Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Horrible corpses are scattered about. If one were to pile them up in one place, it would literally form a mountain of bodies… but there was no particular reason to do so.

The man’s gaze slowly moved downward.

Two bodies are torn to shreds and the weapons they were carrying are stuck on the ground, missing their owners.

The earth, soaked in blood, was dyed red.

Despite all these sights, there was not even a passing emotion in the man’s eyes.

He slowly raised his hand, staring intently at his bloodless hand before turning his gaze toward the distant sky.

“Bishop.”

At that time, the envoy approached and bowed down.

“Every living being in the vicinity has been erased.”

Ad

But no words came out of the bishop’s mouth. The envoy was lying prostrate on the cold ground, waiting for his mouth to open.

Finally, the bishop opened his mouth.

“…Doesn’t this seem odd?”

“What does Bishop mean…?”

The man who was once called Dan Jagang (???(段自强)), but now stripped of his name, spoke with dim eyes.

“I can’t believe it is all too easy.”

“….”

“For the cult, Jungwon was a place that must be erased from the world at all times.”

“That’s correct.”

“But they are too weak.”

Ad

The bishop slowly shook his head.

“Is it that they are weak? Or are we too strong?”

“I do not know the answer.”

“Well, it’s the same either way.”

The bishop walked slowly. With a squelching sound, he crossed the land filled with nothing but blood and corpses.

“If it were this easy… Why did the cult survive for such a long time in hunger and despair?”

“Because that is the mission of the cult.”

“…Right. It is a mission. Given to us.”

Because it is a command given by Him.

The bishop’s eyes sank dimly.

‘I don’t understand.’

Is it because he lacks faith? Or is the cult’s teaching wrong?

After witnessing the true nature of Jungwon, which he hated so much, a strong doubt gripped the bishop.

“Why was the cult defeated?”

“…The cult was not defeated.”

“Then let me rephrase. Why couldn’t the cult completely trample over Jungwon and had to hide away in desolate places instead? Against such weak beings.”

“…that….”

The envoy could not bear to open his mouth. It was out of fear that the moment his answer was even slightly deviated, his faith might be questioned.

Looking at such him, the bishop chuckled softly.

“You don’t have to answer.”

“….”

The reason is simple.

This place called Jungwon has been drunk in peace for the past hundred years and has completely lost its former power… If not….

The bishop shook his head. As if he wanted to erase the most blasphemous thought that crept to his mind. It was his old habit to shake his head alone like this.

When he looked up again, the same old words that he was tired of hearing seemed to echo in his ears.

– Our mission is to wait for His second coming. Do not think. Do not doubt. The only thing granted to those who serve Him is pure faith.

‘Old fools…’

A hundred years have passed. They just waited and waited for a long time, when the river and mountains would change ten times.

They believe in the ‘second coming’ of which there is no definite time.

Can that be called life?

Not to think, not to doubt, just blindly follow – can that really be called living?

He didn’t have this mindset from the beginning either. To him, belief in Heavenly Demon was too natural. From the time of his memory, he served Heavenly Demon. He learned to wait for Him as a joy and to devote his life to Him as ecstasy.

The first time doubts came to him, who did not doubt or think, was a very small incident.

Someone’s death.

Just like him, he was someone who had never seen Heavenly Demon’s figure. This was the first time he saw someone who was born after the war and had just learned and lived by His teachings get sick and die.

Those who wait will witness the light of His second coming.

Right. Let’s say that’s not wrong.

Then? What about those who died without seeing His second coming?

What is given to someone who dies without ever being able to confirm the existence of Heavenly Demon?

What remains for those who endured training akin to hell and lived through a life devoid of meaning, just for that one moment?

If nothing is given, why do believers have to endure such a painful life?

Why?

The bishop’s eyes were extremely gloomy.

No matter how much he questioned, there were no answers to be found, only the command to believe and wait.

Those who dominate the upper echelons of the cult are someone who has experienced the past war in some way. Those immortal old monsters are soaked in extreme fanaticism for Heavenly Demon and do not allow even the slightest doubt.

What dialogue can be had with those who would consider it an honor to flay their own skin for Heavenly Demon and use it as footwear?

So Dan Jagang waited. For those long years, he just waited silently. He tried to shake off his doubts and fill himself with faith.

But once sprouted, doubt never goes away. Like a heart-devouring demon, it continued to eat away at him.

What if Heavenly Demon never returns like this? No, what if He returns only after he dies?

So then, what on earth can Dan Jagang’s life be said to exist for?

No matter how great the sword is, it is meaningless unless it comes out of the scabbard and is wielded. Who would want to be born with a famous sword but to be wielded, only to rust and become scrap metal?

“Bishop….”

Subtle anxiety passed through the voice of the prostrated envoy.

“It’s still reversible. Bishop. Even now…”

“Enough.”

Dan Jagang stubbornly shook his head again.

“Bishop.”

The envoy bit his lips.

“My life is not worth one thing. I fully understand that what the Bishop intends to do is another way to prove our faith in Him.”

“But?”

“But they won’t think that way. They do not tolerate doubt. If Bishop proceeds further…”

“What? Are you worried that I might be torn to pieces by those old men?”

“…Bishop.”

“It’s a useless worry.”

Dan Jagang’s gaze drifted off to a distant place.

“I wait for His second coming without setting foot in Jungwon.”

“yES. That is our mission.”

“Anyone who disobeys the orders of Heavenly Demon will be punished only by death.”

“That too….”

The envoy kept his mouth shut. He understood Dan Jagang’s intention.

Those two directives are absolute truths that any believer must adhere to. However…

“The moment you step into Jungwon to capture me, the old fools will also be violating their mission. They can never set foot here.”

Dan Jagang laughed bitterly.

‘It’s full of contradictions.’

The teachings of Heavenly Demon do not align with each other He also learned this only after becoming a bishop. The teachings of Heavenly Demon that they had believed in were nothing more than a haphazard concatenation of short phrases He had uttered.

“There is no need to doubt.”

Dan Jagang spoke in a heavy voice.

“If He truly cares for us, watches for us, and guides us, He will definitely respond to our earnestness. I just want to be a servant who conveys His resonance on behalf of the believers.”

“….”

When there was no answer, he glanced down at the prostated envoy.

“Speak.”

“…How dare I…”

“Speak.”

The envoy, who could not resist the urging, bit his lip slightly and opened his mouth.

“I dared to ask… If… by one in a thousand, by one in a million, He does not hear our cries… What does Bishop plan to do if He does not return right away?”

Dan Jagang answered with indifferent eyes.

“That won’t happen.”

“Bishop.”

“He will definitely respond.”

He turned away from the envoy.

But deep in his feigned indifference, something small stirred in his eyes.

‘What if He doesn’t answer?’

He has asked himself that question countless times. But no matter how much he ponders alone, the answer never comes.

‘We’ll find out then.’

Dan Jagang’s eyes, which were suppressing the gloom blooming in his heart, narrowed slightly for a moment.

“A guest has arrived.”

Hearing those words, the envoy suddenly stood up from his position. And he looked ahead with a blade-like gaze.

“They seem a little different.”

A faint smile appeared on Dan Jagang’s lips.

Perhaps they could let him experience the true power of Jungwon, which he had not felt before.

“I will handle them.”

“No. Leave them be. Let’s listen for now.”

Dan Jagang slowly stepped forward. The other person must have recognized Dan Jagang, too, as they ran straight towards him.

Soon, martial artists radiating intimidating aura that made their skin sting lined up on the other side of Dan Jagang. Their number was over one hundred.

“Hmm.”

Before Dan Jagang could open his mouth, a person walked out from the group.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, a cold-faced middle-aged man wearing blue robes, finally faces Dan Jagang.

“Are you in charge?”

Dan Jagang did not answer.

However, as if Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold had already received his answer, he sent a signal without waiting any longer.

Then, those in the back brought a large box and placed it in front of Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.

Tak!

A dozen boxes the size of human torsos fell forward at the same time. The lid opened and all kinds of precious jewels and gold bars spilled out. It looked as if sacks of grain had burst open.

Dan Jagang indifferently caught a glimpse of so many treasures that it made his eyes wander.

“What is this?”

“A gift.”

“…A gift?”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold nodded slowly.

“It is a place to welcome the world’s Magyo; we couldn’t come empty-handed. Think of it as a token of sincerity from Black Ghost Fortress.”

Dan Jagang’s lips drew a small smile.

“What do you want?”

“Conversation. And negotiation.”

“Conversation….”

When Dan Jagang did not continue speaking, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold took the initiative.

“We want to know what you desire.”

“Why?”

“If it’s something we can provide, we might be able to help.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s eyes turned so dark that it was difficult to guess his meaning. Dan Jagang muttered slowly.

“What we desire…”

Step. Step.

He walked forward calmly. Then he picked up a handful of treasure lying on the ground.

“It’s rich.”

Eudeuk. Eudeudeuk.

The treasures in his grasp distorted and shattered. Gold melted away, and gems turned to dust.

“…It is such a rich land. So much that these useless, inedible things have value.”

“If you desire…”

However, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was not perturbed in the least.

“The price could be mountains of grain. Or perhaps land for you to live on.”

“….”

“I cannot guarantee that everything that is available in the world. But most things can be.”

“Hmm.”

“Tell me. What do you desire? It won’t be a losing business. What we seek in return will be far too small compared to what we offer.”

Dan Jagang curled his dark lips.

“Grain, land, wealth… We have no need for those.”

“Then?”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold did not waver.

Clearly, they wanted something. There was no reason to waver.

“However… I think you might have something I want.”

Dan Jagang stared straight at Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.

“Tell me, you apostate.”

“….”

“Is your renown great enough to shake Jungwon?”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold nodded with an expressionless face.

“My reputation isn’t so low.”

“I see. Good. That’ll do.”

Dan Jagang smiled wanly.

“Your death will surely be known throughout the world. Enough for everyone to know we are here.”

The corner of Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s eyes, which had been calm the entire time, twitched for a moment.

“What you desire…”

“Now shut your filthy mouth, filthy apostate. Just exchanging words makes my ears rot.”

Bloodlust began to pour from Dan Jagang’s eyes.

“All I need from you is your death throes. Scream. Scream until your throat bursts. Let your pitiful screams echo throughout the world.”

“Crazy….”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s complexion changed completely.

The madness emanating from Dan Jagang seemed to choke the life out of him for a moment.

“Great Master!”

“Negotiations are broken. Strike at the enemy’s head!”

Fortunately, they were facing the enemy’s leader directly. If they could just take him down, the remaining cultists would scatter!

“Kill!”

As soon as Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s command was given, the elites of Black Ghost Fortress rushed towards the bishop, emitting knife-like killing intent.

But at that moment.

Kwaaaaaaa!

An overwhelming storm of demonic energy erupted around Dan Jagang. The black demonic energy, like a giant dragon tornado, pierced the sky endlessly.

Before that horrifying sight, the charging elites of Black Ghost Fortress involuntarily halted their advance.

“Ah… uh…”

Was this truly a spectacle wrought by human hands?

Bloodlust poured out amidst the ominously dark and black whirlpool.

“Only death will give you worth!”

Dan Jagang’s demonic energy surged out in all directions.