Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 993

Namgung Dowiseom’s voice was tight with worry. “The injured… how bad is it?”

Namgung-myeong didn’t meet his nephew’s eyes, staring instead at the worn wooden floor. “No one will die,” he said, his voice a little rougher than usual. “They’re tough men, after all.” *Sturdy fellows,* he’d called them, but his tone lacked its usual confidence.

A small breath escaped Namgung Dowiseom. “Thank goodness.” Relief washed over him, but it was quickly followed by a fresh wave of anxiety.

“It was really helpful that the Tang family came,” Namgung-myeong said. “The Sichuan Tang family’s medical skills are famous even in the Central Plains.”

“Yes, they are.”

The Sichuan Tang family were masters of poison, but also skilled in medicine. Because they often handled throwing stars, they suffered from poisonings and injuries, which naturally led to the development of their medical skills.

“However…” Namgung-myeong trailed off, then continued calmly, “Of the eighty-two who returned from Plum Blossom Island, about ten won’t be able to hold a sword again.”

Namgung Dowiseom nodded without answering.

It was a bitter truth, but one they had to accept. They were fortunate to have returned alive from Plum Blossom Island, a dangerous island known as Plum Blossom Island.

“And among those who remain, quite a few won’t recover their previous fighting skills.”

“…I see.”

Namgung-myeong forcibly stopped himself from sighing. His shoulders slumped slightly as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

The damage was worse than expected. He had hoped that at least a third of their strength remained, but now he worried if even a quarter was left. They were the Sky Origin Namgung Clan, but with so few strong fighters left, they felt ashamed to even use their family name.

*At other times, I would close the gates and reorganize the family, but…*

That was impossible now. Usually, even enemies would step back and watch if a clan closed its gates, as was the custom in the world of martial artists. But the evil group, the Sinister Evil Alliance, wouldn’t abide by that custom.

If the Namgung Clan closed its gates now, the Sinister Evil Alliance or the Waterway Bandits would likely attack, taking advantage of their isolation. If that happened, the Namgung Clan would be finished.

“Uncle.”

“Speak, Nephew.”

“We must leave Anhui.”

A heavy sigh escaped Namgung-myeong’s lips as he looked out the window.

He knew it was the only way, but leaving the place where the family had lived for generations was a difficult decision. It was as hard as the Sichuan Tang family leaving Sichuan, or the Mount Hua Sect leaving Huayin in Shaanxi.

“There’s no other way, is there?”

“No.”

Namgung Dowiseom nodded.

“We’ll lose a lot by leaving Anhui.”

If they left Anhui immediately, they would face problems with their business rights and relationships with other clans.

“But if we don’t leave, we’ll lose even more.”

“…Hmm.”

“Uncle, this decision is for the Namgung Clan to remain the Namgung Clan. I beg you.”

Namgung-myeong shook his head.

“Don’t say that, Nephew. You’re acting as the head of the family now. Don’t ask for my permission, just command me.”

“…Uncle.”

“I think you’ve made the right choice. And…” Namgung-myeong looked at Namgung Dowiseom with a tired but kind smile. “The head of the family would have supported this decision too. What’s important isn’t protecting wealth, but protecting the spirit of Namgung. Wherever we are, if that spirit lives on, Namgung can still be Namgung.”

“Father too…”

Namgung-myeong sighed softly as he watched Namgung Dowiseom, who seemed lost in thought.

“Nephew.”

“…Yes, Uncle.”

“I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that if the head of the family were alive, we might not have to leave Anhui, right?”

Namgung Dowiseom remained silent, his lips sealed. Namgung-myeong shook his head.

“Don’t think that way, Nephew.”

“…”

“The head of the family is the head of the family, and you are you, Nephew. I have no doubt that you can become a head of the family who surpasses your predecessors.”

“…Uncle.”

It was a burdensome thing to say, but also empowering.

*I must do so.*

Not for his own glory, but for the future of the Namgung Clan. To rebuild the Namgung Clan, which was almost destroyed, Namgung Dowiseom had to be more steadfast than anyone else.

“Alright. What do you plan to do after leaving Anhui?”

“I’m thinking of entrusting ourselves to Mount Hua.”

“…Entrusting, you say?”

“Yes.”

Namgung-myeong frowned. He agreed with leaving Anhui, but why go so far as to entrust themselves to Mount Hua?

“Nephew, with the wealth the Namgung Clan has, it wouldn’t be hard to settle in a peaceful area.”

“Yes, I know.”

“But why go so far…”

Namgung Dowiseom slowly shook his head. “It’s for the sake of Namgung. You know, no sect has grown faster than Mount Hua. We need to learn how they did it to secure Namgung’s future.”

“…The Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyun Jong-jin, isn’t a harsh person. He’ll give us advice even if we don’t entrust ourselves to them.”

“That’s not enough.”

A resolute light flickered in Namgung Dowiseom’s eyes. “The Namgung Clan won’t regain its former status just by getting advice and trying hard. The clan has overcome many hardships, but isn’t this the first time in a hundred years we’ve suffered such great damage?”

“…That’s right.”

Namgung-myeong nodded helplessly.

Of course, the damage suffered during the war with the Demonic Sect might have been worse. But the situation then was different. At that time, all the clans suffered, so the Namgung Clan’s position didn’t decline.

But it wasn’t the same now. Now, other clans were strong, except for Namgung.

“I can endure any hardship. What I can’t bear is the name of Namgung collapsing during my time.”

“…Nephew.”

“Please help me, Uncle. You must help me persuade the family members.”

Namgung-myeong stared intently at Namgung Dowiseom. Unable to turn away from those firm eyes, he finally nodded.

“I will.”

“Thank you.”

A look of delight spread across Namgung Dowiseom’s face. Namgung-myeong sighed.

“Don’t forget that you’ll have the hardest time with this choice, Nephew.”

“I’m ready for it.”

“…And even if we take the swordsmen, we can’t take all the family members into Mount Hua.”

“I plan to have the family members build a manor in Huayin and stay there. I think they’ll understand.”

Namgung Myeong watched his nephew, Namgung Dowi. Everything seemed ready for their journey. But Namgung Myeong was still puzzled. He leaned forward slightly.

“Tell me again, Dowi. What did you see at Mount Hua that made you want to go?”

Dowi looked at his uncle. “I didn’t *see* anything, Uncle. Not really.”

Namgung Myeong raised his eyebrows, confused. “Pardon? You saw nothing?”

Dowi smiled a little. “I’m going to *see* it now. I’m going to understand.”

A thoughtful smile touched the edge of Dowi’s mouth. “Mount Hua… it’s not like the other fighting groups I know. It’s not like Shaolin, and it’s not like our Namgung Clan.”

Namgung Myeong waited, listening carefully.

“I can feel it’s different,” Dowi continued, “but I don’t know *why*. That’s why I need to go. To truly understand why they are so different from us.”

Namgung Myeong shook his head, but a warm smile appeared on his face.

“If you say so, Dowi, then I will also try to understand.”

“Yes, Uncle!”

“It will take some time to convince the clan members…”

Just then, Namgung Myeong frowned, turning towards the door.

“What’s all this noise?”

For a while, he had heard weapons clashing outside. In a place full of fighters, weapon sounds were normal. But to Namgung Myeong, who grew up in the Namgung Clan, this sound was different.

“Could there be some trouble…”

At that moment…

Wham!

The door burst open, splintering into pieces, and someone flew into the room.

“What is happening!”

“Are we under attack?”

Shocked, the two men jumped up and grabbed their swords. They saw a man collapse in front of them with a thud.

“Ugh?”

“J-Jo Gul? Senior Disciple?”

Jo Gul spat blood and trembled.

Horror flashed in Namgung Dowi’s eyes. Jo Gul pointed outside with a shaking hand. Namgung Dowi quickly asked:

“Senior Disciple! Are you alright?”

“Bast…”

“Bastard?”

“Bast… son…”

Jo Gul’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted, red foam bubbling from his mouth.

Namgung Dowi stared outside in shock.

“Aaaargh! You son of a bitch!”

Baek Cheon from Mount Hua was kicked in the face and sent flying. Chung Myung, who had stomped on Baek Cheon’s face, looked around for his next target.

“Stop him!”

It’s often said that speaking first can be dangerous. Yoon Jong’s mistake was forgetting this.

Yoon Jong crashed through the wall, leaving a person-shaped hole.

“You’re in trouble now!”

Yoo Iseol ran towards Chung Myung, leaping off the ground. Namgung Myeong swallowed hard.

“Are they crazy?”

He was shocked. This place was near the Yangtze River, close to both the Nine Sects and the Evil Sect Alliance. Yet, they were fighting so loudly?

‘And it’s only been two days since the battle at Plum Blossom Island!’

They fought with incredible energy. It wasn’t just training; it was a real fight where someone could get hurt.

There is a right time and place for everything.

This training was not right for the time or place. Strangely, no one seemed to think it was odd.

“Hey, you bastard!”

Everyone complained, but no one stopped. They knew they could leave if they didn’t like it…

Chung Myung also surprised Namgung Myeong.

The Mount Hua Sword Saint was strong enough to defeat the Black Dragon King, making him as strong as Namgung Hwang. The Namgung Clan had Namgung Hwang, so they weren’t lacking a strong fighter.

But when had Namgung Hwang last fought with the clan’s swordsmen and trained?

Top swordsmen usually focused on their own skills instead of sparring. The better they were, the less they sparred.

This was normal to Namgung Myeong, who grew up in a family of swordsmen.

It was common sense that one top expert was better than a hundred average ones, so the clan encouraged top swordsmen to train alone.

To Namgung Myeong, who thought this was normal, it was shocking to see Chung Myung fighting with those who were not even half as skilled as him.

“So that’s why they’re strong… That’s why…”

He felt like he had seen the secret to Mount Hua’s strength.

How could they not become strong when such a master sparred with them almost every day?

Even if he didn’t know anything else, he could see that Chung Myung wanted to make Mount Hua stronger, not just himself.

“I envy you, Uncle.”

“Young Lord…”

Namgung Dowi looked at the scene with longing. He was probably imagining sparring with his father, Namgung Hwang.

“But there will be chances in the future.”

“Yes? Young Lord, you’re not…?”

“I’ll be back in a moment.”

Namgung Dowi drew his sword.

“Ah, you’re not fully healed yet!”

Namgung Myeong tried to stop him, but Namgung Dowi ran forward, ignoring him. Seeing the excited smile on his face, Namgung Myeong gave up.

‘Mount Hua, huh.’

Maybe Namgung Dowi’s decision to trust Mount Hua was the best one. Not for the Namgung Clan, but for Namgung Dowi.

“Do as you wish, Young Lord.”

Namgung Myeong hoped that Mount Hua would be big enough for Namgung Dowi.

He just hoped for that…

Bang!

“What was that? Was there a strange guy for a second?”

Namgung Myeong squeezed his eyes shut as he watched Namgung Dowi get hit by Chung Myung’s sword and fly out of the estate.

‘Let’s rethink this.’

It felt like poison had been released into the lake.

…A deadly poison.