Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Mount Hua’s disciples who had parked the cart in front of the manor fell forward all at once.

“Keueuh….”

“I- It’s over….”

“Finally… Finally, damn it…”

It was a scene deserving of applause. After shuttling back and forth between Kugang and Wuhan numerous times a day, they finally succeeded in transporting all the civilians who wished to relocate to Sichuan to this manor.

“…I can’t do this again. never.”

“You can say that again.”

Mount Hua’s disciples were fed up.

Of course, one might wonder. Why would it be so hard for such trained martial artists to go back and forth between Wuhan and Kugang.

t wouldn’t have been this difficult if it were just coming and going. If only that demon hadn’t been on their backs, pushing them to go faster.

“Tsk!”

The demon jumped off the pile of luggage on the cart and looked around with a disapproving look on his face.

“…What’s so difficult about this, tsk.”

“……”

“Feels like we could go another round.”

“It’s over, you bastard!”

“We’ve scoured every village there is!”

“We even carried a dog from its kennel! What more do you want us to transport!”

“Kill us! Just kill us instead!”

The disciples of Mount Hua foamed at the mouth in frustration, while Cheongmyeong clicked his tongue, seemingly disappointed.

If there were even the slightest chance, he would roll these scraps once more, but unfortunately, there was nothing more to move even in Chung Myung’s eyes.

Then, Hyun Jong, who had stepped down from the cart, looked at the disciples with a pitiful face.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

“Not at all, Sect Leader!”

“Of course, it should be done!”

The disciples of Mount Hua who were lying down sprang to their feet and answered. Seeing that, Chung Myung’s cheeks puffed up.

“Wow, look at everyone discriminating people.”

“Does it look like discriminating!”

“Of course, we have to!”

“This thing has gone crazy and now want to be treated like Sect Leader!”

“That bastard doesn’t know ups and downs!”

Chung Myung tilts his head crookedly while listening to the outpouring of complaints.

‘I’ll have to exorcist this sometime soon.’

When they were under Bongmun and being beaten up, they were all compliant. But now that they’ve tasted a bit of outside water (?), they’re starting to rear their heads again. At times like this, you need to puncture that bloated liver of theirs with an acupuncture needle and let it burst.

“Hyun Young.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Is everything really over?”

In response to Hyun Jong’s question, Hyun Young took out the ledger and flipped through it to check.

“Yes, Sect Leader. Everyone has completed preparations for relocation. In addition, all the commoners who wanted to go with us have arrived at Wuhan, and we have confirmed with the remaining people once more, so there is nothing more to do.”

“Mm. I see.”

Hyun Jong’s expression was not very bright.

Mount Hua did their best and did everything they could, but there were still a lot of people who wanted to stay on the Yangtze River. Therefore, he couldn’t just be happy about completing their task.

However, he couldn’t show such feelings in front of his disciples who had worked hard. Hyun Jong nodded with a warm smile.

“You’ve all worked hard, so let’s rest for a while.”

“Yes! Sect Leader!”

“Tha- Thank you!”

The disciples’ eyes teared up at the warm words of praise.

However, Chung Myung grumbled repeatedly as if he was not happy that Hyun Jong gave them a break.

“No, what did they do….. They couldn’t even train properly during this time, and after all these chores, they should be training now. The sword will rust. In the first place, you should practice when you’re exhausted like this so that your sword won’t get distracted later when you’re really under pressure…”

“Hohohohoho!”

Hyun Jong expertly buried the grumbling with a hearty laugh.

Even Chung Myung couldn’t continue to nitpick in front of the Sect Leader. So, he started glaring at the disciples, who were still keeping an eye on him.

Mount Hua’s disciples shivered under his glaring eyes.

‘Look at that, that.’

‘Look at those glares.’

‘That jackal-like punk. Aigoo, ancestor-nim. That bastard is a Taoist.’

Hyun Jong pulled Chung Myung away, who was glancing at Mount Hua disciples with eyes like a snake eyeing its prey.

“You too, go in and rest a bit.”

“Hngg.”

Chung Myung couldn’t let go of his regrets and made a groaning sound as if he was very disappointed. At that time, Tang Gun-ak, who came out of the manor, smiled as he looked at the now-familiar sight of Mount Hua.

“Thank you for your hard work, Maengju-nim.”

“No, it isn’t. It’s hardly work…”

Hyun Jong glanced at his disheveled disciples and covered his mouth to cough discreetly. Seeing their state, he couldn’t even say in empty words that it wasn’t hard work.

Tang Gun-ak looked at Mount Hua’s disciples and asked. To be more precise, he glanced at Chung Myung and Five Swords.

“Then do you plan to return to Shaanxi now?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

Hyun Jong sighed softly with a slightly distraught expression on his face. They had originally come here at the request of Tang Family. The tasks they were supposed to do here could be considered finished.

However, there were many obstacles to returning to Shaanxi like this.

“…I’m still concerned about those left by the Yangtze.”

“Sect Leader.”

Tang Gun-ak shook his head.

“I understand the Sect Leader’s feelings. But…. As Sect Leader knows, if we fight to save them, it inevitably means getting involved in the affairs of the Yangtze.”

“Hmm.”

“Isn’t that different from what we thought?”

“I know. I know, but…”

Hyun Jong glanced somewhere. At the end of his gaze was the back of Chung Myung, facing south. Recently, there have been a lot of cases of Chung Myung staring blankly at the Yangtze River.

‘He must have a lot to worry.’

There are moments when someone has a conflict between the direction their heart moves and the direction their head moves. Perhaps Chung Myung is in that situation right now.

At times like this, especially, he, as the Sect Leader, must stay firm. There is no contradiction in Chung Myung’s words that one should not intervene in the affairs of the Yangtze River.

“…I think we should return.”

“Yes, Sect Leader. The Tang Family also plans to lead those here to Sichuan.”

“That would be best.”

Hyun Jong quietly nodded.

In the end, that will be reasonable. Having once become enemies with Shaolin, they couldn’t face them and collaborate anymore.

“We’ll take a little rest, do some maintenance, and then head to Shaanxi.”

“Yes, that seems best.”

Tang Gun-ak smiled. Originally, it was Tang Family side that had lingering feelings, but when a large number of people who favored Tang Family migrated to Sichuan, the regret seemed to have faded a lot.

The concern must be no different for him, but leaving without lifting a finger and just walking away is incomparable.

“Yes. Then…”

It was just when Hyun Jong called his disciples and was about to head into the manor.

“Hm?”

Tang Gun-ak’s head turned to one side. He sensed the approach of people at a rapid pace.

‘Martial artists?’

Judging by their speed and momentum, they are by no means ordinary people.

Hyun Jong and Mount Hua’s disciples also seemed to have sensed the presence, so they all stood up and looked in that direction.

And then.

Paaat!

Bursting through the dense bushes as if breaking them apart, a person emerged. Tang Gun-ak, who recognized the face, could not hide his surprise for a moment.

“…Isn’t that Elder-nim?”

The person who appeared at the forefront was unmistakably Ciwu Beggar, an elder of Beggar Union. Although they didn’t really have a close relationship, there was no way he, Gaju of Tang Family, wouldn’t recognize an elder of Beggar Union.

“How come you’re here…”

Even his behavior was strange.

Rags are almost a symbol of Beggar Union. But right now, Ciwu Beggar was not wearing a top. Even stranger, the other Beggar Union disciples who appeared behind him were also only wearing pants.

“Huff! Huff!”

Ciweu Beggar wiped the sweat from his face with one hand.

“…Gaju-nim.”

He then turned his gaze to Hyun Jong, who stood next to Tang Gun-ak.

“Sect Leader.”

He opened his mouth with a stern look on his face.

“…I’ve brought someone who wishes to meet with you both.”

“Yes?”

As soon as those words finished, a man, drenched in sweat, struggled down from the back of a Beggar Union disciple. He seemed to have no strength to support his body, so he used the sword he was holding as a cane.

Everyone who saw him held their breath. The word “gruesome” was an understatement to describe his condition.

His clothes were completely soaked and sticky due to the dark red blood. And the body, visible between the torn clothes here and there, was full of terrible dreadful wounds.

Her hair was scattered in clumps, and his bluish lips were as dry and twisted as they could be and cracked here and there.

At first, no one recognized him. This was because it was difficult to connect that messed up appearance with his usual glamorous and respectable appearance.

However, someone who was looking at the familiar shape for a while took a deep breath and muttered something like a groan.

“Namgung….”

Those who heard the words widened their eyes.

“Namgoong… Do…wi.”

Everyone who found out his identity belatedly looked in shock.

No one wondered why Namgung Dowi, who should have been on Plum Blossom Island, was here. All they could do was stare intently into Namgung Dowi’s eyes through his disheveled hair.

Step.

At that moment, Namgung Dowi took a staggering step forward.

Step.

Another step.

He stumbled before he could even take two steps, so one of the beggars unconsciously flinched to help him. But he soon bit his lip and withdrew his hand. Knowing it was not his place to assist Nangong Dowi right now.

Step. Step.

The sword, as precious as life to a swordsman, repeatedly struck the dirt ground, but no one dared point a finger.

Because everyone can see how much pain Namgung Dowi must be enduring to take that one step.

Step. Step.

The uninterrupted steps that seemed won’t stop finally stopped in front of someone.

In the silence, Namgung Dowi and Chung Myung’s eyes met.

Namgung Dowi’s eyes are constantly fluttering as if longing for something, and Chung Myung’s eyes are looking at him without the slightest wavering.

“…Dojang.”

Thump.

Namgung Dowi knelt down on the spot as if collapsing.

Mount Hua’s disciples, who at first thought he had fainted and rushed to help, soon stopped in place.

Namgung Dowi, who was kneeling and looking up at Chung Myung, slowly bowed his head to the ground.

A cracked voice came out from his mouth as he knelt precariously, looking like he was about to collapse.

“Help….”

“……”

“…Please help us.”

Everyone closed their eyes.

Baek Cheon, Yoo Iseol, Yoon Jong, Jo-Gol, and Tang Soso. Hyun Jong and the elders, and even Un generation and other Mount Hua’s disciples.

The sight was too agonizing to watch with a calm heart.

“Namgung….”

A voice that sounded like scraping metal continued softly.

There was no outburst of rage, no cry of despair. It might have felt overly composed, but the desperation in the voice was conveyed clearly to everyone.

“Namgung… Please help us.”

Namgung Dowi bowed his head and grabbed the dirt on the ground as if scratching it.

“…Please.”

Chung Myung, who was the only one looking at the hunched back of Namgung Dowi without saying a word, eventually turned his head.

The darkest part of the night sky, just before dawn breaks, spilled into view.

‘Damn it….’

A deep sigh escaped Chung Myung’s mouth.