Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 906

Chung Myung from Mount Hua, a famous group of swordsmen, and Lim Sobyeong were fighting hard. Oh Sword stayed close, pretending to stop them, but he was actually making it worse.

This chaotic scene confused and bothered Tang Gun-ak, who was used to the strict rules of the Sichuan Tang Family.

‘Why is Mount Hua always like this?’ he wondered.

He then noticed Tang Soso was close to Chung Myung, wagging her finger at Lim Sobyeong. Tang Gun-ak felt a bad feeling in his stomach.

‘Those Mount Hua people are corrupting my daughter,’ he thought.

Thud!

Chung Myung slammed his hand on the floor. “Anyway, we need to leave.”

“That’s true,” Lim Sobyeong agreed.

“Why are you suddenly agreeing, Green Forest King?” Chung Myung asked.

Lim Sobyeong shrugged. “It’s not wrong. We can’t stay here forever.”

“Why?”

Lim Sobyeong casually fanned himself and said, “Jang Il-So can’t keep wanting Gangbuk forever, can he?”

“…”

“He’ll move soon.”

“Everyone knows that, right?” Chung Myung said.

“Indeed. So, we must leave.”

Chung Myung supported Lim Sobyeong’s point. “We don’t know what that madman will do, but one thing is certain: to get Gangbuk, he has to cross the Yangtze River.”

“That’s right,” Lim Sobyeong confirmed.

Chung Myung continued, “Then what will happen? The Tang Family, guarding the Yangtze, will be the first shield.”

“Hmm,” Tang Gun-ak said slowly.

He knew that if the Four Evil Sects crossed the Yangtze, the Tang Family would be the first to fight them.

“A shield, you say…” Tang Gun-ak stared at Chung Myung. “If we become a shield for the Nine Sects, we should refuse.”

“Yes,” Chung Myung agreed.

Tang Gun-ak continued, “But what if we are a shield for the common people?”

“…”

Tang Gun-ak shook his head. “The Tang Family has protected the Yangtze for the common people, not to help the Nine Sects.”

At first, it was to promote the Cheonwu Alliance and build a reputation. But as Tang Gun-ak lived by the Yangtze, he realized he couldn’t let the land and its people fall into the hands of the Four Evil Sects.

“If we don’t know what the Four Evil Sects will do to them, shouldn’t we stay and protect them?”

Chung Myung frowned. “Wasn’t the most important thing for the Sichuan Tang Family the family’s interests?”

“That’s right. However…” Tang Gun-ak looked directly at Chung Myung. “That’s how it is in the fighting world. The Sichuan Tang Family does not take from the common people, at least not while I am in charge.”

His voice was firm.

Chung Myung smiled slightly. It wasn’t the answer he expected, but it was even better.

‘I don’t know what happened in the last three years, but Tang Gun-ak has changed after leaving Sichuan,’ he thought.

“Well, you are right,” Chung Myung said. “But…”

“But?”

“The problem is that helping the common people means becoming a shield for those Nine Sects bastards.”

“Isn’t that something we have to accept?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

Chung Myung smiled. “Even if the Nine Sects don’t help until the Tang Family is destroyed?”

“…”

Tang Gun-ak thought for a moment, then looked at Chung Myung. “Do you think that’s possible?”

“Yes,” Chung Myung replied.

“If we can’t stop the Four Evil Sects, the Cheonwu Alliance will be destroyed. Do you think the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families will just watch the Sichuan Tang Family fall?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

“Yes,” Chung Myung said calmly.

Tang Gun-ak was speechless. He realized that he and Chung Myung had different views of the Nine Great Sects.

Chung Myung began to explain. “I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

“What is it?”

“The Sichuan Tang Family is no longer an ally of the Nine Great Sects. They are enemies.”

“Enemies?”

“Yes,” Chung Myung nodded. “The Nine Sects don’t care if they fight the Sichuan Tang Family, or if the Tang Family weakens the Four Evil Sects as a shield. If there are enemies fighting each other, will others join in? No, they’ll just watch until one side is crushed.”

“…”

Tang Gun-ak’s expression changed. He was silent, then shook his head. “That’s not right. There are common people north of the Yangtze who need protection.”

He meant that the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families would help the common people, not just the Tang Family. But Chung Myung smiled as if he expected Tang Gun-ak to say that.

“Have you heard the story of Shanxi?” Chung Myung asked.

“…”

“Do you really think they couldn’t stop those evil sects and just stood by?”

Tang Gun-ak couldn’t answer. He hesitated, then sighed. “Probably not.”

If Mount Hua hadn’t come to help in time, Shanxi would have been destroyed. Two villages had already been burned by the evil sects. Shaolin and the Nine Sects had stood by and watched it happen. Why wouldn’t they do it again?

Chung Myung, guessing Tang Gun-ak’s thoughts, nodded. “They have already let the evil sects control the common people once.”

“If the Evil Sect Alliance moves north, what do you think the Nine Great Sects will do?” Chung Myung asked. “They’ll probably delay, saying they need to wait for help, or that they should fight from a better place. All of this is just excuses to waste time.”

“Until the Sichuan Tang Family is completely destroyed by the Evil Sect Alliance?”

“No,” Chung Myung replied.

A bitter smile touched Chung Myung’s lips.

“Mount Hua Sect and the Heavenly Union would not stand by and watch the Tang Family fight alone,” he said. “They will rush to help in the Yangtze River. Then, they will get caught in the war.”

“…”

“How convenient would that be for the Nine Great Sects?” Chung Myung continued with a sneer. “Mount Hua, the Tang Family, and the Green Forest – all groups they dislike – would be fighting the Evil Sect Alliance, another enemy. They would hope both sides become weaker in the fight. They’d wait calmly for the Evil Sect Alliance to attack the Heavenly Union and take everything. Then, they would try to defeat the weaker Evil Sect Alliance, all while talking about noble sacrifices.”

How does he know all of this?

‘Because I’ve already experienced it,’ Chung Myung thought.

It wasn’t that Chung Myung, or the Mount Hua Sect, didn’t know what was happening. They knew, but they had no choice but to risk everything. If they had retreated, everything would have collapsed.

Yes, he didn’t regret that time.

But…

‘I won’t be fooled twice. You sons of bitches,’ he thought grimly.

Chung Myung gritted his teeth and said, “Beopjeong isn’t a bad guy.”

Hearing the words ‘Beopjeong’ and ‘guy’ in the same sentence, Hae Yeon, who was in the corner, flinched and looked at Chung Myung. But given the situation, he kept his mouth shut.

“Even Heo Do-jin isn’t a bad person. It’s just that they have one thing clear in their minds,” Chung Myung continued.

“What is it?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

“What’s most important is the interests of their own sect,” Chung Myung stated.

At Chung Myung’s words, Tang Gun-ak closed his eyes. He understood it clearly because that wasn’t so different from what Tang Gun-ak had been thinking until recently. The probability of Chung Myung’s words coming true was high.

Chung Myung chuckled.

The times had changed, but their thinking hadn’t. Whether it was when Mount Hua ascended to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, when Mount Hua was attacked by the Demonic Sect, or when Mount Hua fell into ruin.

Even the actions of Heo Do-jin and Beopgye during the Yangtze River Disaster weren’t that different. All of it was just a rational decision that prioritized the interests and safety of their own sect.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily wrong. That’s how people are, I guess,” Chung Myung said.

“…”

“But…”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“If they’re going to act like that, we can’t help but think about our own interests, can we?”

“That’s right,” Tang Gun-ak nodded.

Now, he didn’t want to disagree with Chung Myung. He didn’t want to sacrifice the Tang Family as a shield for other sects either.

“I get it,” Tang Gun-ak said. “Staying in the Yangtze River now will destroy the Heavenly Union.”

“I’m glad you understand so quickly,” Chung Myung replied.

“But one thing bothers me,” Tang Gun-ak frowned.

“Even if it’s the right direction, if we just pull out like this, the public sentiment in the Yangtze River will turn against the Heavenly Union. People aren’t inherently that cold-hearted, are they? I’m worried that we’ll undo all the work we’ve put in over the past three years.”

At that moment, the corners of Chung Myung’s lips curled up wickedly.

“Undo it?”

“Yes, undo it,” Tang Gun-ak confirmed.

Chung Myung stared at Tang Gun-ak for a moment before opening his mouth. “Do you know what I hate the most?”

Tang Gun-ak answered with an utterly serious face, “Jongnam.”

“…”

In that instant, Chung Myung’s brain froze. His mouth, which had been spouting words like a flowing stream, hung open and didn’t move.

“Isn’t it?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

“Th-That… Uh…” Chung Myung stammered. Confusion and anger flashed across Chung Myung’s face like lightning. Here, he should naturally answer, ‘No!’ That’s the only way he could continue what he was going to say.

But…

‘How can I possibly say that I don’t hate Jongnam?’ he thought.

Huh? It’s not that I don’t hate them, but that I hate them less?

Same difference, you old geezers!

The only thing I hate more than Jongnam is the Demonic Sect!

Chung Myung closed his mouth as if he was at a loss for words. His eyes darted back and forth.

Unable to watch any longer, Baek Cheon extended a helping hand to Chung Myung.

“Clan Leader, I think this guy isn’t asking who you hate the most, but what situation you hate the most,” Baek Cheon said.

“That’s right!” Chung Myung quickly agreed and nodded vigorously.

Good heavens, even Dong-ryong can be helpful when he’s fed!

“Situation?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

“Yes! Situation!”

“Losing to Jongnam?”

“…”

At that moment, Tang Gun-ak felt as if Chung Myung’s face was cracking like dried plaster.

It wasn’t just Chung Myung who was shocked; even the Five Swords, who had been listening quietly, shuddered.

“Wow, that pisses me off too,” one of them said.

“I don’t even want to imagine it,” said another.

“I’d rather bite my tongue and die,” Baek Cheon added, looking as if he was about to draw his sword and rush to Jongnam right away.

Even the elders and the sect leader were nodding as if that was the right thing to do.

“Kkeueu…eu…. It’s definitely…that’s the most infuriating thing…” Chung Myung shook his head violently.

“Anyway!”

“Why are you suddenly shouting?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

“I originally hate it the most when someone messes with my rice bowl. Someone else eating up all the effort I put in? I can’t stand it,” Chung Myung said.

“If what you say is true, shouldn’t we protect the Yangtze River even more?” Tang Gun-ak asked.

“But there’s one thing I hate even more than that,” Chung Myung replied.

“What is it?”

Chung Myung stared silently at Tang Gun-ak before slowly opening his mouth. “Clinging to illusions like profit and reputation, and losing the people we shouldn’t lose.”

“…”

“I don’t care what I lose, as long as I can avoid that,” Chung Myung said.

Tang Gun-ak closed his mouth. There was not a trace of a smile on Chung Myung’s face. It was clear that his previous words were utterly sincere.

‘The people we shouldn’t lose…’ Tang Gun-ak thought.

He couldn’t insist even after hearing those words.

“I understand,” Tang Gun-ak said.

The two men’s eyes met in the air. Tang Gun-ak nodded as if he had made up his mind.

“I don’t know if this is the right choice,” Tang Gun-ak admitted. “But… I trust you, Chung Myung.”

A gentle smile touched Tang Gun-ak’s lips.