Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1583

Beopgye felt it instantly: something was wrong. He frowned, his eyes scanning the chaotic battlefield. Then he saw it. The Peng family and the Gongdong sect were pushing forward, even faster than the Shaolin. Beopgye’s jaw tightened.

“This changes everything,” he thought grimly.

This was the battlefield they had chosen. They had already agreed on how to fight the Sa Pae Ryun before arriving here.

Shaolin would take the lead and break through, with Gongdong and the Peng family supporting them from the left and right. They planned to break through the enemy’s center using a wedge formation. This was a simple and strong plan.

It was a simple but reliable plan. It worked because they trusted Shaolin’s strength.

But now, it was clear to Beopgye.

The two sects that should have been supporting Shaolin, blocking the attacks pouring in from the sides and rear, were instead moving ahead of Shaolin.

Because of this change, the formation was no longer a wedge. It now looked like a trident.

“Family Head! Sect Leader!” Beopgye shouted, flustered.

But it was no use.

Could they even shout orders and change the formation in this chaotic battle? It was impossible to control the battle now. It was like a fire that had grown too big.

“T-This…” Beopgye’s eyes wavered. He tried to look calm, but inside, he was very confused.

‘Why!’

Had they lost control in that short amount of time? Or had they, too, been consumed by this madness?

Even the family heads and sect leaders?

Shaolin in front struggled to keep pace, like walking a tightrope. But why couldn’t the others just follow Shaolin’s speed? It should have been easy.

But why were they there? Why!

“Don’t stop, Beopgye!” At that moment, a voice like thunder rang in his ears. Turning around, he saw the deeply sunken eyes of Beopjeong.

“B-Bangjang!”

“Go forth! Nothing will change!”

Beopgye bit his lower lip.

Go forth. If that was Beopjeong’s command, then Beopgye simply had to follow.

“Ooooooh!” Beopgye unleashed a thunderous lion’s roar.

Nothing will change. Yes, nothing will change. Beopjeong had clearly said so.

But Beopgye knew ‘nothing will change’ meant more than one thing.

Beopgye’s face hardened fiercely.

It is no different.

He thought: ‘Shaolin will still defeat Jang Il-so. Shaolin will still end this war.’

Shaolin will still win the glory and bring order to the world under Buddhism!’

Nothing will change. No, he would not let anything change.

Wooooooong!

Beopgye’s famous Thousand Buddha Hands were used with full power.

The sky, which had been rapidly darkening as the sunset disappeared, was covered with the shapes of golden hands.

“Haaaap!”

Those countless hand shadows swept away the enemies blocking Beopgye’s path in an instant.

These hands of Buddha, now without mercy, were terrifying. Enemies hit by them spat blood from their mouth and nose and were knocked away.

No one could think clearly in this chaos. Everything was intense and hot.

However, only Beopjeong’s eyes, which had encouraged this situation, were terribly heavy and cold. His gaze was directed towards Jongli Hyeong and Paeng Yeop, who were desperately cutting down enemies ahead.

‘How foolish.’

A brief flicker of anger crossed Beopjeong’s eyes.

Beopjeong could clearly see what was dominating those two.

Petty ambition, and petty inferiority. Was this war such a small matter that it could be swayed by such things?

“A—mi—ta—bul!” Beopjeong coldly glared at Jang Il-so, uttering an angry Buddhist invocation.

Nothing will change. This is not a dangerous situation that can be shaken by small changes.

Beopjeong had waited a long time and set a trap. This trap would catch Paegun, like catching a wild animal, and destroy him.

“Shaolin, follow me!” Beopjeong broke the silence and began to move seriously.

“Amitabha!”

“Follow the Bangjang!” The disciples of Shaolin, encouraged, followed Beopjeong.

The Shaolin, Gongdong, and Peng families were like three spears of gold, all aimed at one person.

The cries of the bleeding beast, overwhelmed by pain, shook this desolate land.

“Don’t fall behind! First! We must move forward first! More!” Gongdong Sect Leader Jongli Hyeong screamed.

Shaolin was increasing its speed as if it had noticed something. At this rate, Gongdong would inevitably fall behind; they had to reach Jang Il-so before Shaolin could exert its full power.

“Faster…”

“Aaaaargh!” At that moment, a piercing scream tore into his ears. It was a sound different from anything he had heard so far.

Instinctively turning his head, he saw a disciple wearing the uniform of the Gongdong sect collapsing, spraying blood.

“Gwanmyeong-ah!” Jongli Hyeong cried out the name of his disciple without realizing it.

This was bound to happen.

People who only move forward can’t see what’s happening around them or behind them. Trying to have everything and protect everyone is greedy.

If you do not wish to shed blood, you must stop. You must give up what you seek to gain and protect your disciples.

“Aaaaargh!” Jongli Hyeong’s face turned white for a moment at the desperate scream that erupted once more. It was the trace of anguish.

Moving forward, or protecting.

He felt the pain of wanting two things that were impossible together.

Should he really stop? Here?

The thinking did not last long. No, it could not last long.

Because he saw it.

Paeng Yeop, the head of the Habuk Paeng family, moving only forward, abandoning his clansmen who were collapsing and spraying blood.

Jongli Hyeong’s eyes were bloodshot. He had already lost a disciple. But if he stopped now, wouldn’t he only be making the life of the disciple who had died in vain?

“Sect Leader! Behind…!”

“Advance!” Jongri Hyeong yelled. His voice was evil, which was surprising because he usually wasn’t like that.

“Move forward! If you stop, it’s all over! Keep going!”

They were moving forward like arrows shot from a bow. Once they started, they couldn’t stop or turn back. They could only go faster, trying to reach their goal.

It started as a small bit of greed, but it grew bigger and bigger, like a fire spreading fast. Now, this greed was dangerous for Jongri Hyeong and everyone in the Joint Demonic Association.

They were driven by a strong desire, like a fire inside them. They wanted glory so much that they didn’t see the real danger. This ‘fire of desire’ was hurting them more than any glory could help.

Ho Gamyeong looked worried. You could see it on his face as he stared ahead.

They were moving forward with so much force, like a powerful storm. It made Ho Gamyeong feel uneasy. The pressure was huge, like it was crushing his heart.

‘Was it this strong?’

Maybe he had been too sure of himself. He had won easily before, and maybe he thought it would always be like that. Even Ho Gamyeong, who was usually careful not to be too confident, was starting to doubt himself.

The power of his group, the Myriad Man Association, which he had worked so hard to build, and his followers, who he had trained himself, were disappearing quickly, like snow melting in the sun.

Three shiny spears came right at them.

‘Lord Association Leader!’

Ho Gamyeong was worried about Jang Il-so. Was he really calm, even though he looked so distant?

Ho Gamyeong was about to speak when—

“Ha…” Jang Il-so breathed out, a strange sound.

Then, a small laugh escaped his lips. It was a shaky, awkward laugh, like he was trying to force it out but it wouldn’t come easily.

“Lord Association Leader…?” Ho Gamyeong asked, his voice quiet with worry. He looked closely at Jang Il-so’s face. Something was wrong. His eyes were too bright, and his cheeks were flushed.

“Haha… ha…” Jang Il-so laughed again, a little louder this time. Then, it burst out of him – “Hahahahaha!” He threw his head back and roared with laughter, “Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so’s mouth was wide open, showing his teeth. His laughter was huge and crazy. Ho Gamyeong just stared, his own mouth open in shock. His eyes were wide with fear and confusion.

Jang Il-so’s normal laugh was creepy and made your skin crawl. But *this* laugh… this was something else entirely.

Jang Il-so sounded like he had truly lost his mind. Ho Gamyeong felt a cold dread creep into his heart. What was happening to his Lord?

“Lord….”

Thump.

Suddenly, Jang Il-so reached out and grabbed the back of Ho Gamyeong’s head. He pulled Ho Gamyeong close with a strong grip.

He made Ho Gamyeong look at the battlefield and whispered in his ear.

“Do you see it?”

“Lo, Lord Association Leader?”

“I asked if you see it!”

Ho Gamyeong looked pale and tried to turn to Jang Il-so, but Jang Il-so’s fingers held his head tightly, not letting him move.

“Hahahahaha! Look, Gamyeong! It’s there! Right there!”

Madness burned in Jang Il-so’s eyes like blue fire.

“The holy monks! The rich families, acting like they’re royalty! Even the Taoists, pretending they don’t care about the world! They are all covered in mud! They’ve lost all their pride!”

Ho Gamyeong looked at the scene in front of him again. It was true.

It was like a world of hungry ghosts. Everywhere he looked, people were acting like they were starving for something, desperate and wild.

People who used to teach peace were now hurting others. People who talked about being good were now killing. And people who said they didn’t want anything were now fighting with greedy eyes.

Their eyes showed no goodness or fairness.

“Do you see the fire of desire in their eyes too, Gamyeong! Hahahahaha! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so laughed like a madman, as if he couldn’t stop himself because he was enjoying the scene so much.

Even Ho Gamyeong, who had followed Jang Il-so for so long, felt like Jang Il-so was far away at this moment. He was shocked by the feeling that was more than just madness.

“This is what humans are! This is the beast called human! Just take away their polite faces and show them something they want, and they become like wild animals! They all rush for it like crazy! That’s what humans are!”

“Lo, Lord Association Leader!”

“Don’t turn your head! Look closely!”

Jang Il-so’s grip tightened around Ho Gamyeong, hurting him.

At that moment, Ho Gamyeong saw it.

In the darkness, the eyes of people who couldn’t control their greed shone like faraway stars.

It was a scene that was amazing to see, but also made him feel sick.

Hungry ghosts trying to tear off even a piece of Jang Il-so’s flesh.

The world Ho Gamyeong knew was shaken. The other side of the world, shown by humans who had taken off their masks, was more obvious and terrible than he had ever known.

Was this the world Jang Il-so saw?

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Lord Association Leader….”

Ho Gamyeong finally turned his head.

Above Jang Il-so’s face, half in darkness, his red lips were as clear as a line. Those lips were like the moon, and Jang Il-so himself was like the sky.

“Here!”

Suddenly, Jang Il-so shouted with great power.

He created a strong aura, and his red robes flew around him as if in a storm.

“I am here, this very me!”

Jang Il-so stepped forward. Instead of running from the hungry ghosts who were screaming and rushing at him, he moved towards them.

“Aaaaargh!”

Those who saw it screamed and shouted. They all mixed together, making a terrible noise that didn’t sound human.

Their eyes shone with a blue fire of desire, wanting Jang Il-so, like a group of strong desires.

“Hahahahaha! Ahahahahahahahahaha! Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so threw his head back and laughed until his throat hurt. He laughed so much that tears came to his oily eyes.

Now, it was almost completely dark. Jang Il-so, who had been watching the scene calmly, took a deep breath and spoke slowly in a different voice than before.

“Yes. It is this ugly.”

He was just talking to himself, saying words that no one could hear.

But it felt like he was saying it to someone, maybe even to himself.

“This much, indeed….”

Then, a cold blue flame appeared in Jang Il-so’s hands.

Jang Il-so, with his blue flame burning bright, looked down at the people rushing towards him. The blue flame was like a sign of who he was.

“And I, too, am no different from them.”

A cold feeling, as cold as his flame, flashed in his eyes. At the same time, the blue flames in his hands grew bigger.

The red robes and blue flame looked strange together, a mix of colors you wouldn’t see anywhere else.

“So, let’s fight together. Right here.”

Jang Il-so smirked, his robes flying out around him, and he ran straight towards the crowd.

“Lord Association Leaaaaader!”