Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 165

“What in the world is going on here?”

Wi Rip-san, head of Hwayoung Gate, looked confused.

Strange fighters were rushing into Namyoung. Mount Hua disciples were running out, looking very angry. As the leader here, Wi Rip-san knew he had to do something.

So, without knowing what was happening, Wi Rip-san quickly led his disciples toward the crowd.

When they got to the Sword Tomb, following the only mountain path, they saw many people buzzing with anger.

“It’s no use coming here now! The Mudang guys and others already went in and blocked the entrance.”

“Blocked the entrance?”

“The last wicked kid who went in made the entrance collapse! I’ve never seen such a cursed person! Ugh!”

Wi Rip-san had a bad feeling he knew who this ‘wicked’ and ‘cursed’ person was.

Before he could understand what was happening, the mountain started to shake with a ground-trembling roar.

“What’s going on!”

“It’s collapsing! Get out of here! Now!”

“Heavens, what’s happening?”

Some people still wanted the treasures of the Sword Tomb. Others were waiting to steal from anyone who came out with a magic weapon.

Everyone, even these people, screamed and ran back.

And then…

Rumble!

With a roar that sounded like the sky collapsing, the ground around the Sword Tomb entrance began to sink.

“Huh?”

“Good heavens!”

Those who had run away peeked out with scared faces, staring at the collapsed area. It looked like it had sunk at least twenty yards.

The people down there?

‘They can’t survive.’

Even though they were strong fighters, they were still human. There were things they could handle, and things they couldn’t. This was clearly the latter.

No matter how famous they were, they were just people made of flesh and blood under such a collapse.

“How can this be? This place is collapsing…!”

“What about the magic weapon?”

“Magic weapon? Forget about it! It’s all gone. We should just feel sorry for those inside.”

A feeling that the magic weapon could never be found, and a feeling that others wouldn’t get it either, mixed together.

But Wi Rip-san felt neither of those.

“No way…”

He stared at the collapsed Sword Tomb with wide, tearing eyes, before falling to the ground.

“This can’t be happening.”

This shouldn’t be happening.

They shouldn’t die like this, at least.

‘I was just starting to see the future of Mount Hua…’

Of course, there would be more disciples in Mount Hua besides those who came here. But Wi Rip-san knew. Mount Hua had many good fighters, but no one could replace the ones who went into the tomb.

Especially Chung Myung.

There was no one who could replace Chung Myung. Such a person couldn’t be found again.

“How could this happen…?”

Wi Rip-san regretted why he hadn’t stopped them. Even though they were important Mount Hua disciples, and powerful masters he couldn’t argue with, he had forgotten they didn’t know much about the dangers of the martial world.

‘I should have told them it could be dangerous.’

Of course, he didn’t know if they would have listened if he had tried to stop them, but at least he wouldn’t be regretting it so deeply now.

Wi Rip-san’s vision blurred as he remembered what Chung Myung had said to him.

“Didn’t you say you would put Hwayoung Gate on a firm foundation…?”

He spoke as if he would gladly take on the future of Mount Hua, but what kind of bad luck was this?

“…Father.”

Wi Rip-san didn’t even wipe away his tears as he turned to look at Wi So-haeng.

“…I don’t know if I should be saying this, but what are the chances of them surviving in there…?”

Wi Rip-san shook his head sadly.

“People are just people.”

“But you never know. What if we dig them out now!”

“So-haeng.”

Wi Rip-san sighed deeply. He couldn’t do anything about the sadness, but he had to accept reality.

“I know how you feel, but let it go.”

“But…”

Wi So-haeng looked at the collapsed Sword Tomb sadly.

Of course, Wi So-haeng knew that it was unlikely anyone could survive in there. But he couldn’t let go of the Mount Hua disciples he had been with.

“Heaven is so heartless…”

Wi So-haeng covered his eyes and sobbed quietly.

It was then.

“Damn it, they’re all dead! Good riddance!”

“If we can’t get it, it’s better if no one does! It’s satisfying to think that the Mudang guys and other sects died down there!”

“Aish. We failed! We failed!”

The angry reactions made Wi So-haeng’s face turn red.

“Those!”

“Leave them be.”

“But Father! Isn’t that too cruel?”

“The martial world is just like this – cruel.”

“…”

Wi Rip-san looked bitter.

The martial world was merciless. Many people were happy when others had bad luck and insulted those who had died. Some were even ready to hurt others to get a magic weapon. No one cared about the peace of the dead.

If anyone got a magic weapon and came out alive, they would have to fight these people again. They would be tired and have a magic weapon, making them easy targets.

And if they were going to let someone else get a magic weapon and return safely, they wouldn’t be guarding this place.

It might be lucky that Namyoung wasn’t stained with blood and a new bloodbath didn’t happen.

But the young Wi So-haeng couldn’t stand it.

“Aren’t you being too harsh!”

Everyone looked at Wi So-haeng.

“How can you say ‘good riddance’ when people might have died! Is that something a human being should say?”

“Who’s that punk?”

“Don’t know. Looks like a naive kid who doesn’t know the world. Boy, stop. You’ll get killed.”

“Tsk!”

Wi So-haeng was about to argue when…

Wi Rip-san sighed and stopped his son.

“I am Wi Rip-san, the head of the Hwayoung Gate of Namyoung.”

“…Hwayoung Gate?”

“Was there such a place?”

Wi Rip-san ignored them and spoke.

“Those who have nothing to gain, please leave. The people of Namyoung are worried because of the fighters who have gathered.”

“Who are you to tell us what to do!”

“What right does the head of a sect we’ve never even heard of have!”

Wi Rip-san’s face twisted as he was insulted even though he spoke politely.

He was trying his best to hold back. If it came to being upset, Wi Rip-san was more upset than Wi So-haeng. Finally, he roared.

“I told you not to insult the dead and get out of here! I’m trying not to tear your mouths apart!”

“Huh?”

“Is that guy crazy?”

“Looks like he had a relative who died in there. Hee hee hee.”

Wi Rip-san gripped the hilt of his sword.

At least stopping them from insulting those who died in the Sword Tomb would be the best he could do for the Mount Hua disciples.

He was about to shout when…

Tap tap.

Wi So-haeng poked Wi Rip-san in the back.

“Don’t stop me! I’ve had enough! I can’t stand those rude people’s words and actions anymore!”

“F-Father! That’s not it. Th-there! There!”

“Huh?”

Wi Rip-san turned his head. He looked at Wi So-haeng, then slowly looked where Wi So-haeng was pointing.

‘Huh?’

Wi So-haeng was pointing at the center of the collapsed Sword Tomb.

‘No, why there?’

It was then.

Thump!

“Huh?”

Wi Rip-san blinked.

‘Did I see wrong?’

He thought he saw that place thumping just now…

Thump!

“Eeeh!”

Wi Rip-san’s eyes widened.

He definitely didn’t see it wrong this time. It was definitely thumping.

‘Could it be…!’

Wi Rip-san was about to jump down.

Wham!

With a dull sound, something burst through the floor and popped out. It was a human arm.

Grope, grope.

The arm slowly began to grope around. And finally…

Wham!

Dirt flew everywhere, and someone suddenly pushed their upper body out.

“Aooo! I almost died for real!”

A familiar voice.

A familiar face.

And an even more familiar, irritated tone.

“Chung Myung!”

Wi Rip-san jumped to the ground. Tears filled his eyes as he ran toward Chung Myung.

Chung Myung, who he thought had died, had survived and escaped the Sword Tomb.

“Aaaargh! Yakseon, you dog-like old man! Aaaargh! Sasuk! Head Sasuk! Please beat that son of a…”

He cursed and pointed at the sky several times.

Then, another voice shouted from inside the hole.

“Get out! You son of a…”

“I’m getting out! I’m getting out now!”

Chung Myung crawled out, making a face. Then, the Mount Hua disciples crawled out one after another.

“Ugh.”

“I almost died for real.”

“If I ever go into a cave or underground again, I’m not human.”

The Mount Hua disciples, looking like beggars, fell to the ground as soon as they came out. It showed how hard it was to escape that place.

Wi Rip-san couldn’t control his emotions and ran to the Mount Hua disciples, hugging them tightly.

The Mount Hua disciples widened their eyes, confused.

“Huh! Why is this old man like this?”

“M-Munju-nim?”

Wi Rip-san said, his voice shaking.

“It’s a relief. It’s a relief! Everyone really… really came back safely!”

Chung Myung and Baek Cheon scratched their heads awkwardly. Anyway, it was nice to have someone welcome them.

“Aaaargh! Chung Myung! Me! Pull me out! My leg is stuck.”

“Ugh, that beggar old man! Seriously!”

Chung Myung pulled up Hong Daekwang, grinding his teeth. With him, the Beggar Union members popped out like sweet potatoes.

“Aoo! Come out separately! It’s heavy!”

Chung Myung complained, but Hong Daekwang didn’t have the strength to answer and fell to the floor as soon as he came out.

“Huff! Huff! I really… I really thought I was going to die. Really…”

Starting with Mount Hua and the Beggar Union, the survivors crawled out. Mudang came out last.

Heo San-ja looked at the sky, his face empty.

“…I never thought I would see the sun again.”

He thought he was going to die. If Chung Myung hadn’t been clever, he would have died. It was that close.

But the danger wasn’t over.

The groups who saw those who had entered the Sword Tomb coming out began to surround the pit in a circle.

Heo San-ja frowned at the bad feeling.

And…

“Seriously, those bastards?”

Chung Myung’s eyes, already irritated, began to turn.