Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1075

Crack!

The hand that had dug into his side pressed in even deeper.

“Kraaaah!!”

The pain was unbearable. Man-Geum Daebu screamed, as if he were about to vomit blood. But what tormented him most wasn’t Cheonmyeon Soosa’s hand digging into his side, or the inner force flowing from that hand and ravaging his body.

It was the utterly incomprehensible situation itself.

‘How… how is this possible?’ he wondered.

Why was Cheonmyeon Soosa here? How had he managed it?

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Wi Chung—or rather, Cheonmyeon Soosa—who had plunged his hand into Man-Geum Daebu’s side, clicked his tongue as if he found the situation pathetic.

“Looks like you got your calculations wrong, Man-Geum Daebu.”

“Kheu-eugh…”

Man-Geum Daebu’s body trembled as if he had caught a severe chill. Then, Cheonmyeon Soosa, in the guise of Wi Chung, wore a triumphant smile.

“…You are indeed a remarkable swordsman. Admirable, even.”

His words held both recognition and mockery for Man-Geum Daebu.

Man-Geum Daebu was holding his sword in his left hand. He felt Cheonmyeon Soosa coming from the right. Without thinking, Man-Geum Daebu tried to draw a sword with his right hand. He forgot, for a moment, that his right hand was gone.

“Cough…”

Cheonmyeon Soosa gave a wry smile.

Even though he had anticipated it and attacked, the moment Man-Geum Daebu’s right shoulder twitched, a chill ran down his spine. Clearly, the reputation of the Supreme Swordsman of the Demonic Path was not undeserved.

But…

“The state of that Supreme Swordsman of the Demonic Path has become quite pathetic.”

Cheonmyeon Soosa playfully twisted his wrist as if mocking him.

Crack.

“Kraaah!!”

At the same time, an uncontrollable scream erupted from Man-Geum Daebu’s mouth.

“Great, Great Daebu!”

“You bastard!”

The elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion, who had been driving back Hwasan and the Myriad Man Clan, abandoned their fight and turned around at the thunderous turn of events behind them. They glared at Cheonmyeon Soosa with all the murderous intent they could muster, growling.

“This can’t be happening. It mustn’t.”

But even amidst the pouring murderous intent, Cheonmyeon Soosa leisurely shook the hand embedded in Man-Geum Daebu’s side.

“Keu… Keueugh…”

Man-Geum Daebu’s face turned blue, not just pale. Blood and spit foamed at his lips like bubbles.

“If you don’t want to see your legion leader’s heart explode, wouldn’t it be better to lift the siege and retreat?”

Cheonmyeon Soosa’s sly voice clearly penetrated everyone’s ears. Trembling gazes all turned to the screaming Man-Geum Daebu.

“Re-release… Aaaaaaargh!”

The words Man-Geum Daebu was trying to say were soon drowned out by a desperate scream. The faces of the Black Ghost Legion warriors turned white.

They knew they had to save Man-Geum Daebu.

But with an assassin plunging a deadly hand into his side, what could they possibly do to save him? Moreover, the one holding Man-Geum Daebu’s lifeline was none other than Cheonmyeon Soosa, the head of the House of Ha-Oh.

Wasn’t it easier to rescue a rabbit from the jaws of a tiger?

Or should they release the siege and retreat as Cheonmyeon Soosa suggested?

Could they save Man-Geum Daebu’s life by doing so? Would Cheonmyeon Soosa really let Man-Geum Daebu go willingly?

Unable to do either, the elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion hesitated and agonized. Then, a sinister voice, like a snake hissing a threat, brushed past their ears.

“What are you hesitating for?”

The gazes of those fixed on Man-Geum Daebu and Cheonmyeon Soosa instantly snapped back. To the most dangerous person here, no matter what anyone said.

“Loyalty…”

Jang Il-So, who had gathered all the attention of the Black Ghost Legion, slowly opened his mouth.

“…is something you keep for the living.”

His red lips formed a smooth arc.

“In your eyes, does that man… still look alive?”

Everyone trembled at those words.

Alive, yet not alive. That was Man-Geum Daebu’s current state. And their situation would not be much different.

Even if they killed Jang Il-So here, there was no chance that they, having lost Man-Geum Daebu, could withstand the onslaught of the enraged Myriad Man Clan and the House of Ha-Oh.

“There’s no need to worry.”

Step.

Jang Il-So calmly took a step forward.

“I am not such a heartless person. If you stop here, I will not hold you accountable. Rather, you will gain more than you have enjoyed under the name of the Sinister Path Alliance.”

Anyone could tell.

Jang Il-So was not in a state to fight. Even the Overlord of the Underworld was no different from a third-rate warrior in such an injured state. Yet, for him to calmly present himself to the elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion was nothing short of suicide.

But even though everyone knew this, no one dared to raise a blade against Jang Il-So.

One step.

Another step.

Jang Il-So approached the Black Ghost Legion with an utterly nonchalant expression.

It was Jang Il-So who had lost his strength, but now it was the Black Ghost Legion who were under pressure. Just a moment ago, they had been rushing towards the approaching Jang Il-So, driven by madness, but now they couldn’t even breathe easily.

“If you don’t like it.”

Jang Il-So, who had finally come within arm’s reach, whispered with an eerie smile.

“You can cut off my head right now.”

Step.

The man standing directly in front of Jang Il-So raised his gaze with a pale face.

He knew. He knew that he could kill Jang Il-So right now if he wanted to. But he remained frozen in place, unable to extend his hand.

Jang Il-So’s red lips twisted as if mocking him. His snow-white face, stained with blood, felt even more gruesome.

“What will you do?”

The elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion, overwhelmed by Jang Il-So’s presence, involuntarily took a step back. Or perhaps it was the instinctive habit of the Sinister Path people, who had realized that the tide had already turned.

Jang Il-So smiled gently, as if he did not belong on the battlefield. His face was as if he were praising them for being commendable.

“That’s right. Good children.”

“…”

Step. Step.

Jang Il-So began to move again. At the same time, the elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion, who had been surrounding him, gradually retreated to the left and right. The path to Man-Geum Daebu began to open before Jang Il-So.

‘That… crazy bastard…’ the Hwasan party thought, clenching their fists as they watched the scene.

The distance between Jang Il-So and the retreating elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion was only a few steps. In other words, Jang Il-So was now calmly walking through the midst of those who had been risking their lives to cut off his breath until just a moment ago.

Even if he was the Overlord of the Underworld, was this really something he could do with a sane mind?

But his slow pace never stopped.

Those who stood before him retreated as if they had seen a ghost, and no one dared to rush at him. No, they couldn’t even meet his eyes and lowered their heads.

Submitting to the strong and obeying. That was the habit of the Sinister Path. (Consider revising “Sinister Path” to “Evil Group” or “Dark Side” if it fits the story better.)

And at this moment, the elite warriors of the Black Ghost Legion would have clearly understood. The strength they had discussed countless times was not just individual martial prowess or world-shaking schemes.

Strength also meant the human being itself.

Ho Ga-Myung and Hong-Gyeon quickly followed behind Jang Il-So.

There was no way the Black Ghost Legion, who couldn’t even handle the presence of Jang Il-So alone, could stand in their way. Those who had been faltering and retreating could no longer hold out and opened the path wide as if collapsing.

The corners of Jang Il-So’s lips curled up.

The path opened by the Black Ghost Legion, who had been blocking the way like a black curtain. At the end of that path, Man-Geum Daebu, with a distorted face, was looking at him with his side pierced.

What could one call the light in those eyes? Distrust? Resignation? Or hatred?

No, perhaps it was all of them.

Jang Il-So, who had walked past the Black Ghost Legion, who had been overwhelmed by his momentum, and stepped on the desolate earth, finally reached Man-Geum Daebu.

They stood on the muddy battlefield, the air thick with the smell of blood and smoke.

At that moment, Cheonmyeon Soosa roughly pulled out his hand that had been embedded in Man-Geum Daebu’s side.

“Kheu-heuk!”

Man-Geum Daebu’s body collapsed forward.

Man-Geum Daebu, who had slammed his head into the ground without even thinking of stopping the blood gushing out of his side, trembled like an aspen tree. But anyone who saw that sight would know.

It wasn’t pain that was making Man-Geum Daebu tremble now.

What dominated him was deep humiliation. And perhaps…

Man-Geum Daebu’s chin trembled as he looked up at Jang Il-So. His bloodshot eyes and Jang Il-So’s cold gaze met in the air.

Just moments ago, they had called him ‘Great Daebu’. Now…

At that moment, the thought that dominated Man-Geum Daebu’s mind was somewhat absurd.

Was there anyone else in the world who could pull off looking down on someone with such arrogance?

“Hmm.”

At that moment, a sigh-like groan escaped from Jang Il-So’s lips.

Jang Il-So, who had been looking down at Man-Geum Daebu with an expressionless face, raised the corner of his lips crookedly and asked.

“Who… made a mistake?”

Man-Geum Daebu’s body convulsed as if struck by lightning.

“No. Man-Geum Daebu. Or should I call you Gongya Wol?”

Jang Il-So’s wry smile was clearly etched in Man-Geum Daebu’s eyes.

“The one who made a mistake wasn’t me, but you.”

Jang Il-So slowly bent down.

And he brought his face close to Man-Geum Daebu’s, who was barely supporting his upper body with his one remaining arm, as if he were about to slam into the ground.

“Did you really… think I wouldn’t know?”

“Ja… Jang Il…”

When he says “Did you really… think I wouldn’t know?”, he figured out Man-Geum Daebu’s plan.

“Answer me, Gongya Wol. Did you really believe that I didn’t know you were coming to bite my neck? Huh?”

As Man-Geum Daebu’s face twisted miserably, an expression that was difficult to describe gradually deepened on Jang Il-So’s face. That expression was similar to… the one a devil from hell might wear as he enjoyed torturing humans.

Jang Il-So reached out his large hand and grabbed Man-Geum Daebu’s face.

Crack.

Gradually adding strength to his grip as if he were about to crush it, Jang Il-So whispered in Man-Geum Daebu’s ear.

“Let me tell you one thing, Man-Geum Daebu.”

“…”

“I, you see.”

His voice was truly soft and sinister.

“Never trust a guy like you.”

“Eugh…”

“You thought you had grasped everyone and calculated everything. But Gongya Wol… what a pity. It seems like ‘you’ were missing from your calculations? What others think of you, that is.”

“Jang Il…So…”

Jang Il-So laughed like a devil.

“Doesn’t it feel like that precious abacus of yours has been smashed? Huh, Gongya Wol?”

Eventually, Man-Geum Daebu, filled with sorrow, began to scream loudly.

“Jang Il-Soooooooo!”

“Haha…”

Then, Jang Il-So finally burst into wild laughter as if he couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!”

Man-Geum Daebu’s scream, like a death knell, and Jang Il-So’s wild laughter spread miserably across the silent earth.