Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“….”

“I should have killed you right here.”

Tension and veins bulge across Namgung Hwang’s entire face.

“…You will surely die by my hands, Black Dragon King.”

“How would you do that when you can’t even cross the Yangzte?”

Eudeududuk.

A sound resembling grinding emanated from Namgung Hwang’s clenched teeth. Black Dragon King burst into laughter when he saw him shaking because he couldn’t hold back his anger and humiliation.

“Begging for your life and barely escaping, yet still holding onto your pride! Right, that’s the Righteous Faction alright. Hahahahaha!”

That was it. It would have been less shocking if he had made a more explicit insult, but Black Dragon King went down the cliff neatly ignoring Namgung Hwang, leaving only the laughter behind.

“Hmm.”

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold in a mocking manner as he stared at Heo Dojin.

“Looks like I made a profitable venture.”

“….”

As the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold turned, Thousand-Faced Gentleman clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk. You guys are so cold-hearted.”

“…Amitabha.”

Thousand-Faced Gentleman saluted as Bop Kye softly chanted with a pale complexion.

“I have witnessed the martial arts of Shaolin, Monk.”

“…Hao Sect’s Sect Leader martial art is also… incredible.”

“May we cross hands again in the future.”

Thousand-Faced Gentleman smiled bitterly. Then added implicitly.

“You too are going to have a hard time now. As you can see, our Ryeonju is a very difficult person to handle.”

No one could respond.

Paegun Jang Ilso.

Of course, there would have been no one who would dare to ignore him until now, but from today, the world’s view of him will completely change.

At least after this moment, it was clear that no one would dare to refer to anyone other than Jang Ilso as the greatest of the Evil Faction.

“Then.”

Thousand-Faced Gentleman turned his body for the last time.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

The martial artist of Evil Tyrant Alliance, who left a blatant mockery and ridicule, began to descend the cliff without hesitation.

What was left for those remaining was nothing but despair.

Those who had climbed the cliff finally realized that they hadn’t had a proper battle with the pillars of opposing Evil Tyrant Alliance. Unlike their miserable appearance, there was not a speck of dust on their clothes.

The realization brought further humiliation.

“…Heo Dojin.”

Namgung Hwang, who had been glaring at the departing figures while biting his lips, turned to look at Heo Dojin. The malice in his eyes was unsettling.

The malice in those two eyes was so cruel that it was hard to believe that they were looking at an ally.

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“….”

“We’ve begged the Evil Faction for our lives. No matter how you dress it up with truce or ceasefire bullshit, the essence remains the same!”

Heo Dojin looked up at the sky without saying a word.

“What are you planning to do to resolve this? How are you going to pick up the honor that has fallen to the ground, you damned bastard!”

Heo Dojin said in a low voice as the excited Namgang Hwang tried to raise his voice again.

“Then why didn’t you stop me?”

“What?”

“I said you should have stopped me then.”

“….”

As Namgung Hwang clenched his teeth, Heo Dojin shot him a cold look.

“There were plenty of opportunities to intervene. No, there wasn’t even a need for that. If you’d led your men and attacked just one person, there would have been another war, no matter of negotiation. Then I’ll ask.”

“….”

“Did you really not know that and kept silent?”

“This….”

Namgung Hwang’s hands trembled. His head seemed to be burning with rage.

“You spoke of honor?”

A clear sneer appeared at the corner of Heo DoJin’s mouth.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility. You all will eagerly criticize me, so naturally, all the blame will fall on me.”

“…Amitabha.”

Bop Kye closed his eyes and chanted the Buddha’s name repeatedly. He too couldn’t bear to look at Heo DoJin directly.

“But speaking of honor…”

Heo Dojin chuckled.

“It was all done with great determination, but I’m really sick of that hypocrisy. When I was on my knees begging for my life, you just stayed back and enjoyed the view with your hands behind you, but now you say you wished otherwise?”

“Sect Leader….”

“No, it’s fine. That’s the way of this world. However…”

Heo Dojin glared at Namgung Hwang, Bop Hye. Then he stared at Baek Hyeonja.

“I will never apologize to any of you.”

“….”

“I don’t expect gratitude. But… at least know what shame is.”

“You…”

Namgung Hwang’s body was now trembling like an aspen tree.

But even then, he couldn’t bring himself to charge at Heo Dojin. Because he knew there was some truth to his words.

“…Amitabha.”

Bop Kye, who quietly chanted, also lamented inwardly.

How should they even resolve this terrible situation?

This miserable situation.

After finishing what he had to say, Heo Dojin turned his gaze away without any lingering attachment and looked up at the sky.

‘How blue.’

The sky was cruelly blue, and also bitterly cold.

He had expected these humans to behave this way.

An apology? Why should he apologize?

He saved everyone here. These are just people who can’t even muster the courage to bow their heads to the enemy.

If he hadn’t stepped in, they all would have died. His actions saved everyone here.

But they will soon blame him and try to shift all the mistakes onto him. So why should he apologize?

‘If there’s one thing that’s bothering me… ‘

Just when Heo Dojin was about to sigh.

“Chu- Chung Myung!”

“N- No! If you get up!”

At the noise coming from the other side, Heo Dojin slowly turned his head away.

He saw the figure of Mount Hua Divine Dragon, pushing away his Sahyung to get up.

Truly a pitiable sight. Mount Hua Divine Dragon suffered the most injuries here and fought more fiercely than anyone else.

If he hadn’t hung on to Jang Ilso, the damages would have been a lot higher and they would have had to offer more to Jang Ilso for mercy.

Heo Dojin knew this fact better than anyone.

“… Move aside.”

“Chu- Chung Myung! Now is not the time…”

“Sasuk.”

“….”

“Please move. I’m asking you.”

“….”

Now that it came out like this, Baek Cheon could no longer dissuade him. Chung Myung walked past Baek Cheon toward Heo Dojin. His outburst of murderous energy silenced everyone.

The sight of Chung Myung dripping blood as he walked made even Wudang’s disciples hold their breaths.

“Stop.”

“You punk!”

Heo Sanja and Heo Gwang flew in and stood in front of Heo Dojin.

However, Chung Myung didn’t stop as if he didn’t even see them. He just limped closer to Heo Dojin.

“Aren’t you stopping!”

“This….”

“Move aside.”

Heo Sanja and Heo Gwang looked back in surprise at the voice of Heo Dojin, who came from behind.

“Se- Sect Leader.”

“Stay far away.”

“… But that man…”

They could not easily back down. It was because they can clearly feel that Chung Myung’s killing intent is sincere.

But Heo Dojin merely shook his head.

“Are you trying to disgrace me?”

“….”

“Move aside. And don’t interfere.”

Heo Gwang bit his lips.

However, they could not disobey the Sect Leader in the end, so the two took hesitant steps away. And standing behind Heo Dojin, they looked at Chung Myung the whole time vigilantly.

Chung Myung limped over as if he didn’t even notice the process and stood right in front of Heo Dojin.

Behind him, Five Swords was very nervous and was baring their teeth like a venomous snake. So that they can rush forward at any time in case of emergency.

Heo Dojin smirked at the sight.

‘Mount Hua is the only one.’

On this cliff, the ones who have the right to discuss virtue…….

Then Chung Myung started talking.

“…Why did you do that?”

“….”

“Why?”

Heo Dojin chuckled.

“I wonder….”

And he muttered with empty eyes.

“Why indeed?”

“You crazy bastard!”

Peoook!

Chung Myung’s fist struck Heo Dojin in the face. As Heo Dojin tumbled backward, Chung Myung climbed on top of him and began to pound his face.

“Why! Why did you do that! Why!”

Peok! Peok!

“You’re doing the same shit again! Again! You dog bastard!”

Chung Myung howled like a beast and beat up Heo Dojin. Wudang’s disciples were screaming and tried to intervene, but their steps were forced to stop when Heo Dojin, who fell to the ground, raised his hand.

“Why!”

Chung Myung grabbed Heo Dojin by the collar and pulled him. Their foreheads collided with a thud.

Heo Dojin looked at the sky with empty eyes, blood trickling from his busted lips.

“I was…”

A low voice leaked out.

“…just trying to save my disciples.”

“….”

“That’s… all.”

Chung Myung’s body was trembling.

“You…!”

Holding Heo Dojin by the collar with one hand, he lifted his other fist. The fist began to garner a formidable energy.

“Sto- Stop!”

“Euaaaaaaaaaa!”

Kwaaaang!

A loud noise erupted. Chung Myung’s fist was lodged in the ground right next to Heo Dojin’s face.

“Damn it…”

Chung Myung who let go of Heo Dojin rose weakly. But even after he stood, Heo Dojin was only staring blankly at the sky.

“F*cking bastards…”

Glaring at Heo Dojin, the other disciples of Ten Great Sect, and the disciples of the Five Great Family present on the cliff, Chung Myung turned his body.

As he stumbled, Baek Cheon quickly grabbed his arm and helped him up.

“…Let’s go back, Chung Myung-ah.”

“….”

“This isn’t our place. Let’s go to Sect Leader. To Mount Hua… Right, let’s go back to our Mount Hua.”

Five Swords all nodded as Baek Cheon spoke. They looked at the sects present with a face that said they had had enough. No one could meet eyes with such Five Swords.

When they were in a hurry to protect their own lives, Mount Hua Five Swords fought against Jang Ilso.

So how could they dare to utter the word ‘majority’ in front of the Five Swords?

It’s valor to fight against a strong enemy. It’s chivalrous not to retreat even when you can’t win. Fighting only when you can win is neither valor nor chivalry; it’s merely intimidation.

‘We have listened to and learned it countless times.’

But there is a difference between simply knowing and doing it.

Five Swords stood and fought; they could not.

Jin Hyun looked up at the sky with eyes of despair and soon clenched them shut.

“Let’s go, Chung Myung.”

Baek Cheon helped Chung Myung up. Jo-Gol also helped Chung Myung on the other side.

“Yes, Chung Myung…. Let’s go back. I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

Jo-Gol’s muttering penetrated the ears of those who remained on the cliff. As if he was speaking directly into their ears, so vividly clear.

Then Chung Myung opened his mouth.

“Sasuk.”

“Huh?”

“My sword… Give me my sword.”

“…Why?”

Baek Cheon asked back with a discontented face. It clearly meant not to talk to them anymore. But Chung Myung looked at that face still and shook his head.

“Not yet….”

Chung Myung’s gaze headed down the cliff. His eyes became utterly cold.

“There’s still something left for me to do.”

Blood trickled down Chung Myung’s chin and dripped onto the cliff.