Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 157

“Hey! We’re joining in too! What are you doing, you fools!” Hong Daeguang shouted angrily.

Even before Hong Daeguang and his group could move, the Mount Hua disciples were already fighting the enemy.

‘Blast it!’ Hong Daeguang thought, feeling his face flush with anger.

They had been too slow. Mount Hua had acted first. This was embarrassing for Hong Daeguang.

‘Are those Mount Hua guys fearless?’ Hong Daeguang wondered.

He thought about the Beggars’ Sect. Why were they one of the Nine Great Sects, the most important groups in the martial world? It wasn’t because they were the strongest fighters. In fact, their fighting skills were not the best compared to the others. Some might even say they didn’t deserve to be in the top nine based on strength alone.

But the Beggars’ Sect had something else. It wasn’t just information, though they were good at gathering news. The real reason everyone respected them was their courage and sense of duty.

Even if they weren’t the strongest, the Beggars’ Sect always fought first. When danger came to the martial world, when bad people caused trouble, the Beggars’ Sect was always at the front, ready to risk their lives.

This bravery gave the Beggars’ Sect members strength. Some people might look down on them, saying beggars have nothing to lose, so they don’t care about dying. But the Beggars’ Sect was proud to be the first to fight against what was wrong.

But now, Hong Daeguang saw something even more fearless than the Beggars’ Sect.

The Mount Hua Divine Dragon, Chung Myung, was one example. Hong Daeguang had known from the start that Chung Myung was unusual.

But the other Mount Hua disciples were just as surprising. They could see how strong their enemies were, anyone could! Yet, they charged forward without a second thought, attacking people who were clearly stronger than them.

Then…

“Aaargh! This kid has no fear!” roared a huge man.

The Herculean Division’s axe whistled through the air, so fast it made the air tremble.

*Whoosh!*

Baek Cheon, facing the giant, simply stepped back, easily dodging the heavy axe. It felt like the axe had a dark, dangerous energy around it.

“It’s polite to respect your elders,” Baek Cheon replied, a small smile playing on his lips.

“But you seem to have wasted your time, so maybe respect isn’t needed.”

“You little…” The big man, Makhoe, went red with anger and charged at Baek Cheon again. But Baek Cheon was too quick. He dodged Makhoe’s clumsy attack and his sword flashed towards the Herculean Division.

Hong Daeguang watched and thought, ‘He knows how to annoy people, even though he looks so calm.’

Chung Myung’s words were like hitting someone with a heavy hammer. But Baek Cheon’s words were like small, sharp knives, cutting you while he smiled. Because of Baek Cheon’s taunts, the Herculean Division was now completely furious and attacking wildly.

And Baek Cheon was dealing with the powerful enemy very well.

If they just stood and fought directly, Baek Cheon would probably lose to the Herculean Division. But Baek Cheon was using his speed and skill to fight in a way he could win, or at least not lose.

For someone so young, it was truly impressive.

Baek Cheon wasn’t the only one fighting well.

“Hyaaa!”

Jo Gul’s sword shot out like lightning towards Son Myeong, known as the Shandong Quick Sword. Son Myeong was famous for his incredibly fast sword. But Jo Gul’s sword was almost as fast, maybe even faster.

And…

“Geol! Calm down!”

Yoon Jong was always there to help Jo Gul. When Son Myeong tried to attack Jo Gul’s weak points, Yoon Jong’s sword would block the attack.

Yoon Jong’s sword was slow, but it wasn’t weak. Unlike Jo Gul, Yoon Jong fought with a slow, careful style. But it was clearly a Mount Hua sword style, just like Jo Gul’s.

Jo Gul’s quick, light sword and Yoon Jong’s slow, strong sword worked together perfectly, like two gears turning together. Facing both of them at once was a terrible problem for Son Myeong.

‘These stubborn fools!’ Son Myeong thought angrily.

They were so young, they couldn’t have been training together for more than ten years. But they fought like they had been partners for many, many years.

They covered each other’s weaknesses and made each other stronger.

‘Where did these kids come from?’

Son Myeong stepped back, catching his breath. It was shameful to be pushed back by these young fighters. But Son Myeong’s shame was nothing compared to what No Gwang, the Azure Sword Scholar, was going through.

“N-no way!” No Gwang stammered, his face pale.

The Azure Sword Scholar was being beaten by a young girl from Mount Hua!

Even if No Gwang wasn’t the strongest here, he should not be losing to a girl who looked barely twenty years old.

But it was happening. The Mount Hua girl was attacking him again and again with her sword. Her movements were like water, flowing smoothly and powerfully. She was pushing No Gwang back with every strike.

Son Myeong watched the girl’s sword and felt a chill. Even he wasn’t sure he could beat her. Cold sweat trickled down his face.

‘How did Mount Hua become so strong?’ he wondered, fear creeping into his heart.

Everyone knew Mount Hua had once been one of the greatest sects, fighting for the top spot in the world. But that was because their older, more experienced fighters were incredibly powerful.

He had never heard that the young disciples of Mount Hua were so amazing.

This thought alone was enough to make him panic, but then…

*Clang!*

Son Myeong blocked Yoon Jong’s sword, his teeth clenched. He swung his own sword hard, aiming to cut Yoon Jong’s waist.

‘I was too slow! This kid!’

Just then, *CLANG!*

His sword stopped suddenly, blocked by a burst of sword energy that flew in and knocked his blade away.

Right after, an irritated voice yelled in his ear.

“Hey!”

Yoon Jong flinched.

“I told you! Didn’t I tell you to be careful? I told you so many times! Did you stuff cotton in your ears? How many times do I have to say it before you understand?”

“…” Yoon Jong stayed silent.

“That’s why I said I should fight alone! But you insisted on joining! You’re just here to annoy me! Oh, what bad luck!”

‘That annoying voice!’ Yoon Jong thought, feeling a bit ashamed. He couldn’t argue.

It was Chung Myung, of course.

And Chung Myung was doing something unbelievable. He was fighting six enemies at once, but still finding time to send out blasts of sword energy to help the other Mount Hua disciples.

Yoon Jong knew he couldn’t say anything back, even if he wanted to.

Chung Myung was helping Yoo Iseol and Baek Cheon, sending sword energy flying everywhere.

“Focus! Pay attention! No one will cheer for you if you get killed, you hear? No one! Ugh! I’d rather be sick than useless!”

Yoon Jong glanced at Chung Myung’s back.

It was strange.

Chung Myung’s words were harsh and annoyed, but his voice sounded… almost happy?

‘Is he actually enjoying this?’ Yoon Jong wondered, confused.

That was crazy. How could anyone be happy while fighting for their life?

“Stop daydreaming!” Chung Myung yelled again.

That unpredictable guy.

But Chung Myung was right. Yoon Jong pushed aside his confusing thoughts and focused completely on Son Myeong.

He could think about Chung Myung later. Right now, he needed to win this fight.

Hong Daeguang felt his face burn with shame as he watched the Mount Hua disciples push back their enemies.

“Branch Leader! Where should we attack?”

*Don’t remind me!* Hong Daeguang thought, biting his lip. He shouted, “Attack where they’re grouped together! Go for their legs!”

“Yes!”

Hong Daeguang leaped into the air, flying towards the enemies fighting Chung Myung. He jumped right over Chung Myung’s head, pulled out his Dog Beating Staff, and slammed it down on the enemies.

From behind him, Chung Myung’s voice, sounding almost touched, said, “Now even the beggars are joining in. Ha… Amazing.”

*I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that,* Hong Daeguang thought.

As the Beggars’ Sect joined the fight and started to push forward, the enemies around Chung Myung began to back away.

But one person.

Only one man ignored the Beggars’ Sect completely. His eyes were locked only on Chung Myung.

Janggang Mookdo, Jo Myeongsan.

He had been staring at Chung Myung from the very start, and he hadn’t looked away once.

He didn’t care what the others thought. He knew one thing for sure.

If he couldn’t beat Chung Myung, nothing else mattered. To survive this fight, he had to defeat that monster.

“Hmm?” Chung Myung turned his attention to Jo Myeongsan, a flicker of interest in his eyes.

‘Now this is interesting,’ he thought.

The intensity coming from Jo Myeongsan was different. It was focused and powerful.

It was as if Jo Myeongsan saw only Chung Myung, as if the rest of the world had disappeared. All of Jo Myeongsan’s attention was fixed on him.

Feeling that sharp energy, Chung Myung’s lips curved into a small smile.

‘This guy is serious,’ Chung Myung thought.

Chung Myung had dismissed even Mu Jin from Wudang as weak. But now, he was reacting to Jo Myeongsan’s power.

Jo Myeongsan slowly raised his greatsword, pointing it at Chung Myung.

“Jo Myeongsan.”

“Chung Myung.”

No more words were needed between them.

Only the fight remained.

Jo Myeongsan’s clothes seemed to puff out for a second, and then he exploded forward with incredible speed.

In the same instant, his greatsword flashed down.

Jo Myeongsan’s sword, glowing with a bright blue light, slammed into Chung Myung.

*WHAM!*

Chung Myung stumbled back.

He had blocked the attack, but the force was immense. He couldn’t stop all the power. It was an unbelievably strong and heavy blow.

And Jo Myeongsan didn’t stop there.

“Haa!”

He swung his sword again and again with all his strength.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Each strike was packed with power. He poured all his inner strength into the sword, making the blue light around it grow bigger and brighter, making the sword seem twice its size.

But the weight of the sword wasn’t just from inner strength.

Jo Myeongsan’s fierce determination, his willingness to risk everything on this fight, made the sword even heavier.

Chung Myung’s eyes became calm and focused.

‘This is it,’ he thought.

His wrist felt stiff, and his stomach twisted with the force of the blows. He could feel the weight of Jo Myeongsan’s attacks all over his body. Chung Myung showed his teeth in a fierce grin.

“Hraaah!”

Jo Myeongsan roared and swung his sword even faster. Step and swing, step and swing. His sword strikes became a blue storm of energy.

He used every last bit of inner power from his core, squeezed every drop of strength from his body, and swung and swung at Chung Myung.

A storm of swords.

In the chaos of the storm, even Jo Myeongsan couldn’t see Chung Myung anymore. It seemed impossible for anyone to survive such a terrifying attack.

But then, something strange caught Jo Myeongsan’s eye.

‘A petal?’

A single red petal was slowly floating upwards through the storm of blue swords.

The petal drifted down, pushed back by the wind of the sword strikes. Then, it rose again, fighting against the wind.

Like the last petal dancing in a summer storm.

The petal floated gently, like something from a dream, and softly touched Jo Myeongsan’s forehead.

“…”

Jo Myeongsan’s sword had stopped moving.

Silence fell.

It was as if the fierce battle had never happened. The air around Chung Myung and Jo Myeongsan was still and quiet.

Jo Myeongsan looked at Chung Myung, his eyes calm.

He seemed to be waiting for something.

Chung Myung nodded slightly to Jo Myeongsan.

“You fought well,” Chung Myung said quietly.

Jo Myeongsan’s vision went blurry.

His legs gave way, and his senses began to disappear.

As he felt himself falling, Jo Myeongsan smiled faintly, without realizing it.

‘He recognized me,’ he thought, a sense of peace washing over him.

His breath stopped before he hit the ground, but a peaceful smile remained on his face.