Return of the Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1336: I Will Make Sure That Name Is Engraved (6)

How far have we come? How long have we been fighting?

Swaaaak!

A blade suddenly and chillingly flew in, cutting the foot that was about to touch the ground.

Yu Yiseol lost her balance in an instant and tumbled headlong to the ground. Her muscles seemed severed; she couldn’t put strength into her leg. In fact, she had no feeling at all.

But Yu Yiseol neither despaired nor gave up.

Bang!

She shoved the ground hard with her hands and used the recoil to lurch forward a bit more. A violent shock hit her wrist, as if it might break, but she paid it no mind.

‘More!’

One more step!

“Die, you bitch!”

Members of the Ten Thousand People Clan, their eyes full of poisonous intent, tore their mouths wide and screamed as they swung blades at her. Yu Yiseol immediately swung her sword with full force to meet them.

Kaaang!

Using the force of sword and blade colliding, she rolled back and drove her hand into the ground again.

‘How far have I come?’

No, she mustn’t think.

The moment she thinks, she might despair at how far is still left.

And it doesn’t matter how far she’s come. No matter where this is, what she must do won’t change.

Swaaaak!

A crimson blade flew in fiercely. Realizing she couldn’t block them all, Yu Yiseol’s left hand instinctively covered Chung Myung’s head.

Kaang! Shhk!

The clash of her sword and the blades rang out, and at the same time the sound of flesh being cut by the blade was heard.

Her flank was cut and blood poured, but Yu Yiseol retreated immediately without faltering or staggering.

More. One more step.

“That wretched bitch!”

Even the Ten Thousand People Clan members looked at Yu Yiseol as if they were sickened.

Her face had long since swollen badly from the repeated blows of flying blades.

She couldn’t even open her eyes properly, making it hard to see.

But even in that dire state, she was steadily, desperately extricating herself from the pursuit.

‘More...’

The ground was stained red with the blood she shed.

She no longer felt pain. All that remained was the will to escape.

Swaaaak!

As a blade flew in, Yu Yiseol’s sword moved instinctively.

Kaang!

But her sword no longer had the strength to deflect the blade. The moment blade and sword collided, her wrist buckled. The misdirected blade sliced through her thigh.

Shhk!

Her thigh split open, revealing white bone.

But more troubling than the severity of the wound was that she could no longer use that leg.

‘Must... go...’

She could no longer plant her foot hard or nimbly evade attacks. Her right leg would no longer move at her command.

Screee. Tick. Screee.

But even dragging the limp leg, Yu Yiseol kept retreating while facing the Ten Thousand People Clan members.

Because of the heavy bleeding, her thoughts came and went in fragments.

She no longer clearly remembered when the fight had started or why they were fighting.

What moved her was a faint warmth against her back, nothing more.

She must protect him.

She had always said she’d protect, yet she’d only ever been protected. This time, she had to protect this one.

“Do...n’t... worry...”

Yu Yiseol forced herself to lift her sword. But her wrist, apparently dislocated, kept going limp.

“I’m... still... fine.”

It wasn’t even clear whom she spoke to—Chung Myung, or herself.

No, it didn’t matter.

“...Even in that state...”

The words, spoken in a weary voice as if disgusted by her, reached her muffled ears.

Strangely, she laughed.

They would never understand.

Those who live only for themselves do not know.

Because of this one, plum blossoms bloomed on her sword.

Because of this one, Hyun Jong smiled.

Because of this one, she preserved the home she would live in, and her father’s life and death were not entirely in vain.

Isn’t that enough? Does a person need more reason than that to stake their life on another?

“Sago is...”

Yu Yiseol barely parted her lips.

“Protecting... Sajil...”

She was clearly beyond her limits.

She was at the point where even if the Ten Thousand People Clan didn’t swing any more blades, her breath could simply cease. She was only breathing; she might as well be called a corpse.

But the Ten Thousand People Clan members couldn’t bring themselves to finish her off. They were overwhelmed by something other than fear or inertia.

“...Sago will...”

But that lasted only a moment.

Soon a roaring shout erupted from behind the Ten Thousand People Clan members.

“What are you doing, you idiots! Can’t you finish her now!”

For those who had rushed in from deeper in the gorge and only just joined, it was an utterly bewildering sight.

Startled by the rebuke, some bit their lips and then charged at Yu Yiseol again.

They must resist. They must fight.

But her arms and legs were already limp.

“...Sajil...”

A blade flew toward Yu Yiseol’s throat. She barely lifted her immobilized arm to block, but the limp sword couldn’t reach the blade’s trajectory.

The blade grazed over Yu Yiseol’s wrist and neared her throat.

“Protect...”

Kaaaaang!

At that moment, with a thunderous crack, the blade that had grazed Yu Yiseol’s throat was flung off with a spray of red blood. The shock that exploded right beside her neck collapsed Yu Yiseol and Chung Myung, and someone caught and supported them.

Through her blurred vision, Yu Yiseol saw someone looking down at [N O V E L I G H T] her.

‘...Jo...Gul?’

“Th...”

Jo Gul’s face was horribly contorted.

“How dare these Evil Sect bastards, less than fucking dogs, lay hands on someone...!”

With one hand supporting Yu Yiseol, Jo Gul thrust his sword forward.

The torrent of his swift sword exploded forth, instantly creating huge wind-holes in the bodies of the Ten Thousand People Clan members who had faltered at the sudden arrival of a new enemy.

“Aaaaaah!”

Jo Gul’s fury did not abate. From his sword tip poured crimson Plum Blossom Sword qi.

The rough, almost violent sword qi swept over and shredded those who hesitated and fell back.

“Sago!”

Jo Gul shouted toward the dazed-looking Yu Yiseol.

When Yu Yiseol faintly opened her eyes, she saw Jo Gul’s face streaming with tears.

“Sago, are you all right?!”

“...Sajil...”

“Damn it, think about yourself for once!”

As Jo Gul shouted, exasperated, a faint smile trembled at Yu Yiseol’s mouth.

Jo Gul then grabbed her firmly as she went limp.

A glance showed no part of their bodies unscathed. Both Chung Myung and Sago had fought to this state.

‘It’s my fault!’

If he’d been just a bit faster, the two wouldn’t have been so badly hurt.

If he’d been a bit stronger, he could have felled those blocking the way sooner and reached here earlier.

The thought that each wound on their bodies stemmed from his weakness made his blood boil.

Clenching his teeth, Jo Gul slung the two over his shoulders.

What he had to do now was not vent his seething rage but rescue them.

Swoosh!

He pushed off the ground and shot forward like an arrow.

“Pursue them! Now!”

The Ten Thousand People Clan members, who had hesitated at Jo Gul’s unexpected appearance, gave chase as soon as his back was turned.

“Get out of the way, you sons of bitches!”

The Evil Sect members, who had listlessly been pursuing Haenam after he had already gone past once, went pale at the sudden shout and the presence of Jo Gul behind them.

Jo Gul mercilessly pierced their backs.

Crunch! Crunch!

Those with fist-sized wind holes in their bodies collapsed on the spot.

“W-what is—”

“From the rear! They’re coming from behind!”

The Evil Sect members flailed their weapons in panic, but the hastily delivered blows had no force and couldn’t stop Jo Gul.

“Move aside!”

“Seize him, you fools!”

The Ten Thousand People Clan pursuers shouted roughly at the tangled Evil Sect members.

When the Ten Thousand People Clan came, the Evil Sect members were also terrified and tried to give way, but those packed in tightly wouldn’t yield easily.

Those who couldn’t get out of the way collided with the oncoming Ten Thousand People Clan, who couldn’t restrain their momentum. The Evil Sect members fell, spraying blood as if hit by a speeding cart.

“Th-this!”

The Ten Thousand People Clan pursuers twisted their faces.

The forces they’d mobilized were hindering them at this moment. Ho Ga-Myung likely hadn’t expected this.

“You miserable bastards!”

Growing frantic, the Ten Thousand People Clan men resorted to punching the Evil Sect members. Some truly brutal ones didn’t even hesitate to cut them down.

“Kraaaah!”

The Evil Sect members, who had never imagined allies would swing blades at them, screamed and tumbled together.

Of course the chaos wouldn’t last long, but for Jo Gul it was a priceless opportunity.

Bang!

“Aaaagh!”

The Evil Sect member Jo Gul stomped on crumpled; using the rebound, he launched himself forward, again and again, like an arrow.

Swaaaak!

A spear rushed up from below, aiming for Jo Gul’s left arm.

But Jo Gul ignored it. If he stopped, he’d die. All he had to do now was advance, and join the main force ahead.

Wham!

“Aaaagh!”

Jo Gul vaulted off another Evil Sect member’s shoulder and arced downward. In his bloodshot eyes, a spear suddenly rose up.

He had to step back or twist his body.

But Jo Gul chose differently. He shoved his sword into its scabbard in an instant and suddenly reached out to grab the spear shaft.

“What?”

Shaaah!

The spear’s tip, laden with internal qi, ripped Jo Gul’s palm in an instant. Yet he did not let go; he pressed down even harder. The sturdy iron spear bent and snapped back like a bow.

Jo Gul used that force to catapult himself forward like a projectile.

Shhk! Shhk!

Blades the Evil Sect men swung in confusion constantly grazed and cut his body.

But Jo Gul didn’t even blink. His gaze fixed solely on the direction he had to go.

They’re there. They must be there! They will be!

And at the moment he finally spotted someone familiar, he couldn’t hold back and shouted as if in a scream.

“Monk Hae Yeon!”

Hae Yeon, who was shaking off the Evil Sect members chasing the group that included Baek Cheon, snapped his gaze up. When he saw Jo Gul bearing Chung Myung and Yu Yiseol over his shoulders, cutting through the distant air toward them, he headed there at once.

“TAOISSSTTTTT!”

Hae Yeon’s body was hardly unscathed. Yet, as if not caring for himself, he leapt without hesitation into the midst of the Evil Sect members.

Kwaaaang!

Those hit by Hae Yeon’s shoulder flew back, spouting blood.

He planted his feet and sent the Evil Sect members flying. Perhaps from overusing his internal qi, blood streamed from his nose and mouth.

But there was no time to tire! He had to clear a path so they could arrive safely!

“A-MI-TA-BUL!”

Hae Yeon lashed out like a madman and struck the Evil Sect members away.

After a while, a clear path opened in the midst of the enemy, carved by his actions.

His internal energy had already been drawn to its limit.

At the moment he hit his limit, Hae Yeon’s eyes flashed and glowed in an almost un-Buddhist way.

“Oooooo!”

Hae Yeon’s fist violently cut through the air.

Kwaaaaaaang!

The pinnacle of Hundred Step Divine Fist. With his current internal qi it shouldn’t be possible to cast it... No, he shouldn’t cast, the apex of Shaolin’s art.

That soul-filled force detonated like fireworks, repelling and blasting the Evil Sect members who stood thickly in their way.

Thud.

In the end Hae Yeon’s knee buckled and he hit the ground. Blood spouting from seven orifices, he steadied himself with a trembling hand on the earth.

‘Ah, not yet...!’

Resolute to risk heart demon, Hae Yeon forced himself up. At that moment, someone burst out from behind with a sharp shout.

“Move aside, monk!”

“T-taoist?”

Suddenly Hae Yeon’s world was covered in red petals.

“Aaaaaah!”

“Kraaaah!”

Tang Soso leapt forward and swung her sword violently and swiftly. Each time Plum Blossom Sword qi poured out, the Evil Sect members’ screams and blood flew.

Tang Soso leapt straight into the air and shouted.

“Sahyung!”

“Yes!”

She leapt over the Evil Sect members’ heads and extended her sword; Jo Gul, as if knowing what she’d do, stomped the blade down with his foot.

The moment the blade’s face met his foot.

“Urrachaah!”

Tang Soso, with a booming shout, swung her sword with all her might.

A sword strike delivered with so much force you could clearly hear the muscles in her shoulders snap.

That strike hurled the three who had put their weight into the sword decisively forward.

“Ugh!”

Thick blood spurted from Jo Gul’s mouth.

It was the price he paid, suppressing even the minimal internal qi that protected his body to fly the farther he could and take the full force of the strike.

A shock so severe the world momentarily went pitch black overwhelmed him.

But even as his vision went dark, he did not forget what he had to do.

“Monk!”

He couldn’t see. But he knew they were there.

Jo Gul hurled the two he’d been carrying over his shoulder forward, firmly believing Hae Yeon would catch them.

When the briefly blackened world regained its color, Jo Gul saw.

Hae Yeon flying through the air, safely catching the two.

“Huh...”

Only then did a small laugh escape him.

The ground surged up toward him.

With a thud Jo Gul was slammed into the earth, bounced a few times, then slammed down again.

“Aah...”

A muffled chuckle escaped Jo Gul’s mouth as he lay sprawled flat.

‘...I did it.’

He had fallen into the very middle of the enemy camp.

Enemies approached the sprawled figure like a pack of jackals.

And he couldn’t resist. He didn’t even have the strength to twitch a finger.

‘What do I care...’

If the price of saving them was his death, he’d die smiling.

Jo Gul grinned grimly and accepted the end.

Paaaaaah!

Then an overwhelming swirl of sword qi roared into his sight.

A red sword qi that seemed driven more by rage than power.

Jo Gul’s eyes widened for a moment.

Those who had lunged at Jo Gul were cleaved apart without even a cry, scattering like rain. Blood poured down over Jo Gul’s fallen face.

And from that cascade of blood someone appeared, grabbed Jo Gul by the collar, and hauled him up.

“You actually did it, you madman!”

“...Sasuk you stayed here?”

“Happy about it?!”

Baek Cheon yanked Jo Gul up and shouted as he brought him fully to his feet.

“Soso!”

“Yes, sasuk!”

Tang Soso rushed over and slung Jo Gul over her shoulders. But Baek Cheon still hadn’t loosened his grip on Jo Gul’s collar.

When Tang Soso looked at him questioningly, Baek Cheon fell silent a moment and then spoke to Jo Gul.

“We’ll talk about the insubordination later.”

“...I wish I’d just die, really.”

“I’m the one who wants to kill you, you damned bastard!”

“...But...”

“What!”

“Why are you crying? It’s embarrassing...”

“Go!”

Baek Cheon shoved Tang Soso forward. He watched her run for a moment, then turned his body without regret.

Finally, everyone had left. Behind him. Now it was his turn to hold them off.

This was the moment he would protect them.

He swung his sword hard. Sword qi burst out explosively, sweeping away those standing around him at once.

“No one gets past here.”

The tip of Baek Cheon’s bloodstained sword gleamed in the sunlight.

“Not until you kill me!”