Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1338

“Green Forest King! Behind you!”

“I know!”

Im So-byeong glanced back briefly before focusing ahead. ‘Those stubborn bastards!’ he thought.

They had done something unbelievable. That’s why he could never truly escape those damned Mount Hua lot.

“Now, all we have to do is get out of here!”

The annoying unusual people were rushing at them from the front, but they weren’t particularly impressive. Just a disorganized rabble.

‘Even if they’re from the Myriad Man Hall and the Unorthodox Alliance, they couldn’t have endlessly mobilized people,’ Im So-byeong thought. (The Myriad Man Hall is a powerful group, and the Unorthodox Alliance is a collection of strange fighters.)

Of course, they could fill the numbers, but they couldn’t make up for the difference in quality. If Jang Il-so had come himself, the situation would be different, but it’s Ho Ga-myeong here.

So, the problem isn’t the front but the back. They have to somehow shake off the pursuit of those Myriad Man Hall bastards.

Figuring out how to do that is Im So-byeong’s job.

“To the right! You damned young master! Don’t just break through head-on; look for an opening, you idiot who only uses muscles!”

“Then tell me sooner!” Namgung Do-wi shouted back, but he quickly changed direction as Im So-byeong instructed.

Watching the situation, Im So-byeong’s eyes shone brightly.

‘Having a lot of numbers isn’t always an advantage!’ he thought.

It’s easy to cause confusion when there are many people, especially if orders are not clear, and if people come from all directions. There’s bound to be confusion in the command system.

If he uses this properly, he can make them get confused and fight each other.

‘No, he doesn’t just have to make it happen; he absolutely must!’ he thought.

“Too far! A little more to the right!”

“What the….”

“Shut up and do as I say!” Im So-byeong shouted with a voice full of anger, and Namgung Do-wi flinched and turned further. Then, the path opened as if those rushing in were deliberately avoiding him.

Namgung Do-wi was inwardly flustered but kicked off the ground without delay. With each swing of his sword, sparks flew, and the attackers stumbled back, creating a path through the chaos.

Seeing that, Im So-byeong smirked.

“You were impatient, Ho Ga-myeong.”

He could clearly feel his adjutant watching him carefully, and with good reason.

The Mount Hua Sword Champion, whom they had almost caught, had finally rejoined the main force with his life intact, and even those who had jumped in to save him had all survived.

In the process, they had caught a few more Hainan fellows, but that was just beheading small fry.

Failure. Considering the entire process so far, that was the only way Ho Ga-myeong would judge it.

Everything that had been invested in this canyon had been for naught.

A single person and countless numbers, along with the sects that had been mobilized, had been wiped out.

“An accurate assessment.”

“…C-Commander?”

Ho Ga-myeong’s eyes calmly sank as he watched those desperately trying to escape.

The Green Forest King’s talent is certainly exceptional. As he focuses solely on escape and maneuvers the troops, their speed is clearly different from before.

“Commander! They are gradually pulling away.”

“I know.”

The fellows in front aren’t stopping their escape at all. Moreover, once they’ve broken through, they can’t even pursue.

All they do is get relentlessly broken through and then turn into walls, blocking the path of the pursuing Myriad Man Hall.

The failure of operations born from excessive greed.

If he were to interpret this situation as a strategist, that’s how he would assess it. They are paying the price for recklessly throwing uncontrolled people into the battlefield all at once.

But….

“Clearly, the Green Forest King is an outstanding talent. When it comes to brains alone, he’s better than me.”

“…Commander?”

“But he lacks experience.”

The eyes of the adjutants watching Ho Ga-myeong were filled with doubt. To them, it was nonsense.

That Im So-byeong has led the Green Forest and fought countless battles with the Myriad Man Hall. To say that such a person lacks experience….

Of course, it might not be wrong for Ho Ga-myeong to assess it that way, but from a general perspective, isn’t the Green Forest King rather an old hand compared to his age?

“It doesn’t matter how much you’ve fought. Sometimes, too much experience can be poison.”

The adjutants didn’t ask anything and instead held their breath. The fact that answers were coming even without asking meant that Ho Ga-myeong wasn’t talking to them but organizing his thoughts.

At times like this, you must never disturb Ho Ga-myeong.

“I hope that conviction doesn’t turn into despair.”

A cruel smile spread across Ho Ga-myeong’s lips.

“Green Forest King!” Yoon Jong, who had taken Chung Myung from Hae Yeon, ran up to Im So-byeong’s immediate rear with him on his back.

Im So-byeong’s face hardened at the sight of Chung Myung.

“Is he even alive?”

“Are you stating the obvious…!”

“…In that state, no less.”

Im So-byeong gritted his teeth. Looking at Chung Myung’s miserable state, an inexplicable rage suddenly surged from deep within.

“Damn it!”

“Green Forest King! Where do we go now!”

At the question that flew in, Im So-byeong turned around.

Baek Cheon flew far to the rear, leaving them behind, and was blocking the Myriad Man Hall chasing behind. The fellows attacking from the front were a disorganized rabble, and the Myriad Man Hall was chasing from behind, so it was a natural decision.

In other words, it meant that it was entirely Im So-byeong’s role to lead everyone from the front and save them from danger.

“Did you ask where we’re going?”

“Yes!”

“Asking the obvious!”

The conditions for where they should go are set.

A place where a small number can take advantage of the terrain against a large number.

And a place where the fleeing few can absolutely hide easily.

There is only one such place around here. History has proven it, and countless people have shed blood to prove its value. That’s why it has become a cursed land that no one wants to set foot in.

“Daesan (Great Mountain)!”

Yoon Jong raised his head sharply. He saw the vast plains and the connected horizon, and the mountain peaks that rose jaggedly like knives stuck above them.

A chill ran down his spine.

The world calls that mountain range, spanning thousands of miles across Guangdong and Guangxi, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

“This way!” Im So-byeong grabbed Chung Myung and slung him over his shoulder.

“Please help the young master! One hour! We’ll arrive in one hour! Then we can shake them off!”

“Yes!” Yoon Jong also rushed forward without saying a word. Among the Mount Hua disciples, he and Baek Cheon are in the best condition right now. He had to do his part.

“There’s an ambush on the left! To the right!”

“Yes!”

“After that, they’ll attack from the front! As soon as you pass the ambush, turn to the left! Never increase your speed too much! It’ll be a disaster if your back breaks!”

“Understood!” Yoon Jong swung his sword fiercely.

‘It’s different!’ he thought.

It’s not that it’s become easier to face the enemy. But even when cutting down the same person, he could clearly move forward much more.

Im So-byeong felt like he understood the enemy now. It was a way of thinking his enemies could never understand. He was starting to see things like a strategist, not just a fighter.

“Don’t think, just go!”

“Yes!”

Im So-byeong gritted his teeth.

‘Just one chance is all I need!’

If he could just buy enough time to hide in the Sipman Mountains and recover, the situation would improve greatly. Therefore, he just needed to reach the mountains.

“Straight ahead! Break through with all your might!”

“Yes!”

As the vanguard began to pick up speed, Geum Yang-baek shouted.

“Don’t fall behind! You must keep up!”

At the same moment, he saw an elder fall. His heart ached, but Geum Yang-baek squeezed his eyes shut and looked away. *I can’t stop. Not for anyone. We have to keep going,* he thought.

“Run, hurry!”

Im So-byeong checked the rear.

Hwaaaah!

Behind them, the enemy’s swords flashed like bright red plum blossoms. This swordsmanship was incredibly strong.

In this chase, the Mount Hua disciples showed amazing skill.

Baek Cheon’s swordsmanship stood out even among the Mount Hua disciples.

‘Lucky I didn’t meet him as an enemy.’

Baek Cheon would surely hold the rear. So, he just needed to focus on running forward.

“Straight ahead!”

Im So-byeong roared. At the same time, he waved his fan. The divine energy he unleashed cut down those who had been rushing in from the side, and they collapsed.

“Charge!”

Gwak Hwan-so charged at the Demonic Realm warriors, thrusting his sword forward. Emboldened, the Hainan disciples also found their last strength, brandishing their swords and running forward.

Their numbers had already been reduced by more than half. The sacrifices they had made to get here were too great.

But now was not the time to dwell on the sacrifices. They had to look ahead. To where they must go now.

“Ugh, ugh⋯⋯.”

“Dodge! Get out of the way!”

The Demonic Realm warriors retreated, horrified at the sight of Yoon Jong and Namgung Dowook charging at them like demons, covered in blood. The two brandished their swords as if they would devour those who had been seized by fear.

Namgung Dowook’s swordsmanship was wild and powerful, while Yoon Jong’s was precise and controlled. Together, they fought as one, cutting down the enemy.

Paaah!

Cut! Cut! And cut again!

Yoon Jong, wielding his sword, had just cut down the enemy in front of him when it happened.

“Keuh!”

The man whose neck had been cut grabbed at the wound and collapsed. At that moment, Yoon Jong realized. There was no one else blocking him.

Suddenly, a huge mountain rose in front of Yoon Jong, like a giant wall.

A narrow path opened up between the tall peaks, promising escape.

“Green Forest King!”

“The rear! Stop those who are chasing us! Send the Hainan guys first!”

Yoon Jong heard the words. A thrill shot through him. *We made it!*

They had arrived.

After crossing that sea, passing Guangdong, and breaking through the hellish gorge, they had finally reached this place.

“Keep going! We’ll hold them off!” Yoon Jong shouted.

“But… what about you?” a Hainan disciple started to ask.

“Just go! Hurry!” Yoon Jong cut him off.

At Yoon Jong’s shout, the Hainan disciples gritted their teeth and ran forward. The Hainan disciples ran between the mountains. The mountains weren’t very tall, but they were steep, like cliffs on either side.

“Aaaargh!”

Some collapsed from thrown daggers, and others collapsed from exhaustion.

But most of the Hainan disciples quickly entered the Sipman Mountains without looking back.

“Monk!”

“Yes!”

Hye-yeon, carrying Yoo I-seol on his back, hurried after them. Dang So-so, carrying Jo Gul on her back, also ran with all her might, taking the lead.

“S, Senior Brother⋯⋯.”

“Go on ahead, Geol!”

Yoon Jong nodded, meeting Jo Gul’s eyes.

Yoon Jong quickly looked back. He saw countless plum blossoms.

Yoon Jong watched Baek Cheon. *That is perfect swordsmanship,* he thought. *Flawless in every way!*

Baek Cheon was covered in blood. At first, Yoon Jong thought it was the enemy’s. But then he saw the dark red stains on Baek Cheon’s robes, and the way Baek Cheon’s face was pale. *No, it’s his own blood!*

“Run!”

But Baek Cheon only urged Yoon Jong on.

Yoon Jong, Im So-byeong, Namgung Dowook, and Dang Pae passed by Baek Cheon and entered the Sipman Mountains.

“Sasuk!”

“I’ll shake them off before they follow! Go!”

“Yes!”

Yoon Jong’s voice was slightly excited.

They hadn’t completely shaken off the pursuit yet.

But now the situation would be very different. These mountains would provide them with places to hide and make it difficult for the enemy to pursue.

Just being able to set up an ambush would completely change the situation. Wasn’t that what he had been thinking as he looked at the Sipman Mountains on the way to Hainan?

‘We can do it!’

The sacrifices they had made to get here, the price they had paid, were not in vain.

Just as Yoon Jong was clenching his fist, he saw those who were gathered ahead.

“Don’t stop! Keep going! Any direction!” Im So-byeong yelled.

But then, the Hainan disciples in front turned back. One look at their faces, and Yoon Jong felt a chill. Their faces were pale white, like they’d seen a ghost.

“W-what is it?” Yoon Jong stammered.

Gwak Hwan-so’s voice was tight with fear. “It’s… blocked,” he whispered.

“Blocked?” Im So-byeong asked, his voice rising.

Gwak Hwan-so nodded, his eyes wide. “The path… the path ahead is blocked, Headmaster.”

In an instant, everyone was silent. An eerie wind swept through the space.

Cold sweat formed on Im So-byeong’s forehead.

“N, no way⋯⋯.”

Im So-byeong hurriedly looked out of the mountain valley.

Ho Ga-myeong slowly approached the valley. The smile on his lips showed his feelings.

“They were enemies, but they were excellent.”

An emotionless voice leaked out.

“I will engrave their names. So that everyone can clearly know their end.”