Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1717

Jo Gul groaned quietly.

He wanted to shout with joy or hurl insults until his throat was raw, but he knew he couldn’t. Doing so would disrupt the energy around Baek Cheon, so he suffered in silence.

‘That damned bastard!’

His eyes, the only parts of his body that could move, looked around.

Baek Sang, who had been staring blankly at Chung Myung’s back, jumped up. His face was twisted with relief and anger.

“You… you bastard. You…,”

Baek Sang reached out and grabbed Chung Myung by the collar.

“Why… why now… you bastard!”

He didn’t know why he felt that way.

It should have been a moment to celebrate. But when he faced Chung Myung, Baek Sang felt sorrow and injustice he couldn’t explain.

The Mount Hua disciples exchanged glances. They understood Baek Sang’s feelings, but Baek Sang’s behavior was going too far, especially in such a tense situation. It wasn’t something to do in front of the enemy.

However, Chung Myung didn’t get angry. He turned his head silently and looked behind him.

He looked past the Mount Hua and Wudang disciples, towards Baek Cheon and those around him.

Chung Myung’s gaze deepened. The coldness in his eyes made the Wudang disciples step back, even though they knew it wasn’t directed at them.

“Chung Myung…,”

“Stand back, Martial Uncle.”

Chung Myung tapped Baek Sang’s shoulder firmly.

“For now.”

His face, as cold as ice, turned forward.

“Let’s deal with those bastards first.”

The strength drained from Baek Sang’s hands.

He realized what he had done.

The enemy threatening Baek Cheon was still in front of them, yet he had acted so ridiculously. It wasn’t because of resentment towards Chung Myung, but because of the relief he felt at Chung Myung’s appearance.

Chung Myung twirled his sword, rested it on his shoulder, and pointed at the Blood Palace Lord.

“You were just talking nonsense. Why so quiet now?”

The Blood Palace Lord didn’t answer. His bandaged face twitched, anger making it look even more twisted. Loose ends of bandage hung from his hand, like dirty ribbons.

“You…,”

*Throb.*

Fresh blood welled up through the old, dried blood on the bandages. A drop fell from his chin, splattering dark red on the floor. As it landed, a cold blue light flashed in the Blood Palace Lord’s eyes.

“Hiss…,”

The Blood Palace Lord’s tongue slowly licked the blood soaking the bandages. The taste of the dried blood and the fresh, metallic taste jolted through his body.

“Hwasan… Sword Saint?”

His voice was rough, like scraping against a dead tree. But Chung Myung scoffed.

“These days, outsiders are very interested in the Central Plains. They even bother to remember the titles of people they don’t even know.”

“Hee hee hee!”

The Blood Palace Lord’s eyes turned crimson.

“How arrogant.”

His face was filled with murderous intent.

The single strike just now was impressive. No matter how unexpected the attack, the fact that he had been hit in the face meant that this fellow’s swordsmanship was amazing.

But that was all.

“You don’t know your place. If you had stayed hidden, you wouldn’t be dead.”

Crack.

The Blood Palace Lord unleashed his murderous intent and slowly approached Chung Myung.

The Wudang disciples instinctively cowered from the intense killing intent. They felt suffocated.

It was different, yet not different.

It was different from the imposing aura of the Sun Palace Lord, but the fear induced by this thick, dark energy was even greater.

But what frightened them even more was not the energy he was emitting.

‘Oh, his face….’

The Wudang disciples saw the face of the Blood Palace Lord as he lowered his hand. The corpse-like, bluish face revealed between the bandages was seething and writhing as if boiling.

“Th-that…,”

The wound from the sword.

The deeply cut wound, exposing bone, was healing at a speed visible to the human eye.

‘How?’

Was this really possible?

“Did you really think that one sword strike would change anything?”

The eyes of the Wudang disciples were filled with horror.

As he took those steps, flesh filled the gaps in his torn face, and his skin writhed. This impossible sight made them feel sick and afraid.

The martial arts of the outsiders were said to be different from those of the Central Plains, but could this really be considered martial arts?

‘Good heavens….’

Was it possible?

Even the energy alone was difficult to handle, but to heal injuries on the spot with such evil sorcery….

Even if he was the Hwasan Sword Saint, could he handle such a monster?

Unable to find the answer by looking at Chung Myung’s back, the Wudang disciples quickly looked at the Mount Hua disciples. They widened their eyes in surprise.

‘No….’

Among the Mount Hua disciples, not a single face showed even a hint of doubt.

They believed, without wavering. No matter who the opponent was, no matter how strong they were, there was no one that Chung Myung could not handle.

The Wudang disciples were very surprised by that unwavering belief.

Could they show such faith? Even if the target was Heo Do-jin or Heo Gong, could they have such perfect trust?

Were these people foolishly blind, or was Chung Myung someone who deserved that much trust?

Now, it was Chung Myung’s turn to provide the answer.

“What’s so surprising?”

The Blood Palace Lord smiled with a twisted smile and took another step towards Chung Myung.

“It’s just a common thing in our cult. You, who believe in the insignificant martial arts of the Central Plains, can’t imagine it.”

Chung Myung chuckled. But anyone facing Chung Myung’s face would never call that a ‘laugh.’

Because something so cold and chilling could not be called a laugh.

“You’re just saying whatever you think.”

Chung Myung’s sword, which had been resting on his shoulder, slowly drooped down.

Scrape.

The tip of Chung Myung’s sword slowly scraped the ground, like a predator threatening its enemy by scratching the ground with its claws.

“So, you’ve decided to use the word ‘cult’ now?”

“…What did you say?”

Baek Sang saw an expression on the face of the Blood Palace Lord that was hard to describe. The Blood Palace Lord had been calm until now, but that expression was new.

“I said exactly what it sounds like. It seems you’ve decided to use the word ‘cult’ now, haven’t you?”

“…What nonsense are you saying?”

“I said exactly what it sounds like, you stupid bastard.”

Chung Myung showed his teeth in a mocking way.

“You were so afraid of the Heavenly Demon and the Demonic Cult that you didn’t dare to call yourselves a ‘cult’ and ran away with the pathetic name of ‘palace.’ Are you finally gathering enough courage to use the name Blood Cult again? That’s what I’m asking.”

“Y-you, how do you…,”

The Blood Palace Lord’s face twisted hideously.

“How dare you say such insults!”

“Or,”

Chung Myung sneered.

“Are you pathetically calling yourselves a cult only where they can’t see you? Which is it?”

“You…!”

An immense rage surged on the Blood Palace Lord’s face.

It was more than simple anger. It was something from the depths, mixed with humiliation, rage, and countless other filthy emotions.

“I’ll strangle you to death with your own intestines!”

Kuaaaaah!

An immense evil energy erupted from the Blood Palace Lord’s entire body. The murky blood energy spread like ink, engulfing Chung Myung.

At the same time, the Blood Palace Lord charged towards Chung Myung with terrifying speed.

Paah!

Chung Myung’s sword flashed like lightning towards the Blood Palace Lord.

Clang!

Chung Myung’s plum blossom sword instantly severed the Blood Palace Lord’s outstretched hand. The Blood Palace Lord’s hand, wrapped in bandages, was sliced clean through to the wrist.

“It’s useless! You fool!”

Bloodthirst surged in the Blood Palace Lord’s eyes.

His hand, revealed between the severed bandages, had countless scars that explained his martial arts and who he was.

Paah!

The Blood Palace Lord’s hand struck down with the force to split Chung Myung’s head open.

As Chung Myung stepped back to avoid the Blood Palace Lord’s hand, the blood gushing from the Blood Palace Lord’s wound writhed as if alive, covering Chung Myung’s entire body.

“Die!”

There was no escape.

The Blood Palace Lord was certain that his attack would never miss. He would crush this arrogant bastard, tear open his belly, and pull out his intestines. And he would strangle this bastard with those intestines, watching the face of the dying man.

Just as he was about to enjoy the evil pleasure of wanting to kill, he saw Chung Myung’s lips, barely visible under the blood, twisting strangely.

Kwang!

The blood covering Chung Myung’s entire body burst and scattered.

‘What?’

Crack!

At the same time, Chung Myung’s plum blossom sword, extended like lightning, pierced his shoulder, and his foot kicked the Blood Palace Lord’s lower abdomen in one swift motion.

Thud!

Clang!

The Blood Palace Lord was pushed back ten feet and steadied himself.

“Hiss…,”

He couldn’t understand.

He didn’t know why he had been pushed back or what had happened.

*Throb!*

All he could understand was the pain coming from his pierced shoulder.

“Heh heh…,”

But instead of raging, the Blood Palace Lord chuckled.

“I told you it’s usele…,”

That’s when it happened.

“Gack!”

The Blood Palace Lord’s eyes shook violently. He tilted his head to look at his pierced shoulder and grabbed the hole in disbelief.

“K-Kraaah!”

Then, he screamed in agony and convulsed.

“Wh-what… what is this… Ugh… Aargh!”

His shoulder wound, which should have been healing, was instead widening. A terrible pain surged from his shoulder.

“Ugh… ugh…,”

“It seems your stupid ancestors didn’t teach you properly. Or maybe they couldn’t because they were killed?”

Chung Myung glared at the Blood Palace Lord with heavy, sunken eyes and said angrily to him.

“I’ll teach you. Listen carefully. Don’t mess with a Taoist who knows how to wield divine energy. Especially not you lot who use such filthy sorcery.”

Scrape.

A transparent and clear energy swirled at the tip of Chung Myung’s sword, scraping the ground.

The Blood Palace Lord’s blue face turned ashen upon seeing that energy.