Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Their situations were different, and so were their strengths. What each them can do is clearly different. But both don’t back down even an inch, as if that doesn’t matter.

The tension was taut like a string pulled tight.

What broke the terrible tension was a small sigh that came from Jang Ilso’s mouth.

“Hah.”

Even though it was a very faint sound, it was like a blade slashing down on a tightly drawn string.

The moment Chung Myung’s shoulders twitched slightly, Jang Ilso took a step back.

There was a breathtaking silence.

Jang Ilso casually took a step back and looked at Chung Myung with a face that couldn’t hide his astonishment.

“What…?”

At the same time as he retreated, Chung Myung moved. This means that his threat wasn’t merely a bluff. If Jang Ilso showed even the slightest sign of attacking, Chung Myung’s sword would have flown straight for his neck.

Even in this situation, without the slightest hesitation.

“…You’re truly out of your mind.”

It was hard to tell if it was admiration or criticism. No, perhaps it was both. Chung Myung snorted and answered.

“I don’t think that’s something you should be saying?”

But Jang Ilso shook his head.

“No. It has meaning because I’m the one saying it. There aren’t many madmen that I acknowledge.”

“But this bastard?”

Normally, Mount Hua’s disciples would have shown some kind of reaction, either agreeing or rebutting them, but now they couldn’t even open their mouths. That’s how heavy and sharp the confrontation between these two was.

And Baek Cheon knew.

Clearly, the one who backed off first was Jang Ilso. However, stepping back in such a tightly intertwined murderous intent is not something that can be done easily. Because retreating meant showing a gap.

Who would dare to show a gap in front of that Chung Myung?

So even though he had retreated, it was by no means a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a situation where Jang Ilso has proven his guts.

‘This guy, and that guy.’

Calling it a clash of dragons and tigers (?????(龍虎相搏)) would be an understatement for this vile and murderous confrontation.

Watching the confrontation between the two like this up close was the greatest luck for a martial artist, but the greatest misfortune for a human being.

“Confrontation…”

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue leisurely. Then he twisted his lips slightly into a sly smile.

“Of course, I’m not the type to shy away from direct confrontation, but… that also depends on the opponent. I am not a person so courageous that I would dare to gamble my life against the world-renowned Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

“…You’re talking bullshit.”

Chung Myung bared his teeth.

Everyone in the world knows that Jang Ilso was not the type to care about his own life. And those who had observed Jang Ilso here have no choice but to know even more. His transparent flattery was annoying.

However, Jang Ilso slightly raised his arms and took a step back as if surrendering. There is no sense of fear anywhere in that expression or movement. On the contrary, there was mockery that was so thick that it was embedded in every gesture.

“So, shall we step back from this?”

“Rye- Ryeonju-nim!”

Ho Gamyeong shouted in a very perplexed voice. This was because he knew that what Jang Ilso said just now did not mean that he would simply take a few steps back.

“We- We can’t just let them go like this!”

Jang Ilso, who faced fierce opposition, sighed and looked back at him.

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“This isn’t like you, Ryeonju-nim! That so-called Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword must be killed without considering face! He must be…”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

At the second call of his name, Ho Gamyeong closed his mouth. Jang Ilso’s voice was soft, without a hint of irritation. That’s why he couldn’t disobey even more.

Jang Ilso said while looking at Ho Gamyeong as if lamenting.

“I never realized you were so ambitious.”

“…Yes?”

“Did you want to kill me that badly?”

“…Wh- What are Ryeonju-nim saying…?”

Ho Gamyeong was greatly confused. Jang Ilso looked at him and Chung Myung alternately as if he was completely indifferent.

“Don’t you understand? The one whose life is at stake right now is not Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, but me.”

“…Yes?”

When Ho Gamyeong asked as if he didn’t understand, Jang Ilso turned to Chung Myung without answering.

“Three-tenths. That’s about right, isn’t it?”

When Chung Myung heard those words, a strange light lit up his eyes.

“…That’s right.”

Jang Ilso sighed deeply.

“Anyway, the martial arts of Righteous Sects bastards are truly detestable. To recover three-tenths of his internal strength from just a brief meditation. How could we Evil Sects live in such unfairness?”

Jang Ilso shook his head as if fed up.

“With three-tenths of his energy, it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to cut off my weak and fragile neck.”

Surprised, Ho Gamyeong opened his eyes wide.

There is him here, and Thousand-Faced Gentleman. And there are also elites of Red Dogs and Black Ghost Fortress. All of them will stand in front of Jang Ilso and protect him, but does this mean that Chung Myung can break through all of them and reach Jang Ilso?

‘N- No….’

Ho Gamyeong, who was lost in thought, bit his lip for a moment.

Hadn’t he already seen it? The appearance of Chung Myung fighting the bishop.

Considering his persistence and boldness, he cannot say that Jang Ilso’s words were entirely wrong. Even if his entire body is torn apart and crushed, he will definitely try to swing his sword at Jang Ilso’s neck at least once.

‘Is he really unstoppable?’

Ho Gamyeong was momentarily conflicted. But it was so easy and simple to come to a conclusion. Because Ho Gamyeong is someone who can never gamble with Jang Ilso’s life. Even if the risk was one in a million, it was them who had to back down.

Jang Ilso, who watched Ho Gamyeong’s face change, shrugged his shoulders.

“Do you understand? Begging for one’s life is…”

Jang Ilso’s eyes drew an arc.

“Actually, it’s our side.”

Even though Jang Ilso said that his life was in danger, there wasn’t a hint of unease or fear on Jang Ilso’s face.

But Ho Gamyeong was different. He grew increasingly anxious and tried to position himself between Jang Ilso and Chung Myung, but Jang Ilso pushed him aside by tapping his shoulder.

“Tsk. Don’t make a scene.”

“However….”

“There’s nothing to worry about. Unless I use my hand first, that sword will never fly to my neck.”

Jang Ilso asked Chung Myung with a peculiar smile.

“Right?”

“…If you could just shut that mouth of yours, maybe.”

“Hahahaha.”

Jang Ilso burst into laughter at the blunt answer.

Now Chung Myung could kill Jang Ilso. But if that happens, all of Mount Hua’s remaining disciples will have to bury their bones here. Including Chung Myung himself.

It’s an absurd situation, but if Jang Ilso lives, they will live, and if Jang Ilso dies, they too will die. And so, while Chung Myung could kill Jang Ilso, he could never kill Jang Ilso.

“Hmm, it can’t be helped.”

Jang Ilso murmured with a nasal sound. Everyone’s attention was focused on his mouth. Jang Ilso finally spoke.

“Let them go.”

He said briefly, shrugging his shoulders.

“As a courtesy to my comrades.”

“Bullshit.”

“My gosh, such foul mouth. I’m speaking with genuine sincerity here.”

Jang Ilso shook his head as if he couldn’t be helped, then narrowed his eyes and looked around as if he had decided on something.

“Let’s see…”

After looking around for a while, he grinned.

“That way.”

Jang Ilso walked calmly, leaving everyone behind. No one could stop such him. Mount Hua’s disciples, Jang Ilso’s subordinates, and even Chung Myung, who is holding Jang Ilso’s life as a hostage.

Jang Ilso, who had headed to a place so far away, quietly looked down. It was on top of a ruin that had been swept up in a battle and impossible to even guess what the original place was.

Kuung!

At that moment, Jang Ilso stomped on the ground strongly. The earth around him shook violently as something emerged from the ground.

‘Chest?’

Tension filled the bodies of Mount Hua’s disciples. That man is Jang Ilso. Considering he always did unpredictable things, they were naturally suspicious of what he was up to this time.

“Right.”

However, Jang Ilso calmly opened the chest as if he could not feel the slightest hint of them. After taking something out from inside, he slowly walked towards Mount Hua’s disciples again.

“Here.”

Jang Ilso tossed what he was holding to Chung Myung. Everyone flinched, but Chung Myung just calmly caught it.

Everyone’s attention was focused on what was in Chung Myung’s hands. A huff of laughter burst out of Baek Cheon’s mouth. It was beyond absurd.

That pure white porcelain bottle was definitely…

“…a liquor bottle?”

Indeed, it was a liquor bottle.

“Why are you all so startled? Do you think I’m going to eat you alive?”

Jang Ilso chuckled and let out a drowsy sigh.

“If it’s a large establishment in Hangzhou, they should have at least one liquor cellar in the basement.”

“….”

“If we fought together, it’s customary on our side to share a drink to wash away the blood. I don’t know if the well-off Righteous Sects disciples will like the methods of the lowly Evil Sects person….”

Before Jang Ilso had even finished speaking, the sound of a cork popping echoed clearly. Chung Myung glanced at Jang Ilso, threw away the cork, and took a swig directly from the bottle. He didn’t hesitate.

“…Hmph.”

A small smile appeared on Jang Ilso’s lips.

“It tastes like liquor.”

He also uncorked his bottle and drank straight from it like Chung Myung.

It was indeed a strange sight.

Although they were enemies, they fought together, and now they will go their separate ways. They stand facing each other and drink in silence. In a land filled with silence, only the faint noise of two people drinking can be heard.

The two people were passing drinks as if they were about to empty the bottle right here and there, but at some point, they took the bottle out of their mouths without anyone saying anything first.

Their gazes intertwined in the air. Chung Myung’s eyes were cold and subdued, and in comparison, Jang Ilso’s eyes were strangely boiling with intensity.

Jang Ilso opened his mouth first.

“Next time…”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung continued Jang Ilso’s words instead.

“It will be your head.”

A smile appeared on both of their lips at the same time. It was full of murderous intent with no intention of hiding it.

After a long moment of staring at each other, Jang Ilso turned around first.

“Let’s go, Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

Ho Gamyeong, who was quickly following Jang Ilso, slowly turned his head towards Mount Hua’s group. He spoke through gritted teeth.

“Go north. We will only allow that one path. If you deviate from that path, you will die.”

“….”

“I sincerely hope you ignore my warning.”

With those words, he caught up to Jang Ilso. Red Dogs and Black Ghost Fortress, who were surrounding Mount Hua, also lifted their siege and withdrew.

Chung Myung staring at Jang Ilso walks away for a long time before raising his voice.

“Hey, Jang Ilso.”

Then Jang Ilso, who was walking, stopped in place. He only turned his head and glanced at Chung Myung.

The moment their eyes met, Chung Myung let out a sneer.

“Fourth-tenth.”

Jang Ilso’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Chung Myung continued.

“The debt is paid. There won’t be a next time.”

“Hah….”

The blood-red lips drawn on Jang Ilso’s pure white face drew an eerie curve.

“Haha. Hahaha….”

Jang Ilso laughed low like a demon and spat out his words.

“I’ll see you again. Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

Jang Ilso, who smiled brightly at Chung Myung, withdrew his intense gaze and walked forward again.

Mount Hua’s disciples remained frozen in place for a while until Jang Ilso and his subordinates were out of sight.