Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1398

The *crack* of steel echoed. Chung Myung roared, putting all his strength into his sword swing.

*Clang!*

His attack failed. His sword struck the enemy’s weapon, a thick, dark blade, and slid harmlessly away. Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal.

“Aaaaargh!”

Chung Myung, with a desperate cry, gripped his sword and struck the fallen man’s chest again and again.

“This madman!”

The disciples of the Ten Thousand People Clan watched in horror as Chung Myung relentlessly attacked.

“Die!”

One of the Ten Thousand People Clan members swung his blade at Chung Myung’s back.

*Thwack!*

The blade tore into Chung Myung’s back, splattering blood.

Chung Myung wondered, his breath ragged. Was there ever a place for him in this world?

*Thwack!*

The disciples of the Ten Thousand People Clan leaped from all directions, blades aimed at Chung Myung. He rolled across the ground, dodging the attacks.

*Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!*

The blades left shallow cuts all over Chung Myung’s body. He grabbed a handful of dirt and swung his sword wildly as he rose. Screams erupted.

“Aaaargh!”

“My leg!”

“Cough!”

Chung Myung trembled, coughing up blood.

Was there ever a place for him to truly belong?

He remembered a moment from long ago. *Who is it, peeking into someone else’s room? Are you a thief?*

Chung Myung had always felt out of place, like he didn’t belong. He was one who had already lost his place.

He knew the end he would meet. From the beginning, he knew. He was a ghost that should not have remained, his fate predetermined.

He thought it would be enough to do what he had not yet done before the end came. But…

*What’s your name?*

*It’s Yoon Jong!*

Chung Myung sometimes forgot even his own name.

*Thwoom!*

Chung Myung’s leg gave way, and he stumbled. He lost his balance and fell forward.

“Now’s our chance!”

The attackers rushed in, eager to strike the wounded beast. Seeing Chung Myung’s weakness, they attacked fiercely.

*Clang!*

Chung Myung supported himself on the ground, barely managing to deflect the spears and blades with one hand.

*Thwack! Thwack!*

He couldn’t defend against the spear from behind, which pierced his back. Chung Myung collapsed.

One attacker saw his chance for glory. ‘To cut off his head!’ he thought. As Chung Myung fell, the attacker lunged, desire on his face. But Chung Myung grabbed his neck.

“Keuhuk!”

Chung Myung and the enemy fell together.

“Keureuk… Let go…”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth and twisted his body. He turned the attacker so that his neck was above Chung Myung. Countless blades poured down.

*Scratch! Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!*

His eyes wide, Chung Myung’s body was torn apart.

“Keu, keueue…”

As his vision blurred, he saw a shadow falling over him, something large and dark blocking out the light.

*Thwack! Thwack!*

Weapons rained down, piercing his lifeless body.

“Cough!”

The fierce attacks continued, stabbing into Chung Myung’s body below.

“Eugh…”

Chung Myung swung his sword, cutting off the blades. He rolled violently across the ground.

*Kwaaaaang!*

An explosion erupted where he had been. Chung Myung was thrown like a leaf in a storm.

*Who are you?*

Now he knew. There was no place to belong. There was only the place he wanted to be.

Though he realized it too late.

*Kuuung!*

Chung Myung plummeted, a massive shock enveloping him. He clung to consciousness, knowing it would all be over if he let go.

*Shwaaaaaa!*

Chung Myung kicked off the ground and rolled.

*Kwagaak! Kwagagaak!*

The blades carved into the ground. One grazed Chung Myung’s neck, and blood gushed out. Ignoring the pain, he raised his sword.

His heartbeat and rough breathing echoed in his ears.

‘Plum blossoms…’

Countless plum blossoms bloomed in his mind, the symbol of his sword style, once beautiful and deadly, but now even that was fading.

‘Live…’

As the plum blossoms withered, so too did his sword.

“Aaaaargh!”

The enemies attacked, bringing down their blades.

He dodged the blades just by instinct, without thinking. He kicked off the ground, barely avoiding the attacks. Weapons poured down.

*Scratch! Scratch!*

He rolled desperately, avoiding the attacks. Wounds appeared on his body.

“Please die…!”

*Scratch!*

Chung Myung’s sword pierced the chest of an attacker.

*Kwaang!*

The sword missed the vital point. The attacker struck Chung Myung’s chest before collapsing.

Chung Myung spat out blood and tumbled backward.

*Thud! Thud!*

Chung Myung collapsed. As he tried to rise…

*Thwack!*

A spear pierced Chung Myung’s hamstring. He fell forward, his face landing in the dirt, already dark and wet with someone else’s blood.

Only a faint groan escaped.

‘I am…’

Isn’t it enough now?

Shouldn’t I let go?

How much more pain must I endure? How much longer must I endure this hell?

Just let go. You can be comfortable. Haven’t I done enough?

‘To Mount Hua…’

Chung Myung raised his head with difficulty. Blood trickled down his face.

His neck twisted back as far as it could go, like it might break. With a shaking hand, he reached for the spear stuck in his knee.

“Ugh….”

No matter how hard he tried, the spear wouldn’t move. His bloody hand kept slipping. He couldn’t make it budge.

Finally, Chung Myung pulled the spear toward himself with all his strength. It tore his flesh. He grabbed the spear shaft like he was hugging it, and he bit down hard with his teeth.

He didn’t have the strength in his hands, so he used his teeth to pull it out.

Grind. Creeak. Creeak.

The spear, red with blood from his mouth, slowly came out of his knee. The Maninbang warriors who were about to attack him stopped moving when they saw this.

It was terrible to watch. Even though he was their enemy, they felt sick seeing him like this.

Thud.

The spear fell to the ground. Chung Myung couldn’t even close his mouth. He slowly lowered his head.

– Young brother, who are you? I don’t remember seeing you in Hwaum.

His fingertips were cold. Was it good that he could still feel the cold?

He wanted to rest. He wanted to let go.

But he also really wanted to live.

– Chung Myung Sohyup! Stop right there!

What did you all see in me?

Did you see in me the strong person I always wanted to be?

Chung Myung’s hand, which had been still, twitched.

Everyone watched closely as his hand moved a little bit. His hand moved very, very slowly, reaching for the ground until he finally grabbed his sword.

Someone groaned softly.

His eyes were half-closed. His body was ruined. Even though he should have died already, he was still trying to fight.

You could see many feelings on the faces of the Maninbang warriors. Some looked surprised. Some looked like they felt sorry for him. Some looked respectful.

Were they afraid? No, that wasn’t it. How could they be afraid of someone in that condition?

But they couldn’t move their feet.

They were all martial artists. Even though they were part of an evil group, they had spent their lives training in martial arts.

Anyone who had lived as a martial artist had to feel respect at this sight.

They wanted to look away. They wanted to run away.

Even though they knew he had killed many of their friends. He was their enemy. They had to kill him.

A heavy silence fell over the place, like a thick blanket. You could almost feel it pressing down on everyone.

Only Chung Myung’s quiet breaths could be heard, like they might stop at any moment.

“What are you doing?”

A cold voice broke the silence.

Everyone jumped and saw Hogamyeong standing there, his face blank. He had been in the back, but now he was here.

“C, Commander!”

“I asked, what are you doing?”

The Maninbang warriors didn’t answer. They looked away from Hogamyeong. Hogamyeong looked at them, then turned his cold eyes to Chung Myung.

The Maninbang warriors hesitated and moved aside, making a path between him and Chung Myung. But Hogamyeong didn’t walk that path. He just stared at Chung Myung.

Chung Myung looked terrible. Hogamyeong stared at him. ‘Is this really the Sword Demon?’ he thought. ‘The one who hurt us so much?’ It was hard to believe.

But Hogamyeong didn’t relax, not even a little.

“⋯⋯Kill him.”

His voice was heavy and cold.

Even with the commander’s order, the Maninbang warriors didn’t move.

Hogamyeong frowned and clicked his tongue.

Why didn’t they understand?

Waiting would only make Chung Myung suffer longer.

Hogamyeong thought the kindest thing they could do now was to end Chung Myung’s suffering quickly.

Even if they only felt anger towards him, no one wanted to see him groaning in pain and dying a terrible death.

Even Hogamyeong, who probably hated Chung Myung the most, felt that way.

“Sibbi(Ten Daggers).”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Bring me the Sword Demon’s head.”

“Understood!”

The man behind Hogamyeong walked towards Chung Myung without any emotion. A dagger appeared from his sleeve, shining coldly.

Death was coming closer.

He could feel death coming closer as the dagger moved towards him. It was pale and almost blue.

But even as he felt death coming, Chung Myung couldn’t fight back.

No matter how hard he tried, his body wouldn’t move. It was like his soul had turned gray.

‘I….’

He wanted to live. He wanted to live and go back to Hwasan.

He wanted to laugh and joke with his friends in Hwasan, surrounded by the smell of plum blossoms.

That was all he wanted. It was all he had ever wanted.

‘…Cheongjin.’

He felt like he knew. He knew what Cheongjin must have thought at the end, when he died alone.

‘So that’s how it was for you.’

Now he understood. Chung Myung didn’t feel angry, doubtful, or worried. He just wanted to see his foolish friends one more time.

Flash!

Suddenly, a strong energy rushed towards Chung Myung. He felt a great shock, like the world was going dark. His body felt heavy, like it was full of water.

He let go and fell into a place that was freezing cold.

He felt like he was floating forever in a place that was freezing cold.

– You’re a little late.

Something warm wrapped around Chung Myung’s shoulders.

The warmth made him open his eyes. They had been shut tight.

The world was blurry. Something started to appear. He saw the face he had missed so much.

‘…Sa…hyung?’

It was Cheong Mun. He was smiling gently at Chung Myung. Like he was proud.

A big, unknown feeling filled him.

‘Sahyung, I….’

He wanted to say so much. He tried to speak, but he couldn’t find the words.

Cheong Mun just waited for Chung Myung, smiling warmly.

He wanted to say he was sorry, that he missed him, things he couldn’t say.

Just as he was about to speak, Cheong Mun’s face started to blur.

The familiar face changed to a face he didn’t know, but it still felt familiar.

‘Sahyung?’

At first, he didn’t know who it was.

The face was covered in blood. But when the face became clear, Chung Myung spoke without thinking.

“…Sa…suk?”

The face was covered in wounds. But the two red eyes, filled with tears, were eyes Chung Myung had seen many times.

Was this a dream before dying?

Even if it was, this was too much.

Then, he heard a familiar voice.

“…Did you wait?”

Baek Cheon’s bloody hand felt warm on Chung Myung’s shoulder.

“Sorry I’m late.”

His shoulder felt the shaking. This wasn’t a dream.

Chung Myung couldn’t speak. He stared at Baek Cheon.

Chung Myung’s body was weak. He fell forward.

Baek Cheon held him up.

“⋯⋯Let’s go back, Chung Myung-ah. To where you… where you should be.”