Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 719

The sunlight was so harsh that he couldn’t fully open his eyes.

When he slowly opened his half-closed eyes again, the figures of Five Swords waiting for him were visible.

“….”

Chung Myung silently looked at them.

None of them asked Chung Myung anything, even though they must have many questions.

Some greeted him with a stern face, and others with a comfortable smile.

“For now….”

“We’re going back to Mount Hua.”

Baek Cheon cut off Chung Myung’s words.

“What about the guy in the village? I think it’ll be a burden if we take him now.”

Instead of Chung Myung, Jo-Gol replied in a nonchalant tone to Baek Cheon.

“Well, we warned him roughly, so there shouldn’t be a big problem, right? If he gets into trouble again, we can just capture him and beat him up thoroughly.”

“…He’s a great man if he can make another accident after experiencing all this. I’ll admit that from then on.”

“Right?”

Jo-Gol nodded his head at Yoon Jong’s words.

In fact, these were not extraordinary matters for them. Whether it was fighting with Golden Sword Manor, having a life-or-death struggle with Iron Spear Manor, or unexpectedly encountering people from Myriad Man Manor and slitting their throats……

‘Uh…’

‘Reflecting on it, these are not ordinary things, right?’

‘Anyway.’

While these might not be big issues for them, they are tremendous events that ordinary martial artists may experience once in a lifetime. If you still have the guts to scam after experiencing these events one after another, then that in itself should be recognized.

“First of all, let’s go back. I don’t think we should worry about such things.”

Tang Soso nodded as well.

“Let’s not waste time and depart immediately.”

Chung Myung looked silently at his Sahyung, who agreed unanimously and conversed smoothly.

There must be countless things they wanted to ask.

But they spoke first before Chung Myung could say anything, presumably to lessen the burden.

Squeeze.

Strength filled Chung Myung’s hand gripping the clothes containing the remains of Cheong Jin.

‘I’m damn pitiful, I am.’

He thought it was enough just to be strong.

He thought that it would be enough even if he didn’t do what he was supposed to do as a Sahyung properly, as long as he could defeat the enemies they couldn’t defeat.

Realizing this thought’s stupid, he felt it vividly while looking at the young disciples.
“Let’s go back, Chung Myung. We need to report to Sect Leader.”

Chung Myung nodded at Baek Cheon’s words.

Now is not the time to be sentimental.

This guy has been alone in this desolate place for too long. He needs to be taken back to Mount Hua as soon as possible to rest.

“Yes. Sasuk, let’s depart……”
Then Chung Myung abruptly shut his mouth.

His suddenly sharp gaze was caught in the bushes spread out behind Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon, who saw Chung Myung’s frozen stiff face, was startled and looked back.

‘When…?’

Yoo Iseol gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. The rest of the disciples were only then aware of the presence of those surrounded and quickly took a defensive stance.

“Who is it?”

Baek Cheon’s command echoed.

“Come out!”

At his cold voice, the bushes lightly trembled.

Rustle. Rustle.

The sound of trampling grass threateningly echoed for a moment, and soon a group in blood-red uniforms and another group in ash-gray uniforms emerged, surrounding the disciples of Mount Hua.

“….”

Baek Cheon’s mouth tightened.

‘This is not a good sign.’

There didn’t seem to be any immediate threat.
Yet, his body was on high alert. Even before his mind could analyze the situation, his body recognized their strength and continuously warned him.

“Sahyung.”

“…I know.”

Yoo Iseol, who usually refrained from speaking, called out to Baek Cheon. It was clear she also recognized that they were far from easy opponents.

“Close the gap.”

Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong gathered at Baek Cheon’s low command with a tensed-up face.

Tang Soso also naturally changed his position behind Baek Cheon’s back. It was not about seeking a safe place but finding a spot where she could fully utilize her skills. Having been through numerous battles, she was able to quickly see how dangerous the situation is now.

Baek Cheon said quietly.

“You don’t seem to come in goodwill… I guess you don’t have the courage to reveal your identity.”

“Identity…… It’s not that difficult, you know.”

At the voice coming from somewhere, Baek Cheon slowly turned his gaze.

A man was slowly coming out from the bushes that served as the boundary between the blood-uniformed and ash-uniformed groups.
Baek Cheon’s eyes trembled slightly at the sight of the man.

‘That man is…’

It’s Myon (?). (면이다.)

It was an unforgettable face. He had been at the side of one of the most impactful figures Baek Cheon had ever known.

“…Myriad Man Manor?”

“It seems the term ‘long time no see’ doesn’t do justice. Have you been well, disciples of Mount Hua?”

A man wearing a scholar uniform and neatly combed hair.
Ho Gamyeong, Myriad Manor’s advisor, politely saluted Mount Hua Sect’s disciples.

“I am Ho Gamyeong of Myriad Man Manor.”

“…Baek Cheon of Mount Hua Sect.”

When Baek Cheon responded without lowering his guard, Ho Gamyeong spread his arms lightly. It was a relaxed gesture.

“I must say that I am so glad to see you again.”

“……What brings you here?”

“What brings me here……”

Ho Gamyeong lightly chuckled and took out his pipe. He leisurely filled it with tobacco and lit it by rubbing his fingers together.

Puff.

After puffing on his pipe a few times, smoke began to seep out from his mouth.

“Do you truly not know why I’m here?”

“….”

“I heard that the people of Mount Hua dared to go all the way to Nanchang and kindly cut off the head of our foolish martial artists…”

Baek Cheon bites his lips. As long as that word came out of his mouth, it was all wrong to solve the situation in a good way.

Ho Gamyeong grinned.

“Well, that’s possible. When people work, they may quarrel with each other, and if they fight like that, they may kill each other. I, Ho Gamyeong, am not ignorant of such things. But……”

He puffed out the hazy smoke and placed his long pipe on his shoulder.
“Still, the guys that ate the same pot of rice with have died, and if the perpetrators were snooping around in a place like my front yard, not somewhere else, shouldn’t they at least show their faces as a matter of courtesy?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Listen, you yangban Taoists.”

Ho Gamyeong’s gaze slowly swept through Mount Hua’s disciples. Unknowingly, they clenched their teeth at his gaze.

“We are the Evil Faction, scorned by you guys. We don’t know Righteousness, we don’t know morality. However, for us to live together under one name, there’s one thing that’s necessary. Do you know what it is?”
“……I don’t.”

“Principle.”

The word “Principle” resonated oddly in the ears of Mount Hua’s disciples.

“To unite unruly individuals who wouldn’t listen to words, a minimum level of principle is necessary. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“……What’s this principle?”

“It’s very simple.”

Ho Gamyeong’s lips curled into a slight smile.

“Tooth for tooth, blood for blood.”

As soon as his words fell, the members of the groups in blood and ash uniforms simultaneously drew their weapons. Seeing the sharp, thin swords (세검(細劍) /Kinda rapier) and the rugged, saw-like dao (거치도(鋸齒刀) /Jagged Dao), the disciples of Mount Hua tightly gripped the handles of their own swords.

“Huuuu.”

Ho Gamyeong shook his head slowly, blowing out a long puff of smoke.

“It’s deeply regrettable that this incident occurred not long after our Bangju celebrated the division of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But… dear Taoist-nim.”
The smile suddenly vanished from Ho Gamyeong’s face.

“You killed two members of Myriad Man Manor and brazenly entered our territory to cause trouble. Don’t you think you’ve crossed a line?”

“….”

“If we were to let you go easily, Myriad Man Manor would become a laughingstock in the world. We may be prepared to die, but we cannot endure being ridiculed.”

Baek Cheon sighed with a heavy heart.

It’s not that he didn’t think about Myriad Man Manor.

However, he hadn’t expected them to bring their forces to this remote area, deep in the mountains.

‘It’s my mistake.’

Despite knowing that Mount Hua’s status had changed from the past, he had been thinking and acting as if they were still in the era when they were disregarded. That was what had led to this outcome.

“We also had our circumstances.”

“Everyone has their circumstances.”

“Can’t this be resolved with words?”

“Your question doesn’t really require an answer.”

It was just as Baek Cheon was about to say another word to Ho Gamyeong.

Step.

Chung Myung, who has been watching the situation quietly, stepped forward without saying a word.

“Oh, this is Mount Hua…….”

Ho Gamyeong, who was about to greet Chung Myung, suddenly closed his mouth. The moment he met Chung Myung’s gaze, a chilling cold as if he had fallen into an ice pit enveloped his entire body.

‘…What is it?’

He too had endured countless hardships to rise to his position as the advisor in Myriad Man Manor. However, even he shivered at the sensation of his soul freezing over at this moment.

Seureureung.

Chung Myung, who had stepped forward, drew his sword without a word.

“Right now…”

“….”

“I’m not in the mood to joke around.”

Ho Gamyeong was speechless for a moment. He was utterly taken aback.

‘Is this really the same person?’

Of course, Chung Myung wasn’t always cheerful when he visited Mount Hua the other day. In fact, the momentum he showed when he faced the Bangju, Paegun, had left a deep impression on Ho Gamyeong.

But Chung Myung now seemed like a different person than then.
He just drew his sword out, but every inch of his body seemed ready to attack him. Unable to bear it, Ho Gamyeong inadvertently took a step back.

‘Where on earth did he come from…?’

“I’d kill you all if I could, but…… I don’t have time to play with you. Step back. Those who retreat won’t be cut.”

Chung Myung, who warned in a low voice, scanned everyone with dark eyes.

“Or you’ll die.”

Upon his threat, even Ho Gamyeong’s face showed a blatant trace of fear.
Upon seeing Chungmyung’s true colors, only one thought came to Ho Gamyeong’s mind.

He must die.

While Bangju may need that guy, Ho Gamyeong had different thoughts. Those raising a tiger cub always believe they can control the tiger.

Only when the tiger cub becomes a real tiger and sinks its fangs into their neck do they deeply realize there are things in the world that cannot be done by ambition alone.
While Paegun is not an ordinary man, neither is that guy. Ho Gamyeong didn’t intend to sit on the current threat right now to gain greater results.

Originally, he was thinking of sparing Chung Myung, but at this moment his plan changed to the exact opposite. No matter who else, but that guy, must die! Even if he had to make some sacrifices, he must kill him on the spot.

Tuk.

The burned tobacco fell to the ground from his pipe. At the same time, a loud roar burst from Ho Gamyeong’s mouth.

“Kill him! He must be killed!”

At his command, those surrounding them charged in unison.

“Be prepared!”

In Chung Myung’s brief shout, Mount Hua’s disciples encircled Tang Soso.

The blood-colored man, who rushed like a lightning with a single shout, exuded a blood-red energy the tip of his eerie blade.

‘Energy method?’ (강기)

Chung Myung’s face is frozen.

However, at that moment.
Kwaaaaang!

A huge explosion occurred in front of him. The blood-colored man, who had been rushing like a cheetah was quickly blown back.

“….”

Chung Myung, who was about to swing his sword, turned his gaze with a hardened expression. The disciples of Mount Hua, too, were looking at the spot where Chung Myung was looking, without understanding what had happened.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… I wondered what you were up to.”

A familiar voice rang out. And a man in a familiar but never truly accustomed attire casually walked out from the bushes.

“Ga Myeong, Ga Myeong. I told you not to do this. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Paegun Jang Ilso.

Instantly, a fierce look flared in Chung Myung’s eyes.