Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1329

BOOM!

BOOM!

Cannons roared. The sound bounced off the canyon walls, very loud. It was hard to see much in the narrow canyon. But you could easily tell what was happening outside: fighting.

One of the Hainan elders was badly poisoned. He couldn’t use his inner energy well. He tried to stop the cannonballs, but one hit him. He flew through the air and crashed into the canyon.

One of Ho Gamyung’s officers watched the man die. He clenched his fist without thinking.

‘Indeed.’

The officer looked at Ho Gamyung. Anyone would be nervous in this situation.

But Ho Gamyung was calm. He watched everything carefully.

The officer admired Ho Gamyung.

Was it because of some great plan?

No, that wasn’t it.

The plan itself wasn’t that special. Shooting at enemies in a narrow space is a basic idea. It wasn’t a complex strategy.

What was amazing was how carefully he had planned what to do next, even though the enemy had walked right into the canyon.

Anyone else would have used all their cannons, archers, and soldiers inside the canyon.

They would have tried to kill as many enemies as possible in the narrow space.

But now, it was clear that arrows wouldn’t work well in the winding canyon, and cannons couldn’t be fired easily. The crowded space would only get in the way.

Even if they were above the canyon, they couldn’t shoot cannons down. And arrows would lose power before they hit the ground, making them useless.

If ordinary soldiers were passing through, arrows without inner energy would be enough. But these were trained martial artists. Normal arrows wouldn’t hurt them.

Because those soldiers were outside the canyon, they were now hurting the enemy badly.

It seemed like the enemy was taking more damage from the arrows and cannons than they were causing inside the canyon.

“M-Military Advisor.”

Another officer spoke nervously.

“D-Did you see all of this coming and plan it this way?”

Ho Gamyung frowned. The officer turned pale and looked down quickly.

“M-My apologies.”

This wasn’t the time for questions. He knew that, but he couldn’t stop his curiosity. It was a mistake.

But then, Ho Gamyung spoke.

“Strike the enemy’s weak point.”

“…Yes?”

“That’s the basic principle.”

Ho Gamyung kept watching the enemy.

Attacking from a good position and targeting weaknesses are basic rules of war.

Others only looked at what was in front of them. He looked at what was behind it.

“When you say weak point…?”

The officers didn’t understand. Weakness? What did that have to do with the situation?

The enemy was inexperienced and small in number.

“What was the problem when they entered the canyon?”

“Well, it’s something they haven’t experienced…”

“No.”

Ho Gamyung said quickly.

“It’s that their formation becomes elongated.”

“T-Then fewer people can attack at once, making it hard to use their full strength.”

Ho Gamyung’s eyes twitched again.

The officer who answered without thinking looked down quickly.

“Your head is there to think. The canyon has already shown who wins when a few people fight a few people, right? This canyon is not a good place for us.”

“…I was foolish.”

“There is only one good thing about the enemy’s long formation.”

Ho Gamyung stared at Chung Myung, who was fighting Guai Liang with Yoo Iseol.

“It means he can’t be in two places at once.”

“Ah…”

“Strength and weakness are two sides of the same thing. When their strongest fighter is not there, they are weak.”

“…”

“Basic rule of war: hit their weak spot. Always.”

“So, you knew he would be in the back…?”

“No.”

“Yes?”

“It doesn’t matter where he is. If he were in the front, the arrows and cannons wouldn’t hurt them. But Guai Liang would be destroying the rear.”

“Ah…”

“It’s the opposite now. Because he’s in the back, even the Blood Sword Unit can’t fight well. But we can crush the front.”

The officers nodded. It made sense when they heard it. But no one had thought of it except Ho Gamyung.

Ho Gamyung closed his eyes.

He wasn’t telling them this to teach them. He was saying it to strengthen his own resolve.

‘I don’t need any clever tricks.’

He didn’t know any clever tricks.

If Jang Ilso were here, he would do something different. He would collapse the cliff or crush them. But Ho Gamyung couldn’t do that. So, he would stick to the basics.

‘This war is a war of attrition.’

He didn’t know what Chung Myung thought, but Ho Gamyung believed it was a war of attrition.

So, he would slowly weaken them. Eventually, even Chung Myung would be caught.

Ho Gamyung looked at Chung Myung. He looked tired.

‘He must know, right?’

Ho Gamyung didn’t think he was better than Chung Myung. He knew Chung Myung knew what he was doing.

Ho Gamyung wasn’t worried because numbers matter.

Some things can’t be stopped, even if you know them. Some things can’t be done, even if you notice them. That’s why the outcome of a war is decided before it starts.

Chung Myung had walked into a war he couldn’t win. That was the weakness of those who called themselves righteous.

Ho Gamyung glanced at Chung Myung. His eyes turned cold.

Now was not the time to celebrate. He had to make the next move before Chung Myung did.

“Nothing has escaped.”

He still saw everything clearly.

Chung Myung bit his lip, angry.

‘Ho Gamyung.’

He glared at Ho Gamyung. He wanted to kill him. But Ho Gamyung wouldn’t let him get close.

Chung Myung’s bad feeling about Ho Gamyung was coming true.

Chung Myung was best at being unpredictable. That didn’t work against someone who was careful and didn’t change his plans.

‘Damn it!’

Chung Myung looked back.

Hainan was fighting hard, but they were just holding on.

But they couldn’t leave. If they chased the enemy, those still in the canyon would be attacked.

‘I need more swords!’

He needed someone who could fight and move on their own.

Chung Myung grabbed Yoo Iseol’s shoulder.

She looked surprised. Chung Myung shouted as he ran back.

“Go help over there, you idiot!”

“Sasuk!”

“Go!”

Yoo Iseol saw the situation. She knew why Chung Myung was sending her. Someone needed help more than Chung Myung.

But…

Chung Myung’s leg twitched. He couldn’t hide it anymore.

Both situations were dangerous. He couldn’t ignore either one.

What should she do?

“I said go!”

Chung Myung shouted, glaring at Yoo Iseol. Guai Liang could attack again at any moment.

She saw Chung Myung’s bloodshot eyes. She clenched her fist until it bled.

She knew.

She had learned it. She had been taught it. She had been reminded of it.

Yoo Iseol knew where she had to go.

The sect’s teachings felt like a sharp knife. It hurt that she couldn’t ignore them.

Yoo Iseol gritted her teeth and turned. She ran as fast as she could.

Chung Myung told Dang Pae the same thing.

“Go and help together!”

“Yes!”

Dang Pae ran back without complaining.

Chung Myung stared at Guai Liang. Guai Liang flicked his sword and walked closer.

“I thought you would at least say thank you?”

“That’s what I should be saying.”

“Hee hee hee!”

Guai Liang smiled triumphantly.

He was right. They had given him time to fix the situation. But this wasn’t bad for Guai Liang.

He didn’t care about the others. He only cared about Chung Myung.

He could see it. Chung Myung’s leg was hurt. The bandage was coming undone. He was bleeding again.

His body was covered in small injuries. He was pale. He had internal injuries.

He must have lost a lot of blood.

He couldn’t fight at his best.

Chung Myung took a short breath.

It was too much.

The world was blurry. He had lost too much blood. His hand was weak. He was used to pain, but he hated feeling helpless.

But he had to fight.

“It’s tiring.”

Guai Liang walked closer, sneering.

“Knowing you have to retreat but not being able to retreat.”

“⋯⋯.”

“That’s… knowing you’re going to die.”

Guai Liang mocked him. But Chung Myung smiled.

“Do you know why you’re weak?”

“What?”

Guai Liang frowned. Chung Myung mocked him.

“Because you ran away when you wanted to run away.”

“⋯⋯.”

“I’m strong because I couldn’t run away when I wanted to run away.”

Those guys didn’t know what it meant to be strong. What he wanted to be.

Even now, Chung Myung was still chasing.

He had never retreated. He was stronger than anyone else.

“⋯⋯Save your nonsense for hell.”

Guai Liang charged with the Blood Sword Unit.

Chung Myung ran to meet him. He saw the back of the one he had always admired.