Return of the Mount Hua Sect

The moment Evil Tyrant Alliance could no longer be seen, a sound as if wind knocked out of Jo-Gol’s mouth came out. As if that was a signal, the other disciples of Mount Hua also fell down on the spot, their legs giving out.

Baek Cheon, who was staring blankly at the horizon as if his soul had left him, spoke in a voice devoid of any strength.

“…Are they gone?”

“I think they are?”

“They won’t come back, right?”

“Please don’t jinx it, Sasuk.”

Baek Cheon shook his head weakly as if he was exhausted.

“…I really thought we were going to die.”

They have overcome numerous crises so far, but it seemed like this was the first time they had been as anxious this much. Just Magyo alone makes his heart about to explode, but he also had to deal with that damned Jang Ilso and Black Ghost Fortress….

Yoon Jong, sprawled on the ground, muttered.

“I think I’ve lost a year off my lifespan…”

“I lost three years.”

“I lost five…”

Everyone shook their heads with relaxed faces. But even so, they couldn’t completely relax. Even now, they keep thinking that Evil Tyrant Alliance might change their minds and come back.

‘Jang Ilso.’

Baek Cheon gazed towards the horizon beyond the desolate land. If you think about it, for them this war started with the bishop and ended with Jang Ilso. The impression of Dan Jagang, which unfolded his bloody martial art, was eventually overshadowed by Jang Ilso.

‘And… That bishop.’

Baek Cheon bit his lip without realizing it. Thinking of the man who had pierced Dan Jagang’s heart, his body trembled.

‘Are there really so many monsters in this world?’

He began to understand why they called Kangho a den of dragons and tigers. There were three monsters who could overturn the martial world. It was unbelievable they’d seen three of them at the same time. It’s hard to tell if this is luck or misfortune.

‘No…. not three.’

Baek Cheon turned his head.

‘Four.’

He saw Chung Myung standing expressionlessly.

‘If you think about it, this guy is truly amazing.’

At least Jang Ilso brought Black Ghost Fortress and Red Dogs, and the bishops also brought the followers. However, Chung Myung accompanied only a dozen people and shook up the situation where monsters ran rampant to devour each other.

‘How would I feel if I saw this guy from the enemy’s perspective?’

Perhaps those who faced Chung Myung returned with something even greater than the fear Baek Cheon felt towards the bishop or the intimidation he felt towards Jang Ilso.

Every time this happens, he realizes it again. They’re so used to it that they forget about it, but what an amazing guy Chung Myung is.

“What?”

Chung Myung seemed to feel Baek Cheon’s gaze and asked him bluntly. Baek Cheon thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Are you feeling well?”

There were so many things to ask, but in the end, this was the only thing he had to ask first. It might be a bit late to ask now, but it was still a question he had to ask.

Chung Myung chuckled after hearing that.

“Why worry…”

As he spoke calmly, he closed his mouth for a moment and slightly bent his head to the side.

“What? Is someone coming?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then?”

“…No. I felt like something was a little strange.”

Just as Baek Cheon was about to ask what that meant, red blood flowed from Chung Myung’s nose and mouth. Baek Cheon’s eyes widened in shock.

“You…. Y- You…. N- No, wha- what’s wrong with you?”

“Huh?”

In response to Baek Cheon’s reaction, Chung Myung reached out and wiped his face. Chung Myung’s expression changed when he saw the blood soaking his palm.

“…Uh?”

“You did meditation! You bastard! Why is this happening when you did meditation!”

“…No. I was too busy recovering my energy… the Yosang (療像: healing wounds through meditation (cultivation/circulating internal strength)) was not even as good as a rat’s tail….”

“What?”

The disciples of Mount Hua, who saw the color draining from Chung Myung’s face, jumped up in fright.

“No, it’s fine. This isn’t a big deal…. huh? Why am I dizzy….”

“So- Soso! Sosoooooo! That bastard is dying!”

Jo-Gol screamed as he saw Chung Myung collapsing backward, possibly due to dizziness.

“Hey, you crazy bastard!”

And before her screams even ended, Tang Soso had already flipped her eyes and was rushing towards Chung Myung.

There was emptiness in Chung Myung’s eyes as he lay down looking at the sky. His lips moved slightly.

“There…”

Puuk!

“Kkeuk….”

Chung Myung, who had a needle stuck in the middle of his upper lip, overturned his eyes and trembled.

“Why, why are you sticking a needle in his lip?! That has nothing to do with treatment!”

“It’s a mouth treatment technique I developed. When it comes to Sahyung, the mouth is the biggest problem.”

“No!”

Puuk!

Before Chung Myung could say anything, another needle pierced the center of his forehead.

“…Keep talking. Go on.”

A chill like the fierce wind of hell flowed from Tang Soso, who was holding a needle and glaring her eyes.

Chung Myung quietly closed his mouth. It might be surprising, but he did have a sense of discretion. Especially at times like this.

“No, this crazy punk. We bought you so much time to meditate, but what? You don’t do Yosang? Do you have a death wish or something, you bastard?”

“Soso…. Still, he’s your Sahyung….”

“What?”

“…You missed a spot on the crown of his head.”

“Right.”

Puuk!

The moment the needle pierced the crown of his head, Chung Myung fluttered and convulsed like a fish caught on a fishing hook. His tear-filled eyes glared resentfully at Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon avoided his gaze with a guilty look on his face.

‘Sorry.’

But isn’t it wise to avoid the blowing wind?

“By the way, Sasuk.”

“Huh?”

Jo-Gol asked as if dumbfounded.

“Normally… can you do meditation separately for recovering energy and healing the body?”

“Normally, no?”

At that moment, a complex expression appeared on Jo-Gol’s face. He thought as he looked at Chung Myung. Using such an incredible talent in such a way was a talent in itself.

Un Gum stared intently at Chung Myung, who was shaking with needles stuck all over his body like a hedgehog, and asked Tang Soso.

“How is he?”

“It’s a mess.”

Tang Soso answered bluntly and then sighed deeply.

“Since he’s an inhumane being, he would recover, but had he fought any longer, he would have really died. No, doesn’t he have any sense…”

“If he didn’t do that, not only would I have died, but everyone here would’ve been killed…”

As the needle flew towards Chung Myung’s mouth like a beam of light, Un Gum couldn’t bear to see it and closed his eyes tightly.

Puuk.

“Keueuk… Ugh….”

If he would just keep his mouth shut, he’d get fewer needles stuck in him. How hard can that be…

A sigh escaped from Un Gum’s mouth.

‘It’s not that hard to understand.’

Tang Soso is mad at Chung Myung for being stupid, but she probably knows it too. Even if Chung Myung had finished his meditation just a little later, no one knew how the situation would change.

It was impossible to recover internal strength and recover the body at the same time within that short period of time. In that situation, Chung Myung would have had no other option.

The reason Tang Soso is angry is probably due to her sense of helplessness and self-reproach for putting Chung Myung in such an unreasonable position. Just like Un Gum is feeling right now.

“No. Why do they complain even when I save them! Do you think there was another way if I didn’t do it? Really, these days… Ugh!”

Yoo Iseol, who was squatting next to Chung Myung’s head, pushed one of the needles stuck into Chung Myung’s forehead with the tip of her finger.

“Sago. I understand how you feel, but if it sinks in too deeply, he will be sentenced to death.”

“That’s exactly why.”

Tang Soso glanced at Yoo Iseol’s expressionless face and quietly lowered her eyes.

“…The urgent crisis has been averted.”

“What should I do to put him dying again?”

“…We’ll save him, at least.”

“Hmm.”

Yoo Iseol looked down at Chung Myung as if she didn’t like it at all. Even Chung Myung of the world had no choice but to avoid her eyes at that moment.

“Seriously, this lunatic.”

Baek Cheon, who was watching the scene, muttered and shook his head.

“Soso.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

“So, when will the treatment be finished?”

“It’s impossible to fully recover here. I’ve just given him enough to breathe. That’s already done.”

“Huh? Then why are the needles still in him?”

“Should I take them out?”

Baek Cheon hesitated for a moment and pondered, then nodded heavily.

“Let’s leave them in a bit longer.”

“Yes.”

Im Sobyeong, who was listening to the conversation of the disciples, suddenly shivered from the cold wind.

“…The ventilation here is fantastic.”

Chung Myung’s face distorted as he looked at his clothes, which had hundreds of holes in them. Then Tang Soso grabbed the needle that he had recovered.

“What? Are you cold? Should I plug those holes for you?”

“…What, what did I say? I didn’t say anything.”

Chung Myung quietly backed away from Tang Soso. Personally, she’s scarier than the bishop at times like this.

“Anyway, seriously.”

Tang Soso gritted her teeth. The sound was chilling. Im Sobyeong smiled bitterly to himself.

‘Should I say I owe you something?’

Even if he hadn’t pushed himself this far, Jang Ilso would have sent Chung Myung alive. That’s what Im Sobyeong thought. To Jang Ilso at this point, Chung Myung was someone who must not die.

But Im Sobyeong knows. The fact that all Jang Ilso needed was Chung Myung. For the rest of Mount Hua’s disciples, it doesn’t matter whether they die or not. No, it might have been better for him if they died.

‘As for me, there’s no question.’

If he had been Jang Ilso, he would have definitely killed Im Sobyeong right here. Whatever it takes.

Knowing all this, Chung Myung tried to regain the power to threaten Jang Ilso. He took the risk of meditating in the middle of this dangerous battlefield.

‘As a result….’

In the end, he succeeded in getting through this deadly battle without losing a single life. Ridiculously so.

Im Sobyeong had thought that it was just luck that Mount Hua had not suffered any casualties. Considering the battles they had faced, it was more unusual not to have any casualties.

But after going through this battle, he was certain.

‘It wasn’t luck.’

Luck implies something given unintentionally. The result of meticulous, even extreme, preparation by the leader cannot be called luck.

As Im Sobyeong also someone who leads an organization, he knows. How meaningless and how difficult it is to exclude sacrifice in Kangho.

However, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword was actually accomplishing such impossible feats. Sometimes by preparation, sometimes by force, and sometimes by risking his life.

Im Sobyeong couldn’t even fathom how much trouble Chung Myung must have had while leading the sect called Mount Hua to this point.

‘He is truly an extraordinary person.’

Im Sobyeong looked at Chung Myung with newfound respect. At this moment, the back of Chung Myung, standing tall on the desolate land, felt immeasurably grand.