Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1435

“You villains!”

The elders’ faces turned pale as they watched the enemies charge again.

Didn’t they understand?

The Golden Dragon Hidden Weapons of the Sichuan Tang Clan were very dangerous and powerful. The Sichuan Tang Clan was famous for their secret weapons and poisons. Yet, the enemies weren’t scared. It was like they were ready to die.

“Aaaargh!”

They had been winning for a short time, but then they lost it. An old, loud scream filled their ears. It made them lose everything they had gained.

“Brotherrrrr!”

These men had been warriors of the Tang Clan their whole lives. The world feared them. Now, they were confused and scared.

Should they have run?

Should they have run away like the others, without looking back, and saved themselves?

Or even now…

“Release the poison!”

Tang Byeok’s scream broke through the air.

“Brother! Poison is dangerous in this situation!”

“What are you doing! Release the poison now, you fools! Do we want to beat them, or not?”

His words shocked the elders.

“We will die here. Until we die, release poison and throw hidden weapons! If they step on our bodies, so be it. But they must not follow our family members!”

Tang Byeok roared, his eyes bloodshot.

“We are the elders of the Sichuan Tang Clan! Let’s die like it means something!”

Usually, people need a good reason to risk their lives. But sometimes, a good reason isn’t needed. Like being an elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan. What more could they need?

In an instant, the elders’ eyes filled with a deadly spirit, like poison. They had been looking for a way to survive, but now that was gone.

“Aaaaargh!”

A blade flew and hit one of the elders.

Even with the metal in his chest, the Tang Clan elder didn’t give up.

“Heh heh…”

The Thousand Swords members were about to make faces when they saw the elder’s twisted smile.

Whoosh!

Pink smoke, like sweet candy but smelling like death, puffed from the elder’s sleeve.

“Gasp!”

The surprised Thousand Swords member tried to pull back, but the blade wouldn’t move. It was stuck in the elder’s chest.

“Don’t underestimate… the Tang Clan…”

The elder’s face twisted.

“Sichuan… Tang Clan…”

Splat!

Black liquid, thick like oil and smelling like burnt rubber, sprayed out from the elder’s sleeve. The Thousand Swords member, who was hit by the black poison, bit his lip and grabbed the elder’s neck.

“Useless old man!”

Crack!

The elder fell to the ground, his neck broken. But the Thousand Swords member wasn’t safe either.

“Ugh, urgh!”

Black blood poured from his mouth. He felt like his head was being hammered.

“Kuh…”

His body shook. If he hadn’t used his inner energy (strength from inside his body) to stop it, he would have turned into a puddle of blood.

“Release it!”

At Tang Byeok’s shout, black poisonous smoke rose from everywhere. It wasn’t the dragon poison that made a wall like before. This poison covered the whole area.

Even though the elders of the Sichuan Tang Clan could resist poison, they weren’t immune. By covering themselves in poison, they were ready to die. They were making their deaths come faster.

And there was more.

The elders drank blood poison. This poison would poison them, but it would make their blood deadly. Anyone who cut them would be in danger!

Even the Thousand Swords members hesitated at this dangerous attack.

But…

“Hahaha!”

The Thousand Swords members saw the Crimson Hounds behind them.

The Thousand Swords members were terrified. If they went forward, they would be poisoned. If they went back, they would die. The crazy Crimson Hounds didn’t even see them as allies.

“Aaaaargh!”

The Thousand Swords members were trapped. They screamed and ran towards the poison.

“Come!”

The Tang Clan elders had no choice. They watched the Thousand Swords members and shouted.

“We will never let you pass! Never!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Tang Sobo turned around when she heard the scream. She tried to turn around.

“Don’t look!”

Tang Woe grabbed her head.

She wanted to cover her ears. She wanted to close her eyes and forget what was happening. But she didn’t have time to do that.

‘I have to go!’

She knew what she had to do.

One step. She had to take one more step. If not, the elders’ deaths would be for nothing.

‘I have to live! I must!’

Tang Sobo wiped her tears and pulled Tang Woe.

One.

“Go!”

Tang Woe pushed her back.

“Elder!”

Tang Woe was serious.

“Go quickly! Quickly!”

“What about you, Elder…?”

“Didn’t I tell you to go!”

Tang Woe roared.

Tang Woe looked at Tang Sobo with bloodshot eyes and pushed her shoulder again.

“Go! You must survive! You must!”

“Elder!”

Tang Woe didn’t say anything else. He turned away.

He saw the black poisonous smoke rising to the sky. He heard the screams and shouts.

The elders were ready to die.

But they wouldn’t last long. They were strong, but there were too few of them, and the enemy was too strong.

Not everyone could survive. Someone had to stop them. Someone had to hold them back.

Tang Woe felt conflicted. He made a decision that the old Tang Woe would never have made.

“Send the children and women first! Quickly!”

“Yes! Elder!”

The men handed the children to the women.

“Honey!”

“Go! Quickly!”

The women screamed and cried as the men pushed them away.

Tang Woe’s hand shook as he watched.

Was this right? Was this the right thing to do?

Even if they couldn’t fight, the men were artisans who made hidden weapons and researchers who made poison.

Was it right to use them as shields for the women?

He didn’t know.

Tang Woe realized he couldn’t know everything. He couldn’t answer everything. He was arrogant to think he knew more.

Now, he was just listening to his heart. He wanted to do something very brave but maybe not smart.

“The chief manager will lead the women and children! The men will support them from behind!”

“Yes!”

Tang Woe bit his lip and turned his head.

“I’m sorry.”

Tang Woe didn’t know what that meant, but the artisans laughed.

“This hammer… it’s for making things, not killing. But iron breaks under it. Maybe… maybe it can break them too.”

“Even if we are not strong fighters, we are Tang family. We must follow the Elder’s orders. If I wasn’t Tang family, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I wanted to show them poison makers are best with poison. And I did.”

Tang-oe laughed sadly at the other men’s jokes. They were trying to be brave, even though they were scared.

*(Tang-oe thought)* ‘Have I forgotten about everyone here? Everyone is Tang family. Yes, from the children sweeping the yard to the old craftsmen. All Tang.’

“Stop talking like that! You can’t die! We all need to live! Come on, just one more step!”

“Okay!”

It was the moment Tang-oe turned to run again.

Paaah!

The air ripped apart with a sound like thunder. The poisonous smoke scattered, and a man with a bright blue aura burst out.

A middle-aged man with sad, angry eyes. Jeok-ho gripped his greatsword and charged towards them.

“Run! Faster!”

“Right!”

The Tang family artisans screamed and ran. But they could not escape an absolute master.

The Tang family artisans bit their lips, watching the enemy close in.

“You won’t get past!”

They swung their hammers fiercely. They would protect the Tang family.

But their hammers were too weak against that massive greatsword.

Whoosh!

The artisans were cut in half. It was a horrible sight. Bodies were cut in half, blood sprayed everywhere. Even then, the Tang family artisans grabbed onto Jeok-ho’s ankles, and the poison masters sprayed poison.

“Get out of my way!”

But Jeok-ho’s sword cut them down like weeds. A sudden, scary anger appeared in his calm eyes.

There’s no point in catching them one by one from behind. The way to crush the fleeing ones at once is to break the vanguard.

Jeok-ho cleaved those who stood in his way and charged forward.

“Hurry and go! Hurry!”

Tang-oe, seeing this, spun around.

“Elder!”

Tang-oe slipped something out of his sleeve. He held a dozen poison bottles and poured them into his mouth.

His body heated up, as if his throat was on fire.

‘Oh no!’

Tang-oe, full of poison, staggered and rushed at Jeok-ho. Jeok-ho’s sword sliced through Tang-oe’s chest.

Snikt!

A red line appeared on Tang-oe’s chest, and his eyes lost focus.

Jeok-ho was about to ignore Tang-oe, but the line on his chest turned black, and his hands wrapped around Jeok-ho.

“Hmm?”

“Hey, you can’t go…”

Jeok-ho’s face twisted. Black blood flowed from Tang-oe, who was hugging his leg.

“Evil old men!”

Crack!

Jeok-ho’s greatsword pierced through Tang-oe’s back. Tang-oe shook, but his grip on Jeok-ho’s leg did not loosen.

“Can’t…go…. Can’t….”

“You!”

Snikt!

Jeok-ho’s greatsword cut off both of Tang-oe’s arms.

“These poisonous bastards.”

Jeok-ho bit his lip. The clothes he was wearing were turning black with poison and rotting away.

There’s no immediate problem, but if I waste time, I’ll be poisoned.

“Then I just won’t waste time!”

Clang!

Jeok-ho’s eyes flashed with anger to kill. He saw a woman running away.

‘I have to go!’

Tears streamed from Tang So-bo’s eyes.

The screams from behind were desperate and sorrowful.

But I have to go. I must go.

‘Don’t cry! I am a member of the Tang family!’ But her tears kept falling. She had to be brave, even if she didn’t feel it.

Another scream echoed from behind. The faces of those ahead turned pale.

A child burst into tears.

Someone collapsed.

Someone spewed curses.

All will die. All of them.

No matter how hard they try, they cannot survive. The sacrifices will be in vain.

Tang So-bo’s mouth opened.

“Someone….”

Please, someone.

“Someone, please help! Please!”

At that moment, a shout was heard.

“Die! You insignificant thing!”

Tang So-bo felt a chill and closed her eyes.

‘Sister!’

Kaaaah!

But Tang So-bo felt neither pain nor peace.

A wind so strong it almost knocked her over blasted past her.

And.

Thud.

Something touched her face.

She heard a gentle voice.

“Are you alright?”

“….”

Tang So-bo opened her eyes. She saw a man she had never seen before.

“I’m sorry I was late. But it’s okay now. I’m here.”

“…Yes?”

The man patted Tang So-bo’s back, then went forward.

“…Who?”

Tang So-bo’s eyes were full of questions. But Jeok-ho had even more questions.

“….”

Jeok-ho’s face turned cold.

His wrist throbbed.

‘What is this?’

No matter how he swung his sword, it shouldn’t have been deflected so easily. The moment it touched that sword, he felt a heavy weight.

Jeok-ho’s face twisted.

“Who are you….”

The man looked around. Countless people had fallen, bleeding. Lives that could have been saved.

The man’s face hardened.

“Do you take lives so easily?”

“Who do you think you are, you little worm?”

“Lee Song-baek of Jongnam.”

“What?”

Confusion showed on Jeok-ho’s face. He should have heard of someone this strong.

“If you want to kill these people, you’ll have to get past me first.”

The man stood firm and strong. His eyes were sharp and clear.

“Come.”

His heavy voice echoed across the silent earth.