Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1396

“Strategist! Squad One has finished surrounding him! Squads Two and Three are moving into their positions!”

“Strategist! Squad Four is fighting the Plum Blossom Sword Demon! He might break through!”

Hoga-myung listened to the reports. His eyes grew colder with each word.

The Plum Blossom Sword Demon, Chung Myung, was slowing down as he tried to break through. The distance he could cover after each breakthrough was getting shorter.

Before, Hoga-myung might have thought Chung Myung was just wasting time to let his friends escape. But now, things seemed different.

‘The situation has changed,’ Hoga-myung thought, his eyes becoming serious.

The longer this went on, the stronger the circle around Chung Myung became. Chung Myung knew this, but he couldn’t escape, which meant he wasn’t strong enough to break through.

This powerful enemy had finally reached his limit.

Hoga-myung looked around at his officers. They seemed to realize the same thing.

Hoga-myung sighed.

“In the end… you were just a man.”

The officers watched Hoga-myung. His voice was full of feeling.

He felt anger, hatred, and relief that they had finally cornered their enemy. He was happy he could complete Lianzhu’s order. But there was also a hint of regret in his voice.

A strategist of the Myriad Man Fang shouldn’t show such emotion. It could be dangerous. But the officers understood Hoga-myung’s feelings.

“…No need to rush.”

Hoga-myung spoke firmly.

“We will slowly cut off his breath.”

“Yes, Strategist!”

Just as Hoga-myung was about to move, a hawk cried out from above. Hoga-myung looked up, frowning.

‘Urgent news?’

The hawk landed on Hoga-myung’s arm. Hoga-myung took the letter from its leg and read it.

“…The Heavenly Union?”

He laughed humorlessly.

“I knew the Heavenly Union was reckless… but this is too much.”

The officers looked worried as Hoga-myung held out the letter.

“Strategist, this is…”

“No need to panic. They can’t do anything. But we must prepare.”

Hoga-myung calmly adjusted the circle around Chung Myung and gave orders.

“I’m going to where he is.”

“Strategist! It’s dangerous!”

“Dangerous?”

People around him tried to stop him, but Hoga-myung didn’t react.

“Is there a greater danger than him living?”

The officer stared at Hoga-myung, speechless, before bowing.

“Lead the way.”

The officers nodded.

“This way!”

Hoga-myung followed the officer, his eyes cold.

‘I won’t allow anything to change.’

Hoga-myung’s only goal was Chung Myung’s death.

“Wait!”

Namgoong Dowi shouted. He was good at crushing enemies with his strong inner energy. But his attacks were wide.

The problem was that someone kept stepping in front of him.

“Dojang! Just a moment!”

“What do you mean, ‘just a moment,’ damn it!”

Jo Gul yelled, running ahead of Namgoong Dowi. His red sword energy tore through the Myriad Man Fang warriors. He killed three with one strike, then moved forward.

“Aaaaargh!”

Seol So-baek attacked even faster, leaping up before Jo Gul.

Seol So-baek’s sword flashed, and a white frost covered the enemies.

The two seemed to be racing to clear the path.

They rushed into the enemy, attacking wildly, not even checking if the enemies were truly defeated before moving on.

“Get out of the way!”

The two screamed, swinging their swords.

Namgoong Dowi looked for Baek Cheon.

“Jangmun-daeri, let’s calm down…”

Baek Cheon was the only one who could calm these crazy people. But Baek Cheon was already gone.

“Anyone who blocks me dies!”

Red sword energy shot out. It wasn’t as refined as plum blossoms. It was just raw power, sweeping through the enemies.

‘Huh, when did he get over there…?’

Their plan from Hainan was useless. Everyone was rushing forward. Namgoong Dowi was surprised.

“Oooooooooh!”

Golden Buddha light exploded from behind him.

“Hey, eek…!”

Namgoong Dowi jumped to the side. The Buddha light crushed the retreating Myriad Man Fang warriors.

The explosion showed no mercy. Namgoong Dowi turned to Hae Yeon.

“Sunim. It’s dangerous!”

“What is it?”

“Not just me, but Jangmun-daeri almost got hit…”

“He’ll dodge it! Tell him to get out of the way if he can’t dodge it!”

“…”

“Slow!”

Hae Yeon disappeared, then reappeared in front, punching with a lion’s roar. His Arhat Fist was at its peak, his arms and legs moving in every direction.

Namgoong Dowi stared, speechless.

Yoon Jong, usually calm, was fighting like a demon, and Tang So-so, the youngest, was stepping on her senior brother to break through.

Was this strange?

No, not really. The Heavenly Union was always like this. Namgoong Dowi knew that.

The only reason this felt strange was that they had been holding back until now.

They had been carrying and suppressing themselves from Hainan. Now, with only one goal—to save Chung Myung—they were showing their true selves.

They were exhausted, but they were using all their strength to push the enemy. They wanted to reach Chung Myung as fast as possible.

‘I, I too!’

Namgoong Dowi tried to lunge forward, but his sword felt heavy.

‘Huh?’

He turned and saw Yoo Iseol holding down his sword.

“Iseol Dojang?”

Namgoong Dowi was confused. Was it not his turn?

But she spoke clearly.

“Launch.”

“Yes?”

“Launch.”

“Quickly!”

Namgoong Dowi stomped the ground and swung his sword. Yoo Iseol jumped onto the sword and soared into the air like a bird. Then, she attacked the enemies in front.

Yoo Iseol’s Plum Blossom Sword drew a circle in the air. The heads of the enemies flew upwards.

“Run faster, you snails!”

“Yes, I know!”

Baek Cheon shoved his sword into the enemies. He kicked off their chests and scattered sword energies.

‘Faster!’

The more urgent he felt, the more his veins bulged.

Even if he knocked them down, more came. It felt like the enemy would never end.

Baek Cheon was desperate because Chung Myung had been fighting them alone for so long.

The enemies blocking them weren’t that strong. Since they were from the Myriad Man Fang, this meant the strongest ones were chasing Chung Myung.

Can he hold out?

He was strong, but could he escape with his injuries?

“Aaaargh! Damn it!”

Baek Cheon shot out sword energy.

He could escape, but Baek Cheon knew he wouldn’t. Chung Myung would stall until the last moment to open a path for others.

‘Like hell I’ll let you!’

Baek Cheon’s eyes flashed.

“Sasook! Over there!”

Baek Cheon looked up and saw a group looking at the opposite side.

Baek Cheon knew. Chung Myung was there. If they broke through, Chung Myung would be behind them!

The enemy couldn’t spread their forces too thin.

Baek Cheon ran and swung his sword.

But his sword was blocked. The enemies glared at him.

“You little brat!”

Blue sword energy poured out.

Baek Cheon blocked the attacks and stabbed his sword into an enemy’s neck.

One, then another. He slowly broke through.

But it wasn’t enough!

He had to be stronger and faster to break through.

“It’s not enough, damn it!”

He screamed, his face twisted with anger.

He was powerless. If he were stronger, he could have defeated them all. If Chung Myung were saving him, he would have already arrived.

He needed to be stronger. But the moment he needed strength always came before he had it.

He kept imagining Chung Myung being cut down by the enemy and him arriving too late.

‘No!’

He couldn’t bear to see that.

A great energy erupted from Baek Cheon’s body.

“Sasook!”

“Hey, you crazy bastard!”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul tried to stop him, but Baek Cheon pushed them away and charged forward. Red sword energy spread out like the sunset.

‘Please, just stay alive!’

He would save him, no matter what.