Return of the Mount Hua

What were you all expecting? (1)

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“Abbot.”

Beop Jong didn’t respond to the call. There had been times when he always wore a gentle smile, but now his face was frozen, cold and stiff, as if he had forgotten how to smile.

And how could it be otherwise?

He had left with bold declarations, only to return from Hwasan without any results. It was a humiliation beyond words.

He couldn’t even bear the thought of facing those in Shaolin who had been awaiting his return.

“Namgung has been surrounded.”

In the midst of all this, the news rendered Beop Jong completely speechless.

No, perhaps it would be more apt to say that it made him act like a fool, for it seemed as if his mind had gone utterly blank for a moment.

Among all the possible outcomes he could have imagined, the worst-case scenario was now staring him in the face.

“Tsk.”

Jao Gae, watching Beop Jong, clicked his tongue briefly.

It was nothing more than a habitual gesture without ill intent, but that short click twisted a knife deep into Beop Jong’s chest.

“It might’ve been better to go straight to the Yangtze instead of wasting time.”

“…”

Whether that was meant to subtly mock Beop Jong wasn’t entirely clear. But would that matter to him now? At this moment, being reminded of his mistake was more shameful and terrifying than anything else in the world.

“……Amitabha.”

After a long, heavy silence, the only words he finally uttered amounted to a short chant.

Paeng Yeop, who had been quietly waiting for a response, finally spoke in a slightly irritated tone.

“This is no time to be sitting around. If the retreat path has been cut off, all they can do is hold out – and if Sapaeryeon gets there first, Namgung Clan’s name may disappear from Gangho.”

“Hmmm.”

Someone let out a low, heavy hum, as if to agree with his words.

“We must go to the Yangtze immediately.”

Even Jongli Hyeong, who had been opposing Paeng Yeop’s stance, didn’t offer any rebuttal this time. It was proof of how dire the situation had become.

“Abbot.”

At Paeng Yeop’s urging, Beop Jong, who had had his eyes closed, opened them slowly.

“……So we shall.”

A brilliant blue light shone from Beop Jong’s eyes.

“Now that things have come this far, there is no room left for hesitation. I will lead all the Shaolin monks to the Yangtze. I ask that each of you here also mobilize the full strength of your sects.”

Jongli Hyeong asked in surprise,

“A-Abbot, do you intend to go to war?”

“……If necessary, there is no reason to avoid it, is there?”

“But…”

What Jongli Hyeong meant to say was obvious.

To engage Sapaeryeon in full-scale war with only the sects gathered here would be nothing short of suicide. Even if, by some stroke of luck, they managed to win, they’d be doing someone else a favor.

But Beop Jong, who surely understood that implication, showed no sign of backing down this time.

“I will send another round of letters requesting support from each sect.”

“…Do you really think those who’ve already withdrawn will change their minds?”

“The situation has changed – they’ll have to make a choice.”

“…”

Jongli Hyeong fell silent.

It was because Beop Jong’s tone felt different from before. It wasn’t exactly forceful, but strangely, it had become difficult to speak with him as freely as in the past.

“If only Tang Clan would step forward, things would be a bit easier.”

When Jongli Hyeong muttered those words out of lingering regret, Beop Jong’s brow twitched.

“What difference does it make to search for those who aren’t here?”

“Well, that’s true, but……”

“You must all understand this now.”

Beop Jong spoke with cold eyes, cutting through the air.

“The reason I’ve held back until now was to resolve things through proper channels – not because Shaolin lacked the strength. But if things continue to deteriorate like this, then there are times when one must force the natural course to take shape.”

It might not have been wrong.

But given the current circumstances, it still sounded hollow.

If only he had made such a decision a bit earlier, things might not have reached this point.

Beop Jong spoke in a voice sharp as a blade.

“We’ll head to the Yangtze without delay. Above all else, speed is what matters now.”

He no longer had a choice.

Though all of this had started with Namgung clan acting on their own, if Shaolin truly claimed to be the Northern Star of Gangho, then it had to accept that all responsibility lay with Shaolin as well.

If Namgung were to be defeated and trapped at the Yangtze, the public’s trust in Gupailbang would utterly collapse. After all, at the very least, Namgung had fought the Evil Sects, while Gupailbang would have turned their backs on them.

“Make haste! Every moment counts – we must reach the Yangtze before Paegun and his forces arrive!”

“Is it possible?”

When Jongli Hyeong asked with concern, Beop Jong gave a firm nod.

“It’s more than possible. We’re far closer to the Yangtze than Guangxi, where Maninbang is. Even if Paegun moves immediately upon hearing the news, he won’t arrive before we do.”

Jongli Hyeong nodded, conceding the point.

“If you think about it from the other perspective, it’s as if Namgung Clan has already pinned down Surochae. Clearing out Surochae when they’re scattered across the Yangtze is no easy task – but if they’re all gathered in one place, this becomes an extraordinary opportunity. If we can launch a joint attack with Namgung Clan from both sides, the tide of this war could shift in an instant.”

Beop Jong declared in a deep, resolute voice,

“Then let us move at once.”

Paeng Yeop immediately responded.

“We’ll do so.”

Jongli Hyeong still wore a faintly reluctant expression, but at this point, he couldn’t back out, and in the end, he gave his agreement. Even so, he didn’t forget to offer one last word of caution.

“Abbot. I will follow your words, but you must also consider the possibility that things may not go as planned. I trust you will secure support from the other sects of Gupailbang.”

At those words, Beop Jong turned his head to look at Jongli Hyeong.

“…”

A brief silence. Then, a voice devoid of emotion slipped into Jongli Hyeong’s ears.

“I will do so.”

Though it was clearly an affirmative reply, Jongli Hyeong couldn’t shake the feeling that, somehow, the answer sounded like a denial.

But how could he confirm such a thing? In the end, he had no choice but to respond while swallowing his unease.

“…Kongtong Sect will join as well.”

Beop Jong’s gaze shifted to Jao Gae. He gave a silent nod.

“Then I shall take that as your agreement. There’s no time – return to your sects immediately, finish your preparations, and gather at the Yangtze.”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“There is no time! Go quickly!”

“Yes!”

“Then.”

Those who had been seated sprang to their feet and hurried out.

Jao Gae, the last to rise, reluctantly began to move but turned his head before stepping out.

There he saw Beop Jong, still seated at the head of the room with his eyes closed.

‘He hesitated endlessly when it was time to make a decision, yet now that caution is needed, he’s already chosen his path and moves without pause.’

Jao Gae did not think poorly of Beop Jong.

As the Abbot of Shaolin and a senior figure in Gangho, he had fulfilled his role well thus far.

It was true that with his uniquely gentle nature, he had deftly mediated conflicts among the various sects.

But.

‘They say that one who is a wise ruler in times of peace can become a tyrant in times of chaos.’

As the world began to change rapidly, it seemed that none of Beop Jong’s virtues could be brought to bear.

Truthfully, Jao Gae wanted to stop him.

But there was only one reason he couldn’t bring himself to oppose Beop Jong’s decision.

‘It must be hell.’

He could imagine the horrors Namgung Clan must be enduring.

‘Please… hold on, Lord Namgung.’

With the word ‘righteousness’ carved into his heart, Jao Gae raced towards the Beggars Sect’s headquarters like the wind.

❀ ❀ ❀

Namgung Myeong looked down at the man collapsed before him.

His face slowly twisted into a grimace reminiscent of a demon’s. 

The man who had died with his eyes wide open was someone he knew all too well.

To him, all the members of Namgung clan were no different from family.

And yet now, among those he considered family, the first victim had appeared.

“This…!”

He ground his teeth and unleashed a torrent of curses in seething rage.

The poisoned blade [독도(毒刀)] embedded in the corpse’s side was now pricking at his eyes.

Nine times. That was how many attacks they had endured over the past three days.

And the casualties?

None.

No one had been injured, no one had died.

The attackers emerged from the river, attempted to assault the sentries, and ended up being the ones getting killed instead.

It was laughable – so much so that the word ‘insignificant’ seemed too generous.

It was as if Namgung Hwang’s words – ‘There is no reason to Surochae as long as your feet touch the ground’ – had been proven undeniably true.

But that was only if you looked at the results.

If things had truly gone as smoothly as they seemed, Namgung Myeong would have had no reason to be this enraged now.

When they repelled the first assault, everyone was brimming with courage and their morale soared without end.

When they thwarted the second, some even suggested diving into the water to reach the enemy’s ship and launch a counterattack.

But by the time they overcame the third assault, Namgung Myeong realized something.

Not a single person had properly slept in the two days since the attacks began.

And still, the assaults continued.

Sometimes under the cover of night.

Sometimes brazenly in broad daylight.

How could that be all?

When the dew settled at dawn, when the deep red twilight dyed the river…

The attacks continued, regardless of the hour.

The swordsmen of Namgung clan had valiantly repelled each assault in turn, but in the most recent attack, the first casualty had finally occurred.

“…Clear out a warehouse and move the body.”

“Elder, perhaps we should bury him temporarily first…”

Namgung Myeong sharply turned his gaze.

“Do you think he can rest in the land of those pirate bastards?”

“…Forgive me.”

Namgung Myeong ground his teeth as he spoke.

“If we can endure just a few more days, we’ll be able to leave this island. We can retrieve the body then and take it with us. So do as I say.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Watching those moving their comrade’s corpse, he narrowed his eyes.

“Damn it.”

They weren’t strong opponents. No, they were nothing but worthless trash.

And yet, a casualty had occurred.

Driven to the brink by the relentless attacks, they’d made a mistake – one that, under normal circumstances, would have been unthinkable.

This island is vast. Spacious enough to house hundreds without issue.

But at the same time, this island is small.

So small that when the enemy sets foot on it, it takes them barely an instant to reach the other side.

In other words, they were no different from being trapped within a castle which walls had already fallen, desperately trying to defend against invaders.

“No… it’d be a hundred times better if that were the case.”

In that kind of situation, at the very least, they’d know where the enemy was.

But as things stood, they had no idea where the enemy would strike from.

For all they knew, the pirates might be lurking right beneath the waters Namgung Myeong was staring at now, watching and waiting for their chance.

Because of that, no one could rest easily.

No one knew when the enemy would attack, or when the defenses might break and the pirates would come storming into their lodgings.

They knew in their heads that they had to rest, but the tension – stretched to its limits – didn’t allow even a single moment of ease.

And then. 

Booom!

“Damn it!”

“Why the hell are they still firing if it’s useless?! Sons of bitches!”

The pirate ships surrounding the island would now and then edge closer and fire their cannons.

Of course, the trained swordsmen of Namgung clan would never be taken down by cannon fire launched from that distance.

But this was an island with nowhere to hide.

If you stayed alert, you could dodge the blasts – but if you didn’t, you could die just like that.

In a place like this, who could truly let their guard down?

‘At this rate, we’ll destroy ourselves before we ever swing our swords.’

Those damned pirates weren’t attacking their bodies – they were eating away at their minds.

They knew all too well how to make a person suffer the most.

“Just hold on a little longer. Reinforcements will come – without fail!”

“…Yes.”

The reply was faint.

The sky-high morale they’d had after fending off the first attack had long since crashed into the ground.

Now, all that remained was simply to endure.

Twilight was falling before they knew it.

Namgung Myeong clenched his fists without realizing it.

Once again, an endlessly long night was creeping towards Maehwado.

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