Return of the Mount Hua

If one must bear it. (5)

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“L-Lord Tang?”

Jo Geol’s pupils trembled.

‘Damn it…!’

Tang Gunak’s situation was not good. In fact, not only Tang Gunak but also Namgung Dowi was on the brink. At this rate, neither of them would be able to hold out for long.

If that happened, even the lives of Hye Yeon and Lee Songbaek would be endangered. Furthermore, the outcome of this war would become shrouded in uncertainty.

“Ah! No!”

Jo Geol stomped on the ground reflexively. He had to help them immediately. But at that very moment, a rough hand seized the back of his neck.

“What the! L-Let… let me go…”

“Get a grip, moron!”

Yoon Jong, who had yanked Jo Geol back, shouted furiously.

“Sahyeong!”

“You can’t leave this place now!”

At those words, Jo Geol flinched and looked around.

The disciples of Hwasan were struggling against the fearsome Red Dogs with all their might. It was an incredible feat. Even praising them a hundred or a thousand times wouldn’t be excessive.

Even so, it was hard to deny that they were already pushed to their limits.

Though they were disciples of Hwasan who had grown beyond all expectations alongside Chung Myung, they were still young. There was no way they could truly stand on equal footing against the Red Dogs, trained with utmost care by Jang Ilso.

They might be able to hold their own for a short time, but ultimately seizing victory would undoubtedly be difficult.

One only had to look at the current situation to see that.

Whooosh!

“Samae!”

Yu Iseol soared like a swift hawk and saved the Baek disciple who was in danger.

“Focus, Sahyeong.”

“Y-Yeah. Sorry.”

The Baek disciple, who had received Yu Iseol’s help, hastily nodded and adjusted his grip on the sword. Yu Iseol glanced around again, then kicked off the ground and shot upward.

Watching the scene, Jo Geol bit his lip. Yoon Jong’s shout rang out once again.

“If we lose our ground here, everything will collapse in an instant. You know that!”

Yes, he did know.

If Yu Iseol, Jo Geol, and Yoon Jong weren’t here, the disciples of Hwasan would already have fallen. To hold this line, Jo Geol’s strength was absolutely necessary.

“But…”

“There is no but!”

Yoon Jong, his eyes blazing like that of a lion, glared at Jo Geol and shouted.

“Do what you can! You can’t protect everyone!”

Instead of answering, Jo Geol bit his lip so hard it bled.

Yes, those words were the truth. Compared to a fool like him, Yoon Jong was far, far more smart. But…

Jo Geol shut his eyes tight.

He suddenly felt disgusted with himself for thinking that Baek Cheon might have made a different decision in this situation.

Just as Jo Geol was about to speak again.

“Believe.”

“…Yes?”

Looking at those in danger, his eyes bloodshot, Yoon Jong said.

“It doesn’t have to be you.”

In his voice, there seemed to be both a tremor and a sense of conviction, strangely enough.

❀ ❀ ❀

Bang!

Swords collided.

One person was pushed back, and the other stepped forward.

If the other disciples of Hwasan had witnessed this scene, they might have been greatly shocked. Because the one being pushed back was Chung Myung, not the one proceeding with advance.

“Strange.”

Jin Songwon’s eyes, visible through the mask, twisted slightly.

“Didn’t you say you’d let me know?”

The sword that was swung repeatedly, descended as if to split Chung Myung’s head in half. The Dark Plum Sword shot up like lightning, sharply deflecting the incoming blade.

Boom!

But the sword that had bounced away flew at him again, driving Chung Myung back once more.

Screeeech.

Chung Myung’s feet were dragged, leaving long lines across the ground. As Jin Songwon approached Chung Myung, who held his sword horizontally, he tilted his head.

“So this is all? Is the famed name of Hwasan Geomhyeop is nothing but an empty title?”

His voice sounded as though he was struggling to suppress his anger. The frustration of not being able to unleash everything was evident.

Chung Myung roughly wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and glared at Jin Songwon. His gaze was dark.

“So you only learned how to run your mouth from a remote place*. If you really want to know, stop fooling around and fight me in earnest. You’ll understand the moment my sword is stuck your neck.”

Jin Songwon halted in place. It wasn’t because of Chung Myung’s provocation.

The words he’d spoken had stuck in his mind.

‘A remote place.’

Perhaps it was just thrown out casually. Yet Jin Songwon felt a strong premonition for some reason.

“How did you know?”

“…”

“Answer me. How did you know?”

Chung Myung spat out the blood pooling in his mouth, then let out a soft laugh.

Jin Songwon could not comprehend it. As far as he remembered, Chung Myung had never even properly faced a disciple of Diancang.

But Chung Myung spoke as though he knew perfectly well that the opponent before him was from Diancang. He even said “remote place,” as if to mock Diancang for being in the outskirts.

In truth, Chung Myung couldn’t possibly not have known. He had already seen that sword countless times before.

“If you want to know, then come at me for real. Toss aside that pathetic Powerful Sword [강검(强劍)**]. Whether it’s “Shooting the Sun” [사일(射日)] or “Piercing the Sun” [관일(貫日)], use whatever you’ve got.”***

For a moment, Jin Songwon’s gaze seemed to freeze.

The Sun-Shooting Sword Technique [사일검법] is Diancang’s signature skill, and the Sun-Piercing Spear Technique [관일창법] is also a unique martial art of Diancang. Mentioning Diancang’s two most renowned techniques meant that Chung Myung was already certain Jin Songwon was a swordsman from Diancang.

“….An inscrutable bastard.”

Of course, he hadn’t particularly tried to hide it. Hiding it wouldn’t change anything anyway. Even so, perhaps the reason he hadn’t used Diancang’s swordsmanship or its subtleties was due to some lingering discomfort in his heart.

In any case, once Chung Myung had caught on, there was one thing he absolutely wanted to ask.

“Yeah. If you know, if you’ve realized…”

Jin Songwon glared at Chung Myung with bloodshot eyes.

“To me… no, to us – is there nothing you want to say?”

At those words, Chung Myung let out a small, scoffing laugh.

“As if there could be. After all, nothing’s going to change.”

Jin Songwon likewise let out a laugh, as if the air had been knocked out of him.

Yes. Perhaps that was just as well. At least he wasn’t trying to justify himself with some pitiful tears.

It was a relief, in fact, not having to hear any pathetic excuses.

“Right. Nothing is going to change.”

Even so, Jin Songwon felt a strange emptiness. Deep down, he mocked himself. What had he been wanting to hear from that man called Chung Myung?

“If you’re that eager to see it, I’ll show you. A martial art that’s about to vanish.”

Jin Songwon adjusted his stance.

This wasn’t a sword to be swung. He pulled back the hand gripping the sword as far as it would go and aimed the tip at Chung Myung. It was a posture as taut as an archer drawing a bowstring.

“This is ‘Shooting the Sun’.”

Fweeeeeeeeng!

Before long, the sound that followed was like a high-pitched whistle, or perhaps like the snap of a bowstring stretched to its limit finally breaking.

By the time that sound registered in his ears, a long slash had already appeared on Chung Myung’s face.

“…I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

Retrieving the sword that had brushed against Chung Myung’s face, Jin Songwon spoke through clenched teeth.

“I’m not going easy on you, nor am I toying with you. It’s just… if you couldn’t even comprehend the Sun-Shooting Sword Technique I bothered to bring out, and ended up dead, l’d look utterly pathetic, wouldn’t I?”

It was an almost absurdly astounding swift sword [쾌(快)].

Hwasan also uses the swift sword, but its style differs from Diancang’s. If Hwasan’s swift sword aims to bewilder the opponent, Sun-Shooting Sword Technique is, quite literally, ‘distilled’ speed meant solely to pierce its target.

It is a sword that wastes not a single motion and devotes everything to skewering the enemy’s neck.

“I’ve felt this every time…”

“Hm?”

“…They babble on about how Hwasan’s sword is supposedly close to a Sapa’s sword. Those damn Gupailbang’s bastards. But even those who use a sword like this get hailed as members of the Just Sects these days.”

Jin Songwon, who had briefly fallen silent, allowed a slight smile to cross his face for the first time.

“The sword itself is innocent.”

“Yeah. That’s why where you stand is what matters. So? Where do you stand right now?”

“…Thanks to someone.”

“A fine excuse.”

“Excuse?”

“You just didn’t have the guts to die, that’s all.”

For an instant, a flash of light flared in Jin Songwon’s eyes.

“You-…”

Fweeeeeeeeeeng!

Jin Songwon’s sword slashed fiercely across Chung Myung’s shoulder.

“What do you think you know, running your mouth?!”

The sword energy that had bloomed sank into Chung Myung’s forearm.

It was such a swift attack that even catching hold of it was difficult. Chung Myung’s body would normally block an attack before his eyes even registered it, yet even he couldn’t withstand this formidable speed. Even if he had not succumbed to inner demons [입마 – glossary], could he have truly faced these martial arts perfectly?

“You…!”

Fweeeeeeng!

The splitting sword energy left wounds all over Chung Myung’s body.

“Do you know?”

It appears and vanishes in an instant. A sword that flashes in a single fleeting moment. That’s why it was so sorrowful, and yet so dazzling.

“What it means to be destined to disappear.”

Jin Songwon’s sword drew back again.

It wasn’t a continuous barrage of sword energy raining down. He drew back, took aim, and finally let it loose.

A sword of deliberate, skillful motions that erupt all at once. For that reason, the somewhat slow-looking movement instead pressed in on the heart with crushing intensity.

“What it feels like to have to accept your own demise!”

Fweeeeng!

The instant one realized it had been launched, the sword had already pierced the body. There was no way to react at that speed.

“Does it hurt?”

Chung Myung grabbed at the sword lodged in his shoulder. But before he could even tighten his grip, the sword was withdrawn. Jin Songwon forcefully flicked the blood off his sword.

“This is the sword of Diancang. A fleeting sword [덧없다 – transient/fleeting/temporary/vain]. One that will vanish into nothingness, just as this sword energy.”

Chung Myung hung his head slightly and let out a low chuckle.

“So eager to act tragic, aren’t you.”

“You…!”

At last, Jin Songwon’s fury exploded.

“Yooooooooou-!”

Kwaaaaang!

Jin Songwon’s sword struck the face of Chung Myung’s blade. Chung Myung’s body was flung aside like a fallen leaf swept up by a typhoon.

“What do you even know!”

Like a bolt of lightning, Jin Songwon closed in on Chung Myung.

Kwaaang!

Once again, sword clashed against sword. Hurled through the air, Chung Myung slammed into the ground, supporting himself barely with one hand. He glared at Jin Songwon descending upon him.

Paaaah!

Jin Songwon’s sword released five rays of light once more – each so fast that they were impossible to track.

Kaaang!

Chung Myung twisted all of that sword energy aside.

Kwaaang!

Jin Songwon’s sword came crashing down hard, colliding with Chung Myung’s own blade, a harsh sound reverberating in the air.

Chung Myung’s knees buckled as though they might snap at any second.

“Fine. Perhaps this is the result of our indifference.”

“…”

“But… do you have any idea what it feels like for those who must accept the destruction of their entire sect over something so trivial?”

Bloody tears flowed from Jin Songwon’s eyes.

“For those who have to throw everything away and wallow in the mud, all because of a future that may already be lost – what could a wretch like you possibly know…?”

But just then, a massive surge of energy swelled along the palce where the blades met.

“What…?”

Kwaaang!

With the ensuing explosion, Jin Songwon, unable to withstand the shockwave, stumbled back a few steps.

Paaaah!

Right before Jin Songwon’s eyes, an infinite number of plum blossoms suddenly bloomed.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The pinnacle of illusory swordsmanship, so overwhelming that one couldn’t even think of matching it with mere speed, swept over Jin Songwon’s entire body.

“Grrk…”

Unable to withstand it, Jin Songwon tried once more to retreat, but something suddenly burst forth from within the swirling clouds of plum-blossom sword energy. Chung Myung’s foot crashed into Jin Songwon’s chest.

Puhuk!

“Urk!”

Reeling from the sensation of his breath being cut off, Jin Songwon was flung far back.

Rolling across the ground, he gnashed his teeth, hastily slammed his hands against the earth, and sprang to his feet – only to hear Chung Myung to speak.

“I know.”

“…What?”

“I said I know.”

From behind the slowly fading plum-blossom sword energy, Chung Myung was glaring at him.

Jin Songwon looked utterly baffled. It was as if he were gazing at something far, far away.

“I know it all too well – enough to be sick of it.”

Once again, crimson plum blossoms unfurled from Chung Myung’s sword. Devoid of any mercy, they swirled towards Jin Songwon, steeped in killing intent.

Next chapter >>>

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*구석 – I think here the definition is “remote [secluded, out-of-the-way] place (naver dictionary).” This word can also be translated as “corner,” while speaking about physical corner or nook – the area where two walls or edges meet, particularly the inner part of it. Also can mean “a corner of one’s heart” figuratively.

**강검(强劍) – where 强 is a LESS common variant of 強 (why is biga using that one…). 強 means – strong/powerful/forceful, implying that the sword technique relies on strength and powerful blows.

***사일(射日) and 관일(貫日). 射 – means to shoot (with an arrow, for example) and 貫 – means to pierce smth/go through smth. 

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