Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1674

Kaaaang!

Even as he blocked the attack, Jin Hyun was knocked backward.

“Kugh!”

Strands of his hair fell, burning and crackling.

Each time their weapons clashed, a wave of heat slammed into Jin Hyun. It was like standing too close to a roaring furnace. His clothes smoked, and his skin felt like it was being roasted.

‘The Southern Sea Solar Palace!’

This was the Southern Sea Solar Palace. They were famous even in the Central Plains, far away, because they were the best at using Solar Qi Arts.

He knew they used special energy called Solar Qi, which was all about heat and fire. He could now see why their reputation had spread so far.

Sssssss!

“Ugh……”

What was even worse was that the more he used his sword against the Solar Qi, the hotter it became. If he hadn’t used his inner energy to keep it cool, his Songmun Ancient Sword would have already turned as red as molten iron, a blade he had trained with for years.

But this could only do so much, and as time passed, it became harder to even hold the sword.

He was skilled with his sword, but this fight was different. It wasn’t just about sword moves. It was about the raw power of their inner energy. The immense power that those old masters had built up over their lives was too much for even Jin Hyun’s refined Qi Gong to handle.

‘I can’t… I can’t go on like this!’

Jin Hyun’s breath caught in his throat. He wanted to scream, not just from the heat burning his own skin, but from the fear and anger rising inside him.

“Aaaaargh!”

He saw someone burning, rolling on the ground.

“Brother!”

A roar, not a scream, burst from Jin Hyun’s lips. His voice, filled with anger and sorrow, echoed through the burning mountain.

“Eek!”

Just as Jin Hyun was about to leap forward in fury, a hand shot out like lightning, blocking his path.

Thud!

Sword and palm crashed together, and once again, Jin Hyun was knocked backward.

“Kugh!”

“Insignificant fool! Are you so weak you can’t even focus on me?”

A guardian of the Solar Palace, surrounded by crimson Yang energy, came closer to Jin Hyun with a face like a demon.

“Looks like you don’t know your place.”

“Cough!”

The heat washed over him, and Jin Hyun coughed, struggling to breathe. The guardian spoke in fury.

“To fight me, you’d need at least an elder, yet a mere disciple dares to stand before me? Where are the famous Wudang swordsmen? Hiding behind their gentle techniques while real power burns you to ashes?”

“Eek, don’t you dare speak ill of them! They are not to be insulted by the likes of you!”

“Still don’t know your place, do you!”

Rage filled the guardian’s eyes.

Woooong.

Crimson energy surged from his hands like molten lava.

“No matter. Once I’ve burned Wudang to the ground, the Central Plains will finally respect the power of the Southern Sea!”

The energy from his hands erupted in a swirling vortex of crimson fire, like a miniature sun rushing towards Jin Hyun.

The Solar Fire God Palm, a unique skill of the Southern Sea Solar Palace, was being used here in Wudang. It was the complete opposite of the Ice White Divine Palm of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, which was said to be the best Yin technique.

Jin Hyun struggled to focus, rolling away to dodge the attack. The Solar Qi force slammed into the ground, instantly burning the grass and turning the soil a fiery red.

“You dodge like a rat!”

This was different from ordinary force that struck with power. It was also different from Wudang’s Cotton Palm, a gentle way of pushing enemies away.

This was the best Solar Qi force, melting opponents with the heat inside. It wasn’t even fire, but a terrible heat, and Jin Hyun couldn’t easily find a way to stop it.

‘Kugh!’

Softness could overcome strength, but could softness overcome heat itself?

The world was too big to be dealt with by gentleness alone. And his sword was not yet strong enough to create harmony.

It wasn’t just about dealing with the attack. The terrible heat from the Solar Qi made it hard to breathe. With each breath, he felt his lungs burning.

The martial arts of other regions had grown differently from those of the Central Plains, and its unfamiliarity made it hard to adjust. It was very painful.

Was he the only one feeling this?

“Aaaaargh!”

“Jinhwa!”

“My arm! My arm……!”

A Wudang swordsman, his arm covered in crimson flames, twisted in pain. He had been ready to die for Wudang, but the burning pain was too much to bear.

“Aaaaargh!”

That wasn’t all.

He could somehow deal with swordsmanship, and somehow endure fist and kick techniques, but fighting those who attacked with inner force head-on was not a good match.

Especially since that inner force was Solar Qi Arts, which the Wudang swordsmen had never faced before.

“Muryang!”

Mujin rushed over and held his brother, whose entire body was burned.

He could see right away that there was no hope.

No matter how good Wudang’s medical skills were, they could not save someone who had been burned like this.

Even so, Mujin had to say something.

“Muryang! Hold on, brother! Just a little longer, we’ll get you help! Please, just stay with me!”

“Brother……”

“Just a little! Just hold on a little longer!”

“Wu…dang……”

Muryang’s head drooped weakly. Mujin’s heart felt like ice. He looked at his brother’s face, now still and pale, and a wave of despair washed over him.

The heat that had burned his body remained, but inside, an uncontrollable chill spread. Mujin bit his lip until it bled.

For a moment, Mujin wanted to give up. Everything felt hopeless. But then, he remembered his duty to Wudang, and with a heavy heart, he forced himself to move.

Sensing an attack, Mujin rolled away without even picking up Muryang’s body.

Wham!

“Master!”

Even though he reacted quickly, a burning pain spread through the tip of his foot.

‘Damn it!’

They were fighting on the slopes of Wudang Mountain, a place usually known for its peaceful beauty, now scarred by fire and smoke. Since the elders of the Southern Sea Solar Palace had appeared, the narrow terrain that had helped Wudang until now was now a shackle.

Wudang’s plan to defend the narrow terrain with stronger fighters had been ruined by the appearance of those with greater inner strength.

‘What about the elders?’

The best way to deal with such enemies was for those with equal skill to fight them.

“Support! Ask the elders on the other side for help now!”

“We’ve already sent a messenger! But still……!”

Mujin felt a terrible sense of despair.

He couldn’t understand.

A messenger? Was that really needed? Even though the other side was some distance away, the Wudang elders, who were much stronger than Mujin, should have been able to sense what was happening here.

So why weren’t they coming to help? Were the enemies attacking with everything they had on the other side? On that narrow terrain?

The absence of strong fighters was causing problems here, so what were the Wudang elders doing!

Just as despair started to set in, Mujin felt a shift in the air, a new threat. Someone shouted.

“B, Brother! The cliff side! Look at the cliff side!”

Mujin looked in that direction. And soon, his eyes widened.

He saw a group from the Four Evil Alliance climbing up the cliff.

Jin Hyun thought, “Were these attackers from the Four Evil Alliance he had heard rumors about?”

‘When did they get this far?’

He didn’t lower his head, just turned it a little. Suddenly, he could see them. Evil Sect fighters were climbing the cliff. They were already high up, more than halfway.

“Climb faster, faster! We’re almost there!”

The shouts of the Evil Sect thugs, previously unheard, now echoed in Mu-jin’s ears. If they managed to climb over the cliff, the Wudang disciples guarding the slope would be caught between the Solar Palace and those villains. They would be attacked from the front and the back at the same time.

‘Sasuk!’

Mu-jin’s head turned towards one particular figure.

Boom!

Suddenly, a huge explosion boomed from above. The sound shook Mu-jin.

In the deepening darkness, the towering White Goose Cliff stood tall. At its peak, white and black energies clashed amidst a flurry of hand shadows. It was an amazing fight, with skills Mu-jin had never even dreamed of.

Heo Gong was facing the Thousand-Faced Hermit, a famous figure, as equals—something Mu-jin couldn’t do.

It was amazing, something to marvel at. However, because Heo Gong was fighting the Hermit, he couldn’t guard the cliff anymore.

Mu-jin couldn’t help but feel it.

Their defense on the cliff was like a strong wall starting to break. It was slowly falling apart.

At this rate, it would collapse. This White Goose Cliff, which they were defending to protect Wudang, would fall.

‘What must I do?’

His mind screamed. There was no hope left.

And it seemed he wasn’t the only one thinking this.

“Sasuk, we have to run! It’s too much!”

They were too few and too weak. Was running away brave or cowardly when the enemy was so strong?

“Sasuk!”

Mu-jin’s eyes flashed open. He pushed past the disciple, his hand already gripping his sword. Without another thought, he leaped forward, his blade aimed at the Solar Palace Protector’s throat.

“This brat?”

Wham!

The Protector blocked the sword with a wave of his hand and used his inner force. Scorching heat energy swelled, ready to swallow Mu-jin.

Mu-jin’s sword released black and white energy, drawing a small Taijitu in the air.

Kwaaaang!

The Taijitu energy wrapped around the incoming force, pierced through, and hit the Solar Palace Protector’s chest.

“Ugh!”

The Protector spat blood and fell down the slope. Only bloodstains remained.

“Sasuk!”

Of course, Mu-jin was hurt too. The Scorching Yang Palm’s energy burned Mu-jin’s left face and shoulder, melting his flesh. Without a moment to be horrified, Mu-jin slammed his sword into the ground.

There was no more talk.

No cries to be brave, no shouts to die together. Mu-jin glared at those climbing the slope, his sword in the ground.

Even as his face burned and melted. Seeing this, the Wudang disciples, who wanted to run, stopped.

“I, too…”

Mu-jin spoke with difficulty.

“I, too, am afraid.”

It was a short sentence. The Wudang swordsmen closed their eyes, resigned. They couldn’t run. Not after seeing such a sight. Not after hearing such words.

“Primal Celestial Lord…”

Someone chanted the Taoist scriptures. Scriptures calm the mind. Maybe they needed something they had repeated many times.

No more words were needed.

“Waaaaaah!”

The enemies swarmed up the slope, ready to end their lives and Wudang’s fate.

They were like a small bug trying to stop a fast wagon.

It didn’t matter. Sometimes, there was meaning even in being crushed while fighting.

“Sasuk.”

“…Jin-hyun, is that you?”

Mu-jin replied, not turning, his eye on the enemy.

Maybe Jin-hyun felt the same despair. All that was left was a final show.

But then, Jin-hyun said something unexpected.

“Softness…”

“Hmm?”

“Fighting with all our strength may not be all that Wudang is.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Mu-jin frowned, narrowing his eye. Jin-hyun spoke slowly.

“They will come. If it’s them.”

Mu-jin turned to look at Jin-hyun. Jin-hyun’s face, red with heat and blood, was serious. He seemed sure.

It was like one drop of rain on dry ground. It seemed small and useless, but it gave a tiny hope that more rain would come.

Or maybe it was hope.

“Yes, Mount Hua…”

“Heavenly Union.”

The names came naturally from the disciples beside him.

“…Mount Hua Sword Saint.”

They had mocked and criticized. Sometimes they envied, and sometimes they scorned.

But the wild ways of those they hated were now a light for them.

‘So that’s how it was.’

The Mount Hua group’s crazy actions that Wudang had made fun of now seemed like hope for them in this terrible situation. Just as Mu-jin was feeling now.

Realizing this, Mu-jin felt relief and shame at the name of Mount Hua.

‘What… what did I know to judge them so carelessly?’

How could someone who had never felt truly hopeless judge those who seemed proud?

“It is natural to fight to the death. However…”

As if reading his mind, Jin-hyun smiled a little, looking a bit embarrassed at himself.

“It wouldn’t be bad to survive and face them, would it?”

A complex light flickered across Mu-jin’s face.

“Will they… will they try to help us?”

“They will come. Surely.”

Jin-hyun said confidently.

“Because that’s the kind of people they are.”

Just then, Mu-jin’s hand trembled slightly.

“They’re coming! They’re coming, Sasuk!”

Mu-jin shouted without realizing it.

“Retreat! Set up the second formation above White Goose Cliff!”

“Sa, Sasuk?”

He grabbed the person next to him and pushed them back.

“Fall back, now! Survive until the very end! For even a moment longer!”

“Yes!”

The Wudang swordsmen began to withdraw in disarray. Even as he shouted, Mu-jin wasn’t sure if this was right.

Now, he could only believe.

‘Yes, they will surely come.’

If it was them. If it was the Mount Hua.