Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 188

Dang Zhan’s face became dark with anger.

“What is this fool talking about now?” he thought, his jaw tightening.

Verification? Is this Mount Hua disciple trying to check *us*, the Dang Clan?

*Crack.*

Dang Zhan clenched his fist so hard his knuckles popped. Before he could speak, his younger brothers, standing beside him, jumped in.

“Brother, it seems those fellows have lost their minds.”

“We tried to show courtesy since we have no dealings with Mount Hua, but if they start a fight, that’s different, isn’t it?”

His brothers looked angry too. It was natural, considering they had never been treated this way before.

‘Have the Mount Hua bastards lost their minds?’ he wondered. He knew that as a sect grew, there would be some lunatics. Even the Dang Clan had members they couldn’t show in public.

But if even Hwajung Sword Baek Cheon was picking a fight, that was different. It was like Mount Hua thought the Dang Clan were fools.

Grinding his teeth, Dang Zhan glared at Baek Cheon, looking ready to kill.

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“I always take responsibility for my words. This time is no different,” Baek Cheon replied easily.

Hearing this, Dang Zhan felt his anger calm down. Strangely, Dang Zhan felt calmer as his anger grew.

“Mount Hua must be a grand sect indeed, daring to stand against the Dang Clan for one disciple. Are you truly saying you can handle the consequences?”

Baek Cheon smirked.

“The Dang Clan may not be like this, but Mount Hua doesn’t hesitate to protect its disciples. Why hesitate when something must be prioritized above all else?”

“…”

“Even if Mount Hua were destroyed because of this, none of our disciples would blame me. That is Mount Hua.”

It was a touching sentiment, but the disciples reacted differently.

“What’s he saying?”

“We’re going to resent him, though?”

“He’s getting ahead of himself.”

Baek Cheon shut his mouth, his face slightly red. Those junior brothers couldn’t keep quiet, even now!

Dang Zhan didn’t care what the Mount Hua disciples thought. He needed to punish the one who dared to disregard the Dang Clan.

“Hwajung Sword… the rising star of Mount Hua who defeated the Sword Dragon of Wudang.”

Some people even thought Hwajung Sword was stronger than Mount Hua Divine Dragon.

Mount Hua Divine Dragon was famous for amazing, almost unbelievable stories. But Hwajung Sword’s achievements were real and clear for everyone to see.

Defeating the Sword Dragon, one of the Five Dragons, made him worthy of being considered a new member of the Five Dragons.

“He’s not an unworthy opponent.”

Dang Zhan stepped forward.

“I am Dang Zhan of the Sichuan Dang Clan. My hands know no mercy, so be careful.”

“I am Baek Cheon of Mount Hua. There’s no need to worry. My sword is merciful.”

“This guy, even now…”

Just as Dang Zhan was about to reach into his sleeve,

Chung Myung peeked out from behind Baek Cheon, his face still red.

“But why is Martial Uncle fighting?”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon turned around, leaving Dang Zhan in his combat stance.

“…Huh?”

Is this guy really crazy? Turning one’s back to an opponent was dangerous. But attacking a turned opponent was wrong for someone claiming to be righteous.

Dang Zhan could only stare blankly at Baek Cheon.

“Martial Uncle keeps stepping up, but isn’t this Sahyung Jo Gul’s job?”

“…You’re saying we should let Jo Gul go out?”

“I know Martial Uncle is greedy, but he’s been cool enough. Now we should give Sahyung Jo Gul a chance to show off too. It’s time for him to prove himself, isn’t it?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes trembled.

‘What does this guy think the Dang Clan is?’

The Dang Clan. The Sichuan Dang Clan.

A famous family of Sichuan, known for its poison and hidden weapons.

Even experienced fighters risked their lives against a master of the Sichuan Dang Clan. And he was telling Jo Gul, who had little experience, to face them?

“Wouldn’t it be too dangerous?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. They say a tiger throws its cubs off a cliff.”

“Then they die, you fiend!”

Chung Myung was saying things that would shock a tiger.

Chung Myung clicked his tongue at Baek Cheon’s reaction.

“Tsk tsk. This is why leaders are like this.”

Chung Myung knew what Baek Cheon was worried about. But protecting someone wasn’t always helpful. Protecting a junior took away their chance to gain experience.

Chung Myung was wary of the same thing. If he took care of everything, his descendants would not grow up properly.

He had to let them gain as much as possible from him, but also minimize what they lost because of him.

“Does Sahyung Jo Gul look that weak?”

“…”

Chung Myung smirked.

“He won’t lose to those kinds of guys.”

Baek Cheon’s face hardened. Chung Myung clearly had faith in Jo Gul. Certainly…

“How much did I roll him around!”

“…”

Baek Cheon almost felt touched, but then Chung Myung said something else.

Chung Myung turned to Jo Gul.

“Isn’t that right? Sahyung?”

Jo Gul nodded.

He will win. He will not lose.

This wasn’t that kind of problem. This was between Jo Gul and the Sichuan Dang Clan. Jo Gul had to solve it.

Jo Gul looked at Chung Myung.

‘Anyway, this guy,’ he thought.

If Chung Myung stepped in, this would be easy. Chung Myung was like a goblin who solved everything.

But Jo Gul knew he couldn’t hide behind Chung Myung forever.

Jo Gul didn’t want to be a burden to Chung Myung. That’s why he came to Yunnan – to help.

He knew he couldn’t be equal, but he wanted to be helpful. Jo Gul thought that was the minimum for being with Chung Myung.

What help could he be if he couldn’t solve this one thing?

“Martial Uncle.”

Baek Cheon met Jo Gul’s gaze.

“I understand Martial Uncle’s intentions. But this is something I have to resolve.”

Baek Cheon’s gaze sank.

“Can you do it?”

Jo Gul grinned.

A spark of determination lit his eyes. He was ready.

“I am also a disciple of Mount Hua.”

These words were the most honest words anyone could say right now.

Baek Cheon returned Jo Gul’s smile with one of his own.

“Go.”

“Yes!”

As Jo Gul stepped forward, leaving Baek Cheon and Chung Myung behind, Dang Zhan frowned.

“You?”

“Weren’t you looking for someone to fight? I’m here,” Jo Gul said, tapping the sword at his waist.

“So, wouldn’t it be proper for me to be your opponent?”

Dang Zhan’s brow furrowed deeply.

‘The audacity.’

He could understand Baek Cheon and Chung Myung acting presumptuously. It wasn’t uncommon for a young pup to be ignorant of a tiger’s fearsomeness.

But not Jo Gul.

As a native of Chengdu, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of the Sichuan Tang Family’s terror. Yet, he was stepping forward so confidently to face him.

Dang Zhan felt no further conversation was necessary.

There was no courtesy left to offer. He would mercilessly crush Jo Gul, as was his initial purpose, and warn everyone what it meant to defy the Tang Family in Chengdu.

With one addition, however.

‘He will not leave here unharmed.’

Dang Zhan, determined to unleash all the humiliation he had suffered here onto Jo Gul, quietly put on his green leather gloves.

The green leather gloves carried by the warriors of the Sichuan Tang Family were made by treating deer hide with special chemicals to prevent poison from seeping through.

Wearing green leather gloves was a signal that poison would be used, but it also meant that no mercy would be shown in the duel.

Jo Gul looked at Dang Zhan. His eyes were steady, even though he felt nervous inside.

The confrontation between the two began.

Everyone watching maintained their composure in their own way. But there was one person who couldn’t maintain his composure at all.

Jo Pyung.

Jo Pyung had been losing his mind ever since his son stepped forward.

Good heavens!

Jo Gul was stepping up to face Dang Zhan of the Sichuan Tang Family.

Who was Dang Zhan?

He was recognized as a genius among the later generation disciples of that fearsome Tang Family. His son, Jo Gul, was going to face such a man; it was enough to drive him mad.

‘I have to stop him!’

Jo Pyung couldn’t see anything else. Jo Pyung didn’t think about the danger to his business. He only thought about protecting his son.

“D-Dang So-hyeop! This matter!”

He only thought about how to defuse this situation.

But, at that moment.

“Father!”

“…Geol-ah?”

Jo Gul looked at Jo Pyung with resolute eyes.

“This is not only a matter for the Sahaebang, but also for Mount Hua. Please trust me and wait.”

“Do, do you even know what you’re saying?”

Swish.

Jo Gul’s answer came not in words, but from his hand. Drawing his sword, Jo Gul quietly stared at Dang Zhan.

‘The Sichuan Tang Family.’

Once, the name of the Tang Family was a symbol of fear and terror to him, like an insurmountable wall. From the moment he was born as the son of a Chengdu merchant family, the Sichuan Tang Family was like a heavenly punishment that always existed above his head.

But now?

‘It would be funnier to be afraid.’

When he thought of the monster guzzling alcohol in the back, Dang Zhan was nothing more than a good child. How could Jo Gul, who had fought such a monster, possibly lose to Dang Zhan?

What had Mount Hua given him?

‘Confidence, skill, and a new purpose. He couldn’t explain it, he had to show it with his sword.’

Dang Zhan was about to make his move, seeing Jo Gul’s eyes turn coldly subdued.

“Hyungnim.”

Dang Zhan turned his head back.

“Is there any need to use a butcher’s knife to catch a chicken? I will go.”

His younger brother, Dang Ho, stepped forward with a sneer.

“This is my…”

“It wouldn’t look good if Hyungnim stepped forward when Hwajung Sword isn’t making a move.”

Dang Zhan nodded slightly.

He wasn’t wrong. It was important for people to act according to their status. Dang Zhan whispered lowly and took a step back.

“Don’t show him any mercy.”

“Of course.”

Dang Ho stood in front of Jo Gul and reached into his sleeve.

Even those who had never seen a warrior from the Sichuan Tang Family had heard of their unique technique. All of the Tang Family’s hidden weapons were launched from within that sleeve.

“Dang Ho of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“Jo Gul of Mount Hua.”

Dang Ho’s eyes narrowed, showing his anger.

Jo Gul’s face was etched in his memory. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize the son of the Sahaeshanghoe. They were taught from a young age to memorize the faces of those they had to control.

Jo Gul, who couldn’t even meet his eyes in the past, was now daring to point a sword at him.

‘Arrogant bastard.’

He felt like he wouldn’t be satisfied until he crippled at least one of his arms.

Dang Ho lightly caressed the ox-hair needles (牛毛針) inside his sleeve before scattering them like rays of light.

The needles shot out from his sleeve like a cloud of tiny darts, dozens of incredibly fine ox-hair needles, barely visible to the eye, were fired at Jo Gul with terrifying speed.

‘What? Is that all there is?’

Dang Ho internally cheered at the sight of Jo Gul not reacting at all.

Once he hit him with the ox-hair needles and made it impossible for him to move properly, then he would…

“Huh?”

That was the moment.

Whoosh!

Jo Gul’s sword, which seemed unable to react, was swung with terrifying speed.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Jo Gul’s sword deflected each of the dozens of ox-hair needles.

Dang Ho’s eyes widened at the unbelievable sight.

And he soon realized.

It was too early to be surprised.

Tap!

Jo Gul’s feet kicked off the ground. His body shot towards Dang Ho like lightning.

“Uh…?”

Wham!

One who loses composure cannot win.

Feeling the flat of Jo Gul’s sword strike his neck, Dang Ho collapsed.

‘N-No way…’

Plop.

Jo Gul quietly stared at Dang Ho, who had fallen to the ground, and twitched his lips.

Then, he raised his head, looked at Dang Zhan, and shouted heavily.

“Next!”

I really wanted to try this!

Krooooh!