Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1288

*Paah!* The sound of feet hitting the dusty ground echoed as trained legs pushed harder.

The disciples of Hae Nam ran with all their strength. Damgang, their destination, was still about 400 li away – a long distance, roughly one hundred and sixty kilometers. A normal person would need three days to walk that far, even without stopping to sleep. But these were no ordinary people. Disciples from Hae Nam, a highly respected martial arts school, could cover that distance in just a few hours.

It wasn’t just about being fast; it was their incredible stamina that truly set them apart. A Hae Nam disciple, part of the famous Nine Great Sects, could run as fast as a normal person sprinting, and keep running like that for a whole day. Some could even run for three days straight without rest.

This unmatched speed was what made martial artists so different from ordinary people, even faster than horses over long distances.

But now, this very speed was becoming a danger for the Hae Nam disciples. It felt like they were running straight into a trap.

At first, they didn’t quite realize it. They just ran as hard as they could, as they were told.

But as they ran without a single word for a long time, everyone realized it.

They were running towards their own end.

From the mouth of the Damgang River, their destination, there was a high chance that the Four Great Evils Alliance had set up an ambush. They were rushing headlong into that trap.

“Ja-yang!”

“Why… Cough! What is it?”

Lee Ja-yang replied, looking exhausted. Usually, he wouldn’t be this tired after running at this speed for three hours. It seemed the pressure of running through Gangnam, instead of Hae Nam, was quickly draining his energy.

“Where do you think we are now?”

“Yes?”

“Now!”

Lee Ja-yang looked around, thinking.

“Well… at this speed, we should be arriving soon.”

“So, you’re saying we’ll be facing the enemy soon?”

Lee Ja-yang’s face turned serious.

“…Probably.”

“Then shouldn’t we slow down now?”

“I was thinking the same thing, but…”

Kwak Hwan-so looked at the Cheon Woo Alliance members running ahead.

Lee Ja-yang was smart. If Lee Ja-yang and Kwak Hwan-so thought the same way, it must be common sense. But…

‘What are they thinking?’

Until now, they had been passing through places where there were unlikely to be enemies, so they ran without thinking. But from now on, the situation was different, wasn’t it?

Logically, they should slow down now and move secretly so as not to be seen by the enemy.

Wouldn’t anyone notice two hundred people running, even if they weren’t enemies?

‘Acting Sect Leader!’

Kwak Hwan-so’s eyes were fixed on Baek Cheon’s back.

Even if Kwak Hwan-so didn’t know about war, he wasn’t a fool who didn’t know common sense. This was Gangnam. From the moment they were discovered by the enemy and a battle broke out, they would have to fight without stopping.

Shouldn’t they delay the first fight as much as possible? Even if it was unavoidable after being discovered?

But why weren’t they slowing down?

Kwak Hwan-so looked at Geum Yang-baek this time. Geum Yang-baek was just silently following behind the Cheon Woo Alliance members.

“Why isn’t the Sect Leader saying anything?”

“Isn’t it difficult for him to do so?”

“Why?”

“Well, he is the Sect Leader… Wouldn’t it be hard for him, as a leader, to question the plan openly?”

The words had several complex meanings.

Of course, Kwak Hwan-so didn’t understand all the meanings, but he certainly understood one thing.

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes!”

Judging by Lee Ja-yang’s firm answer, it seemed he was right. Kwak Hwan-so put energy into his legs and ran forward.

“Acting Sect Leader! Chung Myung Dojang!”

Chung Myung and Baek Cheon, who were running, turned to look at Kwak Hwan-so.

“We’re almost at the place where the enemies are, aren’t we! We should slow down now and move secretly…”

“Kwak Sohyeop. That’s…”

Baek Cheon was about to say something.

“Come here.”

“Yes?”

Chung Myung stretched out his hand, grabbed Kwak Hwan-so by the shoulder, and pulled him forward. Kwak Hwan-so was dragged along, looking awkward.

Then Baek Cheon said.

“This way?”

“This is better than asking the Sect Leader. He has to focus on leading the Hae Nam group.”

“…I understand.”

Kwak Hwan-so couldn’t understand the conversation at all. Baek Cheon didn’t explain further and went back towards Geum Yang-baek.

Just as Kwak Hwan-so was about to look around, a cold voice cut through the air.

“Don’t turn your head.”

Kwak Hwan-so flinched and looked forward. He didn’t know the situation, but when he heard Chung Myung’s voice, he felt he had to.

“W-What should I do?”

“Watch closely.”

“Yes?”

“No. To be exact, watch and understand.”

“What is that…”

“There’s no time to explain or teach. No matter how much I explain, you won’t understand, and no matter how much I teach, you won’t know. You have to feel it in your bones, understand it with your instincts.”

What on earth was he talking about?

“But remember one thing for sure.”

“Yes?”

“If you don’t learn, you will all die.”

Kwak Hwan-so’s face turned pale and serious.

“It’s not a threat. As it is now, none of you will survive in Gangnam. So watch closely. How we fight, how we move. You feel it first and somehow convey it to them.”

“D-Dojang?”

Despite being told not to turn his head, Kwak Hwan-so ended up looking at Chung Myung. He saw Chung Myung’s face, which was coldly serious, unlike usual.

Kwak Hwan-so stared blankly at Chung Myung without a word, then looked at other people. After all, Chung Myung was not someone he could understand. So he tried to find answers from those who were at least similar to him.

But then, he realized.

Not only the disciples of Hwasan, but also Hye-yeon and Namgung Dowook, Dang Pae, and even Im So-byeong and Seol So-baek were looking similar to Chung Myung.

They were clearly sharing the same feeling right now. The only one who couldn’t share that feeling was Kwak Hwan-so.

‘This is…’

If what Chung Myung said was true, after seeing and experiencing what was about to happen here, he too would understand the meaning of this look.

And that moment came faster and more suddenly than Kwak Hwan-so had expected.

“Dojang! Ahead!”

“I know.”

Chung Myung replied coldly and looked ahead. Baek Cheon, who had fallen behind, had already returned to his side. Baek Cheon, after receiving Chung Myung’s signal, shouted quickly.

“Jo Gul! Yoon Jong!”

“Yes!”

“Move left, Yi Seol and So So! The rest of you, to the right!” Baek Cheon shouted the orders.

“Yes, sir!” came the quick reply.

Right after Baek Cheon gave the order, the four Mount Hua fighters jumped back quickly.

*’Backwards? Why are we going backwards?’* Kwak Hwan-so wondered, confused. Before he could think more, Baek Cheon spoke again.

“Green Forest King and Gold Sect Leader, you two guard the back! Watch the whole fight from there!” Baek Cheon ordered. “Hae Yeon Monk, Young Master Namgung, and Young Master Tang, please help where we are weakest in the middle!”

“Understood.”

“Yes!”

“Chung Myung!”

“Speak,” Chung Myung replied.

Baek Cheon lowered his voice a little. “Go and destroy them!”

When he heard this, Chung Myung smirked, one side of his mouth turning up in a cold smile.

“Even if you didn’t tell me…”

*Whoosh.*

“That’s exactly what I was going to do.”

Suddenly, Chung Myung moved. He shot forward faster than an arrow.

*’What is happening?’* Kwak Hwan-so thought, still shocked. He only saw Chung Myung’s back as he ran like lightning. Then, in front of him, swords flashed like magic, and bright red blood sprayed everywhere. Hot, sticky blood sprayed across the muddy ground, staining the green grass crimson. The metallic smell of it filled Kwak Hwan-so’s nostrils, making his stomach churn.

*Splatter!*

A body fell, its head cut off by Chung Myung’s sword, and blood poured out.

Chung Myung killed two people with one move and kept running forward without stopping.

Kwak Hwan-so felt completely lost. He hadn’t felt any enemies at all. *’How did they know enemies were hiding there?’* he wondered.

*’Wait, no. More importantly… is it really okay to just attack like this?’*

“Kwak Hwan-so!”

Baek Cheon’s loud shout suddenly stopped Kwak Hwan-so’s confused thoughts.

“Yes! Yes, Acting Sect Leader!” Kwak Hwan-so replied quickly.

“Focus! Follow him closely!” Baek Cheon ordered.

“Fo-follow…” Kwak Hwan-so stammered.

“Do not lose sight of him. From now on, that is your only job. Listen carefully.”

Baek Cheon looked directly into Kwak Hwan-so’s eyes as he spoke seriously.

“If you lose him, Kwak Hwan-so, everyone behind you will die.”

“……” Kwak Hwan-so was speechless.

“Do not let him out of your sight, even if it costs you your life. Follow him like you are ready to die. Don’t think about anything else.”

“O-okay,” Kwak Hwan-so managed to say.

“Go!” Baek Cheon shouted and pushed Kwak Hwan-so forward hard.

Because of the push, Kwak Hwan-so stumbled forward. He bit his lip and started running after Chung Myung.

*’What is he even saying?’*

He couldn’t understand the order at all. *’Why is it so important to follow that person? Why did he shout like that?’*

*’Even if I’m not as strong as them, I’m still a senior fighter from Hainan. I can at least follow someone!’* he thought.

*’And why does he keep talking about dying?’*

*’Die if I don’t learn. Die if I lose him. I’m not a kid being scolded. What is he talking about?’*

Kwak Hwan-so felt angry and confused at the same time. Just as he was about to take a deep breath to calm down, Chung Myung suddenly ran even faster and got further away very quickly.

“Wha-!” Kwak Hwan-so gasped, shocked. He pushed hard against the ground and ran as fast as he could. As he ran, jumping over the dead bodies that Chung Myung’s Plum Blossom Sword had cut down, he saw Chung Myung swinging his sword quickly ahead.

“Aaaargh!”

The attackers were killed instantly, screaming. Blood flew everywhere. Kwak Hwan-so clearly saw the faces of the dying men, covered in red blood.

Two bodies fell apart like old straw, and another man dropped to his knees, shaking. But Chung Myung ignored the shaking man and ran forward again.

Kwak Hwan-so’s eyes opened wider.

*’He’s still alive. That man is still…’*

“Krrk…” The man made a weak sound.

The shaking man saw Kwak Hwan-so running towards him and weakly lifted his sword. At that moment, Kwak Hwan-so felt a huge struggle inside him.

*’Should I kill him?’*

*’But he’s going to die anyway. He’s too weak to fight back. Is it right to kill someone who can’t even defend himself?’*

*’Maybe I should just run past him? But if he’s still alive when the next person comes, he could hurt someone with that sword.’*

*What should I do…?*

Before Kwak Hwan-so could finish thinking, he was standing right in front of the dying man. His hand holding his own sword shook without him wanting it to.

*’S-swing…’*

“Ugh… Aargh!” the dying man suddenly yelled. His eyes filled with hate. He jumped up quickly and swung his sword at Kwak Hwan-so. It was a strong attack, much stronger than Kwak Hwan-so expected from someone who was dying.

Kwak Hwan-so was shocked and his eyes widened again.

*’Too late…!’*

Just as he thought he was too slow to block and closed his eyes tightly, something hot splashed on his face.

“Uh…” Kwak Hwan-so made a small sound and shivered.

He saw a sword sticking out of the forehead of the enemy fighter who had attacked him. It was Chung Myung’s sword.

Kwak Hwan-so touched his wet face without thinking.

It felt slippery and warm. It was blood.

The blood from the enemy’s head, where Chung Myung’s sword had gone through, was all over Kwak Hwan-so’s face.

*Wham!*

Chung Myung punched Kwak Hwan-so hard in the face.

“Cough!” Kwak Hwan-so coughed.

He fell to the ground like a puppet with cut strings. He finally understood what was happening and looked up. He saw Chung Myung standing over him, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him up roughly.

“Get up, you fool.”

“Tea-Teacher…” Kwak Hwan-so tried to say.

Before he could speak, Chung Myung pulled Kwak Hwan-so’s face close to his own. Kwak Hwan-so became still, scared by Chung Myung’s strength and anger.

“On a battlefield, if you wait too long, you die. One moment of doubt can kill you and everyone around you.”

“……” Kwak Hwan-so didn’t say anything.

“If you hesitate to use your sword again, I will kill you myself. If you want to die, die alone! Understand?”

“Y-yes…” Kwak Hwan-so whispered.

Chung Myung pushed Kwak Hwan-so away without waiting for an answer. Chung Myung gritted his teeth, glared at Kwak Hwan-so, and turned away.

“Get used to this.”

His quiet voice reached Kwak Hwan-so’s ears.

“Because from now on, you will see this kind of thing all the time.”

Kwak Hwan-so’s body jumped slightly.