Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Jang Ilso’s dog. Those who willingly accepted even that derogatory name pursued their enemies like hounds hunting for prey.

Just by looking at their sunken eyes and tightly closed lips, it was clear there was no trace of wavering in their minds. They ruthlessly swung their swords at the heads of the cultists.

Kagagak!

A sword covered in eerie energy penetrated into the arm of the cultist who was blocking his head. The sound of metal cutting through bone echoed eerily.

And then, in that moment.

Paaat!

With a powerful surge, a second wave (??(二波)) of attackers used the backs of the front-liners as a springboard to leap up and stab the head of a cultist with a swift sword strike. As if they had promised to do so from the beginning, the movements flowed seamlessly and naturally.

It was a sight that clearly showed how intensely they had trained.

“This…!”

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When the embarrassed cultist tried to pull out the arm with the sword stuck in it, Red Dogs, who was in front of him, twisted his blade and pulled the cultist’s arm towards him as if embracing it.

Then.

Sogok! Sogok! Sogok!

One from each side and one from above.

Like trained hunting dogs targeting a tiger, three red lines stretched out from behind the lead dog, tracing the entire body of the cultist.

“…Keueuk.”

The body of the cultist, who was wounded on both sides and in the middle of his head, stumbled backward for a moment.

Swaeaeaek!

Then, the flying sword was stuck with all its force into the cultist’s neck.

Kagagagak!

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The sound was less like a neck being sliced and more like a saw cutting through metal. The sword that was half-stuck in the neck was caught in the tough skin and creaked, making it impossible to push forward.

But just then.

Red Dogs, who flew in like a lightning strike, twisted his body the air and struck the sword stuck in the cultist’s neck with all his might.

Kagang!

Finally, the head of the cultist, cleanly cut off, rose into the air. However, Red Dogs, who had dealt with a single cultist without any damage, did not show the slightest pleasure in victory.

‘Five.’

It takes five to deal with one cultist without receiving any damage. With five Red Dogs, they can take on even the most extreme masters without any problems. In other words, it means that each and every one of the demonic cultists scattered around here has peak-level skills.

The Red Dogs, enveloped in a deep sense of crisis, stamped the ground as they targeted their next prey.

“Kyaaaaak!”

A dark hand flew in with a terrible wailing sound. The demonic energy covering his hands waved wildly, and the long nails made from demonic energy were pointed at a throat with an extremely sharp edge.

But….

Kaang!

Baek Cheon’s sword, which was swung neatly without the slightest hesitation, repelled the cultist’s attack without exerting much force. At the moment of contact, the demonic energy enveloping the hand was pushed back, branding the palm with a bright red sword mark.

Paaaaat!

Following this, a piercing strike. Baek Cheon’s sword stretched out like a flash of lightning, split into dozens in an instant and covered the entire body of the cultist.

Sogok! Sogok! Sogok!

The sound of flesh being sliced pierced his ears.

“Keuhaak!”

An angry roar burst from the cultist’s mouth. His blood-filled eyes were enough to make one’s flesh crawl just from meeting his gaze.

However.

Kagak!

Baek Cheon parried the attack from the cultist’s lunging arm and pushed it back. He then clenched his teeth and took another step forward.

Paaaaaat!

Soon, a sunset-colored line was engraved in the air.

The intense line passed through the cultist’s neck. Red blood gushed out from the mouth of the cultist, whose throat was half cut.

“Keuhu….”

The cultist, whose neck bone had been cut halfway, flailed his arms in desperation. Just then, above Baek Cheon, a dark figure soared up like an illusion.

Rising into the dark night sky, Yoo Iseol rotated her body in mid-air and swung her sword. The place where her sword was aimed was, of course, at the neck of the cultist.

Sogok!

The cultist’s head was cut off with utmost neatness.

She retrieved the outstretched sword and swung it into the air once again. With that force, she propel herself up again. Soon, countless red plum petals bloomed from the tip of her sword and swept all around her.

“Keuheuk!”

“You dog bastard!”

A harsh voice came out from the mouths of the cultists.

There is nothing more difficult to deal with than a barrage of attacks from overhead. Moreover, Mount Hua’s swordsmanship, which uses a mixture of reality (?(實)) and illusion (?(虛)) to launch a wide range of attacks, demonstrated its formidable power in this group combat situation like now.

The plum blossom sword energy rained down from above, piercing countless times through the bodies of the cultists.

“Sahyung!”

“Let’s go!”

And at that moment, Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol rushed forward like beams of light behind Baek Cheon.

Although the demon attacked in a fit of rage, the two did not avoid confrontation. Instead, they struck back fiercely with their strong swords (??(强劍)).

Kwaaaaang!

With a resounding crash, they cut, clawed, and slashed, filling the battlefield with the sounds of battle. Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong, who had pushed away the cultists at once, increased their momentum and pushed the surrounding cultists left and right.

“Sago!”

Tang Soso, who ran out at incredible speed towards the path they had opened, flipped his body to face the sky and stretched out her sword.

Yoo Iseol lowered her sword and put the swords against Tang Soso’s. Then, Tang Soso quickly swung her sword, raising Tang Soso higher and higher.

Sarararak!

Her sword once again unleashed a flurry of red sword energy.

Consecutive Falling Plum Blossom (????(落梅紛紛)).

The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, which reached its perfection, drew countless plum blossom petals under the darkened sky. Like a shower of red rain, the fluttering blossoms poured down upon the cultists’ heads.

“Kkeuk….”

“Kohok….”

Those who had their arms and legs pierced simply had to endure the pain, but those who had their heads or necks pierced flailed and collapsed. The plum petals with celestial energy (??(仙氣)) did not even allow them to resist.

“You dirty apostate!”

The cultists stomped the ground in fury. Naturally, they targeted the spot where Yoo Iseol was descending. The intention was to tear her to pieces with all their hatred and anger.

However, someone was there to prove just how mistaken they were.

“A-mi-ta-bha!”

A sacred golden light spread through the dark world.

A fist stretched out from Hye Yeon’s waist as he stomped the ground strongly.

Arhat Divine Fist. (?????(阿羅漢神拳))

The divine fist of Arhat that annihilates all evil enveloped the gathered cultists like a tidal wave. It seemed as if an intense golden light suddenly brighten the world.

“Keuuaaaaak!”

“Aaargh!”

The cultists screamed desperately and were swept away by the fist force (??(拳力)). The sensation of the demonic energy built up inside their body being shattered and crushed caused more pain than their physical body being shattered.

“This, this…”

Im Sobyeong, who was watching the scene, snapped his fan shut and shook his head in disbelief.

‘There should be a limit to how well they sync up.’

From what he observed, since joining the fight, they had not exchanged a single word. Yet, from the moment they started wielding their swords, they moved as if they had prearranged their actions.

Even Hye Yeon, who is not of Mount Hua but Shaolin.

‘Is this what they mean when they say it’s dreadful to have them as enemies but fortifying to have them as allies?’

Well, that was fortunate. Now he has become a person who can call himself their ally.

“But, hmm… I have to earn my keep to avoid scolding.”

Tat.

Im Sobyeong stepped forward as gracefully as a crane then spread his fan and waved it gently. The fan energy (??(煽氣)) emanating from the fan’s iron ribs fluttered out like a swarm of butterflies.

Kagagak!

The cultists who were rushing towards Baek Cheon were blocked by that energy and hesitated.

“Well, aren’t you going to move forward now?”

“….”

Baek Cheon kicked the ground without a word and rushed forward. He ran out with Im Sobyeong and Five Swords supporting him as if escorting him.

‘Amazing.’

Im Sobyeong’s lips twitched. As if he was barely holding back his laughter.

The sight of Baek Cheon running ahead, his long hair streaming behind him, was impressively heroic. It was the epitome of what the world calls a hero.

If his choice had been a little bit wrong, Im Sobyeong and Nokrim would have ended up facing these people. Just the thought was chilling.

Meanwhile, Baek Cheon’s eyes were not as excited as one might expect.

Sogok!

Baek Cheon, who cut down the charging cultist in one go, bit his lip slightly.

‘It is not difficult.’

He could now see clearly.

Their celestial energy is like a disaster to the demonic cultists. Aren’t even the elites of the strong Red Dogs and Black Ghost Fortress mindlessly cutting down and pushing away the demonic energy of the cultists who are struggling?

Now he truly understood.

What the last three years of training have been for.

The cultists are attacking in a vicious and extraordinary way that is difficult to describe, but Baek Cheon is able to deal with all of the attacks.

Because he had experienced them before.

It’s not the North Sea. These are attacks that they have faced countless times during their training with Chung Myung. For those who had endured Chung Myung’s training for three years, this battle was nothing special.

The madness unleashed by Magyo is not as tickling compared to the murderous intent that Chung Myung unleashed at them.

Thus, the situation wasn’t particularly disadvantageous.

However….

‘This can’t be all there is.’

It’s not that he’s overestimating the enemy’s strength. Baek Cheon’s judgment of opponents is far too solid.

‘If this was all they had, that guy wouldn’t have reacted like that. There must be something more.’

Baek Cheon’s gaze turned to Chung Myung, who was driving away the cultists from the front in the distance. That extreme reaction couldn’t possibly be just for these foes.

“Don’t let your guard down! Don’t get drunk on the sword!”

To Baek Cheon’s shout, Mount Hua’s disciples immediately responded with voices full of strength.

And at that moment.

The figure of Jang Ilso approaching Chung Myung came into Baek Cheon’s field of vision.

Paaaaat!

Hot blood poured down Chung Myung’s face as he cut off another cultist’s head in one go. As Chung Myung was trying to find the next cultist without blinking, a cold voice fell into his ears.

“Don’t get too carried away.”

“….”

Chung Myung looked back without saying a word. Before he knew it, Jang Ilso had come a short distance away and was standing there with a strange smile on his face.

“You haven’t forgotten who your enemy is, have you? It’s not the time to be wasting energy on these small fries.”

Chung Myung looks at Jang Ilso with cold eyes.

“Go on.”

Jang Ilso scanned the surroundings with a chilly gaze.

Perhaps the ones who are properly aware of the situation on this battlefield right now are him, Chung Myung, and… if one had to add another, it would be Im Sobyeong.

“It’s not the time to be happy about winning. The enemy is only a hundred strong here. There must be at least three hundred more around. These guys are just small fries roaming the outskirts. It’ll get harder once their main force joins. Before that…”

Jang Ilso paused for a moment and smiled brightly.

“We have to kill that bishop. You’ve shown enough mercy, haven’t you? I appreciate the Taoist’s desire to try to save even at least one more insignificant Evil Sects bastard, but now is not the time.”

Chung Myung, who was glaring coldly at Jang Ilso, twisted the corners of his mouth and said.

“It stinks so much of rot, it’s almost leaking.”

“Hm?”

“But whatever. Let’s get along. Yes, I’ll go with your pace.”

The two looked at each other and smiled coldly. Then Jang Ilso turned his head and shouted.

“Gamyeong!”

“Yes!”

“Stick close.”

A sinister light flowed from Jang Ilso’s eyes.

“From now on, we’re going to cut off that bishop’s head.”