Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1468

The Four Seas Alliance had invaded Sichuan.

The Clear Sky Sect and Emei Sect were burned down and destroyed. Jeomchang also fell. The Tang family was the only group to escape, and they ran away from Sichuan.

The unbelievable news spread across the world in an instant.

“Sichuan…?”

People everywhere were stunned by the news.

People were shocked when the Four Seas Alliance took Jiangnan before. But this news about Sichuan was much worse. Jiangnan was bad, but it didn’t have strong groups to protect it. Sichuan was different.

Sichuan was important. The Clear Sky Sect, Emei Sect, Tang family, and Jeomchang were all famous and powerful groups. They had been important in the *martial arts world* for hundreds of years.

The Four Seas Alliance, made up of *bad* groups, destroyed them all. This showed everyone how strong the Alliance really was. It was stronger than anyone thought.

Then, even worse news came: The Four Seas Alliance had taken Sichuan and was now very close to Hubei. No one knew when they would attack Hubei next.

Before, a few months ago, this news wouldn’t have worried people so much. But now, after Sichuan was taken by the Four Seas Alliance, everyone felt different. They were much more afraid.

“What are the *good* groups doing?”

“Why aren’t they stopping the Four Seas Alliance from destroying Sichuan? Did they lie about protecting us?”

“What if the Four Seas Alliance attacks Hubei? Will we be destroyed like Sichuan?”

Most people are just normal people who have to live with powerful people being unfair to them. For them, the Four Seas Alliance moving north was terrifying. It felt like their lives were in danger.

Some people tried to understand why this happened. Others blamed those who did nothing to stop it.

And, as if waiting for it, another piece of news swept the world.

New news said: Sichuan was attacked because of the Cheonwu Alliance. The *Nine Big Groups* tried to stop it, but the Cheonwu Alliance *helped the enemy*.

The news said the *Nine Big Groups* asked the Cheonwu Alliance to protect Sichuan. The *Nine Big Groups* stopped the main Four Seas Alliance army from going north. But the Cheonwu Alliance didn’t fight to protect Jeomchang. They only helped the Tang family from Sichuan, who were part of the Cheonwu Alliance, to escape. They didn’t even fight the Four Seas Alliance at all.

The news warned: If you want to live when the Four Seas Alliance attacks, join the *Nine Big Groups*! The Cheonwu Alliance will leave you and not help you if you are not part of them.

News came from everywhere, so fast that people couldn’t even think straight. People didn’t know that all this news was released at the same time, like it was planned. They were just too shocked by what the news said.

The Cheonwu Alliance. People who knew about the *martial arts world* thought they were a sign of working together and a new hope for the *good groups*.

The news that the Cheonwu Alliance just watched Jeomchang get destroyed shocked everyone.

It was like a storm sweeping across the Central Plains. Nothing could stop it.

Hubei Province, Xiangyang.

Beggars appeared on the streets where people were busily passing by.

“What, what is it?”

It wouldn’t be a big deal for beggars to come and go in such a big city, but even so, there was a reason why they were attracting attention. They didn’t look like ordinary beggars at all.

“Put it up.”

“Yes.”

In the eyes of the people, the beggars spread out a large piece of paper on the wall of the street so that everyone could see it.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know? Are they from the Beggars’ Union?”

People gathered one by one. Then one of the beggars raised his voice to those who were approaching.

“This is a message from Abbot Beopjeong of Shaolin, so everyone should take a good look!”

The beggar who finished speaking gestured to the other beggars.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

The beggars, having finished their business, walked away without saying anything more. The onlookers, who had been glancing at them, rushed to the notice posted on the wall. The people who had gathered in an instant formed a crowd and were bustling about, so those who arrived late could not read the contents of the notice no matter how much they craned their necks from behind.

A man in the back pushed forward. “Hey! You at the front! Read it out loud! What does it say?”

A woman in the front, squinting at the paper, mumbled, “Something about… fighting the Four Seas Alliance… in Hubei… Gather in Wuhan… And… and they say we common people don’t need to run. They’ll protect us.” Her voice was shaky.

A gruff voice from the crowd scoffed. “Protect us? Ha! Anyone can *say* that!”

One of those who heard the contents of the notice snorted.

“When have the Nine Sects ever protected us! If they were going to do that, would Sichuan have ended up like that?”

As if agreeing with that, shouts of indignation erupted from here and there. But somehow, everyone’s voice lacked strength.

“But… there’s no other way, is there? Even that Cheonwu Alliance has pulled out.”

“Damn it!”

As soon as the name Cheonwu Alliance came up, curses poured out roughly from here and there.

“I thought those guys would be different! They say all those who carry swords are the same!”

“Ah, isn’t it not certain yet?”

“What’s not certain? If what’s written there is a lie, where are those guys now? Those Four Seas Alliance bastards are aiming for this Hubei, but those great Cheonwu Alliance bastards are nowhere to be seen!”

A moment of silence flowed. Because that was an undeniable fact.

It’s not like the commoners are all fools. They also know that what is on the surface is not everything.

But no matter what intention they made this decision with, the fact remains that the Cheonwu Alliance only took the Tang family from Sichuan and fled to Shanxi.

“Now, the only ones we can trust are the Nine Great Sects. I didn’t like the way those Cheonwu Alliance guys were throwing their weight around in the first place. As if they were any different.”

“You don’t have to go that far, do you? When you think about it, it’s not like the Nine Sects have done anything great, it’s just that the two are not that different….”

“That’s the problem because they are not different! That’s the problem.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why have we been supporting the Cheonwu Alliance so far? Isn’t it because we thought those guys would be different from the Nine Sects? But if they are no different from the Nine Sects in the end, why should we trust those guys? It’s better to rely on the powerful Nine Great Sects!”

Even the person who was subtly siding with the Cheonwu Alliance could not respond to that.

“Anyway, haven’t the Nine Great Sects always fought and won against the evil sects in times like these? If we have to risk our lives and choose one, we should definitely go to the Nine Sects!”

People began to nod here and there. Even the voice of the person who was subtly siding with the Cheonwu Alliance eventually lost strength.

“That’s true, but….”

“Hmm? Now that I see it, aren’t you from the Bokryong Squad?”

“……”

“Tsk tsk. You should think carefully. You don’t have two lives. You have to stick to the powerful side in times like these to save your life! Even the orthodox sects treat that damn cooperation like old shoes when they are in a hurry, so is there any guarantee that you won’t be treated the same way?”

“That’s….”

“Our Waho Squad will go to Wuhan. At least that place will be safer than the place those Cheonwu Alliance guys are guarding.”

The gathered people whispered among themselves and nodded.

It was obvious. To survive, you had to choose the winning side. Anyone who saw the notice posted would come to the same conclusion.

“Think so?” grumbled a voice.

“Tell that to the Sect Leader,” another man replied, spitting on the dusty ground. “The big bosses can talk about honor, but for us? It’s just about living to see tomorrow, right?”

The first man, looking pale and worried, mumbled, “…Yeah, you’re right.”

He was about to nod, agreeing, when a shout ripped through the air.

“Stop! Everyone, listen! Big news!” A young man, breathless and wild-eyed, came sprinting towards them, pushing through the small crowd.

Several people frowned, annoyed by the interruption.

“We’ve all seen what the Shaolin Abbot had to say. There’s a notice plastered right here, isn’t there?” one of them said.

“N-no, not that!” the young man stammered.

“Hmm?”

Everyone turned to the breathless man. They looked curious and worried.

The man, catching his breath, blurted out, “S-Sichuan! The Heavenly Martial Alliance ambushed Chengdu and crushed those Evil Tyrant Alliance bastards!”

“What?”

“No, what are you talking about?”

People stopped talking and stared. Some laughed nervously, others whispered to each other, shaking their heads.

Someone asked, “The Heavenly Martial Alliance only rescued the Tang family and ran, right? That doesn’t make sense.”

“After that! It happened after that! They got the Tang family out, then went back and attacked Chengdu!”

“…Is that true?”

People exchanged glances. It was surprising and hard to believe.

“Hey, where did you hear that? There are so many rumors going around,” someone asked skeptically.

“Good grief!” The man thumped his chest, frustrated. “Don’t just stand there! Go ask at the Punglim Merchant Guild! The merchants are all talking about it!”

“Heh?”

You shouldn’t believe everything merchants say, as some lie to get ahead. But news spread among merchants was generally fast and accurate.

“So, the Heavenly Martial Alliance really attacked Chengdu?”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

“But why would they do that after running away?”

“I heard they did it to save the Saha Merchant Association.”

“The Saha Merchant Association?”

“Yeah, they’re the ones who handle the Heavenly Martial Alliance’s business. When the Alliance heard they were trapped, they went to Chengdu, which was full of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, and rescued them.”

“Gods above…”

Of course, most of the Evil Tyrant Alliance’s best fighters were away from Chengdu at the time. But the public didn’t know that. They thought anyone who took Sichuan would leave a big force in Chengdu. So, it seemed like the Heavenly Martial Alliance had beaten the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

“So, they didn’t just run away?”

“You fool! Where would the Heavenly Martial Alliance run to? Of course, they fought!”

Some, who had been quiet because everyone supported the Orthodox Faction, finally spoke up.

“Attacking the Evil Tyrant Alliance is great, but isn’t it even better that they went into Chengdu just to save some merchants?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Think about it. If that happened in the Orthodox Faction, would those big shots attack Chengdu just to save some merchants?”

“They wouldn’t…”

Everyone knew the Nine Great Sects were too proud. They would never risk their lives for merchants.

“That’s the Heavenly Martial Alliance for you.”

Some chuckled. The hostility towards the Heavenly Martial Alliance disappeared, and those who had been embarrassed before spoke up again.

“S-so? Did they take back Chengdu?”

“Huh? Doesn’t look like it. Seems they fought, rescued the merchants, and left.”

“Then it’s not so great, is it? They still ran from Sichuan, right?”

“You can’t say that. They did beat the Evil Tyrant Alliance, didn’t they?”

“If they didn’t take back Chengdu, it’s the same thing!”

People began to argue. In the middle of it, a man turned around. Someone asked, puzzled, “Where are you going?”

The man, once called the strategist of the Subduing Dragon Clan, said, “I’m going to convince our sect leader to join the Heavenly Martial Alliance.”

“What? Didn’t you hear what we’ve been saying?”

“I heard it all. That’s why I’m going to the Heavenly Martial Alliance.”

“…Why?”

The man said firmly, “Because I want to live! The Orthodox Faction is stronger? Have they ever beaten the Evil Tyrant Alliance? Have they ever even scratched them?”

“That’s…”

“The Heavenly Martial Alliance has been fighting the Evil Tyrant Alliance all along. And what will happen if a small sect like ours joins the Orthodox Faction? Will those big shots save us if we’re in trouble?”

Everyone was silent.

“The Heavenly Martial Alliance risks their lives to save merchants, so they won’t ignore us when we’re in danger. That’s why I’m going to the Heavenly Martial Alliance. But the sect leader will make the final call.”

The man walked away.

The faces of those left behind showed many emotions. People sighed.

“Ugh. I should go too.”

“Our sect leader needs to decide wisely.”

“The martial artists can go somewhere, at least. But us…”

Everyone had their own worries.

But they all knew one thing: they couldn’t stay undecided.

The world was changing. Now, everyone had to pick a color: the Orthodox Faction, the Evil Tyrant Alliance, or the surprising Heavenly Martial Alliance.