Return of the Mount Hua Sect

A curse came out of Jo-Gol’s mouth without his knowledge. Gritting his teeth, he swung his sword with all his might.

Kaaaaang!

The moment the swords clashed, the muscles in his wrist twisted. Though he managed to suppress a scream, he couldn’t help but be thrown backward from the impact.

‘Ugh!’

Someone supported his back and stopped him from being shot backward like a shell.

There was no need to turn his head to check. Feeling the presence of Yoon Jong standing behind him, Jo-Gol unconsciously pulled his foot back. Soon, he stepped on Yoon Jong’s knee, and at the same time, Yoon Jong lightly bounced his knee and lifted him up.

“Euryaaaaah!”

Jo-Gol dropped down from above, while Yoon Jong charged forward.

As he charged forward, Yoon Jong kept an eye on the person in front of him. The moment he saw Chung Myung’s two eyes, which were terrifyingly cold, a chill ran down his spine.

“Ugh!”

Yoon Jong’s sword, which had somehow managed to withstand the pressure, swung with great precision. Unlike the fiery feeling in his chest, it was a perfect textbook move.

Jo-Gol’s sword, which was falling on top his sword, overlapped. A fast and sharp sword that contrasts perfectly with Yoon Jong’s sword!

But.

Kwang!

Chung Myung’s sword, which moved like a flash of light, struck the swords of the two at the same time. It was twice as fast as Jo-Gol’s sword and twice as precise as Yoon Jong’s sword.

And the strength behind it was incomparable.

“Ugh!”

A painful groan escaped. It was as expected. How many times have they dealt with that damned thing?

Blossoms of plum flowers bloomed from their swords as they were both thrown back. Now that there was an opportunity, Chung Myung will definitely rush in. So for now, they should tie up his feet….

‘Huh?’

At that moment, Yoon Jong’s eyes widened.

As he was thrown back, Namgung Family’s warriors moved into his path. If he unfolded his sword technique like this, they would be caught in his sword’s trajectory.

The moment Yoon Jong shifted his sword to the side in shock, Chung Myung took advantage of the gap and struck Yoon Jong in the side.

“N- No!”

Kuuuung!

Yoon Jong, who had been kicked in the side, flew away like a kite with its string cut off. Jo-Gol, who was left alone in a state of shock, somehow desperately swung his sword. However, what power could be put into a sword that suddenly changed its trajectory in a panic?

“Kuaagh!”

Jo-Gol screamed like a pig being slaughtered as Chung Myung kicked him in the face, sending him flying.

And at that very moment.

“Oh!”

Realizing his mistake, Namgung Dowi’s eyes widened. Chung Myung, who had taken care of Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong in an instant, was rushing toward him with cool, subdued eyes.

“Hiik!”

His knees trembled for a moment, but Namgung Dowi desperately put strength into his legs and swung his sword fiercely.

Namgung Family’s swordsmanship was fundamentally different from Mount Hua Sect’s. It was strong and heavy!

But….

Kwaaaaaang!

Namgung Dowi’s face was distorted horribly.

The moment their swords clashed, his sword was thrown back helplessly. The sword he swung with all his might could not handle the sword that Chung Myung swing lightly.

Unbelievably, the seemingly playful swing of Chung Myung’s sword carried several times the weight and power of Namgung Dowi’s strike.

Then, without changing his expression, Chung Myung sent his fist flying into Namgung Dowi’s jaw.

Poook!

Namgung Dowi flung away like a kicked ball.

Kaaaang!

Chung Myung, who had been kicking the ground so hard, caught up with Namgung Dowi, who was still mid-air.

Dopssok.

Chung Myung grabbed Namgung Dowi’s shoulder and pulled his half-conscious body forward as he charged toward Tang Pae.

“Da- Damn it!”

Tang Pae, who had been ready to throw his knives at any moment in case Chung Myung came running, froze in panic. His eyes trembled as if an earthquake had hit.

Chung Myung is rushing while holding Namgung Dowi in front as if using him as a shield. How can he even throw his knives like this?

If Tang Pae had been a little calmer, he would have first tried to distance himself, or he would have avoided Namgung Dowi and aimed for Chung Myung’s back with Hwesonbi. Or if not, he would have just sprinkled poison in the first place.

However, faced with an unexpected situation, Tang Pae hesitated for a moment, unable to find a way out. When dealing with someone like Chung Myung, even a moment of hesitation can be fatal.

Paaaat!

The sword that thrust from between Namgung Dowi’s armpits rushed toward Tang Pae like a flash of lightning. Startled, Tang Pae rolled to the side, forgetting his throwing knives or whatever he has. But at that moment, Chung Myung threw Namgung Dowi’s body to Tang Pae.

Tang Pae hesitated briefly, then closed his eyes tightly and dodged the flying Namgung Dowi. He knew all too well what would happen if he took that hit.

‘Ei, damn it.’

But Tang Pae immediately regretted that choice.

Chung Myung was already waiting in the place where he had jumped to avoid Namgung Dowi. It was as if he had known Tang Pae would make that choice.

If he had taken the hit, he could have at least claimed some justification…

Kwaang!

“Aargh!”

Dang Pae was kicked in the jaw and flew like a cannonball, rolling across the ground. He ended up sprawled next to Namgung Dowi, who was already lying there.

Thud.

Chung Myung landed and looked around indifferently.

“Ugh….”

“Aigo, I’m dying….”

The situation was simply dire. Those who had been destroyed in an instant without even being able to put up a proper fight were all left groaning, clutching their injuries.

Chung Myung, who had been quietly watching the pitiful sight, sighed softly.

“No…. Chung Myung-ah….”

Jo-Gol was about to say something, but quickly closed his mouth. Chung Myung’s expression was unusually grim.

Chung Myung, who glanced at Jo-Gol with cold eyes, looked over the fallen and spoke.

“It’s the third day.”

Jo-Gol silently hung his head at those words.

“Three days have passed, and nothing has changed. No, it’s actually worse than when we started.”

The faces of those who heard those words were distorted. In fact, isn’t that only natural? They had been getting beaten up for three days straight, so of course, they were more exhausted and weakened.

But their thoughts were washed away the moment the next Chung Myung words came out.

“You seem to be mistaken. If this were a real fight, do you think you’d have another chance?”

It wasn’t because those words had any great meaning. It was the heavy emotion in his voice that made their hearts sink and shoulders tremble.

“Do you think it will somehow work out?”

“….”

“Do you think that if you just do whatever happens, things will work out somehow? That someone will sort out Evil Tyrant Alliance, that someone will deal with Magyo?”

A heavy silence fell over the surroundings.

“And if you’re unlucky enough to meet a strong enemy, you’ll just die, and that’s it?”

His voice is too dark and heavy.

Even those who had harbored complaints inwardly could not bear to look Chung Myung in the eye at this moment. Someone who usually swore and was furious said these words calmly, without any emotional fluctuations. That is why the words are even heavier and more intense.

“Fine, go ahead and try. Then you’ll understand. The truly scary thing isn’t dying; it’s surviving.”

“….”

“I’m talking about the moment when you survive and realize that the guy you fought and cursed at until yesterday will never come back.”

Chung Myung, who had been staring at everyone with cold eyes, turned around.

“I don’t know if shithead like you will understand what I’m saying.”

He sheathed his sword and walked out of the training ground. Tang Gun-ak, Maeng So, and the elders who were watching the scene also left the training ground with stern faces.

Even after they all disappeared, silence lingered on the training ground for a long time.

After a while.

“I….”

“Damn right. Fuck.”

The moment Namgung Dowi was about to say something, a torrent of curses poured out of Im Sobyeong’s mouth.

“Damn it, he’s so right there’s nothing to refute. That’s why those who always talk righteously are the first to die. Because they get stabbed in the back.”

Namgung Dowi looked at Im Sobyeong with a bewildered look. Being able to twist the truth so sarcastically was quite a talent.

“Ei, darn it!”

At that moment, Jo-Gol cried out in a loud voice.

“I don’t get it! When we fought among ourselves, we didn’t get beaten this badly! So why is it such a mess now!”

At first glance, Jo-Gol’s anger seemed justified.

Mount Hua Sect had been crossing swords with Chung Myung for years. They couldn’t claim to have fully drawn out his full power, but they weren’t supposed to be this easily defeated either.

With the added force, it should have been a better fight, but the situation was getting worse, which was frustrating.

But that was Jo-Gol’s perspective, and other sects had no choice but to see it differently.

“So are you saying we did something wrong?”

As Tang Zhan gritted his teeth, Jo-Gol glared at him with murderous eyes.

“Then do you think you did something right…”

“Stop.”

“No, Sasuk! I didn’t say anything wrong…”

“I said, stop.”

Jo-Gol hunched his shoulders.

Yoon Jong rarely showed anger towards anyone, except Jo-Gol. But someone who showed even less anger than Yoon Jong was Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon was now glaring at Jo-Gol coldly.

“No… I….”

Jo-Gol lowered his head. Baek Cheon, who was looking at such him, turned his gaze to Yoon Jong and asked.

“Did you not know there were people behind you?”

“…I knew.”

“Then why did you swing your sword like that?”

Baek Cheon rebuked him coldly.

“Because they should know how to avoid it? Because you didn’t care? Because if they lack skill, they should know their place and stay back?”

“That, that’s…”

“Since when did such arrogance fill you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Yoon Jong didn’t dare to argue and bowed his head.

Baek Cheon, who was coldly staring at the disciples of Mount Hua, including Yoon Jong, glanced at the other sects. Those who met his eyes lowered their heads without realizing it.

Baek Cheon slowly got up from his seat. At that moment, everyone’s eyes were focused on him.

Everyone felt the weight of Baek Cheon, the great disciple of Mount Hua, once again.

Among everyone here, excluding Im Sobyeong, no one has greater influence than Baek Cheon.

No, perhaps Baek Cheon’s influence is greater than that of Nokrim King, Im Sobyeong. The position of the next sect leader of Mount Hua is, at least within this Heavenly Comrade Alliance, carried immense weight.

When such a person made up his mind to get angry, no one dared to utter a word.

Tang Pae, sogaju of Sichuan Tang Family, Namgung Dowi, the actual gaju of Namgung Family, Beast Palace and Ice Palace, and even Im Sobyeong all looked at Baek Cheon without saying a word.

“All of you…”

Baek Cheon’s mouth opened. Everyone felt stung. They thought that stinging reprimands would pour out.

But then, Baek Cheon bowed his head deeply to everyone.

“I apologize.”

Everyone looked at Baek Cheon with blank expressions.

The surroundings became a dead silence