Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1385

“Bloody hell, now I’ll see him in my dreams! That damned bastard!”

Jo Gul spat out harsh words. Even seeing Ho Gamyeong’s face made his legs tremble. If he had to pick the most hated person, he would say Jang Il-so… or maybe Beop Jeong?

If asked, he’d say Jang Il-so or Beop Jeong were the most hated, but Ho Gamyeong was definitely the most terrifying.

Even Chung Myung, barging into his room at night with crazy eyes, wasn’t as scary as that man.

Though he was complaining, the situation was very serious. A real enemy, much stronger than the ones they had faced before, had returned.

‘Already?’

Baek Cheon felt the same way.

He knew they would catch up, but he didn’t think it would be so soon. He thought they would at least reach Nanjing first.

Now, there was no time to figure out where he went wrong.

“Break through at full speed!”

“Yes!”

They were near the Yangtze River, on a wide plain. There was no risk of being trapped, but there was also nowhere to hide.

All they could do was fight head-on and break through.

“Hye…”

Baek Cheon started to call out to Hae Yeon and Namgung Dowi, but they had already jumped back. They knew what to do without being told.

Relieved, Baek Cheon focused on what he had to do.

Baek Cheon kicked off the ground with a thundering crash and rushed past Gwak Hwan-so.

“Lee Seol, Jo Gul, Soso! Cover the rear!”

“Yes!”

“Leader! We will help too!”

“Keep up!”

Without looking back, Baek Cheon shouted at Gwak Hwan-so and sent red sword energy from his sword.

The red sword energy exploded from Baek Cheon’s sword, like a flood of angry red flowers rushing towards the enemy. The enemy’s faces turned pale.

“Avo, avoid…”

The enemies couldn’t even finish their screams before being swept away by the sword energy. Baek Cheon shouted.

“The Yangtze River isn’t far. Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Ho Gamyeong’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Not too late, then.”

Normally, fast, skilled fighters shouldn’t be caught by slower, weaker enemies. But they were caught because of their own foolish choice.

Ho Gamyeong narrowed his eyes. He could see the injured people they were carrying.

‘Carrying the injured will slow them down.’

Also, they had to hide to avoid being seen, so they couldn’t move as fast as usual. It wasn’t hard to catch them.

“Fools.”

If it were him, he would have left the injured behind. Even if they could be helpful later, he wouldn’t risk everyone’s lives for those who couldn’t fight now.

But Ho Gamyeong knew they would never do that. Their

kindness and righteousness

were like chains holding them back. Chains they could never break, no matter how hard they tried.

“Every choice has a price. Kill them all. Leave no one alive.”

The Evil Group rushed forward without a word.

Their eyes were full of anger.

Ho Gamyeong wasn’t the only one who hated those righteous fighters. Even though the Evil Groups weren’t really friends, they were proud. They felt insulted to be mocked by weaker enemies. They had to show they were strong, or they would be ashamed.

Besides, they were the Evil Group, who never forgot a grudge. They were like wild animals ready to attack.

Standing in front, rushing in like a red wave, were the members of the Good Group.

“Monk!”

“I know!”

Hae Yeon and Namgung Dowi looked at each other.

One was the best fighter from Shaolin, a group of monks, and the other was the young leader of the Namgung Clan.

These two, who should have had easy lives, were now in the most dangerous place in the fighting world.

But they didn’t hesitate. They were here because they wanted to be.

The power from the two men crashed into the enemies.

Golden light burst from Hae Yeon, and sharp silver energy from Namgung Dowi. Together, their power exploded like a thunderclap, blindingly bright, and for a moment, the battlefield was as bright as day. The rushing Evil Group members were crushed by the attack.

‘They’re strong.’

Ho Gamyeong watched without showing any emotion, but he bit his lip.

They should have been tired. Their punches should have been weak, and their swords should have been dull.

But they were even stronger than before. Even Ho Gamyeong, who wasn’t a great fighter, could see it.

‘Are they getting stronger even now?’

He knew why. They were talented fighters, and they had been through a lot together.

He knew that no one else had been through such hard battles.

But knowing it and seeing it were different things.

Ho Gamyeong was starting to feel fear. He was afraid of watching a wild animal grow stronger every day, an animal he couldn’t control.

Ho Gamyeong clenched his fist. But he had a chance to stop them from growing.

By killing them?

No.

Ho Gamyeong looked to the side. He saw the source of the Good Group’s strength.

‘The Hero of Mount Hua… the Demon Swordsman.’

His eyes met Chung Myung’s, who was staring at him with cold eyes. Ho Gamyeong’s eyes were full of anger.

“Listen. This is not my order. It is an order from the Leader, so do it even if it costs you your lives!”

“Yes!”

“Even if it means paying any price.”

The faces of the soldiers became serious.

“Do not let the Hero of Mount Hua live. Kill him no matter what! Even if it means letting the others escape!”

“Understood!”

Ho Gamyeong nodded slowly.

He had lost badly. He might never fix the mistake he had made.

But it wasn’t a complete waste.

Because of his loss, the Leader had decided to kill the Demon Swordsman.

“You will die, Demon Swordsman,” Ho Gamyeong said to himself.

“They’re coming from the left and right!”

“We know what to do!”

The Southern Group was different now. Even without orders, they moved quickly and did what was needed. It was so fast that no one needed to say anything. But…

“This isn’t good.”

Im So-byeong looked at Chung Myung and asked.

“Wasn’t this sooner than you thought?”

“…”

“Then something unexpected happened… I always think about betrayal first.”

“That won’t happen.”

“You mean no one will betray us?”

“No, that won’t happen.”

Im So-byeong looked surprised. He realized what Chung Myung meant.

Chung Myung wasn’t saying there was no traitor. He just wasn’t thinking about it.

In this situation, finding a traitor didn’t matter.

He had decided to trust everyone and move forward, even if it was dangerous.

“You’re still reckless.”

Im So-byeong nodded.

“What are you going to do? You’ve already used all your tricks, and the enemies are catching up. The Yangtze River is close, but if we get there while fighting, only ten people will be left.”

Ten people.

Chung Myung knew why Im So-byeong said that. He was telling him to leave the Southern Group behind.

“Didn’t we decide this already?”

Chung Myung had said it himself.

If they were in danger, he would leave the Southern Group behind. The members of the Good Group were more important.

If the members of the Good Group died trying to save them, Chung Myung would never forgive himself.

“Or, are you more heroic than I thought?”

Chung Myung smiled.

“I’ve said it before… I don’t think I’m a hero. And I don’t want to be one.”

His voice sounded strange and threatening. Im So-byeong stared at Chung Myung and nodded.

The reason he was able to stay calm was that he knew they could always leave the Southern Group behind and survive with the Good Group.

“That’s a good answer. So we agree, right?”

“Of course, that’s what I’ll do. But…”

“…? Yes?”

Chung Myung’s voice was cold.

“This isn’t a crisis.”

“Chief?”

Chung Myung’s eyes were burning.

He looked different. Im So-byeong felt worried. He knew that Chung Myung had finally let go of something he had been holding back.

“Are you finally showing your true self?”

Chung Myung turned and walked forward.

Im So-byeong knew what he was about to do and reached out to stop him. He tried to grab his sleeve, but he missed. Chung Myung was already running.

“Chief! Chieeeef!”

Im So-byeong screamed. His eyes turned red. He didn’t know why he was so worried, but he felt like something bad was about to happen.