Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1684

A deafening **BOOM!** echoed through the trees as Hye-yeon’s fist smashed into the man’s chest. The enemy flew backwards like a dry leaf caught in a storm.

**THUD!** He crashed to the ground.

Hye-yeon moved with perfect control. His fighting style looked gentle, like the slow movements of Tai Chi, but it was incredibly powerful. It was the Shaolin Lohan Fist, and he used it with amazing skill. *He’s incredible,* Namgung Dowi thought, watching in awe.

“Amazing.”

Namgung Dowi unconsciously followed Hye-yeon’s movements with his eyes.

Namgung Dowi was amazed by Hye-yeon’s strength. Sometimes he forgot that Hye-yeon was a true master of Shaolin. He was everything Shaolin was about.

The moment Hye-yeon jumped into the storm of flying weapons, the screaming enemies were flung back twice as fast as they had charged.

Namgung Dowi gasped. For a second, he couldn’t even see Hye-yeon move.

“I can’t lose.”

Namgung Dowi, gritting his teeth, let out a shout.

“Haaah!”

He surged forward, brandishing his sword.

Even the greatest swordsman had to start by simply swinging an iron sword.

Namgung Dowi used his clan’s special sword style, the Iron Sword Twelve Forms. It was the base of their fighting, and he used it with all his power.

Scritch! Scritch! Scritch!

His sword style was simple and used little energy, but it was very effective. The enemies charging in were cut down in an instant. It didn’t matter if he missed some in between. They weren’t the only ones here.

“Don’t let a single one get past!”

“Kill them all!”

“Retreat slowly while advancing! Very slowly!”

Hye-yeon and Namgung Dowi fought bravely. This gave the Tang members courage. They stood strong, like a wall, stopping enemies from behind.

Inspired by their spirit, Namgung Dowi swung his sword mightily.

“What’s the distance to the vanguard now?”

“It’s widened a bit, Vice-Leader!”

“We mustn’t fall behind! Increase the speed!”

“Yes!”

Namgung Dowi, not letting his guard down, looked back.

“With the mountain burning like that, if the formation is disrupted, we could be defeated piecemeal… What, what is that?”

Namgung Dowi couldn’t finish his sentence, his eyes widening.

Through the raging fire of Mount Wudang, a dark path appeared. The air shimmered with heat, and the smell of burning pine filled their noses. The ground under their feet was hot and black with ash.

“…Logging? In this situation?”

No, that can’t be…

“It’s good that the path is clearly visible.”

“Yes, yes?”

Namgung Dowi flinched at Hye-yeon’s calmly responding voice.

Come to think of it, it was true. If they did that, there would be no risk of those following behind getting confused. They could just follow the path, not the people. When you thought about it, it was actually a clever method.

But even though time was of the essence, did they really have to cut down those trees? Or… was that faster?

‘Damn it, I don’t know.’

Namgung Dowi chuckled. They must have a plan. It was them, after all.

“It’s good that the speed has increased… but if we’re not careful, the waist of the formation could be cut off.”

“Then we just need to catch up faster.”

“Hmm. That is indeed true, Benefactor.”

Namgung Dowi burst into laughter at Hye-yeon’s gentle smile.

‘He always makes things difficult for people.’

It was never easy to fight enemies behind them and also try to catch up to the others in front. Moreover, having entered this mountain, they had to be wary of enemies attacking not only from behind but also from the left and right.

But Namgung Dowi didn’t complain.

He could almost hear the words that would come back if he voiced such complaints.

– Can’t do it? Why? What’s the big deal? That’s what you get for growing up in a warm greenhouse, eating warm meals!

“That’s not wrong either.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Namgung Dowi wore a bitter smile.

It was only natural that it was difficult. There was no such thing as an easy task in this world. If something felt easy, it meant he wasn’t putting all his strength into it.

He knew it now. He would never achieve the desired result if he didn’t push himself to the very end.

Wasting time by holding back was the worst thing he could do.

If only he had known this simple fact a little sooner…

“They’re coming, Benefactor!”

“Yes!”

Namgung Dowi emptied his mind and gripped his sword tightly.

“Not a single one shall pass!”

His sword gleamed with a dazzling white aura.

‘What’s the situation?’

Baek Cheon quickly looked back, worried. The enemies were following the rear like a swarm of ants, but Namgung Dowi and Hye-yeon were blocking them perfectly.

He felt a sense of security, as if he had two shields behind him. Moreover, those shields would not be easily shaken.

Baek Cheon looked ahead again.

“Try to stop me if you want to die, you bastards!”

Jo Gul shouted loudly as he fought. He was like a spear, pushing through the enemy. And Yoon Jong, guarding the front, was ready to support Jo Gul at any moment.

Baek Cheon, sharply surveying the surroundings, commanded.

“Yoon Jong! Left front! The enemies are aiming for the front!”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

Yoon Jong led his Tang members and rushed out. Yoon Jong intervened in front of the enemies who were trying to target the protruding Jo Gul. As if he wouldn’t let anyone interfere with Jo Gul.

“Sasuk! Right flank! Lead the Tang members and support that side!”

“Yes.”

As soon as Baek Cheon spoke, Yoo Iseol moved. She was fast like a bird. She got to the right place before the enemies and stood strong like a mountain. Enemies were scared of her.

The enemies belatedly flocked to the places where Yoon Jong and Yoo Iseol had taken their positions.

Half a step. No, it was a step faster.

“…You?”

Jin Geum-ryong looked at Baek Cheon with fresh eyes, as if somewhat surprised.

Baek Cheon clenched his fist slightly.

‘I can see it.’

It might sound strange, but the movements of the enemies were within his grasp, as if he were looking down on this mountain from above.

It was definitely a sense that hadn’t existed for him until recently.

‘Unbelievable!’

Baek Cheon knew. He knew where the sense he had gained now came from.

In the past, Baek Cheon didn’t need to see the entire situation. If someone targeted the vanguard, he could step forward and block them directly, and if they targeted the rear, he could throw himself and swing his sword.

He would do whatever he could directly.

Baek Cheon’s way was to carry more than anyone else at the very front, and it was Hwasan’s way.

But ironically, the moment Baek Cheon could no longer adhere to that method, he began to see what he hadn’t seen before. For example…

“The distance to the rear is widening! Support the rear and maintain the formation!”

“…Are you talking to me now?”

“Move it, now!”

“Damn it.”

Jin Geum-ryong looked angry. He gritted his teeth and jumped to the back. Baek Cheon glanced at him and immediately fixed his gaze forward.

‘Is this the battlefield that guy usually sees?’

A burst of laughter escaped him.

So, that crazy bastard was swinging his sword even further ahead than Baek Cheon, yet he was looking at the battlefield with these eyes? Wider, more detailed?

“Anyway, the more I know…”

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth.

He thought about how hard it was to climb a mountain. You only really know how hard it is when you are climbing it yourself.

Baek Cheon was trying to be as good as Chung Myung. He now understood how amazing Chung Myung really was.

But now was not the time to be immersed in admiration or frustration.

A black path was being carved through the land of flames.

And now, Baek Cheon could catch even the smallest movements beyond the flickering flames.

‘They’re coming.’

They were closing in.

Not just the front. From the left, right, and even the rear. Enemies were approaching from three sides. The speed at which the Cheonwoo Alliance was pushing forward was currently allowing them to escape the encirclement, but this situation wouldn’t last forever.

‘What’s the method?’

If it were him in the past, he would have chosen the simplest method. Charge forward and open the path faster than Jo Gul. That was the surest way to break through the enemy’s encirclement.

But not now.

“Haap!”

Baek Cheon kicked off the blackened ground and dashed toward Yoon Jong. The Tang members following behind gritted their teeth and stuck close to Baek Cheon.

“Sasuk?”

“Join up, Yoon Jong!”

Baek Cheon leaped beside Yoon Jong and swung his sword in one swift motion.

Scritch!

The sensation of the sword’s tip cutting through human flesh was vividly clear.

“Cough!”

Caught off guard by Baek Cheon’s unexpected intrusion, a member of the Four Evil Sects, unable to resist properly, collapsed, spraying blood.

“Sasuk, I’ll take care of this!”

“No. Push forward!”

“Yes?”

Instead of giving further instructions, Baek Cheon surged forward again, swinging his sword.

Those who give instructions cannot be perfect. Neither can anyone else.

Even the Cheonwoo Alliance, with its simplest command structure, had limited orders it could give in this situation. It was impossible for the enemy leaders to tell everyone exactly what to do on the mountain.

This meant that when their plans were stopped, it would take them time to get organized again.

“Smash them all to pieces!”

“Damn it! Understood!”

Yoon Jong couldn’t have fully understood the intention behind Baek Cheon’s order. But instead of questioning it, he carried it out without hesitation.

That was enough for now.

“Haaah!”

Yoon Jong’s sword sent out bright energy. It looked like many plum flowers in the air. The plum blossoms of Hwasan, blooming in the sacred Mount Wudang, instantly enveloped the charging enemies.

“Ugh, aargh!”

“Retreat!”

It had become even stronger. That was why the plum blossom sword energy, which looked so brilliant in Baek Cheon’s eyes, swept away the charging enemies. Baek Cheon’s gaze lingered on that sword energy for a brief moment.

The bright flower shapes disappeared quickly. They were beautiful for just a short time. That’s what made them so special.

“Sasuk?”

Thud.

Baek Cheon stepped forward. At Yoon Jong’s voice… no, before that voice even reached his mind.

“Stand at the front, Yoon Jong! I’ll support you!”

“Yes!”

As Yoon Jong charged forward, Baek Cheon suddenly felt a strange sensation. Then, uncharacteristically, he stopped and looked around.

Jo Gul, still opening the path with all his might at the front, Yoon Jong and Yoo Iseol, attacking the left and right flanks according to his instructions, and Hye-yeon and Namgung Dowi, perfectly blocking the rear.

He looked around at the fight. It felt unreal, like a strange dream.

Then, a rough voice broke in.

“Jin Geum-ryong!”

Baek Cheon turned sharply and saw Jin Geum-ryong rushing toward him with all his might.

“What are you doing, you idiot! Give the orders!”

Baek Cheon, startled, turned his gaze. Jo Gul at the vanguard had almost reached the pure white cliff.

Clench!

Baek Cheon gripped his sword tightly.

“Retreat! Join the vanguard!”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth.

‘Not yet!’

Even if it became unavoidable someday, it wasn’t now.

He wasn’t finished yet.

Baek Cheon dashed forward. Chasing after Jo Gul’s back, not Chung Myung’s.

“Open it, Geol!”

“Raaah!”

Jo Gul’s sword cut through the enemies who tried to stop him. He fought without stopping. Bright red blood splattered from Jo Gul’s cheek, which had been deeply cut at some point.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crunch!

Jo Gul’s gaze turned forward. The place where his sword reached after piercing through the enemy’s body was a cliff.

The white cliff was now red with blood. It looked like a strong wall, blocking their way.

“Damn it! We broke through, Sasuk!”

A frantic cry of joy spread in all directions.

Baekanam. The Cheonwoo Alliance had finally reached that cliff, now stained red.

Return of Mount Hua

They had reached the cliff, but the fight was far from over.