Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 719

– If I am surrounded by the enemy, you must save me. If that proves difficult, drag even my dead body back to Mount Hua.

– If even that is impossible, you must send this manual back to Mount Hua.

– Do not forget, Martial Brother.

– You are the only one who can do this. Absolutely! Absolutely do not forget!

“Uh… Uh-oh…”

Fingers shaking badly, Chung Myung reached out to the skeleton. But his fingertips, almost touching, stopped as if frozen by fear.

His heart pounded in his chest. Cold sweat made his palms wet. He was afraid to touch it.

Afraid it would crumble into dust the moment he touched it.

Afraid it would vanish like smoke.

“…Cheongjin.”

So, here you were.

Here you were.

My martial brother. How lonely you must have been in this cold, silent cave.

How much…

“Uh… Uh-oh…”

Chung Myung couldn’t speak. He just made soft sounds, his fingers shaking as he touched the skeleton’s forehead. The rough, cold bone made him flinch and pull back his hand, but soon he carefully stroked the skeleton again, like caressing a newborn baby.

“Uh… Uh-oh… Uh-oh…”

I… I came too late.

(Chung Myung thought) Too late. Always too late. Just like back then…

How long have you waited? How could you have waited so long in this cold place?

Forgive me.

Forgive me, Cheongjin.

Forgive your useless martial brother who came so late to find you.

His hand, caressing the cheekbone of the skeleton, felt as if he were touching a living person.

Why is it that people only realize things after they have lost them? How could I have been so foolish?

Chung Myung’s jaw trembled. He lowered his gaze and saw the tattered remains of clothing, half-rotted away. The bones visible within were stained black in places.

‘Demonic Bloom…

At this point, even walking would not have been easy in his final moments.

When he was too weak to walk, he must have crawled here. He rolled and dragged himself to this place.

Death is not frightening. Dying does not matter.

But there is one thing that must be left behind.

A place where no one in the world can find it. A place that only the disciples of Mount Hua can discover.

Something that must be left behind there, no matter what.

He would have dug this cave, using up his last bit of life, and died thinking of those who would one day come to find this place.

Now that he could not return to Mount Hua, at least in a place where he could recall that Mount Hua… so lonely and alone.

‘You were waiting, weren’t you?’

You believed I would come, didn’t you?

That I, your martial brother, would.

Chung Myung’s gaze finally settled on something visible within the folds of the clothing. No, he looked but could not see.

His eyes were already blurry, and now he couldn’t see clearly at all.

He bit his lip tightly and squeezed his eyes shut. The overflowing sorrow streamed down his cheeks. Only after a long while did he open his eyes and gaze at what he had come to find.

A single manual.

That which Cheongjin had never let go of, not even for a moment, until his dying breath.

The Violet Haze Qi Cultivation, the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

And…

With trembling eyes, he stared at the book. Though faded by the passage of time, the elegant script was still clearly visible. A groan escaped Chung Myung’s lips.

Violet Haze Divine Art.

– I can’t even show this to you, Martial Brother.

– Ah! This is a martial art that only the sect leader of Mount Hua can learn! Get away from me! Before I tear it up!

– Yes. Of course, I should keep it. I will protect the manual, and you can protect me, Martial Brother.

– Don’t worry. Even if I die, I will protect this manual. That is how I will protect Mount Hua.

Yes. You protected it.

But…

“I…

Chung Myung gripped the floor.

“I couldn’t… I…

Forgive me. Please, forgive this useless martial brother.

Cheongjin… Cheongjin.

The overwhelming grief was so great that he could not breathe. His vision blurred again and again.

Everything he had held back burst forth, flowing down and out.

He reached out his trembling hands and carefully embraced the skeleton, now so small.

Afraid that it would crumble, lest it break, he could not even bring himself to touch it, awkwardly holding the air as Chung Myung buried his forehead on the skeleton’s shoulder.

“Uh… Uh-oh… Aaaah…

A vast emotion pressed down on his chest and burst forth. He could not say a single word.

Let’s go back.

Let’s go back together.

Now that I have come. Let’s go back to Mount Hua together, Cheongjin.

I am sorry I am so late.

So, let’s return to Mount Hua now, even if it is only now.

There are still things you left behind there. The things you wanted to leave behind are still breathing.

“Uh-oh…

It was more like a convulsion than a sob.

Forcing its way through his blocked mouth, the emotion he had suppressed burst forth.

You were right. I left nothing behind.

But those you tried to protect were still guarding that place. As you said, embracing what you left behind.

So, let’s go back.

To the place you protected. To the place you wanted to go so badly.

Baek Cheon, watching Chung Myung weep and choke as if he had lost his tongue, could not bear to watch any longer and turned his head. Baek Cheon’s own heart ached watching Chung Myung.

The other disciples, who had come down with him and were watching the scene, seemed to have lost their words as they looked at Chung Myung and their ancestor, faded by the long years. The disciples watched in silence, their faces grim with respect and sadness.

‘A hundred years…

In this narrow, dark cave…

Baek Cheon closed his eyes tightly.

Digging a cave of this size meant that he had managed to evade the enemy’s eyes, even if only for a moment. Which meant that he could have tried to escape.

Yet, instead of risking his remaining strength to escape, the ancestor chose to hide in a place where the enemies could not find him.

To ensure that the manual he carried would one day be delivered to Mount Hua, even at the cost of his life.

Baek Cheon could not even begin to imagine what state of mind he had been in as he faced his end in this dark and cold place.

But at least he knew what he had to do now.

Baek Cheon quietly gestured, and the disciples, understanding his intention, stepped aside to create space.

“Pay your respects.”

The disciples of Mount Hua began to bow in unison.

It was a gesture more reverent than ever before. Filled with respect for their ancestor and reverence for a warrior who had carried out his will to the very last moment.

Once.

And again.

Having completed two bows, Baek Cheon slowly rose to his feet.

And slowly approached Chung Myung. This time, even Yiseol did not stop Baek Cheon.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

Baek Cheon carefully took hold of Chung Myung’s shoulder.

He could feel the trembling the moment his hand touched him. The shoulder that had always been so confident was now trembling so much that he was afraid to even hold it.

Baek Cheon sighed softly and carefully urged Chung Myung.

“Shouldn’t we take him to Mount Hua as soon as possible?”

“……”

“It’s too cold and lonely here. Let’s go to Mount Hua, Chung Myung-ah. That’s what our ancestor would have wanted.” (More emotional and comforting.)

Only then did Chung Myung nod slightly.

He carefully laid down the skeleton and slowly took off his outer robe. Then, he spread the robe wide on the floor.

Then, he stared at the skeleton in silence for a long time.

Baek Cheon, guessing why Chung Myung was not moving, pressed down on his shoulder.

“I’ll do it.”

“……Ah, no.”

But Chung Myung slowly shook his head.

“I have to do it… I have to do it, Martial Uncle.”

It was not the voice of Chung Myung that he knew.

“…Alright.”

Baek Cheon could only nod again and step back. Chung Myung stared blankly at the skeleton for a long time before slowly reaching out his hand.

‘Yes. Let’s go back, Cheongjin.’

You must have wanted to go back all the time. So, let’s go back now.

Chung Myung, holding the skeleton as if caressing a wounded cheek, slowly applied force to lift it. He felt a slight resistance at his fingertips.

In the end, Chung Myung bit his lip tightly, closed his eyes, and put a little more force into the hand holding the skeleton.

The skeleton, which had been slightly rattling, separated from the neck.

Only after caressing the head several times did he carefully place it on the robe he had spread out.

Clatter.

Chung Myung, carefully removing each bone that seemed as if it would scatter on the floor at any moment and placing it on the robe, placed even the last remaining pieces of clothing on top of the skeleton and carefully wrapped it in his robe.

‘It will be uncomfortable, but bear with it for a little while.’

Chung Myung picked up the manual lying on the floor, stood up, and handed the manual to Baek Cheon.

“This is…

“Martial Uncle, take care of it.”

“…….”

“This is what Martial Uncle has to do.”

Baek Cheon stared at the old manual for a moment and nodded. He could not fully guess the intention, but if Chung Myung said so, there must be a reason.

He too took off his outer robe and carefully wrapped the manual in it.

Chung Myung nodded slightly, turned around, and carried Cheongjin’s remains over his shoulder. His gaze suddenly fell on the inscription carved on the wall. He chuckled for no reason.

‘Still so plain.’

If it was the last words left in the world, he should have at least pretended to be profound.

You foolish bastard…

‘Alright.’

Let’s go now. To the place you so longed to go.

Chung Myung raised his head and looked at the Mount Hua Five Swords.

“Let’s go back.”

At those words, finally spoken, everyone slowly nodded.

Yoon Jong was about to take the first step, but Baek Cheon’s words stopped him.

“Look closely… and remember.”

Everyone engraved the scene inside the cave deeply into their eyes.

“Here lies the spirit of Mount Hua.”

What protected Mount Hua was not the honor of being the greatest sect in the world, nor the reputation of being the greatest sword sect.

What protected Mount Hua was the will left behind in this place.

What they must not forget. What they must carry on is all here.

The disciples of Mount Hua, engraving everything they saw into their eyes without missing a single detail, turned around one by one with hardened faces.

Thus, Chung Myung, left alone in the cave from which even Yiseol and Baek Cheon had departed, looked around the dark surroundings with sunken eyes.

In that empty cave, the image of Cheongjin in his memory was drawn.

Covered in blood and dying, he would have dug the cave, reinforced the walls with his inner energy, written the last inscription, and then squeezed out all his remaining strength to sit in a lotus position.

And…

‘Did you smile?’

Yes, you would have.

– I’ll leave the rest to you. You damned Martial Brother.

It was as if he could hear Cheongjin’s playful voice, smiling faintly.

“……Of course.”

I know. You must be doubtful. Because that’s the kind of guy I am.

But…

“I remember.”

Your words, your requests.

What I have to do.

Chung Myung slowly approached the wall. Standing there, silently gazing at the stone wall engraved with Cheongjin’s last words for a long time, he raised his hand.

Scratch.

The sound of the hard stone wall being scratched echoed inside the cave.

After a while, Chung Myung lowered his hand, looked at the stone wall, and then turned around. Not long after he pulled his body out through the passage, a pile of dirt poured down, completely closing the passage.

The cave was now filled with complete darkness.

Now, no light will ever seep into this place.

But someday, after countless years have passed… if an animal seeking shelter digs a cave, or if someone discovers this place, its appearance revealed by wind and rain, they may be able to see the inscription engraved on the stone wall.

Though my body sleeps here,

My heart remains with distant Mount Hua.

Cheongjin, the thirteenth disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect.

What the spirit of Mount Hua left behind,

Is taken back to Mount Hua.

Chung Myung, the thirteenth disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect.

Those words that seemed to make no sense.