Return of the Mount Hua

There’s no way we wouldn’t believe it. (3)

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Paralalalalak.

Something that soared into the sky whirled fiercely. All eyes on the island couldn’t look away from it.

Relentlessly spinning and spraying red blood in all directions, the object soon lost its strength and plummeted.

Thud!

Everyone stared in stunned silence.

It was an arm.

A perfectly trained arm of a martial master was impaled on the sand dune. Blood trickled from the severed end, staining the white sand a deep red.

No one could catch their breath.

Even though they saw it with their own eyes, it was difficult to comprehend what they were witnessing. The silence was so heavy that even the sound of swallowing dry echoed like thunder.

Puuuuut!

Then, with an eerie sound, the Black Dragon King staggered backward.

“Guh…”

The Black Dragon King, who had underestimated his opponent, clutched his injured shoulder with his left hand. Blood oozed between his thick fingers.

“Guh…”

Everyone stared in bewilderment.

The Black Dragon King’s right arm.

The arm that had wielded the massive Guandao and commanded the Yangtze River had been severed just below the shoulder. When Chung Myung’s sword aimed for his neck, he managed to raise his arm to prevent the decapitation, but the arm was unquestionably cut off.

Distrust, astonishment, and fear. Everyone watched in uncontrollable emotions as he retreated further and further, his eyes a mess of chaos.

“This… this guy…”

Seeing the Black Dragon King in such a state, everyone was left speechless. Who could have imagined this? One of the leaders of the Shinjuopae, who once ruled like the king of the Yangtze, had his arm severed by the sword of Hwasan’s third class disciple.

But no matter how hard they closed their eyes and opened them again, the sight remained unchanged. The realization that all of this was real began to dawn on everyone on Maehwado, filling them with a deep sense of despair.

Except for one group.

“As expected!”

“Damn it!”

Expressions of admiration flowed from the mouths of Hwasan’s disciples.

The shoulders, released from excessive tension in an instant, twitched restlessly. Suppressing the immediate urge to cheer, they clenched their fists tightly.

Baek Cheon also stared intently at Chung Myung’s back, his fists clenched.

“There’s no way we wouldn’t believe it.”

“That’s right.”

“Indeed!”

Jo Geol and Yoon Jong nodded vigorously. Even Yu Iseol’s shoulders twitched lightly.

For the disciples of Hwasan who had witnessed Chung Myung’s training over the past three years, imagining him losing was nearly impossible. If what they had experienced was hell, then what he had gone through was nothing short of an infernal hell.

However, despite this faith, those who wore Hwasan’s uniform were trembling with endless joy surging through their minds.

It was a feeling of receiving a reward. Chung Myung had proven it to them very clearly. The efforts they had put in over these three years were not in vain. Everything they had accumulated during that time was undoubtedly now with their swords.

But for Namgung’s swordsmen, who didn’t know Chung Myung well, this sight was a shock in itself. Their faces were filled with emotions that couldn’t be described in words.

“Is he… that’s not possible…”

“Incredible…”

They understood. Just how strong the Black Dragon King was.

Even the former Lord, Namgung Hwang, was the opponent who had perished igniting his spirit, and that opponent was none other than the Black Dragon King. The terrifying power emanating from his relentless blade had been proven by those bearing the Namgung name to lead to death.

However, now, the Black Dragon King was staggering, his arm severed by Hwasan’s young swordsman. The outcome of the duel was painfully clear.

“Ugghh…”

The Black Dragon King, with bloodshot eyes, staggered backward. But those who witnessed his condition did not rush to his aid; instead, they retreated in fear.

With a swift motion, Chung Myung lightly adjusted his sword grip and lowered the tip of his sword towards the ground, slowly approaching the Black Dragon King.

Everyone was excited and astonished simultaneously, but Chung Myung’s gaze remained unchanged. With a chilling look in his eyes, he continued to approach the Black Dragon King slowly.

“Ugh…”

The Black Dragon King’s jaw trembled.

His empty mind could no longer process thoughts, and he had no idea what to do next. He had never anticipated finding himself in such a situation.

A moment later Chung Myung took a surprising action. He swept up the Black Dragon King’s Guandao, which had fallen to the ground. The spear that leaped into the air fell exactly at the feet of the Black Dragon King.

“…”

With trembling eyes, the Black Dragon King alternated his gaze between his weapon and Chung Myung. A cold voice reached his ears.

“Take it.”

He spoke with emotionless tone as if stating an obvious fact.

“We have to continue.”

His words had the air of an undeniable truth. The chilling tone of his voice sent shivers down the spines of those who watched.

“Your arm got chopped off?”

“…”

“So what?”

There was a youthful vigor in Chung Myung’s eyes.

Seeing someone trembling and panicking just because they lost an arm made his stomach churn.

‘What a moron.’

They didn’t understand. Those who had lived in peace couldn’t know or comprehend. They couldn’t fathom who had protected the Central Plains and how fiercely they had fought. They didn’t understand the feeling of pulling a sword from the body of a fallen comrade and swinging it. They had no idea what went through the minds of those who stomped their severed arms and tore at their opponent’s throat.

They couldn’t know how it felt to fight like that.

People who knew nothing were now acting as if they were the kings of the world, and it made him nauseous.

No, there was no need to dwell on the past.

Chung Myung pointed behind him.

“Namgung…”

As he mentioned Namgung, the swordsmen from Namgung clan tensed their muscles all over their bodies.

“Even when their arms were severed, they fought. Until the moment their throats were slit.”

The swordsmen from Namgung’s faction lowered their heads and gritted their teeth.

Those words pierced through their hearts more strongly than any comfort ever could.

Even in situations where their stomachs were split open, their comrades had stabbed the enemy with their swords and grabbed their opponent’s ankles even as their throats were cut. The vivid memory of their comrades who had fought like that was etched into their minds. Because of them, those who were still alive were here now.

“Take it.”

“Ugh…”

“Take it, you damned bastard!”

Black Dragon King clenched the remaining arm and grasped the handle. And in that moment…

Kaaah!

Chung Myung’s sword came crashing down on his blade. Black Dragon King was forcefully pushed backward and landed among the enemy soldiers.

Startled pirates quickly moved aside, but Black Dragon King managed to grab one of them who tried to flee from his side.

“Sto… Stop him.”

“Black Dragon…”

“Stop! Stop him, you bastards! Stop that bastard!”

Black Dragon King, filled with madness, shouted. But no one moved to block Chung Myung for him.

It was only natural.

The reason they followed Black Dragon King was that they were afraid of him. They obeyed his orders because they feared the retribution that would come if they didn’t.

However, hasn’t Black Dragon King’s fate already been sealed? Why would they rush to save Black Dragon King and pledge loyalty for such a cause?

The pirates, now pale with fear, hurriedly retreated. Even as they clutched their wounded buttocks, they staggered backward. In no time, there was no one left around Black Dragon King.

“These damn fools! Can’t you stop him?! Stop him!”

Black Dragon King shouted in frustration, but his voice dissipated emptily into the air.

Tff!

Spitting out the collected blood from his mouth, Chung Myung approached him with indifferent eyes.

Black Dragon King, who had been glaring at the enemy soldiers like a demon, saw Chung Myung and unconsciously took a step back. His one remaining hand started to tremble uncontrollably.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Sounds of pain escaped from his mouth, where he forcibly held his Guandao.

Why had it come to this?

Until Hwasan arrived here, everything had been going according to his plans. But how on earth had it come to this?

He couldn’t ponder these thoughts for long. Before he could even rise to his feet, Chung Myung rushed forward and kicked his chin.

Kwaang!

With his broken jaw, Black Dragon King was sent flying through the air like a ragdoll.

Kwaaaang!

He crashed helplessly onto the sand dunes, clutching handfuls of sand in pain.

“Ughhh…”

Struggling to turn his head, he saw Chung Myung approaching at the same steady pace.

Behind him, Hwasan’s disciples followed, walking as if they were escorting him through the enemies forces. The sun reflected off their swords, blinding to the eyes.

But now, there was no one behind Black Dragon King.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

No one was coming to his aid.

The lifelong subordinates he had cultivated just stood and watched his impending death from a distance. Not a single one of them was willing to risk their lives for him.

“You wretched, ungrateful scavengers! Uwaaaah!”

He let out a furious scream. At that very moment, the grim reaper wielding the sword arrived in front of him.

“…”

Black Dragon King stared blankly at Chung Myung.

“So you understand.”

“…”

“You can’t even compare to Namgung Hwang’s little toe.”

“Ugh…”

“Su-ro-chae?”

Chung Myung sneered.

“This is the sandcastle you’ve built, you foolish idiot. You, with no strength, can’t even compare to a bug. No one will fight for you.”

“Uwaaaaaah!”

As Black Dragon King reached out to reclaim his blade, Chung Myung sword cut through his wrist.

Sssschh!

“Uwaaaaaah!”

Before his agonized scream could even end, Chung Myung’s sword flew towards him.

Sssschh! Sssschh!

It was as if it wanted to leave as many scars on his body as the disciples of Namgung clan suffered.

“Uwaaaaaah!”

Even listeners would furrow their brows at the unending screams. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t scream like this, even if his body was twisted. But with his mind already shattered, there was no resistance left in him.

“Shut up!”

But Chung Myung paid no attention to Black Dragon King’s pleas.

Thud!

The sword pierced through Black Dragon King’s knee and twisted. The pain of muscles being torn apart made Black Dragon King’s massive body tremble uncontrollably.

Thud!

As Black Dragon King’s knee was severed, he collapsed forward like a toppled tower. Chung Myung stepped on his head and pointed the sword at his throat.

“Insects should die like insects, don’t you think?”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

“Go to hell.”

Without hesitation, he struck down with the sword.

But in that very moment…

Kaaaaaaaang!

With a tremendous metallic sound, Chung Myung’s sword, which was about to reach Black Dragon King’s neck, was deflected to the side. Chung Myung, still keeping his foot on Black Dragon King’s head, turned his gaze. At the edge of the island, slowly approaching, was a small boat.

More precisely, a man on that small boat.

“Insect…”

Smiling as if he found Chung Myung’s predicament amusing, the man on the small boat slowly approached the island.

“Of course, I don’t necessarily disagree with that… but Hwasan Geomhyeop..”

With his elongated eyes focusing on Chung Myung, he continued.

“Unlike you… the world has people who need these insects.”

The small boat carrying Jang Ilso reached the sands of Maehwa Island.

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