Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 842

In just days, more than ten fighting groups had been completely destroyed, turned to nothing but ash and smoke. Where villages once stood, now only blackened earth remained, smelling of fire and ruin.

In this land, called the Central Plains, many groups existed outside the main order, groups known as unorthodox sects. These groups were always fighting each other. Destruction was common; it was a world where the strong took everything from the weak. Usually, news like this wouldn’t cause much surprise.

But this time, people couldn’t ignore it. This was different.

First, the groups weren’t just defeated; they were wiped out completely, with no one left alive.

Second, the one who destroyed them was Jang Il-so himself.

Jang Il-so, known as the Overlord, was the leader of the Myriad Man Association and the Sapa Coalition, a powerful group.

He united the rebel groups, who had been fighting each other for a long time. He brought them together quickly. He forced the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, who had been in charge of the Jianghu for over a century, to accept unfair treaties.

He made the impossible happen.

His reputation reached higher than ever before, and people feared him more than ever.

The fact that Jang Il-so himself destroyed these groups had a clear meaning.

His promise to unite the rebel groups was not just empty words. And anyone who disagreed would face a bloody death.

The world around them, known as the Jianghu, began to feel like a pot about to boil.

The rebel groups in Jiangnan had to make a choice.

Like Shaolin, Wudang, and the Namgung Family before them, they had to choose between being humiliated to survive or being destroyed.

Of course, they tried to fight back. They tried to question and show they were unhappy.

But after seeing the groups turned to ash, with not even an ant left alive, they had no choice but to shut their mouths and stay quiet.

They realized that Jang Il-so’s anger wasn’t just aimed at the main groups. To him, everything in the world was there to be crushed and burned.

The main groups were also shocked.

In the past, they would have immediately called for an attack to the south. They would have all agreed that they needed to crush them before they got stronger, to avoid a big war.

But now, they couldn’t.

Those who should have been leading the way, attacking the rebel groups, couldn’t go to Jiangnan.

You might not notice when someone arrives, but you certainly notice when they leave.

Only after Jang Il-so appeared did people realize how much the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families had been doing. And that realization soon turned into a terrible hatred for Wudang, Shaolin, and the Namgung Family, who had weakened the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families with their treaties.

Even within the Nine Great Sects, it was the same.

Whenever something like this happened, they would join together with Shaolin, Wudang, and Namgung to form a group. They had done so when the Demonic Cult attacked, and when foreign forces invaded the Central Plains. So, it should have been the same when the rebel groups rose up.

But this time, they couldn’t. A fierce hatred for the four sects that had dragged other sects into their own self-serving non-aggression pacts to save their own skins blazed in the hearts of the other Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families as well.

They hated each other, so they couldn’t come together. They couldn’t come together, so they couldn’t talk. They couldn’t talk, so they couldn’t unite. They couldn’t unite, so no plans to stop him were made.

If Jang Il-so had announced an attack to the north and crossed the Yangtze River, the situation would have been different. They could have argued that they could not recognize treaties that some sects had made on their own. If that had happened, maybe the treaties themselves would have become invalid.

But Jang Il-so was only making the land he had gained stronger.

Breaking an unfair treaty to protect your own home was something that could be accepted, but ignoring a treaty to attack another’s land would be denying the very foundation of the main groups.

So, unless Jang Il-so crossed the Yangtze River first, the main groups could only watch helplessly as he took over the rebel groups one by one and united Jiangnan.

“Was this his plan from the beginning?”

“Nonsense. How far ahead could he have possibly seen? A rebel fellow isn’t Zhuge Liang; there’s no way he could have seen that far! It must just be a coincidence that the situation turned out this way.”

“Damn it, if only Wudang hadn’t pulled that crap!”

Those who were helplessly watching the situation unfold were suffering from extreme anxiety.

The world knew that great power was bound to be used. The fires of war were currently sweeping through Jiangnan, but once Jiangnan was at peace, that greater power would inevitably head north. The fires of war were not just in Jiangnan; they were sparks flying in the wind, threatening to ignite the whole world. The smoke drifted north, a dark warning to everyone.

Nevertheless, they could not stop the blade named the Sapa Coalition from being sharpened.

In Jiangnan, the Sapa Coalition raised the flag of unifying the rebel path and started the flames of war. In the Yangtze River, countless people suffered because of the uncontrolled and wild rebel groups.

However, those who should have taken responsibility for all of this remained silent, with their doors firmly locked.

Only then did everyone realize.

The peace in the Jianghu that had lasted for over a hundred years since the war with the Demonic Cult had come to an end at this very moment.

The world was now clearly entering an age of chaos.

And in that chaos, it was not only the Nine Great Sects and the Sapa Coalition that attracted the attention of the world.

“This damn it…”

The faces of those gathered in the tavern were filled with frustration. The men in the tavern slumped in their chairs, their faces long and drawn. Empty cups littered the table, and the air hung heavy with unspoken worries.

Clang!

A man drinking alcohol slammed his table hard.

“I can’t live in peace with this anxiety! Are we just supposed to watch those rebel bastards run wild across the river?”

“…Hey, hey, calm down, will ya? It’s… it’s just across the river, right? Not *here*.”

The man couldn’t contain his anger and shouted.

“Do you think those rebel bastards are doing that to live well among themselves? Of course, they’re doing that to strike here!”

“When there are signs that enemies are gathering their forces, you have to attack them right then and there to interfere! If you just watch what’s happening outside the border, you’ll see hell! But damn it…”

This place is still better off.

When you think about the hardships that the people living in Jiangnan will suffer, it’s daunting and makes you feel hopeless even though it’s not your problem.

“It’s already hell with all sorts of rebel bastards running wild in the Yangtze River… And now, even the Sapa Coalition.”

“Ah, about that. I heard that the Yangtze River has been a bit quieter lately.”

“Huh? How? Did the Surochae leave the Yangtze River or something?”

“No, it’s that the Cheonwoo Alliance in the Yangtze River is cutting down all the wild rebel bastards and securing the trade routes in the Yangtze River.”

“What? Trade routes?”

The men’s eyes widened.

It’s understandable that they wiped out the rebel groups in the Yangtze River. The rebel groups running wild in the Yangtze River right now are just riffraff to begin with. If you really think about it, they’re no different from bandits.

The problem is that they can’t step up, but if they do, it’s not difficult to suppress them. But securing a path in the Yangtze River, which the Surochae has occupied, is a completely different matter.

“Is the Surochae just standing by?”

“I heard they’re not even showing their faces.”

“Th-there’s no way, is there? Did you hear something wrong?”

“Hey! The rumors are spreading like wildfire in the Yangtze River right now. All the merchants in the Yangtze River are gathering in Gugang. The Cheonwoo Alliance is occupying Gugang and preventing the rebel bastards from even showing their faces, they say.”

The air in the teahouse was thick with the smell of jasmine and damp wood. Rain pattered softly on the tiled roof outside. Inside, a group of men huddled around a low table, their voices low but eager.

“Aren’t the orthodox sects not allowed to go to the Yangtze?” a younger man asked, leaning forward, his brow furrowed.

An older man, with a wispy grey beard, chuckled. “That’s only for the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families,” he explained, taking a sip of tea. “The Heavenly Union? They don’t care about those old rules, do they?” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. This was a very important point.

People always thought the ‘orthodox sects’ meant the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families. Many other smaller groups also called themselves ‘orthodox,’ but they were all seen as being under the bigger groups. But now, people were starting to think differently.

“The Heavenly Union is confronting the Waterway Bandits… No, the Unorthodox Alliance?”

“Why not! Think about it. The Heavenly Union includes Mount Hua and the Tang Family. And aren’t the formidable sects from beyond the border also members of the Heavenly Union?”

“The sects from beyond the border are too far away to be of help, and aren’t those just two sects?”

“Not so. I hear that even the Green Forest isn’t officially part of the Heavenly Union, but they’re helping them.”

“Why would the Green Forest do that?”

“It’s obvious. The place with the worst relationship with the Green Forest is none other than the Myriad Man Manor, isn’t it? Since the Myriad Man Manor created the Unorthodox Alliance, the Green Forest is bound to have a bad relationship with them. So, they have to side with someone who can stand against the Unorthodox Alliance!”

A place that can stand against the Unorthodox Alliance?

“Was the Heavenly Union that impressive?”

“Haven’t you heard? During this Yangtze River Catastrophe, the place that fought most fiercely against the Myriad Man Manor was Mount Hua! If it weren’t for Mount Hua, the treaty and everything else would have been wiped out.”

“That impressive?”

“With Mount Hua, the Tang Family, and even the Green Forest added, the Unorthodox Alliance can’t be trifled with.”

“No, even so, that seems like too much of an overestimation, doesn’t it?”

“This friend really doesn’t know anything. It’s not the Mount Hua of the past. Even though Mount Hua occupied Jiujiang and declared an island in the middle of the Yangtze as their territory, the Waterway Bandits haven’t dared to show their faces, have they?”

“While the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families are playing it safe, the Heavenly Union is keeping the Unorthodox Alliance in check and providing relief to the common people on the Yangtze. These are the true orthodox sects, these are!”

But even with that, someone still tilted their head, their doubts unresolved.

“No, but calling them orthodox is a bit… What kind of orthodox sect leads bandits to fight?”

“Look at this one, speaking so comfortably! If they hadn’t accepted those bandits, could the Heavenly Union have saved the common people on the Yangtze right now? Could they have fought against that Unorthodox Alliance?”

“That blasted reputation! What happened to those who argued about their precious reputation and face? Didn’t they abandon the powerless common people to save their own lives! But these people don’t care about losing face and are building their strength to protect the common people! Tell me, what is truly righteous?”

“W-when you put it that way, you’re right.”

“If it weren’t for the Heavenly Union, the Yangtze would be hell right now. Because of them, people can at least avoid leaving the Yangtze.”

“Heh…”

Those who had been listening to the man’s words all sighed.

“I thought all those who claimed to be orthodox were just self-serving.”

“That’s right. To think there would be people holding out in the middle of that dangerous Yangtze.”

At that moment, someone else tilted their head again.

“But I really don’t understand. Is the Heavenly Union really, is Mount Hua really fighting against the Unorthodox Alliance? They’re just small and medium-sized sects, after all.”

“Friend, don’t ever say that when you go to the Yangtze.”

“Why?”

“You’ll get beaten to death.”

The one who gave the serious advice clicked his tongue.

“Right now, Mount Hua is the greatest sect in the world to the people of the Yangtze. And… it seems like it’s not just out of gratitude.”

“What does that mean?”

“This is even news that came from Jiangnan.”

“Oh?”

“It seems that the circumstances of the time are slowly leaking out from the mouths of the unorthodox fellows who participated in the Yangtze River Catastrophe.”

“Is there anything particularly special about that?”

“Nothing else is special. Except for one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know who fought against the Tyrant during the war? Do you know who fought Jang Il-so one-on-one and caused the Tyrant to suffer a setback?”

“Wouldn’t it be Heo Do-jin or… the Lord of the Namgung Family?”

“Wrong.”

“Oh? Then perhaps the Qingcheng?”

“No! Didn’t I tell you, it was Mount Hua.”

“Mount Hua? Who from Mount Hua?”

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua faced the Tyrant.”

At that, the person who heard it became furious as if there was nothing more to hear.

“What nonsense are you spouting! The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua is just a junior! How can a junior face the Tyrant?”

“Who did I say this came from?”

“Well…”

The man who was refuting closed his mouth.

Clearly, this news came from the unorthodox sects of Jiangnan. The Unorthodox Alliance was already a symbol and pride of the unorthodox sects. They would not directly tarnish the reputation of their leader.

“These are words from those who survived encounters with bandits. These are also words from those who crossed over to Gangbuk on the newly opened merchant route. They are all saying the same thing.”

Those who were listening to the story exchanged glances and swallowed hard. They held their breath, curious about what would follow.

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua faced the Tyrant Jang Il-so and was almost evenly matched. The sword of the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua covered the sky, and his spirit shook the cliffs. But just as they were about to determine the outcome… Heo Do-jin attacked the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, stopping the match.”

“T-to tear him apart and kill him!”

“So, put away your ignorant talk. If there is a sect in the world that does not fear the Unorthodox Alliance and confronts them, it is only one, Mount Hua.”

The man could no longer refute and just laughed in disbelief.

“Good heavens, Mount Hua… That Divine Dragon of Mount Hua…”

“Ah, that’s right. He’s not the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua anymore.”

“Oh? What does that mean?”

“The title given to a junior is no longer suitable for him. He has been given a new title. There is even a rumor that this title was given by the unorthodox fellows who participated in the war!”

“W-what is that title?”

“It is…”