Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1762

The fist shot out like lightning, striking the shoulder with a soft thud. The attacker’s eyes widened in surprise.

His body twisted, using the force to push into Heo Do-jin’s chest.

Clang!

Just before he hit, Heo Do-jin’s hand shot out, blocking the shoulder.

At the same time, Baek Cheon’s foot lashed out, aiming low.

“Hmm!”

Heo Do-jin, who had trained in martial arts for many years, exclaimed softly, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Tat! Taat!

Heo Do-jin stomped on Baek Cheon’s foot, stopping the attack from below.

But then…

Scritch!

Baek Cheon’s foot twisted strangely, wrapping around Heo Do-jin’s foot and pulling it down.

‘Oh!’

Thud!

Baek Cheon slammed his shoulder into Heo Do-jin’s chest again.

Heo Do-jin stepped back, staring at Baek Cheon in disbelief.

“He’s using absorption…”

Baek Cheon, sweat dripping down his face, breathed heavily. Heo Do-jin touched his chest.

‘Even in a sparring match without inner strength…’

He had been hit. Heo Do-jin, a martial artist famous everywhere, had been struck.

Of course, he could make excuses. Fist fighting wasn’t his best skill. Sparring without inner strength was very different from a real fight. Plus, he was still hurt from his battle with Jang Il-so, which had almost cost him his life as a martial artist.

But Heo Do-jin knew those excuses were meaningless. Baek Cheon had lost even more.

Heo Do-jin simply said, “Excellent.”

Baek Cheon took a deep breath.

“I learned from the best.”

Heo Do-jin stared at him, not smiling.

‘It’s a pity.’

A real pity. As the former leader of Mount Hua, it broke his heart to see such talent wasted.

“You see…”

Heo Do-jin began, but Baek Cheon politely put his hands together, stopping him.

“Thank you again.”

His thin hands trembled slightly. Heo Do-jin sighed.

‘Right, he wouldn’t listen anyway.’

Was he still not thinking of going to Jongnam? Heo Do-jin had wanted to ask, but knew it was pointless. If Baek Cheon were that kind of person, he wouldn’t have been training so hard these past few days.

“You’ve now learned the secrets of the Four Liang Deflects a Thousand Jin technique, even though you’re still a bit clumsy. I can’t teach you anything more.”

Of course, he wasn’t truly skilled yet. But that was true of any martial art. Once you understood the basics, it was up to you to master it.

“So, what will you do now?”

Baek Cheon smiled, a bright, easy smile that put everyone at ease.

“What’s left for someone who has done everything they can on the mountain? I must go down.”

“Hmm.”

Heo Do-jin groaned softly.

Heo Do-jin wasn’t the only one staying on the mountain, so Baek Cheon wasn’t planning to rejoin the Cheonwoo Alliance, a group of martial artists.

Heo Do-jin hesitated, then shook his head. Baek Cheon had chosen his path as a Taoist, a wise teacher. He didn’t need advice.

“So, you’re going to do that after all.”

“Yes. I’ve decided.”

“Then wait here.”

“Yes?”

Baek Cheon looked confused as Heo Do-jin hurried into his hut without explaining. Baek Cheon waited, feeling awkward. Luckily, Heo Do-jin returned quickly.

“Take this.”

“What is it?”

Baek Cheon looked puzzled. He wasn’t sure what it was.

“Hold out your arm.”

Heo Do-jin grabbed Baek Cheon’s arm and slipped something onto it.

“This is…”

“A Mount Hua elder once hurt his arm badly. He was too old to learn to use his left hand, so he made this to use his sword with his injured arm.”

Baek Cheon blinked, looking at the armor-like protector that covered his arm from shoulder to wrist.

“Try moving it.”

Baek Cheon moved his arm and gasped. It moved much more easily than he expected.

“Such a thing…”

“It’s lucky your shoulder wasn’t damaged. If it had been, this wouldn’t have worked.”

Baek Cheon stared at Heo Do-jin, speechless.

It was made for someone from Mount Hua, but their injuries couldn’t have been exactly the same. Yet, it fit Baek Cheon perfectly.

Heo Do-jin must have been working on it to fit Baek Cheon these past few days.

“Jinin…”

“Hold this.”

“Yes?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened. Heo Do-jin was holding out a sword.

“You don’t want a Mount Hua sword?”

“It’s not that…”

“Don’t worry. It’s not the Songmun Ancient Sword. It’s just a plain sword without the Mount Hua symbol.”

“……”

“You can’t use the Mount Hua sword anymore, can you? But you need a sword to protect yourself.”

“But…”

“Take it.”

Baek Cheon hesitated, then reached out. The leather on the handle felt good in his hand. He now held a sword.

“Hmm.”

Heo Do-jin slid the sword handle into the loop on the arm support.

“How is it?”

Baek Cheon moved his wrist. It wasn’t the same as before. It felt awkward, like a child with a stick.

But he had a sword.

“It won’t be like the past. But you can use the Four Liang Deflects a Thousand Jin technique you learned to protect yourself. After all, you are a swordsman.”

Baek Cheon bowed deeply.

Heo Do-jin had no reason to teach him. He could have refused him. But now, Heo Do-jin was worried about his safety and had spent nights fixing the equipment.

“Jinin…”

“Go now. Don’t waste time if you’ve made up your mind.”

Heo Do-jin turned away, looking empty. Then, something flew towards Baek Cheon.

Thud.

He caught it. It was a small silk pouch.

“That is a gift from Mount Hua. Don’t forget it.”

“Jinin…?”

Baek Cheon looked for Heo Do-jin, but he had gone inside. Baek Cheon bowed, then turned and left.

He couldn’t repay the favor now, but someday he would, if he lived long enough.

“Huff.”

Baek Cheon took a deep breath, looked at the mountain, and walked away.

Heo Do-jin watched Baek Cheon leave, his eyes filled with thought.

‘Even if it’s not to regain glory, people can still try.’

If he had realized this sooner, would his fate, and Mount Hua’s fate, have been different?

Heo Do-jin looked at Mount Hua.

Perhaps he still had something to do.

Baek Cheon looked back at the mountain.

‘It’s quieter than I thought.’

He had expected to be seen by people, but he didn’t sense anyone from the Cheonwoo Alliance on Mount Hua.

It was good, but it also meant they had stopped looking for him.

He felt a strange emotion.

Mount Hua. He had been through so much here. The past few weeks felt like years.

He closed his eyes.

He was no longer a disciple of Mount Hua or a famous martial artist. His dreams were gone, and those he trusted had left him.

He was nothing. He had to ask himself why he was doing this.

He couldn’t answer with words.

He opened his eyes and walked on.

Not to prove anything, but to believe in himself.

Even after losing everything, he was still Baek Cheon.

Ho Gamyung’s eyes were cold.

He looked at the houses of ordinary people. Smoke rose from cooking fires.

He had once lived like them. He wasn’t like those martial artists who killed without thinking.

‘How is this different from what I suffered?’

It wasn’t different. He knew it. He had become someone who hurt people out of need, not someone who fought back.

He felt guilty, but he had gone too far to stop now.

He had to focus on the plan.

‘It’s not a great plan.’

Jang Il-so would make the great plans. Ho Gamyung would only add fuel to the fire, so Jang Il-so’s fire could burn even brighter.

Even small help was important when starting a big fire.

‘During the Blood Palace raid, they were shaken, unlike before.’

The Cheonwoo Alliance hadn’t suffered much damage, but Ho Gamyung watched their reaction closely.

He was sure. The Cheonwoo Alliance was different now.

‘Now is the time.’

He had to act before hesitation became a mistake. That was his job as a strategist.

“Strategist.”

Ho Gamyung nodded.

“Kill them all. Leave no one alive.”

A murderous feeling filled the air. Their eyes burned with anger.

“Make it as showy as possible, so everyone in Hubei knows.”

“Understood!”

“Go!”

The killers rushed forward.

Ho Gamyung watched, his eyes dark.

He remembered his past life, but he pushed it away without regret.