Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 723

Chung Myung’s feet, which had been running forward as if trying to escape something, gradually slowed. Finally, he stopped completely.

He lifted his head and saw the entrance to the path leading up to Mount Hua.

Carefully, Chung Myung lowered the bundle from his shoulder, held it in his arms, and gazed at Mount Hua with dazed eyes.

It looked the same as always.

Even through those long years, Mount Hua had stood silently, watching over its mountain range.

But Chung Myung couldn’t look at it with the same eyes. This ordinary scenery was something someone had desperately missed, even until their last breath.

Chung Myung remained there, his gaze fixed, until the disciples of Mount Hua caught up and stood behind him.

Sensing their presence, Chung Myung slowly took a step.

He walked slowly now, his earlier speed gone, and began to climb the mountain.

Wildflowers in bright colours bloomed along the narrow path. Thick bushes grew on either side, their leaves a deep green. Tall cliffs of grey rock rose up, reaching towards the forest trees above. Old pine trees and plum trees, their branches twisted with age, grew between the rocks.

The disciples of Mount Hua knew this path by heart. But today, for Chung Myung, everything seemed new and important. He noticed each flower, each stone, as if seeing them for the first time.

The Five Swords, following behind Chung Myung, also looked around, imprinting the familiar scenery of Mount Hua in their minds.

Walking slowly through a place they usually rushed through, they felt many more things.

Is it true that people don’t appreciate what’s close to them?

Baek Cheon closed his eyes tightly.

He knew that no ancestor of Mount Hua had ever returned from the Daesan Blood Sea. It was just a fact, not something he *felt*. But seeing the remains Chung Myung carried, he understood.

‘They must have wanted to walk this path.’

The ancestors who risked their lives to fight the Heavenly Demon would have had only one wish: to somehow kill the Heavenly Demon, protect the future of the Jianghu and Mount Hua…

To walk this path and return to Mount Hua.

The fact that this simple wish had not been fulfilled weighed heavily on Baek Cheon’s heart.

He quietly looked around.

Even Yoon Jong, usually serious, Yu Yiseol, always indifferent, Tang Soso, who couldn’t yet fully grasp Mount Hua’s sorrow, and even Jo Gul, always playful, were silently following behind Chung Myung with hardened faces. They all seemed deep in thought.

Thud.

Thud.

Chung Myung’s feet climbed Mount Hua slowly but steadily.

Chung Myung calmly walked through the narrow path with green trees and entered a narrow trestle road, barely wide enough for one foot.

A path on a dizzying cliff.

He used to get angry and curse, saying, ‘Is this even a road?’ but now he walked that road silently.

The rocky mountain soared into the sky, looking down on them. All that could be seen were huge rock walls.

It might seem bleak, but not to those who lived in Mount Hua. The edge of the vast sky spread out over the mountains, gradually turning red.

Chung Myung stopped and quietly looked at Mount Hua, where the sunset was beginning.

“- Isn’t it beautiful?”

“- What?”

“- That sunset. Isn’t it a symbol of Mount Hua?”

“- You crazy bastard. The symbol of Mount Hua is plum blossoms.”

“- Tsk tsk. That’s what people who don’t know anything say. Isn’t martial arts based on Qi Gong? The Violet Cloud Divine Art is more of a symbol than the Plum Blossom Sword Art. When you think of Violet Cloud, don’t you think of the sunset! Sunset!”

Chung Jin, his face red in the sunset, smiled and said,

“- Actually, I just like the sunset, Sahyung. The sunset from Mount Hua is really amazing. I hope I can die watching this scene.”

“- What are you talking about.”

“- Please take a look. Isn’t it pretty, Sahyung?”

“- Stop talking nonsense and go get me some books.”

“- I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Chung Jin, grumbling, turned his head slightly and looked back at Chung Myung, saying,

“- Just you wait and see. Someday, Sahyung will also know how beautiful the sunset of Mount Hua is.”

‘Chung Jin-ah…’

Chung Myung knew this was just a corpse. The body left behind after death has no will or meaning.

So what he was holding was not Chung Jin, but the lingering feelings in Chung Myung’s heart.

Even though he knew…

Chung Myung slowly closed his eyes. His long eyelashes trembled, dyed yellow by the sunset.

‘Was it good?’

No one wanted this.

What he wanted, and what Chung Jin wanted, was for everyone to return to Mount Hua together.

To complain about the cramped road, to laugh and joke, and finally, to climb Mount Hua and complain about how hard it was.

For everyone, including Chung Mun, Chung Jin, and all the Chung and Myung generation, to sit in the same place and laugh.

In front of Chung Myung’s closed eyes, the faces of many people appeared.

The Chung and Myung generation, all those who had left Mount Hua to protect the Jianghu.

But those faces began to disappear one by one.

Someone died on the battlefield at the hands of the Demonic Sect.

Someone else couldn’t overcome their injuries and died with Chung Myung holding their hand, their lips barely moving.

One, then another. And so, everyone disappeared.

In an empty space where no one was left, only Chung Myung stood blankly.

‘I…’

Wanted to return together.

To this place.

Grip.

Chung Myung, clutching the bundle, opened his eyes.

The red sky and clouds filled his vision.

‘Yes. It’s beautiful, just like you said.’

You were right again.

It’s strange. Why didn’t I know it back then?

Chung Myung’s eyes were dyed with the color of the sunset.

‘If I had known the beauty of this sunset back then… would things have been a little different?’

A cold wind blew along the cliff. The hem of the clothes wrapped around the remains fluttered, lightly brushing Chung Myung’s fingertips.

‘Alright, you rascal.’

You want to go quickly, right?

Chung Myung slowly nodded and began to climb the cliff again.

You must want to go to Mount Hua as soon as possible.

Yes, to the place where you lived.

Only then did Chung Myung’s pace quicken slightly.

It was still a steep and harsh road, but there was no sign of fatigue in Chung Myung’s steps. Rather, they were more firm and powerful than usual.

The sky, which had been purple, was now quickly being buried in darkness.

But it’s okay.

What Chung Jin missed must have been all of Mount Hua. He must have missed the night of Mount Hua, when darkness settled in every corner and the sound of plum tree leaves brushing against each other spread out.

Now, only one last cliff remained to climb to Mount Hua.

‘Let’s go.’

Chung Myung, clutching the bundle tightly, began to climb the cliff in one breath.

The slow steps he had taken were gone, and he was walking with light and joyful steps.

Thud.

The vast scenery of Mount Hua came into Chung Myung’s eyes as he kicked off the cliff and soared up. The scenery of the past Hwasan Sect overlapped before his eyes.

It had changed a little, but it didn’t feel wrong. Even if the appearance changed, this was Mount Hua. The breath of those who had died was vividly alive.

Thud.

Chung Myung, who had landed, looked at the mountain gate.

Great Hwasan Sect.

Seeing the four letters engraved in a calligraphy style that seemed to depict a dragon ascending, he bit his lip.

‘I’ve returned.’

Only after such a long time.

He felt warmth from the bundle in his arms.

‘Let’s go, Chung Jin-ah.’

Chung Myung moved forward as if drawn by a string.

One step, then another.

The walls of Mount Hua, the towering mountain gate, and the familiar scenery visible through the open gate were all right in front of him.

‘It’s only a ten-day journey.’

It felt like a thousand miles. As he approached, he saw someone standing at the mountain gate to greet him.

“- Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong, wearing the formal attire of Mount Hua and a coronet, was silently looking at Chung Myung. Baek Cheon had sent a letter, so he probably knew what was happening.

Hyun Jong’s gaze turned to the bundle in Chung Myung’s arms.

Chung Myung slowly opened his mouth.

“- Hwasan…”

His voice trembled.

“- Thirteenth disciple of the Hwasan Sect. The remains of Chung Jin Jin-in…”

Hyun Jong silently looked at the bundle, slowly nodded, spread out his sleeves, and knelt down.

After bowing with reverence, he rose and quietly recited a Buddhist invocation.

Chung Myung placed Chung Jin’s remains in Hyun Jong’s hands. Hyun Jong received them with care and turned around.

Disciples in formal attire were lined up on the left and right. Hyun Jong, carrying Chung Jin, slowly walked through the path between them.

At the end of that road, a simple altar had been prepared.

Someone placed a hand on Chung Myung’s shoulder.

“- …”

Hyun Young was standing there with a kind smile.

“- You worked hard.”

“- …”

“- Let’s lay Sajo to rest.”

Chung Myung nodded. Hyun Young patted him on the shoulder and moved towards the altar.

The Five Swords arrived and also passed by Chung Myung and entered Mount Hua.

All the disciples of Mount Hua looked at Sajo, who had returned too late. Their eyes were filled with reverence.

But Chung Myung couldn’t step between them.

Even though all the disciples were inside the mountain gate, his feet wouldn’t move.

He had been relieved by the familiarity of Mount Hua, but suddenly it felt strange. He felt so out of place that he almost vomited.

‘I…’

Chung Myung covered his mouth and curled up.

The world was spinning, his ears were ringing, and his vision was fading.

‘I…’

It was then.

“- I’ve returned.”

A voice brushed past his ear.

He was startled and looked back, but…

“- …”

There was nothing to be seen. Only Mount Hua, dyed in the night.

Chung Myung, groping in the air, slowly straightened his back.

His slightly opened lips trembled.

“- Chung Myung-ah!”

“- Sahyung!”

“- Oh my! Sahyung! Where have you been!”

The longing voices swirled in his ears. The sound, carried by the wind, was so vivid that Chung Myung couldn’t open his eyes.

Yes, he must have just returned.

He took a step towards the mountain gate without opening his eyes. A purple plum blossom scent settled on his shoulder as he entered Mount Hua silently.