Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1270: Worry About The Ten Thousand People Clan Bastards! (5)
Previously on Return of the Mount Hua Sect...
Naturally, Ho Ga-Myung's astonishment must have been immense.
Yet, it paled in comparison to the shock felt by the disciples of the Southern Island Sect aboard their ship, gazing toward the shore.
"Um..."
Gwak Hwan-So, his face a mask of disbelief, couldn't even complete his sentence.
The white sandy beach, now completely saturated in red, saw crimson blood continuously erupting like sea foam.
"How..."
The Ten Thousand People Clan. The rulers of the southern lands, whom the Southern Island Sect dreaded above all else.
A single individual was single-handedly repelling an army dispatched by the Ten Thousand People Clan to eradicate the Southern Island Sect. The emotions Gwak Hwan-So experienced witnessing this firsthand were far too complex for mere words.
In all honesty, this was likely his first encounter with what could be termed a genuine battle.
While he had certainly engaged in serious swordplay before, this marked his first taste of life-or-death combat and the first time participating in warfare on such a grand scale, rather than mere skirmishes.
Consequently, from the moment they disembarked, he had been overwhelmed with exhaustion, yearning to simply collapse on the deck.
And yet, Mount Hua's Sword Saint, after enduring all they had faced, was now holding them at bay single-handedly. No, he was actively pushing them back.
"He's not even human..."
Lee Ja-Yang whispered beside him. A quick glance revealed his face was drained of all color, appearing deathly pale.
Observing the tremor in his jaw, Gwak Hwan-So slowly shifted his gaze back to Chung Myung, who was fluidly swinging his sword. The spherical object that had abruptly soared into the sky moments before was unmistakably the head of a warrior from the Ten Thousand People Clan.
'Is he truly the same person...'
It was difficult to reconcile.
The man now ruthlessly severing the heads of the Ten Thousand People Clan warriors was the very same individual who, mere days prior, had poured drinks and chuckled heartily at his table.
At that precise moment, Namgung Do-Wei's voice cut through the air.
"...Isn't he pushing it too far?"
His tone was laced with palpable concern.
"While I understand the need to create distance, it feels as though he's becoming excessively isolated."
"He's still alright."
However, Baek Cheon's response, meant to quell the worry, was delivered with absolute calm.
"Acting Sect Leader, but..."
"He's alright."
Baek Cheon interrupted once more. Gwak Hwan-So observed him silently. Though his expression was somewhat stern, his eyes betrayed no hint of doubt. The only discernible emotion was an unwavering, firm trust.
Even Namgung Do-Wei fell silent, his gaze flickering between Baek Cheon and the distant shore before he finally spoke.
"It's not that I doubt the skill of Mount Hua's Sword Saint. If it concerns the Heavenly Friends Alliance, no one would dare harbor such reservations."
"..."
"But this is a battlefield, is it not? It's a place where even a minor surge of excitement can completely alter the tide of events. A momentary lapse in judgment can, after all, cost one their life, can't it?"
These words caused a ripple of unease to spread among some of the listeners.
The notion of Chung Myung being defeated by the enemy was inconceivable. At least, not to those gathered there.
However, Chung Myung was still human; if he continued to fight with such relentless ferocity, he might miss the opportune moment to retreat. In such a scenario, he would inevitably find himself surrounded by a multitude of opponents.
"Sasuk..."
Jo Gul called out to Baek Cheon in a voice tinged with worry, as if he agreed with Namgung Do-Wei's assessment—suggesting that they should signal Chung Myung to withdraw even now.
Baek Cheon, however, merely continued to gaze silently at Chung Myung, offering no reply. Growing frustrated, Jo Gul called out to him again.
"Sasuk."
"Excited?"
Baek Cheon's response, however, was directed not at Jo Gul but at Namgung Do-Wei.
"I wish he were the type to become excited."
"...Huh?"
He spoke, his dark gaze fixed upon the chaotic battlefield.
"He doesn't get excited. He merely feigns excitement."
"..."
"Of course, he is human, and there will be times when he gets carried away and loses himself in the moment, but this is hardly one of those instances."
Upon hearing this, Yoon Jong and Yu Yiseol nodded in agreement.
"So you're suggesting he's not genuinely excited?"
Namgung Do-Wei directed his gaze towards Chung Myung, who was rampaging like a berserk demon. It was a spectacle that seemed capable of igniting the bloodlust even in mere observers. How could the person orchestrating such chaos remain composed?
"You'll understand."
Baek Cheon offered no further explanation.
Namgung Do-Wei finally fell silent as well. While Baek Cheon's words might have sounded curt, Namgung Do-Wei grasped his underlying meaning.
This was not a refusal to explain; rather, it was an explanation that could not be articulated.
It wasn't a matter of logic or theory, but an answer forged through shared experiences. How could one possibly articulate the foundation of such absolute trust?
'It's almost unsettling.'
In a certain sense, it was downright eerie.
A steadfast conviction that the man fighting alone against the formidable Ten Thousand People Clan would never lose his composure, never be defeated, and never commit an error. Wasn't this akin to blind adoration?
Though the forms might differ, the faith they demonstrated in Chung Myung mirrored the Ten Thousand People Clan's unwavering belief in Jang Ilso or the Demonic Cult's fervent devotion to the Heavenly Demon.
Chung Myung had garnered such profound trust from them not through authority or favor, but solely through his exceptional skills and extraordinary deeds.
Namgung Do-Wei observed Chung Myung in his frenzied combat.
‘Will I ever reach such a level?’
Gazing at his retreating figure, Namgung Do-Wei found his own lips pressing together tightly.
Paaaaat!
Mangled bodies flew upward and disintegrated. Crimson blood erupted from newly formed openings, showering Chung Myung’s face.
Despite the oppressive heat, which felt as though it could ignite the very air, Chung Myung’s gaze remained icily devoid of mercy.
‘The distance?’
His eyes and senses instantly calculated the space between himself and Ho Ga-Myung’s position.
‘It’s too far.’
An irritating multitude of adversaries obstructed his path. Had there been even a few less, he would have charged through and ended that man’s life, regardless of the risk.
But as things stood, breaking through might be feasible, yet escaping unscathed afterward felt impossible.
He plunged the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword into the back of a fleeing opponent. With a twist of the embedded blade in the trembling man’s spine, he wrenched it upward.
The intent was to maximize the spray of blood, to ensure the spectacle was witnessed clearly by all.
‘What should I do?’
Internally, the urge to force his way through and apprehend his target was strong.
Instinctively… no, instinct wasn't even necessary to know this. Ho Ga-Myung presented a more complex challenge than anticipated.
From Chung Myung’s viewpoint, dealing with him might prove more arduous than facing Jang Ilso, who was prone to devising outlandish schemes.
A stratagem typically involves accepting danger for a clear reward. However, Ho Ga-Myung eschewed such gambles, meticulously and discreetly fulfilling his designated role.
Chung Myung was acutely aware of the potential catastrophe that could arise if an individual like that managed to position themselves behind him.
He desired to eliminate Ho Ga-Myung not only to effect an escape from the Southern lands but also in preparation for the impending confrontation with the Four Sects Alliance, yet…
“Ugh, aaaaah!”
Realizing their escape routes were sealed, those who had been desperately fleeing turned back toward Chung Myung. Their eyes rolling, they charged.
A cornered mouse, unable to flee the predatory cat, will lash out. They must have surged forward, leaving no openings, in a moment of desperate calculation.
But.
Prrrrrrr!
Chung Myung’s sword vibrated with astonishing speed for an instant. Then, from its tip, a cascade of crimson plum blossom petals erupted.
Paaaaaaah!
As if animated, the dispersed petals took flight, slicing into the charging warriors of the Ten Thousand People Clan.
“Aaaaargh!”
The anguished cries added another layer of terror to the gore-soaked scene.
Those impaled multiple times collapsed, blood gushing from numerous wounds. Yet, Chung Myung’s eyes, the source of this horrific display, remained utterly cold.
‘Too many.’
Chung Myung moderately reduced the intensity of his assault. If he so chose, he could fell these foes and immediately advance on Ho Ga-Myung, but his rear was not yet secure.
Specifically, the individuals he now confronted were merely the lesser combatants within the Ten Thousand People Clan. The true strength lay in the formidable forces guarding Ho Ga-Myung’s immediate vicinity, forming an impenetrable barrier behind him.
Before long, those were precisely the adversaries he would need to engage.
‘This is precisely why I despise these Evil Sect curs.’
Chung Myung would not hesitate to penetrate enemy lines to rescue even a single disciple. However, the Evil Sect, while feigning rampant destruction, displayed no compunction in utilizing their comrades as expendable bait to wear down their opponents.
A flicker of disgust marred Chung Myung’s brow.
‘The positioning?’
He assessed the distance separating himself from the ships that had already sailed out to sea.
The proximity was becoming alarmingly close.
‘This is the moment.’
Chung Myung spun his sword and reversed his grip.
“I’ll depart this time, but…”
Chung Myung’s blood-splattered lips pulled back, revealing unnervingly white teeth.
“Still, a farewell is in order.”
Kwahng!
Chung Myung forcefully propelled himself upwards from the ground. He contorted his body mid-air. Instantly, crimson sword aura erupted from his blade with devastating force.
Paaaaaaang!
Accompanied by a thunderclap that seemed to splinter the very sky, a scarlet streak materialized overhead.
This crimson trail, bisecting the azure expanse of the Southern Sea, soared over the ranks of the Ten Thousand People Clan and hurtled directly towards Ho Ga-Myung.
“Intercept him!”
The guards stationed around Ho Ga-Myung sprang into action as if anticipating this very moment, brandishing massive blades against Chung Myung’s incoming sword aura.
Kakak! Kagagagak!
‘What?’
Yet, even as the heavy blades, imbued with internal qi, collided with the slender sword, the blade neither deflected nor splintered. Instead, it began to embed itself within the substantial weapon.
‘Ah, no…’
Kagagagagagak!
The blade, reinforced by internal qi and rendered harder than any metal, shrieked as it was progressively ground down. What was even more terrifying was the immense power contained within the sword qi.
“Aaaaargh!”
Those who had attempted the interception lost their grip and were flung aside. Chung Myung’s unleashed sword qi, its momentum unbroken, surged relentlessly toward Ho Ga-Myung.
“Commander!”
“Dodge…”
Kwaaaang!
A geyser of sand erupted behind Ho Ga-Myung, yet he remained utterly still, unwavering.
Sshk.
A crimson line, as if drawn from his left eye down to his ear across his cheek, appeared. His entire left face was instantly painted an alarming red with blood. It was a wound so profound it exposed the bone. Yet, Ho Ga-Myung appeared utterly unfazed by the agony, his dark, unblinking gaze fixed solely on Chung Myung. “Hmph.” Upon landing, Chung Myung’s lips twisted into a disdainful smirk. ‘Just as I thought, a predictable opponent.’ Still, a greeting had been exchanged, and that was sufficient. After decisively severing the ties with the attackers who swarmed him, Chung Myung whirled with the agility of a nimble ferret. It was precisely then. Paaaaaat! From the blood-drenched crimson sand beneath Chung Myung, a dozen or so sword lines erupted upwards. However, Chung Myung merely sneered, contorting his body. The assault was sharp, but insufficient to bring him down. But then. Kwaaang! The emergent swords briefly flared with light before detonating into hundreds of shards, scattering wildly in every direction. ‘What is this?’ Chung Myung’s eyes widened in an instant.