You were absolutely incredible. (1)
“Enemy ahead! Enemy, commander!”
“It’s Hwasan!”
“Hwasan is launching an attack, commander!”
Urgent… No, desperate cries poured out.
But those cries didn’t reach Ho Gamyeong. Like a stone, he stood firm in his place, eyes wide open, staring at the oncoming attackers.
‘Why?’
Facing a situation that exceeded the limits of his imagination, Ho Gamyeong couldn’t think of anything, couldn’t respond in any way.
‘Why?’
Why are Cheonumaeng and Hwasan here?
It would have been impossible to know. Even if they crossed the Yangtze River, finding their traces in this vast land of Gangnam would have been impossible. But how did this happen?
“Why…?”
The restrained voice burst out like a dam breaking. What started as a murmur turned into a scream.
“Whyyyyyy?!”
The forest rang.
Footsteps shook the ground, and with that resonance, over a hundred disciples of Hwasan merged into one and charged forward. Their eyes filled with anger poured onto Maninbang threatening Hwasan’s disciples with their swords.
There was no one giving orders. There was no prior preparation.
Despite this, everyone’s determination to run towards one direction naturally formed their formation into a single shape. With a formation resembling a spear piercing through the enemy, or rather, a formation that closely resembled a straight extended sword, Hwasan’s disciples surged towards the encirclement of the countless opponents with an explosive momentum.
“They’re coming!”
“Stop them… No! Evade! Evade!”
Urgent cries erupted from various places. However, they soon found themselves confronting the one-armed swordsmen rushing towards them like an Asura, exhaling killing intent like a demon.
“Oooh!”
The crimson blade of the plum blossom sword, filled with boiling rage, struck the necks of the enemies.
Thud!
With terror contorting their expression, the head of Maninbang’s warrior soared into the air as he was slashed.
Un Geom, who swiftly ended one life, charged into the enemy ranks at an even faster pace.
“Charge!”
Thunk!
Hyun Sang struck the ground violently and unfolded his sword. Its crimson energy spread like plum blossoms in all directions.
“Retreat… Aaargh!”
Maninbang were helplessly pierced by the sword energy.
At the forefront stood two powerful swords.
And the ensuing Hwasan’s disciples’ swords were even more formidable.
Paaaaaat!
The crimson blades erupted like fireworks, creating a spectacle of blossoming plum blossoms along the path the vanguard followed. Truly beautiful and fantastical.
However, within that beauty lay lethal blades.
Ssssssk!
Every time the sword energy, which seemed infinitely delicate and fluttering like a flower petal, flew in all directions, the enemy’s flesh bore countless grievous wounds.
“Aaargh!”
From the eyes of Hwasan’s disciples, a deep blue aura emanated.
Because they were looking straight at the figures of their Sahyeongs, dying with countless wounds all over their bodies.
Crash!
No one raises their voice to condemn the enemy. No one encourages those around them. Instead, they channel their overflowing anger and hatred into their blades.
Even shouting would be a luxury. The only thing they need to do now was to rescue their bleeding brothers.
Paaaaaa!
The relentless crimson blades ruthlessly ravaged the enemy. Hwasan’s disciples, now unified as one crimson blade, pressed forward relentlessly.
“Block them! Open the way!”
Thunk!
Someone, about to shout in panic, fell backward. Unaware and speechless, they fell victim to the deadly poisoned dagger piercing their mouth.
“Poison! It’s poison!”
“They’re Tang bastards! Ahh! Go down!”
Paaaaaa!
Despite attempting to reorganize their formation, countless deadly strikes from above and the explosions of poison left them with no recourse. The ranks of Maninbang began to crumble.
“Protect! Don’t let Hwasan take over everything!”
At Tang Jan’s shout, Tang’s people shouted at the top of their lungs.
At the front, Hwasan’s disciples merged into a single blade, while above, the poison-controlling Tang clan unleashed venom and hidden weapons.
It was indeed a deadly combination. Even if it were not the exhausted from their chase from Hainan to this place, but fully prepared forces of Maninbang, it would not have been easy to face.
“Why, why are Hwasan’s bastards here?”
“Don’t, don’t push, damn it!”
As those retreating and those desperately trying to resist became entangled, the formation crumbled.
Around the blooming red plum blossoms, flashes of green light dotted the area.
Then, a member of Maninbang yelled.
“Damn it! Don’t panic, we’re only facing a few…!”
Kwaaaaaang!
However, his body was soon swept away by a massive white blade that came from somewhere. And revealed behind it were warriors clad in sky-blue robes.
“Protect the Young Lord, rescue Cheonumaeng!”
“Understood!”
Above the forest of plum blossoms, the blue sky stretched out. Namgung clan, fittingly named after the sky, led the charge of the swordsmen against the members of Maninbang with full force.
“Palace Lord! We have arrived!”
Following them, swordsmen clad in icy white robes and warriors from the Beast Palace, led by the Beast Lord Maeng So, also rushed forward.
“Sweep away Maninbang’s scoundrels!”
“Yes!”
With the thunderous roar of Maeng So echoing as if reaching the sky, the warriors of the Beast Palace charged fiercely like predators hunting their prey.
Those who called each other friends, those who called themselves warriors, gathered here. They were here to protect those who must be protected.
And then…
“Rescue Hwasan Geomhyeop! Now is the time to repay even a little bit of a favor!”
“Yes!”
With the cry of Geum Yangbaek of Haenam, the disciples of Haenam, led by Gwak Hwanso, also rushed forward with all their might.
Though their bodies were already weary from exhaustion, as those who discuss righteousness with their words and uphold it with their swords, they had a duty to fulfill, even if it meant sacrificing their last breath.
United in purpose, they surged forward like lightning towards the enemy.
“Damn it! Why are they here…!”
“Block them! Blo…!”
Without hesitation, their swords flew towards the enemy who swung their blades like madmen.
Crack!
A severed head soared into the air. Hyun Jong, who had mercilessly sliced through an enemy’s neck with a single stroke, tightly gripped his plum blossom sword.
His children were right there.
Drenched in blood from head to toe.
Watching his disciples, drained of strength and unable to rise properly, Hyun Jong felt the rage unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.
Who dared to make these children shed blood?
Crack!
With a mighty surge of inner strength, his sword swept aside the retreating enemies.
Despite the warm blood splattering and staining his white hair, Hyun Jong walked the blood-soaked path without hesitation.
This was the price of his hesitation.
The blood that should have been shed by him was now being shed by the children.
Who was truly responsible? Who made these children shed blood?
Roar!
The fierce and relentless execution of the Purple Mist Divine Arts.
The tremendous force of the falling sword caused a massive explosion, making it difficult to stand in the vicinity.
Crack!
At that moment, a blade flying from the side grazed Hyun Jong’s cheek. His skin split, blood spattered, but Hyun Jong felt no pain.
What truly tormented him were not the wounds etched on this aging body – it was every breath of life remaining in the children’s bodies, every drop of blood shed here, piercing his heart like rusted daggers.
“Ugh!”
Roar!
Having vanquished the enemy with a single blow, Hyun Jong slammed the ground.
“Protect the retired Sect Leader!”
Hwasan’s swordsmen moved seamlessly to Hyun Jong’s sides, their determination evident without needing to be spoken. They shared the same vision, the same purpose.
“Stop them..”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Without hesitation, green flashes struck the foreheads of those rushing towards Hyun Jong.
Amidst the chilling corpses collapsing, Hyun Jong advanced. Red energy emanated from his sword.
“Hyun Sang!”
“Yes!”
Martial Hall Master [무각주(武閣主)] Hyun Sang transformed into Hyun Jong’s sword and drove the enemies back.
“Un Geom!”
“Yes!”
White Plum Hall Master [백매관주(白梅館主)] Un Geom transformed into his shield and pushed back the oncoming attackers in one swift motion. Hyun Jong followed that path, the path opened by Hwasan’s swords piercing through and Hwasan’s shields blocking the enemy. All of them united by a single purpose.
Roaaar!
And it was toward the path he had cleared with his own sword that Hyun Jong walked. Step by step, his pace gradually slowed.
Step by step.
And then, after a moment, his feet finally came to a complete stop.
Having pierced through all who stood in his way, Hyun Jong stood silently before those ahead.
The surroundings kept blurring. Just a slight parting of the lips felt like it would unleash a sob… No, it seemed like it would pour out into wails.
“Ah…”
A dazed voice flowed from someone’s lips, as if they couldn’t believe the reality of being here.
Step by step.
Drawing closer, Hyun Jong firmly tapped the shoulder within his reach.
“Sect…”
Jo Geol stared at him as if mesmerized.
“Sect Leader…”
Yoon Jong, Tang Soso, and Yu Iseol too.
Touching the shoulders of his disciples who couldn’t let go of their swords, Hyun Jong eventually stood before the one kneeling at the back.
For a moment, he just looked at Baek Cheon, who held onto Chung Myung, protecting him even in this situation.
To say his heart ached would be an understatement.
As Hyun Jong’s trembling hand reached out, Baek Cheon flinched, causing Hyun Jong’s hand to freeze in midair.
“I… apologize… to the retired Sect Leader…”
In the midst of it all, Baek Cheon, somehow regaining composure, offered a gesture of respect to Hyun Jong.
“As… the Vice Sect Leader of the Great Hwasan Sect, Baek Cheon, I… couldn’t fully… fulfill my duty…”
“…”
“But… I carried it out… in accordance… with the will of Hwasan…”
Hyun Jong’s hand, which had paused, moved slowly again and gently rested on Baek Cheon’s shoulder. There was no more trembling in that hand.
“No more.”
“…”
“You were absolutely incredible.”
This time, Baek Cheon’s shoulders trembled slightly. Accepting that tremble, Hyun Jong nodded slowly.
A soft smile appeared his wrinkled lips. It was a smile that eased the onlooker’s heart with the tears in his eyes and an infinite sense of compassion.
“As for the rest… leave it to me and our disciples. Now that we’re here.”
The disciples of Hwasan, charging forward while crushing their enemies, surrounded and protected the wounded disciples. Witnessing their resolute determination, Baek Cheon finally let go of the emotions he had been suppressing. His eyes welled up, and tears streamed down his cheeks, covered in dried blood.
“I… accept your command, retired Sect Leader.”
As Chung Myung wasn’t alone, they too were not alone.
They were here. This was where they belonged. The place they needed to return to had found them here.
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Is this the most beautiful reunion ever? I think so.
Return of the Mount Hua 
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