Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 952
Two days had passed.
And during those two days... Shaolin monks had not moved a single step from the place they first settled.
No one sat down, and no one left the seat. They just stared at the fleet of Evil Tyrant Alliance, which blocked Plum Blossom Island and the place between them with bloodshot eyes.
There was an utter stillness, devoid of movement, yet their inner turmoil was more violently shaken than ever before.
In life, everyone faces moments of torment between reality and ideals. ‘Living’ means repeating those moments and finding your own stance.
However, the current Shaolin monks have not undergone such a typical process.
Their surroundings, the threshold of Shaolin, were too lofty for mundane anguish, and the ideals they learned were far too noble.
“...Bangjang.”
Unable to bear it any longer, one of the Shaolin monks looked towards their Bangjang with bloodshot eyes.
Hye Bang (??(慧訪)).
He was the one who had visited Mt. Hua in the past to deliver the invitation for the Murim Competition. A suppressed voice escaped from him.
“Like this... Are we just going to stand by and watch?”
“....”
Bop Jeong remained motionless with his gaze fixed forward. It was uncertain whether he even heard the words.
However, Hye Bang continued as if it didn’t matter to him.
“Are you really going to let the people of Namgung Family die like this?”
Then Bop Jeong’s neck muscles flinched slightly. Hye Bang eventually raised his voice.
“Bangjang!”
Only then did Bop Jeong turn his head slowly. And he faced Hye Bang, who was pouring out his anger towards him.
“So, what would you have us do?”
“....”
“I’ll ask you instead. What do you think we should do?”
“....”
“Do you think we should fight against this Evil Tyrant Alliance as it is? Do you believe it’s right to jump into that river, ignoring the battlefield that’s overwhelmingly disadvantageous, and the retreating forces, and perish?”
Hye Bang bit his lip tightly.
There was nothing wrong with Bop Jeong’s words. Jumping into that river now is no different from jumping into a fire while carrying hay.
But...
Hye Bang immediately looked straight at Bop Jeong and spoke.
“Isn’t that a foolish act?”
“Hye Bang!”
“Wasn’t it you, Bangjang, who taught me that?”
At those words, Bop Jeong closed his mouth. His gaze slightly wavered.
“... Shaolin must protect Jungwon. What we should pursue is not only the path of Buddhism (??(佛道)), but also the Chivalrousness of Kangho. You certainly said that.”
“....”
“Is this the way to protect the path of Buddhism, or is it the way to protect Chivalrousness?”
“Enough...”
“Was it all just words? Bangjang!”
“Can you not hold your tongue?”
It was not Bop Jeong but Bop Kye who raised his voice. He glared at Hye Bang with a face full of rage.
“All you do is vent your frustration. However, Bangjang must make decisions that concern the lives of everyone here!”
Hye Bang bit his lip so hard it bled.
“Would you, for that so-called Chivalrousness, lead your Sahyung and Sajil to a path of certain death? Can you proudly say that’s the right thing to do?”
Hye Baang couldn’t answer and lowered his head.
Bangjang’s eyes closed slightly.
In this situation where they can neither move forward nor retreat, everyone’s hearts are twisting and festering. As time passes, it will only worsen. Like a deep scar left by a festering wound, perhaps even after this ordeal is over, the scars will never fully heal.
‘...Jang Ilso.’
This is why he was afraid of Jang Ilso.
Jang Ilso has already won.
Even if Shaolin were to leap into that river, carrying their fate on their back, and manage to save everyone from Namgung, the scars engraved in their hearts would never heal.
This is because he thought that this was not something he could make a decision on. Breaking through that iron-clad defense and making countless sacrifices, or watching Namgung wither away and die, was too much to bear.
“...Amitabha.”
But Bop Jeong shook his head.
“It doesn’t seem right for us to decide this alone.”
“T- Then.”
“Since Peng Family hasn’t arrived yet, I think we should make a decision after Peng Family arrives.”
“Tha- That seems like a good idea.”
Jongni Hyeong nodded furiously.
However, the words were not really uttered based on judgment as to whether Bop Jeong’s words were right or wrong. He was just relieved to be able to postpone, even for a moment, a decision that could determine the fate of a sect.
In fact, if he thought about it a little, it was not something he should just feel relieved about.
Jongni Hyeong looked back at the disciples of Kongtong who were confused as they had not yet fully grasped the situation.
‘Damn it...’
There’s too much time.
They only have three days left. Too short to decide their fate, but excessively long to agonize over themselves in this situation.
From now on, they must suffer, as if being punished, agonizing intensely between ideals and reality.
What kind of ridiculous situation is this?
Ciwu Beggar frowned at Jongni Hyeong, who was at his wits’ end.
‘That’s wrong.’
Decisions should be bold. A decision postponed and delayed can’t be proper.
Moreover, from the conversation they had just had, it felt like the outcome of their decision was already somewhat evident.
However... Ciwu Beggar didn’t want to blame them.
It is undeniable that there has been a subtle rift between the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family. Would they be loyal enough to risk their lives to save the Namgung Family?
Not just their own lives but the fate of their sects?
That was something even Ciwu Beggar would prefer to avoid.
Turning his gaze away from his own cynicism and shame on himself, he stared at Plum Blossom Island.
‘Namgung Gaju, how could you have done such a foolish thing?”
A deep sigh and a breath escaped.
But he didn’t really want to blame Namgung Gaju deeply either. Even the people standing here felt as if their hearts were being scraped out with a knife, but what can he say about the Namgung Family’s feeling of enduring all this while watching the situation on the island?
It was too cruel a price to pay for just one mistake.
Ciwu Beggar, who had been silent, spoke emotionlessly.
“You’d better remember one thing.”
Bop Jeong and Jongni Hyeong looked back at him.
“The choice you make ultimately lies within your hearts. However...”
Ciwu Beggar slightly bit his lip and opened his mouth again.
“The world will remember the choices you have made here. And beyond the world, history will remember.”
“....”
“I hope you make the right choice.”
Leaving those words behind, he turned away. It was too hard for him to keep facing them.
It wasn’t out of disgust for those two. Rather, looking at them made his own self-loathing surge.
‘Who am I to judge?’
Wasn’t he also an accomplice? Leaving the choice to them and merely uttering righteous words, he might be the most cowardly person here.
As Ciwu Beggar stepped back, a beggar followed him.
“Shall I report the situation to the headquarters?”
“...We should.”
However, with only three days left, even the headquarters would struggle to make a decision. It would be a cruel choice for the aged leader of Beggar Union, whose days were already numbered.
“Then I will do so.”
“Wait....”
At that moment, Ciwu Beggar bit his lip.
He knew it was something that should never be done, but he couldn’t help it. As an elder of Beggar Union, it was a path he should not choose, but as a martial artist, he ended up asking the question.
“...Where did you say Mt. Hua was?”