Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 828

Tang Gunak looked at Namgung Hwang. His eyes were like ice, cold and sharp, seeming to cut right through him.

‘Why here…?’

Why had Tang Gunak, who should be far away in Sichuan, appeared on the Yangtze River? And why at this moment?

Namgung Hwang’s fingers trembled slightly.

Of course, no one there wanted to face him. They all knew what they had done.

But for Namgung Hwang, facing Tang Gunak in this situation was a nightmare.

For many years, the Namgung Clan and the Sichuan Dang Clan were like the two strongest families, leading the five most important families in the land. Namgung Hwang and Tang Gunak had always competed, worked together, and fought as heads of their families.

Namgung Hwang wanted to lose to Tang Gunak even less than to the Nine Great Sects or the Demonic Sects.

“Answer me, Namgung Hwang,” Tang Gunak said, his voice cold.

“Where is the honor you talked so much about?”

“……”

“Are you even worthy to lead the Azure Sky Namgung Clan? Can you still say ‘Azure Sky’ after begging the Demonic Sects for your life?”

Namgung Hwang bit his lip until it bled.

It wasn’t just Tang Gunak’s angry words that hurt Namgung Hwang. It was the truth in them. He had no excuse. He knew he had failed, and that shame was worse than any insult.

“Answer me.”

“……”

“Was life that important? Enough to throw away your honor?”

“……Tang Gunak.”

Tang Gunak gritted his teeth. He wasn’t making fun of Namgung Hwang; he was truly angry.

Even though things had changed since the Dang Clan joined the Cheonwu Alliance, the Sichuan Dang Clan was still one of the Five Great Families. The shameful actions of the Namgung Clan, the leader of those families, made him sick.

Not just the Five Great Families.

“Answer me, Venerable Sir.”

“……Amitabha.”

Beopgye looked at Tang Gunak, then closed his eyes, quietly saying a Buddhist prayer.

Even that powerless reaction didn’t stop Tang Gunak.

“How sad,” he said, his cold voice cutting through everyone.

“You always said honor was more important than life. But when you had the chance to show it, you threw away your honor like old shoes. Do you still have the right to talk about justice? Do you?”

Beopgye’s face turned red.

He couldn’t say anything, no matter what.

Byeok Hyeon-ja of Qingcheng, who knew Tang Gunak because they were both from Sichuan, spoke sadly.

“Please stop, Clan Leader Dang. Heo Do-jin did all of this. Clan Leader Namgung and Venerable Beopgye are just victims.”

“Victims?” Tang Gunak smirked.

“You didn’t speak up, so you’re innocent?”

“That’s……”

“Let me ask you something.” Tang Gunak glared at everyone, his eyes full of anger.

“Then why are you still alive?”

“……”

Byeok Hyeon-ja couldn’t answer.

“You saved your disciples? Fine. That makes sense. But why are you still alive, standing here? And without any serious injuries!” Tang Gunak’s voice was full of anger.

“While the young disciples of Mount Hua were bleeding and fighting, what were you doing? Who should have been the first to fight and risk their lives here!”

Namgung Hwang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He couldn’t even say he was watching the fight, because that would be a terrible excuse.

He just didn’t know what it meant to fight for his life, and how hard it was.

He could make excuses, of course.

But the wounds on the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua kept him from speaking.

“People only accept your power because they believe you are honorable. The moment you throw away honor…” Tang Gunak said, spitting out the words.

“You are no different from bandits. You foolish fools.”

“……”

Silence filled the air. Tang Gunak bit his lip, trying not to sigh.

No matter how much he cursed, he couldn’t change what had happened. That made him even angrier.

He calmed himself and said, “As the head of the Sichuan Dang Clan, I declare that from today, we are no longer one of the Five Great Families.”

“Tang Gunak!”

“Shut up, you damn bastard!” Tang Gunak roared, silencing Namgung Hwang.

“You ruined what you wanted because of fear and cowardice.”

Tang Gunak glared at everyone before turning away.

“Get out of here. You are no longer welcome on the Yangtze River.”

Namgung Hwang trembled.

He felt terrible shame and humiliation.

But even worse was his self-hatred.

“……Get on the ship,” Namgung Hwang said weakly.

“……Yes.” The members of the Namgung Clan quietly agreed and walked to the ship.

“Amitabha.” Beopgye shook his head and sighed.

“……Let’s go back.” The Shaolin monks nodded and headed to the ship. But one person stayed behind.

“……What are you doing?”

“Elder,” Hye-yeon said calmly, “I will not return.”

“……”

Beopgye was angry for a moment.

He was the Abbot. To disobey him was to disobey Shaolin. Hye-yeon knew that.

But Hye-yeon looked at him steadily. Beopgye’s anger faded when he saw that calm face.

Everyone had climbed the cliff to survive.

Only Hye-yeon stayed behind, protecting them.

In that terrible situation, Hye-yeon showed the Shaolin values of kindness and helping others. How could Beopgye scold him?

“……Do what you want.”

“Amitabha.” Hye-yeon bowed quietly. Beopgye walked to the ship without looking back.

Byeok Hyeon-ja, now alone, spoke hesitantly to Tang Gunak, looking sad.

“Clan Leader Dang……”

“Leave now,” Tang Gunak said coldly, not even looking at him.

“I don’t want to talk, so please go back, Sect Leader.”

“……”

Byeok Hyeon-ja sighed deeply.

‘This hurts.’

Tang Gunak knew how heavy the responsibility for the lives of his disciples was. If even Tang Gunak was reacting like this, how would the rest of the world react?

He felt cold just thinking about it.

“……I’ll see you next time. Take care,” Byeok Hyeon-ja said sadly, leading his disciples to the ship.

They walked to the ship without energy, unlike when they arrived. They had lost so much here.

First, the Shaolin ship entered the narrow valley, then the Namgung Clan ship left the canyon. Soon, the Qingcheng ship turned around, but the Wudang ship stayed docked, not moving.

Someone was standing in front of the Wudang ship, looking at them.

“That guy……”

Tang Gunak started to step forward, but Chung Myung stopped him.

“Wait.”

He walked to the person in front of the Wudang ship. Heo Do-jin, standing alone, stared at Chung Myung and smiled.

“Don’t look at me like that, Divine Dragon of Mount Hua.”

“……”

“The Cheonwu Alliance won’t be so bad. Especially for you, since the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families are being criticized. Why not be happy about it?”

Chung Myung stared at Heo Do without answering.

“……Why? Do you want to insult me more?” Heo Do asked. Chung Myung looked at him for a long time before saying,

“You idiot.” It was a cold insult.

“If you’ve made a choice, deal with it. It’s stupid to doubt yourself. No matter how much you complain, no one will insult you more, and my insults won’t make you feel better.”

“……”

“Yes, you did the dumbest thing in the world. You will regret it for the rest of your life. And Wudang and the Nine Great Sects will suffer because of it.”

Heo Do-jin listened without changing his expression. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.

“But at least I…” Chung Myung bit his lip, looking upset. He paused, then said, “I may insult you for being foolish, but I won’t laugh at you for being a coward.”

“……”

Heo Do-jin’s eyes flickered for the first time.

Chung Myung sighed.

‘Damn it.’

He felt confused. He knew it was wrong, but he understood why Heo Do-jin had done it.

Because he also regretted many things.

If he had been more selfish, if Cheong Mun had been smarter…

“If you feel better, then leave,” Chung Myung said.

“Ha……” Heo Do-jin laughed quietly.

His face was still blank. But somehow, it looked different than before.

“I’ll see you again.”

“No, thanks.”

“You will see me again. Someday…”

Heo Do-jin turned and jumped onto the ship. It turned and left the canyon. Chung Myung watched it disappear, leaving ripples on the river, and looked up at the sky, feeling bitter.

He couldn’t bring himself to hate him.

If Cheong Mun were here, he would have scolded Heo Do without hesitation. But Cheong Mun wasn’t here, and Chung Myung couldn’t do it.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

Chung Myung shrugged and chuckled, about to say something, when—

He staggered.

“……Huh?”

‘What’s wrong?’

Why was the world spinning……?

No, why was the ground rising?

“Chung Myung-ah!”

“Hey, you!”

Loud shouts came from everywhere. But soon, everything sounded muffled, as if underwater. Then, all sound disappeared.

‘It’s dark.’

He couldn’t see anything.

His body was falling.

‘Sect Leader…….’

The disciples of Mount Hua caught Chung Myung as he collapsed, screaming his name, but he couldn’t hear them.

So many people had wanted so much. Some had risked everything to get it. Others refused to let go, even when they had lost it all.

The great war, where so many things were mixed and burned, had ended.

But no one thought it was truly over.

This was just the beginning.

It was a small spark that would one day become a fire, burning the world.