Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 940

Baek Cheon’s face changed a little. He looked surprised and maybe a bit annoyed.

Let’s be honest.

He understood that this trip to the Jang River could mean being manipulated by the Shaolin Temple. Baek Cheon, though young, had more experience than most leading disciples from other sects.

He also understood why Chung Myung got so angry at the mention of the Jang River.

But Baek Cheon still wanted to go to the Jang River.

Baek Cheon, as a Mount Hua disciple, didn’t want to get mixed up in the Jang River’s problems. But Baek Cheon, as a swordsman, really wanted to go there.

Why?

‘Shouldn’t I use my training?’

For the last three years, Baek Cheon and the other Mount Hua disciples had gone through hell.

Mount Hua’s training was already so hard that other sects would say, ‘Are they crazy?’ But that crazy junior brother had made it even worse. Can you imagine what those three years were like?

Just thinking about it made him tremble, grind his teeth, buckle his knees, and tear up.

So, shouldn’t they get revenge?

Baek Cheon wanted to smash the heads of those villains from the Sa Pa Ryun with his Plum Blossom Sword and shout, ‘I prepared this just for you!’

All the Mount Hua swordsmen wanted to repay the tears they had shed with blood.

So, he was secretly happy.

No matter the reason, going to the Jang River would mean dealing with the Sa Pa, and they could get their revenge!

But Baek Cheon, who had come down from Mount Hua with hope, didn’t find his future as a great swordsman. Instead, he found the past he didn’t want to remember.

“Um….”

Baek Cheon spoke, his voice awkward and trembling.

“Chung Myung?”

“Yeah?”

“What… is this?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“Are you already forgetful? Can’t you see it?”

“I know what it is, you punk!”

“Then why are you asking?”

“Why are these *here*!” Baek Cheon’s voice got louder. His fingers shook as he pointed at dozens of large wooden carts. They stood in a line at the entrance of Hwaeum. In front of the carts, Hwang Jongi, a round-faced man with a wide smile, seemed very pleased with himself.

He didn’t notice Baek Cheon’s anger and greeted Chung Myung with a bright smile.

“Good thing I’m not late, Daojang!”

Chung Myung smiled and clasped his hands.

“Oh, you’ve really done a lot of work.”

“It’s only natural to do what Daojang asks. As you said, I’ve reinforced these carts a bit more. They won’t break easily even if the Mount Hua people hit them with their swords.”

“Kuh! I know the quality of the Eunha Merchant Guild’s carts best. Trustworthy!”

“Haha. As you can see, I’ve increased the size of these carts to carry more goods, and I made them comfortable for people to ride in. And I’ve increased the weight by two times compared to before.”

Jo Gul raised his hand.

“Excuse me for interrupting!”

“Speak, Jo Gul Daojang.”

“Shouldn’t you usually boast about reducing the weight by half…?”

“That’s usually the case, but this is Chung Myung Daojang’s request. I’ve done my best.”

Jo Gul turned to Chung Myung, looking lifeless. Chung Myung asked bluntly.

“Why? What?”

“…You son of a bitch.”

Well, that’s that.

Silence fell over the Mount Hua disciples.

Chung Myung turned to the Five Swords and grinned.

He looked so vicious that even the Mount Hua disciples, who didn’t understand, shuddered.

“Oh, our Sajuk, Sahyung.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Did you expect to go to the Jang River and swing your swords *heroically*, fighting against the Sa Pa in a heroic feat?”

Chung Myung chuckled as he saw the Mount Hua disciples flinch.

“Oh, wake up from your dreams, you folks. Didn’t I tell you? We’re not fighting! Why are we going there? Yoon Jong Sahyung!”

“To save the innocent people, you dolt.”

“To be exact, we’re going to move those people! Do you know what they call that?”

“What do they call it….”

“Transportation! They call it transportation!”

Chung Myung snorted.

“When it comes to transportation, it’s Mount Hua! When it comes to Mount Hua, it’s transportation!”

“Since when, you crazy bastard!”

“It’s always been like that!”

The Mount Hua disciples suddenly understood.

‘This bastard is really going to move luggage.’

It felt like someone had dumped cold water on their hopes.

Baek Cheon realized something and widened his eyes.

“Wait a minute.”

“Huh?”

“When did you tell them to prepare these carts?”

“I told them when I went to the Eunha Merchant Guild back then.”

“So, you knew from then that something like this would happen…?”

“What nonsense are you talking about.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“It’s just that everyone’s bodies have gotten better these days, and their inner strength has improved, so I thought the carts could be a bit bigger than before.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Since we were making them anyway, I thought it would be useful to make a lot of them. I didn’t know we’d be using them like this, though….”

“⋯⋯.”

In other words, he had been planning to use them as efficiently as possible as soon as the gates were unsealed?

“A devilish bastard.”

“A guy even dogs wouldn’t bite.”

“He really chose the wrong sect. If he had gone to the Sa Pa, he would have made several marks in the history of the Murim.”

“Quiet.”

Chung Myung waved his hand as if chasing away flies.

“Don’t have any useless dreams and grab the carts! From now on, Sahyung are workhorses. Not swordsmen, but workhorses! Our goal is to rush to the Jang River at top speed and transport all the innocent people to a safe place without missing a single one!”

“⋯⋯.”

“Questions?”

“⋯⋯No, you punk.”

A dark shadow filled the hearts of the Mount Hua disciples, which had been swelling with thoughts of heroic deeds.

“Hmm, this cart seems well-made.”

“Let’s see… I need to make sure it’s good enough for everyone to use.”

“Yes, Sect Leader. This is important.”

Then, the wise elders carefully got onto the cart, trying to look dignified. The Yunja elders, who had been watching closely, cleared their throats and followed them quickly.

Hyun Jong chuckled.

“Chung Myung is right. Being a good person isn’t just about fighting with swords. It’s about doing what people need most. Do they want us to fight for them? Or do they want us to help them?”

Those were good words.

They would have sounded even better if he hadn’t said them while already sitting on the cart.

“Sect Leader. You look very comfortable?”

“No time! Get to work quickly!”

The disciples of Mount Hua, looking miserable, trudged over and grabbed the cart. The familiar sensation at their fingertips made them even more miserable.

“Ah… Even after three years, I’m still doing this hard work.”

“Hahaha.”

Hwang Jongi, who had been watching from the side, laughed happily.

“I made the handle just the right size for you Mount Hua disciples. It’s the same thickness as your sword handles, so it should feel comfortable!”

“… That’s so touching, I could cry,” one disciple muttered sarcastically.

“Thanks, Branch Leader. You’re *too* kind,”

“Let’s go!”

Chung Myung lightly jumped onto the lead cart.

“Alright, let’s go all the way to the Yangtze River! Let’s go! Run, Dong Ryong!”

“Damn it!”

“Let’s goooo!”

As soon as Chung Myung spoke, the heavy carts shot off with tremendous speed, even though they looked heavy.

“The ones who arrive last will be used as wheels, so run as fast as you can!”

Groans and shouts echoed loudly. The carts, having picked up speed, quickly disappeared into the distance, leaving a thick, brown cloud of dust.

“Hehehehe.”

Hwang Jongi, who was left behind, burst into a hearty laugh.

“Good luck!”

Hwang Jongi put his hands together and bowed towards the distant cloud of dust.

Boom!

Namgung Dowi’s hands were trembling. A metallic taste filled his mouth, and his entire body felt as heavy as wet clothes.

But he was not given any time to rest.

“He jumped!”

He jumped up from his spot and knocked away the incoming cannonball in one swift motion.

Wham!

When the sword hit the cannonball, there was a big explosion.

“He groaned.”

Those cannonballs were nothing, really. If he had been in perfect condition, he could have brushed them aside like feathers.

But to him now, those cannonballs were too heavy and tiring.

‘Damn it…’

He felt he now understood what it meant to die of exhaustion.

They were not rushing at all. They didn’t bombard them enough to overwhelm them, nor did they land more troops than necessary. They were slowly attacking the riverbank, just enough to stop them from resting.

In a word, their attacks were terribly weak.

But as the attacks continued for days, he couldn’t help but wish to face them head-on, even if it meant total defeat.

Slowly, but surely, they were gnawing away at the Namgung Family.

Wham!

“Aaaaargh!”

A scream rang out.

Just two days ago, everyone would have turned their heads in a hurry at that scream. And they would have roared with anger.

But not anymore. Because they had grown used to it.

Now, it was normal to see people on Plum Blossom Island get hit by cannonballs. They were so tired they couldn’t focus, even though they would normally dodge them easily.

Namgung Dowi turned around with a worried face.

You could see the feeling on the faces of the Azure Sky Swordsmen, it was not despair or anger.

Powerlessness.

The faces that had been full of spirit were gone. They looked like tired slaves.

They looked like they had given up. They looked like they knew there was no hope.

‘I should have attacked.’

He understood why Namgung Hwang decided not to attack. But he didn’t agree with it.

‘What should I have done? How should I have done it?’

And what should he do from now on?

Just then, another cannonball came. Namgung Dowi saw an Azure Sky Swordsman who was too slow to react. He was just standing there, helpless.

When he finally saw the cannonball coming, his face turned blue with fear.

Before his head could even think, his body moved.

KABOOOOM!

Namgung Dowi, who had dashed forward like a ray of light and knocked away the cannonball, gritted his teeth. Maybe because he was in a hurry and didn’t use his inner energy right, his hand was cut and bleeding.

“Lord Dowi…”

Thud!

Namgung Dowi grabbed the Azure Sky Swordsman’s shoulder, who had almost been hit.

The Azure Sky Swordsman, who had expected to be yelled at, squeezed his eyes shut.

“Hold on a little longer!”

But what came out of Namgung Dowi’s mouth was not blame, but encouragement.

His voice sounded very different from Namgung Hwang’s. It was louder and stronger and echoed throughout the island.

“Be strong! We are the Namgung Family! We can die fighting, but we are not allowed to give up without fighting!”

“Lord Dowi!”

“We will get a chance to fight back! If we don’t get a chance, I will make one! I will not let you die here without even swinging your swords once! So, trust me!”

Namgung Dowi shouted with a blood-boiling voice.

“Trust me and hold on a little longer! Until the moment we get revenge for this pain and shame even more!”

The light gradually returned to the eyes of the Namgung Family’s swordsmen, which had been dimming.

They gritted their teeth and nodded. And with bloodshot eyes, they glared at the ships surrounding the island.

He ground his teeth.

Namgung Dowi also bit his lip until blood showed, glaring at the Black Dragon Ships floating on the Yangtze River.

They looked brave.

But his fingertips, hidden inside his sleeve, were trembling.

‘Anyone, please… Please, quickly.’

Before this faint spark that he had barely revived died out…