Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1562

Chung Myung’s feet kicked off the ground with great force.

Like an arrow, Chung Myung shot forward, quickly covering a lot of ground.

Sweat ran down his face, scattering in the wind.

‘Almost there!’

*Thud!*

He kicked off the ground again, changing direction as he ran. He knew the place was just ahead.

The thick forest began to thin out. Then, it opened up completely. Chung Myung saw a wide field stretching out before him.

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung stopped running and looked around.

He felt his hand tighten into a fist without thinking.

It was empty.

The wide-open field was empty. No one was there. It felt lonely. Chung Myung looked at the ground and saw traces of many people who had been there.

“This⋯⋯.”

He bit his lip.

‘Namgung Dowi.’

He understood how Namgung Dowi felt, and that’s why he had run here so quickly. But…

Suddenly, Chung Myung turned his head.

*Paaht!*

He quickly rolled on the ground, jumped up, and shot forward like a flash of light.

“Huh!”

A man saw Chung Myung suddenly appear and quickly drew his sword. But Chung Myung easily stopped him with his hand.

“Ch, Chung Myung Sword Saint?”

The surprised Namgung Clan warrior looked at Chung Myung.

“Where is the Young Lord?”

Chung Myung didn’t want to explain. He quickly asked. The Namgung Clan warrior blinked, then quickly said,

“I, I think he went to the Yangtze River first.”

“Where did he say he would meet you?”

“There… He didn’t say. He just said he was going to the Yangtze River and for us to follow him.”

Chung Myung bit his lip again.

“When?”

“Yes?”

“When did he leave? He must be on his way to join up, right?”

“Th, that I don’t know…”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed, and the warrior quickly added,

“W, we were one of the groups farthest north in the Namgung Clan. We thought it would be hard to meet up before reaching the Yangtze River, even if we left right away. I don’t know when the Young Lord left…”

Chung Myung’s hand tightened into a fist.

“What about the other groups? Are they already joining up?”

“They probably are.”

The warrior, who had been nervous, now looked determined.

“We are Namgung. We must get revenge for the Family Head. It’s our duty.”

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung closed his eyes.

He couldn’t blame them.

If the person who killed Cheong Mun was still alive, and he heard that the person was nearby, what would Chung Myung do?

‘I don’t even need to think about it.’

No matter what, it wouldn’t even be a question. If you couldn’t live under the same sky, you would rather die than not kill the other person, right?

“⋯⋯Sword Saint, are you going too?”

Chung Myung opened his eyes and looked at the Namgung warrior.

The warrior clearly expected Chung Myung to understand and stand with them.

“You moronic bastards⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth.

“I’m going ahead.”

“Yes?”

*Paaah!*

Chung Myung left them behind and ran like a thunderbolt.

“Sw, Sword Saint! We’re coming too!”

The sound from behind grew fainter. Chung Myung’s face was tight with worry. He ran faster and faster, his heart pounding with urgency.

‘You stupid bastards!’

If that’s the case, you should have at least waited for me.

“The Namgung Clan is heading to the Yangtze River!”

“⋯⋯Damn it.”

Tang Gunak clenched his teeth.

“I never thought I would say that the son is just like his father to the Namgung Young Lord…”

Tang Gunak glared at Im So-byeong with angry eyes. But Im So-byeong calmly accepted Tang Gunak’s gaze.

“It’s not exactly wrong, is it?”

Tang Gunak couldn’t deny it. Namgung Hwang rushed into Plum Blossom Island with too much confidence, and Namgung Dowi was now going towards the Black Dragon King with not enough strength. They were similar.

This is why ‘temperament’ is important.

“What are you going to do?”

“Is there a way to stop them?”

“Well, we could contact them before they reach the Yangtze River.”

They had worked hard to create the communication network for this reason.

“But a command only works if the person listening wants to listen, don’t you think?”

“Are you saying they will ignore it?”

“Don’t you think so?”

Tang Gunak was silent.

Right now, Namgung Dowi wouldn’t care about anything else. With his father’s enemy in front of him, what else could he be thinking about?

However…

“He knows that this decision could ruin the Namgung Clan, right?”

“He may not be thinking clearly.”

Im So-byeong said calmly.

“Even if things have come to this, we shouldn’t doubt Namgung Dowi. He really wanted to bring the Namgung Clan back, and he supported the Heavenly Union more than anyone else.”

Im So-byeong argued with Namgung Dowi the most in the Heavenly Union. So, his words were probably accurate.

“But?”

“Just because he is sincere doesn’t mean that what he is doing now is strange. Everyone has something that is more important to them. Even if he wants to revive the family, revenge may be more important. To him, this may be the most important alliance of all.”

Tang Gunak frowned.

He knew that Im So-byeong was right.

“But⋯⋯.”

“When you are walking the same path, you don’t see it. But when you reach your destination, you will know. Even if you tried to walk a similar path, the places you were trying to reach were all different.”

Reports came in from all directions, proving this.

“Alliance Leader!”

“What is it?”

“This is a report from Jeolgang! They are moving to the Yangtze River and are asking for instructions…”

“Instructions!”

Hyun Jong jumped up from his seat.

“Didn’t I say to continue with their current mission until new instructions are given? Why are they doing this on their own? Who sent the message?”

“It’s, it’s Senior Brother Baek Cheon.”

“Who⋯⋯?”

“Baek Cheon⋯⋯.”

Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut.

Im So-byeong shrugged.

“That’s just how it is.”

Tang Gunak covered his forehead as if he had a headache.

“If Baek Cheon is heading to the Yangtze River, then the Five Swords will follow him.”

“Whether they want to or not, that’s what will happen.”

“Then the other members of Mount Hua will do the same.”

“Probably.”

Tang Gunak sighed.

How could things so unintended be happening so easily? Was the communication network just a way to tell the main base what they were doing?

He realized how strange their actions were. How had they brought together people with such different thoughts and stubbornness?

He realized that the unity of the Nine Great Sects was very strong.

It wasn’t that the Dharma Lord was bad. It was because he was the Dharma Lord that he could lead such old sects. Tang Gunak couldn’t even try to do that.

“Then there’s no way?”

“Well… I don’t know a way, but there are people who do.”

“That⋯⋯.”

Tang Gunak stopped himself from asking who it was, because it was too obvious.

“Where is the Strategist now?”

“He must have gone to the Namgung Clan after getting the message.”

Tang Gunak sighed deeply.

That was right. Chung Myung would have done that. And that wasn’t wrong.

But now, Chung Myung, Mount Hua, and the Namgung Clan were all heading to the Yangtze River. This was an all-out war.

“It’s too late for us to do anything here. We are busy trying to control Jang Il-so. Those in Gangbuk have to decide.”

“⋯⋯.”

Tang Gunak lowered his head.

“In the end, it’s him again.”

He had tried to help him, but he had to rely on Chung Myung again.

Was it because Chung Myung was too strong, or were they too weak?

“However… This will not be easy for the Strategist. This is partly his fault.”

“His fault?”

Im So-byeong didn’t answer Tang Gunak.

Did he not need to answer?

No, he didn’t know what to say.

He was curious.

‘Which one will it be?’

Chung Myung’s belief or Jang Il-so’s plan?

The answer would be decided soon, at the cost of many lives.

“Young Lord.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Dowi looked ahead.

He saw a blue light.

It was a nice color, but it was also a color of anger for the Namgung Clan.

Namgung Dowi smiled as he saw the people in that color.

“It’s the Surochae.”

“Scouts, or maybe an advance party. Young Lord, what should we do?”

Namgung Dowi looked back at Namgung Myung.

The swordsmen in the white uniforms of the Namgung Clan were staring at him with fierce eyes, filled with determination and anger.

‘About two-thirds?’

Not everyone had been able to join. Namgung Dowi hadn’t given them enough time.

Was this enough?

‘Not at all.’

Even if everyone was here, it would be hard for the Namgung Clan to fight the Surochae. So, there was no need to worry about not having enough strength.

There was only one thing left.

“Are you ready to die?”

There was no answer.

Instead, the Namgung swordsmen threw their scabbards to the ground, showing the same determination they had at Plum Blossom Island: they would not return alive.

“Good.”

Namgung Dowi smiled.

He would keep the promise he couldn’t keep back then. That was enough.

“Let’s go. Namgung Clan.”

Namgung Dowi threw his scabbard to the ground. His sword shone with a pure white light.

*Kwaaaa!*

The white light flew towards the Surochae pirates.

“It is time for the requiem!”

The Namgung Clan’s roar echoed throughout the world.