Return of the Mount Hua

Just engrave that name. (2)

ROTMHS Glossary || About page

Looking at the scene unfolding before his eyes, Goe Ryang’s face contorted with dismay.

He was clearly accustomed to bloodshed. Since the day he first wielded a sword, there had been more days stained with blood than not.

Yet even he found the sight before him unsettling. The once white cliffs towering on either side of the gorge, were now tinged with a deep red as if deliberately painted – the result of the blood shed by those who had once been his squad’s members he had carefully raised.

Looking at the harrowing scene of mutilated corpses, Goe Ryang involuntarily swallowed dryly.

More than half of the hundred or so members of the Blood Sword Squad lost their lives and vanished in this gorge. And among those who survived, barely half clung to life, merely awaiting the approach of death.

The one word to describe this situation was simple.

Annihilation [괴멸(壞滅) – goemyeol].

It was the collapse of one of the pillars of Maninbang, the Blood Sword Squad, that had occurred here. Only about thirty remained. It was hardly appropriate to still call it a “Squad” now.

Though he held no sentimental attachment to those he had raised, it was difficult to find words to express the feeling of witnessing the brutal demise of his subordinates.

Silently, he observed the figure blocking the exit of the gorge, preventing anyone from escaping into the vast land beyond.

This person stood not only against the Blood Sword Squad but also single-handedly held back the might of Maninbang.

This was what Hwasan Geomhyeop looked like.

Perhaps… this current scene would one day become a legend, and further, evolve into a myth, to be the talk of Gangho for generations to come.

When someone in the future had cause to mention Hwasan Geomhyeop, this might well be the tale brought forth first and foremost.

Even if Hwasan Geomhyeop were to bury his bones here and become a handful of ashes, his heroic stature would not diminish in the slightest.

No, perhaps he would build a reputation even greater than returning alive.

Sometimes heroes are perfected through death.

Goe Ryang couldn’t deny it. Despite being enemies, the noble cause and actions of Hwasan Geomhyeop were undeniably magnificent. He had rushed to this distant land in a single breath to rescue the isolated Haenam, single-handedly blocking the forces of Maninbang pursuing Haenam sect.

With nothing exaggerated, his straightforward actions alone were enough to be recognized as heroic. Perhaps Goe Ryang was witnessing the birth of a legend that would be passed down for generations.

However… it was difficult to find the heroic stature or the demeanor of a protagonist of a myth in the figure before him now.

His hair, which had been worn high, now hung disheveled, drenched in his own blood and the blood of his enemies alike. His face, once sharp and young, was now dark and stained crimson with the marks of the battle.

His left thigh was gruesomely split, revealing the bone, while a clear indentation marked the spot where a sword had hit.

His previously closed wound on the side was now torn open, gushing crimson blood, and long gashes marred the left side of his neck down to his armpit.

The wounds on his right leg, present since he entered this place, the sword mark traversing his back, and countless other injuries.

How can you find anything heroic in a guy who barely supports himself with his sword stuck in the ground, as if he might collapse any moment.

Is it to suggest that within that savage and cruel visage lies the noble traits worthy of adorning a myth?

No, that is not a hero.

That is simply a human being. Struggling, raging, resorting to wickedness – nothing more than human nature itself.

There are no heroes here who can cleave mountains with a single stroke of their sword or shake the heavens with their roar. What exists is merely a human being, paying a harsh price for what he has accomplished.

Drip.

Blood trickled down Chung Myung’s chin, falling drop by drop. From his slightly parted lips, weak breaths escaped as if they could cease at any moment.

To anyone who saw him, it was clear that he had already exceeded his limits.

A beast, rendered incapable of resistance with every wound it suffered. Even if it was just an ordinary member of Maninbang, not Blood Sword Squad, it wouldn’t be all that difficult to cut off Chung Myung’s breath right now.

But Blood Sword Squad, who derive greater joy from draining out the life of their prey than anything else in the world, couldn’t bring themselves to approach the wounded beast.

Yet Goe Ryang didn’t want to blame them.

No, he couldn’t blame them.

It was the moment.

Thunk.

As Chung Myung clenched the sword tightly, a grating sound echoed. Holding down the sword thrust into the ground, Chung Myung slowly straightened his hunched body. It was a movement reminiscent of an old cart creaking.

Goe Ryang remained silent, simply watching the scene unfold before him.

Blood continued to trickle down Chung Myung’s straightened body. His lips, visible between his disheveled hair, gradually parted.

Whatever he was saying, it was barely audible. Despite his efforts, his voice seemed reluctant to emerge. Eventually, Chung Myung pressed his lips tightly together. As they parted and then closed again, the parched lips cracked, oozing blood.

“I…”

The cracked purple lips were stained crimson with blood. Moments later, a raspy voice emerged from the gaping lips, sounding as though it could cease at any moment.

“Should… I continue?”

The corners of Chung Myung’s mouth twitched slightly upwards.

Seeing that smile, Goe Ryang couldn’t bring himself to smile back. Unconsciously, he clenched his fist.

In that moment, it was as if Chung Myung’s words were not just empty bravado – the blade of his sword began to move.

Thunk.

The sword, lodged in the ground, was pulled out. Despite his trembling hands, Chung Myung managed to raise the sword, wavering slightly at first before firmly gripping it with both hands.

Goe Ryang’s eyes widened in disbelief.

There was no one who didn’t understand the significance of the swordsman being unable to bear the weight of his own sword. At least, there would be no one here.

Yet despite that, he is ready to fight. And now, Goe Ryang understands.

It’s neither a show of bravado nor a display of rage. If he can wield the sword, he will fight. If his life is not yet extinguished, he will resist.

To some, this approach may be incomprehensible, but to Goe Ryang, it’s simply the natural order of things.

Goe Ryang gripped his lower abdomen where the pain surged. The spot where he had been pierced by Hwasan Geomhyeop’s blade was now agonizingly reminding him of its presence. The same was true for his other wounds. Goe Ryang had also been heavily injured by Chung Myung’s sword.

But Goe Ryang, too, did not retreat.

Instead, he tightened his grip on his sword and stepped forward.

To end the breath of Hwasan Geomhyeop.

This is the one thing Goe Ryang cannot delegate to anyone else. It is his right to take, and it is compensation for what he has lost.

“…Hwasan Geomhyeop.”

Goe Ryang slowly opened his mouth.

“You… you were truly remarkable.”

There was no trace of sarcasm in his words. It was pure admiration.

Though their paths may be different, and their goals may vary, Goe Ryang, like a swordsman with a sword in hand, could not help but show reverence.

“But… you have too many useless things.”

If Hwasan Geomhyeop had been alone, if he could have withdrawn when he wished and fought when he desired, could the Blood Sword Squad have captured him?

No, it wouldn’t have been so. If Hwasan Geomhyeop had been alone, Blood Sword Squad would have been thoroughly hunted down instead. They would have cried out in despair and perished miserably, with no hope of closing the desperate gap between them.

In other words, what is driving him to the brink of death now is what he was trying to protect. It was the insignificant things that led him to his demise, things that, when combined, could not even compare to the value of Hwasan Geomhyeop.

“It’s a pity. Perhaps… you could have become like Ryeonju.”

Chung Myung did not respond to this remark.

Perhaps he couldn’t respond. His body was already akin to burnt ashes, that have already burned once.

All that sustained him now was his spirit that had not yet been extinguished.

Goe Ryang subtly extended his foot forward and signaled with a nod.

In response, two Blood Sword Squad members, their faces tense, moved behind Goe Ryang and assumed their positions.

Of course, he knew that Hwasan Geomhyeop had no strength left to even lift a finger. However, after everything he had witnessed, Goe Ryang couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

Woo-oo-oo-oo-ong.

Goe Ryang poured all the remaining strength into his sword.

“At least I’ll end it without pain.”

Paaaaaah!

At that moment, a high-pitched whistling sound echoed from behind Chung Myung. Goe Ryang narrowed his eyes and scanned the area ahead.

The female disciple of Hwasan, who had escaped the gorge, was desperately rushing back. The earnestness in her face was clear, even from this distance.

But Goe Ryang had no intention of accommodating that earnestness in the slightest. He had already felt, to the bone, that even the slightest deviation from the plan could not be allowed.

“Attack!”

Crash!

Goe Ryang and Blood Sword Squad surged towards Chung Myung at lightning speed. Yu Iseol managed to muster all her remaining strength to strike the ground, but the enemies reached Chung Myung much faster.

“No, stop…”

Despair filled her eyes. But following that, there was hope. No, perhaps it was just vague anticipation. It was a groundless belief that Chung Myung wouldn’t fall like this.

As if not wanting to betray that hope, Chung Myung swung his sword.

But it was not as intense or explosive as usual. The sword, which was incredibly lifeless to be Chung Myung’s sword, collided with Goe Ryang’s sword.

Clang!

With a short, high-pitched metallic sound, Dark Plum Sword was pushed back and bounced off Goe Ryang’s sword.

Gradually, Goe Ryang’s sword aimed directly at Chung Myung’s heart.

‘Ah…’

She felt like floating in murky water, where all senses became muffled.

Unconsciously, Yu Iseol reached out her hand. But that hand did not reach Chung Myung, nor the swords hurtling towards him. It merely clawed at empty air.

In this helpless world, all she could see was the sight of Chung Myung’s bent back, different from usual, and Goe Ryang charging towards him.

At that moment, Chung Myung’s left shoulder twitched, and his outstretched left hand moved forward.

Yu Iseol knew. She knew that hand held the condensed force of the Bamboo Leaf.

Even in this dire moment, Chung Myung did not give up.

Fwoooosh!

But then something hot splattered onto Yu Iseol’s face. Her vision turned red. Within it, she saw something that shouldn’t be there on Chung Myung’s back, unlike usual, weakly bent.

It was the tip of Goe Ryang’s thin sword.

It appeared as if the tip of that sword protruded from Chung Myung’s back.

The smell of blood pierced her nostrils, and the sensation of sticky fluid running down her skin, along with the intense heat, overwhelmed her.

With all of this combined, Yu Iseol fully realized the reality.

A tearing scream erupted.

“Chung Myung-aaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Next chapter >>>

________

Tbh I had to remove myself from reading this chapter several times cause it was too much. I think we all love Chung Myung and wish him the best (help).

________

New mass upload of 30 chapters. If you want to support my translations — Patreon or Buymeacoffee. Always 50+ more chapters translated there.