Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1443

The night was very dark and heavy.

At first, many people were worried that the Myriad Manors might attack again. But they were also very tired. Eventually, most of them fell into a deep sleep.

People were very tired. Those who ran from Chengdu and those from Nanjing were exhausted. They all fell into a deep sleep.

But Tang Soso could not easily fall asleep.

She heard insects and the breathing of the sleeping people. Feeling uneasy, she looked around at the guards. She told herself that everything was alright.

Even if the Myriad Manors attacked again, the Dang Clan and Mount Hua Sect warriors were there. She would not have to go through such terrible things again.

But she was still worried.

What will happen now?

She felt hopeless.

She had never left the Dang Clan Estate. Most of the daughters in the Dang Clan were the same. They could only walk on the Dang Clan Estate or, at most, Chengdu before getting married. But now, the Dang Clan was gone.

She had spoken bravely, but the thought that the Dang Clan no longer existed made her heart sink.

She suddenly remembered Elder Dang Gwai, shouting for them to leave quickly.

Then, she saw someone get up.

Who is it?

The person walked silently away. The guards stopped him, but stepped back when they saw who it was.

The firelight touched his face. His name suddenly came to Tang Soso: Mount Hua Sword Saint.

He looked at the guards and then disappeared into the darkness. Tang Soso watched him walk away.

The sound of insects filled the field.

Tang Gunak sat in a reed field surrounded by mountains. He grabbed a reed.

Snap.

He broke the reed and flicked his wrist. The reed flew through the air and pierced a rock in front of him.

Wow.

Tang Gunak turned and saw Chung Myung smiling.

That’s a wonderful feat.

Chung Myung pushed through the reeds and pointed to the spot next to Tang Gunak.

May I sit down?

Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung with a strange expression.

Well, if you want to be alone, I’ll go back.

…No.

Tang Gunak shook his head and pointed to his side. Chung Myung sat down. They both looked up at the sky.

Neither of them spoke. They looked at the sky, but they might have been seeing different things.

After a long silence, Tang Gunak spoke.

Why don’t you speak?

I didn’t come to say anything. I just came.

Tang Gunak chuckled.

You’ll get into trouble one day, always helping others.

Isn’t it strange?

What do you mean?

People used to tell me to care about others. Now, they tell me to stop meddling.

…

I haven’t changed, so why is that?

Well… I don’t know. Maybe it’s one of two things.

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak. Tang Gunak was leaning back, looking at the sky.

Either you’ve changed, or the world has changed.

…Which one do you think it is?

You’ve changed. The you I first met is different from the you now.

Chung Myung groaned.

They say a person dies if they change.

You’re already half-dead, so it’s alright. It’s a wonder you’re still alive.

This was not a joke.

Tang Gunak had done everything he could for Chung Myung. He thought Chung Myung had a small chance of survival. Even if he lived, he didn’t think he would regain his strength.

But now, Chung Myung was joking beside him. Tang Gunak couldn’t understand it.

How is your body?

Like I’m about to die?

…I appreciate your honesty.

It’s one of my many strengths!

Not your only strength?

Hey, you’re being too harsh on a friend.

Tang Gunak chuckled.

That’s right. It’s one of his many strengths. When he was with Chung Myung, he felt cheerful. That was one of Chung Myung’s strengths.

Tang Gunak looked up at the sky again. It looked like countless stars were falling on him.

Mount Hua Sword Saint. What do you think when you see those stars?

Hmm…

Chung Myung thought for a moment and then smiled.

I don’t think anything.

Normally, that answer would be criticized. But Tang Gunak only looked bitter. Then he spoke slowly.

I always thought that if I could throw darts like those stars, I could be the greatest in the world. And the Dang Clan would be the greatest.

…You were born to be the Clan Lord.

I think I’ve heard that before… Are all the Dang Clan guys like this?

But do you know what those stars look like to me now?

…I don’t know?

Eyes looking at me.

Eyes?

Tang Gunak nodded.

The eyes of our ancestors looking down on me.

Chung Myung closed his mouth. He felt a heavy pressure from Tang Gunak’s words.

Tang Gunak lowered his head. When the stars disappeared, he saw only darkness.

The Dang Clan will decline.

…

No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop it. What’s lost can’t be recovered.

Clan Lord.

No matter how much I think, I don’t know.

…

What should I do now?

Chung Myung couldn’t comfort him.

Tang Gunak was feeling despair beyond imagination. The Dang Clan Estate had burned down, and they couldn’t return to Sichuan.

They had lost their darts and their poison.

They couldn’t recover quickly. They might never be as strong as they were before.

The Dang Clan had lost its poison and darts, like Mount Hua losing its swords. Could Mount Hua be called a sword sect without swords? Could Chung Myung say that Mount Hua was still Mount Hua if they couldn’t use swords?

No one could answer Tang Gunak’s question.

I heard about Chengdu. I heard that Elder Shin-soo burned the Dang Clan and drove out the family members.

Jo Pyung…

Chung Myung closed his eyes and repeated the name.

He remembered Dang Jo-pyeong’s wrinkled face and his face as a child. How would Chung Myung remember him?

It’s not like him. But at the same time, it is.

…That’s right.

Thanks to him, the Dang Clan has survived. We should be grateful. But, Mount Hua Sword Saint.

Tang Gunak turned to Chung Myung. His eyes were red.

Am I weak or evil for resenting such an elder?

…Clan Lord.

Tang Gunak’s eyes became redder.

Chung Myung felt miserable. He had never seen Tang Gunak like this.

Even if he was about to die, Tang Gunak was always dignified.

But now, he was not dignified. He was not the Poison King Tang Gunak, but a man crushed by burdens.

Chung Myung sighed.

It wasn’t strange. No one is always strong. People just pretend to be strong. Like Chung Myung in the past.

I know. People are more important than anything. I can’t compare poison or darts to people. The Elder was not wrong. I would have done the same thing.

Tang Gunak’s voice was low, like he was underwater.

But… I don’t know. Even though I know it’s right, I keep thinking.

Chung Myung knew what Tang Gunak was going to say.

…If only I had protected the clan, if only I had protected the Dang Clan’s foundation, no matter the cost…

It would have been easier.

Even if there were fewer people, the Dang Clan would still be the Dang Clan. If the Dang Clan’s history remained, they could become the rulers of Sichuan again.

Isn’t it funny?

Tang Gunak’s face twisted.

…Clan Lord.

I hate myself.

Tang Gunak’s hand trembled.

Comparing that cold metal to human lives. I keep thinking that some of them could have died to protect it.

His voice was trembling. Like someone was strangling him.

I keep thinking that if I had, it would have been more painful, but we might be in a better situation now!

Tang Gunak covered his face. A trembling voice came from between his fingers.

I hate that… I hate that so much.

Chung Myung turned away. He also felt upset.

The future he believed in was collapsing. He was losing everything and being crushed.

You guys must have felt the same way.

The young swordsmen of Mount Hua learned that the seniors were gone. The disciples of Mount Hua watched their home burn. They must have felt like Tang Gunak.

Who could comfort them? Who could understand that feeling?

Hey, Mount Hua Sword Saint.

…Yes.

What should I do?

Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung with tearful eyes. Chung Myung looked up at the sky. The sky full of stars looked like the sky he had seen before.

That sky was like the sky over Shanxi when Mount Hua burned.

That’s why Chung Myung had to speak.

He had to say the words someone was trying to say. The words of the person who left without saying them.