If I Must Die, I’ll Be the First to Go (4)
'Damn it.'
Yang Pyo, the sub-leader of the Beggars' Sect branch, had his face twisted tight with frustration.
The situation was far too grim.
'If we’d only realized a little sooner—if only a little faster!'
If the information had come earlier, they would have had at least some time to prepare. But this time, the news had been plainly late. The enemy had already reached Shaanxi before they knew it; there was no way they could have bought time to get ready.
Still, this was difficult to lay entirely at the Beggars' Sect’s feet.
However many beggars they had scattered across the land, they couldn’t possibly keep eyes on everyone.
Who could have imagined that Maninbang would dispatch three entire combat units to Mount Hua?
'Maninbang is definitely in the middle of a life-and-death struggle with the Green Forest. Could they really spare this much strength in the middle of that?'
“No! No, that’s not it!”
Yang Pyo shook his head hard.
There was no point thinking about that now. What mattered was the situation right here, right this second.
It was hopeless.
Three of Maninbang’s combat units could wipe out a small or mid-sized sect without leaving a trace in less than half a day.
And Mount Hua’s current strength was plainly below that of a small or mid-sized sect.
Mount Hua was desperately short of truly skilled experts. The disciples who had made a name for themselves were still not back from Xi'an.
To be blunt, the people remaining in Mount Hua now were not enough to count as real fighting strength.
'It’s impossible.'
No matter how he thought about it, there was no way the people here could face Maninbang on their own. Wasn’t this exactly the kind of situation people called a mantis trying to stop a cart?
But what he truly couldn’t understand was…
Yang Pyo’s gaze drifted toward the training ground.
Every single disciple left in Mount Hua was lined up there. Yang Pyo could not understand them in the slightest as they stood like unwavering stone.
'Do they not know?'
How strong the enemy was.
How utterly desperate their situation was.
'No. They can’t not know.'
And yet, strangely, there was no hesitation in the eyes of Mount Hua’s disciples.
All of them were simply hardening their resolve with determined expressions.
Of course, he could sense it.
The faint traces of fear.
The ends of their tightly pressed lips trembled slightly, and their hands repeatedly clenched and loosened around their swords in nervous reflex.
But Yang Pyo knew well enough.
Bravery did not mean the absence of fear.
True courage was not about never feeling fear, but about refusing to retreat even while afraid.
In that sense, Mount Hua’s disciples were showing exactly what courage was.
“Is everyone assembled?”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
The response thundered back.
Standing before the lined-up disciples, Hyun Jong surveyed them all with lowered eyes. At his side stood Hyun Sang, gripping the plum blossom sword tightly as he kept watch.
“You will already have heard the news.”
Despite his stern face, Hyun Jong’s voice remained remarkably calm.
“The evil scum of Maninbang are climbing Mount Hua as we speak. Their purpose is plain enough, so we will likely have to fight today for Mount Hua’s very fate.”
The disciples’ eyes sharpened at once.
It was something they had already known, but hearing it from the Sect Leader himself was a different matter entirely.
Tension swept through the training ground so heavily it made their fingertips tingle.
Hyun Jong studied everyone’s faces.
Each of them was trying to appear composed, but he could clearly see the anxiety they could not hide.
“Are you afraid?”
“No!”
The answer burst out instantly, and Hyun Jong slowly shook his head.
“I am afraid.”
“……”
Everyone looked at him, slightly flustered.
“I am afraid. Afraid that I may lose my life today. Afraid that I may see you injured. Afraid that Mount Hua may meet its end this very day. But above all else, what I fear most is….”
Hyun Jong pressed his lips shut for a brief moment.
Then, after looking slowly over each and every one of their faces as if engraving them into his heart, he spoke again.
“That you will die, and I will be the one who survives, left staring with my own eyes at the empty places you left behind.”
A quiet silence fell.
“I… I am terrified that such a thing might happen.”
“……”
The disciples understood.
This was not some speech made up to raise morale. These were Hyun Jong’s true feelings.
“Disciples of Mount Hua.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“If I have to die, I’ll be the first to die.”
Hyun Jong clenched the sword at his waist.
“As Mount Hua’s Sect Leader, I will not permit any of you to die before me. If blood must be spilled, I will spill mine first. If a life must be given, I will be the first to give mine!”
The resonance in his voice grew stronger.
His once calm tone rose higher and higher, shaking Mount Hua itself.
“But before that!”
Chaaang!
Hyun Jong’s sword was drawn.
The blade gleamed white in the sunlight.
“I will teach those who dare trample Mount Hua what kind of place this is. I will make it clear that no one will ever be able to destroy Mount Hua again! That Mount Hua’s plum blossoms will never fall again!”
Everyone clenched their jaws.
That rough, unpolished voice, laden with sincere feeling, filled Mount Hua’s disciples with strength.
“Draw your swords!”
With the sharp cry of metal, every disciple drew his sword in unison.
“Believe in yourselves. Believe in everything you have done. We will make those fools who dared look down on Mount Hua pay the price!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
Their roar exploded like thunder.
Everyone here had long since known that a day like this would come. To build a reputation was no different from making enemies.
It was only that the timing had come a little earlier than expected.
“Unam!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“Lead the Un generation.”
“Yes!”
“Un Geom!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“The Baek generation and the Cheong generation!”
“Leave it to me!”
Hyun Jong nodded quietly.
The enemy was currently climbing Mount Hua along three separate routes.
There had, to be sure, been suggestions that they should make use of the terrain and intercept them there. But dividing their already insufficient strength into three as well would amount to suicide.
Besides…
I trust them.
When everyone was gathered together, Mount Hua could in fact exert greater strength than the enemy.
“Prepare to meet the enemy!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
Hyun Jong sheathed his sword with calm precision and looked toward the mountain gate with grave eyes. Soon, the evil men of Maninbang would be storming there.
“Was it Yang Pyo?”
Turning his head, Hyun Jong asked the man who had been observing the situation from the side.
“Yes, Sect Leader. Yang Pyo of the sub-branch.”
“When do you think the messenger sent to Xi'an will arrive?”
“It should already have reached them.”
“I see. And support from other sects?”
“We did request it, but….”
The sub-leader’s face stiffened a little.
“With Zhongnan sealed off, it is difficult to find any sect nearby that can lend assistance. We also requested help from the Luoyang branch, but I fear….”
Hyun Jong nodded silently.
To contend with Maninbang, at the very least the Nine Sects or the Five Great Families would have to step forward.
But with Zhongnan—the nearest major sect—sealed away, the only possible aid would be Wudang in Hubei or Shaolin in Henan.
Even if they set out immediately, by the time they arrived, the situation here would almost certainly already be over.
In other words…
There will be no support.
Hyun Jong closed his eyes briefly.
Forcing down the turmoil in his heart, he slowly turned and looked toward Xi'an.
Chung Myung.
Worry and concern were etched into the side of his face as he bit his lip.
What he truly feared was not that Hyun Young and Chung Myung’s group would arrive too late and everyone here would die.
What he truly feared was that everyone here would die and fall, and then they would arrive at Mount Hua after it had already been burned to the ground.
That must not happen.
Especially Chung Myung. The boy carried a heavy killing intent. And more than anyone in the world, he cherished Mount Hua to an almost terrifying degree.
No one could even begin to imagine what would happen if that child were to see the ruined Mount Hua with his own eyes.
“Don’t worry, Chung Myung.”
I will protect these children.
Even if it costs me my life.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“We’re slowing down little by little, aren’t we?”
“……”
Baek Cheon, soaked through with sweat, glanced sideways at Chung Myung.
“What?”
“……”
Looking at Chung Myung lying sprawled on the cart with his legs crossed made Baek Cheon’s stomach churn and his temper boil.
But what could he do? Hanging from his waist, as always, was nothing more than a wooden sword.
“How can a swordsman break his own sword?”
“Ugh….”
“Honestly, if that sword had broken just a little earlier, I’d have snapped your neck too, you know?”
In the end, Baek Cheon stared hopelessly ahead again.
'That bastard.'
No matter how he looked at it, the good he had done outweighed the mistake by far, and yet Chung Myung was clinging so viciously to that one tiny fault!
'What use is a ghost, anyway!'
Some real ghost ought to show up—not that fake nonsense called Ghost Sect—and drag that bastard off.
Baek Cheon let out a long sigh and was just about to urge the cart onward again when—
Hm?
He suddenly sensed something strange and jerked his head up.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“No, over there.”
Baek Cheon stopped in his tracks. Jo Gul, not understanding, slowed his pace to match him.
“Something’s coming over there.”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung narrowed his eyes slightly. Sure enough, something small was approaching from far away. What had first looked like a tiny dot was drawing nearer at shocking speed, growing larger and larger.
“Isn’t that that beggar ajusshi?”
“Branch Leader Hong Dae-gwang?”
“Looks like it.”
Seeing Hong Dae-gwang running at a terrifying speed, Chung Myung snorted.
“What did he forget this time? He’s always the busiest one.”
Dust billowed up thickly beside Hong Dae-gwang as he raced closer and closer.
Chung Myung had just been about to toss out another mocking remark when he caught sight of Hong Dae-gwang’s grave expression and closed his mouth, his face hardening at once.
“...What happened?”
“Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”
Hong Dae-gwang finally arrived, leaping down to land in front of Chung Myung.
“We’re in big trouble, Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”
“Why now? What happened?”
“Maninbang! Maninbang is heading straight for Mount Hua!”
Thud!
A loud sound rang out, and Chung Myung—who had been standing on the cart—was suddenly right in front of Hong Dae-gwang, gripping both his shoulders.
“...What?”
“M-Maninbang! Three of Maninbang’s combat units are heading for Mount Hua right now. They’ve probably already reached Mount Hua by now and are climbing the mountain!”
Chung Myung’s waist snapped around in a violent turn. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he pushed off the ground as if to launch himself away.
“No! Chung Myung!”
Grab!
But Baek Cheon, who had already caught on and sprinted over, clamped onto his arm.
“Let go!”
“What can you do if you go alone? Let’s go together!”
“You—”
Fury flared in Chung Myung’s eyes.
“I’m not dragging along a bunch of slow idiots!”
“I’ll follow even if it kills me. I’ll crawl if I have to, so take us with you!”
“……”
At Baek Cheon’s resolute shout, Chung Myung bit his lip hard.
And the one who settled the matter was Hyun Young.
“Chung Myung! Take the children with you.”
“……”
“No matter how strong you are, one hand can’t deal with ten. If you try to handle everything yourself, your hands and feet will only end up in chaos.”
After a brief moment of hard-faced hesitation, Chung Myung finally nodded. There was no time to waste on this now.
“Sasuk!”
“Right!”
“Sago!”
“I’m ready.”
“Sahyeong!”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go!”
Baek Cheon, Yu I-seol, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gul rushed forward as if it were the most natural thing in the world and took position in front of Chung Myung.
Then—
“This humble monk will go as well.”
Hye Yeon, who had somehow gotten down from the cart, stepped forward and gave Chung Myung a respectful Buddhist salute.
“If I did not know, that would be one thing, but now that I do, I cannot turn away. Please take me with you as well.”
“You might die.”
“Is that not the same as life and death being one?”
Chung Myung nodded.
“Elder!”
“Mm. I’ll lead the disciples and arrive as quickly as possible.”
“Yes!”
After confirming everything, Chung Myung was just about to grit his teeth and run without another word when—
“Ch-Chung Myung!”
“……”
A voice stopped him cold.
He would normally have ignored it, but the desperation in that voice made his feet halt.
Baek Sang.
He was looking at Chung Myung and the others with a bewildered expression.
“Ch-Chung Myung. Please… take care of the sajeul… and the sahyungs and sasuks. Please….”
“Don’t worry.”
Chung Myung smiled faintly.
“Who do you think I am? I’ll be the first one to sweep them away, so you’d better hurry up and come.”
“...Right.”
“I’m off!”
Chung Myung sprinted forward. At the same time, Baek Cheon’s group and Hye Yeon began unleashing their light-body movement to follow close behind him.
“Let’s go together, Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”
Hong Dae-gwang, too, could not afford to rest properly in this situation and hurried after Chung Myung.
Watching the disciples vanish in an instant like dots on the horizon, Hyun Young clenched his lip hard.
Sect Leader, please!
After casting a desperate glance toward far-off Mount Hua, he hurriedly shouted,
“Let’s hurry! Quickly!”
“Yes!”
Having abandoned the cart and broken into a full sprint, Hyun Young’s eyes began to fill with helpless worry.
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