Chapter 1818 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect
“Ah...”
Despair
surged in Jin Hyeon’s eyes.
The halls
were burning. The place where he had lived all his life, and where he was
supposed to continue living, was engulfed by crimson flames.
Strength drained
from his knees.
How many
lives had been lost to protect that place? How much sacrifice had been paid to
safeguard that land?
As if
mocking all those efforts, the flames wrapped around the halls, spreading
rapidly and growing larger.
“Ahh...”
What was it
all for? If it was to be lost so easily, what value did the previous sacrifices
hold?
What
tormented Jin Hyeon more than the burning halls was not knowing the safety of
those who had defended them.
‘Sajes... Sasuks...’
The moment
their faces came to mind, Jin Hyeon’s body finally collapsed. But before he
completely crumpled, Mu Jin caught him, supporting his weight.
“Wait!”
However, Jin
Hyeon instinctively shook off Mu Jin’s hand. It was out of resentment. If Mu
Jin hadn’t stopped him, if he’d been able to rush to the mountain just a bit
earlier, perhaps he wouldn’t be drowning in this unbearable despair....
“No!”
At that
moment, Mu Jin’s shout pierced Jin Hyeon’s ears. Gradually, focus returned to Jin
Hyeon’s eyes.
“Look
carefully! They haven’t reached Wudang yet! Wudang hasn’t fallen!”
Doubt
flickered in Jin Hyeon’s eyes as he regained his composure.
Yes, Mu Jin’s
words were true. The Blood Palace had not yet reached Wudang. But wasn’t it
also true that the halls were burning?
“We’re at
war right now. It’s the same for Evil Tyrant Alliance. There’s no reason for
them to waste resources sending a separate group just to set fires while
already dispatching people to attack Wudang!”
Convinced by
the reasoning, Jin Hyeon nodded unconsciously. Still, his doubts weren’t fully
resolved.
“But then,
why is that fire...”
❀ ❀ ❀
The muscles
on the Blood Palace Lord’s face twisted slightly. The smoke rising above had
finally caught his attention.
“Someone
else from Evil Tyrant Alliance...?”
“No.”
The Blood
Palace Lord coldly cut off the subordinate’s speculation.
“We’re the
only ones who climbed this mountain.”
He narrowed
his eyes and muttered under his breath.
“What kind
of trick is this?”
“What should
we do?”
The
subordinate’s inquiry was met with a short command from the Blood Palace Lord,
who clenched his jaw.
“Go up.”
“Yes!”
Boom!
As the Blood
Palace Lord stomped the ground, a thunderous sound echoed as if the earth had
cracked. In an instant, his body surged up the mountain. Without anyone to
block him, climbing such a slope would take only a few breaths.
In no time,
the Blood Palace Lord stood before the main gate of Wudang.
Fwoooosh!
Thick smoke
and scorching flames were swallowing Wudang whole. It was far worse than what
he’d seen from below.
The Blood
Palace Lord frowned slightly and spoke.
“What on
earth...”
“Turn back.”
Startled by
the sudden voice, the Blood Palace Lord spun to the side.
Distracted
by the massive flames, he hadn’t sensed the presence. Only after hearing the
voice did he perceive the calm yet powerful energy.
“Who are
you...?”
The first
thing that stood out was white hair and weathered skin. His gaunt appearance
matched his stern expression. But his clear eyes were as deep as a vast lake, a
mark of a true master.
“Wudang is
not receiving guests right now.”
Upon
noticing the pine patterned sword hanging from the old man’s waist, the Blood
Palace Lord easily surmised his identity.
“Are you Heo
Do?”
“Indeed.”
Heo Do Jin-in
nodded lightly.
The Blood
Palace Lord’s thoughts grew complex. Even with Heo Do Jin-in here, who
had dared set fire to the halls?
“Who did
this?”
“You’re
seeing it now, aren’t you?”
Confusion
flickered in the Blood Palace Lord’s eyes.
But when he
realized what the words meant, rare shock escaped his lips.
“You did
this?”
He was so
taken aback that even a hollow laugh slipped out.
This was
Wudang, of all places. And Heo Do Jin-in was once the leader of Wudang. That
person set fire to the Wudang? With his own hands?
“.... This
is ridiculous.”
The Blood
Palace Lord rarely enjoyed conversing with opponents unless it was to
intimidate or threaten them. But at this moment, he felt a genuine urge to talk
to Heo Do Jin-in.
“Have you
lost your mind?”
“Well...”
Even now,
the halls built on Wudang’s land were burning to ashes.
Everything
that represented Heo Do’s life was turning into cinders.
“It would be
nice if that were the case. But... unfortunately, my mind is clearer than ever.”
“That’s what
lunatics always say.”
The Blood
Palace Lord sneered, but Heo Do Jin-in let out a soft laugh.
“Perhaps you’re
right. Fine, let’s say I’ve gone mad.”
Even though
he said this, the Blood Palace Lord knew better. Heo Do Jin-in was far
from a lunatic.
“What are
you thinking?”
The Blood
Palace Lord asked, but Heo Do Jin-in did not answer. He merely stared
silently at the burning halls, his eyes filled with bitter regret.
He murmured
to himself.
“What could
it mean? It was never going to last forever anyway.”
[tl note:
thats the titleee, congrats to those who guessed correctly.]
“Aren’t you
the one who killed hundreds to protect something that couldn’t last forever?”
“Indeed.”
Heo Do Jin-in
chuckled faintly. The Blood Palace Lord’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“And yet you
did this?”
“There’s no
shame in being foolish. What can I do if that’s all I amount to?”
“....”
“The true
shame isn’t in being foolish but in failing to acknowledge it. Not realizing
how pathetic your actions are and repeating the same mistakes. And I’ve already
done that once.”
Though his
voice was calm, unspeakable sorrow lingered beneath his words.
“In such a
situation, I couldn’t repeat the same mistake. So I set it on fire with my own
hands. So no one would cling to this place, so my disciples wouldn’t suffer the
same pain as me.”
The bewildered
Blood Palace Lord muttered under his breath.
“That was
all you could say?”
“Do you need
more?”
“I take back
my previous statement.”
“......”
“You’re
insane.”
The Blood
Palace Lord’s eyes were filled with shock.
He imagined
himself in the same situation. If his cult members were at risk, would he have
set the Blood Cult ablaze, wiping out its entire history?
There was
only one answer. It can’t be. No, he wouldn’t even consider such a path.
The Blood
Palace Lord spoke coldly.
“People die,
but truth is eternal. What you’ve done is burn down what should never be lost
with your own hands.”
Heo Do
turned his gaze to the Blood Palace Lord, observing him quietly. After a
moment, he spoke slowly.
“Perhaps you’re
right.”
“......”
“But what
can I do? I’ve come to realize something as well.”
“And what
might that be?”
“The truth
resides within people.”
The Blood
Palace Lord’s eyes subtly hardened.
“If there
are no people, there is no truth. If there are no people, the Tao doesn’t exist
either. If the Tao derives its meaning solely from being tied to this
building... how can that be called the Tao?”
A faint
bitterness lingered at the edge of Heo Do’s words.
“I should’ve
realized it sooner.”
Heo Do’s
gaze shifted toward the foot of the mountain. His disciples were fighting far
below.
It was
obvious what they sought — the halls and the lives within them. Just the threat
to those things would throw the Wudang disciples on the battlefield into confusion.
‘This is my
fault.’
Value is
something humans assign. And once assigned, that value is hard to let go of. Heo
Do had already placed the value of countless lives upon these halls.
To abandon
them now would be turning previous sacrifices into meaningless deaths.
That was why
they wouldn’t be able to give up. They wouldn’t be able to stand idly by. Even
knowing it would lead to greater ruin, they would inevitably rush back here.
Heo Do
couldn’t allow his disciples to tread that path.
“I wonder
how your name will be remembered.”
“There’s no
need to wonder. I’ll be recorded as a sinner unlike any other in Wudang’s
history. Perhaps my name will be erased entirely out of shame.”
Heo Do let
out a faint laugh.
From the
moment he set this place ablaze with his own hands, he already knew how his
actions would be judged. He would be remembered as a fool who drove hundreds of
disciples to meaningless deaths.
But so what?
“Isn’t it
fortunate? To at least be called a fool.”
“......”
“If I couldn’t
even be that, I wouldn’t be able to rest in peace even in death.”
Heo Do once
again looked toward the foot of the mountain. His expression had subtly
changed.
“Of course,
it would’ve been better to realize it sooner. Even if everything’s over, people
can still struggle to change.”
Thanks to
one person, he had finally realized this, albeit belatedly.
To a taoist
much younger than himself.
‘I didn’t
get to say thank you.’
That was the
only regret he had.
The Blood
Palace Lord shook his head. The more they talked, the less he understood. He
spoke coldly.
“So... you
think you’ve thwarted our mission. But it’s not over yet.”
His eyes
gleamed with bloodthirst.
“The injured
can’t have gone far.”
Despite the
clear threat, Heo Do’s expression remained calm. That alone was enough of an
answer for the Blood Palace Lord.
“I wonder.
If we catch those injured rats and peel their flesh one by one, do you think
they’ll still stay calm?”
Srrrnnng.
At that
moment, Heo Do slowly drew his sword.
“That’s only
if you can get past me.”
“All you righteous
sects fools are insufferably arrogant. What can you do alone?”
“It doesn’t
have to be alone.”
A sudden
voice cut in.
The Blood
Palace Lord turned his gaze toward it, as did Heo Do.
A figure was
walking slowly out from the burning halls. Heo Do frowned.
“Didn’t I
tell you to leave?”
“I’m a slow
walker.”
“......What?”
“I tried,
but it didn’t go well.”
Heo Do
stared at the approaching Heo Gong in disbelief, then sighed.
“Saje.”
“I’m just a
burden, Sahyung.”
“....This is
something I must do.”
“Yes. But it’s
too much for you alone, Sahyung.”
“You know
you’re no longer of help, don’t you?”
“Better than
being dead weight.”
Srrnnng.
Heo Gong
drew his sword and stood beside Heo Do.
Heo Do
looked at him with exasperation, then sighed once more as though resigned.
“Stubborn as
ever.”
“Where do
you think I learned that from?”
With the
burning Wudang halls behind them, the two stood side by side, swords raised.
To say there
was no regret would be a lie. But they buried their regret deep in their
hearts, etched their mistakes into their bones, and simply did what needed to
be done.
“....This
isn’t even funny.”
The Blood
Palace Lord ground his teeth, glaring at the two.
“Sever their
limbs and drag them to me.”
“Charge!”
The Blood
Palace warriors let out beast-like howls as they charged toward the pair.
“They’re
coming!”
“Yes!”
Heo Do and Heo
Gong.
The flames that burned the whole halls were reflected on their swords. The two swords dyed in the same color moved toward the rushing enemies.
❀ ❀ ❀
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