Return of the Mount Hua

Because from now on, you’ll get tired of seeing it all too often. (4)

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Suddenly faced with an unexpected situation, anyone would naturally feel flustered. And even the calmest person would find it difficult to make sound judgments in such a state of confusion.

“It’s breached!”

“We can’t stop it, boss!”

“Damn it!”

Those who encountered Chung Myung were no exception. Despite knowing it would happen, they couldn’t prevent their minds from going blank when they came face to face with it.

It’s not a problem that can be solved with effort and determination. Just as a rat, no matter how calmly it tries, cannot cut off the breath of a tiger.

And then, Chung Myung is not a benevolent tiger who shows mercy just because the opponent is a rat. He is more like an evil tiger who bites and claws whatever enemy is in front of him.

Most of the enemies caught in the ferocity of that tiger were thrown into confusion and lost their senses.

But as with everything in the world, nothing lasts forever.

As the one-sided massacre continued, among those who formed the encirclement, there emerged individuals who began to make different judgments.

“Huuk! Huuk! Huuk!”

Yang Po [양포(楊布)], a disciple of the Haenam sect, ran with all his might.

‘I… I feel like I’m going to die.’

He was out of breath, and his head was spinning. His vision blurred several times.

It was strange.

No matter how much he ran with all his strength, he was a disciple of the prestigious Haenam sect. It didn’t make sense for him to be so exhausted from running this distance. He wasn’t even poisoned, nor had he exerted his strength excessively by swinging his sword.

Yet Yang Po’s stamina was rapidly depleting.

‘Is this how it’s supposed to be?’

It felt like everything present in this place was draining his stamina as if feeding on it.

The dreadful cries of those dying, the lifeless eyes of those who had fallen with their bodies cut up horribly, the unbearable stench of blood that seemed impossible to get used to, and the chilling curses echoing from somewhere… 

And above all, the pressure and fear that if he lost focus for even a moment, he would end up like those lying motionless on the ground!

Enduring all of this while running, Yang Po’s strength plummeted rapidly, proving that stamina was not simply dependent on physical condition.

‘Am… Am I the only one experiencing this?’

Yang Po glanced sideways, noticing others running desperately beside him. Each of them had distorted faces and seemed dangerously close to collapsing. They, too, appeared to be in the same situation as him.

Yang Po bit his lip until it bled and pressed on.

He couldn’t cry out. This was the battlefield. If he fell, it might not end with just his death. So, wouldn’t the others be struggling to survive or die just like him?

‘Somehow…’

He wiped away the sweat streaming down his face roughly. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the body of an enemy lying on the ground.

“Gah!”

Seeing the blood-soaked figure, Yang Po tightly shut his eyes. Then, he leaped over the body. Normally, it was inappropriate for a person to step over a dead body. But now, there was no room for such courtesy.

And then, just at that moment…

With his mouth gaping open, the seemingly lifeless body suddenly opened its eyes. It thrust a sword toward Yang Po’s lower body with a swift motion.

Thunk!

“Aargh!”

Yang Po’s body crumpled as he ran.

“Yang Po!”

“That bastard!”

The disciples of Haenam who were running behind Yang Po, enraged, swiftly plunged their weapons into the body of the assailant who had stabbed him.

“Gah…”

In an instant, the man turned into a hedgehog. Those who withdrew their weapons rushed towards Yang Po.

“Yang Po!”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m… I’m fine…”

“The wound is deep!”

Blood was pouring from the thigh that had been completely pierced. As their Sahyeong suffered a serious injury, the others were at a loss, not knowing what to do.

At that moment, Tang Soso dashed forward like an arrow, pushing aside those standing around.

Tap, tap!

She quickly applied pressure to Yang Po’s acupuncture points on his thigh to stop the bleeding.

“Are you a medic…!”

As everyone breathed a sigh of relief, she grabbed Yang Po by the collar and forced him to stand up. Everyone was greatly surprised.

“No, doctor! What are you doing…”

“We need to wrap it up!”

But  Tang Soso completely ignored the reactions of those around her and forcefully pushed Yang Po forward.

“Run!”

Yang Po looked back at her in confusion, but Tang Soso’s expression remained cold and indifferent.

“Run or die.”

“But, doctor! He got injured in the leg! How can you…”

At that moment, Tang Soso’s face twisted menacingly.

“Then are you all going to stay here and die with him?”

Everyone fell silent.

It was then that they all realized anew where they were and the situation they were in.

Looking back, they saw the ones who had originally followed them were already running ahead.

“Run! If you don’t want to die!”

With a chilling command, Tang Soso left them behind and dashed forward.

“Damn!”

Some of them rushed forward, wrapping Yang Po’s arms around their shoulders.

“Everyone, run! There’s no time to waste!”

“Yes!”

“Yang Po! I know it’s tough, but you have to muster your strength now.”

“Yes, Sahyeong!”

But this was just the beginning.

Just because they were called Sapa didn’t mean they were brainless scarecrows or rag dolls. In fact, when it came to protecting their lives and targeting the enemy, they were smarter than Just Sects.

If they retreated and ran away, they would fall into the hands of Ho Gamyeong. And if anyone survived after seeing them flee, that news would surely reach him.

But if they bravely stood their ground, they would be killed by Chung Myung’s sword.

Given these options, their choice was simple. They would actively target only those they could handle, rather than facing an unbeatable foe.

The target was naturally Haenam.

“Ka-ha-aaaah!”

“Kagaahng!”

“Kuk!”

Lee Jayang’s face contorted grimly.

‘These bastards!’

The clashes with swords increased. These dog-like Sapas ignored Chung Myung at the front and only attacked Haenam.

It would be an easy task. With just their attire, they could distinguish their status.

‘How dare they treat us like…!’

Lee Jayang bit down hard on his lips in anger.

The sea-colored light-blue robes. These were the garments representing Southern Sea. These robes were not only a symbol of Haenam but also their long-standing pride.

However, in this battlefield, those robes had become a symbol of ‘weakness,’ and that fact enraged him to the core.

“These damn bastards!”

As Lee Jayang, in his excitement, swung his sword, suddenly three swords flew towards him. Sensing his agitation, the enemies, like ghosts, seized the opportunity.

Lee Jayang, sensing the danger, widened his eyes!

Swish! Swish!

But then, from somewhere, over a dozen sword strikes flew towards the enemies who were rushing towards Lee Jayang, piercing them like skewers.

As Lee Jayang turned in surprise, Jo Geol, who had swiftly intervened from the side, immediately turned his head and dashed forward.

“I…”

“Jayang! Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine, Sahyeong!”

Hurriedly responding to Gwak Hwanso’s query, Lee Jayang bit his lips tightly.

‘Could I have survived?’

No, he probably would have died. With his skill, he couldn’t have blocked three swords simultaneously. Even if he hadn’t died, he would have inevitably sustained a fatal injury to some part of his body, which would have left him as a burden.

But Jo Geol effortlessly neutralized that sinister attack with just a casual swipe of his sword. No, he even cut off the attackers’ breaths.

It was as if it was nothing at all.

‘Did he say Jo Geol?’

He felt a profound gap. Yet, the one who showcased this gap wasn’t Hwasan Geomhyeop, Vice Sect Leader Baek Cheon, nor was it Namgung clan’s Young Lord Namgung Dowi. It was Jo Geol, one of the third generation disciples of Hwasan. 

Lee Jayang was a first generation disciple of Haenam.

Of course, the disciples of Haenam are relatively young, but still, there would be at least a fifteen-year age difference between Jo Geol and him.

Yet, this young disciple of Hwasan displays a prowess that Lee Jayang can’t hope to match. That fact alone, more than the their journey to Hell, shook Lee Jayang to his core.

Nevertheless, Lee Jayang is considered skilled among the disciples of Haenam…

‘Wait a moment.’

He is indeed considered skilled among the disciples of Haenam. However, even he experienced a moment of imminent death. Furthermore, where he stands, surrounded by the forefront of Hwasan’s disciples, including the leading figure – Chung Myung, should be the most perilous position, penetrating the enemy’s defense lines. But paradoxically, at this moment, this place became the safest within this group.

So, what about the rear where those less skilled are gathered? What’s happening behind, where those evil Sapa bastards, who dare not aim for the front, are rushing like madmen?

Lee Jayang glanced back in desperation.

“Aaaah!”

At that moment, the situation unfolded through his ears before his eyes. It was the desperate cry of a familiar voice.

“Jin Gwan!”

A scream erupted from Lee Jayang’s mouth.

He saw his fellow senior disciple, Jin Gwan, falling with a long sword wound from his side to his chest.

Despite the deeper bond between them than brothers, there was no one reaching out to him as he fell.

Amidst the effort to stop the rushing assailants, everyone around was pouring their energy, unable to even turn their heads when someone fell.

Nooooom!

In that moment, Geum Yangbaek, Sect Leader of Haenam, roared as he rushed to Jin Gwan’s aid like a shield. With a powerful strike from Geum Yangbaek, the assailant, whose throat was severed, crumbled to the ground.

“Gwan-ah!”

Geum Yangbaek grabbed hold of Jin Gwan’s body.

“Gwan-ah! Are you okay?”

It was a meaningless question.

Jin Gwan’s blue robe was already stained entirely red with blood flowing from his body. With blood gushing out so quickly, how could he possibly be okay?

But what more could they say?

“K-kuluk!”

With a harsh cough, dark red blood oozed out of Jin Gwan’s mouth, indicating severe internal damage from the wound to his side.

“Medic! Is there a medic?”

“T-there’s a disciple of Hwasan…”

“Bring them here immediately! Right now!”

“S-Sect Leader…”

At that moment, a faint voice from below caught Geum Yangbaek’s attention.

“Yes! Gwan-ah, hold on just a bit longer! The physician will be here soon…”

“C-cold…”

“Gwan-ah! Gwan-ah!”

Jin Gwan’s head slumped to the side.

Geum Yangbaek’s hands trembled as he half-embraced Jin Gwan. Whether it was due to his emotions or something else, he could feel Jin Gwan’s body growing colder in his embrace.

“Jin Gwan!”

“Uwaaaah! You bastards!”

After the invasion of Sapaeryeon , it wasn’t the first time someone had died. But witnessing the sight of his disciple dying before his eyes was a shock beyond words.

Red veins began to bulge in Geum Yangbaek’s eyes. In that moment when he was about to let out a roar…

“Aaaaah!”

Another scream echoed. Geum Yangbaek’s head turned around hastily.

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