Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 787

“This… this is crazy!” Hong Daeguang stammered, his voice shaking. The letter from the Beggars’ Sect messenger trembled in his hand. His face was white as a sheet, his mouth pulled into a tight, worried line.

“What is it?” Chung Myung asked, his voice even and steady. He watched Hong Daeguang with calm eyes.

“It’s… it’s chaos, Master Chung Myung!” Hong Daeguang gasped, his eyes wide with fear. “Total chaos!”

While Hong Daeguang looked like he might faint, Chung Myung remained as still as a mountain, showing no sign of worry.

The messenger from the Beggars’ Sect frowned slightly, looking at the two contrasting figures.

‘Why is he here instead of being at his office?’

Even if it wasn’t Hong Daeguang’s branch, there was still a Beggars’ Sect branch here. If he was a beggar from the Beggars’ Sect, shouldn’t he be handling things at the branch, instead of being where bandits and robbers were camped out…

No, more importantly, why was the branch leader even here?

“Nanjing, Taizhou, Wuhu, Huanggang, Yueyang—every single one is at war!”

“…What are you talking about?”

“There’s a war! It seems a war has broken out between the unorthodox sects and the orthodox sects in the cities along the Yangtze River tributaries!”

“Huh?”

The situation was so serious that even Hong Daeguang’s face was grim.

“It’s not just a simple squabble; they’re fighting as if they’re determined to see each other’s end.”

Hyun Jong, who had been listening from the side, frowned and asked again.

“Branch Leader, is that news certain?”

“Y-Yes, Sect Leader. It’s a message from the Beggars’ Sect headquarters.”

“…If it’s information from headquarters, they must have verified it thoroughly. But why so suddenly…?”

Hong Daeguang swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“As you know, orthodox and unorthodox sects coexist to some extent in cities with large populations.”

“Indeed.”

“The unorthodox sects can’t gain a foothold in Henan, where the orthodox sects are so strong. But other provinces aren’t like that. Even in Shaanxi, where Mount Hua is located, there are quite a few unorthodox sects, aren’t there?”

“That’s right.”

“If the unorthodox sects exist even in Shaanxi, where Jongnam and Mount Hua are, how much more so in other places? Most people don’t like the unorthodox sects, but they tolerate them to some extent because there’s nothing to gain from engaging in a war where everyone dies.”

Conversely, in the Jiangnan region, where the Nine Great Sects are almost nonexistent, it’s difficult for the orthodox sects to gain a foothold. In particular, the Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, where the Myriad Man House is located, and the Zhejiang province, where pleasure districts form the center of commerce, are virtually entirely under the control of the unorthodox sects.

One of the reasons why the Hainan Sect, located in Hainan Island, was included in the Nine Great Sects after Mount Hua fell out was to check these unorthodox sects.

However, in places where neither side could assert a clear domain, the orthodox and unorthodox sects generally mingled appropriately.

“But why suddenly?”

“It seems to be because of Shaolin and Wudang.”

“Hmm.”

“Shaolin and Wudang have flocked to the Yangtze River to subjugate the river pirates, but the problem is that they didn’t inform the other sects of their intentions beforehand. So, to the other sects located around the Yangtze River, this is…”

Hyeonyoung cut in.

“It looks like the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families have joined hands to wipe out the river pirates in the Yangtze River?”

“Exactly.”

“Hmph… I see. I’d think the same if I were them.”

Shaolin and Wudang are the leading sects among the Nine Great Sects. The Namgung Family, which can be said to be the leader of the Five Great Families, has joined forces with those two sects.

Of course, even if the power of those three sects combined, it wouldn’t amount to even thirty percent of the power of the entire Central Plains orthodox sects, but from the perspective of those watching from the sidelines, it would seem as if almost all the orthodox sects were joining forces.

Chung Myung, who had been listening quietly, chuckled and opened his mouth.

“If they actually manage to completely subjugate the Yangtze River, that’s a good thing. But even if they don’t, they’ll take advantage of those great sects being in the Yangtze River to clean up all the eyesores?”

“W-Well, that could be it!”

Since not all sects move with one mind and one purpose, it’s impossible to perfectly grasp their intentions. However, looking at the way things are unfolding, the reason for their movements is clear.

Someone muttered.

“But even so, nothing has happened until now, and then suddenly…”

It wasn’t just one or two sects.

How many cities had Hong Daeguang mentioned? A whole five places were already at war. If you included the smaller sects that weren’t worth mentioning or didn’t warrant inclusion in an urgent report, there might be dozens of places where battles were taking place.

It meant that the war was spreading like wildfire.

“Y-Yes, it’s different. It’s clearly different in their eyes now.”

“Because Shaolin and Wudang have moved?”

“Not only those two sects, but the Namgung Family hasn’t left their territory in decades.”

“…Come to think of it.”

“It’s no small matter for a large sect to go on an expedition. Mount Hua is always running off to wherever trouble breaks out, so you might not realize how unusual it is…”

Chung Myung narrowed his eyes sharply.

“What? Are you saying we’re light on our feet?”

“That’s not what I mean…”

“Sounds like it to me?”

Hyun Sang sighed as he watched Hong Daeguang, who had started sweating profusely.

“Branch Leader, ignore Chung Myung and continue what you were saying.”

“…I’d like to, but I’m afraid of the repercussions…”

“The Sect Leader will protect you.”

Even in the midst of all this, Hyun Sang didn’t say that he would protect him himself.

“Anyway… since the Great Demonic War, the great sects have hardly ever left their territories. Their going on an expedition might mean that the peaceful Jianghu as we know it is no longer going to continue.”

“Hmm.”

“Moreover, the target of their expedition isn’t the same orthodox sects, but the unorthodox sects, isn’t it? If they’ve accumulated enough power, the subjugation of the unorthodox sects is the first thing that happens, as proven by the history of the Murim world. So, usually…”

“Haha. They start by crushing the bandits.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lim Sobyeong at once. Clear tears were streaming down his face.

“Just as I thought! Ta-da! News has already come in that about three bandit camps have been attacked! Oh dear, with the righteous heroes of the orthodox sects being so enthusiastic, they’re going to be utterly destroyed…”

“Tell the story without crying.”

“No, no. If you’re going to cry, then cry; if you’re going to laugh, then laugh.”

“I’m laughing through my tears, laughing through my tears…”

Lim Sobyeong sighed as if the ground was sinking beneath him.

“For now, I’ve told them not to fight back and to run to the next bandit camp if anyone invades. It’s fortunate that those who have changed their ways gave the surrounding orthodox sects a heads-up and did some business in the cities…”

“You did business?”

“We made sure people knew we were changing! It’s important for our survival!”

A bandit went down the mountain and did business in the city?

The Sect Leader’s brow furrowed deeply as he stared at something unseen. “What on earth is in this human’s head?” he muttered.

Im So-byeong chuckled. “Sect Leader, you said that out loud. Were you meant to just think it?”

“Ahem, ahem. I made a mistake…”

Im So-byeong shook his head.

“Of course, the business isn’t done directly, but commissioned to merchants in the city. Anyway, those places might somehow survive, but this wave of conflict,” he said, using his hand to gesture like a rising tide. “It will destroy everything. Even the strongest groups, like mountain fortresses, won’t be able to stand against it.” His voice trailed off, and he sighed.

Then, Chung Myung spoke with a sulky face, “Why are you sighing? It’s good if the bandits are destroyed.”

“…It’s because I’m a bandit. Because I’m a bandit.”

Chung Myung shrugged, a cold glint in his eyes. “Karma catches up, doesn’t it? They’ve been asking for this for a long time.”

Hong Dae-gwang, who had been listening to the nonsense, cleared his throat and continued. “That movement alone would be enough to recognize the anomaly, but aren’t there other sects here?”

“What sects?”

“…The best at devouring the Demonic Path. Isn’t there a place that now confronts even the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families?”

“The Heavenly Union?”

“Hwasan?”

“…Exactly.”

Hyeon-yeong sighed, the sound heavy in the quiet room. He ran a hand through his hair, his face etched with disbelief. “So, to other righteous martial artists, this situation looks like the Heavenly Union, the Nine Great Sects, and the Five Great Families are working together to devour the Janggang Aquatic Eighteen Strongholds?”

“Wouldn’t it seem that way?”

It certainly looked that way.

They were members of Hwasan and the Heavenly Union, so they knew that the relationship between the Heavenly Union and the Nine Great Sects might not be any better than their relationship with the Demonic Path. Other small and medium-sized sects wouldn’t think that far.

So, naturally, it would seem like they had joined forces to deal with the Janggang Aquatic Strongholds.

“Large sects exert influence on their surroundings. The reason why the Demonic Path cannot gain a foothold where large righteous sects are located is not because those large sects directly manage the area. It’s because the sects that have those large sects backing them eradicate the Demonic Path. Whether it’s a secular family or another sect entirely.”

Everyone nodded.

The land was divided. Gangbuk, in the north, was mostly controlled by righteous sects, while Gangnam, in the south, was the territory of the Demonic Path. The reason why there was no Demonic Path in Seosan, Shaanxi, where Hwayeongmun had advanced, was also because Jongnam was there. The sects backed by the power of the Jongnam Sect nipped the Demonic Path in the bud before they could even gain a foothold.

Wasn’t the reason why the Maninbang’s military force attacked Seosan in the first place because Jongnam had closed its doors?

“And this is the same for the Demonic Path. In other words, the Demonic Path around the Janggang has been wreaking havoc with the power of the Janggang Aquatic Strongholds behind them. So, the righteous sects that have been enduring until now…”

“Started to retaliate because they saw that the Aquatic Strongholds were about to be torn apart?”

“Yes, that’s what I think.”

“Hmph…”

Hyun Jong sighed deeply.

‘This is a big problem.’

The battle taking place here might not be a big deal. The problem is that the fight is gradually expanding.

“The Gangbuk, where the righteous sects are mainly located, and the Gangnam, where the Demonic Path is mainly located, were divided based on the Janggang.”

“Yes. This place is like a boundary between righteousness and evil. But that boundary is… Now it’s falling apart. It’s even connecting…”

Everyone’s head turned to one person.

“Why?”

“…”

“No, what do I care if there’s a Demonic Path in Gangnam or a righteous sect in Gangbuk? I’m just trying to make a living! What does the Demonic Path or the righteous sect matter in front of money?”

It was true, but it wasn’t something a Taoist should say.

“Hey, Branch Leader.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“What do you think will happen with this? From what I see, it doesn’t seem like it will end simply like this? Perhaps…”

Hyun Jong couldn’t bring himself to say the rest.

He was about to ask if there was a high possibility that this spark would turn into a great war between righteousness and evil, but the words were too ominous to utter.

But Hong Dae-gwang, with his keen sense, understood what he was trying to say.

“I don’t think it will go that far.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because they are the Demonic Path.”

“Hmm?”

“For the righteous sects, if Wudang is attacked, Shaolin will help, and if Jongnam is attacked, Hwasan will…”

“Attack together.”

“…This example is a bit off. Anyway, that’s the natural thing to do, but the Demonic Path doesn’t help each other. If the Aquatic Strongholds are attacked, they’re more likely to rush in from behind to devour their power rather than help.”

Hyeon-yeong chuckled darkly. “Ghouls, picking at the scraps. That’s the Demonic Path for you.”

“Isn’t that why they’re the Demonic Path?”

Hong Dae-gwang nodded.

“Yes. So, I think it’s highly likely that the small Demonic sects in Gangbuk will be cleaned up, and the Aquatic Strongholds will also suffer great damage and it will end. Would any Demonic Path sect dare to fight against Shaolin, Wudang, and the Namgung Family, unlike other sects?”

“…Those are certainly burdensome names.”

“Ahem! Why are you leaving out Hwasan?”

Hong Dae-gwang gave a wry smile, a hint of sadness in his eyes as he acknowledged Hyeon-yeong’s jest. “The problem is that the perception that the righteous and Demonic Paths are waging war due to this incident will spread. Once that perception starts to spread, you never know when and where things will erupt, right?”

“That’s right. That’s right. Things that would have been tolerated in the past will no longer be tolerated. On either side.”

“Yes. That’s the problem… But anyway, it seems like this incident won’t spread any further for now.”

“That’s a relief.”

But then, Chung Myung, who had been folding his arms, chuckled.

“Will it really be that way?”

“Huh?”

Hong Dae-gwang looked at him as if asking what he meant, but Chung Myung didn’t bother to explain and fell into thought.

‘It all depends on how the Demonic Path guys come out…’

Realistically speaking, Hong Dae-gwang’s words were correct.

But what if there’s someone who predicted this situation from the beginning and has been manipulating it in his hands?

Then that guy will definitely try to profit based on this situation.

“People never move according to common sense. Especially not that kind of guy.”

“That kind of guy?”

Chung Myung twisted his lips.

‘That’s why people are scarier than ghosts or monsters.’

Chung Myung’s gaze turned to the distant south.

To that place where a human like an incarnation of desire would be smiling and watching this situation.