Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1060

The earth screamed, and the sky was shaken.

The continuous impacts threw everyone back, even the Mount Hua disciples, even though they were far from the fight. It was strange to see.

“C-Chung Myung…” Baek Cheon’s hand shook.

Could Chung Myung survive such an attack? Baek Cheon didn’t want to think Chung Myung could be hurt. He tried not to imagine it, but fear made his mind go blank.

“Sasuk! Over there!” Jo Gul shouted.

Baek Cheon turned fast. Jo Gul was pointing. There! Chung Myung. He was still alive. Chung Myung was on one knee, one hand on the ground, trying to stand.

“Ah…” Baek Cheon let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. His legs felt weak with relief. *(He’s alive… thank goodness.)*

But it wasn’t time to relax yet.

“What kind of inner force…” Cold sweat poured down Baek Cheon’s forehead like rain.

A martial artist’s strength comes from two things: how well they know their martial arts and how strong their inner force is. (Inner force is like magical energy that martial artists use to fight.)

Chung Myung thinks things like skill, quick thinking, and mental strength are also important. But mostly, it’s those first two things that decide how strong someone is.

It’s best if both skills are balanced. It’s not good if one is much stronger than the other. At least, Baek Cheon thought so.

But after seeing this, he wasn’t so sure. The power coming from that inner force was unbelievable. It broke Baek Cheon’s idea of what martial arts should be.

‘That’s why…’

The Demonic Cult members knew how strong that bishop was and what kind of inner force he had.

That’s why they weren’t scared, even when their bishop was losing.

“S-Sasuk…” Tang Soso’s voice was weak.

“C-Can we really win? Against that monster?”

Baek Cheon didn’t answer. He couldn’t just say he believed in Chung Myung. That wouldn’t be faith, but foolish hope.

Instead, Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and said, “Listen carefully, Soso-ya.”

“…”

“He… he can’t live. We can’t let him.”

“S-Sasuk.”

“If… If Chung Myung and Jang Ilso can’t beat him, then everyone here must rush in and kill only that bastard, no matter what.”

It was a cruel thing to say. But it was also true. If those two lost, everyone else was doomed. The Demonic Cult members would never let them live.

If that happened, they should at least make their deaths mean something.

But…

‘When will that be?’

Baek Cheon clenched his fist. Was it right to wait any longer? Was he putting too much pressure on Chung Myung? Should they join him now…?

Baek Cheon started to move forward, but someone grabbed his sleeve.

“…Samae?”

Yoo Iseol shook her head. Her face was serious.

“Wait, Sahyung.”

“…”

“Sajil is still fighting.”

Baek Cheon looked back at Chung Myung. Even from far away, he could see the fierce light burning in Chung Myung’s eyes, like hot coals glowing in the dark.

“…Alright.”

Baek Cheon nodded. “But I can’t wait long. I’m not going to take revenge after he dies.”

“I will jump out first at that time,” Yoo Iseol said firmly. Baek Cheon nodded and stared at Chung Myung with bloodshot eyes.

‘Chung Myung-ah…’

“Hoo… Hoo…” Blood and sweat ran down Chung Myung’s face. His body ached all over, and he felt weak, like all the water had been drained from him.

Chung Myung looked down at his right foot. It was twisted at a strange angle, and blood soaked into the ground around it.

‘Is it lucky that it’s the right side?’

For someone who uses the Plum Blossom Sword, the left foot is important for balance when striking. If the left foot is hurt, he can’t use the sword as well. The right foot still matters, but it’s not as important as the left.

But the problem wasn’t just using the sword. His foot was hit, which meant he couldn’t move as well. He had lost one of the best things that helped him fight Danzagaeng.

Why? How did this happen?

Crack!

He stuck his sword into the ground and stood up. He spat at Danzagaeng, who was walking closer with an arrogant stride. Danzagaeng smirked as he walked with confidence.

“…You, did you also learn the Spirit Absorption Demonic Art? (This is a Demonic Art that absorbs the inner force of others.)”

Danzagaeng’s eyes flashed. “You know a lot about the cult.”

“…Looks like you’ve become a real Demonic Cult member. Giving the Spirit Absorption Demonic Art to a kid like you.”

Chung Myung bit his lip.

It wasn’t a mistake. It was just something he hadn’t thought of.

The Demonic Cult now is not the same as it was before. The old Demonic Cult wouldn’t have given the Spirit Absorption Demonic Art to a young bishop who was new.

The Spirit Absorption Demonic Art is the most dangerous of the Demonic Arts. It lets you take the inner force of others to make yourself stronger, but it messes up your mind.

People who are controlled by inner demons because of the Spirit Absorption Demonic Art don’t just become crazy about the cult. They become truly mad, like wild animals that attack anyone.

That’s why even the Demonic Cult, which loves power and being extreme, doesn’t let people learn it easily. But…

‘I was foolish.’

He should have remembered that the Demonic Cult now is different.

A hundred years ago, there were always wars. So, people recklessly took inner force and couldn’t handle the Spirit Absorption Demonic Art.

But now, the Demonic Cult lives alone. So, there is only one target to absorb.

“…A snake, now he’s eating his own cult members.”

If they absorb power from another Demonic Cult member who also uses the same Demonic Art, it might reduce the bad effects. It wouldn’t stop all the bad effects, but it could make them less severe.

Chung Myung did not see it coming. He did not know the Bishop was so strong. He had underestimated the Bishop’s power.

People expect things to be like what they already know. So, they don’t expect things they cannot understand. Chung Myung was now making a mistake he often saw in his enemies: he was underestimating the Bishop.

“So, the crazy people in the cult are angry? I thought you didn’t hurt each other. Why now? Are you scared you will fall apart now that the Heavenly Demon kid is gone?”

“Tell me. What did it feel like to eat your own people? Did you even see their faces as you took their energy while they screamed?”

Dan Ja-gang’s eyes became smaller.

‘How did it feel?’

That man knows nothing. He doesn’t understand anything. He knows about the cult, but he doesn’t understand it.

‘He can’t understand.’

He remembered the faces of those who happily gave him their power as they died. They died feeling great joy, believing they would help the Heavenly Demon come down to earth.

Those who could not handle it were the ones who…

“You Zhongyuan people are sad.”

“…..What?”

“Even an animal hides its weakness until it dies. No matter how much pain, it holds on until it can’t anymore.”

“⋯⋯.”

“If it shows weakness, it will be left behind and attacked again. What have you been through that you don’t show any weakness even now?”

*Clench.* Chung Myung tightened his teeth.

“You are talking nonsense.”

Chung Myung’s voice was like a painful sound from someone badly hurt. He took short breaths to calm down. Then, Chung Myung walked towards Dan Ja-gang. His hurt foot scraped on the ground as he moved.

“That’s why young kids are useless.”

“⋯⋯”

“What? Do you think you have already won?”

Chung Myung smiled in a scary way.

“Listen to me, you idiot. On a battlefield, there is no winning or losing. There is only killing or being killed.”

This injury is nothing. He had fought and killed enemies with injuries much worse than this. This is not new for him. He won’t complain just because his foot is crushed.

But Dan Ja-gang just looked at Chung Myung calmly.

“We have been waiting for him to come.”

“⋯⋯..”

“For a very long time. We just waited and waited. We never lost hope that one day He would answer our prayers. We just waited.”

Dan Ja-gang stopped talking and looked up at the sky.

“Waiting is not the hardest part. The hardest part is the lives of those who die without ever hearing an answer. That is a heavy burden.”

“*Cough*….” Chung Myung’s body shook a little as he listened.

Dan Ja-gang’s eyes suddenly became dark. He felt, without thinking, that the laughter was not to make him angry.

“What’s so funny?”

He asked. Chung Myung could not stop laughing. He laughed for a long time before putting his hand over his mouth.

“Ah, sorry.”

He was still laughing. You could see his teeth covered in blood.

“It’s like watching someone try to fish for fish in the sky.”

“….What do you mean?”

“I mean you are completely wrong.”

Chung Myung held his sword tightly.

“You will never get anything for this.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Even if the Heavenly Demon comes down. He will not hear you. At least, not him.”

Dan Ja-gang’s face twisted in anger.

Chung Myung used Dan Ja-gang’s own word back at him.

“Sad.”

“⋯⋯You….”

“You are a fool who doesn’t even know what you believe in or who you are serving. Your god does not care about you. Your shouts mean nothing to your god.”

*CRUNCH!* Dan Ja-gang’s teeth ground together. His face twisted like a monster.

He knows this. He doesn’t need to listen to that man’s words. There is no reason to be upset by the words of someone who knows nothing about the cult or the Heavenly Demon, who just says whatever he thinks of.

But, the only reason he cannot stop his anger is this: Chung Myung’s words were the words he hated to hear most.

Like a dragon whose weak spot was hit, the power inside him started to burn out of control.

“You… You! You dirty unbeliever….”

“Yes. I am just an unbeliever to you. Dirty and disgusting. But you need to know one thing.”

Chung Myung chuckled softly.

“It doesn’t matter if you are an unbeliever that you hate, or if you are someone like you who worships the Heavenly Demon so much you risk your life… the Heavenly Demon, that crazy person, sees no difference.”

“You….” Dan Ja-gang’s eyes filled with killing intent.

“How dare you! How dare you! Say these things! How dare you!”

“Now I am curious.”

Chung Myung shrugged and laughed, even wiping tears from his eyes.

“What face will you make when someone like you, who doesn’t even know who the Heavenly Demon is, sees him with your own eyes? You are just a fool who doesn’t even know who your god is.”

“Noooo!” Dan Ja-gang became even angrier, and dark energy burst out of him. It was like a huge waterfall going up into the sky. Completely taken over by anger, Dan Ja-gang lost control and attacked wildly.

“I will kill you! I will kill you! I will rip your cursed mouth apart and crush every piece of your body! I will destroy even your soul for insulting the cult and disrespecting the Heavenly Demon!”

“Try it, you stupid…”

Just as Chung Myung was about to run forward, yelling loudly, someone stepped in front of him. It was Jang Il-so, wearing a torn red robe.

“Sorry to stop your little chat, but you need to rest.”

“What…?”

“I’m tired of hearing that nonsense. I’ll give you a moment to breathe, so don’t waste it, okay?”

Jang Il-so smiled a little and made a fist. His ring made a *click* sound as he moved quickly towards Dan Ja-gang, who was charging with great anger.