Return of the Mount Hua Sect

‘He’s tired too. If I can just get one lucky hit in!’

Fire blazed in his eyes.

“Uraaaah! Dieeee!”

He charged forward with all his might, swinging his sword with everything he had. But even in this desperate moment, Yoon Jong knew deep down.

That ‘one lucky hit’ never comes when you need it.

Paaaat!

The sword of Chung Myung, which stretched out like an island, instantly deflected Yoon Jong’s sword that was flying towards him.

And.

Tuuuung!

The hilt of Chung Myung’s Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword drove mercilessly into Yoon Jong’s chin.

“Guh….”

The darkening sky filled Yoon Jong’s field of vision.

‘Rotten….’

Thud.

In the end, Yoon Jong, who was the last one left, collapsed to the ground like a pile of rotten straw. Chung Myung put his sword back into its scabbard and clicked his tongue briefly.

“Pathetic.”

“….”

“What? Revenge? Reveeeeeengee? These cubs think Kangho is easy! Do you think the results will change if you just half-assedly set up a formation and charge in with all your passion? If it were that simple, why would we bother training!”

Chung Myung, who was giving a speech to those who collapsed, sneered.

“A hundred years too early, you brats!”

“….”

“Ei, these stagnant puddles.”

Chung Myung turned around sharply. The sect leaders and elders, who had been watching with grim faces, followed him out of the training ground.

The moment they confidently turned the corner that led to the training ground, they all collapsed on the ground.

“Oof…”

“I really thought we would lose.”

Even Maeng So and Tang Gun-ak were leaning against the wall, as if barely able to stand.

“…That was close.”

“This time it was really dangerous.”

Tang Gun-ak shook his head.

It might have looked like they won effortlessly as usual, but it had been far from easy. With their numbers being small, if they had lost their momentum even once, they would have collapsed uncontrollably. If they had made a wrong move, they would have been the ones collapsing there.

In that sense, their opponents had fought well today, but…

“But, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

“Yes?”

Unlike them, Tang Gun-ak frowned slightly as he watched Chung Myung still answer cheerfully.

‘I really don’t know his limits.’

Physical strength may be fine, but the constant fighting should have worn down his mental strength. Where on earth does his mental power to remain calm come from?

“Just a thought… perhaps today…”

“Maybe it would have been better to let them win?”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gun-ak nodded quietly.

Of course, no martial artist likes to lose. A person who wants to win in the end, no matter when or in what situation. So, whether the opponent was their disciple or member of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Tang Gun-ak did not want to lose on purpose. However….

‘Given the circumstances…’

They must have made up their minds today. Didn’t they make a grand decision, putting aside the old feelings they had with those they had fought and fought against? But with no different outcome, it’s understandable that their morale might have dropped.

In times like these, people usually start blaming each other. When things go well, everything is enjoyable, but when they don’t, people tend to blame others.

“I agree. While losing on purpose isn’t ideal, shouldn’t we have made them realize that fighting together was meaningful?”

Maeng So stroked his chin and added strength to Tang Gun-ak’s words.

Chung Myung chuckled at their words.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Hm?”

“You seem to think too weakly of your disciples. Just because I give them a hard time doesn’t mean they’ll collapse in the real world.”

“…What does that mean?”

“See for yourself.”

Chung Myung gestured toward the training ground. Tang Gun-ak and Maeng So quietly approached the corner and peeked their heads out.

“I told you the formation was wrong from the start! I told you that Beast Palace wouldn’t be able to withstand it!”

“No, it’s true that Beast Palace bought time!”

“What good is buying time? It will eventually collapse! If we want to stop those monstrous bastards, we need to thicken our formation! Either Mount Hua or Ice Palace should give up attacking and go into defense!”

“Then, they can attack us without any sense of crisis! That way, we’ll just waste time and ultimately won’t win. Don’t you know that the best defense is offense?”

“That’s just idealism!”

Those who sprawled around were now gathered in the center and arguing fiercely. A sigh leaked out from Maeng So and Tang Gun-ak’s mouths.

“Ugh, damn it. My jaw still hurts from where I got hit.”

“But maybe because we’ve been hit so many times, I can now endure it.”

“…I don’t think that’s something to brag about.”

“Anyway!”

Jo-Gol’s eyes lit up.

“Did you see Tang Gaju-nim panting today?”

“I saw it!”

“His breath was up to his throat! He was about to collapse! Kukukukuk!”

When Tang Gun-ak was annoyed and tensed his body, Maeng So grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.

“What about Yasugungju-nim? Wow! He’s so big that just his shoulders moving felt like a landslide!”

This time, Tang Gun-ak quietly reached out and gently grabbed Maeng So’s trembling wrist.

“We didn’t do much, but today we really felt like we had a chance.”

“If this continues, the day when we really land a good punch won’t be far off!”

“Then, let’s get back together! Let’s start by thinking about what to do with those useless Nokrim!”

“Now, wait a minute. What are we going to do with Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword? Isn’t that the biggest problem?”

“That’s something Mount Hua’s disciples will handle. Let’s not worry about it.”

“No, why are you dumping that on us! What are we supposed to do about him!”

Tang Gun-ak and Maeng So, who had been listening to the heated conversation, slowly stepped back. A look of bewilderment appeared on their faces as they turned around.

“Right?”

“Whew…”

It seemed that Maeng So was more surprised than Tang Gun-ak.

‘Those guys….’

Before they knew it, Beast Palace warriors had naturally blended in with them. Beast Palace is located in a very remote place even in Yunnan. As a result, they don’t interact much with ordinary people. Living with beasts and not mingling well with outsiders had always been Beast Palace’s chronic problem.

Yet here they were, chatting freely with the people of Jungwon, not even the people of Yunnan. And they were half-sitting, relaxed, as they talked.

‘I don’t know anymore.’

It’s to the point where he wonders if Chung Myung is doing some kind of magic.

“Parents often don’t know their own children well, and masters don’t know their own disciples well either. They should know well, but strangely enough, they don’t.”

Tang Gun-ak and Maeng So nodded their heads as they looked at the smiling Chung Myung.

“So instead of worrying about them, it might be better to worry about yourselves. If you’re not careful, you might end up embarrassed.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Nonsense!”

Chung Myung, who was giggling, turned around and stretched.

“Well, that’s something we’ll have to see later.”

Maeng So and Tang Gun-ak shook their heads as they watched Chung Myung walk away.

* * *

“Aigo, there isn’t a single part of my body that doesn’t hurt.”

“Gol-ah…. Don’t take your shirt off in the Dining Hall.”

“Is there a problem with guys being together?”

“What’s the problem? We’re all men here.”

“But there’s Soso?”

“Hey, Soso is a family.”

“Sahyung.”

“Hm?”

Tang Soso smiled sweetly.

“I never had a brother like Sahyung.”

“….”

“If I had a brother like Sahyung, I would have buried him with my own hands long ago. Sahyung, you should be thankful that you were not born into Tang Family.”

“…I am always grateful for that.”

Sincerely.

At that moment, Baek Cheon got up from his seat. Jo-Gol looked at him and asked.

“Huh? Sasuk, where are you going?”

Baek Cheon was usually the type of person who would finish his meal first and wait until everyone else. So when Baek Cheon suddenly got up in the middle of a meal, he couldn’t help but be curious.

“It’s nothing. There’s somewhere I need to go. Keep eating.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

Baek Cheon quietly left the Dining Hall. The others paid little attention and soon began to chatter amongst themselves.

Baek Cheon walked slowly along the river. His gaze was fixed on the river flowing indifferently.

“Phew.”

A sigh escapes from his mouth.

The reason he took the time to come to the riverside was that he had been feeling quite frustrated lately.

‘How did that guy manage all this?’

Mount Hua has been led by Chung Myung so far. But recently, Chung Myung has been keeping quiet about what is happening inside Mount Hua.

Of course, since Chung Myung has to deal with the affairs of the entire Heavenly Comrade Alliance, he may not be in a position to pay attention to the internal affairs of Mount Hua on a daily basis. That was one way to look at it.

But Baek Cheon knows. Chung Myung wasn’t the type to ignore things like that. Chung Myung is the type of person who does what needs to be done, even if it means reducing his sleep.

For someone like him to show this level of disinterest…

‘I guess it’s a silent pressure to handle things on our own.’

Baek Cheon sighed deeply once again.

It’s not that he feels burdened by leading Mount Hua itself. Of course, he didn’t think he could do it like Chung Myung, but he didn’t need to do as much as Chung Myung anyway.

Besides, he doesn’t lead Mount Hua alone. Don’t his Saje and Sajil help him? And even Monk Hye Yeon was subtly making sure he wasn’t overloaded with work…

‘It’s embarrassing to complain.’

So, there is certainly no burden in taking on the role of the great disciple of Mount Hua. It is something he should have done originally. It is just that the work that was temporarily left to Chung Myung is now returning to its rightful place.

That’s not the issue. There was another reason why Baek Cheon was feeling suffocated.

Baek Cheon gently grabbed the hilt of his sword and then weakly released it.

‘I’m stagnating.’

The problem was himself.

During the three years he spent in seclusion, he had grown rapidly. However, despite going through many things since then, he never felt like his skills were improving.

At first, he wasn’t particularly worried. This was a problem that would be solved over time. But at some point, Baek Cheon realized.

‘I do not have time.’

Watching Chung Myung and Jang Ilso fight against the bishop, Baek Cheon realized deep to his bones that the time when they would fight each other with their lives on the line would come sooner than he thought.

And when that moment comes, there will be nothing Baek Cheon can do.

“Phew.”

Even letting out a long breath didn’t ease his suffocating feelings.

Baek Cheon was strong. Objectively speaking, he was undeniably strong.

Namgung Dowi, who carried all of Namgung’s expectations, and Tang Pae, who had been confirmed as the next gaju of Tang Family, were honestly not his opponents.

At this point, even Jin Geumryong could probably be subdued within ten moves. Baek Cheon had grown to be a strong person who could not be rivaled by anyone in the same generation.

But the reason he felt stifled was that his level of skill wouldn’t significantly impact the massive battles between these great sects.

‘What should I do?’

His skills were lacking, and there was no time. At this rate, the day might come when he would have to watch his fellow disciples die right in front of him.

And that moment might be closer than he thought.

Those worries and anxiety brought Baek Cheon here. He thought that looking at the open river might bring him some peace of mind.

But looking at the flowing river didn’t make his heart feel any better. Rather, it only made him feel more suffocated.

He let out a series of sighs as he walked along the riverbank. How long had he been walking aimlessly like that?

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon’s steps suddenly stopped. Tilting his head, he listened intently.

‘What is this sound….’

His eyes shone sharply.

‘The sound of weapons clashing?’

In a place like this, at this late hour of the night?

In an instant, Baek Cheon silenced his presence and quickly ran toward the sound of weapons clashing