Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1388: Underestimating People. (3)

“Th—!”

Jo Gul, eyes full of bloodshot fury, opened his mouth to shout something. Before he could, someone grabbed his shoulder so hard it might have broken it.

When he turned, Yoon Jong was shaking his head with a stern expression. Seeing that, Jo Gul bit his lip hard.

This was neither a plea nor a negotiable suggestion. It was an order issued in the name of the Acting Sect Leader. Now that ‘expulsion from the sect’ had even been mentioned, there was no room for compromise. Jo Gul knew that. He did.

But...

“Do we really have to do this?”

Still unable to hold back, the question slipped out. Baek Cheon nodded firmly once again.

“Do not confuse what you want to do with what you must do. What we must do now is clear.”

Jo Gul’s gaze darkened.

“Then at least let me...”

“I already said no.”

Baek Cheon did not listen further. His face was harsh.

“No objections. If you are a disciple of Mount Hua, follow my order. If you insist on going, hand over the Plum Blossom engraved on your chest and go.”

At that icy voice, Jo Gul trembled with rage and clenched his fist.

“Sa—”

“I accept the Acting Sect Leader’s order.”

But before Jo Gul could resist further, Yoon Jong spoke as if to pre-empt him.

“Jo Gul. Step forward and open the way.”

“...”

“Now!”

Jo Gul glanced between Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon. Without a word he spun around and moved forward. Yu Yiseol and Tang Soso, who had been staring at them silently, followed him without a word.

“Out of the way! You bastards!”

Shouting a furious yell, Jo Gul slaughtered those blocking the way in an instant. The group, which had hesitated for a moment, began moving forward rapidly again.

Pushing off the ground, Baek Cheon looked back at Yoon Jong beside him.

“Help Jo Gul.”

“Yes.”

“...Thank you for calming him down.”

“There’s no need to say that. Following the Acting Sect Leader’s order is only natural.”

“...”

“And I do not think the sasuk’s decision is wrong. The moment intentions diverge, everyone perishes. Even if the direction is wrong, you must see it through resolutely to open even the faintest path.”

Baek Cheon nodded. What Yoon Jong said precisely captured the basis of his judgment.

And in truth above all, Chung Myung would not want them to go rescue him.

Even if they dropped everything and rushed in, what they’d face would only be his despairing face. Baek Cheon did not want to see that.

“However...”

At that moment, Yoon Jong’s voice came a bit belatedly. Baek Cheon turned and looked at him.

“The heart wishes to follow the way, but the body is merely human and finds it hard. I now understand those words.”

“...”

“I know the sasuk’s decision is right, and I understand it’s the best choice we got, but...”

Yoon Jong hesitated slightly, then continued.

“If by any chance Chung Myung dies and we walk safely into the Northern lands, I will never forgive the sasuk for the rest of my life.”

“...”

“Even if it turns out to be the wrong thing to feel towards sasuk.”

It was a remark half like a curse. But Baek Cheon’s expression did not change. Yoon Jong left behind words that sounded like admiration—or perhaps derision—and ran forward.

“You’ve become the sect leader, sasuk.”

Left alone, Baek Cheon closed his eyes for a moment. His lashes trembled faintly. When he opened them again, there was not a hint of hesitation on his face.

“You two take the left and right.”

At that calm command, Hae Yeon and Namgung Do-Wei exchanged looks of disbelief. After a moment and a sigh, they nodded and split left and right.

Now remaining were Baek Cheon and one other person.

“A good decision.”

“...”

“I worried the Acting Sect Leader might make a reckless decision, but it seems my fears were unfounded.”

“As for the Green Forest King...”

“Yes, I will watch the situation from the rear. Farewell.”

Im So-Byeong slipped back and muttered just barely audible.

“However, I still thought that if it were the Acting Sect Leader, he might make a different choice.”

Baek Cheon did not answer. He simply suppressed the outrage that seemed ready to burst out. He breathed in a long, deep breath so others wouldn’t notice and bit the inside of his cheek.

‘Damn bastard...’

Blood seeped from his tightly clenched fist. His fingernails dug into the flesh of his palm.

But Baek Cheon hid that hand inside his sleeve. By his expression, no one could tell what mood he was in.

“Hurry. Push straight to the Yangtze river! Faster, every moment counts!”

Chung Myung glanced up and scanned the enemies pouring in from all sides.

“Hmm. No need to harass them.”

Judging by how the enemies swarmed, it was clear they hadn’t considered the other side at all. There was nothing to worry about.

He had secretly worried, a one-in-a-thousand fear, that Baek Cheon might lose control and make a suicidal decision, but luckily he wasn’t that stupid.

If he had been the sort to make that choice, he wouldn’t have been left to become Acting Sect Leader. All of Chung Myung’s actions stemmed, when examined, from complete trust in Baek Cheon.

Without saying it outright, he was certain Baek Cheon would never make a foolish choice.

Chung Myung chuckled softly.

‘How long has it been?’

He realized how long it had been since he’d trusted someone not for their brilliance but for who they were, believing they’d know his intent and act accordingly without explanation.

A face came to his mind.

The face of the one who always scolded and nagged him, yet always believed in him.

“Ah, what nonsense. No chance.”

Smiling, Chung Myung raised his sword. It was bravado; the situation hardly allowed for leisure. Baek Cheon’s correct choice meant that those damned Ten Thousand People Clan would have no obstacle in targeting just him.

No matter who Chung Myung was, overcoming this situation wouldn’t be easy.

“Well, still...”

“Dieeee!”

He struck aside a Ten Thousand People Clan warrior’s blade with one blow and severed his neck in an instant. Hot blood spurted from the cut carotid. Leaping, Chung Myung deflected the vicious blades of enemies aiming for his vitals.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t say it’s not hard!”

If being surrounded meant death, or if the enemy focusing on him meant he should throw away his life, his past self would have needed twenty lives and still come up short.

Kraaaang!

He slammed the ground hard and red-clad foes rained down over his head like a storm.

“Plum Blossom Sword Ghost, don’t let him escape!”

“Sword Ghost?”

Crack.

Gripping his sword hilt until it nearly broke, Chung Myung unleashed his sword skyward. In an instant he swept aside the incoming spearpoints and tore through the exposed torsos of those before him.

“Call me Sword Saint, you fools. Don’t attach such disrespectful words to an elder. You’re dead in my hands. Pft!”

Spitting the blood filling his mouth, Chung Myung glanced back.

‘Not yet.’

A little more. He had to wait just a bit longer.

His goal was neither to escape from here nor to run away.

If he fled too quickly, the enemy forces would split. Then those left behind would choose to chase the main force rather than pursue him, whose capture was unlikely.

To prevent that, he had to lure as many as possible deep inward so they could never take their eyes off his back.

Then, in that gap, Mount Hua and Southern Island could cross the river. Across the river lay Shaolin and other sects tangled in a complex web, making pursuit difficult.

“Ha-hah...”

It was somewhat amusing.

To sacrifice the desire to save one more for the sake of many, that was the choice Chung Mun once forced on him. Chung Myung never forgave Chung Mun for making him choose, even to his dying day.

Though he still respected and cherished him, he could never untie that knot. Chung Mun probably lamented that fact until his last breath.

But now it was Chung Myung forcing that damned choice on Baek Cheon, just as Chung Mun had once forced on him.

‘If I meet sahyung in the afterlife, I’ll apologize.’

He had intended to complain first if they met again. Had he known it would come to this, he would have at least told him he understood when he went to cut off the Heavenly Demon’s head. Even saying that would have sufficed.

Would Baek Cheon resent him? As he had once resented Chung Mun?

Perhaps.

But he must endure. And he could endure. He was more than fit to become Mount Hua’s sect leader. He would have to make such choices countless times in the future.

Just like the great Chung Mun.

“Then what remains is...”

Chung Myung watched the enemies surge like a tide.

“Chase him! He’s alone! Give him no time to rest!”

“...You underestimate people.”

What’s so great about being alone.

Tang Bo is no longer at his back, but Chung Myung is firmer than his former self.

Chung Mun, who had tried to protect him, was gone, but he had become someone who could protect others on his own.

His past self could never grow up, but now he understood what mattered most.

“So there’s nothing surprising about it!”

Chung Myung’s sword sliced the air like an apparition. Drawing a Plum Blossom with its tip, he shredded the attackers in an instant and then surged forward like a snake slithering through the brush.

“Oooooo!”

Paaaah!

Black poisonous powder exploded before him.

Holding his breath for a moment, Chung Myung crouched lower and pushed through the poison.

No sooner had he cut through the black smoke than dozens of chained sickles flew in from all directions, but Chung Myung sliced them all with a single stroke.

For a moment, he felt the sensations of the past return to his body. He felt he could do anything, pierce anything. So this much...!

“So you were here, you idiot! Who let you fight alone?”

Eyes wide, Chung Myung snapped his head around.

But there was nothing where he turned.

Jo Gul charging with a cry, Baek Cheon glaring as if to kill, expressionless Yu Yiseol, tearful Tang Soso... none of them were there.

They were not there.

Chung Myung snorted a laugh.

Swoosh.

Kicking off the ground, Chung Myung shot forward at speed.

A single leaf hanging at the tip of a branch trembled in the slow breeze. Even as the wind died and the world settled back into quiet, the lone leaf continued to sway and sway.