Return of the Mount Hua Sect
Chap 718 (Part 2)

Baek Cheon, who watched Chung Myung burst into tears and thrashed like a man who had lost his tongue, couldn't bear to see more and turned his head away.

Other disciples finally came down. They were all speechless when they saw that scene.

'A hundred years... … .'

In such a narrow and dark cave... … .

Baek Cheon closed his eyes.

The fact that he dug a hole this large must have been possible after all, because he had blinded the enemy's eyes for a while. That meant he could have tried to escape.

Even so, he chose to hide where the enemy could not find instead of risking his last remaining strength to try to escape.

To protect the manual that always carried with him, so that it would be passed to the descendants of Mount Hua someday, instead of protecting his own life.

Baek Cheon couldn't even guess how he felt about his end in this dark and cold place.

But at least now he knew what to do.

As Baek Cheon quietly glanced at them, the disciples understood his intentions and stepped back slightly to the left and right to create space.

 

“Two bows (이 배).”

The disciples of Mount Hua began to bow in unison.

It was a more pious gesture than ever. With respect for their ancestors and respect for the martial artist who kept his will until the last moment of his life.

Once.

One more time.

 

After two bows, Baek Cheon slowly rose from his seat.

And slowly approached Chung Myung. This time, Yu Iseol also did not stop Baek Cheon.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

Baek Cheon carefully grabbed Chung Myung's shoulder.

As soon as he touched it, he could feel the trembling. His shoulders, which had always been confident, were now shaking to the point that he was afraid to touch them.

Baek Cheon let out a low sigh and carefully told Chung Myung.

“Shouldn’t we take him back to Mount Hua as soon as possible?”

“… … .”

“It is so cold and lonely here. Let's go back to Mount Hua, Chung Myung. That must be his wish as well.”

Only then did Chung Myung slightly nod his head.

After carefully letting go of the remains, he slowly took off his jacket. Then laid it on the ground.

Then, for a long time, he looked at the skeleton in silence.

Guessing why Chung Myung didn't move, Baek Cheon pressed his shoulders tightly.

“Let me do it.”

“… N- no.”

However, Chung Myung shook his head slowly.

“I have to… … . I have to do it myself, sasuk.”

It was not the voice of Chung Myung that he knew.

“… Yes."

Baek Cheon could only nod and take a step back. Even so, Chung Myung dazedly stared at the skeleton for a while, then finally stretched out his hand.

'Right. Let's go back, Chung Jin.'

You have always wanted to go back. So let's go back now.

As if touching a wounded cheek, Chung Myung grabbed the skeleton and slowly lifted it with strength. He felt a slight resistance at his fingertips.

In the end, Chung Myung bit his lip, closed his eyes, and put a little more strength to the hand holding the white bone.

A small rattling white bone fell from his neck.

He gently caressed the head several times, then carefully moved it onto the jacket that was already spread out.

Sarak.

Chung Myung gently picked up the white bones scattered on the floor and moved them onto his jacket. Only after placing the last remaining bone in the jacket did he carefully wrap them up.

'It may feel cramped, but bear with it.'

Chung Myung grabbed the manual lying on the floor and stood up. Then he approached and held it to Baek Cheon.

"This… … .”

“Sasuk takes care of it.”

“… … .”

“This is what sasuk has to do.”

Baek Cheon looked at the old manual and nodded. Although he couldn't guess all of the intentions, if Chung Myung said so, it would surely have meaning.

Baek Cheon took off his jacket and wrapped it up carefully.

Chung Myung nodded slightly, then turned around, picked up Chung Jin's remains and slung them over his shoulders. His gaze suddenly landed on the writing engraved on the wall. Then he laughed.

'Not cool at all.'

If it's the last words you leave to the world, then at least pretend to be moderate.

You stupid b*stard... … .

'Yes.'

Let's go now. To where you've been wanting to go back to.

Chung Myung raised his head and looked at Mount Hua’s Five Swords.

“Let’s go back.”

When those words finally came out, everyone nodded slowly.

Yoon Jong was the first to step out, but then Baek Cheon's words held him back.

“Look carefully… and remember.”

Everyone imprinted the scene inside the cave very deeply into their minds.

“This place has the soul of Mount Hua.”

Protecting Mount Hua is not protecting the honor of being the Greatest Taoist Gate in the world nor the reputation of being the First Sword Gate.

Protecting Mount Hua is the continuation of the will that remained here.

Something they must never forget. Everything they need to carry on is here.

The disciples of Mount Hua, who engraved everything they saw in their eyes into their eyes, turned their bodies one by one with hard faces.

Finally, left alone in the cave where Yu Iseol and Baek Cheon escaped, Chung Myung looked around the dark surroundings with sunken eyes.

In that empty cave, the image of Chung Jin in his memory was drawn.

Even when he was bloody and dying, he must have dug a hole, fortified the wall with his own strength, and squeezed all his strength to meditate after writing the last words.

And… … .

'Did you laugh?'

Yes, that would be the case with you.

 

I leave everything to you. My damned sahyung.

Chung Jin's playful voice with a round smile seemed to be heard in his ears.

“… … Of course."

I know. I’m not trustworthy. Cause I'm that kind of guy.

But… … .

"I’ll remember."

What you said, what you asked for.

What I should do.

Chung Myung slowly approached the wall. Standing awkwardly, he silently gazed at the stone wall with the last words of Chung Jin inscribed on it for a while, then raised his hand.

Sarak.

The sound of the hard stone walls being scraped echoed in the cave.

After a while, Chung Myung lowered his hand and looked at the stone wall, then turned around. He pulled his body through the passageway, and it wasn't long before a pile of dirt poured in and completely closed the passageway.

The cave is now dyed in complete darkness.

Light will never penetrate here again.

But one day countless years have passed... … If an animal digs a burrow to rest, or if someone discovers this place while sheltering from a storm, they may be able to see the writings engraved on the stone wall.

 

비록 내 몸은 이곳에서 잠드나

내 마음만은 머나먼 화산과 함께한다.

대화산파 십삼대제자 청진.

화산의 혼이 남긴 것을

화산으로 되찾아 간다.

대화산파 십삼대제자 청명.

 

Even though my body sleeps here

My heart is always with the far-off Mount Hua.

Chung Jin, a thirteenth disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect.

What is left by the soul of Mount Hua

Will find its way back to Mount Hua.

Chung Myung, a thirteenth disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect.

Words that no one understands.