Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1301

Sangguan Ying, known as the Black Heart Judge of the Bloodied Men, narrowed his eyes as he stood in the center.

Everyone knew morale was key in battle. Break it, and victory was almost certain. And that’s exactly what had happened… until now. The morale of those fellows, which had been completely shattered, was reviving in an instant with just a few attacks and a few words.

Hainan, or whatever they called themselves. Morale or no morale, they were weak. Normally, they would be crushed easily… but this was annoying.

Sangguan Ying’s gaze turned to those who stood guarding Hainan, as if protecting them: Namgung Dowi of the Namgung Clan, Dang Pae of the Sichuan Dang Clan, and Im So-byeong, the Green Forest King. None of them could be taken lightly, especially with Hye-yeon of the Shaolin watching from the rear.

Namgung’s sword… and the hidden weapons of the Dang Clan. A troublesome combination.

Usually, people from the same clan are similar. Even if they have different personalities, they learn the same fighting styles and live similar lives. This makes them predictable. The disciples of Mount Hua were different from each other, but the way to defeat them was similar for that reason.

But not these people before him. From personality to martial arts, there was not a single point of similarity. It was impossible for them to be moving together as a group like this. For whatever reason, these people had gathered in one place, making it difficult for those facing them. Even if they managed to strip away the thick armor of Mount Hua, they couldn’t bite into the vulnerable flesh of Hainan unless they crushed these people first.

Namgung Dowi took a deep breath.

With Dang Pae and Im So-byeong guarding his flanks, Namgung Dowi seemed less burdened, his expression lighter. It would be difficult alone, but with them, he could fully display his skills. He took a deep breath to calm his mind and raised his sword, aiming it at the Bloodied Men.

They were like a pack of wolves. Once they smelled blood, they would not easily back down. The only path left was to fight until one side was destroyed.

The sword blazed with a powerful light as he focused his power into it.

Stop.

The Bloodied Men, who were about to rush in as soon as they saw Namgung Dowi’s movement, stopped all at once at Sangguan Ying’s command.

Hmm?

At that moment, Namgung Dowi let out a hollow breath as if he had lost all his strength.

Here?

He looked at the one who had given the order, but he couldn’t read his expression because most of his face was covered by a mask.

There’s no need to force things. Retreat.

As soon as the words were spoken, the Bloodied Men retreated all at once. It was an even more orderly movement than when they had charged.

What…?

It was an incomprehensible situation. Namgung Dowi was lost in thought as he watched the Bloodied Men flowed back like a dark tide receding from the shore, their movements disciplined and swift.

Even though they had revived their morale, the situation was still much more favorable for them. So why would they give up the advantage they had gained and withdraw?

But this was too obvious for Sangguan Ying.

His goal was not Mount Hua from the start. He had temporarily taken advantage of a gap to tie their feet, but they were the Five Swords of Mount Hua. They were not people who could be dealt with with the current forces. They were tied up now, but they would soon start rampaging.

So their purpose from the beginning was the Hainan Sect. To injure and poison as many people as possible, slowing them down with Soul-Reaping Incense. So that the main force following behind could easily overwhelm them.

But if the situation turned out like this, it had to be said that the first goal had already failed.

Now, they had to choose between giving up the mission or carrying out the order at the cost of sacrifice.

Sacrifice, huh?

Was there any reason to do that?

Sangguan Ying smirked under his mask.

Withdraw.

The Bloodied Men retreated all at once behind Sangguan Ying and lined up.

The disciples of Mount Hua, who had been surrounded by the enemy, were also confused, staring, mouths slightly open, at the empty space where the enemy had stood moments before, confusion clouding their faces.

Hmm.

Im So-byeong opened his mouth as if to represent everyone’s feelings.

Running away with your tail between your legs? Don’t think we’ll just let you go.

Sangguan Ying asked with a sneer at his barbed words.

So? Are you going to stop us?

Hmm.

It was a clear provocation. As Im So-byeong narrowed his eyes and stared, Sangguan Ying asked again with composure.

Do you have the luxury to do that?

Sangguan Ying gestured slightly with his eyes towards the injured who had fallen. Starting from the area stabbed by the Sword of Se, the poison was spreading rapidly. They needed treatment right away.

There was no way Im So-byeong didn’t know that. Moreover, the more time they wasted, the closer the enemy’s main force would get.

Humph.

Im So-byeong opened his mouth in a disgruntled tone.

Well… certainly, we don’t have the strength to chase after enemies who are running away with their tails between their legs.

Then that’s settled.

But.

Im So-byeong said coldly, grinding his teeth slightly.

I don’t like letting enemies off so easily, especially ones who bother us.

I’ll give you a day.

……

Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it?

Im So-byeong’s face hardened.

His stomach twisted as the situation seemed to be led by that bastard’s intentions. But now, he didn’t have the strength to refuse those words. The sound of the injured groaning could be heard faintly.

As Im So-byeong remained silent, Sangguan Ying nodded quietly as if that was settled.

He hadn’t inflicted even half of the originally planned damage, but there was no need to force things at the cost of sacrifice.

I’ll take it that you’ve accepted and withdraw.

Unexpected.

Im So-byeong said sarcastically. His hatred towards Sangguan Ying was evident.

I didn’t expect anyone in the Hao Clan to care so much about their men, enough to risk their own neck.

Sangguan Ying laughed at those words.

Surely not. Me?

Im So-byeong’s eyes narrowed at that moment.

Interesting.

The Four Evil Alliance had a perfect top-down command system. Rejecting the orders of the Alliance Lord, Jang Il-so, was impossible. This was an absolute rule not only for the Four Evil Alliance but for all evil factions.

Because they were difficult to control, they had to be bound by simple and powerful rules. For the evil factions, the top-down command system was exactly that.

But now, that man was saying that he didn’t have to follow the orders. That meant that the one who gave this order was not Jang Il-so.

…Hoga Myung moved the Hao Clan, not Jang Il-so. So maybe Jang Il-so doesn’t know about this?

But why? That Hoga Myung?

Im So-byeong, who was quickly turning his head, put aside the questions that had come to mind for the time being. It was meaningless to think deeply about it now, but maybe someday this would be a clue.

Thanks for the good information.

I didn’t give you any information.

Ah, yes, yes. I was mistaken.

Im So-byeong smiled meaningfully. Sangguan Ying glared at him coldly and said.

I’m withdrawing now. But… I don’t know if it will mean anything. We will target you again. No, not just us. More people will target you. More thoroughly and cruelly.

It doesn’t matter. It’s enough if we can rest for a while.

Rest… huh.

Sangguan Ying sneered openly.

Is there a place to rest on this land?

……

There’s no place to rest in hell. Isn’t that right?

Sangguan Ying gestured slightly, and those who were guarding his rear disappeared into the forest.

See you again.

Anytime.

Sangguan Ying stared at Im So-byeong for a moment before stepping back into the bushes and disappearing.

His subordinates approached Sangguan Ying, who had entered the bushes.

Captain.

Move!

Sangguan Ying ignored them and left the place with all his strength. Questions lingered in the eyes of the approaching subordinates. The way Sangguan Ying was moving quickly through the forest made it seem as if he was being chased by someone.

But that couldn’t be the case, could it? They were the ones chasing, not the ones being chased.

Anyway, they had to follow, so everyone suppressed their questions and ran after Sangguan Ying. Only after moving for a long time did Sangguan Ying’s feet finally stop.

…The situation?

There is almost no damage. A few guys were hit, but it’s within the expected range.

Expected range, huh…

That expectation was also based on the premise of achieving the goal of poisoning about half of the Hainan guys.

But, Captain. Weren’t you too quick to withdraw?

There’s no reason to risk our lives in someone else’s fight.

They’re just young pups. Even if they raise their morale for a while…

At that moment, Sangguan Ying turned to look at the one who was speaking.

So?

At the cold gaze, the speaker was startled and quickly lowered his head.

I overstepped my bounds.

…It’s good that you know.

Sangguan Ying turned his body with an unpleasant expression.

The Soul-Reaping Incense?

…Of course, it was applied.

Resume the pursuit in a day. Rest until then.

Yes.

Sangguan Ying, who had moved away from his subordinates, twisted his face.

Damage?

Of course, he could accept it.

Chasing was not as easy as he thought. A hunter chasing a beast must always be prepared to lose his life to the beast’s claws. Due to the nature of the Soul-Reaping Squad, which chased after enemies filled with venom, sacrifices had always occurred. But…

The story is different depending on what that sacrifice is.

Sangguan Ying massaged his neck. What if the battle had gone on longer?

My head would have fallen off.

Everyone who had started the mission with the Soul-Reaping Squad was now dead. Only Sangguan Ying had survived until now.

The reason he had been able to survive until now was not only because of his skills. It was because of his survival instinct to avoid places where he would die.

Just now, he could feel it. The subtle killing intent that was tightening around him. It was secretive, but it was more ominous than anything else.

The Sword Demon of Mount Hua.

If he had shown even a little more opening, if even a few more of the subordinates surrounding him had been reduced, that sword would have been embedded in Sangguan Ying’s neck. In that battlefield where everyone was rampaging like boars that had been struck by lightning, only the Sword Demon of Mount Hua was aiming for him like a viper hiding in the bushes.

A day….

Sangguan Ying shuddered.

It might not have needed a day.

Even if he had given him only two hours, Im So-byeong would have accepted his offer. The fact that he had insisted on a day was proof of the psychological pressure he had received in that place.

If not… he was afraid of facing that beast again.

Sangguan Ying stared blankly at the bushes he had passed through.

It’s the first time I’ve been so reluctant to chase someone.

But he soon shook his head. It wouldn’t change anything anyway. Other pursuit squads from the Hao Clan were already gathering here.

Even if the Plum Blossom Sword Saint from a hundred years ago returned, not the Sword Demon of Mount Hua.

This place would eventually become their grave.

A grave without a tombstone.