Return of the Mount Hua

Where is Hwasan? (3)

ROTMHS Glossary || About page

Thud! Thud!

The disciples of Hwasan, who had parked their carts in front of Jangwon, all fell flat on their faces.

“G-g-gone…”

“I-it’s over…”

“At last… At last, damn it…”

It was a scene worthy of applause. After repeatedly shuttling between Guangzhou and Wuhan countless times in a single day, they finally succeeded in moving all the refugees who hoped to migrate to Sacheon to Jangwon.

“We can’t do this again. Never again.”

“My words exactly.”

Hwasan’s disciples shivered.

Of course, some might question why it was so difficult for these well-trained martial artists to shuttle between Guangzhou and Wuhan. If they had simply commuted, it wouldn’t have been so difficult, if it weren’t for the devil who pushed them relentlessly from behind.

“Tsk!”

The devil, after leaping off the cargo on the cart, looked around with an annoyed expression.

“What’s so hard about it? Tsk.”

“…”

“Maybe we could go one more time.”

“It’s over, you bastard!”

“The whole village has been completely emptied!”

“Even the dogs from the houses were carried away! What more do you want to move from here?”

“Kill him! Just kill him!”

As Hwasan’s disciples foamed at the mouth and trembled, Chung Myung, as if disappointed, licked his lips.

If there’s even a little room for maneuver, I’d like to try rolling these bastards one more time. But unfortunately, even in Chung Myung’s eyes, there was nothing left to move.

At that moment, Hyun Jong, who had gotten off the cart, looked at his disciples with a weary expression.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

“No, Sect Leader!”

“It’s something we should naturally do!”

Hwasan’s disciples, who had been lying down, stood up and replied. Seeing this, Chung Myung’s cheeks rose.

“Wow, look at you all, treating people differently.”

“Aren’t we supposed to treat them differently?”

“Of course, we should!”

“That crazy one down there even asked for the same treatment as the Sect Leader!”

“He’s got no sense of hierarchy!”

Listening to the emerging complaints, Chung Myung shook his head slightly.

‘Soon, I’ll have to give them a little scolding.’

When he was busy practicing martial arts and training in the Bongmun [when the sect closes it’s gates] , these kids had been very respectful. But now, they were slowly starting to crawl back out once they had a taste of the outside world. At times like this, you have to pop the swollen liver with your bare hands and burst it open.

“Hyun Young.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Is everything finished?”

In response to Hyun Jong’s question, Hyun Young took out the account book and checked.

“Yes, Sect Leader. Everyone has completed their preparations for the migration. In addition, the commoners who wanted to go along have all went to Wuhan, and we’ve double-checked with the remaining individuals. There’s nothing more to be done.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Hyun Jong’s expression wasn’t particularly bright. Even though Hwasan had done its best and accomplished everything possible, there were still a significant number of people who wanted to stay on Yangtze. Therefore, he couldn’t be entirely pleased just because his tasks were finished.

However, he couldn’t show such sentiments in front of the disciples who had worked hard all this time. Hyun Jong nodded with a warm smile.

“Everyone has worked hard, so let’s take a good rest for a while.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

“Thank you!”

The disciples’ eyes became moist with gratitude at his warm words.

But Chung Myung kept grumbling, seemingly dissatisfied with Hyun Jong’s decision to grant them some rest. He complained non-stop, saying that they hadn’t practiced swordsmanship during this whole time, that the swords would rust, and that they should be training when they were at their lowest, so the swords wouldn’t falter in real battles.

“Hehehehehe!”

Hyun Jong laughed heartily, brushing off Chung Myung’s complaints.

Chung Myung was aware that he couldn’t constantly push the disciples while Hyun Jong gave them rest. So he started eyeing the disciples who were persistently grumbling.

Seeing his stern gaze, the disciples of Hwasan trembled with fear.

‘Look, over there.’

‘Look into those eyes.’

‘That sly guy. Oh, ancestors. That guy is such a bastard.’

Chung Myung, with eyes like a snake stalking its prey, glanced at Hwasan’s disciples. Hyun Jong grabbed him and pulled him away.

“You should go in and rest too.”

“Hmph.”

Chung Myung let out a dissatisfied groan, unable to shake off his reluctance. Then Tang Gunak, who had now become familiar with Hwasan’s appearance, smiled broadly.

“You’ve worked hard, Maengju [Alliance Leader of Cheonumaeng]”

“Not really, I mean… They’ve been through… uh…”

Hyun Jong glanced at his exhausted disciples and coughed awkwardly. Watching them in such a state, he couldn’t help but feel that words like ‘worked hard’ were inadequate.

After glancing briefly at Hwasan’s disciples, especially at Chung Myung and Ogeom [Five Swords of Hwasan – their title], Tang Gunak asked,

“So, are you planning to return to Shaanxi now?”

“Hmm, well…”

Hyun Jong sighed softly with a troubled expression. They had originally come here in response to Tang Clan’s request for assistance. Their tasks here were now complete.

However, returning to Shaanxi presented its own challenges.

“Well, I guess I’m a bit worried about the people who are still at Yangtze river.”

“Maengju Hyun Jong.”

Tang Gunak lowered his head slightly.

“Maengju, I may not fully understand your feelings, but… as you know, if we decide to fight to save them, it inevitably means we’ll become involved in Yangtze river Conflict.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong nodded in acknowledgment.

“That’s not much different from what we thought, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s not much different, but…”

Hyun Jong glanced somewhere briefly. At the end of his gaze, he could see Chung Myung looking to the south. Lately, he had been staring in the direction of Yangtze with a vacant expression more often.

‘He must be troubled.’

There are times when a person’s heart and mind move in conflicting directions. Perhaps Chung Myung was currently in such a situation.

In moments like this, Hyun Jong, as the leader, needed to steady his own heart. Chung Myung’s words about not getting involved in Yangtze river’s affairs left no room for dissent.

“…It seems we should go back.”

“Yes, Maengju. We plan to lead those from the Tang Clan who are here to Sichuan.”

“That would be the right thing to do.”

Hyun Jong nodded in agreement.

In the end, that’s the proper course of action. They wouldn’t be able to face Shaolin more than once, so it was only logical.

“We’ll take some time to rest and prepare before heading to Shaanxi.”

“Yes, please do so.”

Tang Gunak smiled gently. Originally, it was the Tang family that had lingering feelings, but in any case, when a large number of people who favored the Tang family moved to Sichuan, those lingering feelings seemed to have faded.

“Yes. Then…”

Just as Hyun Jong was about to call his disciples to head back into the residence..

“Hmm?”

Tang Gunak turned his head to the side as he sensed the approach of individuals coming quickly in their direction. It was clear from their speed and momentum that these were not ordinary people.

‘Some from Gangho [the world of martial artists, opposite of the world of common people]?’

Judging by their speed and approach, they were definitely not ordinary individuals. Hyun Jong and the disciples of Hwasan also sensed their presence and rose to their feet, watching in that direction.

Then, with a forceful rustling of the dense undergrowth, a figure emerged. Tang Gunak couldn’t hide his momentary surprise as he recognized the face.

“…Elder.. is it not?”

At the forefront, the one who revealed themselves was unmistakably Jao Gae, the Elder of the Beggars Sect. Although they hadn’t interacted much, there was no way Tang Gunak, as the head of Sichuan Tang Clan, wouldn’t recognize the Elder of the Beggars.

“How did you… end up here?”

What was even more peculiar was his demeanor. Rags were synonymous with the symbol of The Beggars Sect. However, Jao Gae was not wearing an upper garment at the moment. What was even stranger was that the other beggars who appeared behind him were also only wearing pants.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Jao Gae wiped the sweat from his face with one hand.

“…Patriarch.”

Then, he turned his gaze to Hyun Jong, who stood beside Tang Gunak.

“Sect Leader..”

With a rather firm expression, he spoke.

“…I have brought someone who wishes to meet you two.”

“Excuse me?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a man descended from the back of the beggar, who had become drenched in sweat. He used his sword, still stained with blood, as a makeshift cane.

Upon seeing this, everyone in the vicinity held their breath. His appearance was nothing short of gruesome.

His clothes were soaked in crimson blood and clung to his body. His flesh bore terrible wounds visible through the torn sections of his clothes.

His hair was disheveled and hung in a mess, while his once-red lips had dried and cracked, revealing gruesome sores all over. Initially, no one here recognized him. It was difficult to connect the disheveled figure before them with the usually splendid and dignified man they knew.

However, someone who had been intently observing him suddenly gasped and whispered, struggling to breathe:

“Namgung…”

Upon hearing those words, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

“Namgung… Do… wi.”

Those who had belatedly recognized him let out gasps of astonishment. They all stared at Namgung Dowi’s severely battered and unrecognizable appearance. There was no one among them who questioned why Namgung Dowi, who should have been at Maehwa Island, was here. They simply stared, trying to peer through the tangled hair at the man whose face they couldn’t easily recognize.

Then, with a struggling effort, Namgung Dowi took a single step forward.

Thud.

Another step.

Before he could take two steps, Tang Gunak swayed and instinctively reached out to support Namgung Dowi. However, he soon withdrew his hand, biting his lip. He knew he must not assist him right now.

Thunk. Thunk.

The sword, which represented the swordsman’s life, relentlessly struck the earth, yet no one dared to interfere. They all understood the immense pain Namgung Dowi endured to take that single step.

Thunk. Thunk.

The relentless steps finally stopped in front of someone. In the midst of silence, Namgung Dowi’s eyes met with those of Chung Myung.

Dowi’s eyes, filled with a longing for something, met Chung Myung’s unwavering gaze.

“…Dojang.”

Thud.

Namgung Dowi knelt down as if collapsing right there. Initially, the disciples of Hwasan thought he had lost consciousness, but they soon halted their steps.

Namgung Dowi, on his knees, looked up at Chung Myung, and then he slowly lowered his head to the ground. He clasped his hands together in a gesture of supplication.

The voice that emerged from him, strained as if about to break, was a plea for help.

“Help.”

“…”

“…Please help.”

Everyone closed their eyes.

Baek Cheon, Yu Iseol, Yoon Jong, Jo Geol, Tang Soso. Hyun Jong, the elders, and everyone else.

To see that sight so nonchalantly was too painful.

“Namgung…”

A voice scratched like metal followed.

It didn’t express anger, nor did it wail. In a way, it seemed overly composed, but the voice carried an intense plea for help that reached everyone.

“Namgung… please help…”

Namgung Dowi, bowing his head, clenched the earth as if scraping it.

“Please…”

As Namgung Dowi’s back hunched in despair, Chung Myung, who had been silently watching over him, eventually turned away.

Under the darkest night, with dawn still distant, the deepest sigh escaped Chung Myung’s lips.

“Damn it…”

He muttered to himself.

Next chapter >>>