Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1571

“Why are the Jongnam enemies here!”

The chests of those swinging their swords showed cloud-shaped emblems. The Black Dragon King recognized them.

Jongnam and Hwasan were old rivals. Why would Jongnam help Hwasan here?

And the way these men moved showed they were only after the Black Dragon King.

“This…”

He gritted his teeth, veins popping on his jaw beneath his black beard.

Then, a mocking voice came to his ears.

“Are you… afraid?”

The Black Dragon King turned. His tight lips and bloodshot eyes showed how insulted he felt.

Namgung Dowi chuckled weakly, clearly dying.

“Surely not? The great Black Dragon King himself?”

“I’ll rip that mouth off your face!”

The Black Dragon King swung his blade. Namgung Dowi raised his sword, a faint white aura around it, to block the attack.

But it wasn’t enough. Namgung Dowi’s body slammed into the ground again and again.

Still, he rose, spitting blood.

“My worth… will be proven… in my death…”

“You…!”

The Black Dragon King was about to attack when a voice stopped him.

“Calm down, Black Dragon King. It’s time to retreat.”

The Black Dragon King turned, ready to kill the one who dared to stop him instead of Namgung Dowi.

But the man remained calm.

“Don’t forget your mission.”

The Black Dragon King gritted his teeth, rage building. His hand shook as he gripped his blade.

This was Jeok Se-gwang, the Black Dragon King. He led the Janggang River bandits and ruled the wide Janggang River.

How dare Ho Ga-myeong, or even his men, treat him like this!

“Black Dragon King!”

The energy left the Black Dragon King’s blade.

He bit his lip, tasting blood, and lowered his blade.

“Because of those enemies…”

“There’s no need to risk everything. We’ll have other chances for revenge. Killing them isn’t our only goal, is it?”

The Black Dragon King glared at Maninbangdo, displeased. Maninbangdo didn’t react.

‘So these are the men Ho Ga-myeong trained… They are good at talking.’

The Black Dragon King knew he needed men like these.

“What should we do?”

“They’re just moths to a flame.”

Maninbangdo looked at the approaching fighters. They were fast.

“Arrows are dangerous. Especially surprise attacks from behind. Even the best leaders can’t escape them.”

“Hmm.”

“But arrows without a target are just signals.”

“So, in a fancy way, you’re telling me to run?”

“Leaving for now isn’t running. If it was, every great warrior would be a coward.”

The Black Dragon King glanced at the Hwasan and Jongnam fighters.

‘I would have killed those men instantly. Even if it was dangerous, I would have done it.’

But the Black Dragon King had changed.

“But… if those men survive, you will be the first to die.”

“That won’t happen.”

The Black Dragon King nodded. But he still watched the approaching fighters.

“Black Dragon King!”

The strategist sounded worried.

“Hmph!”

The Black Dragon King turned to leave.

“Where… do you think you’re going?”

The Black Dragon King’s face twisted with rage.

He turned to see Namgung Dowi, who had stood up and was stumbling toward him.

“Cowardly… bastard…”

“You…!”

“It’s just a trick to escape, Black Dragon King! Ignore him!”

The Black Dragon King glared at Namgung Dowi, then turned again.

“Haaah!”

Namgung Dowi jumped toward the Black Dragon King.

The Black Dragon King roared and swung his blade at Namgung Dowi.

Namgung Dowi’s body flew back.

The Black Dragon King was about to swing again when a voice stopped him.

“Black Dragon King! Do you want to die here?”

“Ugh!”

The Black Dragon King’s arm shook.

“Do not forget when you lost that arm.”

The Black Dragon King’s eyes flashed with anger. He glared at the man from the Military Strategy Hall.

“If you ever say that again, I will kill you first!”

“Calm down.”

The Black Dragon King lowered his blade, humiliated. His hand still trembled.

“I… can’t… let you… go…”

Namgung Dowi crawled forward, holding his sword.

The Black Dragon King felt fear.

Namgung Dowi looked up, eyes glazed. The Black Dragon King’s heart sank.

“Just what are these men…”

“Black Dragon King!”

“Lead the way!”

“Yes!”

Humiliation burned in the Black Dragon King’s chest. Anger tightened his grip on his blade. A cold unease started to creep in.

He followed the strategist.

“Where are we going?”

“The river is blocked by their ships, so we can’t escape that way.”

“I have my ship on the river.”

“That’s why it’s not a good idea. We should escape west first.”

It was a strange thing to say, but the Black Dragon King doubted he was being tricked. They were in this together.

“Then move!”

“Aaargh!”

Jo Gul’s sword cut down enemies.

Yoo I-seol defended Jo Gul, striking a man’s wrist with her harpoon.

“Get out of the way!”

Jo Gul shouted angry curses.

Namgung Dowi was dying. He no longer wanted to see someone he knew die.

“Get lost… What?”

Just then, Jo Gul’s eyes widened.

“S-Senior Brother!”

“What!”

“H-Heukryongwang is getting away!”

“What?”

Yoon Jong, who had been swinging his sword, was startled and looked up. Soon, his eyes widened as well.

“T-That⋯⋯!”

He saw it too.

Heukryongwang, a famous leader from the *Demonic Faction* – a group known for their dark magic – was turning his back and fleeing from junior disciples of the *Orthodox Faction* – the good guys, who followed traditional martial arts.

“No way⋯⋯.”

Yoon Jong stopped swinging his sword, his mouth hanging open. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Running away? It was possible. It was common sense to retreat when in danger.

But Heukryongwang couldn’t do that. If Heukryongwang, famous throughout the world, fled from mere junior disciples of the Orthodox Faction, what would the world say? Even if he survived, he would have to endure ridicule and mockery for the rest of his life.

So, he never even considered the possibility of Heukryongwang running away like that.

“Bloody hell⋯⋯.”

Baek Cheon groaned quietly.

They could chase him if they wanted to, but could they catch Heukryongwang? It would be difficult.

They had to clear a path as they chased, while Heukryongwang only had to run without any obstacles. It was obvious enough for even a three-year-old to judge which of the two was more likely to achieve their goal.

But even so, there was no way to stop now.

They had already jumped into the middle of the battlefield. If they turned back now, they would have to cut down as many enemies as they had penetrated, again without any gain. Even more organized and relaxed enemies than before.

Those around them might somehow survive, but the safety of the Namgung Clan and those left behind them could not be guaranteed.

“Foolish fellow.”

Before Baek Cheon’s conflict could end, Jin Geum-ryong’s sword flashed through the air like lightning.

Jin Geum-ryong, who had sliced through the chests of three bandits in one go, coldly sneered.

“Can you turn back an arrow that has left the bowstring?”

“⋯⋯Jin Geum-ryong.”

“I will open the way. There is no other option now.”

That was right. Utterly right.

Baek Cheon quickly acknowledged and nodded.

“Open the way, no matter what!”

“Yes!”

The swords of the Hwasan disciples became quite different from before at Baek Cheon’s command.

They had been saving their strength to plunge their swords into Heukryongwang’s body at the last moment. But now, they began to pour even that strength into opening the way.

“You’re in the way! Get out of here!”

“If you block us, you die!”

“Haaah!”

The swords of Hwasan and Jongnam fiercely crushed the bandits without distinguishing between themselves.

“Aaaaaaargh!”

“H-Heek!”

Those who blocked them died screaming, and those who had not yet blocked them retreated in fear.

But, even so, Heukryongwang’s back continued to shrink. Baek Cheon’s heart pounded in his chest. Were they going to lose him? Even at this moment, the gap was continuing to widen.

“Namgung!”

“Young Lord!”

Jo Gul, who had finally reached the place where Namgung Dowi had fallen, ran almost on all fours, supporting him and pulling him up.

“Are you alright!”

“Bloody hell, how did it come to this⋯⋯!”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul simultaneously expressed their worry and anger.

“Heukryong⋯⋯. What about him⋯⋯?”

Namgung Dowi asked with a voice that had run out of breath, and Jo Gul hardened his face.

“We’re chasing him now⋯⋯.”

At that moment, Namgung Dowi grabbed Jo Gul’s shoulder tightly. It was an amazing grip, surprising how much strength was left.

“Young Lord?”

“Me⋯⋯! Me!”

Jo Gul quickly nodded. He could tell what Namgung Dowi was saying without hearing everything.

He quickly carried him on his back and followed his martial uncle, who was opening the way ahead.

“What about him!”

“There!”

Jo Gul gritted his teeth. Heukryongwang was even further away now.

“Damn it! A Demonic Faction guy who doesn’t even know shame! Running away because he’s scared of kids?”

“Keuk⋯⋯.”

A difficult laugh flowed from behind Jo Gul’s back.

“Young Lord?”

Jo Gul hardened his face for a moment with pity. It was difficult to even guess how much emptiness was contained in that laugh.

He had missed the person he wanted to kill so much, and now he had to worry about his life.

But the words that Namgung Dowi muttered afterward were unexpectedly out of the blue.

“The net of heaven is vast, its meshes wide, yet nothing escapes.”

“Yes?”

“That saying⋯⋯ seems to be⋯⋯ true.”

Why was that story coming up here, Jo Gul wondered, turning his head when.

“Geol! There! There, there!”

“What is it? Why all of a sudden?”

Jo Gul saw it. No, he heard it first.

From far away, a sound began to echo – a deep, chanting voice.

“A-mi-ta-bul!”

Now too familiar, the golden light of Buddha and the magnificent Buddhist roar.

“Suniim!”

“Hye-yeon Suniim!”

Hye-yeon, who had appeared leading the disciples of Hwasan, stood in the way of Heukryongwang, who was running away.

One who had done his part for others blocked one who was running away, abandoning his duty.

“Now is the time! Catch up!”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon, who had been saving his strength until the end, poured his inner strength into his sword. That will momentarily breathed the same precision as in the past into his sword.

Baek Cheon’s sword bloomed into a shocking red plum blossom, the color of fresh blood, cutting through the air.

“Aaaaaaargh!”

“Aaaargh!”

Those swept away by the sword energy spurted blood from their entire bodies and fell away. Jin Geum-ryong rushed through the path opened in that way.

“You fool! If you’re weak, step aside!”

White sword energy exploded from Jin Geum-ryong’s blade, a freezing blizzard of power that pushed back the bandits.

“Haaah!”

Jin Geum-ryong’s sword scatters the enemies, and a straight vertical sword energy plunges down on top of it. A sword as upright and resolute as if it would bisect the world.

It is a sword energy that could never be created if not for Lee Song-baek.

“Go, Sect Leader! Jo Gul!”

There is no time to say thank you. Jo Gul, carrying Namgung Dowi, and Baek Cheon were shot out as if bouncing.

The goal is only one. It was the back of Heukryongwang, who was facing Hye-yeon head-on.

“Jeokse Gwaaaaah!”

Baek Cheon, who was shot out like a flying bird, fluttering his white martial uniform, swung his sword as if bisecting the air.

“Keuk!”

Heukryongwang, who was trying to push Hye-yeon away, desperately twisted his body.

But soon, a long, gaping red line appeared on Heukryongwang’s face, like a painter’s cruel stroke. Blood welled up, then dripped, tracing a red ‘丁’ – the mark of defeat – onto his skin.

Baek Cheon aimed his unwavering sword at Heukryongwang’s neck.

“This is the end, Heukryongwang.”

Heukryongwang Jeokse-gwang’s face was horribly distorted.