Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Chung Myung and Im Sobyong, argue heatedly, and Five Swords, pretend to separate them while slyly blowing wind to the flames.

The hell-like scene brought not only chaos but also pain to Tang Gun-ak, who had become accustomed to the strict Sichuan Tang Family’s disposition.

‘Why is Mount Hua always like this…’

Huh? Soso?

Why are you getting involved over there?

When he saw Tang Soso standing behind Chung Myung and pointing her finger at Im Sobyong, he felt something creeping up from deep inside his stomach.

These damn Mount Hua people have turned my daughter into…

Kung!

“Anyway, that’s why.”

Chung Myung slammed his hand down forcefully on the floor.

“You have to take your feet out.”

“Well, that’s a valid point.”

“…No, why is Nokrim King suddenly agreeing?”

Im Sobyong shrugged his shoulders.

“He’s not wrong. We can’t keep going like this.”

“…Why?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Chwaak!

Im Sobyong opened his fan wide, speaking with a nonchalant face.

“There is no way that Jang Ilso will just drool over the land of Gangbuk forever.”

“…….”

“He will move soon, in some way or another.”

“That’s something everyone knows, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. So, of course, we have to step out.”

Chung Myung, who was listening, came forward to help Im Sobyong.

“I don’t know what that crazy guy will do, but one thing is certain. In order to seize Gangbuk within his hands, he has to cross the Yangtze River.”

“That’s right.”

“So, what do you think will happen? The Tang Family guarding the Yangtze River will be the first human shield, right?”

“…Hmm.”

Tang Gun-ak nodded quietly.

He’s not a fool either. Of course, he knew well that if the Evil Tyrant Alliance’s forces crossed the Yangtze River, the main force of the Tang Family would be the first to confront them.

But….

“A human shield…”

Tang Gun-ak looked at Chung Myung quietly.

“If it’s about becoming a shield for the Ten Great Sects, of course, we should refuse.”

“Yes.”

“But what about being a shield for the commoners?”

“…….”

Tang Gun-ak shook his head slowly.

“The reason why the Tang Family has kept the Yangtze so far is not to help the Ten Great Sect. It was just because of the people.”

To be honest, that wasn’t his intention at first.

It was considered an opportunity to spread the name of Heavenly Comrade Alliance and build a cause at a time when the name of the Ten Great Sect was falling.

However, while traversing the Yangtze River and living with them, Tang Gun-ak also felt a lot of things. As long as he’s the head of the Tang Family, he can’t let those lands and people, which they have protected for so long, fall into the hands of the Evil Tyrant Alliances and suffer.

“As long as we don’t know what Evil Tyrant Alliances might do to them, we can’t just step back for such a reason, can we?”

Chung Myung frowned slightly.

“Isn’t the family’s interests the most important thing in the Sichuan Tang Family?”

“That is correct. However….”

Tang Gun-ak’s gaze was focused squarely on Chung Myung.

“That’s a story from Kangho. The Sichuan Tang Family does not contend for the benefit of the people. At least as long as I am the head of the Tang Family.”

His tone was more resolute than ever before.

The corners of Chung Myung’s mouth rolled up slightly.

That’s not the answer he wanted. But maybe it’s the one he likes.

‘I don’t know what happened in those three years, but….’

Tang Gun-ak must have felt a lot of things after leaving Sichuan.

“Well, what you said is right, Gaju-nim. But…”

“But?”

“The problem is, while trying to help the commoners, we end up becoming a shield for the Ten Great Sects damned.”

“Isn’t that something we have to endure?”

Chung Myung rolled up the corners of his mouth slightly.

“Even if the Ten Great Sects don’t come to help until the Tang Family is annihilated?”

“…….”

At this statement, Tang Gun-ak also shut up.

Tang Gun-ak, who was silent as if he was going through many thoughts, asked while looking at Chung Myung.

“Do you think that is possible?”

“Yes.”

“…If we can’t stop the Evil Tyrant Alliance, it’s not just the Heavenly Comrade Alliance that will perish. Still, can the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family stand by and watch the Sichuan Tang Family collapse at the hands of the Evil Tyrant Alliance?”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung’s too-calm response left Tang Gun-ak momentarily speechless.

This meant that there was a difference between the views of Tang Gun-ak and Chung Myung who looked at the Ten Great Sects.

Chung Myung opened his mouth to bridge this gap.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something.”

“…What is it?”

“The Sichuan Tang Family is no longer a colleague of the Ten Great Sects. It is the enemy.”

“…Enemy?”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung nodded and added.

“From Ten Great Sects’ standpoint, whether they fight alongside Sichuan Tang Family or fight after Sichuan Tang Family exhausted their strength and served as a shield against Evil Tyrant Alliance, it makes no difference. There are enemies along the path of an invading foreign enemy, who will cross the border and fight? Just wash your fingers and watch until one of them is smashed.”

“…….”

The expression of Tang Gun-ak changed several times in a short period of time. He shook his head after a moment of silence.

“But that analogy doesn’t fit. There are no commoners of the empire beyond the border. However, aren’t there commoners to protect north of the Yangtze River?”

Tang Gun-ak implied that Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family would have to act for the sake of the commoners, not just the Tang Family. But hearing this, Chung Myung just smirked bitterly.

As if waiting for Tang Gun-ak to say that.

“You heard the story about Shaanxi, right?”

“…….”

“Do you really think those bastards couldn’t stop those damned Evil Tyrant Alliance because they were truly incapable?”

Tang Gun-ak couldn’t find a word to say. After hesitating and fidgeting with his lips for a while, he finally let out a long sigh.

“…I don’t think so.”

If Mount Hua hadn’t come out of Bongmun in time…. No, if the news had reached Mount Hua just a bit later, a hellish landscape would have unfolded in Shaanxi.

‘No.’

Tang Gun-ak bit his lips hard.

Xi’an did not burn, but hell broke loose. Weren’t two villages swept away in terror by the hands of those Evil Tyrant Alliance bastards? The clear disregard for that situation was by Shaolin. To be exact, it was Ten Great Sects.

They already once pushed the commoners under the claws of Evil Tyrant Alliance. Is there any reason why they can’t do twice what they did once?

Chung Myung nodded as if he knew what Tang Gun-ak was thinking.

“What do you think Ten Great Sects do if the Evil Tyrant Alliance moves north? Maybe they’ll say to wait for backup, fight in a better position, or they’ll be wasting time with their nonsense.”

“Until Sichuan Tang Family completely falls to Evil Tyrant Alliance?”

“No.”

A faint smile appeared on Chung Myung’s lips again.

“Unable to sit idly by and watch the Tang Family collapse while fighting alone, all member of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, including Mount Hua, rushed to the Yangtze River until they were entangled in the war.”

“…….”

“Then how convenient will it be for the Ten Great Sects? Mount Hua, Tang Family, and Nokrim, who were like thorns in the eye, hold hands in harmony and confront Evil Tyrant Alliance, who was like a thorn in their necks. They will wait for Evil Tyrant Alliance to shake off Heavenly Comrade Alliance and then try to clean up the worn-out Evil Tyrant Alliance. All while preaching about noble sacrifice.”

A sneer appears on Chung Myung’s lips.

How does he know?

‘Cause I’ve already been through it.’

It’s not that Chung Myung and Cheong Mun were ignorant and were taken advantage of. Even though they knew it, they had no choice but to risk everything. If they backed off, everyone would have fallen apart.

Yes. He doesn’t regret that time.

But….

‘I won’t get hit twice. Those f*cking bastards.’

Chung Myung gritted his teeth and said,

“Bop Jeong isn’t a bad punk.”

When the words Bop Jeong and punk came out at the same time, Hye Yeon, who was in the corner, flinched and looked at Chung Myung. However, he remained silent because of the situation.

“Even Heo Dojin is not a bad punk. There’s only one thing that’s certain in his head.”

“…What is it?”

“The most important thing is the benefit of their own sects.”

At Chung Myung’s words, Tang Gun-ak closed his eyes.

It wasn’t so different from what Tang Gun-ak had thought until recently. Therefore, he could understand even more clearly. There is a high probability that Chung Myung’s words will become reality.

Chung Myung smirks.

Times have changed, but their thinking does not. In the past, when Mount Hua climbed the Hundred Thousand Mountains, when Mount Hua was attacked by Magyo after that, and even when Mount Hua collapsed horribly.

Even the behavior of Heo Dojin and Bop Jeong, which he saw in the Yangtze disaster, is not much different. All of these are simply reasonable decisions that put one’s own sect’s interests and safety first.

“I don’t intend to say that’s particularly wrong. That’s how people are, right?”

“….”

“But….”

Chung Myung shrugs his shoulders.

“If that side comes out like that, we can’t help but think about this side’s interests, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Tang Gun-ak nods his head.

Now he didn’t want to disagree with Chung Myung. He also had no desire to sacrifice Tang Family as a shield for other sects.

“I understand what you’re saying. Continuing to guard the Yangtze in this situation would lead to the downfall of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”

“Good to hear you catch on fast.”

“But one thing bothers me.”

Tang Gun-ak frowns.

“No matter how right it may be, if we just back out like this, the public sentiment in Yangtze River will turn away from Heavenly Comrade Alliance. People aren’t that rational, are they? I’m worried that the effort of the past three years will have been in vain.”

At that moment, the corners of Chung Myung’s mouth rolled up wickedly.

“In vain?”

“Yes, in vain.”

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gun-ak quietly and opened his mouth.

“Do you know what I hate the most?”

Tang Gun-ak answered with utmost seriousness.

“Southern Edge Sect.”

“…….”

At that instant, Chung Myung’s brain stopped. His mouth, which was spewing words like a flowing stream, hung open, unable to move.

“Is it not?”

“That…. Uh…”

Conflict was evident on Chung Myung’s face. Here, of course, he has to say ‘No!’. Only then can he continue what he was going to say.

But….

‘How can I say with my own mouth that I don’t hate Southern Edge Sect?’

Huh? It’s not that you don’t hate it, you just hate it less?

It’s the same thing, you punks!

In this world, the only thing I hate more than Southern Edge Sect is Magyo!

Chung Myung shut his mouth as if he was speechless. His eyes started rolling left and right frantically.

Seeing Chung Myung’s predicament, Baek Cheon stepped in to help him.

“Gaju-nim, I think he’s not asking who he hates the most, but what kind of situation he hates the most.”

“Tha- That’s right!”

Chung Myung quickly agreed and nodded violently.

Goodness, even Dongryong can be helpful sometimes after being fed!

“Situation?”

“Yes! Situation!”

“…Losing to Southern Edge Sect?”

“…….”

At that moment, Tang Gun-ak seemed to have seen Chung Myung’s face crack like dried plaster.

Chung Myung was not the only one who received mental damage; even Five Swords, who was listening quietly next to him, also shuddered.

“Wow, that pisses me off too.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

“I’d rather bite my tongue and die.”

Baek Cheon, who added the last comment, even seemed ready to draw his sword and rush to Southern Edge Sect right then.

Even the elders and Sect Leader of Mount Hua were nodding as if they agreed that was the right thing to do.

“Ugh… Uh… Certainly… That’s the most annoying thing….”

Chung Myung vigorously shook his head.

“Anyway!”

“……Why are you yelling all of a sudden?”

“I really hate it when people touch my food bowl. Someone else just eating up all the hard work you put in? I absolutely can’t stand it.”

“If it’s as you say, shouldn’t you be even more determined to protect the Yangtze?”

“But there’s one thing I hate even more.”

“…And what is that?”

Chung Myung stared intently at Tang Gun-ak and slowly opened his mouth.

“Getting caught up in illusions like benefits or Righteousness and losing those who shouldn’t be lost.”

“…….”

“I don’t mind losing anything to avoid that.”

Tang Gun-ak shut his mouth.

There was no trace of a smile on Chung Myung’s face. It was evident that his previous statement was his absolute sincerity.

‘Those who shouldn’t be lost…’

Hearing this, Tang Gun-ak couldn’t continue to be stubborn.

“…I see.”

Their gazes met in the air. Tang Gun-ak nodded as if he had made a firm decision.

“I don’t know if this decision is right or wrong, but…”

His unadorned true feelings flowed calmly.

“I just trust you, that’s all.”

A soft smile appeared on the lips of Tang Gun-ak.