Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1494

Hyunpung-gae shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.

“Why aren’t you going!”

His cry was desperate, like a man with nothing left to lose, but the others didn’t react.

“Now is the only chance! While they are keeping Cheonma busy, we have to wipe out the rest of the Demonic Cult! If we don’t, they’ll come for the Central Plains again! Don’t you understand?”

“Leader,” a cold voice cut through Hyunpung-gae’s angry words. It was Elder Jang, known for his calm logic, his face as still as stone.

“Deputy Leader,” Elder Jang continued, his voice steady, “you know this too. To destroy what’s left of the Demonic Cult, we will suffer terrible losses again. We might even destroy ourselves in the process.”

“But… but we agreed! We said we’d do whatever it takes!”

“It’s not too late to decide after we see what happens with Cheonma. I don’t think Geomjon can defeat Cheonma, but… there’s always a small chance.”

Hyunpung-gae’s face twisted in anger.

“Then what? If Geomjon defeats Cheonma? Are you just going to let them go back?”

No one answered.

“Are you going to send back the Demonic Cult members who hate the Central Plains? Are you going to let these people go, knowing they’ll invade the Central Plains again someday? Answer me!”

“Master Hyunpung-gae, please calm down.”

“Calm down? In this situation!”

“The Demonic Cult members are a threat, but without Cheonma, they’re just a mess. Dealing with a group without their leader is like kicking a hornet’s nest. It’s dangerous and messy.”

“A mess?” Hyunpung-gae’s face was distorted.

“What about the Wudang disciples who died because of that mess?”

“…Watch your words.”

“Don’t you leaders know how strong the Demonic Cult and their archbishops are? If we don’t get rid of them, they’ll invade the Central Plains again someday! Isn’t now the only chance to destroy them completely? Isn’t that why we sent them to Daesan? To create an opportunity with their lives!”

“Deputy Leader…”

“If you weren’t going to do that, why did they go to Daesan? What did the suicide squad climb Daesan for? We should have all gone together! If we were just going to sit here and watch, you should have climbed the mountain too! Why are you here! Why are you here! Answer me!” Hyunpung-gae shouted, losing control. He was pouring out his heart. Some leaders looked away, avoiding his gaze.

Hyunpung-gae glared at them with hateful eyes. The silence was broken only by the wind blowing across the empty land.

“Amitabha.”

The Abbot sighed, his face lined with worry. “Deputy Leader, control yourself.”

“Abbot!”

“We’re not turning away because we’re afraid. We’re worried about what will happen if we fail. What will happen to the Central Plains if we bet everything and lose?”

“What is that…” Hyunpung-gae bit his lip until it bled.

Nonsense. It’s all nonsense.

If you’re really worried about the future of the Central Plains, you shouldn’t let them live. The Demonic Cult has always been like this. Once they invade, they come back stronger.

If we have to bet everything to stop them now, we’ll never be able to stop them next time, even if we bet everything.

He had said it countless times.

That’s why Hyunpung-gae gave everything he had, didn’t he?

He sent his brothers, who were like family, into the middle of the enemy camp. He couldn’t even mourn when he heard they had been torn to pieces.

He sent his precious disciple to find out what Cheonma was doing. The boy died without a trace.

They died. They died and died again.

How many innocent lives did we waste to get here?

“I’ll say it again, this is the last chance. Only now…”

“Stop it, Deputy Leader,” someone interrupted him coldly and calmly.

“It’s not just about *now*. The Demonic Cult will be back, we know it. We can’t use up everything we have right now.”

“What are you saying…”

“No, we shouldn’t bet everything now just because the Demonic Cult might return. If the Demonic Cult returns and the Kangho is gone, who will stop them? If that Cheonma survives and we’re not here, who will stop him?”

Hyunpung-gae gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the speaker.

“Then you should have said that from the beginning.”

“…”

“You should have told that to the people who already climbed Daesan! You should have said we’d watch from here while they risked their lives! You shouldn’t have tricked us by saying we’d risk our lives too!”

There was no answer.

“Is this really for the Central Plains? Can you honestly say it’s not just an excuse because you leaders are afraid of dying?”

“This bastard!” A loud, angry voice echoed through the area.

“Everyone, calm down,” a calm voice said, quieting the heated atmosphere.

“I don’t know why Deputy Leader is saying this.”

“…Did you just say why?”

“All of this has already been decided.”

“I haven’t heard anything…”

“The Head Leader of the Beggars’ Sect has already agreed.”

Hyunpung-gae’s eyes widened in shock.

“What… what did you just say?”

“I said the Head Leader of the Beggars’ Sect has agreed. Did you think we were trying to trick the Beggars’ Sect?”

Hyunpung-gae’s legs weakened, and he staggered. His vision went dark, and he felt like the world was collapsing. The words about the Head Leader made him feel this way. He desperately forced out a question.

“…Why did the leader… why did he…”

Many eyes were watching him. Some looked at him with pity, but most were cold and indifferent.

“We’ll watch the situation from here.”

“…”

“Sometimes, we have to value cold reason over emotion. Deputy Leader, you’ll become the leader of the Beggars’ Sect, so always remember that.”

“…Heh.”

Hyunpung-gae laughed bitterly.

“Let’s be honest. This isn’t about reason… it’s about saving ourselves.”

“Deputy Leader!”

“What you leaders want is for this war to end like this, right? You’re just afraid of losing your lives, aren’t you?”

“Watch your words…”

“Okay, I will. Who am I to judge people for wanting to live? But…”

Hyunpung-gae’s teeth dug into his lip, and blood ran down his chin.

“At least then, you shouldn’t have sent them away like that.”

“…”

“At least, you shouldn’t have told those who only want to fight to protect others with their lives.”

“…”

“At least, to those who don’t even know martial arts, you shouldn’t have said they had to fight too! You shouldn’t have flattered me by saying I had to endure the pain for the sake of Kangho! You shouldn’t have said such awful things, that I had to be ready to bet everything! Do you understand what I’m saying?” Hyunpung-gae pointed towards the distant mountain with trembling fingers.

“You ask for duty from the strong and agreement from the weak! But what are *you* risking?”

A strange silence hung in the air.

“Answer me with your cowardly mouth!”

“This bastard…” Just as a large man was about to explode in anger, someone stopped him.

“Deputy Leader.”

“What is it?”

Master Yoon, a man known for his sharp tongue and selfish ways, smiled coldly. “Then how are you any different?”

“…What?”

“If that’s what you thought, shouldn’t you have done your duty as Deputy Leader?”

Hyunpung-gae trembled.

“I…”

“While pushing the Beggars’ Sect members into hell, what did you do? Shouldn’t you have been the first to risk your life?”

Hyunpung-gae’s body shook.

“It would be shameful if only I were a coward, but it’s not so bad if everyone is. And Deputy Leader, at least we’re not hypocrites.”

“…”

“You don’t do anything different from us, but you talk about justice. You’re not that kind of hypocrite.”

“Sh, shut your mouth!”

The man’s smile widened.

“You’re leading the Beggars’ Sect because the Head Leader is injured. So, if you say something, they’ll follow.”

The man pointed to the mountain. “Even if we don’t join, it’s easy for the Beggars’ Sect to show their courage, right? You don’t mean that if it’s not a complete victory, it’s not worth reducing their numbers?”

Hyunpung-gae’s hands trembled.

“Prove it, Deputy Leader. Show us that courage, that great justice. Risk your life and the fate of the Beggars’ Sect. Then we’ll admire you forever. How about it? You have the courage, right?”

It was clearly a mocking remark.

But Hyunpung-gae couldn’t answer. He could only tremble and shout in his heart, because he couldn’t do anything.

“It’s normal for a noble person to laugh at a mean person, but it’s funny when a mean person laughs at another mean person. Don’t tell me, Deputy Leader, you actually thought you were some kind of hero?”

“I…”

“There are only two kinds of people now: those who climbed that mountain, and those who didn’t.”

“…”

“If the world is full of blind people, the one with two eyes will be stabbed. But it’s okay. At least to me…”

The man’s sarcastic smile seemed to cut through Hyunpung-gae.

“It doesn’t seem like you have eyes either.”

Anger surged through him, but the man ignored him and stared at the mountain.

“Those blinded by justice carry out that justice, those blinded by profit carry out that profit, and those blinded by obedience carry out that obedience. I think the world is going in the right direction. Didn’t everyone get what they wanted?”

The man was about to turn away with a faint smile.

“Die.”

“Hmm?”

“If you die and meet those who died first… what will you say? What will you say with that mouth?”

“You still believe in those stories?” The man laughed quietly. After a moment, a short Buddhist chant replaced his answer.

“Amitabha. If not me, who will go to hell?”

“…”

“Life is suffering anyway. Trying to avoid that pain sometimes creates a greater sin.”

“Th, this…”

The old monk slowly shook his head. “You must understand.”

Everyone turned and walked away from Hyunpung-gae. They didn’t hurry, but he couldn’t stop them or follow them.

“Uh…”

He collapsed, his legs giving way. He stared blankly at the mountain, then looked around him.

A small, worn club caught his eye. It was the keepsake of his disciple, whom he had sent to his death.

A groan escaped Hyunpung-gae’s mouth.

“Heueu…”

What did they die for?

“Heueueueueu.”

Why did he send them to hell?

“Haaaargh!!” An animal-like cry echoed desperately, but no one heard it, and it didn’t touch anyone’s heart.