Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1570

“Oh, dear….”

The Black Dragon King, Jeok Sekwang, looked troubled. His face showed many feelings at once.

Hwasan.

The very reason the Black Dragon King had come to this Gangbuk region was to tear those Hwasan bastards apart, one by one. Yet, now that he stood before Hwasan, the Black Dragon King’s expression was not as bright as one might expect. He sensed that the situation was unfolding in a way he didn’t want.

“Why, why are those bastards here!”

“D-Don’t back down! There can’t be that many of them!”

Screams erupted, piercing his ears.

For a hunter, the scariest thing is not when the animal runs away. It’s when the animal they expect to run suddenly fights back.

If one had prepared for it, there would be no great problem. But if the prey fights back suddenly, even a good hunter could die.

The bandits, who had been hunting the Namgung Clan, were now confronted by Hwasan, another enemy that had ambushed them from behind, and they were terrified.

The Black Dragon King, gritting his teeth, turned his gaze towards Namgung Dowi.

“…You were stalling for time?”

“Cough!”

Namgung Dowi, having spat out a basinful of black blood, breathed roughly as he stared blankly at the Black Dragon King.

“…That’s… That’s the kind of people… they are.”

The Black Dragon King, Jeok Sekwang, was the leader of the Janggang Waterway Eighteen Strongholds. He was skilled at plundering and causing chaos.

Therefore, he understood Namgung Dowi’s words perfectly.

If the Waterway Stronghold had been given just a little more time, the bandits here would have spread even further across Gangbuk. If that happened, Hwasan would have to further disperse their forces to prevent harm to other civilians.

The Black Dragon King could hide and wait, then defeat the Hwasan bastards who came to catch the Waterway Stronghold.

After all, the Hwasan lot couldn’t just leave dying civilians to their fate.

Just one day. If he had been given just one more day, it was a possible plan.

But, the Namgung Clan had charged straight here, tying down the Waterway Stronghold as well.

“…You seem to have put your mind to it, but it’s nothing more than a small trick. Do you think you can face the heroes of the Janggang with those kinds of guys?”

The Black Dragon King’s words were not wrong.

If the entire Hwasan had come here, or even if the Tang Clan had arrived with them, the situation might have been very different. But it was impossible for them alone to handle the Waterway Stronghold.

But Namgung Dowi did not waver.

“If… If it were the Waterway Stronghold… that might be so….”

“…What?”

Namgung Dowi turned his head with difficulty, looking at Hwasan, who were advancing towards them.

“I know.”

Namgung Dowi gripped the sword that pierced his foot and steadied his staggering body. He forced a smile.

“Because I learned this… from those people.”

“…“

“I’m… I’m just doing my part.”

He slowly pulled out the sword. The sound of the sharp blade scraping against bone as it was pulled out was chilling.

“I’m still alive… It won’t end before I die.”

The sight of Namgung Dowi lifting the trembling sword made the Black Dragon King’s hair stand on end.

“Get out of the way! You bastards!”

Whoosh!

Jo Gul’s sword was truly like a ray of light.

A bandit who was trying to retreat was pierced by the single strike. But Jo Gul’s face looked even more distorted.

‘Damn it!’

There are more enemies than I thought.

Too many.

Of course, we can break through. But at this rate….

“You’re late.”

A voice without emotion reached his ears.

“If you arrive, the young clan leader will die.”

Jo Gul bit his lower lip as if trying to shut his mouth for a moment. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t swear at Sago.

“Damn it… I know that!”

But what more can I do here? Leading those behind me, this is the best I can do….

“Jo Gul! Yoon Jong! Lee Seol!”

At that moment, Baek Cheon’s voice rang out.

“Stick close to me!”

“Martial Uncle!”

“What are you trying to do?”

“Baek Sang!”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

Baek Cheon ordered Baek Sang instead of answering Jo Gul’s question.

“Take command!”

“S-Senior Brother! I….”

“You can do it! You are more than capable!”

Baek Sang, feeling pressured by the commanding tone, nodded.

“Y-Yes, I understand.”

After speaking, Baek Cheon immediately stared ahead. At this rate, he would have to watch as the Black Dragon King killed Namgung Dowi and escaped.

He might be able to save the remaining warriors of the Namgung Clan, but what meaning would it have if he lost Namgung Dowi?

“Break through as quickly as possible!”

“It’s not possible, Martial Uncle! It’s too dangerous!”

Yoon Jong tried to stop him, but Baek Cheon was firm.

“No time to argue! Get out of the way!”

“Th-“

The moment Yoon Jong tried to stop him, Yoo Iseol and Jo Gul moved forward as if they had planned it.

“Ha!”

“Oooooh!”

The red plum blossoms that the two emitted instantly swept away the enemies in front of them.

“Aaaaargh!”

It was fleeting, but the space was momentarily cleared. The two who landed there kicked off the ground as if in a competition and dashed forward.

Whoosh!

Baek Cheon’s sword pierced the bodies of those who had not fully recovered from the attacks of the two.

A small gap opened as the enemy’s body fell. Baek Cheon, who squeezed his body into that place, kicked off the ground and shouted.

“Take command from behind if you don’t want to come!”

But life returned to the eyes of the bandit who was falling, pierced by Baek Cheon’s sword. It was a final madness and struggle. A fast dagger, filled with all its strength, was quickly thrust towards Baek Cheon.

It was at that moment that Baek Cheon flinched.

Clang!

“Damn it.”

Yoon Jong, who knocked out the dagger with one strike and cut off the enemy’s breath, stuck next to Baek Cheon and growled.

“Is this a situation where you can act so great?”

“This bastard….”

“If you want to go that badly, stick to my back. It’s not my fault if you can’t keep up!”

Whoosh!

He didn’t even hear the answer. Yoon Jong kicked off the ground and moved forward quickly.

His sword stretched out in all directions at the same time. This is not a sword to kill the enemy, but a sword to threaten and push them away.

A sword filled with the determination not to let a single one approach Baek Cheon.

Seeing that sword, Baek Cheon slightly hardened his face. But only for a moment.

“I’m counting on you, Sangah!”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

Baek Cheon also followed Yoon Jong and moved forward.

They didn’t bother to share and match everything with words, but their goal was too clear.

“Black Dragon King!”

Baek Cheon shouted loudly.

When the clan is at a disadvantage, they aim for the enemy’s leader. Of course, usually the enemy is not stupid, so they don’t easily show themselves in a place where they can be targeted.

But now, the Black Dragon King, Jeok Sekwang, is clearly within range.

He can’t miss this opportunity that Namgung Dowi has created at the cost of his life. If he misses the Black Dragon King here, who knows how many more lives he will have to risk to kill that bastard?

“Haaaap!”

Baek Cheon’s sword drew a bright red petal.

Throb!

At the same time, a pain like being cut with a knife struck his dantian.

In the past, he easily bloomed clear plum blossoms as easily as breathing, but now he had to endure this much pain even to draw dull petals that could not be compared to the past.

‘So what if it is?’

It doesn’t matter.

It’s not because he was strong that he fought. It’s not because he could win that he threw himself.

He fought because he had to fight, and he threw himself because he had to throw himself. It’s just the same now.

“Young Clan Leader!”

Jo Gul’s shout came from the front.

Soon, he clearly saw Namgung Dowi being pushed back by the Black Dragon King’s guandao, spraying blood and falling.

“Get out of the way, you bastards!”

At that moment, dozens of nets burst out from above their heads.

“Block them!”

“Don’t try to kill them! Just grab their ankles and hold on!”

Jo Gul screamed and thrust his sword upwards.

“Such obvious tricks…!”

In the past, the nets that had tormented them so much were torn to shreds by a single sword strike.

Jo Gul’s sword had become sharper than before. Now, Baek Cheon could hardly dare to imitate it.

Yoo Iseol’s sword also boasts an elegance that has reached its peak. Even chasing the sword path is no longer easy.

But even for the two so strong, it was difficult to break through the rushing crowd and the hooks flying from all directions at once.

‘At this rate, we’ll be late!’

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

The hand holding the sword trembled.

If his martial arts were intact. If his sword was as sharp as it used to be.

It would have been none other than Baek Cheon who was running at the forefront. And he would have broken through such obstacles long ago.

But he can’t do that now. Because he knows that him standing at the forefront will only delay the advance.

He felt completely helpless.

Was it too much after all? Is the justice shouted by a weak person just a reckless act from the start?

“These damn leeches!”

Nevertheless, Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and trudged forward. Because he had to.

It was then.

“Still foolish. It’s a disease by now.”

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice reached his ears.

Baek Cheon turned around sharply.

Then, he saw a man with a similar face as if looking into a mirror, closely following him.

“Huh…?”

“Beyond recklessness, it’s madness. But….”

Jin Geum-ryong muttered quietly as he passed him and went forward.

“I’ll join in on this crazy plan, just this once. This is the only time.”

“I will open the way, Acting Sect Leader!”

Lee Song-baek also went past Baek Cheon with a face firmly determined.

It was instantaneous for Lee Song-baek to catch up with the vanguard. His sword fell like Mount Tai, bisecting the bandits.

“I am Lee Song-baek of Jongnam! Anyone who wants to die, come forward!”

A great cry soars with red blood.

Baek Cheon could not hide his bewildered expression.

“What, what are you guys?”

“Don’t act like a monkey.”

“What, you little… No. What did you say?”

“Get out of the way! You’re in the way!”

Jin Geum-ryong, who pushed Baek Cheon, endlessly spewed white snowflakes with his sword.

Jo Gul, who saw the sight, also swung his sword with all his might like a desperate effort, drawing a bright red plum blossom.

Sword energy as white as snow and sword energy as red as plum blossom leaves are mixed together.

The sword energy that used to be shot at each other, the sword energy that seemed impossible to mix, is now heading to the same place.

“…I’m going to live a long life and see this.”

Yoon Jong muttered blankly. Those words perfectly represented Baek Cheon’s feelings.

But there is no time to indulge in emotions for long. Baek Cheon shouted.

“Yoon Jong!”

“Yes?”

“Open the way.”

“…“

“Please!”

Yoon Jong bit his lower lip tightly.

“It’s faster to go forward than to go back.”

“…“

“Stick close, Martial Uncle!”

“Okay!”

Hesitation disappeared from Yoon Jong’s face.

The meaning is still different. I don’t even think this is right.

But if the goals are the same, then those things don’t matter.

“Iyaaaa!”

Yoon Jong, who rushed to the front at once, cut the side of the retreating bandit.

“What are you doing! Are you going to lose to the Jongnam bastards!”

“I know! Damn it!”

Jo Gul raised the corners of his mouth as if twisting at Yoon Jong’s shout.

‘Yeah, that’s how it should be!’

Jo Gul smiled with boiling eyes and thrust his sword.

“Don’t fall behind! We’re going in one go!”

He kicked off the ground and rushed forward like an arrow.