Return of the Mount Hua

There’s a crazy bastard after all. (3)

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The armed pirates of Surochae let out a battle cry as they clashed with the Azure Sky Sword Unit.

“How pathetic of you bastards from the Just Sects to show your faces again after begging the enemy for your pathetic lives! The so-called Just Sects truly know no shame!”

“If it were me, I would’ve bitten my tongue and died!”

The pirates mocked and ridiculed Namgung Clan as they faced off against the Azure Sky Sword Unit. Though the swordsmen stood firm, determined to hold their ground, there was no avoiding the flush of shame rising to their faces.

The memory remained vivid in their minds. The moment they survived right here on the Yangtze River – the moment they had to beg for their lives from those vile Sapa bastards!

“Hold your ground!”

Just as rage threatened to pour into their blades, a thunderous voice rang out from behind them.

Namgung Dowi, the young lord of Namgung Clan, charged forward like a flash of lightning, wielding the clan’s signature sword.

“It is shameful to have committed wrong. But to remain shackled by that ‘wrong’ and fail to make amends is far more disgraceful! Do not be ashamed of standing here – be grateful that you can stand here at all!”

At his words, the eyes of the other swordsmen sharpened like honed blades.

How could they forget? The humiliation. The misery of having to break their pride just to survive.

For the past three years, the Azure Sky Sword Unit had swung their swords for this moment alone. To restore their honor, to raise the spirit of Namgung Clan once more!

“Dieeeeee!”

At that moment, a terrifying guandao [언월도(偃月刀)] hurtled towards Namgung Dowi’s face. His thick, sword-like [검미(劍眉)] brows twitched ever so slightly.

Kwaaaaang!

Like a thunderbolt, his sword slashed through the air, cleaving the incoming guandao in two in a single strike – and then drove straight into the body of the pirate who had swung it.

“Guhk!”

Shock flashed across the pirate’s face for the briefest moment.

Crack!

The sword, driven by raw force, pushed forward and split the man’s body clean in half in an instant. The severed corpse flew backwards, spraying crimson blood through the air.

Even as blood rained down like a storm, Namgung Dowi didn’t so much as blink.

“I’ll take the lead! Azure Sky Sword Unit, follow me!”

“Yes!”

Namgung Dowi charged forward in a heartbeat.

There was no trace of the youthful rashness from the past on his resolute face.

‘I am a small, insignificant human.’

He once believed that all he needed was to catch up. Perhaps he fell short compared to Hwasan Geomhyeop right now, but he was a man of Namgung clan. If he pushed himself hard enough, persevered long enough, he thought he would someday stand at the same level.

He had confidence in his will to strive harder than anyone else, and in his endurance to persevere longer than anyone else.

So, he believed that would be enough.

That for now, it was only natural for someone with Chung Myung’s talent to run ahead. Namgung Dowi thought that if he remained disciplined throughout his life, eventually he would reach the same heights.

But…

‘What a pathetic joke.’

Now, he knew. Just how foolish that thought had been.

‘That’s not something you can do just because you’re strong.’

Even if Namgung Dowi had been as strong as Chung Myung, could he truly have faced Jang Ilso on that battlefield?

Even if he had that strength, could he have stood alone and risked his life in a place where everyone else clung to theirs in silence?

Not even pride could make him answer yes. It was something impossible for Namgung Dowi.

In truth, when Chung Myung faced Jang Ilso, when the peace negotiations began, even when Chung Myung’s fist struck Wudang Sect Leader’s face – he had done nothing. He had stood there, frozen.

It was a disgrace to Namgung Clan’s iron sword, which existed solely to uphold honor.

‘It’s not because he’s strong that he can be that kind of person. It’s because he’s that kind of person that he’s strong.’

Losing in martial arts skill can be excused. But losing as a human being leaves no room for excuses.

Strong or weak, every person has only one life. Whether one can risk it – has nothing to do with martial prowess.

That day, Namgung Dowi felt it in his bones – just how foolish a man he had been.

“I won’t claim to be the strongest!”

These words were meant for those behind him – and also for himself.

“Lose in swordsmanship if you must! But never be defeated in spirit! We are Namgung Clan of the Azure Sky!”

“Yes, Young Lord!”

The Azure Sky Sword Unit surged forward at once towards the pirates.

Their blades, more resolute than ever, began cutting down their foes in an instant.

And at the very front, Namgung Dowi’s sword shone more brilliantly than anyone’s.

❀ ❀ ❀

Beop Jong’s lips trembled slightly. His eyes, fixed on Beop Gye, were filled with shock and fury.

“…Is that true?”

“Yes, Abbot! Word just came that Namgung Hwang, the Lord of Namgung Clan, the Emperor’s Sword, has led the Azure Sky Sword Unit towards Jiujiang.”

Jao Gae cast a glance towards the door. A beggar who had brought the news to Beop Gye was still hesitating outside, unable to bring himself to enter the room. When his eyes met Jao Gae’s, he vigorously nodded.

It meant everything was true.

“Namgung Hwang. So, Namgung Hwang…”

Jao Gae muttered the name quietly, then let out a dry laugh. His expression was not amused but rather filled with resignation.

‘Knowing that man’s nature… yes. It’s entirely possible.’

When it came to having a fiery temperament, Namgung Hwang was second to none in the world.

After all, he must have been boiling with rage ever since the humiliation at the Yangtze River three years ago. And now, news had reached his ears that Sapaeryeon had crossed the river and stepped foot on northern soil…

Jao Gae let out a long sigh.

This was clearly the Beggars Sect’s oversight. Information, by itself, held no value. It only became meaningful when one could use it to foresee what might happen next.

They should have anticipated such an event from the moment Sapaeryeon crossed into Gangbuk. But only after hearing of Namgung Clan’s movements did they realize it – far too late.

‘No, that’s not quite right. How many in the world could have predicted that in such a dire moment?’

With crises erupting across the land, it was inevitable that they had to delay attending to the reactions of a sect that had withdrawn into seclusion.

Just as Jao Gae was trying to soothe his troubled mind with excuses that weren’t truly excuses, Beop Jong’s furious voice rang in his ears.

“What in the world was the Lord of Namgung Clan thinking! He went to the Yangtze? Is Namgung Clan trying to face Sapaeryeon alone?”

Beop Jong looked at Beop Gye with utter disbelief. Scolding him wouldn’t change the situation, of course – but it was the only outlet he had, overwhelmed by a situation that had spun out of his control and begun racing forward on its own.

‘He is out of his mind.’

Of all places, how could a single sect rush into battle there alone?

Jiujiang – no, Maehwado was literally a powder keg. The eyes of all Gangho were fixed on it, and it was a hotspot where the tensions of every sect converged.

It was hard to understand how that insignificant little island had come to hold such importance, but the fact remained: it had become the critical ground where the pride and interests of both Sapaeryeon and Gupailbang were bound to collide.

And now they were launching an attack on that place – without any prior discussion?

If this reckless action triggered a full-scale war between Sapaeryeon and Gupailbang, how did they plan to deal with the consequences?

“What could he possibly be thinking! What!”

Crack!

The prayer beads in Beop Jong’s hand scraped together with a sharp sound. It felt like everything in the world was slipping beyond his control, running rampant.

“If this plunges all the people into chaos and misery, Namgung Clan alone must bear responsibility! How could the head of one of the Five Great Families, a man of such station, act with such recklessness!”

His voice, filled with wrath, rang out again and again – but no one dared speak up.

Only Jao Gae let out a silent sigh to himself.

Recklessness?

Yes. Perhaps that’s true.

But at least in the world of the martial arts, such an act is not called reckless.

‘They say it’s a righteous spirit*.’

To fight against evil without regard for one’s own safety or personal gain – isn’t that the very definition of chivalry [협의(俠義)]?

What Namgung Clan did was precisely what those who claim the name of justice [정] always preach. And if all they can do now is condemn them for it, then doesn’t that just prove that everything they’ve stood for until now was nothing more than a hollow pretense?

Unable to bear hearing more of Beop Jong’s scolding, Jao Gae finally opened his mouth.

“Abbot.”

Beop Jong looked at Jao Gae, still unable to fully erase the anger from his face.

“It’s true that Namgung Clan did something unexpected, but there’s no point in blaming them now. What matters is what we do next.”

He paused mid-sentence, giving Beop Jong a moment to collect his tangled thoughts. Then, in a calm, unwavering voice, he asked:

“What will you do now?”

It was a question that pierced straight to the heart of the matter.

“Namgung Clan has opened fire. A choice must now be made – will we support them and strike at Surochae, or will we declare their actions unilateral and pull back?”

Beop Jong shut his eyes tightly.

Logically speaking, the right course was to support Namgung Clan.

But if they did, and Sapaeryeon began pouring across the Yangtze in response…

‘That would be the beginning of an all-out war.’

And once full-scale war breaks out, they would no longer be able to contain it with their strength alone. Whether they won or lost, massive losses were inevitable.

“…Elder.”

As Beop Jong delayed his answer, Beop Gye was the first to speak.

“Isn’t it possible that all of this is part of Jang Ilso’s scheme?”

“A scheme, you say?”

“Yes. A scheme. Was it not the same three years ago, when all of us were dragged into the Yangtze because of Surochae’s movements?”

Jao Gae’s brow furrowed slightly before he could stop himself – but he quickly smoothed his expression, as if nothing had happened. Even if he didn’t feel it inside.

‘You were the ones blinded by ambition and glory, charging into the Yangtze without a second thought!’

He had plenty he wanted to say, but he held his tongue.

This was Shaolin. And the men before him were the Abbot and an Elder of Shaolin.

“The likelihood of that is low.”

“And why is that? If it’s that Jang Ilso…”

“It would take a long time to explain… but now’s not the time to waste words. Either way, it’s far more likely that what’s happening now is due to the Black Dragon King acting on his own.”

At that, a dry laugh escaped Beop Jong’s lips.

“Acting on his own, is it…”

It was almost laughable.

‘Two hotheaded men are dragging the entire situation straight to hell.’

The Black Dragon King and the Emperor’s Sword.

There was no denying that both were extraordinary figures with solid standing in their respective sects.

But that didn’t mean either of them had the power to shake the entire balance of the Central Plains.

And yet, by sheer coincidence, the independent actions of these two had occurred at the same time.

Now, both Gupaillbang and Sapaeryeon were being dragged, against their will, into a war they neither wanted nor were prepared for.

‘Was this what war was always like?’

At least, it wasn’t what Beop Jong had believed.

The wars he knew involved leaders strategically commanding their forces in fierce, coordinated battles.

But the way the world was moving now was nothing like that.

Every piece on the board moved of its own accord, without waiting for command.

How was one supposed to wage a full-scale war within such chaos?

“I don’t understand why we’re even hesitating.”

At that moment, Paeng Yeop spoke, frowning.

“I don’t like that arrogant Namgung Clan acting on their own whim, but the situation is already unfolding. At this point, the only option left is to support them.”

But Jongli Hyeong clearly disagreed.

“Lord Paeng, I believe you need to take a calmer approach. If we rush to the Yangtze now, it won’t be just Surochae that moves – the rest of Sapaeryeon will be forced to act as well. Then we’ll truly pass the point of no return.”

“But if we stand by and watch, and Sapaeryeon makes the first move, it’ll be too late to support them. Namgung Clan will fall first.”

“I know. I know that. But that doesn’t mean we can act recklessly.”

“How is this reckless?!”

As their argument flared up in an instant, Beop Jong’s expression grew darker.

Logically speaking, the priority should be supporting Namgung Clan and driving out Surochae.

If Paeng family and Kongtong sect joined forces, it wouldn’t be a difficult task.

But if Sapaeryeon surged into Gangbuk and a full-scale war broke out…

Could the sects gathered here really stand against Sapaeryeon?

Sapaeryeon led by Jang Ilso?

‘We’re not enough.’

If Gupailbang and the Five Great Families had all united to support Shaolin, there would be no reason to hesitate. But as things stood now, they could not handle Sapaeryeon.

Even if they somehow emerged victorious, they would be forced to witness the vultures – those who had only watched from the sidelines – creep closer to devour them.

Lost in thought, Beop Jong bit down hard on his lip.

‘What am I hesitating for?’

The shame would be his to bear – but the deaths would be others’.

And if that was the case, then as a Buddhist, wasn’t it only right to choose shame?

“…In any case…”

At last, he spoke, and every gaze turned to him at once. It seems his words still carried weight.

“Even if we rushed to the Yangtze right now, it would be too late. By then, the matter between Namgung Clan and Surochae will have already been decided.”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

“Then what we must do is prepare for what comes next.”

Beop Jong slowly rose to his feet.

“Grant me just one day.”

“One day?”

Jao Gae looked at him, baffled. What could possibly change in a single day under these circumstances?

“Yes. One day is enough.”

“Forgive me, Abbot… but what are you planning to do?”

“…I will go to Shaanxi.”

“Shaanxi? Surely not…?”

Everyone’s eyes widened. Beop Jong nodded firmly.

“Yes.”

His eyes were firm and unwavering.

“I must meet with the Alliance Leader of Cheonumaeng and Hwasan Geomhyeop in person.”

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*의기롭다(義氣롭다) – 義氣 – morale/righteous mind/spirit of loyalty(brotherhood). There are many similar words in the novel to describe the notion of righteousness, this is one of them. 

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