Return of the Mount Hua Sect
Chap 960

“… … please."

Originally, kneeling down and bowing your head is a servile attitude that a warrior should never take.

However, no one here thought Namgung Dowi was a coward. How could a person think like that?

“… … Young Patriarch.”

Hyun Jong was the first to move.

“Young Patriarch, this is… … . what is this... … .”

'What happened?' He was about to ask, but hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

Did he really not know?

Did he really not know what kind of hardship Namgung is going through in the Yangtze River?

Instead of asking a question, Hyun Jong approached Namgung Dowi and grabbed his shoulder. The moment Hyun Jong's trembling hand touched it, Namgung Dowi's body also flinched.

“… … Sect leader.”

Namgung Do-wi lifted his head with difficulty and looked at Hyun Jong.

The moment he met his reddened eyes, Hyun Jong subconsciously bit his lip.

“On Plum Blossom Island… … .”

“… … .”

"… … The mighty swordsmen of the Namgung Family members are still being imprisoned there.”

“… … Young Patriarch.”

“Those who are injured die day by day, and those who survive just wait for the day to die... … . Yes, just waiting.”

Hyun Jong's shoulders trembled.

 

"Please… … Please help, Sect Leader. ...them… … Please help them.”

When Namgungdowi tried to lower his head to the ground again, Hyun Jong quickly grabbed him by the shoulders.

“… … Don't do this, Young Patriarch.”

"Please."

On the other hand, Tang Gun-ak, who was watching the situation, turned to Zhao Gai. Seeing the anger in his eyes, Zhao Gai sighed and opened his mouth.

“Shaolin… … .”

But he hesitated for a moment and bit his lip.

Was it really all Shaolin's fault?

“Gaibang and Kunlun, and even Shaolin did not help Namgung.”

"Why?"

“… … Ten Thousand People Room has come to reinforcement. In such a situation, if you fight the Waterway on the river... … .”

 

"I'm not asking that, Elder."

Tang Gun-ak's voice was so bleak that it felt like a demon that had crawled up from the breast. That's how great his anger was.

“I know the situation. What I ask is, why are you still just watching?”

 

“… … .”

Zhao Gai could not answer.

There are so many reasons, but none of them can be an acceptable reason.

 

"This… … .”

Tang Gun-nak showed his teeth and glared at him, but Zhao Gai could not bear to meet his gaze and turned his head away.

How could he not know how hard the Tang Family has worked to protect those the Nine Great Sects and One Union couldn't protect?

In the past, he used to ridicule them under the name of the Ten Great Sects, but here he is just a sinner. No one under the name of the Ten Great Sects dares to raise his head in front of Mount Hua and Tang Family. No, he shouldn't be.

“… … What about Namgung Hwang?”

“… … .”

“What happened to Namgung’s Patriarch?”

The reason Tang Gun-ak asked this question was quite simple. The Namgung Hwang he knew was not the one who would risk his life to escape.

No, it would be more accurate to say that he was not a great man to send his son to death alone.

"Maybe… … .”

Zhao Gai couldn't help but hang his head.

Grit.

The dreadful sound of Tang Gun-nak's teeth gnashing spread out. Tang Gun-ak's knuckles revealed thick veins under his wide sleeves.

 

[Translated by 'JustA Chung Myung fanatic']

 

"Please."

Then Namgung Dowi raised his head and looked at everyone. Tears flowed from his eyes, mixed with dried blood.

"them… … . Please save them. I'm begging you."

“… … .”

"please… … .”

Hyun Jong gave power to the hand holding Namgung Dowi's shoulder. However, no answer came out of his mouth.

If it was all about risking his life, he would have already run towards Maehwa Island without any hesitation. But isn't he the only one who has to risk his life right now?

He cannot tell them to risk their lives.

“… … I'm sorry."

Hyun Jong's shoulders trembled.

"I'm sorry… … . I'm sorry, Young Patriarch. I’m really… …sorry."

This was not an apology to Namgung Dowi.

Maybe it's an apology to himself. Those painful days, the time when he had to bear the heavy responsibility of the Sect Leader of a ruined sect and just endure and endure.

Wasn't Hyun Jong resentful?

That no one reached out and helped.

That no one heard his cries.

How could he not complain and cry in pain?

Even so, Hyun Jong could not hold Namgung Dowi's hand. The pain made his teeth clench.

'I… … .'

It was then.

Sreung.

The sound of a sword being drawn came from behind.

Hyun Jong looked back with trembling eyes.

Baek Cheon looked at the sword he pulled out and put it back into the scabbard. Then he calmly took a step forward.

The eyes that looked at Hyun Jong without a word were full of courage.

“Baek Cheon… … .”

Sreung!

Yu Yi-seol pulled out her sword and checked with a speed even faster than Baek Cheon's. Then, she sheathed her sword and walked over and stood next to Baek Cheon.

It wasn't just the two of them.

Yoon Jong walked with hard eyes and supported Baek Chun’s back. Jogeol guarded Yoonjong's back with a face burning with raging spirit. Tang So-so stood behind Yu Yi-seol in silence, and Baek Sang and the rest of Mount Hua's disciples drew their swords in unison and checked, and then silently formed the line.

“… … you guys… … .”

Hyun Jong shut his mouth as if he was speechless for a moment.

Without anyone telling, all of them came forward at once. As if they hadn't forgotten that Hyun Jong was the one who decided all of this.

But their actions speak for themselves.

The moment he gave an order, they would rush to Yangtze River without hesitation.

𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝. 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝.

Un Geom slowly walked over to stand behind them. Un Am, unlike usual, stood by him with a firm face.

Hyun Jong bit his lip hard as he looked at it. A riot rose in his chest.

He wanted to help.

He also wanted to run to the Yangtze River right away. but… … .

'I am the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.'

It was the moment when Hyun Jong was about to shut his eyes.

 

Sreung.

Chung Myung, who had been silent all this time, drew his sword halfway and glanced at it.

“Chung Myung… … .”

Hyun Jong looked at him in surprise. However, instead of giving his gaze to Hyun Jong, Chung Myung looked at Namgung Dowi. And he slowly opened his mouth.

 

"Answer me."

 

“… … .”

Namgung Dowi raised his trembling head and looked up at him.

 

“Why should we help you?”

“… … .”

“It’s a dangerous place. If you help, we must risk our lives too. But why should we risk our lives?”

“… … .”

"Answer me."

 

Namgung Dowi's eyes widened greatly.

There were so many things he wanted to say. There was no end to what could be said. However, none of them were words that could completely convince them.

“… … I... I."

Logic collapsed in the face of desperation, and everything he had had become useless. Now, all that was left was a single human named Namgung Dowi.

“… can’t … I can't.”

“… … .”

Chung Myung's lips hardened even more.

Namgung Dowi sobbed as his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

"they… … . My brothers, my family... … I can’t just stand by and watch them die like that.”

Chung Myung's gaze landed on the back of the crouching Namgung Dowi.

"Please… … . please."

Chung Myung could understand the emotions on his terribly trembling back. That trembling comes neither from pain nor from sorrow.

 

Fear.

Namgung Dowi was trembling in fear.

He feared that Chung Myung would refuse. He feared that he would have to face himself for not being able to protect those who must be protected.

He feared that he would have to watch everyone die, leaving him alone in this world.

He was trembling at that great fear.

 

Right.

It was just like…

“… … .”

Only then did Chung Myung's gaze, which had been silently glaring at Namgung Dowi, turned to Hyun Jong.

“Sect Leader.”

“… … .”

“What would you like?”

There seemed to be no emotion in that voice. There was no urge or dissuade. He was merely asking.

It seemed that the choice is entirely up to Hyun Jong.

Hyun Jong bit his lips so hard that they turned white.

"I… … .”

What he was about to say was I 'can’t help'.

It's okay to point fingers at me for not knowing how to negotiate. After all, it was no different from that Shaolin. It's okay to be laughed at. However, he couldn't bear to order his disciples, who were like him in life, to risk their lives for others.

Hyun Jong might be able to do that, but Mount Hua's Sect Leader, who has passed through those hellish days, cannot.

But the words of not helping did not come out of my mouth. No matter how hard she tried, only a light moan leaked out as if his throat was choking.

At that time, Chung Myung, who had been silently looking at Hyun Jong, opened his mouth.

 

“There was one person I very respected.”

“… … .”

“He was a great Sect Leader. Everyone believed in him and followed him, and everyone was willing to risk their lives for him. He was literally the most perfect person to lead a faction.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly. For that sounded like an accusation of his weakness.

"But."

Chung Myung looked directly at Hyun Jong and said.

“But for me, you are not any inferior to him.”

“Chung Myung-ah… … .”

“There is only one thing missing.”

Chung Myung kept his mouth shut for a moment.

 

A short silence passed, and Hyun Jong, unable to overcome the weight, sighed and asked first.

“What is it?”

At first glance, it was a voice tinged with desperation.

“What I lack… … What is it?”

Chung Myung replied with an expressionless face.

“You know that too.”

There was not an inch of faltering in his gaze.

“The sword in your hand, Sect Leader… … .”

He paused for a moment, the corners of his mouth twisting and his white teeth exposed.

Srng.

His sword was completely pulled out of its scabbard.

“… … How sharp is it.”

The moment those words were spoken, all of Mount Hua's disciples drew their swords in unison.

 

In the darkest dawn, the swords lowered down shone white in the darkness.

Tang Gunak, who had been silently watching, clenched his fists. This sensation of goosebumps running through his body could be described as a shudder.

A calm voice came out.

“I am the Sect Leader’s sword.”

Hyun Jong's body trembled.

“Please order.”

Chung Myung bared his teeth and spoke firmly.

“A sword is to carry out one’s will. If the Sect Leader commands it, I will fulfill it. I, and they!”

Hyun Jong's gaze scanned the disciples of Mount Hua, who were lined up in battle.

Everyone was looking at Hyun Jong alone with eyes with unwavering determination.

What was young in those eyes was unmatched trust. It was the belief that their Sect Leader would never make the wrong choice.

“We will do it.”

Hyun Jong gently closed his eyes.

It seemed as if he was in agony, as if he was resolute, or as if he was looking at the path he had to go on his own.

After a long while of silence, when he finally opened his eyes again, there was not a single hesitation left in his eyes.

“Listen up, disciples of Mount Hua.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

All the disciples of Mount Hua got down on one knee and paid their respects.

“We will go to the Yangtze River.”

Everyone's eyes shone clearly even in the dark.

“We will rescue the Namgung Family, who is trapped in Maehwa Island, and let those Evil villains know chivalry still exists in this land!”

"Yes!"

A reply that shook the heavens.

Mount Hua’s disciples stood up in unison.

Namgung Do-wi wept bitterly as he watched the scene. His body tense from anxiety collapsed. But before it was slammed into the ground, someone grabbed him and forced him up.

"Get up."

“Ta-Taoist.”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth and dragged Namgung Dowi.

“If there is something you need to do, do it yourself. It's not something we're saving.”

It sounded like the growl of an angry beast.

“Let’s fight together.”

“… … .”

“There is no such thing as having someone do it for you. You are at the forefront. You must be the one to save the Namgung Family.”

The trembling in Namgung Dowi's eyes, which had been looking at Chung Myung with shaking eyes, gradually stopped. And then, those eyes suddenly shone with determination.

"Yes! I will!”

When Chung Myung turned around, all the disciples of Mount Hua were staring at him with confident faces. As if they were waiting for him.

Chung Myung responded to their will with a light nod.

"Let's go!"

Finally, the eastern sky brightened and began to turn red.

And that was also when Mount Hua and Sichuan Tang Family headed to Yangtze River in the name of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.