Return of the Mount Hua

That’s the answer. (1)

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It is difficult to halt a raging torrent that surges with the force to shatter mountains.

No, perhaps one might be able to stop it, but to quell its flow is impossible. Even if you counter it with equal force, even if you swallow it with greater power, you cannot alone press down a twisting torrent into a calm lake.

But now, that impossible thing was happening.

Amidst the battlefield blazing like fierce flames, only one place had a different temperature. It didn’t cool down slowly. A chilling cold flowed across the land as if it had never heated up from the start.

At Chung Myung’s sudden appearance, the nearby Sapaeryeon’s warriors froze in place as if turned to ice.

In fact, how many among them had directly faced Chung Myung and crossed swords with him? Less than one out of ten would recognize Chung Myung’s true identity just by his face.

Nevertheless, those Sapas couldn’t help but know who he was the moment they saw him.

They naturally understood whom the long hair roughly gathered and tightly tied, and the jet-black martial attire symbolized – what meaning that swordsman with a plum blossom engraved on his chest carried.

Those who should call him an ally, and those who should call him an enemy, were all the same. All who could lay eyes on that figure unconsciously held their breath.

A tension that did not distinguish friend from foe settled over them, but Chung Myung’s gaze, which had caused that tension, was unwavering and fixed only on the enemy.

“Quite a crowd has gathered.”

As Chung Myung lightly swung the sword he had been holding down, the blood on the tip naturally flicked off. The sword that spun through the air settled back into his hand.

Chung Myung whispered towards the enemies who couldn’t take their eyes off him.

“So, did you think you’d be able to do anything?”

There was no particular sign of threat.

Those who received Chung Myung’s gaze knew as well. These were not words intended to threaten them into retreating.

Therefore, it was all the more chilling.

“Well, it’s not too bad.”

Chung Myung let out a slight laugh.

“If many of you bastards die with me, at least the journey to the afterlife won’t be lonely. Don’t worry. I’ll send off every last one of you.”

The tip of his sword scraped the ground with a grating sound.

“So there’s nothing to feel wronged about.”

Whoosh!

Three heads simultaneously soared into the air.

Taking human lives was an extremely common sight on the battlefield. Yet somehow, it felt different.

At the moment the three heads rose into the air, everything seemed to slow down as if time itself had warped. It was surreal.

But the hot blood that splattered soon pulled everyone back to reality.

“Ah……..”

Shhhhh!

The sword that once again sliced through the air surged forward. The blade that dug into a neck pierced through a chest and embedded itself into another’s waist.

It was truly a violent move. It was clearly different from Hwasan’s swordsmanship that neatly aims for vital points. But the more one watched such rough movements, the more strangely fluid they appeared.

Rather than breaking with force, it was closer to slicing along the grain. At the forefront of the Evil Path [사도(邪徒)], a sword pursuing the Just Path [정도(正道)] instantly turned the bewildered members of Sapaeryeon into wandering souls.

As the atmosphere completely changed, the fervor that had filled the eyes of the members of Sapaeryeon froze over. They began to step back hesitantly with pale faces.

“You stupid idiots, don’t retreat and fight… Gah!”

The man who had been urging Sapaeryon’s warriors from the rear suddenly opened his eyes unnaturally wide. Before he knew it, Chung Myung had leaped over those guarding him and appeared right before him, simultaneously thrusting his sword into the man’s mouth to prevent any further shouting.

The blade, both scorching and chilling all at once, painfully tore the inside of his mouth. But what truly made him unable to move was not the blade piercing his mouth, but the gaze of the one holding it.

“If you have time to flap your mouth telling others to charge…”

“Uh, uh…”

“Why don’t you step forward yourself? You moron.”

Crunch!

The blade lodged in his mouth advanced diagonally, severing his cervical vertebrae.

Chung Myung casually kicked aside the limp corpse of Sapaeryeon’s warrior, whose bones seemed to have vanished, and surveyed his surroundings leisurely.

Enemies surrounded him on all sides. It wasn’t anything new.

“I’ve grown weak…”

The feeling of something tightly filling his chest remained. But what did it matter?

His enemies had always been stronger than him.

So this was rather a familiar situation to him.

“Come at me, you stupid bastards.”

Chung Myung’s sword sliced through the air.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Humph.”

Watching Chung Myung step forward to the front lines, with a sullen face, Jang Ilso let out a faint nasal sound.

“Well… yeah. It’s an all-too-obvious entrance, but such things need to be cliche to be satisfying.”

It was indeed a carefree remark. In contrast, Ho Gamyeong’s expression was stiffer than ever.

Jang Ilso rested his chin on his hand and chuckled softly.

“Look, Gamyeong-ah, the flow has changed.”

“…”

“That’s why war is terrifying. No matter how much you strategize and prepare, a ridiculous variable can twist everything. Just like those Cheonumaeng bastards earlier, those fools over there have already completely forgotten that they had the upper hand.”

Ho Gamyeong sighed and nodded.

The damage isn’t significant yet. Only a few lives have been lost. However, Ho Gamyeong couldn’t help but acknowledge that the atmosphere of the scene where Chung Myung appeared had completely changed.

“Indeed, what you say is certainly right, Ryeonju. But…”

“Hmm?”

Jang Ilso glanced at Ho Gamyeong with a puzzled expression.

“This is a war on a different scale than they’ve ever fought before. The divine prowess [신위(神威)*] of one person cannot change the tide.”

Those who witnessed Chung Myung’s deeds with their own eyes might be filled with high spirits. The enemies who have to face that sword will naturally have their morale crushed.

If this were a battle involving a hundred people, that alone could change the course of the fight. Because of that, one could lose a battle they should never lose, or seize victory in a war they could never win.

All sorts of legendary martial feats passed down in Gangho’s history must have been made that way. Countless achievements born of divine prowess beyond common sense, and the exaltation [고양(高揚)] of those who know of these accomplishments.

There’s no intention to disparage this, nor any way to deny it. For Ho Gamyeong had seen with his own eyes how such absurd events actually unfold.

But not this time.

This battlefield was too vast, and those fighting were too numerous. It was impossible to change the flow of the battle with a local [국지적(局地的)] victory.

No matter how mythical** Chung Myung’s skills may be, he can’t multiply himself tenfold, can he?

‘Moreover, if what Cheon Myeon Susa said is true, Maehwa Geomgwi isn’t even in a normal state.’

What can he accomplish alone?

Look. Indeed, the atmosphere where Chung Myung is present has changed. But that ripple hasn’t spread across the entire battlefield.

It’s difficult to create a meaningful impact with just a partial reversal.

‘There’s no need… to respond separately to it.’

From the beginning, Ho Gamyeong was modest in his self-assessment. Therefore, he didn’t deny that his past actions of desperately trying to eliminate Maehwa Geomgwi had actually elevated that man’s stature.

Sometimes, simply leaving things be is also a method. That was the best answer Ho Gamyeong arrived at in this situation.

“Hmm… Is that so?”

However, Jang Ilso wore a meaningful smile and didn’t particularly agree.

“…Am I mistaken?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with what you’ve said. But the problem is, that troublesome guy already knows that, doesn’t he?”

“Pardon?”

Ho Gamyeong flinched, his expression hardening.

“Why so surprised? Didn’t you rate him higher than I did?”

Ho Gamyeong remained silent.

Indeed, if it’s Maehwa Geomgwi, he would already know such things.

He wouldn’t harbor the absurd notion of changing the tide of the battlefield with his own actions.

“…Are you saying he’s already prepared something in advance?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case?”

“But…”

Ho Gamyeong shook his head.

“It is difficult. He is a man of exceptional intellect, so he might be able to prepare some sort of countermeasure. However, a proper counterattack is only possible when one can understand the circumstances of the assault. Unless he has intelligence network surpassing that of the Beggars Sect, it’s impossible to prepare anything in this situation.”

Jang Ilso nodded compliantly.

“Yes, that would be so.”

Unconsciously, Ho Gamyeong clenched his fist.

“In that case, even Maehwa Geomgwi can do nothing.”

Confidence gradually filled Ho Gamyeong’s voice. This was neither arrogance nor baseless optimism. In such a situation, someone who could make a move to overturn the entire game could hardly be considered human.

In other words, unless Maehwa Geomgwi is a god, he cannot reverse the tide of the battle alone.

“Hmmm.”

But suddenly, a nasal sound escaped from Jang Ilso, who seemed quite amused. That sound made Ho Gamyeong’s heart sink.

“Ryeonju?”

“Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah. You often subtly miss the core point.”

“What… do you mean?”

“You’re right. Even the greatest Hwasan Geomhyeop cannot make a brilliant move to overturn the board in this situation. Even I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

A look of doubt appeared on Ho Gamyeong’s face. But why was Jang Ilso reacting like this?

“But… is there any need for that in the first place?”

“…Pardon?”

“Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah.”

Jang Ilso ran his hand across his own face as if clawing it. His fingernails leaving red marks on his pale skin.

“Preparation is only necessary for those who are unprepared,” 

Jang Ilso burst out laughing.

“…”

“Only fools who can’t predict what’s obviously going to happen discuss how to deal with events unfolding right before their eyes.”

“…”

“The preparations were already made. In fact, long time ago. That’s the kind of battle this is.”

Ho Gamyeong’s gaze turned towards Chung Myung. Chung Myung’s sword energy was scattering in all directions.

“So your question was wrong from the very beginning. Asking whether he had time to prepare is foolish.”

Jang Ilso scanned the battlefield with an eerie gaze.

“The right question is… just how effective will the meticulous preparations he’s made be. That’s it.”

At that moment.

Booooom!

An enormous roar erupted, tearing through the air and piercing their ears.

‘What?’

Ho Gamyeong quickly turned his gaze towards the source of the sound. But contrary to his expectations, it wasn’t where Chung Myung was.

In the ground hollowed out as if struck by a meteor, a man stood proudly.

Jang Ilso laughed.

“Look. That’s the answer.”

As the thick dust cleared, the figure of a person finally emerged.

Namgung Dowi, brandishing a pure white sword, was roaring like a beast, his mane-like hair flowing like that of a lion’s.

Next chapter >>>

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*There was no hanja provided, but this is what I have found. 신위 is often used when a character demonstrates extraordinary strength or authority. It is not necessarily limited to literal divine power but can also describe someone with near-superhuman capabilities or an unmatched aura of dominance.

**No hanja again, but it looks like 신화적(神話的) – mythical/legendary. 

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Jang Ilso was calling people 것들 (things) in the previous chapter, but he calls Chung Myung ‘a guy’ (작자), how kind. Anyways, are we getting the payoff for Cheonumaeng training arc and for Cheonumaeng restructuration arc?

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