Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1074

Tap, tap, tap!

Jo Gul moved fast. His sword cut through the air like a hawk diving down. It was quick and sharp, faster than anyone else’s sword in Mount Hua right now.

Yoon Jong stayed close to Jo Gul, shouting from time to time.

“Don’t go too far, you idiot!”

“Ah! I know!”

Yoon Jong watched Jo Gul closely. If Jo Gul even moved a little too far, Yoon Jong would quickly pull him back.

Jo Gul bit his lip hard. He knew he had to hold his ground. This wasn’t the time to rush out and attack.

Everywhere he looked, enemies surrounded them.

‘I can’t breathe.’

There were too many enemies. It felt like they could knock them down forever. Even though they were trying to save their energy, they were still getting tired.

If they just kept fighting like this, slowly getting weaker, wouldn’t they lose first?

‘Just a little more…’

“Hold on!”

“Damn it!”

Jo Gul cursed. He saw the injured enemies getting back in line. If they could finish them off for good, it would be better. But they couldn’t stop them while just defending.

“What are you going to do if a Taoist can’t even be patient!”

“I know, damn it! Always nagging!”

Jo Gul gritted his teeth and swung his sword harder. He couldn’t move forward, so he had to make every strike count.

Yoon Jong watched Jo Gul’s sword get sharper and sighed quietly. His face was stiff with worry.

‘We have to leave him behind.’

Yoon Jong knew why Jo Gul was acting like this. He wanted to attack too, but Jo Gul was even more impatient.

‘It feels like we’re sinking in a swamp.’

Breaking through the enemies wasn’t easy. But fighting them off like this was hard in a different way. He felt anxious because he couldn’t end the fight himself.

He could feel his energy draining with every swing. If they weren’t disciples of Mount Hua with so much energy, they might have given up already.

Thud!

A powerful sound came as someone moved forward.

Paaaaah!

Sword energy with a reddish color flashed across the sky. It swept away dozens of enemies in front and on the sides.

“Kraaah!”

The sword energy was just a quick burst, so it didn’t kill them. But it stopped the enemies from rushing in without fear.

Yoon Jong looked at Baek Cheon, who had used the sword energy.

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and used his sword energy again. He knew the others were tired, so he was trying to help, even if it hurt him.

Then,

“Oooooooooh!”

Golden light pushed into the space Baek Cheon had made. Hae Yeon helped Baek Cheon, sending in his fist energy.

“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”

Hae Yeon was breathing hard. He always breathed evenly, but not now.

The others were the same.

Yoo Iseol, who was like the wind, and even Tang Soso’s sword, were getting heavy and slow. Protecting those behind them while fighting the endless enemies was harder than they thought.

“Baek Cheon, Elder! Let’s switch places!”

Namgung Dowi shouted from behind. He was worried. But Baek Cheon didn’t look back.

‘That dying old man!’

He was brave, but Namgung Dowi couldn’t handle this fight. Not now. He had used all his energy getting here.

Baek Cheon glanced back and saw Im So-byeong. That was all, but he looked forward again and shouted.

“Endure!”

He swung his sword and gritted his teeth.

‘I trust you!’

He didn’t trust Im So-byeong himself.

He trusted Chung Myung’s choice to bring Im So-byeong here. Chung Myung must have had a reason. If Chung Myung trusted him, they could too.

Then,

“Kahaaa!”

Red hunting dogs rushed in and attacked the disciples of Mount Hua.

“Red Dogs?”

Baek Cheon was surprised. He looked at Jang Il-so. Jang Il-so was watching them and smiling strangely, even while fighting. He had brought the Red Dogs here, but he looked calm.

‘Thanks for the gift. You bastard!’

Baek Cheon thought to himself and focused on the fight.

“Grit your teeth and protect that Chung Myung!”

His sword moved like lightning.

“This….”

Man Geum-daebu’s face twisted.

A Red Dog attacked the Black Ghost Squad, who were too eager and moved forward. The formation was falling apart.

‘Damn it.’

This shouldn’t have happened. Man Geum-daebu should have been in the center, stopping it. But he couldn’t do anything now. He was too excited and couldn’t hear the others.

He was still trying to keep the formation, but it would fall apart soon.

He saw it clearly.

“Jang Il-so!”

Jang Il-so was stepping forward, tempting them. The Black Ghost Squad would want to attack him.

Jang Il-so, the Lord of the Myriad Man House, was offering his life. Who wouldn’t want to kill him? It was a chance to end him with their own hands.

The formation was falling apart.

‘These stupid bastards!’

If they had stayed calm, this wouldn’t have happened. Why were they acting so stupidly?

‘No.’

Jang Il-so was risking his life. But he was making a crack in Man Geum-daebu’s plan. They might not be able to break through now, but…

Man Geum-daebu looked at Mount Hua.

‘If that bastard finishes gathering energy?’

Then what would happen? If they missed them here, Man Geum-daebu would be doomed. He would rather die.

“Throw in all the remaining forces.”

“But the plan….”

“Hurry!”

“Yes!”

The reserves rushed forward. They were the last hope to stop the crack.

‘No, it’s not enough….’

Crack.

Man Geum-daebu bit his lip. They couldn’t solve the problem alone. He should be there.

‘What do I do?’

He couldn’t decide.

‘Should I jump in now?’

If Mangeum joined the fight, it would be much easier to win. He had lost much of his fighting power. But his clever mind for strategy was still strong.

‘First, even if it’s a bit dangerous…’

Just as Mangeum was about to step forward, unable to resist the urge…

‘Wait.’

His foot froze in the air.

‘Why is Jang Il-so doing this?’

Jang Il-so is making the situation unstable, even using his own life as bait.

Why? Is he hoping that the Hwasan fighter will wake up and break through? Has Jang Il-so ever trusted someone else with his life like that?

“Ha… Haha.”

Mangeum let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

I think I understand why Jang Il-so is acting like that.

He watched Jang Il-so, who was taking huge risks, close to death, with cold eyes.

“His real target… from the start, was me. Jang Il-so.”

Mangeum hated it when plans went wrong. Jang Il-so probably guessed that Mangeum would step in himself once things started to fall apart.

The obvious gap Jang Il-so created was never meant to be an escape route. The gap itself was bait to trick Mangeum.

It’s strange.

If Mangeum still had both arms, he would have rushed into that gap without a second thought. But losing his arm had shaken his confidence in his fighting skills. For the first time in a long time, he hesitated and thought.

Strangely, Dan Ja-gang actually saved his life. By cutting off Mangeum’s arm, Dan Ja-gang saved him.

“…Good move, Jang Il-so.”

Mangeum’s eyes quickly became calm again.

The fact that he could set such a trap even now shows how skilled Jang Il-so is. But it also means that Jang Il-so has no choice but to risk his own life.

‘I won, Jang Il-so.’

A cold smile appeared on Mangeum’s face.

“Wi Chung.”

“Yes.”

“Send out all the remaining guards.”

“Lord Protector?”

“It’s alright. It’s just a final desperate move.”

Mangeum gripped the sword at his waist. He wasn’t hesitating anymore.

“Even if that fool recovers his strength, it won’t matter. If we don’t give them a chance, we can kill them all. Send them out!”

“…Yes!”

Following Wi Chung’s orders, even the guards protecting Mangeum rushed to the front lines.

And the effect was immediate.

Faaaah!

The strongest fighters of the Black Specter Squad leaped forward. They slammed into the Hwasan disciples, forcing them back. Then, like hungry wolves, they turned on Hong Gyeon, attacking him fiercely.

The battle, which had been going back and forth, now turned in their favor.

“Vicious bastards.”

Mangeum shook his head.

I don’t know who started it. But it’s clear that both Im So-byeong and Jang Il-so were aiming for the same thing. Those fools couldn’t have predicted this, but they reacted to each other as if they had planned it all along and carried out their plan.

If Mangeum had been just a little less brave, Jang Il-so’s last move would have pierced Mangeum’s neck.

But Mangeum was no longer interested in what Jang Il-so’s last move might have been. Whatever that hidden trick is, it’s better if it remains a mystery forever, along with Jang Il-so’s death.

“You don’t let me be careless until the very end.”

In any case, Mangeum won this fight. Even if it wasn’t because of his full strength, but thanks to the gift Dan Ja-gang gave him, isn’t luck also a skill in the world of martial arts?

“Keuk!”

“T, these bastards!”

The Hwasan disciples, who had been fighting bravely, began to be pushed back more and more.

The Black Specter Squad, having regained their composure, slowly tightened their grip and pushed them back without rushing.

Hong Gyeon, who had fought like a wild beast, now staggered. Dark blood sprayed from his wounds, painting the ground around him.

Looking at the battle that was starting to go perfectly, Mangeum’s smile grew even wider. Now, all that was left was to watch those who would die in an ugly state.

“In the end, the one who laughs last wins. Isn’t that right, Jang Il-so?”

At this moment, Mangeum was most curious about Jang Il-so’s expression. Since his last gamble, which had even risked his life, had failed, what kind of expression would Jang Il-so have?

But…

At that moment, Mangeum saw it.

Even surrounded by the Black Specter Squad, who were closing in as if to cut off his head at any moment, Jang Il-so’s gaze was only fixed on Mangeum. The strange smile he had…

“What…?”

In an instant, cold shivers ran down Mangeum’s spine, raising goosebumps on his arms. He felt a sudden, icy dread and unknowingly looked around. But no matter how much he looked, there was nothing that seemed dangerous.

‘Has he gone mad?’

Mangeum, looking at Jang Il-so with doubtful eyes, gritted his teeth.

“Wi Chung!”

“Yes!”

“Go and cut off Jang Il-so’s head!”

“…Jang Il-so, you say?”

“Yes! Finish him with your own hands!”

“However, Lord Protector.”

“Hmm?”

“Is there really a need to do that?”

Mangeum, who was watching the front, frowned.

What a foolish thing to say at a time like this…

Flinch.

At that moment, Mangeum flinched, his shoulders shaking.

“You?”

Feeling that something was wrong, he instinctively turned his head. No, he tried to turn it.

Crack!

Before he could, a sharp pain shot through his side. A cold dagger pierced his flesh, tearing at his lungs.

“Keoeok…”

Mangeum began to tremble at the pain that made him breathless and confused.

What happened? What…

As he struggled to turn his trembling head, he finally saw it. Wi Chung, with his hand buried in his side, was smiling coldly.

“You…”

The first thought that came to mind was ‘betrayal.’ But that thought disappeared as quickly as it came. If Wi Chung was the type to betray, would Mangeum have kept him around?

“You… you’re not Wi Chung… are you…”

Someone who is not Wi Chung, but can perfectly look like him, so much that Mangeum wouldn’t even suspect it.

There is only one such person in the world.

“Thousand Faces…”

Black blood gurgled from Mangeum’s mouth.

“Thousand… Faces… Instructor…”

Wi Chung. No, Thousand Faces Instructor, the Lord of the House of Ha-O, replied.

“It’s been a while, Great Lord Mangeum.”

His voice was full of laughter.