Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

Tang Gunak, the head of the Sichuan Tang Family, looked at the person sitting in front of him.

"Maengju-nim."

Hyun Jong. The Great Sect Leader of Mount Hua and the Leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

What feels a bit awkward is that there is nothing placed between them.

Hyun Jong is a person who would offer a cup of tea even if he met the head of the Demonic Cult, to the point where it has become a joke. That's how he earned the affectionate nickname 'Tea-loving Elder' within the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

Both having a love for tea and, at the same time, being affectionate to people.

However, Hyun Jong is not offering Tang Gunak a cup of tea. It was a scene that showed how deeply troubled Hyun Jong was.

Tang Gunak, while understanding his feelings, had to say something unpleasant to the leader. Tang Gunak, after a brief sigh, opened his mouth again.

"There is no longer any meaning. We need to stop the search now."

Hyun Jong, who had been silent, looked at Tang Gunak quietly.

"The voices of dissatisfaction are growing."

"..."

"I understand your unfortunate feelings, but if Deputy Sect Leader... no, if Jin Dongryong from Jin Family is determined to hide, we won't be able to find him. You know his abilities the best, don't you, Maengju-nim?"

Even while speaking, Tang Gunak pressed down his emotions.

And why wouldn't it be unfortunate? But now is the time to set aside all these things.

"Heavenly Comrade Alliance is an alliance."

"..."

"Someone is eagerly waiting for news of Deputy Sect Leader, but others don't care at all. It's not good for everyone to be pushed into the search in such a situation. It might even lead to resentment towards you, Maengju-nim."

Tang Gunak, with a long sigh, cut off the words he had been holding back.

"So now, you must make a decision..."

At that moment, a bitter smile briefly flashed on the lips of the silently brooding Hyun Jong.

"It's strange, isn't it? It's not a boast, but... I have never once ordered anyone to search for that boy."

Tang Gunak momentarily closed his mouth. Certainly, that must be the case. As evidence, Mount Hua has not participated in the search until now.

"It was the decision of the heads of other sects to start the search."

It's only natural.

Heavenly Comrade Alliance is an alliance of various sects, so Maengju can't unilaterally make all the decisions.

In urgent matters that involve life and death or the fate of Kangho, Maengju might exert some authority, but it's difficult to force people to do minor tasks such as searching for someone.

"But... it seems it's my responsibility to clean up the mess for something I didn't even do."

Tang Gunak let out a small sigh. At this moment, he wanted to console Hyun Jong as one person to another, setting aside his position. But even that is a luxury in this situation.

"Standing at the top inherently involves such things, doesn't it?"

"..."

"Even though it wasn't a direct order from you, those who are searching will naturally think it was your command. Especially since this matter is related to Jin Dongryong."

Tang Gunak sighed briefly.

"Those who do things they don't want to do will always look for someone to blame, regardless of the truth."

As a person, this situation and Hyun Jong were pitiable.

At least Hyun Jong would consider himself responsible for all these events. Yet now he has to personally suggest stopping the search, even though he was the one who would be hurt the most by this.

Even in a situation where he has to bow his head to withdraw an order he never gave, how could it not be unfortunate?

"Mangju-nim."

"Indeed."

Tang Gunak was somewhat surprised by the unexpectedly prompt response.

"...then so be it."

Hyun Jong's voice was hollow. Because of that, Tang Gunak couldn't help but ask again, even though he found it absurd.

"...Are you okay with this?"

"What else can I do? Now, I can't even tell what's right, so I have no choice but to believe what someone says is right."

Tang Gunak's face subtly hardened.

"Maengju-nim."

"Don't look at me like that. I've come to realize anew that I have never achieved anything on my own."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It was all the children. The children... Baek Cheon, that child, achieved everything."

Tang Gunak couldn't say anything. He just clenched his fist tightly without realizing it.

"Even so, I believed I could find a better path than those children."

A hollow, bitter laugh passed through Hyun Jong.

"I forgot my own incompetence. What I've done is nothing more than relying on what the children achieved. Experience is not supposed to be an old man's refuge, but I deceived myself with that word."

"Don't say such things, Maengju-nim. It's just that things didn't go well. It's something anyone could go through."

Tang Gunak spoke seriously, his face hardened. It seemed Hyun Jong's distress was greater than he had thought.

This won't do. The leader can't be like this when enemies are brandishing their swords not far away.

As Tang Gunak was about to say something, Hyun Jong spoke first.

"Gaju-nim, please take over as the leader of the alliance."

"Ma, Maengju-nim!"

Tang Gunak was so shocked that he stuttered and shouted. But Hyun Jong remained calm.

"It would be best for the alliance."

Tang Gunak, who was about to tell him to calm down, closed his mouth.

Calm down? Did he really say that because he couldn't control his emotions at the moment? Is there any trace of excitement in those sunken eyes?

"...Maengju-nim. First, let's..."

"I've always known it was an overwhelming position for me. But because everyone said it was okay, I thought it was so. I shouldn't have deceived myself."

"..."

"Please do so. Even now, it must be done."

Tang Gunak was sighing deeply.

Suddenly, it became noisy and chaotic outside. Tang Gunak frowned slightly, then paused as a thought crossed his mind.

Could it be that they've found a trace of Baek Cheon?

"Just a moment."

Tang Gunak quickly got up and headed outside.

When he opened the door, many people were already gathered in the wide training ground. Just by looking at their faces, it was clear that something serious had happened.

"What is..."

"Dangju-nim! We're under attack!"

Even before Tang Gunak finished his question, a scream-like voice flew in. Tang Gunak's eyes widened instantly as he sharply inquired.

"Under attack?"

"The ones who went out on the search are being attacked right now. We need reinforcements quickly...!"

Evil Tyrant Alliance has launched an attack? In this situation?

"Have you figured out the enemy's numbers?"

"We've only received reports that they're under attack. We don't know the enemy's numbers or identity!"

Tang Gunak's face changed dramatically.

'Is it a full-scale war? Or...'

Without knowing the number of enemies, he couldn't gauge the scale of the battle.

'No, if the entire force had moved, we would have known. It's not a full-scale war.'

But can he be sure?

"Dangju-nim! Give the order!"

It was then, while Tang Gunak was frozen in contemplation.

"Damn it, everyone follow me!"

"What are you going to do?"

"Why ask? We're going to support them! Hurry!"

"The enemy..."

"I'm going ahead!"

"Hey, you bastard!"

Tang Gunak quickly turned his gaze towards the commotion.

All he could see were their backs disappearing into the distance.

'Jo Geol?'

But he could immediately tell that the protagonist of the commotion was Jo Geol. The swordsmen of Mount Hua were following behind him as they poured down the mountain.

'...Right.'

The important thing is that the members of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance who are being attacked are there.

Right now, most of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's forces are scattered around Mount Wudang searching. If the enemy's forces were to break in now...

A chill ran down his spine just imagining it. Perhaps they might suffer the same fate that Mount Hua had previously inflicted on Evil Tyrant Alliance.

'No!'

It would be disastrous. The Heavenly Comrade Alliance is currently full of invisible cracks. One big hammer blow could cause the whole thing to collapse.

"Where is it?"

"It's towards Bang Hyeon!"

"Mobilize all the forces in Wudang immediately. And everyone here, go support the area under attack. Move!"

"Yes!"

Tang Gunak shot down the mountain direction like lightning.

"I'll go ahead! Hurry up with the reinforcements!"

"Yes!"

As he hurled himself forward, he bit his lips tightly.

'This must not become Maengju-nim's responsibility. Never!'

His dark green robe flapped wildly as he sped through the air.

***

"An attack!"

"It's an attack by Evil Tyrant Alliance!"

Zhuge Guanwei's face turned pale. Even as he pushed off the ground and turned his body, his heart pounded as if it would burst.

'Why is Evil Tyrant Alliance here?'

Hadn't they retreated long ago? So why did they suddenly appear here? They haven't even recovered from the damage sustained in the last battle!

'What happened to the people ahead?'

Zhuge Guanwei had already entered the Wudang Mountain territory.

However, the other members of the Zhuge family were still scattered in the villages at the foot of the mountain, searching.

If the enemies had made it this far, what happened to the lives of those in the villages?

Zhuge Guanwei gritted his teeth hard enough to make a sound.

But now was not the time to speculate about their fate. Even dealing with the current situation was difficult enough.

"Retreat, retreat!"

Zhuge Guanwei was not one to easily utter the words of retreat.

But now there was no other choice. He had only about ten members of the Zhuge family with him, while the number of those eerie enemies charging towards them was more than three times that.

Moreover, the aura emanating from each one of them was extraordinary. If they tried to fight back clumsily, they wouldn't stand a chance and would all meet a pointless death.

"Retreat! Reinforcements will come! Fall back!"

Zhuge Guanwei shouted until his throat felt like it would burst.

However, no matter how devoted to martial arts they had been all their lives, retreating while keeping the enemy in check is slower than charging forward recklessly.

Especially considering the steep mountain behind them.

Slash!

"Ugh!"

"Hyaaah!"

Unable to avoid the enemy's blade, Zhuge Hae's head soared into the air. The severed head spun as it rose. The confusion and despair still vivid on that face etched itself into Zhuge Guanwei's eyes.

"Fall back! Don't try to fight them! Sacrifices are inevitable!"

Though a deep resentment surged in his chest, Zhuge Guanwei spoke words contrary to his thoughts. He had to save as many as possible.

Swish!

Two blood-robed men charged at him. Their clothing fluttered, revealing hook-like short and oddly-shaped knives. A chilling light flashed.

Clang!

Zhuge Guanwei struck the grotesque knives aimed at his face with his long sword.

Clang, clang, clang!

But the short knives did not withdraw easily, clinging to his sword with a chilling scraping sound.

"Haah!"

Thud!

Zhuge Guanwei quickly drew upon his internal energy to push the blood-robed man away. He had no intention of exploiting any openings; now was the time to flee, not to fight.

Just as he was about to launch himself backward, the blood-robed man's grotesque blade descended towards his head, faster than he could react.

"Damn!"

Zhuge Guanwei twisted his body and raised his sword to strike. His target was not the blade, but the arm holding it.

Thud.

The sword embedded itself in the blood-robed man's arm. But at that moment, Zhuge Guanwei sensed something was wrong.

'What?'

It didn't feel like cutting through flesh. It was more like plunging a sword into tough glue, thick and unyielding. The sensation was so strange it made his skin crawl.

Slash!

Taking advantage of his hesitation, the blood-robed man's grotesque blade plunged into Zhuge Guanwei's side.

"Argh!"

A scream burst out. This was not just the pain of a stab wound. The jagged edge of the blade tore the wound apart, and the blood groove on the blade greedily sucked out his blood.

Bang!

Instinctively, Zhuge Guanwei kicked the enemy away. He succeeded in pushing him back but fell to the ground himself from the force.

"Huff! Huff! Uh... Uuh..."

With trembling hands, he clutched at the wound in his side.

"Aarghhhh!"

"Euaaghhh!"

Even at that moment, screams erupted all around him. Struggling, he raised his body to look around.

"Ah..."

His kin lay scattered in horrendous conditions, staining the ground red with their blood.

"Tough bastard."

"Ugh..."

Zhuge Guanwei's face twisted into a grimace of despair.

"Shall we take his heart?"

"Not a bad idea. He'd make a fitting sacrifice."

Deep despair surged in his eyes.

'The Blood Palace.'

Why hadn't he considered the possibility of their attack?

"Hurry up. If we fall behind the others, the Cult Leader will rip out our skull and use it as a cup."

"Indeed."

The blood-robed man's grotesque blade glowed with a sinister red light once more.

"Consider it an honor."

Swish!

Zhuge Guanwei instinctively raised his sword. But at the same time, he knew.

This couldn't be blocked.

Sensing the end of his life, he opened his eyes wide. Even if he was going to die, he resolved not to die disgracefully.

Thanks to this, Zhuge Guanwei was able to see it.

He saw the strange, menacing weapon flying at him, which he couldn't possibly fend off, suddenly split in half.

'...Huh?'

A red sword light flashed before his eyes like an illusion.

It was different from the blood-red light shrouding the enemies. The sword light, of a much more vivid color, sliced through the weapon and struck the blood cultist.

Boom!

The force behind the sword was so powerful that the struck blood cultist's body literally exploded. Pieces of flesh shot out like shrapnel.

"Ah...."

Footsteps approached from behind him.

Zhuge Guanwei had no choice but to turn slowly, even though he knew there were enemies in front of him.

And the moment he saw the face of the one approaching from behind, Zhuge Guanwei realized.

'Mount Hua...'

There were still enemies ahead, but they no longer mattered.

'... Chivalrous Sword?'

Step.

Cheong Myeong, with an icy gaze, looked around. The bodies of the dead and the injured who were groaning in pain, and those who were hesitatingly wary of him...

"Unfortunate."

Sruuk.

Cheong Myeong's sword scratched the ground harshly.

"I'm not in a good mood right now."

"Plum Blossom Sword Demon! How... What are you...?"

"So... you can think of it as venting my anger."

With eyes brimming with a chilling killing intent, Cheong Myeong shot towards the enemies like an arrow.