Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: Returning to the Starting Point After Twists and Turns (1)
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Sealing the gates meant closing the doors.
It signified a complete cutoff from all external activities.
For a sect in the martial world to choose to seal its gates, there was only one reason.
It meant the sect had fallen into complete ruin, with no strength left to engage with the outside world. Thus, it intended to isolate itself and build up its internal power.
That was precisely the situation Mount Hua faced now.
The Demonic Cult's surprise attack had shattered the very foundations of Mount Hua.
Leading them, Sect Leader Hyun Cheon Zhenren and countless elders had been killed or gravely wounded. Among them was Hyun Geom Zhenren, known as the greatest sword of Mount Hua. It was a catastrophic blow that could be seen as the near annihilation of their lineage.
On top of that, the sect leader's direct disciple, Mu Kyung, had died, along with an enormous number of first- and second-generation disciples. The core forces that formed the backbone of the sect had suffered devastating losses.
Now, the only forces left in Mount Hua were a handful of first- and second-generation disciples, along with the third-generation ones.
Even considering that the third-generation disciples were merely in their early to late teens, Mount Hua's decline was as clear as day.
It was the pitiful fall of Mount Hua, one of the Nine Great Sects that had once shaken the heavens with its resounding name. Most sects, upon reaching such a state, would lose their influence in the martial world and quietly fade into the dustbin of history.
Yet, despite this, no one believed Mount Hua would simply slink away from the martial world in disgrace.
And that was all because of one warrior.
Fist Demon Dam Ho.
The unparalleled demonic figure who appeared in their hour of crisis and prevented Mount Hua's destruction. News had spread across the land that he was, in fact, a disciple of Mount Hua.
An absolute warrior who single-handedly repelled the Demonic Cult's invasion. His overwhelming might and unbridled nature were more than enough to echo throughout the world.
People no longer called Dam Ho simply the Fist Demon.
Mount Hua Fist Demon.
A Fist Demon resided on Mount Hua.
That was why Mount Hua was safe.
But that was all.
Thanks to Dam Ho, Mount Hua might be safe, but reclaiming its former glory would by no means be easy.
The Scripture Pavilion, where Mount Hua's martial arts manuals were stored, had burned down. In a way, the loss of the Scripture Pavilion might not have been a massive blow. Most of the manuals stored there were basic martial arts, after all.
The greatest damage was that nearly all the elders who could pass down the sect's supreme arts had lost their lives.
Mount Hua's secret arts were mostly transmitted orally.
They were handed down from master to disciple, infused with the master's personal insights. It was an extremely insular method, but no more efficient way existed to transmit the supreme arts honed over generations.
However, with most of the elders who embodied those generations dead, countless supreme arts had been lost. The loss of those arts would inevitably lead to the sect's decline.
Even if the surviving second- and third-generation disciples had learned Mount Hua's supreme arts, it was uncertain how completely they had inherited the true insights.
And even if they had received those insights, it would take decades for them to bear proper fruit. During that long period, Mount Hua had no choice but to seal its gates.
Spring had come to the world, but a harsh winter had descended upon Mount Hua.
Mount Hua locked its doors, and people's footsteps ceased.
"Hoo!"
Un Kyung let out a sigh.
He felt Mount Hua's fall more deeply than anyone.
With the sect leader's direct disciple Mu Kyung dead, he had no choice but to take on the role of the great senior disciple. But having lived his entire life as second-in-command, he now felt his limitations when it came to taking charge in a crisis.
After repelling the Demonic Cult, he had spent the busiest time of his life.
He had collected and handled the bodies of his master, the elders, and all the dead. That alone had consumed him entirely. He hadn't even touched the task of clearing the collapsed and burned halls.
He wasn't even given time to grieve. The one consolation was that Dam Ho's presence allowed the disciples under him to band together.
He hurried toward True Martial Palace.
True Martial Palace, once led by Hyun Geom Zhenren, was one of the few buildings that had retained its form even during the Demonic Cult's invasion.
"Senior Uncle."
"Great Senior Uncle."
As he entered True Martial Palace, a few second-generation disciples recognized him and greeted him. Their faces, speaking volumes of their ordeals, were dark indeed.
"Where is Dam Ho?"
"Martial Uncle is with Young Hero Cho right now."
"Hmm!"
Un Kyung nodded and passed them by.
He stood before the door at the deepest part of True Martial Palace and spoke.
"Ho-ya. It's Un Kyung. May I come in for a moment?"
"Come in."
Dam Ho's voice came from inside.
Un Kyung immediately opened the door and entered the room. The first thing he saw upon entering was a large bed.
Lying on it was a man with a pale complexion.
It was Cho Yeon-un, who had suffered severe wounds. Since that day's battle, he had yet to regain consciousness.
Seated beside Cho Yeon-un, tending to him with utmost care, was a woman. She was Dan Hwa-ran, the former deputy leader of the Plum Blossom Alliance.
"Un Kyung Dojang."
Dan Hwa-ran stood to greet him.
"Please, just stay seated, Lady Dan. You're already exhausted from nursing Young Hero Cho."
"No, I am only grateful that you allow me to remain here on Mount Hua."
Dan Hwa-ran bowed deeply to Un Kyung in repeated thanks. Un Kyung looked troubled by it.
Un Kyung's gaze shifted to Dam Ho, who stood silently behind Dan Hwa-ran.
Dam Ho's complexion wasn't good either.
The wounds he had sustained were extremely severe; even standing took great effort. Yet Dam Ho showed no sign of it, steadfastly keeping watch by his friend's side.
Thanks to the Life-Reversing Poison Pill, Cho Yeon-un had barely clung to life. But his injuries were far from light enough to heal in a day or two.
They desperately needed the aid of a skilled physician. But finding an exceptional doctor near Shaanxi Province, where Mount Hua was located, was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.
The Zhongnan Sect, also based in Shaanxi, had suffered heavy losses and needed physicians as well. Above all, most doctors had fled Shaanxi to escape the Demonic Cult's chaos.
Because of this, Mount Hua was struggling without proper medical help. Right now, Mount Hua lacked everything.
Un Kyung hesitantly opened his mouth.
"Ho-ya!"
He gestured toward the outside with his eyes.
Dam Ho caught on and stepped out. Un Kyung followed behind him.
Once outside True Martial Palace, the full vista of Mount Hua came into view. Mount Hua still bore the scars of that day, its wretched state laid bare.
Dam Ho gazed indifferently at the sight.
Un Kyung spoke cautiously.
"Ho-ya."
"Speak."
"I won't beat around the bush. Mount Hua desperately needs your help right now."
Only then did Dam Ho turn to look at Un Kyung.
"I know full well how shameless this makes me. But no matter how I think about it, I can't come up with another solution. Without you, Mount Hua will collapse. We desperately need your help."
"......"
"Right now, Mount Hua has no elders to pass down its secrets, no mature warriors to serve as shields. Without the name Mount Hua, we're worse off than any mid-tier sect."
"So?"
"Please become Mount Hua's unifying force. Be the center that brings us all together. My fellow disciples and I will follow you with utmost loyalty."
Suddenly, Un Kyung dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
Un Kyung outranked Dam Ho in seniority. For him to kneel and lower his head meant he had cast aside his pride and staked everything. It also showed just how much he loved Mount Hua.
At that moment.
"Senior Brother, I beg you too."
Suddenly, a young warrior dashed out from behind the hall and knelt beside Un Kyung. It was Myeong Kyung.
Myeong Kyung knelt and bowed his head. Thick teardrops streamed from his eyes.
After all the chaos ended, Myeong Kyung had led the third-generation disciples outside. The sight he beheld was beyond devastating.
The Mount Hua now was no longer the one he knew. Mount Hua had fallen, with not a shred of hope.
Though Myeong Kyung had inherited Hyun Geom Zhenren's teachings, he lacked the capability and renown to rebuild a colossal sect like Mount Hua. Knowing this, he knelt before Dam Ho without hesitation.
Dam Ho looked impassively at the two kneeling before him. Their hearts ached under his gaze.
"Ho! Please......"
"Senior Brother! Please don't abandon Mount Hua."
They begged, smashing their foreheads against the ground. The青石 floor grew slick with their blood.
Dam Ho lifted his head and looked upon Mount Hua.
He held no particular affection for the place. He had no good memories here.
For a moment, Dam Ho shook his head.
No, there was one.
'Master.'
His memories with Hyun So Zhenren.
The recollections of sweating profusely while learning martial arts under Hyun So Zhenren still lingered.
That faint memory held Dam Ho's ankle. And the most decisive reason was, after all, his master Hyun So Zhenren.
Hyun So Zhenren loved Mount Hua.
Its scenery, its halls, every leaf, even the invisible air—Hyun So Zhenren cherished it all. Mount Hua was his everything.
If not for him, Hyun So Zhenren never would have left Mount Hua to wander the world.
Thinking of Hyun So Zhenren made one side of his chest ache. He thought he had lost human emotions, but whenever he recalled his master, his heart always hurt like this.
'Master.'
Dam Ho's eyes hardened with resolve. Having sorted his thoughts, he finally spoke.
"I cannot become Mount Hua's unifying force."
"Ho-ya!"
"Senior Brother?"
"But I know someone who can."
The two men's eyes widened at Dam Ho's response.
"Who is it?"
"Master."
"You mean Martial Uncle Hyun So?"
"Yes!"
"But his martial arts......"
Un Kyung hesitated.
Un Kyung acknowledged Hyun So Zhenren's character. But leading a sect and having good character were separate matters. No matter how virtuous, without the ability to back it up, it was impossible to lead a massive sect like Mount Hua—that was his belief. So he wavered.
Dam Ho fixed Un Kyung with a cold gaze.
"You don't know Master."
"What?"
"No one suits Mount Hua better than Master."
"Explain further. I truly don't understand."
"Master is a walking archive."
"A walking archive?"
"All of Mount Hua's martial arts are in his head."
The moment they heard Dam Ho's words, Un Kyung and Myeong Kyung's eyes widened almost simultaneously.
"Is that true?"
"Is it really true, Senior Brother?"
"Just check for yourselves."
"Where is Martial Uncle Hyun So?"
Un Kyung asked urgently.
If Hyun So Zhenren truly held all of Mount Hua's supreme arts in his mind, they needed to bring him back to Mount Hua as soon as possible. His heart raced with urgency.
"Huangshan."
"Huangshan? You don't mean......"
"Yes! He's at the Paewang Stronghold."
"We must send someone at once to bring him here."
"No need."
"What?"
"Someone's already gone."
"Really?"
Dam Ho didn't answer.
Un Kyung didn't ask twice. He knew Dam Ho wasn't one to speak idly.
While Un Kyung had been consumed with salvaging the ruins of Mount Hua, Dam Ho had sent Muk Il-gwang to Huangshan.
It wasn't sent with this exact situation in mind from the start. Simply, given Hyun So Zhenren's deep love for Mount Hua, he needed to return and witness this sight firsthand. Only then could he make a clear judgment.
Mount Hua, where everything had crumbled.
Whatever decision Hyun So Zhenren made, Dam Ho intended to follow it.
At that moment.
"Hyung, time to eat."
Bang Jin-bo's spirited voice echoed from afar.