Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1265: I Will Not Send You Alive. (5)
Previously on Return of the Mount Hua Sect...
The battlefield was a chaotic maelstrom, yet Gwak Hwan-So found himself adrift, disoriented.
‘What should I do?’
A ship belonging to the Ten Thousand People Clan loomed ahead, while the main contingent of the same clan advanced relentlessly from behind. A mere disciple from a Southern Island sect might have been tempted to charge the ship without a second thought. However, as the most promising disciple of the Southern Island sect, Gwak Hwan-So couldn’t simply abandon the approaching main force of the Ten Thousand People Clan.
‘Should I attempt to intercept them?’
While he was paralyzed by indecision, a hand seized his shoulder, yanking him back with surprising force.
“Baek—Baek Cheon, warrior?”
“What are you doing dithering here!”
“I-I’ll help too...”
“We will secure the rear. You must proceed to the ship immediately! There’s a possibility of enemies concealed within the ship itself!”
Gwak Hwan-So’s senses finally snapped back, and he nodded hastily.
Baek Cheon’s counsel was sound. There was no guarantee that members of the Ten Thousand People Clan were not already aboard the vessel. Someone needed to take command of the Southern Island forces from the ship’s deck.
“Lead the disciples and secure the entire ship! Once everyone is safely aboard, set sail without any further delay!”
“B-but what about the warriors?”
“Hurry now!”
Baek Cheon’s grip tightened on Gwak Hwan-So’s shoulder once more.
“If you wish to see us survive, do not linger here—move!”
Without waiting for a response, Baek Cheon propelled him forward. As Gwak Hwan-So was pushed along, he witnessed warriors of the Heavenly Friends Alliance descending from all directions, filling the space before him.
“Where do you think you’re crawling to!”
Paaaaaat!
Jo Gul, still airborne and yet to touch down, unleashed a torrent of sword qi into the open air. The manifestations of his blade radiated outwards like splitting light, showering the combatants of the Ten Thousand People Clan like relentless rain.
Gwak Hwan-So could only stare, his mouth agape.
The sword shadows cascading from Jo Gul’s blade seemed to cleave through the dazzling sunlight of the South Sea.
“Ugh!”
“Th-this bastard!”
The formidable Tiger Ghost Troops, buoyed by the imminent arrival of their main force, faltered and retreated as if struck by beams of pure light-like sword qi.
Another figure materialized behind Jo Gul, silent as a shadow.
Sarararak!
Falling Blossoms.
From Jo Gul’s soaring sword, crimson petals erupted. These petals instantly enveloped the sweltering midday heat, imbuing the sky over the South Sea with an ethereal, spring-like ambiance as they drifted gently downwards.
“Kuh, kkk!”
From a distance, the delicate petals appeared fragile and ephemeral. However, any unfortunate soul facing that blade would inherently understand: each seemingly delicate petal was imbued with razor-sharp lethality.
The very instant Jo Gul’s sword shadows and Yu Yiseol’s sword qi converged, the Ten Thousand People Clan’s offensive momentum was utterly shattered.
“Taaap!”
“Oooooo!”
A brilliant white luminescence and an auspicious fiery glow ascended simultaneously.
Namgung Do-Wei, wielding his Enhanced Sword, and Hae Yeon’s Arhat Divine Fist descended with crushing force into the heart of the charging enemy.
Kwaaang!
The mingled white and fiery lights detonated, completely obliterating the ensuing cries of pain.
Yet, they were not called the Ten Thousand People Clan for nothing. Even as their comrades were dismembered, these warriors refused to yield their relentless advance easily.
“Kahahaaat!”
The fighters of the Ten Thousand People Clan roared like savage beasts, their focus shifting towards Jo Gul and Yu Yiseol as they prepared to land. Someone surged forward to intercept them—Baek Cheon had already moved with lightning speed to the very front.
Bang!
Stamping the deck with a force that threatened to shatter it, Baek Cheon swung his sword with terrifying might, cleaving the attackers in twain with crimson sword qi in a single, fluid motion.
Paaaaat!
Hot blood spattered across his face, yet Baek Cheon remained unmoved, his voice ringing out in a command:
“Hold your ground!”
A simple, concise order.
But for his subordinates, it was sufficient—they moved with the ingrained familiarity of Baek Cheon’s own limbs. Swiftly assuming their positions, they brandished their blades in unison.
“Aaah! Right! Right! Damn it, the right flank is exposed! Tang Soso, what are you doing! Where did you put the food… no, blast it! Did you consume poison instead of sustenance? Move faster, move!”
“...We shall meet again someday, Green Forest King.”
Tang Pae gritted his teeth and darted towards the direction Im So-Byeong indicated. Poisonous darts erupted from his nervously flicking fingers, scattering before the charging Ten Thousand People Clan fighters like a herd of enraged buffalo.
Kwa-deuk!
“Ugh!”
A heavy needle pierced a warrior’s foot, causing him to bite his lip in pain. The agony was intense, but he attempted to press onward. Or rather, he would have—had his body not suddenly buckled and collapsed to the ground.
The insidious poison of the Tang sect, having seeped in through the wound, instantly rendered his body limp and paralyzed!
“Widen the spacing, spread out! Block any attempts to slip through the left and right flanks!”
“W-where should I proceed, Green Forest King!”
In response to the shouted inquiry, Im So-Byeong’s head snapped towards that direction. He observed Seol So-Baek gripping his sword tightly, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“What about the Palace Lord!”
“Yes!”
“......Where should he be utilized?”
“...Yes?”
Im So-Byeong pressed his fan to his cheek, his mind racing as he hastily pondered the situation.
“Uh... for now... over in the back there...”
“Dang Lady! Danger!”
At that moment, Seol So-Baek dashed with all his might toward Tang Soso before Im So-Byeong could finish his order.
Im So-Byeong, watching in astonishment, soon snorted with amusement.
“...Who taught him, I wonder.”
What was the point of saying it? It was obvious.
And then a group joined the defensive line they had formed.
“Assist the Acting Sect leader!”
“Let’s go!”
The Southern Island Sect’s elders, including Sect Leader Geum Yang-Baek, joined the defensive line. Their eyes flared and they ground their teeth.
“You vicious bastards!”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment!”
Putting aside all else, when it came to hatred for the Four Sects Alliance and the Ten Thousand People Clan, the Southern Island’s animosity wasn’t inferior even to Mount Hua.
The Southern Island elders, finally given the chance to swing their swords freely at the Ten Thousand People Clan, unleashed relentless waves of wrathful strikes.
“Oh dear, elders. You’re strong, that’s for sure!”
“They’re elders, you crazy bastard!”
“...sahyung. These days you seem to treat me too roughly.”
“You’re the one who’s an uncivilized human among all!”
“...You’re speaking too harshly.”
Jo Gul thrust his sword at the innocent Ten Thousand People combatants as if to vent the wound he had received from Yoon Jong.
“Come on, come...”
“Come see! You bastards!”
“......”
Jo Gul blankly turned toward the voice and saw Tang Soso mercilessly thrusting her sword with a demon-like expression.
Jo Gul lowered his eyes and quietly returned his head to its place.
Bang!
The moment he stamped the ground, sand flew up violently.
“Run faster!”
“Aaaaaah!”
Gwak Hwan-So gritted his teeth.
The pressure from the Ten Thousand People Clan’s main force was beyond imagination. If he didn’t grit his teeth now, his hands would already be trembling.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
What moved Gwak Hwan-So was a loud shout coming from right behind him.
They say the body moves before the head thinks it through—that was this very moment. The thunder of fierce combat continued nonstop. Gwak Hwan-So’s body leapt forward, vaulting onto the high ship’s prow in one bound.
“Aaaah!”
Bursting with bloodlust to the tips of his hair, Gwak Hwan-So leapt aboard and saw some Ten Thousand People Clan fighters guarding the ship.
“Subdue them!”
Roaring like a tiger, Gwak Hwan-So charged forward without waiting for replies. His sword qi poured over the enemy like a furious tidal wave.
“Guh!”
A Ten Thousand People fighter, his shoulder long sliced by Gwak Hwan-So’s sword, staggered back with a muffled groan. Another Southern Island sect’s disciple dashed at that fighter.
“Die!”
Swaaeaaak!
Even to Gwak Hwan-So, that was a flawless stroke.
So he had no thought that anything was wrong—until the shoulder-slashed Ten Thousand People fighter glared with murderous intent and swung his blade.
Chwaaak!
The Ten Thousand People’s blade, flying like a storm, sliced deeply across the Southern Island sect’s disciple’s chest.
“Jwa Gong!”
“Sajae!”
Gwak Hwan-So shouted and swung at the Ten Thousand People fighter. His fellow sworn sahyungs’ swords followed, piercing the Ten Thousand People’s body as if skewering it.
“Aaaaah! You brats!”
But even impaled through the body, the Ten Thousand People clan’s fighter advanced toward them and wielded his blade with terrifying vigor.
Kwaang!
The blade that cleaved through the blocking swords cut down more Southern Island disciples. Blood spurted everywhere and screams rang out—the deck turned into hell in an instant.
“You son of a bitch!”
Lee Ja-Yang charged fiercely and drove his sword into the Ten Thousand People’s chest. Gwak Hwan-So did not fall behind; he leapt in and stabbed the Ten Thousand People’s throat.
Kwa-deuk!
“Gurgle...”
A bubbling, blood-choked sound escaped from the Ten Thousand People’s mouth.
“You...”
“......”
“Will all die...”
No matter how venomous a person, once their throat was pierced they could not hold on—his body sagged immediately.
Even after life left him, his eyes stayed wide open.
Gwak Hwan-So’s fingers trembled pathetically.
“Jwa Gong! Are you alright?”
“D-damn it! Great sahyung! Chae Euk is badly hurt!”
“B-blood keeps flowing. sahyung!”
“Huk...”
Gwak Hwan-So wiped the blood splattered across his face with his sleeve. His ears were ringing; he couldn’t hear anything properly. Only the thudding of his heart felt loud enough to burst from his throat.
“Great sahyung!”
At the urging shout again, Gwak Hwan-So clenched his fist tight.
“Can’t you compose yourself!”
The ones who had been panicking flinched at the shout.
“Didn’t you come prepared for this!”
“......”
“Down below, the Heavenly Friends Alliance people are risking their lives to hold them back. And you lot are complaining because you’re a little wounded!”
“S-sahyung...”
“Some stay and tend the wounded! The rest seize the entire ship quickly! Now!”
“Yes!”
“Ja-Yang!”
“Yes, sahyung!” “Head to the helm at once! We must maneuver the ship!” “Understood!” As the others sprang into action with unified purpose, Gwak Hwan-So’s gaze finally fell upon those who had been struck down. His sworn brothers, who had faced countless hardships alongside him, now lay groaning, their eyes already losing their vital spark. Witnessing their state pierced his heart like a sharp needle. Yet, he forcibly shut his eyes for a moment and averted his head. This was a reality he absolutely had to embrace! “Hurry up! Before the ones holding the defense below are overwhelmed!” “Yes!” Gwak Hwan-So tightly grasped his sword and then charged forward. His priority was to first fulfill the duty assigned to him. Grief and rage could be dealt with later. ‘This is war!’ As the fog of confusion dispersed like a fleeting dream, the potent stench of blood assaulted his senses. This smell firmly cemented the grim reality: he was now immersed in the heart of a fierce battle. “Raaah!” Gwak Hwan-So drove his sword towards a member of the Ten Thousand People clan who was leaping out from the cabin. He clearly felt the sharp edge slice through flesh and sinew. A chilling, fierce malevolence, unlike anything he had felt before, flashed within his eyes. “Annihilate every last one of them! Make them rue the day they dared to set foot on Southern Island, even in the depths of hell!” The sheer madness of the battlefield had now claimed yet another warrior.