“Senior Brother! Where are you going?”

Kwak Hwan-so, who had half a foot outside the door, turned to look at So Yeo-rip.

“Are you going to prepare for the expulsion ceremony?”

“No, not yet.”

“Then…”

Lee Ja-yang, who was next to Kwak Hwan-so, frowned and shouted.

“He’s going to clean the building where those Cheonwoo Alliance guys stayed!”

“…Yes? No, why…? There’s no need to use it again, is there?”

So Yeo-rip asked as if he was dumbfounded.

If it was that building, he was talking about the guest quarters, but why would he clean that now? There would be no guests coming to Hae Nam again.

But even while receiving questioning gazes, Kwak Hwan-so just smiled briefly.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just go for a bit and…”

“Rather, he says he can’t leave it as it is because it’s the last time, the last time! He says that people should always finish things neatly, and he can’t end any part of Hae Nam in such a state!”

Everyone in the building stared blankly at Kwak Hwan-so.

But some of them, those who were preparing for expulsion, couldn’t bear to face Kwak Hwan-so and lowered their heads.

Lee Ja-yang grumbled irritably.

“What a great senior disciple. What’s wrong with the building being a little dirty?”

“…That’s why I said I’d go alone.”

“That’s enough! Are you trying to make me a parricide who makes my senior brother clean while I play around in the back?”

“…If you’re going, go, and if you’re not going, just say so. Why are you so dissatisfied when you’re going anyway?”

“It’s frustrating, frustrating! You weren’t this stubborn before.”

“They say people show their true colors at the end, so I guess my true colors were like this from the start.”

“That’s nonsense…”

“That’s enough, let’s go. If you really don’t want to, you can stay here.”

Kwak Hwan-so strode forward, and Lee Ja-yang snapped in annoyance and followed behind him. Then, nearly half of the disciples in the building jumped up from their seats and ran out.

“Senior Brother!”

“We’ll do it.”

“Senior Brother, please stay here! We should be doing this! No, you only need to tell us…”

Kwak Hwan-so sighed.

“I’m just trying to do something because I’m frustrated, so just leave me alone.”

“We’re just as frustrated. Then let’s go together.”

Kwak Hwan-so stared at the disciples lined up and then nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go. If we all go together, we can finish it before the expulsion ceremony.”

“Yes.”

Kwak Hwan-so moved his feet without saying anything more.

It was absurd even for him to think about. Cleaning in the midst of all this.

Kwak Hwan-so wouldn’t have thought this way if he didn’t feel like it was the end. But since he thought it was the end, he couldn’t just leave it alone.

This was the place where he had entered as soon as he took his first steps and had been with him throughout his life.

It was a building that might soon be burned to ashes without a trace, but he wanted to at least make its end neat and tidy. That was all he could do right now. So he was grateful. To those who agreed with his stubborn thoughts.

‘In the end, all that a sect leaves behind are its disciples.’

No one in the world helps them.

Even the residents of the same Hae Nam Island are slowly distancing themselves from the Hae Nam faction after roughly grasping the situation.

But now, they are coming forward to spend their last moments cleaning the utterly insignificant guest quarters.

That’s why it’s a sect, and that’s why they are senior and junior brothers.

‘I’ll be with them when I die.’

A small smile bloomed on Kwak Hwan-so’s lips as he arrived in front of the guest quarters.

The guest quarters, which had been vacated by people, were extremely quiet. The guest quarters, which were so silent that even the sound of ants’ footsteps could be heard, looked desolate and even eerie. Kwak Hwan-so silently watched the scene, engraving it in his mind.

“…Senior Brother?”

“It’s nothing.”

Only after a disciple who had come with him called out once did Kwak Hwan-so force a bright smile and shout.

“Let’s finish quickly. We won’t have enough time to clean up the liquor bottles and the vomit stains.”

“That’s what Ja-yang Senior Brother vomited.”

“Wh, who said that?”

“I saw it clearly with my own two eyes.”

“Yo, you’re slandering me…”

Kwak Hwan-so chuckled as Lee Ja-yang’s face turned bright red.

“Clean up what you vomited.”

“Ah! I’m telling you, it wasn’t me, Senior Brother!”

“Alright! Everyone, hurry up!”

“Yes!”

Several disciples ran towards the entrance. And just as they were about to grab the doorknob, the door suddenly burst open.

Thud!

“Kweeeck!”

The disciple who had hit his face on the door fell backward.

“What is it?”

“Huh?”

The surprised Hae Nam disciples widened their eyes and looked at the open door.

Chung Myung, who had a bird’s nest on his head as if he had just woken up and whose eyes were swollen, was scratching his stomach with one hand as he came out.

“Oi! What’s all this racket? And why haven’t I been fed yet?”

Kwak Hwan-so, who was at a loss for words, stared blankly at Chung Myung.

Why is that human still here?

“Th, that…”

“Hey, you.”

At Chung Myung’s voice calling him, Kwak Hwan-so flinched and unknowingly asked back.

“Yes?”

“Where’s the cafeteria here? Why aren’t they giving me food?”