Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1254: And It Is To Live! (4)

~9 minute read · 2,257 words
Previously on Return of the Mount Hua Sect...
The Four Sects Alliance launches a massive fleet toward Southern Island, causing panic among the local fishermen. Onboard their ships, the commanders of the attacking forces discuss their strategy, expecting the Southern Island Sect to make a stand in their main hall. Meanwhile, disciples on Southern Island work to sabotage their own boats to prevent a quick enemy boarding, while engaging in verbal sparring.
“What is it?” When Chung Myung nodded, Gwak Hwan-So hesitated a little and asked. “Everyone who decided to fight here are together with us, aren’t they?” “I told you. Do you want me to say it again?” Gwak Hwan-So waved his hand hurriedly. “No. It’s not that... Did you come with that intention from the start? Even if negotiations with us break down, would you fight on your own?” To that question, Chung Myung answered with an exceedingly gentle smile. “No.” “...What?” “I didn’t have any particular thoughts.” “...” “I told you. We didn’t even expect things to turn out like this until just before we arrived. I knew that Jang Ilso was crazy, but even if he’s crazy there’s a limit. Who would think he’d be insane enough to pull troops back from the Yangtze river front and charge in like a crazy person? No sane person would.” “...Stop saying ‘crazy’ so much, Chung Myung.” “Hearing it makes my head feel weird.” “Understand. Just the three syllables ‘Jang Ilso’ throw him off a bit.” Gwak Hwan-So blinked. “So on that day, after negotiations broke down, you held a meeting and reached a conclusion?” “No.” “Pardon?” “There wasn’t really anything you could call a meeting.” “...Then?” “I just said, shouldn’t we get going soon? But nobody went. So, well, that’s how it happened.” “Ah, no. What do you mean...” “You live overly complicated lives.” Chung Myung said dismissively. “Do you have some grand logic or stance just because the sect leader is convinced and you decided to go to Southern land?” “...That’s not it.” Of course there was some logic. But Gwak Hwan-So couldn’t deny that impulse played a bigger part in his actions than logic. “Then why look for logic from us?” “Please, let us find some... please.” “Evil Sect brat, shut your mouth.” “Ugh.” Chung Myung glanced at Gwak Hwan-So and said. “Of course we didn’t start out saying let’s help no matter what. But after a bit of bickering and some anger, things progressed, and before we knew it we were discussing how to fight.” “I kept opposing it!” “Someone shut that Evil Sect brat’s mouth.” When Namgung Do-Wei grabbed Im So-Byeong’s mouth and dragged him along, Chung Myung continued as if relieved. “So don’t think it’s anything grand.” “...How can we not think it’s not grand?” “You really don’t get it.” “Pardon?” “As I said before, we’re not here to die with you.” “...” “From what we experienced, Southern land’s defenses were laxer than expected, and we just thought there might be a chance if done right.” Gwak Hwan-So just looked at Chung Myung with a dumbfounded face. “If someone is floundering in the water, isn’t it human to help them until you die?” “That’s true...” “It’s just that the ‘until death’ you imagine and the ‘until death’ we imagine are a bit different. Don’t get any strange hopes. If Southern Island or anything else was truly doomed, we’d run without looking back. Only those who could do that came to Southern Island in the first place.” “I understand what you’re saying... but that’s easier said than done...” “Does this bastard really not understand what I’m saying?” “Pardon?” “Is it fine to just die and be done with it?” “...What do you mean by that?” “You’ve enjoyed everything being part of the Justice faction until now, and at the end you’d just die heroically without paying your due while everyone left in the Justice faction bleeds fighting Four Sects Alliance?” Gwak Hwan-So fell silent. “It’s laughable. You must fight until your spine is ripped out. Even in death, you should drag one more enemy to hell with you. That’s the minimum duty for those who brandish a sword and act proud.” “...” “And stop doing stupid things. Do you think after you all die like that the Evil Sect brats will leave Southern Island alone and just retreat? Even people in Southern Land should know the nature of the Evil Sect—how could you not? It’s ridiculous, truly.” Gwak Hwan-So looked as if he’d been struck. But Chung Myung clicked his tongue shortly, turned his body, and ambled off toward another direction. Baek Cheon walked over with a small smile and said to Gwak Hwan-So. “Don’t worry about him. That’s just how he talks.” “No. It’s less about the tone and more about...” Rather, the content hit harder. ‘Those who remain.’ He had never thought that way. The ‘those who remain’ they worried about were only the people of the Southern Island. He’d never considered what would become of the world, or how the remaining Justice faction would fight. But even if they died, the fight would continue. Especially the Heavenly Friends Alliance would fight Four Sects Alliance to the very end. He suddenly felt ashamed for only worrying about the Southern Island Sect and the Southern Island. How narrow-minded that had been. Even though they had disparaged islanders and complained about mainlanders, when crisis struck, their minds held no concern for the mainland’s circumstances either. “...We must fight.”

Gwak Hwan-So nodded his firm agreement, and Baek Cheon offered a slight smile.

“It is decided then.”

“Um, however...”

“Yes?”

“May I pose one more question?”

“Feel free to ask anything.”

“We might manage to infiltrate the Southern territories. But once we are inside, the circumstances will shift. They will surely detect our entry into their domain.”

“That is quite probable.”

“In that case, they will undoubtedly reinforce the Yangtze river defenses with utmost vigilance. Can we breach such defenses with our current strength? Perhaps a detour towards Yunnan would be a wiser course...”

Baek Cheon gently shook his head.

“A breakthrough will be necessary eventually, regardless.”

“That may be true, but...”

“The longer our approach, the greater our losses will be. To seize any advantage, our only viable strategy is to reach the Yangtze river with the utmost haste, before their fortifications are fully established. Furthermore...”

Baek Cheon’s gaze grew somber for a moment.

“If we do not agitate their central forces and extend that chaos into a confrontation at the Yangtze river, they will likely find some respite. Should that transpire... the probability of them enacting pointless, destructive actions will escalate.”

Gwak Hwan-So ceased speaking.

He comprehended the meaning of ‘pointless actions.’ If they opted for protracted detours, granting the Four Sects Alliance a period of ease, their accumulated rage could easily be redirected towards those remaining on the Southern Island.

Such an outcome would mean the Southern Island would bear the brunt of the retribution that rightfully belonged to the Southern Island Sect. This was precisely why Baek Cheon aimed to disrupt the enemy’s core and advance toward the Yangtze river, thereby escalating the tension between the Heavenly Friends Alliance and the Four Sects Alliance, preventing the latter from contemplating redeploying their forces.

‘I had not concerned myself with the mainland’s plights.’

These individuals were still deeply concerned for the safety of those who would remain on the Southern Island. Their willingness to embrace greater risks was to divert the Four Sects Alliance’s attention away from the Southern Island.

“...Is such a feat achievable?”

“Well, that is something we shall have to ascertain. However...”

“However?”

Baek Cheon offered an inscrutable smile.

“Not a single soul among us is eager to embrace death. The foremost principle of Mount Hua is not the enforcement of agreements or the upholding of righteousness. Our paramount principle is, above all else, survival.”

It was at that precise instant.

“Look, look. It’s finally crawling over here, look at that!”

“Huh?”

All eyes turned towards Chung Myung’s emphatic shout.

A small, white entity was making rapid headway towards the now remarkably tranquil center of the sea.

“Baek Ah!”

“Oh, my! It’s Baek Ah!”

“Heavens, she actually made it!”

The Five Swords, without exception, rushed towards the shoreline. Tang Soso plunged into the water and swiftly retrieved Baek Ah. Visibly drained, Baek Ah’s tongue lolled out as she hung limply in Tang Soso’s embrace.

“Sahyung! She’s utterly spent.”

“...Isn’t she rather commendable?”

“Commendable is one word for it; I’d call it reckless. I would have fled without a second thought.”

“...That is precisely why Baek Ah possesses more wisdom than you. Had she fallen into those cruel hands, she’d truly have ended up as mere hide.”

As Tang Soso carried Baek Ah towards Chung Myung, he reached out, grasped the scruff of Baek Ah’s neck from her arms, and lifted her.

“Did you manage alright?”

Despite her exhaustion, Baek Ah snapped to attention and nodded with vigor. Subsequently, she gazed at Chung Myung with bright, expectant eyes, as if awaiting commendation.

Yet, as was his custom, Chung Myung delivered a devastating disappointment to the one harboring expectations.

“Now, now. Pull yourself together.”

*Ki!*

“See this? This right here?”

Chung Myung lightly jiggled a diminutive whistle in his hand before placing it around Baek Ah’s neck. Baek Ah tilted her head, the small whistle now resting against her throat.

*Ki?*

“This is crucial. Guard it well.”

*Kiit?*

“Now depart.”

Baek Ah tilted her head further, appearing entirely bewildered. Her large, dark eyes sparkled, and the slight inclination of her head was undeniably endearing, yet the underlying reality was somewhat grim.

“Why are you not comprehending? Go on, try again.”

*Ki?*

“What precisely are you doing?”

*Ki…i?*

At that precise moment, everyone observed: Baek Ah’s pristine white face was rapidly taking on an icy blue hue.

‘Is that its fur? How can fur turn blue?’

‘Has the Beast Lord ever witnessed such a phenomenon?’

‘Who would ever believe us if we recounted this?’

It was then that Baek Ah convulsed and emitted a piercing shriek.

*Kiiiiiiiiiiiiik!*

While animals might grasp certain human utterances, humans are incapable of understanding animal languages. Yet, remarkably, those present could interpret that specific cry with absolute clarity.

“It’s a curse.”

“It certainly sounds like a curse, doesn’t it?”

“Indubitably, it is a curse.”

If it had been uttered in human speech, it would have constituted outright profanity—an obscenity too shameful to be overheard.

“You insolent creature!”

Chung Myung unceremoniously flung Baek Ah aside.

*Kiiii!*

Indicating the retreating Baek Ah with a pointed finger, Chung Myung bellowed.

“I provided you sustenance and allowed you to slumber until you grew plump as a hog, and now you’ve become agitated and gone utterly mad! From whence did you acquire that infernal hissing!”

“Chung Myung... you should express yourself more appropriately. She fared quite well in Yunnan.”

“To be perfectly honest, her hardships only commenced upon her arrival here...”

“She must be questioning why she ever came now. No, she likely harbored such sentiments long before this.”

Naturally, Chung Myung remained oblivious to the murmurs. Baek Ah executed a spinning landing, then huffed indignantly before turning to sprint away. Chung Myung, however, swiftly caught her, pulling her small face close to his.

"There isn't much time, so hurry and deliver this— Ugh!"

Just then, Baek Ah's forepaw slammed into Chung Myung's cheek with surprising force, his head snapping back from the unexpected impact.

A collective gasp swept through the onlookers.

"Oh my!"

"She fought back!"

"Hah, she's endured enough. It's about time she retaliated."

Chung Myung's eyes narrowed as he glared at Baek Ah.

"You little—?"

Kiiii!

A fierce scuffle ensued between the beast-like human and the human-like beast.

Witnessing this spectacle, Baek Cheon instinctively covered his face with both hands.

'He's really going at it with a beast...'

Even if she was a spirit beast, it seemed rather intense.

Huff! Huff!

After a prolonged struggle, a winded Chung Myung finally seized Baek Ah by the scruff of her neck, her panting breaths audible. Grinding his teeth, he grumbled,

"Argh! If you hadn't been provoking me constantly, I would have definitely drowned a weasel today!"

Ki!

"Deliver it properly. If you're late, you'll truly be burned. Understand?"

Kiiiiii!

"Damn it! Stop talking back!"

Baek Ah, who had put up a valiant resistance, finally slumped, tears streaming down her face as she nodded weakly, her spirit broken.

"Go! Hurry!"

Kiiiiiiii!

With a final, resentful howl, Baek Ah struck the ground and bolted towards the sea. A stunned silence fell over the assembled crowd.

"...She traveled all the way from the Yangtze River, only to leave the moment she arrived."

"...Even as a small creature, I wonder if it's appropriate to command her so."

"We apologize for being unable to protect you."

"Our condolences."

While somberness settled upon everyone else, Chung Myung appeared agitated, puffing out his chest with irritation.

"Still, she's getting faster and faster!"

'Bloodless, tearless brat.'

'Animal abuser.'

'Personality trash!'

As the onlookers watched Baek Ah recede across the water, something unexpected occurred.

"...Sasuk."

"I saw it too."

To Yoon Jong's surprised exclamation, Baek Cheon responded in a profoundly grave tone.

Far out on the horizon, a fleet materialized like tiny distant specks.

"...It's the Four Sects Alliance."

A suffocating tension began to creep along the coast, which had only moments before been imbued with a sense of relaxed calm.