Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Baek Cheon’s face is slightly distorted.

Let’s be honest. Yes, let’s be honest.

He fully understood that getting involved in the Yangtze River operation could be playing into Shaolin’s hands. Although Baek Cheon was still relatively young, his experience made him more than a match for the first-class disciples of most sects.

This means that he completely understood why Chung Myung would foam at the mouth and throw a fit at the mere mention of the Yangtze River.

But that didn’t mean Baek Cheon didn’t want to go to the Janggang River.

Baek Cheon, a disciple of Mount Hua, does not want to get caught up in the Yangtze’s affairs, but Baek Cheon, as a swordsman, wants to run to the Yangtze right now.

Why?

‘To put my training to use, of course!’

In the past three years, disciples of Mount Hua, including Baek Cheon, have literally gone through hell.

Mount Hua’s training is so intense that if other sects see it, they will naturally say, ‘Aren’t they crazy?’ But that crazy bastard who had laid the foundation for that intense training tightening the screws and going all out, then how intense must those three years of training have been?

Just thinking about it made his body tremble, his teeth grind, his legs cramp, and tears almost came to his eyes.

So, shouldn’t he prove it?

It wasn’t just Baek Cheon’s wish to smash the heads of those despicable Evil Sects from Evil Tyrant Alliance with his Plum Blossom Sword and shout ‘I prepared this for you!’

Wasn’t that the sentiment of all Mount Hua’s sword warriors who want to pay back the tears they shed over the past three years with bloody tears?

So to be honest, he was rather pleased.

Whatever the reason, if they go to the Yangtze River, they would inevitably get entangled with the Evil Sects, and then they could return all the pain they received!

But… what greeted Baek Cheon, who came down from Mount Hua with high hopes, was not a bright future as a swordsman of Kangho, but an unpleasant past he didn’t even want to recall.

“This….”

Baek Cheon opened his mouth with a slightly trembling voice.

“Chung Myung?”

“Hm?”

“…What is this?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“Is this young man going senile, not recognizing what he sees?”

“I know what it is, damn it!”

“Then why ask?”

“Why is it here!”

Baek Cheon’s voice became furious. What his trembling fingertips pointed to were dozens of carts placed at the entrance of Huayin, and Hwang Jongwi smiled happily in front of the carts.

Hwang Jongwi greeted Chung Myung with a bright smile, unaware of Baek Cheon’s frustration.

“Thankfully, it seems we’re not too late, Dojang.”

Chung Myung greeted him warmly, grasping his hand.

“Aigoo, you’ve worked so hard. Really appreciate it.”

“It’s a request from Dojang, so of course, we had to do it. As you instructed, we’ve reinforced these carts. At this point, even if it gets hit by Mount Hua’s sword, it won’t break at once.”

“Keuu! As expected of the quality from the Eunha Merchant Guild. So reliable!”

“Hahaha. As you can see, we’ve increased the size of these carts to carry more goods, and more attention has been paid to ride comfort (?) so that people can ride it well. And it weighed twice as much as before.”

At that moment, Jo-Gol raises his hand.

“I’m sorry to interrupt!”

“Tell me, Jo-Gol Dojang.”

“Don’t people usually brag about cutting the weight half, not doubling it…?”

“In general, that’s right, but this is the request of Chung Myung Dojang. We did our best.”

Jo-Gol looked back at Chung Myung with a face that lost all vitality in an instant. Chung Myung asked bluntly.

“Why? What?”

“…Son of a beast.”

That’s right.

At that moment, Chung Myung turned to look at the Five Swords and smirked mischievously.

Even the disciples of Mount Hua, who did not understand the situation, shuddered for a moment how vicious the expression looked.

“Aigo, my Sasuk, Sahyungs.”

“Were you perhaps expecting to go to the Yangtze River and chivalrously swing your swords against the Evil Sects?”

Chung Myung giggled as he saw the flinching disciples of Mount Hua.

“Aigoo, wake up, these yangbans. I told you, didn’t I? We’re not fighting! What are we going to do there? Yoon Jong Sahyung!”

“W- We’re going to save the common people.”

“To be precise, we are going to move those people, to move them! Do you know what the world says about that?”

“What do they say….”

“Transport! It’s called transport, transport!”

Chung Myung snorted.

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

“Since when, you madman!”

“That’s how it was originally!”

As soon as the word was over, all the disciples of Mount Hua painfully realized.

‘This bastard is really going to move luggage.’

It felt like some crazy person had poured a bucket of cold water over the tiny flame that had been burning in their hearts.

Then, Baek Cheon, who realized something, opened his eyes wide.

“Wa- Wait a minute.”

“Hm?”

“When did you arrange for these carts?”

“When I went to the Eunha Merchant Guild, I told them.”

“Then, then you knew this was gonna happen from then….?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“It’s just that everyone’s body and internal strength have improved these days. I thought the cart could be a little bigger than before.”

“I figured if we’re making them, we might as well make a lot. It’ll be useful somewhere. I didn’t know we’d use them like this, though…”

Wasn’t that like saying he had been calculating how to make the most efficient use of them right after the sect was out of Bongmun?

“Demon.”

“A man even dogs wouldn’t bite.”

“He really chose the wrong sects. Had he gone to Evil Sects, he would have made a mark in Kangho’s history several times over.”

“Shut it.”

Chung Myung waved his hand dismissively as if shooing away flies.

“Don’t waste your breath and grab the cart! From now on, Sahyungs are cows. Not swordsmen but cows! Our goal is to run to Yangtze River at top speed and transport every single commoner to safety without fail!”

“Any questions?”

“…No, damn it.”

The hearts of Mount Hua’s disciples, once inflated with the excitement of a chivalrous journey, were now filled with a dark gloom.

“Keuhum, this is a great cart.”

“This… I think we should check if there are any issues when the common people board them.”

“Yes, Sect Leader. It’s important.”

And the darkness grew deeper when the elders quietly boarded the cart, and the watching Un cleared their throats and followed behind.

Hyun Jong laughed.

“Chung Myung is right. Fighting with a sword is not necessarily a chivalrous act. True chivalrousness is about giving people what they need most. Do they want us to fight? Or do they want us to help them?”

It was a good point.

It would have sounded better if he hadn’t jumped on the cart beforehand.

Sect Leader, you look very comfortable, don’t you?

“There’s no time! Quickly, get on.”

Mount Hua’s disciples, with faces like cattle being led to the slaughterhouse, trudged over and grabbed hold of the carts. At that moment, the familiar sensation they felt in their fingertips only added to their sorrow.

Ah… Even after three years, it hasn’t left their hands.

“Hahaha.”

Hwang Jongwi, who was watching from the side, laughed as if he was satisfied.

“Normally, the handles should be larger, but since these carts are for Mount Hua, I paid special attention. The thickness of the handles is made to match the swords you use, so you should have no discomfort.”

…How tearfully grateful I am.

Such thoughtful consideration, Sandanju-nim.

“Eh-cha!”

Chung Myung jumped slightly and climbed into the leading cart.

“Now, let’s go straight to the Yangtze River! Let’s go! Run, Dongryong!”

“Oh, damn it!”

“Let’s goooooo!”

As soon as Chung Myung’s word ended, the large and heavy carts shot forward with incredible speed, defying their weight.

“Whoever arrives last will be used as a wheel, so run for your life!”

A mix of groans and shouts filled the air. The carts quickly sped off into the distance.

“Hahaha.”

Hwang Jongwi, who was left behind, burst into hearty laughter.

“May they have a safe journey.”

Hwang Jongwi deeply bowed towards the distant cloud of dust.

* * *

Kwaaaang!

The hands of Namgung Dowi were trembling. A sweet smell came out of his mouth, and his body felt as heavy as soaked cotton.

But he was not given time to rest.

“Taaaaat!”

He leapt up, smashing an incoming cannon shell with a single strike.

Kwaang!

The collision of the cannon shell and the sword created a huge explosion.

“Kkeuk.”

Such cannon shells were actually nothing to him. If he had been at his peak, he could have blown it off like a feather.

But now, to him in his current state, those cannonballs felt unbearably heavy and burdensome.

‘These dog-like…’

He felt like he understood what it meant to be withering to death.

The enemies are never in a hurry. They didn’t bombard them with heavy attacks to force a quick collapse, nor did they land excessive forces. They simply attacked the riverbank just enough to keep them from sitting down and resting.

In short, they were very lukewarm attacks.

But when such attacks continued day after day, he couldn’t help but wish for a head-on confrontation, even if it meant facing certain defeat and annihilation.

Slowly but surely, they were being whittled down by the enemy.

Kwaang!

“Aaaaaaargh!”

A scream echoed from somewhere.

If it were only two days ago, everyone would have turned their heads in haste at such scream. And would have roared in rage.

But not anymore. They had grown accustomed to it.

It is not uncommon in Plum Blossom Island to be hit by artillery fire, which would have been easy to avoid if one hadn’t lost their concentration.

Namgung Dowi looked back with a distorted face.

The expressions on the faces of the Azure Sky Sword Squad didn’t show despair or anger.

It was a resignation.

The fiery determination that once filled their faces was gone. They looked more like people who had been dragged miles away to a foreign land and forced to row at the docks.

That resignation, that sense of utter helplessness, had settled on the faces of the Azure Sky Sword Squad.

‘We should have attacked.’

It is not that he does not understand Namgung Hwang’s decision. But comprehending it didn’t mean he thought it was the best course of action.

‘What should I have done?’

And what should he do going forward?

At that moment another shell flew into the island. Namgung Dowi caught a glimpse of an Azure Sky Sword Squad member who couldn’t react in time and stood powerlessly in the path of the cannon shell.

It was a moment when Azure Sky Sword Squad member’s face turned blue with the realization.

Namgung Dowi’s body moved before his mind could think.

Kwaaaaang!

Namgung Dowi, who rushed like a ray of light and struck the cannon shells, clenched his teeth. Perhaps because he was in a hurry to wield the sword and due to improper channeling of his internal energy, his hand that’s holding the sword was torn and poured out red blood.

“So- Sogaju-nim….”

Tok!

Namgung Dowi firmly grasped the shoulder of the Azure Sky Sword Squad member who had narrowly escaped danger.

Expecting a torrent of curses, the Azure Sky Sword Squad member closed his eyes tightly.

“Hold on just a little longer!”

However, what came out of Namgung Dowi’s mouth was not reprimand but encouragement.

A voice with a distinctly different echo from Namgung Hwang resonated throughout the island.

“Clench your teeth! We are the Namgung Family! We may die fighting, but surrendering is not an option!”

“Sogaju-nim!”

“Opportunities will surely come! If they don’t, I’ll create them! I won’t let you die here without even swinging your swords! So!”

Namgung Dowi shouted with a voice boiling with determination.

“Trust me and muster a bit more strength! We will repay this agony and humiliation to them manifold when the time comes!”

Light gradually returned to the eyes of sword warriors at Namgung Family, which had dimmed.

Biting their teeth, they nodded. Their bloodshot eyes fiercely stared down the ships encircling the island.

Eudeuk.

Namgung Dowi, too, bit his lips until they bled, glaring at the Black Dragon Ship floating on the Yangtze River.

He looked really confident.

But the tips of his fingers, desperately hidden in the sleeve, were trembling.

‘Anyone, please… please, quickly.’

Before this faintly revived spark went out….