Return of the Mount Hua

Then who the hell are they? (1)

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“Ha-yah!”

Jongli Hyeong, with a complicated expression, swung his sword and beheaded the retreating enemy in one swift motion. The heavy sensation at the tip of the blade left a lingering feeling at his fingertips. Although it was an emotion he shouldn’t feel while walking the path of righteousness, the sensation of beheading an evil adversary seemed to instantly relieve the turmoil that had been festering inside him.

‘To think, these mere fools…!’

Who would dare attach the word ‘mere’ to the world’s notorious Sapaeryeon?

But they were indeed proving it now. Gupailbang were not undeserving of attaching such words to Sapaeryeon.

Seeing the trembling faces of the retreating members of Sapaeryeon made him feel refreshed yet furious at the same time.

“You acted all high and mighty!”

Like a lightning strike, his swift sword pierced through the necks of the retreating enemies one after another.

“Ugh!”

Watching those who couldn’t even scream properly collapse like rotten straw, Jongli Hyeong roughly shook off the blood from his sword.

‘What on earth have we been doing all this time!’

Yes, the Evil Sects he had faced so far were generally like this. A pack of wolves – threatening enough to chase away even a tiger when relying on their numbers, but each individual was pathetically weak. That was why they were trembling in fear before him now.

Those who only relied on numbers become worthless trash the moment they lose that advantage.

“Were you just this much?”

Jongli Hyeong’s anger-fueled sword continuously shot forward.

Once again, Jongli Hyeong pierced through the neck of another enemy and sharply scanned what lay ahead.

‘My vision was clouded!

It might be excessive to call it fear when dealing with Sapaeryeon, but it was true that he had felt a certain unease. Sapaeryeon certainly deserved such feelings.

However, confronting reality with his sword, Jongli Hyeong realized an obvious truth anew.

Not once had Gupailbang faced Sapaeryeon head-on. During the horrific Yangtze River Disaster, at Maehwado, even in Nanjing and Sichuan, Gupailbang had always been drawn into battles at places and times of their enemy’s choosing.

They were forced into situations where they had to fight in the most disadvantageous conditions while their enemy played with them.

What had made this possible was undoubtedly the power of Sapaeryeon, or rather, the strategic genius of Jang Ilso.

But this also meant that, in places where Jang Ilso’s strategies couldn’t be employed, Sapaeryeon was just another large group of Evil Sects.

‘Abbot!’

Beop Jong had known this. There were no cliffs for Jang IIso to use here, no Yangtze River to trap them, and no troublesome Surochae’s warships – just an open plain.

Here, the power of Gupailbang would be complete, and all the strengths of Sapaeryeon would be lost.

Beop Jong had known all of this, which is why he had driven everyone to rush to this place, not to miss this single opportunity.

‘If that’s the case, isn’t victory certain?’

The names like Maninbang and Black Ghost may seem impressive at a glance, but when analyzed coldly, Maninbang is just an Evil Sect with some influence in Guizhou, and Black Ghost is merely a ragtag group expanded through wealth.

If properly united, why would Gupailbang or Kongtong fear them?

Jongli Hyeong gripped his beloved sword tightly. Though he was reluctant to admit it, the fear he had harbored was now gone. In its place, a sense of a missed opportunity for the time spent in hiding surged in, along with the ambition he had suppressed.

Victory was already assured.

Then, who would receive the most praise for this victory? Which sect would claim the greatest glory?

Shaolin, who had orchestrated all of this?

‘…Perhaps not necessarily.’

Jongli Hyeong’s eyes gleamed like a hawk’s eyeing its prey.

If there had been a brilliant strategy in this war, if it were a hard-fought victory where everyone poured out everything, maybe so. But if that wasn’t the case, people would certainly focus on something else.

What everyone is most curious about. What everyone must hold in the highest regard. The most important element in determining the course of a war since ancient times.

Jongli Hyeong’s burning gaze was fixed on one place. Behind the curtain of people ahead, standing in the most resplendent robe, was a single man.

‘Jang Ilso’s head.’

The world would surely want to know.

Which sect, who would return holding that head? Who would be the one to behead that man and end this long war? Who would save the Central Plains from the clutches of that demon?

This would be an achievement talked about for ten years, no, at least a hundred years, perhaps even a thousand years.

At this moment, Jongli Hyeong’s sword seemed to be asking him. Would he let this golden opportunity slip away? Why had he trained with the sword all his life?

Some might call it ambition or greed.

“Haaah!”

With a sharp cry, Jongli Hyeong’s sword shot out like a beam of light. The confident tip of his sword pierced through the hearts of his enemies with utmost precision.

‘No! It’s not that!’

This isn’t about ambition or greed. Jang Ilso is causing chaos in the world, and someone must behead him. This is an undeniable truth.

Who could say that Jongli Hyeong was unworthy of this task? Just because Shaolin led everyone here doesn’t mean they alone have the right to end Jang Ilso.

Rather, anyone claiming such a right here would prove themselves to be obsessed with fame, with no concern for the safety of the world.

Jongli Hyeong’s eyes grew increasingly red.

The man clad in a blood-red robe, dazzlingly brilliant, stood right there, almost within reach.

“Break through! Advance! We will cut off Pageun’s head!”

Jongli Hyeong, releasing everything he had been suppressing, began to draw upon all his internal energy.

Bang!

A deafening roar echoed. It sounded less like the swing of a sword and more like the snap of a bowstring drawn to its limit.

With a single stroke, Paeng Yeop severed an enemy’s waist, gritting his teeth as he glared ahead.

Victory? That was not enough.

He needed more. More!

He needed something to completely solidify his position, an achievement so undeniable that it would silence the elders of his family who still watched him with suspicion.

‘Older Brother.’

Paeng Yeop’s brother was bold. No one doubted that he was a talent who would bring glory to the family. He was the epitome of a Paeng family member. That was Paeng Jaseo, Paeng Yeop’s brother.

In contrast, Paeng Yeop was not the same.

His inherently cautious nature earned him the label of being ‘not truly a Paeng’, a tag that clung to him like a shadow.

It was hard to change one’s innate disposition, no matter how hard one tried.

Even though he feigned boldness, practiced his martial arts, and discussed Taoist philosophy, the description of not truly being like a Paeng never easily fell away from him.

‘Damn it!’

When his brother’s boldness turned into arrogance, choking the elders, and they reached out to Paeng Yeop to escape their loss of power.

Even after Paeng Yeop allied with them, pushed his brother aside, and took the position of the head of the family.

The elders always doubted Paeng Yeop for being ‘not truly a Paeng.’

Paeng Yeop was no longer necessary to them. He was just a defective product they needed to use temporarily. So, once his usefulness was exhausted, he would revert to being a worthless defective product.

They were probably already looking for someone to replace Paeng Yeop. Someone who was unmistakably a true Paeng, with that damned boldness.

Regret?

Not at all.

There was no room for regret. Even if Paeng Jaseo, whom he had pushed aside and rendered a cripple with his own hands, was his brother. Even if that bold brother cherished Paeng Yeop more than their own father did.

There could be no regret.

Those who believe they will always stay on top cannot understand. They cannot fathom the feelings of those who will never have the chance to take that final step, even if they are the closest.

That’s why Paeng Jaseo looked at him that way. Even at the very end, his eyes were full of trust, believing his younger brother would never betray him.

Swish!

Paeng Yeop’s sword swung fiercely, not just cutting but shattering his enemy’s body. It was incomparably strong and unbelievably swift.

But Paeng Yeop now knew. Even in Gangho, where strength is everything, there were things that strength alone could not achieve.

‘I didn’t want to become the head of the family.’

He just wanted to prove that he could be the leader of the Paeng family. That he had the potential to be a greater leader than his brother.

If just one person had acknowledged him, Paeng Yeop would have been content to remain by Paeng Jaseo’s side for life.

But there wasn’t even one. No one acknowledged him.

So, he does not regret. The cost of what he had to discard for the sake of proving himself was immense, but he will never regret it.

‘I was not wrong.’

Even if he went back, he would make the same choice. He had to be right. If he was wrong, everything he had done would be invalidated.

Therefore, it was almost blinding.

The enemy leader, the demon of Guizhou, the king of Gangnam…

No matter what words were used, none could fully describe Jang Ilso as Paeng Yeop saw him.

Right now, in Paeng Yeop’s eyes, that man looked like a bright red fruit.

He had to grasp it. Somehow, he had to get it.

Then, no one could deny him anymore. Everything he had done would be justified, seen as a decisive act for the peace of Gangho.

Even those fools of the Paeng family, who were safely watching from Beijing, would have to bow their heads before his brilliant achievements.

“Ah…”

Paeng Yeop’s hand reached out toward the distant figure of Jang Ilso.

A burning thirst that could not be quenched by anything else.

The only one who could satisfy it was there.

The one who would transform him from a pitiable man hiding behind the authority of Beop Jong into the proud head of the Paeng family and a great hero.

If only he could grasp that neck!

“Paenguuuuuun!”

A roar erupted from Paeng Yeop’s mouth.

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

With a scream that resembled a wail, he raised his internal energy to its peak and swung his sword.

Sapaeryeon’s members blocking his path to Jang Ilso were slaughtered in an instant.

Blood splattered like torrential rain.

Normally, he would have frowned in disgust, but Paeng Yeop felt nothing now. No, at this moment, the hot, metallic blood splashing onto his face felt sweet and welcome.

“Kill them!”

This might be evidence that the blood of the Paeng family ran thick in his veins.

“Kill them all! Leave none standing! Kill everyone who blocks the way!”

Paeng Yeop advanced towards the blinding light.

The light named Jang Ilso. Towards the glory that was rightfully his.

Next chapter >>>

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At first I have thought that Jongli Hyeong is delusional. But the level of delulu Paeng Yeop displayed is truly astonishing and disgusting. ATROCIOUS. Why are they so bad.

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