Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1573

“Die!” a pirate screamed, charging forward.

Baek Cheon’s face twisted in pain and anger. *Pirates again?* He’d faced their wild attacks countless times.

Then came the real threat. The Black Dragon King moved. A strike aimed to kill, a force so strong it felt like his insides were being crushed? He’d survived blows even worse than this, back in Hangzhou, against that terrifying bishop.

But this… this was new. For the first time, the chaos of the pirate rush and the deadly power of a true master were combined. He’d never faced both at once.

“Damn it!”

Baek Cheon fiercely slashed at the rushing pirates.

At that moment, the Black Dragon King, who had been waiting among the pirates, darted out like an arrow loosed from a bowstring and brought his guandao down.

Baek Cheon’s eyes blazed.

‘Don’t underestimate me!’

Remembering his training, he managed to block the guandao, but it wasn’t without cost.

Clang!

“Ugh!” Baek Cheon gasped as the shock ran through his arms, numbing his fingers.

The moment the blade collided with his sword, the impact shook his entire body. His insides churned violently, and a bitter taste of blood rose in his throat.

If Baek Cheon had been in perfect condition, he might have been able to withstand such a blow, but as it was, it was difficult.

“You!”

Nevertheless, Baek Cheon forced the blood back down and swung his sword like lightning.

But but, it only cut through empty air. The Black Dragon King had already retreated back behind the pirates.

“You cowardly dog!” Jo Gul roared, his fists clenching, his face red with anger.

Jo Gul cursed as he watched the pirates continue their attacks and the Black Dragon King hide behind them.

“Is that what you call yourself, the Black Dragon King! A man who doesn’t even know what feeling disgraced is!”

“…Well, he must be some kind of strange type. What did you expect?”

“Not all unusual people are cowards like that bastard!”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were desperately trying to provoke him.

They tried to excite their opponent by any means, but the Black Dragon King stared at Jo Gul with the cold, unblinking eyes of a snake, watching and waiting for its prey, as if he would rush in and sink his fangs into their throats the moment they showed an opening.

“…Damn it.”

Jo Gul’s face gradually hardened.

The situation had changed. Behind the hunting dogs, the pirates who were blindly rushing in, a skilled hunter was standing by, aiming his bow.

‘Was it a mistake to jump in without thinking?’ His mind grew more and more complicated.

It was then.

“Amitabha!” Hae Yeon chanted, and golden light burst from his fist, glowing like a miniature sun.

With a Buddhist chant that was somewhat rougher than usual, Hae Yeon emitted a golden light.

The Hundred Step Divine Fist. It was considered the best Shaolin technique for striking an opponent from a distance!

But instead of facing the golden power head-on, the Black Dragon King skillfully twisted his body and dodged the fist.

“You can’t escape!”

Whoosh!

As if he had already anticipated that, Hae Yeon immediately sprinted towards the Black Dragon King like an arrow.

In that instant, the Black Dragon King gave an evil smile and grabbed a pirate next to him, throwing him at Hae Yeon.

“Treacherous…!”

It was the moment Hae Yeon gritted his teeth and tried to push away the flying pirate.

Crack!

Something black suddenly burst out from the chest of the pale-faced pirate. It was the Black Dragon King’s guandao.

He had thrown the pirate to block his vision, then thrust his blade through the pirate’s body towards Hae Yeon.

‘What…?’

It was a vicious blow. Hae Yeon’s eyes widened in disbelief. A sharp, burning pain exploded in his chest, stealing his breath. *This… this can’t be happening,* his mind screamed.

Even the usually calm Hae Yeon couldn’t help but freeze.

The guandao pierced Hae Yeon’s chest.

Crack!

“Smiiiiiith!”

Jo Gul cried out in shock.

Hae Yeon, who had been pushed back, raised his head. His reputation was deserved; even in that situation, he crossed his hands and tightened them around the guandao that had pierced his chest.

Thanks to that, the guandao, which should have already split his heart, only managed to pierce his flesh.

However, in exchange, Hae Yeon suffered deep cuts on both wrists.

“Hmph!”

Whoosh!

The Black Dragon King retrieved his guandao and swung the shaft horizontally, sending Hae Yeon’s body flying into the air. The pirate’s body ripped apart like cloth, spraying blood and bits of flesh across the deck.

“Black Dragon King!”

Lee Song-baek roared, a sound ripped from his soul. Rage blinded him, a hot red mist clouding his vision. *No one does that. No one!*

Lee Song-baek shouted, very angry. Red veins stood out in his eyes.

And no wonder, he had never heard of it, nor had he ever imagined it.

Who in the world would throw their own subordinate as bait, and cut them to injure the opponent’s flesh?

This wasn’t a warrior’s fight; it was the cruel trick of a cornered animal. No human being, or at least, no one wearing the mask of a human, could ever do such a thing, nor should they.

Lee Song-baek’s sword, a streak of lightning fueled by rage, crashed down.

Lee Song-baek’s sword, filled with rage, struck down from the sky like lightning.

It wasn’t the Black Dragon King who stopped Lee Song-baek.

Screech! Crack!

In the moment Lee Song-baek lost his reason and aimed for the Black Dragon King, the pirates’ long harpoons flew in unison towards Lee Song-baek’s side. The gleaming blades mercilessly tore through Lee Song-baek’s skin and ripped through his muscles.

But even in the midst of that, Lee Song-baek’s sword and the Black Dragon King’s guandao collided head-on.

Claaang!

The result was as good as determined.

With a roar as if a bomb had exploded, Lee Song-baek’s body was slammed into the ground like a stone. The pirates who were caught in the impact were also thrown back, spraying blood.

The Black Dragon King quickly scanned his surroundings again and retreated behind the pirates. It was a ghost-like movement.

Seeing this, Baek Cheon felt a cold sweat run down his back.

From the start, the Black Dragon King, Jeok Se-gwang, was stronger than them. It is terrifying how a strong person can control a fight like this.

‘The reinforcements?’

None. Except for Namgung Do-wi, the Namgung Clan was barely holding on.

And even for everyone that Baek Cheon and the others had brought, it would take much longer to reach this place. Baek Sang was putting up a good fight, but realistically, it would be difficult right now.

In other words, they had to capture that Black Dragon King with only the people who were here now.

A strange coldness settled in Baek Cheon’s chest. It wasn’t fear, but something heavier, like doubt. *Was I wrong?* he wondered for the first time.

A strange emotion appeared on Baek Cheon’s face for the first time.

‘…No, it’s not without reason.’

It wasn’t wrong. It certainly wasn’t wrong. The choice he made was right.

But… was he really prepared to accept it? Could he accept the situation where he would lose everything because of this choice?

…Was he just underestimating his opponent?

Doubt gnawed at Baek Cheon. Had he led them into a trap? Was his confidence just foolishness? He looked at his injured friends, and a cold fear touched his heart. *Could he really win this?*

Baek Cheon bit his lower lip tightly.

The Black Dragon King was strong.

It wasn’t just about his martial prowess. He was calm even in a desperate situation, and he used everything he had to drive the Cheonwu Alliance, their group, into a corner.

Even though he knew that the ‘strength’ spoken of in the martial world was not just about one’s individual martial arts, Baek Cheon had carried out all of this.

Even though he knew that the Black Dragon King’s experience and cleverness were far beyond what they could compare to.

“Giving up already, little fox?” The Black Dragon King’s voice was smooth, but held a sharp edge. He stared at Baek Cheon, a slight smirk playing on his lips. His eyes, cold and dark like chips of obsidian, showed no worry at all. He looked like a man who was enjoying this, who knew time was on his side.

A fox.

The word bounced around in Baek Cheon’s head, a mocking echo. A fox pretending to be a tiger. Using power that wasn’t his own.

Just a cub… a weak, foolish cub.

Baek Cheon’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. His knuckles went white. He could feel a tremor run through his arm, but he forced himself to ignore it.

Then, a faint, trembling voice reached his ears.

“Um… isn’t it… almost time?”

Jo Gul, still carrying Namgung Dowi on his back, glanced around as if searching for something.

“H-he must have heard the news by now… So, by now, he should be…”

Crack!

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth.

It wasn’t the complacency that angered him.

The longer they waited, the more bandits would arrive. This was a situation that demanded immediate action.

Yet, Baek Cheon had been stalling, halting his sword and dragging out time under the guise of formulating a plan. Jo Gul’s words just made him realize what he was already thinking, but didn’t want to admit. That’s why he was so angry.

He had been waiting. Waiting for Chung Myung to arrive. Waiting for him to resolve the crisis, as he always did.

Yes. Like a fox cub awaiting the tiger. Just as the Black Dragon King had said. Without the tiger, he was nothing but a fox cub. A foolish, arrogant fox, deluded into thinking the tiger’s power was his own.

Crack!

Overwhelmed by self-loathing and disgust, Baek Cheon gripped his sword tightly, but then a voice cut through his thoughts.

“He’s not coming.”

“Senior Brother!”

It was Yoon Jong. Bleeding from his side, he stepped forward and aimed his sword at the Black Dragon King.

Yoo Iseol, her lips stained red with blood, stood beside Yoon Jong, her voice stronger than usual.

“No. We can’t let him come,” said Yoo Iseol, her voice sharp.

Her icy gaze fell upon the Black Dragon King. It was Baek Cheon and Jo Gul who flinched at that look.

“Amitabha…”

Hae Yeon nodded and stepped forward as well.

“It is true that Chung Myung is remarkable… but we are not so helpless without him.”

Yoon Jong turned to face Baek Cheon. His eyes held no particular emotion.

Baek Cheon trembled slightly.

For Yoon Jong’s eyes seemed to be asking:

Was he really going to rush in without thinking, even though he was weaker? Would he drag his friends into danger and get them all killed for no reason?

Of course, he knew that this was the voice of his own guilt. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but lower his head.

But what came from Yoon Jong’s lips was something entirely different.

“Martial Uncle.”

“Yoon Jong-ah, I…”

“Give the order.”

Baek Cheon’s face went blank with surprise.

There was no reproach in Yoon Jong’s eyes. Only… unwavering faith.

“We cannot win by fighting haphazardly. If they intend to fight us as a group, shouldn’t we do the same?”

“That’s right.”

“A-absolutely!”

Yoo Iseol nodded lightly, and Jo Gul agreed vehemently.

“We can trust the Deputy Sect Leader’s instructions.”

Lee Songbaek, who had been knocked back by the Black Dragon King’s blade, wiped the blood from his lips and approached Baek Cheon.

Jin Geum-ryong, his face etched with open displeasure, also stepped to the other side. He didn’t like it, but it seemed he had no choice.

Baek Cheon stared blankly at all the movements and the trust etched on each face. His eyes flickered briefly.

Just a fox cub. A fool who flaunted the tiger’s power.

Yet, they believed in him. They trusted the very person who had led them into this crisis, without a shred of doubt.

So, what should he do?

‘…It was decided from the start.’

What he had to do. What he had been trying to do.

Baek Cheon reached out swiftly. Towards Namgung Dowi, who was making Jo Gul’s movements heavy and slow.

“Martial Uncle?”

“Over here.”

Baek Cheon took Namgung Dowi and carried him on his back. He even took out the bandages from his pouch and wrapped them tightly around himself to secure him.

“Jo Gul! Yoon Jong! The usual formation. Clear the path!”

“Yes!”

“Leave it to us!”

He had almost forgotten, but Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were like two parts of one thing. They were much stronger together than apart.

“Hae Yeon! Lee Songbaek! You two, listen up!”

“Speak, Benefactor.”

“Yes, Deputy Sect Leader!”

“He uses all his power for one big hit. Jo Gul and Yoon Jong, clear the way! Monk and Lee So-hyeop, block that hit as best you can!”

“Yes!”

“We will certainly succeed.”

Baek Cheon’s gaze fixed on Yoo Iseol’s back.

“Junior Sister. Aim for his back! At any moment!”

“Understood.”

Yoo Iseol replied calmly.

“What about me?”

Baek Cheon glanced at Jin Geum-ryong.

The moment he saw that irritating face, a curt voice burst from Baek Cheon’s lips.

“Just provide cover, you idiot.”

“Just so you know, if we survive this thanks to your brilliant plan, you and I are going to have words later.”

Baek Cheon chuckled at Jin Geum-ryong’s angry voice.

He gripped his sword tightly, watching the Black Dragon King, who was still moving cautiously.

There wouldn’t be many chances. No, there would only be this one. If this strike failed, all that would remain was to die as a pathetic fox.

No… It didn’t matter if he was a fox.

From the start, he hadn’t learned how to become a tiger. Even a wildcat could fight. If he couldn’t become a tiger, he would simply become a fox that could bite a tiger to death.

He stared intently, and then he saw it.

The edge of the crescent blade wavered slightly with the Black Dragon King’s breathing.

Up. Down. Up again. And then…

“Now!”

No sooner had Baek Cheon’s signal been given than Jo Gul shot forward like lightning. Everyone followed behind him as if drawn by an invisible force.

The thick stench of blood, the heat searing his face, the pressure crushing his heart, and the murderous intent pricking his skin.

Overcoming all of that, Jo Gul’s sword extended.

The true sword named Jo Gul, which Baek Cheon had gained after losing his own.