Chapter 807:. Great to See You Again, You Bastard! (2)

 

"Hmmm."

Chung Myung’s gaze drifted over the cliff.

After sweeping his eyes over those occupying the cliff, led by Jang Il-so, his gaze shifted downward.

Wudang, Namgung, Cheongseong, and even Shaolin.

The astonished faces of the four sect leaders were all too clear.

"Ohoooo?"

Chung Myung smiled as if this was incredibly amusing.

"Well, well, seems like I’ve walked into a very interesting situation here."

Heo Do-jin looked up at Chung Myung, his eyes widened.

‘Mount Hua?’

What were they doing here?

Wasn’t Mount Hua supposed to be waiting across the river?

‘Once again, they’re doing as they please…!’

But for once, he felt more relieved than angry, to the point that he almost wanted to cry. He could confidently say that there would never again be a moment when he’d be so delighted to see Mount Hua.

"Sect Leader! Mount Hua is…!"

Beopgye seemed to be of the same mind. His face was visibly brighter.

‘No other sect would ever do such a thing.’

No sect under the heavens would dare break an agreement made alongside Wudang, Shaolin, and Namgung. Even if it were Jongnam, who was waiting across the river, once they agreed to wait, they wouldn’t have moved a single step unless disaster struck.

‘Like a naked thunderbolt…’

But this time, it saved them.

Of course, it was absolutely impossible for Mount Hua to face off against the four sects occupying the cliff. Even in terms of power, Mount Hua was still far behind the weakest of the Nine Great Sects.

However!

‘They can at least keep the powder from being lit for a little while.’

That would be enough.

They just needed to buy a bit of time until the four sects could climb the cliff. Just a bit.

Because Mount Hua, ignoring the orders of the four sects and moving ahead on their own, had created an absurd opportunity. In this catastrophe, a slim path for escape had opened up.

‘Who would’ve thought we’d be saved by Mount Hua?’

Letting out a bitter laugh, Heo Do-jin shouted in a loud voice.

"Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon!"

"Hm?"

Chung Myung’s gaze lowered.

Usually, Heo Do-jin would’ve called for Hyun Jong, not Chung Myung, but this was no time for formalities.

As their eyes met, Heo Do-jin clenched his lips and got straight to the point.

"Hold them off! Just for a bit!"

"Huh?"

Chung Myung tilted his head.

"Hold them off?"

"Yes! Just keep them from lighting the powder and blowing up the cliff for a little while! Then we’ll climb up and face them!"

"Ah, the powder."

Chung Myung nodded as if he understood, and Beopgye quickly chimed in to echo Heo Do-jin’s request.

"That’s right, Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon! It won’t be easy, but if you can hold them off and buy us some time, that’s all we need!"

It was indeed no simple feat to face and hold them off. But for the current Mount Hua, it wasn’t impossible.

The very growth they had tried to suppress in Mount Hua was now opening a path for their survival.

"Oh, so you want us to fight them to buy you time?"

"Exactly!"

At Heo Do-jin’s resolute reply, Chung Myung tilted his head.

Huh? What’s he doing…?

"Us?"

Beopgye, thrown off by the odd response, hesitated before replying.

"Y-yes. Who else is here but Mount Hua?"

"So… us?"

"…"

"Why?"

Beopgye found himself at a loss for words.

Even Heo Do-jin looked up at Chung Myung with his mouth agape, not having anticipated such a response.

"I mean…"

Chung Myung nonchalantly scratched his ear and blew on his finger.

"We came to watch as you asked us to, but now you suddenly want us to fight? That’s a bit surprising for us too."

"…Hey, Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon?"

"Don’t worry. We’ll just sit here and watch. We’re not shameless enough to barge in and steal someone else’s thunder. So… let’s see. Oof."

Chung Myung turned around, grabbed something from behind him, and spread it out with a flourish.

Beopgye’s eyes trembled as though struck by an earthquake.

"A… mat?"

What the…?

Chung Myung spread the mat neatly on the ground and plopped down, patting the spot next to him.

"Senior Uncles and Brothers, come on, sit down. This is a great spot. Let’s watch comfortably!"

"…."

"Why aren’t you sitting?"

The faces of Baek Cheon and the others had turned pale.

‘How could you sit down in this situation, you madman!’

‘Please, act like a normal human being! Please!’

Normally, they’d be shouting and scolding him by now, but the circumstances left even Oh Geom at a loss for words.

Even though they were all seasoned with Chung Myung’s antics, how could they act normally when the leaders of Wudang, Shaolin, and Namgung were watching from below, and the leaders of Sinjoo Five Fiends were across from them?

Of course, it was faster to find Chung Myung being out of his mind than sane, but to act like this, even in such a situation…

Seeing even the disciples of Mount Hua bewildered, Chung Myung shrugged as if it were nothing. Then, with a calm face, he peeked over the edge and asked.

"Not fighting yet?"

"…."

"The stage is set. You may begin now. Carry on!"

At that moment, Namgung Hwang, unable to contain his anger, roared at the top of his lungs.

"What in the world do you think you’re doing! You reckless fool!"

At the booming voice, Chung Myung scowled and yelled back even louder.

"Why are you shouting at me? I’m just doing as I was told!"

"This is a fight against the Sapae! Even if there’s animosity between us, we should be cooperating! Is this how Mount Hua and Cheonumeng act?"

"Tsk."

Chung Myung let out a scoff and looked down at Namgung Hwang.

"Did I say I didn’t want to cooperate? We came all the way here to help, but someone told us to sit back and watch. Who said that?"

"That… that’s…!"

"You get mad when we do as you say, and you get mad when we don’t. What exactly are we supposed to do?"

Namgung Hwang gaped, speechless.

"And this is the way of Cheonumeng?"

Chung Myung let out a loud snort.

"No, this is the way of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families. Standing idly across the river, watching the flames from a distance. Isn’t that your favorite pastime?"

He finished his words and glared at Beopgye, who instinctively lowered his gaze.

Yes, cooperation was essential. If one could help, one certainly should.

But how hollow and meaningless such words were. Beopgye knew this better than anyone. When Mount Hua had once asked for aid, they had simply turned a blind eye.

And now, knowing this full well, they had the audacity to demand cooperation?

"And now, cooperation? Cooperationnn?"

"…."

"Do whatever you like. We’re just going to watch."

Chung Myung’s mocking smile grew wider.

Behind him, Hyun Young and Hyun Sang, looking uneasy, turned to Hyun Jong.

"…Sect Leader."

"Are you sure about this?"

Of course, Chung Myung wasn’t wrong. Mount Hua was well within its rights to say what he had.

But no matter how correct the words, there was a time and place for everything. A rescue would hardly look good under such circumstances.

But Hyun Jong, as if understanding the whole situation, remained calm and unperturbed.

"Why? Did Chung Myung say anything incorrect?"

"N-no, nothing wrong…"

"Then it’s fine."

"Sect Leader!"

Hyun Sang wiped cold sweat from his face. The other disciples of Mount Hua looked just as pale.

"Don’t interfere."

"Eh?"

"Let Chung Myung handle this."

Ordinarily, Hyun Jong was the one most critical of Chung Myung. But when it came to moments that determined the sect's fate, he changed his approach completely.

Like now.

No one else could be so clear-headed in such a situation.

As far as Hyun Jong knew, only one person in Mount Hua could handle this.

But Baek Cheon seemed to have a different opinion.

"Ch-Chung Myung."

"Yes?"

Even though he was face to face with Jang Il-so, Baek Cheon looked pale and anxious.

"We… we should help them."

"Help them?"

"Yes! No matter what, we should help them."

With a look of surprise, Chung Myung stared at Baek Cheon.

"It’s… it’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? Still, we should at least…"

"Huh?"

But Chung Myung’s eyes widened as if he’d just heard something absurd. Watching Baek Cheon stammer, Chung Myung muttered.

"I knew you were intense, Dong Ryong, but suggesting we help the Sapae to attack the Nine Great Sects is a bit… extreme, don’t you think? I get that the grudge runs deep, but there’s a line, you know."

"What the… What are you talking about, you crazy fool! Of course, we should help the Nine Sects against the Sapae!"

"Huh? Oh, that’s what you meant?"

Chung Myung chuckled.

"Hmm, that’s tricky. If there’s a fight between a rat and a cockroach in the house, which one should you help?"

"…."

"It’d be best if both got killed. Should I try and egg them on?"

He’s insane.

And this wasn’t just the usual “he’s insane” as a figure of speech—he genuinely was.

"You fool! Of course, we’re supposed to help the righteous sects!"

"Help the Sapae, you say?"

"The righteous sects, you idiot! Damn it, what am I even saying!"

Baek Cheon’s face flushed red. Normally, Baek Cheon wasn’t one to make such blunders, but this was far from a normal situation.

"What are you saying? So, Senior Brother, do you prefer a criminal with grudges or a harmless outlaw?"

"Huh? That’s…"

"See? It’s not an easy choice. Ahh, this is tough."

"…."

The saddest part was that everyone present could clearly hear every word Chung Myung was saying.

"Hmm."

At that moment.

Jang Il-so, who had been watching silently, let out a low hum and spoke.

"Indeed. Mount Hua has no reason to help them."

Chung Myung raised his head to look at Jang Il-so.

"Mount Hua might have reasons to help, but Cheonumeng doesn’t. Right, Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon?"

A clear smile spread across Jang Il-so’s red lips. Chung Myung smiled back as he faced him.

"Hey, Jang Il-so."

"Go ahead, Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon."

"Shut your damn mouth."

"…."

Jang Il-so’s elegant eyebrows twitched slightly.

"If I have to keep looking at that smirking face of yours, I’ll feel like stabbing a sword between your brows. So, keep your mouth shut before I ruin this fun."

Chung Myung growled.

The deadly aura he exuded swept over the valley and reached Jang Il-so without a doubt.

"…."

Not only the Sapae Alliance but also the sects below stared at Chung Myung in shock.

Who on earth would dare speak to Jang Il-so like that? And in such a situation?

No one but Chung Myung, Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon, could do it.

No one.

Beopgye realized at that moment.

These weren’t allies or enemies who had appeared here.

They were the ones who could either offer a helping hand or thrust a deadly blade.

In other words… the fate of the eight sects gathered here, and possibly the entire martial world, now rested in Mount Hua’s hands.

And…

‘Why him! Why does it have to be him!’

The one who would make the call for Mount Hua… was none other than this unpredictable, bizarre being—the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua.

At this moment, the fate of the world was rolling around in the palm of this enigmatic person.

‘Oh, why.’

Beopgye closed his eyes tightly.

The distant sound of Chung Myung’s laughter echoed in his ears.