Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 106

Everyone watched Chung Myung closely.

No one expected Chung Myung to step up first.

Even people who knew nothing about fighting could see Chung Myung was the strongest of the young disciples.

Usually, you save your best fighter for last, especially in a series of matches.

“What is he thinking?”

“Is he really going to fight a second-generation Jongnam disciple right away?”

Even those who wanted Chung Myung to use a clever trick were confused.

Hyun Jong, Un-geom, Hwang Mun-yak, and Yoon Jong were all surprised.

“Senior Brother, shouldn’t we stop him? I’ll go first.”

“I know that’s the best idea.”

Yoon Jong frowned at the third-generation disciple’s words.

“Who can stop him when he’s so determined?”

Everyone was worried as they watched Chung Myung’s back. But Chung Myung just stared silently at Jongnam.

‘Was it at fifteen that the Sword Demon defeated Peng Family’s Five Tigers, earning the title of the greatest prodigy of the younger generation?’

He remembered hearing this story many times, even though he wasn’t from that time.

‘The Wooden Buddha was said to have penetrated the Five Halls of the Arhat Formation at eighteen.’

That was another famous story.

There were many other examples.

The masters who became famous when they were young all had stories that people told again and again.

Why? Because without a story, no one would repeat it.

In the fighting world, being strong wasn’t enough. To be respected, you had to show your strength by fighting someone strong.

The same was true for sects.

No matter how strong Mount Hua became, no one would notice unless they proved it. Even if they became ten times stronger in these mountains, it would only be Mount Hua’s secret.

They had to make people see and feel the change. They had to make the whole fighting world know that Mount Hua was changing. That was the fastest way to get back Mount Hua’s lost reputation.

And today…

Chung Myung planned to create a legend that would spread Mount Hua’s name everywhere.

‘There are two great ways to spread a sect’s name.’

One was to do something amazing that everyone agreed on.

The other was to show how strong its disciples were.

The strongest person in the world? That was good, of course.

The strongest sword in the world? That was also good.

But the best way was to train the greatest young fighter.

People liked to watch those who might become rivals. The greatest young fighter was easier to talk about than the strongest person, who might become an enemy. Young fighters were easier to manage and gave people hope.

People always gave special names to the best young fighters, like ‘Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.’ This was a tradition in the fighting world.

A third-generation Mount Hua disciple beats a third-generation Jongnam disciple?

That would be interesting.

A third-generation Mount Hua disciple beats a second-generation Jongnam disciple?

That would be surprising.

But!

A third-generation Mount Hua disciple beats all the second-generation Jongnam disciples one after another?

That would shock the fighting world.

And it would be a great shame for Jongnam.

Chung Myung smiled.

‘Why did you have to bother Mount Hua?’

At least do it when I’m not around. Oh well, I wasn’t around.

“Now, let’s collect what you owe us.”

Just as Chung Myung was about to lift his wooden sword, Yu-baek from Jongnam spoke back quietly.

“You might be the most confident person in the world, but I’ll teach you that confidence without skill leads to failure.”

“Hmph.”

Chung Myung didn’t answer, but just pointed his sword forward.

Usually, he would have made a few sarcastic jokes, but he didn’t feel like it now.

Instead, Chung Myung turned to the third-generation disciples.

“Senior Brother.”

“During a fight, you idiot!”

“Remember what I say. Don’t miss anything.”

“Huh?”

He wouldn’t get another chance to see a fight like this.

Chung Myung stared at Yu-baek and said,

“I am Chung Myung, a third-generation disciple of Mount Hua, and I challenge Jongnam to a duel.”

Yu-baek, who was about to say something else, stopped and accepted the challenge.

“I am Yu-baek, a second-generation disciple of Jongnam, and I accept the duel from Mount Hua.”

The third-generation disciples felt a heavy tension.

‘He’s different now.’

This wasn’t the Chung Myung they knew.

The usual Chung Myung would have made fun of his opponent until the fight started. But this Chung Myung wasn’t playful at all.

The cold feeling coming from him, as he held his sword, was new to them.

It was as if…

He was a swordsman going to war.

Yoon Jong couldn’t look away from Chung Myung, as if he were under a spell. He knew something big was about to happen.

Then, Chung Myung’s sword moved slowly.

The sword went up, then down, then back to where it started.

Yoon Jong watched, barely breathing.

The Greeting Stance.

Chung Myung was doing the Greeting Stance of the Six Harmony Sword.

The Greeting Stance was a polite way to show he was ready to fight. But Yoon Jong felt drawn into that simple stance.

The most perfect sword movement. The most perfect speed. The most perfect form.

How could he show so much with just a Greeting Stance?

Yoon Jong realized.

That Greeting Stance wasn’t for his opponent. It was for the third-generation Mount Hua disciples. He was telling them to watch how he used the Six Harmony Sword.

“Don’t miss it.”

Yoon Jong shouted without thinking.

“Don’t miss a single one of Chung Myung’s movements! Watch everything! Don’t even blink!”

No one answered. They just nodded, saving their energy to watch Chung Myung.

“I’ll correct your rudeness!”

Yu-baek roared and charged at Chung Myung, either because he didn’t know how great Chung Myung was, or because he was scared of knowing it.

Chung Myung’s eyes turned cold.

Six Harmonies (六合).

The base of all Mount Hua’s swordsmanship.

Six Harmonies meant the four directions of heaven and earth (天地四方). It included everything and meant unity (合一).

It was just a basic sword form.

Thrusting, cutting, striking, and blocking.

It was nothing more than that.

But all swords in the world came from there. No sword could avoid thrusting, cutting, striking, and blocking.

Yu-baek’s sword danced in the air, making beautiful shapes like blooming flowers. Hyun Jong watched, eyes wide. *Flowers? Where have I seen this style before?* He frowned. Jongnam had a new sword style, and it was sharp. Dozens of sword shadows moved like flower petals caught in a strong wind, all aimed at Chung Myung.

But Chung Myung just watched, his eyes getting colder.

Chung Myung stepped forward, raising his wooden sword high. Then, with a sudden move, he thrust it straight out.

“Kugh!” Yu-baek gasped.

The flower-like sword movements disappeared instantly. It was as if they had never been there.

‘How?’

Chung Myung’s sword hit Yu-baek’s wrist, finding the space between his moves. Yu-baek felt a sharp pain and stepped back without thinking.

That was a mistake.

Chung Myung stepped forward again and swung his sword down.

Clang!

Chung Myung’s wooden sword, filled with power, hit Yu-baek’s sword with a heavy thud. Yu-baek blocked it, but the force of the blow shook his body.

“Kuk!”

He pushed Chung Myung’s sword away and stepped back again.

But Chung Myung, still without expression, stepped closer and swung his sword at Yu-baek.

There were no fancy moves. It wasn’t a fast sword, or a strong sword.

It was just a simple swing.

Striking down, hitting, thrusting, and pushing away.

He couldn’t defend against the simple sword moves. Just when he blocked one, another sword came flying. Just when he pushed one away, another sword was at his chin.

‘What is this?’

He blocked. He kept blocking. But each time he blocked Chung Myung’s sword, Yu-baek was pushed back.

‘Just once!’

If he could find one opening, he could thrust his sword, create some space, and use the Snow Flower Twelve Forms (雪花十二式).

If he could use that new Jongnam sword style, beating this brat would be easy.

But…

“Aaargh!”

Before he could move his sword, Chung Myung’s sword hit his. Yu-baek screamed as his wrist broke. He held on to his sword with all his will and pride.

‘Just once!’

Just one opening…

But Chung Myung’s sword didn’t stop.

He paid a high price for not blocking Chung Myung’s sword well. Just simple, direct sword moves. Chung Myung attacked again and again, never rushing. These attacks slowly defeated Yu-baek.

‘What is this!’

Yu-baek realized he was at the edge of the arena and stared at Chung Myung’s sword, dazed.

He just thrust.

He just swung.

But there wasn’t a single gap in that thrust, that swing.

Perfect. A truly perfect sword.

Clang!

Finally, Yu-baek’s sword was knocked out of his hand and flew up. Yu-baek watched Chung Myung’s sword fall towards his head and whispered,

“This is a dream…”

Wham!

Chung Myung’s sword stopped right in front of Yu-baek’s head. He didn’t hit him, but it was enough. Yu-baek couldn’t handle the power of the sword and fell back.

“S-Saje!”

“Senior Brother!”

Yu-baek fell off the dueling platform.

Beyond that were the Jongnam disciples. Chung Myung looked at them.

The Jongnam disciples felt a chill and stepped back.

Chung Myung opened his mouth and said quietly,

“Next.”

The Jongnam disciples realized something had gone wrong.