Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1395

Blackness filled the cave. The air was heavy and damp, clinging to Chung Myung’s skin. A smell, sharp and sickening, like old blood and rot, stung his nose. But he barely noticed it anymore.

He was used to the smell of death. It was always there, all around him, like a shadow. It felt like he was already halfway in the grave.

This was not new. For a long time now, the smell had been his constant companion, like blood soaked deep into clothes, impossible to wash away no matter how hard you tried. He breathed it in, and it was just… air.

“Are you still alive?”

At the question, Chung Myung turned his head slightly. Seeing Dangbo, he nodded slowly.

“Gosh, humans really want to live.”

Hearing that, Chung Myung leaned his head against the cave wall, looking unconcerned.

“Them?” he asked.

“They don’t seem to know where we are yet… But they’re probably setting up a siege. Is this the first time this has happened to us?”

“Probably.”

Dangbo clicked his tongue, checked Chung Myung’s wound, and frowned.

“Looks like it’s getting infected.”

“Leave it. I won’t die.”

“People who are dying always say that before they die. Move your arm a bit.”

Chung Myung frowned slightly, but Dangbo ignored him and roughly moved his arm. Chung Myung groaned.

“Ugh, damn it…”

“Gosh, looks like it does hurt.”

Dangbo lifted the torn cloth and his face twisted. A long cut went from his armpit to his lower stomach. It was a wound that had been treated before, but it was infected, with rotten blood and pus coming out.

“Don’t you know how to ask for treatment?” Dangbo asked. “Or is your head so empty you can’t even think of it? Have you even learned to read properly?”

“Shut up. You’re annoying.”

“Like a crazy man.”

Dangbo grumbled as he carefully cut the stitches on Chung Myung’s wound. Chung Myung stayed silent even as Dangbo cut open the infected wound.

After a moment, Chung Myung asked,

“Any liquor left?”

“Not enough to even clean the wound.”

“Give it here.”

“No, you crazy old man. How many times do I have to say it? There’s not enough to clean the wound!”

“I know. Just give it here.”

“Ha…”

Dangbo stared at Chung Myung like he couldn’t believe it, then shook his head. He pulled out a bottle of strong liquor and threw it at Chung Myung’s face.

“Drink it and die.”

Chung Myung caught the bottle and opened it with one hand. He drank it all in one go, then closed his eyes and leaned against the cave wall. Dangbo sighed.

“Maybe you’re like a ghost who died because they didn’t drink enough.”

“No, I’m drinking *now* before I die and become a ghost. Ghosts can’t drink, can they?”

“Ha…”

Dangbo shook his head, not wanting to argue, and checked Chung Myung’s wound again. He squeezed out the pus and cut away the dead flesh. Most people would faint from this, but Chung Myung could handle it.

“There’s no clean cloth, you damn human! I have to clean it with liquor.”

But Chung Myung didn’t listen and kept drinking. Dangbo glared and cursed. It was his fault for talking to this man.

Dangbo put the last of the medicine on the wound, just enough to cover it, and sat down next to Chung Myung.

“Give it here.”

“To drink…”

“I’m going to drink it too, so hand it over!”

Chung Myung chuckled and gave the bottle to Dangbo. Dangbo snatched it and drank it angrily.

“Drink it slowly.”

“It’s better for me to drink it than for a patient to drink it.”

Chung Myung chuckled. That was true.

Dangbo looked outside the cave as he put down the bottle. Cultists were swarming like ants. It wouldn’t be long before they found this place.

“Hey, Taoist Brother.”

“What?”

“Do you think we can get out of here alive?”

“Who knows?”

Dangbo sighed at the casual answer.

“That’s why I said we should have let that Vice Lord go. Is it worth coming here just to kill him? If we die like this, it’s natural causes!”

“But we killed the guy who deserved to die.”

“We’re about to die, you know?”

“Then there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Dangbo silently tore at his hair and muttered to himself. It was clearly abuse directed at Chung Myung.

‘About to die, huh….’

Chung Myung smiled strangely.

So what if they were? He wasn’t the only one who had died in this place. They were all rotting corpses, so what would change if he joined them?

While he was alive, he would do what he had to do. He couldn’t stop just because he might die.

“Sometimes when I look at you, Taoist Brother.”

“……Huh?”

“I think there’s something wrong with your head.”

“……”

“Well, I guess anyone called an absolute powerhouse is a little crazy.”

“You too.”

Dangbo was speechless for a moment, then laughed.

“That’s true. If I were sane, I wouldn’t be with someone like you.”

“Good to know.”

Chung Myung snatched the bottle and drank. Then, he closed it tightly.

He slowly stood up, clenched his fist, nodded, and held out the bottle to Dangbo.

“Keep it safe so it doesn’t break.”

“Huh?”

“We have to finish drinking it when we get back.”

“……Are you going out now?”

“It’ll be harder to break through if the siege gets tighter. Let’s go.”

Dangbo stared at Chung Myung, astonished.

Chung Myung was right. The longer they waited, the harder it would be to escape. It meant they had less chance to get out alive.

But shouldn’t he think about his condition? Could Chung Myung really break through in his current state?

Dangbo bit his lip.

“No, Brother… If we wait, support might come. The Cheong Mun True Man…”

But there was no answer. Dangbo sighed.

He knew the main force couldn’t support them right now. Chung Myung had risked his life to save the main force from the ambush.

They couldn’t send help when they were already struggling.

“If you’re done complaining, get up.”

“Who’s complaining…”

Dangbo got up, grumbling. He quickly checked Chung Myung’s body again.

“Can you fight?”

“I’m stronger than you, at least.”

“……I promise you, Taoist Brother, you’re going to hell.”

“That’s nothing new.”

Chung Myung left the cave with steady steps.

The sword felt heavy in his hand. He was staggering, his body weak and hard to control.

The smell of death was stronger. The mountains in front of him might become his grave. He said quietly,

“Don’t fall behind.”

“Who are you talking to?”

Chung Myung chuckled. That’s right.

He kicked off the ground and plunged into the forest, seeing Cultists in black clothes. They rushed at him, eyes red.

Chung Myung’s sword cut off their heads instantly.

Hot blood splattered on his face. The warmth of something alive would soon disappear, like the blood cooling down.

“They’re coming!”

Dangbo’s throwing knives flew through the air. Chung Myung spat out the blood in his mouth.

‘Should I have had one more drink before coming out?’

The smell of blood was stronger than the taste of the liquor.

‘I should drink until I’m drunk when I get back.’

What if he couldn’t go back?

Well, he would regret not drinking the liquor. That was all.

He blocked the incoming sword. Because of the wound, he was slow, and the sword grazed his side.

Pushing the pain away, Chung Myung swung his sword. Another life ended.

‘No one wants to die.’

But some people didn’t cling to life. People who were tired of living.

“Dangbo.”

“Do you have time to talk now?”

Dangbo asked, confused. Chung Myung calmly pierced a Cultist’s heart.

“Are you going back to the Dang family when the war is over?”

“Then am I supposed to go to Mount Hua? Where else can I go?”

Chung Myung chuckled. It was a stupid question.

Dangbo threw his knife again.

“Would you like to travel with me?”

“Traveling…”

“If we have nothing to do, we should do that.”

“……Not bad.”

Chung Myung repeated Dangbo’s words.

Rather than the empty Mount Hua, or watching Cheong Mun blame himself for surviving.

“Then stop talking and hold your sword! We have to live to travel!”

“Okay. Let’s drink when we get back.”

“I know, so look ahead!”

Chung Myung smiled.

Traveling wasn’t bad. Maybe he would go to the Dang family and be a guest. Maybe Mount Hua would be better than he thought.

Even an empty life was better than rotting away.

Chung Myung adjusted his grip on his sword.

But he still wanted one more drink.

The Cultists were rushing in, blackening the area. Chung Myung’s lips twisted.

“No matter what…”

Chung Myung, baring his teeth, was ready to kill.

“I will not die until I kill that Heavenly Demon!”

Chung Myung kicked off the ground, and the Sword Saint moved forward.

He couldn’t move his fingers.

His head, against the tree, kept sliding. He felt like he would pass out if he wasn’t careful. His eyes, barely open, looked like they would close any moment.

Where was he?

He was burning with thirst. He couldn’t stand it. Only the thirst felt real.

His lips cracked and bled.

“Liquor……”

His head fell back.

He looked at the sky at dawn. Even through the trees, it was beautiful.

“……Should have brought it.”

He laughed weakly.

“It’s this way!”

The surroundings became noisy.

Chung Myung grabbed his sword.

“They won’t let me rest… Damn bastards.”

Chung Myung chuckled and glared at those rushing towards him.

‘How did I survive back then?’

He couldn’t remember.

Maybe it was because it had happened too many times.

Maybe it was too long ago.

And maybe……

Chung Myung threw his body forward. Behind him, the Ten Thousand People Clan followed, eyes full of hate.