Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 914

The news that Surochae had taken Mae Hwa Island and entered Gangbuk spread quickly.

People were talking about the news everywhere. But the most important word wasn’t ‘Mae Hwa Island’. It was ‘Gangbuk’.

Mae Hwa Island was very important to people near the Yangtze River and traders. But for people in Gangbuk, it was different. They lived their whole lives in Gangbuk and never left. Mae Hwa Island meant nothing to them.

“Wait, are you serious? Those Surochae *bastards* are in Gangbuk now?”

“That’s right! They’re taking over cities along the Yangtze River and acting like they own the place!”

“How could this happen? We agreed not to cross the river for three years, right? There’s still time left, isn’t there?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re wrong. It wasn’t a fair agreement. It was a treaty that only hurt Gangbuk. It said *they* couldn’t cross the river into Gangnam. But the Four Evil Alliances from Gangnam could cross into Gangbuk whenever they wanted.”

“Heo-ooh…”

The situation reminded everyone how unfair the treaty was that the Wudang Sect had made with the Four Evil Alliances.

“So? Are they just going to watch it happen?”

“Of course not! The treaty said they couldn’t invade Gangnam. It doesn’t mean they can’t stop those who come to Gangbuk, does it?”

“That’s right! Of course, they should!”

“Even though the Nine Sects have been humiliated, they are still the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families! If they hadn’t avoided fighting in the Yangtze River, would they have lost to those evil groups?”

“That’s right! They didn’t even lose! They just made an agreement, didn’t they?”

Some people wanted to say that the agreement was the same as losing, but they didn’t. It wasn’t a good time to point that out.

“Anyway, this is Gangbuk. Even if the Nine Great Sects are like tigers with no teeth, a tiger is still a tiger, right? They won’t let those evil groups get away with this. They’ll try to tear them apart, that’s for sure.”

“They should! How dare those Four Evil Alliances bastards come to Gangbuk?”

Even those who had criticized the Nine Great Sects for losing their pride were now defending them.

The Four Evil Alliances’ arrival in Gangbuk was scary news. No matter how bad the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were, they were better than those evil groups.

“Beasts are scarier when they’re hurt. The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families must have been waiting to get revenge on the Four Evil Alliances for the last three years.”

“Of course. They were stuck because of that Gangnam treaty. Without it, they would have attacked Gangnam and killed that Jang Il-so!”

“I don’t get it. Why are treaties so important? They should just ignore it and attack the Four Evil Alliances. No one would care.”

“Hey! If you can’t keep your word, how can you call yourself a respected sect? That’s no different from those evil bastards!”

“I’m just saying, just saying.”

“Anyway, the Nine Sects and Five Great Families won’t do nothing. Never!”

Everyone believed it. The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, who had been embarrassed by the Four Evil Alliances, would get their revenge this time.

Even though they had been disappointing, people still had hope for the famous sects that they were once proud of.

They were also afraid that if those sects couldn’t stop the Four Evil Alliances, their lives would become a nightmare.

So, everyone in Gangbuk wanted the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families to step up and fix this mess, but…

Things didn’t go as they hoped.

A cold chill settled on Abbot Beopjeong’s face.

“…What did you say?”

Beopgye looked down, avoiding his eyes. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but he felt guilty and embarrassed.

Beopgye forced himself to speak in a weak voice.

“We got replies… but… not many sects are coming to Shaolin.”

“Not many?”

“…Yes.”

Beopjeong was silent. Only the sound of his prayer beads could be heard.

“Which sects refused?”

“Th-that is…”

A drop of sweat ran down Beopgye’s face.

“First of all, the Beggars’ Sect will be there.”

“…”

“And… Mount Hua Sect is coming too. The Kunlun Sect said they’ll come, but…”

“Kunlun is too far away. They won’t get here on time.”

“I think so.”

Mount Kunlun is on the border between Qinghai and Xinjiang. It’s very far from Henan.

So, Kunlun was always a member of the Nine Great Sects, but also somewhat separate.

“As you know, the Hainan Sect…”

“I know. They can’t come.”

Beopgye nodded. The Hainan Sect was in the most danger because the Four Evil Alliances controlled Gangnam. They couldn’t even step onto the mainland.

“So…”

Beopjeong frowned as he listened to Beopgye.

“The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families aren’t the only ones! Just tell me straight!”

Beopgye jumped and quickly nodded.

“Yes, Abbot! Mount Song, Emei, and Qingcheng said they can’t come to Henan.”

“…The reason?”

“They said… if the Four Evil Alliances go to Gangbuk, Sichuan will be defenseless…”

Crack!

Beopjeong gripped the prayer beads tightly, making a rough noise.

It wasn’t an unreasonable excuse.

But Beopjeong had only asked them to talk. Why were they refusing to talk based on something that hadn’t even been discussed?

“And?”

“…There was no reply from the sects that had closed their doors.”

“Not even Wudang?”

“…Yes.”

Beopjeong looked up at the sky. After staring at the blue sky for a long time, he sighed and spoke in a sad voice.

“The Nine Great Sects are supposed to be ten sects.”

“…”

“In this emergency, only three sects are coming to talk. Only…”

“Abbot…”

Beopgye looked at him, frustrated, and clenched his fists.

Jongnam’s situation was understandable. They had closed their doors before this happened and weren’t responsible.

Hainan’s situation was also understandable. They had no choice because of where they were.

But the other sects, especially Wudang and Qingcheng, who had fought in the Yangtze River War, should not ignore this.

Abbot Beopjeong felt a wave of worry wash over him. Not many groups had promised to help Shaolin. Only the Common Faction and the Open Faction were present, while the Kunlun Faction was too far away to offer any real assistance.

Beopgye asked, “What about the Five Great Families?”

Beopjeong replied, “The Habuk Peng Family has said they will come to Shaolin. They are one of the most important families, who usually help in times of trouble. But the Namgung Family remains silent.”

“The Jegal Family has given a positive answer that they might come to Shaolin, depending on the situation,” Beopjeong continued, “but the Moryong Family has not replied.”

Beopjeong shook his head.

With the Dang Family gone from the Five Great Families, only four remained. Of those, only the Habuk Peng Family had clearly said they would participate. The Jegal Family’s words about participating depending on the situation could not be trusted. Everyone knew they were the most careful group in the world.

“Beopgye.”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“I won’t say that I am without fault.”

“Abbot…” Beopgye responded.

Beopjeong spoke, his face hard.

“As the Abbot of Shaolin, I certainly have a great fault. But what kind of situation is this? Does anyone not know what will happen if the Surochae, the Demonic Sect group, enters Gangbuk, our land?”

That couldn’t be. They couldn’t possibly call themselves prestigious if they couldn’t foresee that much. Absolutely not.

“And yet, they only care about their own interests!”

This was what angered Beopjeong the most.

The groups that had promised to help were either directly related to Gangbuk or too far away to really change anything.

Those who were close to the disaster in Gangbuk were all watching and backing away.

“How can they still talk about being righteous? At this rate…”

Beopjeong, who had been raging, suddenly stopped, as if he was about to say something but couldn’t.

He couldn’t calm down for a long time, his shoulders moving up and down quickly. He bit his lip tightly and then spoke.

“Beopgye.”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“Tell me honestly, Beopgye. Can we forgive what they’re doing?”

“Abbot…” Beopgye responded.

“The opponent is the Demonic Sect, right? How can they only care about themselves in this situation?”

Beopgye hesitated before bowing his head.

The answer he had to give was too embarrassing and wrong for him to say.

“Abbot…”

“Speak.”

“Wasn’t it us who first broke what should not have been broken?”

Beopjeong didn’t respond.

Beopgye closed his eyes tightly, unable to look at Beopjeong, and said,

“It was my fault. I should have been ready to die there…”

Beopjeong closed his mouth.

He realized he had said something he shouldn’t have, caught up in his feelings.

“I, too, thought of the safety of my disciples and Shaolin before what I should have done. What right do I have to blame them with that?”

“That’s…”

Beopjeong tried to argue, but shook his head.

He knew he couldn’t comfort Beopgye with any words, that there was no excuse.

“Even so, isn’t that too short-sighted! What happens after Gangbuk burns? It’s obvious who the next will be. Amitabha. Amitabha…”

But Beopjeong’s words soon faded.

He knew his words were losing their power.

Beopgye glanced at him and opened his mouth.

“Abbot, if it had only been for the Jang River incident, more groups would have been willing to deal with the Demonic Sect first. But…”

“What are you saying?” Beopjeong asked.

“You know about the Mount Hua incident.”

At the mention of the Mount Hua incident, Beopjeong’s face became hard.

Beopgye continued, his voice sad.

“No one wants to be first. Everyone now knows the price for risking their lives for what is right.”

A moment of helplessness crossed Beopjeong’s face.

“Heh heh…”

In the end, he laughed sadly. After laughing like that, he spoke quietly.

“It was our first mistake.”

It was a word with a heavy feeling. Beopgye looked at Beopjeong with a worried face.

“Abbot…”

“Yes, you’re right. Who are we to blame…”

It was something that should not have been done.

That incident left deep scars not only on Mount Hua but also on the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families. And it continues to this day, making everyone suffer.

Neither Wudang nor Shaolin had escaped from that ghost.

Because they had seen that the result of talking about what is right and fighting first was destruction.

Maybe the real cause of the Jang River tragedy was there.

“Send word to the Cheonwu Alliance.”

“Abbot?” Beopgye asked, surprised.

“We have to hope. Even if it’s shameful.”

Beopgye nodded. He knew that saying anything would only make Beopjeong more upset.

“I will do so.”

As Beopgye carefully stepped back, Beopjeong felt deep regret.

‘How did they endure…’

A small sigh escaped from his lips.

‘How did they endure that painful time…’