Return of the Mount Hua Sect

‘What?’

Who is dealing with whom?

His pupils shook greatly as he stared at the back of the man standing in front of everyone.

Of course, the man is different from the general rising star he is familiar with. Namgung Myung had acknowledged that.

Not only Namgung Myung, but even among the current Kangho, no one would think of the Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword as a common rising star. If there is still someone like that left in this Kangho, they’re either an idiot unaware of the ways of the world or a fool who is jealous of someone else’s shining prestige.

Even Namgung Dowi, who is considered one of the greatest among the rising stars and objectively has the qualifications to become one of the greatest Gaju of Namgung Family, will appear shabby if the object of comparison is Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.

Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword is of a different caliber.

But….

Namgung Myung’s gaze passed over his back and reached Black Dragon King.

‘It depends on the opponent, doesn’t it?’

Everything in the world is relative. As much as the prestige and skills of Namgung Dowi fade in front of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, and even more than that, the prestige of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword also becomes shabby in front of the name of Black Dragon King.

That’s only natural.

What is contained in the name of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword is simply respect for the Chivalrousness he showed and anticipation of where his sword will reach in the future. If he were to discuss one more thing, it would be praise for the path he is walking.

But not Black Dragon King.

He has earned his reputation not through respect from the world but solely through his own strength, recognized by all under heaven.

Namgung Myung glared at Black Dragon King with bloodshot eyes.

Even Namgung Hwang, Gaju of Namgung Family, could not gain the upper hand in the fierce battle against Black Dragon King. No, rather, didn’t he meet his end to that Black Dragon King’s trick?

Although Namgung Myung hates Black Dragon King more than anyone else, there is no way to deny the fact that Black Dragon King is one of the strongest men in the world.

However….

Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword is facing such Black Dragon King?

‘This is madness.’

No matter how many times he thinks about it, all he can picture is Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword being torn to death under Black Dragon King’s blade.

‘But why isn’t anyone stopping him! Why!’

Even though Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, who are only third-class disciples, set out alone to face Black Dragon King, none of Mount Hua’s disciples tried to stop him.

They simply lowered their swords and silently supported him from behind.

“Ugh….”

Namgung Myung made a judgment based on common sense. This sect called Mount Hua is extremely strong and filled with Chivalrousness, but they do not yet have the experience to understand the power of the existence that is Black Dragon King.

An absolute master is by no means a common entity. It’s not strange for Mount Hua, having lost the previous generation, to not fully grasp Black Dragon King’s strength.

But then….

Namgung Myung looked at Tang Gun-ak.

‘Why does Gaju remain silent?’

If there is someone here who should take action against Black Dragon King, it should naturally be Tang Gun-ak. Of course, Poison King’s prestige is slightly inferior to the great name of Black Dragon King, but even so, isn’t he Gaju of Tang Family? He has at least the same ‘status’ as Black Dragon King.

However, even though he must have clearly felt Namgung Myung’s gaze, Tang Gun-ak was just watching the confrontation between Chung Myung and Black Dragon King with an expressionless face.

Namgung Myung grew increasingly confused.

They are really planning to present Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword as the opponent of Black Dragon King.

‘No.’

That shouldn’t happen.

The man will definitely become a symbol of Kangho in the future. How could such a person be left to die at the hands of such a lawless individual in a place like this?

At least Namgung Myung was not shameless enough to overlook the death of the person who risked his life for them.

“I must…”

Namgung Myung gritted his teeth, ready to step forward. There is no way he can be the Black Dragon King’s opponent, but if he fights without retreating, he may be able to turn the tide of this overturned battlefield a little.

But at that moment.

Tok.

Someone grabbed his shoulder.

“…So- Sogaju?”

When Namgung Myung turned around in surprise, he saw Namgung Dowi, who had already come to his senses, holding his shoulder. Namgung Dowi opened his pale lips.

“It won’t do.”

“…Yes?”

“Just watch.”

He covered his mouth and coughed, wiping the blood from his mouth with his sleeve. His bright eyes fixed on Chung Myung’s back.

Namgung Myung looked at him with a dazed expression.

He could see the firm trust in Namgung Dowi’s eyes. He looked around blankly and only then did he see everyone’s eyes.

‘It’s not about standing by…’

Everyone was like Namgung Dowi. Eyes without any doubt. Everyone was looking at that back with eyes full of faith.

Not only the disciples of Mount Hua, but also Tang Family, and even Tang Gun-ak.

“How….”

What on earth did they see in Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?

What have they seen that allows them to believe the man without even the slightest doubt, even in this situation? Against that Black Dragon King on top of that.

“…Are you saying that the man will defeat Black Dragon King?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Myung’s lips trembled at the unbelievable answer.

“Have you seen his martial prowess?”

“…I don’t know exactly.”

“Then why…?”

Nangung Dowi smiled faintly.

“They are watching, aren’t they?”

What he was talking about was Five Swords and the disciples of Mount Hua.

Though their journey together was short, he could fully sense how much they cared and cherished each other. These are people who won’t even hesitate to give up their lives for each other.

However, such people are looking at Chung Myung without wavering.

How could there be any doubt?

‘Can I be like that too?’

Nangung Dowi looked again at the back that stood firmly in front of everyone.

One day, like Chung Myung, will he be able to lead people with just his back rather than his sword?

He slowly clenched his fists. And he stared at Chung Myung’s back as if to imprint it in his eyes.

The wind of the Yangtze River passed between Chung Myung and Black Dragon King.

The scene surrounding them had transformed into something quite bizarre.

Those who stood behind Black Dragon King were all keeping a great distance between themselves and him. Even though no one instructed them to do so, they slowly retreated on their own and naturally ended up in that arrangement.

But the scene behind Chung Myung is different.

Those who stood behind Chung Myung did not take a single step back from where they initially stood. They were glaring at Black Dragon King from behind as if they were going to fight together.

Black Dragon King gripped his dao tightly.

‘I don’t like this.’

It was hurting his pride to see someone who was nothing more than a greenhorn step out to deal with him.

Moreover, the gaze of those standing behind that brat was also displeasing.

Did they truly believe this young one could stand against him?

‘Fine.’

Feelings were the second problem.

Black Dragon King knows how important the flow of battle is. The young sword warriors of Mount Hua are stronger than you think, and the Tang Family was always a tricky opponent.

If they gain momentum, even if he annihilates them, the damage to water fortress will also increase exponentially. In order to minimize the damage as much as possible, he had to completely break their morale.

To demonstrate how strong he was in front of them and to crush their will to resist. And to do that…

‘Just killing him won’t do.’

Black Dragon King’s eyes were filled with a vicious aura.

He will rip that bastard who dares to step forward and show everyone clearly who he is. Not only to them but also to Jang Ilso, who is leisurely watching this place from a distant ship!

“You will regret to dare to stand before me in hell…”

It was that moment.

Chung Myung, who had been staring him down with his sword aimed, vanished from sight in an instant.

‘Huh?’

Black Dragon King reflexively raised his internal strength and drew his dao to cover his neck. It was an action borne out of countless real combat experiences, almost like an instinct.

And that one move saved Black Dragon King.

Kaaaaaaaaaang!

Black Dragon King’s guan dao barely blocked the sword of Chung Myung, who suddenly appeared like a ghost.

Kagak! Kagagagagak! Kagak!

The thin sword, pushing against the thick heavy dao, emitted a chilling sound as it pressed on.

“This….”

Black Dragon King’s eyes trembled.

If his reaction had been delayed even for a moment, that sword would have undoubtedly pierced his neck. But what was making Black Dragon King’s whole body drenched in sweat right now was not the sense of crisis that his life was in danger.

‘What’s with this guy?’

Even as he pressed in fiercely with his sword, as if he intended to slice through the guan dao and Black Dragon King’s neck, Chung Myung’s expression remained disturbingly calm.

A shiver ran down Black Dragon King’s spine at that gaze that seemed to be observing him.

Kagagagagagak!

The tremendous power behind the sword pressed down on the heavy sword. A beast-like roar burst from Black Dragon King’s mouth as he felt pain as if his wrist was being twisted.

“Heuuaaaaaap!”

He reflexively raised his internal strength and pushed the sword forward with all his might.

But at that moment, Black Dragon King saw it.

Just as he pushed, or rather, just before he managed to push the sword away, Chung Myung’s sword moved precisely to the side as if he knew it was coming.

As if time had slowed down, he could see everything clearly.

The dao, which he pushed with all his might, pushed against the air where the sword no longer existed.

Chung Myung, having easily diverted his force, this time dug into the side of Black Dragon King.

The moment he saw those eyes, which were even more creepy because they contained nothing, Black Dragon King stopped thinking and leaped to the side with all his might.

Kwang!

An astonishing speed of movement that didn’t match his large frame.

Thick beads of sweat were running down his chin as he traveled more than a ten zhang in the blink of an eye. (One zhang is about 3 meters.)

“…”

He lifted one hand and looked at his left hand blankly. There was a lot of white sand.

It was the hand that touched the ground while he was throwing his body. Sweat soaked his hands, showing traces of shame all over his palms.

Black Dragon King, who had been looking down at his hands as if fascinated, then looked at his side. The black uniform that symbolized him and the iron armor he wore underneath was split evenly as if it had always been that way.

And….

Jureureuk.

Slowly, the side that was revealed had a gap wide enough to fit a finger through.

Black Dragon King raised his head and saw the back of the person who lowered his sword.

Before he could fully feel the dissonance and fear from that back, Chung Myung slowly turned to face Black Dragon King.

“You’re out of luck.”

A cold voice broke through the silence. But what was even colder than that voice was Chung Myung’s eyes staring at Black Dragon King.

“You could have died without pain.”

Drops of sweat ran down Black Dragon King’s chin and fell onto the blood that had pooled on the ground.

Ttook.

The faint sound spread across Plum Blossom Island, which was filled with extreme silence.