Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1771

Two days had passed since the attack. Yoon Jong looked at Namgung Dowi, his face tight with worry. “What happened?” he asked, his voice low.

Namgung Dowi didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched, and his eyes seemed to darken. He just shook his head, a small, sharp movement.

Yoon Jong sighed, the sound escaping his lips like air from a punctured tire. *It’s the same here,* he thought grimly. *Just like everywhere else.*

The warriors from the Cheonwoo Alliance tried to punish the Sapaeryeon for attacking innocent people. But they all failed. Hwasan managed to push the enemies back briefly. But the other groups didn’t even see the enemy at all.

“Damn it……” Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth, his anger rising.

Just then, a loud crash echoed through the camp. Everyone turned to see a large tree falling to the ground.

“What are you doing, Geol-ah?” someone asked.

“Damn it!” Jo Gul shouted.

Even after striking down the tree with his scabbard, Jo Gul’s anger didn’t fade. He stomped and kicked the fallen tree again and again.

“You son of a bitch! I will kill you, no matter what it takes! Aargh!”

“Geol-ah!” Yoon Jong called out, trying to calm him.

“Ugh……” Jo Gul’s hands trembled, remembering the cruel smile of Ho Gamyeong as he held a knife to the necks of innocent people. The image wouldn’t leave his mind.

It was understandable. Even Yoon Jong felt his own anger rising as that image flashed in his mind. Jo Gul is known to be quick to anger. It’s good he didn’t run off to fight the Sapaeryeon right away. He actually did very well to stay calm.

*Ho Gamyeong……* Yoon Jong bit his lip tightly.

He had considered that they might take civilians hostage, but he never imagined they would treat them so cruelly. Or perhaps, he didn’t want to imagine it.

How could anyone treat another person like that? Was Ho Gamyeong really a person with blood flowing through his veins, just like him?

“What is the extent of the damage on your side?” Yoon Jong asked.

Namgung Dowi shook his head silently, meaning there were no survivors.

Yoon Jong squeezed his eyes shut, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. He could almost hear the cries of the people he couldn’t save. *Sapaeryeon.*

He had been complacent, or perhaps indifferent. A moment of carelessness had led to this tragedy. It was hard to estimate how many people had died in just half a day. Who would take responsibility for that blood?

“Sapa……”

“May Buddha have mercy,” Hae Yeon said clearly, breaking the heavy silence.

“Everyone, please don’t blame yourselves too much. It is not your fault.”

“I wish I could think that way too,” Jo Gul retorted bluntly.

It wasn’t the most appropriate response, but for Jo Gul, it was the most restrained he could be, considering he was talking to Hae Yeon. If anyone else had said that, he would have snapped at them.

“So, what do we do now? You’re not thinking of just putting up with this, are you, Senior Brother?”

“……”

“We should go and take revenge right away!”

“Calm down,” Yoon Jong said.

“Senior Brother!”

“It’s not our decision to make,” Yoon Jong said, glancing back at the makeshift camp. “There are people wiser than us who will decide.”

“What is the damage?” Tang Gunak asked.

“If we look at it coldly, it’s not that significant,” Jegal Jarin said.

“But the situation is the worst,” Im So-byeong added.

Tang Gunak closed his mouth and took a long breath. There was no need to argue; they were both probably right.

“What do you mean?” Tang Gunak asked.

“The victims are civilians. The number of those sacrificed is not small, but it’s hard to say the Alliance has suffered a great loss,” Jegal Jarin explained. Damage to civilians, who don’t affect combat power, couldn’t be seen as a real loss. It was a cold statement, especially coming from the head of the Jegal Family.

But it was also true.

“Still, the situation is terrible because we don’t know when those bastards will target civilians again,” Im So-byeong added.

Tang Gunak thought the situation was absurd. The head of the Jegal Family saying it was fortunate the victims were civilians, and the King of the Green Forest saying it was the worst because civilians might be attacked again. It was hard to tell who was from the orthodox faction and who was from the unorthodox faction.

“Why do you think they suddenly attacked the civilians?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Isn’t our presence here the answer?” Jegal Jarin replied.

Tang Gunak’s eyes darkened. “Are you saying they were trying to lure us out of Wudang Mountain?”

“Probably,” Jegal Jarin nodded.

“What are they aiming for by doing that?” Tang Gunak pressed.

Im So-byeong answered, “The act itself has meaning. Whether Wudang Mountain is dangerous or not, the fact that it’s a high mountain gives the Cheonwoo Alliance an advantage.”

“Just the fact that the enemy is at the foot of the mountain changes the strategies they can use. So, whatever they’re planning, it would be good for them to bring down the Cheonwoo Alliance first.”

Tang Gunak’s face grew stern. “Just to gain such a small advantage, they killed so many civilians……”

“You’re still talking like you’re in a dream,” Im So-byeong said.

“What?” Tang Gunak asked, confused.

“What do you think Sapa is?” Im So-byeong asked, a cold smile on his face as he looked at Tang Gunak.

“It’s not just for a small gain. They would kill many more without hesitation for even less. That’s what Sapa is. They didn’t do it before because they couldn’t, not because they didn’t want to. They didn’t have the chance until now.”

Tang Gunak’s fingers trembled slightly. Overwhelmed with anger, he blurted out, “Are you saying you know Sapa so well because you are one?”

“Of course,” Im So-byeong answered nonchalantly, like a sly old fox. “I probably know Sapa the best here. So, let me tell you why we’re in the worst situation.”

Im So-byeong’s eyes were cold. “Through this battle, the enemy has learned two things: if they hurt civilians, the Cheonwoo Alliance will come running, and the Cheonwoo Alliance isn’t fast enough to catch them.”

“……”

“So, what will they do now?” Im So-byeong asked.

“They will target us continuously. That alone will be enough to destroy us,” Tang Gunak replied.

“That’s right,” Im So-byeong said, spreading his fan and gently fanning himself. “The problem is, even if we know what they’ll do, it’s hard to stop them. Those civilians are scattered everywhere, so they can attack any place they want. Then we have to run to that place. Do you understand?”

“Are you saying the Sapaeryeon can control the Alliance’s movements?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Exactly. From now on, they’re in charge. They can set traps, cut off our supplies, and raid our empty base.”

Everyone listening looked increasingly pale.

But Tang Gunak became more composed. “What’s the solution?”

“There isn’t one. Well, if you really want to know, there is one perfect solution,” Im So-byeong said.

“What is it?” Tang Gunak asked.

Im So-byeong pointed his fan outside the tent. “Don’t move. No matter what happens, no matter who dies, don’t move. If we can do that, we can stab those who have to move in the back. Strategically, it’s the best solution.”

“You mean there’s no way,” Tang Gunak said, understanding the impossibility of that solution.

Im So-byeong chuckled. “Yes, I knew you’d say that. Even if everyone dies, you’ll use that as an excuse.”

His voice was light, but there was a sharp edge to it. Im So-byeong knew the Cheonwoo Alliance could never choose that path, no matter how perfect it seemed strategically.

What if the only way for the Green Forest to survive was to throw away their swords and learn to read? Im So-byeong couldn’t order that. Even if he did, it wouldn’t work. There would be no reason to be in the Green Forest anymore.

The same was true for the Cheonwoo Alliance. The moment they ignored the civilians, they would no longer be the Cheonwoo Alliance. People would leave.

“What’s the next best thing?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Strengthen the defenses, keep a good distance, set up camp, and wait for them to do something,” Im So-byeong replied.

“You mean we can only get hit?” Tang Gunak asked.

“It’s the way to get hit the least,” Im So-byeong said.

Tang Gunak turned to Jegal Jarin, who sighed and nodded, agreeing with Im So-byeong.

“That seems to be the best we can do right now,” Jegal Jarin said.

“Is that so?” Tang Gunak was lost in thought. He couldn’t decide on his own, but there was no time to wait for the Alliance Leader.

The sun would set soon.

“I will entrust the deployment of the Alliance to Family Head Jegal. Please do your best to prevent us from being caught off guard by a night raid,” Tang Gunak said.

“While also being ready to support other places at any time? This is really difficult,” Im So-byeong sneered. But Tang Gunak nodded.

“It will be difficult, but please do it,” Tang Gunak said.

“……I understand,” Jegal Jarin nodded.

Just as the meeting was ending, Im So-byeong spoke again. “One thing you should know……”

Everyone looked at him.

“Those bastards probably already guessed what we discussed and decided. We’re just doing what they want us to do.”

“……King of the Green Forest,” Tang Gunak said.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. It’s not wrong. It’s just… be aware of it,” Im So-byeong said.

“……I will keep that in mind,” Tang Gunak said, a bitter taste in his mouth.

But Tang Gunak and the Cheonwoo Alliance had no choice. They couldn’t risk returning to Wudang while the civilians were in danger.

Tang Gunak steeled himself. If they could maintain control, they could minimize the damage, even if they were attacked from all sides. It was the only choice.

But that night, nothing happened. The Alliance remained untouched.

The next day, the sun rose, making the sleepless night seem pointless. The bright sunlight illuminated the earth.

And then Tang Gunak realized something. “……Who is it?”

“They are… the ones who stood guard yesterday,” someone said.

Tang Gunak slowly clenched his fist.

More than ten bodies lay on the ground, their gruesome wounds telling a story of what had happened in the night.

“Why didn’t you notice?” Tang Gunak demanded.

“That’s……”

Tang Gunak didn’t wait for an answer. He examined the necks of the corpses, their eyes wide open in resentment. The horns around their necks were drooping. They should have been able to signal an attack by blowing into the flute.

But the night had been silent. None of them had even managed to blow the horn.

*Is it possible?* Tang Gunak wondered.

They had to be incredibly strong. But could they really kill more than ten elites from the Five Great Families without a sound? Really?

Goosebumps ran down Tang Gunak’s spine. Logically, it was impossible, but it had happened. Tang Gunak realized something. *It’s not about the civilians.*

It wasn’t the time to worry about them. The enemy was clearly targeting the Cheonwoo Alliance.