Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 720
The snake-like, calculating eyes scanned the surroundings slowly. Those who met his gaze instinctively lowered their eyes.
Rustle.
The red Tang boots (당화(唐靴)) crushed the overgrown grass. The sound of the withered and crushed plants echoed.
“Oh dear, oh dear.”
Jang Ilso, who shook his head lightly, sighed.
Jingle.
With each leisurely step Jang Ilso took, the accessories hanging loosely on his body clinked, creating a clear metallic sound. The golden dragon engraved on the snowy white robe seemed to come to life, swaying.
It was a truly out-of-the-blue appearance, but no one here could take their eyes off Jang Ilso from the moment he appeared. It was as if Jang Ilso was sucking up space itself.
The crowd of Myriad Man Manor and the Five Swords were looking at him as if possessed.
It seemed like a tiger was leisurely walking through a street filled with people.
“Hmm.”
Jang Ilso, who sighed quietly, walked towards a person vomiting blood and then crouched down after looking at the person coughing persistently.
“Are you all right?”
“Huff, cough! I- I…”
“I apologize. I was in a hurry, that’s why…”
Jang Ilso lightly tapped the person’s back with his hand. The person, who seemed on the verge of passing out, visibly improved.
“Cough! Cough!”
“Noow, vomit the blood again.”
“Uwaaagh!”
The person, who vomited a considerable amount of blood, turned his head and looked at Jang Ilso.
“T- Thank you, Bangju-nim.”
“You don’t have to say much. Since it was my doing, it’s only natural that I take care of it. I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t blame yourself! How could I resent Bangju-nim for taking the life that was saved by Bangju-nim?!”
“Thank you for understanding. I’ll remember you.”
“I- It’s an honor.”
Jang Ilso patted the shoulders of the person who was still trembling and smiled gently. Then he slowly stood up.
Baek Cheon, who had been observing the process, felt a deep sense of unease.
It was that Jang Ilso who attacked that blood-colored man.
According to common sense, that person should feel resentment, betrayal, or at least confusion towards Jang Ilso, who attacked them out of the blue. However, at this moment, it seemed as if Jang Ilso had become a lifelong benefactor to them.
Although he gave medicine and treated the illness, the person seemed to completely forget about the medicine and instead treated it as if they were just receiving a favor.
‘What the hell is he…….’
Even after witnessing it directly, there was almost no corner where Baek Cheon could understand.
Jang Ilso’s eyes turned to Ho Gamyeong, who was biting his lips.
“Gamyeong-ah.”
“…Bangju-nim.”
“Tsk.”
Jang Ilso clicked his tongue with a slightly displeased face and said reproachfully.
“Why would I have given you the power to deploy troops without my permission?”
“That….”
“Because I thought you would understand my intentions even without going through the cumbersome procedures. Isn’t that right?”
Ho Gamyeong, biting his lips, bowed his head. Jang Ilso sighed a bit exaggeratedly and furrowed his brows.
“But the one who knows my intentions best is doing something like this. Gamyeong, Gamyeong. Why are you acting so foolishly? Why did it turn out like this, huh?”
Ho Gamyeong bit his lips tightly.
“Bangju-nim, I…….”
“That’s enough.”
But before he could finish his sentence, Jang Ilso waved his hand as if he found it bothersome.
“There must have been a reason. I won’t bother asking.”
“….”
“I’ll listen later.”
Jang Ilso walked forward, making a rustling sound with each step, and stood before the Five Swords.
“Excuse me. This friend here has a bit too much enthusiasm. Sometimes he does things without being told. If there are any mistakes made by those below, it’s the responsibility of those above, so blame me instead.”
Chung Myung stared straight at Jang Ilso.
The calm gaze of Jang Ilso and Chung Myung’s ice-like gaze entangled in the air.
And was Jang Ilso was the first to avert his gaze.
“Phew, you could eat people eat with your eyes. As you can see, but I’m a bit sensitive, so it would be nice if you could ease up on the intensity. Otherwise…”
A bright smile was drawn around Jang Ilso’s mouth.
“I feel like plucking it out? Hm?”
“You son of a beast…”
Chung Myung tightened his grip on his sword.
By now, it was an incredibly dreadful connection that could not be explained simply as a fate. (이쯤 되면 악연이라는 말로도 모자란, 지독하기 그지없는 인연이다.)
Jang Ilso giggled as he saw Chung Myung gritting his teeth.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“What?”
“What burden do you carry on your shoulders? It looks quite precious.”
Chung Myung’s head turns slightly. With the clothes wrapped around the remains of Cheong Jin in his eyes, he replied calmly.
“Mount Hua’s spirit.”
As if wondering, Jang Ilso was holding back his laughter.
“Spirit?”
“….”
“A spirit… Spirit! Spirit! Hahahaha.”
Jang Ilso’s small giggling laughter grew louder and louder.
“Hahaha… Hahahaha! Ahahahahaha! That’s it! So that’s the spirit of Mount Hua, is it? Hahahaha!”
As Jang Ilso laughed loudly, swaying his body and laughing uproariously, his accessories jingled noisily, mingling with the laughter like music.
Baek Cheon bit his lips tightly.
‘God damn it.’
He had fought against countless enemies. Among them, there were undoubtedly formidable foes that they couldn’t handle.
But in the face of any despair, he had never felt like this before. Even when facing the Bishop, he didn’t feel trapped like a mouse in a jar and his neck felt chilled by every action of the opponent.
Regardless of the extent of the difference in power, Jang Ilso was truly in an incomprehensible realm.
‘A rat in a jar.’
The blood and ash-colored man were undoubtedly the elites of the Myriad Man Manor. It was burdensome enough with them alone, and now Paegun Jang Ilso had appeared as well.
Can they overcome this?
No, that can’t be possible.
No matter how strong Chung Myung is, it would be challenging to face Jang Ilso. If Chung Myung’s feet were caught, they wouldn’t be able to handle the elite members of Myriad Man Manor alone. It was clear that they would be overwhelmed in an instant.
Then Chung Myung would have to face Jang Ilso and all of them alone. It would mean an inevitable defeat.
In that case…
Baek Cheon whispered softly, keeping his gaze fixed on Jang Ilso, who was bursting with laughter.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“Hm?”
“When the fight begins, I will make an escape, so you run away.”
Chung Myung turned his head with a bewildered expression.
“…What?”
“I’m not joking. You must survive.”
Baek Cheon said, looking at Chung Myung with a serious look on his face.
“You must survive and return to Mount Hua. And you must deliver this secret martial art manual.”
Chung Myung stared at him for a moment and smiled as if he was dumbfounded.
“Dongryong has really grown up. Didn’t know you could say something like that.”
“I’m not joking, you brat.”
“Well, I’m not joking either.”
“….”
Chung Myung’s mouth rolled up cold.
“Especially now.”
“Why are you so foolishly……!”
“That’s why.”
“….”
“If you measure too much, you regret it. And….” (“너무 재면 후회하더라고. 그리고….”)
Chung Myung looks at Baek Cheon with cold eyes.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying I’m going to die. No one is going to die.”
“….”
“The one who’s going to die is their side.”
Chung Myung glared at Jang Ilso and the people of Myriad Man Manor.
“No matter who the opponent is, it doesn’t matter. If they block, I’ll break through. That’s all.”
As soon as Chung Myung finished speaking, Yoo Iseol pulled out her sword. Then she took a step forward, standing next to Chung Myung.
“Anyone.”
“Yes, anyone.”
Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong also drew their swords and stood on either side of them.
“It’s Myriad Man Manor, so I’m used to it.”
“I can open a path for as long as I can.”
Tang Soso clung to Chung Myung’s back as he reached into her sleeve.
“I’ll use poison. Don’t approach the poisonous side.”
A glint of frost emanated from her eyes.
Baek Cheon bit his lips as he looked at the Saje ahead of him.
They must also be well aware of how desperate the situation is right now. But not a single one of them cries or fears death.
‘Stupid fools.’
Seureureung.
Soon after, Baek Cheon, who had quickly gathered his resolve, firmly drew his sword.
“Step aside.”
Pushing between Yoo Iseol and Yoon Jong, he stood at the front and aimed his sword ahead.
A ferocious energy radiated from his body, and the Myriad Man Manor people responded by aiming their weapons, emitting a similar fierce energy. It was like the momentum of a beast ready to charge at any moment.
It was a volatile and explosive situation as if it could explode at any moment.
But then.
“Hahahahaha!”
Jang Ilso, who wrapped his face with one hand as if to hide his smiling face, laughed for a long time and stretched out his other arm.
With just that gesture, the momentum of Myriad Man Manor people vanished completely, as if washed away.
“Open the way.”
There was little confusion and bewilderment in the eyes of Myriad Man Manor people at Jang Ilso’s command. But when Jang Ilso opened his mouth once again, all their doubts quickly disappeared.
“Are you going to make me repeat myself?”
The effect was immediate. The Myriad Man Manor people immediately stepped back, opening a path to the sides.
“Ba- Bangju-ni,!”
Ho Gamyeong groaned, but Jang Ilso didn’t even react. As his hand, visible beneath the covered face, slightly opened, revealing gleaming white teeth.
If the leader of a pack of wolves were to laugh, it would be a sight like that.
“Do not forget, Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”
“….”
Through the fingers with rings dangling between them, his eyes emitted a blue madness.
“You owe me once. The calculation must be clear.
Chung Myung stared at Jang Ilso with sharp eyes.
“You’re quite audacious.” (“제멋대로군.”)
“I don’t know, but I’m fairly accurate with calculations.”
Chwaak!
Chung Myung swung his sword once.
Then he lifted up the sword, which had been hanging down, slightly, gradually concealing the blade within the sheath.
Seureureung.
“I don’t usually make deals with swindlers, but…”
Tak!
The sound of the sword entering the sheath resonated sharply.
Chung Myung looked straight at Jang Ilso and said,
“It’s only this time.”
“Thank you for this.”
Chung Myung glanced back briefly.
“Let’s go.”
Five Swords looked at Chung Myung with puzzled eyes. H It was a gaze that questioned whether they could believe what Jang Ilso said.
And it was understandable. If they were to be ambushed when passing through the path opened by the enemy, the situation would become even worse than it is now.
“I’m not that reckless. Let’s go.”
But Chung Myung nonchalantly stepped forward and led the way.
“Uh….”
In the end, Five Swords also sheathed their sword and hurriedly followed him.
There was not a moment of hesitation in Chung Myung’s steps toward Jang Ilso. Cold eyes of Chung Myung and the deep, unreadable eyes of Jang Ilso met and intertwined in the air.
As their shoulders brushed against each other in passing, Chung Myung spoke calmly.
“One debt.”
“….”
“I remembered it clearly.”
With those words, Chung Myung turned around without even looking back and walked through the midst of the Myriad Man Manor warriors. Though they glared at him with hostility, he never gave even a glance.
The disciples of Mount Hua, their guard raised like hedgehogs, followed behind him.
Soon after, Baek Cheon, who had completely escaped the siege of Myriad Man Manor, looked back. Sweat, which had trickled down unnoticed, fell from his chin to the ground. Although he had not swung his sword once, he felt as if all the energy in his body had been drained.
Everyone let out a small sigh.
“They’re not chasing after us?”
“…Really, they’re letting us go like this?”
“What is he thinking, that guy?”
And they repeatedly looked back, unable to understand the situation that had just occurred.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“…First of all…”
But before Baek Cheon could say anything, Chung Myung interrupted him by lowering his head. And he tightly grasped the clothes containing the remains.
“To Mount Hua.”
“…Understood.”
Just before speeding up his pace, Chung Myung looked back. He could clearly see the figures of the Myriad Man Manor warriors watching them.
With his lips tightly pressed together, Chung Myung broke eye contact and rushed forward.
‘Paegun Jang Ilso.’
Engraving the name to his heart like paint.