Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1455

Kaa-aaang!

The sound of swords clashing echoed loudly.

“Don’t let the Demonic Alliance villains set foot here! We are Jeomchang!”

Men in navy blue uniforms shouted with all their might. Across from them, warriors in red uniforms smirked and attacked.

Flames rose here and there, and blood covered the ground.

Corpses lay still, their lives gone.

Cheonmyeon Su-sa watched the scene, his eyes full of anger.

“…They’re holding out well.”

Of course, they would.

Unlike Qingcheng and Emei, who were attacked without warning, Jeomchang was ready. They knew they would be targeted after Qingcheng and Emei. So, they were more prepared than the others.

Also, the Demonic Alliance force attacking them was stronger than before. Paegun and Maninbang were not here. But…

“Push them harder.”

“M-Master, but…”

Cheonmyeon Su-sa glared at his subordinate, and the man quickly nodded.

“Yes, I understand!”

He hurried forward, and Cheonmyeon Su-sa clicked his tongue.

‘I don’t like this.’

He knew the situation well. He knew it would take time to defeat them. Cheonmyeon Su-sa was not as foolish as Heukryong Wang.

But even knowing this, he was angry that they had not yet crushed Jeomchang. It made him feel like he was not as good as Jang Il-so.

What if Jang Il-so had come here? What if he had led Maninbang and attacked Jeomchang with the Blood Cult?

It would not be going this slowly.

“Second-in-command…”

The words tasted bitter. When he became the Master of Haomun, he thought he would never have to listen to anyone again.

But he didn’t feel as bad about it as he should have.

“Aaaargh!”

Cheonmyeon Su-sa chuckled at the scream.

“Not bad.”

The Demonic Alliance was already taking over Sichuan and Yunnan. The position of second-in-command of such an alliance was better than being the Master of Haomun.

He could either fight Jang Il-so and die, or obey him and become his second-in-command. It was an easy choice.

Crack.

Cheonmyeon Su-sa cracked his knuckles. He spread his hands and walked forward slowly.

“First, I need to prove that I am valuable, right?”

And Jeomchang’s blood would prove it.

At the same time, in the quiet halls of Shaolin Temple, high in the mountains, Beopjeong received the urgent news. The scent of incense hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the violence being reported.

The eyes of the man, upon hearing the urgent report, sank deeply.

“Again.”

“Yes, Master. The Cheonwu Alliance, which was going to Sichuan, didn’t go to Jeomchang. They went to help the Tang family. And after saving the Tang family, they are heading north!”

The person giving the report was scared.

The only thing they wanted from the Cheonwu Alliance was to save Jeomchang. But they had gone to the Tang family instead, betraying them completely.

Everyone thought Beopjeong would be very angry.

But…

“They are heading to Shanxi, you say?”

“Y-Yes, that is correct.”

“Amitabha.”

Beopjeong quietly chanted the Buddha’s name and nodded slowly.

“So it has come to this.”

Everyone watched Beopjeong carefully. But Beopjeong only repeated the Buddha’s name and did not react as they expected.

In the silence, Jongli-hyung, the co-leader of the Common Union, became angry.

“What does that mean! The Cheonwu Alliance promised to rescue Jeomchang! Why are they going to Shanxi!”

The person who reported the news closed his mouth.

He was only sharing information from the Beggars’ Sect and did not know the details. So, he said nothing.

“Check again! They can’t be going to Shanxi!”

“It’s no use.”

Paeng-yeop answered Jongli-hyung.

“If they wanted to save Jeomchang, they would have gone to Yunnan from the start. By saving the Tang family first, they decided Jeomchang’s fate.”

“Th-That’s…”

Jongli-hyung’s face turned pale.

“Master, shouldn’t we go? Qingcheng and Emei have already fallen. We can’t lose Jeomchang, can we?”

“There is no way.”

“Yes?”

“Amitabha.”

Beopjeong shook his head.

“Jeomchang will not last until we arrive. Jang Il-so is not easy to defeat. They will only last two days.”

Jongli-hyung frowned and then looked surprised. He looked at Beopjeong with a confused look.

“Two days… you said?”

“That is correct. That is why there is no way.”

Jongli-hyung opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it.

“Jeomchang’s misfortune is sad, but this has made something clear.”

Paeng-yeop spoke instead of Jongli-hyung.

“What are you saying?”

“The chivalry of the Cheonwu Alliance is only about taking care of their own.”

Paeng-yeop’s eyes sharpened.

“We helped them to save Jeomchang from the Demonic Alliance. But they ignored their promise. If chivalry was important to them, they would not have left Jeomchang.”

Everyone nodded. Some bit their lips and showed anger toward the Cheonwu Alliance.

“Do you understand why I was worried about the Cheonwu Alliance?”

“Master.”

Beopjeong shook his head.

“People who believe they are righteous are the most dangerous. They justify everything in the name of righteousness. I want to ask the leader of the Cheonwu Alliance: Is it chivalrous to break promises and rush to help those they are close to?”

“Hmm.”

Jongli-hyung groaned.

“Inform them.”

“Yes?”

“Send letters to each sect. Tell them that Qingcheng, Emei, and Jeomchang have fallen. The Demonic Alliance will attack them all.”

“…”

“Tell them to join forces. Summon the leaders of each sect in my name. Do it now.”

“Yes, Master.”

Paeng-yeop nodded.

Beopjeong had done this before, but it did not work well.

But now it would be different. It had to be different.

Now it was about survival, not profit.

When things are good, you can relax anywhere. But when it rains, even a small shelter is important.

“Tell them this is their last chance. Shaolin will not help those who refuse to follow.”

“Yes, Master. I will.”

Beopjeong would not let them escape. He would use this crisis to gather all the forces under the Nine Great Sects.

“Also.”

“Yes, Master.”

Beopjeong’s eyes turned cold.

“Tell the world that the Nine Great Sects, including Shaolin, will not support the sects under the Cheonwu Alliance. They are responsible for Jeomchang’s destruction, and we will not help them.”

“M-Master, that is…”

“Do as I say!”

“Yes, yes! I understand!”

The news would spread through disciples, the Beggars’ Sect, and the families who trusted the Nine Great Sects.

The Cheonwu Alliance and the Nine Great Sects had completely separated.

Those who were scared would trust a place that seemed safer: the Nine Great Sects and Shaolin.

Paeng-yeop clenched his fist.

‘Master…’

The Nine Great Sects had lost a lot. Qingcheng, Emei, and Jeomchang were gone. They had lost three important sects.

But those three sects did not cooperate with Shaolin. They had never followed Beopjeong’s orders. They had criticized Beopjeong. They were a burden.

Beopjeong had lost those three sects but had saved the Nine Great Sects. Now, if the sects gathered under Shaolin, Beopjeong’s words would have more power.

A strong enemy and a shelter that had lost its purpose.

Based on these, the Nine Great Sects would be strong again.

Was this really a loss?

It depended on how you looked at it. The Nine Great Sects had lost power.

But what about Beopjeong? Did he think this was a loss?

Paeng-yeop looked at Beopjeong, but he could not read his expression.

“Amitabha.”

Beopjeong closed his eyes.

“We have paid a high price. We have been betrayed and lost comrades.”

“…”

“But there is no time to be sad. The Demonic Alliance is a big threat. We must fight them for the Central Plains. Everyone, be ready.”

“We will.”

“Hoo…”

Beopjeong stood up. He needed to feel the wind to calm his mind.

The others stood up and left the room. But Jongli-hyung stayed, frozen like a statue.

He stared at the door where Beopjeong had left.

‘Two days.’

Jeomchang would fall in two days. Even if the Cheonwu Alliance had gone to Jeomchang from Nanjing, they could not have saved them.

Beopjeong knew this, but he still made them promise to save Jeomchang.

Instead of trying to save Jeomchang, he made them choose an impossible task, putting the Cheonwu Alliance in a bad position.

What was the result?

‘Did you know, Master?’

Jongli-hyung became afraid.

It would seem like the Cheonwu Alliance had betrayed the Nine Great Sects. That is what people would think.

But what was the truth?

“Hehe…”

Jongli-hyung closed his eyes.

‘I have seen too much.’

But what could he do?

He was already involved in worldly matters.

“Hehehe…”

Jongli-hyung’s laughter filled the empty room.