Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1388

“Faster!”

“Yes!”

The reply came from up ahead, not beside him. Even before he could speak, his martial siblings moved as he wanted.

Baek Cheon clenched his fist.

It might sound strange, but he had never felt a strong connection with all of them. Each Mount Hua disciple had such a strong personality that it was hard for them to blend. If Chung Myung hadn’t been there to unite them, they might have always seen each other as rivals.

But now, they moved like his own limbs. It wasn’t just following orders; everyone was thinking the same thing, focused on Baek Cheon.

As soon as he thought Jo Gul might be tired, Yoon Jong rushed ahead.

When he worried Yoo Iseol was overdoing it, Tang Soso stuck to her like a ghost, her sword showing her strong determination to help Yoo Iseol.

Just like Baek Cheon’s own heart right now.

Baek Cheon unleashed his sword. The red sword energy sliced through the approaching enemy swordsman beside Yoon Jong.

“Thank you, Martial Uncle!”

“Don’t worry about it, just focus on the front!”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon’s eyes narrowed. The enemies weren’t strong, but the time limit made it harder.

Fortunately, they were no longer alone.

“Haaah!”

Dang Pae soared upwards, throwing dozens of light beams from his hand. They pierced the heads of the retreating enemies.

Jo Gul was horrified.

“Seriously, pine needles…?”

“This much doesn’t even need poison! It won’t kill them, but it will help!”

“…I might have to learn how to use hidden weapons.”

The Dang family heir supported them, and Seol Sobaek desperately used his sword with his still-immature skills.

“Don’t leave it all to Mount Hua! We have to carve out our own path to survival!”

“Yes!”

The Hainan disciples, who always waited for Baek Cheon’s orders, now tried to get ahead of the Cheonwoo Alliance and strike down the enemy.

“Let’s go, Jayang!”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

Gwak Hwan-so and Lee Ja-yang surged forward, cutting down the bewildered enemies. Their swords moved like water, reminding Baek Cheon of the sea in Hainan.

A strange feeling flickered across Baek Cheon’s face.

Where else could you see this? Who could have imagined it?

The young lord of the Dang family stepped on a Mount Hua disciple’s shoulder, and the eldest disciple of the Hainan sect blocked a sword aimed at the Ice Palace Lord.

They weren’t all from traditionally good groups. Some here were not known for being righteous.

They came from different places and had different backgrounds. But now, no one cared about that. They were protecting each other and making a path together.

‘Perhaps….’

Baek Cheon’s lips twitched. He couldn’t explain it. He couldn’t say what he was feeling.

But he had a feeling.

All the things Chung Myung had done—uniting Mount Hua, connecting different groups, and even saving those who others wanted to abandon—

Maybe Chung Myung had done all that to create this scene.

That rascal would never say it, and he would be ridiculed if he asked, but he had that feeling.

But then…

“Martial Uncle!”

“Right!”

Baek Cheon snapped back to his senses and shook his sword.

‘Still not good enough.’

He shouldn’t be daydreaming when he needed to focus on escaping. He still had much to learn to be a good leader. He refocused his mind.

‘How far have we gone?’

The situation was not good. No matter how much Chung Myung, Hae Yeon, and Namgung Dowi were buying them time, they couldn’t hold out for long.

No matter how strong they were, skill alone couldn’t overcome numbers. Otherwise, strong people wouldn’t bother creating groups.

Eventually, the enemy would chase them. Baek Cheon had to lead them and escape.

He wasn’t sure. Could they really escape? They had followed them all the way from Guangdong. Could they really escape? Especially with the injured people?

But Baek Cheon’s certainty didn’t matter. It wasn’t about whether he could do it. He had to. If he didn’t, they would be destroyed.

Then…

“Martial Uncle, behind us!”

Baek Cheon quickly turned. Hae Yeon and Namgung Dowi ran towards them. The blood splattering showed how hard they had fought.

They leaped over the Hainan disciples and ran to Baek Cheon.

“Acting Sect Leader!”

“You two have suffered….”

Baek Cheon’s mouth froze. He saw the fear and anger on their faces.

Baek Cheon realized something.

“So, Sect Lea….”

“Where is Chung Myung?”

“……”

“Where is Chung Myung! Is he still back there?”

Hae Yeon bit his lip. Namgung Dowi shouted desperately.

“The Taoist! He didn’t come with us. He turned back and disappeared!”

“…What?”

Baek Cheon’s face went blank. Namgung Dowi bit his lip and said.

“The Taoist plunged into the enemy lines and changed direction… Damn it! He went east! Most of those bastards chased after him, not us. No, maybe more than half went after him! The numbers are still big, but that’s…”

Namgung Dowi would never speak so incoherently. He looked panicked.

Even with his messy words, Baek Cheon understood.

“You mean they followed him?”

“Yes, Acting Sect Leader! We have to do something… somehow.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes wavered.

It wasn’t normal. It didn’t make sense that so many were chasing one person. It seemed impossible.

Baek Cheon’s gaze landed on one side.

“Green Forest King!”

Im Sobyung, who was behind him, met his gaze. His look was cold, with no surprise.

Baek Cheon realized Im Sobyung, who normally gave him advice, had been silent.

“Ugh….”

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

He didn’t need to ask why. He understood. Chung Myung had changed direction, and the Green Forest King was silent.

“That idiot!”

Baek Cheon cursed.

He knew the situation was desperate. That’s why Chung Myung hadn’t joined them. If he became bait, the others would survive.

As Baek Cheon had seen, they were much stronger now. If they didn’t face the main force, they could cross the river alive.

But if that happened…

“Then what about Chung Myung?”

Baek Cheon flinched.

Jo Gul ran to his side, his eyes filled with emotion.

“Then what will happen to Chung Myung?”

Silence. He had already seen what Chung Myung, left alone to stop the enemy, would become.

Even with the canyon, he almost died. Could he face even more people in the open without help?

“Where is he!”

Jo Gul reacted immediately.

“East? Martial Uncle! We should change direction….”

“No!”

Im Sobyung cut him off.

“That is not what Chung Myung Taoist wants.”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Then choose.”

“…Yes?”

“There is only one way to survive against the enemy’s main force. Abandon Hainan and only those who are capable should escape.”

Jo Gul closed his mouth.

“There is no other way. The Yangtze River is not easy to cross while carrying luggage.”

Everyone knew it. The Yangtze River was the real beginning. But they had been ignoring it.

“We can manage it when we get there….”

“If you’re talking about luck, don’t bother. The opponent is Jang Ilso. We have no luck.”

Those who heard that trembled. They knew Jang Ilso’s power best.

“If you want to save Hainan, there is only one way. Don’t face the enemy’s main force. Someone has to lure them away.”

“That’s Chung Myung?”

“Yes.”

Im Sobyung continued.

“Fortunately, they don’t care about us. Jang Ilso wants to kill him, even if it means missing Hainan and us. He didn’t seem to want that at the start, but he must have changed his mind.”

“……”

“So leave him and go. That’s what Chung Myung Taoist wants. Then we can live.”

“Stop talking such dog crap!”

Murderous intent filled Jo Gul’s eyes.

“Who said they wanted to sacrifice that bastard and live? Mount Hua is not such a place!”

“Then are you going to go and die? Leading everyone?”

“Of course….”

“You should have known!”

Im Sobyung shouted.

“That talk about being righteous is just wasting your life on things that don’t matter! If you accept that, you have to accept that someone else will do the same thing!”

The surroundings became quiet. Im Sobyung muttered cynically.

“You should have understood that, idiots.”

Jo Gul glared at him. Im Sobyung’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, was trembling.

Jo Gul looked at Baek Cheon.

“Martial Uncle. Please give the order.”

“……”

“We have to go and save him!”

“Listen.”

Baek Cheon spoke coldly.

“I, as the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua, order you. No one can argue with this order. Anyone from Mount Hua who disobeys will be kicked out.”

“…Martial Uncle?”

Jo Gul looked at Baek Cheon with foreboding. His face showed no emotion.