Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 295

Jin Chobaek’s fist squeezed so tight his knuckles turned white.

Around him, people held their breath, watching the fight. But no one felt the tangled emotions twisting inside Jin Chobaek. They couldn’t.

One son, Baek Cheon, was trying to beat his younger brother, Jin Geumryong, who was Jongnam’s new hope. And Jin Geumryong, important to Jongnam, was fighting Baek Cheon, who was now vital to Hwasan.

A bitter taste rose in Jin Chobaek’s mouth as he watched his sons clash.

Clang!

The two men, after their swords collided, were thrown back faster than they had charged.

Watching his sons create distance and glare at each other, Jin Chobaek bit his lip. Looking at them fight, they seemed equally skilled.

‘When did that child become equal to his brother?’

He knew Baek Cheon had become stronger. How could he not, after his performance in this competition?

However, no matter how strong Baek Cheon became, he didn’t think he could match his brother.

Until a few years ago, he was no match at all, so it was natural to think so.

Since childhood, Baek Cheon had never been able to defeat Jin Geumryong. Even considering his age, he hadn’t shown even half the talent Jin Geumryong had at that age.

But.

‘What did he experience and gain in Hwasan?’

Now, before his eyes, Baek Cheon was wielding his sword, not pushed back even an inch by Jin Geumryong.

So dazzling and brilliant.

Jin Chobaek bit his lip again.

‘It was my mistake.’

Talent isn’t the same for everyone. Some talents shine brightly from the start, while others bloom slowly, like flowers that endure a long winter.

It’s the duty of parents and teachers to recognize and help that talent grow.

‘I was not a good parent.’

He truly thought Baek Cheon wouldn’t be able to match him.

He thought Baek Cheon wouldn’t be able to follow even half of his brother’s path. So he didn’t expect anything, and he hurt him.

But.

His gaze turned beyond the arena to the Hwasan disciples, who were cheering for Baek Cheon.

‘Hwasan has helped that child grow.’

They had done what he could not.

He remembered Hyun Jong, who had said without shame that Hwasan needed Baek Cheon.

‘Could I have said that?’

Jin Chobaek closed his eyes tightly.

He was here as an elder of Jongnam. If he thought about his duty, he should cheer for Jin Geumryong, not Baek Cheon.

But as Baek Cheon’s father, not as an elder of Jongnam, he couldn’t help but be captivated by his son’s remarkable improvement.

‘Show me.’

What you have gained.

What I have missed.

“Senior Brother. Master will win, right?”

Jo Gul’s question made Yoon Jong hesitate.

Of course, his belief in Baek Cheon was strong.

‘Master is different from us.’

Before Chung Myung appeared, Baek Cheon was better than anyone else in Hwasan.

With kindness, calmness, and skill.

Every disciple in Hwasan admired him. Baek Cheon was so good that even those of the same generation gave up competing with him.

He worked hard on top of his talent. Baek Cheon volunteered to train alone to defeat Jongnam and Jin Geumryong, pushing himself to his limit.

So how could he not trust him?

But…

‘The opponent is Jin Geumryong.’

Even though his light had faded after losing to Chung Myung, he was called the best talent in Jongnam in a hundred years. He was such a talent that people thought Jongnam would enter a golden age if he became the sect leader.

Of course, Hwasan had become stronger than ever since Chung Myung came. But…

‘Have we really closed that gap?’

Baek Cheon had to prove it. Against Jin Geumryong himself.

“Senior Brother…”

“Believe.”

Yoon Jong said firmly, not taking his eyes off the arena.

“Believe in your senior brother. Believe in the training we have done. We have become strong enough.”

“But…”

Jo Gul stopped and closed his mouth.

‘Jin Geumryong wasn’t just playing around, was he?’

If you had to pick one real genius, it would be Jin Geumryong rather than Baek Cheon.

‘That Jin Geumryong has been training so hard that he looks completely different from how he used to be.’

Anyone could tell from Jin Geumryong’s presence how hard he had been pushing himself.

But could Baek Cheon really beat Jin Geumryong? Could he have closed that distant gap?

“Senior Brother will win.”

Jo Gul turned his head at the voice from behind.

Yoo Iseol was staring at the arena with a cold, hard face.

“Because he worked hard enough to die.”

Unlike her calm voice, Yoo Iseol’s fist, hidden under her sleeve, was clenched tightly. She was just as nervous.

Jo Gul bit his lip and looked at Baek Cheon.

‘Master!’

Please win.

Definitely!

Two swords pointed at each other and flew forward.

Clang!

With a short, sharp metallic sound, the swords fell and clashed again.

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth as he felt the power through his sword.

‘What kind of inner strength!’

He thought he had surpassed Jin Geumryong in inner strength.

Even though Jin Geumryong was the heir of Jongnam and received all the sect’s support, Baek Cheon thought his own inner strength, boosted by Honwon Dan and Jaso Dan, would be stronger.

But Jin Geumryong’s inner strength was not weaker than Baek Cheon’s.

He realized once again how much effort Jongnam had put into Jin Geumryong.

Clang!

The inner strengths collided, causing a small explosion of energy between them.

“Kugh!”

Baek Cheon, thrown back, widened his eyes as he saw Jin Geumryong rushing toward him.

Jin Geumryong’s sword fell like a ray of light toward his head. Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and raised his sword to block.

Wham!

The shock hit Baek Cheon like a giant stone falling on his head, blurring his vision. Before he could recover, Jin Geumryong’s foot kicked his chest.

Thud!

Baek Cheon’s body was pushed out of the arena. He bent his knees, barely regaining his balance, and glared at Jin Geumryong.

Jin Geumryong was looking down at him with arrogant eyes.

‘It was always like this.’

He had challenged him countless times.

And he had fought countless times.

But the result was always the same.

Baek Cheon, fallen and unable to recover, and Jin Geumryong, looking down at him.

The only difference was that Jin Geumryong, who used to show concern, was now staring with cold eyes.

“You’ve changed, Baek Cheon.”

“…What are you talking about?” Jin Geum-ryong asked, looking at Baek Cheon without any emotion.

“Before, you would have given up already. You’d be making an angry face, I bet.”

“I see you’re closer to my level now. But no matter how close you get, if you don’t beat me, nothing changes. I’m still your wall.”

Baek Cheon slowly stood up, flicked his sword lightly, and said,

“A wall, huh?” A small smile touched his lips.

“You don’t get it. Walls just stand there.”

“What?”

“I’m telling you,” Baek Cheon said, his voice calm but firm. “If you think you’re my wall, I will pass you. Walls don’t move, but I do.”

He raised his sword, pointing it directly at Jin Geum-ryong.

“No matter how tall the wall, if you keep climbing, you reach the top. I learned that the hard way, from a really annoying guy.”

So,

“Today, I will break you down.”

“How dare you say such rubbish!” Jin Geum-ryong’s eyes turned icy as he stared at Baek Cheon.

Before, he would have just laughed at Baek Cheon. He thought Baek Cheon was just a toy, someone who could never beat him no matter how hard he tried.

But now?

Jin Geum-ryong glanced down at his hand holding the sword.

His palm was a little sweaty, even though it shouldn’t be.

‘I’m nervous. Me…’ Against Baek Cheon.

Jin Geum-ryong knew it was true. He didn’t try to pretend he was still completely confident. He admitted it to himself.

Baek Cheon was much stronger than before, and the gap between them was much smaller now.

But there was one thing he would not lose.

“Even if what you say is true…” Jin Geum-ryong’s cold gaze turned to Baek Cheon. His face was ice-cold, but inside, he was still sure of himself.

“That won’t be today. You can’t beat me yet.”

Suddenly, he was filled with a murderous intent.

“And I will prove that such a day will never come!” Jin Geum-ryong rushed towards Baek Cheon without another word.

Wham!

His sword tore through the air, piercing sharply. The flying sword instantly created and split into a dozen sword shadows.

The power in his sword was so strong, it felt like it could cut through anything.

But Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and stared straight at Jin Geum-ryong’s sword flying towards him.

‘Don’t avoid it!’

No matter how fast, no matter how strong.

He had faced even worse swordsmanship before. So there was no reason to be afraid.

‘I see it.’

Baek Cheon unknowingly smiled slightly. His body moved before he could even think. The plum blossom sword he gripped accurately struck Jin Geum-ryong’s sword.

Clang! Clang!

The swords, filled with sword energy, collided, creating an ear-splitting noise. Baek Cheon, who had deflected Jin Geum-ryong’s sword, gripped his sword even tighter.

‘I am now seeing Jin Geum-ryong’s sword.’

A sword that he couldn’t even see in the past. He was defeated without even understanding how to defend against it.

But at this moment, Baek Cheon could clearly see and resist Jin Geum-ryong’s sword.

Excitement shot through him, making the hairs on his neck stand up.

But he couldn’t be satisfied with just blocking it.

He immediately took a step forward and thrust his sword towards Jin Geum-ryong’s neck.

And he saw it clearly.

For the first time in their fight, Jin Geum-ryong looked surprised.

Clang!

Baek Cheon’s rushing sword was weakly bounced back.

But that didn’t mean he had accomplished nothing.

‘It connects!’

My sword!

The level I have reached!

It is definitely reaching Jin Geum-ryong.

‘I have grown.’

It was obvious.

He was much stronger than before. He had beaten many strong fighters. Everyone knew Baek Cheon had improved.

But it was strange, he couldn’t really feel it. He acted confident around his friends, but Baek Cheon had been feeling worried without knowing why. Even now.

And now he understood why he felt uneasy.

He knew he couldn’t really get stronger until he beat Jin Geum-ryong.

Jin Geum-ryong was still a huge wall in front of him.

‘I can’t move on until I break through it.’

Was it just wanting to win? Or jealousy?

No!

It was more than that. To become a better swordsman, he had to beat him. Jin Geum-ryong, Jongnam, and everything from the past!

“Taaah!” Baek Cheon didn’t miss the advantage he had gained and swung his sword at Jin Geum-ryong in quick succession.

‘I’ll show you.’

What this Baek Cheon has achieved.

What he had become after going through such a long, hard time!

Baek Cheon’s sword strongly struck Jin Geum-ryong. The tip of Baek Cheon’s sword, which had pushed back his opponent with a strong blow, began to sway gently.

At the same time, a red plum blossom began to bud at the tip of his sword.

It bloomed.

His plum blossom.

The plum blossoms, which had been opening slowly, one by one, suddenly burst open all at once.

One.

Right at that moment.

“Don’t get too carried away.”

Jin Geum-ryong snapped coldly, and then moved like lightning, closing the distance to Baek Cheon in a flash.

Then, with a blindingly fast sword strike, he knocked Baek Cheon’s blossoming sword away.

Clang!

With a sharp noise, Baek Cheon’s sword was pushed back. At the same time, the plum blossoms that had been blooming explosively all disappeared like a dream.

“Foolish bastard.”

Jin Geum-ryong smirked coldly, and his sword glowed with blue energy that shot towards Baek Cheon’s wrist, as cold as his eyes.

Snikt!

With a sickening sound, blood sprayed out, bright red.