Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Gal Cheonrip’s face was filled with confusion.

He’s certain that by the time they arrive in Xi’an…. No, everything did not deviate from his plan even an inch until he slaughtered those who stood in his way at Eunha Merchant Guild.

But why did it become like this?

Mount Hua’s intervention?

Of course, he expected as much. In the past, it was not Southern Edge Sect but Mount Hua when those dog-like Myriad Man Manor invaded Xi’an. Just three years ago, Mount Hua thought the world was small and it was them who roamed around Gangbuk as if it were their turf.

Such people wouldn’t just sit back idly in their own territory when trouble arose, just because they were under Bongmun.

But…

Ppudeuduk.

Gal Cheonrip gritted his teeth hard as if to break it. What he didn’t expect was not whether Mount Hua was involved or not. It was the strength of Mount Hua.

‘This is impossible.’

How can one become so strong in three years?

This is not something that is possible based on common sense. The Mount HYua that the world knew and the Mount Hua he was witnessing with his own eyes were fundamentally different sects.

If he had known they possessed such power, he would never have set foot in this Xi’an.

He had thoroughly assessed Mount Hua’s strength three years ago. Was that evaluation wrong?

That’s not possible.

If they had been this strong since then, the Yangtze Disaster would not have occurred. And even if it happened, there would never have been a Gangnam Non-Aggresion Pact.

It is said that Mount Hua was the one who resisted the most fiercely while even the great sects suffered humiliation from Jang Ilso in order to survive.

In other words, Mount Hua at the time was a sect that did not have the power to change the battle despite their fierce resistance.

Then….

‘Has they really changed this much in three years? Have they really become this strong?’

Who would believe it?

‘If that’s possible, who would endure all these hardships!’

If anyone can easily become strong by training and working hard, then where in the world are there people who are not martial masters, and would there be a sect that is not a great sect?

But these guys were completely destroying the common sense of such Kangho. Those who had barely escaped the level of a small or medium-sized sect came back after only three years with the mighty power of a major sect.

No, in fact, he hasn’t been able to figure out how far their potential is yet. Skill can only be measured accurately if there is an appropriate standard, but the skills of the people he brought in are far too low to be their standard.

Even though he brought all the elites of the Evil Sect that came up to Gangbuk, and even though he brought with him a force that was convinced that if only he led them out to Qinghai, he could build up a force strong enough to shake up Kangho!

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

Since when?

“Aaaaakh!”

Just then, a sharp scream pierced his ears. It was his younger brother, who had charged forward to tip the balance of the battlefield.

They had never failed when they personally stepped in. A small battlefield like this could always be manipulated at will.

However, at least here, even they were being swept away and trampled.

Everything falls apart.

His entire plan, his ambition to lead them to Qinghai, build a force, and seize hegemony amidst the war between Righteous and Evil, was burning to ashes right here.

“This….”

Gal Cheonrip’s eyes turned bloodshot.

‘Mount Hua!’

Everything was because of them. These…

Step. Step.

At that time, he heard the slow footsteps approaching him. Slow, rhythmic footsteps that did not fit into this battlefield filled with screams and clashing weapons.

Gal Cheonrip turned his head sharply with a face like that of an evil spirit.

A man was approaching him slowly.

“…….”

The man’s arrival meant several things.

It meant that there weren’t many left of the Evil Sect for all of Mount Hua swordmasters to rush at anymore, and that the rest of them could not afford to stop Mount Hua’s swordmasters from falling behind their backs.

Above all else……

“How dare you!”

Gal Cheonrip’s eyes were bloodshot.

It also meant that he was looked down on to the extent that there were people who decided to deal with him alone.

Against this Ruthless Ghost Doa Gal Cheonrip.

“This….”

It felt like his blood was flowing in reverse.

“……Who are you?”

Grinding his teeth, he asked the question, to which the man responded with a small smirk.

“I don’t know what to say. I don’t have a fancy title or nickname to boast of.”

“A youngster without even a nickname?”

“That seems to be the case.”

It was a humbling tone, but the expression was just confident. The appearance made Gal Cheonrip more angry.

“…Neither Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, nor Mount Hua Righteous Sword…. An unknown puny disciple with no reputation dared to deal with me? Not just anyone, but a one-armed man?”

Again, the man shrugged his shoulders without showing any signs of anger.

“I’m slightly sorry about that. Anyway, since you asked, I shall respond. This one is called Un Gum, a first-class disciple of Mount Hua.”

Un Gum slowly drew the sword from his waist with his only hand.

“My teacher went to someone else, so I had no choice but to step forward, so don’t blame me too much for being an unknown nobody.”

Gal Cheonrip closed his mouth.

He’s not even angry anymore. They say when one is too angry, one becomes calm instead—it seemed there was truth to that saying.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I’m not quite sure.”

“…Don’t you know?”

Looking at Gal Cheonrip’s bewildered expression, Un Gum replied calmly.

“There’s no need to look at me like that. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury to inquire who you all were before coming. I rushed here as soon as I heard the news.”

“…….”

Un Gum shrugs his shoulders.

“And no one tells me here either, so I can’t help but not know.”

Gal Cheonrip burst out laughing.

Was he being beaten by these guys?

“I am Ruthless Ghost Dao Gal Cheonrip. That Gangseo Seven Murderers.”

“Ah, I see.”

Un Gum nodded briefly in response.

Gol Cheonrip gritted his teeth at that composed reaction.

“You ignorant fool, you seem to have never even heard the name ‘Ruthless Ghost Dao.’”

“I know.”

“…What?”

Ruthless Ghost Dao looked at Gol Cheonrip with calm eyes.

“I know. No matter how narrow-minded I may be, I am not so ignorant that I have not heard the nickname Ruthless Ghost Dao and the name Gangseo Seven Murderer.”

“And yet you dare to deal with me?”

“Is there any reason not to?”

Gal Cheonrip’s lips twitched slightly.

He reigns like a grim reaper in Gangnam. Where on earth could he have received such an insult?

“That arm.”

“…Hm?”

“Who cut that off?”

Un Gum stared at Gal Cheonrip without answering. As if to confirm the true intention of the question.

Then Gal Cheonrip opened his mouth first with a gaze sharp as a blade.

“I’ve heard talk of a man who narrowly escaped death when Myriad Man Manor raided Mount Hua. Is that you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you mean to say you’re the one who couldn’t even handle a single Daeju of Myriad Man Manor? But how dare you deal with me? If Myriad Man Manor wants to deal with me, Jang Ilso has to come forward in person!”

The moment those words came out, the expression of the Un Gum collapsed.

But it was not a face of despair or humiliation. That is to say… It was a face that was suppressing laughter. Un Gum, who had been composed all this time, bit his lip hard, struggling to hold back his laughter.

At this reaction, Gol Cheonrip’s face turned cold.

“…What’s so funny?”

“Ah, my apologies. It’s impolite, I know, but I couldn’t help myself at the mention of Jang Ilso.”

“…….”

“Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you saw Paegun?”

“…Last time?”

Gal Cheonrip’s eyes narrowed. He did not know the purpose of the question, but it had been at least fifteen years since he last saw him, if not more.

But what was his point…?

“I can assure you, had you seen Paegun with your own eyes three years ago, you wouldn’t dare to utter such words.”

“This bastard….”

Gal Cheonrip’s face flushed red. Un Gum just looked at him coldly.

Even if the opponent is of Evil Sects, he is not allowed to lose courtesy towards others as a Taoist he is. However, when Jang Ilso’s name came out of this man’s mouth, even the world-known Un Gum could not help laughing.

He saw Jang Ilso, who drove Chung Myung and Five Swords to the brink of death, clearly with his own two eyes.

It’s not that Gal Cheonrip is an insignificant martial artist. But Jang Ilso is of a different caliber. Isn’t Jang Ilso the embodiment of all things that gives him goosebumps all over his body just thinking about him?

On the contrary, Gal Cheonrip, who is of Evil Sects, does not know Paegun well.

“Perhaps it is not a groundless lie to say that you are sufficiently capable of dealing with Paegun. If Jang Ilso has remained the same as you last saw him.”

Gal Cheonrip, who understood what Ungeom meant, clenched his teeth.

“This bastard dares to insult me…”

“Even though he’s an enemy, he’s someone who never rested for a moment and continued to hone himself. However… How was it for you? It’s been a while since I heard the name Gangseo Seven Murderer, but nothing has changed so far, right?”

“…….”

“Those intoxicated with past glories are as good as dead.”

His words were like daggers piercing deep into Gal Cheonrip’s heart.

“And those who become satisfied with what they have achieved and sit back leisurely will not stay in the same position but rather fall behind.”

Un Gum’s gaze turned slightly to the side. He saw the disciples of Mount Hua fighting valiantly against their enemies and the figure of Five Swords protecting their rear.

‘To continuously sharpen oneself is a difficult task.’

Yet here were those who had achieved that difficult task. Those who, despite holding the highest prestige and the greatest skills, had worked even harder than their students.

Then, as their teacher, he can’t show his ugly side, can he?

Un Gum raised his sword and aimed it at Gal Cheonrip.

“It worked out just fine. Didn’t you just say that I can’t handle a single Daeju of Myriad Man Manor?”

“…So?”

“If that’s the case, why don’t we check? To see how much I, who could not handle that Daeju of Myriad Man Manor, have changed. And how far behind you who were compared to that Paegun in the past have fallen.”

“…….”

Gal Cheonrip stared at Un Gum with an expressionless face.

The boiling rage subsided in an instant, replaced by an icy murderous intent. Regardless of the situation on the battlefield, it felt like he wouldn’t be able to calm down unless he tore this person to shreds right there and then.

“That sword…”

Growl.

Gal Cheonrip slowly drew his sword. As he grasped the dao that had taken many lives, his heart became unbearably cold.

“I hope that your sword is as fierce as your mouth. Otherwise, you might find yourself begging to be killed instead.”

Despite the great Gal Cheonrip’s murderous intent, Un Gum merely smiled broadly.

“You won’t be disappointed.”

Un Gum, assumed a neat posture and unfolded the basic stance of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, took a pause and spoke briefly.

“Come at me.”

“I will rip that mouth of yours!”

Gal Cheonrip rushed towards Un Gum, emitting a storm-like force.