Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1352

Hong Daegwang spoke, his face pale. He stammered.

“I-It’s reported,” Hong Daegwang said, “Jang Il-so from the Four Seas Alliance has left. He’s with Hong Gyeon and other strong fighters. We don’t know exactly where they are going, but it seems to be south.”

“Are you certain?”

Hong Daegwang nodded quickly, not saying anything. He was sweating a lot. This showed how worried and urgent he felt.

“W-Well,” Hong Daegwang continued, “the Beggars’ Sect has lost many spies in Gangnam. But we can still watch the Four Seas Alliance headquarters a little. Actually, it’s hard to even do that now… B-But that’s not important right now!”

Hong Daegwang went on. “Anyway, this is the first time Jang Il-so himself has moved since the Hangzhou Demonic Painting problem! The Beggars’ Sect is very worried! Also, he has taken Hong Gyeon and the strong fighters from the Myriad Man Clan. This means he is planning something very important!”

Hyun Jong listened, his face serious and unmoving, like a statue carved from stone.

The Beggars’ Sect does not know what happened to Chung Myung and the Heavenly Union. So, they understand this news in their own way. But Hyun Jong knows what is happening in Hainan. He understood who Jang Il-so was going after.

“If the Beggars’ Sect knows,” Hyun Jong said, “then the Nine Sects will know too.”

Hong Daegwang nodded again, without saying anything.

The Beggars’ Sect is part of the Nine Great Sects. They usually share information. So, some people might think Hong Daegwang is wrong to tell the Heavenly Union this news. It could cause trouble.

But even though he knew it might be wrong, Hong Daegwang still felt guilty when he spoke to Hyun Jong. He respected Hyun Jong and Mount Hua, and felt like he was betraying his own sect by helping them.

Hyun Jong looked at Hong Daegwang with kind eyes. He seemed to understand how Hong Daegwang felt. He put his hands together and bowed slightly to show his respect and thanks.

“Thank you,” Hyun Jong said. “This must have been hard for you to tell us.”

“D-Don’t mention it, Alliance Leader!” Hong Daegwang said, waving his hands quickly, looking worried.

“You don’t need to thank me,” Hong Daegwang said. “A-And… thanks are for strangers. I belong to the Beggars’ Sect, and my position is not clear, but how could I ever be against the Mount Hua Divine Dragon… No, the Mount Hua Sword Saint?”

Hyun Jong nodded slowly. He looked into Hong Daegwang’s eyes and saw honesty there. He knew Hong Daegwang was telling the truth, even if it was risky for him. A wave of thankfulness washed over Hyun Jong.

But there was no time to thank him properly now.

Hyun Jong turned his gaze to the Yangtze River. The wide, muddy river flowed powerfully past the stone walls of the manor. He could hear the distant cries of gulls and the faint creak of wood from the Water Faction’s fleet. Far away, on the grey water, he could see their dark ships, like insects on a giant leaf. They still controlled the river, blocking their path.

Hyun Jong wished they could fight through the ships and cross the river quickly. But he knew that was almost impossible. They had very little time left. They needed to leave now and find a way to cross the Yangtze River where the Water Faction wasn’t watching.

Hyun Jong said.

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes.”

“There is no time.”

“I will prepare for departure immediately.”

“I am sorry, Sect Leader.”

Unam shook his head firmly.

“I believe Master made the right choice.”

“…”

“If the Mount Hua disciples were trapped in Gangnam, and Chung Myung was here, what would that troublemaker say?”

Hyun Jong’s face went blank for a moment, all the worry and tension suddenly hidden behind a mask of stillness. Seeing this sudden change, Un Am smiled faintly, a knowing smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

“That guy would have said, right away, that we must go to Gangnam now. He wouldn’t listen to anyone who tried to stop him. If no one went with him, he would have gone to Gangnam alone, without a second thought. Isn’t that right?”

“…Sect Leader.”

“We are not saving them *just* because they are our people. It’s *because* they are our people that we even thought for a moment about whether this was the right thing to do. If it were others, would we have even hesitated?”

Hyun Jong nodded slowly. Un Am was right. It would be the same if anyone was in danger.

“They are all our disciples, our children that Mount Hua must protect. We shouldn’t hesitate or doubt ourselves. If we are not ready to risk many lives to save even one, then our sect is meaningless.”

Unam looked at the disciples.

“Isn’t that true?”

“Yes, Sect Leader!” they all shouted together. Usually, they would cheer loudly or complain. But this time, their voices were strong and determined.

Hyun Jong nodded, a lump forming in his throat. Strong feelings – pride, fear, and determination – surged up from within his chest, making it hard to speak. He swallowed them down. “Yes,” he said, his voice firm despite the emotion, “let’s go.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!” they replied, their voices echoing his resolve.

Hyun Jong looked at Tang Gunak. “Clan Leader,” he started to say. But Tang Gunak shook his head before Hyun Jong could finish.

“Don’t tell us to stay here and protect this place, Alliance Leader,” Tang Gunak said firmly. It was like he knew what Hyun Jong was going to say.”

“My children are there too,” Tang Gunak said. “My children are more important to me than anyone.”

“But…” Hyun Jong started to say.

“But that’s not the main thing,” Tang Gunak interrupted.”

Tang Gunak’s face became cold. “For the Dang Clan,” he said, “I can give up my children’s lives if needed. But there is one thing I can never give up as the leader of the Dang Clan.”

Tang Gunak’s face was very serious. “Anyone who hurts someone from the Dang Clan must be punished,” he said. “This is the Dang Clan law, passed down for hundreds of years. It’s a rule we must protect with our lives. This rule is even more important than the Dang Clan itself.”

His eyes narrowed, and a fierce blue light seemed to burn in them, like cold flames. “Even if Mount Hua doesn’t go,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “the Dang Clan will cross the river. So, please don’t even think about asking me to stay.”

“Clan Leader…” Hyun Jong said softly. Just by looking at Tang Gunak’s face, Hyun Jong knew he couldn’t change his mind. Tang Gunak had only waited this long because of the Heavenly Union.

“Yes, the Dang Clan’s laws are famous,” a voice said from behind. Hyun Jong and Tang Gunak turned around. “But even your strong sense of duty to the law is not as important as what the Namgung Clan needs right now,” the voice continued.

“…Elder Namgung,” Hyun Jong said. Namgung Myeong nodded seriously. “Our family won’t disappear just because we don’t follow the law right now,” Namgung Myeong said. “But for the Namgung Clan now, saving the Young Lord is more important than the family itself.”

Namgung Myeong’s face was cold and hard, like he was wearing iron armor. “It would have been better if we hadn’t sent him in the first place,” he said. “But now it’s happened. We have to choose the best thing we can do now. For the Namgung Clan, the best thing is to save the Young Lord, even if it means everyone’s lives are in danger. We can’t go back now.”

Namgung Myeong seemed to give off a cold feeling. Next to him, Namgung Dan nodded, his face also showing he was determined.

The Namgung Clan had already lost Namgung Hwang. They couldn’t lose Namgung Dowi too. “The Namgung Clan will go too,” Namgung Myeong said. So, Mount Hua, the Dang Clan, and the Namgung Clan all said they would go.

Tang Gunak spoke firmly, “In that case, the Ice Palace will join you.”

“Elder Han…”

“We also can’t afford to lose the Palace Lord. Shouldn’t we add more groups to help us?”

But Tang Gunak shook his head firmly.

“The Ice Palace must protect this place.”

Song Yuan from the Ice Palace, who was watching nearby, became angry.

“Why is that? Is it because we’re not from *here*?”

“Song Yuan!”

Han Yi-myeong rebuked him in an icy voice.

“What foolish things are you saying! Haven’t you seen how the Cheonwu Alliance treats us? And yet you say such things?”

Song Yuan lowered his head.

Han Yi-myeong apologized to Tang Gunak.

“I am sorry.”

“It’s alright. I understand well enough.”

Tang Gunak understood the Ice Palace’s feelings. To the Ice Palace, the Dang Family might look like other people from Jungwon. But in Jungwon, many people looked down on the Dang Family. There were many reasons for this.

“There are two reasons why I am not bringing the Ice Palace. One is that in the hot Gangnam, the Ice Palace’s ice techniques will not be as strong.”

“That is…”

Even Han Yi-myeong couldn’t deny this. It was natural that ice techniques would be weaker in warmer places.

Normally, he would have said it didn’t matter, but against the Four Evil Alliance, he couldn’t say those words.

“The other reason is that if this place is undefended, they can attack us with all their strength as we enter Gangnam. For us to return alive, we need someone to stop them.”

Han Yi-myeong bit his lip.

He wanted to save the Palace Lord, but he was now in charge of the Ice Palace. He had to think about practical things.

If someone had to guard the rear, it had to be the Ice Palace. It was clear that their strength was less than other groups.

More than anything, Han Yi-myeong worried that their joining might actually make things worse.

Knowing his thoughts, Hyun Jong clasped his hands towards Han Yi-myeong.

“We will bring back Palace Lord Seol. So, I ask you to stay here.”

“I understand.”

In the end, Han Yi-myeong agreed.

Tang Gunak then looked at Maeng So, who was silent.

“Similarly, the Beast Palace must also protect this place.”

Maeng So’s eyes flickered with a mix of anger and understanding. He asked Tang Gunak in a slightly rough voice.

“Do you think the Beast Palace won’t be strong enough in Gangnam either?”

“That’s not the case. But… it’s impossible to secretly cross the river with those beasts.”

Maeng So shook his head.

Those who say the Sichuan Dang Family is selfish are fools. Where is this man selfish?

“I will do so.”

With this, the groups going to Gangnam were decided: Hwasan, the Sichuan Dang Family, and the Namgung Family.

Maeng So asked with a worried face.

“Will three groups be enough?”

“It might not be three groups.”

“Hmm?”

“The Green Forest won’t listen no matter what we say. The Green Meadow people will follow us no matter what.”

Maeng So nodded as if he understood. Without Im So-byeong, the Green Forest couldn’t be controlled, even by the Cheonwu Alliance. They would do what they wanted.

If the Green Meadow had stayed with Im So-byeong until the end, then their choice was clear.

“Then now…”

“But you two can’t recklessly go to Gangnam.”

Namgung-myeong said firmly.

“Crossing the Yangtze River won’t be easy. The Yangtze River is controlled by river pirates called the Surochae, and we don’t even have a boat to cross the river, do we?”

“So, we need to get a boat quickly.”

“That’s not all. Even if we cross the Yangtze River safely, we don’t know which way those who went to Hainan are going in Gangnam. It will be like finding a needle in a desert.”

Tang Gunak closed his mouth. It was hard to argue because it was a good point.

“Namgung has already lost something important because he was too eager. We can’t make the same mistake again.”

It was impossible not to know the meaning of those words.

Tang Gunak’s eyes trembled. He pretended to be calm, but he was also excited. He was too eager to think clearly.

“Then…”

“I know where those guys are coming from.”

Tang Gunak looked at Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong continued calmly.

“So, please finish the preparations quickly. I can’t wait long.”

Tang Gunak and Namgung-myeong stared at Hyun Jong and nodded.

“I understand, Alliance Leader.”

“We will finish the preparations immediately.”

“I ask for your help.”

Hyun Jong clasped his hands.

The two quickly led the disciples to the residence where the others were staying. They moved so fast that they didn’t even greet each other.

Hyun Jong looked back to the south.

“Cheong-myeong… You bastards…”

He closed his eyes tightly.

“Just bear with it a little longer. I’ll be there soon.”

He hoped that his voice would reach those who were tired.