Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1270

“Aaaargh!”

Part of the camp crashed down.

The destroyed part was small compared to the huge enemy force ready to attack the coast. It seemed like it wouldn’t change much.

But those who were thinking clearly could see the big changes starting from this small break.

Like ripples spreading in a calm pond, the effect of Chung Myung’s attack grew bigger and bigger.

The enemy force, which had been charging like wild animals, ready to attack, suddenly hesitated.

They slowed down more and more.

“Get out of the way, you fools!”

“Retreat! Retreat! Aaaaargh!”

This was no longer a fight against one person. The Maninbang warriors, who were completely terrified of Chung Myung – fear that was shameful for their proud name – turned and ran.

They were so panicked they weren’t thinking clearly. They even swung their swords at their own friends who were in their way.

“Are these guys crazy?”

“What are you doing?!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Those hit by their friends’ swords were first confused, then angry. But finally, they also stopped, completely lost and confused.

‘What is happening?’

A Maninbang warrior, frozen still, looked around, completely confused.

It’s normal to be confused in battle.

Running away from fear is also normal. Had he always been comfortable with killing?

But the strange thing was that the ones panicking and running, even attacking their own comrades, were all experienced Maninbang fighters.

These weren’t new soldiers. They were battle-hardened killers, who had fought in many battles and spilled blood from many groups.

How could these men run from the enemy like they were seeing blood for the first time? Why were they so wild with fear?

“Calm down!”

“Move! I said move! Get out of my way! Aaaaargh!”

Those who were completely *done* with fighting were still screaming, trying to escape, pushing and shoving. They looked ready to cut him down, sword and all, if he didn’t move fast.

“Madmen…”

Then, it happened.

Wham!

A sound like the air ripping apart exploded in his ears. At the same moment, a red line appeared on the chest of the Maninbang warrior trying to run.

“Wh-What…?”

The thin red line quickly became thicker. Then, the top half of his body slid down along the slanted cut.

His body, cut in half, still stood for a moment, not yet fallen.

Splatter!

Blood poured out from the cut.

The warrior who had been blocked saw it. A dark shape moving fast through the spraying blood.

Blood sprayed everywhere, turning his black hair red. But what was most noticeable was the smile on his lips, showing his white teeth through his dark hair.

“Aaaaargh!”

Now he understood why everyone was running in terror. He had been unable to see the deadly figure coming, but now the ‘grim reaper’ gave him no chance to escape either.

Wham!

Another loud *crack* of air being torn apart, and his head flew off his shoulders.

In the very short moment before his head understood it was dead, he saw it clearly.

Chung Myung, like a hunting cat, stepped on his body and jumped forward.

‘I wish I had…’

Then, everything went black.

No one will ever know what he was trying to think of at the very end.

Hoga-myung watched the battlefield with cold eyes.

One man was literally crushing the Maninbang warriors he had worked so hard to train.

Hoga-myung had been watching without showing any emotion, but suddenly he looked down at his hand.

He slowly opened his tightly closed fist. He had squeezed it so hard that blood rushed back into his pale hand, making it feel like ants were biting him.

Hoo.

Hoga-myung breathed out and slowly shook his head.

He could try to look calm, but that would be a weak and fake show. Hoga-myung knew he was deeply disturbed.

“…What a disaster.”

He couldn’t help being disturbed. He knew exactly why this was happening.

The plan was to crush the enemy with overwhelming power right from the start. To *massacre* them as violently and brutally as possible. To make sure the enemy understood the terrible death waiting for them if they fought back.

People are easily influenced by what they see. Even if they try to think clearly, they will first feel the fear right in front of them.

Victory?

What good is victory if I’m ripped apart and killed? Does the Maninbang’s honor mean anything to a man facing that sword?

As soon as one person runs, fear spreads like a disease. This fear quickly destroys everyone’s courage and even their will to fight.

Hoga-myung knew this method very well. It was simple. It was the same method the Maninbang loved to use.

The fear caused by Jang Il-so’s name, the idea that they were *bloodthirsty monsters* who would follow Jang Il-so into hell without hesitation. Hoga-myung and Jang Il-so themselves had created this image. Because it made their enemies *terrified* of them.

They would break the enemy’s spirit by showing overwhelming power and fear from the start. This way, they had won battles that seemed impossible.

Now, Hoga-myung understood what it felt like to be on the receiving end of their own tactics.

No, this was worse. Chung Myung was showing them how to destroy an army in an even more violent and brutal way.

“…Hwasan Sword Saint.”

That man was definitely not normal.

Jang Il-so had said he couldn’t understand the madman Hyun Jong, but Hoga-myung felt differently. Hoga-myung thought Hyun Jong was just a *fool* obsessed with *righteousness*.

But what Hoga-myung truly couldn’t understand was Chung Myung, the Hwasan Sword Saint.

‘What is he even thinking?’

Chung Myung’s power wasn’t surprising. If Hoga-myung was surprised by that now, he would be a fool who didn’t deserve to be a Maninbang soldier.

What he really couldn’t understand was why this madman would charge alone into the middle of a huge army.

Was Chung Myung the strongest person in the world?

No, not at all.

There were stronger people. He was sure Jang Il-so alone was stronger than this Hwasan madman. Even some leaders of other groups, or hidden masters, could probably fight better than Chung Myung.

But none of those strong people would do something as reckless as the Hwasan Sword Saint.

It wasn’t just about being afraid to die. They knew how much they would lose if they died because of such a stupid act.

But this madman charged in like he didn’t care if he lived or died, swinging his sword and crushing the enemy from the front.

It was a stupid, pathetic, *worthless* act. That’s what Hoga-myung thought, based on his understanding of war.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Run awaaaaay!”

“Aaaaargh!”

But this stupid act had *completely* destroyed the military discipline Hoga-myung had worked so hard to build in them.

Hoga-myung looked down again. He realized he had clenched his fist again without thinking. He saw blood dripping from his broken fingernails and closed his eyes tightly.

‘Ga-myung.’

He had to admit it. He already knew it, but now he had to truly accept it. That *man* was not someone he could understand with normal thinking.

“The damage is serious.”

Just as he was starting to control his anger, Gwe-ryang, the Blood Sword Clan Leader, spoke with a mocking voice.

“Those guys can’t catch him.”

…

“This isn’t a fight between people. It’s like animals fighting. Sometimes, many small dogs can beat a tiger…”

Gwe-ryang smiled coldly.

“But only if the dogs have *room to move*. If the first dog gets its throat ripped out right away, it’s just a slaughter.”

Momentum is everything in battle. And the Hwasan Sword Saint clearly knows this instinctively.

“So? This *battle* is already *lost*. Are you just going to watch?”

“Why? Are you feeling sorry for these dying men? Hoga-myung, the famous *leader*?”

Hoga-myung glared at Gwe-ryang.

“Don’t look at me like that, Military Advisor.”

Gwe-ryang laughed, a cold, joyless laugh. He laughed loudly, but his eyes stayed fixed on Chung Myung, watching every move.

“Animals can’t catch tigers. Hunters catch tigers. Do you know the most important thing to catch a *big tiger*?”

“…Not getting caught.”

“No, it’s *being* caught.”

Hoga-myung’s eyes narrowed, suspicious. Gwe-ryang seemed to expect this reaction and continued.

“You can surprise and catch a normal tiger, like you said. But not a *true big tiger*. The key is to tire him out. To let him know you are there, even from far away where he can’t attack. To make him tired of *always being aware* of you for days, maybe even months.”

…

“So many lives?”

Gwe-ryang smiled, a creepy smile.

“If those *useless* soldiers, who are just here to add numbers, can tire out the Hwasan Sword Saint, wouldn’t that be a great sacrifice? I almost want to clap.”

“You…”

“Ah… Actually,”

Gwe-ryang’s eyes filled with cold killing intent.

“That bastard has to die. The more he *fights wildly*, the more I know it.”

Hoga-myung felt the *killing intent* growing stronger and quietly nodded.

‘Hwasan Sword Saint.’

He stared at Chung Myung, who was fighting in a storm of blood.

‘You have to die.’

Even if everyone here dies, it would be worth it if they could kill the Hwasan Sword Saint.

‘Definitely…’

He slowly opened his fist.