Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 231

“Aaaaargh!”

Kraaaah!

Mukrin Bloodfang and Chung Myung charged at each other, splashing through the lake.

“Water-Walking?”

“Now he’s running on water!” a disciple exclaimed. “Running on water!”

Chung Myung ran on the water as if it was solid ground! This Water-Walking skill was incredibly hard. Only the strongest masters could do it because it needed amazing control of their inner energy.

The disciples of Mount Hua clenched their fists, watching with bated breath.

‘Is it possible?’ one wondered.

Baek Cheon’s face hardened with worry.

Chung Myung had already failed once to subdue Mukrin Bloodfang.

‘If a sword can’t penetrate it, even Chung Myung won’t stand a chance,’ Baek Cheon thought anxiously.

This fight was different from battling a martial artist.

Usually, in a fight, skill and speed can beat power. But this monster’s scales changed everything. Swords couldn’t cut through them, no matter how skilled you were.

Therefore, the key was whether Chung Myung’s sword could pierce those scales.

And that would be decided with a single strike.

“Eurachaah!”

Chung Myung shouted, kicking off the water. He flew towards Mukrin Bloodfang’s face.

*ROAR!* It opened its massive jaws, rows of yellow teeth ready to bite. It was like the monster was saying, “Lunchtime!”

“This monster thinks I’m food?” Chung Myung’s eyes widened in anger. “How dare it!”

*TAAT!* He kicked off the air, jumping even higher. Like a hawk diving from the sky, he aimed straight for Mukrin Bloodfang’s dark head. “I’ll show you who’s food!” he thought fiercely.

“Aaaaargh!”

His halved sword began to glow with a vibrant blue sword aura. The color deepened, gradually turning purple.

“Th-that?” a disciple stammered.

“Purple?” another whispered in astonishment.

But before the disciples could fully express their surprise, Chung Myung’s sword slammed into Mukrin Bloodfang’s head!

*CRASH!* The sound echoed like metal hitting stone. The neck of Mukrin Bloodfang, larger than any bell, snapped downwards.

“Oh?”

“Ugh?”

Baek Cheon blinked, surprised. For a moment, he thought he saw the monster’s eye bulge out in shock. ‘Is it possible for a snake to look surprised?’ he wondered.

“Did it work?”

He couldn’t tell for sure from the distance. All Baek Cheon could see was Chung Myung furiously swinging his sword again.

“Euryaaaah!”

*CLANG!*

*THUMP!*

*SMASH!*

*WHACK!*

*BAM!*

‘Huh?’

It sounded like a strange noise mixed in there?

Baek Cheon tilted his head, puzzled.

Of course, he had never heard Mukrin Bloodfang’s cry before, so he couldn’t be sure if that strange sound was its scream or something else.

However, it was clear that the situation was different from their previous encounter.

Before, Mukrin Bloodfang had merely shaken its head as if feeling a slight tickle, no matter how hard Chung Myung struck it. Now, it was writhing in what appeared to be genuine pain.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Chung Myung yelled, gripping Mukrin Bloodfang’s scales tightly with one hand.

“Ah, it stings!”

His hand was slightly cut by the sharp edges of the scales. Chung Myung gritted his teeth and poured energy into his hand. Reinforcing his hand with internal force, he gripped the scales firmly and raised his sword.

“Won’t this break it?”

Chung Myung brought his sword down violently again.

The moment the completely purple sword aura touched it, Mukrin Bloodfang’s head caved in and then popped back out.

Kieeeeeek!

A scream unlike any it had made before erupted.

Watching the scene, the disciples of Mount Hua clenched their fists. The disciples cheered, “He’s doing it! He’s hurting it!”

“It’s working!”

“Wow, it’s actually working?”

Of course, it still hadn’t pierced the scales, but they could definitely feel the impact. With each strike, Mukrin Bloodfang screamed in pain and twisted its massive body.

Wasn’t the result the same whether he cut it to death or beat it to death?

Moreover, the creature’s massive size, which had been a great threat before, was now becoming a weakness. Without arms or legs, Mukrin Bloodfang had no easy way to shake off Chung Myung clinging to its head.

Kaaak! Kaak!

With a chilling screech, Mukrin Bloodfang began to twist its body violently from side to side.

“Hold still, you imbecile!”

Kaang! Kkaaang!

Chung Myung relentlessly struck Mukrin Bloodfang’s head.

It was so large that even a rough strike would hit the head. It was a dream situation for Chung Myung.

If he repeated this a few more times, even the mighty Mukrin Bloodfang would have no choice but to fall.

It was at that moment.

Red light burst from Mukrin Bloodfang’s eyes.

Kaaaaah!

Mukrin Bloodfang let out a tremendous roar and began to charge towards the shore with terrifying speed.

“Huh?”

Then, with Chung Myung still clinging to its head, it slammed its head straight into the ground.

Kuuuung!

“…Kkeueuk.”

The impact was so great that the ground caved in.

But even amidst the pain that felt like his back was breaking, Chung Myung didn’t let go of Mukrin Bloodfang’s scales.

“This…”

Mukrin Bloodfang’s eyes glowed red again.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Wham!

Mukrin Bloodfang repeatedly slammed its head into the ground. The surroundings were devastated, with grass and rocks scattering in all directions.

“Th-that!”

The disciples of Mount Hua gripped their swords without realizing it.

This was truly a battle of who would die first. If Chung Myung couldn’t handle Mukrin Bloodfang alone, they would all rush in to save him, even if it meant their own lives.

Then, Baek Cheon saw Mukrin Bloodfang, with Chung Myung still clinging to its head, suddenly charge to one side.

“Ah! No!”

Grass with pure white flowers.

“Jamok Grass!”

Mukrin Bloodfang was heading towards the place where the Jamok Grass bloomed. One slam would surely obliterate every single root.

“Not there!”

Baek Cheon shouted, and Chung Myung, who was hanging on, flinched and reacted.

“Eurachaa!”

Chung Myung jumped up, spread his arms wide, and grabbed the head of Mukrin Bloodfang, where he had been standing just moments before.

And finally, he braced himself, putting all his strength into his feet, which had just touched the ground.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa!

Chung Myung’s feet dug into the ground like a plow. He was pushed back as the beast pushed forward, but he gradually increased his strength. And slowly, he began to push the massive head back.

“Kkeueuk. Kkeueueueueueueuk!”

Chung Myung used all his energy. He just stopped the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent before it got to the Amethyst Grass.

“This is…!”

Then, Chung Myung let go of the serpent’s big head and turned around quickly.

He kicked the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent right in the face.

“I said no, you overgrown lizard!!”

Wham!

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent was hit by Chung Myung’s kick. It flipped over and crashed into the lake, making a huge splash.

“Ouch.”

Chung Myung waved his arms. He felt pain all over his body. He was covered in wet mud that smelled like lake bottom and sticky green grass. He could feel the mud cooling his hot skin, but he was too tired to care. He only looked at the lake where the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent had fallen.

Bubble. Bubble. Bubble.

Bubbles came up from one part of the lake. It looked like the lake was boiling.

“Time to finish this.”

Chung Myung pointed his sword forward.

Then, the bubbles suddenly grew into a dome. Water shot up, then fell back down as the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent showed itself again.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

‘Something seems different.’

Something’s different… Ah!

Chung Myung blinked.

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent’s scales were standing up. The strong scales that protected its body were now sticking out, showing the skin underneath.

“Looks like someone’s angry?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“Should’ve picked on someone your own size.”

Kraaaah!

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent heard him and roared. It was a very loud roar that hurt their ears and shook their bodies. The roar shook the air and vibrated in their chests. The smell of wet earth and something musky, like a wild animal, filled the air.

The disciples of Mount Hua couldn’t stand the roar and covered their ears.

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent glowed with red light and charged at Chung Myung. It was moving straight towards him.

Before, it only showed its head to attack. Now, it was almost flying across the lake.

Because of this, most of the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent’s long body could be seen above the water.

The people watching were amazed at how big it was. It was so huge that Chung Myung looked like an ant in front of it.

But Chung Myung didn’t move back. He just stared at it without any expression.

‘Can I do it?’

With this body and this energy?

Well. Who knows?

But I have to try. If I get its inner core, I can become even stronger!

Chung Myung’s eyes became cold as he watched the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent charging at him.

He had gone past his limits again, but that didn’t mean anything by itself.

He had to get better to make it worth it. If he didn’t try, he wouldn’t grow.

Again, a purple light appeared at the tip of Chung Myung’s sword. It became darker and then changed again.

A red sword aura.

A red sword aura, the color of Mount Hua’s plum blossoms, glowed at the tip of his sword. The crimson sword aura glowed, warm like the setting sun, and he could feel the power humming in his hand.

He looked calmly at the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent and finally moved his sword.

Thump.

He held the sword tightly, his hand full of power. He put energy into it, and the sword glowed red. Veins bulged.

‘Power with power!’

The energy from his core went through his body. It was more power than he had ever felt before. It made his body move and went into the sword.

The sword made a humming sound, like it would break at any moment.

At the same time, the tip of Chung Myung’s sword began to make many plum blossom petals.

Plum blossoms appeared again and again, as if frozen in the air.

Kraaaah!

A bright blue light flashed in Chung Myung’s eyes as he watched the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent charging at him.

“Take this!”

The plum blossoms came together in one place.

Falling Plum Blossoms Sever the River.

The petals were very delicate, but if there were enough of them, they could even stop a river.

The plum blossoms were filled with strong energy. They gathered and shot out like a meteor.

Zzzzzing!

The meteor made a loud sound and pierced the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent’s body.

Crack! Crunch!

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent’s skin, very tough like strong steel, was broken apart by the Falling Plum Blossoms Sever the River. The sword energy scattered pieces of scales everywhere and finally went through the Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent’s body without stopping.

Kraaah!

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent opened its mouth wide and raised its head. A scream of pain echoed through Shindam.

Wham!

Its big, strong back began to break open with a sound like an explosion. Red blood poured out of a big hole like a waterfall.

“Krk… Grrrr…”

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent’s dark body shook, and it slowly turned its head. Its small, red eyes looked at Chung Myung.

“Huff!”

Chung Myung was covered in sweat, but he looked back at it.

‘Not perfect.’

He couldn’t do it as well as he had in the past. But what was important was that he could do it at all, even if it wasn’t perfect. He would get better with time.

“Cough!”

Chung Myung coughed a few times, lowered his sword a little, and stretched his back.

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent, which had bothered him so much, was twisting around. It had a big hole in its side, about the size of a person.

You might think a small hole on a big body is not important. But this wound was very bad, not just because of its size.

The Falling Plum Blossoms Sever the River would have destroyed its insides. You could see its head swaying. It was not proud anymore.

“Time to finish this. Now, come at m–”

That was the moment.

Wham!

Suddenly, a lot of water splashed up.

The Muk-Nrin Blood Serpent disappeared into the water as if it was falling apart. Then, it swam away very fast into the deep part of the lake.

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung stood still for a moment, surprised. Then, his face turned red.

It’s running away?

A human… No, fighters would never run away like that. But animals don’t have honor or pride. If they face an enemy they cannot beat, running away is the right thing to do.

But Chung Myung hadn’t thought about this, so he just stared at the lake.

“Chung Myung-ah!”

“He won!”

The disciples of Mount Hua cheered and ran to him.

“Wow, seriously! He really caught it!”

“You’re amazing, Chung Myung-ah. That sword you used at the end… Huh?”

Jo Gul was talking, but then he tilted his head.

“Chung Myung-ah?”

Chung Myung was shaking, his head down. He was covered in wet mud that smelled like lake bottom and sticky green grass.

He walked closer and looked at Chung Myung’s face. He was very scared.

Chung Myung was trembling, his eyes half-closed, and he had lost his mind.

“T-That thing dares… dares to run away?”

He was very angry.

“You put me through all this trouble and then you run away? Where did you learn such bad manners! You snake with no sense of honor!”

“Why are you looking for honor from a snake! From a guy who doesn’t even have money!”

“Even if it doesn’t have money, it’ll have an inner core! Inner core! Give me your inner core! Innneeeer Cooooore!”

Chung Myung suddenly started running towards the lake.

“Hey, you crazy bastard!”

“Stop him!”

But it was too late. Chung Myung jumped into the lake.

“My Innnneeeer Cooooore!”

Splash!

Chung Myung disappeared under the water right away.

…”

Jo Gul watched him and then looked at Baek Cheon.

“…Will he be alright? He’s in the water.”

Baek Cheon smiled a little.

“Leave him be. Let him die, if that’s what’s going to happen.”

…”