Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Namgung Dowi’s eyes were filled with tension.

Actually, it may not be anything to be nervous about. Logically, which force in the world would dare to reject Namgung Family?

It may not happen, even if it’s just one in a thousand or ten thousand chance, but he could guarantee that if Namgung Family declared that they were switching to Evil Sects today, even Jang Ilso, Ryeonju of Evil Tyrant Alliance, would shake off the dissuasion around him and swim across the Yangtze River.

Namgung Dowi glanced back. As expected, Namgung Myung’s face was full of ease.

‘Right. That’s only natural, but….’

But Namgung Dowi could not relax at all.

Because this place is Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

According to what he has seen so far, common sense of Kangho does not apply to this Heavenly Comrade Alliance at all. To put it bluntly, has there ever been a case where Heavenly Comrade Alliance acted according to his common sense?

“Huuu.”

Namgung Dowi took a deep breath.

He had no choice but to believe that sincerity would prevail. For now, that is the only way.

“Acting Gaju.”

Hyun Jong quietly called Namgung Dowi. Since he hadn’t officially taken over the position of Gaju yet, the title of Acting Gaju was appropriate at the moment.

“Yes, Maengju-nim.”

“Let’s confirm first. Is it true that Namgung Family is requesting to join Heavenly Comrade Alliance Alliance?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Namgung Dowi took a deep breath and opened his mouth again.

“I will formally request this again here. We, Namgung Family, formally apply to join the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong nodded with a heavy face.

“There could be problems with existing sects, but are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes. Our decision is firm.”

Namgung Dowi’s eyes showed not a hint of wavering.

It was inevitable. Realistically speaking, the current Namgung Family had nowhere else to turn but Heavenly Comrade Alliance. And emotionally, it was much better to be with Heavenly Comrade Alliance than with those Ten Great Sects.

When both logic and emotion are screaming for Heavenly Comrade Alliance, what’s there to hesitate about?

“May I ask the reason?”

“It’s because we’ve seen that there’s no longer any Chivalrousness with them.”

Namgung Dowi looked at everyone with stern eyes and opened his mouth.

“My late father headed to the Plum Blossom Island to take responsibility for the disaster at the Yangtze River and to revive Kangho’s spirit of Chivalrounsess that had fallen. The six characters of Azure Sky Namgung Family cannot stand without the foundation of Chivalrousness. That was my father’s teaching.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gun-ak closed his eyes tightly. The mention of Namgung Hwang seemed to stir a lot of thoughts.

“But Ten Great Sects prioritized their own benefits over Chivalrousness. It’s not a fault. I don’t want to blame them. However!”

Namgung Dowi’s face was filled with conviction.

“If my father had not tragically died and had set foot on this land, he surely would have chosen to be with Heavenly Comrade Alliance, not Ten Great Sects. I think the future of the Namgung family should be with Heavenly Comrade Alliance, not with Ten Great Sects and Five Great Family.”

Just as Hyun Jong was about to nod as if it was enough, Namgung Dowi opened his mouth again.

“And this decision is not just about getting through the current crisis. I also want to instill pride in the children of Namgung Family. The pride that we are a faction that pursues Chivalrousness, not just for the sake of principle or profit!”

Mount Hua’s disciples in the back nod without realizing it.

In fact, pride like this is nothing. Compared to the vast amount of things that can be gained by pursuing profit, what is so great about pride that has no place to be used?

Yet, it’s that very nothing that straightens one’s back.

Shaolin could not bear to look people in the eyes of Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Namgung Family. It’s because Shaolin lacks pride in itself and pride in the sect.

Mount Hua’s disciples knew that pride did not come from strength. So naturally, their heads nodded in agreement.

“So I dare to beg you.”

Namgung Dowi bowed his head.

“Please accept our Namgung Family as a member of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. We will strive and strive again to make sure that Maengju’s decision is indeed the right one.”

Hyun Jong smiled.

‘Excellent.’

How many days has it been since Namgung Dowi left Plum Blossom Island? No matter how great someone is, it’s impossible to be free from the shock of losing one’s father and witnessing family members die right before one’s eyes.

However, Namgung Dowi was extremely determined. He is not dwelling on the past but talking about the future. After overcoming the difficult and painful present, he was moving towards the future of Namgung.

So how could that not be delightful?

Regardless of affiliation, seeing a promising junior makes one feel proud. Hyun Jong’s face, which had been frozen ever since he came to the Yangtze, was brightened for the first time.

“What do you all think?”

Joy was evident in his voice. Tang Gun-ak, knowing that Hyun Jong was happy, smiled.

“It seems like Maengju-nim has already made up his mind, so how can my opinion be of any help?”

“If you say so, it would embarrass me.”

At Hyun Jong’s words, Tang Gun-ak looked at Namgung Dowi with a smile.

“There’s no reason it shouldn’t be. Shouldn’t we be the ones bowing our heads and asking to be together with a sect like Namgung?”

“Indeed.”

“Such a sect asks us, which force in the world could refuse? I am in favor.”

Hyun Jong nodded happily.

“Does anyone else object?”

“None.”

As if they had agreed beforehand, they all responded in unison. None of them bore any grudge against Namgung Family, so it was natural. From Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s perspective, there is no harm in expanding its influence by accepting Namgung Family.

Even if one were to coldly calculate the benefits, this was a significant gain.

Although their forces had drastically diminished, it was still Namgung Family. It is not at a level that ordinary sects would dare to confront. Because the term ‘the head of Five Great Family’ is not a modifier obtained by throwing dice.

“This issue isn’t something we can decide on our own opinions alone, but I don’t think the elders of Outer clans would object. So, with the authority of Maengju, I’ll allow….”

“Not possible!”

“…Namgung Family….”

Just as Hyun Jong was about to smoothly grant permission, he flinched and turned towards the source of the opposing voice.

Im Sobyeong, who always smiled leisurely while fluttering his fan, was glaring at everyone with a scary face.

“No, Nokrim King….”

“I can’t allow it until dirt gets in my eyes!”

“Uh….”

“How in the world can this happen! I absolutely cannot overlook this…”

Ppong!

Chung Myung, who kicked Im Sobyeong without delay, overturned his eyes.

“But where does this bastard open his mouth? Is this a place for Evil Sects to rant?”

Im Sobyeong, who was hit in the side, rolled around on the ground but raised his head without the slightest discouragement.

“No! Isn’t this too much? Speaking of which, what did Namgung do to Heavenly Comrade Alliance? These bastards were just messing around in Anhui and got beaten by Evil Sects, and now they want to take shelter under Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s eaves because they’re having a hard time!”

Im Sobyeong spouted ghostly fire (??(鬼火)) from his glare. The momentum was so great that not only Hyun Jong but even Tang Gun-ak flinched.

But unfortunately, there was a person here who didn’t care at all about Im Sobyeong’s momentum.

Chung Myung, who was looking at Im Sobyeong with narrowed eyes, stabbed his eyes with two fingers.

“Arghh!”

Im Sobyeong covered his eyes and fell backward. At the same time, everyone unconsciously grimaced and covered their own eyes.

“Where is this Evil Sects bastard glaring his eyes at? I’ll pluck them out!”

“Keu- Keuuk!”

Im Sobyeong was glaring at Hyun Jong with venomous eyes while he was shedding tears from his poked eyes. It was obvious that it would be useless to tell Chung Myung anyway, so he was going to bite someone who could communicate with him.

“Even if we’re from Evil Sects! For the past three years, we’ve worked like dogs! If you have luggage to carry, we carry them! If you want us to carry people, we carry them! If you want someone to do escort, we also escort them!”

As Im Sobyeong’s voice grew louder, Hyun Jong shrank little by little.

“It’s been like that for three years! But what? Let Namgung Family join Heavenly Comrade Alliance? We haven’t even joined yet! How can you let them join and leave us hanging?”

“…..”

Hyun Jong had nothing to say even though he had ten mouths.

Looking back, for the past three years… No, even before that, Mount Hua had been exploiting Nokrim to the fullest. No ordinary Evil Sects or merchant would be able to exploit and deprive a force as frugally as this.

Of course, all of that was actually closer to Chung Myung’s actions than Mount Hua’s actions, but in any case, if Chung Myung belongs to Mount Hua, it is true that responsibility also falls on Mount Hua.

“People should have a conscience!”

Im Sobyeong was furious. And the answer came not from Hyun Jong but from Chung Myung.

“Ah, if it’s unfair, why don’t you join Righteous Sects, you bastard! Who told you to be Evil Sects?”

Normally, Im Sobyeong would have kept quiet at these words, but today he shouted loudly as if he didn’t see anything.

“No, what can I do when I was born and my father was the Nokrim King! What can I do about it! Aigo, please retract your decision, shall I be reborn? Do you know what it feels like to be a person who was born as a young master but whose father is the leader of Evil Sects?”

“I wouldn’t know. I’m an orphan.”

“…Ah, then you really wouldn’t understand.”

Im Sobyeong nodded as if he understood.

While everyone was dumbfounded at the scene, Im Sobyeong spoke again.

“I too wished to be born into a noble family, take the civil service exams, and make a career! But how can I wash my hands when my father is the leader of bandits! I was born like this, but if I try to live a decent life without giving up, you should help me out! Why are you so disrespectful to people because I’m from a different background?”

“… … .”

“Abolish discrimination against Evil Sects! Step down, corrupt Maengju…”

Ppok!

Chung Myung hit Im Sobyeong again, feeling he had crossed the line.

“No, this guy just crosses the line when given an inch! Alright, you’re dying at my hands today!”

“Sto- Stop it, Chung Myung.”

Perhaps because he thought it was a sight he could not bear to see without tears, Hyun Jong quickly tried to dissuade Chung Myung.

“Keu- Keuhum.”

Tang Gun-ak was also embarrassed, so he covered his mouth with his fist and repeatedly cleared his throat.

“In fact… among the words spoken by Nokrim King… there wasn’t anything particularly incorrect…”

Mount Hua’s disciples also looked at the ceiling and looked the other way. They were filled with embarrassment.

“But….”

Hyun Jong spoke to Im Sobyeong with a slightly red face.

“I fully understand the words of Nokrim King. And we also acknowledge that, as a matter of duty, we must now accept Nokrim into Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

“But….”

A slightly troubled and awkward expression flashed across Hyun Jong’s face.

“Given that Ten Great Sects are currently attempting to slander us as colluding with Evil Sects, it’s not easy to grant immediate approval for joining. How about we handle this once the situation has calmed down a bit? We ask for your understanding.”

“Ah, approval to be granted later?”

“Yes. That is to say, that’s right.”

If you think about it, it was a perfectly reasonable statement.

For Bop Jeong, who is trying to somehow tie Heavenly Comrade Alliance to Evil Sects, Nokrim’s joining would indeed be a good opportunity for him. There was no way Im Sobyeong, who had an amazing head, failed to understand this much.

However.

He rummaged through his belongings, pulled out a paper, and spread it out wide before promptly presenting it to Hyun Jong.

“What is this?”

“It’s a pledge.”

“…A- A pledge?”

“Yes. This is a pledge to accept Noktim into Heavenly Comrade Alliance! Including a promise to announce it within a year!”

“…..”

Hyun Jong looked at the pledge with trembling eyes. It was so dense with tiny letters that it hurt his eyes.

“No, Nokrim King?”

“Stamp it, please. Stamp.”

“…..”

“Right now!”

“…..”

Thus, at the meeting to approve Namgung Family’s joining, Nokrim’s membership was also approved.

Leaving behind subtle implications and discomfort.