Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1719

Baek Sang sat down heavily. He was very tired and sighed deeply.

“He’s… alive.”

He just stared at Baek Cheon on the bed. Baek Cheon was still pale and still, but he was breathing. Relief flooded Baek Sang. It was a huge wave of relief, and suddenly he felt like he could barely stand. His legs felt like jelly.

“Master, how is Martial Uncle?” Yoon Jong asked, his voice quiet.

“Hmm,” Tang Gunak murmured.

Tang Gunak gently put his hand on Baek Cheon’s stomach. He closed his eyes for a long moment, feeling for Baek Cheon’s energy. His face was serious as he checked. Finally, he opened his eyes and nodded slowly.

“Yes,” Tang Gunak said. “He is stable now. He’s not fully healed, not yet. But… he will be okay. No more danger.”

Yoon Jong looked up, hope in his eyes. “So…?”

“His life is safe,” Tang Gunak confirmed. “He will live.”

Tang Gunak was amazed as he spoke.

Tang Gunak, who was a very skilled healer, said this. Only then did the worried Yoon Jong finally relax and sit down.

“Ah….”

Tang Gunak’s gaze, filled with astonishment, turned towards Cheong Myung.

‘What in the world did he do?’

Clearly, there were different energies rampaging about. Even Heo Gong, who had mastered the principles of yin and yang, had almost failed to control them.

His condition was so dire, but how on earth did Cheong Myung quell the clash of those two energies in an instant? How did he do that amazing thing?

However, Tang Gunak’s question did not last long.

“Elder!”

It suddenly struck him that he had forgotten about Heo Gong because of this astonishing phenomenon. The Mount Hua swordsmen held the collapsed Heo Gong, their voices filled with sorrow.

Tang Gunak realized his mistake and looked at them. Baek Cheon wasn’t the only patient here.

“Let me through.”

He pushed aside the Mount Hua disciples and quickly took Heo Gong’s pulse. A deeply complex and sorrowful expression crossed Tang Gunak’s face as he examined his condition.

Moo Jin, his face drenched in sweat, asked quietly.

“Patriarch… the Elder….”

Tang Gunak hesitated for a moment before sighing softly.

“His life is not in danger. However….”

The words were similar to when he spoke of Baek Cheon’s condition, but Tang Gunak’s expression could not have been more grave.

“His energy is scattered. He may no longer be able to function as a martial artist….”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Moo Jin could easily guess what would follow.

“…I see.”

Any expectations he might have had were utterly shattered. But Moo Jin let out a short sigh and quickly regained his composure.

“It’s alright. Don’t make that face.”

Moo Jin said, gazing silently at the unconscious Heo Gong.

“The Elder wished for this himself. Perhaps… he himself won’t mind it much.”

“You….”

“Mount Hua may have lost the martial artist Heo Gong, but they have gained the Taoist Heo Gong. How can one say that what we gained is less than what we lost?”

Moo Jin softly recited a Buddhist invocation. Then, he turned his gaze to the other Mount Hua disciples, who looked dejected.

“Besides, Mount Hua has lost too much to dwell on this.”

The Mount Hua disciples bit their lips.

Of those who had initially set out to face the Four Evil Sects, barely a hundred remained here. Moo Jin’s words forced them to confront the grim reality they had momentarily forgotten.

The Mount Hua disciples also remained silent, looking at them with pity. No words could offer comfort in this situation.

But Moo Jin bowed respectfully to the Mount Hua disciples.

“I cannot presume to represent Mount Hua, but I offer my gratitude on behalf of those who remain here.”

“Ah, no….”

“Thanks to you, Mount Hua can continue its lineage. We are simply… simply grateful.”

The Mount Hua disciples scratched the back of their heads with awkward expressions. Jo Gul grumbled.

“Well, if you act like this, it makes it too embarrassing that we almost drew our swords and fought a little while ago.”

“…Please shut your mouth, Gul.”

“No, isn’t it the truth?”

“Just be quiet, Gul. Sometimes it’s better not to say everything you think.”

Yoon Jong sighed deeply.

Whether Yoon Jong said so or not, Jo Gul looked around at the Mount Hua and Mount Hua disciples, then glanced beyond the gates of Mount Hua.

“So… is it over now?”

A moment of silence flowed. Who could be sure of that?

Yoon Jong called out to Cheong Myung, who was silently watching Heo Gong.

“Cheong Myung-ah. What about Jang Il-so?”

“…….”

“What happened to that bastard?”

Only then did Cheong Myung turn to Yoon Jong. His eyes were heavily sunken.

“Military Advisor!”

The adjutants who had rushed over bowed before Ho Ga-myung.

“As you ordered, all those who entered Mount Hua have been withdrawn.”

Ho Ga-myung nodded briefly. Looking back, the scenery of Mount Hua, now burnt to a crisp, came into view. Only the very top of the mountain was still green. The rest was black and burnt.

How should he assess this?

Should he praise them for burning most of the mountain? For trampling it so thoroughly that it would not be able to regain its original appearance for a very long time?

Or should he lament and regret that they had failed to turn even the summit into charcoal? That even though they had trampled it so thoroughly, this mountain would one day be covered in another layer of greenery?

The assessments of others might all be different, but there was only one assessment that Ho Ga-myung had to make.

“What about the Namhae Soongong?”

“They have sent a messenger saying that they have left Mount Hua. And….”

“And?”

“It seems that the Soongong Lord’s condition is serious.”

A faint sneer crossed Ho Ga-myung’s lips.

“Only the Mount Hua Sect managed to reach the summit, and they suffered severe injuries while fighting them?”

“…….”

“Against a Mount Hua without even the Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”

“Yes. That seems to be the case.”

Ho Ga-myung’s smile deepened slightly. It wasn’t directed at the Soongong Lord. It was clearly a self-deprecating laugh directed at himself.

“A Mount Hua without the Mount Hua Divine Dragon is nothing.”

“…….”

“There was a fool who spouted such nonsense. It’s a waste of the air he breathes.”

“Military Advisor….”

Ho Ga-myung shook his head and erased his smile.

“Enough. Send a message to the Namhae Soongong to head to the rendezvous point we agreed upon in advance.”

“Yes, Military Advisor.”

Ho Ga-myung, who was about to say something more, closed his mouth.

‘A rendezvous point….’

If it were a task that was guaranteed to succeed, there would be no need for a rendezvous point to gather in case of failure. Nevertheless, he had arranged a rendezvous point. Was this due to Ho Ga-myung’s characteristic thoroughness, or did he also harbor a secret belief that this task might fail?

No, what meaning could such things have now?

“The remaining forces should hasten their retreat.”

“Yes, Military Advisor.”

Ho Ga-myung’s eyes darkened. Just as he was about to take another step.

“Ho Ga-myeoooooooong!”

Suddenly, a great roar, like the cry of a wounded beast, pierced Ho Ga-myung’s ears.

Ho Ga-myung turned slightly….

Chun Myeon-soosa Dam Yeo-hae. He was rushing in like a blood-soaked demon, his eyes wild and his clothes stained red.

“W-wait a moment!”

The flustered Four Evil Sects instinctively stood in Chun Myeon-soosa’s path. Normally, it would be unthinkable to dare obstruct Chun Myeon-soosa’s path, but even to their eyes, the murderous intent that Chun Myeon-soosa was emitting towards Ho Ga-myung was ominous.

“Hao Moon Lord! C-calm down….”

“Get out of my way!”

Wham!

Those who had stood in his way were sent flying in all directions, spitting blood from a single blow. He was a ruthless assassin who showed no consideration for the other party’s circumstances. Ho Ga-myung’s guards were too weak to withstand the force that Chun Myeon-soosa had unleashed with all his might.

“Ho Ga-myeoooooooong!”

Bloodlust surged from Chun Myeon-soosa’s eyes.

“S-stop him!”

Wham!

Chun Myeon-soosa mercilessly killed those who stood in his way. He broke through the wall of men surrounding Ho Ga-myung in an instant and stormed right up to Ho Ga-myung’s face.

Even at that moment, Ho Ga-myung watched Chun Myeon-soosa with an unchanging expression, his eyes not even flickering.

“You…!”

Crack!

Chun Myeon-soosa grabbed Ho Ga-myung’s neck.

Boom!

Chun Myeon-soosa slammed Ho Ga-myung into the ground, pressing down on his neck, and snarled, bringing his face close to Ho Ga-myung’s. His eyes were seething like lava.

“M-Military Advisor!”

“What are you doing!”

Ho Ga-myung’s adjutants were horrified, but they couldn’t bring themselves to rush at Chun Myeon-soosa. This was because a fierce energy was swirling in Chun Myeon-soosa’s other hand, the one not holding his neck. That hand looked as if it would strike Ho Ga-myung’s head at any moment.

Who could not guess what would happen if that hand moved and struck Ho Ga-myung?

“M-Moon Lord! You must calm down!”

“If you do this, there will definitely be problems….”

Chun Myeon-soosa didn’t even glance at those who were desperately trying to persuade him. He simply glared at Ho Ga-myung as if he were about to tear him apart and shouted.

“Explain yourself.”

“…….”

“Were you planning to kill even me?”

Ho Ga-myung’s face grew paler as his neck was squeezed tighter. But his expression remained unchanged, even as his breath was about to be cut off.

“Explain yourself. Why did you blow up the cliff without saying a word to me? Why did you push me into the middle of that hell? If I don’t get a satisfactory answer, I’ll smash your head in right here and now.”

Chun Myeon-soosa’s eyes, devoid of reason, gleamed with madness. Just looking at his eyes, one could guess that his words were not just a threat.

But perhaps he was maintaining a sliver of reason, as the hand that was strangling Ho Ga-myung’s neck loosened slightly. As if telling him to speak if he had anything to say.

“Cough.”

Ho Ga-myung, who coughed lightly, indifferently looked up at Chun Myeon-soosa, who was pressing down on him, and said.

“So, did you die or something?”

“……What?”

Chun Myeon-soosa Dam Yeo-hae wore a blank expression, as if he had been struck in the back of the head.

“Aren’t you alive like this?”

Chun Myeon-soosa’s face twisted hideously.

“You….”

“You should have survived. If you’re Chun Myeon-soosa.”

Ho Ga-myung remained calm. Chun Myeon-soosa’s hand, gripping his neck, began to tremble slightly. Unsuppressed anger was bursting through his body.

“To say that….”

Grrrr!

A ferocious murderous intent spread uncontrollably through Chun Myeon-soosa’s eyes as he gnashed his teeth.

“You dare say that!”

Chun Myeon-soosa finally struck down with his hand.

Wham!

However, with a short, sharp impact sound, Chun Myeon-soosa’s body was sent flying as if it had been kicked by something.

Thud!

Crimson blood gushed from Chun Myeon-soosa’s mouth as he crashed into the ground and bounced back up.

Thump.

“Guh….”

Tremendous rage surged in Chun Myeon-soosa’s eyes.

“Oh dear, oh dear. It seems someone is very angry.”

At that moment, a soft voice, out of place in the tense atmosphere, was heard.

“But you see.”

Chun Myeon-soosa gritted his teeth and turned his gaze towards the voice.

As expected, a man wrapped in a red robe and wearing a white mask with a strange smile stood there.

“Still, laying a hand on my precious Military Advisor was a bit much. Don’t you think?”

Chun Myeon-soosa, who was supporting himself on the ground, twitched his hand.

The defeated Jang Il-so’s infinitely light sneer was pouring down.