Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1654

A groan escaped from Hyun Jong’s lips, heavy with dread.

‘A Taoist…?’ he thought.

He should have thought about it, but he hadn’t. It wasn’t that he was dumb. Things were changing so fast that the Wudang Sect seemed far away, so he didn’t think about them first.

“But in this situation?” Hyun Jong asked, sounding confused. Zhuge Ziyun looked grim as he answered.

“The situation itself isn’t the most important thing. What matters is the trend,” Zhuge Ziyun said.

“The trend?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Yes. If we look back, Jang Il-So always does the same thing. He attacks where people are weak, like a wolf hunting a sheep that has wandered away from its group,” Zhuge Ziyun explained.

Everyone nodded.

Jang Il-So, the leader of the Sahae Union, was indeed like that. When the world of martial artists was split into north and south, with the Yangtze River in the middle, he first attacked Hainan, which was far away on an island. When the strong fighters gathered near the Yangtze, he attacked Sichuan, which was on the edge of everything.

He used tricky plans, but if you looked at the big picture, Jang Il-So’s actions were simple and clear. So, Jang Il-So always attacks the weakest places first.

“So, the strategist is right. Wudang is the most cut off right now. If he attacks them, Shaolin will be completely alone. From the Sahae Union’s point of view, it’s a smart move,” Zhuge Ziyun finished.

“……”

“We have to help Wudang, Alliance Leader! We already lost the Mount Hua Sect and the Peng Clan. We can’t lose anyone else,” Zhuge Ziyun urged.

Hyun Jong frowned. “Wudang… Do you really think they will attack Wudang?” he asked, still not convinced, even though Zhuge Ziyun had made a strong case.

‘Wudang, you say?’ he thought.

It wasn’t that he disagreed with Zhuge Ziyun. But something felt wrong.

If Jang Il-So attacked the Heavenly Union now, the Union would have to take a big risk because their new group wasn’t ready yet.

But would Jang Il-So give up such a good chance and attack Wudang instead?

Jang Il-So, of all people?

“I’m not so sure,” Hyun Jong said.

Just then, Im So-Byung spoke, as if he knew what Hyun Jong was thinking.

“I don’t think we can look at it that way,” Im So-Byung said.

“What do you mean?” Zhuge Ziyun asked, turning around, looking serious. But he seemed more curious than angry.

“Strategist Zhuge’s idea makes sense. It’s true that Jang Il-So’s plans usually follow that trend,” Im So-Byung said.

“But why…” Zhuge Ziyun started to ask.

“That was Jang Il-So before he fought Shaolin in Hubei,” Im So-Byung interrupted.

Zhuge Ziyun looked surprised. “That’s…”

“When he fought Shaolin, the Sahae Union acted very differently than before. In the past, Jang Il-So would trick enemies into traps where he had the advantage, making them lose. But this time, against Shaolin, he took risks and put himself in danger,” Im So-Byung explained.

Those who knew about that war nodded.

“It was different… definitely…” Zhuge Ziyun agreed.

“Yes. Jang Il-So isn’t avoiding risks anymore. He’s been careful before, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stay careful. Jang Il-So is hard to predict,” Im So-Byung said.

“Then, Strategist, do you think… Jang Il-So has another plan?” Zhuge Ziyun asked.

Im So-Byung nodded and opened his fan. “I believe so,” he said.

“Then what is he planning?” Zhuge Ziyun asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? Us,” Im So-Byung answered quickly.

“U-Us?” Zhuge Ziyun was shocked, but he quickly understood and looked serious.

Im So-Byung covered half his face with his fan. “It’s easy to beat an enemy that isn’t ready. But it’s even easier to trick those who aren’t ready into a place you choose and then fight them,” he said.

“……”

“If I were Jang Il-So, I would use Wudang as bait to lure out the Heavenly Union and then destroy them. It would be easier to defeat those who rush to help than those who are waiting and prepared,” Im So-Byung explained.

It was hard to argue with that.

Whether Jang Il-So was really after the Heavenly Union didn’t matter. The moment the Union moved, Jang Il-So would take advantage of it.

The thought of rushing to help and what could happen made him shiver.

Zhuge Ziyun realized something. “Then… what should we do?” he asked.

He knew the enemy’s plan and how the Heavenly Union could be attacked. But he didn’t know how to deal with it.

Could they just leave Wudang to be destroyed?

If they saved Wudang, the Heavenly Union would be in danger. If they protected the Union, Wudang would be crushed. What should they do?

“There’s no need to worry about that,” Im So-Byung said.

“Hmm? What do you mean?” Zhuge Ziyun asked, surprised. He had just explained why they should worry, and now Im So-Byung was saying not to.

“Wudang isn’t dumb, are they? Wudang is a smart group. They know what’s happening,” Im So-Byung said.

“Ah…” Zhuge Ziyun realized.

“When they hear the Sahae Union is coming, they will leave to plan for the future. We can join them later,” Im So-Byung suggested.

“Hmm. Do you think Wudang will go to Shaolin?” Zhuge Ziyun asked.

“Well, I’m not sure. I don’t know how close they are to Shaolin. But even if they are close, Shaolin is in trouble right now, so they might go somewhere else,” Im So-Byung said.

Im So-Byung raised his fan a little higher. “The most important thing is that Wudang will give us time. We just need to do what Wudang does,” he said.

“Indeed…” Zhuge Ziyun agreed.

Tang Gunak and Mo Yong Wi-Kyung nodded too.

“If it’s Wudang… if it’s Dojin, he wouldn’t be reckless,” Tang Gunak said.

“That’s right,” Mo Yong Wi-Kyung agreed.

Tang Gunak sighed. He thought things were going badly, but now it seemed better. They could find a safe way to Henan that the Sahae Union couldn’t attack.

If that happened, it might even be a good thing. The Wudang, who had come out of hiding, and the Heavenly Union could become allies.

‘Thank goodness…’ Tang Gunak thought, but then he suddenly frowned.

‘Wait a minute. How did this start?’

Tang Gunak turned his head quickly, looking at Chung Myung, who was calmly watching everything.

Tang Gunak spoke. “Strategist,” he said.

“Yes,” Chung Myung replied.

“What do you think?” Tang Gunak asked.

Chung Myung slowly looked at Tang Gunak.

Tang Gunak saw something in Chung Myung’s eyes that made him shiver. It was a coldness that scared him.

Chung Myung’s face showed no emotion as he slowly spoke. “Wudang retreats…” he said.

“Strategist?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Will that happen?” Chung Myung asked.

“Well, wouldn’t they leave? Heo Do-Jin is not dumb. He is one of the smartest leaders of the Nine Great Sects,” Tang Gunak said.

“……”

“Heo Do-Jin isn’t the leader anymore, but he still has influence. And even if he didn’t, Heo San-Ja, who is the acting leader, is also clever. You know that too,” Tang Gunak added.

“There is no completely rational person in the world,” Chung Myung said.

“……”

“And there is even less of a completely rational sect,” Chung Myung continued.

“……What are you saying?” Tang Gunak asked, confused.

“People forget sometimes, don’t they? They say it, but they don’t really think about it,” Chung Myung said.

“What on earth…” Tang Gunak started to ask.

“A sect doesn’t just do what the leader wants. Especially not in this situation,” Chung Myung explained.

“……What?” Tang Gunak asked, his eyes wide. He seemed to understand what Chung Myung meant.

“Heo Do-Jin wasn’t the only one who lost honor in the Yangtze River Tragedy. The swordsmen of Wudang had to be seen as cowards, even though they didn’t want to be,” Chung Myung said.

“……”

“Whether Heo Do-Jin understands that…” Chung Myung paused and looked east, toward Wuhan, where Heo Do-Jin and Wudang were.

Heo San-Ja stared blankly at the people in front of him, looking confused, angry, and scared.

“W-What did you just say?” he stammered.

“We said that everyone here will stay,” one of the swordsmen replied.

“Y-You… Y-You traitors!” Heo San-Ja’s hand shook.

Two hundred swordsmen stood in front of him, ready to fight. They had come because they wanted to give their lives for the honor of Wudang.

They understood that he and Heo Do-Jin wanted to save face by sacrificing a few lives.

That meant everyone there was going against the leader’s order to run from the enemy.

“Heo Gong, you traitor! What are you thinking?” Heo San-Ja shouted.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sect Leader,” Heo Gong replied.

“Wh-What?” Heo San-Ja asked, shocked.

“Didn’t you say that those who would give their lives for the honor of Wudang should come forward?” Heo Gong asked.

“Heo Gong!” Heo San-Ja yelled.

“I dare to say, Sect Leader,” Heo Gong said, his eyes filled with determination as he held the Songmun Ancient Sword.

“There is no one on this Wudang Mountain who wouldn’t give their life for Wudang,” Heo Gong declared.

“……”

“There is no one who would run away, afraid of the enemy. And most of all…” Heo Gong bit his lip.

“There is no one who would be humiliated by surrendering to the enemy just to survive. Sect Leader, don’t insult your disciples,” Heo Gong finished.

Heo San-Ja looked defeated. “Heo Gong…” he whispered.

“Whether the enemy is Jang Il-So, the Myriad Man House, or the Sahae Union! Whether there are a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand!” Heo Gong shouted, his voice filled with determination.

“I will fight until I die! I will prove that our time in seclusion was not wasted and that Wudang is not a group of cowards!”

Heo Gong and the Wudang disciples drew their swords and held them to their chests.

This sword salute made their intentions clear.

“Ah…” Heo San-Ja groaned, his face pale.

‘Sect Leader, Senior Brother…’ he thought.

Things had gone terribly wrong.