Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sect
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That night.
In the pitch-black darkness, figures watched the Mount Hua Sect grounds. They blended seamlessly with the dense forest shrouded in shadow.
They held their breath in the darkness, awaiting a command.
Whoosh!
Moments later, shadows emerged from beyond the swaying forest in the wind.
"The defenses are the same as usual. They must think we're just a bunch of lowly bandits, never imagining we'd climb this far."
"Figures. The so-called righteous sects have always preached about the path of righteousness, but in truth, they're just rigid fools forcing their views on others. Trapped in their narrow-minded thinking, they're bound to be shortsighted and arrogant."
The man wore black robes as dark as midnight.
He gazed down at the Mount Hua Sect grounds and sneered coldly. His sneer carried a thick killing intent that could flay flesh.
His eyes flashed as he pointed to one spot.
"Is that their granary?"
"Yes."
"If we torch that place, they'll be crippled for a while."
"Do we attack?"
"Remember this. Our goal is to burn their storehouses. Once the flames spread beyond control, we descend the mountain immediately."
"Understood."
"Move out."
At the black-robed man's hand signal, figures suddenly surged from the darkness. Their number neared fifty.
* * *
Myeong Seon remained troubled.
Today, he had realized the Mount Hua Sect's shortcomings with his own body. He attributed the cause to the sect's closed-off nature.
Until now, the Mount Hua Sect had avoided political entanglements and preserved its traditions.
It had protected its traditions and identity from power-hungry rulers who sought to use martial artists' strength as tools for seizing power, thanks to the ancestors' unwavering resolve that martial artists must never get swept up in politics, no matter the circumstances.
As a result, to this day, the Mount Hua Sect had maintained its nobility as a martial sect, not as a sword for the powerful.
But where there is light, there is always shadow.
While it had shielded the sect from politics, strained relations with the authorities had gradually narrowed its scope of activity. In the end, the Mount Hua Sect had reached a point where even self-sufficiency was a struggle.
Various causes could be cited, but the biggest was the declining number of disciples seeking admission.
'We shouldn't have rejected the government outright. We should have cooperated where necessary and operated with flexibility. Then, more people would have come to Mount Hua.'
In the current Mount Hua Sect, there were fewer second-generation disciples than third-generation, and fewer third than fourth.
A daily decrease in incoming disciples was no simple matter.
The storied Mount Hua Sect had once seen an endless stream of aspiring disciples, with countless True Mountain Disciples and even more Lay Disciples.
Among them, those with exceptional talent and aptitude mostly became True Mountain Disciples, training at the main sect to carry on its legacy.
Thus, True Mountain Disciples formed the foundation and future of the sect.
Of course, that didn't mean Lay Disciples were unimportant.
Lay Disciples paid hefty initiation fees upon joining and, even after descending the mountain post-training, regularly sent support funds as a custom.
The sect operated on those initiation fees and contributions, so Lay Disciples sustained its present.
But now, with fewer and fewer seekers, both the brilliant True Mountain Disciples for the future and the Lay Disciples for the present were dwindling. Decline was as clear as day.
'If this continues for just ten more years, our lineage might end...'
Myeong Seon swallowed a rising sigh and bowed his head.
It was then.
Boom! Boom!
Crash! Crash!
Suddenly, explosions rocked the left side of the grounds, flames shooting up. Myeong Seon's eyes widened like lightning.
"......!"
The image of bandits flashed in his mind.
"Fire!"
"Bring water!"
Inspectors rushed out from everywhere.
Myeong Seon leaped into the air. Through the flames, he caught sight of fleeing figures etching into his eyes like daggers.
"The rear forest!"
Myeong Seon drew his sword mid-air.
Shing!
He plummeted toward the villains like an eagle diving for prey.
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
As figures charged at Myeong Seon after he decapitated two, he charged straight at them instead.
Crack!
Clang!
"Argh!"
Another head flew. Blood sprayed from Myeong Seon's shoulder simultaneously. He hadn't dodged an unseen burst of energy.
But Myeong Seon didn't stop.
Whirl!
Spinning like a top, his sword cleaved the darkness, eliciting a sharp scream from beyond.
"Urk!"
Flames ignited in Myeong Seon's eyes.
"How dare you!"
The bandits invading the grounds fueled an uncontrollable rage. Perhaps it stemmed from shattered pride.
Whoosh!
Shadows leaped from behind Myeong Seon.
Mount Hua Sect elders had joined the fray. At their appearance, the villains abandoned the fight and fled into the darkness.
Myeong Seon kicked off the ground, flanked by two elders.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"We'll handle this. Withdraw— you're bleeding quite a bit!"
"......!"
As Myeong Seon hesitated briefly, the two elders vanished into the darkness. Inspectors pursued them.
Clang!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Leaving agonized death cries echoing from the shadows, Myeong Seon turned to the grounds. The soaring flames lit the area like daylight.
Inspectors scurried to extinguish the blaze.
But the fire had grown beyond control.
Tremble...
Myeong Seon's eyes quivered.
Considering the sect's finances, this blaze was an irreversible catastrophe.
'To strike at our unguarded flank like this...'
It was a disaster born of complacency.
Perhaps a disaster born of arrogance.
* * *
The next morning.
The weather seemed primed for snow. The prediction came true as Yi Hwan's group neared the Mount Hua Sect.
"Snow falls early this year without much fanfare. But unlike the north, it's beautiful here."
Hwa Ryeong marveled at the scenic snow-draped Mount Hua.
Perhaps due to the nearby sect, the snowflakes resembled scattering plum blossoms.
Yi Hwan also admired the vista.
He had visited before. Back then, the Mount Hua Sect was among those fervently supporting him.
'Nothing's changed.'
Savoring the sentiment, Yi Hwan ascended the mountain path.
How long had they climbed?
Ju Tae shot into the forward forest like lightning, emerging with a bloodied man.
The wounds were so severe, death a hundred times over wouldn't be odd. He wasn't a Mount Hua inspector—his attire told as much.
"There are a few more corpses beyond."
"Check his identity."
"Yes."
Ju Tae pressed his palm to the black-robed man's back. The man's lifeless eyes flickered dimly with vitality.
Ju Tae asked,
"Hey, why are you collapsed here?"
"Fr-from the C-Cult?"
Ju Tae glanced at Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan stepped forward.
"Looks like we arrived late."
"Th-the op-operation s-succeeded. B-but most of us were k-killed by Mount Hua b-bastards... Th-they were... too strong..."
Thud!
The black-robe's head lolled sideways.
Ju Tae hurriedly infused more energy, but he was already gone.
"Did those from some 'Cult' just now attack the Mount Hua Sect?"
"Possibly."
Yi Hwan narrowed his eyes, staring up the mountain. The snowy Mount Hua exuded serene peace.
"Examine the corpses for anything identifying their affiliation."
"Yes."
Ju Tae, Cheol Mu-ok, and Kim Mu-gwan dashed into the forest but returned empty-handed.
"Well, a force bold enough to attack Mount Hua would conceal identities thoroughly."
Yi Hwan turned to Go Mi.
"Any factions calling themselves a 'Cult' nearby?"
"Not in my intel, but I'll investigate further."
"Let's proceed."
The group resumed. Soon, they reached the path leading to the Mount Hua grounds.
"Halt!"
A cold shout rang from the forest. Several inspectors emerged.
Cheol Mu-ok stepped forward.
"It's the Great Prince. Sheathe your swords."
"......!"
The inspectors, startled, sheathed their blades.
Yi Hwan asked calmly,
"May we enter?"
"We'll escort you."
Yi Hwan and his group followed the inspector. En route, Yi Hwan inquired,
"Something happened, I take it."
"Bandits raided us last night. We'd clashed with them before, so it seems like retaliation."
"Any heavy losses?"
"......Yes."
It was odd. The dying black-robe had clearly said "Cult." Yet now, bandits.
Moments later, Yi Hwan spotted a collapsed hall charred black.
Inspectors frantically salvaged from the ashes, their faces etched with grief.
The escorting inspector said weakly,
"It was our grain storage. Strangely, they targeted it from the start."
"Only that one?"
"Yes. They torched it and fled immediately. Our seniors pursued and killed most, but we failed to extinguish it."
Several figures then emerged. The Sect Leader and Mount Hua elders, including Myeong Seon.
"Welcome, Great Prince."
The Sect Leader bowed.
"I heard about the incident. My condolences."
"Thank you. Please, come inside."
* * *
Myeong Seon couldn't tear his eyes from Yi Hwan. The pressure emanating from him was unprecedented, immense.
'A royal prince with such presence...'
He had felt a similar pressure from Ju Tae yesterday. But Yi Hwan's was incomparable—like facing a mountain head-on.
Myeong Seon steadied his gaze on Cheol Mu-ok seated behind.
'How do the royal guards possess such auras...'
Then, Cheol Mu-ok turned, their eyes locking.
Myeong Seon felt his breath catch. Had Cheol Mu-ok not looked away first, he would have.
Meanwhile, Yi Hwan heard the full details from the Sect Leader. They matched the inspector's account.
One point nagged, though.
"There were experts among them far beyond mere bandits. Our sect masters pursued and slew most, but a few escaped."
"Any factions in Shaanxi calling themselves a 'Cult'?"
"Never heard of such. Why do you ask...?"
"On the way up, we met a bandit not quite dead. Mistaking us for allies, he mentioned 'Cult.' That's why."
At Yi Hwan's words, the Sect Leader and elders exchanged puzzled glances.
Yi Hwan asked another question.
"When did bandit sightings increase?"
"A few months ago, they surged across regions. Yesterday was our first clash."
Yi Hwan looked to Go Mi.
She spoke.
"I've heard Shaanxi and Henan officials have been cracking down on bandits for two months. Henan saw major success with Shaolin Temple's aid, but Shaanxi..."
Go Mi trailed off.
Yi Hwan, grasping the gist, fixed the Sect Leader.
"Has Mount Hua not joined the government's bandit suppression?"
"Mount Hua hasn't involved itself in government affairs for ages. It's our ancestors' will and tradition to avoid politics."
Yi Hwan's eyes chilled.
"You consider purging bandit hordes tormenting the populace as 'politics'?"
"That's..."
Yi Hwan swept his gaze over all the elders.
"Is that your view as well?"
"......"
No one answered.
Fury flickered in Yi Hwan's eyes.
"This violates Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World."