Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1589

The clash of two great powers sent shockwaves through the battlefield.

It was a battle between titans, a fight for the ages.

Yet, the warriors on the ground were too busy fighting for their lives to pay attention.

“Kraaah!”

A sword pierced a warrior’s heart.

“Brother!”

“You monster!”

A warrior, who had fought alongside his brother for many years, fell in battle. Swords flashed in anger, striking the enemy from all directions until he looked like a pincushion of blades.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The enemy, pierced by many swords, coughed up blood and died.

On this battlefield, there was no time to mourn the dead.

“Die!”

“Amitabha!”

Shaolin monks unleashed golden energy from their martial arts, sending members of the Demonic Sect flying back with sprays of blood. The Shaolin martial arts lived up to their reputation. They faced enemies with weapons, using only their bare hands.

But the Shaolin were also struggling.

“Kugh!”

“Hahaha! Even Shaolin monks can be killed by a sword!”

“Fall back!”

Wham!

A Shaolin monk, wounded in the shoulder, punched a sneering attacker, sending him flying. He tried to attack again, but his injured shoulder made him stumble.

Seeing this, Beopgye shouted instructions.

“Focus your inner strength to resist the poison!”

“Yes, Elder!”

Beopgye bit his lip, worried.

‘This is not good.’

He saw Shaolin disciples bleeding and falling. He saw warriors die in the dust.

‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

Of course, war always involves sacrifice. To win, you have to accept losses.

But he never imagined the losses would be so great. It was far more than he expected.

“Aaaargh!”

Beopgye’s fingers trembled at the terrible scream.

‘Why…’

It was too much. They could have slowly surrounded the enemy.

But they were worried Jang Il-so might escape, so they charged forward without thinking.

Now, everyone was paying the price.

Crack!

“Kuaaaah!”

Jang Il-so’s followers attacked the Shaolin disciples, especially those in the back. They were like hungry animals hunting together.

“Brother! We’re taking too many losses! We have to do something!”

Beopgye’s eyes flickered at his junior’s desperate cry. He knew the losses were heavy.

But he couldn’t move.

“Tell them to hold on!”

“Brother!”

“I said, hold on!”

The formation was stretched out like a nail.

They had used a ‘wedge formation,’ which is like a V-shape to break through enemy lines. It is strong for pushing forward, but weak on the sides and back if it stops moving.

They had pushed Beopjeong toward Jang Il-so, but now they were in trouble.

Beopgye thought of themselves as strong snakes, like the Shaolin leaders, who had pushed into the enemy. But now, they were surrounded by weaker enemies, like rats, who were attacking them from all sides. Even though each rat was not as strong as a snake, there were so many of them that they were dangerous.

“The disciples in the rear are falling, Brother!”

“I know!”

Beopgye shouted, gritting his teeth.

The situation was worse than he had expected.

‘Now, there’s no turning back!’

If he retreated to save those being attacked, Beopjeong would be in danger.

The Demonic Sect would try to kill Beopjeong and save Jang Il-so.

‘That would be a disaster.’

He could feel the strong energy of Jang Il-so’s guards, the Daeju, nearby.

If even two of them joined the fight, Beopjeong might die. Beopgye couldn’t move.

“Hold on! Just hold on!”

“Brother!”

“The Abbot will defeat that demon! Then it will be over! We just need to hold on until then!”

Despair flickered in the eyes of some disciples at Beopgye’s shout.

Disciples were screaming and dying behind them, and they couldn’t help. It was a nightmare.

Beopgye’s eyes, red and bloodshot from strain and worry, scanned the chaotic battlefield.

The sacrifice was great, but it wasn’t over yet. They still had a chance to win. Once Jang Il-so was defeated, everything would go as planned.

“The Abbot will do it!”

He knew how strong Beopjeong was.

He had watched him his whole life. He believed Beopjeong would defeat Jang Il-so and bring glory to Shaolin.

So he couldn’t retreat yet.

Just then…

“B, Brother!”

“I told you to hold on! Can’t you hear me?”

“That’s not it, Brother! There! Look!”

“What?”

Beopgye turned to see what his junior was pointing at. His eyes widened in shock.

Crack!

Their hands were locked together.

Beopjeong’s hand, filled with terrifying power, tried to grab Jang Il-so’s last hand.

But Jang Il-so dodged Beopjeong’s grasp.

“This…!”

Beopjeong’s eyes showed he wanted to kill. Jang Il-so watched him and sneered.

Jang Il-so chuckled softly. “Hmm, impatient, are we? Tut, tut.” He shook his head slowly, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Someone who trains as hard as you should be calmer, don’t you think?”

Beopjeong roared, “Shut your mouth, you snake!”

Anger blinding him, Beopjeong unleashed a flurry of fists. Three lightning-fast strikes aimed straight for Jang Il-so’s head. Each punch was a hammer blow, filled with raw fury and a single, brutal purpose: to crush Jang Il-so.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

Jang Il-so twisted his head, dodging the three fists Beopjeong unleashed.

Because they were so close, even for him, it was hard to dodge perfectly. The upper part of his ear, grazed by the force, split open, and blood flowed.

Beopjeong bit down hard on his lower lip.

‘Why?’

This man is clearly in a bad state. Even though Jang Il-so acted like he was fighting well, it was clear Beopjeong was winning.

He, who has weathered countless battles, surely knows this as well.

But where does that composure of his come from? Has he accepted life and death and doesn’t care about living?

No, that cannot be.

It was clearly visible in Beopjeong’s eyes. The way Jang Il-so’s fiendish eyes gleamed. His eyes showed he really wanted to live and was afraid to die!

Jang Il-so is one who clings to life more than anyone. Yet, how can he still display such composure? Even though he was about to lose.

Beopjeong will never let this fellow go, nor allow him to survive. No matter what happens, he will ensure it. Jang Il-so knows this fact as well. Maybe it was just the last fight of someone who knows they will lose.

It wasn’t just his strong fists or body. It was Jang Il-so’s calm attitude that Beopjeong couldn’t understand, and it made him worried.

“Hundred Step Divine Fist!”

The Hundred Step Divine Fist, unleashed from a distance where a hand could reach if extended.

The Divine Fist lost its power but kept its speed. It went through the blue flames and hit Jang Il-so’s chest.

Kawaaaang!

Jang Il-so vomited blood, gushing from his mouth, and was pushed backward. His body was thrown back by the impact.

“Ooooooh!”

Beopjeong didn’t want to lose his advantage. He rushed at Jang Il-so again as he was falling back.

He only needed to bring him down. If he could just defeat this fellow, everything would be over!

Then he would finally be able to obtain it. He would be able to reclaim it.

All the lost glory. All the honor he should have rightfully obtained!

He would prove those who doubted him wrong and make Shaolin the best martial arts school again.

If only he could defeat this fellow! If only!

“Jang Il-sooooo!”

It blazed. The blue flame. The flames seemed to grow stronger with Beopjeong’s attacks. All of it looked endlessly brilliant in Beopjeong’s eyes.

Crack!

The extended flame-shaped aura crushed Beopjeong’s shoulder and lashed at his advancing ankle. But Beopjeong’s two eyes were fixed only on Jang Il-so, Jang Il-so wrapped in those flames.

“You baaaaastard!”

It wasn’t really martial arts anymore, just a simple punch. Though it carried formidable inner force, it was merely a fist lacking any of Shaolin’s martial principles.

And at that moment.

Thud!

Jang Il-so, who had been staggering as if exhausted, suddenly gripped Beopjeong’s fist. With a strength that felt different from before.

‘What?’

Beopjeong’s eyes widened.

Soon, Jang Il-so’s head, which had been thrown back, slowly returned to its original position.

A chilling sensation ran down his spine.

Beopjeong’s shoulders involuntarily shrank.

Jang Il-so’s eyes, which he faced, were coldly sunken without any heat. Like a wild animal hunting in the bushes, holding its breath. It was as if all the wicked glares that had been seething with greed until now had been a lie.

“Hundred St⋯⋯”

“Hmm.”

In that instant, a languid nasal sound pierced his ear. Goosebumps rose on Beopjeong’s back.

‘What⋯⋯.’

Jang Il-so, who had been staring at Beopjeong with cold eyes, slowly raised the corners of his lips. A wide smile appeared on his face, which had been serious.

“You’ve done… better than I expected.”

Though speaking to Beopjeong, Jang Il-so’s gaze was directed somewhere beyond Beopjeong. Somewhere far away.

Beopjeong involuntarily turned his gaze toward where Jang Il-so was looking.

After a moment, Beopjeong’s mouth slowly opened.

A huge dust cloud was coming towards them across the dark plain. It was like a desert storm.

It was clear what they wanted.

From within the dust cloud, approaching with tremendous speed, a massive group revealed itself.

Beopjeong’s trained eyes could easily see who they were even in the dark.

“Hao…Hao Mun!”

Hao Mun, who had not shown themselves until now, were now leaping into this battlefield. At the most perfect moment.

Gritting his teeth.

Even though he expected this, it still hurt.

Even if they joined, we can still win… (Beopjeong thought, trying to convince himself).

“Another, another one is coming!”

At that moment, an unbelievable shout reached Beopjeong’s ears.

‘Another? Another one?’

What on earth was that…?

Beopjeong’s gaze reflexively turned to the opposite side. To the east, not the west where Hao Mun was advancing.

Then he saw something incredible.

In the dark night, something like a giant sun was appearing on the horizon.

No, it was not the sun. It was a red flag, massively emblazoned with a blazing sun.

“The… the Sun?”

Only one group in the world used the sun as their symbol.

‘The Southern Sea Sun Palace!’

There was no mistake. That flag belonged to the Southern Sea Sun Palace.

The Southern Sea Sun Palace! They were one of the Five Outer Palaces, groups that usually stayed out of world affairs. Why were they here?

Beopjeong felt scared.

He quickly understood. Their formation was a mess, and they were too mixed up to fight properly. And the forces of Hao Mun and the Sun Army surrounding them and rushing in.

Also, Jang Il-so had tricked Beopjeong into coming too far ahead.

Beopjeong realized he had caused this disaster himself. Like an insect flying into a fire, not knowing it will get burned.

Before he knew it, that blue flame was burning not only him but everyone.

Before Beopjeong could lose all hope, Jang Il-so spoke. A whispering voice eerily pierced Beopjeong’s ear.

“Aren’t you enjoying this?”

When Beopjeong turned around, Jang Il-so was smiling even more deeply than before. Like a demon brightly burning in the darkness.

“You should smile. Instead of just being angry, huh? Haha! Hahaha!”

The laughter carved into Beopjeong’s heart like a sharpened blade.

The strange flame burned everything, including Beopjeong and even Jang Il-so.

Fueled by endless madness and desire.