Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 869

“You goddamn bastards!”

A booming roar erupted.

Jo Myeong-san, known as Thunderous Roar, was the leader of the Wall Tiger Sect. This was not a large or famous group, but they lived in the area of Sanmenxia. He stared at the scene before him, his face twisted in horror.

He had rushed here as soon as he heard that evil bandits were attacking Seobeom Village, killing innocent people. When he saw the burning village and the dead civilians, anger burned in his heart.

“How could they⋯⋯.”

Helpless civilians, young and old, lay dead in a gruesome manner. Tears blurred Jo Myeong-san’s vision.

“How can anyone do such terrible things! You wretches, even tearing you apart wouldn’t be enough!”

The Wall Tiger Sect was a small sect in Sanmenxia. They had never hurt ordinary people. They believed that martial arts were for protecting the weak.

The sight of the murdered civilians shocked them deeply.

“These⋯⋯.”

“Worse than beasts!”

Thunderous Roar’s voice echoed. The bandits, covered in blood, turned to look at the Wall Tiger Sect disciples.

The sight of them made even the angry disciples hesitate for a moment.

“⋯⋯What’s that?”

“Heh heh. Look at the hero coming to the rescue.”

They sneered, but their eyes gleamed with madness.

There was something truly unsettling about their smiles. They were smiling, but their eyes were cold and hard, like wild animals.

“I really can’t understand what goes on in the heads of these righteous fools.”

The Revolving Spear Devil, holding a long spear, smirked and walked toward the Wall Tiger Sect disciples.

“If they had just ignored this and ran away, they could have lived. Why come here to cause trouble? Do they think swords won’t cut them?”

“That’s why they’re righteous.”

“Stupid bastards.”

The others also began to walk back.

“Anyway⋯⋯ since we have guests, we should treat them well.”

The bad guys didn’t wait. They started to move in on the Wall Tiger Sect, baring their teeth.

“M-Master.”

“These⋯⋯.”

Thunderous Roar bit his lip, looking at the approaching villains.

“Gwan-hong!”

“Yes!”

“Take the third-generation disciples and go to Xi’an now! Tell them what’s happening here!”

“Yes!”

“The first and second-generation disciples will stay with me and hold them back!”

“⋯⋯Understood!”

The Wall Tiger Sect disciples knew they could not defeat these people.

The evil aura made their hands tingle and their legs shake. How could a small sect withstand such monsters?

But they couldn’t run.

If they all ran, everyone would die. Someone had to stay and protect the escaping disciples.

And there was an even more important reason⋯⋯.

“There might still be survivors inside! If we leave the civilians who need help, we would be ashamed to call ourselves ‘righteous’!”

“Yes!”

“A warrior proves himself by how he dies! Everyone, be strong!”

At Thunderous Roar’s shout, the disciples lost their fear.

The Revolving Spear Devil chuckled.

“Prove yourself by how you die, you say?”

He scraped the ground with his spear, a bitter smile on his face.

“Then you’re all going to die like dogs here!”

He charged toward the Wall Tiger Sect, eager to attack after waiting for so long.

“Hold them back!”

“Defeat the evil-doers!”

The other villains rushed in, cackling.

Thunderous Roar gathered his energy.

‘Even for a moment!’

He didn’t want to win.

He wanted to buy time for the escaping disciples and to stop these villains from reaching the next village.

‘The Nine Great Sects will come to help! They must!’

Thunderous Roar slammed the ground and swung his fist at the Revolving Spear Devil.

He used the Wall Tiger Sect’s special martial art, the Eighteen Walls of the Raging Tiger. His fists, filled with intense red energy, moved like a tiger’s paws.

But⋯⋯.

“Too slow, old man.”

The Revolving Spear Devil’s spear pierced Thunderous Roar’s right fist easily.

The spear quickly made holes in his arm and shoulder, then went into Thunderous Roar’s chest.

“⋯⋯Ugh⋯⋯.”

In a second, the Revolving Spear Devil sneered at Thunderous Roar, whose righteousness was useless.

“If you had trained instead of talking, you might have lasted longer.”

The Revolving Spear Devil was about to pull out the spear.

“Cough⋯⋯.”

Thunderous Roar Jo Myeong-san grabbed the spear in his chest with a shaking hand.

“Hmm?”

He wasn’t trying to hurt the Revolving Spear Devil.

Instead, Jo Myeong-san pushed the spear further into his chest. He tightened his chest muscles and held the spear with both hands.

He wouldn’t let it go, even for a moment.

“⋯⋯This old man?”

Jo Myeong-san spat out blood and tried to smile, even though his face was distorted.

“Don’t⋯⋯touch⋯⋯the civilians⋯⋯.”

The Revolving Spear Devil swung his spear and cut Jo Myeong-san in half.

Plop.

“What a foolish old man. Not knowing his place until the end.”

The Revolving Spear Devil flicked off the blood and turned his head. The others were already killing the Wall Tiger Sect disciples.

The Revolving Spear Devil clicked his tongue, annoyed. He couldn’t even use his spear properly against such weak enemies.

“Lukewarm.”

His blood had barely warmed up.

‘There must be some better fighters in Xi’an.’

One Smile One Kill Dam-hae, who had been watching, asked Gal Cheon-rip.

“Isn’t it amusing, Great Leader?”

“What is?”

“I thought all righteous people were liars. Didn’t even the Nine Great Sects beg the Evil Union for their lives?”

“That’s right.”

“But these guys, who are not even as good as the Nine Great Sects, still protected their words and died. It’s funny that they are just a small sect.”

Gal Cheon-rip watched the members of the Byeokho Gate fight. They were losing badly, but they fought on, brave but hopeless. He shook his head and chuckled softly. “It’s backwards.”

“Sorry?” the man beside him asked, leaning closer.

Gal Cheon-rip grinned. “That’s why they are such a small, weak group. They ignore chances to make money, and refuse good business deals. How can a sect grow like that?”

“…Now that you say it, that makes sense,” the other man agreed.

“Sects that want to grow must care about profit,” Gal Cheon-rip continued. “Groups that truly believe in ‘righteousness’ are doomed to end up like them.” He nodded towards the struggling fighters.

“Still,” the man said, “aren’t they a little admirable?”

“Admirable?” Gal Cheon-rip considered this for a moment. “Yes, maybe. They deserve some respect, I suppose. At least they aren’t liars, like some people we know.” He paused. “However…”

Gal Cheon-rip looked again at the Byeokho Gate disciples. Their screams filled the air as they fell, bodies hitting the dusty ground.

But in his eyes, there was no respect, only coldness.

“They are just fools,” he said, his voice hard. “Throwing away their lives for nothing. Even animals run when they sense danger. Are these people worse than animals?”

“Heh heh. You are right, Great Leader,” the man chuckled nervously.

Gal Cheon-rip turned his gaze away from the slaughter, which was slowly ending. The Byeokho Gate was nothing to him. It was like giving a tiny drop of water to someone dying of thirst.

‘If I torment them any longer, they might turn on their master.’

Gal Cheon-rip gestured westward with his chin.

“We’ve stayed too long. They all seem to be getting restless. We might as well head straight for Seoan now.”

“Yes, Great Leader. We shall.”

A cruel smile twisted Gal Cheon-rip’s lips.

‘Perfect.’

But far away, in another place, news of the attack was just arriving.

“Branch Leader.”

A beggar who entered the office bit his lip, his face pale and streaked with dirt.

“What is it?” Hong Dae-gwang asked, his voice tight with worry.

“The village has been burned,” the beggar gasped, his voice trembling with fear and sadness.

“…What?” Hong Dae-gwang’s eyes widened.

“The Demonic Path bastards killed everyone in Seogwan Village and set the village on fire. Seogwan Village… smoke still rises from where the houses used to be.”

Snap.

The brush in Hong Dae-gwang’s hand broke. Hong Dae-gwang bit his lip until it bled, taking deep breaths for a long while, his eyes bloodshot.

“…Seogwan Village?” he asked again, his voice barely a whisper.

“Yes.”

“Is that all?” Hong Dae-gwang felt a coldness spread through him. Seogwan Village… innocent people. His hand tightened into a fist.

“…We only confirmed that they annihilated Seogwan Village and moved to Seobeom Village. We heard that the Byeokho Gate headed to Seobeom Village to stop them, but…”

“…Byeokryeok Noho, is it.” Hong Dae-gwang closed his eyes with a miserable expression.

It was a foolish act. There was no way the Byeokho Gate could stop them. The difference in power was so vast that it would be fortunate if even one person survived.

How could he call them foolish? They ran towards danger to protect others. A wave of sadness washed over him for their bravery, and their likely fate.

“Remember that name,” Hong Dae-gwang said, his voice firm.

“Yes, Branch Leader!” the beggar replied, with a hint of fear in his voice.

“The reinforcements? What’s the status of the request for reinforcements?” Hong Dae-gwang asked, his voice desperate and anxious.

“We sent it by the Thousand-Mile Flying Eagle, so a reply should be arriving around now.”

“Damn it, too late!” Hong Dae-gwang bit his lip tightly.

‘Those who received the message should have moved before the messenger pigeon reached here.’

If things went as planned, everyone would be rushing towards this Seoseo region with their feet on fire by now. Hopefully, they would arrive before the damage grew any worse…

“Branch Leader! Branch Leader! A reply has arrived!” another beggar shouted, bursting into the office.

“Where is it?” Hong Dae-gwang demanded.

“From the main sect!”

“Bring it here quickly! Here!” Hong Dae-gwang snatched the message, tore it open, and unfolded it in one swift motion.

His eyes trembled slightly.

“This…”

“Branch Leader! A reply has also arrived from the Shaolin!”

“…Open it.”

“Yes? But I don’t have the authority to…”

“I said open it and read it, you little rascal!” Hong Dae-gwang shouted, his anger barely contained.

The beggar, startled, tore open the envelope on the spot. He flinched and looked at Hong Dae-gwang after seeing the words written inside.

“…Read it.”

“Th-that is…”

“Read it!”

The beggar bit his lip tightly, his bewildered eyes trembled.

“…Support… Hopeless.”

“Haha…” Hong Dae-gwang chuckled humorlessly and dropped the letter onto the desk.

The words “Support: Hopeless” were clearly written on the paper.

“Support is difficult?”

Wham!

Hong Dae-gwang slammed his fist on the desk, shattering it into pieces. His heart sank. ‘Hopeless? How can they say that?’ Then, the anger surged.

“What in the world are these dog-like bastards babbling about! Dozens, hundreds are dying at this very moment, and they say support is difficult? This… And you call yourselves… These… These dog-like bastards, aargh!” Inaudible curses poured out of Hong Dae-gwang’s mouth.

The targets were the Beggars’ Sect’s main headquarters and the Shaolin, the most influential groups in the world. It was not a statement that should come from a mere branch leader of the Beggars’ Sect, but no one there could fault Hong Dae-gwang for it.

“Branch Leader… What do we do now?” the beggar asked, his voice filled with fear.

“…What do we do?” Hong Dae-gwang repeated, his mind racing.

“The main headquarters is telling even us to evacuate…”

In that instant, sparks flew from Hong Dae-gwang’s eyes.

Thud!

He kicked the inkstone that had fallen to the floor, sending it flying towards the beggar who had spoken, and gritted his teeth.

“You rascal. The reason we, pathetic beggars who can’t even beg properly, can live without starving to death is because the people of this town trust and help us. And you’re saying we should be the first to run away because it’s dangerous? Are you even a beggar of the Dirty Clothes Sect!”

“B-but… This is an order from the main headquarters…”

“Ignore the words of those old, senile, crazy beggar bastards! Damn them all!” Hong Dae-gwang shouted, his face flushed red with anger.

Ignore the main sect? It was almost unthinkable. But what choice did he have? He couldn’t abandon the people.

He barely managed to suppress his rage and said, “You all run to the villages along those bastards’ path and evacuate everyone.”

“Th-that’s impossible…”

“Do as much as you can, somehow! Tell the people of Seoan to evacuate immediately too!”

“…Understood.”

“Move!”

“Yes, Branch Leader!” the beggars replied, hurrying out of the office.

As the beggars ran out, Hong Dae-gwang bit his lip. Red blood flowed from his torn lip.

“Even so…”

Hong Dae-gwang clenched his fist until it lost all color and trembled. He gritted his teeth and dashed outside.

His bloodshot gaze turned towards the Hwasan Mountain, obscured by clouds. He would go to Hwasan. It was his last hope. He ran towards the mountain, his heart pounding with a mix of desperation and a flicker of hope.