Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 722

*Paaah!* The air rushed past their ears.

The mountains blurred into streaks of green and brown as the disciples of Mount Hua ran as fast as they could. They were escaping the *Maninbang*, a powerful group they had just faced.

Baek Cheon kept his eyes on Chung Myung, who was leading the way. Chung Myung’s back was stiff, and he held something wrapped in cloth tightly in his arms.

“Sasuk,” Yoon Jong called out.

Baek Cheon turned his head slightly to Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong’s eyebrows were wrinkled, and he glanced back nervously.

“Why did the Maninbang just let us go?”

“…”

Baek Cheon frowned slightly, pondering. He couldn’t provide a clear answer to that question either.

“I don’t know either.”

“We’ve already fought a war once. If it were me, I would never have let us go…”

Jang Il-So visited Mount Hua to celebrate the founding of the Cheonwoo Alliance, but that didn’t mean Mount Hua and the Maninbang had reconciled.

They were still enemies.

Baek Cheon smiled bitterly.

“How can we know the thoughts of someone like Lord Jang?”

Usually, when you meet someone many times, they become less impressive.

You get used to them, and they don’t seem as strong anymore.

But Lord Jang Il-So was the opposite.

His impression was twice as strong this time as it was before. He remembered Jang Il-So’s smile and gentle way of speaking clearly. But it was also scary, like a cold hand on his neck.

This was the first, no, the second time in his life that he had seen someone with such a strong presence.

“Still, we were lucky.”

“…”

“Yes?”

Baek Cheon’s gaze turned to Chung Myung’s back.

If they had faced Jang Il-So in a situation where they had nothing to lose, would Chung Myung have retreated without crossing swords as he did now?

No. Probably not.

He was a fellow who didn’t know how to retreat when facing someone he considered an enemy. He might hesitate because of the safety of his companions… But even so, he wouldn’t have retreated as easily as he did now.

There was only one reason.

Baek Cheon’s gaze went to the bundle that Chung Myung was carrying.

Baek Cheon knew Chung Myung couldn’t bear to leave the remains behind again.

He accepted a humiliating deal to avoid that situation.

Baek Cheon guessed Chung Myung had agreed to something shameful to get the bones back.

Baek Cheon could hardly imagine what Chung Myung was feeling right now.

“What kind of relationship is it?”

Jo Gul slipped into the conversation. He was out of breath from running so fast, but he couldn’t resist his curiosity.

“If he’s a Thirteenth Disciple, isn’t he someone who participated in the war against the Demonic Sect in the past?”

“That’s probably right.”

Baek Cheon clearly saw that the bones were stained black in places. Hadn’t they already experienced it? That was a typical phenomenon that appeared when someone was attacked by demonic energy.

“What is Chung Myung’s relationship with such a person?”

“Isn’t he a family member from a long time ago?”

Jo Gul frowned slightly at Baek Cheon’s words.

“Of course, marriage isn’t forbidden in Mount Hua, and it’s true that they can marry freely… But even in that urgent war situation…”

“You’re talking nonsense. If he was a Thirteenth Disciple of that time, he would have been an elder. He’s old enough to have grandchildren.”

“Ah…”

Jo Gul nodded as if he understood.

“It wouldn’t be strange if Chung Myung was his descendant. From the beginning, when he first entered Mount Hua, he tried to explain his relationship with Mount Hua.”

But Jo Gul still tilted his head again, as if there were still parts he didn’t understand.

“Then why did Chung Myung come to Mount Hua?”

“Hmm?”

“The others left Mount Hua of their own accord, so there’s awkwardness, but if he’s a descendant of that person, then that kind of thing…”

“Well, that’s something we don’t know.”

Baek Cheon shook his head.

“Just because an ancestor sacrificed his life for Mount Hua doesn’t guarantee that his descendants will stay with Mount Hua until the end.”

“That’s true.”

“Perhaps he couldn’t return for a long time because of the guilt of leaving Mount Hua, even though he was a descendant of such a person. It’s an event from a very distant past for Chung Myung, so it might not matter much to him.”

Then Yoon Jong frowned this time.

“But no matter how devoted a person is, can they really wail like that just because they found the remains of an ancestor who died a hundred years ago?”

“…”

“I’ve never seen Chung Myung like that before. No… I’ve never even imagined that he could be like that. This is just… incomprehensible.”

“…”

Baek Cheon also couldn’t understand it at all, so he just stared at Chung Myung’s back.

He couldn’t understand.

What kind of story did that fellow have, and why did he have to show such a side of himself?

But…

“He’s still our Sajil.”

Yoo Iseol suddenly opened her mouth.

As the three people’s gazes poured in, Yoo Iseol still ran forward with a blank expression and said,

“Does knowing change anything?”

“No, Sago. It’s not that.”

“Whatever story he has, he’s my Sajil.”

A smile appeared on Baek Cheon’s lips when he heard those words.

She was an unpredictable fellow, but once in a while, she would point out the core and make people feel at ease.

“That’s right.”

Baek Cheon cleared his throat once and continued.

“Yes, I feel the same way. Whatever story he has, he’s my Sajil. Even if that fellow is a descendant of those who turned their backs on Mount Hua and left, or a descendant of someone who committed a great crime against Mount Hua and ran away, or a murderer who killed hundreds of people somewhere and ran away to Mount Hua…”

“Sasuk. Please reconsider the last one.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“…”

Oh, was that a bit too much?

“Ahem. Anyway.”

Baek Cheon cut it off decisively.

“I won’t be surprised by whatever comes out of that fellow’s mouth. I don’t even want to care. Just dealing with him as he is now is overwhelming enough. How can I care about his story?”

“That’s true.”

“So stop thinking useless thoughts. Returning to Mount Hua is the first priority.”

“Yes.”

Yoon Jong answered calmly and glanced at Chung Myung’s back.

‘A descendant of those who ran away.’

In fact, that was the most reasonable way to think.

But Yoon Jong knew. No, not only him, but everyone actually knew.

The hidden story of Chung Myung was not that simple.

Perhaps the appearance they saw this time was the cause of the strange heaviness that Chung Myung sometimes showed.

‘We’re still lacking.’

If he thought they were trustworthy enough, Chung Myung would have told them his story. The fact that he still hadn’t said anything meant that they were still lacking.

So Yoon Jong decided not to push Chung Myung.

‘Someday…’

Someday, when that fellow Chung Myung could completely trust and rely on them, he would definitely tell them.

Definitely.

“Don’t fall behind, Jo Gul!”

“Yes, Sahyung!”

The disciples of Mount Hua ran forward with their own thoughts, chasing after Chung Myung’s back.

“Heeeuuuum.”

When the disciples of Mount Hua were completely out of sight, Jang Il-So curled up the corners of his mouth as if he was amused.

“A bond, is it…”

Jang Il-So, who was laughing again as if he was amused, covered his mouth. A mocking voice leaked out between his white fingers.

“A bond with a stinky piece of skeleton! I thought he was a smart fellow… Anyway, he’s a very interesting fellow.”

“Bangju!”

Ho Gamyeong couldn’t stand it and raised his voice as he looked at Jang Il-So.

“We can’t let them go like this! Don’t you understand? That fellow is a tiger cub!”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

Jang Il-So frowned and clicked his tongue as if he felt sorry for him.

“Why are you so excited? What’s so great about a tiger cub?”

“Bangju!”

Ho Gamyeong gritted his teeth as if he was about to burst.

“Anyone who sees a tiger cub tries to raise it. But in the end, they are often bitten to death by the grown tiger.”

“…”

“Of course, Bangju is not an ordinary person, but that tiger cub is not ordinary either. Maybe that fellow’s fangs will someday be embedded in Bangju’s neck! It’s no use regretting the decision now when that happens!”

Despite Ho Gamyeong’s fierce and desperate cry, Jang Il-So’s expression was simply indifferent.

“So?”

“Please allow me to pursue them! I will kill that fellow and come back! Bangju, if you lose your safety while looking at the grand plan, what greater mistake could there be? Even now, that fellow…”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

Ho Gamyeong, who was speaking, flinched and closed his mouth.

Jang Il-So’s voice was colder than usual. No… Rather than cold, it felt like it was boiling low.

“Did you say safety?”

“Bangju?”

Jang Il-So slowly turned to look at Ho Gamyeong.

Ho Gamyeong forgot to breathe when he saw his eyes, which were flickering with madness.

“You’re right. Someday, I might be killed by that tiger… No, I might be beheaded by that monster.”

“…”

“I know. If I were a sensible fellow, I would kill that fellow here. It’s foolish to release a tiger cub with a grudge into the field without killing it. No matter how weak and insignificant it is, I have to eliminate the root cause to prevent future troubles.”

“Then why…”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

Jang Il-So’s tone was always gentle, but it sounded like there was an animal’s growl inside.

“What is safety?”

“…”

“The moment a fellow with a sword worries about his safety, he loses the right to live with a sword. Once you start climbing a cliff, there’s no way to go back down. It’s impossible to stop in the middle. Those who cling to the cliff can only climb and climb!”

Jang Il-So spread his arms wide. The wide silk sleeves fluttered majestically. Jang Il-So was the only one in the world who could pull off this exaggerated gesture so well.

“Tell me! Who do you know me as! Who do you want me to be! Do you want me to be a pig trapped in a room, refusing to climb higher to protect my life? Or do you want me to be a wolf who climbs the cliff even if it means risking my life and falling to my death!”

“Bangju…”

“Answer me!”

A thunderous voice echoed. Jang Il-So glared at Ho Gamyeong as if he would tear him to death.

“Who am I!”

Ho Gamyeong closed his eyes.

It wasn’t avoidance, but a conviction that pierced his bones.

“You are…”

A moan-like voice flowed out.

“Lord Jang Il-So, the defeated one.”

That was enough.

Jang Il-So, who grabbed his face as if he was tearing it off, bent over and laughed quietly.

‘Not yet.’

An unbearable laughter kept bursting out.

‘It’s not time to turn the tables yet. Not yet.’

The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua still had a role to play.

Safety? Life?

Of course, they were important. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect this life.

But what was more important to him than life was value.

What he couldn’t stand the most was simply prolonging a cheap life that wouldn’t change.

‘This isn’t enough.’

The Five Great Stars of Jianghu?

The Maninbang?

The Defeated One?

That was ridiculous.

He could never be satisfied with that. He was born that way. Even if he swallowed the whole world and put it in his stomach, he wouldn’t be satisfied.

He could do anything to satisfy this terrible hunger. Even if it meant cutting off his own neck with his own hands.

Jang Il-So took out his red tongue and slowly licked his lips.

‘This is just the beginning.’

Jang Il-So laughed loudly, recalling Chung Myung’s fiercely glaring eyes.

In the eyes of Ho Gamyeong and the Maninbang members who looked up at him, there was an unhidden fear and awe.