Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1089
The silence continued for a long time.
The words themselves are not shocking. They had heard similar things before, often as half-jokes or in passing. However, even with the same word, wouldn’t its weight vary greatly depending on the time and situation?
It feels like their body is being weighed down by the great weight of the two letters ‘destruction’.
In particular, this word came to a greater extent for those who witnessed the horrors of Hangzhou with their two eyes.
“Destruction....”
A solemn voice came out of Baek Cheon’s mouth.
They saw what happened to Hangzhou, which was considered the most splendid and beautiful in Jungwon, and its terrible devastation.
‘Such a thing happening all over Jungwon...’
Eudeuk.
Baek Cheon’s teeth suddenly clenched strongly. That has to be prevented at any cost.
“This is serious.”
The one who broke the heavy silence was none other than Im Sobyeong. A look of distress was evident on his face as he scratched his head with the tip of his fan.
“Just... It’s just a bit too serious to dismiss as nothing.”
The composure on his face that used to show a carefree smile has long since disappeared.
“If Magyo is as powerful as Dojang predicted and attacks Jungwon, doesn’t that mean the current state of Jungwon can’t stop them?”
Im Sobyeong’s eyes were sharp and cold, unlike usual. Chung Myung quietly nodded.
“Probably so.”
“...That’s a pain.”
Im Sobyeong let out a deep sigh.
When external enemies invade, internal strife are supposed to be resolved. No, it has to be sorted out. But he knows that’s easier said than done.
Of course, from a historical perspective, there are cases where internal strifes were resolved due to the invasion of foreign enemies, but there are also countless cases where the country itself was destroyed both internally and externally because the internal strifes remained unresolved.
Im Sobyeong sighed again and shrugged his shoulders.
“Of course, Magyo... it depends on when Magyo decides to act, but it is true that the situation is not that good.”
Naturally, what came to everyone’s mind at those words were the faces of Bop Jeong and Jang Ilso.
The world was currently divided into three factions.
Ten Great Sects (????(九派一幇)) centered on Bop Jeong, Evil Tyrant Alliance (???(邪覇聯)) centered on Jang Ilso, and Heavenly Comrade Alliance (???(天友盟)) centered on Mount Hua.
Each force is exerting enormous influence within their respective territories.
Im Sobyeong scratched his cheek. He felt uneasy.
‘Rather....’
Right, things might have been better if Magyo had risen five years ago. Five years ago, neither Heavenly Comrade Alliance nor Evil Tyrant Alliance existed.
If Magyo had been active at that time, either Mount Hua or Jang Il-so would have had no choice but to unite around Shaolin. First of all, they would have to survive.
But now the case is different.
In the past five years, Shaolin has lost far too much. It is embarrassing to even compare their status from five years ago to the status now. At that time, Shaolin was considered a sect that protected the world as the Northern Star of Kangho, but now Shaolin has lost all of its status, and even managing the internal strife of Ten Great Sects is difficult.
On the other hand, what about Myriad Man Manor and Mount Hua? It has built up such a tremendous reputation that comparison with what it was five years ago is meaningless.
‘Plus, there’s also the growing enmity....’
What determines human attitude is disposition and emotion. If Bop Jeong, Chung Myung, and Jang Ilso had met in one place five years ago, they would have thought of each other as peculiar, but they would not have thought of putting swords to each other’s throats.
But now, it’s hard to even imagine these three sitting in the same room. That’s how wide and deep the chasm of enmity has grown between them.
‘An alliance of such three factions...’
From Im Sobyeong’s point of view, this notion felt more absurd than the resurrection of Heavenly Demon and the invasion of Magyo.
His eyes fell on Chung Myung.
‘What is that person thinking right now?’
The Chung Myung he knew was always someone who could see farther than anyone else. Even Im Sobyeong, who prided himself on manipulating others like pieces on a chessboard, was surprised once or twice when he realized what Chung Myung’s plan was after some time had passed.
“If they want justification, give them justification.”
“....”
“If you want a profit, just give them a profit.”
Hyun Jong’s expression grew heavy.
“If Shaolin wants to gain the honor of leading Kangho, all we have to do is to bow before him in the name of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Bop Jeong will be able to cover everything he has done so far with just the justification that he has accepted Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s surrender, so he will respond to any number of requests.”
“That....”
Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but soon stopped.
In truth, this was a very realistic proposal. What Bop Jeong wants most now is to restore the lost reputation of Shaolin. If Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword directly bow their heads before Bop Jeong, all past disgraces (??(失態)) would seem but minor blemishes.
For someone like Bop Jeong, he would even join hands with his parents’ enemies in order to gain this much.
“If Jang Ilso wants practical profits, just give him practical profits. What he wants is to advance into Gangbuk. And to expand the territory of Evil Tyrant Alliance. If we give up the Yangtze River region controlled by Heavenly Comrade Alliance to Jang Ilso, and give the area leading to Sichuan and Shaanxi in appropriate amount, Jang Ilso will accept the offer as if he couldn’t win.”
“...Hng.”
This time, Im Sobyeong let out a groan.
That would clearly be an unsatisfactory result from Jang Ilso’s perspective. However, it is enough bait to bring Jang Ilso to the negotiating table.
There’s no way that damn bastard would back out if there was something he could get for free without shedding a single drop of blood. This is especially true considering how great a price would have to be paid to occupy the Yangtze River and the western lands of Jungwon.
“So... if we desire it, an alliance is possible.”
Hyun Jong did not hastily open his mouth and just looked at Chung Myung. This was because he now knew very well that when this child said things like this, he was hiding his true intentions behind them.
“But, Sect Leader.”
Sure enough, Chung Myung continued in a solemn tone.
“It means we must sacrifice ourselves for the greater good.”
“To that extent....”
“Of course, we just have to give up something small at first. But once the alliance is established in that way, more must be given to maintain it. If no one else is willing to sacrifice, it will ultimately fall on us.”
“....”
“One finger at first.”
Chung Myung’s voice began to carry a cold chill.
“Then an arm.”
“....”
“In the end, we would have to give up all our limbs, and eventually even our neck.”
Chung Myung’s gaze, scanning everyone, was cold.
“All for the sake of the peace of Jungwon.”
Hyun Jong’s face hardened. He understood better than anyone what Chung Myung was implying.
“Perhaps by doing so, we can indeed preserve peace in Jungwon. But Sect Leader... there is one thing Sect Leader must understand.”
Chung Myung’s voice was like a blade the whole time. It contained warnings, concerns, and deep regret that others might not sense.
“There will be no place for Mount Hua in the peaceful Jungwon that has been protected like that. Sect Leader might leave no trace... No, Sect Leader may have to watch from the afterlife the Mount Hua that failed to avoid annihilation and has become an object of disdain and ridicule.”
Hyun Jong’s eyes trembled slightly.
“And yet, if that is the cause that Sect Leader wants to uphold.”
Chung Myung paused for a moment. Then he looked at the disciples sitting around him, one by one, as if he memorizing them.
“If that is the path Mount Hua chooses to take...”
“....”
“I will simply follow.”
Chung Myung quietly closed his eyes.
In the darkened world, a person was watching him with eyes full of blood and tears.
‘Cheong Mun Sahyung....’
Chung Myung’s fist resting on his thigh was clenched.