Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1437. Yes, remember it (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"A... Alive...?"
Tang Sangsu, the general chief of Tang Family who had somehow been leading the household members, murmured blankly while watching the retreating Myriad Man Manor.
It was hard to believe even after seeing it with his own eyes.
Southern Edge Sect's advance party arrived, and Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword appeared afterward, but the number of Myriad Man Manor martial artists who had rushed at them was overwhelmingly large. If Jang Ilso had truly intended to, he could have easily massacred everyone here.
But Jang Ilso backed down surprisingly easily. So cleanly, in fact, that one might wonder if there had been any need for him to chase after the Sichuan Tang Family in the first place.
They survived. Yes, they survived now.
'Why?'
The outcome was completely different from what he had expected. Though it should have been a relief, confusion flooded him before relief could settle in. But with the subsequent events unfolding, Tang Sangsu's confusion naturally resolved itself.
"Ge- General Chief-nim! Look there! Over there!"
His head snapped up at someone's shout.
“Ah....”
Soon his eyes widened. He saw a group running towards him, raising a huge cloud of dust on the barren land. The moment he recognized the familiar figure at the front, a cry mixed with tears burst from Tang Sangsu's lips.
"Ga- Gaju-niiiiiiiiim!"
Poison King Tang Gun-ak. He was rushing toward them with the elite forces he had temporarily left with. Even alongside the sword warriors of Mount Hua.
“T- They’re coming from there too.”
Tang Sangsu's gaze turned north this time. Another group of martial artists was approaching from that direction. Southern Edge Sect's advance party reacted upon seeing this. They were definitely Southern Edge Sect's sword warriors.
"It must be Southern Edge Sect! Southern Edge Sect!"
Strangely enough, Mount Hua, Tang Family, and Southern Edge Sect arrived at similar times as if they had coordinated.
“Ah....”
Only then could Tang Sangsu understand why Jang Ilso had withdrawn without hesitation. Even with Myriad Man Manor, he would not have been able to handle the three sects of Mount Hua, Southern Edge Sect, and Tang Family at the same time.
Thump.
At last, the strength drained from Tang Sangsu's legs. In any case, they had escaped from the terrible clutches of Myriad Man Manor.
“General Chief-nim!”
“Ga- Gaju-nim! Over here, here!”
At Tang Gun-ak’s shout, Tang Sangsu quickly scrambled to his feet and called back. Spotting him, Tang Gun-ak rushed to his front in a single breath, as if folding the earth beneath him.
Kuung!
Tang Gun-ak's eyes twisted slightly as he stopped.
“Ga- Gaju-nim.”
He saw the numerous corpses lying around. Elders who gave their lives resisting Myriad Man Manor, and craftsmen who died screaming under their assault.
And even those who had survived by sheer luck were in no better state. Children were crying so hard that they could barely breathe, and women who had collapsed from exhaustion were struggling to comfort their children while not having the strength to move even a single finger.
Wretched and miserable.
Though total annihilation had been avoided, it wasn't a situation where the damage could be considered minimal. Who could have imagined that the world-renowned Tang Family would suffer such a fate?
"I apologize, Gaju-nim."
Tears welled up in Tang Sangsu's eyes. If only he had been wiser, if only his decisions had been quicker, these people might not have died. What could he say in front of these corpses, when he was alive and facing the patriarch?
“It is my foolishness that let our people die! It was me! It was my foolishness that allowed Tang Family to burn, our smithies and poison vault to fall! Due to my delayed decision, we lost everything...!"
Tang Sangsu burst into tears and screamed, his entire body trembling.
“Please kill me, please! Gaju-nim. Please…”
Squeeze.
At that moment, Tang Gun-ak grabbed Tang Sangsu's shoulder tightly, as if to calm his violently trembling body.
"Don't say such things."
“...Gaju-nim.”
"Instead, people have survived, haven't they? That's enough. Neither poisons nor hidden weapons are more important than people."
“....”
“You’ve done well.”
At Tang Gun-ak's words, Tang Sangsu burst into tears and collapsed on the spot. Tang Gun-ak bit his lip as he looked down at the man's back.
"Tend to the wounded and exhausted! Now!”
“Yes, Gaju-nim!”
The Tang martial artists, who had been clenching their teeth in frustration, responded in unison before scattering.
“Hak-ah!”
“Mother! Mother, where are you?!”
“If you’re injured, come here! No, I’ll come to you. Just raise your hand!”
Tang Gun-ak, who had been watching his subordinates as they shed their martial artist faces and returned to being fathers and someone's children, turned his head. His eyes were fixed on the back of someone standing alone ahead.
Chung Myung slumped down as if without the strength to move even a finger. Tang Gun-ak approached him with a deep sigh.
“Jang Ilso?”
"Gone."
Chung Myung replied without even looking at him.
“He smirked like he had the last laugh, then turned tail and left without a shred of hesitation.”
Tang Gun-ak's thick eyebrows twitched slightly. He could imagine the expression Jang Ilso would have made. However, Tang Gun-ak soon erased his emotions and spoke curtly.
“You’ve worked hard.”
"...What exactly?"
Chung Myung sharply turned his head to look at Tang Gun-ak. His eyes, unexpectedly cold, made Tang Gun-ak’s expression stiffen.
"Those who were going to die have already died, so what exactly did I worked hard? They were people who could have lived if I had arrived just a little sooner."
"...If you hadn't come at all, none of them would have survived."
“If only I were just a little stronger.”
“....”
“If Mount Hua had been just a little stronger, they wouldn’t have died. If only I had judged a little more wisely, if I were a bit more composed."
Tang Gun-ak unconsciously closed his eyes tightly.
Of everyone present, the one who felt the most sorrow and grief at the death of Tang Family members was undoubtedly Tang Gun-ak. But the one who felt the greatest guilt in this situation seemed to be... Chung Myung. Tang Gun-ak opened his eyes and began to speak.
“You....”
Just then, a torn scream cut through the air.
“Ga- Gaju-nim! Elder Tang Wei is here!”
Tang Gun-ak's head snapped toward the voice. The shout came from Tang Pae, who had been checking if any of the elders had survived.
Tang Gun-ak kicked the ground with all his might. Rushing there in an instant, he almost snatched Tang Wei from Tang Pae's arms.
"His condition?"
There was no answer. Tang Gun-ak bit his lips slightly. No, a response wasn't necessary to begin with. He had already sensed it from the moment he touched Tang Wei's body.
“Elder....”
Tang Gun-ak looked down at Tang Wei. His Dantian was destroyed, his body poisoned, and both arms severed. Even if the Great Luo Immortal came, saving this would be impossible.
Tang Wei's unfocused eyes trembled slightly. He flinched as if he recognized Tang Gun-ak and faintly moved his lips. Understanding the meaning of that movement, Tang Gun-ak bit his lip again.
"Yes."
Tang Gun-ak took out a needle from his bosom and inserted it into Tang Wei’s body. It would allow him to regain strength for a short while, but it would also bring death sooner. Just like how a candle flares brightest just before it goes out.
“Ga- Gaju…”
“Yes. Please speak, Council Head-nim.”
Tang Gun-ak had never liked Tang Wei. No, there was even a time when he hated him. But at this moment, what use were such old feelings? Like melting snow, they had vanished without a trace. How could he harbor resentment against an old man who had ended up like this trying to protect his family?
“...I’m sorry.”
These were the first words from Tang Wei as color briefly returned to his face. Tang Gun-ak's face hardened at these unexpected words.
“Council Head-nim....”
"I was... too foolish..."
Tang Gun-ak’s hands, holding Tang Wei’s frail body, trembled subtly. A sorrowful regret settled on Tang Wei's face.
“My… My foolishness leaves Gaju with…. such a heavy burden.”
"Please don't say such things! Council Head-nim, I..."
Tears welled in Tang Wei’s clouded eyes.
“Ga- Gaju.”
Tang Gun-ak put strength into the hand that held Tang Wei.
“I'm listening.”
"Tang Family... Tang Family has lost too much... It will be difficult to be as before now. It cannot be as before. Therefore, Gaju..."
"Yes."
"Disregard things like... laws and act as Gaju sees fit. That is for the good of the family."
“Council Head-nim....”
"In the end... this was inevitable..."
Tang Wei, who had been looking at Tang Gun-ak's face, turned his gaze with difficulty. He saw the family members watching him with concern. They too must have been exhausted, and yet they looked to him with worry.
'Tang Family is here.'
The true Tang Family was not within those pavilions surrounded by walls.
Suddenly, a man came into view and walked towards Tang Gun-ak. A man who, while not familiar, was certainly unforgettable.
'Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword....'
He should have felt hatred. But he did not.
On the contrary, he was glad that the man was by Tang Gun-ak’s side. The words he had once spoken still lingered clearly in memory.
Right now, what Tang Family needed most was someone like him.
"Gaju... those people... please take care of them..."
“Co- Council Head-nim!”
Tang Wei’s head slowly tilted to the side. And so, his whole body fell limp. Now, all that remained was for him to grow cold.
Tang Gun-ak looked down at Tang Wei and closed his eyes. His firm shoulders trembled faintly.
But only for a moment. Gently laying Tang Wei’s body on the ground, Tang Gun-ak rose upright. He was the master of Tang Family. He had neither the right to indulge in sorrow nor the luxury to be overwhelmed by pain.
"...Collect the elders' remains."
“Yes, Gaju-nim.”
Tang Pae nodded his head and sobbed faintly.
They were not just mere elders.
Tang Family was bound by blood. Those who died here were someone's father, someone's grandfather. Also someone's irreplaceable brother and someone's pillar of support.
“Gaju-nim....”
Hyun Jong approached Tang Gun-ak and spoke cautiously as if he did not know how to console him. Tang Gun-ak only shook his head in silence.
“This is not a time for mourning, Maengju-nim.”
“....”
“It’s something to rejoice in. I was able to meet people I thought I would never see again. It is all thanks to you, Maengju-nim. As the patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family, I thank you.”
"Please don't say such things. I am only sorry."
Tang Gun-ak bowed deeply toward Hyun Jong and slowly turned around.
His eyes landed on the group that had arrived earlier but hadn’t yet spoken a word.
"Before that, I must first express my gratitude to them."
Hyun Jong followed his gaze and gave a heavy nod.
Southern Edge Sect.
If they had not arrived ahead of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, those who survived might not have even numbered half of what they did now.
Tang Gun-ak approached the place where Southern Edge Sect's sword warriors were lined up. Then, a man at the center stepped forward to greet Tang Gun-ak.
All-Under-Heaven Sword (천하검(天下劍)) Jong Nigok (종리곡(鍾離穀)).
He was the sect leader of Southern Edge Sect, and the very one entangled in bad blood with Mount Hua.
“Tang Gun-ak of Sichuan Tang Family greets Sect Leader.”
“Southern Edge Sect’s Jong Nigok greets the patriarch of the Great Sichuan Tang Family.”
The two men deeply exchanged fist-and-palm salutes. At the same time, a subtle tension began to spread in all directions.
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