Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1274

“Even the smartest planner finds the Hwasan Sword Saint, that legendary fighter, a tough enemy,” Ho Gamyung said, his brow furrowing slightly, though he tried not to show it.

Gweolyang, however, was openly sneering, a nasty grin twisting his lips. “Still got your tongue after that beating, huh?”

“Heh heh heh.” Gweolyang just chuckled, not bothering to answer.

Ho Gamyung shook his head slowly. *This fool understands nothing,* he thought.

“There’s no way even a great fighter like the Hwasan Sword Saint could have planned something like this.”

“Are you looking down on me?”

“No,” Ho Gamyung replied calmly.

“He’s not the sort to worry about plans for a clean escape. That’s a tactic for vermin like me.”

“…Vermin?”

“Indeed. And there’s one such vermin aboard this ship.”

“The bandit leader, known as the Green Forest King.”

“Correct.”

Gweolyang nodded. Certainly, such petty tricks were common among the Green Forest bandits.

“Thinking about it, it’s rather unpleasant.”

Gweolyang spat out the blood that had pooled in his mouth.

“What do you say? Shall we make them regret leaving us behind?”

“Regret?”

“They’ll be expecting us to chase right after them. But I think we have a little time to spare.”

Gweolyang glanced towards Hainan Island, a place they had just left.

“We must make them pay the price for daring to abandon us.”

“Impossible.”

Ho Gamyung cut him off as if there was nothing to consider. Gweolyang’s eyebrows twitched slightly in displeasure.

“I have no reason to listen to you.”

“You seem to understand Hwasan Sword Saint, but you still don’t know much about the Green Forest King.”

“Hmm?”

“He’s not so easily fooled. He knows we have no choice but to chase after him.”

“The reason?”

“Have you forgotten what’s in Guangdong?”

At those words, Gweolyang momentarily fell silent.

What was in Guangdong? It was a question that needed no thought, at least not for them.

“…The main base.”

“Indeed.”

Across the sea lay the Ten Thousand People Clan’s main base. And that base was currently empty. Ho Gamyung had brought every available member with him.

“If we fall behind, they’ll target the main base without a moment’s hesitation. Instead of burning Hainan, we’ll lose our base.”

“Do you really care so much about some old building?”

“The building itself is meaningless. The problem is that the base’s warehouse contains the wealth and military supplies stockpiled for the war with Gangbuk.”

Ho Gamyung said in an emotionless voice.

“What if, while we’re wreaking havoc in Hainan, all the military supplies in the main base go up in flames? Perhaps the Clan Lord would personally test you to see if a person can survive any kind of torment.”

Gweolyang fell silent.

He feared nothing in the world, but Jang Ilso was an exception. Just imagining Jang Ilso approaching with a smile sent shivers down his spine.

“…We must hurry, then.”

“If you have time to talk, move. Even now, that rat is hoping we will be slow to follow.”

“Understood.”

Gweolyang spun around and stomped away, not wasting a second. Ho Gamyung watched the departing ship with cold eyes and muttered.

“You’ve been tricked as well, Green Forest King.”

Ho Gamyung curled up the corner of his lips. This was a plan that was like Lim Sobyeong, and yet completely unlike him.

In tactics, it was like Lim Sobyeong. He was good at forcing enemies to make choices and gaining from it.

But in strategy, this was not like Lim Sobyeong at all.

The Lim Sobyeong he knew would never do such a crazy thing. Lim Sobyeong, who had led the relatively weak Green Forest bandits through repeated, arduous battles, could not possibly be unaware of what it meant to lead the Hainan Clan’s disciples and break through Gangnam.

In this situation, the only choice Lim Sobyeong should have made was to abandon Hainan without looking back.

If he had, he might have lost Hainan, but the core members of the Heavenly Union could have returned alive. And Lim Sobyeong would have known that was the most correct method.

Yet, the only reason Lim Sobyeong would have made such a choice was this.

Even those who plan everything can be controlled by things other than plans. It was strange, but also a tiresomely repeated occurrence, that the most rational people were led by those who made the most irrational choices.

Lim Sobyeong, also fooled by the Hwasan Sword Saint Chung Myung, would have had no other way. There was no point in putting forward a plan that his followers would not choose. He could only do his best within the limits.

In that respect, Lim Sobyeong’s plan certainly made sense. But…

“In exchange, Hwasan Sword Saint must die.”

Ho Gamyung would make it so.

Even if it meant letting everyone else escape, even if it meant offering his own head as punishment for killing Hwasan Sword Saint on his own authority, he would never allow that man to return alive from Gangnam.

Because that was the only way to break free from the inescapable anxiety that had plagued Ho Gamyung from the moment he first faced him.

“Bring Jeon Seo-eung!”

“Yes!”

Ho Gamyung was about to turn away indifferently, but he paused.

‘More than that….’

He muttered, surveying the utterly devastated coastline.

“Hwasan Sword Saint, is it….”

Wasn’t it truly absurd to call someone with such cruel hands, enough to make even the Demonic Sect shudder, a Sword Saint?

“Plum Blossom Sword Demon would be better.”

Ho Gamyung scoffed slightly and turned away without regret.

The cold waves washed over the sand, indifferently pushing away the flowing red blood. The salty smell of the sea mixed with the metallic scent of blood hung in the air.

“Throw it!”

“Eura-chaaaa!”

Jo Gul tore off a plank from the deck and threw it with all his might. The wooden plank spun fiercely as it cut across the water’s surface. And none other than Chung Myung stepped on that plank and leaped into the air.

“Eatcha!”

Each time Jo Gul and Yoon Jong threw a plank, Chung Myung stepped on it in succession, gradually getting closer to the ship.

Finally, stepping on the last plank, Chung Myung leaped greatly and landed on the deck.

Thud!

With a heavy thud, red blood splattered onto the deck.

“Chung Myung-ah!”

“Are you alright….”

A wave of coldness seemed to roll off Chung Myung. The Hwasan disciples, who had been about to rush forward, stopped in their tracks. Their smiles faded, and they took a step back without even realizing it.

‘Chung Myung….’

Yoon Jong bit his lip.

A terrifying chill flowed from Chung Myung’s eyes. Enough to believe he was an Asura who had just crawled out of hell.

It felt as if the sword in his hand would fly at them if they got any closer. Even knowing that wouldn’t happen, their feet wouldn’t move.

At that moment when everyone stopped, only one person didn’t stop and walked straight towards Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung.”

Then, Chung Myung’s gaze abruptly turned towards her. The hand holding the sword momentarily trembled.

“Are you okay?”

With that one word, the murderous intent in Chung Myung’s eyes slowly relaxed. Chung Myung, who had been blankly staring at Yoo Iseol who had come within inches of him, slowly lowered the sword he was holding.

“…Asking the obvious.”

“You’re hurt.”

“It’s nothing.”

Chung Myung shrugged and brushed it off, then wiped his sword and put it back in its scabbard.

“Ch, Chung Myung-ah!”

“Sahyung! You’re injured!”

Only then did the other Hwasan disciples shout and rush towards him.

Namgoong Dowi secretly exhaled the breath he had been holding.

His whole body was instantly drenched in cold sweat. It was only a brief confrontation, just long enough to take a breath, but the pressure it gave him was beyond imagination.

‘That Hwasan Sword Saint….’

The Chung Myung he knew was always full of composure.

Even if his sword was terribly fierce, Chung Myung was always someone who looked after his surroundings even in the midst of urgency. At least, that was the Chung Myung that Namgoong Dowi had observed.

The battle on the coast must have been so fierce that Chung Myung couldn’t control his murderous intent.

But what shocked Namgoong Dowi wasn’t the Ten Thousand People Clan that had driven Hwasan Sword Saint to such a state. He was shocked by Yoo Iseol, who had approached Chung Myung, who was exuding murderous intent, as if it were nothing.

‘How can she do that?’

Even Namgoong Dowi, who was quite a distance away, had momentarily almost drawn his sword. No, to be honest, it wasn’t just drawing his sword, but a murderous intent that made him want to throw himself off the deck.

But how could she approach someone exuding such murderous intent without even drawing her sword? If that Chung Myung had swung his sword, her head would have been gone.

‘She’s not normal….’

Was it because the other Hwasan disciples didn’t trust Chung Myung that they couldn’t approach him?

No one would have thought that Chung Myung would really swing his sword at them. But even so, their bodies froze. That was a natural reaction and survival instinct as humans facing unexpected danger.

It was something that someone who valued their life even a little could never do.

“Take it off, Sahyung!”

“…Are you crazy?”

“What nonsense! I’m telling you to take off your clothes so I can see the wound!”

“Why are you shouting!”

As always, when Chung Myung started bickering with Tang Soso, Baek Cheon approached Chung Myung with a large bucket.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Huh?”

When Chung Myung raised his head, Baek Cheon held out the bucket in his hand.

“…Wash up a bit first. You’re a mess.”

It wasn’t because he was dirty. However, it wasn’t good to see him covered in blood like a demon anytime, anywhere. Especially since they weren’t the only ones here.

Only then did Chung Myung glance around.

He saw the Hainan disciples who couldn’t even dare to approach this side. Even Geum Yang-baek, the head of Hainan, was looking at this side with a pale face, but he couldn’t dare to come and talk to him.

“Tsk.”

Realizing anew that this world was different from the past, Chung Myung took the bucket that Baek Cheon held out. And he immediately dumped it over his head.

Splash!

The water poured down, washing away the blood that covered Chung Myung’s entire body. It didn’t completely clean him in one go, but it looked much better.

Baek Cheon quickly scanned Chung Myung’s body. He could clearly see the clothes covering Chung Myung’s legs getting newly and darkly soaked. *He’s really hurt,* Baek Cheon thought, his worry growing. *I should have been more careful. We all should have.*

“Your leg….”

“Hmm?”

Chung Myung glanced at his leg as if it were nothing. A deep wound was revealed through the long-split clothes.

“It’s nothing.”

“Are you poisoned?”

Baek Cheon’s face hardened.

After washing off the blood of others, Chung Myung’s blood was visible. The color of the blood was dark. Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly.

“Soso. Antidote….”

“It’s fine.”

Chung Myung shook his head and stretched his hand forward. His hand slowly turned black, and soon red Samadhi Fire bloomed from his fingertips. At the same time, a sharp scent that stung the nose spread in all directions.

“It’s not a great poison or anything.”

“You….”

“Don’t worry. I tore their stomach in exchange for getting hit in the leg.”

Baek Cheon silently bit his lip.

‘I misjudged.’

It wasn’t that he underestimated the opponent. But he thought that as long as the main force of the Ten Thousand People Clan was in the Yangtze River, there would be no one here who could match Chung Myung.

That complacent judgment almost led to irreversible consequences.

“Chung Myung-ah. I….”

“Sasook.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no time to be leisurely chatting. Move. Those bastards will be chasing us soon.”

“…“

“Isn’t that right?”

A deep sigh escaped from Baek Cheon’s mouth.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Then tell them to increase the speed.”

“Alright.”

As Baek Cheon moved to give instructions, Chung Myung looked back at the coast.

‘Ten Thousand People Clan….’

They were more vicious than he thought. But it couldn’t be helped. This wasn’t something he was doing because he could, but because he had to.

‘I must get out of here.’

Chung Myung’s eyes emitted a cold murderous intent.

And Yoo Iseol was quietly watching such Chung Myung. With indifferent eyes that couldn’t tell what she was thinking.