Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1408

Long, dark eyelashes trembled for a moment, then stilled.

Slowly, eyes that had been squeezed shut blinked open.

They were strange eyes, cloudy like old glass, but sharp too, like they could see right through you. They looked up.

Inside the carriage, the ceiling was covered in treasures. Things so rare, normal people would never see them. It was incredibly rich.

The silk draped across the ceiling like water, a deep blue that seemed to glow in the dim light. It was the finest silk.

This silk was decorated with jewels. The cat’s-eye stones were so valuable that just one could buy a large estate.

And that wasn’t all.

The tea table was made from the best rosewood, the kind only emperors and kings could use. Even the small cup on it was carved from a single piece of jade by a master.

Everywhere you looked, everything was incredibly valuable.

But the man who owned all these things didn’t seem to want them or be proud of them.

He looked at these precious items with boredom and emptiness.

Are these things really worth so much? Do they even cost as much as they are worth?

The man’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Of course not…”

It was silly.

Silk is just cloth, a bit nicer and stronger. What’s the real difference between silk clothes and rags?

Those jewels? They’re just like stones on the road, pebbles that shine a bit more.

Rosewood is just a tree with a slightly different color.

Can animals tell the difference between jewels and stones? Do they care about silk or straw for their nests? Do they care about the color of the trees they climb?

No, they don’t.

Only humans give value to these things, believing in the worth they create.

Money, fame, being good, believing in things, friends, dreams… all just unimportant things.

“Heh heh heh.”

Value is just something people make up. It can be thrown away at any time.

But people forget they create that value and hold onto it, even risking their lives.

The man picked up a bottle of wine and slowly poured it into the jade cup. Amber liquid flowed.

“Foolish… and idiotic.”

People make fun of moths for flying into flames. But they think it’s brave to waste their lives on things that don’t matter.

How could he not laugh? The world was a funny play filled with sadness.

The man raised his cup, enjoying the wine’s smell. His face shimmered in the liquid.

He looked at himself, covered in expensive things, his face made up, his body in red and white silks, and then he laughed.

Jang Il-So made fun of everything. But he made fun of himself most of all.

The people outside the carriage were all chasing what they thought was important. But Jang Il-So knew it was all meaningless, but he still held onto everything.

He didn’t see the difference between cheap cloth and silk, but he wore the finest silk. He knew cheap liquor and expensive wine were the same once swallowed, but he only drank the most expensive wine.

“Heh heh heh heh.”

Jang Il-So drank the wine in one gulp.

If risking your life for nothing and holding onto meaningless things made you human, then Jang Il-So was the most human of all.

He looked at the small window.

People were gathering, each with their own dreams.

Some wanted to compromise, some wanted power, some wanted loyalty, and some wanted peace.

People with different goals were coming together. Their strong and different wishes would mix together in one big mess.

Jang Il-So’s lips moved.

“It’s about time… to get ready to welcome them.”

A storm would begin.

On the stage he had made. The Shaolin, the Nine Sects, the Mount Hua Sect, the Cheonwu Alliance, and even the Four Evil Alliances.

What would die in that storm wasn’t people, but the dreams they held. The false hopes they thought were worth chasing.

For people obsessed with dreams, the world seems sweet. Like a moth going to a flame, not knowing it will get burned.

But now…

“It’s time to wake up from the dream.”

Jang Il-So smiled. Soon, the world would be covered in blood.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

He wasn’t sweating anymore. Geum Yang-Baek looked pale and bloodless.

But he kept running.

Hyun Jong looked at Geum Yang-Baek and spoke to Tang Gunak.

“Clan Leader Dang…”

“It’s impossible.”

Tang Gunak shook his head before Hyun Jong could even speak. He knew what Hyun Jong was going to ask.

“His inner power is broken, and it’s flowing the wrong way inside him. Even with our skills, we can’t save him.”

“…Didn’t you save Cheong-Myeong when he was half-dead?”

“Alliance Leader, I understand, but… we aren’t gods. There are things we can do, and things we can’t.”

“…”

“We could save Cheong-Myeong because he was strong enough to survive the healing. But Sect Leader Geum isn’t. Once a glass is broken, you can’t stop it from leaking.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong listened, but he still didn’t really understand.

Cheong-Myeong’s wounds were worse. But Cheong-Myeong could be saved, and Geum Yang-Baek couldn’t.

But Hyun Jong didn’t ask more. He didn’t know much about medicine, and Tang Gunak was one of the best. He couldn’t question him.

He looked at Dang So-So, hoping for an answer, but she shook her head.

Hyun Jong sighed. Geum Yang-Baek stumbled and coughed up blood.

“Sect Leader!”

The disciples tried to help him, but he waved his hand.

“Keep going! Don’t worry about me! Run!”

The disciples looked scared. But they had to obey their leader. They started running again.

Gwak Hwan-So came to Geum Yang-Baek.

“Sect Leader, get on my back!”

But Geum Yang-Baek shook his head and ran. Gwak Hwan-So followed him and grabbed his arm.

“Let me give you some energy…”

“Don’t waste your energy.”

Geum Yang-Baek pushed Gwak Hwan-So’s hand away.

“Sect Leader! This isn’t the time to be stubborn! You’ll…”

“Die?”

“…”

“Is that what you wanted to say?”

Gwak Hwan-So closed his mouth. Geum Yang-Baek chuckled. He wasn’t sneering. He looked warmly at his disciples and Gwak Hwan-So.

“I want to live too. If being carried would save me, I’d let you carry me right now.”

Geum Yang-Baek said, panting. But he sounded calm, and Gwak Hwan-So bit his lip.

“But if that’s not possible, don’t waste your strength on me. We aren’t in Gangbuk yet, are we?”

“Don’t say that! You can’t die! Your disciples are alive! You have to live and rebuild Hainan in Gangbuk!”

Gwak Hwan-So’s voice was tearful, but Geum Yang-Baek smiled and didn’t answer.

Gwak Hwan-So knew his words were useless.

“Hwan-So.”

“…Yes, Sect Leader.”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

Gwak Hwan-So’s shoulders trembled. Geum Yang-Baek coughed and looked at him. He was very pale.

“If you weren’t here, I couldn’t die in peace. But… because you’re here, dying isn’t so scary. Heh heh.”

“Sect Leader…”

Geum Yang-Baek smiled sadly.

He had thought he would die here. He thought he would just do one last sword fight, since there was no hope. He thought that was his last duty.

But they were still alive. And maybe they could cross the river and continue the name of Hainan.

So, why be afraid of death now?

Geum Yang-Baek looked at Gwak Hwan-So. He looked reliable, even though he was holding back tears.

‘He has changed a lot.’

Gwak Hwan-So wasn’t immature anymore. He was still young to be a leader, but he could do it. Maybe he could do it better.

So…

But Geum Yang-Baek swallowed the blood in his throat.

‘But it’s not time yet.’

They weren’t safe yet. They still had mountains to cross. He was holding on because he was still needed.

If he could just get them to Gangbuk.

If his disciples could survive and continue the name of Hainan, he could die happily.

‘Now I understand.’

He looked at the Three Wave mark on his chest. And then he ran as fast as he could.

“Use your last strength! Once we cross the river, it’s over!”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Geum Yang-Baek smiled at his disciples’ tearful replies.

‘There are things more important than life.’

And it was right beside him.