Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 660

Gohanwi, from the Youngso-mun group, saw houses in the distance and sighed in relief.

If they had to travel just a little bit more, he felt like he would fall to the ground and shout that he couldn’t walk anymore. Luckily, they could see Hwaeum not too far ahead.

His legs felt like they might give way at any moment because he had walked so hard.

The other students with him felt the same. They were all breathing heavily, and their faces looked pale and tired.

Gohanwi, who was at the front, complained to his master, who was looking without expression at Hwaeum.

“Did we really have to suffer so much to get to this place? It’s just Hwasan…”

“Don’t speak nonsense!” Before he finished speaking, his master turned quickly and scolded him.

“Don’t you understand how important this is?” Jang Yong, his master, spoke loudly.

This is about the alliance between the Sichuan Tang Family, who are powerful in Sichuan, and the Hwasan Sect, which has become famous recently. Even the strong leaders from Saeoe are helping them.

“But still, aren’t they small compared to the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families?”

“Tsk tsk. You can’t see very far ahead!”

Jang Yong looked at Gohanwi with a very displeased expression.

You can’t just look at how strong they are right now. Hwasan is almost like one of the Nine Great Sects. The Sichuan Tang Family is one of the Five Great Families. And even the Saeoe Four Palaces, who have never joined with a group from the central lands before, are all part of this!

“That’s true, but…”

Right now, everyone is watching carefully. But if they think this is important, many groups will quickly join the Cheonwoo Alliance.

Gohanwi tilted his head, looking as if he still didn’t understand even after the explanation.

“Then, can’t we just join later?”

“You fool!” Gohanwi covered his ears in shock at the booming shout.

If we do that, we’ll be just like everyone else! Everything can be a chance! We can join the Cheonwoo Alliance later, but if we impress them now, the leaders of the Cheonwoo Alliance will remember our Youngso-mun group.

“Is it really necessary to do all that?”

“Tsk tsk tsk. And you are supposed to be the best student who will become the leader one day…” Jang Yong clicked his tongue and continued.

Impressing them doesn’t cost anything. If we can get something by trying, it’s worth it. So, stop complaining and come with me!

“Yes.”

Jang Yong, seeing Gohanwi obediently answer, wore a displeased expression and strode forward again.

‘Young people these days…’

He didn’t understand how they could live in this tough world of martial artists with so little thought.

Nobody knows what will happen in the future. So, you need to be connected to as many groups as possible. Especially for groups like Youngso-mun, which is in a difficult position between Sichuan and Hebei, you have to be very careful.

‘The Nine Great Sects can’t openly say bad things about us joining the Cheonwoo Alliance’s start ceremony. Not with their reputation to protect.’

Even if it means dealing with some unfriendly looks, if we can make friends with the Cheonwoo Alliance, it’s a good thing no matter what.

Of course, the Cheonwoo Alliance will try hard to get us to join them, but they also don’t lose much if we don’t, so we can just step back if needed.

‘The world is for those who act first!’

The important thing is to act quickly.

We don’t know what the Cheonwoo Alliance will be like later, but right now, they really need people! It’s important to impress them at times like this.

“Hurry! We need to reach Hwasan before the other groups get there.”

“Yes!” They entered Hwaeum soon, feeling hopeful.

But Jang Yong was about to see something he did not expect at all.

When they entered Hwaeum town, they all opened their mouths in surprise without meaning to.

What was strange about it?

Nothing seemed strange at first.

They had heard that Hwaeum was not a big city, but it was still quite large and had everything a town needed.

But the problem was…

“What is all this?” The problem was that Hwaeum, which was not a small town, was filled with a never-ending flow of people.

“Master?”

“Huh, uh?” Jang Yong, who was staring blankly at Hwaeum in a daze, blinked his large eyes.

‘What’s going on?’ His eyes naturally turned to the waists of the people forming the crowd. They could see that everyone had weapons at their waists, so they knew they were all martial artists.

“No, what is going on with all these…”

“Move aside!” Just then, people running from behind pushed into Jang Yong’s shoulder and ran past.

“Ack!” Jang Yong, pushed back a few steps by the sudden hit, glared and shouted.

“Who are you! How dare you treat people from Youngso-mun like that…”

“What?” Then, the people who were running turned their heads quickly.

Right away, Jang Yong stopped talking.

Jang Yong had seen a lot in his life. He was not stupid enough to be scared by someone’s angry face or sharp eyes. It wasn’t the angry face that made him stop talking, but the symbol on the other person’s chest.

It was a symbol of three swords crossed together.

“‘The… Three Swords Gate.'”

It was definitely the symbol of the Three Swords Gate, which people said was like a deadly force in Guangdong.

“‘Why… why are they here…'”

He didn’t have time to think for long. He quickly stood up straight and said.

“Are… are you important people from the Three Swords Gate? I didn’t recognize you…”

“Tsk.” Then, the man with the angry face who had pushed into him earlier glared and said.

“You’re lucky. If this wasn’t Hwaeum, I would have taught you a lesson.”

“…”

“Some nobody from nowhere important…”

“Older Brother, we don’t have time for this! We need to get to Hwasan fast.”

“Damn! Why are there so many people here? Ugh! If we are late, the leader will punish us, so hurry!”

“Yes!” Jang Yong swallowed nervously as he watched the students from the Three Swords Gate hurry away again.

‘No, from far away Guangdong, all the way here…’

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

People in yellow robes were hurrying past them.

“It’s Johyun-mun group!”

“It’s Johyun-mun from Guizhou! Oh my god, even they came!” Jang Yong’s eyes got even wider.

“‘Johyun-mun group?’ The Johyun-mun group that people say never leaves Guizhou?

“Hyunmo-bang group is here too!”

“Wait, isn’t that the Hangsan Sect? No, even the Hangsan Sect is here…!” Jang Yong, terrified, quickly turned his head.

Yes, swordsmen in bright white clothes were walking into Hwaeum in an organized way.

“‘The… the Hangsan Sect.'”

Youngso-mun thought they were strong among the smaller groups. But the groups being named now were much more important than Youngso-mun could ever be.

They were not as famous as the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families. But now, they were hearing names of groups who were leaders in their own areas, mentioned everywhere, like common names.

“‘Hwa… Hwasan… Was the Cheonwoo Alliance this big?'”

Even he, who had called Gohanwi foolish, had not understood the situation either.

The Cheonwoo Alliance was already much bigger than he thought. And they hadn’t even started their group officially yet.

“‘Are all these people going to Hwasan?’ What on earth is happening here?

Martial artists gathered like ants and crowded towards the entrance of Hwasan. Because of this, problems started happening.

“You don’t look very busy, why don’t you move aside?”

“What did you say? Are you trying to cause trouble?”

“Haha. You seem to be showing off just because we are near Hwasan. If we weren’t in Hwaeum, would you have dared to say that to me?”

“You…” There were those who raised their voices, telling each other to move aside, of course.

“Didn’t I tell you not to push!”

“What do you want me to do when people are pushing from behind?”

“Are you martial artists so weak you can’t handle this? Why did you come here if you are so weak?”

“Oh really? Do you want to see how good I am? Stop talking and let’s fight!”

“I can!” There were even those who looked like they were about to draw their swords and fight.

Everyone was trying to get to the top of the mountain as fast as they could. But the path was narrow, so only a few people could go at once, and everyone was getting impatient.

“‘I… is this really going to become a big problem?'” Jang Yong squeezed his cold fingers tightly, feeling suddenly very tense.

Just then,

“It’s the Peng Family!”

“The Peng Family is here! It’s the Hebei Peng Family!” The heads of those gathered at the entrance turned quickly to look behind them.

“Huh?” Jang Yong, who was sitting at the entrance, turned bright red. Because he was there, it looked like everyone was looking at him.

But instead of moving back, he turned around.

“Oh…” They saw several martial artists coming towards them, walking through the Youngso-mun students who had moved to the sides.

They wore bright red martial arts robes, with five tigers sewn on the chest. And one of them carried a huge sword that everyone would notice.

“‘The Hebei Peng Family.'”

Even the Hebei Peng Family, who were leaders in Hebei and one of the Five Great Families, had come to Hwaeum.

There were only five of them, but they seemed so powerful that everyone there felt overwhelmed.

“Hmm.” The middle-aged man at the front, who was very tall, looked around at all the martial artists in Hwaeum and laughed loudly.

“Haha! So many people are here.”

“It looks like we are a little late.”

“Hmm. That’s not good. We need to go to Hwasan and meet the leader of the sect and the family before the ceremony starts.” The Peng Family members looked around again and then walked forward confidently.

The man who reached the edge of the crowd smiled and said.

“If it’s not too much trouble, can we go up the mountain first?” The person at the back looked surprised at the Peng Family, then quickly moved aside.

“O- of course, go ahead.”

“Thank you.” As if this was a signal, the people who were standing very close together moved to the sides, making a path for the Peng Family.

They were ready to fight to get ahead, but when they heard the name Hebei Peng Family, they all became quiet and obedient.

This scene clearly showed why martial artists in this world risked everything for fame and power.

The man who was walking slowly through the path made by the crowd said.

“Have the other Five Great Families arrived yet?”

“Well, I don’t know if they are here already, but they will all come. They have to see this for themselves.”

“That’s right. It looks like this will be an interesting start ceremony. We should go and say hello to the Hwasan sect leader. Let’s go!”

“Yes!” Everyone in Hwaeum swallowed nervously as they watched the Hebei Peng Family group walk faster.

“‘Are all the Five Great Families coming?’ ‘Then are the Nine Great Sects coming too?’ ‘This… maybe something much bigger than we thought is going to happen.’ ‘The Hebei Peng Family is greeting the Hwasan sect leader. When did Hwasan become so important?'”

Many thoughts went through their minds, but they all came to the same conclusion.

“‘We need to go up the mountain fast!’ ‘I have to see this myself!'”

The excitement was growing. They all rushed towards the rough and high path up Hwasan.

Each with their own curiosity, wishes, and hopes.