Return of the Mount Hua Sect

And during those two days… Shaolin monks had not moved a single step from the place they first settled.

No one sat down, and no one left the seat. They just stared at the fleet of Evil Tyrant Alliance, which blocked Plum Blossom Island and the place between them with bloodshot eyes.

There was an utter stillness, devoid of movement, yet their inner turmoil was more violently shaken than ever before.

In life, everyone faces moments of torment between reality and ideals. ‘Living’ means repeating those moments and finding your own stance.

However, the current Shaolin monks have not undergone such a typical process.

Their surroundings, the threshold of Shaolin, were too lofty for mundane anguish, and the ideals they learned were far too noble.

“…Bangjang.”

Unable to bear it any longer, one of the Shaolin monks looked towards their Bangjang with bloodshot eyes.

Hye Bang (??(慧訪)).

He was the one who had visited Mt. Hua in the past to deliver the invitation for the Murim Competition. A suppressed voice escaped from him.

“Like this… Are we just going to stand by and watch?”

“….”

Bop Jeong remained motionless with his gaze fixed forward. It was uncertain whether he even heard the words.

However, Hye Bang continued as if it didn’t matter to him.

“Are you really going to let the people of Namgung Family die like this?”

Then Bop Jeong’s neck muscles flinched slightly. Hye Bang eventually raised his voice.

“Bangjang!”

Only then did Bop Jeong turn his head slowly. And he faced Hye Bang, who was pouring out his anger towards him.

“So, what would you have us do?”

“….”

“I’ll ask you instead. What do you think we should do?”

“….”

“Do you think we should fight against this Evil Tyrant Alliance as it is? Do you believe it’s right to jump into that river, ignoring the battlefield that’s overwhelmingly disadvantageous, and the retreating forces, and perish?”

Hye Bang bit his lip tightly.

There was nothing wrong with Bop Jeong’s words. Jumping into that river now is no different from jumping into a fire while carrying hay.

But…

Hye Bang immediately looked straight at Bop Jeong and spoke.

“Isn’t that a foolish act?”

“Hye Bang!”

“Wasn’t it you, Bangjang, who taught me that?”

At those words, Bop Jeong closed his mouth. His gaze slightly wavered.

“… Shaolin must protect Jungwon. What we should pursue is not only the path of Buddhism (??(佛道)), but also the Chivalrousness of Kangho. You certainly said that.”

“….”

“Is this the way to protect the path of Buddhism, or is it the way to protect Chivalrousness?”

“Enough…”

“Was it all just words? Bangjang!”

“Can you not hold your tongue?”

It was not Bop Jeong but Bop Kye who raised his voice. He glared at Hye Bang with a face full of rage.

“All you do is vent your frustration. However, Bangjang must make decisions that concern the lives of everyone here!”

Hye Bang bit his lip so hard it bled.

“Would you, for that so-called Chivalrousness, lead your Sahyung and Sajil to a path of certain death? Can you proudly say that’s the right thing to do?”

Hye Baang couldn’t answer and lowered his head.

Bangjang’s eyes closed slightly.

In this situation where they can neither move forward nor retreat, everyone’s hearts are twisting and festering. As time passes, it will only worsen. Like a deep scar left by a festering wound, perhaps even after this ordeal is over, the scars will never fully heal.

‘…Jang Ilso.’

This is why he was afraid of Jang Ilso.

Jang Ilso has already won.

Even if Shaolin were to leap into that river, carrying their fate on their back, and manage to save everyone from Namgung, the scars engraved in their hearts would never heal.

Shaolin, which had been moving forward confidently, bearing the two weapons of the path of Buddhism and Chivalrousness, may cease to exist from this moment on.

Thinking that this whole situation was a plan that came from just one person’s head gave him chills and made it difficult to breathe.

A helpless sigh escaped Bop Jeong’s mouth as he opened his eyes again.

He could feel it. The eyes of the disciples looking at him were no longer the same. The anguish and distrust rooted within them were clearly reflected in their gazes towards Bangjang.

And then, something that might be considered fortunate for Bangjang happened.

Jongni Hyeong, leading the swordmasters of Kongtong, and Ciwu Beggaer, who had rallied the beggars of the Beggar Union, arrived.

“What in the world is going on here?”

“…Amitabha.”

Jongni Hyeong couldn’t hide his discomfort as he looked at the fleets blocking Plum Blossom Island.

“On that island…”

“Yes.”

Bangjang nodded weakly.

“There are survivors of Namgung Family.”

At that moment, Ciwu Beggar’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Survivors.

It’s not the wrong term. But isn’t the term ‘survivors’ typically used to refer to a small number of people who have survived a largely decimated force?

It was a very subtle wording.

“Those wicked bastards!”

They are also in a position to lead a sect. Therefore, it was impossible not to understand why Evil Tyrant Alliance was blocking Plum Blossom Island and keeping Namgung Family alive.

“Is it too late?”

“…We came as quickly as we could, but by the time we arrived, Myriad Man Manor had already occupied the river.”

“This, this is… How could Myriad Man Manor from Gwangseo…”

Jongni Hyeong’s complexion darkened noticeably. Myriad Man Manor and water fortress alone are strong enough to be difficult to deal with with just the people here.

However, if such forces had secured ships and occupied the river, it was unimaginable how many sacrifices would have to be made to break through.

Jongni Hyeong asked.

“…Is a breakthrough possible?”

Ciwu Beggar answered nonchalantly.

“A breakthrough isn’t too difficult. If we push in all our forces, what problem could there be?”

“Then….”

Jongni Hyeong’s smiled brightly as if he had seen hope, but in that instant, Ciwu Beggar suddenly extinguished the light.

“But this is not a battle to break through the siege. After breaking through the siege on our own, we must reach Plum Blossom Island, rescue Namgung’s survivors, and then cross the river again.”

“….”

“It means we have to fight the same battle twice. The second time, we’ll be weary and carrying people on our backs.”

Jongni Hyeong’s forehead began to sweat. Only then did the absurdity of the situation fully dawn on him.

“Wha- What if we regroup our forces on Plum Blossom Island first?”

“We would just end up surrounded as well. Do you think they would leave us alone to regroup our forces?”

“….”

“Then, what if we secure ships as well?”

Ciwu Beggar let out a cynical laugh.

“Do you think Paegun hasn’t thought of that? There probably isn’t even a single ship in the hundreds of Li around. Even if we go farther to find ships, by the time we return, the surname Namgung might no longer exist on this river.”

Bop Jeong nodded his head. Ciwu Beggar certainly had a cynical side, but like an elder of Beggar Union, he was able to quickly and accurately grasp the situation.

“Wha- What should we do then?”

“What do you mean?”

Ciwu Beggar looked at the ships deployed. To be precise, toward the people inside.

“We either squeeze out every bit of our strength, risking our lives to rescue Namgung… Or we just stand by and watch them die over there.”

“Wa- Watch them die…!”

Jongni Hyeong’s complexion turned deathly pale.

‘What in the world is this?’

He had considered many scenarios as he rushed to the Yangtze River, but he had never imagined such an absurd situation.

“Wha- What does Bangjang plan to do?”

Jongni Hyeong asked.

This is because he thought that this was not something he could make a decision on. Breaking through that iron-clad defense and making countless sacrifices, or watching Namgung wither away and die, was too much to bear.

“…Amitabha.”

But Bop Jeong shook his head.

“It doesn’t seem right for us to decide this alone.”

“T- Then.”

“Since Peng Family hasn’t arrived yet, I think we should make a decision after Peng Family arrives.”

“Tha- That seems like a good idea.”

Jongni Hyeong nodded furiously.

However, the words were not really uttered based on judgment as to whether Bop Jeong’s words were right or wrong. He was just relieved to be able to postpone, even for a moment, a decision that could determine the fate of a sect.

In fact, if he thought about it a little, it was not something he should just feel relieved about.

Jongni Hyeong looked back at the disciples of Kongtong who were confused as they had not yet fully grasped the situation.

‘Damn it…’

There’s too much time.

They only have three days left. Too short to decide their fate, but excessively long to agonize over themselves in this situation.

From now on, they must suffer, as if being punished, agonizing intensely between ideals and reality.

What kind of ridiculous situation is this?

Ciwu Beggar frowned at Jongni Hyeong, who was at his wits’ end.

‘That’s wrong.’

Decisions should be bold. A decision postponed and delayed can’t be proper.

Moreover, from the conversation they had just had, it felt like the outcome of their decision was already somewhat evident.

However… Ciwu Beggar didn’t want to blame them.

It is undeniable that there has been a subtle rift between the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family. Would they be loyal enough to risk their lives to save the Namgung Family?

Not just their own lives but the fate of their sects?

That was something even Ciwu Beggar would prefer to avoid.

Turning his gaze away from his own cynicism and shame on himself, he stared at Plum Blossom Island.

‘Namgung Gaju, how could you have done such a foolish thing?”

A deep sigh and a breath escaped.

But he didn’t really want to blame Namgung Gaju deeply either. Even the people standing here felt as if their hearts were being scraped out with a knife, but what can he say about the Namgung Family’s feeling of enduring all this while watching the situation on the island?

It was too cruel a price to pay for just one mistake.

Ciwu Beggar, who had been silent, spoke emotionlessly.

“You’d better remember one thing.”

Bop Jeong and Jongni Hyeong looked back at him.

“The choice you make ultimately lies within your hearts. However…”

Ciwu Beggar slightly bit his lip and opened his mouth again.

“The world will remember the choices you have made here. And beyond the world, history will remember.”

“….”

“I hope you make the right choice.”

Leaving those words behind, he turned away. It was too hard for him to keep facing them.

It wasn’t out of disgust for those two. Rather, looking at them made his own self-loathing surge.

‘Who am I to judge?’

Wasn’t he also an accomplice? Leaving the choice to them and merely uttering righteous words, he might be the most cowardly person here.

As Ciwu Beggar stepped back, a beggar followed him.

“Shall I report the situation to the headquarters?”

“…We should.”

However, with only three days left, even the headquarters would struggle to make a decision. It would be a cruel choice for the aged leader of Beggar Union, whose days were already numbered.

“Then I will do so.”

“Wait….”

At that moment, Ciwu Beggar bit his lip.

He knew it was something that should never be done, but he couldn’t help it. As an elder of Beggar Union, it was a path he should not choose, but as a martial artist, he ended up asking the question.

“…Where did you say Mt. Hua was?”