Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1692

“Damn it, those fools!”

“They managed to climb that cliff!”

“Stop them! No, surround them and kill them all!”

The Four Seas Alliance bandits started to fight wildly, like animals trapped and desperate.

Mu-jin watched the Four Seas Alliance fight. They were moving in a strange, panicked way. He was confused. *This isn’t right,* he thought, even as swords clashed around him.

It was a reaction clearly different from anything before. These were the same enemies who had laughed at him before. They had treated Wudang like weak prey, even though Wudang is a famous martial arts school.

But now, he could see fear in their eyes, fear that went deep.

In terms of numbers, they were only a little over a hundred.

In this place swarming with thousands of martial artists, a hundred was a number that should be nothing. But the whole Four Seas Alliance was afraid of these hundred people.

“It’s Mount Hua! Finish these guys off first!”

“Kill them before they get here!”

But at that moment…

Those who had been poised to rush towards Mount Hua suddenly turned their heads and began to charge towards Wudang.

Clang!

Mu-jin hastily blocked the incoming sword. Even at a glance, it was clear that the enemies were now desperate.

Clang! Clang!

Mu-jin’s eyes flickered as he blocked another sword. This attack was wilder, faster than before. They were truly fighting for their lives now.

‘These guys…?’

The Four Seas Alliance bandits had become unusually frantic.

It was as if something terrible would happen if the Wudang surrounded by them and the Mount Hua disciples who had just climbed the cliff were to join forces.

This was completely different from how they acted before. Before, they were relaxed, playing with Wudang like a cat with a mouse.

These were not the same cruel enemies who had laughed at Wudang when they were weak and dying.

Now, Mu-jin saw only scared people, frozen in fear of a stronger enemy. *Can they even fight properly like this?* he wondered. They were just weak people from the demonic sects, after all.

“Looks like Mount Hua’s name scares them more than our swords do!” Jin Hyun said, killing another enemy easily. He smiled a little, seeing how clumsy the enemies had become.

Mu-jin didn’t answer. A strange feeling filled him. Was it hope? Relief? He pushed it down. *No time for feelings,* he thought, biting his lip.

He could think about feelings later, if they survived. Survival came first.

Help had come, but they were not safe yet. On the contrary, the enemies’ blades had become even more urgent and ferocious.

“Hold on!”

He felt a terrible pain in his empty eye socket, like fire. His body felt like lead, heavy and slow. His dantian, the center of his energy, burned as if it would burst. Every breath hurt. But the pain was real. He was still alive.

Shwaaaaa!

Mu-jin deflected a sword that crackled with blue energy, making the air around it shimmer.

He blocked the attack, but his wrist throbbed and his legs buckled. He was too weak now to easily block the attacks of these demonic sect fighters.

Bang!

But he still had Tai Chi. Tai Chi used the enemy’s own power against them. As long as he could do that, he could keep fighting. Mu-jin gritted his teeth as he slammed his elbow into the enemy’s jaw and unleashed three sword strikes in a single breath past the collapsing foe.

‘I can do it!’

It was only a hundred more, but the result was very important. Those hundred people were changing everything on the cliff.

“Survive, no matter what, until you fully join forces with Mount Hua!”

Mu-jin shouted until his throat was raw.

Im So-byeong’s cold gaze swept across the chaotic cliff. His eyes were sharp and calculating.

‘Is it working?’

A short sigh escaped Im So-byeong’s lips. Fortunately, it seemed that the Mount Hua disciples who had climbed the cliff were putting up a good fight.

‘Even without Sect Leader Cheong-myeong, Mount Hua is still Mount Hua!’

How many battlefields had they crossed, and how many demonic sects had they faced?

Even if you searched the entire world, there would be no one as knowledgeable and familiar with the demonic sects as they were. Especially against the Four Seas Alliance, they were the best sect to fight against them.

‘Fortunately, it seems Wudang hasn’t been completely destroyed yet either.’

Im So-byeong’s gaze deepened.

He would save Wudang at all costs.

Even if only a few remained, it didn’t matter. If he could achieve that one goal, he could break the momentum of the Four Seas Alliance, which had become very powerful after they destroyed Shaolin Temple.

“Then the next question is how to get out of here….”

Im So-byeong, who had been about to turn his gaze away, not doubting that Mount Hua would succeed, suddenly stopped muttering and flinched.

‘What is it?’

A chill ran down his spine. His eyes quickly chased after the source of the unease.

The towering cliff that rose towards the sky from where he stood.

It was made of white rock and called White Rock Cliff, but now it had become more fittingly known as Red Face Cliff. At the left and right edges of this cliff…

A group of unknown martial artists appeared on the slopes that touched the steep rocks. They wore dark clothes and moved with a strange, unsettling speed.

“Wh-What… are those?”

They had newly appeared on the cliff where the demonic sect fighters were still crowded, and they began to run horizontally, kicking off the steep rocks.

An ominous premonition struck his mind like lightning. Im So-byeong widened his eyes until they seemed to tear.

“N-No… way.”

A scream, terribly loud, burst from his mouth.

“Stop them! Aaaaargh!”

Despair filled his eyes, a deep, dark despair.

Yun-jong flinched and turned around. Then, Jo-geol shouted in a fit.

“What are you doing, Senior Brother!”

“No, right now….”

“Run instead of looking back!”

“…Alright.”

Yun-jong bit his lip slightly, feeling an inexplicable sensation, and averted his gaze. Something felt chilling at the back of his neck. But as Jo-geol said, now was not the time to look back.

Even in the short moment he hesitated, the disciples of Wudang were falling, blood spreading around them.

‘They can’t hold on any longer!’

He could tell at a glance. They had already exhausted all their strength.

Wudang, who had been fighting relentlessly amidst the fear of the terrifying number of enemies rushing in, and the desperate pressure to protect their sect, had already reached their limit long ago.

He had to create an opening so that they could catch their breath as soon as possible. If he didn’t want to see the name of Wudang truly end here.

“Run!”

Yun-jong shouted roughly, unlike his usual self, and swung his sword.

The retreating enemies were mercilessly pierced by the tip of his sword. Yun-jong pushed forward, enduring the sensation of severing human lives with a cold blade, a sensation that never became familiar no matter how many times he repeated it.

‘What about Junior Uncle?’

Even so, he continued to pay attention to Baek-cheon. He couldn’t possibly stop worrying.

A little behind him, not too far away, he could feel Baek-cheon’s presence. Not at the vanguard, but at the front. In a position where he had to bear the brunt of the enemies’ attacks.

Yun-jong gritted his teeth without realizing it.

He knew. He knew it well.

Baek-cheon was the one who had to be at the front. Without Cheong-myeong, all the swordsmen of Mount Hua would be following Baek-cheon’s lead.

Although Jo-geol and Yun-jong were clearing a path, whether or not Baek-cheon was at the front had an absolute impact on morale. But….

“Damn it!”

The sword energy Yun-jong emitted became rougher.

‘I… I should have been stronger.’

If he could have shouldered the role that Baek-cheon was taking on now. If that were the case, Baek-cheon wouldn’t have had to push himself so hard.

But the current Yun-jong couldn’t do that. He could push someone’s back, but he couldn’t lead someone forward. That was the Yun-jong that Mount Hua was looking at, and it was the limit that Yun-jong himself had realized.

“Chaaaaaaap!”

The air filled with plum blossom sword energies, but they were wilder, less controlled than usual. The somewhat roughly scattered plum blossom sword energies pierced through the enemies.

“S-Senior Brother?”

Jo-geol, surprised, turned to look at Yun-jong. It was too full of murderous intent to be simply a sword swung in haste to save Wudang.

At that moment, Yun-jong shouted.

“What are you doing! You were urging me on just a moment ago!”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

Jo-geol quickly nodded and ran forward.

Yes, he could think about it later. It was almost over now. Soon, he would be able to save Wudang.

‘Something that could be done so easily!’

Jo-geol gritted his teeth. Why had he hesitated so much about something that could be done so easily just by stepping forward….

‘…Wait. Easily?’

Crack!

The tip of Jo-geol’s sword, which had pierced the enemy’s heart, twitched.

‘Easy?’

His gaze, which had been fixed forward, wavered faintly.

Jo-geol blankly stared at the distorted face of the enemy, who was groping and clutching at the sword embedded in his heart. But that was it; the enemy could no longer resist and crumbled to the ground.

Jo-geol watched the scene for a moment, as if in a daze.

“What are you doing! Get a grip!”

“Ah, yes!”

Jo-geol regained his senses and took another step forward.

The Sapaeryeon warriors were very pale. They tried to run away, but they were trapped. They screamed with wild, desperate voices, like animals caught in a trap, and charged at Jo Gul.

Paaah!

Jo Gul’s three swords moved like lightning, easily cutting through the warriors. But even though he won easily, Jo Gul looked worried.

He felt even more confused.

‘Are the Sapaeryeon really this weak?’

It couldn’t be. Jo Gul knew better than anyone how dangerous they could be.

He thought about why. Maybe they didn’t expect Mount Hua to attack, or maybe their best fighters weren’t here when Mount Hua arrived.

Ever since he fought Jang Il-so, he hadn’t seen those Red Gale bastards. But…

Jo Gul had to ask.

“Sahyung! Are the Sapaeryeon really this weak?”

“What are you talking about?” Yoon Jong asked.

“Well…”

“They’ve been fighting the Wudang for hours! They must be exhausted!”

Jo Gul stopped talking when Yoon Jong answered.

The Sapaeryeon warriors looked tired. It must have been hard for them to fight through the flames in this rough place.

Yes, it made sense. Maybe he was just worried for no reason.

He still felt uneasy, but these were the same people who almost beat the Wudang. He couldn’t think they were weak.

“Aaaargh!”

Just then, a scream cut through Jo Gul’s thoughts.

A crimson blade flashed in the firelight. It plunged into the Wudang swordsman’s chest with a sickening thud.

‘That….’

“Aaaaargh!”

The blade twisted, tearing through his chest. Even though he was dying, the blade twisted to cause as much pain as possible.

The Wudang swordsman’s face turned red with blood.

Jo Gul’s mouth fell open.

“You sons of bitches!”

Rage exploded in Jo Gul’s chest. He roared, a sound full of fury that echoed across the battlefield.

He didn’t like the Wudang much. Jo Gul felt more uncomfortable than friendly towards them.

From long ago to the Jang River, the Wudang and Mount Hua had always fought.

But now, he felt angry at the Wudang’s suffering.

No matter their relationship, they shouldn’t be mocked and killed so cruelly. As Baek Cheon said, everyone’s life is important.

His anger turned into a powerful sword energy that swept through the enemy.

A formation was like a strong dam, holding back the enemy. But now, the Wudang formation was cracking, like a dam about to break. One small hole, and everything would collapse.

‘Faster!’

Just as Jo Gul tried to attack, a voice called out.

“Stop.”

“Huh?”

Jo Gul stopped and saw Yoo Iseol next to him. She still didn’t show any emotion. But she frowned a little, like she felt something bad was going to happen.

“…Accident?” Yoo Iseol murmured, looking around.

“There’s no command,” she added.

“Explain it to me,” Jo Gul said.

“Disorganized. It wasn’t like this before.”

“Well….”

Jo Gul started to say something but stopped.

With so many people in a small space, it was normal for the formation to be disorganized. He was going to say that.

But… did Yoo Iseol not know that, or was she really worried about it?

“Accident? What do you mean?” Jo Gul asked.

Yoo Iseol looked around without answering. She didn’t change her expression much, but Jo Gul felt she was very serious.

He felt more and more worried.

This wasn’t the time to worry. The Wudang could die any second.

Jo Gul turned to leave.

“I’m going again.”

“Wait.”

“Sago! We don’t have much time!”

Yoo Iseol looked around again, her eyes colder.

“Trap… no, not here….”

“A trap?” Jo Gul asked, confused. ‘How could this be a trap?’ he wondered, ‘We are attacking them.’

A trap was set while waiting for the enemy. So, it couldn’t be a trap here. The Wudang made this a battlefield, not the Sapaeryeon.

Besides, this was a place to defend. A good place to beat the enemy was different from a good place to fight and hold on.

That’s why Jo Gul ignored his earlier worries.

“We beat the fire attack, and the Tang Clan is here, so poison won’t work. So, it’s just people, right? And we’re beating those people now.”

They had no more tricks. But Yoo Iseol didn’t answer, and he wondered what she was thinking.

“Sago!”

Just as Jo Gul was about to ask again, she spoke.

“Bait….”

“Yes, bait for what?” Jo Gul asked.

Yoo Iseol looked back. Past the Mount Hua disciples, to the cliff edge.

Yoo Iseol looked at the cliff, torn apart by sword energy, and her eyes widened.

“Not people… bait.”

“Yes?”

“Bait? The Wudang?”

“No, these people here. The Sapaeryeon!”

Jo Gul didn’t understand and stared at Yoo Iseol. What on earth….

“Ah!”

At the voice, Jo Gul turned. Yoon Jong’s face was pale. He seemed to understand Yoo Iseol.

“Sahyung?”

“Sahyung!”

Yoon Jong’s hand holding his sword was shaking.

“Sahyung, what are you talking about….”

“Sasook!”

Yoon Jong screamed at Baek Cheon, like he didn’t have time to explain.

“It’s a trap! We have to get out of here! Sasook, now…!”

Just then…

Kwaaaaaaah!

A huge explosion, like the world was ending, came from outside the cliff. Everyone stopped fighting.

Rumble!

The ground buckled beneath their feet. Rocks rattled and dust flew into the air. The shaking grew stronger, like the mountain itself was alive and angry.

“Wh-What is this!”

“Get down!”

The Mount Hua swordsmen and the Sapaeryeon warriors screamed and lowered themselves. Jo Gul felt a strong vibration through his hands on the ground, and his face turned pale.

“What is this….”

He looked at the enemies.

The Sapaeryeon warriors were also lowering themselves, looking confused. They looked like they didn’t know what was happening. They couldn’t be faking it. There was no reason to.

They didn’t expect this either.

Then, a word flashed through Jo Gul’s mind: Bait.

And then, he understood.

“Could it be….”

Jo Gul stared at the cliff edge.

The cliff edge was crumbling from the shaking.

‘No.’

He felt deep fear. Not just of this situation, but of something terrible about to happen. A fear so strong it made him want to throw up.

‘No, no! It can’t be….’

Everyone on the cliff had the same thought. And this terrible prediction came true.

Kwaaaaah!

Another huge explosion came from below the cliff, and the whole mountain shook.