Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1474

“Hooo.”

A man looked up, his face showing how tired he was. People walked along the narrow mountain path, carrying bags, pulling carts, and hurrying.

“How much further do we have to go?”

A voice came from beside him, “Can’t you see Mount Hua over there? We’re almost there. Just a little more strength, brother.”

The man looked up.

Beyond the small mountain, a tall peak stuck out. Even though it was far away, the mountain’s rough shape made it easy to know it was Mount Hua.

“I think I heard that before.”

“Is the little one alright? We should feed her something.”

“Leave her be. Sometimes sleep is the best thing.”

The man looked back at the child on his back. The little girl, about five years old, was sleeping soundly.

The man looked at the child with love.

“Give me the bag you’re carrying.”

“No need. Are you going to carry everything for me? What you’re carrying is heavier than the child.”

“Well, I’m younger than you, brother.”

“You’re all talk. I’ll last another ten years.”

“Always so stubborn! At least let me carry your wife’s bag.”

“I said it’s fine. Don’t hurt yourself. If I fall, someone will take care of me, but you don’t have anyone, do you?”

“Is that really concern I hear?”

“Of course.”

The young man looked annoyed. He was about to say something when—

“By the way, dear,”

“Hmm?”

The man turned to his wife. She had a large bundle on her head and looked very worried.

“Are we really doing the right thing by going to Shaanxi?”

“I followed you and this man’s words, but I feel uneasy. Will we really live well in that distant, unfamiliar place?” The man started to answer, but the young man spoke quickly, cutting him off.

“No! Sister-in-law. What are you saying? Living well is for later. We need to stay alive first, don’t we?”

“I heard Shaanxi is just as dangerous.”

“But the Heavenly Martial Alliance is in Shaanxi, isn’t it?”

“The Shaolin are in our old place too.”

“Oh, Sister-in-law!”

The young man hit his chest as if annoyed.

“Shaolin? When has Shaolin ever cared about us? Have the Nine Sects ever given us even a grain of rice when we were struggling?”

The woman nodded as if she agreed.

“I saw it myself. They said they would protect Hubei. But the Hubei they’re protecting isn’t us. Even if we all die, they’ll be proud of protecting the land.”

“That’s right.”

The man added, “The Heavenly Martial Alliance didn’t protect Sichuan well. But should we put them with the Nine Sects? Who helped us when we were in trouble? Have you forgotten that the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Clan came to the Yangtze River to give out grain and stop the river pirates?”

“Of course, I remember. I’m not an idiot.”

The people who lived along the Yangtze River were helped the most by the Heavenly Martial Alliance.

But people in Hubei, next to the Yangtze, also saw what they did.

“The Nine Sects only came once a year to show off and leave. What did they ever do for us? But the Tang Clan left Sichuan, stayed here, and helped the people. If the Tang Clan had stayed in Sichuan, would those bad groups have come close?”

The young man spoke louder, and people around them nodded. Even if they didn’t agree with everything, they knew the Heavenly Martial Alliance had helped them.

“I don’t know if the Heavenly Martial Alliance can protect us. Who knows? But if I have to trust one of them, I’ll trust the Heavenly Martial Alliance. How can I trust those who only talk?”

“That’s right.”

“Yes, we should trust the Heavenly Martial Alliance!”

Suddenly, people around them started to speak loudly.

These people had decided to travel far to trust the Heavenly Martial Alliance. So, it made sense they would agree.

“I think so too.”

“Dear.”

“We can handle hardship. We won’t starve.”

The man looked at the child on his back again.

“If we just stay alive, we’ll be able to return someday. So, let’s hang on, okay?”

The woman nodded. She looked at the child on her husband’s back. She would travel a thousand miles for her child.

“I just hope we won’t be treated badly.”

The man sighed.

He knew the Heavenly Martial Alliance might not welcome them. In war, the most trouble comes from those who can’t fight and only eat.

In a real war, they could use the men, but in a war of martial artists, people like them were useless.

“Still, the Heavenly Martial Alliance wouldn’t turn away people who have come so far, right? They’ll at least give us a place to stay.”

“…”

“Let’s try to hold out until the war ends. Then there will be a way.”

“Yes.”

The man was deciding what to do when—

“We’re here! Huayin is just over that hill!”

A member of the Thousand Sun Gate, who was with them, shouted. Hearing him, the people found strength and climbed the hill.

And then…

“Huh?”

“Hoo?”

The people who reached the top were surprised.

“Wasn’t Huayin supposed to be a small village?”

“I heard that too.”

They had come to Huayin for two reasons. One was that Mount Hua was there. The other was that they had to go through Huayin to get to Xi’an, the biggest city in Shaanxi.

Even if Huayin was too small, they could go to Xi’an.

But Huayin was not what they expected. The small village was gone, and a large city with buildings in a checkerboard pattern was in front of them.

“It looks bigger than Gyunhyeon?”

“Really? It can’t be bigger than Gyunhyeon, can it?”

“No. Even if that’s too much, this isn’t small, is it?”

“It isn’t?”

The people blinked, forgetting how tired they were.

“Was it always like this?”

“That can’t be… Ah! Jongmyung! You visited here recently, right? Was it like this then?”

“When I came here two years ago, it was a small village.”

“Really?”

The man stared at the city, very surprised.

“That means they built this in just a few years. Then the Heavenly Martial Alliance must be more impressive than people say. Or Mount Hua is amazing.”

At that, several people nodded.

“It seems the rumor that the Heavenly Martial Alliance’s headquarters would be here was true.”

“It seems so.”

“Let’s go. There are people behind us.”

“Alright.”

The man nodded and took another step.

He stared at the city, unable to look away, and a small hope grew in his eyes.

‘If they can build a city this big, they won’t treat us too harshly.’

He held the child tighter.

“This way!”

“Hey! Watch out in front! You dropped your bag!”

“Watch out for the cart! Hey, hey! You’re going to hit someone!”

Many people crowded the small road into Huayin.

“Go to the back. Next!”

The man swallowed hard and went to the tables that blocked the entrance.

“Um… What do I need to do?”

Everyone was lining up, so he joined the line, but he didn’t know what to do. He just came forward when it was his turn.

The person sitting there looked up at him.

“Where are you from?”

“We’re from Hubei.”

“Hubei. How many people?”

“Me, my wife, and one child.”

“One man, one woman, one child.”

The person quickly filled out the list with a small brush, wrote on a wooden tag, stamped it, and gave it to the man.

“Here you are.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a tag that shows you’re refugees. You need it to get food supplies, so don’t lose it. If you do, come to the Eunha Office.”

“Food supplies? What food supplies?”

The person scratched their head.

“You’ll find out inside. Many people are waiting, so please go in.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Take one more of these, here! Three family members!”

As soon as the person shouted, someone ran forward.

“Together?”

“There’s a child! Separate building!”

“Yes! This way, please.”

“Ah! Yes!”

The man followed the person, very confused. But he held his wife’s hand tightly.

“Dear, what’s going on?”

“Let’s not be afraid. They don’t seem to have bad intentions.”

“Okay.”

They wanted to find a place to rest, so they were confused by what was happening.

And they felt even more confused as they went further.

‘The road…’

The road was made of stone and very smooth and clean. He had never seen anything like it. Large buildings were on both sides of the street.

The buildings were not painted, so they looked strong and important.

‘This is Huayin…’

The man was trying to stay calm when—

“This way, come this way.”

“Yes.”

The person turned and went onto a smaller road. On each side were smaller buildings than the ones they had seen earlier.

But even though they were smaller, they still looked impressive.

“Where are you taking us?”

“Here we are!”

“Yes?”

The man arrived at a place where several families were gathered.

“Let’s see. What’s the order… Ah! Here it is. This is the house.”

“A house?”

“Yes. You can use the downstairs. Someone will come to help you soon, so please rest for now.”

“Wait, just a moment. Downstairs? What do you mean?”

“Give me the tag you got.”

“Here.”

“You should have another one?”

“I have it here.”

The person took the large tag, went to the front, and put the tag on the front of the house.

“This is your house now. Please rest for now.”

“This… is?”

The man stared in shock at the building.

A three-story wooden building.

“Goodness…”

It was an amazing house that they were given, even though they were ready to dig a cave and live there.