Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1702

“Duck!”

Jin Geum-ryong grabbed Lee Song-baek’s head and pushed him down towards the cliff edge. At the same moment, a huge blast of wind hit them, shaking them hard.

Crack.

Jin Geum-ryong gritted his teeth and looked towards Jong-ri Gok as the dust settled from the explosion. His mouth felt dry, and his eyes widened in shock.

The dust cloud slowly cleared, and they could see Jong-ri Gok.

“Sect Leader!”

Fortunately, Jong-ri Gok was still standing on the cliff.

“Sect Leader, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“But…!”

Lee Song-baek started to say something, then bit his lip instead.

Jong-ri Gok was lucky not to fall, but they could see blood on his ripped clothes. He was hurt by the blast.

“…They’re playing tricks?”

Jong-ri Gok muttered, his face hardening coldly.

He stopped it this time, but if they keep doing this, it will be hard to handle.

The Sun Palace fighters here each had a big bomb hidden in their chest. They could set them off just by using their inner power, their ‘Scorching Yang Qi’, without needing any tools. This cliff was full of living bombs!

“Those guys can blow up the bombs in their chests whenever they want! Be careful!”

“H-How…?”

Lee Song-baek looked confused.

If he stayed far away and used his sword energy, he could block the explosions. But now, he had to fight them up close. How could he fight someone when a bomb could go off in their chest at any moment?

“How?”

Jong-ri Gok’s eyes narrowed. Suddenly, one of the best Sun Palace fighters, who had been watching them, ran towards Jong-ri Gok.

“Aaaaargh!”

Bright orange energy burst from his hands. He looked like he wanted to throw everything he had at Jong-ri Gok, with no strength held back. He charged forward with wild force.

“Sect Leader!”

Lee Song-baek shouted again, louder this time.

Lee Song-baek wasn’t worried that Jong-ri Gok would lose to this fighter. He could see it clearly: the man charging at them was desperate and ready to die.

However, Jong-ri Gok met the oncoming man without the slightest hesitation.

Whirr!

Jong-ri Gok’s sword moved forward, with a flash of sword energy. It wasn’t super fast or powerful, but it was just right.

Tap tap tap!

The sword moved so fast it looked like there were many swords at once, flashing in the air. The sword energy blocked the enemy’s attack like a strong wall.

Whoosh!

But then, instead of backing away, the Sun Palace fighter’s eyes went wide. He threw himself forward at Jong-ri Gok. At the same instant, bright red flames exploded from his body.

It was the moment Lee Song-baek widened his eyes, sensing another explosion.

Wham!

Jong-ri Gok’s sword flashed forward, faster than ever before, and stabbed into the enemy’s chest. Then…

Slice!

The sword in his chest moved in a quick circle. Then, something was cut free and flew up from the Sun Palace fighter’s chest.

‘Ah….’

Lee Song-baek and Jin Geum-ryong watched the scene with faces as if they were dreaming.

Whoosh!

Then, the Sun Palace fighter’s head, now cut off, flew into the air. The bomb from his chest, his head, and two other round things bounced off the cliff and fell in a curve.

A moment later.

Kaaaa-boooom!

The bomb that fell exploded with a huge roar. Because it blew up away from the cliff, in the air, the cliff was safe.

“If it’s going to blow up, get rid of it before it does.”

Jong-ri Gok spoke quietly, looking at the enemy’s body tumbling down the cliff and hitting the rocks below. Then, he stared coldly at the remaining enemies on the cliff, sizing them up.

Lee Song-baek’s heart suddenly began to pound.

‘This is… the sword of Jongnam!’

He felt the overwhelming gap with his entire body.

He was ashamed. He had thought, maybe, he was getting closer to their level. Maybe he was starting to understand the skill of his masters, who always seemed so far above him, like they lived in the clouds.

But the sword of Jong-ri Gok, now unfolding before his eyes, clearly showed how absurd his thoughts were.

This level of skill was something even someone as talented as Jin Geum-ryong could only reach after working incredibly hard, without rest, for twice as long as Jin Geum-ryong had been alive.

Could such a realm be easily caught up with just a change of heart?

“Ooooooh!”

Suddenly, a loud shout cut through the air.

Jin Geum-ryong and Lee Song-baek quickly looked down and saw Namgung-myeong rushing up the cliff with great speed.

The best fighters from the Cheonwoo Alliance, who had come with Namgung-myeong, had just arrived. They would be a big help now.

Jong-ri Gok asked, “Will you retreat?”

Then, resolve settled in the eyes of the two men.

“There is no retreat in Jongnam.”

“Then stay close to me. Don’t let any escape, defeat them all!”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Whoosh!

Without saying anything to encourage them, Jong-ri Gok jumped towards the enemies in a flash. Jin Geum-ryong and Lee Song-baek ran after their leader, pushing themselves hard.

‘Jin Dong-ryong.’

Moving like lightning, Jin Geum-ryong’s gaze flickered towards the top of the cliff.

‘You said that choosing Hwasan was the right choice. But I still don’t agree with you.’

Perhaps Hwasan was indeed the right choice for Baek Cheon until now. But would that really be the case from now on?

Jongnam has the answer. They have a clear path forward, just by following their leader. All you have to do is trust and follow.

But what about Baek Cheon? He has to fight at the front, even though he’s badly hurt. Can he really overcome the difficult challenges ahead, all by himself?

Baek Cheon is already hurt and exhausted. But he still keeps fighting through the difficult path ahead.

“Young Lord!”

At that moment, Namgung-myeong grabbed Namgung Dowis shoulder and pulled him down below.

“Young Lord, I’ll hold them back here! Please, you need to be safe!”

“No, Chief! I…!”

“Do what I tell you, Do-wi! Or I’ll make you! I’m your uncle first, before I’m the Chief of Namgung!”

Hearing the harsh voice, Jin Geum-ryong bit his lip and glared at the Sun Palace disciples.

If the cliff falls, anyone up there will die. That means Baek Cheon and his annoying younger brother will also be killed.

‘There’s still something I haven’t shown.’

And there’s still something he hasn’t done. Jin Geum-ryong kicked off the cliff face even harder.

“I will never let you destroy it!”

A light like a divine fire blazed in his eyes.

* * *

“Senior Brother! What’s wrong?”

“…No. Nothing.”

Baek Cheon, who had momentarily looked back, immediately turned his gaze forward.

Now isn’t the time to think about those strange feelings he had just felt. Whatever was happening below, he couldn’t do anything about it from here.

There is only one thing they can do. Open this path and survive with the Wudang.

‘Strong.’

It was clear that the enemies blocking them were not easy to deal with.

Maybe these were the strongest enemies they had fought yet. Hwasan had hardly ever fought another group like this, in a direct battle.

Hwaaaah!

The surging heat constantly enveloped Baek Cheon’s entire body. It was a situation where even breathing was difficult.

Also, he was carrying the injured Wudang people. Trying to push through the enemies like this, while carrying them, was like trying to run barefoot through thorns.

“Sect… Leader… Delegate. Leave us…”

Even in his hazy consciousness, Mu-jin seemed to know that fact. Baek Cheon cut him off.

“Don’t say useless things!”

“This place… this place will soon…”

“I know!”

Did Baek Cheon not know? This cliff was going to be dangerous soon. Maybe no one would get out alive. Like Mu-jin said, maybe the best thing to do was leave the Wudang behind, so they could have a chance to live.

But that was a choice that wasn’t even worth considering in the first place. It was for Baek Cheon.

“Sect Leader Delegate…!”

“Damn it! Why would someone who cares so much about life even pick up a sword?”

“……”

“From the moment you hold a sword, your life is as good as given up. What you have to protect is not your life.”

Yes. What he had to protect was not his life.

That’s why Baek Cheon could fight now. Even though he had lost a lot, and would lose even more, he could not hesitate.

“And don’t underestimate Hwasan.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes turned strongly forward.

“Those guys are dangerous.”

Even if he wasn’t strong enough right now, the others were. They would make up for what he couldn’t do.