Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1351

“Sasuk! What’s going on?” a young disciple called out, his voice tight with worry.

Baek Sang, the senior instructor, sighed, his face etched with concern. Around him, the other Mount Hua disciples mirrored his anxious expression. They were all staring at the simple wooden building where Hyun Jong, their Sect Leader, lived and worked. Just a short time ago, the senior members of the Heavenly Union (their group of senior members) had hurried inside, their faces grim.

“Isn’t something happening?” another disciple asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Do you think I’d know just because you ask me?” Baek Sang replied, frustration creeping into his voice. With Baek Cheon, their strongest member, away, Baek Sang was the eldest here. But even that didn’t mean he knew what was causing this sudden tension.

However, the other disciples didn’t know Baek Sang’s situation, so questions poured out without stopping.

Jong-Hoi asked again, his face stiff with worry.

“Maybe… you think something happened to Sasuk and the others in Hainan?”

“This little rascal and his flapping mouth!”

Fierce gazes flew from all directions. Jong-Hoi, stung by the glares, shrank back.

“Ah, no, it’s just that if it weren’t something like that, everyone wouldn’t be so…”

“The Four Seas Alliance might have moved, or those old geezers from the Nine Great Sects might be up to their nonsense again!”

“Frankly, the Sahyungs haven’t even arrived in Hainan yet, so how could anything have happened, you little brat?”

“Shut your trap before I sew your lips together.”

Jong-Hoi lowered his head, and Baek Sang sighed.

“Let’s wait and see for now. Since the Sect Leader has taken notice, he’ll give us some hint when a conclusion is reached, won’t he?”

“…Yes, Sasuk.”

The Mount Hua disciples remained worried. They couldn’t shake their grim expressions. Earlier, they had seen Hyun Jong go to his residence. His face was more serious than usual. They wanted to deny it, but his expression told them something bad had happened to those sent to Hainan.

“Sasuk, what if…”

“There’s no need to ask.”

“…Yes?”

Baek Sang said with a determined face.

“I know what you’re trying to ask, but there’s no need to ask such things. We only have one thing to do.”

“Yes, Sasuk!”

Soon, a firm determination settled on the faces of the other disciples as well.

Everyone’s gaze had now shifted towards that distant south.

The faces of the Heavenly Union’s senior members were all grim.

“…Are you saying that the Myriad Man House (a dangerous and powerful enemy) is chasing after them?”

“That is correct.”

Maeng So, who had been silent as if he had lost his words for a moment, spoke as if in pain.

“The Myriad Man House…”

A moment of confusion flickered across Maeng So’s face.

“Is the Myriad Man House directly attacking Hainan in the rear? In this situation?”

Hyun Jong nodded silently. But Maeng So asked again, as if his questions hadn’t been fully answered.

“And you’re saying they started the attack after the Heavenly Union arrived in Hainan?”

“It seems so.”

“Huh…”

He let out a hollow laugh, out of place for the situation. It was so absurd that he couldn’t help but laugh.

Coincidence? No, this wasn’t something that could be explained as a coincidence.

Originally, the Heavenly Union couldn’t have arrived in Hainan so quickly. If they had headed to Hainan by the normal route, it would have taken at least several months.

But those dispatched by the Heavenly Union had arrived in Hainan abnormally quickly, and thanks to that, they were able to rescue and lead them before Hainan was erased by the hands of the Myriad Man House.

“I thought they would attack Hainan when the war started, but that judgment was wrong…”

“They must have known as well.”

Tang Gunak said in a serious voice. Maeng So expressed his doubt.

“What are you talking about?”

“The fact that even if they attacked Hainan, the Nine Great Sects wouldn’t move.”

Maeng So couldn’t bring himself to answer.

In fact, his thoughts weren’t much different. When you think about it, Jang Il-So had a ghost-like ability to grasp people’s psychology. There was no way that Jang Il-So would miss the fact that the Orthodox Alliance had no intention of waging war for Hainan.

“And right now, the reason doesn’t matter.”

Everyone’s gaze was focused on Tang Gunak.

“The fact that we need to focus on is that the children who went to Hainan are being chased by the Myriad Man House. In Jiangnan (the land of the Four Seas Alliance), no less.”

Maeng So felt a chill run down his spine.

Jiangnan was the land of the Four Seas Alliance. Who here wouldn’t understand what it meant to be chased by the Four Seas Alliance in that place? To be caught between a rock and a hard place wouldn’t be enough to describe it.

Maeng So’s gaze reached Hyun Jong.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

Hyun Jong met his gaze directly. Then, Maeng So’s expression changed subtly for a moment.

It was easy to overlook because of his seemingly dull appearance, but Maeng So was the Palace Lord of the Beast Palace. And as the Beast Palace mastered martial arts that utilized the characteristics of animals, their senses were second to none in the world.

And that sense was now telling him that Hyun Jong, sitting in front of him, was slightly different from before.

“The letter the children sent said they would pass through Jiangnan and come to Gangbuk.”

It was a seemingly calm tone, but everyone knew that a sharp blade was hidden within.

“When I first heard that news, the word that came to my mind was criticism.”

“…Alliance Leader.”

“Why did they make such a reckless choice? They could have just left Hainan and returned. Why did they make a choice that risked their lives for Hainan, which they had never even properly shared warmth with? If that is called righteousness, isn’t righteousness just calling a senseless foolishness?”

Complex emotions surfaced on everyone’s faces. Hyun Jong was now saying what they had been thinking inwardly but couldn’t bring themselves to say.

“But immediately after that, I had another thought.”

“…What thought is that?”

“I am questioning right and wrong even in this situation.”

A look of embarrassment flickered across everyone’s faces for a moment. It was as if Hyun Jong had seen through all their inner thoughts.

“Even in a situation where the children are in danger, I am still thinking about what the children did wrong, and how the children should have done better. Even in that urgent situation.”

The faces of several people turned red. In contrast, Hyun Jong’s eyes were sinking even deeper.

“You asked what we are going to do?”

“…”

“You are asking the obvious. Of course, we will go to save the children.”

“T-to Jiangnan, you mean?”

The faces of those gathered were shocked.

Jiangnan was the land of the Four Seas Alliance. If they headed to Jiangnan, they would have to be prepared to wage war against the Four Seas Alliance. And if they fought the Four Seas Alliance with their current strength, they would have to be prepared for total destruction.

Yet Hyun Jong had brought up that enormous task as if it were nothing.

“My Lord, we can’t decide this with feelings!” someone shouted.

Hyun Jong nodded slowly.

“You are right,” he said. “We must think carefully about what is the right thing to do, not just what we feel.”

“My Lord…”

Maeng So was certain then. He knew Hyun Jong had changed.

“If we spend too long arguing about what is right and wrong, the children might die. We could lose what is most important.”

“If there is something to be examined, we can talk about all the details later, after we have helped the children.”

“But what about the sacrifices? They are the Four Seas Alliance.”

“For those who cannot come with us, please stay here and keep this place safe.”

“Wh-what is happening?”

“Even the time to persuade is precious in this situation.”

Hyun Jong left those words behind and stood up quickly.

Maeng So and Tang Gunak understood Hyun Jong to some extent.

But the others were confused. It was as if the Hyun Jong before them was not the Hyun Jong they knew.

Not the Hyun Jong who always gently soothed everyone and tried to listen to even one more word. The current Hyun Jong seemed to have no intention of listening to others.

“M-My Lord, just a moment…”

Those who were confused tried to continue the conversation with Hyun Jong, but all their efforts were meaningless. Hyun Jong, who had risen from his seat, headed outside without any hesitation.

“W-Where are you going, My Lord!”

Everyone was surprised and followed him out of the room. Since Hyun Jong did not stop, they had no choice but to go.

And those who went outside were confused in two ways.

First, Hyun Jong really left the building without even glancing at them. Second, the disciples of Mount Hua had gathered in front of the building he had stepped out of, without a single one missing.

‘Huh, when?’

It didn’t seem like they had gathered knowing something. They, too, looked surprised at the sudden appearance of Hyun Jong, who had burst out of the door.

Hyun Jong quietly looked at those gathered and turned his head.

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes, please speak.”

Unam respectfully lowered his head.

“May I dare to set aside the Sect Leader and say a word to the children?”

“Although I am the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, the deep relationship of a master and disciple cannot be less than a simple position. Do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

Hyun Jong lightly bowed his head to Un Am and looked at all the disciples of Mount Hua.

“Disciples, listen.”

“Yes!”

All the disciples of Mount Hua immediately knelt on one knee and paid their respects.

“Those who went to Hainan are being chased by the Myriad Man Manor. In that Gangnam, there is nowhere to ask for help.”

The disciples widened their eyes. But that gaze soon quietly subsided. Just like Hyun Jong standing in front of them.

“And the path to those children is blocked by the Four Seas Alliance. Even if you risk your lives, it is not certain whether you can help those children. No, it is probably more likely that you will not be able to help those children.”

The disciples of Mount Hua looked at Hyun Jong without moving.

“So I ask you. Will you go with me to help those who went to Hainan? Will you risk your lives for this dangerous mission?”

Clang.

Baek Sang, who was kneeling at the very front, rose to his feet and drew his sword. And silently, he brought the hand holding the sword to his left chest.

The plum blossoms of Mount Hua, their symbol, was engraved on that chest.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of swords being drawn was heard one after another from here and there.

The disciples of Mount Hua simultaneously drew their swords and brought them to their chests. With a firm will that did not feel even a bit of hesitation.

Hyun Jong quietly nodded his head.

If even a single person had shown a hint of hesitation, he would have turned around. He is the former Sect Leader of Mount Hua, but even so, he is not qualified to force death upon his disciples.

But not a single one of them hesitated.

‘In the first place, this is what true agreement looks like.’

What is right? What is wrong? What is efficient?

Such things are not important. What is important is what they want to do now. And whether there is shame in what they want to do.

Even if it is not something they want to do themselves, if they have to follow it simply because it is right, that is not consensus either.

All the disciples of Mount Hua were urging him with their eyes.

As if they knew in advance that such a moment would come someday. As if they had already thrown away hesitation long ago.

Hyun Jong nodded his head heavily.

“Mount Hua will advance to that Gangnam…”

It was at that very moment.

“My Looooord!”

Someone shouted in a tearing voice. Surprised, he turned his gaze and saw a person running as if shot out of a cannon, jumping over the wall of the manor.

“What’s going on?”

“Th-They moved!”

“Moved?”

“The, the Four Seas Alliance…”

At those words, the blood drained from everyone’s faces.

Everyone could know what words would follow without even hearing them.

The news hit them hard.

“The Four Seas Alliance has moved!”

Boom!

The huge main gate of the Four Seas Alliance headquarters, which rarely opened, swung wide open with a heavy sound.

“Hee hee hee.”

The one who appeared through the open gate wore a strange smile.

“A long-awaited outing.”

Step. His foot stepped out of the headquarters.

Passersby saw Jang Il-so, the leader of the Four Seas Alliance. He suddenly opened the gates and came out. People were terrified, like seeing a ghost. They fell to their knees.

“So… I’ll have to bring something big when I return, won’t I?”

Jang Il-so’s blood-red lips twisted into a strange smile.

“Something big like the head of the Mount Hua Sword Saint! Hahaha!”

Jang Il-so’s red robe fluttered greatly as he strode forward. Behind him, the elites of the Four Seas Alliance, including Hong Gyeon, began their march, their eyes shining fiercely.

The direction was south, towards the land where the smell of blood was thick.