Return of the Mount Hua

That will do. (3)

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“Huh? To Hwasan?”

“Yes.”

Startled, Ok Danghyang’s eyes widened.

Baek Cheon’s visit itself was not surprising. She had, after all, thought he might come by at least once. So she greeted him with a smile.

But the proposal that came out of Baek Cheon’s mouth was more than enough to dye her previously welcoming heart with confusion.

Baek Cheon nodded, as if he understood.

“I know it might feel sudden.”

“No, rather than sudden…”

Ok Danghyang let her words trail off.

Of course, it was sudden as well. But even if she had come upon this proposal slowly, given enough time, would she have been any less at a loss? Probably not.

Watching her fidget as she tried to find an appropriate answer, Baek Cheon spoke first, as if to ease her burden.

“I’m not asking for an answer right now. You only need to tell me before we leave.”

“Uh, when are you leaving?”

“Well. Tomorrow?”

“Excuse me? That means we only have a day! That’s far too little.”

“Hmm. Is it?”

Baek Cheon chuckled awkwardly. 

“How could anyone make this kind of decision in just a day…”

At that moment, Baek Cheon wiped the smile from his face and looked at Ok Danghyang with a serious gaze.

“An important decision and a decision that requires time are similar, but not the same.”

“…”

“It is indeed an exceedingly important decision, but it’s not the sort of thing where dragging it out will let you find a better answer. At times, long deliberation can get in the way of making the right choice.”

Ok Danghyang bit down on her lower lip.

‘To go to Hwasan…’

She did not think it was a bad proposal. No, if anything, it felt like a good one.

She did not know how the other children would feel, but Ok Danghyang could fully anticipate the bleak situation that would unfold if they returned to the main sect. For them, there was no longer anyone to block the bitterly cold winds pressing in from outside.

Knowing this, the moment she heard Baek Cheon’s proposal, she felt a great sense of relief together with her surprise.

But precisely because of that, she hesitated.

Ok Danghyang, sneaking a glance to read Baek Cheon’s expression, spoke carefully.

“If we, if we go to Hwasan…”

She struggled to soften the thoughts rising in her head into temperate words. As her halting words slipped out, Baek Cheon gently interjected.

“A lot must be running through your mind. I won’t call it useless worrying. For you, such worries are necessary – now and in the future as well.”

“…”

“But I can say for certain, none of the things you’re afraid of will happen.”

Baek Cheon shook his head firmly.

“No one in Hwasan will covet your martial arts. No one will later use this as a pretext to demand anything from you. And life in Hwasan will be.….”

As he continued, Baek Cheon suddenly flinched, as though something had occurred to him, and scratched his head with a somewhat troubled look.

“I’d like to assure you that no one will force anything on you… but well, that’s something I can’t guarantee. There’s one ill-tempered fellow who breaks out in hives all over whenever he sees someone idling about.”

“Rather than a person, he’s closer to a demon.”

“…Even a demon would get offended to hear that.”

At this, Yoon Jong and Jo Geol, who had been quietly standing by, both nodded in agreement. Ok Danghyang only fell into deeper confusion.

“But then… Hwasan gets nothing out of this.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why help us?”

Distrust flickered in Ok Danghyang’s eyes. No – what she felt was nearly conviction. A certainty that before her stood people whose intentions carried calculations she could not yet discern.

But then she suddenly realized and lowered her head, belatedly understanding how her tone and gaze must have come across.

Whether they had come bearing goodwill or to make use of the children, the other party, in any case, was someone who would become Hwasan’s Sect Leader. Someone who might one day wield the greatest influence in Gangho.

To apper arrogant before such a person would in no way help Emei’s future.

At that moment, Baek Cheon spoke calmly.

“It’s true there’s nothing in particular for us to gain by helping you.”

“…”

“Is that not allowed?”

“….What?”

Even after voicing something so absurd, not a single twitch crossed Baek Cheon’s face.

“I’m asking if there must always be profit.”

“…”

“Isn’t it strange to hear that from you? You yourself looked after the children of Diancang, who were of no help to you at all.”

“Th-That’s different”

“Yes, it’s different. But it’s also not different. I am saying that not everything in this world runs solely on profit and loss. Just as you found what you had to do within that, we are simply finding what we must do now.”

Ok Danghyang, who had been at a loss for a moment, bowed her head low. Baek Cheon did not bother to press her.

“Think it over and give me your answer. Then.”

Just as Baek Cheon was about to turn away, Ok Danghyang stopped him.

“Um…”

“Hmm?”

“Can we return to the main sect whenever we want?”

Baek Cheon looked at her and smiled gently.

“You’re stating the obvious. Of course, if in our judgment it’s still dangerous, we might advise you to think otherwise. But in the end, the decision is yours.”

“Hoo… So that’s what you mean.”

“Right. Then, take your time…”

“We’ll go to Hwasan.”

“…..Huh?”

Baek Cheon tilted his head slightly.

“I’ve decided.”

“Already?”

“You’ve said earlier that making a quick decision would be the right thing to do.”

“Right. I did say that, but…”

Isn’t this fast – far too fast?

“The Vice Sect Leader is right. We have to admit that we don’t have the strength to stand on our own right now. No amount of hesitation will bring us another choice.”

“…”

“If anything, we’re the ones asking. Please allow us to take refuge with Hwasan. You said you wouldn’t expect anything in return, but Emei will never forget Hwasan’s help.”

“Th-That… Huh? R-Right.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn, Baek Cheon actually stammered. Jo Geol leaned in and whispered into Yoon Jong’s ear.

“Kids these days definitely have some guts.”

“………You’re one to talk.”

If Chung Myung had never come to Hwasan, Jo Geol himself might well have rivaled that girl’s boldness. Or perhaps not – Jo Geol’s nature leaned less towards resolute courage and more towards reckless lack of forethought.

‘Come to think of it, Soso was like that, too.’

Maybe it’s the very temperament of Sichuan folk. No, wait. Then why was Tang Gunak…?

“But, apart from that, would it be all right to ask one more favor?”

“A favor?”

Ok Danghyang bowed her head towards Baek Cheon and spoke.

“Yes. It’s not an absolute condition. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“Go on.”

“….Before going to Hwasan, I’d like to look around the main sect once.”

After a brief silence, Baek Cheon let out a quiet sigh.

“You want to make sure for yourself.”

“…Yes.”

“Survivors, and any secret manuals that might still remain – the Beggars Sect’s people will be better at finding them than you.”

“I know. I do, but…..”

Ok Danghyang bit her lip, letting her words trail off. Baek Cheon nodded.

“So be it.”

“Uh, really?”

“Yes. It won’t be difficult. Those from the Sichuan Tang Clan have to head back to Sichuan anyway, so we can ask them to accompany you.”

Ok Danghyang nodded repeatedly.

“Thank you. Truly… truly, thank you.”

After expressing her gratitude several times, she straightened, her voice firm with resolve.

“Those Qingcheng brats… Ah, no. I’ll persuade the Qingcheng children.”

“….Will you?”

“Yes. They’re blockheads who can’t understand plain speech, but if they still can’t get it in a situation like this, then they deserve to be buried where they stand.”

Yoon Jong whispered to Jo Geol.

“…I’m sensing some bad blood here?”

“Neighboring sects can’t really get along, Sahyeong. They were half enemies to begin with.”

“I… see.”

Yoon Jong sank into deep contemplation, wondering what it meant to be human in the first place. At that moment, Ok Danghyang faltered, then spoke in a quieter voice.

“But as for Diancang… There’s nothing I can do. I don’t know if you’re aware.”

“I know.”

Baek Cheon smiled as if to tell her not to worry.

“More than that… I suppose I ought to offer congratulations. Though I’m not sure if the word suits the moment.”

“Yes!”

Ok Danghyang nodded vigorously.

“Of course it’s something to celebrate. There are still junior sisters [Samae] who survived.”

“Right.”

Baek Cheon slightly furrowed his brow.

‘As the saying goes, ‘A cunning rabbit has three burrows.’ [교토삼굴(狡兔三窟)]. 

After the war ended, while they were searching for survivors, one new fact came to light: the place where the children of exterminated sects had been confined was not just a single site.

Another hidden place existed. The chill that had run down his spine upon hearing that news was something Baek Cheon doubted he would ever forget for the rest of his life.

‘If Jang Ilso had even the tiniest bit more of leeway… he could have overturned the board even in that moment, I suppose.’

When the hostages were released, Diancang would be free. From Baek Cheon’s standpoint, it was a gamble staking everything on that one outcome. But if, despite his efforts, nothing had changed?

It would have been their side that was annihilated instead.

It’s no exaggeration to say that it was Chung Myung – driving Jang Ilso without a moment even to breathe, let alone think – who dragged them all out of hell.

‘No, more than that……’

There had been one man who should have carried out Jang Ilso’s stratagems in his stead, a man who by necessity remained in the dark amidst the chaos of battle: Ho Gamyeong. It would be more accurate to say that his absence gave rise to all of this. Jang Ilso must have known that as well. That was why he trusted Ho Gamyeong so deeply.

Forcing down the bitter taste that lingered on his tongue, Baek Cheon spoke.

“Then, I’ll leave it in your hands.”

“Yes. Please don’t worry.”

Ok Danghyang’s radiant smile, faintly though it did, wiped away that bitterness.

‘This side is settled.’

As Baek Cheon turned his head, worry soon clouded his face again.

’Chung Myung-ah…’

It was certain that things on the other side would not unravel as smoothly as they had here. And that thought weighed heavily on his heart.

❀ ❀ ❀

“…What are you babbling about? To Hwasan? Why would we?”

Sure enough, venom gleamed in the eyes of the young disciple of Diancang. The hatred seething inside looked ready to swallow Chung Myung at any moment.

“Have you forgotten? The world may praise Hwasan, but we have not forgotten. We can never do so.”

The young swordsman, grinding his teeth, toyed with the hilt of his sword as if he might draw it at any moment.

A cheap iron sword. One of the countless blades scattered over that ground. It must have belonged to a nameless… no, to swordsman who lost his name, to someone who met his end without ever removing even his mask.

“Go back. We know we lack both justification and strength. But we still have a shred of pride. So long as this remains, we will never rely on you.”

Chung Myung slightly lifted his gaze.

A pity. If only he could picture Chung Mun’s awkward expression, his heart would have felt a bit more at ease.

Honestly, Chung Myung understood the one standing before him. That look of not knowing what to do with anger that had nowhere to go resembled his former self.

But.

“You say you still have pride?”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung openly sneered.

“Your belly must be full.”

“What?”

“Then go ahead and ruin yourselves. I guarantee it. Within ten years, the name Diancang won’t leave even a trace.”

Blood vessels sprang in the swordsman’s eyes.

“You think words are everything…!”

“But remember this: it won’t be me who finishes off Diancang.”

Chung Myung bared his teeth.

“It will be you. Your pathetic pride is what will reduce Diancang to a sect that leaves not even its name behind.”

As he hurled those words, Chung Myung’s eyes grew cold and calm.

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