Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1392: He Will Be Waiting For Us. (2)

His breath caught.

“They’re going to rescue them?”

Mount Hua’s Sword Saint?

No, thinking about it, it’s not a surprising choice. If you consider who they are,

it might be the most natural thing. But...........

“Acting Sect Leader.”

Gwak Hwan-So forced his trembling voice under control and forced himself to speak.

“As you know........ our rear is currently overflowing with the Ten Thousand People Clan chasing us. Going now to rescue Chung Myung’s Taoist is not much different from saying you’ll break through them.”

Baek Cheon silently looked at Gwak Hwan-So.

“I know Mount Hua is strong. It can’t be compared to us. But.....”

Gwak Hwan-So trailed off. But everyone could predict what would follow.

This is nothing less than a suicide mission.

They had done everything they could so far to escape the clutches of the Ten Thousand People Clan.

Tormented by the fear that one day those men might stab them in the back, they finally made it here.

And now they were going to throw themselves back into the arms of those they had been fleeing from? To save only one person?

‘They’re insane.’

Can this really be dismissed as chivalry or courage?

A truly brave person might risk their life and run into a burning house to save a crying child.

That first act can be called courage. But if someone who already lost an arm then runs back into the flames to save another child, can you still call that courage?

Even though they’re running into a place that has become many times more dangerous?

That’s not courage.

Those who do such things are simply people with something broken inside them.

However, among Mount Hua’s disciples discussing that insane action, not a single face showed hesitation or fear.

Their faces treated that most natural thing as natural. That sight stirred indescribable emotions in Gwak Hwan-So.

“I truly apologize to the people of the Southern Island Sect.”

“Wait, Acting Sect Leader.”

“But as I said, by now Mount Hua has fulfilled its duty to you.”

Gwak Hwan-So unknowingly nodded.

In truth, ‘this much’ is an understatement. What Mount Hua had given them was excessive to the point of overflowing.

Even if they had abandoned them halfway to the Southern Island, Gwak Hwan-So could not have blamed them.

“Expecting more from Mount Hua would be beyond shameless; it would be inhuman. But Acting Sect Leader...... are you really alright with this?”

He already knew the answer.

Because the response from someone with that look was obvious.

But the answer he heard began a little differently than expected.

“Well, I don’t know. In truth, as Mount Hua’s Acting Sect Leader, my duty ends here.”

“Huh?”

“What remains is not me as Mount Hua’s Acting Sect Leader, but Baek Cheon, the sect’s great disciple. So I will simply do what I want to do.”

“Oh, no, then the others......”

“They’ll do as they see fit. I don’t intend to force anyone.”

Gwak Hwan-So opened his mouth without meaning to. Baek Cheon’s mood was somehow different from before.

There was a strange expression on that obedient face.

“Those who want to follow will follow, and those who remain will remain. That’s not something I should be worrying about, is it?”

“Ah, no......”

At that moment, Jo Gul spoke up, sounding irritated.

“Do you have that much time to speak? There’s no time.”

Gwak Hwan-So turned to Jo Gul with a look of incredulity, and Yoon Jong rebuked Jo Gul for his words.

“Doesn’t he have things to do as the Acting Sect Leader?”

“Then will you wait here for him?”

“No, so just leave him and go.”

“Wow.... I hadn’t thought of that.”

No sooner had he finished than Yu Yiseol strode over and stood beside Yoon Jong.

“Arrogant.”

“Guh, Sago, that’s not what I meant........”

“I can’t. I’ll lead them.”

“...........Yes.”

Tang Soso also stood beside Yu Yiseol with a stern face, and the silent Hae Yeon naturally stood at Jo Gul’s side.

As if to show that they were going to Chung Myung not because of Baek Cheon’s orders.

‘What the hell........’

Gwak Hwan-So was left speechless by that absurd sight, and Baek Cheon spoke with a nonchalant face.

“See. They’re not the kind to listen to whatever I say. We should be grateful they’ve come this far quietly.”

“If only it weren’t for the sasuk.”

“If only it weren’t for the Acting Sect Leader.”

“If only it weren’t for Dong-Ryong.”

“Who just said that, you bastard?”

When Baek Cheon shouted, everyone pretended not to hear as they turned away.

A hollow laugh escaped Gwak Hwan-So’s lips.

They were now about to head into a battlefield that was like hell.

A place where the chance of death was many times higher than survival. Yet there was no look of burden or tension on them.

No, they couldn’t lack burden and tension. But something more important than that existed.

‘So were they planning this from the start?’

Is that why they fought so fiercely and sped up? To lead them to the safest possible place and then turn back?

“If you have nothing more to say, let’s depart.”

Gwak Hwan-So turned his head toward the voice.

Namgung Family’s young lord, Namgung Do-Wei. He too, as if it were the natural choice, had already turned his body.

With Tang Family’s young lord Tang Pae.

The ones remaining were.......

“I’ll make it clear in advance.”

Green Forest King Im So-Byeong said to them in a cold tone.

“This goes against the will of Taoist Chung Myung.”

At those words, everyone’s expression hardened slightly.

“Taoist Chung Myung would not want you to do this madness. Even if a miraculous event happens and you break through hell to meet again, you will only be met with curses, and it’s more likely the ending will be you holding hands and dying together.”

“..........”

“Will you go anyway?”

At that, Baek Cheon scratched at his ear.

With an unusually rough-looking face, he replied indifferently.

“What are you gonna do about it?”

“......Huh?”

The Green Forest King blinked. He truly had not expected that answer even a bit.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“............”

“It seems the Green Forest King doesn’t quite understand. Take this opportunity to learn.”

“What are you °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° saying?”

“I’m the sasuk, I am!”

“......Huh?”

“But why should I listen to that bastard? That lowborn bastard with no standing! It’s not that I have to obey him; that bastard should obey me! Do you understand?”

“That’s right.”

“Exactly! I’m the sahyung!”

“I agree. I’m the sajae, though.”

Im So-Byeong’s mouth trembled.

“Do you all think the same?”

Namgung Do-Wei and Tang Pae shrugged at that look.

“We know it’s unrealistic. If you think about gains and losses, it would be right to give up cleanly.”

“A reasonable statement.”

“But isn’t friendship a relationship that doesn’t weigh those things?”

Namgung Do-Wei said firmly.

“That’s why it’s the Heavenly Friends Alliance. If we were to discuss gains and losses, would I even be here? We would have died on Plum Blossom Island. Yet Taoist Chung Myung came to save Namgung family. At that moment we had already become friends. So now it’s my turn to risk my life for him.”

“...........”

“Tang Young lord, do you feel the same?”

“If I abandon Taoist Chung Myung and go back, I’ll die at my father’s hand anyway.”

“..........”

“This route will likely be the slightly less painful way to die.”

At those words, several nodded. The thought of an angry Tang Gunak is frightening as if from a nightmare.

“Madmen.”

“So, Green Forest King, what will you do?”

“Tsk tsk, such pitiful talk.”

Im So-Byeong took a fan from his robes.

Seeing that, some whispered.

‘How many fans does he carry around?’

‘Seems like each has its own purpose?’

Im So-Byeong opened the fan wide, half-covering his face, and spoke.

“If that man dies, Green Forest will certainly be left in the cold, so it’s better business to have a debt wiped off while we have the chance.”

“......I see why Green Forest is poor.”

“You can’t calculate. Calculate.”

“Quiet!”

Baek Cheon snorted at Im So-Byeong’s annoyed reaction and turned toward Gwak Hwan-So.

“Please understand.”

As Baek Cheon made his plea, Gwak Hwan-So hesitated for a moment and then spoke in a suppressed voice.

“Acting Sect Leader. If that’s truly the case........”

“No.”

Baek Cheon cut him off as if he could guess what Gwak Hwan-So was about to say.

“That won’t do. Returning now to lead Southern Island Sect back would make all we’ve done up to now look like foolishness.”

“.......”

“It’s not something numbers alone can fix. So don’t worry and go. And make sure you survive. Only then will everything we’ve done not be for nothing.”

Im So-Byeong nodded.

“The Southern Island Sect heading straight for the Yangtze river to draw their attention will be more helpful.”

“See?”

The tension drained from Gwak Hwan-So’s shoulders.

They were right. True, but.........

“Then at least let me.....”

Baek Cheon smiled faintly and shook his head.

“That won’t do either. Warrior Gwak must lead the Southern Island Sect. You know that, don’t you?”

The difference between Southern Island Sect with Gwak Hwan-So and without him would be vast. So even if they understood his feelings, they couldn’t take him along.

Unable to do anything, Gwak Hwan-So clenched his fist, and Baek Cheon laughed and patted his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. When we meet again in the Northern Land, we’ll make you pay back with interest.”

At that, Gwak Hwan-So finally shook his head.

These guys were fools. Incorrigible fools.

He couldn’t tell. Whether fools unusually gathered around the man named Chung Myung, or that man turned those around him into fools.

But now Gwak Hwan-So found himself wanting to be one of those fools.

“Then.”

Baek Cheon turned his body away from the Southern Island Sect. Leaving not a shred of regret.

His gaze landed not on his companions, but on the path they had to break through.

No, on someone who would be at the end of that path.

“Ready?”

“What do you mean, suddenly.”

“Yeah.”

Baek Cheon snorted. It was sudden indeed.

Sssshhh.

Baek Cheon drew his sword from its sheath and gripped the Plum Blossom Sword tightly in his hand.

“Those who fall behind will be left.”

“Sasuk, don’t get tired.”

“Damn bastards.”

Gritting his teeth, Baek Cheon ran forward without another word.

Around him, comrades like shafts of light followed.

“Let’s go! At that damned bastard!”

“Yes!”

The members of the Heavenly Friends Alliance charged forward with all their might.

And Gwak Hwan-So, staring vacantly at their backs, gritted his teeth.

He wanted to be there with them. But he couldn’t go. He had people he had to protect.

So.......

“Sahyung, I’ll go and come back.”

Gwak Hwan-So turned his head.

“Ja-Yang?”

Lee Ja-Yang said bluntly with a nonchalant face.

“The Southern Island Sect has its pride. At the very least, we mustn’t have the story spread that only they returned alive while we left our benefactor behind.”

“........”

“Even if I die, it’s better that I die than you, Sahyung. So there.”

“J-Ja-Yang!”

Lee Ja-Yang didn’t wait for Gwak Hwan-So’s permission and ran after those who had gone ahead.

Gwak Hwan-So, who had reached out toward that retreating figure, slowly lowered the awkward fist that had only grasped air.

“........Damn it.”

A hollow voice resonated with a deep sigh.