Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1409

Urgent report! The Myriad Man Association, enemies of the Cheonwu Alliance, are moving fast. They have crossed Ma’anshan and are almost at Nanjing!

Elder! The Black Demon Squad, moving from Hangzhou, has reached the outskirts of Nanjing!

River Garrison reports that the Jiang River Garrison’s fleet has reached the vicinity of Nanjing!

Urgent reports arrived one after another. In the dimly lit room, the beggars around the low wooden table quickly moved their pieces on the map.

Sweat trickled down Neung Sam’s back as he stared at the map. Black, red, and blue pieces were closing in, as if to surround a single point: Nanjing.

Nanjing was the only place the Cheonwu Alliance could retreat to after crossing the river.

The Cheonwu Alliance had rushed to save the Hwasan Sword Master in a terrain blocked by two vast lakes, Seokgu Lake to the left and Jangtang Lake to the right.

To escape from there, they had no choice but to head north to Nanjing.

Now, the Myriad Man Association, the Black Demon Squad, and the River Garrison were blocking that only escape route.

Oh, no!

If they arrived first and sealed off the retreat, the Cheonwu Alliance would have no hope. They would never be able to cross the Jiang River.

The Cheonwu Alliance! What’s happened to the Cheonwu Alliance? Have you still not made contact?

We are trying our best, but…

Stop talking and do something useful! Now!

But, their movements in Gangnam are…

Wham!

Neung Sam slammed his fist down on the low table with all his might.

You…!

He even released killing intent, and the faces of the beggars, startled by his force, turned pale.

If you value your lives, why did you join the Beggars’ Sect! Are you even worthy to be called members of the Beggars’ Sect! Don’t you know that if you live off the food others give you and hesitate when you are needed, you are nothing more than lowly beggars!

At those words, the members of the Information Bureau lowered their heads.

Send the orders again, immediately!

Yes, Elder.

At that moment, a beggar burst through the door.

Elder! Shaolin! A message from the Shaolin Abbot!

Beopjeong?

A displeased look flashed across Neung Sam’s face for a moment, but he quickly composed himself.

Speak.

You must check again the movements of everyone in Nanjing! No matter what!

Damn it! Who doesn’t know that! Aren’t we already doing it?

N-no, that’s not it! You need to check if there are others besides those who have been revealed!

…What?

If the Hegemon, the powerful leader of our enemies, predicted this situation, he must have hidden another move. You need to double-check whether the forces we have identified are the real forces.

…Another move?

Neung Sam’s face went blank for a moment. But soon, his complexion began to turn blue. He froze as if he had seen a ghost and hurriedly looked at the map.

Here… Something more here?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Hadn’t the Four Great Evils Alliance mobilized all the forces they could?

Except for the Haomun, which was too far away to arrive in time, all the factions that made up the Four Great Evils Alliance were gathering.

But what if it was possible?

What if the Four Great Evils Alliance had more power than they knew?

Sweat poured down Neung Sam’s face like rain.

The moment there is a difference in power, it begins to double.

If people with equal skills fight one-on-one, the winner will be battered and bruised, but if they fight two-on-one, the outnumbered side will be beaten without even being able to reach out.

This logic applies to military strategy as well. If the difference in power is more than double, the damage to the stronger side is drastically reduced, and the damage to the opponent is increased.

But what if the forces gathering in Nanjing were more than they knew? So, what if it far exceeded the power of the Cheonwu Alliance several times over?

It’s all over.

The Cheonwu Alliance would be destroyed without even hurting the Four Great Evils Alliance. Then, the Nine Great Sects would be left alone to face the Four Great Evils Alliance, whose morale would be sky-high.

The only reason the Nine Great Sects had been able to fight the Four Great Evils Alliance was because the combined forces of the Cheonwu Alliance and the Nine Great Sects were stronger than the Four Great Evils Alliance.

But if the Cheonwu Alliance were to collapse completely, the situation in Gangho would become a terrible chaos that no one could predict.

It would be as if the whole world were plunged into fire and chaos. Everything we have fought for would be destroyed.

Impossible… It’s absolutely impossible to bring in that much power suddenly. At least one more force of the Nine Great Sects level must exist… Where on earth would they get such people?

Elder!

Neung Sam, who had been muttering blankly, flinched and nodded.

Tell the beggars waiting across the river to cross it! They must search the area around Nanjing as if they were catching lice! We need to check if they have any hidden forces!

E-elder! The beggars will all die if you do that.

I know, so tell them to cross the river right now! If it doesn’t work, we’ll have to help them!

B-but, you don’t have the authority to do that…

Neung Sam glared at the one who had defied him with murderous eyes.

Since when has the Beggars’ Sect waited for orders to do what is right? Since when?

…

If they’ve set a trap, that’s the end of the Cheonwu Alliance! Not only the Cheonwu Alliance, but the whole world will be on fire! Don’t you really understand?

At those heavy words, the subordinate who had been hesitating finally nodded.

…I understand.

Hurry, go!

Yes!

Watching the beggar run out, Neung Sam clenched his teeth so hard that the muscles in his jaw bulged.

It’s just paranoia. It’s realistically impossible.

It was impossible to secure forces in a short period of time. And it was even more impossible to hide such forces until now, even though they had them. Where in the world could there be someone with such patience?

The only reason he couldn’t shake off the creeping anxiety was one thing.

If it’s the Hegemon.

That one word from Beopjeong would not leave his mind.

No one else could do it.

But if it was the Hegemon, wouldn’t he be able to do it? Wouldn’t that Hegemon, who was playing with the world, be able to predict all these situations and set a trap that no one could escape?

…Damn it.

Neung Sam, who spat out a low curse, stared intently at Nanjing on the map.

If they quickly finished their preparations and blocked the Cheonwu Alliance, Nanjing would be stained red with the blood of the Cheonwu Alliance.

Alliance Leader, please… Please hurry. Please!

Hurry!

Hyun Jong shouted until his throat was hoarse. The Cheonwu Alliance disciples gritted their teeth and ran even faster at his command.

They knew no matter how fast they ran, they couldn’t avoid fighting the enemy.

Gangnam, which was controlled by the Four Great Evils Alliance, would not easily let those who had boldly walked in go. There would surely be those who had occupied the retreat.

But even if they couldn’t avoid fighting, they could reduce the number of enemies they had to face if they could reach the river before the Four Great Evils Alliance had fully gathered.

Alliance Leader! Hae Nam, our allies from Hae Nam, are falling behind!

Eek!

A suppressed groan escaped from Hyun Jong’s mouth.

He understood. They had already reached their limits. Unlike the Cheonwu Alliance, which had not been long since crossing the Jiang River, Hae Nam had already crossed Gangnam after fighting. It was amazing that they had come this far.

But understanding didn’t take away all the frustration.

Those who have energy left, carry the disciples of Hae Nam on your backs, now!

Yes!

The disciples of Hwasan ran to the back and almost rammed into the disciples of Hae Nam who were in front of them, carrying them on their backs.

I, I’m okay!

The flustered disciples of Hae Nam resisted, pushing their shoulders in confusion, but the disciples of Hwasan held them even tighter.

Damn it! This is not the time to be proud!

Ugh…

In the end, the disciples of Hae Nam decided to be carried on their backs. It was definitely not the time to be proud. If they were surrounded by the enemy because Hae Nam was slowing them down, pride would no longer matter.

This way!

We’ll help too!

Get out of the way, you weak scholars! Using strength is the specialty of the Beast Palace!

Not only Hwasan, but also those from other factions who had strength left ran up and carried the disciples of Hae Nam on their backs.

Hyun Jong, who confirmed the scene, gritted his teeth and kicked the ground.

Soon! It’s almost here!

Fortunately, they were not caught from behind by the remnants of the Myriad Man Association who were chasing them. At this rate, they would be able to reach the Jiang River without any major fights.

Squeeze out the last of your strength!

Baek Cheon, who was being carried on Hyun Jong’s back as he encouraged his disciples, raised his hand and weakly blocked his mouth as a cough escaped.

Cough, cough.

The black blood that flowed out with the cough stained his hand. Baek Cheon, who checked his hand in the blurry vision, silently clenched his fist and hid it inside his sleeve.

Are you okay?

At Hyun Jong’s question, Baek Cheon forced himself to nod as if he was okay.

…I’m fine.

Just bear with it a little longer. The Jiang River is just around the corner!

…Yes.

A bitter smile formed on Baek Cheon’s lips. Hyun Jong was constantly pouring his energy into him, but his body was like a broken vessel, simply letting Hyun Jong’s energy flow out.

The others….

Baek Cheon turned his head to check on his fellow disciples.

Considering their physical condition, they could have just let go of their consciousness, but they were all desperately trying to hold on to their minds.

They knew their fate would soon be decided.

Didn’t they say, ‘Do your best and wait for what fate decides’?

They had done everything they could. No, they had even done what they couldn’t do. So now, they had no choice but to leave it to heaven.

If heaven was not ignoring them, if it understood their efforts even a little, it would have prepared a way out.

If not, it would be too harsh.

Alliance Leader, it’s just around the corner! If we get over that hill, we can see the Jiang River!

At Tang Gunak’s shout, everyone’s eyes turned forward. A long uphill road ahead meant they would reach the Jiang River if they passed that road.

Then this terrible journey would finally end.

Please!

Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly.

He didn’t want much. It was too much to wish that there would be no enemies blocking their path at all.

He just wanted one thing: that there wouldn’t be too many enemies and that there would only be enough enemies to sacrifice this one life and open the way.

Gather your strength!

Hyun Jong encouraged his disciples and ran forward.

The dense forests stretched out and passed them by. The end of the towering hill quickly approached them.

Please!

Had there ever been such a desperate time? Had there ever been such an urgent time?

Heavenly Lord!

Hyun Jong prayed and prayed again.

If the Heavenly Lord was really watching over them, if he really existed, the one who had ignored Hwasan to the point of resentment, he would protect them at this moment. At least, he would not ignore this desperation.

If he really wanted a price in the name of cause and effect, he would be satisfied with just his old life.

Alliance Leader!

Hyun Jong kicked the ground with all his might.

Hyun Jong, who soared to the end of the hill, finally looked at the scene that unfolded.

The first thing that came into his view was a vast river, so wide that it should rather be called an ocean.

His gaze slowly shifted downwards.

The wide land leading to the Jiang River was stained black and red.

At this moment, what else could it mean?

Hyun Jong’s legs buckled in despair and he staggered.

Ah… Aah…

Every piece of land his eyes reached was filled with people. The road to the Jiang River was packed with people.

It was despair in the name of the enemy.