Return of the Mount Hua Sect

A rough breath poured out of Hong Dae-gwang’s mouth.

He had dashed up an incredibly steep Mt. Hua with all his might; even for him, Buntaju of Beggar Union, he couldn’t help but gasp for breath.

His lungs felt like they were going to explode and his Dantian felt like being pricked by a needle, yet he could not halt his steps.

“Ugh!”

As he leaped over the final cliff in one go, the firmly closed gate of Mount Hua finally came into Hong Dae-gwang’s sight.

Hong Dae-gwang rushed over and started pounding on the gate without delay.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon! Mount Hua Divine Dragon! You bastard!”

Kwang! Kwaang!

The gate shuddered as if about to break apart, yet there was no response from inside.

“People of Mount Hua Sect! Dammit! Come out this instant! There’s an urgent matter at hand!”

Hong Dae-gwang’s voice, laden with all his inner strength, boomed out. Still, there was no response.

“This….”

Hong Dae-gwang bit his lips.

Making a fuss in the gate of a sect that is under Bongmun is already out of line. But… he was in no position to question such things right now.

His eyes turned to the low wall of Mount Hua.

‘I have no choice.’

Breaking into a sect that is under Bongmun is an act that does not show even the slightest courtesy to that sect. No one in the world would protect him if Mount Hua regarded him as a mortal enemy (???? (不共戴天)) and declared it publicly. There is a high probability that even Beggar Union will withdraw.

But Hong Dae-gwang didn’t hesitate.

‘Mount Hua Divine Dragon wouldn’t fuss over such formalities.’

If he doesn’t tell them this news, he’ll only be beaten to death by Mount Hua Divine Dragon who came out of Bongmun.

Strengthening his resolve, he took a deep breath and climbed over the wall of Mount Hua in one fell swoop.

“Disciples of Mount Hua Sect! Right now…”

Hong Dae-gwang, who was screaming as he jumped over the wall, shut his mouth before his feet even touched the ground.

“Wha- What?”

This is because the sight of Mount Hua that caught his eye was so different from what he expected.

His eyes trembled uncontrollably.

It was literally a complete wreck.

The training field, which was once neatly organized with clean bluestones, is broken and dug up in various places as if a meteorite had fallen, and the pavilions facing the training ground are half collapsed.

“This is….”

Hong Dae-gwang’s face turned white.

Doesn’t it look like someone attacked them?

Hong Dae-gwang, who swallowed dry saliva, came to his senses.

‘This, this is not the time.’

Whatever it may be, he needs to inform Mount Hua’s disciples of what’s going on outside right now. Immediate support was needed, or the commoners in Xi’an and even the Eunha Merchant Guild would face unthinkable consequences.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”

Hong Dae-gwang shouted loudly and ran forward. And he flung open the door of the still intact pavilion.

“Outside, right now…”

But this time, Hong Dae-gwang was speechless.

There was no one in the pavilion. And what further dumbfounded Hong Dae-gwang was not the fact that the pavilion was empty, but the thick layer of white dust that lay within.

It looked as though no one had stepped foot in there for at least several months.

Hong Dae-gwang came back with trembling eyes and hurriedly opened the door of another pavilion.

Creak.

…None.

As he opened all the doors here and there, his face looked like he had lost his mind.

And… not a single ant cub was seen in Mount Hua until the very moment of opening the last pavilion.

“N- No ….”

Hong Dae-gwang, muttering in a hoarse voice, slumped down on the spot.

Various thoughts swirled in his drained mind.

“How come….”

What on earth happened here?

‘Did Myriad Man Manor invade?’

That can’t be true.

Even if it were Evil Tyrant Alliance and not Myriad Man Manor, it would be impossible to come to Shaanxi without anyone noticing and deal with Mount Hua without a word.

Then.

Then what the hell happened here?

Hong Dae-gwang covered his mouth with a trembling hand.

“Then… Then, Xi’an….”

Despair filled his eyes. Regardless of what happened here, what’s certain is that there’s no Mount Hua’s force left to defend Xi’an.

“Damn it…”

Hong Dae-Kwang cursed as if he was in pain, and then screamed with bloodshot eyes.

“Dammit! If it’s like this, everyone in Xi’an will die! Mount Hua Dragon! Mount Hua Sect bastaaaaaards!”

Hong Dae-wang, screaming as if his lungs were going to burst out of his throat, slammed his fists on the ground.

Kwaang!

And he bit his lip till it bled.

‘……I have to go.’

If Mount Hua isn’t here, he still has to go. He has to lend a hand. Quickly standing up, he took one last look back, perhaps out of regret.

With clenched fists, he took in the sight of Mount Hua one last time before gritting his teeth and running forward.

“Damn it!”

His loud voice echoed wildly in the quiet Mount Hua.

A heavy silence slowly descended upon Mount Hua, where Hong Dae-gwang left.

* * *

“…Thank you for coming, Munju-nim.”

Hwang Jongwi clutches Wei Lishan’s hands tightly. Then Wei Lishan shook his head gently.

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s a matter of course.”

“Munju-nim…”

“It is only natural for the sects of Xi’an to protect the people of Xi’an. Likewise, it is only natural that Mount Hua’s subsidiary sect protects the Eunha Merchant Guild.”

“It’s easy to say, but…….”

How many people would risk their lives to do that?

Hwang Jongwi’s heart was filled with deep emotion, but he did not dare to say those words out loud. Because Wei Lishan thought he could guess the deep appreciation he was feeling without needing it to be said.

“Gratitude should be directed not at me, but at those people over there.”

Hwang Jongwi shifted his gaze to the rear of Wei Lishan.

“Everyone…”

Munju of small and medium sects in Xi’an were leading their disciples. Some of them were closely related to Mount Hua and Huayin Sect, but there were also subsidiary sect of Southern Edge Sect who secretly opposed them.

“…Thank you.”

“What….”

Heart Origin Sword, Munju of West Moon Sect, scratched his head with a slightly awkward expression.

West Moon Sect is the representative sect of Southern Edge Sect’s subsidiary sect in Xi’an. In any case, it couldn’t possibly have a good relationship with Mount Hua, the subsidiary sect of Mount Hua, or with the Eunha Merchant Guild, which is closely related to Mount Hua.

Although they are not as confrontational as before, there is still a subtle irritability between them.

However,

“As Huayin Munju said, this is a matter of course, so you don’t have to thank me. The task of protecting Xi’an cannot be left to Mount Hua alone.”

“Munju….”

“Hmm.”

Nam Jamyong cleared his throat loudly.

In the past Red Serpent Sword incident, he had also felt the impact.

‘When it comes to a sect, it’s not about who is stronger.’

That might be more important for the time being. But in the end, the future of the sect did not depend on strength. The sects that fled during the Red Serpent Sword incident had to endure indescribable hardship for several years.

Not only was Southern Edge Sect’s influence in Xi’an destroyed, but they also had to watch as Huayin Sect took over as the representative of Xi’an. Therefore, they had to keep our eyes open and watch as various sects left Southern Edge Sect and came under Mount Hua’s command.

But he didn’t really feel any resentment. Because that was the price they paid for the mistakes they made.

‘A martial artist who does not protect the helpless commoners is no different from a robber with a sword.’

Nam Jamyong and sects of Xi’an felt the lesson with their whole body.

It’s not that they aren’t scared. Why don’t they know the great prestige of the Evil Sects who are coming here now? There is no one here who does not know that fighting them with just the people here would be akin to courting death.

But,

‘Sometimes, one must face the oncoming carriage.’

They realized this after seeing Mount Hua who previously they ignored so much gain fame across the lands.

Those who are not of Shaanxi may think that Mount Hua is so famous because they are strong, but at least the people of Shaanxi know. The reason why Mount Hua can make a name like this is because they did not compromise or back down.

“I assure you, we will fight to the last disciple, so don’t worry too much.”

“Thank you, Munju.”

Then, Dong Bang-hwe (???(東方廻)), Munju of Righteous Sword Sect (???(義劍門)), hesitantly asked a question.

“But, Nam Munju, why establish the base in Eunha Merchant Guild?”

“Hm?”

“No. I understand if those people are interested in wealth, they would start from Eunha Merchant Guild… Wouldn’t it be better to close the coty gates and defend from the top of the walls?”

Wei Lishan, Huayin Munju, replied instead.

“That would be a poor strategy.”

“A poor strategy?”

Wei Lishan nodded.

“Many cannot climb above the walls, and for martial masters like us, the height of the walls is no obstacle. If they jump onto the wall, can they be stopped by just those occupying the top?”

“…Hmm, now that you mention it.”

“And it is impossible for us alone to defend this vast wall. It would be better to be here where we can take advantage of numbers.”

The courtyard of Eunha Merchant Guild is among the largest in Xi’an. If they consolidate their forces here, it could be more convenient to face the enemy.

“I am concerned that the enemy might not come here right away and attack the commoners first…”

“In that case, we’ll have to go and engage them. But…. the odds are not high. They’ll first see whether the Eunha Merchant Guild has fled.”

“Hum, I see.”

Munjus nods their heads as if they were convinced by Wei Lishan’s words.

At the same time, a sense of tension began to spread across everyone’s faces. After hearing Wei Lishan’s explanation, the reality that they would have to face these invading Evil Sects with their limited numbers began to sink in..

“…Those damned Evil Sects, why did they come to Xi’an again?”

“Isn’t it because the shade has disappeared? Damn it! If Southern Edge Sect hadn’t gone into Bongmun, they wouldn’t have done this.”

“Even if Southern Edge Sect had gone into Bongmun, as long as we had Mount Hua…”

The fact that the last word came from Dong Bang-hwe of Righteous Sword Sect, the subsidiary sect of Southern Edge Sect, not Huayin Sect, proves the changed status of Mount Hua in Xi’an.

It was precisely at that moment that everyone felt a subtle sense of unease.

“Munju!”

Outside, a beggar of Beggar Union came in with a concerned expression.

“The Evil Sects bastards have arrived outside the city!”

Wei Lishan’s face hardened.

‘Already?’

It is much faster than expected. That means their martial art goes beyond what is known.

‘It seems today holds more ill fortune than good.’

With a resolute heart, he spoke to the wavering Munju.

“The place they are targeting is none other than Xi’an.”

“….”

“So naturally, we should be the ones to defend it, shouldn’t we? It doesn’t matter how strong the enemies are. What’s important is that the commoners of Xi’an trust us.”

Nam Jamyong narrowed his eyes.

“You’re speaking the obvious. We know that better than anyone because we were born and raised in Xi’an!”

It was a rebuke to not act arrogantly when they’re just outsiders. At the words, Wei Lishan smiled.

“Very reliable.”

“Hmph.”

Nam Jamyong exclaimed with a resolute face.

“Let’s show those Evil Sects scum that Xi’an is a Dragon’s Pond and Tiger’s Den!”

“Yes!”

“Defeat the Evil Sects!”

It was a shout meant to shake off fear, but it clearly had an effect. As the morale-boosting group formed their formation, Hwang Jongwi quietly approached Wei Lishan and asked,

“Will you be alright, Munju-nim?”

At the words, Wei Lishan quietly smiled.

“Sangdanju-nim, I might not know much, but there’s one thing I do know.”

“And that is…?”

“If you receive a favor, one must know how to repay it.”

“….”

“I’ve been given the rare opportunity to repay the kindness I received from Mount Hua. What could there be to fear?”

Seeing him smiling, Hwang Jongwi finally nods his head.

“I feel the same way.”

And at that moment,

Finally, a group of people emitting ferocious bloodlust arrived in front of Xi’an’s gate.

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