Chapter 809: Great to See You Again, You Bastard! (Part 4)

 

"So, let’s see…."

Chung Myung scratched his ear as he spoke.

"Should the two of us take out everyone here?"

"That’s right."

"And if that feels too troublesome, just sit back and watch from behind while reaping the benefits?"

"Exactly."

Jang Il-so nodded with a grin, and Chung Myung looked back at his comrades with an oddly contemplative expression.

"You know, that offer… it doesn’t sound too…."

"Shut up!"

"Stop that nonsense!"

"For heaven’s sake, stop it, please!"

Seeing the almost tempted look on Chung Myung’s face, Oh Geom yelled at him in unison.

"Seriously?"

Chung Myung scowled, turning his gaze to Hyun Jong, who, unlike the others who protested vehemently, looked back at him with calm, steady eyes.

His gaze spoke a clear message: do as your heart tells you, Mount Hua will support your choice, whatever it may be.

That was the trust Hyun Jong placed in Chung Myung.

‘Geez.’

But Hyun Jong didn’t know.

It was precisely that unwavering trust in his eyes that made it impossible for Chung Myung to act carelessly.

Chung Myung cast a glance up at the distant sky.

‘Elder Brother Chung Mun.’

If Chung Mun were the one standing here with Chung Myung behind him, he would have certainly argued for wiping out the Nine Great Sects while they had the chance.

If Chung Mun had ordered him to keep quiet, he would have argued back while ultimately heeding his advice.

But now, Chung Myung stood not behind Chung Mun but in his place.

‘It makes one reflect.’

To lead a sect means to set aside one’s own grudges, judgments, and instincts, and to live solely for Mount Hua.

It was only now that he understood how heavy a burden that was.

"Hmph."

Looking at the sky with a sigh, Chung Myung turned back to Jang Il-so, who was watching him with unfathomably deep eyes.

"Seems like you’re hard of hearing. Do I need to say it twice, maybe three times?"

Chung Myung smirked.

"I told you, if you start spouting nonsense, I’ll hit you."

"…."

Jang Il-so’s face stiffened slightly.

"Nonsense?"

"Exactly why no one should ever deal with bastards like you from the Sapae."

Chung Myung ran a hand across his cheek as he stared Jang Il-so down.

"I’m naturally sick of the Nine Great Sects. Part of me would love to knock them down right here and now."

"Then what’s stopping you?"

"Because, you moron!"

Chung Myung gritted his teeth with a deadly look in his eyes.

"A parent doesn’t kill in front of their child, and an elder sibling doesn’t tell their younger sibling that achieving the goal justifies killing."

"…."

"My way of life is my own, not Mount Hua’s. I don’t intend to force Mount Hua to follow my path. That would be hell."

Chung Myung shot a fierce glare at Jang Il-so, his eyes blazing with contempt.

"That’s what it means to live with principles, something a Sapae bastard like you wouldn’t understand."

A sect leader must set an example for those who follow them.

‘Elder Brother Chung Mun would’ve certainly said it like this.’

The most impeccable leader he knew was Chung Mun.

"Principles aren’t upheld expecting anything in return, nor should they be abandoned just because others disregard them. A true martial artist trains their soul, not for the judgment of others, but to remain true to themselves!"

"…."

"Shaking hands with the Sapae would be worse than holding hands with a passing dog—it would at least be cuter, wouldn’t it?"

Jang Il-so, who had been watching him intently, slowly spoke.

"Principles?"

"Yes, principles."

"I thought you might be reasonable, but here you are spouting idiotic nonsense. Principles? What worth does that have?"

Jang Il-so twisted his lips in disdain.

"Principles are nothing more than a refuge for the powerless, a comfort for the unprivileged, and an excuse for the timid. Those who truly hold power don’t speak of principles. Only the weak conform and talk about them!"

Chung Myung didn’t counter his words; instead, he nodded slowly.

"Well… you’re right."

"Hm?"

"You’re not exactly wrong."

Jang Il-so looked at him, confused.

"Then why refuse my proposal?"

"You're mistaken. That was what I needed to say."

"…."

"And now, here’s what I want to say."

Sshiiing.

Chung Myung drew his sword from its sheath, pointing its tip straight at Jang Il-so.

"Enough with the friendly act, you bastard. I despise bystanders, and I loathe ignorant fools even more. But… neither their indifference nor ignorance compares to the disgust I feel for you."

Fire blazed in Chung Myung’s eyes.

"From the moment our senior’s arm was severed by your minions, Mount Hua and the Sapae can no longer coexist. I’d sooner cut off my own hand than join forces with you."

"Ha…."

Jang Il-so sneered, twisting his red lips in amusement.

"A petty man. Are you really going to throw away this opportunity over a trivial grudge?"

"Of course I’m petty. The pettiest there is. So…."

The bloodlust in Chung Myung’s eyes intensified.

"Let me show you just how deep that grudge runs."

Jang Il-so chuckled, unimpressed.

‘Foolish….’

Of all people, Jang Il-so knew it.

The deep-seated grudge burning in Chung Myung’s gaze. And he knew that this hatred wasn’t solely directed at the Sapae.

In fact, Chung Myung’s resentment might be even deeper toward those beneath them.

He’d played it off as a joke, speaking as if his mind was already made up, but in that short span, Chung Myung had likely wrestled through a hell of internal conflict.

The sole reason he reached this conclusion was straightforward.

"A sect… So that’s what’s so important to you?"

To Jang Il-so, the Sapae was just a means to an end. But to Chung Myung, even his own life was merely a tool to elevate Mount Hua.

If he’d been willing to use Mount Hua as a means to settle his grudge, he might have joined hands with Jang Il-so. But instead, he let go of his grudge for the sake of his sect.

His resolve was evident. Even if he had to walk through the fires of hell, he was determined to guide Mount Hua along the righteous path.

As much as Jang Il-so could understand, he couldn’t accept it. To him, this was an almost self-imposed restraint.

"Pitiable fool."

He had the courage and opportunity to reshape the world, yet he couldn’t wield his power freely.

Pitiful indeed.

"And as foolish as he is pitiable."

Jang Il-so sneered, looking at Chung Myung with contempt.

"Don’t you know that without me, the sect is nothing? The most important thing in this world is me."

"Ah, yes. I used to think that way too."

Chung Myung’s lips twisted into a smirk.

"But now I understand. There are things more important than myself. Though a fool like you could never comprehend."

It was something he’d only realized after experiencing loss.

Having lost it, he’d learned.

No one, no one in this world, would ever take Mount Hua from Chung Myung again. Not anyone!

"Looks like there’s no reasoning with you."

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue with exaggerated disappointment.

He and Chung Myung were indeed alike. But their differences were glaring.

Where did this chasm between them come from? Jang Il-so himself couldn’t understand.

"Disgusting."

"Yeah, you disgust me too."

Chung Myung’s glare burned with hatred.

Had he not joined Mount Hua and met Chung Mun, had he not known the bonds with his fellow disciples or learned the value of those who walked beside him, he might have become someone like Jang Il-so—a lost soul growing up in the shadows.

And that only made him detest Jang Il-so more. His loathing of Jang Il-so was as much hatred for himself as it was for his opponent.

‘I always thought Mount Hua was unbearably stifling.’

To him, Mount Hua was both everything and a shackle. The sect's restraints had always felt like chains around him.

If not for Chung Mun, he would have abandoned Mount Hua long ago.

But now…

‘Only now…’

The absence of the Mount Hua he once found stifling tore his heart open with grief.

This hatred was directed not only at Jang Il-so but also at his former self.

‘I always wondered why I felt sick to my stomach every time I saw this bastard.’

It wasn’t just a grudge over the grudge between Mount Hua and Ten Thousand Houses.

"So shut your mouth and come at me. I’ll gladly cut that head off."

"Hahahaha!"

Jang Il-so laughed heartily.

Beside him, the Magnate of Ten Thousand Coins chuckled.

"Seems things didn’t go as planned?"

"It wasn’t that big of a deal."

Jang Il-so waved dismissively.

"If it were the Heavenly Alliance, maybe, but Mount Hua isn’t even worth considering as a real force. I just thought it would be nice to make things a bit simpler…."

Jang Il-so’s eyes narrowed with a look of disinterest as he glanced at Chung Myung and Mount Hua.

"Since they refuse a gift and would rather take a punishment, there's no choice but to force it down their throats. Break their necks and shove the liquor down."

Jang Il-so gave a slight nod in Mount Hua’s direction.

"Kill them all. Along with everyone down below. Make sure no one interferes."

"Understood!"

The warriors of Ten Thousand Houses, who had been lying in wait, shouted as they began scaling the cliff, charging toward Mount Hua.

"They’re coming!"

At Chung Myung’s shout, the disciples of Mount Hua drew their swords in unison.

"Sect Leader!"

"Mm."

Hyun Jong nodded and raised his voice.

"Defeat the enemies! Mount Hua does not compromise with evil!"

"Yes, sir!"

Unam swiftly followed up with a command.

"Cut the fuses to the powder! We must prevent them from blowing up the cliff!"

As soon as he finished, Chung Myung shouted again.

"Senior Uncles! Brothers!"

"Got it!"

"Ready."

"Finally, I've been waiting for this!"

Chung Myung bared his white teeth in a grin.

This was all he needed.

Just having them at his back made it enough for him right now.

"Let’s go in one shot! Follow me as if you’re ready to die!"

Chung Myung dashed toward the edge of the cliff, with Baek Cheon, Yu Yiseol, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gul following closely behind like an extension of his own body.

‘Elder Brother Chung Mun.’

Now he understood.

Chung Mun might not have been a perfect person.

He too was human, so he must have wavered in the face of his own desires and dealt with his own impulses.

And yet, he had held steadfastly to righteousness.

Because behind him, there were disciples like Chung Myung and others who looked to him.

And now, Chung Myung was the one walking that path.

"Let’s gooooo!"

Leaping from the cliff’s edge, the tip of Chung Myung’s sword burst forth, trailing a blood-red blossom of plum blossoms that bloomed in a dreamlike display.