Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1431

“Ugh….”

“⋯⋯.”

“Uuuugh….”

“⋯⋯.”

“Uuuuuugh….”

“Hey! Shut up! You’re making too much noise!”

Clinging to his back, Chung Myung slapped Jo Gul’s head repeatedly.

“Are you really complaining about carrying one person? Are you?” Chung Myung demanded.

“Hey! I’m hurt too, you little brat!” Jo Gul protested, wincing.

“You sound fine to me, yelling like that!” Chung Myung retorted.

“Uuuuuugh.”

Tears welled in Jo Gul’s eyes.

“Why me, why! There are plenty of perfectly healthy people over there!”

“They won’t do. I’m uncomfortable with them. They must be exhausted from running at full speed. A person should have some conscience; how could I ask them to carry me? Wow, you have no heart, Sahyung.”

“Then what about me? Am I not uncomfortable? Is it okay for me to be exhausted?”

“Yeah.”

Jo Gul’s head drooped powerlessly, utterly defeated. Chung Myung chuckled.

“Sahyung can suffer a bit. You had such an easy life growing up.”

“If I suffer any more, I’ll actually die, you little brat!”

“Enough! If you have time to whine, run faster! We’re busy now!”

“Uuuuugh.”

Jo Gul, tears welled, dashed forward.

He was furious, but what Chung Myung said wasn’t wrong. There was no time to waste on complaints. Even now, those Maninbang bastards would be chasing after the fleeing Tang family members.

Hadn’t they already experienced firsthand just how relentless and terrifying their pursuit could be? Now, even the mere thought of Ho Gamyung’s face was enough to send shivers down his spine.

“Heave-ho!”

Jo Gul grunted, pushing off the dusty ground with a burst of effort. His muscles screamed, but he surged forward, driven by fear and a desperate need to escape.

“But, Sahyung.”

“What?”

“Are you sure you’re alright? The Saha Assembly is in Chengdu. Shouldn’t at least Sahyung head to Chengdu?”

“Don’t be….”

Jo Gul’s face twisted.

“If Jang Il-So was going to cause trouble, he would have done it by now!”

“⋯⋯.”

“And don’t underestimate our Assembly! Do you think it’s easy making a living traveling all over the Central Plains as merchants? They have faced problems like this many times before and always survived!”

“How impressive.”

Chung Myung smirked. In truth, he wasn’t overly concerned either. The information from the Beggars’ Union would naturally have come at the direction of Hong Daeguang or Neung Sam. They would have certainly included information about the Saha Assembly.

The fact that there was no mention of the Assembly meant that nothing particularly unusual had happened there. If there had been even a single word about the Assembly, Chung Myung would have beaten Jo Gul until he went to Chengdu.

Jo Gul added.

“Besides, if we can’t stop those bastards, everyone in Chengdu will be in danger. It’s not enough just to evacuate my family. If we’re going to protect them, we have to do it properly!”

Chung Myung, who had been listening silently, looked down at Jo Gul. For some reason, Jo Gul’s shoulders, carrying him, seemed broader than usual.

Just then, Baek Cheon cautiously approached Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t we too late?”

At those words, Chung Myung’s eyes darkened slightly.

Frankly, Chung Myung wasn’t sure either. If he hadn’t lost consciousness and had been able to continuously assess the situation, he would have had a rough idea, but with only what he had heard now, there wasn’t enough information.

Perhaps the enemies had already caught up with the Tang family, or perhaps there was still plenty of time left.

But either way, what they had to do didn’t change.

“If we’re too late, will you turn back?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Right. Then that’s all that matters. Clear your head and just run. We can check if we’re late or not when we arrive.”

Baek Cheon nodded. Hearing those words, the distracting thoughts that had been swirling in his head seemed to vanish cleanly.

Then, Chung Myung, who had been staring intently at Baek Cheon, spoke.

“More importantly… your face looks awfully pale? Are you about to collapse?”

“Huh? Sasuk’s face is always pale, isn’t it?”

“Sahyung, be quiet and just run faster.”

Baek Cheon glanced at Chung Myung and smiled.

“Who’s worrying about whom? You’re the weak one.”

“⋯⋯Wow, look at that annoying face.”

Chung Myung grumbled, but smiled as he turned his gaze away.

“There’s no point in trying to stop you anyway. Just hold on as long as you can. If you can’t, just collapse.”

“Worry about yourself, you little rascal.”

A bitter smile formed on Baek Cheon’s lips.

‘He’s like a ghost, really.’

That guy’s body wouldn’t be in normal condition right now either. Tang Gun-ak had poured all his treasures into treating him, but objectively speaking, it was more like barely keeping a corpse alive. Tang Gun-ak himself, who had treated Chung Myung, hadn’t said so?

And yet, in the midst of all that, he was assessing the situation, making decisions, and even worrying about others….

It was a strange feeling. Nothing had changed much. They were still going to help the Tang family, who were still in danger. In fact, the danger felt even worse now.

But even so, the feeling was distinctly different from before.

Looking silently at Chung Myung on Jo Gul’s back, Baek Cheon clicked his tongue.

‘I can’t beat him, really.’

Everyone knew it. Chung Myung was weak now, not even half as strong as he used to be.

Maybe even weaker than a normal person who couldn’t even hold a sword.

Even so, confidence arose. Just the fact that that damned mudfish had regained consciousness was enough.

Not only the Five Swords and the disciples of Mount Hua, but also the elders of Mount Hua, including Hyun Jong, and even Tang Gun-ak, had a change in atmosphere.

They were still urgent, but at least they weren’t anxious. The terrible unease that had been engulfing them had clearly faded.

“No, run faster! Have you not had a single bite to eat? You bastards, I told you to pay attention to your movement techniques! If we’re even a little late, you bastards, as soon as we get back….”

Baek Cheon squeezed his eyes shut.

‘It would be even better if he would just shut that mouth of his.’

Of course, that was a wish that could never be fulfilled.

“So, you see, huh? From the usual….”

“Alright! Let’s run faster, faster!”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon quickly cut off Chung Myung’s nagging and shouted, causing the disciples of Mount Hua and the Tang family to increase their speed even further.

Chung Myung smirked and looked ahead. His eyes, unlike before, were darkly sunken.

Tang Bi looked at Tang Woe with worried eyes.

“Elder! Are you alright? Please, get on my back!”

Indeed, Tang Woe’s face was drenched with sweat. It looked as if he would lose consciousness and collapse at any moment. But Tang Woe stubbornly pushed Tang Bi away.

“Don’t do useless things.”

“B, but….”

“If you have energy to spare, take care of the women and children! I’m fine!”

Tang Bi looked at Tang Woe with slightly pale eyes.

He didn’t look fine to anyone. But if Tang Woe came out like this, there was nothing Tang Bi could do.

“We need to go faster! Those evil men are still chasing us. We need to enter Shaanxi before they catch up.”

“Yes!”

Tang Woe, who had stumbled, pushed away Tang Bi’s hand that reached out to steady him and looked back. Countless members of the Tang family were following behind him.

“You foolish bastards! Don’t leave the children to their mothers; you should be carrying them yourselves!”

“W, we already are.”

“Do the elders not have hands? Do they not have backs? Are you saving that precious strength to use in the afterlife! Why aren’t you moving faster?”

“A, understood!”

Watching Tang Bi rush away, Tang Woe gasped for breath. Wiping his face, his hand came away as wet as if he had dipped it in water.

But he absolutely couldn’t stop.

He still thought this choice was wrong. The place where Tang family members should die was within the Tang family manor. The Tang family’s poisons and workshops should never be lost.

But now that things had come to this, they had to protect what was left. If they didn’t, they would be nothing more than people who had foolishly thrown everything away with a foolish choice.

At least when he faced his ancestors in death, he should be able to offer the excuse that he had done his best, shouldn’t he?

“Hoo! Hoo!”

Tang Woe desperately moved his trembling legs, exhaling roughly.

‘To Shaanxi….’

Jang Il-So would already be treating Sichuan as his own territory. And in reality, it had become difficult to deny that situation.

But Shaanxi was different. Shaanxi was still a land that the Four Evil Sects couldn’t easily invade. If they could only get there, they would be able to shake off their pursuers.

The key was one thing. Could they reach Shaanxi before those evil forces caught up with them? That was the only thing.

‘More….’

Tang Woe bit his lip and shouted in a ringing voice.

“It’s not much further! We just need to get to Shaanxi. Everyone, keep going!”

He didn’t even expect an answer. It was better to gather the strength to answer and take another step.

‘How much further is it? Three hundred li? Five hundred li?’

If these were all Tang family men, they could have quickly covered that distance. But the majority of those remaining here were children and women who had not learned martial arts.

Even if they were direct descendants, the women of the Tang family did not learn martial arts. Children who were the rightful heirs of the family head were taught simple fist and foot techniques and mental cultivation methods for self-defense, but that was all.

‘The law.’

Yes, that was the Tang family’s law. A law passed down from their ancestors, one that should never be broken no matter what.

But… if these women of the Tang family had learned martial arts like the men… would they have had to undertake such a desperate escape?

No, even if that couldn’t be helped, would they have had to be so anxious while running away like this?

In that moment, what came to Tang Woe’s mind was none other than the face of Tang Gun-ak’s daughter, Tang So-so. The child who had rejected the Tang family’s laws and left for Mount Hua.

When he heard of that child’s choice, Tang Woe had poured out ridicule and contempt. Saying that she was certainly Tang Gun-ak’s daughter.

But… the fame that child had gained as a member of Mount Hua had shaken the world, and soon reached Tang Woe’s ears.

If that child hadn’t made that choice and had remained in the Tang family all along, what would have happened?

Perhaps she would have been able to do nothing more than support the exhausted women and children here.

Was that child special?

Tang Woe looked at the women of the Tang family with a fresh perspective.

Perhaps not. Maybe everyone here could have lived the same life as Tang So-so. If that were the case….

“⋯⋯No.”

But soon Tang Woe shook his head.

The ancestors’ choice was not wrong. Women would eventually leave the Tang family and become members of other households. If they were taught poison and assassination techniques, the powerful families of the world would eventually develop immunity to the Tang family’s poisons.

Wasn’t it only natural to avoid such a situation?

How could the ancestors not have had their own concerns? They too would have come to that conclusion after much deliberation. It would be arrogant for us to say their choice was wrong just because things are different now.

Yes, what he had to do was protect the Tang family….

“Huh?”

Just then, Tang Woe’s outstretched foot caught on a rock. His old body faltered for a moment, pitching forward. Just as he was about to fall, someone grabbed Tang Woe’s arm tightly.

“Are you alright, Elder?”

Tang Woe turned his head to look at the person who had grabbed his arm.

‘Who is it?’

He didn’t know. He recognized the face, but he didn’t know the name.

There were so many people in the Tang family. He only knew that she was someone’s daughter.

He could feel the hand holding his arm trembling slightly. Not from fear, but from exhaustion. Even though she was so exhausted that she could barely stand, she had been watching over Tang Woe and had reached out her hand.

“I’m fine.”

Tang Woe regained his footing with the strong pull that helped him up. He coughed lightly and stared blankly at the Tang family’s daughter. She had a simple, honest face.